#Leave him alone. He’s becoming Aquaman.

[theflowerofthecommonwealth]

He likes looking at the Fishies.

He’s making friends!

#So Hancock used to go fishing with his dad apparently. #He’s probably reminiscing those times right now. #Leave him alone. He’s becoming Aquaman. #fallout #fallout 4 #fo4 #john hancock #fallout screenshots #fallout 4 screenshots #fo4 screenshots

[dawnsedits]

There's an Endless Road to Rediscover

Aquaman 2 spoilers ahead!

Mera and Orm were best friends, once upon a time, but she had to accept long ago that the boy she used to love had become a villain she had to defeat. It was the only way to save the world, and imprisoning him was the only way to protect Atlantis. But when life brings them together one last time, she discovers that her best friend isn't as lost she thought.

(Or: Five times Mera and Orm had history, and one time they had a future.)

Mera & Orm ~ 7.4k ~ AO3

“Clear out, guys. I have private stuff to discuss with my wife.”

Arthur’s voice stirred Mera from her nap. The guards outside of her hospital room obeyed, swimming out to take up new positions at a discreet distance as he drifted inside. He perched on the edge of her bed, gathering one of her hands into both of his, rubbing nervous circles around the back of it with his thumb. “How are you doing?” he asked.

“I’ll be back to full strength in a day or two,” she assured him. She pushed herself more upright, waving off his attempt to stop her. “What are you up to?”

Tense at her side, he watched the last straggling guard reach his distant position. “There’s only one person who might know where to find Manta,” he said lowly, “and I’m about to go break him out.”

Orm.

Even unspoken, his name hung heavy in the water. Atlanna had spearheaded the negotiations, fighting tooth and nail to keep him in an Atlantean prison, but once it became clear that continued arguments would only spark a war – a war that neither the Brine Kingdom nor Xebel would support, leaving Atlantis alone to fight over a single man – even she had swallowed her protests and allowed them to take him. They all had, largely relegating their varying levels of guilt and grief to private conversations and locked boxes in the backs of their minds as the years swept on without him. The Fishermen would never let him go, and they were forbidden from so much as checking in on him. What more could they do, besides carry his memory with them and take care of the kingdom he had left behind?

Risk war once more to break him out, apparently.

The thought had certainly crossed her mind, not to mention Atlanna’s. She had even convinced Mera to go to her father together to request that he send spies to locate where the Fishermen had imprisoned him, a request that he did, much to their surprise, begrudgingly oblige. It had only ever been a fantasy, though. A fantasy that neither queen could make a reality, not with the fate of their kingdom at stake. No matter how much they loved the boy he had been.

“You were friends, weren’t you, when you were kids?” he asked. “You don’t talk about him much, but I think Mom mentioned that at some point.”

Mera sat on the balcony of her bedroom in the Atlantean palace, her legs swinging over the edge. Orm sat cross-legged beside her, snacking on some tuna and watching sharks and other animals swim peacefully by. “That one has a cool scar,” he said, pointing at a hammerhead with a jagged gash across its gills.

“It does.” She squinted at the shark, studying its form. “Do you want to see what I figured out how to do yesterday?”

He looked at her curiously. “Sure.”

Biting her lip, Mera held her hands a few inches apart and concentrated on the water between them, feeling every molecule. Her palms glowed blue as she twisted them together, picturing the hammerhead, and slowly, a miniature version of the shark took shape, outlined in the same glowing blue. Orm stared, his eyes huge with awe. “Whoa.”

Mera grinned. Carefully moving her hands so they were above and below the recreation instead of beside it, she started moving it in slow, small circles, its tail flicking back and forth. Its outline wavered, bubbly and unsteady, but Orm didn’t seem to notice. “Can you make a mosasaur?”

“Maybe,” Mera said. “Or I could do this.”

Closing her fist, she turned the shark into a ball and lobbed it at Orm’s face. “Hey!” he yelped, spluttering. “I’m gonna get you for that.”

“You’ll have to catch me first!”

Pushing off the balcony, she dove towards the seafloor, the levels of the palace flashing past her. Orm leaped after her, abandoning his tuna, and they raced around and through their home, scattering schools of fish and startling the servants. Their laughter rippled through the water, a joyful soundtrack to a carefree moment that she wished would never end.

“Yes,” she admitted, speaking the words aloud for the first time in… she didn’t know how long. “He was my best friend.”

That’s why it broke my heart to save you in your first battle. That’s why I tried until the very last moment to convince him to follow his mother’s teachings. That’s why I’m glad you didn’t kill him to take the throne, and why he still haunts my nightmares when I think about him in that place.

“And you still worked with Vulko to take him down.”

Arthur’s voice held no edge of accusation, no bladed question wondering how she could do such a thing, but her locked box of guilt rattled dangerously regardless. “It was the right thing to do.”

He nodded, drumming his fingers against her hand. “What was he like?” he wondered. “You know, before all of that.”

Mera closed her eyes, picturing the smiling boy who used to play soldiers and pirates with her. “He was curious,” she murmured. “He loved stories and languages, and he had his head buried in a book every chance he had. It didn’t matter if it was fiction or non-fiction.” Despite the pain of remembering, a nostalgic smile crept into her expression. “He was shy, at first, always following Atlanna around like he was her shadow, but once he let you in, he was as eager and playful as Junior. We used to call each other ‘silly.’”

“Silly?” he exclaimed. “You, I get. I mean, you use your fancy superpowers to throw Junior’s pee in my face. But him?”

“It started as a code word,” she explained. “Our way of talking about Atlanna in public after her execution, especially around his father. It evolved into a nickname as time went on, I suppose.” She frowned. “I don’t remember when we stopped using it.”

“Probably when he turned into a dick,” Arthur said. She pursed her lips. “Sorry.” He looked at her, twining their fingers together. “It must’ve been hard for you, having to turn against him.”

She firmly ignored the rattling box. “It was the right thing to do,” she repeated.

He tilted his head sympathetically, brushing his lips across her knuckles. “That doesn’t mean it was easy.”

“There must be another way,” Mera protested, pacing around their safehouse. She hated how dry the air felt, making her skin itch, scraping against her throat and lungs. She hated hiding from her father, from her best friend, from the people she had believed she could trust. She hated this.

“There is not,” Vulko said, impossibly calm amidst her constant movement. “I know how much you care for him, Mera. I care for him as well. But-”

Her heart screamed against the plan the vizier had laid out, screamed against the mental image of her best friend dying at the hands of a stranger. “Then why are we essentially plotting to kill him?”

“The boy we knew may very well have already died with his mother,” Vulko said gently. “He has fallen too far into his father’s influence since her execution – Orvax has made certain of that. The best we can do now is protect our kingdoms, even if that means one day placing Arthur on the throne that Orvax has taught Orm to never surrender. You know this, or else you wouldn’t be here.”

Mera stopped dead in her tracks, her shoulders slumping with defeat. “I know.”

“No,” Mera allowed quietly. “It wasn’t.”

He sighed. “Am I doing the right thing now? He’s in prison for a reason. If the Fishermen find out-”

“Hey.” Mera cut him off, squeezing his hand. “For all of his flaws, there is one thing about Orm that has never changed: He is loyal to Atlantis. He will do what is necessary to protect it, as will you. If breaking him out helps you do that, then it is the right thing to do.”

Arthur met her gaze, unease glittering in his eyes. “What about when I have to send him back afterwards?”

Mera shook her head helplessly. “You don’t have a choice.”

“He’s still my brother, however much I hate him,” he insisted. “He’s still your best friend. He’s still Mom’s kid. She thinks she can hide it, but we all know how much it kills her, leaving him in there. We all know what they’re doing to him. Sure, he deserves prison, but how is that the right thing?”

My best friend died with his mother.

The old mantra swam through her mind, the only thing that had eased her conscience as she plotted his downfall. It grated against her heart just as much now as it had on her first day working with Vulko, but it was as instinctive as breathing. “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, Arthur. His imprisonment, however cruel, protects our people. We all know that as well. Including him.”

The corner of Arthur’s mouth lifted. “You do pay attention when Mom watches Star Trek.”

Mera huffed a tiny laugh, grateful for his ability to find humor in any situation. “Sometimes.”

Relaxing, Arthur leaned down to kiss her forehead. “I love you.”

She leaned into the kiss, welcoming every ounce of comfort he offered. “I love you, too.”

With renewed purpose in his strokes and one last squeeze of her hand, he hopped off her bed, heading off on his mission. She resettled as the guards returned to her side, determined to heal in case he needed her, but peace eluded her without her husband by her side. Grief and rattling boxes stalked her dreams, the sea carrying her tears away as her heart ached for the boy she used to know.

-----

He did need her, of course. Fortunately, her father was visiting her when Topo arrived with his message, and she hadn’t allowed him to leave her behind. Ignoring his protests and her lingering pain, she plunged into the wreckage of Devil’s Deep with Atlanna, racing into the chaos to rescue their husband and son. They split up when they found Arthur alone, Mera waiting outside the volcano with him while Atlanna went after Orm. She returned with him pinned to her side in a white-knuckled grip, and Mera’s breath caught in her throat, the remains of her burns twinging in empathy with his smoldering wounds. Swiping aside the debris still flying around them, tugging Arthur along with her, Mera led the way to the refuge of a nearby island.

Watching Atlanna help Orm out of the water and tend to his wounds, her well-worn mantra failed her.

Hardly conscious at first, he clung to his mother, irresistibly reminiscent of the way he used to cling to her when he was nervous at big events. Even as he regained enough strength to sit up on his own, he still seemed to huddle in her shelter, comfortable only in the safety of her arms, a comfort Atlanna was more than happy to give. She never let go of him except to get more seaweed, as attentive to him as she always had been when they were young, paying little attention to the conversation happening around them until Orm joined it. As much as their lives had changed since her sacrifice, their love for each other evidently hadn’t wavered in the slightest.

If that hadn’t changed, if his loyalty to Atlantis hadn’t changed, was it so impossible to believe that more of her best friend had survived the years than she and Vulko had assumed? Hope dared to glimmer in Mera’s heart. If my best friend died with his mother… can he be resurrected with her, too?

Her father’s words sliced through her thoughts. “Why is he even here?” he demanded. “He should be on his way back to prison.”

A wave crashed against the rocks behind him, punctuating his question, and she flinched from the spray. Why does it even matter? she asked herself. He’s going back regardless of what he does here.

“We should hear what he has to say,” Atlanna said, shifting slightly closer to Orm, her grip on his knee tightening, not quite able to hold the king’s gaze. Orm watched him out of the corner of his eye, successfully cowed by his anger, unable to defend himself.

Mera recognized those old reactions, remembering the tension that had always pulled taut between those two and Orvax, remembering the way they had always bowed to him in the end, no matter how much pride they had to swallow to do it. She hadn’t realized it then, but Atlanna had been walking the finest of lines, balancing shielding Orm from his father’s abuse with playing the subservient wife to protect her secret family, and Orm had always been caught in the middle, his mother’s child and his father’s pawn. They were performing that dance again now, the two of them against the world, just vying for a little bit more time together before more powerful forces tore them apart. Another part of their lives that hadn’t changed at all.

There’s still so much we cannot do.

“I made that mistake once,” her father retorted. “That’s why I know he can’t be trusted!”

He had a point. Orm’s silence spoke to that. Family or not, best friend or not, he had done terrible things to the surface and the undersea kingdoms alike, lying at every twist and turn and leaving a vast trail of destruction in his wake. A moment of vulnerability with his mother didn’t change that. He had upheld his end of the deal, fulfilling the service Arthur had broken him out to provide – it was time for him to return to his penance. The time he had already spent outside his cell had been a massive enough risk as it was, and every extra minute, every extra person who knew only increased the likelihood of the Fishermen discovering he had escaped.

“And he cut off my claw!” the Brine king added, waving the appendage around for emphasis. “This thing took a whole year to grow back.”

But it did grow back.

Maybe it was childish, maybe it was foolish, but didn’t he deserve a second chance? Not everything he had done was irreversible, and they were trying to forge a more forgiving Atlantis. They had all lost too much to archaic ideals and Orvax’s petty whims to follow the old ways, and Orm was trying to help. It was a second chance that could never go anywhere, but what he had done, he had done for Atlantis. He deserved this chance to protect the kingdom they loved from his own mistakes.

If that also gave Atlanna the chance to see her son again, to hold on to him for as long as she could… Mera linked her leg more securely around Arthur’s, her stomach churning at the mere thought of anyone taking Junior away from her, of knowing that he was in pain every day and never being able to ease it. I would do the same in her place. Who am I to take this chance away from them?

Her voice died in her throat, logic caving to emotion. She couldn’t say a word to support her father, and Arthur took it a step further.“Look, he wants to stop Manta, same as we do,” he broke in, looking defiantly at the two senior rulers, as if daring them to argue with the one true king. “And just for the record, the only reason we made it this far is because of him.”

Atlanna smiled beneath watery eyes at her older son, silent gratitude for the defense. Orm stared at his brother, Mera’s own surprise reflected in his eyes. No one could say that her husband was known for his tact, but for him to so boldly stand up against the two kings who had just saved his life, entangling themselves and their soldiers in a situation that could start a war in the process, and in support of the brother he hated, no less? It was a new level of daring, even for him.

No. You don’t hate him anymore, do you?

Arthur leaned forward, giving Orm his full, undivided attention. Taking his cue from his brother but still uncertain, he directed his next words only to their mother. “I saw the Lost Kingdom.”

Atlanna stared incredulously, not quite committing to a definite answer when Arthur asked her if that was possible, carefully phrasing his question to place the uncertainty on his own lack of knowledge rather than any doubt that Orm spoke the truth. Even when her father questioned him, even when Orm recounted a story no one had known for centuries, Arthur’s attention never wavered. He believed his brother. He trusted him. Enough that Orm picked up on it, gaining confidence even as he carried on explaining something impossible beneath her father’s withering stare.

Something has changed between you two.

It had been hard to miss Arthur’s concern when he told Atlanna that Orm was still trapped in the volcano, and Orm’s relief when they stumbled out of the water together, but she had chalked it up to the heat of the moment, to Arthur’s innate instinct to protect and Orm naturally being glad to be alive and reunited with his mother. Yet when Arthur decided it was time to go and stood up, he ignored the lingering wobble in his step to go to his brother, and Orm actually took the hand he offered, rising with his help as much as Atlanna’s. The heat of the moment was long gone, but the care remained.

They’re beginning to love each other, she realized, stunned. Part of her had hoped for this once, when they were young and Orm was still his old self when he was out of his father’s sight, hoped that maybe the stranger Vulko put so much faith in could learn to love him enough to save him. She had caught a glimpse of that long dead dream when Arthur spared him, but this… He’s forgiving him. Truly, genuinely forgiving him. And if Arthur can forgive him…

“Don’t get reattached.”

Her father spoke so only she could hear, joining her as the others walked away. She rose to meet him, matching his volume – though, she suspected, for entirely different reasons. “My husband trusts him,” she said, emboldened by their unity. “That is enough for me.”

“Arthur is blinded by familial connection,” her father said.

“Please,” Mera scoffed. “Two days ago, Arthur hated him more than anyone. If anyone here is blinded by familial connection, it’s you.”

He bristled, anger etched into the lines on his face. “He is not my family.”

“Yes, he is,” Mera hissed. “Don’t deny it. Not to me. I saw the look in your eyes when your spies informed us where he was being held. I remember how you loved the boy who welcomed me into his home when you and Mother left for the front lines. He was meant to be your son-in-law, and there was a time when that meant something to you. It still must, because you wouldn’t still be this furious at him if you didn’t care. You are taking this far more personally than Arthur ever has.”

He opened his mouth to argue, but she swept on. “Orm has suffered for what he did, Father. He has suffered more in the last four years than most people will in a lifetime, and his only reward at the end of this is to return to that death sentence. Yet here he is, helping us however he can. If our kingdoms survive this, if your grandson still has a world to grow up in next week, then it will be in no small part due to his aid. He wants to fix the mistake he made by bringing Manta into our world. Arthur and I are not the blind ones for trying to see that good in him despite all he’s done. You are blind because you refuse to see it at all.”

His stance only hardened, his fists clenching at his side. Mera spun on her heel and marched after her family, holding her head high even as a not-so-tiny voice in the back of her mind wondered if she was placing too much faith in the man who had very nearly succeeded in killing her and Arthur.

It matters to me. It matters to me if my best friend is still beneath the armor.

-----

Her home was burning.

Mera screamed into the night, terror and agony and rage like she had never known tearing out of her throat. If she had been in the water, the ocean would’ve been roiling around her. She staggered away from the flames, away from the porch where she had sung to her son and told him about life in the ocean, closer to the shallows where she had given birth and heard his first cries. Months of memories flashed before her eyes, more precious than she had ever known was possible, and she could feel every single one of them slipping through her fingers like sand leaking out of a shattered hourglass. She was a daughter of Xebel, a queen of Atlantis, one of the most feared warriors in all the kingdoms, and she had let Manta take her son. What had been a fleeting fear on the island had suddenly become her reality.

The man willing to destroy the world just to kill her family had her baby.

“Mera.”

She screwed her eyes shut. The agony made her weak, her knees threatening to buckle beneath her, and the terror made her panic, her empty hands shaking. She couldn’t focus on those emotions. Clenching her fists, sucking in ragged breaths, she imagined tearing every drop of water and blood out of Manta’s body. She imagined making him scream as her son must have screamed when he was ripped away from his grandfather. “I’m going to kill him,” she snarled.

A hand grabbed her arm, not painfully, but far too roughly to be Arthur or Atlanna. “Mera.”

She whipped around, yanking her arm from Orm’s grip. “Where is he?” she demanded. “Where would he take Junior?

“I don’t know,” Orm said, his voice, his entire demeanor steady. Infuriatingly steady. “You need to calm down.”

“Calm down?” she repeated, fury teetering dangerously on hysteria. “That man took my son. Do you know what I’m feeling right now?”

“No.” His voice dipped. “I don’t.”

“Of course not,” Mera snapped. “If you did, you wouldn’t ask-”

“Yes, I would,” Orm interrupted, “because I do not care what you’re feeling. You need to keep your wits about you.” He paused, glancing at the trio on the ground, Atlanna trying to soothe Arthur and care for Tom at the same time. “I don’t know much about family, but I do know that Junior will need you alive at the end of this.”

Her breath hitched, anger cracking in the face of a hope she hardly dared to consider. “You think…”

“I do.”

He almost sounds… gentle again.

Almost. There was a roughness to it, an edge he might not know how to shake after so many years following in his father’s harsh footsteps, but… it almost sounded familiar. It almost sounded like…

Hesitantly, he laid his fingertips on her arm, a featherlight touch that was suddenly her only anchor in the smoky night. “You will get him back, Mera. And when you do… a child needs their mother.”

The words plunged her back through the years. Back to her early days in the Atlantean palace, when Atlanna first took her under her wing and Orm had been her only friend in the kingdom. To when her father broke the news that her mother had been killed in battle and Orm was the first person she swam to for comfort. To when Orvax sacrificed Atlanna and their roles reversed in an instant, with Mera being the only person in the world that he could be open with about grieving for the mother everyone else called a traitor. Back to all the broken years after that, Orvax’s influence poisoning the sweet and silly boy she loved, until Mera had no choice but to turn against the villain he became.

“You cannot be reckless,” Orm said quietly. “You need to calm down.”

Not a day went by when she didn’t miss her mother, when she didn’t lament the lifetime of victories and milestones she had never seen. Atlanna’s execution had cut her like a trident to the heart, too, alongside turning Arthur against Atlantis and destroying Orm in every way imaginable. Arthur and their family would never let Junior face what he and Orm had gone through, but… No. I cannot let him grow up grieving. Not like we did. I need to survive this, too.

Slowly, in stuttering movements, she forced her fists to open. The anger began to dissipate. In its place, the terror and agony flooded in, her knees weakening and her hands shaking again, longing to hold her son. Tears welled in her eyes, stinging far more than the smoke and heat, and she grabbed the closest support she could find.

She grabbed Orm’s hand.

He twitched in her grip, startled. Inwardly, she cringed, realizing what she had just done. But she didn’t pull away. She couldn’t make herself let go. Desperate for any shred of comfort, aching for the days when Orm had always been the one to give it to her, she only clutched his hand harder. He dropped his gaze to the contact, and for a moment she feared he would pull away, that he would let go and abandon her amidst the wreckage.

He didn’t.

He held her gingerly, but he did hold her. He left their hands hanging in the air between them, letting her hold on for as long as she needed. Letting her hold on until her father arrived and she could fall into his arms, their fingers catching as she let go, almost reluctant to make the trade. It was more than she had thought she could ever ask for again. For now… it was enough.

She looked back at him, hovering near his family, consulting with the medics while Arthur and Atlanna held Tom. Maybe my best friend is still here.

-----

Mera gathered Junior into her arms, choking down a sob, his tiny coos the most beautiful sound she had ever heard. I will never let go of you again. She backed up to Arthur and Shin, twisting to shield him from Manta, glaring at the villain as he took his broken helmet off. Arthur touched her back, nudging her towards the door. “Go,” he ordered.

In any other battle, Mera would’ve resisted. She would’ve stayed to fight beside her husband, taking her vengeance, defending the kingdom they had both sworn to protect. Today, though, she didn’t hesitate to obey. Orm had been right – killing him didn’t matter. Only her son did. With Junior against her chest and Shin running ahead of her, she bolted for the exit, listening to the sounds of a scuffle behind her. Running footsteps. Arthur grunting. Bodies hitting the ground.

A trident hurtling through the air.

She whirled around, hair flying. Her eyes widened. It hurtled straight at her, deadly points aimed true at her head, already too close. She couldn’t dodge. She couldn’t summon a wave of water and ice to strike it aside. She could only watch it come, leaning back in a last-ditch effort to keep it from hitting Junior.

A shadow raced into the room, skidding to a halt beside her. The loud clang of metal on metal shuddered through her. The trident stopped dead in its tracks, inches from her face. Her eyes slipped to the side, landing on her savior.

Her gaze landed on Orm.

She had given him a chance. A chance to redeem himself, to fight for what was right, to simply see his mother again and get to know his brother before surrendering himself to his death sentence. She had given him a chance, and now, with his outstretched fist clutching the trident, he was repaying the favor. He was giving her the chance to live, to see her son grow up, to live the happy life he would never know.

He was protecting Junior from the heartbreak that had darkened her childhood and ruined his life.

“Mera,” he rasped. The trident lit up, that ominous green glow spreading out from his fist, reaching towards her and Junior. His entire body beginning to shake, his face twisting in pain and fear, Orm forced out a single word. “Run.”

Please don’t let this be the end.

She wanted to thank him. She wanted to stay with him. She didn’t want to leave him to fight this without her, like she had so many times when she had let the Fishermen take him, when she had schemed with Vulko, when she had gone home to Xebel and her father’s arms and left Orm alone with a tyrant who never loved him. She was an adult now, a queen with all the power they had never had as children, and she still wanted to do a million things they didn’t have time for, and a million more that the baby in her arms made impossible.

All she could do was take the chance and flee, an explosion of magic and her best friend’s screams following her out of the room.

-----

“They’re safe,” Mera whispered to Junior as Storm rocketed out of the churning water, Arthur and Orm on his back. “They’re…” She trailed off, swallowing. “Your dad is safe.”

As is your uncle.

The seahorse bucked as he arced downwards, propelling them towards the iceberg her father had dropped her and Shin on. Arthur didn’t miss a beat, kissing her exuberantly and bending to check on Junior, but Orm landed clumsily, panting, exhausted from whatever had transpired after she fled, from the wounds she knew all too well hadn’t yet fully healed. Aside from returning the trident her father had lost in the battle, the two of them exchanging a significant look as he handed it over, he hung back, separating himself from the reunions.

For now.

She thanked Shin with a kiss on the cheek and smiled at the Brine king and her father’s banter, but her thoughts stayed with Orm. Arthur stepped away from her, joining his brother, and Orm only greeted him with a nod, resigned acceptance in the set of his jaw. Mera busied herself with Junior, dreading the inevitable. Dreading Arthur confirming that there was no more stalling, that her brief reunion with her best friend was over, and she would never see him again.

“As far as I’m concerned, your debt is paid.”

What?

Arthur’s words drew everyone’s attention like a magnet. Mera’s head snapped up. Her father gripped his freshly returned trident tightly, bracing himself. The Brine king stopped complaining about his claw, and Shin shifted, unaware of the stakes but sensing that something significant was happening. Orm’s eyes widened, resignation transforming into disbelief, into something that couldn’t quite be called hope. “Not everybody’s gonna see it that way, though.”

You’re actually-

She cut herself off, waiting with bated breath as Arthur glanced at her father. He looked around, catching her eye. Please, she urged with a pleading gaze. See the good in him. It’s still there. He’s still there.

Looking back at Arthur, he said nothing, simply not objecting to his silent question. It was enough. Shoulders loosening, Arthur continued, “It’s too bad you went and got yourself killed back there.”

We are. I love you, Arthur Curry.

Before anyone could change their minds, Mera jumped in to back him up, to offer Orm a new chance that could go somewhere. “Yes,” she added, nodding at the endless expanse of ocean and shattered ice surrounding them. “With all this ice…” A grin broke across her face – the same grin she had once given him every time she had an idea that would get them into trouble. “It would be impossible to find the body.”

Orm stared back and forth between them, stunned, baffled, struggling to process what they were saying as Arthur told him to lay low and stay close. She couldn’t blame him – even she could hardly believe it. After so many years of trading Orm’s life for Atlantis’s security, Arthur had finally found a solution that protected both. Nothing quite made it sink in until her father nodded at Orm, confirming that he would go along with the lie, a hint of his old fondness softening his features. “Thank you,” he said, his tension easing, “brother.”

Arthur offered his hand, and as Orm took it, Mera looked at her son. You will get to know your uncle after all.

A weight lifted off of Mera’s shoulders. A weight she had grown so used to carrying that the guilt had become part of her, a weight that had crushed a part of her soul that she had kept locked away until now, when she could straighten up and look forward to a bright future with her whole family. Her best friend was back – scarred and changed, yes, but back, rescued from the ashes of his father’s destruction by his mother’s love and his brother’s forgiveness. He had fought for them, comforted her, and saved her and the little boy she loved more than anything. It was all the proof she had ever needed, and he wasn’t going to die alone in prison.

But his return came with a goodbye.

“Wait.”

He paused before he could jump off the iceberg, turning back to her, and now there was true hope in his eyes. She closed the distance between them, snow crunching beneath her feet, and stretched up to kiss his cheek, too. The last time I did that, you were still shorter than me. “Thank you.”

Junior babbled a happy agreement, and for the first time in their lives, Orm smiled at his nephew. “It was the least I could do.” Sobering, he met her gaze. “I’m sorry, Mera. For everything.”

The apology bled with history, with the regret of a lifetime of wrongs and agonizing choices that had driven them apart, but Mera only cared about the genuine step forward he was taking. “I know,” she said, more relieved than she could ever put into words to take the step with him. “Me, too.”

Shoulders slumping slightly, he let himself lean against her, just as he had before he learned how to hide his exhaustion at long formal events. Mera dug her heel into the ice, sharing his weight gladly, embracing the return of the trust she had lost long ago. “You know more about family than you think,” she murmured. “Don’t forget that again, silly.”

Unused for so long, the old nickname simultaneously caught in her throat and rolled off her tongue, strange and familiar all at once. He smiled at it, a tiny, nostalgic upturn of his lips. “I won’t,” he promised.

They lingered for a moment more, savoring the ability to be together again, with no more lies and bitterness dividing them. The locked box she had harbored for so long melted away in the comfort of his presence, a memory to be left in the past, unnecessary in the light of a path forward. “Go on, then,” she said eventually, finding the strength to let him go in the knowledge that they would reunite again soon. “Be safe.”

Devoid of the chill of the false politeness they had used as armor for years, the words warmed the air around them, and she pressed a little harder against his arm when he returned the sentiment just as sincerely. “You, too.”

Pushing off her shoulder, he turned and leaped into the ocean. Mentally, Mera started running through cover stories, mapping out when they could begin pushing the Fishermen for an updated treaty. Arthur stepped up to her side, wrapping his arm around her, and together they watched his brother disappear into the waves, swimming towards his freedom. Swimming, she assumed, to once again find safety in their mother’s arms.

This time, no one will tear us apart, she vowed. I won’t let them.

-----

Mera landed lightly on the end of the dock, spring sunshine warm on her skin. Tucking the tablet she had brought under her arm, she strode towards the lighthouse, searching for one landbound family member in particular. Following the sound of his voice, she found him sitting in his chair on the porch with Junior, uncle and nephew equally content as he read Pinocchio with more awkward versions of the ridiculous voices Arthur used, Nemo curled up at his feet. Mera couldn’t help but pause, enjoying the precious sight that had become commonplace, yet never seemed to lose its novelty.

Nemo interrupted the moment, pricking his ears and trotting over to her with a happy bark. Orm broke off when he caught her looking. “Look who’s here, Junior,” he said, closing the book while Mera scratched Nemo’s back.

Junior’s disappointment vanished the second he saw her. “Mama!” he exclaimed, reaching for her eagerly.

Beaming, Mera joined them in the shade, trading the tablet for her son. “Hello, sweetheart,” she greeted, kissing his forehead. Even all these months after his kidnapping, holding him felt like a miracle, his weight a comfort in her arms. “Were you having fun with Uncle Orm?”

He answered with an enthusiastic string of noises that she took as a yes. “That’s g- Wait.” Amongst the adorable nonsense, she swore she caught a word. “Did he say Ormy?”

“Unfortunately,” Orm muttered. Nemo pressed against his legs, wagging his tail. “I’m going to kill Arthur.”

The front door opened as she laughed. “Mera!” Tom said, sweeping her into a hug. “We weren’t expecting you until tomorrow.”

“We finished early. A first in diplomatic negotiations with the Fishermen,” she said wryly. Tom chuckled. Orm stiffened, glancing from her to the tablet. “We didn’t want to all rush off as if we had somewhere to be, so Arthur and Atlanna stayed behind for the celebrations. I got to come share the news.”

“Ah,” Tom said. “In that case, why don’t we give the two of you some privacy?”

Kissing him again, promising to see him soon, Mera passed Junior to his grandfather. As they stepped inside, Nemo following on Tom’s heels, she took a seat on the end of the couch beside Orm. “Atlanna sends her love.”

“She always does,” he said fondly, though his attention was clearly elsewhere. He handed the tablet back. “An early ending seems like a good sign.”

“It is,” she said. Fidgeting with the edge of his sleeve, he leaned forward, watching her power up the tablet and open the notes she had taken. Tilting it so he could see, she scrolled to the section that concerned him. “As soon as the new treaty goes into effect, peace between Atlantis and the Fishermen Kingdom no longer hinges upon your imprisonment.”

She let him take the tablet, holding it delicately, as if the slightest wrong move would erase the words on the screen, destroying everything they promised. He read them again and again, seconds stretching into minutes as he took it in. Mera waited patiently – they had time. When he finally spoke again, his voice cracked with emotion, with joy and anxiety and everything in between. “I can go home.”

“Not yet,” Mera cautioned. “They were furious that Arthur broke you out to participate in the battle, and it took a great deal of care to remove this without raising further suspicion, since we brought no proof of your death. We still have to be careful that your return doesn’t make it appear as if we’ve been harboring you since the battle.” Unwilling to leave it on a pessimistic note, she finished, “It won’t be long, though, with this signed.”

Orm set the tablet down, his eyes drifting to the ocean, aching for the tantalizing freedom still just out of reach. Mera laid her hand over his. “Atlantis isn’t your only home anymore,” she reminded him.

He took her hand, holding tight. “I know,” he murmured. “I still miss it.”

“It hasn’t been the same without you,” she said, meaning every word. She had been looking at all of their old haunts and hiding spots with new eyes lately, looking forward to when he could fill the empty spaces with her again, to when he could help her tell their stories to their family and show Junior all the best parts of growing up in the palace. “I can’t wait to see the look on the Fishermen queen’s face when you come back.”

His laugh didn’t reach his eyes. “I understand why she did it. I certainly sent people there for less.”

“We all understand why she did it,” Mera said, running her thumb over his knuckles. “That doesn’t mean you deserved it.”

“I did,” he whispered, leaving his mouth open as if he meant to continue, but no words came out.

“No, you didn’t,” she said firmly in his silence. “And even if you had, you’ve more than atoned for your mistakes since then. You deserve to go home.”

He drew in his legs, massaging the knee that had never quite healed after his years of torture. She didn’t press him further, letting her touch speak for itself. Finally, he asked, “What if the people don’t accept my return?”

“I don’t care.” She cupped his cheek, guiding his gaze to hers. “You are family, and you belong with us, whether we’re here or in Atlantis. We will bring you home, and if anyone has a problem with that, we will fight for you. All right? We haven’t come this far to give up now. We love you, Orm. I love you. Your homecoming may not be an easy path, but it is a path I will make sure you can walk.”

He weighed the speech, searching for the “but,” for yet another one of the caveats that had shadowed his entire life. “All right,” he said at long last, tilting into her touch without protest, accepting the reassurance. “Thank you.”

“It’s what best friends do,” she said. It’s what I waited too many years to do. Nudging his good knee with her own to take any bite out of her words, she added playfully, “Don’t make me regret it.”

He gave her a small smile. “I don’t know. If Arthur makes me sit in on any debates between your father and the Brine king…”

“Oh, don’t worry,” she said. “There’s always a good prank to play on him when he inevitably falls asleep. It’s far more entertaining than it used to be. Besides,” she continued mischievously, “I suspect he’ll hardly have a chance to rope you into anything before you come back up here to see Stephen the first chance you get.”

He shook her off, tugging his hand away, clearing his throat as his cheeks reddened. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Of course you don’t,” she teased. “That’s why you’re looking at anything but me. Tell me, how many times has he texted you today?”

The door swung open again, Tom reemerging holding a case of beer as well as Junior. “So,” he said, “are we drowning our sorrows or celebrating?”

Visibly grateful for the interruption, Orm took the beer from him, focusing far too intently on freeing three bottles. “Celebrating.”

Tom grinned softly, giving Junior to Mera and taking the bottles that Orm handed him, giving her the other once she had Junior settled. “That’s great news, son.” Popping the cap off and sitting on Mera’s other side, he held it out. “To the future.”

Relaxing in a way he never had around his first father, Orm clinked their bottles together. Mera added hers to her in-laws’ toast, the sound pleasant and promising above the gentle crashing of the waves against the shore. As much as she had appreciated keeping secrets for Orm instead of from him, protecting him instead of betraying him, she was more than ready for this era of their lives to end once and for all. Soon, her months of leading the negotiations would come to fruition, and nothing would stand between him and being a fully-fledged member of the family both above and below the surface. They would both, at long last, have everything they had ever dreamed of and more – perhaps not in ways they had ever envisioned, but they would have it together.

In the end, that was all that mattered.

“To the future,” they echoed.

#mera #orm marius #mera fanfic #orm marius fanfic #aquaman #dceu #my fanfic. #aquaman 2 spoilers

[garthofshayeris]

"you're always so negative, what kind of Aquaman story would you NOT complain about?" so glad you asked. I have some thoughts, DC, on how to make things fun again. You can reboot everything at any time and I will only be a lil mad if you don't let me write it.

To begin, the info below would cover multiple arcs: I think too many Aquaman comics just start out putting him in Atlantis, but not this one. The journey to Atlantis will take some time, giving the reader the opportunity to know Arthur before he's a king and get the lay of the land (extra joke) underwater.

Let's start with Arthur. We're doing a little combo action here: Arthur is fully Atlantean, abandoned by a baby but found by a pod of dolphins. Since he's a telepath, and for Divine Plot Reasons, the animals know he is someone of great importance. However, he very quickly becomes too much for them to handle. They're just dolphins, after all. The dolphins, led by the iconic Porm, bring him to a lighthouse when he's around 5ish. There, he is discovered by Thomas Curry.

Tom Curry is no dummy. He knows this kid Is Not Human, but he also knows that revealing him as a non-human will just get the kid sent to some unknown lab to be experimented on. So he raises the kid as if he's a human and tries to keep him out of the water at all times.

Obviously, this doesn't work. Arthur is drawn to the ocean, and the dolphins who keep visiting him. There’s no hope in keeping him from the water. Tom doesn't reveal that Arthur is non-human, but he does coach him on never revealing any of his powers to people. Arthur becomes a local hero, mostly because he's often out swimming or on the fishing boat and ends up saving people.

Tom gets sick and, fearing he will die and leave Arthur unprepared for the world (he's in his 20s but just chills at home) he explains Arthur's origins and how Arthur is not his biological son, but a creature from the oceans.

Arthur always assumed he was a meta human; he knows now that he's not human at all. Arthur wants to learn about his people and Tom is like "we have no idea if they're dangerous, we have no idea why you were left here" and Arthur is like "how bad can they be?"

Arthur leaves home and tries to find Atlantis. This is no easy feat, considering he has no idea where to start. The dolphin pod is able to give him general directions to where they think they found him, but he still doesn't end up anywhere near a sunken city. Eventually, he finds the ruins of some kind of settlement, a cave...and a kid.

The kid is speaking a language that Arthur doesn't understand, but they quickly realize they are both telepaths! Slowly they learn to communicate; the kid will say something out loud and then convey the same message telepathically, and Arthur will do the same while responding in English. They slowly figure out how to speak each other's language, but the kid has a very limited vocabulary of his native tongue. However, he manages to explain some things:

The cave they are in used to be full of people, rejects from Atlantis for some reason or another; criminals, "mutants", etc. Atlanteans have a tendency to abandon their kids to die of exposure but people can be kicked out for any reason. This kid was the last baby they found, and were raising him as a group until Something Happened. They were attacked and all the adults died; he only survived by being hidden and has been alone in the years that followed the attack.

Here's the thing: the kid thinks his name is Baby, because that's what he was referred to as (aka "the baby") before everyone was killed. Arthur is convinced that the kid must have parents who are grieving him in Atlantis, and that they have a name for him. So he doesn't want to assign a name that's wrong, but he can't just call him Baby. So he starts using similar names, Baby Shark, Minnow, Tadpole, etc. as nicknames.

So! Arthur is convinced that he needs to find Atlantis and figure out who he is. The kid is like I was always told to avoid going there also they killed everyone, but I like your energy. Also you are my dad now. The kid doesn't know where Atlantis is, but he has seen some people like them nearby. So they start venturing off to find other Atlanteans.

Eventually, they discover an Atlantean man out in the wild, doing some kind of research. Arthur swims right up to him to introduce himself. The man is absolutely shocked to see Arthur (and the kid, who followed behind) and introduces himself as Vulko. Vulko works for the king as a scientist and advisor, but honestly hates that guy. The king is a real dick and only king because of marriage, not royal lineage. He believes the ocean is dying and they need to reveal themselves to the surface to save their home. Arthur is like omg no way, I'm FROM there can you introduce me to the king I can defend your case! :3 I'm somewhat of a folk hero on land, you know...

Vulko says no, and that Arthur and the kid are "throw backs" or undesirables in Atlantis. The people of Atlantis will not take kindly to someone like Arthur, but also implies that Arthur SHOULD try to win their affection because he likes his style. They decide to do that by "saving the ocean" they start taking on bigger, badder threats. Vulko provides them with some outdated Atlantean armor that he steals from the palace (orange for Arthur, red for the kid) and they begin to take on pirates, monsters, etc. They are not only gaining notoriety on land, but in the sea as well. Scouts from Atlantis are reporting back about a duo of mysterious Atlanteans taking out threats the king had been too cowardly to take on. They take on celebrity status.

Along the way they find Mera. She has fled her home dimension (unrelated to Atlantis at all, she's literally not from their world) who needs a place to crash. Arthur and Garth invite her to stay with them, in that destroyed settlement turned bachelor pad, and explain their plan to get into Atlantis. Mera, a princess, has the tact and manners that the others lack and joins the team.

Meanwhile, Vulko is stoking the rumor mill, trying to put in a good word for Aquaman and Aqualad, and he starts digging around for records of them. Vulko finds no record of Arthur's birth, and can only find ONE instance of a boy being born within the approximate age of the kid; the boy was named Garth and abandoned as an infant. There is no official record of him, or his parents (which is customary) and it appears this was done intentionally, and that information was destroyed. He only learns about this from talking to people who used to work in the palace. Vulko starts to suspect there is more to the story and also tries to dig into any of info on about Arthur…

And eventually he finds it; everyone knows the late queen had a son named Orm, but what they DON’T know is that she had a son before him with an unknown father. The people believe this child died during childbirth but Vulko finds a single woman who was around for his birth (the others involved have “mysteriously died”) who can confirm that the child was born, and born with blonde hair. While the queen rested, the king took the child out of Atlantis to leave him to die. The queen was told her child died shortly after childbirth but she never truly believed this. The queen bore a second son, Orm, and took her own life when Orm was a child.

So, why is the king so adamant about killing off the outsiders? Although he believed the baby had died, an oracle told him that the boy lives and would dethrone him (he’s VERY superstitious). He has been sending out soldiers to kill anyone harboring throwbacks and he has been training his son, Orm, to be a great fighter so he can defend his father and anyone who might claim the throne. He’s paranoid that the child he tried to dispose of will return and dethrone him.

So anyway. Arthur returns to Atlantis to try and convince the king to let him on as an advisor to the surface world. The king recognizes the blonde hair immediately but cannot react and give himself away. He tries to remove the squad by virtue of them being throwbacks but the people LOVE Aquaman and Aqualad, they are so excited about their visit that to avoid an uprising they are allowed to stay as guests.

They meet prince Orm during their stay. He's a little standoffish and not at all happy to see throw backs trying to get into the palace; his father had assured him that they were all dead, that throwbacks cannot survive into adulthood.

In an attempt to kill them off/make them leave and lose favor with Atlantis, the king starts making up increasingly dangerous tasks they must complete (like the trials of Hercules tbh) but of course Arthur is absolutely killing it! He’s having a great time and thinks this is very normal, but Mera, who is unfamiliar with Atlantis but very familiar with royal schemes, decides that something fishy (extra joke) is going on. She and Vulko investigate the events surrounding the queen’s suicide.

One of the “challenges” is for Arthur to fight Orm in a public arena. Orm gets his ass beat but Arthur, who had taken a liking to Orm, let’s him get a few punches in so he’s not embarrassed. Even after the fight he’s acting really buddy-buddy with him. Orm is confused and angry at being public ally defeated, but cannot help but think that Arthur is a really nice dude.

Once again, I’m imagining this taking a long time. It’s part monster fighting, part investigation, part hijinks in a new location, etc. They leave Atlantis occasionally to take on land-threats and visit Arthur's father. FINALLY, though, Mera figured it out; the queen didn’t kill herself. This is already long so I'm just going to say that she confronted her husband and he killed her to secure Orm's place on the throne.

The king has another very public venue in which to try to embarrass Aquaman. For example, having him fight some giant monster. But Arthur doesn’t like to kill innocent animals and he uses his telepathy to calm the beast down. Telepathy is not a common ability (and until now nobody had seen Arthur use it) but it’s also a mythical sign of the divine right of royalty in Atlantis. Only kings of yore have shown the ability, and even the late queen couldn’t manifest it. So ofc the king accuses Arthur of being some kind of freak or faking it. That’s when Mera, Garth, and Vulko come on the scene with their receipts: they’ve pieced together the king’s attempted murder of the baby, that Arthur is rightful heir to the throne, and that the king murdered the queen. The king initially claims they’re lying, but then they pull out the receipts and display them to the entire crowd. Enraged, he tries to kill Arthur and another fight ensues. Arthur manages to get the king pinned but refuses to kill him. The king takes this opportunity to break out from under the trident and flees the city. although soldiers pursue him it seems that he has completely disappeared. There is a bounty out for him, leaving the possibility of him returning as a major threat still in the air (extra joke).

Arthur is named king, as the oldest heir to the throne, to his absolute bewilderment. Orm is absolutely furious, as he thinks Arthur only came there to steal the throne from him, just like his father said he would. Arthur tries to explain that it wasn’t his intention, but Orm storms off and hides away in a wing of the castle. The squad lets him stay, but there’s animosity for sure.

Now that he is no longer in celebrity status, the people begin to poke holes in their love of the group; they did not have the full story (of them being throw backs) and now they're a bit suspicious about Garth and Mera, specifically (they don't realize she's not Atlantean, though you would think the flipper feet would give it away...) and there are some who loved the old king and want him back on the throne (conspiracy theorists essentially) Now that they aren't essentially there on vacation, they begin to notice how isolating it is in Altantis...and then we begin the more introspective plot lines, talking about feeling like an outsider and what it means to fit in!

Now Arthur has a new job, a reputation as a hero, and no idea what to do next!

Character's main traits/inspiration

Arthur: did NOT anticipate finding out he was a long lost king, he just wanted to learn about Atlantis! He's trying to balance being a hero, which he likes, being an adventurer, which he loves, and being a king which is...fine, I guess. This version will lean more into his Silver Age personality, which is my favorite, where he seems a little confused but excited about everything. Rather than try to sweep all the "uncool" things under the rug like some versions of Aquaman do, he's so genuine about his life that it's difficult to make fun of him. He is not actually that great at being a king, so luckily he has a lot of friends to help him.

Garth: he follows Arthur around like a lost puppy and is SO happy to be living in a place with real walls and a real bed. However, he still wants to know more about his parents and why records of him were destroyed... We are going back to the classic sidekick genre with him, something DC seems afraid to do. If DC also wanted to have the Titans, or the rest of the fab five be older, I could see him being significantly younger than the others but still part of the "first wave" of sidekicks so they're lumped together anyway. Like the Silver/Bronze age, he could visibly age during the run of the comic and be in his teenage years for any Titans-related plots DC wanted to run. I would be keeping his lost prince backstory, but that wouldn't come up for a very long time. I like the idea of having him age throughout the series, I think that's a very fun aspect of comics that has been lost. He would keep his post-crisis origins, but not learn about them for quite some time.

Mera: She never told Arthur the real reason she was exiled, and to be fair he didn't ask. She's excited to be in the political world of Atlantis and make changes for the better, something she couldn't do back home... I like the idea of Mera being from another world altogether, I think it adds to the overall theme of them being outsiders. She will be a combination of her very domestic original version and the feisty modern Mera. Since Mera doesn't have much of a personality usually (sorry girl) I'm going to make her very studious and politically minded. She LOVES politics and is passionate about making changes to help the everyday Atlanteans. She’s also worried about being sent back to her home dimension, so she tries to keep everyone pleased with her.

Vulko: the only one of the group who understands Atlantean customs. He is always so, so tired of shenanigans... Vulko is going to be a bit like Merlin, an advisor and advocate for Arthur taking the throne. and yes he WILL be old and he WILL be fat.

Orm: royally (extra joke) pissed about losing the throne, but conflicted about his father being Very Evil and hiding the existence of his brother/killing his mom. He mostly sulks and keeps to himself, making it unclear if he is friend or foe... I LOVE his Silver Age jealousy, but DC wants them to be related by their mother and I don't want to fight them on that. I actually prefer when Orm is at least partially human, but I don’t think I can have my cake and eat it too with the origins here, so he’s the biggest compromise tbh. I think Orm could be a shifty character, not outright evil but clearly angry about how things are going so he causes problems on purpose. But there's still the chance that he might sway to either side...

Manta: Honestly, he's the hardest one to introduce into the fray because he only recently started getting actual reasons to have beef with Arthur. Which I respect. Since Tom is going to be alive (for now) I think having Manta slowly develop a beef with Arthur that all comes to head by killing Arthur's father could be interesting. Or maybe Tom gets to live, and Manta does something equally terrible. It's unclear in my mind tbh. So! Manta is trying to develop his empire of piracy and Arthur, trying to win over the people of land and sea, starts really going after him. He sinks every single one of Manta's subs, thwarts every single plan, and is ruining Manta's reputation. He HATES Aquaman, and unfortunately Aquaman doesn't really know who he is or realize he's made an enemy... he would show up as a big threat in later comics, after Arthur has established himself in Atlantis

The former king: this could be Orvax, who was introduced in N52, but honestly if the writer wanted to make a new OC I wouldn’t mind. Orvax doesn’t have much in ways of background of personality because he only exists in flashbacks, but I know how sucky it is to just use the same name for a totally different character (looking at you, rebirth Garth!) so I’m just going to call him King for now. It would be interesting if he was corrupted like Orm in previous volumes into making a deal with an entity in exchange for power…perhaps even serving as a patron for Orm if he shifts to the dark side.

So. That's a quick rendition of my ideal Aquaman reboot. I think it s a fun combo of all the elements I've liked over the years without simply be a rehashing of the stories. Thoughts, opinions. etc?

#aquaman meta

[roninreverie]

One more time! I decided to go the Venus route with the last lost turtle sibling and lore is below the cut.

Utilizing what vague memories I have from 12+ years ago of the TMNT Power Rangers crossover, I drew inspiration that Venus is very easily connected to her mystical ninpo powers, and was even able to utilize them just after her mutation.

She is a sea turtle, and instead of getting the mutant hands/feet like her siblings, she kept her flippers and uses her ninpo as an extension to make arms and legs for herself.

Shortly after Draxum's lab blew up, she was washed away down the drains, thrown by the current until eventually making it out of the Hidden City and back to the surface world.

Around that same time, Grandpa Sho was back in New York and wandering the streets, hoping to find any signs of Yoshi, who had very publicly gone missing. Though with no clues in weeks, he was beginning to lose hope that Yoshi would ever be found, or if he was even still alive.

Sho wandered the streets in the rain when he suddenly stumbled across a baby crying out for help and fishes her out of a drain only to realize she is not what he expected. This was not a baby but some sort of sentient turtle, and Sho decides that she is some kind of Hōnengame (or a “kame onna”), which is a yokai turtle-woman who comes to bring prophecies and predictions to humans.

Safe in his hands, she excitedly reveals her ninpo energy, and Sho recognizes the clan symbol of his ancestors, believing now that this a sign from the universe to make up for his shortcomings with Yoshi and try one last time to raise a protector for the Hamato clan.

He decides to train her in the ways of the Hamato ninpo, raising her as her sensei/ grandfather back in Japan, and even granting her the Tessen war-fan that once belonged to his own daughter, Atsuko.

Fittingly, he takes parts out of "Kame" and "Onna" and renames her "Kanna". Which also means "summer waves" in Japanese.

For years he tells her all the stories and histories of their family, including stories about Yoshi, Karai, and the Shredder. The two are a happy family, but inevitably, he passes away from old age when she is still pretty young, leaving her to continue training/ preparing for this journey without him.

So now she lives alone as a solo-ninja mystic-warrior in Japan and remains there, waiting for the Shredder or the Foot to finally reappear. She ends up being like a one-woman solo vigilante Batman/ Aquaman hero who lives in a lair mostly underwater but surfaces for various butt-kicking and ninja vigilante shenanigans.

“Venus” becomes her hero name as people are quick to focus on the whole mysterious crime fighting woman “with no arms” bit, and the name quickly sticks as an alter ego.

Eventually, she does find her long-lost family and learns that the Shredder was already defeated.

Being her life's purpose and sworn duty, she is thrown for a loop on what to do with her life now, but decides to try and figure that out together with her family.

(Also, I imagine she and Splinter have a very touching heart to heart talking about Grandpa Sho. 😭 )

As for special powers, I think other than her everyday use of limb manipulation, she has a very strong sense of connection to mind, body, and spirit... and thus gets prophecies and visions, and is good at reading energy levels.

Might even throw in some healing powers all "Dark Transfer/ Force Healing" ala Star Wars?

I had a thought that she can fight with the limb manipulation too, a lot like a Waterbender or Ming Hua from ATLA/LOK.

EDIT: I had a thought that she and Usagi butt heads a lot in Japan and are bitter rivals (since Venus is a vigilante and Usagi would be more an official longstanding family traditon-sort of samurai of the Hidden City there.)

#rottmnt #rottmnt venus #rottmnt kanna #rottmnt oc #rottmnt sho #baron draxum #rottmnt galizia #mona feyrouz #rottmnt piebald #rottmnt usagi #usagi miyamoto #raph leo donnie mikey april casey & cassandra #roninreverie #clone high hands #rottmnt sisters

[karlyanalora]

For Fiera:

alone

desire

failure

future

mask

secret

alone: How does your OC deal with loneliness? Have they ever been completely alone before? How do they act when there's no one around to see them?

Fiera tends to spend her alone time roughing it like an animal. Literally. It’s easier to deal with loneliness if you have the animal instincts of a solitary creature running in the back of your mind. She’s spent a good deal of time devoid of human contact while traveling.

She’s quiet when she’s alone. She goes about her tasks efficiently. She’s either traveling to meet people or has some social interaction planned for later. She doesn’t make much sound at all unless she’s thinking about Dorcalon. Then she turns on his music.

desire: What's one thing your OC wants more than anything in the world? Are they open with that desire? Why or why not? What would they do to fulfill it?

She wants to be a mother. She’s very open about that desire. Practically everyone who knows her knows this.

But the well-being of the child always comes first. She wants her child to have a father. She and Dorcalon could have adopted, but with the Skrull critically endangered as a species, she felt it was best for any Skrull orphans to have two Skrull parents. Adopting anywhere else would have been impossible for other reasons.

She knows the odds of her having her own child are very slim. But she’s alright with having this desire not met in this life.

failure: What's your OC's greatest failure? Have they been able to move past it? Does anyone else know about it?

Not being home when Dorcalon was attacked. Not being able to arrive in time to say goodbye in person. Her husband is dead and she could do nothing. She refuses to live through another heartbreak like that. If she ever remarries, she will not be parted from her husband’s side. She may be needed more elsewhere, but she will not leave him.

So, no, she hasn’t been able to move past it. Not really. And if you know where to look, you can see the symbols of her widowhood displayed in keeping with Skrull tradition.

future: What's the worst possible future for your OC? Are they taking steps to avoid that outcome? Are they even aware it's a possibility?

Heh. At present, she’s convinced she’s lived through the worst possible future.

Further down the road, she’ll become aware that a new possible worst exists. After all, she’s the matriarch of a major crime-fighting family. She can’t keep them all home and safe, so she’ll prepare them as best she can.

Losing them all would be the worst thing she could live through. She doesn’t think she could live through it. But it’s better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.

mask: Does your OC wear a mask, literally or figuratively? What goes on beneath it? Is there anyone in their life who gets to see who they are under the mask?

As a crimefighter, she does wear a mask. When she’s out in the field, she’s in Work Mode. No chit-chat, blank-faced, scare the crap out of crooks mode.

But outside of work, she’s very much her friendly self under the mask. It weirds other heroes out. But they get used to it. She’s no different when the mask is off. It’s more the information she shares that changes.

secret: What's one secret your OC never wants anyone to know about them?

Fiera has a complicated relationship with the ocean. She’s got weird aging due to her Atlantean father, which comes up every once in a while. Since she exists in an MCU/DC crossover, that’s not entirely true. Atlantean implies Aquaman and folks.

The truth is her father was the second son of Talokan. His mother didn’t care if he lived or died since he was the unborn son of a Spanish Conquistador. Like Namor, Fiera’s father was also granted a long life, inhuman strength, and the ability to breathe in and out of water. However, he was treated as an outcast and eventually banished.

Fiera is terrified that if Namor learns of her existence and heritage, he will take issue with it. And she’s not wrong. No one besides her dead parents knows the truth.

From this ask game

#Fiera

[the-broken-truth]

Can I have yandere Justice Daughter of Poseidon child reader

Separate for each one where they find the child where's the reader is like 10 and she lost her human mom and they took the reader in and they made sure she never went to camp Half-Blood and kept her home but she became a hero please

Broken Truth: Superman, Batman, Aquaman, and Wonder Woman are the easiest to come up with but the others not so much.

How They Met [Reader]: There was a secluded section on the beach in Metropolis that would randomly withness harsh weather with the yell of the female child and the League was asked to investigate. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman were sent to see what was going on and they found the section of the beach where the sky was grey and the waves were thrashing around against the rocks. They followed the sound of screaming until they found a girl - around the age of ten - screaming at the ocean; asking the God of the Seas why he abandoned her in the World of Men without any kind of guidance, with her mother, without him. They watched as the girl fell to her knees and pounded her fists in the sand with tears rushing down her face with soul-crushing sobs ringing out to the League.

Superman: The Heart of the Man of Steel began to crumble as he began walking in th direction of the sobbing girl with his hand in his face to keep the sand out of his eyes but the cries of the girl before him broke his heart more and more with each sob and roar in pain. He reached the girl and placed his hand on her shoulder, making her look at him with tears in her eyes. They looked at each other for a while, as if speaking through emotions rather than with words. Superman dropped to his knees and brought the girl into his arms with a gentle hug. The weather began to calm but the girl continued to sob in his arms. Once she calmed down, she explained what she was going on about - She was a Demi-God, Daughter of Poseidon and a human woman but her mother passed away recently and the God of the Seas abandoned her on the beach where they stood a few weeks ago. Superman said that he was going to being her to his place and raise her to control her powers to become a hero in the Justice League, she agreed and the two of them flew away. Clark brought her to his apartment and would bring to to the Fortress of Solitude for her training with her powers. He never told her about the Demi-God Camp but he did allow her to join the League when she turned 18 - [Superhero Name].

Batman: As a man who understand how much it hurts to be alone, he could sympathize with the girl before him as he walked to embrace the girl; learning her name and origin before explaining why she was on the beach, causing the storm. Once the storm calmed down and everything was alright, [Reader] apologized for the destruction she caused on the beach but Bruce explained that she was going to live with him and control her powers to join the League when she turned 18. Bruce brought her to Wayne Manor, where she met her brothers - Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, and Damian Wayne - before going to be Batcave to use her powers in peace. Bruce used his connections to learn about Demi-Gods and Powers when he learned about a camp for Demi-Gods and training but he never told [Reader] about it - he didn't need his daughter finding out about this place and leaving him, he would give her all the training she needed and there was nothing they were going to do to take her away from him and the family. When she turned 18, she joined the Justice League under Batman's Guidance.

Wonder Woman: The power that surrounded the girl made Diana's eyes widen as she slowly approached the girl and called out to her. "I am Diana - Daughter of Themyscira and I wish to aid you!" Diana called out as she walked over to the girl and placed her hands on her shoulders, making her look at her with tears in her eyes. Diana spoke to the girl gently again before being her into a hug. Once the beach calmed down and everything was peaceful, Diana asked the girl what was the matter and the girl - named [Reader] - explained that she was the daughter of the God of the Sea - Poseidon -and a human woman that passed away recently and her father abandoned her on the beach. Diana explained that she was going to adopt the girl and being her to Themyscira to raise her in the way of the Amazon. [Reader] adapted to the lifestyle of Theymscira and had spars with Artemis for her training. Diana found out about the Demi-God Camp but didn't send her.

Aquaman: The King of Atlantis raised his trident to calm the seas, making the aura around the girl calm down before she passed out from exhaustion. Aquaman explained that he knew the girl was the daughter of the god of the seas and asked the league if it was okay if he took her and raised her as his own; they agreed that he was the best one to take care of her. He took her to Atlantas and waited for her to awaken before he explained that he was going to raise her as the Princess of Atlantis. She didn't have anywhere else to go and agreed to become his daughter. He trained her powers and offered to allow her to join the Justice League when she turned 18 but he never told her about the Demi-God Camp, nor he did he tell her about the location of her father.

#justice league #daughter reader

[trustednewstribune]

'Death threats' and 'humiliation' bring Depp-Heard trial to close

Closing arguments due tomorrow before the case is handed to the jury

A weeping Amber Heard said on Thursday that she had received death threats all throughout the “painful” defamation trial brought by her former husband, actor Johnny Depp.

“I am harassed, humiliated, threatened every single day,” the Aquaman star said on the final day of witness testimony in the sometimes excruciating trial, which is in its sixth and final week.

“I receive hundreds of death threats regularly, if not daily, thousands since this trial has started, people mocking my testimony about being assaulted.”

Depp filed the $50 million suit against Heard after she wrote an opinion piece for The Washington Post in which she called herself “a public figure representing domestic abuse”, although she never named him.

In spite of losing a similar case in the UK, where it is significantly easier to win defamation cases, he chose to file a second case against her.

The trial is being held in Fairfax, Virginia, even though both stars live in Los Angeles, California.

Depp claims he filed there because it is the home base to the newspaper but chose not to sue the publisher, which he did in his former losing effort.

He may have thought he would get an advantage there because of the weaknesses in Virginia’s anti-SLAPP law, which is supposed to protect free speech.

SLAPP stands for Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation and 32 states and the District of Columbia have laws against them.

Using the law, Depp’s lawyers made a motion to have Heard’s $100m counter-claim against the actor tossed out.

The counter-suit claims his then-lawyer, Adam Waldman, defamed the actress when he called her abuse allegations “a hoax”.

Judge Penney Azcarate rejected the motion.

Defence witnesses supported Heard’s claims that she has been the target of a years-long hateful social media campaign by millions of fans of the Ed Wood star.

“I just want Johnny to leave me alone,” Heard said for the second time since the trial began.

Earlier in his testimony, Depp admitted to writing in a 2016 text that Heard was “begging for total global humiliation” and “she’s gonna get it”.

He said it was written in anger when he learnt she was alleging that he physically abused her.

Depp also texted his friend, actor Paul Bettany, “Let’s burn Amber!!!”

Bettany wrote back: “I’m not sure we should burn Amber. She is delightful company and pleasing on the eye.

“We could, of course, do the English course of action and perform a drowning test. Thoughts? You have a swimming pool.”

Depp replied: “Let’s drown her before we burn her!”

Then Bettany replied: “My thoughts entirely! Lets be certain before we pronounce her a witch.”

Bettany was not called by Heard’s attorneys although the text exchange was read in court.

A parade of the couple’s mutual friends testified that Depp could be “loving and generous” but that he could also become “a monster” when intoxicated or under the influence.

Readmore:https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/us-news/2022/05/27/death-threats-and-humiliation-bring-depp-heard-trial-to-close/

#TRIALS #HOLLYWOOD #CELEBRITIES #Johnny Depp #Amber Heard

[criminalmutantsins]

Top 10 Favorite Young Justice Characters

10. Jaime Reyes/Blue Beetle

Starting off the list is Blue Beetle. Young Justice introduced me to him, and I was hooked. He’s probably the most mellow and calming voice. His arc and relationship with Bart (friendship or not) were my favorite aspects of S2. They bounced off each other in every scene. I was very disappointed when Jaime and Bart were sidelined so much, and hope S4 changes this (particularly with Bart).

Jaime in the number 10 spot since he doesn’t really have much of a memorable personality. Still love him to bits though.

        9. Will Harper/Red Arrow

Funny enough, I did not like Will. He was an asshole in S1; S2 kind of changed my mind about him but not enough since he didn’t appear as much. What really changed my mind was the episode “Private Security” (S3 Ep.4). I started looking back into Will’s storylines and, I have to admit, his is probably one of the best character development.

The first season had him unwillingly living a lie and betraying the people he cared for. In season 2 he was so consumed into finding the original Roy for five years, not even caring or focusing about his own life. I felt really bad for Will because he was probably going through an identity crisis and thought he couldn’t live his life without finding Arsenal. Probably felt guilty.

Seeing him living his own life and being happy with his daughter was so heartwarming. I smiled every time Will appeared in the latest season (totally ignoring the Will x Artemis fiasco), especially with Lian. I’m very proud of him.

I feel bad for putting him so low, yet I adore the next characters more.

 8. Garfield Logan/Beast Boy

I have been a massive Beast Boy fan since Teen Titans so you probably can imagine how excited to see him. His origin story was unique and his brother-sister bond with M’gann was very sweet. It was pretty weird seeing how much younger Gar was than Dick, but I got used to it. I was bummed that Gar wasn’t in S2 as much; however, S3 truly made up for it. 

After watching Beast Boy being a great leader in S5 of Teen Titans, I wanted a leader-like and more mature version of him. Young Justice truly delivered with Gar being the leader of the Outsiders. It’s nice to see him treated with respect rather than as a joke because that was my biggest gripe with Teen Titans. Though it was weird seeing him not crack a joke at all.

Gar’s story with his mom was heartbreaking to see. I literally cried seeing his reaction to revisiting his trauma in S2 and S3; I just wanted to hug and tell him how awesome he is. My only complaint with Gar in S3 was that the Outsiders weren’t established until near the end of the season.

His voice actor being Greg Cipes also gives him extra points (He’s a chill guy and radiates BB energy).

 7. Dick Grayson/Nightwing/ Robin I 

Sorry to all the hardcore Nightwing fans.

I love Dick (don’t get any ideas), but he doesn’t get enough development in the spotlight. One of the things I really wanted to see from him is his growth as a main leader, and his journey to becoming Nightwing. I was really bummed when these happened between the first two seasons.

To be honest, I don’t have as much to say about him other than straightforward qualities I enjoy about him.

1.His Voice (it’s so soothing)

2.His Personality (very charismatic)

3.Very Handsome (Probably in the top 3 my most handsome YJ Men list)

I put him higher than the others since he made a lot of contribution to the story and his new words (gotta love that aster!)

6. Megan Morse/M’gann M’orzz/Miss Martian 

If I made this list during S1, M’gann would have probably been in my top 3 (maybe even No. 1), but S2 didn’t give her any brownie points.

I really liked S1 Miss Martian because of her kind heart, awkward girl next door personality. Her trouble fitting in the beginning reminded me of when I was going through a time in high school; seeing her having trouble as well helped me feel not so lonely. M’gann powers were (still are) my favorite since I am a big fan of mind-like powers. I would feel so powerful. Watching her identity crisis(?) arc was great too. I’ve had trouble feeling comfortable in my own skin as well as my social anxiety (I’m a mess) and I could understand how scared Megan was of her friends’ thoughts on her true form. 

Oh boy. Season 2 basically ruined her. Learning what she would do to enemies was terrifying to see and left me wondering what happened to Miss Martian that made her step this far. What she almost did to Superboy was almost unforgivable. You do not try to manipulate with your boyfriend’s mind when you guys have an argument! Shame on you M’gann. If Superboy hadn’t forgiven you then I wouldn’t have either.

Good thing S3 somewhat redeemed her. Her kind heart was noticeable again and she refused to do that mind trick again (thank god). Very excited for the Superboy and Miss Martian wedding! Please creators, I beg of you to not skip over it. I want to cry my eyes out in happiness!

 5. Kaldur’ahm/Aquaman/Aqualad 

Now we’re in the top 5 with Aqualad (*ahem* Aquaman) starting it off.

Creating Kaldur was the best decision the creators ever did. I love him with all my heart!

He added diversity to the original team and was a great leader. S1 was not his breakout season, though the second season definitely was.

Kladur played the villain so well that he deserves an automatic Oscar. I never doubted that he was with the heroes, but he didn’t disappoint. My favorite part about Aqualad’s performance was when he rose from the ocean slowly like a cliché villain (he made it work), and the line he said right after he “killed” Artemis; it sent me chills. Love it! 

Pretty disappointed that he didn’t appear as much in S3. Very happy that he is a part of the LGBTQ+ community and is in a happy relationship. I’m a part of the community and loved that there was finally some representation in one of my favorite shows. Even so, I have to criticize how rushed and sidelined it was. I hope Kaldur and Wyynde’s relationship gets development.

 4. Kon-El/Conner Kent/Superboy

Like Will, I did not like Superboy at first. Mainly angry and volatile characters were never really my cup of tea. I do understand why he was upset and felt bad for him; I just handle anger the direct opposite as him. My love for Conner started growing around the end of S1. He was very sweet towards Miss Martian (bless him for not caring about her appearance) and his anger was in control.

Season 2 pretty much switched my opinions on him and M’gann. It was awful what M’gann almost did to him. That scene with him being so sad that what she did ruined that special bond they had almost made me cry. I wanted to give him a hug. He grew so much too since I don’t think he would have handled the whole M’gann drama as well in S1. A lot of furniture would’ve been broken.

I gotta admit something. I almost put Conner near the bottom (maybe no. 7). A comment in a poll in Amino changed my mind. I wrote a poll asking other fans who did they prefer SB or MM. At that point I said SB, though I didn’t think much of it. Someone (specifically yjfangirl) responded “Superboy has the best development in the show.” This had me thinking about how far SB has gone. In the beginning, Conner was an angry guy who felt alone and rejected by the person who he was meant to emulate. Now he is happier and living for himself rather than to be the next Superman. He’s getting married people! A little detail I noticed when rewatching S3 was Superboy mentioning to new characters that they weren’t obligated to be a hero because of their abilities. I adored this! The main reason why Superboy was created to be Superman if the original ever died, and another one of Luthor’s puppets. But he strayed from that pressuring path and is doing his own thing. Conner doesn’t want other people to feel like he did. What an absolute pure soul.

Also, yjfangirl, first I want to say Hi (*waves*)! Then say thanks for writing that comment. It made me really think about the bigger picture with SB and my love for him as grown exponentially. You probably didn’t mean to do that, but I still want to thank you. 😊

 3.Wally West/Kid Flash

We’re in the elites now.

I don’t know how to explain it, I just love Wally. He makes me laugh, and his character growth was great. At first, Wally was this cocky flirt who didn’t take the hero work as seriously. That changed in “Cold-hearted,” one of my favorite episodes in the series. This was when I really started seeing more of Wally than being this dumb flirt. It was great seeing him actually caring about helping people since I believed for a long time that he wanted to be a superhero to just have powers rather than actually protect others. The regret in his eyes when he thought his impulsive behavior killed Perdita helped me see who he really was- this somewhat arrogant speedster who had a kind heart. Episodes that can make me change my perspective on characters are truly special.

I was very upset that he wasn’t in S2 a lot. I understand why since he gave up the life, but I was still bummed. Seeing him being so loving and protective towards Artemis was amazing. Spitfire is my favorite ship and I will not give up on them. All I want is a happy ending! The penultimate episode of S3 was a hint that it will happen. Watching the S2 finale was heartbreaking, I cried watching him disappear, his love for Artemis being the last things he said. Artemis’ reaction did not(I just wanted to hug her). 

I have more to say, though I’m leaving it for another post. 😉

 2.Bart Allen/Kid Flash II/Impulse

Picking between Bart and Wally for second place was tough. Took me a while to decide; I’ll talk about it later on.

The moment Bart made his appearance, I absolutely adored him. He is amazing and I live for his hyper, fun attitude. His arc and relationship with Jaime were my favorite aspects of S2. What can I say, their chemistry is great to see.

That scene when he was meeting the Flash family was so adorable. His excitement was infectious and spoiling his dad and aunt’s births was hilarious! I watch it occasionally whenever I need a good laugh or reason to smile.

Unlike most time travelers- at least the ones I’ve seen- Bart was very involved with what was going on and befriended his biggest enemy- evil and weirdly huge future Blue Beetle. He was pretty careful about disclosing very important information and took things very seriously. You never know if disclosing everything was the thing that brought the world to chaos.

What I found interesting was his choice on how to interact with everyone. He seemed pretty gloomy in the future, but decided to portray this cheerful, devil-may-care attitude to be more likable. I understood (still kind of do). I had terrible mental health issues and I pretended to be happy in front of loved ones because I thought they wouldn’t care about me anymore. Bart got some brownie points for that.

I was dissatisfied when his role was greatly reduced. I wanted the creators to go further with Bart by revealing his past and how it affected him. He was pretty much comedy relief. You couldn’t imagine how disappointed I was, especially with it involving my second favorite character. Season 4 better change that.

I know that you shouldn’t assume a character’s sexuality, yet I really hope Bart is gay. There needs to be more clear representation and Bart can be one of them. I’m also a Bluepulse and Bartuado shipper (fine with either one as long as Bart’s bond with each of them stays strong).

Anyway, I mentioned that I would explain why I chose Bart for 2nd place over Wally. It mostly stems from wishful thinking. I really want S4 to have Bart as a main character since I believe the future will be strong plot point in the season. Development could surely happen such as Bart opening up more about what he went through. Let all those feelings go.

I’m going to write an article on my hopes for S4 when a release date is announced. Bart and Wally will most definitely be talked about.

 …..

We are finally near the end!

And my No. 1 favorite character is…

Drumroll please!

…

..

.

1.Artemis Crock/Tigress/Artemis

That’s right people!

Artemis Crock, original member of the Team and daughter of villains!

She is such an inspiration to anyone who wants to go their own past without their parents’ support.

It’s hard to describe how much I love Artemis. She’s brave, strong-willed, and a kind person. It’s crazy how great of a person she is after all the terrible things that happened to her. I look up to her because I don’t have a healthy relationship with my parents (verbal and mental abuse) and there are times I don’t feel strong enough to stand on my own. I want to carry the amount of strength Artemis has as my own.

After all that happened in S2, it was amazing to see Artemis come back to the team and train the new generation. It must have been hard to walk away from a safe, comfortable life for a chaotic, dangerous life. I admire that in everyone, but I hold more respect for Artemis since “the life” “killed” Wally. I wanted to hug her so bad.

She’s also one of the kindest people in the show, the events in S3 being the best example. When Zatanna was crying about her dad, Artemis was there to comfort her. It was so sweet! Roy and her also took in Halo and Terra like they were a part of the family; the archer treated them like the best big sister. That rainstorm scene was heartwarming to the core.

Wouldn’t Artemis be an amazing mother? Lian and her have a strong bond like a mother and daughter; I loved it, and Lian is in good hands with Roy and Artemis. Though Jade deserves a chance to be a mother. Artemis also seemed to enjoy taking care of those kids in that S1 episode. Wally too. You guys know what I’m guys insinuating. 😉

Get ready for some fanfics on that someday.

My favorite Artemis-centered episode was the second to last episode of S3. I was waiting for this episode centering around Artemis missing Wally and learning to move on. It was great yet heartbreaking. Nothing bad happened. That Will and Artemis kiss never happened. Everyone makes a mistake. No matter how terrible it was.

Anyway, seeing Artemis and Wally living their lives and having a baby gave me life, even if it was fake. It was a vision of the future. I will believe this until there is confirmation that Wally will not come back.

Did anyone else cry when Artemis was so desperate to, but Wally wouldn’t let that happen (the real Wally would do that)? They are a great example of a healthy relationship with all the love and support they have for each other. I want that.

#artemis young justice #artemis crock #wally x artemis #bart allen #impulse #Wally West #kid flash #Superboy #bluepulse #bartuardo #top 10 list #top 10 favorites #top 10 #kaldur #kaldur'ahm #aqualad #conner kent #kon el #kaldur x wyynde #miss martian #M'gann M'orzz #megan morse #dick grayson #nightwing #garfield logan #beast boy #young justice outsiders #young justice cartoon #Young Justice #red arrow

[autisticcassandracain]

I also finished Black Manta #6! I’m tired and also I’d like to re-read the whole series before making a final judgement (esp. since I made some very very embarrassing mistakes re: reading comprehension on my first read) so disclaimer this not Serious Analysis this is me thinking out loud.

I think it had similar issues to Aquaman: The Becoming’s final issue with regards to its pacing. That’s to say, I felt the pacing was too quickly and therefore I had trouble getting invested in the emotional moments. That said, I think Black Manta still managed to pull off some emotionally impactful moments.

The biggest issue I had was with the first half of the issue. That ghost guy with the top hat coming back was completely and utterly unnecessary, and the sequence of saving Gallous’ life in general was unimpactful due to how fast the pacing was. I never felt nervous about whether she was going to die and everyone’s concern didn’t touch me. The threat to her life was introduced and gone too quickly for it to have an impact on me.

Same goes for the revelation of the white haired girl’s (forgot her name, rip me) true identity, subsequent mindless anger, and then getting her shit together again. I do like the revelation that she’s Charybdis, if only because I’m happy to see some ancient Greek monsters other than Medusa get the sympathy treatment, but the revelation could’ve definitely been handled better. Especially her quick stint with mindcontrol (?) that was gone as fast as it appeared. It was just unnecessary.

That said, I did like many other things. I really appreciated where they took Devil Ray’s character; they could’ve easily just made him die at the end, so giving him the ‘implied redemption’ treatment was very nice. It was interesting to see him and Manta interact, and Manta telling him not to become like him was actually very impactful. I really liked that we saw a quick moment of Ray hesitating and not actually destroying Atlantis even before Manta & Co interfered; it really helped to sell his change of heart and makes it feel like Manta’s decision to let him go was well-founded instead of an unnecessary risk.

I like the ending for Charybdis and Gallous as well. Gallous was always fundamentally more heroic than Manta, and her and him going separate ways felt like a very natural end as a result of that. Charybdis getting some company in her search also felt like a good resolution for her. I know it won’t happen, but I’d be very interested in a solo/miniseries about Charybdis’ and Gallous’ search. I think they’re both very interesting and compelling characters who stand on their own quite well.

I enjoyed what this issue did with Manta as well. I feel like this series ended the melancholy/sad ending for its protagonist much better than Aquaman: The Becoming did (sorry for comparing the two series, I read them back to back so I can’t help it). Manta ending up alone felt like a very natural conclusion for this series, considering who he is as a character. Gallous, his closest friend, was far more heroic than him, and her going off on a heroic quest with Charybdis, leaving Manta behind, feels natural. Devil Ray moving on from his quest while Manta stays at the shore feels equally natural. In the end, Manta ends up alone because he’s unable to move on from the past and move away from his selfish greed and need for vengeance to a more heroic (or at least non-evil) future, as emphasized by him deleting his letter to Jackson.

I do think that, with how Manta’s future is being teased both in this series (warning Atlantis about the bombs) and Aquaman: The Becoming (meeting up with Arthur, presumably about Jackson), there’s a chance he might end up in a more anti-hero role at some point, but if that’s where DC wants to take the character, he’s not there yet at the end of this series, so at the end of it all, he’s alone. It works well for his character, imo.

Overall, I think the fast pacing kinda shot the last issue in the foot, but I still enjoyed more things about it than I didn’t.

#my posts #black manta #infodumping #long post

[sweetestlamb]

Love Me Like You Do ( Guide To Getting Back Your Self-Respect)

Summary: Dae-sung just wants Sol-i to be happy, even if that’s not with him so he decides to bury his feelings while Sol-i realizes how much strength she gained from his constant unwavering support. She becomes to questions her feelings for Cha Heon. 

Author's note: For the Dae-sung appreciators and anyone who wants Sol-i to keep her self-respect. I finally watched the recent episodes and I saw Heon making an effort but honestly I am already over him and anyone with some self-respect would be too. So in this my girl gets her self-respect back, wins over Dae-sung and gets the love and unconditional support she deserves.  

He doesn't cry. Not there on the bench, in front of her lying his heart out. He'd never thought he'd have to lie to her always wanting to give her nothing but his genuine honesty and support, but her question had stunned him. It was ridiculously moronic of him to write something so.. revealing on the paper. He knew it was a possibility that she would see it. A small hopeful part of him wanted her to see it, to finally know his heart and how much she meant to him, she was like the sun on a gray stormy day and he was tired of carrying these feelings in his heart. 

But she was uncomfortable, that much was evident. He couldn't handle that, she was his first real friend and he couldn't imagine his life without her dimpled smile- didn't want to. So he lied. It made his stomach churn, bubbling up with bile until he felt nauseous and he had to escape from her relief, she was so relieved by his admission. It was apparent that his feelings were unwelcome, she would never look at him the way she looked at Heon. He needed to find a way to accept that. 

So he waits until he's in the pool to unleash the tsunami swirling in his eyes, sobs wrenched from his lungs as he breaks apart slapping at the water and wishing he could turn off his heart. He tried to stop this by calling her "brother" hoping he'd be able to trick his heart into truly seeing her as a brother. In the end it was all futile and every second he spent with her only heightened his infatuation, until it shifted from like and swung into dangerous territory.

It was good. This was good. It was better that he find out now, he needed to move on for the salvation of their friendship. He would do it. He could do anything for Sol-i. But he would let himself mourn today, mourn the loss of his feelings and any chance of her reciprocating. He would cry until his throat was hoarse. Roaring into the air before dunking his head under the chilling pool and submerging his feelings.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

It isn't easy but he stops doing the things that are natural to him: buying snacks he knows she likes, saving the best hand warmer for her, going out of his way to make her smile and when he sees her with Heon, he doesn't interrupt leaving Sol-i to shine brightly up at someone else. Too sad to even be jealous.

"Woo Dae-sung? Are you listening? Who have I been talking to this whole time?" Jin-Hwan sighs exasperatedly, knocking into his shoulder. He turns to smile in apology, lost in his thoughts staring out the window. It was the safest place to look with Sol-i right in his line of vision, it was difficult not to get lost in the way the sunlight hit her dark brown hair, setting the strands ablaze.

"Sorry. I was daydreaming. What were you saying?" He nods staring into the spectacled eyes of his friend, giving his full attention and he laughs and nods at all the correct moments as Jin-Hwan regals his newest plot to win over Ha-Young, his latest idea a flash mob. He laughs freely at the other boys antics as he flails to mimic the possible choreography, at least Ha-Young never seemed uncomfortable with his various love confessions. He'd even found the other girl looking at the vocally gifted boy when she thought no one was looking, an inquisitive look as if she were seeing him for the first time.

Despite his own rejection he would be elated for his friends, he wanted those he cared about to always be smiling even if he wasn't.

Before he realizes it's time to go to the pool, he has a competition very soon and his coach has been shorter than usual pushing him past his limit. He accepts the punishment, enjoying the sharp knife of the water on his skin using his heartbreak as fuel. He was in control in the pool, his domain and his first love that would never turn its back on him.

"I'll see you all later!" He calls out to his small group of friends, making sure not to let his eyes linger on Sol-i as he usually does instead sprinting out of the room. He will get over this and things will go back to normal again.

When coach praises him on his form and speed he realizes for once his mind is not filled with a certain pint-sized girl.

One day at a time.

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"Heon-ah! Wait let's go together!" She calls out to the retreating back of the boy who is always on her mind, her sweet honey Heon. Just his mere presence is enough to make her feel like she's on cloud nine. Huffing when he doesn't slow down at all, she starts to chase after him closing the gap between them. But being as clumsy as she is her feet get tangled up and she finds herself tripping over nothing, she closes her eyes waiting for the painful collision. It never comes.

Squinting one eye open she finds herself staring at the flecks of cobble in the ground, seemingly elevating above it. 

"Brother! Are you okay?" A familiar voice greets her and when she twists to look behind her, Dae-sung’s hands are latched onto the top handle of her backpack preventing her fall. She smiles in gratitude, Dae-sung is such a great friend he's always there when she needs him. She beams up at him dimples making an appearance.

He smiles back, tugging her back onto her feet.

"I'm okay. Thank you for saving me." She bows her head slightly before remembering that she'd been following Heon. She spins around only to find the boy in question already climbing into his bike, looking at them with passive eyes before riding away.

"You should hurry so he doesn't leave you. Be careful and get home safely."

She hums not looking back before running over to follow Heon, he doesn't talk to her the entire ride home fleeing before she can even wish him goodnight. She huffs but goes inside her house calling out to her parents before running to her room and diving into her bed. Tomorrow, she'll make Heon like her tomorrow.

Probably.

Hopefully.

She dozes off her head filled with the boy who owns her mind, body and soul.

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"Anyone know where Dae-sung is? Doesn't it feel like he's always in the pool, has he turned in a merman? Aquaman?" Ji-Hwan quips at the lunch table, looking around at them as he mimes swimming in a pool. Sol-i stops mid chew looking around, she hadn't noticed he was missing but it was so obvious, normally he'd be there handing out snacks and laughing at Ji-Hwan's bad jokes. Making everything brighter with his infectious smile. 

"He has that big swim meet coming up remember? Are we all going to cheer him on?" Ha-Young responds, asking in a tone that leaves little room for argument. She looks at Heon to see his answer, he doesn't look up from his sandwich chewing slowly as if he's eating alone.

"Heon-ah, are you going?" She grins at him, willing him to agree with her winning smile.

His face remains impassive but he shrugs and she takes it as a yes. Jumping in her seat and turning back to Ha-Young nodding her head at the question finally.

Her friend squints at her though, looking annoyed for some reason. But the bell rings signaling the end of lunch before she can inquire why that cold look was directed her way. She nervously picks up her tray trailing behind her friends, not remembering to wait for Heon.

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She almost slept through her alarm but she manages to drag herself out of bed and she dances when she sees that Heon is getting on his bicycle too, they can go together.

"Heon-ah! Good morning."

He turns to look at her nodding softly, "You actually woke up?"

She playfully glares at him, "If you were so worried about me, why didn't you call me?"

"Why would I call you? You have an alarm."

"Your voice is much better than an alarm though." She answers honestly, boldly staring into his eyes before he scoffs at her and grabs his bike riding off without a word.

She cries indignantly before racing off after him.

She wonders what it's like to be so good at something as she watches Dae-sung effortlessly swipe through the water, powerful strokes as he closes in on the wall reaching out a hand and screaming triumphantly when his name lights up, first place Woo Dae-sung.

They all jump up cheering, signs in their hands and they celebrate his win. Jin-Hwan starts the chant and soon every voice in the room has joined them, all cheering his name.

Woo Dae-sung! Woo Dae-sung! Woo Dae-sung!

They find him later, leaving the locker room in jeans and a hoodie now, hair still plastered to his head from the swim cap. They are cheer when they see him, his smile is blinding as he waves at them a slight blush rising on his cheeks.

"Dae-sung congratulations! You were amazing!" She proudly cries sticking two thumbs out at him.

He smiles back at her, "Thank you. Thanks for coming to cheer for me. You all really motivated me."

It's only right that they should have a celebratory meal, they stay close going to a tteokbokki place near by and easily getting a table. She sits down in the middle leaving two empty seats on either side of her, Ha-Young and Ji-Hwan sit on the opposite side. She turns to smile at Heon patting the seat next to her, he sits down immediately looking at the menu, barely sparing her a glance. She's momentarily surprised though when Dae-sung goes to sit on the other side as well, eyeing the empty seat right next to her that had been much closer.

But he's looking at the menu as well as if they didn't come here specifically to eat the spicy noodle. Weird.

Ji-Hwan carries the conversation praising Dae-sung again then telling them all about his new favorite song, crying out with Ha-Young slaps his hand when he tries to serenade her. Dae-sung laughs at them both but never starts a conversation with her, never looking over at her for too long. She tries and fails to engage Heon in a conversation, her own voice filling the void.

After a few minutes, a waitress comes to take their order.

"Hi, I'm your server-- excuse me are you Woo Dae-sung?" The girl who looks like she's not much older than them, she's short with deep brown hair in a high ponytail and a small round face. Very pretty.

They all still and look up at her question, turning to Dae-sung who looks confused but nods in confirmation.

"I'm sorry I'm a fan of yours. I've seen you around school but I couldn't bring myself to say hi. You were amazing today, that was your best time!" She gushes practically bouncing in her spot, eyes bright as she looks at the boy, who is scarlet under her gaze.

"Oh. Thank you! You don't need to be shy, you can say hi. I'm just a student like you. I'm nobody special."

"Don't say that! You're the youngest in your group and you have the best time. I really admire you."

They all sit in silence watching the interaction, ping-ponging back and forth with each exchange. Before the girl seems to recall that they're all there.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" She bows low, "Do you know what you want to order?" She asks avoiding eye contact now and Ha-Young orders for them all and she tells them their food will be out soon. Bowing another time before stealing a gaze at Dae-sung and scurrying off.

"Maybe I should start swimming. I want fan girls too." Ha-Young slaps Jin-Hwan in the back of the head and he folds over in pain before crying out that his heart belongs to her, gaining another smack that he receives like it's a hug smiling through the gentle abuse.

In a few minutes the food arrives, steaming hot and delicious aroma wafting off and filling her nostril. The waitress asks them if they need anything else and it is not lost on Sol-i that her eyes never leave Dae-sung’s face. They all decline and she bows before retreating, looking reluctant to leave. Sol-i feels uneasy but she can’t decipher why. Her emotions twisting up in the pits of her stomach. 

Sol-i stealthy peeks over at Dae-sung to see if he's excited about having a fan girl but he's focused on eating, stuffing noodles into his cheeks before humming in pleasure, eyes closing as he enjoys the meal. Her stomach does a weird somersault. It must be indigestion. She grabs her glass of water, taking a big gulp. Choking a little when it goes down the wrong hole, Heon stares at her in the corner of his eye but then there's already a napkin in front of her face.

"Here. You should drink slower."

She takes the proffered napkin dabbing at her chin, "Thank you." Dae-sung smiles at her, but it looks different. Strained. Not quite reaching his eyes. Her stomach squeezes again.

What's wrong with me?

When it starts to get late they finally start to leave, Jin-Hwan slapping Dae-sung's wallet out of his hands when he tries to pay. They all chip in instead but he insists on leaving a tip and Jin- Hwan rolls his eyes but nods in agreement before a sly smile spreads across his face.

"Oh. I know why you want to leave the tip. Smooth." He throws a wink and smile the sputtering boy's way as he denies any ulterior motives. But their waitress is making her way back out and Jin-Hwan is already vibrating slapping Dae-sung on his back in encouragement. 

"I hope you enjoyed your meal and I didn't bother you too much. I'm sorry about earlier." She apologizes again and Dae-sung smiles brightly at her, a real smile that curves his eyes into half moons. Sol-i feels that same tinge in her stomach, when will her food finally digest?

"You don't need to be sorry! What's your name? Next time I see you at school I'll say hi." He sounds so friendly and Sol-i watches the other girl blush as she stares at Dae-sung, she finally turns away looking at Heon. This is where her focus should be, why she finding it so hard to focus? She likes Heon. She always has. 

"They look good together." Jin-Hwan claims shamelessly watching them talk through the window, Sol-i pointedly doesn't look. Telling herself she wants to respect his privacy.

Minutes pass by before Dae-sung rejoins them.

"Where did you all go?" He tilts his head and this time to her surprise, it's Ha-Young who teases him.

"We wanted to give you space. It seemed like she wanted to say something to you. Did you have a good talk? Did you learn her name?" She raises her eyebrows and smirks at him. 

Sol-i feels uneasy listening to them interrogate Dae-sung even more so when he looks down bashfully, running a hand across his head.

"It's Seong Mi-Ho. She um...she gave me her number."

Ji-Hwan cheers loudly jumping to put him in a headlock and Sol-i feels sick to her stomach now, like a someone is doing a drumline in her small intestine. 

She doesn't notice Heon nudging at her shoulder, until he calls her name. In a daze she turns to look at him.

"Sorry?"

"I asked if you were ready to go. I'm leaving."

She nods quietly before calling out to her friends, Ha-Young now has Jin-Hwan in a headlock as Dae-sung laughs watching them another real smile, it makes her feel small and jagged.

"We're leaving." The three stop to look at her before saying their goodbyes.

Impulsively she looks at Dae-sung and he meets her eyes for once. Maybe this had all been in her head. Her stupid imagination.

"Dae-sung, I'm so proud of you! Good night."

He stands frozen, unprepared for her exclamation before he nods smiling at her.

"Thank you brother. Get home safely."

Fake smile. This time the pain is in her chest.

When she's safely back in her room she stares at her ceiling, head of full of questions and worries. All about a certain swimmer. Void of another stoic boy. 

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She wakes up late and dashes through the door, grabbing her bike and pedaling until her feet hurt but she makes it to school with two minutes to spare.

Waves good morning to her friends minus Dae-sung who isn't in his seat, she struggles to focus as she stares blankly at her notebook devoid of any notes. Head too full of thoughts to process any new information. She doesn't even notice Heon staring at her, confused that she isn't staring back.

Dae-sung doesn't show up until lunch and she lights up before realizing he isn't alone. The same girl from the tteokbokki shop is walking very close to him, their shoulders brushing with every step. Dae-sung waves happily when he sees them all before stopping to motion at the girl.

"Everyone this is Seong Mi-Ho, she's in the same lunch period as us! Is it okay if she sits with us?" He asks hopefully and Ha-Young scoots over giving her ample space and he smiles in gratitude. Dae-sung looks at the remaining seats hesitating before sitting next to her, directly across the other girl.

They eat comfortably, but she can't help sneaking glances at the other girl. She seems nice, laughing and asking them all questions but it's obvious her attention is mostly focused on Dae-sung, enraptured every time he speaks.

"Sol-i ah do you want to go to the bathroom with me?" Ha-Young's voice cuts through her contemplation and she jumps before answering, "Yes I'll come."

She bounds after her friend before walking straight into her back with a soft oomph.

Grabbing her forehead she looks up at Ha-Young in question.

"Sol-i, are you okay?"

She squirms under the penetrating stare, shifting from side to side before tugging at her hair.

"What do you mean?"

A thin eyebrow raises, "You haven't been staring at Heon at all today. Do you not like Seong Mi-Ho? You keep looking at her."

She rushes to immediately deny that speculation, "No! I mean yes! I mean..."

Ha-Young crosses her arms now, gaze getting harder as she struggles to find an answer.

"I.. Ha-Young ah....have you ever realized something when it was too late?"

The girl tilts her head accessing her with a sharp gaze.

"What are you talking about?"

She loses her nerve, feeling stupid in Ha-Young's no nonsense gaze. The last time they'd spoken she had adamantly told the other girl she had no interest in Dae-sung, how could she possibly say that she was faltering now? Plus he'd only been joking she'd gotten nervous for no reason, overwhelmed at the idea of someone liking her. Liking Heon was easier, she could do so without any expectation.

"Nothing. I'm just feeling tired I didn't get enough sleep last night." She lies walking towards the bathroom, desperate to keep her new feelings to herself.

It's better this way.

#a love so beautiful #a love so beautiful 2020 #shin sol i #dae sung #Cha Heon will barely speak or do anything just like the show #jeong jin-hwan #kang Ha-Young #part 1 #I think it'll be 3 parts #some angst and longing #then fluffy fluff #fix it #for the 3 people who said they wanted this

[on-a-lucky-tide]

Henlo how much would you take for a modern!au Vipurr ficlet with a prompt of your choice because i love them oh so very much and your writing is love, your writing is life 🥺❤

Letho works the door at the Cheshire Cat and is becoming increasingly attracted to the barman...

He wore a rainbow cat pin on his staff lanyard.

Letho saw it for the first time while he was dragging a handsy asshole out by the scruff of the neck. He'd groped two bartenders as they weaved through the mess of tables and chairs collecting glasses. There was no need for the police because Letho knocked him on his arse the moment he opened his mouth to complain.

Rainbow cat pin. It had bushy cheeks and stuck out from the rest of his uniform. Black slacks, waistcoat and white open-collared shirt. Letho knew his name - Gaetan - but his head used 'Him'. Capital 'h'. Because He drew Letho's attention in a way that didn't bear examining too closely. 

At first it was easy to dismiss it as an appreciation for his skill at the bar. Gaetan turned and flipped the cocktail flask effortlessly - over his shoulder, behind his back - dazzling the punters and Letho alike. His face lit up when he ignited the surface of a shot or popped an umbrella at a jaunty angle across blended ice.

In fact, the Cheshire Cat - marketed unironically with the strapline 'we're all mad in here' - had become somewhat famed for its energetic bar staff. Almost as much as its line up of live music; everything from niche indie outfits to small name signed bands. Its shabby chic aesthetic attracted a huge spectrum of people and there was never a dull night.

It was a good gig. Letho's best since leaving the forces and getting his private security certification. He just had to… ignore these unwelcome knots that formed in his chest whenever Gaetan winked at him over the bar or slid a beer at him after a shift or sat down with him in the break room to ask what he was reading or -

Because Letho was not gay. 

He'd had relationships with women. Didn't matter that they took effort and felt false. Just hadn’t found the right one, and he had to settle for whoever would put up with him. Scarred, covered in a tapestry of tattooed scales and tribal symbols - Auckes jokingly pointed out that people would think Aquaman was his better looking brother when the movie came out - and built like a grizzly bear on steroids, Letho didn't tend to attract the fairer sex on looks alone.

Sane ones anyway. Definitely attracted the crazy. A whole lot of crazy.

"You like it?" 

Gaetan's voice broke through the mire of his reverie, and Letho frowned upon realising he'd been staring at the pin badge for at least five minutes. "I'm not…" He cleared his throat when Gaetan quirked an eyebrow. "Why a cat?"

They were in a pub called the Cheshire Cat. Letho was a fucking idiot and he regretted opening his idiot mouth -

"It's a long story."

"I've got time." Letho said it without even thinking. Usually he was a lot smoother. When you didn't have the looks, you had to rely on the personality. But it didn't matter, because he wasn't trying to flirt. So -

"Let me serve this bloke, and I'll be right back." Gaetan grabbed his towel from the bar and slung it over his shoulder before sauntering away. This close Letho could follow the way his narrow hips moved, and the way his slacks emphasised just how perfect his ass was. He pulled his eyes away to survey the floor. A quiet night. Not a lot to distract him.

Although he wasn't sure an all out brawl would've dragged him away from Gaetan when he returned. It didn't help that his smile was so charming; it set his turquoise eyes alight. Of course they were turquoise. Why settle for one colour when you could have a mix of two? Because Gaetan, it turned out, was the kind of man that didn't enjoy the mundane or the simple.

The cat was left over from his time as a stripper. He moved as gracefully as a feline, apparently. Letho nearly choked on the beer at his lips - Gaetan's silent acknowledgement that his shift was over - and murmured an apology. The cat in question just grinned - that massive fucking beaming toothy smile that made Letho's lips tingle with desire to - , ah fuck, no, not into men. Gaetan listed off his other former jobs; plumber, electrician, carpet salesman, social worker, teaching assistant… "I like people. But I get bored easily."

"You've been here a while." Letho remarked, trying to avoid looking down at that open-necked collar flaunting the beginnings of a muscular chest.

"Yeah. Lots to hold my interest." Gaetan glanced up from the glass he was drying, and realised his pointed remark had sailed right over that shaven dome. "Come on then. I've heard the others call you Viper. What's the story?"

Letho told him. About spending most of his adult life in the special forces, leaving to find some stability and ending up in private security because it was something familiar. He felt adrift though. Without focus or purpose, and he wasn’t really sure what was missing. Gaetan listened, disappearing occasionally to draw a pint or mix a cocktail. Letho's own hand never seemed to be empty, and by the time he stepped out into the cold night air, his head was swimming.

Talking to Gaetan was so easy. Letho found a reason every shift. He was funny, quick-witted; his relaxed manner put Letho at ease even when the customers were being dickheads and the music was awful. They started spending their breaks together deliberately; reading, Sudoku, playing cards or chatting. 

Letho tried not to think about how the warmth in his chest didn't appear around his other male friends, only Gaetan. 

He tried not to think about how he fantasised about that bright smile when he was in bed, his hand around his prick, trying to focus on the porn on his phone rather than thoughts of what that tight ass would feel like. 

He tried not to think about how disappointed he was when their shift patterns changed for a month and Serrit took over Gaetan's slot. Or how happy he was when that familiar grin was back again.

He tried not to think about the way Gaetan answered Letho's tentative questions about his sexuality. How did he know? When did he know? Did he have a type - ?

He tried not to think about the way Gaetan touched the tops of his hands when they were on the bar, or hugged him goodbye, or complimented his new suit or flirted with him relentlessly and openly. And how much it made Letho preen. No one complimented him. No one was ever remotely nice to him. But Gaetan genuinely meant it.

He tried not to.

But he did.

So the night when Gaetan's shift ended and they drank some shots and Gaetan's hand slipped into his and pulled him out into the night air and pressed him gently back against a wall and -

His body was warm. And firm. It wouldn't break under Letho's hands.

It felt so -

The kiss stole Letho's breath away. Lips hot, and wet, and good. Tongue as skilful in passion as it was with words when it licked into his mouth. The quiet rumble of a pleased groan when Letho’s hands gripped his waist and pulled him close.

It felt so -

The brush of stubble across his jaw as soft lips pressed beneath his ear. The whisper of reassurance that melted every coil of tension in his shoulders.

It felt so -

Right.

Letho walked Gaetan home, his mind in disarray, but still holding the smaller hand securely in his thick fingers. Said good night to him at his door and took another kiss to end their farewell. The tender brush of fingers down his cheek and a promise to take it at Letho's pace if that was what he wanted made the warmth balled in his chest spill through the rest of his body.

He did. 

He wanted.

The next shift Gaetan wasn't there. Another change. The swell of disappointment ebbed away when Letho found a small envelope with his name on it waiting behind the bar.  It contained a small note and a pin badge. A rainbow snake. 

“Took me ages to find one. Hope you like it.”

Letho pinned it to his jacket lapel - no ties or lanyards for security - and wore it with pride. He wasn't sure whether these were his colours yet or really what they meant, but they were Gaetan's, and Letho knew one thing for certain...

His boyfriend wore a rainbow cat pin.

#rawrkinwrites #letho #gaetan #modern au #vipurr

[locke-writes]

Shattered

Author: locke-writes

Title: Shattered

Prompt: Do you love me? I have to know. x Arthur Curry For: @moonlit-imagines​ writing challenge

Rating: T

Word Count: 1,966

Tag List: @lotsoffandomrecs​ / ask to be added

There was a rift between you and Arthur. There was no telling how long it had been there or when it started to grow but it was there and you refused to acknowledge it which hurt Arthur nearly as much as the idea that he was the cause of it did. He wondered if you refused to acknowledge the fact that the two of you were drifting apart because you didn't want to admit it or perhaps because you didn't see it. Although he wondered how you couldn't see it.

It was meant to be simple, all of it was meant to be simple. At the beginning it was just you and Arthur, no one else, nothing else. He knew that he was Atlantean and this was something he shared with you although he'd thought he'd never go there, never live to see the home that belonged to half of him. And then suddenly he was needed, suddenly he had to leave for a place he knew little of.

When he returned, he was king. Then it was no longer just you and Arthur, it became you, Arthur, and an entire kingdom that you may never get to see.

He worried that you'd leave after his coronation. He worried because he was unable to fathom any way that you could stay when there was knowledge that he'd be back and forth across land and sea. But you loved him. That's what you had told him, that you loved him and you would willingly lend him to the sea, to Atlantis, as long as you had a promise of his return.

The promise was easily given but not easily kept and Arthur supposed that this was the beginning of the drift. Or maybe was it the beginning of an end he couldn't see coming, he didn't know.

For a time it was you, Arthur, and Atlantis. And then Bruce Wayne arrived, and then he was called for another greater purpose.

You were his excuse to Bruce for not joining at first, you were the reason he wasn't going to join. Because he had to talk to you, because he didn't want to just leave you high and dry. Bruce claimed to understand then watched Arthur as he questioned you, revealed all that was occurring and what he was being asked to do. He played it up, he knew it was exaggerated but he wanted you to see what he was trying to convey.

Arthur wondered if you could see it in his eyes, see that he was pleading with you to ask him to stay, If you did see this, you chose to ignore it and instead urge him to join. The world needed him and you would not keep him from the world. Arthur wondered if he would be seen as a coward if he retreated to Atlantis instead of leaving with Bruce but he knew that if he was being asked to go then he must.

He would be split into pieces, he would leave just a part of himself with you. Some of his thoughts would be with you, some with Atlantis, some with the Justice League, and only a small bit would be for him and him alone. He hated it, he longed for the days that seemed decades ago when it was you and he against the world.

He didn't dare speak with his mother on the subject although he knew that she had gone through worse than he had. She had been reunited with his father but he didn't know how she hadn't lost hope in the years of separation.

He didn't dare speak with Diana on the subject although he knew that she had gone through something similar. She had Steve Trevor, lost him, and then regained him but he didn't know how she had dealt with those years of separation.

He didn't dare speak with you on the subject. He was strength, he was never weak, and what would you think if he shown some brokenness to you. What would you think if you chipped away the facade of Aquaman to show the vulnerable Arthur Curry underneath?

Perhaps this was the start of the rift.

Perhaps this was the start of what Arthur considered the end, whether you noticed it or not.

When he returned from the first Justice League mission he knew that you were relieved. You had been watching the news and engulfed him into a hug as soon as he stepped through the door. He returned it yet in the back of his mind he felt as though it was a caveat, a way of forgiveness for him leaving. It wasn't, he knew it was you being grateful for his being alive yet he still couldn't shake this lingering guilt.

He couldn't shake the fact that he felt that he had abandoned you.

He knew that you deserved better than him. You deserved someone that wasn't split into pieces and scattered any way the wind blew. He wanted to be whole for you, he wanted to be one person, he wanted to be human not Atlantean, he wanted to be Arthur Curry, not king of Atlantis, not Aquaman, he wanted just to be Arthur Curry.

He wanted to be with you, he wanted to not feel the pressures of everything weighing down upon him.

So yes, perhaps this was the start of the rift because this was when Arthur began to retreat away from you.

Slipping from bed before you awoke he retreated to Atlantis to bury himself in work returning long after you had gone to bed. Often he would come in to find food on the table for him and you on the couch asleep, both signs that you had been waiting for him. On these nights he pushed the guilt away from him. It sat in his stomach like a rock, filled with his refusal to see what he was doing to you. If he didn't see the pain in your eyes when you looked at him then that pain didn't exist.

But that pain did exist and it grew within you as it grew within Arthur.

A coward, that's what he was now, that's what he considered himself. Only a coward would keep this hidden in his own mind and body. Only a coward would allow his soul to be torn from his body as if it had never been there at all.

Only a coward would keep running.

But run and run and run he did.

Because running was easier, running was the way out.

Confrontation would lead to unhappiness and he couldn't bare to hear that he had made you unhappy.

Except he was sure that it wasn't the distance between you know that had made you unhappy, it was him. It had been and would always be him that caused you pain rather than comfort, sorrow rather than joy.

Everything he touched he was sure to destroy, so why did he think it would be any different with you?

Arthur wanted to speak to you, wanted to reach out, and yet stopped himself every time. It seemed impossible to repair what had been destroyed even if you never recognized its destruction. Even if you never placed any blame on him.

He deserved the blame.

He deserved the anger.

He deserved yelling, he deserved horror, he deserved terror and pain and sadness and destruction and he deserved all of it from you.

Because what he had and was still putting you through was unforgivable and yet it seemed as though he couldn't bring himself to stop.

He hated what he was doing to you. He hated it but trying to stop it came to no avail. It would continue as though someone else was inhabiting his body. His mind now was not his own, it belonged to the self hatred that festered within him, it belonged to the feeling of worthlessness that came upon him and lived forever within him. This was something he never was going to get rid of. He was sure of it.

And as he slipped in bed beside you all he planned to do was slip away again the next morning.

But you were there and you were not asleep and you had not acknowledged the rift but you had noticed it. You were never ignoring it, could never ignore it for the pain that built inside you was not anger, it was not due to Arthur tearing himself from your side as if you were one becoming two.

No, you had seen what was occurring and you were striving to fix it. You had hoped that maybe he would reach out to you, maybe one morning he would be there when you awoke instead of miles in the depth of the sea.

You could feel him drifting and you wanted to pull him back in. You had hoped he would return to you on his own accord, you had hoped that the spiral had an end and that he wasn't slipping further and further away. There was no predicting what went on in his mind there was only knowing that you had gone through it at one point on your own.

You had gone through it alone. You had been going through it alone.

It was a monster there in the back of your mind and Arthur was feeding the monster with every single act. He seemed to be getting devoured by the monster rather than pushing it back to the far recesses of his mind in defeat where it should always live.

Arthur lie awake staring at the ceiling and you had a thought in the back of your mind that refused to leave you. Whether the answer to the question would heal or harm you it didn't matter — you only wanted an answer.

Arthur felt you turn, he felt an arm come to rest itself across his waist, he felt you turn your head but he didn't dare face you.

"Do you love me? I have to know. Is there still one ounce of love for me in you?"

If his heart already hadn't been shattered, hearing your question would have shattered it to pieces.

If you were being honest you hadn't expected an answer and Arthur wasn't sure that he was even ready to give one but he was tired. Tired not just physically but emotionally, he didn't want to run anymore, he didn't want to be honest either. He wanted to hide.

Yet here you were asking and here he was speaking and he didn't know what would become of him if he kept everything from you any longer.

"I love you. I will love you for the rest of my days. I just don't love me and I don't think you deserve someone who doesn't love himself."

He didn't know what he was thinking when he spoke, when he admitted some of what had been going on in his head. He had not expected though, for you to take your hand in his.

And he did not expect for you to speak, thinking that the words would sit in silence.

"Then let me love you for the both of us. Let me love you enough for you until you can love yourself again because Arthur, you deserve love. I need you to tell me when something is wrong. I need you to trust me. And we don't have to start now, we don't have to start tonight but we will work to heal you Arthur. We will work on getting you to love yourself again but next time please, trust me enough to know that I won't run from you and that you don't need to run from me"

#locke writes #dceu #arthur curry #dceu fic #arthur curry fic #dceu fanfic #arthur curry fanfic #dceu imagine #arthur curry imagine #dceu oneshot #arthur curry oneshot

[currentfandomkick]

Marinette did not sign up for this part 10: Mari plots plotting

So long time no post. I live. Ish. Also finally figured out readmore on mobile, so yay. Will take forever to edit posts now though. Explanation at the bottom First part here previous part here. Ao3 here

Marinette wanted to go on record that Mandeliev did not, in fact, give her an extra day or so to study for the test. Why? Instead, she was told she may do a paper on the application of physics in gymnastics and principles of evasion in urban areas and how to combine the two to maximize one’s ability to run away from akumas and other dangers.

Or as Nino put it: “I am tormenting you into running better, the eight page essay.”

Alya dubbed it the “Run Better Paper.”

Aurore said it should include more formulas when Marinette showed her the draft. (as Adrien would complain about lack of theories and how she should have used this advanced formula she’d never heard of instead and then Marinette would have to forcibly stop him from taking over her paper. Again.)

Kim had taken to keeping her in his hoodie, escorting her to the bakery and didn’t leave her alone until Adrien said it was his “Marinette Anxiety Watch” shift.

Which she would like to go on record, is just plain mean to say. She has Liar 100% under control when world ending things and metaphorical bomb drops aren’t happening to her constantly.

—-

Bruce tried to contact Diana and Arthur again. Hal was off world, and therefore useless.

Why?

As his missing son hadn’t contacted them yet. Was still in the Miraculous team’s custody. And he saw the footage of Robin—Damian—being hunted by a lving shadow, an element casting swordswoman, and a strategist that seemed to know exactly what to do to keep Robin cornered in battle. The living shadows—Chat Noir—tried to kill his son with Cataclysm.

That was when they were in public, and had Hal watching over them.

He didn’t want to think about what the kids might do unsupervised to someone that tried to kill Ladybug, openly stalked her civilian self, and apparently tried stalk her again, in broad daylight. And possibly may have revealed her secret identity…

From the comments, it seemed that the Parisians hadn’t connected his sons aliases to the pair, writing it off as “Copy-cat Vigilantes” thankfully. And none of them were revealing more than “so the Fashion Disaster tried to go after Chat and Ryuko’s civvie… Not A Smart CopyBird” was the most he was able to get.

His children, on the other hand…

——

“I Fucking KNEW IT!” Tim yelled. “I knew it was her!”

“But,” Jason smirked. “You didn’t tell us.”

“Soup girl, baby bat!” Cass said gleefully.

“Wait, we both talked to her—and you didn’t say you thought it was her either Cass!”

“So what I’m hearing, if my ears don’t deceive me,” Jason continued. “Is that you all lost too.”

“What—“

“Wait a minute!”

“No way—”

Cass shrugged. She was the least invested in winning. She got to meet soup girl, who is very nice and her parents are safe for Baby Bat.

“We don’t have proof,” Dick pointed out. “Didn’t you say something about her being a mouse?”

“I—”

“Well—”

“Yes.” Cass cut through Tim and Stephanie’s waffling. “She is.”

Dick rubbed his forehead. “How many secrets can one kid have?”

“Five?” Jason said without much thought. “Limit is definitely five.”

—-

“Let me get this straight,” Miss Sting began, watching Ladybug very, very carefully. Rena and Carapace were busy that night and couldn’t act as the team’s Common Sense Filter in person. and texts only went so far.

So the job fell to Aurore. To talk (probably Marinette) Ladybug out of a Very, Stupendously, Inconceivably Bad Idea.

“You want to trust Robin—the kid who tried to kill you—to contact his mother—an assassin—to talk strategy about how to take down Hawkmoth’s civilian life’s business, not kill him, and trust that they won’t kill you?”

“…I’m bringing Chat with me.”

“Ladybug.”

“What, do you want me to use a Lucky Charm to prove this is our best bet?”

“You know what?” Miss Sting threw her hands up. “Yes, yes I do.”

“Fine.” Ladybug threw her yoyo skyward. “Lucky Charm!”

A red, spotted ball with an 8 on it came down.

“… you have got to be kidding me.”

Ladybug shrugged. “Uh, Magic Eightball, is it okay to trust Robin with this?”

One shake later and the floating die window read “Without a Doubt.”

“Give me that.” Miss Sting scowled, shaking as she asked. “Should she bring someone besides Chat and Robin—like someone from our team or Wonder Woman or Aquaman?”

The ball answered “Outlook not so good.”

Miss Sting glared at the magic eight ball. “I can’t believe this!”

Ladybug shrugged. “Lucky Charms are Lucky Charms—and I gotta go.”

Miss Sting checked her beeping spinning top. Someone was just akumatized.

“Re-charge first!” Miss Sting yelled before swinging ahead.

—-

“Oh, hey, when’s Demon Spawn going to contact us?” Jason asked as other bats calmed down.

“He’s not answering his communicator.” Bruce growled. “Hal took it earlier.”

The bats paused at that.

“Well then. Trackers?”

“Disabled—what? We didn’t need anyone crashing the apology and he ran off before I could stop him,” Dick defended. He is not Damian’s keeper. Just his Batman (as yes Bruce, he is Damian’s Batman and Damian is his Robin. Current masks not-withstanding).

“Then how are we supposed to find him?” Stephanie asked as the room grew uneasy.

No one answered that.

“How’s this,” Tim began. “Me, Steph and Cass agreed on who Hawkmoth probably is, each of us has a different set of evidence for it—and I’m counting breaking into his evil Liar and the cameras catching him mid-act a few minutes ago as absolute proof.”

“I’m sorry, you did what!” Stephanie leaned over Tim’s shoulder to see. “Oh shit. Isn’t that guy—”

“One of her friends? According to their private Instagram accounts, more like partner in crime and possible Chat Noir. I mean, he’s the one that calls her his “everyday Ladybug” and voices Chat Noir in everything." Tim answered idly. “My money’s on him not knowing at all.”

Bruce twitched. Then began to add ‘stalking social media feeds’ to his to-do list tonight.

“So,” Tim stepped forward. “I suggest we send this to the Wonder Woman and ask for Robin’s comm to be returned, and failing that, I bugged the video so anything they play it on, we get access to its IP and can find where they are.”

“Have Oracle go over the bug, just in case,” Bruce told them. “In the mean time, the rest of you suit up for the night. Gotham needs its vigilantes.”

—-

Marinette wanted to go on the record that her plan (to keep the bats away) was going well. Deciding what to do with Mu—R—Damian. Damian. Damian and his offer, was a challenge.

For obvious reasons, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and Aquaman were against her asking a bunch of assassins for their help. Chat has more than a few reservations. Carapace, Rena and Miss Sting gave her looks for that plan.

But.

But it would work. She needs more information on how to make the plan burning in the back of her mind work. It’s a lot of chaos (and she may thrive in chaotic battles but this wasn’t her usual battlefield, and her team didn’t know who they were going up against for once). And Marinette? She needs to know its not just her doing this when its so out of her depths.

So despite literally everyone and their disagreements she had Chat on her right side with Damian on her left, meeting up with his Crazy, Semi-Immortal mother. And possibly his Immortal, former Black Cat candidate, grandfather.

Why?

As Marinette isn’t trusting the likely cult that makes up the Gotham Ghost Gang (Batfam if you like them) when she can get real advice and vague directions to immortal and allied (loyal and terrifying) assassins.

And yes, she wasn’t sure if Liar was wrong or right when they said it was a bad idea too.

But fuckit she’s already got Kaalki at her shoulder, looking a bit bored at the deserted rooftop that Kaalki chose for their meeting.

“داميان*,” the woman smiled at her son. “It’s good to see you.”

“Mother,” Robin greeted. “This is Ladybug and Chat Noir. Ladybug wished to speak to you about potential strategies to take down an enemy outside of battle without violence,” Damian stressed.

“I am well-aware of the Kwami and their Chosen, اِبْن.**” The woman spoke calmly. “The League of Assassins formed to act as the Black Cat to restore the world to balance and un-burden the Order with its maintenance.” The woman offer Ladybug her hand. “I am Talia al Ghul, and I am at your service, with or without violence Ladybug.”

Marinette took her hand. “Thank you Talia. Our target being directly exposed like I planned would have…” Ladybug trailed off, thinking over the ramifications not only to Adrien, but to the whole of Gabriel’s brand, workers and all that worked with them. “Some intense ramifications I’d rather avoid.”

Talia nodded her head, waiting for more information.

“I believe its possible to topple them without affecting their employees by uncoupling them from their business, but doing so is, well, stocks and economics isn’t my strongest point.” Ladybug admitted a bit sheepishly.

“I would suggest,” Talia began, “to create a bit of chaos in the stock market. Perhaps a rumor here and there, let investors pull out and grab the abandoned stocks quickly. Consolidate them under one owner and become the company’s owner.”

Marinette twitched a bit at that. “That… sounds complicated.”

“Oh, but it isn’t. My son knows just how to that, or did you forget our lessons?” Talia asked coolly.

Damian twitched at Marinette’s side. “I did not.”

“You know,” Chat chimed in. “I do know a few things about those things. If its general chaos, well…” Chat’s face twisted in a way Marinette forgot he could do after that Chat Blanc episode.

“… I will take that into consideration.”

“Anything else?” Talia asked, watching Ladybug and her son. Specifically, how her son seemed glued to the girl’s side. “I am certain my son is able to take out your target, if all else fails.”

Damian scowled at Marinette’s side.

“However, I do believe that whatever is happening, whatever has you active, might require a more… experience hand.”

Damian brushed against her side. Code for ‘Possible Danger.’

“Thank you for the offer,” Chat moved in front of Marinette. “But mi’lady and the Guardians have that much handled.”

Talia’s eyes shifted from Chat to Ladybug, staying on her. “Is that so?”

“Yes. I merely needed more information on how to execute this type of plan, that’s all!” Ladybug almost, almost slipped into Marinette while Liar, while silenced for the moment, prodded the back of her mind. “I want to minimize collateral damage as much as I can, to everyone. The kwami already said they get to chose the target’s punishment.”

“Ah, I see.” Talia relaxed then. “You are following the kwami’s wishes. I will respect their wishes as well, Chosen.”

Marinette categorized this interaction as one of the “not too horrible, but will avoid a repeat” once they left.

—

*Damian in arabic

**son

so we have Talia now as a Player, sort of. she plays by her word pretty well so hopefully its a cameo more than anything else.

any ideas on how JL will handle the video, and if Miraculous Team should see it and freak out or only LB and keep on the dl while JL assissts in her Chaos Plot?

End of update. Will have to repost from ao3 on my phone now as desktop tumblr is being exceptionally rude. Tags always open, just takes me a bit to do—sorry to vixen for vanishing from tags

TAGS:  @heldtogetherbysafetypins @laurcad123 @raisuke06 @chaosace @jeminiikrystal @toodaloo-kangaroo @kris-pines04 @bisha43rbs @izang @dreamykitty25 @emu-lumberjack @vixen-uchiha

#maribat #marinette did not sign up for this #part 10 #updated at last #my writing #long post #my writings #bio!dad bruce

[aj-allen97]

Zack Snyder Justice League part Six and Epilouge:

Spoilers!!!!

- The real wonder is the fact Mama Kent managed to leave a few boxes behind...is she coming back for them??? Or did she cut her loses on them???

- Does anyone even know who Bruce Wayne is??? The fact that Bruce Introduces Alfred as his boss like he’s hasn’t been introducing himself as Bruce Wayne

- Wait...hasn’t everyone veen to the batcave already??

- a sweet little filler when the whole Kent family getting back together again...

-how exactly do they explain Clark’s sudden revival from the dead??? Superman would have been easy enough to explain?? But Clark? Of no no this isn’t Clark...this is Clark’s twin brother....Mark Kent...

- Oh course Arthur would point that out - after all he does have a close relationship with his own father

- You Need to See This Cliche

- Aww Cyborg fixed the ship so sweet - now off to die!

- I love how we don’t even see Orm in the reshoots - the King of Atlantis and yet his reaction to the mother box’s going boom is not as important as Meras and Vulkos reaction

- The Fortress of Solitude and fatherly advice

- Screw the Red and Blue color scheme I’m feeling black and grey today

- Can’t tell if Superman is one step away from becoming Justice Lord Superman or not....

- I will admit I’m glad the family filler was cut out - they weren’t the only family I’m sure and yet they got prime time

- Well that was easy...

- I am really really hoping this town is abandoned in this version because the implication that it might not be is quite frankly terrifying for some reason

- Victor put all that effort in repairing that plane and giving her wings back only for Bruce to once again clipped them

- The Batmobile vs paradeamons scene is pretty BA tbh - and gore-y

- So can Wonder Women fly? I feel like the context of her powers changes with each new film

- Arthur...I don’t think that’s how gravity works....

- Hehe Batman’s ejector seat

- Apparently none of these paradeamons know how to properly shoot - they must have learn to shoot at the same place storm troopers learn to shoot

- I love Batman’s little shaded googles

- Holy Moly Mama Currys triton has game in this version, To bad Arthur didn’t have that triton by the time his own film came around

- Diana I love you and you are way more awesome in this version - and your theme music? *chefs kiss*

- ooh the creepy spider arms are back

- Don’t listen to him Diana he’s full of smoke and lies

- Poor baby - victor get you butt in gear and put Barry out of his misery

- Woohoo Go Superman Go!!!

- Not so tough without your ax now?

- WooHoo superpower team up!!! Wonder Woman, Superman and Aquaman for the win!!!

- That must’ve hurt!

- No Barry No! Poor baby is hurt and probably panicking

- Mother Goodness looks much more terrifying here then in any animated versions Iv seen

- What are you up to Barry?

- speed force???

- It is the Speed Force!!!

- Now the real question did the super nova blast kill even Superman? Diana? Aquaman?? It definitely kill Batman and Cyborg? But what about those three?

- It did kill even those three!?! Wow what a blast!

- also slightly freeky seeing them being put back together again from the molecule up

- Do Not Fall for this!! Not after what Barry went through for you!

- Hell yeah you ain’t broken!!! And hell yeah you ain’t alone!!! The Justice League is your family now! Never forget!

- Hell Yeah Aquaman and Wonderman show Darksied and his minions the Justice Leave means business!!!

- Was Steppenwolf horn things hollow??? Weird?

- Also Darksied castle is a good creepy - love the color scheme and decor not gonna lie

- The Ship Still Flies!!!

- Every One (except Batman) is wearing a darker color version of their comics counter parts costumes that I’m getting serious Justice Lords vibes

- It’s a good thing Papa Stone didn’t throw that out when he found it broken

- Why not swim?? Wouldn’t that be faster??

- So would Bruce technically be the teams own version of Daddy Warbucks??? There are many orphans and half orphans within the team technically...

- Look how Proud and Happy Papa Allen is of Barry! Sooo sweet!

- “I bough the Bank” tbh the best flex ever not gonna lie

- It was nice to show Diana being homesick for a moment - shows that she’s still coping and all

- I love how Barry has officially embraced his powers and became a superhero who enjoys his job

- Soooo...how did they explain Clark’s sudden revival?!? The Whole Yeah Clark is dead but I’m His Twin Mark???

- Like your telling me No one was curious on how both Clark and Superman were dead and now both alive now?? No one put two and two together???

- Gotham Home of Emotionally Troubled hahahaha

- Finally A Villain puts two and two together!!!

- So that’s what Earth would have looked like it Steppenwolf won...huh...

- I’m guessing this is the same Vision Cyborg had were Arthur and Diana were dead and Superman is Evil???

- Apparently every Gotham Villain knows Batman secret identity- not for sure why - after all he’s so good at keeping it under wraps 🙄

- Poor Rose??? .... Superman’s daughter? A nickname for Lois??? A quote from a sitcom?

- So was this a what if Steppenwolf won?? A altered reality where Steppenwolf won and how Batman keeps sending Flash back in time to prevent it???

- The third loved Joker was gonna mention was Jason Todd’s Robin - so that means there were more robins before Jason

- I’m guessing Joker killed Harley and Batman was there for her final moments? Or someone killed Harley because of her connections to Joker??

- The Badges on Jokers tactical vest are probably trophies

- And Evil Superman is wearing his iconic red and blue super suite

- OH OH Martian Manhunter!!!!! We’re where you earlier?!?

- ehh better late then never

-Bruce has zero cares about his secret identity

- Bruce you could have offered him some coffee or tea! Alfred raised you better then that!

#zack synder's justice league #zack snyder #justice league #dc justice league #dc extended universe #dc films #hbo max #warner brothers #superman #wonder woman #Batman #cyborg #the flash

[anaarroyo93]

I finally got to watch Zack Snyder’s Justice League today and man did I love it! It was four hours that flew by and I would be happy to have spent another four with them! Just seeing this team work together makes me want to spend so much more time with them!

Also, trying not to focus on comparing this to the other version, so all I’ll say is I loved this version much more, I liked the characters better, the story made more sense, most of the jokes landed way better, and it also was given four hours to tell the story and that helped it immensely!

Now for spoilers of all my thoughts and what I loved of the film!

In no particular order, just what came to mind after my first watch of the film!

- Wonder Woman calling the little girl princess and saying she could be whatever she wanted! So sweet and her whole warrior vibe is always so badass and the longer Amazon battle was incredible, but again it was hard seeing them die. But all of the Diana scenes with Bruce were great as well as Arthur and the talk of hate being useless. I just love seeing her with other members of the league! I just love her so much! Seeing her inspire, seeing her be a hard warrior, and seeing her have the soft meaningful moments with the team! Everything that Diana is! I want so much more of her!

- Bruce/Batman speaking Icelandic, so good! All of his scenes with Alfred and still having faith and knowing the need Superman! When he was told his parents would be proud, enter tears! “This is Alfred, I work for him!” So good as well as being inspired by Wonder Woman’s gauntlets lol him providing for the team and seeing how much money he really has made the “I’m rich” line work and I loved him telling Clark he was just righting a wrong , but he knows something darker is coming and would love to see him figure it all out.

- Alfreds interactions with everyone, especially Diana!

- That Martian Manhunter reveal! Boy did it get me, I was so happy and surprised! That Martha scene was so sweet and I was extremely surprised when I found out it was actually J’onn and am intrigued to see where he’s been how long has it been him and everything that is going on with him!

- Lois pregnant?!?! And visiting the monument, and of course the scene with Martha!

- Cyborg! Our boy Victor Stone, he really was the heart of this movie, his scenes with his mama broke me and then at the end when he said he wasn’t broken or alone, when I tell you I was in tears! He was a wonderful reluctant hero, even though he had already been doing heroic thing prior to becoming Cyborg. Watching him use and accept these gifts was great and him seeing his dad die also broke my heart. He had most of the emotional moments for me.

- So much of Silas and Ryan Choi, I’m glad this movie was four hours so we could spend time with them too.

- Aquaman was, I think was utilized the least, but I loved his subtle moments, he’s still the stubborn and cynical since this is before his movie, but I love how he also can’t help but help them and this does leave him where he is in the beginning of his movie, which is great...I loved him and his moment with Wonder Woman at the grave and his scene with the flash talking about cyborg, saying he never said that he didn’t care, I loved these moments that gave him time to shine.

- The Flash, our Barry! He had the jokes, which some landed and some didn’t for me, but I loved his excitement and how he was so impressed by all that was happening around him! So good in the end you know the scene! And how he echoed his dad and told he was one of the best of the best so good, another emotional moment for me. He definitely had heart!...I’m very excited to see more of him on his film.

- Superman, we waited so long to get him back and of course that fight with the league was still incredible. I loved the moments of him with Lois and his mom! But when he gets the black suit and you hear both his dads talking, man that was such a great moment!

- Steppenwolf’s motive made sense, but man seeing Darkseid look at the league through the portal was crazy!

- As for Victor’s vision and the knightmare sequence I didn’t like seeing Diana dead, so heartbreaking she deserves the best and the whole knightmare scene was sad seeing them like that, but I definitely want to see more of this all and see them fix it so yes, #restorethesnyderverse indeed

- The entire team had their moments in the battle, they each get a time to shine and they all have softer moments that made them feel real and like an actual team and group of friends, that I would love to see grow even more!

I just really loved all the character interactions and different dynamics they had, the different parings and just really how they played off of each other. How some were reluctant to to join but once they did, they worked together and helped each other, such a great team that followed through and were on board with their plans, the really acted as a team, even if some thought it might not have been a great plan, they still did it all together.

I don’t know what will happen in the future, but this movie was great and would love to see more of all of these characters separately, together, and see them add more members! I’m really just in love with them and I already want to watch it again!

#zack snyder's justice league #justice league #wonder woman #batman #cyborg #aquaman #the flash #superman #ap #dc #film #zack snyder #dceu #movie #dc film #dc universe #dc multiverse #worlds of dc #diana prince #bruce wayne #victor stone #arthur curry #barry allen #clark kent #kal el #diana princess of themyscira #lois lane #martian manhunter #alfred pennyworth #martha kent

[ellana-ravenwood]

Batfam and friends after dentist

I just remembered this video : clickclickclick, and this happened. Please, don’t take it too seriously it’s just a fun little joke post haha. I hope you’ll still enjoy it a little nonetheless ^^. Here we are, the Batfam and friends, after dentist :

DICK

Dick : “Turns out my dentist is not giving me a plaque for great teeth after all. He really hurt my fillings.” Makes all the WORST pun you can think about, to calm his nerve, as he’s about to go to surgery to take his wisdom teeth out. Bruce is there, for support. Of course, he’d be there for his son. Dick wakes up, the surgery went GREAT. He looks around, a little groggy, looks at his dad, and...Starts to rap absolute nonsense, as if his life depended on it : 

“I'm feeling the rainbow like skittles

dropping reptars like my name was tommy pickles

for rizzle, thats drizzle?

nah my nizzle, thats the shizzle”

Asks Bruce to buy him a “big ass gold chain” and if the dentist could transplant silver teeth on him now, “while we’re at it”. Bruce is able to reason with him and convinces him that sure, he’ll buy him the gold chain he wants, but he should wait for the teeth because his mouth is still too numb and such. Dick agrees that it sounds sensible, but does not drop the subject of him becoming a successful rapper. On the way back to the Manor, they stop to buy a gold chain, because Bruce cannot resists when his kids give him the “puppy eyes”. Dick choses the ugliest biggest thing in the entire shop. It says “bling bling” on it, has a few shiny diamonds, and is about twice the size of his head. He looks at it as if it was the best thing on earth while on the ride home. The drugs start to wear off but as a result he’s super tired again, he goes to sleep...Wakes up with that ugly chain, wondering what the hell happened. 

JASON

Woke up after wisdom teeth removal. Got pissed because he really wanted Coca Cola but there was only Pepsi. Proceeded to tell Bruce that him bringing Pepsi back instead of Coke was worst than when he didn’t kill the Joker to avenge his death (queue Bruce nervously looking at the nurses, and really insisting on how funny people who just got their wisdom teeth removed could be). After the Pepsi/Coke debacle claimed he has 9 children (Bruce’s influence for sure hahaha). Apollo and Jean-Claude being his favorite two. Proceeded to cry because he admitted he had favorite children, and thought it was horrible to choose a favorite. Apologized to “his” kids that were definitely not there and talked about how his dad (pointing at Bruce), never had favorites. Bruce is touched. Until Jason remembers the Pepsi incident and tries to escape the room by jumping out of the window to go pouting alone somewhere. Queue a ridiculous struggle between Bruce and his son, as Jason, still quite limped and out of it because of the sleeping drugs, resists as best as he can while his dad drags him to the car to go home, trying to be as gentle as possible because he doesn’t want to hurt Jason’s mouth. Just to be sure, Bruce stops on the way to buy a bunch of coke bottles... 

TIM

After waking up from getting his wisdom teeth removed, sitting in a wheelchair because he can’t stand yet (Tim is very resistant to anesthetic, and they had to give him more than usual for it to work), telling to Bruce who’s wheeling him back to the car, in a very dramatic way : “Lady, I thank you for your help. You have to release me back to the ocean now. My time on land, is over.”

Bruce, not sure he quite understood : “...What was that, chum ?” 

Tim : “I said please m’am, get me back to my people. They need me.” 

Then the boy proceeds to stick both his legs up, and move them as if he was a mermaid, making “woosh” sounds with his mouth as if he was splashing water around. Bruce doesn’t even try to reason with him (he remembers how it was impossible to do so with Jason and his Coke, or with Dick who really thought he was a rapper), so he goes along with it, talking about Tim’s “people” and why he can’t stay on land. Queue a dramatic full of adventure stories where he was taken away from his land and...and Bruce realizes the boy is kinda telling Aquaman’s story (that he probably learned by hacking into Batman’s secret files he has on everyone). He seems to really believe it...When they get back home, Tim is suspicious because there is no ocean, but his dad convinces him that the pool is said ocean, and Tim solemnly say “good bye” to Bruce, before dipping into the water. Of course, Bruce keeps an eye on him, because in the state he is there might be accidents, but Tim just lays there, on his back, floating around and mumbling about fish species he knows. Eventually, the cold water gets to him and he finally comes back to his senses. Bruce helps him out of the pool, and Tim goes to sleep, wrapped in blankets, holding his dad’s hand. 

CASSANDRA

She had to have a rather heavy mouth surgery after an accident, and woke up ,slowly, in a hospital bed. Bruce was there of course, waiting patiently, worried, and hoping she’d wake up soon. It was nerve wracking to wait for your child to be better ! When she does wake up, she doesn’t even look lost or anything, although the surgeon told Bruce that she was probably gonna be feeling a little hazy and such. So the fact she seems totally fine reassures her dad. And then suddenly she throws her blanket off of her, stands up so fast that Bruce’s brain doesn’t have time to react, and walks to the nearest fire alarm. She looks at Bruce straight in the eyes, pull the alarm, and just says : 

“Shit’s fire.” 

DAMIAN

He had to have a minor surgery on his jaw, but was still put under anesthetic. Bruce, having witnessed his other kids under it, is ready to have a good laugh...But his boy is just sitting there, waiting for his father to fill in some paperwork and pay for the surgery. Yeah sure, it’s a little weird that he keeps petting his tongue but, ya know, maybe he’s feeling weird because his entire mouth is numb. Then Bruce is done with paperworks and such, and goes to Damian, who proceeds to tell him he got “a ‘ew ‘at” (a new cat)...

“Um. Really, champ ? Uuuh...Where is it ?” ----> Bruce playing along. And then Damian looks at him and breaks into a huge goofy smile and says : “’Ight ‘ere.” (Right here) Showing the tongue he has been petting for the past twenty minutes. Damian then tells to whoever goes by that he has a new cat and asks them if they want to pet him. Bruce takes him home, laughing to himself all the way, and promises a Damian who came back to his senses that this little story will indeed stay between them. 

BRUCE 

Not actually him after dentist, but something I thought about a lot :

Dentist : “Mister Wayne, do you grind your teeth ?” 

Bruce : “Yes. Have you seen how many children I have ?” 

Also, he waits the last minute before having to urgently remove his wisdom teeth, because the big bad bat is...afraid of the dentist. Alfred has to go with him. Bruce makes sure all the kids are busy this day, to their great disappointment...Alfred takes a lot of video for them (because it’s unfair he got to see them all floozy and they didn’t). The kids make a montage of it and post it on YouTube, as well as on instagram stories, calling it : “Is Bruce Wayne ok ?”, and it’s like a bunch of short images of what Bruce did after his surgery, still under the anesthetic’s influence. Him crying, him laughing like a mad man the second after, him hugging a pillow shaped like a tooth and refusing to let go because he thinks it’s the one they took out of his mouth, blabbering nonsense, asking for a “taco milkshake” etc etc...Of course, video went viral. 

ALFRED 

Has apparently nothing wrong with him, which is infuriating to the family who was really expecting him to have something that they could eventually use against him. Since he “raised” most of the them, he has way too much leverage against them, and they have way too little. But he’s just normal, and it’s so annoying. 

Up until they come home, and he goes in the kitchen, ignores Bruce telling him that he needs to get some rest, and proceeds to whip a five course meal, making the weirdest combination ever...Porridge and Turkey ? Saurkraut in an Enchilada ? Salt and Vinegar chips in a smoothie ?

STEPHANIE

Bruce picks her up after her wisdom teeth removal (it’sjusttheeasythinghaha), along with Tim, and she has that dreamy look in her eyes. Tim asks her if she’s alright, and she’s like : 

“The dentist said I need a crown.” 

Tim and Bruce are a little perplex, like, this doesn’t sound nice ? But then Steph looks at them and just says : 

“I said, I KNOW RIGHT ?! Guys. I’m going to be a queen.” 

Queue Bruce and Tim smiling, and Steph mumbling something about how one day, she’ll be the boss of them haha. 

DUKE

Of course, Bruce went with Duke because...Well, he unfortunately has no one else :/. And when you have any sort of surgery, it’s nice to have someone you trust with you. So. Anyway. Surgery goes on, and Duke wakes up after a few hours, a little out of it. He looks at Bruce, smiles and is like : “Hiii Brush !” while laughing a little to himself. Which makes B smile too, but then he gets worried because all of a sudden, Duke freezes, and stares at the nurse. Then after a few seconds he’s whispering to Bruce : 

“Hey, hey, why didn’t you tell me that Céline Dion was my nurse ?” 

Evidently, Bruce is confused. Duke then proceeds to admit his biggest guilty pleasure is to blast Céline Dion’s songs when he’s alone. Gushes over that nurse that looks NOTHING like Céline Dion, but he’s SURE it’s her. He blushes and is embarassed because he’s such a fan ! But then finally asks for an autograph, sings her songs badly (even worst with all the gauze in his mouth), and leaves the room, holding onto Bruce, with tears in his eyes because man...he just met Céline Dion ! 

BARBARA

Wakes up from having her wisdom teeth removed, crying, admitting that she killed the president...Which one ? Martin Van Buren of course. Spends the next few minutes crying about how she’s a disgrace to her family because she killed someone and HER DAD IS A COP !! Starts to sing : “Mammmaaaaaaaa, I killed a maaaaaaan” while still crying. But then suddenly is sure that she actually got framed, and becomes super suspicious of everyone, everything culminating when Dick comes to pick her up to bring her home and she thinks he’s the one that is “blackmailing” her, so she takes a run for it...Dick gets Barbara back to her place with a black eye, saying “I don’t want to talk about it” to Commissioner Gordon. Haha. 

LUCAS FOX :

As the dentists says : “I need to put some bitewings in your mouth for the X-rays ok ?”

Luke Fox : “Bat...wing ? Oh. OH ! BATWING !” Hahahaha (could also work with David of course). 

************

Ok done. Again, nothing to take too seriously, it’s obviously just a few little jokes :). Wanted to share nonetheless, I like writing “domestic” lighthearted Batfam stuffs...haha ^^' .

Ah and yeah I know some members of the Batfam extended family (it’s pretty big now) are missing, but I guess it just means I’ll make another post about it hehe. So please, don’t give me too much grief about those I “forgot”, it was getting too long ^^. 

#Bruce Wayne #Batfam #Richard Grayson #Tim Drake #Jason Todd #Cassandra Cain #Damian Wayne #Batman #Nightwing #Robin #Red Hood #Red Robin #Batgirl #Blackbat #Duke Thomas #Barbara Gordon #Luke Fox #Stephanie Brown #The Signal #Batwing #Alfred Pennyworth #James Gordon #DC #Just some random #Batfam and friends #fun #not to be taken too #seriously of course #and booooom :D