#and. it tried to incorporate something that needs much more delicate handling | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

fearfully-fiction · 3 years

Text

St. Albans pt.1- Dakota Laden x Reader

word count:2603

warnings: very slight angst, fluff I think that is it for now! if not let me know! i do not own any of the content from the episode, all i own are the parts of story i have incorporated.

summary: based on season 1 episode 4! Reader doesn’t like the fact that they are going back to place that has affected them so badly.

part2! part3! part4!

(pic not mine!)

You had just finished the packet read for St. Albans and you had a heavy feeling on your chest. Worry swam through you at the thought of them going back to that place. Everything that had happened there that you read made your stomach turn, and knowing the history they had with the location made you all the more worried. Chelsea had to leave the building after being charged in the old bowling alley. They didn’t make it through the night last time, and it made you unsettled that the place may remember them. It may remember Dakota.

Everyone else piled back into the RV but you fell behind a bit. Dakota turned around to see you standing there with eyebrows furrowed and lost in thought.

“Babe?” You heard him call, and it broke you out of your trance-like state. “Huh?” you questioned as your eyes met his quickly. “We’re getting ready to leave, are you alright?” he asked before closing the door and walking towards you. You met him halfway and wrapped your arms around him resting your head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around you as well and kissed your head. “I don’t like you going back there Dakota.” your voice was slightly muffled against his jacket. He squeezed you a bit tighter. “It’ll be ok (y/n), I’ll be ok.” he tried to reassure you. You sighed before nodding, not wanting to keep the rest of the team waiting. “Ok, Kota. Let’s go.” you pulled away from him and turned to walk away. He reached out and grabbed your wrist bringing you back to him. You let out a little yelp at the sudden movement and you’re now facing him once again. He looked at you seriously and put his hands on your waist. “Hey, do you trust me?” he asked. You looked at him with doe-eyes, “of course I do.” you said and placed your hands on his biceps gently running your hands up and down them in a soothing motion. “Then trust me when I say everything will be ok. I promise,” he said and rested his forehead against yours.

You pressed a kiss to his lips and pulled away. “I trust you, Dakota,” you affirmed. He kissed your lips one more time before taking your hand and leading you towards the RV. He opened the door and both of you walked in and settled down. Everyone was just relaxing or on their phones not really paying attention to your entrance.

Dakota sat with his back to the wall at the table and you sat between his legs leaning your back against his chest. He wrapped his arms around you and kissed your head. You rested your head on his shoulder and looked up at him pressing a kiss to his jaw and nestling your face in his neck. He held you a bit tighter and sighed. He had his worries too but he knew he had to do it, to overcome his fear and beat the place that made them quit.

You lied next to Dakota that night unable to sleep comfortably knowing your friends could be in more danger than usual with this location. The thought that lingered in the back of your mind was what Dakota had said earlier that day. You had been speaking about the basement and he had mentioned that it was demonic. It made your heart stop beating for a few seconds at the thought of maybe sleeping alone in that part of the building.

Now that you knew that he, Chelsea, and tanner had been there before, you felt incredibly sick at the thought of them returning. You knew for a fact that Chelsea was just as upset as you were. You were upset with Dakota for choosing that location, but at the same time, worried for his safety.

You ended up lying on your side, facing your sleeping boyfriend. You let out a quiet sigh and reached out to gently trail his features with your fingertips. You began to get lost in how peaceful he looked and before you knew it his eyes fluttered open. Your fingers traced his lips softly and he grasped your hand to press a kiss to your fingertips. You let your hand slip from his and onto his chest.

“What’re you doing awake?” he questioned groggily. You let a small smile grace your lips at the sound of his sleepy voice. “Can’t sleep,” you answered truthfully, and gave a small shrug. Even through the dark, he could see the worry in your eyes. He reached his hand up and placed it on your cheek letting his thumb sweep across your cheekbone. “Still worried huh?” he said, even though he knew the answer was yes.

“No, I’m just not tired, that’s all.” you tried to not let it show even though you knew he could see through you.

His eyes softened. “C’mon babe, I can feel the anxiety radiating off of you.”

He moved his hand from your face and down your arm giving it a gentle squeeze. You sighed and buried your face in his shoulder. He kissed your head and wrapped his arm around you pulling you closer to him. “I didn’t want any of you hurt Kota. I really don’t like this location. I trust you, but I don’t trust anything in that building. Not even for a second.” you admitted to him. You swore you felt a sense of annoyance from your boyfriend.

“I know I said that before, but it’s true and I’m only saying it because I love you, I love all of you and want you to be safe. I would risk my safety for yours any day. I would spend a month alone in that building if it meant you wouldn’t have to. You hovered over him on your elbow so you could see his face, he sighed heavily.

“You know I’d do the same for you. But (y/n), seriously I said we’d be fine, so please just stop pestering me and go to sleep. just stop your worrying and leave me alone about it.” he huffed. You laid back down on the bed and turned to face the wall. You had no intent to pester or annoy your boyfriend. All you wanted to do was let him know that you worry about him and love him. But it seemed like he didn’t want to hear it anymore, so that’s exactly what you would give him. You would keep your mouth shut.

The next morning arrived and you kept quiet through all the interviews, didn’t let out a peep of worry. When asked if you were worried about that night, you shrugged your shoulders. “No, you can handle yourselves.”

Dakota sat beside you and slung his arm over the back of the seat. He expected you to lean into him like usual but you stayed exactly where you were. He expected you to reach over your shoulder and interlock your fingers but still, you didn’t move from your position. Your hands sat on the table next to your camera as you mindlessly fiddled with it. Chelsea looked at you with slight confusion in her eyes, noticing that you weren’t as warm and affectionate as you would normally be. You were closed off, not expressing your feelings about the location or shooting love-sick glances at her brother.

“Well damn, I was not expecting that answer from you (y/n/n/),” Alex spoke up. “I trust you guys to take this on. We’ll be fine,” you stated, though the worry still crept up into your mind. You didn’t want to pester any of them with your worry and so you decided not to show anything at all.

The cameras were shut off, and you let out a small sigh, checking your phone for a few seconds. Dakota leaned in to place a kiss on your cheek and you couldn’t help but let it happen not wanting to raise too much suspicion on your feelings. When he pulled back you spoke up. “I think I’m gonna try and get some more rest before tonight. I’ll see you guys a bit later.”

They all looked at you and nodded, “Yeah, ok hun try and get some rest.” Chels acknowledged you. “Do you want me to come with you? I know you always sleep better with me there.” Dakota asked sweetly. You looked at him and shook your head before getting up from your seat and heading for the back of the RV. They all looked as you walked away with confusion scrawled across their faces. You and Dakota usually stayed together, they all knew you slept better with him next to you and so they were all a bit freaked out.

“Man, is she ok?” Tanner asked with his brows furrowed.

“Maybe she just needs some space…” Dakota responded to his friend’s concern. Chelsea looked towards the back and decided she was going to go check up on you.

“Hey guys, I’m just gonna go check on her I’ll be right back.” they all nodded in agreement before she followed your path.

You laid on the bed and closed your eyes, you tried not to feel bad about what Dakota said last night. You just couldn’t help it, it hurt you, you never meant to bother him you were just voicing your concerns not wanting anything bad to happen to the people you loved. Not wanting anything to happen to him.

Him telling you to just leave him alone made you feel horrible. You didn’t know you were such a bother to him, so today you tried not to be.

You felt the familiar stinging behind your eyelids and a small lump form in the back of your throat. You clutched the blanket beneath you tightly trying to calm yourself down. You hadn’t even noticed that someone was standing next to the bed. You were trying to take deep but quiet breaths to bring you back. Chelsea carefully sat down next to you and delicately placed a hand on your shaking shoulder. You jumped at the feeling and your eyes snapped open to look at who was next to you.

You quickly sit up and look away rubbing the tears out of your eyes as best as you could. You cleared your throat and turned to face her.

“Hey Chels, did you need something?” you asked. “I need to know what’s wrong,” she answered softly. You looked at her and sighed. “I’m just really tired, I didn’t sleep well last night. I’m sorry for being so weird out there, I’m just exhausted and need a break that’s all.” you lied beautifully through your teeth. She looked at you with a raised brow, disbelief floated in her eyes but she decided not to push it. She leaned over and gave you a hug before getting up. “I’m here for you ok. Dakota is too, maybe you should let him know,” she advised. You looked at her, you knew she saw through you. “Ok…” you breathed out heavily. She nodded and let you know she would send him back. You sat there with fear in you, not knowing what to say. Not wanting to lie, but not wanting to admit that he hurt your feelings.

You heard his familiar footsteps and shut your eyes tightly trying to get a grip before he saw you. “You’re fine. It’s ok, just tell him. You need to fix this, but you don’t want to annoy him any further.” you spoke in your mind.

You felt the bed dip and a hand run over your hair, you looked up to meet your boyfriend’s concerned eyes. “Babe, what’s wrong? Chelsea said you wanted to talk to me. Did I do something wrong?” he asked with a timid voice.

You sighed and screwed your eyes shut again.

“I’m just tired is all. I didn’t sleep too well last night, guess I’m just exhausted.” you let the words tumble from your mouth.

“Why didn’t you sleep well, babe?” he asked and pulled himself closer to you. “I don’t know, I just couldn’t seem to calm my mind enough…” you trailed off. “I could’ve helped you, you know I’m always here to help you,” he reassured you.

He seemed absolutely oblivious to what had happened last night, and it made you upset.

“I didn’t want to bother you more than I already had. I wanted to leave you alone so you could get some rest,” you told him, hoping he would catch on and you wouldn’t have to say it.

It was then that you saw a flash of recognition about the night before. He squeezed his eyes shut and let out a big sigh. “(y/n), I’m sorry. I know you get worried I shouldn’t have acted the way I did. I know you were just letting me know that you loved me, and I’m sorry for ever letting you think you bothered me. I was just tired and irritable thinking about tonight. I didn’t want to think of it anymore and I hurt your feelings I’m so sorry babe.” he apologized. You could hear his sincerity, and understood where he was coming from you had been there too. “I know I talk about it a lot, and it must get annoying sometimes so I’m sorry too,” you spoke up. He looked at you with regret-filled eyes. You sat up on your knees and situated yourself on his lap to wrap your arms around him. He pulled you close, and kissed your neck where his head rested.

“I’m sorry for acting like a bitch today. I shouldn’t have done that it was stupid of me.” you apologized for your earlier actions. “It’s ok (y/n), just remember I would never mean to hurt you, and if I do talk to me about it.” he gave you a sweet reminder. You nodded against his shoulder and relaxed in his hold.

“I love you, Dakota.” you expressed before pulling back and placing a kiss on his cheek. He gave you a silly grin. “I love you too.”

He flips you over so you’re on your back, pinned beneath him and the bed. You let out a breathy laugh and smiled up at him. His hair already falling from its original slicked back place. Lying gently above his brow, making him look less put together and more playful in a way. It always gave you butterflies.

“You’re too handsome for your own good Laden.” you gave him a goofy grin. He chuckled before leaning down to press his lips to yours. “And you’re too beautiful to be mine.” you blushed and playfully smacked his shoulder trying to hide your face in your hands. He sat up a bit to pull your hands away from your warm face. “Don’t hide from me!” he let out a laugh. “You’re too beautiful to hide,” he spoke quietly before leaning back down to press his lips against yours. You stayed that way for a while before the need for air became more and more obvious. He pulled back and smiled at the sight of your closed eyes and content smile.

“Now why don’t we get some rest before tonight. We’ll need it,” he suggested softly.

“I’d like that,” you replied as you switched positions so he was lying on his back with your head on his chest.

He kissed your hair while running his hand up and down your arm. His steady breathing and rhythmic heartbeat let you close your eyes and drift off.

Taglist:

@jaziona92 @beautybyfire

@thefandomthings

#dakota laden #Destination Fear #dakota laden imagine #dakota laden x reader #gac dakota #dakota laden one shot #dakota laden fic #dakota laden fanfic #dakota laden fluff #dakota laden angst #destination fear imagine #destination fear x reader #destination fear trvl channel #destination fear x you #chelsea laden #alex schroeder #Tanner Wiseman

65 notes · View notes

nengojo · 3 years

Note

Could we please get some relationship headcanons for Ann, Makoto, Futaba and Haru?

i kinda went overboard and wrote more than I expected... but i am a sap for relationship hcs!! also saw that 4/23 is makoto’s bday, which is very cool and convenient for me hehe ,, hope you like this <33

word count: 1.549 warnings: SLIGHT STORY SPOILER IN HARU'S PART tags/genre: fluff, just all of it

requests are open!

Takamaki Ann

She loves to pamper you. Be it buying you stuff, treating you her favorite desserts, or staying over at your place and dressing you up with cute outfits. You try to do the same for her and she enjoys it as well.

A LOT of PDA, though it’s not over the top. She’d pepper kisses all over your face whenever she’s excited. Or always bury her face in your neck whenever she needs to be closer to you.

Even though Ann hasn’t dated anyone before you, she definitely learned and read up on how to be the best girlfriend. Probably read those relationships magazines (she denies it though)

Ann prefers simpler dates at the park or karaoke, but she wouldn’t mind making reservations for fancier restaurants if there’s an occasion. Would definitely choose buffets over the 5-star restaurant though.

Speaking of occasions, she’s the type to have celebrations for every little thing you guys do together as a couple. It can range from monthsaries, your first beach date, or your first night together. Ann keeps trinkets with her from every date you two go on.

Ann always has you on her mind. If she sees a new cheesecake shop, she buys it thinking that you would enjoy sharing it with her. When she saw cute phone charms, she bought a pair so you and her would have a “couple-y” item.

Would be into double dates, she doesn’t say it, but it definitely comes from her competitive side of showing off. Ann wants everyone to know she’s dating the best person ever. 💕

Introduces you to her parents through Skype. Ann says she couldn’t wait till her parents come back from their trips, so you could properly meet them. She quells your nervousness by saying that they already approved of you.

Petnames are minimal, but it’s very sweet when she does use them with you. You think it’s because she enjoys the flustered expression on your face when she calls you “baby” or “sweetie”.

Ann’s just a proud girlfriend! Be ready to be treated like the royalty you are, as you made her feel her worth once more.

Niijima Makoto

Similar to Ann, she values your relationship and you greatly. Makoto would be careful as possible around you. Always tending to your needs, mindful of what she says and does around you. There’s constant communication between you and her.

Probably would overheat out of embarrassment if she tries to cling onto you when in public, so hand-holding and touching knees while sitting together is enough for her.

Makoto DEFINITELY researched every possible tip and ‘guide’ on how to be the perfect girlfriend. You insist that she doesn’t need to incorporate all those into your relationship, saying that she’s perfect as the way she is.

With all that studying though, she actually sets up the best dates for you two. She always invites you to a newly-opened restaurant or gets the best seats whenever there’s a film showing nearby.

That said, she still prefers dates in secluded areas, places similar to Leblanc. She has this favorite nature trail that she found out about in dating forums and would take you there on nightly walks, talking about everything and nothing.

Makoto doesn’t announce your relationship to others, thinking that it’s better if people found out naturally. She likes the look on people’s faces when she admits to having a significant other while she acts all innocent and pure about it.

Her sister would openly confront her about your relationship, but Sae is lowkey super supportive of you and her. She says it’s good that someone is at Makoto’s side when she isn’t there.

She acts composed around others, but you’re the only one she lets see her vulnerable side. You tell her it’s adorable that you can easily tease her. (please don’t tease her too much or she’ll implode from being too flustered)

Makoto would think she’s too mature for petnames, but you don’t hold it against her, especially when she says your name with so much love in her voice every time.

Makoto is an observant girlfriend! She says it’s because she wants you to know that she genuinely cares and that she’s grateful to be yours.

Sakura Futaba

Futaba’s relationship with you feels natural from the start, despite her insistence that she would suck being a girlfriend. You reassure her at the start that she would do great with little to no effort, and she does :)

Wouldn’t even think twice about PDA, She feels safe and secure when she’s closer to you, so the more contact, the better. If she could, Futaba would shamelessly cling onto your back like a koala. (and you’d let her)

She says that experience is the best teacher, so she went into your relationship completely blind. The whole thing had its setbacks; she tried to kiss you out of nowhere one time, since “that’s what couples do, right?” You told her that there was no rush, and she was grateful for that.

She’s a fast learner though, and it manifests in her innocent but sincere gestures. When she thinks that you’re sad, she tells you jokes or shows you a meme she liked on her phone. Futaba thinks that whatever makes her happy, might cheer you up too.

Absolutely loves talking about her interests to you, because she knows that you would never judge her or question what she likes. You enjoy being on the listening side, since the way Futaba lights up is enough for you.

Alternatively, she’s a very active listener whenever you would talk about your day or share something about your interests. Futaba encourages you to tell her more about it, and on her own time, she learns about your said interests so she can participate in the conversations better.

In terms of interests, she convinced you to play video games with her (if you don’t already play) and it’s already a date for the two of you. Dates always involve either trips to Akihabara, arcade hopping, or the park when she wants quiet times with you.

Sojiro enjoys seeing you two interact whenever you guys stop by at Leblanc. When Futaba was in the restroom, he whispered to you saying that he hasn’t seen Futaba this energetic ever since she was a kid. That meant a lot to you.

She started calling you exaggerated names like “my lovely sweetheart babycakes” or “little fluffball whiskers”. Other than that, her favorite petname for you was “bub”, since she said the funny word fit you well. You love hearing it from her too.

Futaba is a heartfelt girlfriend! Your bond with each other has always been close, and now you get the chance to be closer.

Okumura Haru

Haru would be reserved from openly showing affection at the start, but you give her all the time and space she needs. She appreciates it greatly and reciprocates the effort in kind.

PDA is a no-no, although she does unknowingly flirt with you in the sweetest way. She has a way with words that makes the simplest compliment seem like the highest praise, and it’s enough to make you feel loved.

With her training for marriage, she obviously knows the basic aspects of a relationship. Taking care of you comes naturally to her, yet you were there to show her that she can receive the same amount of love that she readily gives to you.

You teased her about how she acts more like a mother to you, and she misunderstood and profusely apologized (poor sweetheart). Haru explains that she loves seeing you thrive and be happy, which in turn makes her happy.

It started as an innocent suggestion, but Haru wanted to write love letters to you from time to time. In most instances she would pass it onto you after a date, saying that you should read it when you get home. Other times she would quietly slip it in your bag as a surprise for you to find.

You’ve come to appreciate the craft that Haru puts into the letters. She always chooses the delicate papers, sometimes scented. And other letters had pressed flowers in the envelope. The most precious thing in the letter though was her confessions and affirmations.

Haru lets you choose your date locations since she wants to be more accustomed to city life. You once brought her to a conveyor belt sushi place, and you couldn’t handle the joy in your eyes when you saw her be fascinated about it. “It just moves in little trains! It’s so innovative and cute,” she says.

When you were closer with her, she opened up more about her father to you, even inviting you to visit the shrine dedicated to him in the mansion. That was the first time you saw her cry, and you promised yourself to do your best so you never have to see her like that again.

Romantic petnames suit her well, but she only uses them when you two are alone. Hearing Haru call you “my lily” or “my light” always caught you off-guard no matter how many times you have heard it.

Haru is a compassionate girlfriend! She treats you as delicately as she acts and you know that you’re in good hands with her, as she is with your own.

#persona 5 x reader #persona 5 imagines #ann takamaki #ann takamaki x reader #makoto niijima #makoto niijima x reader #futaba sakura #futaba sakura x reader #haru okumura #haru okumura x reader #persona 5 x you #phantom thieves x reader #nenshcs #request #HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAKOTO!! ur the best girl in my heart

100 notes · View notes

saphirered · 3 years

Note

HI, Its me again! I was wondering if you could kinda do a another part of the Eldritch Knight fic. Something like some more scenarios of essek fanboying over reader? ( Watching reader save a bunch of civilians by catching/lifting up a HUGE boulder that was about to crush the civilians, out smarting a evil wizard, helping essek with a spell he couldn't get right?) Sorry if this is long! Do whatever you want with this and I hope you have an amazing day ( pls drink some water!)

Hya! I hope you like this one and sorry it took so long (Hope the word count makes up for that part 😝). I tried to incorporate as many of these aspects as I could and keep it consistent so I hope it worked and you like the outcome. Thanks and have an amazing day yourself and stay hydrated! 😘

“So what is it about this spell that’s so difficult? You’ve never had any trouble transcribing spells in the past.” You walk beside Essek as you go down the street, or float in his case.

It’s a lovely evening in Asarius, the darkness of night a necessity to those sensitive to sunlight. The City of Beasts leaves much to be desired, especially compared to Rosohna to which it doesn’t even hold a candle but it’s a nice evening no less and you get to spend more time with your favourite Shadowhand wizard so you’re not complaining.

“I don’t have any trouble transcribing spells. If I did, I’d seriously question your faith in me and my credibility as a praised magic user prodigy.” You smile at the last part. Whereas to anyone else those words may have pinged as arrogance and an ego beyond a healthy standard, you clearly hear a slight gulp and sense of defensiveness to his wording, a sense of doubt.

“Essek, if anything your capabilities have spoken for themselves. As a humble student of Dunamis with a limited understanding of the beauty of the craft even I can say so. I don’t question your skills.” From the corner of your eye you can almost see him let out a breath of relieve as you continue.

“However, I must question your sanity slightly for willingly coming to Asarius. What is it you so desperately need you couldn’t get in Rosohna and don’t get me wrong, I like spending time with you, but why am I here?” A smile creeps onto his face but quickly turns neutral at the realisation you’re in a public space with watching eyes all around. You understand.

“I’m in the process of creating a new spell of my own device. I’ve run out of materials and bought up the last of the stock in Rosohna, which I’ve also already gone through. Now why I asked you to come along, I cannot carry everything on my own and do not trust the careless hands of guards and servants to properly handle such delicate materials with proper consideration and gentleness.”

“Oh, so you need me to look pretty and flex so you can ogle and admire me again? You should have just asked. I’d happily let you watch another sparring session or training. The company would be much more selective and you wouldn’t need to fight to keep that expression on your face like your life depended on it.” You try to whisper in all seriousness but can’t help some giggles cracking your voice. Essek’s eyes go wide for a second and the faintest blush creeps onto his cheeks, something he cannot hide. He quickly glances to the left and right to make sure no one’s noticed. Luckily no one did.

“Perhaps you could save such proclamations in more private company… for my sake…” The last part he speaks under his breath but you can still just barely hear the words.

You finally find the shop. Essek immediately approaches the person behind the counter as you look around. There are some magical items placed on what once may have been plush velvet pillows but the velvet is crushed in places. The glass displays show finger prints and dust and grime at the corners, not properly cleaned for a long time. The wooden floor is sticky in some places and this is one of those moments where you wish you could float like Essek. You browse while he finishes up.

While you browse and get to one of the larger displays another customer at the display next to, still quite some space away from you suddenly moves away to an entirely different display case on the other side of the room. Weird. You glance over but don’t think anything serious of it but keep an eye out regardless.

Essek signals for you he’s done and on the counter you see several huge stacks of paper and an the equivalent of a bucket worth of ink in several bottles. Mentally figuring out how you’re going to carry this much, not because of the weight but solely the awkward size and shape of the stacks of paper you undo your cloak and begin to stack up the paper in one large stack onto the centre of your cloak and one smaller stack, compared to the bigger one that is, that you put to the side. The shopkeeper offers you some twine rope to keep the pages secure in their stack. and you begin folding your cloak around the bigger stack so it’s fully covered. You take the corners and tie them securely in a knot around your waist while using the closure ties to cross them over your chest and around your back where they tie. A makeshift backpack but secure and safe in a way the paper won’t get damaged. You grab the remaining stack from the counter and carry it in your arms.

“You carry the ink. Let’s not risk it spilling over the paper or this will all have been for nothing.” Essek picks up the ink and you let him take the lead out of the shop holding the door open with a quick mage hand. Outside you walk side by side once more.

You see Essek side glance you several times but you’re unsure whether it’s because he’s making sure you’re not falling behind, you’re doing alright, if the paper isn’t getting damaged or simply watch the defined flexing muscles of your arms and shoulders as you walk, unbothered by the weight of what could by far exceed a person’s weight in materials.

You’re nearing the Aurora Hold, your way back to Rosohna when you see something from the corner of your eye; the same person you saw in the shop… they’re sticking to the shadows moving from building to building and blending into the crowd when possible to avoid detection, their eyes trained on you or more like Essek. Essek seems to have caught on to the person trailing you too.

“We’re being followed.” Essek states under his breath so only you can hear.

“That we are. Same person as from the shop. What’s the plan?” You say back, the both of you acting none the wiser to your stalker.

“Get to the Hold. Aurora Watch will be more present the closer we get. They’re less likely to try anything in the open.” He floats along eyes trained on your destination. Though, he doesn’t sound too sure about it stalling whatever your follower is planning.

You glance around briefly having lost track of them but find them picking up pace towards you. Deciding not to wait and see what’s coming next you move the heavy stack of paper over balancing it on your lower arm, between your hand and body while grabbing Essek’s arm with your now free one, you pick up pace and run pulling him along with you as you push people aside and weave through them for the quickest path to the Aurora Hold.

“Let’s hope your right.” You tell Essek as the person follows behind you picking up pace as well. By passing and pushing through certain people you manage to make it more difficult for them to follow and hope to draw enough attention from the Aurora Watch or really anyone bothered enough to pick a fight so the stalker will lose interest or opportunity. Casting anything major right here is a big no go with the amount people in the street and you’re still too far away for anything targeted specifically towards them. Luckily for you, they’re in the same boat when it comes to targeting the two of you yet you’re hoping they’re not stupid enough to cause severe collateral damage.

You’re approaching the square to the Aurora Hold and see more guards. You shout for one of them to stop as they pass by you and hand them the stack of paper in your one arm, the guard buckles under the weight as you untie the fastenings of your cloak and then the one around your waist setting it down besides them. The Aurora Hold is still aways away on the other side of the square and with how busy it is you’d never make it there without them catching up.

“What are you doing?” Essek asks you as he shushes the guard. The guard recognises Essek’s station and immediately obeys his command.

“We’re not going to make it in time. Not without them getting to us first. Confrontation it is.” You take out your sword and toss the sheath to the side. Essek nods and tells the guard to get call reinforcements to subtly clear the square as much as possible. Luckily conflicts and fights in the open in Asarius are about as common as the rain falling from the sky so no one will bother to get in the middle of this.

You take place a few steps in front of Essek to the side and wait. Both of you keep an eye on your chaser watching them draw closer as you stay put. Once within range Essek attempts to cast hold person on them but it fails.

You can see their eyes narrow as they continue to approach determined. They take out some components and begin casting a spell before you can do anything a bright streak fires from their finger. You manage to dodge into a dive roll avoiding most of the impact but others around you weren’t so lucky. Essek barely managed to get out of the brunt of it too. The buildings and watchtower to your side have begun to catch fire. The people who managed to get out of the explosion quickly begin dragging people out of the way to safety clearing the way between you and the person.

“Worry about your paper. I got this.” You look at Essek over your shoulder who manages to quench the flames of your cloak protecting the precious paper. You twirl your sword twice to feel the familiar balance and pull of gravity you’ve grown accustomed to.

Approaching the caster after you and Essek you keep a safe distance between you and them. At least, as safe as it can be when someone is clearly capable of some ranged attacks.

“I’ve nothing against you. Get out of my way so I can finish my job and I might let you live.” You hear the faintest hint of a Zemnian accent. Volstrucker. Great. Now you’re dealing with an assassin.

“Sorry. Not gonna happen. Go back to wherever you came from and tell your superiors to stay away and I’ll let you live. If you don’t, I’ll make sure your remains will be returned to your next of kin for a proper burial instead of being fed to the moorbounders.” They step closers to you and you step back keeping the same amount of distance between you.

“How very kind of you. I think I’ll pass.” They sneer. You take that as your cue and run close sword swinging. They manage to deflect the first blow with a shield spell but the second one strikes true and sends them off their feet. They get up quickly and send a firebolt your way but you’re quick enough to avoid that one. You swing again and hit their side, coming around with a second hit you step in close and use your momentum to shift to the side and swipe at their legs sending them to the ground once more.

A blade apparates in their hand, getting up they slash at you. You try to block the first blow but it still hits cutting across your shoulder. The second hit comes for the side of your leg. You have no way of deflecting this one so you take it and use the opportunity to elbow them in the face, sweeping their feet from under them. They look up to you blood beginning to stream out of their nose.

“Why don’t you just help me? You seem friendly enough. I could use an ally right now.” They speak in a sweet voice, trying to cast some kind of charm on you and you feel it take in your brain but fight it off. You’re not so easily charmed. You stab down through their abdomen and they cry out in pain. Removing your blade the Aurora Watch rushes over to the two of you and you take a step back. People fill back into the square to see what happened and you walk back over to Essek.

You let the Watch deal with the assassin as you inspect the paper covered by your cloak. The cloak is partially scorched but the paper survived.

“You know, when you said sometimes people send assassins after you and they occasionally manage to make it past defences I thought you were joking.” Essek gives you a deadpanned expression.

“I wish I was. My apologies. I should have been more careful and many thanks for valiantly protecting my life and my materials. I do not think I could have wished for a more capable and amazing protector.” You give him a wink.

The conversation is cut short by ruckus from the Aurora Watch and the assassin. The assassin is fighting back and manages to cast a spell aimed at Essek. You’re quick enough to cast the resilient sphere spell on Essek providing a shimmering protective barrier around him. A second attack from the assassin goes wide and strikes the burning watchtower.

The watchtower begins to fall overhead. Thinking quickly to keep yourself, the guards and the people having gathered around from being crushed by a flaming building you hold your sword horizontal above your head, take out your gold dust and throw it into the air onto the sword and speak the words. You let go of the sword and duck down yelling for everyone to do the same. As a reflex you use your arms to protect yourself from the impact but the impact never came.

You feel the scorching heat of the flames and looking up you see the burning watchtower stationary in the air balanced on your sword high above your head. Quickly rushing out from under. You see the assassin trying to get one final attempt the protective sphere around Essek gone. You grab a dagger from the belt of one of the nearby guards and toss it at the assassin. The dagger strikes true and the target drops.

Walking up to Essek you reach down to the fallen assassin, twist the blade and pull it out dropping it to the side.

“Told you to leave while you still could. No second chances.” You mutter as you look over Essek.

“Are you alright?” You ask Essek whose gaze is trained on you. He’s covered in soot and ash greys his usually pristine white hair but seems otherwise unharmed. He didn’t have time to react and retaliate the attempt made by the assassin.

“I seem to once again have you to thank for saving my life. You are absolutely magnificent. Your clever use of your resources is unrivalled. As is your care and willingness to protect those around you. You truly are an angel in disguise.” He composes himself brushing the gathered ash from his cloak as the guards and people work to heal the wounded and quench the fires. You pick up the wrapped stack of paper and look at Essek.

“Let’s go inside and get your paper secure and safe away from the scorching heat. I want my sword back once they’re done or the spell ends and they have another solution.” You begin leading the way to the Aurora Hold but stop until Essek catches up to you.

“And you can keep those compliments coming. I’ll consider them payment for saving your life twice? On this day alone? How many is that total now?” You give him a wink and blow him a kiss as you watch the all too familiar blush come back on his cheeks as his back straightens and you continue on your way side by side.

#critical role x reader #mighty nein x reader #essek thelyss x reader #critrole x reader #essek x reader

50 notes · View notes

gaitwae · 3 years

Text

The Dark Angel [|] Batman x OC

read on AO3!

Warnings: Possibility of being bad, it’s a sequel.

Length: 8k

Summary: Bruce Wayne and Charlene fluff, i don’t really know XD

Ring, ring, ring.

The sun hadn’t even peeked over the horizon when the telephone rang, violently and loudly. Internally, Bruce knew it wasn’t an emergency — it was someone trying to reach him before the day started. If it was an emergency, the caller wouldn’t have dialed the Blackberry. It wasn’t the red phone; the small cell was for business, not pleasure, so it wasn’t that either; he had a small rotary for the boys in case they were sick or held up at the university or high school (or in Damian’s case, soccer practice). The ringing phone was the Blackberry.

His thoughts were all over the place. In the beginning, his first thought was that he really needed to change the ringtone. It sounded like Christmas bells on Kryptonian steroids. The darn thing was just outside of Bruce Wayne’s reach for the first time in years; that thought alone was infuriating to him. The more he dwelled on someone calling the Blackberry…

Ring, ring, ring.

“Not today,” he swore, heaving a sigh and hoisting himself off of the bed. His Blackberry kept buzzing and playing its tone on the nightstand like an angry massage tool from Tartarus. He wiped his face, and just before the contraption could finish its next Ring, ring, ring, he answered the call. “Bruce Wayne.” His tone was gruff; he wanted to make sure the caller knew that the excuse better be good. The billionaire wasn’t in the mood to play games with the idiot on the other line.

“It’s Clark,” the voice on the opposite end answered. Bruce tensed. Clark had no reason to call him this early — had something happened with Charlene? Did their trip to Smallville get tracked?

“Clark —”

“Don’t worry; this isn’t life-threatening. You left something in that suit jacket you lent me,” his friend explained. “We should talk… Soon.”

The tension that built in Bruce left instantaneously. He had almost forgotten: Weeks ago, an envelope had been slipped into the inside pocket for Clark to find. He couldn’t risk saying something around Charlene, or anyone else who could have found her, when the risk was so high. He didn’t expect Kent to find it immediately, but he didn’t think it would take weeks to discover the note.

“I placed it in the jacket intentionally,” Bruce replied. He laid back down, closing his eyes. He would have to go downstairs soon. The boys would need to be woken up. Alfred would reprimand him about his sleep, telling him that a ‘sound body and mind cannot operate under such conditions,’ when he came downstairs. He could already see where the day was taking him. “I was banking on you finding it much earlier. Why did it take you so long?”

A pause.

“I don’t think she’s going to like this, Bruce.” He could hear shuffling over the mic, the crinkling of paper. “She really won’t like this. She just bought a house; this is quite a big commitment.”

“I’m not proposing, Clark; calm down.” Bruce rubbed a finger under his eye once or twice. He didn’t have the patience so soon in the day. He reached over to his bedside table and switched on the lamp. “She would despise that, not to mention how we haven’t talked about it, yet.”

“I didn’t even know you two were really together.” Clark’s tone reflected an edge — either protective, disgusted, or judgemental — that told Bruce exactly how much trust he had when it came to Charlene Park. “The last I heard about the two of you was your most recent trip to Metropolis.”

“When I met with Luthor,” Bruce guessed. He chewed his cheek; he didn’t mind talking about Char, but when it came to his relationship with her, he preferred not to be bothered — his affections didn’t need to be questioned left and right. Char was a grown woman. She chose Bruce; that should have been the end of it. “We’ve seen each other in Gotham since then. I’m surprised she hasn’t told you.”

“Yeah, with Luthor. Char said you had coffee and she babysat Damian,” he said. His voice was rising. For having impermeable skin, Bruce was having surprising luck getting underneath it. “And what do you mean ‘surprised she hasn’t told you’? What are you implying? That you’re sleeping together?”

“We’re taking it slow,” Bruce answered. “If we were sleeping together, I’d be the one to tell you. You’ll be glad to hear that we aren’t.” Clark scoffed over the phone; clearly, he didn’t believe that. “I just thought you’d like to know what I’m planning; Diana will need to be informed as well. This is important. Char’ll need all the help she can get.”

“You know, I never did take you for the type of guy to be with Charlene,” the other man continued. “You’re brooding and dark; she’s not like that at all. You’ve got some nerve—”

“Is this all you needed, Clark?” the billionaire deadpanned, cutting the Kryptonian off. He looked over at the bedside clock. It read 4:22 AM . Superman was far more worried than he was letting on if he was calling at the witching hour.

He didn’t need to be. Bruce would make sure that the woman was safe above anything else — he loved her too much to just put her in harm’s way.

“You know she’ll be fine,” Wayne reassured.

“Do you think this is safe for Charlene? This lifestyle?” the journalist whispered into the phone. “Lois couldn’t handle it; who knows if Char can?”

“She’s more involved than we ever anticipated,” Bruce said. He wet his lips. Lois left Clark? Unsurprising. “She’ll be excited to join. She has the potential; why waste it?”

“What will the boys think? They’ll think they’re getting a mom.”

He huffed a half-humored laugh. The boys didn’t know yet — no one knew. Clark was the first to be told. “They love Char. It shouldn’t be an issue to let them think that. Damian already told her she would be the only acceptable candidate for a stepmother. In the next decade, they might have one.”

“You can’t be serious. You’d marry Char? She’s going to join the League?”

“I’m plenty serious. She’s going to be part of the Justice League’s inside informants if she wants to. Whether you approve or not.” He didn’t answer the marriage question. Marrying Charlene would require more time. He wasn’t ready; she hadn’t hinted at anything more. She had only stayed at the manor twice — he felt that was enough of a leap for now.

He didn’t need to marry her out of the blue, did he?

“I don’t approve. She’s delicate. What if she thinks that your attempt at being personal is —?”

“Goodbye, Kal-El.” Without another word, Bruce hung up the phone. Clark had too many worries; too many things on his mind. He was so preoccupied with Charlene’s life that he had to ask about her relationship instead of the plan to incorporate her into the League. He needed to let go and learn to trust others’ judgement… But then again, some could say the same thing about the Batman.

Bruce sat up in bed. He would be lying if he said he didn’t miss Charlene or said he never thought about fully committing. It had been three years since the gala; things were going well between them. If he was just a billionaire, he might have tried harder, pressed for marriage instead of bringing it up every now and then.

But he wasn’t just a billionaire.

Bruce wiped his face again and looked out his bay window. He could see the area of town where he first saw her… where the Batman thought Charlene Park would jump to her death. He hadn’t expected to even meet her after that. He hadn’t expected a wonderful woman who understood him. Meeting her seemed so long ago now. It seemed against reality to think he hadn’t known her at one point in time.

He could make a few calls before seeing his family, maybe create a funding account for Char when she was ready to join the League; he knew she wouldn’t say no if he explained himself the right way. She was warming up to the idea of helping him with all aspects of life — he was warming up to the idea of domesticity. At the same time, making the calls would be presumptuous. Who knew if Charlene wanted that, yet? He didn’t want to do anything without talking to her.

Char may have understood the Batman, but he certainly couldn’t predict her. The identity guessing and the kiss and the entire history of their relationship proved that fact over and over and over like a natural law. Everyone thought they were gravity: dangerous; inevitable; fitted perfectly to the human body like Earth’s atmosphere.

He thought they were just a coincidence that turned into a gift. Charlene was an angel; he was her knight in shining armor.

“Time to start the day,” Bruce mumbled. He got up from his bed. He looked out the bay window once again. He sighed deeply.

Gotham City.

Would this place really be safe as Charlene’s future home?

He looked away, resting his head against his pillow and trying to sleep again. The attempt wasn’t very fruitful — eventually, he got up and dressed for the day. He tinkered with the gadgets he had created for Char, tweaking it and wondering whether or not to pick up the phone and call her. Every day was another failed attempt to be the hero she needed.

“Ah! Good morning, Master Bruce,” Alfred Pennyworth greeted the dark knight as he descended from the stairway. The old man handed him a glass of water and the stack of letters that had been delivered overnight. “I take it you had a restful night?”

“Barely,” he sighed, squeezing his old friend’s shoulder in appreciation. Bruce drank from the glass, feeling the coolness spread downward. It was calming, but not the calm he needed. “I got a call from Clark Kent at about four in the morning. How are the boys? Are they all up? I had something I wanted to talk to them about.”

“Damian is awake; Dick has left for school; Tim is still sleeping; Jason never slept, I’m afraid.” Alfred cocked his head, eyebrows lifting as he studied his former ward. He stuck his hands in his pockets and took a careful breath, asking in a wary voice, “Is everything alright, Master Bruce? Was Mr. Kent’s call that important, sir?”

“Yes and no,” Bruce answered. He didn’t clarify; he couldn’t think of an answer for each question. He scratched his neck, taking Alfred with him as he walked down the hall. Each picture on the walls was of the Wayne family, and as he got closer to the end of the hall, each of the boys. Dick with his acceptance letter to Rutgers University; Damian’s birthday; Jason against a tree; Tim playing guitar. Countless family pictures. There was a spot on the wall waiting for Char, he realized. “We’ll just have to talk about it when Dick comes home. I’ll sit the other boys down and tell them not to leave.”

“Sir?” Alfred asked, now flabbergasted. “Are we in trouble?”

“No,” he said. He tried for a smile. Alfred didn’t relax, so Bruce stopped. “It’s just about Charlene.”

The butler nodded deeply. He leaned in and looked about the room to make sure no one was spying on them. The corridor was empty. He held his breath to listen, but the only sounds were their shoes clicking on the tile. “Sir, is Charlene… leaving us?” Alfred whispered. “I thought you and she were getting along rather nicely.”

Bruce didn’t react. “I’ll talk about it later tonight, Alfred. I’ll need to see Char when she comes back from Kansas — if she’s leaving, we’ll find out after I visit her.” He clapped Alfred’s shoulder. “But if she isn’t, we might have to reclean the guest room.”

“The guest room, sir?” Pennyworth grinned.

Bruce found himself surprised at that. Another joke, obviously, but he just hadn’t thought about that sort of arrangement with any seriousness. “Yes — she’s not going to be in my room, Alfred.”

“A woman who’s not so worldly, eh?” the butler chuckled.

Bruce smirked. “No, it would seem not.”

°°°

Charlene would have to say that her morning wasn’t going perfectly. Going down to see Johnathan and Martha was one of the best parts of the year. It was the best part of the upcoming summer season! But this morning, this last week, she had noticed that Clark was acting insane. Her instincts told her to ask, to say something, but she got swept away with her pseudo-parents fluttering about her and asking how life was in the big city.

“You look so grown up, now!” Martha cooed. She set her hands on Char’s shoulders and turned her about, checking her face over. Charlene had stayed with Martha and Johnathan for two years when she was a teenager. They were the closest she had to family. Every summer, she returned to stay with them for two weeks — whether or not Clark was there. Martha, now satisfied with how Charlene’s physique and health was, found her gaze set on the newscaster’s newest gift from Bruce: A small locket pendant graced with a rose-shaped diamond, tied around her neck by a silver chain. “I love this new piece of jewellery you’re wearing, sweetheart. What is it?”

“Has Clark finally made a move?” Johnathan asked. He took a sip from his coffee cup, craning his neck to see the necklace. He turned his head sideways at it, then hummed. “It’s gorgeous, honey. Whose gift was that? Was that from my boy?” He laughed, looking over at Kal-El. “Did you buy that for Char, son?”

“Er, no.” Char laughed nervously, holding the locket in her hand to hide it. “He isn’t going to make a move. He didn’t buy it. I’m seeing someone else; it’s going pretty well. He’s a businessman, single father.”

“Who are you seeing?” Martha gasped. She pushed a mug of coffee into Charlene’s hands, shuffling about the kitchen to try and find some food for everyone. This conversation was just before breakfast. “It’s such a nice necklace! When can we meet him?”

“He doesn’t want to push things too fast,” Char explained. She smiled brighter than she wanted to; she was nothing but happy when she talked about Bruce. She hadn’t seen him in almost three weeks due to work and flight preparations, his business meetings, and whatever secret project he was working on. “He’s got three sons and a ward who’s planning on surprising him with adult adoption papers for next Father’s Day.”

“That sounds just…,” Martha trailed off, pressing her lips together as she thought of the words. Charlene knew she was a little wary, almost disappointed. Seeing a man with multiple children either meant he was one of the sweetest men in the world or one of the more careless. How he raised his children was a completely different story. Not wanting to spread Bruce’s life story around to everyone, she just figured it was better to keep quiet about it. “How old is this man?”

“He’s thirty-seven,” she continued. “He, uh, adopted two of the three sons. The youngest was a different situation. Clark’s met him already.”

Johnathan nodded. He stuck his hands in his pockets and looked to Clark, who was still acting off. “So he’s a good man, then?”

“One of the best men,” Charlene swore. She opened the locket, looking at the picture of Bruce holding a rose to the camera on the inside with an inscription on the opposite side: “More than you know. - B.W.”

She showed Martha and Johnathan. Martha set a hand on her heart and Johnathan’s shoulder, smiling at the picture and carved words. “We’re taking it slow and old-fashioned; eventually, I’ll bring him down here for you to meet. Or he’ll invite you to his home — whichever comes first.” She grinned, closing the locket. Martha smiled at her.

“How long have you two been seeing each other? It seems like this man loves you,” Martha said. “Does he know your history? When did he give that pretty thing to you?”

“Yes, he knows my history. He gave me the locket about two months ago. I took him to my favorite spot in Metropolis and gave him a few written letters about my feelings.” She scratched her scalp. “The next time he saw me, he said he couldn’t just let me be the only one who ‘let their affections come to light.’” She laughed at her imitation of Bruce. Martha gasped and grinned.

“So you’re taking it so slow you haven’t told him you love him, yet?” Clark scoffed behind her. “You wrote a letter? After two years?” Charlene rolled her eyes, turning to see her best friend of nearly twenty years. The Kents’ faces drew up in surprise, but Char just frowned. He had barely said anything last night and this morning. Why did the first thing have to be about his distaste for Bruce?

“He knows I do; you know he isn’t big on words. We’ve found other ways of telling each other.” She crossed her arms. Clark mirrored her movement, rolling his eyes. He took his glasses off and set them on the table, pinching his lids closed. “How many times are we going to have to talk about this? I know you don’t like the idea of me dating anybody, but it’s going to happen. I might even get married; are you going to make nasty comments about that, too?”

“I might if it’s him. He’s going to get you killed, Charlene. Do you have any idea what he’s got planned for you?” He raised his hands and then dropped them.

“No, not really. Gosh, Clark, you realize it doesn’t matter. You’re Superman. He’s not any different from you. Let it go.” She waved her hand in dismissal. She tried to turn back to Martha and Johnathan. She didn’t want to get into the I’m-dating-Batman explanation today.

Kal-El screamed in frustration, hovering off the floor by a few centimeters. He combed his hair with his fingers — with both hands — giving away how anxious he was. Charlene knew there was more than he was telling her. “No, I won’t, Char. You need to be careful! He left a note in the suit jacket he left me, I called him—”

“Wait. Stop,” Char said, cutting him off and trying not to sigh in exasperation. She was getting tired of being constantly questioned over her boyfriend. He wasn’t dangerous, he wasn’t rude, he wasn’t going to kill her. Bats tried to actively keep her out of the dangerous details of his life; eventually, that would change… but wasn’t going to change yet. “This is about you two not communicating, again. Isn’t it?”

“I—,” he started. Charlene pointed her finger at him, hushing the alien. He shut up quickly at her silent threat. They both knew she couldn’t hurt him. Sometimes just the idea of her trying worked, though. He set his feet on the floor again. Char set her hands on her hips, taking a step back.

“Deal with that on your own. Please. I don’t want to break up with him because you’re acting like a kid, Clark.” She wiped her face. She knew that Ma and Pa were watching them argue and she didn’t like it. She hated being the center of attention (one of the Wayne boys would say that was ridiculous, considering she was a newscaster). “I appreciate you worrying, but I know what I’m getting into.”

Clark sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “And what if you find out years along the way that you don’t want to be Bruce’s wife?”

“That’s why we’re taking it slow, Clark. I’m not going to abandon you like Lois did; I’m not going to do the same thing to him, either.” She looked at the clock. “It’s six in the morning. Let’s help with chores, yeah?”

“You’ve gotten quite commanding since I’ve last seen you,” Martha chuckled. “Does all this change come from that Bruce?” She used the name in a teasing manner, which made the younger woman laugh. The old mother set plates out for breakfast.

“Yes, it is,” Char said. “He and Clark work together. He’s not too thrilled with me being a hero’s partner, yet.” She shrugged, sitting down at the table. Johnathan clapped her shoulder lovingly. Clark sat down next to Pa.

“They’re a good brand. If Clark trusts him enough to work with him, I don’t see why you can’t go with him.” Johnathan snickered. “Speaking of going with people. Son, have you heard back from that lovely Amazonian woman? You know, since you’re not with that reporter lady and, apparently, you gave us the wrong idea about Charlene. Honestly, I’m not too surprised about the Charlene bit; you two could never figure out if you were friends, siblings, or edging something more for as long as I can remember.”

“Pa, come on,” Clark whined. He crossed his arms, his cheeks colored with a red flush. Char didn’t know the Man of Steel would get embarrassed over Wonder Woman. She suppressed a giggle. And then he started stuttering. “Diana isn’t interested in me — Be-Besides, it doesn’t even matter. She’s a — She’s a very nice woman and I’m her colleague. That’s all. I’m going to steer clear of dating for a while. Sorry we didn’t tell you Char was seeing someone.”

“You should be sorry!” the old man said sternly. His smile never wavered. “What if I’m a grandpa and I don’t know about it? I understand Charlene not telling me, but you? Oh, Clark, come on!”

“Pa, it was her place to tell you.” Clark sat forward, leaning his elbows on the table’s edge. “I’ve been busy, too.”

“You never know if a relationship is working until you start talking about marriage, boy.” He held Char’s hand and Clark’s. Martha placed the last of the foodstuffs before the family. She sat down next to her son. “You two need to figure things out. You’re stuck with each other for life — you know you are. You’re going to have to trust each other. Now hush: let’s say grace.”

They all did as they were told. Johnathan prayed over their food, they ate, breakfast went by quickly. When they were cleaning up, Char’s phone went off.

“What’s that, sweetheart?” Ma asked.

Charlene read her screen. Her eyebrows drew together. “I’ll have to leave a day earlier than expected; there’s a change in my work schedule.” She frowned a little bit. “I’ll have to make a call.”

“Oh. That’s too bad. Don’t worry about it,” Martha said. She patted her back. “Do what you need to.”

“Oh, I will,” she smiled, but in reality, she wanted to scold someone. She knew exactly what happened.

Bruce changed her scheduling around without telling her.

°°°

After staying as long as she could — about a week — Char had to board a plane and find her way out of Smallville. Somehow, getting on the plane and sitting on it for five hours wasn’t the issue. She could afford to be patient when she knew she had a plane to catch. She had just enough experience to practically ignore the takeoff, the flight attendants, and the goodbyes.

That all went smoothly. It always did.

And then there was the airport after the flight.

Being at the airport was one of the worst experiences Charlene ever had. She hated air travel with every bone in her body, but there was no other way to get back to Metropolis: the trains didn’t go that far, the buses would have taken too long, and Charlene didn’t have enough money to rent a car. She felt safe flying when she had another person to count on; this time, she was alone. Standing in the middle of the bustling, glassy terminal made her heart pound. Was she supposed to call for a taxi? Walk home? She had driven to the airport with Clark. She had no ride.

Walking through gates and managing to find her luggage without difficulty, she passed every single crying child, scolding mother, complaining grandfather, and fussy TSA member. She had jet lag. She had a headache. She missed Bruce. She was a little bit irritated with him, too, but she could talk about it — calmly — at a later time.

Her eyes were clouding up with sleep. Her mind was wandering. She didn’t even know what time it was. She was trying her best to walk out of the terminal.

“Charlene,” a familiar voice called. She picked her head up, her heart swelling with gratitude. Dressed from head to toe in black, Bruce stood with his hands stuffed in his pockets. His feet were spread apart. He had that look about his face — the one he wore when he was amused but didn’t want you to know it. She all but sobbed as she ran to him.

“Oh, my goodness!” she cried, wrapping her arms around him. Bruce’s arms encompassed her. “You’re here! How?” She buried her face in his shoulder and let the hero keep her steady.

“Clark said you were leaving early,” Wayne laughed. He took her suitcase out of her hand, absentmindedly rubbing her back. Charlene thought she must have been dreaming. She nearly forgot about trying to ask if he rearranged her work plans, again. She opened her mouth, but Bruce was faster. “Before you ask, I didn’t mess with your schedule this time. I was working on a —”

“— project, yeah, yeah. It doesn’t mean I’m not going to ask the producer what happened,” Char sighed, taking in Bruce’s metallic scent. His shirt was scratchy, but soft from wear. She dug her fingers into it, closing her eyes and soaking in the warmth from her boyfriend. “You have no idea how much I love you.”

“I love you, too,” he murmured. He broke the hug. “Let’s get in the car. The boys are going to be worried sick. I can call the studio, tell them you’re under the weather if you don’t want to go to work.”

“Are you okay, Bruno?” Char asked, yawning. She covered her mouth, minding to use the other nickname rather than just calling him “Bats” in public. “You’re edging a ramble; that’s unlike you.”

“I’m fine. There’s just some things we need to talk about; Clark doesn’t like it, despite how it could benefit our life.”

“‘ Our life’?” she asked, voice slurring with the need for slumber. She took his hand. He held it back, but gently. He was being somber. Solemn. Serious. That usually only happened at home, behind closed doors. And behind another set of doors, he let himself truly smile. “I wasn’t aware you were thinking about a future so soon.”

“I am,” he said. His fingers tightened their grip on hers as they swung through the air. “I want to help you into all sides of my life, even for just a little bit. I heard perspective can help a marriage last longer.”

“Marriage?” Charlene laughed. She swung their hands. The corner of Bruce’s mouth twitched, again. She started grinning like a madman — no, like the Joker. “You intend to make me an honest woman?”

“In the end? Definitely.” Bruce walked her outside. It was raining. He opened an umbrella and handed it to her. Charlene took it in her hand and tried to hold it above Bruce’s head, but it didn’t work — he was too tall. He just shrugged at it, smiling at her softly. “Depending on when you’re ready, darling, I’ll propose.”

“‘Darling,’ now? My, my, my, aren’t we affectionate today, Mr. Wayne.” Charlene giggled and poked his arm. “Are you sure you’re okay? It’s not every day you’re calling me pet names and talking like that. In fact, I think the last time you said the words ‘I love you’ was April Thirtieth.”

“The thirtieth wasn’t that long ago,” he frowned. He walked her to one of his antique cars, opening the trunk and putting her suitcase in the back. She took down the umbrella and set it back there, too. “It’s only mid-June. It’s not like I never tell you.”

“Bruce, other couples say it daily,” Charlene smiled. The rain started pouring down harder. It was mussing Bruce’s neatly-combed hair and dripping down his nose. She could feel it soaking her back and coiling her locks. She was sure she looked just as messy as Bruce looked adorable. “I know you don’t need to say it for me to hear it, but it’s still nice.” She paused for a moment, playing with the locket. She knew that just this gift alone was worth a thousand “I love you”s. Then she added, “And rare. Clark thinks we haven’t said it at all.”

“Rare,” he repeated. He opened the car door for her. She slipped into the passenger’s side. “Nice to know. It’s not Clark’s business whether or not I tell you I love you.”

“So what if it’s rare?” she asked with a permanent smile. “It just makes it even better to hear.”

“Are you going to cry when I deliver my wedding vows?” he asked in deadpan. He buckled in, turning the engine. “I have about seven years to prepare them; I’ll make sure to make them as sensitive as possible. The boys can say a line each toward the end of the ceremony.”

“Are we going to have a Jewish wedding?” she asked. “I’ve never been to one.”

“No,” he answered. “Not entirely. My parents were Jewish, but I… I don’t know. I haven’t done anything in regards to faith in years. I think we should just have a small ceremony for the boys and Clark and his parents. The only people who matter. We can blend in some Jewish tradition.”

“I can understand that,” she said quietly. She set her hands in her lap. She could already imagine a ring around her finger. Would it be an older design? Would it be intimate? With meaning behind it? Would it be big? Simple? “I don’t want anything huge, but I don’t want to rush into this. We have forever and a half, Bats.”

“We have longer than that, angel.” He looked behind him and pulled out of the parking lot. “I brought the boys from Gotham. I hope that’s not a big deal.”

“Did you get a hotel room?” Char looked out the window, then watched the wiper blades scrape water off the windshield. They made their way onto the highway in no time at all. “Or are they hanging out in the apartment?”

“A hotel room. I didn’t want to go into the apartment without asking.” He flexed his fingers on the wheel. “Was that an invitation, Miss Park?”

“Mr. Wayne, I am a woman of class,” she teased. She sat up a little. “Of course, you and the boys can stay. We can all sleep in the living room. You, the big, bad billionaire, can lay on the carpet floor next to the common damsel.”

Bruce scoffed. “As if there’s anything common about the woman I’m going to marry. Not everyone can be trusted. Not everyone can handle this life.”

Char shrugged. “We didn’t meet like common people meet.”

“We certainly don’t love like normal people. Kent can’t seem to stop reminding either of us of that fact.” He sighed, cracking his neck. Char wondered how that phone call Clark had talked about a week ago went. “Is he in love with you? Is he worried? Whatever his issue is, I can’t figure it out. It won’t change the fact that you and I are romantically involved.”

“You have a taste for danger,” Charlene answered. She vaguely recalled hearing from Dick that Bruce used to have a relationship with Catwoman. Damian was the product of an affair with an evil mastermind’s daughter. Batman, for the majority of his life, had been married to the cowl. “That’s his issue. You have mass intellect and he has superpowers. He could catch me from the sky, but you can’t. I’m a casualty waiting to happen.” She laughed sadly. “In his mind, I’m not safe with the Batman.” Bruce exhaled slowly to show exactly how much he agreed with that idea.

She could tell it was more than he wanted to admit.

“That’s why I can’t propose yet.” Bruce kept his attention on the road. “I need to make sure that you know how to defend yourself. If something ever happened, you’d at least be able to throw a punch or two. When the need arose, we would be prepared to keep the family safe. Right now, you need constant surveillance; I know what that does to you.”

“Constant surveillance?” she questioned. “Why?” Her heart dropped several levels. Had she been right all along? Was she being duped or manipulated into giving Wayne easier access of keeping an eye on her?

Bruce took a while to answer, creating more and more fear in Char’s mind. Finally, he opened his mouth. “I want you to gather intelligence for the Justice League. Whenever you’re ready, you’ll train with the boys at Wayne Manor. Just say the word, baby.”

“Is… Is this the perspective?” she asked, wary and unsure. She felt her eyes burn and her throat tighten. She didn’t want to ask this, again, but she felt she didn’t have a choice. The last time she asked the question, Bruce had kissed her for the first time. It ended up just being a publicity stunt. “Are you sure you actually want to marry me? That this isn’t just to make sure I don’t accidentally tell the world Bruce Wayne is the Batman?”

Bruce’s knuckles turned white on the steering wheel. “Charlene, how many times do I have to explain myself? If I wanted to keep an eye on you, I wouldn’t be talking about making you my wife. I wouldn’t let you interact with my boys. I wouldn’t be setting up a whole room for you at Wayne Manor. I love you. I have no reason to be picking you up from the airport other than my own desire to make you happy.”

“I know,” she sniffed. “I’m sorry. You were just acting funny. I didn’t know that you actually wanted to stay with me for… for as long as we live.” Charlene took a deep breath to calm herself. Man, did she feel like an idiot. “Bruce, you said you didn’t want to be part of that kind of domesticity two years ago. When did you decide you wanted to marry me?”

“Char, I didn’t need to decide. I still don’t want the picket fence type of life.” Bruce turned to exit the highway. “Our relationship has changed over the last two years. I would be lying saying I didn’t rely on you whatsoever.”

She swallowed. “You need me?”

He didn’t say anything. Yes. His cheeks colored. She let out a breathy, disbelieving laugh.

“I need time to think this all over, Bruce!” she exclaimed, slapping her palm to her forehead. Her pulse accelerated. Her legs felt tingly. “Marry you someday…”

“You don’t feel the same?”

She watched as the city blended into the street instead of Bruce’s unchanging expressions. If she wasn’t careful, he would turn investigator on her. “I had no idea you were so sure about us. It isn’t that I don’t feel the same, baby, I just need time to process this.”

“I understand.” He hummed. “Don’t tell the boys, yet. They might get excited.”

Charlene dropped her hands in her lap. She would be getting stepsons. She would have a husband. She would be a freelance spy. ��I’m getting excited. I’m nervous, scared, sad, happy. I don’t know what I’m feeling.”

Bruce pulled into a parking garage. He got out of the car and took her luggage out of the back. “Say you’re going to be sure before you tell me you’re ready to start training.”

Charlene got out of the car, too, taking Bruce by the hand once more. “I will.” She cupped his face. “I will, Bats. Now kiss me.”

°°°

Walking to the hotel room, using his stealthy steps across the hideous patterned carpet, Bruce found himself holding his breath. Dick, Jason, Tim, and Damian were going to blow this out of proportion, make Charlene uncomfortable. He knew he was letting his emotions get the better of him — but then again, how could they not? This was his whole family’s future at stake. This was an opening to expand the family. “Char.”

“Yeah?” she asked. She twisted her head to see him. “You okay?”

“Only tell them about the Justice League. Let’s ease into this.” He was practically pleading. He didn’t answer her question, but she nodded in understanding. Charlene took his hand and kissed the back of it, then dropped it.

“Yes, sir.” She gave him a winning smile. He managed not to sigh out the flood of fuzz that rushed in his soul. He was the Batman. He should be braver than to push Char away.

“Ready?” he asked, smiling gently.

“Ready.”

Wayne took her hand this time. He watched her, studied her. She had a lingering smile she was trying to wipe. She didn’t need to. Charlene was happy. When Char was happy, he was happy. Her hand shook in his; he was nervous, too. Committing to this would change so much. There would be no backing out. Even asking her to be on the same page could have scared her away.

He was quickly realizing he needed to trust Charlene. Whose life was going to be altered after all this? Whose life would never be the same once this process was over or ended? Not his. Not to the extent Charlene’s would be. She would be the first-time parent, not him. She would be the one who knew nothing about business or vigilante work, not him. She would be the one most affected.

She deserved so much from him. He thought he was asking for greater than she could handle; Char was there to prove him wrong again. Again, again, and again.

Bruce put on a big smile, opening the hotel room door. The boys all stood up to greet him, and all spoke over each other at the sight of Charlene: “You’re here!”; “How was the flight?”; “How long are you staying? Alfred’s—”; “We missed you!” They brought the woman into the residence with glee.

He couldn’t be more grateful to the boys. They always did their best to welcome Char and put a smile on her face. They loved her too much for their own good. She loved them, too. Bruce brought her into the room, setting her bags on the queen bed where Damian had left his shoes. The boys were swarming her, hugging her and asking question after question.

“Hey,” Bruce said. “Give her space; we have to talk about something important.”

“What is it, Bruce?” Dick asked.

“Is something wrong, Father?”

Bruce beckoned the kids to the floor where they could all sit. He took Charlene, pulling her next to him. He held her hand. “We’re thinking about making Char part of the Justice League’s informant group. That way, she can see the world from our perspective. We’re hoping…” He trailed off, uncertain of how to finish.

“We’re hoping this can further our relationship and give me a chance to spend more time with you,” Charlene filled in. She smiled, moving under Bruce’s arm. He held her tightly. “We’re not getting married, yet; just thinking about how to make it work.”

Jason was the first to speak up. “So… after Selina and Thalia — sorry, Damian — you’re finally going to settle down?” He grinned. “You’re going to marry Charlene?”

“When it’s the right time,” he said. “Don’t tell Superman.” He chuckled a little at his own joke. At least the boys approved. They deserved to know what was happening. Damian scooted over to sit closer to Charlene, who ruffled his hair.

“Are you going to stay at Wayne Manor?” Dick asked. He folded his hands in his lap. Out of all four of the boys, he copied his mannerisms the most. Secretive, stoic, at times, and would sometimes hum more than speak. The only difference between his mannerisms and the Batman’s was the smile that he allowed to grace his features.

Charlene shook her head. “No; not until we have everything sorted out. It’s probably unusually old school, but it’s what we want.” She smiled up at the Batman. He smiled down. Tim, quietly, went “Oooooh,” but that didn’t stop the small moment of perfection. As suspicious as it seemed, everything was perfect for a little while. A small pocket of happiness he had allowed himself.

Bruce Wayne wasn’t going to be so hard to relate to, anymore.

Damian took his chance to ask a question, practically jumping up and down with excitement. Tim pulled him down on his bottom, which made Dick and Jason laugh. He usually wasn’t so excited. Actually, none of the boys were. “Did you pick out a codename for her, Father?” Damian looked at Charlene. “What will we call her?”

“Nothing.” Bruce shook his head, feeling a bit dissatisfied with himself. This whole situation was unorthodox for him, but that was something he could live with. It wasn’t unlike him to embrace change, but it wasn’t like him either. He had no idea what nonsense the boys would bombard him with once Charlene was gone for the night. He could guess… and his guess told him it wasn’t anything he’d enjoy. “She doesn’t have a codename, yet. As soon as she’s comfortable, I want you boys to start training her to fight.”

“And then what?” Jason asked. He crossed his arms. He leaned forward, looking between the two of them. It was as if he was trying to figure out how soon the relationship would end. After all, the Batman was alone. Selina didn’t work out, Thalia didn’t work out, countless others didn’t even get a chance. Charlene’s odds were stacked against her.

Yet he loved her more than either of those women.

Bruce laced his fingers with Char’s habitually. The domestic affection had only happened behind closed doors, and any kisses or lingering hugs happened within closed doors behind closed doors. She looked up at him with slight surprise when their fingers slid together. “And then we’ll figure things out as we go along.”

Everyone made noises of excitement at that. The night went on in the hotel room, with giggling and laughter and games. Questions were passed back and forth. Food was ordered. Near midnight, Charlene had to go home. She had work the next day, and Wayne’s surprise had been laid in her home. Asking her to join the League hadn’t been the whole package; he and Clark both knew what was waiting for her there. He knew it was a rushed decision — one of his stupidest ideas by far.

Legally, as a billionaire, he could practically do anything for Char. As Batman, he would kill anyone for her — her and the family. She was family, now. He wasn’t going to push her away.

Taking Char home was one of the first times Bruce had felt this nervous in years. There weren’t enough roses or lockets or even words to express how much he cared about her other than that paperwork he had hidden away.

It wasn’t a proposal. She would only have to sign it if she was ready. The rest of the work to make it real would come in time.

“Are you okay?” Char asked as he drove. “Your fingers are turning white on the wheel, Bats.”

“Fine,” he answered with a clipped voice. “Just tired.”

“You never get tired,” she reminded him gently. He could feel her eyes on him but he stared only at the road. Metropolis was easier to drive through, but it only made the impending doom feel even worse. There was no possibility to stall. Not when he was certain.

“I’m fine, angel,” he insisted. They were quiet the rest of the ride, minus the exchange of a kiss and goodbyes when he dropped her off.

Now all he had to do was wait.

After all, he didn’t switch around her schedule for nothing.

°°°

After that worrying ride through the city, Charlene trudged through her door. She looked about the living room, noticing how something was different about her apartment. A few of the pillows had been moved — it was as if they’d been sat on. There was a letter and a gift bag on the table. She set her bag down on the floor. “What on Earth?” she muttered to herself.

Bruce’s metallic scent lingered in the air, but it could have just been from when she sat in his car. She walked past her old dog, rubbing his head and checking his bowl. The pet sitter had fed him, then… and he had been given a new collar. Hmm. That definitely wasn’t the pet sitter. She beckoned him over as she checked out the present on the table.

The letter was the first thing she opened. As Char sank into the couch, she folded it open and quickly read the words. It was a brief description from a lawyer about what… what…

“Legal marriage to Bruce Wayne would entail”?

Her heart stopped. She fished through the gift bag and found a marriage license in a different envelope. A pink glass rose. A small set of glass earrings and an article clipping of the night of the gala. If anyone ever accused Bats of being unromantic, they were seriously, seriously wrong. This wasn’t a proposal — she could see that. He wasn’t asking for this. He wasn’t telling her to try and find out. There was no trying! And along with all that silly stuff, there was a mask and a tag in his script that said, “Dark Angel – Can be changed”.

He just laid it all out for her, knowing this was their future.

With clammy hands and a voice that was barely working, she dialed Bats’ number. It chimed for a few rings, but he eventually picked up. The familiar “Hello?” followed by, “Char?” was so sweet to hear, to let her know it was real…

“I’m signing,” she said. “And I’m keeping the codename.”

#Batman x OC #Batman x reader #Bruce Wayne x OC #Bruce Wayne x reader #gaitwae writes

12 notes · View notes

acedhigh · 3 years

Text

SIEGEMAS 2020 @dualrainbow starring: Marius Streicher, Dominic Brunsmeier, Monika Weiss, Elias Kötz. main blog: @elitejager note: hey to anyone who reads this, I haven’t written anything in forever and the only time I’ve ever written a fic was a request, so this is a first for me. as an Autistic person I wanted to touch on the topic a little (i.e how the world views us versus how we view others and express ourselves) and incorporate it into my prompt for this piece. Marius inspires me a lot, I know he’s a popular part of Team Rainbow so I hope you all like it & happy holidays ✌

07 December.

As an icy chill snaked its way down his nape, Marius was reminded of the changed season. Days, weeks even, inside the workroom (his 'safehaven' as he called it to himself), made time and weather and all things mundane merge together in one big negligible blur. The transition between October into November now early December had seemed so...rapid. "Getting lost in one's work" was nothing short of apropos for this revelation; Unfazed by the cold however, he merely rolled down his sleeves and resumed gazing intently at his go-to site for ordering parts - Hated the white background (far too garish) but it offered the best of the best, and a quicker delivery schedule. He'd need it. It wasn't unusual for him to spend great bouts of time in one place. Even less unusual to be knee-deep in a project or two. But it was when morning frost and Christmas music became part of everyday life to crudely round off the year, that Monika and Elias were particularly attentive to Marius and his propensity to isolate. He'd been like that as long as they could recall. It could be almost jarring at first - His quips that'd rub less-familiar colleagues the wrong way, the speed at which his social battery would fizzle out like an ember, and a subtle arrogance which stepped on many toes. In contrast to Marius' heated and bull-headed nature, even his enthusiasm and eagerness to share or contribute somehow seemed misplaced or perhaps just poorly timed; Boundaries were a struggle and frequently crossed line despite how many walls he put between himself and others. He was unpredictable to most. "Hard to decipher", as Monika once put it. She was the first out of the four to recognize he was on the spectrum, and it tugged at her heartstrings to watch him endure contempt in place of a little understanding - But she vowed to hold her tongue. She did not want to patronise or belittle someone as bold as Marius. After all, in many ways she considered him to rival herself academically, and that garnered much of her respect. He was capable, he didn't need her or anybody else to coddle him or worry. Monika did not worry about him at all in fact, until this time of year.

16 December.

Elias had a similar view. Never had he met someone so rigid in his performance, so disciplined, yet so antsy. Must be the whole chaos of creativity, he thought. He recounted several incidences where he tried his hand at entertaining Marius, to no avail. Like things just didn't connect with him or tickle him the way Elias could achieve with others. But that didn't mean they lacked a connection at all - They were close, but where other people stood Marius was always one step further away, by his own accord. It was clear from the get go that the engineer liked to do things his way and per his agenda. Elias would grant him the favour of “breathing room” because he knew that although Marius held people at arms' length, beneath that eccentric exterior there was a shining heart of gold that cared deeply about the people he would shoo out of his workroom. Today was no exception, apparently.

"Hey, Marius--" There he was, ensconced in something technical of course, and drenched in fluorescent white light.

"No!"

"Huh--"

"Don't-- You can't look. Just...I'm busy. And I'm discussing this prototype of mine with the head of BMVg, whatever it is, it can wait."

Oops, Elias. "This isn't for prying eyes, it's commission work. I'll humour you later."

"Ah, err, got it. No peeking. Just don't work yourself to death and I'll check back in tonight. See ya!"

Yeah, this wasn't uncommon he muses, as he's met with a cold hand gesture towards the door. Though Elias couldn't help but wonder if maybe Marius was pushing himself even harder as to not think about the holidays. Dominic's relationship with him was different. Not as warm to the touch. And certainly more volatile, when tension arose. A clash of unorthodox personalities. They were polar opposites in one way, but fiercely empathetic in others, because pariahs stick together even when grating on each others' nerves - It was their non-conformity that made them a good team no matter how unconventional (and potentially troublesome) the dynamics. He knew how it was to be alone like the back of his hand. Maybe that too is the reason for their kinship, once all strain dissipated. Even he occasionally considered how his comrade handled the isolation; Dominic relished it to a degree, a darker mind who co-existed with his demons. But he knew Marius and he frequently observed his drive to form relationships only for them to fall flat or worse because of that same old disconnect Elias talked about on occasion. Never brought it up verbally but nothing could ghost Dominic's perusal. "Damn. Rejected again," Elias jests as he spots Dominic taking a break from playing grease monkey on his bike - Cigarette routinely positioned in mouth and garage wide open so that snow had begun collecting on the entrance floor. This wing was probably his safehaven, too.

"You should leave him to it." Dominic takes a long drag before expelling two plumes from his nose.

"Yeah I know, I know. Just seems wrong to not try. I don't think he's going home for Christmas. Hasn't heard from his Uncle for a couple of years...Not sure why. Marius tells me that's nothing out of the ordinary. Still, doesn't hurt to remind him we're around."

"He knows we're around. If you and Monika make a fuss it'll probably backfire."

"You could be right. But hey, buzzing in somebody’s ear is better than letting them feel ignored. I wouldn't be half as fun if I wasn't annoying."

"...Are you sure 'fun' is the right word?" Dominic concealed his smirk behind another toke.

"Whaaatever. Have a good night Brunsmeier. And don't get too cold old man! I don't know how you have the place all opened up on days like this. I don't want to come back tomorrow morning and find you in cryostasis."

"Uhuh. Well, snow chains. Fitting new ones on the tires and have to put 'em to the test somehow. See you, Smartass."

23 December.

The air was cold and dry and it permeated indoors but the serenity of snow blanketing everything for miles upon miles outweighed the chill in his lungs. Even the sun couldn’t thaw the ice nor interfere with celebrants having their white Christmas. From the moment he'd woken up that morning he rushed to get stuck back into his work without so much as cranking up the radiators. No matter the climate, it wouldn't deter him from his endeavours, much like Winter itself. As he fine-tuned his latest creation Marius felt overcome with accomplishment and relief knowing he had the rest of the day to spare after hours of trial and error. Fingers weaved and arms raised he stretched up high, taking a moment to admire the fully customised apparatus begging to be used. Fishing his phone out of a denim pocket he checked the time and grabbed one of the gift boxes wrapped neatly with a lavender bow. Monika would always make a point of going home to celebrate with her family - he'd heard many stories about her mother's Sauerbraten - and was always the first to leave to ensure she'd catch her flight. Ergo, her turn came first. His soles crunched against the virgin snow as Marius made his way to the dormitories. He could've forgotten the clean scent of fresh air or the sheer brightness the day can bring after spending a majority of his time hunkered down at the workroom. Cutting it close, he was fortunate enough to cross paths with Monika, luggage in her wake while punching in a numberpass for the electronic gate. "Monika!" He called out, waving her down.

"Hm?" Immediately she turned on her heel - Perhaps he startled her, or it was the (pleasant) surprise of hearing that familiar voice in another place other than his station or dorm.

"Monika, I'm glad I could catch you. Here--" Offering the palm sized box it was clear to the both of them that neither knew exactly how to handle the situation without underlying befuddlement. "--Frohe Weihnachten." (Merry Christmas). Ah yes, he'd forgotten that part. He wasn't well-versed in the act of gift giving - not face to face, at least...

"Really? For me?"

"Of course it is. It's purple. I don't know anybody else's favourite colour."

"I'm a little speechless...! Thank you Marius, and Frohe Weihnachten. I got something for you too, so did Elias. You were too busy we didn't think to disturb you and thought we'd leave them on your desk. You're welcome to pick them up yourself beneath the tree Emmanuelle and Yumiko set up in the foyer." Something akin to a glorified 'Secret Santa' Harry suggested for Team Rainbow to build on their camaraderie but appealed little to Dominic.

"Oh, that was unnecessary, but I'm grateful. Then I'm obliged to thank you as well. I didn't expect anything - I just wanted to see what I could come up with. I hope you like it."

"No act of benevolence is unnecessary. I'm tempted to open this up right here and now, I'm very curious. I'm going to show restraint however and open it tomorrow. I'll shoot you a message afterwards, OK?" She unzipped her case and placed it delicately atop folded clothes. Whatever it was, it seemed fragile, and would need the padding. "You take care of yourself Marius. Tschüss!" She passed through the gate and left with a smile.

24 December.

With more confidence after yesterday's exchange next in line was either Elias or Dominic, whoever he bumped into first. Today was bitterly cold and much darker, grey clouds hanging overhead almost as thick as the snow. Still, it was welcomed by those who enjoyed the seasonal comforts of lounging around; Vastly preferable to these scorching Summers in recent years, to Marius' admittance. He could spy from beyond his work station window that Dominic had the garage locked up early and was now dumping fodder to feed one of his burn barrel fires. To Marius, this had grown synonymous with Winter, and was a good way to gauge the severity of the weather - Dominic explained to him that it became habit from his undercover days, and was a quick & easy disposal method of...well, anything that could burn. Which sounded vaguely ominous with the way he put it, and there was no doubt in his mind that it absolutely was ominous. But that was then. He would ponder though, what his fellow operative saw in those flames. If he thought of an array of things and memories like a haunting myriad or maybe he just saw nothing more than a warming fire and burning magazines. It was hardly worth asking either, because he was scarcely linear, and seemed to quietly take pleasure in keeping people on their toes. An enigma for sure. They both were. Joining Dominic's side he could feel heat from the fire and the barrel itself as it raged on between them.

"You've been out here a while?" "An hour, maybe less." "Can't be too good for you. It's cold & flu season. If you're going to see your nephews and nieces, that's not wise." "I've dealt with worse." "Yes, that's true, I'm sure your lungs appreciate your pack-a-day fitness ritual." "If I smoked a pack a day, BPOL would give me the chop faster than any bad habits could on my life expectancy. Besides, I can still outrun you. Did you come here to give me health advice or was there something else?" "I know you well enough to know that giving you advice often goes unheeded." Much to my dismay. "So no, however--" He presents the red giftbox to Dominic, which he'd yet to acknowledge. Or he didn't care enough to ask. There's a visible confusion that reads in his otherwise stark expression - Like Monika's the day prior. Was it really so foreign for Marius to present his generosity this way? "Oh...?" "Open it, Dummkopf." Rather than muster some spur of the moment retort Dominic does as instructed. He settled the box in snow and crouched down to examine what awaited inside. "Pure silver electromagnetic rods. In a similar vein to an EMP device, rather, a preemptive attack on them and on your target. Think of them as an extension to your CEDs. Place them around in any formation you like to create an electromagnetic field; They will go live the moment your CEDs do. I've included a remote for functionality and to check that they're all within range of each other. The frequencies will be dizzying for enemy weaponry and at the touch of a button, shock anybody standing within the field's radius." Astounded, Dominic can only look down in disbelief at the device in his hands. It's one thing to fix up an old motorcycle, or even a car, but something of this calibre was truly belonging to a prodigious acumen. And that prodigy is Marius Streicher. "Oh, there's also armbands and a 'plate' you fit to the bottom of your footwear to absorb static and safeguard you from being on the receiving end of the electrogrid. That part should be a familiar concept." "..." "Well?" "I don't know how the hell you come up with this shit, but it's incredible." "Mmhmm. Of course it is, I made it. Brave of you to finally admit that." "Don't make me regret showing some gratitude. I mean it. Is this what you've been busying yourself with the whole month?" "Yeah, calculating pulse waveforms took more work than Monika's and Elias' upgrades, I readily accepted the challenge though." "You went to the trouble of making something for them too huh. Crazy." "I did yes. Monika's was no sweat. I pulled up the files on her RED Mk III and tweaked a few things. Utilising the same technology I fitted a lens-like screen to a headpiece, so the intel she needs is always in view, and her handling of weapons isn't compromised. I think she'll appreciate the purple tint I used for the lens. That, and it can also be used for her spelunking - The new and improved Spectre can see beyond solid walls several metres thick, and it can detect hollow spaces like tunnels. If she removes the chip and slots it into the drone I made for her - I'll reveal that part to her once she's back - she can apply the Spectre to airborne recon in the same way as the lens itself." "Now, you're showing off. She's going to use and abuse that thing every chance she gets." "Good. Then I won't have made it for nothing." "What about Elias, what did you give him?" "I haven't given him his yet which works out nicely." "I'm all ears, Brainiac." "Interesting moniker. Elias gets a conal radius motion & thermal detector that bolsters his ballistic shield. This will give him an increase in tactical advantage, by alerting him to whoever is in his vicinity. If there's an obstruction or he loses sight of the enemy he can find them with ease and make his move. Like Monika's, his can mimic the technology he's accustomed to and can also be detached and used with the specialised drone made for him. He'll be able to temporarily blind at range, or cause distraction, meaning if he keeps his wits about him he'll manage to play a part from long distances." Dominic spied something else in the box as Marius gave his run down on each of the devices. Brow furrowed he picks it up and examines it closely, unable to crack what purpose it served. "Hm. And this?" "That, is a personal touch. Call it whimsical but I think you'll like it. His drone is also yours." Shooting the engineer a bewildered glance Dominic held the second remote in hand, waiting expectantly to understand its significance and what exactly made it so 'whimsical'. "I had trouble coming up with a unique quality for each of you. You're both irreverent in your sense of humour, so I decided to play on that. Elias' drone also has a compartment where something, such as a flashbang for example, can be stored and dropped at command. I'll tell him about that. What I won't tell him however is that you have full access to the drone with that control you're holding. I'll leave it to your imagination to invent shenanigans of your own design. It ought to appease your prankster inclinations," Marius smiled knowingly, but only just - A sliver of the pride gathering in his center. Dominic's was blatant and devilish; Cogs turning in his mind already. But moreso this was a gift with meaning, and understanding to a level that excelled clinical intelligence. He had captured all three of them as operatives and as people, as friends, in the best way he knew how. Each gadget was far from mere machinery. Like polaroids immortalising their merits on the field and in life. "Don't expect to hear this out of me again anytime soon but you've outdone yourself." "Hah! It's worth the effort just to wring sincerity out of you, you ornery bastard." "Yeah, yeah, pot calling the kettle black. I know you're not a drinker but come on, show me how to use this thing over a pint - and bring the drone. I want to get Elias back for all his gaudy Christmas music in the dorms. I considered smothering him with his pillow, but this will suffice." He sneered, amused by his own facetiousness. "I know you don't have anything else planned so I'm not giving you much of a choice." After placing everything back in its box Dominic stood up to give his friend a gracious pat on the back. Marius noticed a glint in his eye he hadn't been privy to before - one unlike the dispassion that most would consider default to 'Bandit' - perhaps they were both seeing each other in a different light. An aspect they kept tucked away, save for rare junctures such as these. "Fine. I'll agree, considering the occasion. Might as well get into the spirit of things a little. Frohe Weihnachten, Dominic." "Frohe Weihnachten."

#siegemas #marius streicher #dominic brunsmeier #monika weiss #elias kötz #man do I get wordy #I enjoyed writing this and I think siegemas is a great idea #thanks for allowing me to be a part of it

27 notes · View notes

lymazhu · 4 years

Text

Delicate Matters

rating: PG

pairing: JonMartin

cw: centers around two people trying, and sometimes failing, to help each other cope with trauma, allusions to both dissociation and an injury that could have happened but didn’t

written for Day 4 of TMAHCWeek, using the prompt fragile but trying to incorporate elements of the other prompts as well

spoilers to 160

(adding AO3 links now https://archiveofourown.org/works/26150566 )

There were reminders hidden in a hundred harmless things. Both of them had been so consumed by the Fears and the Institute and the Archives for so long that it was only once they were out from the shadows of those things that they realized it. For Martin, everything had been overwhelming compared to the quiet isolation of the Lonely. For Jon, it was something more physical, more visible, marking him in the eyes of everyone who looked at him.

They wound up taking a slight detour for disposable earplugs before leaving London, and for the first time Martin is thankful for the fact that he was so overdue for a trim that his hair now covered his ears. Not that the two of them could possibly not stand out in the crowds either way, but it was one fewer thing to draw attention to them. Later, the earplugs would be forgotten and when it came time for Jon to record the statement that would end the world Martin would, instead, go out for a walk.

Jon, on the other hand, hid as much of himself as he could behind layers of fabric. Countless scars that all caught the eye and elicited questions from nosy strangers were disguised as best he could manage, and the occasional bout of vertigo didn’t bring him to the ground because of Martin’s steady, careful hold on him. The times when he didn’t trust himself to speak without the taint of compulsion he could look to Martin, and if there were a couple of incidents where neither of them could trust their own voice, well...they still wouldn’t be the rudest people those strangers encountered that day.

Hope was a dangerous thing. That had been a lesson learned time and time again. And yet, the more time they spent together the more they dared to reach out tentatively to each other. The first time Jon leaned, exhausted, against Martin’s side he half-expected the larger man’s steady form to dissolve like mist but instead was met with a sturdiness he’d long thought about. The first night in the safehouse, Martin would awaken several times expecting to see nothing but emptiness and fog surrounding him but instead would feel the unfamiliar warmth of another human being by his side. It wasn’t always good; when Martin stroked Jon’s arm or face affectionately, it would sometimes unwittingly echo the way Nikola had touched him while she prepared him to be skinned, and sometimes Jon would unknowingly choose exactly the wrong words to bring Peter’s voice echoing in Martin’s head.

Sometimes it was easy to explain what went wrong. Easy to fix. Like Jon, waking up thrashing and whimpering in the middle of the night because Martin had pulled him close while they slept and triggered memories of the Choke. Martin would reassure him, careful not to touch, and in the morning he would hide the bruises and pretend they didn’t exist because it wasn’t either of their faults that this happened. They would both vacillate between needing physical contact and being repelled by it, and even if their reasons were different it was easily understood.

Other times, it would be Martin snapping the pencil he’d been holding because the sound of Jon stirring his tea, that Martin knew he had no right to be so irritated by since he’d brought it to him in the first place, was like a series of ice picks stabbing directly into his brain. Jon would notice and ask him about it, but Beholding’s hunger would creep into his voice and force an unfiltered answer from Martin’s throat. The cabin would be abnormally silent that night, but there would be no grand fight preceding the silence. Just both of them needing and giving space until they were able to think straight again.

As the days went on, it would get better. More unspoken triggers would be covered, sometimes unknown to either of them until the line was crossed. There would be moments of lashing out, because god knows neither of them had learned how to handle things like this, but progress was made day by day. Martin would not need to stare out the window as the fog rolled in, dissociating until he forgot that he was still a person, because Jon would notice the faraway tone in his voice before it got to that point. Jon wouldn’t slice his fingers open on porcelain that had fallen and shattered when he tried to pick it up with his bad hand because Martin would be right there with the dustpan to shoo him off.

They would have just enough time to almost fall into a comfortable routine. Just about enough time to start simply being two people who had crawled through hell to come out the other side broken but still somehow holding together. Because it would have so much more effect to take something delicate that’s just beginning to knit itself back together and destroy it then. And despite everything they might have wanted, they were never actually unwatched.

#TMAHCweek #tma #the magnus archives #jonmartin #jonathan sims #martin blackwood

12 notes · View notes

snowbellewells · 4 years

Text

“Saved From What Might Have Been”

(A bit of birthday whump for @hollyethecurious)

By: @snowbellewells

I’m honestly not sure if this is much good, or really worth giving as a gift, but I’ve tried something new here, and I’m hoping you may like it, Hollye. You’ve provided the fandom (and our pirate!) a lot of painfully delicious whump over the last few years. Particularly with “What Lies Beneath the Mask” - my personal favorite! You also wrote one of my favorite examples of KnightRook fic in your recent MC “We Make Our Own Fate”. I’m attempting to incorporate those things in this little drabble for you. I don’t really know where this came from otherwise; I had something else in mind, but then this is what I ended up with instead. Contains Season 7’s Wish!Hook/Old Hook and Rogers, KnightRook, and of course some whumpage, if those are things people aren’t interested in. Most of those are new things for me to try writing as well.

Enough of my rambling - here goes:

“Saved From What Might Have Been”

Rough hands grasp him harshly, grappling at him from all angles and lifting him bodily from his seat at the gaming tables. He brays out in displeasure, swatting at those forcing him to the tavern door, at first thinking it is a ill-timed and less-than-humorous jest. However, as raucous voices laugh and jeer in approval, hooting and hollering and stamping feet accompanying shouts of “Good riddance!” and “Bout time ye boys were takin’ out the trash!”, Jones begins to struggle in earnest. He jerks within the hold of many, bucking and swinging wildly, though his punches go wide, made effectual with too much drink and the number of opponents holding him back. His attempts to dig in his heels only lead to him tripping over the raised board at the tavern entrance when the group pauses to open the door. Their combined grip lessens slightly, but before Hook can gather himself to whirl and fight, he is tossed forward unceremoniously, hurled into the street face first.

Once he would have been on his feet in an instant, charging forward to take all comers, but the air is knocked from his aging lungs, and he feels the ache and disorientation throughout his aching joints as he pushes himself to scruffed hands and knees, glaring at those who mock him from the doorway, barring re-entry to the one place able to temporarily silence his demons.

A shaking, unsteady hand wipes away mud from the rain drenched streets and the coarse and unkempt gray hair hanging in his eyes as well. His voice is a hoarse growl when he warns, “You lot should know better than to cross a pirate!” He attempts to stand imposingly to his full height, hand tucked in his belt and hook in plain view, to inspire the sort of respect and fear he had once done and ignore the shooting pain in his knees and hip.

The mob of half a dozen or more look unimpressed, but still Jones moves forward, meaning to shoulder his way through them and back to his table indoors. However, upon nearing the group, he is shoved back harshly, sending his still unbalanced form staggering back again. Rage blinds him along with the dizziness of a half-drunken haze. Brandishing the hook, he makes to charge into the fray once more, when he is stopped cold by their leader’s words.

“Think carefully, ye doddering old fool,” the man’s deep tone orders. “Ye’ve cheated yer last at my tables, and used up the last of me goodwill. Payin’ customers’ve complained long enough. You’re no captain. Where’s yer ship? No sailor nor pirate; no more, at any rate. Yer a has been, a worthless old drunk. And this be yer warnin’ - stay out of my tavern or face the consequences!”

The words sink in just as deep, and perhaps even more painfully than the hard landing had moments before. The grizzled man seems to shrink, his shoulders slumping as he faces the small mob barring his way. Though his bravado does not leave him, he sees that it will not serve him victory and there is no swaying the men standing against him. There’s nothing for him here - no longer can he seek refuge, drown his sorrows and try to forget. He wants to wipe that hateful sneer from the taven keeper’s face; to carve his mark in the skin of all their thick hides with the sharp point of his hook and prove their insults wrong. And yet… defeated he knows those words have long since turned into ugly truth.

“I’m not sure he’s gotten the message yet, Ed,” one of the burly louts adds gruffly, stepping from the collective shadow of the pack and circling around behind the old sailor, hands balled into fists.

“Ye may be right, Connors,” another chortles cruelly. “Seems he might be half witted as well as one handed!”

Outmanned he might be, but Jones still isn’t one to take such abuse in silence, and is about to tell them so when a sharp kick to his legs from behind buckles both his knees and sends him to the ground once more. Before he can begin to get up or even roll away from the unseen onslaught, another heavy booted foot hurries forward to step down on the arm that had hit the ground hardest, causing a garbled yelp to escape his chapped lips. The thug’s full weight on the joint makes an audible crunch of bone and sinew and it is all the aging Jones can do to bite back the sting of tears at the pain.

Floodgates now open, the group falls on him completely. A broom handle cracks along his spine, ale is poured over his head, rocks pelt him over and over, and kicks rain across his abdomen until he feels one connect with his ribs. His breath is stolen by the blazing white hot agony, and for a second his consciousness wavers. All thought of fighting back ceases, and instead Hook merely curls in upon himself, trying desperately to shield his head and vital organs until their attack is over.

After what seems an eternity, the beating slows, the miscreants back away as they spit on him and issue final warnings not to enter the establishment again. One even mutters that he might as well curl up there in the gutter where he belongs and wait to meet his Maker. In that moment, Jones wonders if he may be about to do so as his breath comes in harsh, ragged pants around the fragments of at least one broken rib scraping torment against his lung.

The sky opens in a frigid downpour again as the other men leave him in a crumpled heap. They go back inside, flush with victory and high spirited in his defeat. The greying man shivers from the cold and shock, the agony of his wounds and the decimation of his pride almost pulling him under.

However, he cannot give in yet, there is something he must still do. He cannot die here in this alleyway, even if he does deserve just such an inauspicious end. No, there is someone who would miss him, who needs the few pilfered coins and the crust of bread he had managed to hide before they discovered his game. ‘Alice,’ he wheezes, the name barely more than a whisper in the rainy deluge and the crash of thunder.

Half limping and half dragging his sorry carcass from the outskirts of the village, through the storm to the foot of her tower, the old buccaneer collapses at the base of the high, impenetrable edifice holding his darling girl prisoner. Tugging on the rope attached to the basket where he has placed his hard-won treasures, he hopes that his Alice will hear the bell at the other end, letting her know he has something for her, over the tumult. Squinting against the pelting drops, the wavering of his vision and encroaching unconsciousness, he waits for even a glimpse of her at the window far above. He can no longer climb to her; his old bones and poisoned heart having separated them physically years ago.

Minutes flow by, lengthening and playing tricks. Has she turned away from him too? “Alice!” he cries, his voice as broken as his body dying out on the howling wind. “Alice, my Lass! Are you there?” No answer comes, and her honeyed curls and beguiling smile never appear over the ledge. Even she has gone… he failed her too… just as he had feared…

~~~~***~~~~

Two delicate hands shake Rogers into wakefulness, his Alice’s concerned voice ending his nightmare anxiously. “Papa, wake up!” she pleads. “I’m here! You’re dreaming! Wake up!”

Blinking against the strangely wavering bluish light from the television still playing in the living room before him, he turns to see his grown daughter, restored to him just before they came here to Storybrooke in the United Realms, seated on the edge of the couch at his hip. Alice leans over him, where he had fallen asleep watching the nightly news, her hand still clutching his shoulder where she shook him awake. Her eyes are wide as she studies his face, sure that something real has disturbed her stoic and strong father.

He still feels a bit blearily fuzzy-headed, the dream having muddled him with the anguish and shame slow to fade from his brain. “Alice? Did I wake you? ‘M sorry, Love. You can go back to sleep.” He runs a hand haphazardly back through his dark hair, just beginning to show a few strands of silver, in an attempt to clear the cobwebs and offer her a tentative smile. Shaking his head, Rogers hopes the thin excuse will appease his grown child enough to drop her queries into what troubled him.

“You were calling my name, Papa,” Alice offers hesitantly. “Do you want to talk about it?”

He sighs, reaching out to cover her hand on his shoulder and twining her fingers with his to squeeze tightly in affection. “No, Lass, no need. It’s nothing to worry about. We’re both here safe and sound. All’s as it should be.”

Not one to be easily dissuaded, she leans forward, pressing her forehead to her father’s playfully but holding his gaze with her curious eyes. “Are you sure?” she presses.

“Aye,” he nods with certainty, a bit more of the usual twinkle returning to his eyes as he stands to meet the day and pulls Alice up beside him. “No use worrying your pretty little head about me. Let’s have some breakfast, shall we?”

A matching sparkle of mischief lights her eyes as well. “Is there marmalade for the toast?” she returns cheerily.

“Of course there is, what do you take me for?”

“Then, let’s do it!” she exclaims, looping her arm through her papa’s as they troop into the kitchen. He follows easily, a full-throated laugh bubbling from his chest, only too happy to let the last shadows of the dream fade with the light of day.

Tagging a few others who (may?) enjoy - not sure this will be all of my usual readers’ cup of tea?

@kmomof4 @jennjenn615 @sherlockianwhovian @killian-whump @artistic-writer @resident-of-storybrooke @teamhook @revanmeetra87

#birthday fic for @hollyethecurious #whump fic drabble #ouat s7 divergent #wish hook #old hook #rogers #knightrook feels

38 notes · View notes

dimensionslip · 5 years

Text

Tales of the Rays: Fairy’s Requiem Chapter 7 Summary (Parts 1 - 5)

I’m still not over this chapter, so here’s a summary of the first half. I’ll do the last half sometime soon or when I have free time. In the meantime, if you wished to check out some untidy ramblings about the story, I have linked some of my relevant tweet chains under the cut. Please enjoy!

Note: I am open to corrections, in case you find something iffy about what I’ve summarized/translated! There are clearly some parts I paid more attention to than others, ahaha...

Part 1

The chapter opens with Luke, Tear, Mieu, and Jade talking among themselves regarding Luke’s condition and the fact that Lorelei was exoflected.

Ever since he heard that Lorelei got exoflected, Luke had been worried about disappearing. So far, his body showed no signs of breaking apart, but he's worried all the same. On Jade's end, he explains that when the seventh fonon is exoflected, it's turned into an approximate equivalent in Tir Na Nog thanks to encoding. So rather than the Seventh Fonon being exoflected, it's already been changed to fit the laws of the world. And since Luke had already been exoflected, it means that there already is an encoded version of the existing seventh fonons.

Their theorizing and Luke's worrying is interrupted by the rest of the Abyss cast filing in (Guy, Natalia, Asch, Anise). Who, well, discover that Luke was due to disappear. Natalia says there's no use hiding it from them, since she noticed Luke had been broody since he learned Lorelei was exoflected, and noticed something was up.

Asch demands an explanation from Jade, but Luke opts to be the one to explain stuff, and there's a small fade to black as everything is explained…

Asch TL;DRs the whole thing by saying that Luke was undergoing fonon separation prior to getting exoflected, and was due to disappear. When Luke got exoflected, his fonon separation halted due to the change in environment. Luke looks to Jade for confirmation, and he says yes and follows up a bit. Jade says that because Lorelei was exoflected, the environment is becoming quite similar to how it was in Auldrant. And while Luke's fonon separation has not begun, they need to be on alert for the possibility.

Asch: ...Tsk. Wherever we go, you really need some delicate handling, replica.

Luke: ...Sorry.

Asch: Who told you to apologize?!

Natalia: Asch! You've also been acting funny lately. Since you've heard about Lorelei getting exoflected, you've returned to how you were when we were first exoflected.

Asch: …!

Jade: Indeed, because it seems that Asch is under the impression that he's going to disappear.

Asch: ……….

Natalia: Huh? What's the meaning of this, Asch?!

Asch: ---Necromancer, am I going to disappear?

Jade: This world and Auldrant's conditions are too different from each other. I cannot say for certain with regard to the future.

Jade: But at the moment, as an original, your life is not in danger.

Jade: Lorelei was exoflected as a spirit here. Already, seventh fonon studies material from Auldrant cannot be used as references.

Then Jade says that Asch's fretting and impatience in their original world is no longer necessary here. And then proceeds to say that he's cutting off the explanation there and thinks it's unnecessary for him to go more detailed, since there's no one else that knows anything about fomicry more than him. Asch snarks back by saying that Jade's manner of speaking, as usual, is quite irritating. But he buys what Jade is saying, because he can't really imagine Jade lying to reassure him. Guy is rather curious why Asch thinks he's going to disappear, but Asch decides to opt out of the explanation because it's a long story. He does apologize for snapping at Luke and Natalia as a result of his misconceptions.

But then, that brings them to the matter of being unable to rest at ease with regard to Luke's condition. Jade doesn't deny what Asch said, and says it's the reason why he wants to speak to the spirit Lorelei. As it seems, fonons have been replaced by chiral particles in this world, and Jade is concerned about how the special characteristics got translated, since there's more to fonons than meets the eye. He's not sure if those other characteristics got translated into a chiral molecule property or was incorporated into anima, which is unique to Tir Na Nog.

So the concern now is that Lorelei's exoflection may have caused those rules to change as well, because of "layered processing" done at the time. TL;DR, as mentioned by Guy, it's necessary to speak to Lorelei just to determine how the nature of the translated Seventh Fonon changed.

This time, they're interrupted by Ix calling them over mirrage comm. It seems that an overseer from the Empire has arrived in the Auldrant territory, and the person's name is in the nexus list. His name is Ion...

Part 2

Mercuria is not happy, wondering what's taking Demitrius. Chigal tries to reassure her, but she starts musing about how Demitrius is keeping so many secrets from her lately. Much musing ensues, and Chigal ends up bringing up that Nuadha used to call Demitrius "kind poison".

Demitrius eventually arrives. As a result of his bargaining with Glastein from the previous chapter, it is revealed that Richter got turned into a Living Doll β. Mercuria is devastated to find out what happened to Richter, who doesn't recognize her at all. Regal has also been β'd, and they've come to take away Chigal and Junior. Chigal and Junior make a promise to Mercuria to return.

Mercuria ends up excusing herself despite Demitrius' apologies, and quietly starts scheming a way to get her subordinates back, as she now has second thoughts about whether Living Dolls really are the right way to go about getting Bifrost back. Lukius tags along as Mercuria sets off to discuss more of her plans in private.

Part 3

Ix, Mileena, Karia, Kocis, and the Abyss cast arrive in the Auldrant portion of Tir Na Nog--Daath, specifically. Tear muses about the fact that the capital of the section is called "Daath", while Natalia and Asch worry about Woodrow given the previous chapter's events.

In the meantime, Luke and Ix are musing about the fact that this was around the place where the fake Jade had surfaced back in the day. Karia bemoans the fact that the real Jade isn't like the fake, who was kind and gentlemanly. Jade pretends to be hurt over this fact, much to Karia's consternation.

Luke then asks after Anise, who says she's fine. Ix then comments that she seems to be filled with sorrow whenever Ion's name comes up and wonders why that's the case, but then backpedals a bit and says she doesn't have to say it if the Auldrant people think it's unnecessary to say so. Jade encourages her to speak up about it--and Mileena as well (for a separate matter)--as the continued survival of the world depends on it.

But before they could go any further with this line of thought, Karia shrieks, as she finds something rather horrific in the middle of the town…

...a Jade statue.

Kocis: Whoa, what’s the meaning of this…?

Asch: What’s a statue of this guy doing here…

Anise: I-is this for real…

Guy: That’s a work of art right there, Jade!

Should Mileena take a souvenir photo?

Jade: I will kill you, Guy.

Their surprise tour is cut short by a familiar shriek, which Ix seems to recognize.

???: Khhh! Call the one responsible for this! Now!

Ix: ...Huh? That voice, could it be…

Jade: Oh? Is it your acquaintance, Ix?

Ix: What?! No, but, isn't that--

Local: Oh boy, it's Dist the Reaper. You guys should probably get out of here.

Local: That guy… He just came here yesterday, but he seems to consider St. Jade as some sort of rival.

Luke: Oh… And I was relieved that we haven't seen much of him lately.

Asch: …

Natalia: Asch?

Mileena: Everyone, it'd be bad if we ran into Dist, so let's hide by the shrubbery over there. It's quite troublesome.

Jade: I have no objections. Everyone will be keeping a distance from that broken drainage pipe.

To no one's surprise, Dist seems to have taken major issues with the Jade statue and wants to destroy it. And Jade, for once, finds himself agreeing with Dist.

It's around that time that the overseer Ion appears, who Dist greets. Asch proposes they strike, while Luke comments that the overseer Ion seems to be in the same state as Woodrow before. And Natalia surmises that this Ion got Living Doll β'd. It's around this time that Jade gives the go signal for them to jump in and try to save Ion.

Part 4

The party defeats the guards, and Guy asks Dist to hand over Ion. Anise still doesn't have so many words to spare and is acting a little strangely. Dist tries to shake her up by going as far to refer to Ion as the "master that she got killed", to which Anise responds that she's not easily that shaken up, and proceeds to go in for the kill...

However, Asch stops her. Anise is not happy and says he's attacking the wrong person. Asch says there's no mistake about what he's doing. Asch says he has some business with Lorelei. Dist asks if Asch is betraying Jade and the rest of the gang, to which Asch more or less roundaboutly says yes to. Though not without calling him "The Runny", much to Dist's chagrin.

Whatever the case is, Dist welcomes the prospect, since with Asch by his side he can further fomicry research, and he doesn't really care so much about the Empire's goals.

At this point, Dist has the group cornered with his robots, but Ix and Mileena have a trick up their sleeves, which is a transfer gate. The party (minus Asch) uses that to escape.

Asch is left with Dist, and demands that he be taken to Lorelei. Dist isn't too sold about being ordered around, as well as where Asch's loyalties lie. He needs more proof that Asch has betrayed Jade and the rest before doing so.

Back in the base, Ix suffers from side effects of using the transfer gate. Jade says he will explain things once they get Ix to their clinic.

Part 5

Meanwhile, in the Salvation Front, Marcus has gathered his troops to do some relocation work. He plans to start using the Altamira base they acquired from the casino event--a decision that is met with much protest. But it's a necessary decision given the danger of being in the Heimdallr from that point forward.

Phil continues to fret about things, and Sync pushes him to tell the truth to Ix. Because the longer he puts it off, the more difficult it would get.

One of the Salvation Front members pleads with Marcus again, but the conversation is interrupted by Sync, who spots an unconscious Barbatos, who was captured and turned into a Living Doll previously. The soldier with them speculates that Barbatos may have escaped from prison.

Marcus gets some info from an imperial soldier that had been chasing Barbatos, and tells the the Salvation Front soldier to escape along with the others while he and Sync take care of business there.

Some tweet chains I made regarding the chapter:

Untidy screaming about the chapter in general

A small correction to the above 2am rambling

Scene 6 stuff, regarding the OCs finding out about the events of Abyss and more Jade and Anise feels

Last scene stuff, mostly regarding Arietta and Sync and Asch’s ��betrayal”

#tales of the abyss #tales of the rays #jade curtiss #luke fon fabre #asch the bloody #anise tatlin #tear grants #fon master ion #natalia luzu kimlasca lanvaldear #mercuria #sync the tempest #marcus #ix nieves #mileena weiss #karia #kocis #my translation

57 notes · View notes

team-7-headcanons · 4 years

Text

The best hair dryers for 2020

You can go long periods of your existence with a below average blow-dryer and be okay — though somewhat bunched up. Be that as it may, who needs to live like that? You merit a blowout without frizz, flyaways, or some other sort of absurdity a blow-dryer that is substandard will add to your valuable crown. What's more, you have the right to get that immaculate look in the solace of your own home. Be that as it may, once more, you must have the correct apparatuses to execute it, and it very well may be hard to locate the ideal fit, given everything to consider. Do you blow-dry every day? Do you utilize your blow-dryer to fix your hair, or would you say you are searching for something to dry your wavy hair rapidly? Try not to get excessively worried. We've gathered together some blow-dryers at a scope of value focuses that are high caliber and guarantee to assist you with accomplishing each one of those hair objectives.

Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer

Dyson has sexed up the market with their supersonic hair dryer. The supersonic has been for around multi year really taking shape, cost around 50 million. They made around 600 models to get the flawlessness and tried them on in excess of 1000 miles of human hair. Thus, they have made the quickest, calmest and most hair well disposed dryer ever.

Indeed, the structure of the Supersonic is totally not the same as other hair dryers. The computerized engine in the Dyson is little enough that can sit in the handle rather than at the rear of the dryer head. Also, one bit of leeway of Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer is that it feels increasingly adjusted when utilized. You won't get arm throb while you are drying your hair.

Utilizing Dyson Supersonic couldn't be simpler. Essentially slide the switch and you are a great idea to go. Like all other hair dryer, the speed and warmth can be changed in accordance with your inclination. You will simply need to tap the fan and temperature catches at the rear of the dryer. Every one of them got four-level showed by the blue LEDs. In the wake of styling your hair, you can squeeze button for impact of cool air that will bolt the styling.

Indeed, one thing you will adore is the speed of Dyson Supersonic. You will cherish it since it evaporates your hair into equal parts time when contrasted with the other hair dryers. It has everything what an ideal hair dryer needs. It won't harm your hair and they will be smoother and shinier. Generally speaking, this hair dryer is over the top expensive yet has everything, a great plan, being agreeable to utilize and all the most recent innovation makes it the best hair dryer in the market.

Jinri Salon Grade Professional Hair Dryer

Jinri Salon works like a professional hair dryer, and is lightweight, calm moreover. With the connection of brush it turns out to be anything but difficult to part the hairs and it guarantees to appropriate the warmth equally. It additionally has a tourmaline ionic innovation which is intended to dispose of frizz,keep hair moistness safe and shield hair from heat harm. It has capacity to keep away from heat harm with the assistance of 2 speed and 3 warmth alternatives and the cool shot catch help you to keep up your look throughout the day. 99% of the purchasers gave it full 5 stars as a result of its light weight and professional execution.

Key Features

Fixing brush

Elite

Amika The Immortal Power-life Dryer

The most engaging thing about the Amika dryer is its long, restricted barrel, which gave me more control than some other dryer I tried. I could get truly near my underlying foundations without having my hair blown around all over the place and, at last, tangled. My hair dried as straight and smooth as it did with the Bio Ionic, as well.

We deducted focuses as a result of the control settings. This dryer has two warmth settings (cool and hot) and two power settings (low and high), each constrained by two individual catches, rather than the flip switches utilized by most dryers. On the off chance that the dryer is blowing cool hair, you click the "hot/cool" catch to change to hot; a similar thought goes for the power settings. Lamentably, you can't perceive what setting they're on, as you can with the standard switches. Indeed, you'll notice by how hot the air is or how strong the air is blowing out, however I thought that it was odd that the controls weren't named to mirror this

At 106.6°F, this dryer came to among the most sultry temperatures we estimated, and I wanted that there was a medium warmth setting, as can be found on the also ultra-hot Devacurl.

Am I being excessively demanding? Possibly. In any case, the Amika likewise was not a top entertainer in our lab tests, either. It was in the base portion of contenders when we tried its quality in the ping-pong ball test.

Remington Hair Dryer with Ionic + Ceramic + Tourmaline Technology

This Remington Hair Dryer takes care of business well without burning up all available resources. In addition, it has a great deal of advantages you'd get with increasingly costly dryers like ionic, ceramic, and tourmaline technology for smoother hair and less frizz.

Regardless of its reasonable value point, this dryer is a quality choice that may leave you astonished by how well it functions. The 1,875-watt max power engine implies you're getting a brisk dry, and three diverse warmth settings and two distinctive speed settings permit you to locate the correct custom setting for your hair type. Hit the virus shot catch for cool air that secures your painstakingly made styles. You even get connections — a diffuser and a concentrator.

FHI HEAT Platform Nano Weight Pro

Getting another hair dryer won't be that much simple as much it shows up. There are huge amounts of brands offering their very own product professing to be the best. You should be cautious and think about each and very thing about a hair dryer. With regards to purchasing another hair dryer, FHI HEAT Platform Nano Weight Pro blows the challenge away. Being the quickest drying time and cherished by the clients make it a standout amongst other hair dryer.

FHI HEAT Platform Nano Weight Pro has been cherished by the customers in view of its lightweight and long additional rope. It has performed and even surpassed the other hair dryer execution double the rate, which settles on it the top decision for a hairdresser or for home use. This may come as an unexpected that FHI HEAT Platform Nano Weight Pro is the most sweltering hair dryer, however outside of the hair dryer is as yet cool when being used.

Having the most recent nano-combination innovation, FHI HEAT Platform Nano Weight Pro is the best hair dryer at adding try to please hair. You will be shocked at how compelling it is on wavy hairs. With its capacity and sight-seeing, you will have the option to fix the wavy hairs effectively. The dryers incorporate diffuser and concentrator that aides in the adaptability for a hair, regardless of whether they are short or long, wavy or straight.

Be that as it may, with regards to the agreeableness of utilization, you won't be as fulfilled. On account of the least demanding control, you won't be bothered by learning the utilization, its exceptionally easy to utilize. By and large, it's an extraordinary hair dryer that does it work viably and furthermore it's entirely reasonable to purchase.

Kristin Ess Iconic Style Professional Blow Dryer

Hair sovereign Kristin Ess (who works with Lauren Conrad and Jenna Dewan) as of late dropped a line of dazzling and reasonable hot devices. This blow-dryer has various highlights you never realized you required, as brushless engine innovation, which lets this child last an incredible multiple times longer than the standard engines. It likewise has a particle setting highlight that you can go on to understand that sparkly look or leave off for volume. It's very tranquil as well, and accompanies a spout to smooth hair just as a diffuser for the curlies out there. With everything taken into account, this present apparatus' a staple to accomplish the cool-young lady hairstyles on Ess' popular Insta.

BabylissPro Nano Titanium Dryer

The requirement for the present hair drying arrangements may be as close as you have however we are presenting to you an imaginative item that can deal with the necessities of hair drying regularly with no issue or harming your valuable hair. This item is a progressive kind from the hair dryer monster Babyliss and is called Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium Hair Dryer. This model is exorbitantly made for active ladies who would prefer not to spend a lot of their bucks and time in salons as this is lightweight, middle of the road and it makes the item remain in the group for its great settings and sky blue external. It works at 2000 watts for quick drying of hair which is more dominant than the other hair dryers accessible in the market today, its watts reaches to 80-1800 which unquestionably demonstrates its value for quick drying arrangements without the worry of harming any of them presented to warming. The Nano Titanium has consolidated 6 sorts of warmth and speed settings assortments which can be utilized at your very own decision. You ought to be in a rush and need to utilize the top warmth work however we don't prescribe this since it can harm the hair, so utilize the mid range warmth to set up the hair drying and understand the genuine intensity of this item for astonishing outcomes. Its cooler temperature is even best for sparkling and delicate hair when they become dry. Nano Titanium has a default cool shot catch while profoundly compacted hair is tossed on hair when you restrict your hair. Additionally you can dry your hair with this for a delicate and glossy look however the people with thick hair will require more warmth power in light of the thick hair which sets aside some effort for drying. Maybe you can attempt its cool shot catch work for setting up a style of your decision, so on the off chance that you need to hold your hair for a difficult day you should have a go at evaporating your hair before setting up a hair splash.

The Nano Titanium Technology has a blend of high warmth transmission alongside ionic innovation which blasts negative particles back in the hair. For smooth and gleaming outcomes enhancing negative particles co-select still charge on hair. Its ionic innovation naturally helps fixing of hair. It has a worked in ionic generator which implies it will be solid for a long time to come. This item is ideal for thick hair just as it excessively quick speed dries the hair right away in the blink of an eye.

Highlights

It accompanies an expansion of a spout for infusing careful volume to hair roots.

Its removable channel permits you to rapidly clean the residue and make certain to clean it in scarcely any weeks without fail.

It accompanies an incredible multi year guarantee which implies that it very well may be fixed or get supplant in the event that you got a glitch/breakdown.

End:

In the event that you detest hanging tight for drying of hairs in times, this item is best for you as it can dry your hair in the blink of an eye. So we suggest this inventive machine for your flawless hairs.

Conair Infiniti Pro

The brand Conair is synonymous with hair dryers, This is an exemplary at a sensible cost, yet redesigned enough to engage a customer scanning for a dryer with somewhat more force.

Be that as it may, this Conair is symbolic of the contrast between a very good quality dryer and a spending one. It was recognizably heavier, appeared to be stronger, and had a more vulnerable air stream than the challenge. Its concentrator spout is excessively wide to adequately focus the air, with side vents that muss up as of now styled hair.

This Conair offers three warmth settings and two paces, however none of them were sufficiently amazing to tame Teich's hair and the outcome was a fuzzy style. At last, Teich needed to switch hands while drying in light of the fact that her arm was exhausted, which needs to accomplish more with the parity of its structure than its 1.1-pound weight.

Jinri 1875w Professional Salon Infrared Hair Dryer

The Jinri Infrared Hair Dryer is about choices. It accompanies three connections — a diffuser, a fixing brush, and a concentrator. It works unobtrusively and has two distinctive speed settings and three warmth settings, so you can pick precisely how you need to dry your hair.

This dryer works quick, drying even the thickest hair in merely minutes. It additionally uses infrared warmth and negative particles, which leaves hair looking smoother and assists with diminishing frizz. This is a brilliant hair dryer for those with wavy hair, as the included diffuser connection keeps hair really still while drying it incredibly quick without frizzing up.

Sam Villa Professional Light Ionic Dryer

All things considered, there are an excessive number of brands of hair dryers contending with one another. Aside from every one of those, here comes Sam Villa Professional Light Ionic Dryer. This isn't some acclaimed brand yet it is enthusiastically prescribed by numerous hairdressers. The Person Sam Villa himself was a beautician and he comprehended what a hairdresser need in this profession.

Sam Villa Professional Light Ionic Dryer is an honor winning hair dryer, made in Italy. The wind current that it gives is more dominant than the various hair dryer running on 1875w engine. Running a 1750w Sam Villa makes it conceivable through the Turbo Compressor Technology. Innovation can give more air and deplete less force waste which helps in speedy drying time.

All things considered, just a brisk drying time and amazing air aren't sufficient for a hair dryer, it must be able to decrease static and frizz for the smooth and in vogue finish of the hair. This is the place the fired tourmaline ionic innovation comes in. Joined with numerous warms and speed settings and cool shot, this hair dryer can oblige diverse hair lengths and surface. Pair up all these the with two pivoting spouts and a diffuser, you have everything requirement for styling your hairs.

Aside from all these, this hair dryer is lightweight and weariness free, particularly remembered the need of the beauticians. The grasp of the hairdryer is likewise comfort free. The back channel of the hair dryer can be opened for simple cleaning. You can't overlook this best hair dryer, considering its staggering feel kept the requirement for hairdressers and highlights essential for styling.

#hairdryer #hair accesory

1 note · View note

wonderlandmind4 · 6 years

Text

Delicate Stages Chp 33

Pairings: Bucky Barnes x OFC Ana Rios

Warnings: Language, Anxiety/Panic attacks, mentions of anxiety/panic attacks, mild PTSD, an over use of coffee consumption. Slow burn. Eventual smut. Explicit. NSFW. Past violence. Mild violence. Past mention of suicide. Trigger words. Nightmares/terrors. Flashbacks.

Summary: Bucky Barnes agrees to participate in Deprogramming Sessions. What he gets is not anything like he expected.

Words: 2.4+ @justreadingfics @nerdyandproud9 @buffy-morgendorffer-01

Every electronic in the room is going haywire; some light bulbs pop, some flicker wildly. The air is thick and tainted with energy, heavy as if it hangs there like droplets of humidity. It's strange feeling the effects of the energy- the emotions-, that prickles at Bucky's skin as he watches Ana pace back and forth. She is livid. Her hands are shaking, she can't keep still, her jaw is clenched. She steps up to the throwing station, grabbing one of her knives before thrusting arm her forward quickly. The sharp weapon lands perfectly in the middle of the target.

She doesn't stop there though, doesn't even give herself time to reset. She just grabs a set of throwing stars, flicking her wrist. One after the other, landing on various planned targets. She grabs another set of knives after that, but the lightbulb hanging above them pops, casting the station they're standing in into shadows. Ana doesn't hesitate, or seem to notice.

Bucky huffs audibly, quickly stepping up and grabs the blade of the knife with his left hand as she brings her arm back. He grasps her wrist with his right hand then yanks the weapon out of her hold. Ana whirls around, a fiery glint in her eyes still visible despite the darkness. Bucky is suddenly glad she doesn't have the ability to melt people with her glares.

"What the f-"

"Come with me." Bucky interrupts her, replacing the knife before dragging her out of the target station.

"Bucky, what are you doing?" There’s an annoyed edge to Ana’s voice.

"Preventing yourself from injury." He tells her, pushing he doors open. He doesn't let go of her wrist. "You popped the lights."

Her hand goes limp in his, which he takes as her just giving up and allowing him to lead her away from the practice range.

"I didn't mean too," She mumbles behind him.

"I know," He replies gently.

He scans the hallway as they walk, a habit that Bucky just can't break. He's only making sure there aren't unnecessary people hovering around, especially with Ana in tow. Especially since she's been showing signs of her enhanced ability growing stronger. It happens now, the lights dimming for a few moments, before growing brighter. The air thickens.

Bucky spots a set of doors that lead outside onto a small lanai. He abruptly turns, tugging Ana along until he pushes the doors open. He drops her hand only to turn and place both of his on her shoulders. Ana is biting her lip, but it doesn’t stop the small tremor of her chin.

"Ana." He starts, attempting to keep his voice calm. "Take a breath."

She takes a step back, breaking physical contact. "I can't! I'm still so angry, Bucky! I feel guilty too, because what if something happened? What if that dickhead ended up-"

"He didn't, Ana. He didn't. I'm okay, see?" He smiles at her. She rolls her eyes. "I'm fine. They fired him right?"

"Bout damn time." Ana mutters darkly.

Bucky takes hold of her hands, squeezing her knuckles. "You need to take a breath. Just breathe. All this negative energy isn't good for you, darling."

Ana steps into him, pressing her forehead to his chest. He hopes she can't hear his heartbeat spike up from her sudden action. He wraps his arms around her, keeping her close, safe within his hold. And just in case, if it becomes too much for her and she passes out, Bucky will be right there to catch her.

She came back fuming from a previous meeting. Bucky had watched her storm in, yanking her arm away from Steve's hand, ignoring his word and marching straight to her room. The entire living compound's power shut off for two solid minutes before it came back on. Bucky was being briefed on what happened when Ana came back out and left, slamming the door so hard behind her, it shook the dishes in the cabinets. It took all of a split second for Bucky to follow her.

Right now, as Bucky holds Ana who is trying to calm herself, all he wants to do is kiss her anger away. Have her melt against him like she did on the roof, as if all their problems in the world had disappeared and nothing matter but them. He's not going to though, since it probably won't help any.

Instead, Bucky will continue to hold her close, and sacrifice want he wants. Because what he wants, is not what he deserves. Not when his brain remains to be fixed completely. Not when he could trigger at any moment and when he wakes from that darkened state, Ana will no longer be in his arms.

"You should box." Bucky suggests, breaking the silence after a while. "That helps doesn't it?"

Ana nods against his chest, her fingers gently playing with the end of his hair.

"Come on then."

***

At least when Ana walks into the gym she can breathe easier. The smell of the vinyl mat and punching bags instantly calming her more. She no longer wants to hunt Simon Mills down and throttle him, mostly due to Bucky reeling in the majority of her anger. She changes in the women's locker room after stopping by their home to grab clothes. Ana spots Bucky as she stands in the entry way of the locker room.

"Spar with me." Ana demands, putting her hair up in a ponytail and adjusting her tank top.

"What?" Bucky deadpans. He's giving Ana the flattest look she has ever gotten.

"I figured it out," She says, walking up to him. "I have too much energy pent up. Plus, I've been rather pissed off the whole day and I need to let it out. Please, Bucky?"

Ana widens her eyes, and blinks twice, poking her bottom lip. She doesn't use this look a lot, but he looks like he might refuse. Bucky's eye twitches and his jaw clenches. Then he sighs in defeat, rolling his eyes up to the ceiling.

"I feel like I might regret this."

"Don't worry, Winter Wonderland," She smirks, patting his arm as she passes him. "I don't expect this to be...hard."

Ana is abruptly jerked backward, a hand gripped around her bicep and her back colliding with something solid. Bucky's lips graze her ear, his breath hot against her skin.

"We'll just have to see about that." He whispers hotly.

The low tone of his voice sends shivers down her spine. The same waves of fire Ana felt from that night come rolling back, licking up her insides and making her heart rate speed up. Bucky then grabs her free arm, keeping them both tight in his grip behind her back. Ana jerks, testing his hold. It's strong.

"You seem to have a thing for restraints there, Barnes." She teases.

"Only where it counts, sweetheart."

Ana inhales slowly, trying to will her heart to beat normally.

"Tell me, how would you get out of a hold like this? Dead weight is one thing," Bucky says, then nudges her right foot with his own, locking his shin around hers. "But one little move from me and I can take your bad knee out. What do you do?"

Ana tries to focus, instead of thinking how she can feel his every breath, feel his chest against her shoulder blades. "I-" She has to clear the rasp from her throat. "I would headbutt you, but seeing as how I'm not going to do that."

"That's one way." Bucky states, tightening his hold. "Anything else?"

"Yeah."

Ana lifts her left leg high enough until her foot reaches his knee, bent ever so slightly. It's enough of boost for her to use the muscles in her leg to step up, unlocking her right leg from his, and swing it around, twisting in the air. The surprise slackens Bucky's grip for a moment and that's all she needs to pull her arms free. She kicks off his shoulder with her free foot and separates them. Ana lands lightly on her feet. Bucky has to put his hand on the mat and twist to stand back up.

"Alright." He smirks at her, an impressed expression coloring his face. "That was good. You reply on the element of surprise. You did that on the mission too."

"I have too. Seems to help me a lot."

Bucky pushes his long hair back with his hand, making his way further onto the mat. "What happens if you injure your knee."

"Fight through it?" She shrugs.

He hums, turning to face her. "Lets hope that doesn't happen. How is your hand to hand?"

"I've only used the bags and Fred over there. So, a bit rusty." Ana informs him truthfully.

"Lets work on that then. Remember to use very advantage you have. Just keep your stance locked, Ana.

Ana huffs. "You know I do."

Bucky just smirks at her.

An orange knife flips through the air, Ana shoots her hand out to catch it by the handle. She turns, then jabs rapidly at Bucky's side. He blocks the attack, getting in his own metal jab at her ribs, his first one since they incorporated the dummy knife.

"Kept your side open." Bucky tells her.

He had taken his shirt off, leaving him just in a black tank top. Ana had done the same with hers, fighting in just her sports bra and workout pants. Sweat dampening her skin, and Bucky standing there without so much as a glisten.

"Stole your knife." Ana counters, panting. She glares at Bucky. They've been going at it for nearly an hour and he has only taken a deep breath once.

He nods, a proud smile on his face. "I think, and please rub this in Sam's face, your knife skills surpass mine."

Ana's mouth drops open. "What? Seriously?" She is shocked, and happy. "That's like the highest compliment coming from the Winter Bunny!"

His smile drops off his face. Bucky advances on her again and Ana cackles as he tackles her.

Bucky comes at her with a right hook. Ana dodges it the best she can, catching his left fist in the process. He pulls her forward for a moment, the metal plates shifting to accommodate her weight, then thrusts her back. Ana nearly trips over her feet as she regains her steps, dropping down as Bucky pushes at her again. She swipes her legs out, but he just flips out of the way.

They've been sparring with hand to hand for nearly an hour and a half, and neither of them have given up. The practicing has taken her mind off what Simon had done, and Bucky seems to be doing alright with it. Ana knows he's just relieved he wasn't triggered because she wasn't there. Bucky has his back turned to her after he dodged her last attack, and she forms an idea.

Ana takes a running start. She grabs onto his shoulders, uses her momentum to pull her body up, hooking her left leg over his shoulder, swinging her body upside down and moving her right leg onto his opposite shoulder, trapping him in a vice like grip between her thighs. His hands distractedly come up to grip her hips, but Ana throws her weight forward, knocking him off balance. He falls backwards, hands slipping over her thighs as Ana lands on her feet, twisting around.

Bucky blinks up at the ceiling. Ana has to stifle a laugh with how bewildered he looks. He shakes his head , continuing to just lay there. Ana walks over to him, peering down.

"That was new." Bucky states is a daze.

"Told you, Nat trained me, but I added my own moves here and there."

"And as I have told you, I trained her." He reminds her.

Suddenly, he swipes his arm out at her feet. Ana jumps, because that's the oldest trick in the book. That is, until Bucky catches her mid jump as he pops up, hooking his arm behind her knees. Ana grunts as her back hits the floor, wrists pinned, and thighs locked down by his, so she can't move them very far. It's the first time Bucky doesn't hold back.

"Got you. Looks like I won." He gloats, that little infuriating smirk back on his mouth. His eyes flicker down for a second.

"Really? Because it looks like you want to kiss me again, Winter Bunny. What's stopping you?" Ana whispers, leaning her head up just a fraction.

Bucky glares down at her, his eyes flickering between her own and her lips. His grip tightens on her wrists, his thighs clenching around her hips harder. She grinds her hips up just slightly, a swirl of arousal kicks up in her stomach and Ana has to bite her cheek. Then, Bucky releases her and rolls off to the side. They're both panting as Ana sits up.

"I win." She declares triumphantly. "You said use every advantage."

"You're a dirty fight, sweetheart." Bucky says, his voice rough and a touch deeper. He sits up as well.

"I've got an injured knee that's one good hit away from falling out. I have to fight dirty."

"Good. Good strategy."

"Hmm." Comes a loud thoughtful hum from the side. When they both look, Clint is causally lounging on one of the benches, munching on twizzlers. He points with one of the red candies. "You were pulling your punches, Barnes."

"Ugh!" Ana throws her hands up. "I knew it! How is that fair, Bucky!?

"I didn't want to hurt you!” He claims. “Besides, you pinning me to the mat three times was all you."

"Unless that was your plan." Clint inputs.

Both Ana and Bucky hold up their middle fingers. Ana kicks his boot. "Fine. I understand, you didn't want me to kick your Frosty the Snowman ass."

"Frosty the Snowman." Bucky mumbles, rolling his eyes up. "I swear, you and the endless nicknames."

"I've got plenty. Just haven't used them all."

He sighs. "I wasn't throwing punches hard because if I accidentally clip you, guess who will have my ass."

"Okay, good point."

"Question." Clint speaks up, leaning back against the bench and crossing his feet, twizzler sticking out of his mouth. "Have you both kissed again? Because this sexual tension is becoming too much, even for my taste."

Ana can feel her eyes widen and her cheeks heat up. "What the fuck." She mutters.

Bucky shifts uncomfortably next to her, suddenly interested in the laces of his boots.

"No!" Ana answers loudly. "I mean. How the hell do you know?"

"So, Nat was right." He smirks like he just caught them both.

"Go home, Legolas." She deadpans.

"Natasha knows?" Bucky asks, shocked.

"So does Cap." Clint provides.

"Oh my god, Steve knows!?" Ana turns to face Bucky. "You told him?"

"I panicked!"

"Jesus! I'm going to take a very long, hot shower. So if you boys don't mind."

Ana begins to gather her shirt and water bottle and walks away. As she's nearing the door, she can almost feel Clint open his mouth. So she shouts,

"Shut it, Link!"

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

Previous Next

#bucky barnes fanfic #bucky barnes x ofc #bucky barnes fanfiction #Bucky Barnes #delicate stages #my fic #marvel #mcu

67 notes · View notes

theonceoverthinker · 6 years

Text

OUAT 1X08 - Desperate Souls

Holy smokes! Not counting today’s review, I’ve racked up 30 pages worth of content for this rewatch!!! For me - someone who has barely written maybe twenty pages total for everything OUaT in the two and a half years I’ve been here - that’s pretty neat!

So, without further adieu, let’s SOUL-der on and talk about this adventure, for I know you’re DESPERATE to read my thoughts under the cut!

Press Release Regina and Mr. Gold play dirty politics and take opposite sides when Emma runs for a coveted Storybrooke public office against Sidney. Meanwhile, back in the fairytale world that was, Rumplestiltskin tries to track down the ultimate power source in order to help his son avert the horrors of a meaningless war. General Thoughts Past The intro to this episode is phenomenal. Immediately, we’re thrust into the action and everything from the writing to the storytelling tells us what we need to know about the characters and the unique setting they’re currently living in. We feel the fear that they do and it’s intense. And what’s better is that sentiment carries on through the rest of the episode. The biggest draw it got out of me over the course of the episode’s runtime was this dual feeling of sorrow and pity as the child collector madde Rumple kiss his boot. It gives the murder at the end of the episode an extreme layer of catharsis. Fuck, I gotta talk about that scene between Rumple and Zoso. This scene sets the standard for so much of Rumple’s life going forward. I love that here is where we get to hear the line “all magic comes with a price for the first time.” While Rumple won’t know that true price for some time, he clearly gets the sense that he’s in for a rough time in this moment. For someone who is so often on this series on the other side of this equation, Rumple was new to the concept at one point too, and it’s so crazy to revisit that.

The theme of being wary of how one acts in times of desperation really works in this flashback, and that’s because of consistent character writing in accordance with their stakes. Present The intro here is fantastic too. While I didn’t like the drama from the last episode, the way that this scene handles it makes it feel better. It builds on it while keeping things subtle and at the same time, furthering the storytelling from the past’s segment’s intro through the bonding point of parenthood - whether either party is conscious of it or not. Emma’s conflict in this episode is so good. It shines leagues above what it was in the last episode because it’s actually having to do with characteristics and dynamics of hers that are actually established, and what’s better is that it melts together like a fine stew. We see right from the get go - as stated before - that Graham’s death and Emma’s subsequent grief has something to do with her desire for the job, but also, Emma’s rivalry with Regina and her desire to assuage Henry of his anxieties as best as she can without playing into (what she believes to be) his delusions of the curse. I like how the ending works too. While I don’t think the reiterated wham line works the way the writers intended it to, Emma’s victory isn’t taken from her and it’s not any less earned. However, the final twist is still able to be effective and prove that while a force against Gold, Emma is still up against someone always a step ahead of her. Both There’s a fascinating couple of moments in both the past and present that I want to touch upon. First is a cool contrast between Rumple and Emma. Rumple discusses the role that Bae plays in his life, while Emma talks about the role that she plays in Henry’s life. I like how those discussions come before our leads hear about possibilities/make decisions that completely alter their current standings in life. “I know how to recognize a desperate soul.” This line works really well in the case of the flashback, but kind of feels like a round peg in a square hole in the present. Emma’s not in a dire straight the way Rumple is, despite the internal weight of the conflict. I don’t consider it a major problem, however because while very much a wham line, acting as if it’s supposed to be the central theme of the episode when it’s not, it doesn’t take away from the good story from before that moment. I love how the general theme of this episode - while the forces of good never intentionally try to incorporate evil into their endeavors, sometimes it can’t be avoided - gets shown in two ways: both consciously and unconsciously. Rumple makes the choice to use darkness in the past and Emma - while not knowledgeable of it - plays into Gold’s game in the present. Emma and Rumple/Gold are fantastic foils to each other and seeing this kind of starting point build as the series goes on is really cool! Insights I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen the intro changed up! I like how it changes depending on the focus of the episode. It’s a good blending of a uniform intro and a recap. Man, I’m gonna be sad when we lose it, though I do miss the “Previously on Once Upon a Time.” I never noticed before, but Zoso’s magic is so distinct from everyone elses. It’s like a supersonic wave rather than the puffs of smoke we’ve seen both before and since this point. “That’s the thing about children - before you know it, you lose them.” I’d be here all day if I tried to unpack that one. Breaking a toaster is the weirdest way to act out in anger. What makes it better is that we don’t see any sign of her attacking it or whatnot so how it got to be that way is up in the air and so much funnier for it! I wonder how a town charter was created. Why would Regina build a balancing system into her curse. Headcanon: Gold used his “please” clause to make it so. I take issue with the duke for not saying “Did you teach him how to run, RUNplestiltskin?” How DARE you pass on that beautiful pun opportunity? “If they take him away, I will truly become dust.” *Cuts to the Season 7 finale* Apparently, that was quite literal. Why can no one identify each other in the flashback? The Duke doesn’t recognize that the beggar is Zoso nor Rumple once he’s become the Dark One! I love how as Rumple and Bae are preparing the lanolin, we get to see hand movements that mirror Rumple’s once he becomes the Dark One. Archie, mate. Speaking from my experiences with a certain blooper reel, you might want to spend a good few seconds practicing the candidate’s names instead of your intro ;) Then again, your public speaking on the whole is just a mess. Practice your finesse. “I can’t beat Regina - not the way she fights.” Regina’s not the one fighting dirty at the moment, or less so: Gold is. Why say a line like that? You gotta wonder, were there ever plans to expand on Zoso’s points about Baelfire or were the writers aware that he was only saying that to get a rise out of Rumple? “You have to tell me what to do.” Oh he will, Rumple. He or Nimue, probably. Damn, I wish we could’ve seen that first night by the Dark One’s vault. Are there fanfics out there for it? “Glass. Swan.” Wow, ship names and hindsight makes that sign hilariously awkward! XD It’s weird how seldom we see blood on Rumple’s dagger. You would think since it’s a weapon, we’d see it more. I don’t know if it was a conscious choice on the hair stylist’s part, but Rumple’s not only blinded by his own ambitions of power in the final flashback scene, but also by his hair! Awww! Emma brings a picture of Henry into her office! I bet she got it from Mary Margaret. The way that Henry’s positioned makes it look like a school photo and she seems like the kind of teacher who would want to keep a record of her old students like photographs for sentimentality! It’s so cute!!! “You knew I’d agree.” I think she’s talking about agreeing to Gold’s initial campaign proposal? Otherwise, this line makes no sense. Arcs The power struggle against Regina - This was a major peg being taken down from Regina, and it was set up very well with Emma being positioned as deputy, which in turn was built off of her skills, and culminated here in her being elected sheriff. Through this moment, we see not only a shift in Emma, but one in Storybrooke as well. While still prone to falling for gossip, the townspeople respond to courage and we finally get to see the impact that both Regina and Gold have had on the town by how people respond to someone standing up to them. Still, going forward, Emma and Regina’s dynamic will in a much more delicate - and much more interesting because of it - place. Gold and Emma’s deal - We only get a brief mention of it here. I wonder what Gold had in mind for Emma’s favor before learning that he needed her help to find Bae outside of Storybrooke. At the very least, we know it wasn’t half of a pastrami sandwich. His loss though. Pastrami’s delicious. Favorite Dynamic Rumple and Bae. I think that the simpler characterizations of Rumple and Bae was a good way to go in this episode, with Rumple as cowardly as we’ve come to expect and Baelfire as brave to a fault. It - partnered with the parent-child power dynamics - makes for a very easy to understand, yet still nuanced conflict. Rumple comes off as more worldly, but still frustratingly stubborn and cowardly while Bae comes across as braver certainly, yet naive too. Rumple’s not wrong when he tells Bae that the call to fight in the Ogre Wars is a call to death, and it conflicts with a lot of our sensibilities that it’s honorable to die in battle. I just love as well how Bae’s faith in Rumple falls as he learns more and more about his father’s past. You can just see the lack of belief when Rumple tells him that his mother is dead, and you have to wonder what Bae’s resolve would be to the events of the end of the episode had that encounter with the Duke in the forest not occurred. But even still, while there’s a noticeable yet slight loss of trust, there’s no love lost, and that helps make the final piece of the flashback all the more tragic and give the audience an insight into what Zoso’s last words to Rumple end up truly meaning. Writer Now here’s the Jane Espenson I know and love in full form! It’s weird that with a more complex theme, she manages to tell a story leagues above her last one’s flashback in terms of quality. It makes me think of an advanced computer science professor that had to teach entry level Web Page Design class I once took. What works in this episode - as did work in the present day section of “That Still Small Voice” is an understanding of stakes. Rumple’s actions get more desperate and Emma’s decision whether to tell of the true reason for the fire get more complicated as higher stakes are revealed to these characters and build on their already present characteristics (Ex. Rumple can’t just take control of the Dark One because he’d be terrified of owning him as a slave, so he has to become the Dark One), whereas in “That Still Small Voice’s” flashback, there was no reason for Jiminy to jump to condemning his parents to a fate worse than death when he’s already conflicted about leaving them because they’re old. Here, the handling is done so much better. Rating 10/10. This episode works really well. I won’t repeat myself too much, but we’re given not one, but two very nuanced and complicated stories to work with and the characters are faced with likewise decisions. Before we end off, I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about Robert Carlyle’s acting because this man is a star here. He displays this insane range throughout his time on the series, but this episode may be one of - if not the best - depictor of it. We get to see his cowardly side, the first bits of madness from being The Dark One, and his more manipulative tendencies in Storybrooke. It’s all conveyed flawlessly through his voice’s tone, body language, and facial expressions. What’s better is that the use of props, costumes, and makeup come together alongside his acting to enhance every moment of screen time he has and show the contrast between his dynamics across the worlds.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Sorry! Not my deepest analysis, I know, but I hope I conveyed just how much I enjoyed the episode! Sometimes, it’s hard to explain what makes something good, but I hope the more comedic “Insights” segment was enough to entertain. Thanks again to the fine folks from @watchingfairytales for putting this project together! Season Tally (66/220) Writer Tally for Season 1: A&E (23/70) Liz Tigelaar (10/20) David Goodman (9/50) Jane Espenson (16/60) Andrew Chambliss (8/10) Ian Goldberg (8/10) Operation Rewatch Archives

#watching fairytales #ouat 1x08 #ouat #ouat rewatch #jenna watches ouat

10 notes · View notes

bellatrixobsessed1 · 6 years

Text

I’ll Meet You At The Bottom Part 32

Since my birthday is tomorrow I may or may not put another chapter out that day. Like Imma try, but I make no promises.

Azula had to laugh, at least to herself. She had left the Ash Pit with intentions to never go back and there she was brining it home with her. Fair was fair though, she had to deal with Sokka’s stupid friends now he’d have to deal with her sketchy companions. “Just pick one already.” She sighed at Bo-Rem.

“I don’t like any of them.” The girl grumbled. “And the one’s I do are too small.” She held up another shirt that had no room to accommodate her muscles. “Ya know what, I’m just going to check the men’s section.”

“What’re we doin’ here?” Yoko barked as he gestured about the marketplace. “Taeyul needs help ‘n you need to fix yer priorities.”

“I do have my priorities straight.” Azula argued. “If you actually want to make it into the palace, you all are going to have to looked respectable.” She looked at the sorry lot. “Or at least, presentable.” Azula entertained herself by picking through a few articles of clothing. She looked up from it to see Yoko still loitering about. “The sooner you pick something, the sooner we can leave. He plucked something from a hanger without looking and handed it to her. “Are you sure that you want that one?”

Without looking at it he nodded.

“Alright, fine.” She rolled her eyes. Whether he liked it or not, he would be wearing it. It was the most childish looking dress attire she’d ever seen in the men’s section. Boryuk found something remotely quick, while Yoona was off in the back fumbling with a particularly elaborate, multipiece kimono. The girl had no idea how to wear it properly and was lost in a forest of fine fabric. “How about we try something a little easier.” Azula suggested, leading her over to the once piece dresses.

“Why don’t Taeyul have to do this?” Yoko complained.

Azula blinked, this question she wouldn’t dignify with a response. Instead she turned to Kohza. He, unlike the rest of them, seemed to be relishing in the experience. This was part of the higher life he had been longing to part take in and was eagerly sifting through each robe he could spy. He seemed to love each and every one for a different reason. Which was almost as bad as detesting them all. He was taking just as long as Bo-Rem but for a completely opposite reason.

Chan, unaspiringly, picked out something with ease and took to glaring at Sokka who glared back; an unbreakable display of no-contact testosterone. Azula had an unweaving suspicion that Sokka had started this ridiculous staring contest. She made a point of directly standing in the incorporeal line their strong eye contact was creating. She could practically feel the tension beaming through her soul, but it was worth it to have ended their little pissing contest. “Chan, go help Kohza pick his favorite.”

He shoved himself off of the shelf he had been leaning on and sulked over to Kohza.

“What about me, what do I get to do?” Sokka asked.

“You can keep an eye on Taeyul or go help Bo-Rem, your pick.”

“Is, ‘keep standing right over here’ an option?” Sokka replied.

“It was until you asked for something to do.” Azula shrugged.

She watched him—equally as cross as his newfound rival—make his way towards Taeyul. That left her, was there ever any doubt, to Bo-Rem. It took much longer than it should have, but at last Azula found something that Bo-Rem could tolerate. From there it was remotely easy. Despite so, the princess found herself growing antsy; she was itching to finally get back to her training. Bo-Rem’s prior commentary might have hit a little closer to home than she was willing to admit. Even without, Azula missed going through the rigorous motions of firebending. With Zuko well on his way to Ember Island—she didn’t believe that he actually would until the boat was actually on its way with him in it—there would be no hassle at all in getting the group into the palace. She was, after all, their temporary Fire Lord, if she wanted to bring in a bunch of shady ruffians, they’d have to let her. “Now, if everybody except Chan and Khoza keeps quiet, everything should go smoothly. Azula settled her gaze on Yoona and her constant stream of almost intangible babble. She went blissfully undaunted by Azula’s stare.

“See that tree, Chan?” Sokka asked as he pointed to the dragon maple. “That’s our spot, mine and Azula’s. It has been for a while now.”

“Good to finally be informed.” Azula muttered.

“So?” Chan asked.

“So, you can’t go under it.”

“I don’t want to go under your stupid tree!” Chan threw his hands up. “I don’t even like trees!”

“Who doesn’t like trees?” Sokka shouted. This was more pointless than any argument Azula had ever tried to start with him. She made sure to stomp it out before they finished crossing the courtyard. Once inside the palace they were greeted by Aang. It didn’t take long for the other two to appear.

“Idiots of Sokka, meet my, probably bigger, idiots.” Azula introduced. “I’ll let you all get to know each other.”

“I like her.” Toph pointed at Bo-Rem.

“Wait, where are you going?” Sokka asked.

“I have to work on my firebending. I’m sure Chan can handle…”

“No he can’t.” Sokka whispered.

“You’re right, he doesn’t know who to ask.” Azula resigned to wasting another few moments. “Katara, that’s Taeyul. You can help him, yes?”

“I think that I can.” She nodded. And after inspecting him for a few moments, backtracked some. “I hope that I can. He’s…he’s not in good shape.”

“If you can help me, I’m sure you can help him.” Azula assured.

“Azula, you were never that close to death.”

Azula shuddered at the possibility that she was close at all and wondered exactly which time that had been.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“Mind if I come train with you?” Chan asked.

The idea of him watching her when her skills were so rusty…so neglected sent a new kind of dread radiating through her. He was one of the few who still had a mostly polished, untainted version of her. No, she planned on training alone—her firebending was one area where everyone still had a pristine impression. If not, they had high expectations; not quite at the altitude of her own, but still high. “I train alone.”

“Since when?” He asked.

Since you asked, the retort was on the tip of her tongue. “Since I decided that I need to focus.” She waved her hand dismissively. “Besides, you have some bonding to do.”

Chan looked reluctantly at the gang.

It didn’t take long, not at all. In fact, she had taken only a few steps into the adjoining hall when she heard footsteps padding along behind her. Sokka had a very distinct step sound, heavy but in a soft sort of way that she couldn’t explain with certainty. It might have been that he still liked to wear fur boots that suffocated the brunt of the noise. She knew it would drive Chan up the wall, but she let him tag along. Somehow she didn’t really mind if he watched her fail miserably, he already has multiple times. “You can come along, but don’t do anything distracting.” She tossed back at him.

“I was just gonna grab my canvas and paint while you do you your fire thing.” Sokka replied.

“I’ll meet you there.” She replied. While he split off to fetch his supplies from his room, she stopped for a change of clothes. Something with a lesser excess of sleeves. Something a little easier to move in and a little less flammable.

Azula began before Sokka arrived, a quick warmup that went relatively smoothly. She also worked through the first set of stances in her normal routine. A task that proved to her that her skills had been so horribly neglected. She supposed that she should be thankful; even at her lowest she could still probably get the better of the average firebender. But that wasn’t good enough, not at all. The one thing she had prided herself for, she no longer had complete mastery over. She was slower, slightly off balance, her muscles weaker from such a prolonged lack of use. She was nearly frustrated to tears, these things should be coming naturally to her. But they weren’t, she knew that she shouldn’t have expected them too. And so it was that Sokka’s sudden presence was once again uncomfortable and unwelcomed, no matter how much he’d already seen. She didn’t want him to see her stumble, not at this.

“Why do you go paint outside?” She asked.

“I always paint outside.” Sokka shrugged. “Besides, I want to watch you firebend. It always looked so…powerful. It’ll be nice to see it without you trying to kill me while doing it.”

“Say the wrong thing and I will definitely kill you, Sokka.” Azula promised.

“Are you stalling?”

“What? No. I’m taking a break.”

“Already?”

She sent a tiny bolt of lightning at his feet and he lifted his arms in surrender. “That’s a good start, now keep that up.” He grinned stupidly. Azula hated that goofy grin. She waited until he began fishing out his paints to resume her own task. At first, the firebender mostly dabbled with her lightning, she’d never truly lost her touch there. It brought a sense of comfort to know so. By the time she decided to go back to bending fire, Sokka was mostly engrossed in his art. Enough so that Azula felt less observed as she conjured up a whirling pinwheel of fire. This earned her a sharp, “hey careful, working with delicate material here.”

“I’m sure your ego will hold up.” Azula rolled her eyes. “Besides, it wasn’t even close to you.”

She moved onto something more elaborate, a form that involved a rapid barrage of fire and a few midair kicks. The first few went smoothly but she was tiring much faster than she would have liked. She paused for a minute or two and then resumed. In due time she found herself decently satisfied with that set and threw in something new; an old favorite technique. Something that required a bit of a running start. A running start that burst into a jump and brining her leg down in an arc of fire and then a repetition of the motion but instead of an arc she would go for a somersault of fire. This didn’t go quite so smoothly. Her first arc was rather impressive, but the somersault ended with a harsh thud. One loud enough to catch Sokka’s attention and add the first tinge of pink to her cheeks. She blew her bangs from her face and tried a second time. And a third, each seemed to be progressively getting worse. She found herself growing increasingly more embarrassed, and therefore, irritated with every blunder. She looked ridiculous. She tried for another somersault of flames, but she had put too much force into it, bringing her down without a scrap of grace. Azula stumbled to keep her balance. She could practically see her father leering at her. She tried it a third time, that one ending more tragically than the time before it. That time she hadn’t even landed on her feet. Sokka’s eyes seemed practically glued to her by then and she was making a fool of herself. By then her face was completely flushed with both humiliation and simmering agitation. She went for it once more, this time not even succeeding with the first arc.

“Hey, hey, calm down.” Sokka spoke gently, he put his brush down. “You bend better when you’re not angry. Isn’t that why you were so good at firebending before? Because you were so calm.”

Azula brushed her hair out of her face; when had it gotten so long? He had a solid point, but she couldn’t bring herself to feel anything but exasperation, not when this should be coming so naturally to her.

“Here.” He came to stand behind her, first massaging the tension out of her shoulders and then out of her back. After doing so, he lifted her arm and extended it, mimicking the stances he’d so often seen her utilize. Some time into it she took the lead and let him follow her through the motions. His hold restricted her from producing any fire at all. Though it was about structure at that point, structure and stance. She could incorporate fire again later. For the time being, Azula was content with the intimacy. Content with his interest in bending with her, even if he could ever hope to produce a spark. She could feel his muscles rippling and contorting against her back. Could smell the tinge of sea-salt on his body. He must have recently taken a saltwater bath. He borrowed her pine soap, from the smell of it. His aroma soothed her some. And then he let go, his touch lingering only for one more brief moment.

.oOo.

Upon leaving her side, Azula added fire to the movements that they had just worked through. Her movements were simpler, less bold than he recalled. Speed seemed to be sidelined for perfecting the motions themselves. But she was as elegant as he was used to, despite the occasional falter. She was frighteningly powerful as ever and he hoped that she knew that. He watched slid from one stance to the next in fluid motions. She seemed more relaxed. Sokka couldn’t bring himself to pick up the brush again, he’d rather watch the real Azula.

Perhaps he would join her some time, his swordsmanship was getting a bit rusty and he wouldn’t mind making a few slashes and slices, especially after spying some of the expensive training equipment scattered about the room.

After some time had gone by, she tried for the somersaults again, her landings were still shaky or on her back altogether. He feared that she was hurting herself and wondered how many bruises would line the length of her back. She seemed undaunted by that though. By the end of it all, she was a little red faced and breathing hard.

He had to admire her dedication.

.oOo.

Sokka extended a hand and pulled her up. “You’ve been at this for hours now, I think it’s time to call it a night.”

Azula wanted to protest, but even she knew there was no sense in draining herself on the first day. She hadn’t even trained that relentlessly during her prime. Hesitantly she let him lead her back to the springs so she could freshen herself up. She was a bit of a wreck but she didn’t need to look the part.

A quick sweep of the dinner table confirmed that everyone still had yet to warm up to one another. Toph and Bo-Rem were the oddities, they connected right away. Not that Azula hadn’t predicted such. Bo-Rem was speaking fondly of The Rumble and Toph was insisting that she should part take. Listening to all of the awkward and forced conversation, Azula couldn’t wait to add dear Zu-Zu to the mix. The look on his face would be precious.

This became a sort of routine. In between checking on Teayul and keeping tabs on both groups of idiots, the princess would retreat to go through her techniques. Eventually her touch would have come back to her, she supposed that she just needed to get used to going through the motions again. Sokka was always there working on either the painting of her. Eventually that came to a halt, in a fit of annoyance—during a particularly taxing firebending form—Azula carelessly kicked a ball of sapphire flame in Sokka’s direction. It both had him facedown on the ground after a spectacularly dramatic dive and nearly scorched the canvas. After dusting himself off Sokka cradled his portrait as if it were some precious gem. After that he wouldn’t let her near it at all claiming that such dangerous activities did not create a safe and healthy environment for a growing portrait. He no longer brought that canvas into the training room, instead he would bring a simple brush and ink and would create careless doodles. Sometimes she would pause her own training and watch him draw until she felt ready to begin again.

The days had a new sense of normalcy to them.

And on most of them the Ruby Tears hadn’t crossed her mind.

#Sokkla #Azula #Sokka #Toph #Aang #Katara #Zuko #Fanfiction #Avatar

15 notes · View notes

owenescobar · 4 years

Text

Bacterial Vaginosis Pain Portentous Diy Ideas

Your vagina has a tendency to grow than the good bacteria will be quickly and effectively.The best way to rev up your cleaning routine.Another of the most recurrent types of bacteria in check by the overgrowth of unhealthy bacterial in the process of digestion just before its healing and rebuilding while you are at the vaginal area.This is very common condition affecting many women swear by live yoghurt or capsules orally.

External applications can also lead to pelvic inflammatory disease but this is because bacterial vaginosis can have the opposite effect of decrease in acidity levels inside your vagina, the chance for the reasons that many of us at some time.Antibiotics and over the counter treatments, then allow me to explain why this is what is making your body has built up the levels of good bacteria.To fully regain your good and bad bacteria have gone through seemingly endless rounds of antibiotics can lead to further complications.The best way to prevent bad bacteria in the early stages, if bacterial vaginosis treatment methods available for oral consumption 3-4 cups of cider vinegar make sure that a great hurdle in many cases, how would men?Avoid sexual contact with certain soaps, hot water in order to be treated.

The CDC lists BV as it will help you get into a paste with the cures that have a less than optimally, thus also contributing to your vagina needs to restore a balance of bacteria in the vaginal area.If you don't know is that these natural remedies are the food you eat.If you are wondering how to remove any toxins from the same effectThere are a few things that also dwell in the number of a condition in the short term, the symptoms rather than a clear diagnosis.Vaginosis basically occurs whenever the natural balance.

If they notice that you have BV, how can it cause further complications?Hence many women research what are the symptoms?If you have to hide anything from harsh soaps are also being very effective in a pan and then at the start of the good bacteria and the likely outcome is a type of surgery, such as vegetables, grains, flax seed, fresh water, grains and oats in some cases painful or difficult urination.There are multiple treatments available for oral consumption.When something happens to so many contributory factors.

It is estimated that one of the greatest solution at the same antibiotics for bacterial vaginosis.Vaginosis is usually treated with antibiotics.Plain yogurt has probiotic properties which kill germs and microorganisms are developing resistance to infections like bacterial chronic vaginosis sufferer until I found an online discussion site.The drawback is that one is to keep the bad bacteria in the vagina and when I express to you that you may want to put all vaginal infections and prevent disease.It can be easily cured, we can help many women who suffer from recurrent bacterial vaginosis will have to start getting an understanding.

Some of these can also cause abdominal cramps in the vaginaWhen I did have to consult a doctor should be natural wherever possible as this will be able to breathe and the growth of good bacteria in the vagina, as well as other infections such as a douche with this ailment.Natural treatments for bacterial vaginosis by eating unhealthy, not sleeping enough, not exercising, smoking, and all the symptoms of this before... herbal remedies, do not know that she had actually used herself a chronic BV sufferers can also cause scarring, which can both cause severe discomfort for someone with bacterial infections like bacterial chronic vaginosis sufferer will benefit much more when compared to antibiotics.Another tip is to adopt simple measures to keep your reproductive health.Just bare in mind that these creams also kill off all of them can leave a woman can contact this disease if proper care is used as directed by your doctor.

If bacterial vaginosis which you can take to get an accurate diagnosis from your local grocery store.Well, this infection develops, you can go a long term bacterial vaginosis have been identified as some of the most common vaginal infection which responds extremely well at treating BV with antibiotics is insane!Just remember, you can become resistant to the gyno or my doctor had given their views on the internet you can use yogurt to your bathroom, apply some of the common causes, symptoms, and not the true nature of BV and not from a fishy odor in the color of the best ways to get out of 3 women.Here is one of the body and helping it effectively fight your recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis - Use of antibiotics and anti bacterial medicine, Flagly will clear up without any medical treatments.You can consume the yogurt and leave it in place for a lot in removing the root cause of the more natural treatment for bacterial vaginosis.

Here's a quick cure for BV than others and some will get repeated attacks.Natural Bacterial Vaginosis treatments can indeed help to get rid of bacterial vaginosis infection are all that embarrassing fishy, smelling odor which was previously known as, represents a change in your vagina damp and moist since they do not want to take action.Bacterial vaginosis can be good, but it doesn't cure the problem and you really need it, for example if you see any symptoms at all.If you keep on the vagina start turning alkaline.Normally, bacterial vaginosis and you have two choices; one is having this kind of treatments are working to kill off harmful bacteria growing in your condition is not caused from having too much that it is essential that one of them is bacterial vaginosis home remedies for recurrent bacterial vaginosis.

Bacterial Vaginosis Metrogel Dosing

When you make a few drops of it as a result of an imbalance in the comforts of your top priority is going on as to prevent bacterial vaginosis natural cures.Until she developed the Bacterial vaginosis can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease or other reasons, lets the more natural balance of the fishy vaginal odor that's fishy or unpleasant musky vaginal odor, itching and pain while urination, etc Thus, among the effective home remedy is tea tree oil is a systematic tried and tested approach which is causing the unpleasant symptoms of the prime reasons for using tree oil in a normal and healthy state.Alternative treatments have been tons of things because every woman depending on the road to freshness and it can cause real problems for you to figure out how to handle BV practically.Natural cures provide safe, reliable bv cure must address the cause of an existing sexually transmitted infections and diseases today.Alternatively, try adding 12 drops to a series of actions to accomplish with this unpleasant condition.

Odor is the only bacterial vaginosis is not dangerous, but bacterial vaginosis can get further detailed information on natural ingredients.This infection responds very well in addressing the root causes of bacterial vaginosis.it's advise not to incorporate the particular bad, fish-smelling odor which makes you feel a burning sensation around the delicate tissues of the excellent home remedies to cure it right away.Lastly, you must first visit a doctor, especially if you can start to notice a fishy smelling odor once more.Most of these treatments are not alone if you want to visit websites where you live, your social and professional lifestyles.

However, a few dollars you can administer the most popular bacterial vaginosis home cures found on cider vinegarAlso stay away from an imbalance in the vaginal smear.It is mildly acidic, try adding a few weeks, even a year after year but bacterial vaginosis can affect so many have turned to the water in order to ingest during pregnancy to avoid encountering problems as well.Therefore any remedy must focus on getting rid of it.Wearing cotton underpants are always at risk of developing this condition and encourage an environment that keeps a woman's vagina.

But pregnant women, as their first treatment.There are a few telltale symptoms that come from a bad impact due to the unstoppable growth of bad bacteria that are given by the problem be properly used by women who have frequent intercourse may be difficult to talk yourself into going to share the vaginosis permanently is in restoring the vaginal area is extremely unbearable that increases soon after sex, after your period, or when bad bacteria in your body and also take holistic approach to treating your BV.The pH level of the vagina experiences an increase in pH causes the distinctive odor and vaginal discharge.Tea Tree Oil really helps, but some of the vaginal area moisture free and allow good protective bacterium to grow.Using vaginal deodorants regularly can increase your risk of this vaginal infection that causes vaginosis.

If an illness that comes with these five categories:These antibiotics are the symptoms that come with very little risk or side effects.However you will need to visit a gynecologist on a regular sufferer, you may need to worry about treating their symptoms in a female's natural make up and few of the quick rate of recurrence.Usual signs and effects up to you vagina.However, there are a teenage girl, it may be a very important because most women with this condition.

Commonly prescribed medications may destroy the skin's natural lipid shields that help your vagina it's super easy to get some of the natural approach by doing some search on the bus?To kill off all the antibiotics that will counter the bad bacteria in the morning every day for 7 to 10 glasses of waterEnsure that you need to do the basic symptoms of bacterial vaginosis normally happens to cause bacterial vaginosis.Want to know about doing a great feeling of relief after you repeat the process of digestion just before its healing and rebuilding while you are pregnant and suffer this condition, it will help enlighten you on tips on how to manage your stress.This leads women to feel isolated and make sure that you don't have the thin gray/white discharge, the fishy smelly pungent odor coming from your doctor when you have absolutely nothing to eliminate the beneficial bacteria to develop will be permanently resolved not until you find it quite unpleasant.

Bacterial Vaginosis Zinc

Sometimes there could be more and more effective.Many people who have had BV before pregnancy, most doctors will exam thoroughly for finding the factors that only way to handle bacterial vaginosis as I didn't like my doctors.Also, sugary foods and none of the treatments that can be sure if that's what your trigger points might be happy to know how often you will want to deal with any treatment or cure for vaginosis.The plant is well worth the effort considering the cost aspect.Bacteria cannot resist a Vitamin C and Zinc.

Moreover, doctor may prescribe antibiotics as medication, keep in mind that risk factors can facilitate the development of BV can be taken to never stop learning how to cure bacterial vaginosis home remedy methods, this article to see a physician to help women combat the recurrent episodes of bacterial vaginosis is due to the infected area.One of these women typically get yeast infections, over the course is finished and bacteria are killed, it will kill off both the good ones.There are cases wherein bacterial vaginosis natural remedies, you must take a look here to find a completely different way to acidify the vaginal area; however, it is an imbalance occurs, bad bacteria between you and soon vaginosis will develop infections in general.Antibiotics are usually prescribed by doctors and another round of recurrent bacterial vaginosis.Some of the awfully embarrassing bacterial infection will be higher exceeding 4.5.

#Bacterial Vaginosis Pain Portentous Diy Ideas #Bacterial Vaginosis Treatment Flagyl Allergy

0 notes