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uwuwriting · 3 years

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Breaking in pt.2 w/ Aizawa, Shinsou and Bakugou

Request: Hi!! SoooOO I recently found your stuff and it's safe to say I am ✨obsessed✨ I LOVED the post you did of the BNHA reacting to someone breaking in with Hawks, Dabi and Todoroki. I was wondering if you could do another one with like Shinsou, Bakugou and Aizawa. I feel like Baku would throw mad HANDS. love your work stay stuff and have a good day x - anonymous

Okay I too love rescue fics and being kidnapped or held hostage is one of my favorite tropes. Throwing your kids in the mix is immaculat at least for me because I’m a die hard fan of domestic AUs. So of course I’m gonna write this trope again with these three idiots. I enjoyed writing the previous one so hehheehehehhe. Love ya. 💖💖💖

masterlist II rules

warnings: some descriptions of violence, some crying but fluff/comfort in the end.

Aizawa Shota II a son (Kaito)

-He was running late.

-He hated running late.

-Today the class had extra training hours and it lasted longer than he expected, so much so that he had to call for someone to fill in his spot on patrol tonight.

-In reality he really wanted to spend the night at home with you and your 2 year old son, canceling his patrol because the kids didn’t finish training was just an excuse.

-He had shot you a text informing you that he would be home tonight but a little later than usual.

-You had just picked up Kaito from his aunt when you got Aizawa’s message.

-You were excited to spend some time with your husband.

-Between your time teaching and his midnight patrols, the only moments you truly got to spend with him were in between the classes or when he came home for dinner and then immediately left.

-You knew he felt bad leaving the two of you alone for so long and you knew he beat himself up for missing precious time with his son.

-Opening your apartment door you were met with complete silence which was odd.

-Usually your three cats, Mochi, Mocha and Coco would meet you at the door, mewing and purring at your feet, Kaito always wanting to be put down so he could pet them.

-Now though none of them came and you immediately knew something was up.

-Your spidey senses were tingling.

-Setting your stuff down you held Kaito closer to you as you slowly walked around your living room and kitchen.

-Nothing seemed amiss.

-Kaito let out a small whimper and shifted in your grip as something moved behind you.

-Just because you retired from being a hero doesn’t mean your skills have disappeared.

-Oh no, as a new mom you were hyper aware of your surroundings and you easily dodged the blow that was aimed at your head.

-Whipping around you came face to face with a hooded figure that seemed more like a burglar than a villain.

-The dude's eyes quickly landed on Kaito and he let out a shaky breath.

-They definitely weren’t villains.

-People were aware of Aizawa’s family and any villain who tried to get to him through you would have known about Kaito’s existence.

- “Shit…. Yo she has a kid!”

-Another one came pounding from the hallway, eyes quickly landing on the baby you had clutched to your chest.

-Letting out an exasperated sigh the second intruder rolled his eyes, grabbing an umbrella from the hanger and slowly making his way towards you.

- “Just knock her out and tie her up, put the kid in a crib or something.”

-You weren’t about to let them touch your son, they wouldn’t even be able to come remotely near him.

-Activating your quirk, thrumming filled the air as you were prepared to fight them, to keep them away from the crying child in your arms and that’s when you saw him.

-He is always so silent, his footsteps so gentle on the marble floor of your apartment that you have convinced yourself that he is indeed half cat at this point.

-Aizawa was burning holes at the back of their heads, hair up as he activated his quirk, cancelling theirs.

-You kissed Kaito as Shota let his capture tool fly across the room successfully trapping the two burglars.

-In six strides you were next to him, checking for injuries on each other while simultaneously trying *and failing mostly* to calm your 2 year old down.

-The police were called, naming this whole incident as a random burglary and not a scheduled attack, relieving both of you; you didn’t wanna move again.

-That night Kaito slept in your room, cuddled on Aizawa’s chest as you were nestled under his arm.

-Three fur balls were curled at the foot of your shared bed, purring away lulling you to sleep.

-You found those three locked in your bathroom.

-Apparently Mocha had scratched the living hell out of one of the burglars and they had locked all of them in the bathroom for safe measure.

- “I’m sorry for this.”

- “Burglaries happen Shota, it wasn’t your fault. I’m glad you came when you did, fighting while holding Kaito would have been kinda difficult. I think I might be getting kinda rusty.”

-He stroked Kaito’s plush cheek before letting out a sigh.

- “I have never seen him cry like that. When he sees me he always calms down but now-”

- “He was scared, Shota. He saw them before I did and the whole situation shook him up. But he’ll be fine, he’s got us.”

-Giving you a kiss and then placing another one on his son’s forehead, he closed his eyes, arms tightening around the both of you a little.

Shinsou Hitoshi II a daughter (Kei)

-Hitoshi had been to every single pharmacy in the area searching for Kei’s medication.

-She had gotten sick and you had asked him to fetch some antibiotics your pediatrician had suggested you give her if her fever didn’t go down.

-Now, Hitoshi was getting desperate.

-It was the flu season and almost all the pharmacies had emptied their shelves from this particular antibiotic.

-He was ready to pull his hair out.

-Apart from that, he also hated leaving you alone like this.

-You both needed him at the moment and he wasn’t helping at all.

-Kei was suffering from her fever while you were about 7 weeks pregnant and he was out here running around like a maniac.

-In one last desperate attempt he entered another pharmacy and to his surprise they had what he was looking for and he was out the door in a flash, leaving the store without giving the clerk enough time to say a single ‘thank you, come again.’

-Sprinting home, he dashed into your apartment complex and up the stairs, fumbling for his keys as he neared your door only to find it already ajar.

-Slowing down he looked at the open entryway; he was sure he closed it on the way out.

-Why hadn’t you closed it?

-Pushing it open he came face to face with a disheveled living room, Kei’s toys scattered everywhere while one of your armchairs was knocked over.

-A small whimper suddenly pierced the air and Hitoshi would recognize his daughter’s cries from anywhere.

-A deep voice told her to shut up which was answered by your angry voice threatening to beat the living shit out of them if they touched her.

-With silent steps, Hitoshi tiptoed to your daughter’s room where he could hear the talking only to stop dead in his tracks when shuffling came from your bedroom.

-Another figure emerged from your bedroom halting once they saw Shinsou.

- “What th-”

- “Sleep.”

-Without bothering to check if the intruder passed out, Hitoshi pushed open the door, his anger radiating all around him at the very thought that someone had touched his family.

-The second person whipped around at the sound of the door opening, eyes wide as they met Hitoshi’s, fumbling to activate their quirk.

-They made the fatal mistake of speaking though and soon they were unconscious just like their friend, laying on the pastel carpet of Kei’s room.

-In one swift motion he had Kei in his arms and untied your wrists, rubbing the irritated skin and checking for injuries.

-Kei wouldn’t calm down, her grip on his shirt turned to iron once the police dragged them out of your house.

- “I wish I could beat their ass.”

- “You know you can’t use your quirk right now kitten.”

- “Yeah but they pissed me off.”

-Your doctor had forbidden quirk use during the pregnancy and that’s why those two morons had managed to catch you.

-The scowl on your face had become almost permanent and Shinsou couldn’t decide if he should find it cute or terrifying.

-Kei became attached to Hitoshi’s chest.

-Hitoshi refused to let her go just like she refused to let him go, staying in his embrace for the rest of the day, any attempt to get her away from him resulting in tears.

-You are kinda salty but some ice cream will fix that.

Bakugou Katsuki II A son (Tatsuo)

- “Okay kids, you have a nice weekend and don’t forget to finish your family portraits for Monday. Tatsuo and I would love to see them.”

-A multitude of goodbyes came through the screen as your kindergarten class, some of your students even opened their cameras to wave at you and your son who was sitting on your lap.

-Tatsuo babbled back at them, little byes leaving his lips as he too waved back at your laptop.

-Being in quarantine wasn’t that bad for a kindergarten teacher.

-Your online classes weren’t difficult to manage and you got to spend more time with your two year old son.

-The class loved seeing him and would ask if he was joining them each morning.

-Closing your laptop, you hugged your mini Katsuki as you started heating up his milk.

-You were humming, gently rocking him as you waited for the milk, giving him stray kisses here and there just to see his little nose scrunch up reminding you of Katsuki more and more everyday.

-Checking your phone for any new messages, you let out a sigh at your husband’s message saying he was coming home; that was thirty minutes ago.

-Hero work didn’t let up despite the quarantine.

-Bakugou was as busy as ever, leaving first thing in the morning and most of the time returning home late in the afternoon sometimes staying out even after midnight.

-Today though he had managed to get off earlier than usual, promising to cook for both of you tonight.

-You knew he wanted to spend more time with Tatsuo and the fact that he was gone for the majority of the day was eating him up.

-He was so worried that he was neglecting his son; he even convinced himself that Tatsuo would soon come to hate him.

-Your son on the other hand was attached to Katsuki’s hip, always searching for his dad in the morning and beaming when Katsu came home.

-He could never hate him.

-The sound of the door opening snapped you out of your little Katsuki infused dream state.

-Turning around you expected to see your husband in the living room, arms stretched out as he smiled at the two of you.

-But you were met with three strangers; three hooded strangers holding a crowbar and two bags.

-It was a staring contest for a solid five minutes before either of you moved.

-One of them noticed Tatsuo and nudged his “coworker” who then informed the leader of the trio.

- “Better not make a sound sweetheart, I’d hate hurting that pretty little face of yours.”

-He took a step forward only for you to take a step back, until your back hit the cupboard.

-He let out a chuckle and motioned for his rookies to search the place as he continued walking towards you.

-Tastuo was gripping your shirt, eyes trained on the man, his brows downcast in anger.

-Your phone lit up on the counter and in one swift move you grabbed it, pressing your emergency call button as the intruder rounded the counter.

-You sprinted for the front door just as Katsuki picked up only to be grabbed by one of the other two and dragged back inside the house, Katsuki’s yells echoing through the phone.

-Now you are aware that your husband is one of the top pro heroes.

-You know that in order to rise to the top charts in this industry you need to have certain attributes like strength, tactical thinking ….speed.

-You felt him more than saw him.

-You were wrestling to get the hands of the intruder off of you when you felt the windows rattle.

-And before you knew it, your husband had tackled the man holding you to the floor, knocking him unconscious with a single punch before pouncing on the other two.

-Tatsuo was letting out small hiccups as tears rolled down his cheeks, his grip on your shirt never wavering but he refused to sob.

-He had his father’s pride okay? Even at the age of two.

-Katsuki had you both in his arms in a flash, calling the police before checking both of you over for injuries and what not.

- “Did they hurt you? I swear I’ll kill them if they did.”

- “We are fine Katsu, just a little shaken.”

-The moment Tatsuo was in Katsuki’s arms he began to cry, burying his face in his dad’s chest still holding on to your shirt.

-It took an eternity to calm him down and even longer to put him to sleep, even though he was sleeping in your bed.

-The next morning Katsuki was on the news for marching to the police station and beating the living hell out of the burglars.

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we-dragons · 3 years

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I'm from a different dimension actually Chapter 8 Damian x reader

The school is shut down for a week ironically because of an attack by The Joker and Two-Face, that Robin and his team took down. The teachers sent out a notice with homework attached and told us to stay inside. Nightmare came back somewhere in the morning I couldn't tell the time because I apparently fell asleep along with Boy Wonder before the end of season 1 of The Highlander. I gently placed him down on the couch, gotten dressed, and made some breakfast, I only had eggs so I made some scrambled and put them on a plate for him and me. Nightmare got the last of the bacon. I put a plate over Robins while I ate mine sitting at the small table in the kitchen going over my homework. Sadly I finished my homework before my eggs and they have gone cold. I silently morn my eggs eating the cold carcass. "You stare any harder at that screen and you might break it." I jump, my head shoots upwards and I sigh, but then my eyes drop on my cat. My jaw drops the furball is purring in the arms of a masked stranger who is petting his head. Robin was petting my cat holding him like a baby and the demon is purring. Robin still had his eyes, and limbs not even a bite mark was seen on his skin.

"You traitor, you barely know him." I playful scold the feline, he meows nuzzling his face in Robin's chest.

"Your monster seems friendly."

"Nightmare looks like he's been introduced to catnip."

"Just a few scratches here and there." He smirks taking a seat next to me."Thank you for breakfast."

"Mhm." I turn back to the screen, "Will you be going back today Robin?"

"I might."

"Hmm." I finish the last problem for today closing the device, "Well I have to go to work, your welcome to stay if you want." I smooth out my clothes tossing one last look at the melting ball of fur. I quirk an eyebrow but move out to the door. I stop Halfway through the doorway and look back putting on my meanest face. "If you break a single window in my home I will find where ever you are and break you. Bye Nightmare, love you, I'll be back in a few hours."

_____________________________________________________________

"Nightmare! I'm back!" my keys skitter across the floor but no black fur is seen. He's still in the arms of Robin though it's not Robin, Green eyes. My stomach sinks and my mouth goes dry. "Damian?" His is just as much shock as me, he puts down Nightmare and rushes to me the door slams behind me. And I'm being dragged then forced to sit, his hands grip my shoulders. "Your early, why did you arrive early, you not supposed to be back for another half hour." I hardly heard him, I scold myself now realizing the obvious. Why else would Nightmare feel comfortable around him he had been here before multiple times noticed how I treated Damian and that's why he was a purring mess in his arms. I said be nice to him when he was over not Robin, but of course, they smell the same Nightmare associated with both people. I should have spotted it sooner, the voice, the height, the tone of his speech. Dear God, I can mom telling how oblivious, like she did when she won Clue. It was right there, he asked the right question and baited me for answers. I don't know why this is a shock to me. Now that I think of it I have to stop myself from laughing

"What the hell," my voice quivers. "Damian, Damian Wayne. You help Gotham." I start snickering, pulling my hand over my face. I throw my head back laughing then fall over to the side. "Nightmare you knew didn't you! Haha, that's why you were you were melting like butter."

"Your laughing!"

"Did you assume I wouldn't!" I wheeze, my breath nearly coming out to form words. "I can imagine you fighting, but saving people that's something else entirely."

"Do you think so little of me?" He sounds disappointed.

"I don't mean it to offend you but what else can I say. I didn't expect this." I sit up, clearing my throat and looking him dead in the eye. "Can I just call you Damian now, or do I still have to you different names."

"Why aren't you more surprised?"I Smile sadly.

"I thought you would have read up on me, do you know who killed my parents that day at home." He stiffens, he opens his mouth but continues. "My Father's sister, my aunt, killed them both during dinner. All because my mother wouldn't let her see those journals you asked about. After that it many people took off their masks."

"That's all it took?"

"What should it take, she killed her own brother because she didn't get confidential knowledge. To be honest, I don't really care anymore."

"You need professional help." I shrug.

"Probably, but getting sessions is expensive and I don't enjoy answering "and how are you feeling?" questions. I had enough of that already from everyone else."

"Where's your brother, Emil?" I feel myself frown.

"He's with someone I trust, I can't tell you who, sorry."

"The file says you died, you also made a miraculous recovery, recovery from what?"

"I prefer not to answer that question, It's rather personal." I don't want to explain that either, I know the doctor was shocked to see me come back. They had to call the professor to have him take me and my brother. After that this entire fiasco.

"You know I'll find out either way."

"Listen, I don't know how I made it, I was tortured by my she who will not be named and left for dead. I prayed for anyone and everyone who would hear me, someone did, the police found me and I was rushed to the hospital. I decided to take a nap, and I woke up to the sound of Emil crying. He cried, even more, when I woke up, screaming even, the good doctor nearly fainted. I was plugged into wires of all sorts, and my uncle was holding a plug, I assume he pulled, tackled me. My body lit up in pain and felt like I was run over, the next I am separated from my family and rushed into a place where they check on me every three months. At least I got to choose the place, they pay for the school, and I cover everything else." I give in, it feels nice to tell someone, something even if it's not the whole truth. But it seems to shut him up. "Please don't go looking for Emil, they haven't caught my aunt yet. I don't know if she's looking for them next, I would prefer not to stand over another grave knowing she got them too." I stare at him gauging his reaction, his face is still stone, unmoving in the uncomfortable silence. I pick up Nightmare, who has been rubbing against my leg for a bit, and scratch his head as he wants.

"Fine, I won't push further but I have terms."

"Really?" What would he need terms for?

"1, you don't reveal my identity to anyone. 2, you will not acknowledge that you know my family’s identities. 3, I come whenever I like as Robin or as Damian. 4, I add terms whenever I please."

"Why would I agree to any of that? I'm the one who has your identity." He smiles.

"Because I will tell Batman this information, and he doesn't talk as kindly to people hiding something. You obviously still are, but for now, I'll let it slide I'm sure by now you've decided to watch the news, so you know what he does." I gulp, I did see his more recent victim and he looked traumatized.

"Alright fine, but I binge so if you fall asleep tough luck, I'm not going back."

"Fine," he reaches back and pulls out his mask which he puts back on, walking out to the kitchen. "I back in a bit, pull out your couch bed while I'm gone. I will be staying here a while." I get up after him.

"Hey, that offer is for when I thought you were some homeless bums who fights crime, gets money from villain's wallets. You have a perfectly good bed at home!" He turns back one foot on the railing and a grappling hook in hand. "Term 6, I will stay as long as I like." he jumps off like before, not giving me a chance to speak.

"Bastard! I need my alone time!" He's gone I don't even know if he heard me. I grumble pulling out the spare sheets and blankets to set up the bed. "He better be paying rent, smug rich kid."

"Meow." Nightmare looks over at the window Robin left of.

"Yes, he's coming back."

"Meow"

"No, I'm not going tell him, not until I have to."

"Merrow"

"Shut up." I kick the side of the couch holding the two large cushions that lay on it, the bed springs out and makes a satisfying thud on the floor. "Go and see if the data has finished downloading, then put it back in the box I'll make you something in a how you feel about tuna our downstairs grandparents gave me a can."

_____________________________________________________________

The sheets are made, the cat is fed and now I am going over how I was going to cover for another person. How much would he eat, can he survive on pastries, ramen, and eggs. How long was he staying, would his family come asking about him seeing as he was here before. At both times, when he broke my window, and when they came for coffee.

"Hey, open the door." The voice is cold but still recognizable. I get up slowly taking my time getting there along with opening the door. He hurries in, dressed in some normal-ish clothes that still look expensive, but he still dressed like he came out of a photo shoot. He not only has a suitcase but some grocery bags, I frown at those. He seems to notice because he forgets his suitcase and charges into the kitchen. "Hey!"

"Y/N I am not eating ramen and eggs for god knows how long. I will cook a decent meal and you will have something healthy."

"How did you know I only had eggs and ramen?"

"I went through your fridge," He places a bag of tomatoes in the bottom drawer where I see green onions and various other veggies.

"I make stir-fry once a month, you have bought enough greens and reds to make that for two weeks. I don't even have rice."

"You don't like it when people spend money on you, do you?"

"I don't need other people's money," He opens his mouth, but I stop him raising a finger cutting him off. "And before you mention Molly, she remains the exception. Not that me telling her not to stops her."

"And why is that." He stops putting the food in the fridge.

"Because I've been friends with her longer," I look back at his bags and frown. "How long do you plan on staying again."

"For as long as I please."

"Won't they come looking for you? Your family I mean, the Detective stops by almost every day."

"Grayson won't be a problem, I left them a trail that leads to several other places." He stuffs the last of the food in the fridge, getting up and looking out the balcony window. "Should take a long while." I can hear the smugness in his voice.

"Your happy you tricked your brothers aren't you." He turns around forcing himself to frown but the corners of his lips twitch.

"Ho, you're a bastard Wayne."

"You're really gonna curse me?"

"You didn't tell me I couldn't Damian." I grab my computer and open Hulu putting on Star Trek; Next-generation where I left off. "Hope you enjoy space adventure, because I'm not starting this over its seven seasons and 4 movies. I'm halfway through season 3, if you want context just ask." I glance up signaling that I am waiting for a response, he leans on the wall in front of my kitchen. I can't read his face, but his face of neutral displeasure wasn't much better. "So, your done feeling good about yourself, or is there something else you need."

"It's been something I've been wondering for a while now, those iridescent pieces you fed me."

"Part of my mother's work." Not a complete lie,

"Was that what those missing journals about?"

"No." More of a lie but not wrong. He groans anyway, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Man, you really like to cut in deep and waste time. Just come here and watch some Star Trek with me I need someone else to groan in pain about Counselor Troy's and Will Riker's on and off slow burn romance." Begrudgingly he walks over plopping down next to me.

"Your tastes in tv are odd."

"You have no idea, my tastes in something go everywhere, after this and Highlander I have several old cartoons next. First, I might have to gather what you know about the Quack pack, Goof troop, Ducktales, and all that pizazz. Though I have a feeling that you would like Darkwing Duck more, or it could possibly be too relatable." He gives me a look.

"How could I relate to a duck?"

"We are a long way from that now, at the moment we must bear witness to Captain Picard and his adventures commanding the USS Enterprise."

"Has anyone told you how unbelievably weird you are?"

"Sir, you have entered my life for what looks to be the long run. You will experience the kind of weirdness only Molly has ever seen. But now that you are basically my roommate you might see more." I pat his shoulder. "So, buckle up, because this is now you've got a seat on this roller-coaster, and you can't get off till the car reaches a complete stop. Now can we please get back to the show I want to see some cosmic action?"

_____________________________________________________________

"Was that a statement or a question?"

"He can achieve the perception of feeling with a chip that goes into his hyper-advanced brain, lets his brother take it but can't make his own."

"I lent you my computer to catch up to where I left off for one night and that's what you're hung upon."

"Yes," his eyes look serious while he shoves some oatmeal in his mouth. "You are the one who can't stand the slow burn."

"Touche."

Before we got to the last season, Damian had asked he could see the rest of the show before the finally. I didn't expect that he would binge because it was a weekend, he even made extensive notes on character weakness. He still went out on patrol every night but came back with no one tailing him. That's what he says at least. He looks tired, with bags under his eyes and just lacking energy altogether.

"While I'm at work please go to sleep, you look like you fought an energy vampire and lost."

"I wouldn’t have lost to a vampire, they’re not that hard to kill.”

“But they drink blood they need to get close; energy vampires are more psychic they don’t even have to be a real monster.” He stops eating/

“How so?”

“They could be emotionally, physically, and mentally draining people. You know like Deity Skimmer, the girl in our science class. You can’t kill the energy-sucking vibes she gives off, can you.” He snorts behind his hand.” I mean it, even creatures of the night need sleep.” I drop my dishes off in the sink. I walk off to the door putting on my boots, I hear the chair slide and I feel his judging eyes digging holes in the back of my skull.

“Once again your conditions said nothing about teasing you, suck it up.” He scoffs. “I’ll be back around 5, don’t break any more windows while I’m gone.” I close the door before I hear any remarks once more about the incident. Though I laugh to myself, I straighten out my outfit and head down to the wonderful smells of the coffee shop. I walk slowly down the stairs looking out to the crowd that had been seated in the lounge. My managers were out by the couches talking to one of the regulars. Pull me behind the counter and relieve my coworker Meg, she looks exhausted and excuses herself. She takes what I assume is her coffee and puts away her apron and rushes out the door. I finish out what she didn’t clean and wait for anyone to come up to the counter. *Ring* though it is loud I hear the bell for the door ring.

“I’ll be with you in just a moment, I need to clean the nozzle here.”

“That’s fine, I can wait.” I flinch but catch myself, so it looks like I flicked something. I turn around with the best smile I can pull off. The sleep-deprived brother of Damian, peers at me from under his hair a frown tugging on his face.

“Oh hey! You came here with detective Grayson last time. Is there anything you would like?”

“Coffee.”

“Any particular kind?”

“Anything that will keep me from sleeping on this counter.” He knocks on the surface twice.

“I Can recommend our D&D potion bottle, it’s a personal favorite of the owners.”

“Why not, how much?” He fumbles around for his pockets, I stop him.

“How about, I make get it for you, and then you pay.” He brings his hands back on the counter and nods.

“I will only be a few minutes, please make yourself comfortable.” I pull out the ingredients for our powerful concoction, the pho fried ice cream, a large potion bottle with a straw, and 20-sided dice. I place the potion bottle in front of him and the ice cream but hand him the dice. He stares at the shiny plastic unmoving.

“I would roll that.” He does what I say and lands on a nine. “Well, sir after this one you can either have another potion or chose two desserts of any kind from our display or menu.” He takes a sip from the straw rather slow; his eyes perk up a bit.

“How Much did you say this was?”

“Oh! That will be $9.23?” He pulls out the exact amount, and I put it away in the register, placing it in the compartment marked D&D.

“And I would like another one of these to go.”

“Sure, would you like it now or before you go?”

“Well now should be nice, I’m leaving in just a bit.” I pull out a cup that is relatively the same size as the potion bottle. I go to give him his cup and notice that he finished the bottle and ice cream. Confusion hits me, but I don’t stare too long to turn to clean the mess. “Have you seen Damian at all?” And there it was.

“No, not since the Gala? Did something happen?”

“There was a…disagreement so he ran out, but if you see him,” He handed me a piece of paper with a string of numbers and an email. “Tell me. That is my number and email.” He does not say anymore and walks out the door, the bell signaling his departure.

_____________________________________________________________

When I got back, I told Damian what happened, he isn’t pleased and is currently pacing the floor.

“My guess is that he knows.” I sigh over my tea and stare sadly at the replaced window.

“No doubt.”

“You know I was rather hoping not to be having another visit from the Batman. What will happen when they find out that I know about the caped crusader thing.”

“He’ll either force into secrecy, turn you into a child crusader, or confine you to the manor.”

“So in other words no privacy.”

“None.”

“As lovely as that would be you told me this was temporary, so why can’t you go back?”

“At the Gala I was supposed to keep you entertained at the table so that we could trap you into to talking about those journals.” I knew it.

“So, you lied to me.” I look at him, faking shock and betrayal.

“It was for the sake of the investigation; I didn’t think that I would end up-.” He examines my expression and face palms. “What’s wrong with you.”

“I like to call it “I laugh in the face of danger” Syndrome, in a moment of despair I crave comedy.”

“You're worse than Grayson.”

“I like him, so I’ll let this one slide.” I sip the warm liquid feeling soothed at the pumpkin spice. “What are you going to do now?” Nightmare jumps on the table noticing my concern and waiting for his answer from me. He walks to the corner where he put his bag then went to the closet pulling out my suitcase. He then grabs his outfit Robin outfit from the coat rack and his other materials. “Get packed, we’re leaving. I’ll grab Nightmare’s things gab whatever you need. And I mean need, don’t pick it up unless it’s necessary.”

“What? I can’t just leave, what about my job? School?!” He Pulls out my backpack and puts some food in it. “Damian!”

“Just trust me, I’ll take care of it! I don’t want you tangled up in my family’s nonsense.” He looks at me something odd swirling in his eyes. “Please.”

“Fine,” I grab my suitcase and pack my box and my compiece which hasn’t gotten back to me on its progress. I throw a few sets of clothes. I open the box to make sure the journals, the scales, and everything else, then I hide it under the clothing and my laptop in the front pocket. I thank myself for making sure to get a suitcase that has a double use as a backpack. In the living room, Damian is all packed the bag is strapped across his chest and he’s holding Nightmare.

“Let’s go.” He hands me Nightmare and pulls me to the balcony. He pulls out and belts with a ring pultruded out on one side swiftly put it around me connecting the loop to his belt. “Hold on tight, and don’t let go till I tell you.” I Sling an arm around him and grip on to Nightmare, he doesn’t hesitate and shoots across the balcony with his grappling gun. I screw my eyes shut. And wait to stop, my heart beats wildly in my chest Nightmare begins purring maybe in hopes to soothe me. I feel something wrong, but it would mean I was away from the Crows. I’m running again, even if it’s not me who chose this it still feels wrong. Because in the direction he’s going it seems that we were leaving Gotham. And for some reason, I feel like it would be a while before I returned.

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adhdeancas · 3 years

Note

for trans man!dean, him mcfuckin dipping to totally transition how he wants then posting up at a family reunion as his badass self with Sam proud of him? also cas comes as his plus one/emotional support/husband idk

mcfuckin love how you worded this. here you go, more trans dean for everyone. minor trigger warnings for a little bit of dysphoria and a little bit of transphobia

Dean didn’t tell anyone when he went away. He just left. Wasn’t anybody’s business, and it’s not like anybody cared enough to keep up with him.

Sam was too busy with school and work, Dad was too busy being a drunk asshole, and, well, there weren’t many other people who gave a shit in Dean’s life.

The only person he told was Bobby, and that’s because Bobby would’ve hunted his ass down just to kick it if he just stopped showing up at the garage.

Sam texted every few months, sure, but Dean always got by with vague answers. He didn’t tell Sam that he was having top surgery, or going on hormones, or shacking up with a hot former-priest in Canada. Nah, not important. After all, he’d told Sam he was a dude years ago. So he shouldn’t be too surprised. Right?

Except then he has to go to this stupid Winchester Family Reunion.

“Dean, it’s going to be okay. They love you,” Cas placated him for the thousandth time. He came over and fixed Dean’s tie, which Dean resolutely batted away. He was the one used to fixing Cas’s tie. He glared at his boyfriend.

“You don’t know them.” He said quickly. He stomped over and flopped down face first on the gross motel comforter they’d rented out halfway to Bobby’s. (Dean wanted to just power through, but Cas insisted on making a road trip out of it. He hadn’t been on many.) He let out a muffled moan out of frustration.

Cas rolled his eyes. “Well, that’s why we’re starting with Bobby. Baby steps, right?”

Dean sat back up and cringed at his boyfriend. “Yeah, baby steps for me and giant leaps for Bobby.” Cas smiled and sat on the edge of the bed. He looked like a freaking doctor visiting a patient, and it was so cute Dean wanted to end the conversation and pin him to the mattress instead.

“Bobby knows you’re trans, right?” he asked patiently

“Yeah.”

“Then it shouldn’t be that big of a surprise to him that you look a little different. I mean, it’s been two years.” Dean grinned at him. Cas had a way of making everything seem so manageable.

“Sure, just a little bit different. Two boobs lighter and a beard heavier.” He gave Cas a shit eating grin and looped a leg over him, sitting back on his heels.

Cas pursed his lips, running a hand over Dean’s stubble. “I don’t know, would we call this a beard?”

Dean growled at him and leaned in for a kiss. “Hey, asshole, aren’t there better things you could do with your mouth than talk?” Cas laughed and kissed him back.

“You make a good point.”

They left the motel room a little dirtier than they found it.

---------------------------------------------

Dean spent a full minute pacing back and forth behind an old clunker before he ran up to the front door and knocked. Cas eased up from where he’d been leaning against the Impala and joined his boyfriend where he was now awkwardly drumming against his thigh. “Do I look okay? Do I look-uh-” he faltered, not sure how he wanted to look. Did he want to look like a guy? Or enough like a chick to look like his old self, so Bobby would let him in?

“You look great.” Cas reached for his hand but Dean stole it away so he could turn around when he heard the door opening.

“...hello?” Bobby asked gruffly. Dean grinned and put his hands on his hips, then down at his sides when he realized he didn’t want to emphasize how wide his hips were.

“Hi, uh, Bobby. It’s… it’s Dean?”

Bobby did a double-take, and then Dean shifted uncomfortably. He knew he was looking for what Dean used to look like in how he looked now. He cleared his throat. Bobby blinked at him. “Well, shit, Dean. You- uh- you been working out, kid?”

Bobby pulled Dean into a bone-crushing hug, laughing. Dean pulled away with just a grin just as big. “Lil’ bit.” He said, blushing. “Oh, uh,” he stepped back and grabbed Cas’s hand, pulling him forward. “This is Cas. He’s- he’s my boyfriend.” Dean was absurdly more nervous to admit he liked guys (again) than he was for Bobby to see him post-op. Would Bobby still believe he was a guy if he was queer too?

“Shit, a boyfriend? What, you got a mortgage too, you hiding a kid under that jacket?” Bobby huffed and stalked into his house. Cas seemed a little taken aback by his gruffness, but Dean just grinned and squeezed his hand. This was a good sign. They followed him into the kitchen, where Bobby was making coffee and muttering, “What, go away for a couple years and come back a man?”

Dean beamed.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dean took a deep breath, and Cas squeezed his hand. He pressed a kiss to Dean’s cheek. “You’ve got this, babe.” Dean nodded shakily. He could do this.

Surprisingly, he could do this. From the second he walked in the door, Dean took no shit. Most people didn’t give him more than a glance; they didn’t recognize either of the new men. Dean looked for Sam’s messy mop of hair and made a beeline as soon as he recognized it. Easy, when Sam towered over practically everyone.

“Sammy!” Dean poked his brother in the back. “How the hell are you?”

Sam turned around, his furrowed brows loosening into a look of pure surprise when he recognized his brother. Which of course he did. “Dean!” He hugged Dean, pulling away so he could look at him. “Holy shit, you- you got top surgery?”

Dean grinned. “You know what top surgery is?”

Sam looked offended. “I research.” Dean laughed and lifted up his shirt quickly to show his scars.

“Pretty cool, right?” Cas laughed at that and Sam turned his attention to the dark haired man standing behind his brother. “Oh yeah, I brought moral support.” He dragged Cas forward with a hand on the small of his back, and Cas thrust out his hand. “He’s a grad student too. I’m sure you nerds have a ton to gab about.”

Sam rolled his eyes and shook Cas’s hand. “Hey, man, nice to meet you. What’re you studying?”

Dean zoned out almost immediately, keeping a hand on Cas out of comfort. All around the room, his family didn’t recognize him. Usually he’d have people coming up to him, Aunts screeching “Deanna!” and talking about his weight or his outfit or his hair, he’d have uncles throwing him over their shoulders and talking about last time they’d seen him when he was a little girl. Now? Nothing. Clean slate. It felt like freedom. He was him, in front of his family. For once. Then Dad walked up to him.

“Sammy, who you got there? Thought you weren’t bringing a plus one.” John asked gruffly, suspiciously. Sam rolled his eyes.

“It’s Sam. And I told you, Jess couldn’t come, she’s got too much on her plate right now.” He reminded his dad quickly that he was dating a woman right now, fuck you very much.

“Yeah, sorry Dad, that’s my date.” Dean grinned and looped an arm low on Cas’s waist. He felt Cas look at him and he swore he heard him sniff. Motherfucker was checking for alcohol on his breath. He laughed and turned to give him a quick kiss, which surprised him even more. Confidence was a helluva thing.

John was frozen in place. One of his eyes was twitching like he was overloaded with information. Which, Dean guessed, he was.

“Dad, Cas, Cas, John,” Dean said, still grinning. Sam let out a snort from his other side. Cas extended his hand coolly. John stared at him as he returned the favor, turning Cas’s knuckles white with the force of his grip. “Oh and I’m Dean, by the way, in case you didn’t get the email.”

Dean extended his hand for his own handshake, and John took it equally slowly. “So you’re just going to show up like this, no warning or-”

“Yup.” Dean said happily. “Now I was promised burgers. Where are the fucking burgers?”

“What have you done to yourself?”

“Upgraded.” Dean shrugged and fixed his jacket.

“And you’re…” He looked at Cas.

“Into men.” Dean nodded. “And women. No offense, Cas, but women are just prettier.” Cas nodded sagely, and Dean offered Sam a fist to fistbump. Sam did it with a smirk. “Guess you got two queer sons, daddio.”

John made no move. “Burgers?”

“Over there.” Sam answered this time, pointing. Dean looked.

“Oh over by Grandpa Henry? Sweet. Thanks, Sammy. Wanna join?” He looped an arm around Sam’s shoulders before he could answer and dragged his two best guys toward the food.

“Dean, hey, I’m- I’m really proud of you.” Sam stopped him and put a hand on his chest, and Dean felt a warm feeling both due to his words and the fact that Sam could pat him on the chest now without it being weird. “I know you’ve had a rough time- I mean, with everybody, with caring what they think- I’m just really proud of you.”

Dean swallowed a lump in his throat. “Thanks, Sammy. That’s all I need.”

“Jerk.”

“Bitch.”

#trans dean #dean is trans #ftm dean #destiel #deancas #sam winchester #dean winchester #fanfic #my writing #anon #ask

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hard-to-be-the-bard · 3 years

Text

Thomas Shelby X Modern!Reader

I feel like everyone really likes my modern readers haha.

I took this as, a reader who makes a lot of references, and dresses different, but is also sensitive to the fact he’s been in the war

Also i chose the black country museum cause it’s where part of peaky blinders is filmed and it’s actually an open museum, it’s pretty cool, i’d recommend visiting if any of y’all are in england

Also wasn’t asked for in the request but I liked the idea of the reader having a PhD in medicine

Part 2 anyone?

You didn’t know quite how you’d gotten there.

After all, one moment you’d been wandering through the Black Country Museum, taking pictures and talking about how’d it had been used for filming when another second someone had come crashing into you, knocking you to the floor

They reached down to pick you up quickly, an apology falling from their lips, and you heard the Birmingham accent

“It’s no problem, really, I wasn’t looking where I was going” And you looked up, pausing as your eyes met that of Cillian Murphy, and you paused slightly, seeing he was in costume, and when you looked around, worrying you’d stumbled into set, you realised it was suddenly busier than before.

“Are you alright?” He asks, before noticing your clothing, frowning at the way you were dressed.

You turned back to him, taking in a deep breath, nodding slightly

“Yes, yes of course, sorry” You stutter, taking out your phone, when you noticed you had no signal, or WIFI, which was strange considering there was 4G before

The man stared down at the device

“What’s that?” He asked, and you looked up at him frowning

“What this?” You asked, and then you took a step back

“Oh shit” You said, and he looked taken aback, and you turned around

“Oh shit oh no this isn’t good” You mumbled to yourself, realising just what had happened

“Miss, are you sure you’re alright?” He asks, and you spin around

“You’re Thomas Shelby” You mutter, and he pauses.

“Yes, I am, do, do I know you?” He asks, but knowing he would of remembered a face like yours

“I uh, no not exactly” You say, and he looks even more confused, before placing a hand on your shoulder

“Look, you, might of bumped your head when you fell, look my aunt can come take a look at ya, make sure you’re alright?” He asks, and you nod

“Uh yeah, maybe I hit my head” You mutter, and he beckons for you to follow, and shortly you’re at his house, he opens the door, letting you enter and you mumble a thanks

“Polly! Got a girl ‘ere!” He shouts, and a woman’s voice called back

“I don’t care who yer bringin’ to bed Tommy!” She shouts, and he almost falters

“She hit her head” He calls, and a woman appears in the doorway, but you know who it is.

“Well what did ya do to her Tommy?” She asks, and he explains he’d ran into you and she demands you sit down, glancing at your clothes while giving Thomas a look which he nods at, as they both enter the kitchen, and you know they’re discussing you

She soon comes out hold a glass of water, handing it to you

“Here dear, Thomas is never aware of his surroundings, now let’s take a look at that head” She says, and you suddenly blurt out

“I’m from the future” You say, and they both pause

“Well dear, I think you definitely hit your head” She confirms and you shake your head

“I’m serious I- I’m from 2020″ You say, and they watch you

“It’s 1919″ Thomas says watching you, and you nod

“Yes I know it is for you, I-” You say, how are you going to get them to believe them and then you remembered.

“The guns” You splutter out, and Thomas freezes, shooting Polly a look, and he stares at you

“How’d you fuckin’ know about that” He demands, and you told him

“I said, I’m from the future, I know what’s happened and is gonna happen” You say

“Who told you about the guns, who are you working for?” He asks, and you know he doesn’t believe you

“You were going to use them as leverage, but you made a deal with Campbell, and- and your sister, Ada, she’s pregnant, with the communist, Freddie” You say, and Polly freezes, looking at Thomas

“She couldn’t of known that Tommy” She says, and Thomas sits down

“So, you’re from the future” He says, and you nod

“Well then, this is gonna be fucking weird” He says

You spent the rest of the day telling them some basics of what happens in the future, brushing lightly over the subject of WWII, and you can see Tommy tense

“Another one?” He asks, and you nod lightly

“It’s worse this time” You whisper, and he leans back, a cigarette hanging from his mouth.

You mention the virus outbreak, telling him about new technology, and things that have changed.

Polly asked about your clothes, and you told her women rarely wear dresses 24/7 and she almost looks surprised when you tell her any woman could vote, regardless of whether they were under 30, like was required in the recently passed 1918 law, as long as you were over 18 anyone was allowed

And not only that, women were allowed men’s jobs.

“Education is free, until 18, then you can go to university” You say, and Thomas looks at you

“You go to university?” He asked, and you nodded

“I’m a doctor” You say, and they both look surprised.

“Dr. y/n l/n” You informed them, and he nodded

“Well, I take it you don’t have anywhere to go?” He asked, and you shook your head as he looked at Polly

“She could be useful, she’s smart too” Polly said, and Thomas nods, before turning to you

“You can stay here” He says, and you let out a sigh of relief, thanking him, and he looked at your clothes

“Ya, can’t wear that, nor can you go round talking about all this future stuff, unles you wanna get locked up, and- men are gonna treat you rude, they don’t know about all this equality stuff” He says, as an afterthought and you nod

“No smart mouthing, no modern clothes, no future talk, standard fit in woman” You say, and he almost looks embarrassed to nod.

“Perfect” Polly says, as she beckons

“Come on dear, lets get you some clothes, don’t worry you can keep those, I should have a dress that’ll fit you” She says, as you get dragged to her room

It’s been a few weeks since you’d arrived. And with no idea of how you can get back, Thomas had allowed you to help with the betting.

After all, you were smart, you could easily, and do maths well.

Polly had a feeling he’d grown soft on you. She could see it in the way he looked at you, protective when a man would comment on your features. And quick to be by your side if you felt uncomfortable

It was common knowledge now that you were Thomas’ property

The comments lessening, men flirting had stopped, and instead gave you nods of the head as you passed.

You were practically part of the family. Polly loved you, so did Ada, making you tell her everything about the future, telling her where’d you’d travelled too as Thomas listened from a chair, pretending to be uninterested. When instead he was watching the way the firelight framed your face as you laughed

He still had nightmares

And one night it was bad.

You’d heard it, and you didn’t want to listen to it. So you’d crept out of bed, pushing open the door to his room, kneeling by the bed as you shook him awake gently

And he shot forward, sweat dripping from his forehead as his eyes went wide, adjusting in the dark until they landed on you

“What are you-” He asked, as you pressed a hand on his

“You were having a nightmare” You whispered, and he apologised

“You don’t have to be sorry for anything” You say, and he shrugged.

“I didn’t mean to wake you, go back to sleep” He said, and you shook your head before hesitating.

“You know... Thomas, sleeping next to some can produce oxytocin, which reduces stress.... And nightmares” You suggest, and wait for his reaction, he looks at you, before shuffling to the side

“If you wanted to get in bed with me you just had to ask” He whispered, trying to make light of the situation as you climbed into his bed, laughing softly

Your head lays on the pillow as he watches you

“You can go to sleep” You say, and he hesitates, sighing as a hand reaches out, pulling at your waist, surprising you as he pulls you into his chest, resting a chin on your head

“I know” He whispers

You fall asleep in his arms, and when he wakes up he smiles at you

“I didn’t have another nightmare”

#thomas shelby #thomas shelby x reader #thomas shelby x #thomas shelby x you #thomas shelby imagines #thomas shelby x y/n #thomas shelby x s/o

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ladyseaheart1668 · 3 years

Text

Endless Summer Book 4: Daughter of Vaanu (Chapter 56)

Description: The Catalysts attempt to return to their lives as River Skye finally comes home. tagging: @endlesshero1122 @mysteli @feartheendlesssummer @whatmcsaid @tigerbryn11

Chapter 56: Not Over

Alodia

I almost can’t believe how quickly I start to feel better once the fever breaks. The pain, which had felt like some hellish demon with teeth made of red-hot iron gnawing at my lower back, begins to recede within hours.

“That’s how it tends to go with an infection like this once we find the right antibiotic,” the doctor tells me. “You are fortunate, though. These days, a lot of bacteria have developed resistance to antibiotics. But the infection is responding well to treatment, and all your vitals and your blood work look good. And your daughter appears as healthy as a baby horse. ...I would just like to take a quick look at how you’re healing from the birth if that’s okay.”

I nod, turning onto my back with Jake’s help as the doctor draws the curtain around the bed. Improved as I am, I know I’m not at full strength yet, because moving still hurts. I guess I must have winced, because the doctor raises an eyebrow in concern as she pulls on a pair of gloves.

“You okay there?”

“I think so. Guess I’m still pretty sore.”

“That’s to be expected. You probably won’t feel one-hundred percent for another week or two at least.”

I draw my knees up and part my thighs while the doctor pulls up a stool at the foot of the bed and lifts the blanket. I keep my attention focused on Jake’s face above me and the pressure of his hand on mine as the doctor carries out her checks. Occasionally, I let my eyes wander around to the multiple bouquets and mylar balloons that have built up over the past couple days, gifts from the Catalysts, Tahira’s team, my aunt and uncle, and Jake and Diego’s parents.

“Everything is healing beautifully. Stitches should be dissolved by next week. You’re probably going to be feeling pretty tender for a while though.”

“Yeah, we had the whole tearing conversation with my OB in California some time ago.”

“Good. If you have any pressing questions regarding the birth and recovery, you can of course ask me, or one of the maternity staff. We can also forward your hospital records to your regular OBGYN.”

“How long do you think it will be before we can go home?” Jake asks.

She pulls the blanket back down and stands, peeling off her gloves. “Well, the fact is, we want to get her and your baby out of here ASAP to lower the chances of either of them picking up a secondary infection.” She smiles at me. “Now that the fever’s gone, we’re gonna get you off the drip and onto some oral antibiotics, and we can pretty much start the discharge process immediately.”

“So soon?” My own question surprises me, but it’s out of my mouth before I realize it’s on the end of my tongue.

“Believe me, it’s better we get you both out of here.”

“I know. It’s not that I want to stay here. It’s just...thinking about how we’re going to get home...how soon we can get home…”

“That’s all taken care of, Princess. Aleister is having Castor and Pollux deep cleaned, and he and Grace are gonna put us up for a few days until Mike gets up here from Santo Domingo. Diego and Varyyn are with Estela and Quinn, and your aunt and uncle basically paid for hotel rooms for everyone else.”

His infodump has my head reeling a little, but there was one particular tidbit I find myself fixing on.

“Why is Mike…?” I trail off as realization crashes down on me in an icy wave. A bit of information I had nearly forgotten in my struggle to bring my baby safely into the world while fighting a fever. Jake wasn’t worrying about me for all that time from the safety of our home in California. I don’t know the details, but I have a sinking feeling that has something to do with the reason that Mike isn’t here with us now.

Jake folds my hand between his palms, glancing at the doctor. “Hey...do you have everything you need? I’d like a few minutes alone with my wife, if that’s okay.”

“Of course. I’ll get the ball rolling on your discharge.”

I wait until I’m sure she’s well clear of the room before I reach to stroke Jake’s cheek. “...I know Lundgren got his filthy hands on you. ...Fiddler told me. ...I’m guessing he got a hold of Mike, too.”

He leans into my touch. “...And Sean and Michelle. Nabbed us all as I was bringing ‘em back from the island.”

“I don’t know if she told me that. That conversation got swallowed up in worrying about you, and then I got sick and River started coming, and…” I swallow, running my thumb along the fuzzy ridge of his cheekbone. “...Did they hurt you? Any of you?”

He shrugs, not meeting my eyes. “Knocked us all around a little. Michelle’s the smart one, of course, so she escaped the worst. ...Mike’s in Santo Domingo having his prosthetics repaired. Lundgren ripped them out ot torture him.”

I shudder. “Oh, god...Oh, Jake, I’m sorry...I’m so sorry…”

I’m crying before I realize it. And as soon as I do realize, it turns into sobbing. Jake reaches down to gather me in his arms and cradle my head against his shoulder, rocking me tenderly.

“It’s okay,” he murmurs into my hair. “It’s okay. He’s gonna be fine. You’re gonna be fine. In a few days, we’ll be home with our baby.”

“I w-wanna be home,” I hiccup. “I wanna be home with River, but I’m scared of leaving everyone again. I just wanna bring them all home with us…”

“Well, it’s a very big house. ...On the other hand, you cram us all into the same house long term, it might start to feel less big. Plus, it would mean a brutal cross-country commute for some of them.”

I can’t help chuckling a little bit, which makes the sobs start to die down. Jake gives me a moment to get myself under control before he speaks again.

“...How are you feeling, Princess? Really?”

“Physically?” I pull back gently to lie down on the pillow again. “Definitely better. My head is clearer, and I don’t hurt as much. But I’m still worn out. And by the way, you’re gonna have to make due with blow jobs for awhile, because it’s gonna be a long time before you stick that thing in me again, if ever.”

It’s his turn to laugh, and he bends to kiss me. “Princess, I will tug it for the rest of my life as long as you’re still a part of that life.”

“I will be a part of your life as long as the universe allows,” I promise. “...But Jake, we both know this isn’t over.”

He sighs, and I see his forehead crease before he presses it to mine. “I know. I know you’re right. But for River’s sake--and mine--will you let the others take care of that for now? I ain’t saying don’t worry, because I know that’s impossible. But River and I need you healthy. Can you stand to let yourself be looked after for a while?”

I feel a rueful smile tug at one corner of my mouth. “Am I to assume that arguing is pointless?”

A tapping at the open door to the birthing suite distracts Jake from answering. We both look up to find Raj and Diego hovering in the doorway, Raj with a paper bag in his hand, and Diego with his right arm in a soft blue sling. It’s the first time I’ve seen him since River was born, and I sit up a little straighter as he hesitantly steps over the threshold.

“...Are we interrupting?”

The baby has started fussing, and Jake eases off the edge of the bed to go pick her up. I open my arms to Diego. Just before he rushes into them, I see his face twist with anguish. And as he falls against me, his one-armed grip is surprisingly strong.

“Goddammit, Allie,” he whispers quiveringly. “Goddammit…”

“...Did I scare you?”

He pulls back sharply, enough so he can look me in the face, but he keeps a grip on my shoulder. “Did you scare me?! You had me on my knees saying the Ave Maria! Do you know how long it’s been since I said the Ave Maria?!”

There isn’t really a lot I can say to that, but I smile ruefully. “...Thanks for staying with me.”

“What, you thought I’d bail?”

I snort. “God, no. But I can still be grateful.”

“...You’re really okay?”

I nod. “I’m fine. The fever is gone, and the wound doesn’t really hurt anymore. I’m still pretty sore down there, though.”

A smile finally starts to play cautiously around his mouth. “...Well, that part’s Jake’s problem.”

“How about you?” I ask, gingerly touching the strap of his navy blue sling.

“That’s nothing serious. It was dislocated, but they popped it back in. Just got to wear this for a few more days, and take it easy once we get back home. ...Raj brought food, by the way.”

“Oh!” I pull back a little to smile at Raj. “Sorry, big guy. I didn’t mean to ignore you.”

Raj chuckles. “We’ll blame it on the new mommy brain and leave it at that. Speaking of which…” He shoos Diego back enough that he can drag my bed table over across my lap, and sets an insulated lunch box on top. “I figured you could do with something better than hospital fruit cups and oatmeal, so I brought you a special Raj lunch. Michelle supervised its creation, and it’s full of stuff that’s supposed to be good for new moms.”

“What is it?”

“So glad you asked!” With a flourish, he opens the bag, and pulls out each item in turn, presenting them like a game show prize lady. “A sandwich of salmon, spinach, and poached egg on whole wheat bread with a garlic white bean spread; in case you are extra hungry, a side of gourmet trail mix made from an assortment of nuts and dried fruit; and to drink, a pineapple-orange-banana smoothie with extra protein powder, and just a few extra leaves of spinach!”

I can’t help but be uplifted by his enthusiasm, and hold out my arms for a hug. “I must be the most spoiled new mother in the world.”

Raj embraces me lightly over the table. “As you should be. You know in some Asian cultures, a new mother spends a whole month resting while her mother-in-law takes care of her and the baby.”

“Oh yeah?” I look at Jake. “Think your mother would spend a month taking care of me?”

“Honestly, I bet she would. The problem would be getting her to ease up and let you start taking care of things after the month was up.”

“Hmm...probably best not to give her ideas then.”

“Probably. We’ll have my folks over in few more months, when we’ve had a chance to get settled.”

“...But…” Raj says, “in the meantime, do you think you guys will be needing any extra help? I know it’s going to be a pretty full house as it is, but Diego’s going to want to take it easy with lifting and stuff for a while, and Michelle says Mike will probably need time to recover, too. If you need a couple extra pairs of hands and someone to do the cooking, I have some downtime, and I know Lila would be happy to come along.”

I look questioningly at Jake, who shrugs. “I don’t have anything against that. It’s a big enough house. And if Varyyn and I are gonna be the only ones at full strength for the time being, I wouldn’t say no to a couple extra pairs of hands.”

“And probably better those hands be Raj and Lila than anyone’s parents,” Diego adds. “I bet Varyyn would prefer not having to wear his disguise twenty-four-seven.”

“Yeah. And,” Jake adds with a sigh, shifting River to rest against his shoulder, “it’s probably preferable not to involve anyone who ain’t already involved in the bigger picture. ...Like you said before, Princess, this ain’t over.”

“But for now, we’re all safe and sound, and Allie has a lunch to eat.” Diego smiles encouragingly as he pushes the tinfoil-wrapped sandwich toward me. “Go on. Dig in.”

Jake

I gotta admit, it does my heart good to see my wife savoring the meal Raj brought her and enjoying our friends’ company. She seems almost back to her old self as she talks and tells jokes and teases with them. Although, as I put River in her arms, I can’t help but be reminded that she’ll never be exactly like her old self again. Not now that she’s a mama. Not like I’m ever gonna be exactly like my old self again either. I’m a daddy now. That’s gonna change me forever. The thought scares me, like it has a lot over the past nine months. But just a look at that precious little face is enough to reassure me that I am never gonna regret it.

Diego and Raj eventually leave us on our own again. After nursing and burping, River sleeps just long enough that we can fill out her birth certificate, nestled side-by-side on the bed. From there, it’s not more than an hour or two before they’re wheeling Alodia toward the hospital exit with River in her arms again while I walk at her shoulder, a baby carrier in the crook of my elbow and my arms laden with flowers and mini mylar balloons. Any staff we happen to pass on the way out smile and wave or give us their congratulations. I have a feeling that in a hospital, any chance to see a patient off happy and healthy is a cause for celebration, and that probably goes double for a new mama leaving with a baby.

Grace is waiting in a car for us at the curb outside the hospital. One of Reggie’s old carseats is in the backseat. Grace settles the baby in the carseat while I help Alodia into the seat beside her.

“There’s a surprise for you guys when we get to our place,” Grace informs us as I circle around the car to get in on the other side of River.

“Nothing too strenuous, I hope,” Alodia quips. “I am not up for a party yet.”

Grace chuckles as she starts up the car. “Oh, believe me, I realize that. No, everyone is pretty sure parties are off the table for you for the time being. ...But you do know that everyone is going to want to see you before you leave, right? You gave us a scare, and no one wants you to go before we all know you’re okay. ...Plus, everyone wants to see River.”

“I am not opposed to visitors,” Alodia assures her. “Just...only a few at a time.”

“Absolutely. We won’t let you get overwhelmed.”

“River, either,” Alodia adds, stroking our sleeping daughter’s downy hair. “Poor thing is probably overwhelmed as it is, suddenly coming into all this noise and color and light.”

“Birth is the craziest thing that ever happens to us, and none of us remember it,” I remark, letting the blade of my forefinger run gently back and forth across the soft back of River’s tiny hand. Her little fingers twitch just slightly, and the base of her pacifier rocks back and forth across her lips, but she doesn’t wake up. I don’t expect the quiet will last.

River does sleep throughout the half hour or so it takes to drive to Aleister and Grace’s luxury Northbridge apartment. As we pull up to the curb, I realize what our surprise is.

“Mike!”

I must have been a little louder than I thought, because River wakes up with a cry that can only be described as irritated, but it doesn’t fully register until I have already launched myself out of the car towards Mike. He’s balancing on a walker, so I at least have the good sense not to jostle him, but I can’t hold myself back from grasping him firmly by the shoulders. He grins, carefully removing his hands from the walker one at a time to grasp me back.

“Good to see ya, Grandpa.”

“Shit, you too! We weren’t expecting you for another couple days! How are you feeling?”

“Well, as you can tell,” he says, nodding at the walker, “I’m not quite ready to run a marathon yet. But my new legs are healing up nice. ...Good to see you, Goldilocks.”

His gaze shifts over my shoulder, and I turn to look back at my wife supporting herself on Aleister’s arm while Grace bounces River in her arms. Alodia smirks at me, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

“I feel like I should make a joke about you abandoning your wife and child in the car to go hang out with your buddy,” she drawls.

I grin sheepishly as Mike carefully returns his grip to the walker. “Sorry about that. Let me make it up to you.”

I lunge and sweep her up bridal style, and I have the pleasure of feeling her arms twine around my neck.

“Mmm, much better. However, unlike your daughter, I am actually capable of walking.”

“But you don’t have to. Not right now, anyway.” But I do return her to her feet after capturing her mouth in a kiss. I don’t entirely take my hands off her yet, though. After her ordeal, I don’t think she’s really that much steadier than Mike right now. Her grip as she slips her arm through mine confirms my concerns.

I’m standing between my wife and my best friend, and neither of them are fully able to stand under their own power. I’m starting to feel that much more grateful to Raj for volunteering to help us out for a while.

I think Mike notices Alodia’s weakness, too, because his forehead creases just a little. “You all right, Goldilocks? From what I hear, you gave everyone a real scare.”

“It was pretty scary on my end, too. But I’m fine now. How about you?”

Mike shrugs. “Ahh, you know. A few weeks of rehab, I’ll be a six-million dollar man again. In the meantime,” he adds wryly, stroking the frame of his walker, “it’ll be hard to call Jake ‘Grandpa’ when I’m dottering around on this thing.”

“You just called me ‘Grandpa’ two minutes ago.”

“And I cannot tell you how hard I internally cringed. Seriously, if you could have seen my internal expression, you’d have thought I was sucking lemons.”

I am morally obligated to reach out and swat him for that, but before I can, Alodia abruptly steps forward to wrap her arms around his shoulders. It’s an awkward embrace, encumbered by the walker and both of them still being weak, but it’s a sincere one, and Mike leans into it gratefully.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” Alodia murmurs.

“You too,” Mike says softly, reaching up to pat her shoulder with one hand. “But can we go inside? I wanna properly meet that baby you’ve been carrying around for the past nine months!”

***

The Catalysts come by in shifts throughout the afternoon and evening, apparently having planned it all out beforehand. No one stays more than an hour at a time, which proves to be a good thing, since Alodia is clearly worn out by about eight in the evening. We’re set up in the guest room of the Rourke apartment, with River in a bassinet beside us, and Mike on the foldaway bed in the living room.

Alodia nurses River and rocks her to sleep before lying down herself. At first, I curl up beside Alodia in bed. She’s asleep within minutes, but I’m not as quick. And after an hour, it’s pretty clear that I’m not on my way to dreamland any time soon. I don’t want to leave Alodia or River. I never want to leave Alodia’s side again. But I’m restless. Anxious. And eventually, the desire not to disturb what precious little sleep my wife might have before our daughter wakes her up again wins out over my irrational need to pace back and forth between them. I check the windows, making sure they’re locked, then I slip out of the room as quietly as I can, heading back out into the living room.

I find Mike, Aleister, and Grace all seated in the living room. On the coffee table are four short, round glasses and a bottle of golden red liquid that I’m guessing is some kind of whiskey.

“We were starting to wonder if you had also fallen asleep,” Aleister says. He gestures to the glasses. “We thought you might like to wet your baby’s head.”

“Kind of a weird expression,” I remark. Nonetheless, I pick up the bottle and take a seat in an armchair to read the label. “Ooh, Irish Mist. Fancy.”

“It is not every day that one becomes a father. The night Reginald was born, Diego, Varyyn, and I toasted his birth with Irish Mist.”

I crack open the bottle, and lean forward to fill each of the four glasses about halfway. I set down the bottle and raise my glass, the others following suit.

“To River Skye McKenzie, my beautiful angel. And to her mother, my better half, who is truly the best and bravest of us.”

“Here, here!” Grace says. We clink glasses, and I take a long, deep drink, savoring the sweet notes of honey and spices riding atop the alcoholic burn of whiskey. I return my glass to the table empty and lean back in my chair.

“When my sister and I both were born, my grandpa had my dad and the men of the neighborhood over to smoke cigars on the porch.” I chuckle a little. “Rebecca remembers helping our grandma in the kitchen, and seeing all the men outside smoking. She says what she remembers most about the day I was born was our dad coming in from outside to give her a hug, but she pushed him away and said, ‘No, Daddy! You stink!’”

My story prompts the expected laughter.

“I am afraid Irish Mist will have to do tonight,” Aleister says. “I did not think to buy cigars. Nor would I know enough to ensure I was purchasing a quality product. As I understand it, Cuban cigars are the best, but those are illegal.”

Mike shudders. “Honestly, I think the smell of a Cuban would be enough to give me flashbacks. Lundgren used to smoke contraband Cubans.”

“Same here,” I agree. “I mean...there was that one time…”

“...That one time what?”

I chuckle a little, rubbing the back of my head. “Okay, no one currently in this room was there when Zahra blew up MASADA…”

“What’s that got to do with Cuban cigars?”

I sigh, but in spite of myself, in spite of how literally everyone else in the room with me was in some kind of bad situation at the time, I feel a smile playing around my mouth at the memory.

“Okay, so it’s me, Alodia, Sean, Quinn, Estela, Craig, and Zahra trying to find another way out of the complex after the gondola gets severed, and when we go through a control room, Zahra gets the idea to blow the whole thing up. We figure it’s worth the couple extra minutes, so we let her do it. And while she’s rigging the system, I find one of Lundgren’s Cubans somewhere on the floor. ...And I light it up. But only to spite the bastard.”

“But did you enjoy it?” Mike asks.

“Hell, yeah! The hype ain’t a lie, buddy. Not saying I’d do it again unless it were one of his personal stash, but that was a real good smoke. ...Still...it wouldn’t be right to celebrate River with Cuban cigars. Lundgren and Rourke did enough to taint her birth.”

“Nothing has been tainted,” Grace says firmly. “She and Alodia both came through it well and healthy.”

“I ain’t losing sight of what’s important,” I assure her. “But I can’t let my guard down, either. ...We all know this ain’t over.”

Grace sighs. “...No, you’re right. It isn’t over. ...Which means...I should probably tell you what I learned in Ireland.”

Diego

I knew that the Catalysts wouldn’t have sat on their hands while any of their own were in danger, but I am surprised to learn just how busy they were during the time that Allie and I were in Arachnid’s claws. I’m even more surprised--and frankly unsettled--by some of the things they learned. Yvonne might be alive. Lundgren flew the same plane that killed Allie’s parents, even though the twisted wreckage of that plane is the property of the NTSB. The whole mess with Allie’s mom, that weird AI message from a program made by Allie’s mom. It all leaves us with a lot more questions than answers.

I told the police everything I felt like I could safely tell them. I went so far as to tell them that I think Everett Rourke might be alive because that’s who our kidnappers claimed they were taking us to. I don’t know if they believed me. I don’t know if the future of the Vaanti is safe. A part of me hopes that they lose interest in the case since everyone who was abducted has been recovered safely. But I also know that none of us are really safe until Rourke is either back behind bars or dead.

Aleister and Estela make all the travel arrangements for those of us going back to California, including my folks and Allie’s. Castor carries me, Allie, Jake, Varyyn, Mike, Raj, Lila, Rebecca, and River. For once, Jake and Mike aren’t going to be flying. Pollux is taking our families. A third plane, smaller but no less luxurious, takes Jake’s parents back to Louisiana. They’re reluctant to leave him. They don’t want to be apart from their son, or their daughter, or their granddaughter. He assures them they can come visit soon, but that their daughter-in-law needs some time to recover first.

At the airport, Allie’s aunt and uncle hesitate to part from her on the tarmac. Allie stands with River in her arms, patiently enduring as Molly smoothes her hair and kisses her forehead, asking if she’s sure Allie doesn’t want her and Rob to wait at the airport in California to drive her home. When Allie insists she’s sure; that Molly and Rob should go ahead and get home so they can rest. Rob says they’ll make sure there are cars waiting for us to take us all back to the house in Laguna.

My parents board the plane before I arrive at the airport. On board the plane, I nestle up with Varyyn on one of the double-width leather seats. I wind my arms around him and bury my face in his shoulder, inhaling his scent. He kisses the top of my head.

“Are you alright, my love?” he murmurs.

“...I’ll be fine,” I assure him. “I’m just...disappointed. I knew my parents weren’t ready to meet you. But I had hoped...I don’t know. I had hoped it wouldn’t be like this. Even if I knew it probably would be.”

Varyyn sighs, bringing a hand up to stroke my cheek. “They may yet come around. Or they may not. In the end, it is up to them. All I can promise is that I will love you regardless of their decision.”

“...I love you, too.”

“You guys all set?” Raj’s voice makes me look up. The others are boarding behind us and finding their seats. Jake helps Allie settle in and get her seatbelt on, River still cradled in her arms.

“Are you sure a plane is really the best way to travel with a newborn?” Lila asks.

“When the choices are between a rental car, a train, or a private plane for a cross-country trip, a private plane is hands down the best option,” Rebecca declares. “I mean, if we were on a commercial plane, I’d think twice, since those things are basically flying petri dishes. But this plane has been deep-cleaned, unlike the train. It’s more comfortable than a car, and faster than both the car or the train.”

“Yeah, but what about her little ears? All the pressure?”

“The doctor says that if I nurse her during take-off and landing, that should keep her comfortable. Besides...I just want to be home.”

Home. The word washes through me in a way that comforts me even as it makes me want to cry. Images flash through my mind of the house I share with my husband, my best friend, her husband, and his best friend--and now, my little niece and goddaughter. Watching movies in the living room with Allie. Sharing dinner around the table or out on the balcony. Cuddling with Varyyn in the hot tub in the evening, letting the warm, swirling water sap the energy from my body, and then sliding into bed beside him and drifting off to sleep in his arms. At home, I don’t have to hide. I don’t have to walk on eggshells or worry about losing anyone’s love. At home, I’m safe and free. I meet my best friend’s eyes, offering her a tired smile.

“I’m with you, Allie. Let’s get home.”

Raj

Nothing but the best for my friends, that’s my motto. I came to the house in Laguna Beach to make sure that my friends would have the best care while they needed it, and I waste no time in getting down to business. Alodia, Diego, and Mike need space to convalesce. But with a new baby in a huge house like this, there is a lot to be done. Jake and Varyyn can’t be expected to do everything, and that’s where I and Lila come in.

River is constantly monitored. Whenever she cries, someone is ready to come running to change her diaper, or to bring her to Alodia for feeding. I prepare meals ahead of time that can be easily heated and served, so no one goes hungry. Lila helps me cook and keep the house clean. Alodia’s aunt and uncle attempt to send cleaning and catering services to her at one point, but they end up being politely refused. Lila and I have everything under control, and none of us want strangers poking around here.

Alodia is occasionally moody, snapping at everyone to stop fussing over her, and she can’t wait to be free of this gilded cage and go back out into the world. This is usually followed by tearful apologies, with all of us assuring her that we don’t take it personally. She just had a baby, she’s allowed to be moody. Besides, the moment someone places River in her arms, it seems like everything is right in her world, and everything is right in our world, too.

...Except it’s not. Not entirely.

River is happy and healthy. Alodia is getting her strength back. Diego gets rid of the sling, and Mike starts to get around without the walker again. But underneath the surface, there is still trauma. There’s still fear.

“They’re having nightmares,” I tell Lila one morning as we’re preparing breakfast. She pauses for a moment with a knife poised above an orange before swiftly slicing it in half.

“Is that so surprising?” she asks. She doesn’t look at me as she speaks, but concentrates on making sure the thick, white heart of the orange half in her hand is positioned properly on the cone of the juicer before she presses down and begins to twist. Bright yellow juice splashes down into the container below.

“Well, no. But it is sad. Jake and Alodia especially should be concentrating on enjoying their new baby, not having nightmares and worrying about whether Rourke’s coming back for them.”

Lila pulls the now-deflated orange rind off the cone of the juicer and tosses it on the countertop. Ribbons of tattered orange flesh cling to the inside of the rind. She picks up the other half.

“...Do you ever have nightmares from Mr. Rourke?” she asks softly.

“Of course,” I reply. “Not as much as before, but I think we all have them sometimes. After what we all went through, I think I’d be more surprised if any of us didn’t.”

The twisting of the orange on the juicer slows just slightly. The toaster pops behind me, and I pluck four pieces of perfectly browned bread from the slots to toss onto a plate.

“...I have nightmares, too.”

The butter has been softening on the counter, and my knife slides easily through it. The heat from the toast softens it further, and it spreads cleanly.

“...You want to talk about it?”

Lila shakes her head, picking up her knife and another orange. “No. Not now. They don’t really matter anyway. They’re about things that happened in the past. I’m less scared of them than I am of what happens in the future.”

“Do you mean Rourke’s next move?”

“Of course that scares me. ...But more than that, I’m scared of him trying to use me against all of you again.”

“We won’t let that happen, Lila. You’re safe with us.”

“...But are you safe with me?”

I pause a moment before putting down my knife. I turn to Lila, put one hand on each of her shoulders, and turn her toward me.

“Lila...look at me. ...Has Rourke approached you at all since you’ve been with us again?”

Her eyes widen in what looks like genuine surprise. “What? No, I...that isn’t what I meant!”

I relax just a little. “...Okay.” I slowly take my hands away from her shoulders. “...You’d tell me if he had, wouldn’t you?”

She nods. “Of course.”

“Good. ...Because if he approaches you again, we can help you. We can help keep you out from under his thumb. ...We’re not gonna let him just have you back.”

A weak smile lifts the corners of her mouth. “I believe you.” She hastily turns back to the oranges in front of her. “You should...um...finish buttering before the toast gets cold.”

Overhead, the sharp, piercing cry of an infant rings through the air. I smile. Another morning blending into another day. It’s not perfect. We’ve got reason to worry. But for now, all is well.

Diego

I keep my head down as I move through the halls of my high school, clutching the straps of my worn-out backpack. It’s the same shabby gray one I’ve been carrying since freshman year. I’m a junior now, and the corners near the bottom are starting to fray where the sharp corners of paper-bag covered textbooks have dug into them.

My stomach growls. I skipped lunch again today. My parents were gone to work early again, and I didn’t leave myself enough time to make myself anything this morning. I barely had time to scarf down a banana for breakfast. I didn’t have enough cash for a cafeteria lunch, either, and besides, I preferred spending my lunch period playing on the computer in the library to sitting by myself at the end of a table filled with noisy strangers anyway.

If I can scrape together enough change from the bottom of my pencil case, I might have enough to get a bag of chips from the vending machine before I have to go to my after school job. But for now, my hunger isn’t all that sharp, and I am heading towards English Lit, the only class I currently look forward to.

The class is taught by Mr. Hunter. He also teaches the film-making class I want to sign up for next semester. He’s in his early fifties, and not handsome. He is tall and lanky, with gray-green eyes and a dark helmet of slicked back hair that sits atop a rectangular face. He has one of those mustaches that seemed to be popular in the 1970’s that always make a man look a little sketchy. He wears paisley shirts and slacks, and his voice reminds me of Bert from Sesame Street.

Mr. Hunter is the best teacher I’ve ever had at this school. When we studied Romeo and Juliet, he started off by giving us all a printed-off list of Shakespearean insults. When one girl tried to mumble her way through a line-reading, he shouted, “Put some feeling into it, you saucy wench!”

Mr. Hunter is also gay, and he does not attempt to hide this. When my parents ask about my teachers and which ones I like best, I leave this fact out. If they knew, they would make me switch to another class. Mr. Hunter has a picture of himself with his boyfriend on his desk. I’ve seen it when I’ve gone up to hand in assignments. His partner is bald and ruddy-skinned. He’s not handsome, either, but he has an open, friendly smile. Sometimes, I imagine them kissing. I worry that I have a crush on Mr. Hunter.

On the post of every classroom door is a laminated pink triangle, with a message proclaiming that this is a safe space for LGBTQ students. These triangles are mandated by the school district. Not every teacher honors them. One teacher actually tore hers down and refused to put it back up. She was fired. Last year, two girls were voted “Cutest Couple” in their senior class. I look at the triangles, prominently displayed as I walk into each classroom, and I don’t feel particularly safe. I feel safe in Mr. Hunter’s classroom.

Inside Mr. Hunter’s classroom, two boys from the football team act out a love poem with one of them in a curly blond wig and the bottom of his shirt tucked into his collar to create a crop top. They end with a flourish, with the boy in the wig jumping into the other boy’s arms and goosing him. Everyone applauds their performance, including Mr. Hunter.

Outside Mr. Hunter’s classroom, guys of all stripes growl “faggot” in my direction, and even the girls who are nice to me seem pitying more than anything. There’s a Pride club that meets after school two days a week, but I don’t dare join. I’m slowly realizing I can’t deny the truth anymore, but that doesn’t mean I can just announce it to the world.

I have just enough change to buy a bag of chips after school. I put it in my backpack as I make my way toward the library where I work for a few hours each day. I see Sam Dzugan eyeing me as I pass through the main doors to the school, and feel dread so familiar that it’s almost dull. Of all the bullies at this school, Sam is the worst. He also knows where I work. If he’s bored and hungry for a power fix tonight, I’m in for a rough walk home.

But he doesn’t follow me to work. At the library, I set to work filing back the books from the return cart. As I do, my mind wanders to the same place it always does: Alodia.

Alodia. My ideal friend. I conjure up an image of her beside me. She would be pretty, like all the most popular girls at school. I summon a small, pale figure with blonde hair, big blue eyes, and rosy cheeks. I talk with her in my head as I wander the aisles of the library with the return cart. I can picture her cheeky smile as clearly as if she were really beside me. I have spent many years getting the details of her perfect. Early incarnations of her were dark-haired. Green-eyed. Taller. I drew pictures of her. I wrote down her description in a private notebook that I kept under my mattress. But she never felt as real as when I wrote her with golden blonde hair and sapphire eyes.

She laughs at all my jokes as I work the rest of my shift. I forgot to eat the chips I bought, and I’m hungry enough now to start feeling dizzy. ...Alodia would invite me to dinner at her house. A huge, fancy house with a pool, where a chef would have prepared a gourmet meal.

“Don’t worry about Sam,” she would say. “If he gives you any trouble, I’ll fight him off.” ...Because Alodia would be fierce. A fighter. Alodia was a hero. A hero who loved me unconditionally.

Alodia was never meant to be my lover. I wasn’t looking for a lover when I first dreamed Alodia into existence, which is probably why I always imagined her as a girl. I could scarcely imagine having a lover before I had a friend. That was what Alodia was to me. A friend. A friend who would always love me. A friend who I could tell my secrets to without judgment. A friend to fight for me and protect me, who saw value in me, and needed me back.

But my friend is a fantasy. And when I leave work and Sam corners me in the encroaching darkness, Alodia vanishes…

...I wake up with a gasp, bolting upright in the darkness of my room. Beside me, Varyyn grunts in his sleep and rolls over, the moonlight reflecting off his blue skin. I stare at his sleeping form for a moment, trying to take stock of myself. I’m shaking. My pajamas are damp with sweat. I feel cold. I feel sick and empty with fear. I don’t exactly remember what I was dreaming about, but one thought keeps echoing in my mind: Allie. I have to find Allie.

I slip out of bed as gently as I can while I’m still trembling. I don’t want to wake Varyyn. As I slip into the hall, motion-sensitive lights plugged into the sockets near the floor illuminate my path. My dream is still hazy, but bits and pieces trickle back as I shuffle down the hall with my hand on the wall. I was alone. Allie didn’t exist. It was a timeline that I have all but forgotten, and it felt entirely too real.

I need to find her. Or at least evidence that she still exists. The door to the nursery is slightly ajar, enough that I can see the soft glow from the lamp on the bedside table. I peek through the crack in the door and relief floods through me. Allie, bundled up in her robe and slippers, sits in the rocking chair with River in her arms, gently rocking back and forth. I exhale slowly. I should go back to bed, but I am not ready to let her out of my sight yet. I start to push open the door. She gasps a little, looking up sharply.

“Oh, Diego!” She smiles at me, settling back into her chair. “You startled me.”

“Sorry,” I whisper back. “...Did I wake up River?”

“No. I just fed her, so she’ll probably be out for an hour or two.” She looks up at me as I come to settle into the armchair across from her. “...What are you doing up?”

“...Bad dream,” I admit. “...About...about you. I had to come check on you or I was never going to get back to sleep.”

I half-expect her to joke about me being a creeper watching her while she sleeps, but instead she sighs. “...I kinda know the feeling.”

“Yeah. I bet you do.”

“You wanna stay up with me for awhile?”

“Yeah. But I feel like I should be telling you to get some sleep while you can.”

“I probably should be sleeping,” she admits. “...But I don’t really want to let her go.”

There’s not really much I feel like I need to say to that. I understand. I don’t think there’s anyone in this house who doesn’t empathize with that feeling in one way or another. Especially now.

“...Diego…?”

“Yeah, Allie?”

For a long moment, she doesn’t say anything, though her mouth opens and closes a couple times. Then, she swallows and takes a deep breath.

“...I love you. I love you, and I love Jake, and Raj, and all the Catalysts…”

“We love you, too, Allie.”

“...When you imagined me. In that other timeline. When I didn’t come to be until the Island...did you ever imagine my future?”

I can’t help flinching. Her words feel like a cold pinprick at the top of my spine. “...Allie...I...I don’t really remember that timeline…”

“I know. I know. But...it happened. It existed. I was once born to be what you needed. What all the Catalysts needed. ...But now...now I have River. Someone new who needs me. She needs me more than any of my Catalysts.”

“I...I think that’s true,” I say slowly. “...We all love you, and we want you with us. But River is your child. She’s helpless and new. She needs your love and your care and your guidance to survive.”

“...I’m scared, Diego. I’m scared by how much I love her. I’m scared by how much she needs me.”

My earlier fear is being replaced with concern that is entirely for my friend. “...Allie...are you okay? Is this some kind of postpartum depression?”

“I don’t know what this is, Diego. I know that I love River more than I ever thought I could love anyone alive. I would have torn myself apart for my Catalysts without hesitation. I gave up my existence to give my Catalysts the world. ...But I can’t consider that anymore. Because River needs her mother.”

“Oh, Allie. That’s not a bad thing. None of us want you to tear yourself apart.”

“I know. ...But I am afraid of what happens if the world asks for it. ...If I end up at the Threshold again, or a new Raan’losti…” She looks up at me. “...Diego...I think I have to face what’s in the pool shed.”

I feel my blood run cold. I know what’s in the pool shed. The collection of objects that were left for us in the Crystal dimension when we went to rescue Tahira. Including…

“...Are you sure?”

She nods. “...It was left for me to find for a reason. I have to touch the Andromeda idol again.”

#playchoices #choices stories you play #pixelberry choices #Endless Summer #hero

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guiltysecretpasttime · 3 years

Text

Grey Eyes

This is in response to a prompt I received:

camryn-bria I have a Linzin headcanon that there is a secret (airbending) child. Could you write a one-shot of Tenzin finding out Lin is pregnant after breaking up with her.

I’ll probably put in a better summary, tags or notes later on. But hope you enjoy this 😊

(So I had too much fun (maybe) with this and it ended up being a two-parter rather than a one-shot, hope this is okay)

Lin/Tenzin pre-canon fanfic | 1 of 2

Legend of Korra

---

Despite what the public thought, Chief Toph Beifong was not a heartless person.

While truly a strong woman, it did not mean she did not have emotions. Family and friends played a huge role in occupying a space in her heart.

Family.

It was precisely because of family why she was pacing in front of the doctor’s examination room.

Toph closed her eyes in worry.

Of her two daughters, Lin was the one most like her.

Her youngest daughter, Suyin, at her current state, probably was who her own mother wanted her to be.

Initially scoffed at and at the brink of being of being disrespected, Toph Beifong later on was reputed to be one of the toughest police chiefs that the region has even had.

She had welcomed her daughter during her second year as a police chief of Republic City. The father, unfortunately, passed.

Lin’s father was Toph’s fellow detective. Toph had just given birth to her and was out of the force when Kanto responded to a call. He was hit and he died.

Since then, Toph promised herself that it would simply not do to miss time at work.

The first few months of raising Lin were particularly difficult. She had then elected to live near her married friends, Aang and Katara.

Toph took it hard – spent time away from Lin for the next months and sent her to Air Temple Island. She eventually got back to her senses, realizing her daughter needed her and had reached back to take care of Lin.

Lin always wanted to be like her mother and the father she barely met. Suyin, on the other hand, well, that was another story.

“Mom.”

Toph’s reverie was interrupted by the soft voice of her eldest child.

“Oh, Lin.”

In Lin’s hand was an ultrasound photo of a child, Lin took her mother’s hand and read out to her the notes on the photo.

Indeed, Lin was the child most like her mother.

---

What was he doing here? He has some nerve.

“Aunt Toph?

She tried to ignore the tall bald man in her office.

“Aunt Toph?”

Persistent little bugger, eh?

“That’s Chief Beifong to you.” She felt him squirm and fidget. “The citizens desk is on the other floor. Or have you gotten lost?”

“I, uh, no. I actually wanted to see Lin.”

“Captain Beifong, you mean.”

She felt him flinch. Good.

“I -.”

“Don’t you worry your bald head about it, Master Tenzin.” Aspersion dripping with every word. “Captain Beifong is away on suspension. She won’t be bothering you any time soon.”

“But – no! I didn’t come here to complain or file charges.” Toph could here the shock at Tenzin’s voice. “You didn’t have to – she didn’t need to be suspended!”

Chief Beifong ignored him. “Captain Beifong caused destruction to property – Air Temple Island’s reconstruction will be done soonest – and basically threatened you, a government official. She would have received worse.”

“But -.”

“Is there anything else, Councilman?”

“Uhm, no. I’ll just drop by Lin’s.”

“She not there,” Toph felt the airbender pause at her door. “She’s suspended until further notice; and she been sent away from Republic City.”

---

At least that was what the press was informed, to explain away the disappearance of a prominent person

But internally, with the higher ups in the Republic City Police Department, they knew differently. They were told that she was out undercover and they better not try to make contact – or there will be consequences.

Toph was proud of her daughter’s strategy. She had been an absentee mother in the past years. She wanted to make up for it by supporting Lin’s decisions.

Even if it meant no contact with her in the next months.

---

Lin found herself in a remote Earth Kingdom town which used to be a Fire Nation colony. She had come to this place years ago in a recon mission and had known that there were a good mix of nations, making it easy to blend in.

Her current mission was not anything dangerous – just another reconnaissance mission to look into whether there was some truth to the formation of a new organization similar to the New Ozai Society, who would seek to undermine the United Republic.

As someone fresh out of her 20s, Lin thought she was (or she should be) fit enough for the job at the local bar. Thankfully, she was able to convince the barkeep to hire her even after telling him of her predicament (she wondered if maybe the man really just needed help so badly). She also figured it was a good place to get in with the locals and, well, the local gossip.

Lin opted to keep her first name (common as it was anyway), rented a small apartment unit walking distance from the city center, and now, had landed a job (that hopefully placed her in a good spot to fulfill her mission) which paid adequate wages.

She felt she was prepared to start anew – a new job, a new mission, and a baby on the way.

---

Tenzin huffed as he consulted his map.

He had gone to Gaoling, to the Beifong ancestral home (that was were Suyin was sent there before anyway. But Lin wasn’t there.

He even went out of his way and chanced a visit to Zaofu.

Su was surprised to see him and, no, she has not seen or talked to her sister in years.

Instead, the airbender got a slap for his efforts (“You idiot! You broke my sister’s heart!” “You weren’t even talking to her! You don’t know what’s with her.” “I knew enough to know that she loves you!”).

He tossed the map aside. He was stumped; he didn’t know where else to look for Lin.

He did not even notice his mother, watching from the doorway of his study, looking at him with concern.

---

“Hey, get away from him!”

“Eh! And what’re you gunn’ do ‘bout that lady?”

“I’ll show you!”

“What the -!”

“Scram!”

“Alright, we’re going – we’re going!”

The earthbender turned to the young man on the ground (maybe late teens or early twenties in age, she guessed) who was of Water Tribe ethnicity. “Hey kid, are you okay?”

“I’m fine – didn’t need your help.” The man grumbled, standing up and dusting himself.

“Right.” The woman stated, obviously not believing it as she had just walked across the scene of several benders pulling up by his collar, whether they were mugging him or not, she did not wait to find out before launching some rocks from the road at the thieves. “Of course, you didn’t need help. You had it all in control, didn’t you?” She deadpanned.

The man rolled his eyes. “A truth seer, aren’t you?”

She crossed her arms. “Maybe.”

“No – I don’t think so.” The water tribe man shook his head. “Thanks though.”

The earthbender extended to shake his hand.

“Lin.”

He clasped it with his own.

“Noatak.”

----

Months passed and Tenzin had not lost hope in finding Lin, but he had to admit that the hope was fast dwindling.

Twice Chief Beifong had said that Captain Beifong’s whereabouts were none of his business and that she will put his sorry ass in jail if he pried once more.

Neither Chief Beifong or anyone from his family shared any input to the media as to his relationship status. The disappearance of Lin Beifong and the sudden reconstruction of some of the pavilions at Air Temple Island made up much of the chatter and gossip though.

His cheerless disposition just about confirmed everything anyway.

---

Meanwhile, in the Earth Kingdom, Lin finally gathered enough courage to send out a letter to Tenzin. She had used a post office’s box from two towns away to ensure that he would not be led directly to her should he decide to respond.

After contemplating on the matter for the past months, and after finally admitting to herself, she decided to give Tenzin the option to be a father to their child.

It was the least she could do. She did not want her (their) child to grow up without a father if he was willing to be there. She knew, she grew up with, the alternative to that.

We may no longer be together, but it does not change the fact that this child is yours as well. I’m giving you this chance – to either declare this child as your own or to simply ignore and disregard this. I am fully capable of raising this child as my own so I am open to giving you an out.

Well then, so the proverbial ball was in the airbender’s court.

Gently, placing a hand on her now visible pregnant belly, Lin knew the waiting game has started.

---

In an ill-conceived attempt to raise his spirits, the Air Acolytes of Air Temple Island saw it fit to host a birthday celebration for him. His mother had given it a go signal as she was also at her wits’ end to help bolster his mood. Even the passing of her husband (his father) did not seem to have dragged him down this way.

What Katara did not know, however, was that the press had somewhat managed to get in with the festivities as well.

The papers for the next few days ran a feature on the last airbender’s birthday celebration. They also printed a picture of him with just about any single female he talked to during the party.

This was followed by a steady stream of letters and messages poured into Air Temple Island as well as into Tenzin’s office at city hall.

The first few letters, Tenzin had deigned to read.

But after the seventeenth letter, the airbender, with a furious blush on his skin, went to the kitchen where his mother was calmly instructing an acolyte for tonight’s dinner.

“Mother!”

Katara dismissed the acolyte before turning to her son. “What is it?” She held out her hand to take one of the letters that Tenzin was waving at her.

The waterbender briefly went through the letter. It appeared that –

“They have been sending me propositions!” Tenzin exasperatedly explained, showing the envelopes with addresses coming from different parts of the world. “Ever since the broadsheets and tabloids have been putting in these features about me being single.” He continued to pace in the kitchen while Katara went through the other letters. The content was fairly similar – a Fire Nation noble offering his daughter in marriage, an Air Acoylte from the Eastern Temple sharing her daughter’s knowledge of all things Air Nomad culture, an Earth Kingdom merchant living in the upper ring boasting of his niece… “I’m not interested in any of these, Mother. I just – I just -.” He took a deep breath. “I need to find Lin. It’s only been Lin.”

Katara could believe that.

“I know – Mother, if letters come to the island for me, please send it to my office. I’ll have my secretary handle them.”

And with that, Tenzin swept away, leaving Katara to only wonder and hope that whatever he thought of would truly help him out.

---

I see.

So he has made his choice.

Lin gripped tightly the letter she received in response to the one she had sent.

She tried but there was nothing she owed him now.

The earthbender then tossed the letter into her drawer, to be hidden from prying eyes, to try and forget its existence.

Thank you for your interest but I already have a life partner.

I would like to request for your respect in this avenue and refrain from sending any more letters in this similar vein.

Respectfully yours,

Tenzin

---

Noatak knocked on the door one more time.

Lin was nearing her due date and the barkeep had place a notice for a reliever, a substitute while Lin was out.

The Water Tribe man took the opportunity – he had been juggling different jobs in town anyway so what’s one more?

Lin had been showing the ropes to him the past few days and was always ever so prompt so that they have enough time before opening.

This was why he stood at her front door now. The earthbender failed to show up at their regular time and so he worried.

“Lin? Are you there?”

There was no answer.

Something felt very wrong.

He looked to the left and looked to the right. No one was around and so putting his entire weight on it, he hit his shoulder against the door several times until it gave way.

“LIN!”

To his shock and horror, the pregnant lady slumped unconscious at her living room, blood surrounding her at the floor.

Noatak hurried to her, feeling her pulse and closing his eyes.

He had been hiding a secret for so long, no one knew in this new life he had been living. As far as they knew, he was a non-bender – no one had paused to ask, except this woman who had asked him and had graciously not pried further when he said he did not want to talk about his past. He knew she was trying to start a new life, but he wasn’t sure why. She respected him enough as well to leave him to his privacy.

That day when the muggers had almost done him in, he thought that would have been the end of it, revenge be damned. To his surprise, someone did intervene for him.

Enough reminiscing for now though, because now, this woman needed him.

Taking a deep breath, Noatak reached forward his arms, allowing him to feel the push and pull from the two lives in front of him, not in the way his father wanted him to but to save these lives.

---

Tenzin was absentmindedly tapping his pen on today’s agenda in the council meeting.

The monotony of his responsibilities to the city barely weighed on him now.

It was the same old routine at the council.

His interest was peaked when the doors opened and a man, who he recognized as Chief Beifong’s trusted secretary, hurried over to the Chief of Police’s side, whispering quickly.

Toph Beifong suddenly stood up, muttering her excuses to the rest of the attendees of the council meeting and left (something about an urgent matter regarding one of her subordinates’ mission?).

---

“Chief, it would appear that the Captain has now given birth to a daughter.”

“What! I need to get to her.”

“Unfortunately, protocols still state that no contact be made -.”

“But I’m her mother.”

“Please, Chief Beifong, Captain Beifong explicitly indicated that in her report as well. Everything is okay and not to let you go to her as it would impact her cover.”

Nonetheless, this did not stop Toph Beifong from instructing her secretary to send off a large box of baby things to a remote town in the Earth Kingdom.

---

The last airbender quickly made his way out of the restaurant where that farce of a stilted family dinner (that his mother insisted on) was still on-going.

It had been uncomfortable enough when Chief Beifong arrived, nary a word towards him but quite civil with his mother and their visitors. At some point during the meal, the Fire Lord started to pass around photographs of his teenaged grandson and even Chief Beifong was obliged to share photos of her own grandchildren.

Tenzin tried to ignore the longing gaze his mother had on the photographs.

He met the eyes of his brother, who coincidentally was stationed this week near Republic City, who in turn shrugged back at him.

Yeah, that’s not happening. Unless someone comes forward to speak up about the fruits of Bumi having sown his wild oats, their mother would need to wait a little longer to have her own grandchild.

“And who might this be?” His mother brought up a photo of a baby.

“Did Su have another child?” Fire Lord Zuko peered at the small plastic booklet that Toph had fished from her uniform’s pocket.

“Eh?” Toph reached out to get it back, fingers running through the little indentions at the edge, helping her identify the labels on the photos.

Tenzin did not miss the quick panic that showed on the metalbender’s face before it was back to her inscrutable expression.

“It’s an old photo of one of her boys.” She promptly placed the booklet of photos back into her pocket. “I must have taken it by accident.”

As the rest went about their meal, Tenzin could not help but revert to the photograph of the baby. The baby appeared to be a couple of months old and…there was something that was niggling the back of his head about the child.

Conversation went to work, the new policies in the United Forces, the statue of Fire Lord Zuko in Republic City… They were all pleasantries that Tenzin did not want to talk about.

As soon as it was acceptable, he had excused himself from dinner, citing an urgent deliverable from city hall. No one tried to stop him and everyone took it at face value. He had, after all, buried himself into work in the past months in between trying to look for Lin. The airbender simply did not believe anymore that she was merely suspended from the Force after being absent for more than a year now.

Tenzin thought that Suyin Beifong, by now, would have an idea as to her sister’s whereabouts. Recalling their last interaction, however, he rubbed his cheek gingerly in recollection, he felt he needed to soften her up first.

Coming from that awkward dinner conversation, he had an idea.

Her children!

And that was how the airbender found himself at the nearest open store that catered to mothers that carried items (food, clothes, furniture, you name it) for their children.

Tenzin had a vague recollection on how old Su’s children were. He was unsure, though, as to what do kids at those age need or want. He figured that the store’s clerk would know and headed to the store’s counter, waiting until the clerk finished assisting two ladies in selecting the best bassinet that the store offers.

The airbender leaned on the glass counter, tapping absentmindedly as he was wont to do when waiting --- when he saw a brown box just behind the counter hidden from view of the common customer (it just so happened he was tall and nosy enough to see it). There was a small sticky note that caught his attention:

Monthly order of Chief Beifong.

Why on earth would Aunt Toph have a monthly order at this place when her own children have long since grown up?

Tenzin twisted his neck to peer at the label of the box, to check the address, thinking that maybe it was headed to Zaofu for Suyin and her kids.

To his confusion, it was to a place within the Earth Kingdom.

Tenzin froze.

What if…it was to another daughter and grandchild?

The photograph!

He now realized what bothered him – the baby in the photo was relatively fair-skinned and he was sure both of Su and Baatar’s children were tanned. Su was also not pregnant back when he last saw her so it could not have been a new Zaofu Beifong baby.

Toph Beifong would be hard-pressed to care about children or babies unless they were related to her.

This left Tenzin with only one plausible explanation.

The airbender then left the store, hurriedly making plans to get to the Earth Kingdom by the next day.

----

And there she was – as radiant as the last time he saw her (never mind that it was in the middle of the unleashing of her powerful fury upon his childhood home).

With a pang, Tenzin saw Lin Beifong carrying a baby, accompanied by a tall (and very young, Tenzin thought unpleasantly) man who appeared to be of Water Tribe descent. The two were engrossed in conversation that they missed the airbender who had been staring after them.

Tenzin had arrived at the town square and was about to head to the address he had committed to memory when he saw Lin. He was about to approach her when the Water Tribe man intercepted her. The airbender noted the familiarity with which the two interacted (it felt like the air was being squeezed out of his lungs). The man offered to take what Tenzin assumed to be a baby bag and Lin had easily acquiesced.

He surreptitiously followed Lin, unsure where they were going but not wanting to take the risk of losing sight of the earthbender he had been searching for quite some time now.

As he watched every exchange of the two, Tenzin could not help but feel at a loss. He had tried to think of every possible scenario, of what he would say, what he would do once he found Lin.

But none of the scenarios he imagined prepared him for the reality.

He never did imagine finding Lin as a mother.

He never did imagine finding Lin with a partner.

And she looked – content.

Tenzin felt a pit form at the bottom of his stomach. Could he – should he – possibly ruin this with his appearance?

Call him selfish but…he’ll try just one last time. If there was an inkling, of the slightest chance of a future with Lin --- he’ll gamble it.

For himself. For Lin.

---

“Jinora, sweetheart, be a good girl for Noatak first, please? Mama needs to work for a bit.”

The eight-month-old child burrowed herself further into her mother’s arms but nodded nonetheless. “Good girl.” Lin gave her daughter a kiss on the forehead as the younger man hoisted the child, anchoring her to his hip.

Lin had gone back to work on a part-time basis, but more on the management side of the bar (accounting, menu planning, etc) rather than being actually behind the counter, serving the customers like before. The barkeep was pleased with Noatak’s performance during Lin’s maternity leave that he had decided to hire him full-time.

They would usually come to the bar before opening hours, Lin to check on the previous night’s accounting and Noatak with preparing with the rest of the crew.

Lin was scheduled to start with the local bookstore soon on her off-days from the bar.

Today, it was accounting morning at the bar. She would usually be able to have an hour or two of continuous work while the crew would take turns looking after her daughter if she were awake. If not, Jinora would be placed on her sling and Lin could still comfortably work.

Getting out several folders and her writing implements, Lin pulled out a chair near the window, preferring the natural light while working.

She managed to work for around ten minutes when a shadow fell on her work; before she could even raise her head to address who or what was blocking her light, she turned her head to the inner part of the bar as she heard her name being called.

“Liiiin!”

---

When he saw the Water Tribe man leave Lin with the child, Tenzin saw his chance.

He took some time to deliberate though; he observed her quietly, soaking in his view of the woman he had let go (and would be claiming back, if she would have him).

He took a bracing breath and entered the bar.

“Lin!”

Lin would look up at him. “Tenzin! What are you doing here?”

He would kneel – “I’m so sorry Lin, I know you have a child, I’ll love her like she were my own – I promise to treat you better than Mr Water Tribe there. Please Lin Beifong please – I regret letting you go, if you’ll have me, I’ll want to spend the rest of my life proving my devotion to you. Please- Lin please.”

Then Lin would get up, maybe give him a slap harder than what Su gave him then give him a hug before making him work for it.

Before he could even say a single word to put his imagined scenario into action, another voice (that he was starting to dislike) rang out.

“Liiiin!”

“Yes, Noatak?” Lin stood up quickly to address the young man, who was carrying a giggling baby at arm’s length. “What is it? How is Jinora?”

Tenzin felt his heart skip a beat, that Lin named her daughter one of the names he wanted for their daughter… well, he was not sure how he felt about it. Maybe he will explore it a little bit more when he was alone but for now…

“I know I helped bring her into this world –,”

Tenzin blinked at the sudden hurt he felt at his chest at this.

“But please, Lin – take your evil spawn away from me.” Noatak thrusted the still giggling child dramatically back at her mother, half kidding and half exasperated. “You know how much time it takes me each more to fix my hair. Then this little girl here,” He tickles her side and Jinora squeals with laughter. “Decides to blow a gust of air to my face – imagine that!”

The airbender heard this and froze.

“I know you said this brat (“My daughter isn’t a brat!”) is part-Water Tribe,” He gestured to his now unkempt hair. “But I don’t think this is a sign of respecting her culture?”

“My daughter is acting fine.” Jinora kicked her chubby legs as though to prove a point, disturbing the dust on the floor. “And we did discuss this – no training until she’s older. I want her to have a normal childhood.”

“Ok then,” Noatak waved his hand and nodded, obviously agreeing. “Anyway, I’m in charge of family meal today so I better start prepping.” With one last tickle at the baby’s side, he left and headed to the kitchen.

Lin shook her head and called after him “I’ll pack up and get back to the books later!” It would seem her daughter was in a mood today.

Speaking of meals…

Jinora had been tugging at her chest. “Feeding time is it?”

Tenzin watched Lin smile softly at the baby, a smile he saw rarely, a smile that he only saw between the dark of the night and daybreak, in between sleep and wakefulness as they laid in bed together.

He cleared his throat to remove a lump that was forming, a signal of impending tears.

Lin had forgotten about the newcomer as she angled the baby go position her for feeding when she heard someone clear their throat.

“I’m sorry, how can I help –,” Her eyes met familiar grey ones. “You.”

---

There was a lot to take in.

The Earth Kingdom.

Lin.

The Water Tribe man (Noatak, he spat.)

Lin.

The baby.

The airbending baby.

Jinora.

There was no doubt on whose child Lin was carrying.

Tenzin pushed forward at the surprised earthbender to take them (her and their daughter!) into his arms.

----

Note: This is part one of two --- ooor we could end it there? 🤷🏼‍♀️ Let me know!

(how do you tag people anyway?? @camryn-bria

---

2 of 2 here.

#linzin #linzin fanfic #lin beifong #tenzin #legend of korra #lok fanfic #prompt #camryn-bria #toccatina's fanfics #toccatina completed

96 notes · View notes

spell-cleaver · 3 years

Text

DAY 31: WHUMPTOBER: Today’s Special: Torture - Left For Dead @whumptober2020

Last day, and last prompt!! I actually finished this challenge holy shit. This one was written when i was very tired, so don’t expect the same quality as the others, but it’s!! The!! Last!! One!! I’m excited, and i’m proud :D

His side was in agony, his legs shaking, but he dragged himself forwards, branch by bloodied branch, and tried not to vomit.

The ambush had been devastating.

Luke— Luke had barely been at war for a few weeks, and he didn’t know what to do here. The strike team were all dead. All of them. Even— even the commander, and the captain, the one who’d smiled at him and reassured him when he looked like he was in over his head… they were all dead.

That Imperial team had utterly obliterated them. Hunted them for sport.

And Vader had been there.

Luke… hadn’t seen him, per se. But he’d heard that respirator—the wheezing, rasping sound he’d heard on the Death Star when Ben had been killed, the one that so many Rebels told stories of—and the Force had run cold around him, warning him… And then he’d turned his head to warn his comrades and—

He’d been too late.

They’d told him to run.

He was still running.

He’d— he’d felt all of his friends die, with an intensity he didn’t want and didn’t need, that crippled him as he ran and made him want to collapse into the undergrowth and never move again. But becoming food for the trees would not them; it would not help Han and Leia, waiting for him; it would not help Ben, who had died for him; and it would certainly not help his aunt and uncle, who had lived for and raised him. He wanted to stop, but he didn’t want to die—and so he would just keep running.

And running.

It was when he stumbled upon a black heap in the woods that he screamed.

His side hurt—he’d been shot at as he booked it away from that strike team. His leg hurt, and he limped badly; he’d twisted it in a tree root. His head throbbed, like his heart had metastasised into his temple; he’d bashed it hard on that tree root as he went down. That was when he’d first thought about not getting up again.

Even so, even through all the pain and fear and panic… he recognised the dark lord lying limp in the middle of the glade.

He drew his blaster and crept forward.

That… that was Vader alright—though his infamous breathing was nowhere to be heard. It was… stuttering, almost, the respirator. And Vader was propped up against a tree, one of his arms hanging limp enough that Luke knew it was… off. Either that was absolutely shattered and limp and broken, or that was a prosthetic that had had a few crucial wires cut. Knowing what he’d heard about Vader, he was inclined to think the latter.

Luke should run.

He should take the opportunity that was the fact Vader hadn’t spotted him yet, and run.

But…

Vader seemed unconscious. He was lying half-upright against a tree, his arm limp, his breathing erratic, utterly still. Luke had a blaster.

He could end it here and the galaxy would be all the better for it.

He drew his blaster and crept forwards.

Lifted it, flicking it to kill, and took aim—

Then tossed it away from him, grunting, disgusted with himself.

He rubbed at his eyes with the heel of his hands. Stars, he was pathetic.

“You are most pathetic.”

Great. Luke gritted his teeth. So the monster wasn’t unconscious, and Luke was probably dead.

“Yeah, I know that already,” Luke said. “I’ve been told that. But I’m not about to kill a man in cold blood.”

Vader’s helmet didn’t move, but Luke could feel his gaze on him. “Pathetic.”

Luke scowled.

“You truly care so much about the fact that a man seems powerless in your inability to take the upper hand?” Vader growled. “I am not powerless.”

And then there was something around Luke’s throat.

Something around his throat, and he was yanked into the air, gasping, head pounding and lights flashing, his neck screaming—

He landed back on the ground, chest in agony, pain spearing up his leg again and making it worse.

“Let that be a demonstration to you, boy.”

Luke gritted his teeth and rubbed his throat. “I still don’t want to kill you when all you have to fight back is a few petty tricks.”

“Petty tricks…”

It was a low blow. Luke knew that. Especially since he wanted to learn the Force himself.

He didn’t care.

He wasn’t going to kill someone when they couldn’t even stand up.

“Strange morals,” Vader goaded, “from a boy who destroyed a million people on the Death Star mere weeks ago.”

Luke snapped his eyes open and snapped his head to look at Vader. “What!?”

“Am I incorrect? I recognise your signature, boy. Would that I had shot you down before that freighter had appeared.”

Luke clenched his jaw. “That was you. And it was you who destroyed my squadron now.”

“That was Doctor Cylo and his sadistic minions,” Vader informed him. “I was simply observing. If I had been in command, you would have died with them.”

Luke clenched his fists to stop them from shaking.

“What even happened to you!?” he asked. “You didn’t look like this when you were slaughtering. Did you trip over a tree root or something?”

“You are the only one foolish enough for such a stunt, I feel. Cease your yammering.”

Luke stared at Vader’s limbs. The fact that he wasn’t standing… that implied the legs weren’t working either. “Someone sabotaged your suit?”

Vader said nothing.

Luke, goaded on by his silence, said, “Your companions sabotaged your suit? And left you to die?”

“I told you,” Vader growled, and suddenly the lightsaber leapt off his belt to scythe through the air at Luke, lit and leering; Luke dived out of the way only to cry out when he hit the ground—“to cease talking. Continue trekking through the undergrowth with your injuries and die of infection or starvation or something equally ignoble. I have no time for you—I have no interest, nor do you have any importance.”

“The fact that you haven’t killed me yet makes that clear,” Luke muttered. “Though you’ve certainly killed everyone else.”

“Your friends are Rebels. You are a Rebel.”

“You killed my father.”

Vader scoffed… then froze.

“You were with Kenobi on the Death Star,” he realised, slowly.

Luke frowned. “Yes? You— you cut him down—”

“Obi-Wan,” Vader ground out, “was your—”

“What?” Luke could see where this was going. “No! He was going to be my teacher, but then you killed him. He wasn’t my father.” Vader didn’t react to that beyond a huff, at first, but Luke folded his arms and said, “My father was his student.”

And then Vader jerked his head up.

“His… student…” he repeated, very clearly.

Luke frowned. “Yes. Anakin Skywalker. This was his lightsaber—” He reached for his belt, only to grasp plain air.

Vader had already summoned the lightsaber to hover in front of him, examining it closely. “This…” he said hoarsely. “This was your father’s lightsaber.”

Luke nodded.

He felt exposed saying this to Vader. He felt— why was he talking to him!? Why hadn’t he just killed him, or just kept running!?

Because he was tired.

Because he was curious about Vader, and scared of him at the same time.

Because a part of him knew that if he didn’t confront him now, when he was weakened, he might never get another chance to confront him and walk away alive.

He was so, so tired. Everything hurt.

Then—to his immense astonishment—Vader tossed it back to him.

Luke gaped, but caught it—sort of. It bounced off his arm and into the undergrowth, and he scrabbled to get it back.

“You are Anakin Skywalker’s son,” Vader said.

Luke scowled. “Yes. What—”

“You are skilled in piloting. Are you also a skilled mechanic?”

“What?”

“Are you a skilled mechanic?”

“Yes, but—"

“Fix my legs. Now.”

Luke gaped. “What? You— I just told you that you killed my father, and—”

“I did not kill your father, Luke. He is not dead.”

Luke had not told Vader his name.

“What!?” Hope soared in his chest, only to be soured by sense—Vader was lying. Of course he was. “My father is dead—Ben told me—”

“Obi-Wan Kenobi is a liar and a fool. Of course he lied to you. But I will tell you the truth… if you fix my legs.”

Luke shuddered—shook his head, and shuddered. “No. No, why should I ever believe you?”

“If you help me, I will tell you where your father is now.”

Luke shouldn’t.

He really, really shouldn’t.

But… the Force, he thought, was telling him that Vader wasn’t lying.

“You will not get off this planet without me anyway, Luke,” Vader said softly. “All your Rebels friends will assume you died with the others. No one is coming to rescue you. But I will help you escape.”

Luke closed his eyes. “Just if I fix your legs?”

“That is my only price.”

Luke swallowed.

This made no manner of sense at all.

But he wanted to know about his father.

He needed to know about his father.

“Alright,” he said, and stepped towards Vader.

#whumptober2020 #whumptober #my writing #random words on a page #luke skywalker #darth vader #for darkness shows the stars #flash fiction #flash fiction: star wars

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sincerelyella · 3 years

Text

RAMifications Chapter 6 - Breathe

Book: The Royal Romance (AU)

Pairings: Liam x MC (Ella)

Song Inspiration: Breathe by Faith Hill

Characters belong to Pixelberry; MC Ella Brooks belongs to me.

A/N: The entire idea for this series came from @burnsoslow and her unBEARable series featuring her OTP Drake and Alyssa. This is Ella’s backstory and how she met the love of her life King Liam of Cordonia and became his Queen.

Kind of a filler chapter, I guess it was necessary though..?

Catch up here

Warnings: None really

Words: 1943

“What in the hell is going on?” Standing at the door was King Constantine, his guard Bastien, and Queen Regina, who just gave Liam a sympathetic smile.

“F-father,” Liam was taken aback at his father’s harsh tone, even more so at the fact that all of them were standing there at his front door. Constantine pushed his way inside his son’s quarters, his feet stomping on the hardwood floors. Regina quietly followed behind him and patted Liam on the shoulder.

“Why did no one tell me that House Beaumont’s young lady has backed out?” The King’s voice boomed and could be heard throughout every room.

Liam looked at his father’s guard Bastien and gave him a look. Bastien gave him a tight smile, bowed his head and closed the door while staying outside.

Liam cleared his throat and turned. “Father, House Beaumont has a lady they will be sponsoring.”

Constantine turned to face his son. “Oh? And why weren’t we informed of this change, Liam?” The King gave him a pointed look. “I know the social season isn’t something you were … agreeable to. But this is tradition,” his face softened looking at his son. “Liam, you need a queen to rule alongside you.”

Bertrand appeared next to Constantine and spoke before Liam could respond. “Your Majesties,” he bowed. “So sorry to blindside you with this situation. House Beaumont does have a young lady we are sponsoring. She is here if you would like to meet her.”

“Yes, we would both like that, Duke Ramsford. Please lead the way,” Regina spoke up for the first time since walking into the room.

Liam, Regina and Constantine followed Bertrand into the living area where Ella and Maxwell were waiting.

“Lady Ella,” Bertrand widened his eyes while he faced her, gave Ella a stern look and mouthed ‘curtsy’ before speaking again. “This is His Majesty King Constantine, and Her Majesty Queen Regina of Cordonia,” Bertrand turned to the King and Queen. “Your Majesties, this is Lady Ella of House Beaumont.”

“Your Majesties,” Ella curtsied as low as she could.

Regina stepped forward and wrapped a warm hand around Ella’s. “It’s so nice to meet you, my dear,” she said softly.

“You as well, ma’am.”

“Lady Ella,” Constantine took in the woman in front of him, then softly smiled at her. “It’s a pleasure meeting you. You’re American?”

Ella nodded. “Yes sir, I’m from California.”

“Ahh California,” the King looks up wistfully. “Liam’s late mother and I went there for a business event at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. It was a conference that supported world trade and investment,” he looks back towards Ella and his face takes on a more serious expression. “What are your thoughts on world trade, Lady Ella?”

He’s testing me. She looked at the King, held his gaze and swallowed the lump in her throat. “World trade is definitely vital for economic growth, sir. With the size and shape of the economy changing considerably in recent years, established patterns of trading have had to change along with it,” she paused briefly to take in the King’s expression, which was pure astonishment. Ella took a deep breath in and continued. “The challenge is to essentially make sure that the regulatory framework keeps up with modern times.”

Regina smiled wide at Ella and winked. Constantine, Liam, Bertrand and Maxwell’s eyes were all wide, mouths open in shock. “Ah … well said, Lady Ella,” the King finally responded.

The queen, still smiling, spoke up. “Lady Ella, what did you do in California before coming here?”

“I was going to school at UCLA, ma’am, for my bachelor’s degree in nursing. My ... parents wanted me to major in something other than history and political science.”

Regina’s eyebrows went up. “They didn’t like that you majored in those subjects?”

“They wanted me to pursue a degree much like my grandmother, mother, and aunt who are all nurses.”

“So,” Constantine’s voice carried through the room. “You’re here for the study abroad program then?”

Ella made eye contact with Liam and he gave her a small nod. “I initially came to Cordonia for a study abroad program, yes sir, and interned in the children’s hospital for six weeks,” she smiled at the memory of her taking care of those little patients. “It was a rewarding experience. I fell in love with your country and made arrangements to study at Cordonia University.”

Regina looked pleased by Ella’s answer, Constantine had a blank look on his face. “That sounds amazing, I’m so glad you love Cordonia,” she looked up at her husband. “Isn’t that right, dear?” She elbowed Constantine in the side.

He flinched, then looked around and met all gazes in the room before speaking. “Yes … yes quite right. Very glad.” He gave Ella a small smile and cleared his throat. “The Queen and I have a meeting to attend, everyone,” the King turned to Liam and clapped him on the shoulder. “Son, we’ll see you in Applewood.”

Liam nodded. “Yes, I’ll see you then.”

Constantine turned back to Ella. “Lady Ella, again, it was a pleasure to meet you. We shall see you in Applewood as well.”

“Yes sir, I’ll see you there.” Regina nodded to everyone and murmured her goodbyes. The King and Queen walked towards the door and let themselves out of the apartment. As soon as they left all eyes turned to Ella in a silent question.

“Why are you guys looking at me like that?” Ella chuckled, knowing exactly why they were staring.

“You know about trade and investment? And you’re studying to be a nurse? Isn’t that, like, almost being a doctor?” Maxwell babbled. “Then how come you were delivering flowers? And wh-”

“No, we’re not even close to being doctors, Max,” Ella interrupted as she giggled.

“You’re so smart,” he stared down at her, marveled at his new best friend.

Ella hated having to try and sell herself to people she didn’t know. Guess I’ll be doing that regularly now. “Why is everyone so surprised anyway? I took a few classes on international trade and economic diplomacy back home and that’s how my political science degree happened.”

“You’re full of surprises, Lady Ella,” Liam smiled, stepped towards her and leaned down to place a quick kiss on her lips. “My Father and Regina were impressed with you.”

Before she could respond, Bertrand cleared his throat. “Yes Lady Ella, that was an … appropriate answer. Perhaps there’s hope for you yet. Maxwell and I will escort you to your room.” He looks at Liam and bowed. “Your Highness, we will see you in a couple of days.”

Liam nodded with a small smile. “Yes, thank you,” he looks down at Ella, then turns to the two men. “Can you please give us a moment alone?”

Maxwell and Bertrand nod and let themselves out of the quarters.

Liam wrapped his large hands around Ella’s waist and pulled her up to meet his lips. She felt his smile get bigger as the kiss lingered. His arms wrapped around her and she sighed happily, melting into his embrace; not even noticing that her feet were high off the floor. They finally parted and grinned at each other.

“I’ve been wanting to do that since you walked through the door,” he murmured. His words gave her goosebumps all over her body. “You’re really doing this,” he whispered, almost in awe, as he ran a finger along her cheek. Liam said it somewhat out loud, more so to himself than to Ella. He was still on cloud nine, he couldn’t believe she would willingly would join in the middle of the social season just to be with him. Not for a crown, not for power, not for wealth … but for him.

“Yes, I am.” She bit her lip and gazed up at him. “You’re … still wanting this?”

God yes! ”I still want this, Ella,” He leaned down to kiss her, urgently now, not like the soft, lingering kiss he gave her earlier. He pulled away, set her back on her feet and rested his forehead on hers. “You have no idea how much I want this,” he whispered.

She grinned wide. “Then I guess I’ll see you at Applewood then, Your Highness.”

“Who knows … maybe you’ll see me sooner than that,” he winked and reluctantly loosened his arms around her, his hands lingering on her waist. “You should go, Bertrand gets impatient.”

Ella nods, quickly places her hand on his cheek and walks out of the apartment.

Bertrand made eye contact with Ella as she slipped out the door and he began to walk. Maxwell dragged Ella’s suitcases behind him and flashed her a cheesy smile. She followed both of them with wide eyes as they walked through yet another hallway in the palace. The trio arrived at a door and Bertrand turned the knob and pushed it open.

“Alright, let’s go over some things, Lady Ella,” he turned to look at her while she flopped onto the bed with Maxwell. “We leave for Applewood Manor in a matter of days. You will be watched by not only the King and Queen but also by the other suitors and the press. I have arranged for you to do an interview with them before we leave. That way, they can get to know you and be able to tell the people your story.”

“When is the interview?”

“Tomorrow afternoon!” Maxwell bounced on the bed next to her. “I’m going to help you find something to wear. We need to make sure that the press and the people know who Lady Ella is,” he grinned wide at her when he took in her stunned face. “It’ll be fine! We got you!”

Bertrand frowned. “Yes, well … that remains to be seen. We need you to show the press that you’re competent in matters of the court; especially with trade deals and tariffs the King and Prince Liam will be negotiating with other countries.” He eyed her carefully. “Especially if you are to be queen someday, you will need to know these things.”

Ella blew out a breath. “I understand.”

“We will let you get some sleep then, Lady Ella. Be up bright and early tomorrow and we’ll go over things for the interview. Have a good evening.” Bertrand gave her a curt nod and turned to walk out of the room.

“Goodnight, Ella!! I’ll see you in the morning!” Maxwell gave her a quick hug.

“Goodnight, Max!”

The men left and closed the door behind them. Ella looked around the room, took in every detail. From the plush bedspread with gold embroidery, to the enormous bed frame, the impossibly high ceiling with the diamond encrusted chandelier in the middle of it. This is a little much. Will I ever get used to all of it?

Ella never thought in a million years she would be sitting in a palace, falling for a prince. A literal Prince Charming. Thinking about Liam got her feeling giddy, like a kid in a candy shop. She never, ever felt that way with Ethan. Not even a little bit. That has to mean something.

A knock on her door had her swiftly turning head away from her phone and towards the sound. She walked over and opened it quickly with a smile on her face, thinking it was Maxwell or Liam. The smile faded when she saw who was on the other side.

“Your Majesty?”

King Constantine looked down at her, lips tucked between his teeth. “Lady Ella. Might I have a word?”

#RAMifications #Liam x MC #Liam x Ella #trr fanfic #trr fandom #trr #trr choices #choices trr #choices the royal romance #choices liam x mc #choices trr au #choices liam #pixelberry #play choices #the royal romance #the royal romance fandom #the royal romance fanfic #the royal romance au

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remember-the-fanfics · 4 years

Note

may i request some headcanons for della x reader where they're around the same age and bffs? 8D (gender neutral pronouns please and thank you sm!!)

Della & Reader Friendship headcanons

Who wouldn't want to be friends with this lovable mom?

Also I way into this. THIS IS TURNED INTO WAY MORE THAN PLANNED.

This is completely platonic!

Ommer is the gender neutral of aunt and uncle and yes I looked it up for this.

Nieph is gender neutral for niece and nephew.

• Glomgold claim to be your Uncle since seeing Scrooge be one, he can clearly do it better!

• Your parent's just went with it because he kinda threw money at them and he did have to promise to protect you.

• Then you meet Della and Donald Duck, Scrooge's niece and nephew.

• Being just a year younger than the twins, you started hanging out with them.

• Mostly only Della since Donald was going though a goth phase.

• The two of you would hang out in the forest near the mansion or go somewhere when you both wanted to do something.

• You both became best friends over years, telling secrets, avoid sometimes since your uncle since he wanted to show you how to scheme 'properly'

• You did have to break it to Glomgold one day that you couldn't hurt your friend's family.

• You could probably think how he would react.

• You left in the middle of his rant because you didn't want to hear him complain about the Scrooge and Ducks again.

• You were brought on an adventure by Della one day and ending saving the day.

• "This is why you bring silver when faces a werewolf!"

• "How would you even know that (Y/n)?!"

• Glomgold tried to sue Scrooge for endangering you, you had to talk some sense into him.

• Ending you being grounded for saving the McDucks.

• The family would be there the day your parents died in an accident and you needed someone less egotistical to comfort you.

• You did end up in Glomgold's care but not taking his last name.

• You were so happy when you found out that she was going to have triplets.

• "Imagine the trouble that three tiny dellas would get into because you, alone, already get in alot trouble."

• This earn a punch in the shoulder and a laugh from Della.

• "Don't worry, the boys will have a me and others to teach them how to get out of trouble."

• You would egg watch the eggs sometimes when the family were adventuring somewhere.

• You would take the side line when Donald and Della start arguing about stopping adventuring for the boys.

• Until Della asked for you opinion and you sided with Donald.

• "I mean what if something happened to you while adventuring? You do have Torbo, Jet, and Rebel to think about."

• "You know how much I want to give the boys this life."

• "Just wait until they are older, Della! They shouldn't have to deal with losing their mother at such a young age or even before they even get to see you." You yelled before rushing out the room, knowing Della would be pissed at you.

• For a month the two of you didn't talk or see each other until Della called and told you to meet her in the meeting spot in the forest, in the middle of the night.

• You rush there, not knowing what she wants.

• Della tells you that she found a gift from Uncle Scrooge, a rocket Ship, called Spear of Selena. She says that she is going to get in it soon and give her boys the stars.

• You knew you couldn't stop her but you made her promise to come back safe and sound.

• With a hug and a goodbye, they would be that last time you saw her for the next ten years.

• You had tried to make amend with Scrooge with the after math but he just never answered until you broke into the mansion one day.

• "I DON'T BLAME YOU, OLD MAN!" You yelled at him, laying on some broken glass.

• "L-."

• "She told me before she left and I could have stopped her b-but I didn't and I know how much you've put into finding her and how much you blame yourself. I'm doing it to."

• Having you and Scrooge comfort each other, you left him where to contact you.

• You made amends easily with Donald and help him raise the boys while having a job as Glomgold's right hand and Heir to his company and money.

• You complained to Donald about not using the names Della gave them.

• "These are actual names (Y/n)."

• "But hers were so much better."

• The boys called you Ommer even though they know you're not related, you've just always been a part of their lives.

• You've kept Glomgold away from know of the boys until Donald gets hired.

• "Do you not read any of the paper work?"

• "Work is work."

• Cue you and Donald trying to keep the boys, mostly Dewey. Ending Glomgold Henchmen dragging you out of the death trap.

• You panicking until you see them safe at the docks.

• You grouped hugged the children.

• "Thank good all of you are safe. Oh you're new, I'm (Y/n). You can call me Ommer since I've claimed you new as my niece."

• Webby squealed and hugged you tightly back.

• You become closer to the family and friends and Colleagues of it during the series, probably having an episode of the kids following you around thinking you're going on a date and with Donald and Scrooge just go

• "Is that allowed?" Never thing you would be romantically involved with anyone.

• You didn't have a date just wanted a night out by yourself but ended getting dinner with the group and Webby still trying to tell you who would probably match you well.

• "I'm good, I'm pretty I'm fine with all of you being my family."

• Louie called you out when you called them family, embarrassing you.

• Scrooge patted you on the shoulder.

• "So would you be my Nieph?" He said being serious since you've been around for along time and didn't leave him when Della disappeared.

• "If-If you want to?" You said and Donald threw and arm around you.

• "Yes! You're my sibling, no buts."

• You ended up in tears of mostly happiness because they are being so nice.

• After the boys found out Dewey's quest for information on their mother, the three came to you.

• "How do you remember our mom?" They asked one day while you were reading a book.

• "Della? She's my best friend! She wanted to give you boys the adventuring life but we argued that maybe should wait until you were old enough to. So you could fully understand what was happening and who she was." You told the boys keeping a strain smile.

• Putting the book down, rushed away from them, knowing it was not your place to tell them.

• Then you had to wash your family fall apart in front of you. Seeing the boys blame Scrooge, him going off on Webby, and the plane falling down.

• You went to your actual Uncle, and went to work until your shadow came alive and Glomgold went with his though the window.

• "Aw, Phooey." You said, seeing the Money Bin, rushing towards it.

• You get injured by some shadows because you don't think clear enough for battle plans when adrenaline is in your blood.

• You divert to find something to help and helping people on the way.

• Finding a place to stay and getting help for you bleeding arm was the best. Which was a tee shirt tied around it

• After it ended, you ensured everyone's safety before running to the Bin

• "Stop making me panic everytime something happens!" You yell when you get there, out of breath because dang that was a far run.

• Mrs.Beakley gives actual medical attention to your arm, saying you might need stitches.

• "That makes me rather bleed out and you know that." You tell her.

• You were force to see a doctor and got stitches, ending with a cool scar.

• You had Owlson take lead until your Uncle was found, helping her, and being co-CEOs with you having just more power.

• That was until you Uncle showed up and made a bet with Scrooge.

• You were there when everyone had send Uncle Donald on a relaxing Cruise.

• And was there to send the kids and Scrooge off on their next adventure.

• Which never happened because Della showed up.

• Scrooge hugged her tightly and had a conversation with her on the porch while the boys decided to hide behind you.

• "Della.." you muttered to yourself, knowing there is so much you want to say to her but wanted to triplets finally met her.

• After hugging Louie, getting up Della's eyes meet yours.

• "(Y/n)?" She said, happy that you kept that silence promise to watch over her family if something happened. "I knew you would become a part of this family."

• "You- are 10- years late!" You yelled with tears in your eyes. "I was so worried about yo-!"

• Della rushed to hug you realizing the guilt you've been putting on yourself since she last time she saw you.

• "Uh, you k-kept your promise." You muttered into her shoulder, sobbing.

• "Of course I would! I'm Della Duck! Also why did you let Donald name my kids?"

• "I tried, really I did."

• After she ate and told the boys a bedtime story she went to your room, which Scrooge gave you since you spent many nights here when Donald and the boys moved in.

• "So being alone on the moon for along, makes me not want to be alone, wanna have a sleep over?"

• "Heck yeah!"

• The two of you raided the kitchen, quietly as possible, but Mrs.Beakley knew, she always knows, she's a spy.

• Ended with you tanning away when she appeared out of nowhere with an armful and food.

• "Haven't seen them run like that since-." Della saw Mrs.Beakley and played it cool. "Heyyy, we were...just getting food to the birds- Bye."

• Della fell asleep on your bed, hugging all the blankets. You had to deal with the itchy one she left alone but you were fine with this. You have your best friend back.

• You did remind her to be nice to Launchpad, but then he said he was your best friend, and you had to hold her back.

• "I'm (Y/n)'s best friend/pilot!"yelled Della.

• "Oh you're that Della! (Y/n) told me so much about."

• No, Launchpad, you're just gonna boost her ego.

• "Oh really? Go on."

• Is this what you get when you binge watch a show with Launchpad afew times?

• You did tell Della you were 'helping' Glomgold with a bet with Scrooge. But you were mostly standing there coming up with ideas.

• "Ah , so he's still the same."

• You were trying to help Louie fix what he broke in time before Della found out.

• You weren't use to the three actually having a parent. You usually help hide stuff from Donald.

• "(Y/n)! Why would you help him with this? Why didn't come and tell me right away?" Della yelled at you.

• "They were only trying to help Mom!"

• "I'm not use to you being here with them, Okay?! So I did what I would usually and if it got to far then they would be in trouble!" You told her, shrinking away.

• "This isn't far enough for you?" Yelled Della.

• You were apologizing before getting sent into time.

• Looking at the place, castle. In ! the royal bedroom of the sorts.

• "Oh come on!" You muttered seeing the door open.

• "There you are, you're late for the tournament." Said the man before seeing your outfit. "And still needing to get dress."

• He had got you a expense outfit, after he learned that you were not gender conformed, ending with a fancy looking suit.

• "Why are we going to a tournament?"

• "The one for you hand in marriage, of course! Have you forgot what day it is? You're 21st birthday, anyone can compete for you hand."

• Oh, heckle. You were not getting married and you weren't than young anyway.

• You tried to refuse but you were still dragged to were you were suppose to sit.

• To see knights, Common folk, and Della, lined up.

• "Della?!" You yelled and she saw and smiled with a wave.

• "You know her?"

• "Of her. She has been exploring the far, far away places." You Tell the man and it went on.

• Della won and the two of you finally got alone time.

• "Oh my gosh think you for that!" You tell her.

• "I'm happy you're safe and we were sent back around the same time." She said before looking at you in anger.

• "You can't just help my kids get away with things like this! They could get hurt and you too! I know you are not use to anyone else beside Donald raising my kids but you need to trust me."

• "I-I know. I'm sorry, I'm just use to looking out for them, I guess that included you." You tell her before being sent back to your time.

• You watched her and Louie argur and her ground him, Louie looking for support but this has to be done.

• "That was a good job." You tell her.

• "You know if I could ground you, I would."

• "At last, I'm only a year younger than you so I can not but I will learn to not do this ever again." You tell her.

• You were dragged with Glomgold to get his own 'family' and had to keep telling them, you weren't a captive.

• The only difference you would split everything with Louie in the contract. Letting you get Glomgold's business and money and him McDucks enterprise and money.

• You did try to help Glomgold not get what was coming to him.

• "Who wants Milkshakes? I've suddenly came into some wealth." You said slinging a arm around Owlson.

• "And this fine lady is getting a raise!"

• You were busy with business stuff, while Louie was playing the richest duck in the world with Owlson and Launchpad.

• You did get a urgent call from Della saying to come over to them before the day was ended and you did.

• She asked you to stay over until the threat of invasion passed or happened. You agreed because she clearly didn't want you to be in danger.

• When it finally did happen and everyone went to the Money Bin. You comfort Louie for crashing all the satellites and causing all communication to be lost.

• You went with Della and the Kids, you wished Scrooge and the others the best of luck before leaving.

• "Just don't like.... die, okay? That would be bad." You told him.

• "That wouldn't happen, laddeh." He said. "But you keep Della's head on straight, okay?"

• "Of course."

• It would have been easier dealing with the aliens with Della dodging all the questions until it caused the plane to crash on and island.

• Where Donald was.

• "What the heck? You look like that dude in that movie-." You yell at him before getting and elbowed by Huey. "Point taken."

• You all catch rides on Della and Donald's cousin's shrimp and saved Scrooge from a rude alien leader.

• And then having to go on the spaceship.

• "I should drive because I know how to do both!" You argued with the twins, trying to get the controls from them.

• "When did you learn both?"

• "I've had alot of spare time while being an heir to a rich company and my uncle not caring if I actually sure."

• "Oh yeah, he did that." Said Scrooge remembering that legally you were his next to kin.

• You meet Penumbra after she helped y'all not die.

• "You are most skilled." She said to you. "Della spoke of you many times."

• "Awe, that's so sweet of you. I'm happy she did. You're also very skilled since you just help us save our world." You tell her with a smile.

• "Of course."

• "Yes! My best friends are becoming besties." Loudly whisper Della.

• Glomgold pulled you away from the Ducks to tell you that he save the world! Hahahah

8/2/2020

I went over bored on this. Just a tad.

Need sleep because its 5 something am.

I got to work tomorrow, :/

It pays well though and I bought a few Steven Universe merch. (Books, just 3 books.)

#ducktales x reader #ducktales #reader insert #platonic fic #platonic headcanons #della duck #Della duck & reader #della duck x reader #blu #this probably way more than you expect #im really into ducktales #and there is so little here

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jasontoddiefor · 4 years

Text

AU in which Vader killed Palpatine and made his preteen son Emperor, as you do.

Darth Vader had often been called the Emperor’s attack dog. Whether to his face, choking on their own blood, or in whispers behind his back. He used to resent it, hate it even. For all the strength he possessed, he’d once more been reduced to less than human. Something to be owned.

Nowadays he didn’t mind anymore, took pleasure in everyone knowing that he was never more than an arm’s length behind the Emperor. The dark shadow following the best treasure the galaxy had ever given him.

“Your Highness, I have to insist. With the Rebels still refusing to negotiate with us, we cannot afford war with the Hutts!”

The meeting had been dragging on for hours. Vader didn’t have the patience for such long winded sessions and also didn’t necessarily see the point. They had a plan and Vader would ensure that it was successful. What did it matter that they be fighting on two fronts? He’d make it work. Besides, the Rebels would soon give up once they see how much good Luke was doing.

Patience, Father, Luke’s thoughts reached him. We’re almost done.

Vader snorted and enjoyed how everybody else twitched. They could hardly tell his normal breathing apart from anything else and startling them was one of the few pleasure Vader had at these meetings. Besides his son’s presence, of course.

Like we’ve been almost done for an hour?

“So, Admiral, what you’re really saying is that because our military isn’t strong enough, I should avoid conflict with the Hutts and let millions of sentient citizens of my Empire suffer?”

My Empire, Vader could never grow sick of hearing Luke say it. Every planet, every star, every single grain of sand, Vader had promised Luke when he’d found his nine-year-old son on Tattoine. His son, scared and hurt, had been in a cage, still wearing the clothes stained with his aunt’s blood. Padmé’s child, meant for greatness, stolen away and sold as a slave.

He’d never be hurt again, never denied anything at all again. Here, on the throne that was his and his alone, Luke would be safe.

“I- of course not, your Highness, but-“

Luke smiled. A gentle push of the Force followed and the Admiral stopped talking. Luke‘s speeches weren’t as refined as Padmé’s yet, but he also didn’t have as much practice as she had at his age. And in the meanwhile, the Force would guide him.

“Then I believe we’re done here for today. Thank you for your attendance. Please inform the senate and start preparing the army.”

Luke pushed his chair away from the table and stood up, then smoothed over his heavy red overcoat before confidently walking towards the exit, Vader right behind him.

Luke barely reached Vader’s waist, and probably would never reach Vader’s height if the doctors were to be trusted. It annoyed Luke to no end, but Vader could only see the benefits. It was easier for him to shield Luke and, should any attacked ever manage to bypass him, they’d likely underestimate his son.

“Can we go work on our droid now, Father?” Luke asked as soon as they were out of earshot.

“Dinner first, my son. The cooks have prepared your favorite.”

Seeing Luke’s heartbroken look, Vader amended. His son had done excellent work today. “But an argument can be made for eating down in the workshop instead of the dining hall.”

Luke smiled, bright, happy and alive.

“Yes! Thank you! Let me just get changed first. Can’t have oil on the robes again, or Miss Tallin will complain again.”

Vader would do everything to ensure that warmth would never leave his side.

Honestly I just liked the picture of teeny tiny Emperor Luke telling people we’re doing Sentient Rights now while Vader stands behind him and stares everyone into submission. Probs gonna do more Drabbles for this.

#star wars #luke skywalker #darth vader #anakin skywalker #sw #fanfic #making a 10 year old emperor is a brilliant idea to a traumatized 32ish man #vader has no interest in ruling he just wants his son happy and safe #obi-wan is somewhere on alderaan training leia #and feeling forever guilty bc he couldn’t protect luke #leia’s on her way to become a badass jedi #luke just wants space peace so he can tinker away on droids and ships with his father #he’s 12 he’s only been doing this for 2 years #and would very much like for the senate to function so he can just stop #miss tallin is the seamstress who makes luke’s clothes

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rubysunnday · 4 years

Text

Wait For Me

3rd September, 1939.

That date would be stuck in your mind for years to come.

The meanest dog you'll ever meet

You’d both been expecting it, you and Finn. Neither one of you was oblivious to the constant news reports on Nazi Germany and its rise. A naive part of you had hoped that maybe it would all die down and nothing would become of it.

You’d only just been old enough to vaguely remember the First World War. The memories were vague and hazy. Bombs. Searchlights. Telegrams. The MIA on your brother. Your father.

He ain't the hound dog in the street

He bares some teeth and tears some skin

Many families had lost husbands and sons in the war, yet many more had lost mothers too - lost to the pain of losing their lovers, their children. Your mother hadn’t made it past the five year anniversary.

Your aunt took you in. That relationship was a rocky one from the beginning, the two of you often fighting and yelling at one another. By the time you’d turned eighteen, you’d grown estranged from your only serving family member, for many reasons.

But brother, that's the worst of him

That’s when Finn had walked into your life. Well, knocked into your life.

Neither one of you could agree on who’s fault it was. You insisted that he hadn’t been paying attention, too busy trying to show off to John and Arthur who were walking behind him. He insisted that you’d been walking backwards, to absorbed in looking around the market to see him.

The dog you really got to dread

Is the one that howls inside your head

No matter who’s fault it was, you both ended up bumping into each other. Finn had caught you before you’d fallen onto the ground, his arms snaking around your waist and holding you against him.

Small Heath wasn’t a big community. You’d known of Finn for a while and known of the Shelby’s for even longer. The two of you had sat next to each other in school until he’d dropped out.

It's him whose howling drives men mad

And a mind to its undoing

“Hi,” you said, looking up at Finn.

“Hi,” Finn replied, a dopey smile on his face. “Falling for me again, y/l/n?”

Wait for me, I'm comin'

“Never, Shelby,” you said, smacking his arm to tell him to let you go. “John, Arthur.”

“Morning, y/n,” Arthur said, tipping his hat to you.

“Morning,” John added, winking.

You rolled your eyes. “Never change, John.”

“Oh, I don’t plan on it,” John replied and you shook your head,

You bent down to pick up your basket but Finn beat you too it, your hands brushing for a second.

“I got it,” Finn said, putting everything back in.

“I am capable, Finn.”

Wait, I'm comin' with you

Finn looked up at you, giving you his infamous smile, his eyes sparkling. “Never said you weren’t.”

You took the basket back from him, smiling a little. “I should go,” you said, nodding to the road where your aunt’s house was.

Wait for me, I'm comin' too, I'm comin' too

“See you around,” Finn replied, walking backwards after his brothers as you nodded.

“Yeah, see you around Shelby.”

Show the way so we can see

Show the way the world could be

After that, you saw Finn every time you went to the market. He later admitted to you that the only reason he had been there was to see you.

Finn followed you around as you did the weekly shop for your aunt, helping you to carry the items back to the house and keeping you company as you put them away.

If you can do it, so can she

If she can do it, so can we

Your aunt didn’t approve of him or any of the Shelby’s. That was another thing you fell out about.

The day before you turned nineteen, your aunt fell seriously ill. Despite your rocky relationship, you were worried. You went with her to the hospital, sitting with her through the time she was there.

Somehow, the Shelby’s found out about your aunt because a day later, Finn and John appeared in the hospital canteen, the former bearing some flowers.

Show the way so we believe

We will follow where you lead

We will follow with you

Show the way

“We heard about your aunt,” Finn had said upon you spotting them. He held out the flowers. “We got these for her.”

“We?” John muttered, to quiet for you to hear, but Finn smacked his stomach anyway, telling him to shut up.

“Thank you,” you replied, accepting the bouquet.

“How is she?” John asked, noticing Finn’s lack of attention as you brushed hands taking the flowers.

“Not good. The doctors say she probably won’t be here by the end of the week.”

“I’m sorry,” Finn said, suddenly discovering his voice again.

Think they'll make it?

“Yeah. We never really got along but, still, she’s the only family I’ve got left.” You paused. “I don’t really know what I’ll do once she’s gone.”

“We can help if you need us to,” Finn said suddenly, ignoring his brother’s stutter of surprise.

I don't know

You looked at him, slightly surprised. “Thanks, Finn.” Finn blushed slightly as you hugged him, to busy trying to commit the smell of your perfume to memory to notice that you also hugged a very bemused and confused John.

“I should probably go check on her,” you said quietly, picking up your bag and coat. “Thanks again.”

Hades, you let them go

Finn waved at you as you left the canteen, a smile on his face.

John smacked his brother on the arm. “What the hell was that?”

Finn frowned. “What do you mean?”

I let them try

“That!” John exclaimed, gesturing to where you'd been sitting.

“Oh, I was being nice,” Finn replied, pulling his coat closer.

“Since when?!”

Finn shrugged. “She’s nice.”

John rolled his eyes. “Ahuh,” he said, unconvinced by his brothers explanation but not wanting to jump any further down the rabbit hole.

And how 'bout you and I?

Are we gonna try again?

Your aunt passed away three days after Finn gave you the flowers.

It's time for spring.

We'll try again next fall

You'd stepped outside for a cigarette, needing some air, when you’d spotted Tommy Shelby and Polly Grey walking into the hospital.

“Hey, Mr Shelby,” you called, nodding at him.

“Good morning, y/n,” Tommy replied, walking towards you. “Haven’t seen you and Finn together for a while.”

You nodded to the hospital behind you. “Been stuck here. My aunt was admitted last week, she passed away this morning.”

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Polly said, joining her nephew.

“Nah, don't be. We weren't that close. But she was the only family I’ve got left...had left.”

Polly smiled sympathetically. “You know where we are if you need us.”

You nodded, bidding the both farewell.

Wait for me?

The doctor informed you that your aunt’s funeral had been fully paid already and that there was nothing to worry about. You’d frowned, confused, but let it slide, happy not to have to part with any money.

It wasn’t until you’d gotten home from the hospital that you realised that Tommy Shelby and Polly Grey had been the ones to pay for the funeral.

I will

Despite knowing Finn Shelby for ten years, you’d never been to number 6 Watery Lane. You’d been to the Garrison plenty of times with your friends, often getting drunk inside - you and John had sworn to each other to never mention the time you’d passed out on him - but you’d never ventured down to the house where the Shelby’s lived.

Wait for me, I'm comin'

Wait, I'm comin' with you

Wait for me, I'm comin' too

I'm comin' too

Finn had visibly lit up when he’d spotted you amongst the gamblers, weaving his way through the crowd and grabbing your hand. He’d dragged you into the safety of John’s office, shutting the door behind him.

“Hey, y/l//n-”

“You didn’t have to do that, by the way,” you said, cutting him off.

Finn faltered. “Do what?”

Who are you?

Who do you think you are?

Who are you?

“Get Tommy and Polly to pay for my aunt’s funeral.”

“I didn’t,” Finn replied, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Shelby, I’ve known you for ten years, now, so I also know when you’re lying.”

Finn sighed. “Fine. I did, maybe, do that.”

You crossed your arms, not at all surprised or angry. “Why?”

“Because I care about you,” Finn admitted quietly. “Didn’t think you should have to pay for the funeral of someone you didn’t care about.”

You smiled. “Thank you, Finn, truly.”

Finn nodded, trying his best not to blush. “No problem.”

Who are you to lead her?

Who are you to lead them?

Who are you to think that you can hold your head up higher than your fellow man?

You and Finn became better friends after your aunt’s death and the Shelby’s soon began seeing more of you, your presence at 6 Watery Lane soon became normal. Neither one of you was prepared to acknowledge the blossoming romance between the two of you despite nearly all of Small Heath seeing it.

Everything had been fine and almost perfect.

You got a lonesome road to walk

And it ain't along the railroad track

And it ain't along the black-top tar

Until you lost your job and your house.

Finn had become worried when you he’d turned up to your house one day only to find no one home. He’d gone to your work only to be told you’d been fired. He’d asked Tommy to send some Blinders out to look for you but other than that, there was nothing he could do.

It was only a week later that your turned up at the house, visibly exhausted.

Typically, Finn hadn’t been there when you’d appeared. He’d gone off again to try and find you, not that he’d admit it.

Arthur Shelby had ushered you in, immediately sitting you on the sofa in front of the fire and wrapping numerous blankets around you as you shivered.

Finn had arrived back an hour later, all but throwing himself at you as he hugged you.

You've walked a hundred times before

I'll tell you where the real road lies:

Between your ears, behind your eyes

That is the path to Paradise

Likewise, the road to ruin

“What happened?” He asked, letting go of you.

“Turns out my aunt’s will wasn’t particular lovely to me,” you said quietly. “The only thing she left me was an old photo album. Everything else went to her nephew - in - law in Cornwall.”

“You went to Cornwall?”

You nodded. “Had to. His lawyer wanted to know why I was still living in the house when it wasn’t mine. Whole thing got messy and as a result I missed work for a week and ended up being fired.”

Finn sighed, putting an arm around your shoulders. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

Wait for me, I'm comin'

Wait, I'm comin' with you

Wait for me, I'm comin' too

“Why do you keep saying that?” Finn asked softly.

“Because it is,” you answered. “Compared to the war, it is fine.” You leant your head on Finn’s shoulder and he rested his chin on your head. “Besides, I’ve got you.”

Finn felt his heart beat faster as your hair tickled his neck, the smell of your perfume making him smile. “Yeah, you have.”

Wait for me, I'm comin' too

Wait for me, I'm comin'

Wait, I'm comin' with you

You knew that Finn had said something to Tommy.

But only because Tommy Shelby didn’t normally offer a secretary job out of the blue.

“I’ve got a job for you, if you want it,” Tommy had said suddenly one Sunday afternoon as you drank tea in the living room.

Wait, I'm comin'

Show her the way

You choked on the sip you’d taken, coughing much to Tommy’s amusement. “What?” You croaked.

“I’ve got a secretary job if you want it,” Tommy repeated. “Working for me, handling some very sensitive business.” Tommy gave you a knowing look and you nodded.

“When?

“Tomorrow.”

I'm coming wait for me

I hear the walls repeating

That job quickly became your new normal. The Shelby’s soon became family and you felt at ease despite the horror stories that accompanied them. You also realised how you felt about Finn Shelby.

It’d been at one of the many races you’d attended when you’d admitted how you felt to Finn. You hadn’t planned on it. It’d been sudden and at an incredibly poor time but you’d still said it.

“Finn,” you said as the horses turned into the final leg of the race. “Yeah, y/n/n,” Finn replied, distracted by the race and the fact that John and Arthur were yelling next to him.

“I love you.”

The falling of our feet and

Finn’s head and shot to look at you, eyes wide, mouth open. He stammered, clearly torn. “I love you too,” he said, his eyes softening as you smiled. “God, I love you so much.”

He’d bent down and kissed you just as the horses crossed the finish line, the Blinders around you yelling in joy as they realised how much money they’d gotten.

It sounds like drumming

Finn, never one to wait, had proposed six months later.

“Marry me,” he said one night as the two of you laid on the sofa, warming your feet by the fire.

You turned your head to look at him, smiling. “Marry you?”

Finn nodded. “Marry me.”

You pressed your lips together, your smile growing. “Of course.”

And we are not alone

It’d been the perfect wedding. Neither one of you were fussed about a big ceremony or reception, perfectly content with just the Shelby's. Both of you had wanted to elope but Polly and Ada had put their foot down, insisting on you both getting married properly.

Finn had cried when he saw Arthur walking you down the aisle. He’d lifted the veil off your face and you’d wiped away a tear from his cheek. Finn’s hand entwined with yours as Johnny Dogs began the ceremony and neither one of you let go until you got to Tommy’s house for the reception.

Everything had been so perfect.

I hear the rocks and stones

Until the 3rd of September 1939.

You’d all been staying at Tommy’s house, all of you waiting for the dreaded news and no one wanting to be far away from anyone.

You and Finn had been in the living room, hands entwined tightly, listening intently as the radio presenter announced that the government had declared war on Germany.

One by one, the other Shelby’s had joined you, all listening, all terrified.

When the day came for the men to go to war yet again, you and Finn pressed your foreheads together, hands entwined.

“I’m going to miss you so much,” Finn whispered, closing his eyes to try and block out the sound of his crying family.

Echoing our song

“Me too,” you replied. “This is so much harder than it was before.”

Finn captured your lips in a kiss. “I’ll come back,” he said quietly, wiping away the tears falling down your face. “I promise.”

“I know you will, Finn,” you said, kissing him. “You all will.” You handed him a neatly folded photo and a handkerchief. “That’s the photo of me you took on the 15th July 1928, our first anniversary. That’s my handkerchief and I put my perfume on it so that I’m always with you. And when it fades, write to me and I’ll send you a fresh one.”

Finn tried his best not to cry as he engulfed you in a hug, holding you tight against him.

He sighed heavily as the train whistle blew. He kissed you one final time before he and his brothers clambered on board. Finn stuck his hand out the window and you grabbed it, pressing a kiss to his hand. The train slowly began to move and you walked along with him for as long as you could.

“Wait for me?” Finn called as your hands were ripped apart.

“I will.”

I'm coming

#peaky blinders imagine #peaky blinders imagines #peaky blinders x reader #peaky blinders fanfic #Peaky Blinders #finn shelby x reader #finn shelby #hadestown #wait for me

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morosoro · 3 years

Text

Reuben

Chapter 20

Summary: Reubens happy little Valentine’s Day bubble pops the moment he gets home.

Ao3 link here

He came home after school to find two visibly upset Scottish women taking tea on the sofa as his boy crawled about on the floor playing with a stuffed rabbit toy. Playing was a generous term, actually, Neal was more so just dragging it around and giggling as it moved each time his hand did. Quality entertainment for a baby, Reuben was sure.

He avoided the scowls from the older women as he crouched down to play with his son, gently taking the rabbit and making it wave to him. The babe giggled at that too. Oh what simpler times, when your happiness would depend on whether something moved or not. Reuben longed to be in the child’s place as Glynis cleared her throat.

“The Hatters called us yesterday.” She supplied.

Reuben huffed a sigh. He was getting tired of people asking about Jefferson. He’d had to answer several people today when asked, and not once had it been met with the aloofness he thought it deserved, Yes, they had a fight! It didn’t seem like a very big deal to him! “Yeah? What about it?” He asked.

“Mrs. Hatter informed me that Jefferson are no longer friends? That you told him to stop acting like himself? Now she didn’t explain precisely what happened, I get the impression she doesn’t know her son as well as she should, but Edith and I got the gist of it. And we are immensely disappointed. We thought we raised you differently.” The women told him, jaw set firm and spine rigid in her discontent.

“What? In the two months I’ve been here? Yes, a lot of raising done on your part.” He replied sardonically.

“You say that as if we weren’t pivotal caretakers of you since birth. You know full well we brought you up just as much if not more than your parents did. Now I suggest you start explaining yourself.”

“We had a disagreement. So what? It’s hardly the end of the world!” He was instantly in a sour mood as soon as this conversation had begun. He was so done having to explain himself to people who refused to understand. Even Belle had been upset with him when he told her what had happened in full. She’d told him he was in the wrong and that should apologize. He had thought out of all people she would’ve understood where he’d been coming from. Now his Aunts seemed to be antagonizing him too?! How come nobody could just give him the benefit of the doubt or see his side?!

“It was more than a disagreement and you damn well know it.”

It’s not like he’d really meant anything he said anyways. He just didn’t like the implications Jefferson’s words had set on the table. Jefferson needed to be taught a lesson, that’s all.

“Okay so I got tired of the jokes. I’m sorry that I don’t want people thinking I’m a bloody buftie who's shagging a dude behind his girlfriend's back.” He sneered, fed up of the conversation already. “I’m sorry for setting some god damn boundaries. In all honesty I think that if he were really my friend and not just hopeful he could ‘turn me queer’ or whatever then he would respect said boundaries.”

Edith gasped at his language, still remaining silent. Glynis’s glare only hardened. “You sound an awful lot like yer father saying words like that.” She said coldly.

His head whipped over to look her in the eye, bewildered rage taking root. How could she say that?! “You take that back!”

Glynis stared right back at him. “Or what? You’ll call us auld hags? Stomp around and break things?” After a beat of silence where he said nothing in preference of continuing to fiddle with his son’s stuffed toy, the woman continued. “Oh? Ignore us then? Your father liked to do that too.”

He stood to his full height quickly, discarding the rabbit as he went. He gestured sharply as he shouted. “Shut the hell up! I’m nothing like him!”

His son started to cry, obviously startled by the loud volume. He froze, staring down at the scared little boy in alarm. Oh no… what had he done? Had he hurt him- he didn’t think he did… but then again he had tossed away the toy pretty carelessly. Had it hit him? No! The idea made him sick.

Could he really be turning into a copy of his father? Was this proof?

Before he could think to reach for his son to try to comfort him, the boy was picked up by Glynis instead. “I wouldn’t be so sure, the lines seemed quite blurred lately.” She hissed in response.

“Glynis- please!” Edith pleaded, her expression softer but still troubled. “Give the lad break? He’s been through a lot lately.”

“That’s no excuse for bigotry and slurs! Did you not hear him, Edith? ‘Buftie’, ‘Queer’? Doesn’t that upset you?” The other woman asked, sounding incredulous.

“Well, yes…” Edith agreed before pausing to sigh lengthily. “But I’m also aware that he’s in a very tough spot. He’s still only a boy, see… He’s bound to have bad days and ugly moments. We all are, Love.” The other said, calm but firm. “ Besides, shouting at him and making him feel like shite won’t get us anywhere productive...”

Still holding the sniffling child, and with her jaw still set Glynis also sighed heavily through her nose. She seemed to calm slightly before deciding “Fine then, you deal with him. I’ll be taking Neal for a stroll down the paths. I suppose I could use some air.”

Edith nodded. “I think that’s best, dear. Thank you.” She then looked at her still visibly angry and hurting great-nephew. “Why don’t you go to yer room? Put on a tape, read a book… calm down some? I’ll come up and speak to you before dinner, Aye?”

Reuben, with clenched fists and hunched shoulders, let out a grumbled “Fine…” before hurrying his way upstairs.

—

He was only a couple chapters further into his copy of ‘Lord of The Rings’ (borrowed off of Moe, actually. The man had recommended it to him a couple of weeks ago) and the chorus to Genesis’ ‘Land of Confusion’ was playing when there was a knock on his bedroom door.

Sighing, he paused his cassette, marked his place in the book and called for the person to come in. To no surprise, Edith entered, and she had brought more tea for the both of them.

She sat herself on the foot of his bed and offered him the mug, he accepted it and took a sip. They sat in silence for a moment before she finally decided to speak. “You know lad, it doesn’t matter how upset you are, it’s never okay to be disrespectful.”

He stayed quiet, only grunting over the rim of his mug in response. She continued. “But we’re not going to talk about earlier today. Glynis and I are older than dirt, we’ve heard it all. We can take it. I want to talk about what happened with Jefferson.”

“We had an argument. What more is there to talk about?” He responded lowly.

“Why?” She asked. “Why were you arguing with him?”

“Because I was sick of the gay jokes.” He answered. “The ones that implied… stuff. I’m no feckin’ fag and he can’t bloody turn me into one!”

The woman let out a hissing sound, as if she had be burned. “See, what we’re not going to do is use terms like that.” She told him, stern voice in place. “Like Glinnie and I have both said, upset is no reason for disrespect.”

The teen was once again quiet as he sipped his tea again. The woman moved ahead in the conversation. “A person cannot ‘turn’ gay or straight. They either like the same sex or they do not. And it is not a bad thing to be that way.” She explained.

“Sure, okay… whatever.” He replied. “It still doesn’t fucking matter. He crossed a line and it made me uncomfortable so I told him to knock it off. That’s it. I don’t see why everyone’s making such a big deal out of it!”

“Because you hurt his feelings. And I think you knew what you said would hurt his feelings. That’s not okay, Reuben. You need to understand that.”

“I get it!” He barked. “I was just upset, okay? I lashed out. It happens…”

“Then it sounds like you need to work on controlling yourself. Maybe start by thinking things over before you say anything, like why Jefferson’s jokes upset you so much in the first place.” And with that she got up to leave again, throwing a casual “Dinner will be ready in an hour.” Over her shoulder as she went.

After the door shut behind her and he was by himself again he let out a frustrated growl. After setting down his tea, he drew his knees to his chest and raked his hands through his hair frustratedly, head hanging low. Why was he like this? Why was his anger like a light-switch? This was definitely something to bring up with his therapist next time.

He sighed then as he made a small connection in his head. Dr. Hopper had told him last time that he ought to take time for himself to think and figure things out and work on ‘self-improvement’. Edith had just told him to do pretty much the same thing. He glanced to his nightstand where the crinkled pamphlet-turned-coaster sat, and after a moment’s consideration, he reached for it, taking it out from under his mug. He turned to the second page.

‘Ask yourself ‘Why?’. Contemplate response. Consider your reasonings. Repeat.’

Why did Jefferson’s Joke upset you?

“Because it made me uncomfortable.” He mumbled.

Why did it make you uncomfortable?

“Because… I could picture it?”

Picture what?

‘I’m straight!’

‘So is spaghetti until you get it hot and steamy.’

‘Hot and steamy’

Hot and steamy...

“Fuck!” He growled out, tossing the pamphlet away. “This is bloody stupid! I’m not getting anywhere!” He told himself as he rubbed at his eyes, trying to will the unwanted images away. Seriously, what the hell was wrong with him today?! He hated it. He hated himself.

It was hard to believe today had started out so lovely, with his girlfriend in his arms and a promise ring in question.

“I need a nap.” He decided. “A long one.”

———

Doctor Hopper was a strange individual. The kind of man that made Reuben wonder how his son Archie had become… well… Archie. Guys like Archie tended to have strict, straight-edge, academics-obsessed fathers. The type with the big glasses and button-down shirts that they tucked so neatly into their khakis. They were a vision of who their sons would become, but not Doctor Hopper.

No, Doctor Hopper was more laid back. Yes, he wore khakis and button downs but in a much more sloppy-casual sense. His hair was long and he wore a cowboy hat atop his head. He didn’t tip-toe with his words, he just spoke freely from his thoughts (and his degree, hopefully). He was also just odd enough for Reuben to believe he’d likely had a few run-ins with the law in the past. Yes, Reuben could definitely see this man scamming people of their money, or being picked up off the street where he lay a drunk… or something… fool. And yet this man was somehow his therapist and he was supposed to trust him and his advice. It was certainly a peculiar situation.

They currently sat opposite each other, Reuben on a large leather sofa, and Dr. Hopper laid back in the matching armchair. The latter was having a cigarette as he listened to his patient’s concerns.

He puffed out a measured stream of smoke before speaking. “So, basically, you’ve been acting like a cunt to your friends and family and you don’t know why?”

“Uh…” Reuben shrugged his shoulders awkwardly. “Yeah?”

“You just freak out when you feel targeted? As in you just suddenly feel like you have to defend yourself… but really all you're doing is spewing shit?” At the teens nod the therapist took another puff, answering with his exhale “Sounds like anger issues to me, kid. Probably got it from the alcoholic disgrace you call a dad.”

Reuben huffed a worried sigh. “So what? You think I’m going to wind up like him?”

“Nah, unlikely.” The man responded with a dismissive wave of his hand. “You both have issues and bad trauma, but yours is just…” he mimicked the sound of an explosion. “Different. That stuff really shapes a person. You’ll be fine… or well… as fine as someone like you could be.”

Someone like him? He wondered what that implied. He didn’t want to ask. Instead he focused on the positive. “You think so?”

“Yeah, kid. As long as you keep trying to get better, hell yeah! Anger issues? No problem kid. We can manage that with just a bit of work.” The adult said before taking another draw.

Curious, Reuben asked him “What kind of work?”

“Thinking. Self-help work, kid. You know about it, it was in the pamphlet. First off, why do you think you were acting like a cunt in the first place?”

Running his hands through his hair, Reuben groaned. He should’ve known. “Because my friend was making jokes that I didn’t like. They made me uncomfortable.”

“Okay, but why?” The man prompted him to expand on it.

“Because they were implying something that I didn’t want to be implied.”

“So it’s something you’re insecure about then?”

That gave Reuben a moment’s pause. Was he insecure about his sexuality? “.... no?” At least he didn’t think so.

“You don’t sound sure about that.”

Fuck.

He huffed, frustration growing. “What do you mean? I’m definitely secure about it!” He snapped.

“Whoa man-“ the therapist warned. “Don’t go acting like a cunt on me now. I’m just trying to help you figure this out.”

The teen pinched the bridge of his nose, frustrated with himself more than anything. “I know… I’m sorry. I just don’t know why it upset me.”

“Then you just gotta think a little deeper about it sometime. But don’t try to rush it. Take your time to figure you out, Y’know?”

“I-I guess?” They were quiet for a moment before he asked “What do you think the reason was?”

“Hey, I can’t really say for sure, I’m not in your head. But to me it just sounds like the jokes just hit too close to home. He hit a nerve, something you're insecure about and don’t want to address. Whatever it is, you should probably address it before you try to apologize to this guy. You do want your apology to be as genuine as possible, right?”

Confused and practically in a stunned silence, he realized the implication his therapist had just made. He only swallowed thickly and nodded, squeaking out a broken sounded “Yeah, right.”

#ouat #once upon a time #fanfic #rumbelle #Rumplestiltskin #high school au #80’s au #this is my ventfic

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knittingdreams · 3 years

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Fireheart - Chapter 11

I’m back with another chapter of my ToG fic!!!

As always, thank to my B (it’s for b*tch, not babe) @fleetingpieces for proofreading, giving me ideas, and overall being an amazing & supportive B.

If you’re not up to date, here’s the Masterlist!

And if you are, pppssss, I just updates a NEW-ER chapter onto Ao3! ;)

WARNING: As on basically every chapter, there’s violence, and swearing xD

CHAPTER 11

Fighting is the easy part

Convincing Arobynn to allow her to be a part of the tournament didn’t end up being as hard as Celaena expected. Sam had had to stay in the hospital for an extra night after he coincidentally got a terrible migraine just before being dismissed, ending up with the doctors running a few extra tests in case there was any damage to his brain.

The results had come in clear by Wednesday morning, and Sam had been dismissed with a warning not to do any extenuating exercise. Arobynn would have been happy to send Sam to a fight on the same day, but the fact that he had missed a lot of his training and wasn’t in his best shape was what helped them convince him. Sam had sustained major bruising to his abdomen and was still wearing tight bandages to help ease the pain, as well as ingesting a whole lot of painkillers on the daily. There was also major bruising on his shoulder, but nothing was broken.

“How are you feeling today?” Celaena asked him Saturday afternoon as he watched her punch the boxing bag in the basement.

“So much better. My chest still looks like a work of art between the greens and purples, but the pain is tolerable. I’m used to worse,” he chuckled. They both were.

“Do you know who I’ll be fighting tonight?” Celaena asked as she started practicing her kicks.

“No, they won’t say a thing until you get there. Just…”

“Just what?” Celaena cut him. “Don’t you dare say ‘just be careful’.” She glared at Sam, knowing that that was exactly what he was about to say, and he looked down, almost ashamed.

“That’s not the way I mean it, I know you can look after yourself, but don’t get cocky, those guys won’t like getting beaten up by a girl,” he said after a moment.

“So, you’re saying I’m going to beat them?” Celaena smiled as she stopped hitting the bag and walked towards Sam, grabbing a towel from the bench he was sitting on and wiping her forehead.

“I know for a fact you will."

Smiling to herself, Celaena headed up the stairs and made her way to her bedroom. After taking a shower and getting changed into her usual leggings, she headed back to the hotel. She was looking forward to a big nap to make sure she’ll be well-rested for the fight.

***

The tension in the atmosphere was palpable, and the air was so thick with testosterone that Celaena thought she could probably cut it with a knife. There were going to be ten different fights that night, each fighter having two battles to prove their worth. If she won both, she’ll be included in the tournament, which would officially start in two weeks. She wasn’t worried, she knew she’d win, she had to. She needed to be a part of the tournament to find out why her aunt’s name had been on the slips from Arobynn’s bets. Was Maeve the one behind the whole tournament? What other unlawful business was she involved in? Did this make her a more prone suspect in her parent’s deaths?

She was bouncing on the ball of her feet as the first fight was announced, and a bulky guy with a bald head moved out of the back room and into the arena, followed by another guy that couldn’t be more than 19 years old, and looked lean but too small in comparison.

Celaena stayed in the backroom, peeking at the raised fighting platform from behind the thick curtain that separated them from the audience. The place wasn’t too full, as the tournament hadn’t officially started. The only ones present were people known to the fighters and some of the bigger investors that were curious to see who they should root for. Arobynn was between them, and Celaena looked around half expecting to find her aunt Maeve there too, but there was no sign of her.

“Hey,” Sam called as he showed by her side. “Would you care to explain the mask?” He asked.

She didn’t look at him, but instinctively fixed the red mask she was wearing, making sure it was still tightly fitted around her cheeks. She knew she probably looked like a weirdo, but she wasn’t going to risk her aunt seeing her if she was around, so Celaena had decided on yet another disguise. She had tied her hair in a low bun and had made a red lace mask that concealed a few of her features. She had glued it to her skin so it wouldn't become an annoyance during the fight and was wearing her brown contacts as well as black eye shadow and liner.

“Don’t you laugh at it,” she finally said under her breath. To explain to Sam the mask, she’d have to tell him about her aunt, and even if they were on the best terms they’ve been in a long time, she still wasn’t sure if she could trust him with that kind of information.

“I wouldn’t, you look lethal.”

She turned around to face him, expecting to see him laughing; but Sam was serious. “You mean it?”

“Aelin,” he said in a whisper, her real name slipping out of his mouth for the first time in months. “I don’t know what else to do to be back on your good side, we were friends once, and I’m here to prove that you can trust me again.” Sam was dead serious, and the fact that he had used her real name, told Celaena that he wanted to make a point. He was one of the few that knew who she was: Aelin Ashryver, heir to the Ashryver Galathynius fortune. He had kept her secret for nine years, and what had she done in return? Be an ass and mistrust him at every chance she got. Maybe he was telling the truth, maybe he hadn’t betrayed her after all.

“Okay,” she simply said as she looked into Sam’s eyes; pondering. “Let’s say I give you one piece of information, can I trust it won’t make its way to Arobynn’s ears?”

Sam looked hurt as he took a step back, and Celaena thought he was offended by the insult until Sam spoke again.

“Don’t,” he said sadly. “Don’t tell me anything, there’s something you need to know,” he looked through the curtain to where Arobynn was sitting. “You need to know the real reason why he sent me to school before you decide to tell me anything.”

Celaena grabbed Sam by the elbow and dragged him to the back of the room as the crowd roared and they heard the host proclaim the winner of the fight. The next round of fighters was called onto the stage as they reached the back wall.

“What are you talking about?” She asked him once they were far away from everybody else.

“He sent me over to spy on you,” he spat, as if repulsed by the idea. “He wanted me to keep an eye on you and had me promise I would tell him everything you got up to. Who you were hanging out with, places you were going.”

“And did you do it?” Celaena asked.

“I had to,” he replied, keeping his eyes on hers.

“What does he have on you?” She knew that if Arobynn could get Sam to do something like that, it was because he had some kind of leverage.

“He threatened to repeat what happened that night,” he said in a low whisper. Celaena shuddered, the memories bringing a sour taste to her mouth. She didn’t need to ask any more questions, she knew what was at stake, and she wasn’t going to risk telling Sam anything that might put him in that kind of danger.

“It’s okay, Sam." She rested a hand on his shoulder and nodded once.

“It almost sounds like you’re forgiving me,” he said hopefully.

“Don’t be too cocky,” she punched him lightly, making him laugh again. She had forgotten what it was like to get along with Sam. There had been a short time when they had been great friends, and it had been refreshing to have someone to joke around with.

“Fireheart and Verin, you’re next,” someone called from the door, and Celaena turned around and walked towards the curtains with Sam following a few steps behind.

Her opponent didn’t look like much, he was slinky and looked more like a homeless person than a fighter. Celaena knew the fight would be over before it’d even start.

Her rival was already walking away with one of the staff members, as the other security guy waited for her, looking impatient.

“You, with me,” he said as she got close enough. He had a tall and broad complexion like all the rest of the men on the security team, but Celaena thought there was something different about it. There was something in his pine green eyes that looked more like sorrow rather than contained anger. Celaena was used to dealing with his type, always acting before thinking, mere puppets following the owner’s orders. She knew not to mess with them, as they were the ones that would beat the crap out of you and ditch you in an alley if you ever crossed their masters.

Once they got to the side of the platform, the guy pushed her forward with a hand against her lower back, making her flinch at the contact. She quickly jumped onto the stage, eager to get away from the feeling of his hand only a thin fabric away from her scarred skin.

She had decided to wear one of her long-sleeved catsuits so she would avoid as many points of contact as possible from where she could be grabbed and pulled. After all, she wasn’t like those guys that could fight in a pair of shorts. Even if that would’ve been an interesting show.

She stood in her corner, waiting for the judge to announce the start of the fight. Her opponent was shifting his weight from one foot to the other, and Celaena thought he looked like he was high on drugs. He wasn’t even a real opponent, and she was pissed off at the humiliation. Had they done it on purpose thinking she couldn’t fight because she was a woman?

She would show them what she was capable of.

“Okay, you know the rules, no deadly hits, you fall off the platform, you’re out. Now, fight!” The judge roared. The crowd cheered briefly, and then went silent as Verin stepped forward.

She jumped on the spot twice, making sure her ankles were warmed up properly, and rolled her neck as Verin took another step towards her. She took two steps on light feet, barely touching the floor, and before her opponent could take a swing at her, she lifted her leg and lowered her trunk as her foot collided against Verin’s face, sending him tumbling down to the floor. She landed with her hands on the floor and did a half cartwheel to get back up, facing her opponent again. When she saw he was still lying on the floor, motionless, Celaena relaxed her posture. Too fucking easy.

With a bored expression on her face, she crossed her arms over her chest. The crowd was unusually quiet as the judge spoke.

“Uhm, I… I think that’s a win for Fireheart,” he said, not sounding convinced. The guard that had brought Verin to the platform jumped up and checked the guy's pulse, quickly nodding to the judge and then slapping the fighter a few times to wake him up.

She jumped down as Verin was taken away, the other security guard waiting for her by the side of the platform. She started walking towards the resting area in the back, the guy following suit by her side.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” the guy muttered, almost as if unwilling to share that information.

“What do you mean?” She snapped, looking at him.

The man ran a hand through his long white hair, and then fixed his low pony. Just before they reached the curtain, he spoke again in a low and hushed tone.

“Just be careful, and watch your back.”

She didn’t have time to reply, as before she could react, he had gone ahead of her and entered the back area to look for the next fighter. Why did men always have to tell her to be careful? Celaena knew how to look after herself. And what had he meant? What was she not supposed to do? Win? Watch your back. Was that a threat? That guy certainly didn't know a thing about her.

Celaena huffed in annoyance as she walked towards her bag looking for her bottle of water. She watched the white-haired dude walking out with the next fighter, and shook her head. Most of the time, she thought men were the strangest beings she had to deal with. And that guy had certainly won some bonus points already.

#tog fanfic #throne of glass fandom #fireheart #chapter eleven

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amazingdriverfics · 3 years

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Crowned by the devil - ch. 13

Summary: Kylo has to deal with the consequences of his act and so do you. Will you ever be able to forgive him?

Warnings: lots of angst, sad Kylo, sad reader.

A/N: this took me so long I am truly embarrassed and also sorry for all of you who read this fic which is very important to me just like you all. As you might know my aunt died and I was at the end of my College semester and as someone who has depression things just got a bit out of hand. I hope that I can write the next chapter sooner since I already have the planning written down.

Thank you all for not giving up on me. It means a lot, for real. I hope you all had a great day.

My masterlist

Previous Chapter

Kylo left the room like a hurricane, all the anger he held towards her a moment before now fueling his self-hate, he had wished so many times to be different, to be someone who could open up, who could be loved, but everytime Ren proved to himself that he was only good at being hated, at being feared, at being the monster Snoke shaped him into. As he stomped to the halls, lightsaber already in hand ready to be ignited destroying all it could possibly touch as if it would solve his problems, Kylo kept on seeing her face as he unleashed the demons in his insides, the tears running down her face, the disappointment in her eyes, the fear she felt kept hitting him in waves and the feeling of being the most feared being in the room, which usually made him feel powerful, now making him ashamed of his attitudes.

He didn’t meet anyone as he walked through the ship, his loud steps enough to let all of his employees know that they shouldn’t cross him if they had any love for their own life, Ren would kill anyone in that moment, would do anything at all to end the feelings crushing his insides, to take his mind away from her, to make him feel alive again.

Before he could even notice he was inside a monochromatic room filled with computers, lightsaber in hand, the red light coloring his face contorced in an angry expression and the room. He didn’t think twice before destroying the room, watching as sparkles flew, ignoring the sounds of his actions since they were drowned by her “Leave”s, the pain in her tone amplifying his own hurt, it almost felt like her hands were back on his chest, hitting him over and over again as if she could really physically hurt the man built like a tank.

Eventually his rage died and despair took control of him, without even think he let the lightsaber fall to the floor, not listening to the sound of the fall as he started to sob, tears spilling and staining his skin as he too fell to the ground, the pain becoming too much for him to even stand. He had just lost his Empress, Kylo knew that he could make her marry him, he could do anything he wanted, but the knight also knew that he could never force her to truly love him, to look at him like he had hung the stars, to want his body, to kiss him with want as she used to do, to care for him. He had given all that up for his stupidity, for not being brave enough to let her see what he was like inside.

As the night went on Kylo laid on the floor with the remains of his destructive behavior crying his eyes out and calling her name, praying to the force that there was something he could possibly do to make her care about him once again.

——————————————————————————

For the following week Kylo stayed in his bedroom, too ashamed and sad to leave the comfort of his quarters, allowing the guilt to eat him from inside out, not eating properly, barely showering or leaving the warm feeling provided by his bed. The knight couldn’t even look at the mirror, his reflection judging him, holding him accountable for all he had done and for his mistakes. Ren knew he would have to leave that space - mental and physical - soon, he knew that the First Order needed him and that he couldn’t trust Hux to stay in charge for too long without trying to overthrow him, the worst part was that he knew he couldn’t ignore his actions for too long as well, he would have to face her, he would have to try to fix the mess he had made even though he wasn’t sure how he would do so, but Kylo loved her too much to let everything fall apart like that.

He took one last look at the mess in his room, at the clothes spreaded around the floor, at the bed sheets covered in sweat and got up going straight to the bathroom, starting the shower as he looked into the mirror, straight into the reflection’s eyes, ready to do whatever he needed to do to make her his once more.

——————————————————————————

Your sadness had turned into a uncontrollable rage in the day that followed the fight, at yourself and at Kylo, the wish to kill the Supreme Leader filling your head constantly as you lived through the day, trying your best not to unleash your anger in Mitaka who seemed to be frequently scared of you ever since your attitude change no matter how many times you tried to explain to the sweet Lieutenant that your mood had nothing to do with him. The only ones who were really able to handle you like that were Cardo and Trudgen which kept on trying to cheer you up with his super annoying sense of humor. So whenever you weren’t with Mitaka in the library gathering all the information you needed or in your quarters, you were with the two knights doing your best to live through the days as you tried your hardest to ignore each and every thought about Kylo that didn’t involve your fists hitting his perfect face over and over again.

Mainly, it wasn’t too hard keeping you from thinking about Ren, but sometimes a wave of sadness would hit you straight on the chest remembering that you missed his presence even though you couldn’t bring yourself to understand why on the Galaxy you would miss that man, well until your body remembered you not only about the times he pleasured you, much more than that really, every time you felt like that your faded scar burned a bit remembering that night when Kylo comforted you and defended you from Hux, about his body on the small couch on the medbay as he slept and waited for news about you since he was deeply worried about your wound and about how grateful you were to him for ordering the doctor to treat your scar, fading it enough so you could cover it with a tattoo.

The sound of Trudgen’s voice calling you hottie brought you back to reality, forcing you to remember that you were in the knight’s living room drinking with your two friends, even though you would never admit you considered Trudgen one of your friends. You grabbed the drink on the table, feeling the coldness of the glass and allowing the sensation to ground you even further so it could take your mind off of Kylo Ren.

“Yes, Trudgen” you said with a fake annoyed tone, arching your eyebrows before taking a sip of the drink with a strong alcohol taste.

“I asked you who you think will win the game” he replied, voice showing a bit of worry he and Cardo shared anytime you zoomed out of reality even though they knew better than to ask you what was happening, not talking about their master or about what happened that night was an unannounced deal you three had and even though you were sure they knew how Kylo was doing you knew it was better not to ask about it, not wanting to drag yourself deeper into the mess you had put yourself into.

You looked at the screen in which both of them were watching the game, doing your best to analyze the teams strategies and players even though you weren’t the biggest fan of soccer nor had a lot of time during your life to watch those games, but the dizziness in your brain caused by the combination of alcohol and thinking of Ren made it impossible for you to have a logical response to the match playing in front of your eyes. And so you shrugged, taking your drink to your lips once more before saying a “don’t fucking care” which caused Cardo to laugh.

“Come on, y/n, it’s the Galactic Cup, you must care about it” Trudgen said back, trying to bring you into his conversation with Cardo despite it being a loss fight, you were too in your head to come back.

“Leave her alone” Cardo commanded, knowing that there was nothing that both of them could do, but letting you be.

And so you stayed on the couch barely moving except when you took a sip of your drink feeling as your scar burned, shouting to you that there wasn’t a way to really keep yourself from remembering how Kylo took care of you. ——————————————————————————

Ren was in the throne room with the most expensive jewelry consultant in the Galaxy, looking at the thousand of pieces he had in his holotablet, double checking each one making sure that he would choose not only the best one, but the one which fitted his Empress more perfectly, which would make her skin and eyes pop. Just by following his plan to get his love back, Kylo felt a bit of comfort, of course the fear of it still not being enough to get her back was present, but knowing that he had already come up with a plan and that he was a step closer to feeling her against his arms once again was enough to keep him going. And so, despite what anyone could expect of him, Ren kept on scrolling and on deciding his favorite jewelry with a feeling of enjoyment pumping through his veins.

The Supreme Leader was interrupted by the sound of one of his knights dropping on one knee in respect before saying “Master Ren” allowing him to know that the one in his presence was no other than Cardo, his Empress best friend and one of the people he had been avoiding in the past days knowing that the encounter would make the wound in his chest throb. Seeing his knight, however, didn’t make him want to cry or destroy a whole room, instead he felt proud of himself, he knew that Cardo would appreciate his attempt to make y/n feel better.

“Cardo” he replied, gesturing for the knight to get up, waiting patiently for the knight to announce the reason why he had come to Ren. The waves of worry coming from the man, however, allowed his master to have an idea of what he wanted to talk about.

“Master, I don’t mean to overstep, but I’ve been really worried about y/n, ever since whatever happened between the two of you, she hasn’t been the same.” he started, eyes looking at his calloused hands, stopping for a moment to catch a breath before continuing “Whenever she isn’t furious looking like she is about to throw a punch in the nearest surface, she looks lost, as if her sadness swallowed her whole and there’s nothing left of her but a shell” Cardo finished looking, for once, directly into Kylo’s eyes and even though he tried to keep a hard facade which didn’t show emotion, his light colored eyes were see-through, he was truly concerned for the girl he had the chance to grow to love as a friend.

Kylo’s heart almost stopped for a second, all the good sensations he had been feeling just a couple of minutes before completely gone, overshadowed by the crushing pressure on his chest almost as if a hand was crushing it. If he was alone, Ren might have cried or allowed his self-hate to express itself in the room’s walls, but he knew better than to throw a tantrum in front of one of his knights, someone who not only should respect him as a master, but also someone he considered to be family.

“I see” he replied, voice hoarse and distorced with the sea of emotions taking over him. “I have a plan to win her heart back Cardo, don’t you worry.”

——————————————————————————

You were wandering in the endless halls, watching as the same bucket faces passed through you, as the droids worked and as the stars shone in the never ending blue galaxy, wondering what was your role in it, if you were really supposed to be living in a ship suffering for a man who could never give you what you needed when you had spent all your life on your own when the first encounter after the fight happened.

As strange as it could possibly sound, you felt him before even seeing him, as if something about his aura was always recognizable from all that time you had spent with Kylo. Just the feeling made your body hair stand as anxiety started to fog your brain, it was truly your worst nightmare, you were pretty you weren’t ready to see him, but there was no point in running, you knew that he could find you anywhere he wanted, no matter how good you were at hiding yourself from your problems. Therefore you waited, standing still and trying to keep an emotionless face that could do nothing to help you to keep your feelings from the dark knight.

The first thing you listened to were his steps, loud and confident as ever and it immediately caused you to look up, facing the thought you had tried to ignore the most. He was just as beautiful as ever, his gorgeous dark and intense eyes looking directly into yours, his hair adorning his face which seemed a bit thinner and his mouth you had kissed so many times in a line as he kept his neutral expression. Seeing him awakened a lot of feelings, the first one was a pulsing rage which had been with you ever since you woke up after Ren left your room, the second one was relief to know he was alive and well and even though you felt sad from all that happened, the most present feeling was disappointment, you didn’t exactly know why you weren’t expecting Kylo Ren to act like a monster after he had kidnapped you, but after all the nice moments and all the kindness he had shown you, seeing him as a captor once more, more so, as someone that even remotely reminded you of Kreat was just too much, too heartbreaking.

“y/n”.

#crowned by the devil #kylo ren #kylo x reader #kylo ren x reader #adam driver #cardo #trudgen #supreme leader kylo ren #star wars

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notquitecanon · 4 years

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Christmas Vacation // Spencer Reid x Reader

a little blurb about the reality of big family Christmas that was heavily inspired by National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

TW: drug mention

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

____________

You pressed your back against the bedroom door, closing your eyes and taking a calming breath as you prayed to anything out there that your mother would give it a rest. Leaning against the door, you savored the few moments of relative quiet (you could still hear the loud political discussion your uncles were having- both extreme conservatives with all their facts from facebook, your mother and siblings in the kitchen gossiping, and your younger cousins loudly playing edgy music to cover up the Christmas music from downstairs.) You were really beginning to regret coming home for “big, old fashioned, family Christmas”.

“You’re hiding to you?” You heard a familiar voice ask, startling you. Yelping a bit, your eyes shot open to find your boyfriend, Dr. Spencer Reid lurking in your childhood bedroom by your bookcase. “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.”

You smiled, crossing the room and collapsing on your old twin sized mattress that you two were sharing for the weekend. The good doctor copied you, flopping down beside you as you sighed, “Yep. My grandmother is convinced that I’m pregnant, and won’t stop giving me advice on a shotgun wedding.”

“W-wait... are..?” Spencer stuttered, leaning upon his elbow to gape at you. Chuckling, you shook your head no, watching his sigh of relief. You were certain you wanted to spend your life with him- but children weren’t on the schedule just yet.

“Why are you hiding?” You asked, lacing your fingers through his. He squeezed your hand.

“The Christmas sweater your great-aunt knitted was giving me a heat rash. And your uncle was asking me how much information the FBI had on him- and was asking me to delete it.” He admitted, smiling as he watched you laugh.

“And a very Merry Christmas from the (Y/L/N) family.” You joked, sitting up. “I’m sorry I dragged you out here for this.”

Spencer followed your movements, “No! I wanted to come. This is your family, this is you! Besides, I very excited for your Aunt’s banana pineapple surprise that seemed to be defying gravity.”

“We’re going to need a vacation from this vacation.” You complained, ignoring his joke about the disgusting casserole waiting downstairs, leaning in so your head tucked onto his shoulder. He chuckled, kissing the top of your head.

“Besides, tomorrow we fly out to see my mom. So we’ll have a little more alone time.” He promised, rubbing your back. You smiled, pulling back so Spencer could see the mischevious glint in your eyes before getting up and locking the door.

“Alone time sounds perfect right now.” You winked, crawling back onto the twin bed, it was so small that it didn’t take much effort to be on top of him. He was nodding, already a blushing mess as you leaned down to kiss him. Just as your lips brushed his, something beat against your window.

“You two better not be making grandkids in there! I’m too young to be a grandfather!”

In horror, you looked up to see your dad perched on a ladder, a string of Christmas lights in hand. Now your cheeks matched Spence’s (who looked like he wanted to wither away in embarrassment), as you stumbled off your boyfriend.

“Dad! I’m a grown woman! Besides what are you doing out there!” You hissed, Spencer quickly getting off your bed as well to fix his clothes, and slip the sweltering Christmas sweater on- effectively killing any mood that hadn’t already been killed by your father.

“Dave across the road put up those reindeer. I will not be outdone by a man who doesn’t even own a leaf blower.” He vowed, shimmying down the latter the angrily staple Christmas lights. You shook your head and threw another hopeless look at your boyfriend, who was already sweating in his knitted apparel. With a forced smile, you tried to be optimistic.

“Well, we haven’t set anything on fire yet, so this is still a success.”

Later that night, after the tree had been completely put out (it had been a rather unfortunate situation involving hairspray and a cigarette), at Christmas dinner, it was you who wanted to crawl into a hole and die.

Your father has just cut into a turkey that looked drier than the Sahara, your aunt was a bottle of wine in and scooping a generous helping of Banana Pineapple Surprise onto Spencer’s plate, your mother was quietly scolding you about the neckline of your shirt, and your uncles were complaining about the players that had kneeled at the Superbowl. You had a tight hold on Spencer’s hand under the table, hoping that he would be your lifeline to sanity as your cousin’s rambled in.

The group of teenagers smelled heavily of pot as they slumped into their chair, all chuckling about something. You decided to ignore this, as you felt you needed some sort of drink or drug to get through the night as well. When your great aunt blessed the food with a startling rendition of God Save the Queen, you thought that would be the worst of it.

You were wrong.

So much was happening at once. Your uncles had moved onto to “the gender crisis” and “the war on Christmas”. Your mother was complaining about you not spending Christmas day with them. The weed-ridden cousins were laughing at a video on one of their phones while your drunk aunt loudly announced the latest in her divorce lawsuit. It was when your grandmother asked Spencer about his virility that you decided to put an end to it.

“Alright, that’s enough!” You began loudly, drawing everyone’s attention, “Uncle Mike, Uncle Hank- stop talking politics until you actually start watching the news. Aunt Tanya, your husband was cheating on you- get a better lawyer. Mom, we already have plane tickets and we’re going to go see Spencer’s mother tomorrow, end of discussion. Grandma, I love you, but I’m not pregnant and don’t plan to be a long time.” You paused before pointing to the teenagers who were wide-eyed at your display (one of them was holding up a camera and you swore if you saw your mental breakdown on tik tok you’d kill one of them), “And you three! Are you serious? Could you not wait for the ACTUAL FBI AGENT to leave before you went out and rolled a blunt? For the love of God and Christmas, can we act like we’ve got some sense in this household? I’d rather my family not scare off my boyfriend.”

You paused to take a breath and a sip of the wine by your plate, “Hallelujah, Holy Shit!”

Already leaving your place at the table, you pinched the bridge of your nose, “Where’s the Tylenol?”

As you left the dining room you could hear their murmurs, and you already felt guilty for unloading all of that- but also fairly relieved. After a quick breather in your bathroom (and two Tylenol swallowed), you decided it was time to rejoin your family. Knowing them, they’ll probably act like nothing even happened. You thought as you shook your head, Poor Spence, I left him down there to fend for himself.

To your surprise, Spencer was just outside the bathroom door hand held up like he was just about to knock and your glass of wine in the other, “Hey, sweetheart, you ok?”

You suppressed a laugh, he only called you pet names when he thought you were really upset. You leaned up and kissed his cheek, “I’m fine. Really. It’s not Christmas if at least one family member has a come apart at the table.”

He sighed in relief, “It was pretty awkward for a second. Then your cousins all gave me ridiculous excuses about the pot smell. And then it was back to normal.”

“Sounds about right, but we still haven’t had to call an emergency service yet, so I’m still counting it as a win. My crazy family hasn’t scared you off yet, has it?” You asked, wrapping your arms around his waist after gratefully taking the red wine out of his hand. Feeling his head shake as his arms wrapped around you, you listened to his words as they vibrated his chest.

“I spent Christmas with Derek and his family one year, and in the same year spent New Years with Garcia. Your family doesn’t even top my list.” Spencer assured you, “Also did you know that emergency calls spike by 47% in the period between December 23 and Jan 2- within that 47%, 1/2 are alcohol-related, 1/4 are house fires caused by holiday decorations, and 1/4 are domestic disputes between family members.”

You laughed aloud that time, it’s not a Spencer Reid Christmas without some random inane fact. You thought as you looked up to him. “Maybe we won’t be in that 47% this ye-”

You were interrupted by a sharp scream, a lot of yelling, and the easily identified voice of your aunt screaming, “Quick, someone call 911!”

“And nevermind.” You sighed, already moving to run downstairs, but pausing at the doorway, “Hey, Spence...”

He was right behind you, staring at you quizzically as the noise of chaos floated up from downstairs. Your family was hectic, but you wouldn’t have it any other way- and Spencer was in the middle of it all, taking it in stride.

“Merry Christmas, I love you.”

__________________

This is bad but honestly, this is how 90% of my holiday goes. I wish Spencer was around to witness the chaos.

#spencer reid x reader #Spencer reid imagine #criminal minds x reader

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