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apomaro-mellow · 1 year

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okay yall convinced me to continue this

Eddie looked around and all he saw was black. Was this what death was like? He expected more people. But maybe death was just solitude. Then all of a sudden he wasn't alone.

He jumped back when he came face to face with, himself.

"What the fuck?"

His mirror image looked back and smirked. Then looked down at his hands.

"Finally."

"What the hell is going on here? Where am I? W-we?"

"Vecna is putting us back together. We can see everyone again soon."

"You mean...I'm not dead?"

"Oh we're very much alive. In fact, I'd say we're better than before."

As his mirror said that, Eddie felt a new energy thrumming in his veins.

"Why? Why would Vecna do this, I was tryina kill that bastard!"

"He wants something in return. To use us against them."

"Like hell that's gonna happen. I-"

"Didn't let myself get chomped on just so I could be used by an actual murderer."

"How did you-"

"Is it not obvious? I'm still you. But I'm the parts he wants to use. The part that's afraid of Vecna. Afraid of the world for seeing us for what we are. And angry at our lot in life. And ashamed for how we feel."

Eddie didn't respond. It was all a lot to take in. When his other self mentioned shame for feeling something, a certain face popped into his head.

"We're going to see him again. And this time, I'm going to take what I want."

"You put a hand on him and-" Eddie stopped himself. Not only did he feel pretty powerless here, he was never that good at restraining his own actions. "You touch him and he'll kick your ass."

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

After his little stunt, Eddie/Kas found themselves tied up again, this time in Steve's garage. And this time with chains (duct tape boys? really?). Nancy also made sure his legs were chained to the chair and had a shotgun trained on him the whole time they talked.

"We're all sure he's real?", she asked, nudging his cheek with her barrel. She was the only one here to actually experience Vecna's illusions besides Max. She knew how convincing they could be.

"He's real", Jonathan said, a lighter ready just in case. "Steve and the others said so."

Nancy rifled through all the information she got when she received the code red. Something that looked like Eddie had returned. But it was very obviously NOT Eddie. Stronger, faster, more durable. And apparently was receiving orders directly from Vecna. He also apparently had a craving for flesh, having busted into the meat locker of a deli before being found.

"What's your game this time? Use our friend's face to trick us?", she questioned.

"Heh, it really warms our heart that you call us 'friend'. Guess quality time over quantity, huh?" He was smiling, like none of this was a threat to him. Knowing creatures of the Upside Down, it would take more than one bullet, but Nancy had plenty.

"I believe I laid down my terms with the others pretty clearly. I'll follow your rules, so long as Steve is the one to watch me."

"Why Steve?", Jonathan asked.

Kas grinned at him. "Steve's my favorite."

"Oh my god, shut up, shut up, shut up", Eddie lamented from their shared mental space.

While Nancy and Jonathan were handling that situation in the garage, Steve was trying to get a grip on what was happening in his house. They were practically running up the walls.

"Steve you don't understand!", Dustin exclaimed. "This is huge!"

"I don't see how a monster posing as Eddie is huge?"

"But they're not just posing. It IS Eddie", Mike said.

"We don't know that. Not until Nancy confirms it."

Will rolled his eyes. "Oh like she'd know. She talked to Eddie for what? A day?"

"Cut the sass. And if you can talk, you can move your hands." Steve handed Will the knife and pushed some peppers his way.

"The point is WE, you know the people who actually hung out with Eddie would know him better. We should be the ones interrogating him", Lucas said, actually doing his duty of buttering a casserole dish.

"The other point is we don't NEED to question him because we already know that it's actually Eddie", Dustin said. "Vecna wouldn't know who Kas is. Eddie's in there. And he's telling us that he's on our side."

"You remember what Max told us, right? Vecna gets in your head. He sees what you see, knows what you know." Steve took the dish from Lucas and poured some rice into it. "If he got to Eddie, then he knows what Eddie knows." When Will finished dicing, Steve took the knife and was about to wash it under running water when he heard someone approach.

"Is Mama Steve making dinner?"

Steve reacted first and thought second and the knife flew threw the air. Kas caught it easily and twirled the knife in his hand.

"Nice aim. Lemme guess, little league?"

Nancy and Jonathan were right behind him. Steve wanted to respond. Maybe ask 'what the hell? why isn't he tied up? Nancy where's your gun?' But the kids got to it first.

"Tell us everything!" Mike demanded.

Dustin started rallying off questions. "Are you actually Eddie? Just enhanced? Or like a split personality? Is it one that came naturally or one Vecna implanted? Is Eddie like inside of you? Can he come out?"

"All in due time", Kas said, walking by them all to get to Steve, who once again looked like a deer with a car coming straight on.

"We struck a deal, princess. Looks like we're roomies."

There was still at least a foot separating them yet Steve felt boxed in. It was the same sensation he got whenever Eddie talked to him and only him, but intensified.

"Umm, hope you like chicken and rice?"

Internally, Eddie was falling to his knees. Steve's cooking, Steve in the process of cooking, with his little chickadees orbiting him. It was a domestic scene too much for his pining heart and he was actually glad right now that he wasn't holding the reins. Falling to his knees for chicken and rice wasn't the best look for a metalhead.

"Eddie would love some", Kas said cooly.

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

Dinner was an odd affair. All of them trying to figure out Kas in their own way. Dustin and Mike with their blatant questions, Lucas telling them to cool it, Nancy with her more subtle line of questioning, Will trying to see if he could feel anything, and Jonathan trying to see if Will was effected.

Steve was the only one pointedly trying to ignore the man which was very difficult given that he was doing everything in his power to get his attention. His favorite move seemed to be nudging Steve's foot with his own, causing Steve to bump his knee against the table at least three times.

Eddie wanted to roll into a hole and die. He especially wanted to do so when Kas started eyeing Steve's leg, because he knew what was coming.

"No, absolutely not. He let you get away with this much. But he will rip of your hand for this", Eddie said.

"I think he'd let us get away with much more." So Kas went ahead and put his hand on Steve's thigh, making him jolt up from his chair.

So yeah, quite the interesting dinner.

After eating, they figured out a rotation schedule for watching him. Technically Steve was only on the schedule for six hours a day. But considering Kas would be at his house the entire time, they'd be spending a lot more time together.

The rest of them were getting ready to leave so that they could check in with the others, but Nancy hung back to talk to Steve semi-privately.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?"

Steve glanced at the mysterious figure that was masquerading as Eddie, who was openly leering at him while ignoring the children.

"I'll be..uh, I can hang in there Nance, don't worry."

Then everyone else left, leaving the two of them alone. Steve felt a little like caged prey. But he also felt like this version of Eddie wouldn't hurt him. Not physically at least. But that left other things to do to him and Steve was afraid to go down that rabbit hole of possibilities.

"It's just you and me, Steve."

Part 3A More plotty, fluffy, bit of angst

Part 3B Less plotty, more smutty

Tag team:

@jestyzesty

@mightbeasleep

@findafight

@spooky-mulders

#apo writes #stranger things #fanfiction #steddie #kas!eddie #the party #yall are a pretty convincing crowd #just went ahead and tagged peeps who seemed interested #hope that was okay

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andreal831 · 9 months

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Rebekah Mikaelson is the strongest vampire

This statement always starts arguments, most of them coming from societal misogyny.

The Original vampires are the strongest vampires (we are only talking about regular vampires). We are told by TVDU lore that a vampire's strength is determined by age or diet. These are the only factors that are ever stated in the show to affect their strength.

Now we don't see any of the other original vampires turned, but from the flashback, it appears Rebekah is the very first ever created vampire. This would give her vampire age over her siblings, even if just minutes, giving her a slight edge. Human age does not matter, only vampire age.

People will inevitably always try to say, oh but Klaus. This is only talking about vampires. As a hybrid, yes he is stronger. But for most of their life as a vampire, I would say no he's not. Whenever we see Klaus dagger his siblings, like with Kol, he physically overpowers them. But Rebekah, he emotionally tears her down to the point she doesn't even fight against him. Klaus is not a character who would shy away from physically overpowering a woman, even his own sister. While he does physically abuse her throughout their life, we don't see him overpower her in order to dagger her.

And here is where I think societal misogyny plays a part in the undervaluing of Rebekah's character.

The most common argument is that Kol and Elijah are somehow stronger. This has misogynistic undertones because of the hoops people jump through just to make her brothers stronger than her. While we never see Elijah and Rebekah or Kol and Rebekah face off in an actual fight, we do see Rebekah being held down by both Klaus and Elijah when she is cursed. People will argue that the curse gave her super strength or something, but again that's based on assumptions, not the show. It made her erratic but if Elijah was stronger, he still should have been able to hold her down himself. Elijah was able to restrain Kol numerous times when he helped Klaus dagger him. And Kol would have been fighting just as wildly as Rebekah to prevent being daggered again.

We do see hybrids have a boost because they still maintain their werewolf nature. So I've heard the argument that human strength plays a role in vampire strength. Again, this is based on made-up lore, not anything we see in the show. In fact, we see the opposite. Paul clearly has more muscles than Ian (I'm aware muscle doesn't automatically equal strength but it's really the only gauge we have and that's what everyone seems to be basing Kol's human strength on), yet because of their diet, Damon is still stronger. We also see that this can be made up relatively quickly when Ripper Stefan who has been drinking human blood for a much shorter time is still just as strong as Damon.

Additionally, we don't even see Kol as a teenage human. Who knows what his strength level is. We can assume being raised by Mikael he would have been trained to be a warrior, but we also know from history (and not the Euro-centric view the show tries to feed us) that Viking women, especially as they were colonizing new areas, were expected to be able to defend their homes and do a lot of physical labor. Rebekah would have been a lot stronger than the teenage girls we see today. So this assumption Kol was just stronger is only that, an assumption. And again, it is never said that human strength matters. Hybrids get an extra kick because they are still a werewolf. When the werewolf gets bound, they lose that advantage. When a human turns vampire, they are no longer human. If a vampire stopped working out, they wouldn't lose any strength, therefore, it doesn't function the same way as human strength. Also, this would likely mean Klaus was the weakest of all of them as a vampire since he wore a necklace to keep him physically weaker than the rest of them since he was a child.

This gets us into the next argument, that she's been daggered for a lot of her life so Elijah is stronger. I mostly see this argument to discredit Finn's strength. But, this would work in Rebekah's favor because we can kind of can tell from flashbacks that Rebekah has been daggered for less time than Kol, so she would be stronger than him. However, from what we are shown, daggering only slows them down slightly because they haven't been drinking blood. When all of the siblings are released, Klaus still fears them. When Elijah is released after months, he still holds his own against Klaus. When Rebekah is daggered by the Strix, she is able to take on a whole group of some of the oldest and best-fighting vampires (something Elijah struggled to do at full strength).

We clearly see Rebekah not only overpower other vampires, but we see she is a strong fighter. We never once see Kol actually fight. We only see him go against the Mystic Falls gang (and lose). So nothing in the show suggests Kol would be stronger than Rebekah.

And by this logic, Elijah would not be stronger either. Yes, I think he is a better fighter and would win in a fight inevitably. But only because of his fighting skills.

The only argument I accept is potentially about Mikael. But even his extra strength makes little to no sense to me. Besides we see Elijah and Klaus both overpower Mikael on different occasions.

So at the least, they are all even in strength, but at most, Rebekah is stronger than her brothers.

At the end of it all, there is so much plot armor in the show, I don't usually like to argue strengths (how Damon and Stefan survived Season 2 and 3 makes no sense). But it does pose an interesting question, why is it so important for Kol or Elijah to be the most powerful to the extent that people will make up lore and wild assumptions just to get them there? To me, it is important that Rebekah is the strongest because, one, the show's lore backs it up, and two, we seldom get to see the strongest creature on a show be a woman. The show does so much to undervalue the women, I hate when the fandom does so as well.

#rebekah mikaelson #tvdu #the mikaelsons #the originals #the vampire diaries #tvd #elijah mikealson #klaus mikaelson #finn mikaelson #kol mikaelson #Rebekah never been killed mikaelson #at least her sireline is still intact #damon salvatore #stefan salvatore #hayley marshall

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veeluvss · 11 months

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pizza delivery

reader x team (you are jj’s sister)

based of an edit i saw on tiktok but also lonestar ml <3

>1k

"how about we spend our last night together having some fun darling?" johnny snarled, handing me the phone. "order pizza. you're paying. i want a large pepperoni and fries too. don't forget the garlic mayo," she said nonchalantly, taking a seat behind me. i nodded, fumbling with the phone and making sure he couldn't see the screen.

dialling JJ's number, the phone shook violently in my hand. i was risking a lot. johnny had his gun in my back. i was only ordering pizza. "hey y/n what's up?" jj answered, voice chirpy. "hi," i tried to keep my voice strong. "i'd like to order a pizza for delivery." she laughed down the phone, "a pizza? i think you've dialed the wrong number!" she laughed. i heard emily's voice in the background. then i heard the phone engage to speaker. "i don't think so," i told my sister. emily spoke then. "she sounds scared." i was petrified. "do you still have the cheesy crust?" i mumbled. "the address? sure." i told them the address, praying the team understood - even if JJ didn't.

jj's pov i felt sick to the stomach. morgan looked to me in the back of the car and began speeding off in that direction. i wanted to throw up. my sister. my baby. "y/n are you in danger?" emily asked, her hand resting on my leg. "is someone there making you feel like you can't speak freely?" morgan added. "that's right," she said.

i gulped, shaking my head. i put my head on emily's shoulder. "morgan drive faster god damn it," emily cursed him. "we understand y/n," morgan said. garcia spoke then but i was shaking with fear. "help us on the way." emily leaned over to the phone. "tell me, how many people are in the apartment?" "would a medium pepperoni be big enough for two people?" she muttered back. her voice wavering. i couldn't listen anymore but i had to.

your pov the gun prodded my back and whimpered. "what are you doing?" johnny snarled. "i asked for a large." "there's one other person with you, is that what i'm hearing?" morgan asked. "yes! that's right!" my voice went up, a glimmer of hope. they were coming. "you're doing great," emily praised me and i wanted to cry. why wasn't JJ speaking? where was she? i needed her to come too. "is the person threatening you armed?" i heard rossi ask. they told me to ask for extra pepperoni and my heart was beating harder. this was taking too long - far too long. "is this person known to you?" emily asked. "mhmm," JJ knows johnny. JJ knows how bad he was with me, no one else does. "a family member? a spouse or an ex?" "the last one," i whimpered, feeling the gun press further into my back. "how long are you going to be?" "we're 8 minutes out," derek told me and my heart plummeted. that was too much time. "ask for peppers if there is somewhere safe you can get to..." emily said. "no! definitely no peppers."

jj's pov. tears were streaming steadily down my face at this point. when garcia told us his name, i whimpered and cowered in my seat. i knew i should have done something about him when i had the chance. "two priors of aggravated assault," garcia said. "she had a permanent restraining order against him." "so this is his third strike, he's not going peacefully," morgan threatened. all i could think about was my sweet little sister, sobbing in my arms at his abuse. why didn't i do something sooner?

your pov "what the hell is taking so long?" johnny groaned, cocking the gun. i gulped. "sorry, they're just really bus-" "then call somewhere else!" he shouted, making me cower. "i'm starving!" i took a deep breath, "listen, i might have to cancel this order. my boyfriends getting kind of mad so.." "listen y/n, we'll be there in less than two minutes with swat." morgan told me and i felt some sort of relief. emily begged me to stay on, asking me to try my hardest and i agreed. i was still waiting to hear my sisters voice. that's the only hope i needed. morgan began asking me questions but suddenly the cloth forced itself around my mouth. i couldn't breath. "nice try, bitch." johnny snarled, snatching the phone from my hand. then, sweet saviour, i heard her. "johnny, where's y/n?" "she's right here," he laughed before hitting me. i groaned and cried. "please," i sobbed. "say hi to your friends," he laughed. i needed JJ. where the fuck was JJ.

jj's pov. "listen johnny," emily said, keeping her cool. i froze hearing her groans in pain. i'd heard them far too many times to know she was hurting. if she made noise, she was in unbearable pain and i needed to hold her. "the cops are already on their way. how this ends is up to you." "this only ends one way!" he shouted down the phone and i flinched. my baby sister. emily began explaining to johnny the situation and i felt so sick. suddenly, we pulled up outside. emily carried on talking, pretending not to know so he'd know. "shut up!" he screamed and i flinched everytime. "please, shut up!" he repeated. "what's going on johnny? talk to me," morgan said, getting into place. prentiss told me the plan and i nodded, quickly wiping my tears. "she ruined it!" johnny snarled. that's what dad used to say. "she always ruins it." "nothing is ruined. we can fix this okay?" rossi said and as we took our positions by the apartment. as soon as the trampoline was up, i shook like a leaf, clinging to emily- watching the window like a hawk. "how? how can we fix this?" i heard him say inside. then emily speak on the headset. "my grandmother always used to say, when a door closes, open a window..." she said. i hid my head in her shoulder. "you have to take a leap... of faith." just then, i saw her flash of blonde hair and voices raise. emily scrambled to the air bag as she scurried off it- taking my sister into her arms. "it's okay y/n." she said. "you're safe now." she then stepped aside and i took my baby sister into my arms. she clung to me the way she did when we were children. "i knew you'd understand," she cried into my shoulder. i only held her tighter, feeling relief and love and anger. my god. what a pizza delivery.

#criminal minds #criminal minds evolution #jennifer jareau #emily prentiss #emily prentiss head canons #emily prentiss x reader #jennifer jareau head canons #jennifer jareau x reader #jennifer jareau imagine #emily #jj x sister #jj sister #bau #behavioural analysis unit

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fanfiction-blep · 1 year

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Ghost: Part Three. Na’vi Miles Quaritch X Na’vi Fem/Reader.

Part one / Part two / Part Four / Part Five

Thank you for waiting! Hope you enjoy!

Warnings: Quaritch having barely any control over his tail at this point it has its own warning. Jealousy. Language. Unspoken tension. Mentions of violence, Talks of death, loss of a family member. This one is pretty chill.

Turns out Quaritch loved to fly. Ships didn’t cut it for him anymore, nothing would ever compare to flying his Ikran. He wanted nothing more than to spend hours out in the open air, but he had a mission. That wasn’t going to stop him though, the Colonel was a slick man. He always ends up getting his way. That’s why he was making his way down the winding corridors, the General had stated that (Y/N) was not to fly unattended. Quaritch would be dammed if he let that opportunity slide, she was his link to this planet, a planet he no longer hated. Whatever the feeling that replaced that hate was, it was something he couldn’t describe. Whatever it was he didn’t like it, but she could help him understand it, that was all he needed, he just had to understand this feeling. At least that's what he kept telling himself. He rounded the corner and saw Lyle and Z-dog standing by the clear door of (Y/N)’s cell, laughing.

“What ya think ya doin’?” The Colonel stopped in his tracks, he was out of (Y/N)’s line of sight. She could hear him clear as day though

“Nothin’ boss, the freak is talking to herself.” Lyle sniggered.

“Thought it was funny is all” Z-dog snorted, Quaritch had to restrain his reactions. He was able to stop his ears from falling back against his head, he could stop his teeth baring, but the word ‘freak’ in reference to (Y/N) made his tail swish and thrash irrationally.

“Well, I need her for some lessons. So beat it” he nodded in their direction motioning them to leave. Both of the recom marines sharing odd looks before turning and walking away. He opened the door and found (Y/N) on her knees, palms facing upwards and speaking lowly under her breath. The only words that he caught were ‘Eywa’ and ‘Txum’. “Hey there” he placed his hands on his hips. She looked up at him and it took his breath away. She looked, calm. Peaceful, and it struck him, he wasn’t sure what he was feeling, but he wanted some of that calm she seemed to find so easily.

“What do you want? come to mock me like your buddies?” She stood from her seated position and began adjusting her hair tying it back with a thin piece of twine.

“No.” It was a complete sentence, he had no issues with their jokes about the natives before this. He rationalised his irritation with odd logic. She wasn’t a native, she used to be a human. So it wasn’t right for them to speak about her the way they were. Deep down he knew that wasn’t the case. “I want more flying practice, and ya can teach me more of that Na’vi stuff.” It was a demand. He had done this over the last few days and she hadn’t really protested, other than the odd eye roll. He was already half way out the room when (Y/N) hissed in irritation. He didn’t turn around he only turned his head slightly to look at her. “Problem?”

“I am not one of your little soldiers that you can order around!” She snapped at him. He did turn around at her outburst.

“That’s for damn sure.” He sneered at her, almost spitting out his words “A soldier would accept orders.”

“I am not the obedient type.” she snorted her ears pulled back only slightly, her eyes warning him not to push. Her tail curled around her leg as he leaned in careful to keep his distance, nose still injured from their last altercation.

“That’s something ya should fix sweetheart.” His voice was low, threatening.

“Or what?” she did her best to return his threatening tone.

“Or, I’ll fix it for ya” the air was sucked out of her lungs, there was an unspoken tension between them now. It wasn’t a violent threat, she could tell because his tail was moving in a playful manner. They stood there for several moments, both their chest heaving slightly heavier than they should have been. It was his tail that broke the trance, ‘his damn tail!’ she thought, it stroked against her calf and moved its way up. Completely without his control, she didn’t know this. (Y/N) snapped into action, she pushed past him taking him off balance only slightly.

“Are we leaving or what?” The taller man grunted in response and headed towards to exit. They quickly found their way outside, (Y/N) jogging ahead slightly calling out to her Ikran. She took it all in, she wasn’t allowed outside often. Anytime they let her breath the fresh air she would treasure it. (Y/N)’s Ikran arrived sooner than the Colonel’s. This was for many reasons, Loyey was always close by ensuring she was there when she was needed. The Colonel was yet to form that deep bond with his own Ikran. The two climbed on their respective mounds and lifted into the air, (Y/N) taking the leave.

“You want ta tell me where we’re going?” he asked

“You want to learn, then you have to trust me.” she called out over the wind.

~*~

The two sat opposite each other, as they had so many times in recent weeks. Currently she was teaching him basic Na’vi.

“Sung?” it was more a question than a statement, he had gotten it wrong multiple times.

“Srung! Skxawng”

“Srung!” (Y/N) clapped pleased with his progress, almost proud of how quickly he was picking it up.

“Okay so this one is important” she looked up at him and stared directly into his eyes. “Oel ngati kameie” She felt almost bashful saying the words.

“Oe-l nagati kamie”

“No” she lowered her gaze and shook her head.

“What dose it mean anyways?” The space around them became slightly colder than normal, and the light from the sun began to dim. It was the best time of day, eclipse. She closed her eyes and took it in, breathing in the change in the environment around her. “(Y/N)?” she simply hummed in response. “What does Oel ngati kameie mean?” (Y/N)’s eyes shot open and smile covered her face.

“You said it right!” she gripped his biceps in excitement. He smirked down at her raising an eyebrow. (Y/N) pulled back and angry blush littered her cheeks, she had to get a hold of herself. He wasn’t like Jake, he didn’t want to learn because he cared. He wanted to learn so he had an advantage that her family wouldn’t see coming. Her heart told her something different. He didn’t have to learn the language, he had Spider and her to translate if it was needed. He might need her to learn to fly better, sure, but he was a true natural, he didn’t need any pointers from her. Yet at least once a day he would go to her cell and demand the same thing, he wanted to fly with her and have her teach him.

“(Y/N)? I won’t ask you again” Something about his words sent a shock down her spine.

“Right sorry. It means ‘I see you’”

“Well no shit! Why is that one important then?”

“Its not a literal statement, its spiritual. It means I see you, all of you, your heart, your mind, your soul. It means that I see you for who you are, respect and accept you in your entirety.” He was taken back, he was unsure of where to look. His eyes dancing between hers, his hands, or simply the forage around them.

“Bull-” was all he said, waiting for her to argue, but she didn’t. When he looked at her again, ready to meet her gaze, she was looking up at him with her large yellow eyes, eyes filled with understanding. Once again he didn’t know how to feel.

“You’re telling me you don’t feel it?” she asked. “You don’t feel how everything around you is alive? Aware?” He said nothing, and she took this as an invitation. “Come” she stood up and turned in the direction of the forest. She lead him in deeper and deeper. “I don’t trust you enough, to take you anywhere sacred.”

“So where are ya takin’ me?” He was intrigued, and stared down in awe. It was still dark, but he could see her clearly, the playful flicks of her tail, the open mouthed smile that spread joy across her whole face, the small shining spots that covered her body. Her eyes sparkled with the very essence of her emotions. ‘Is this what she was talkin’ about?’ he thought, ‘I see you’ Because he had never seen her like this inside those metal walls, no. Out here she was different, she was open and free. He was beginning to feel the same way. By the time she stopped, they were deep in the forest. Trees stretching far higher into the air than he had seen before, large leaves littered the trunks, small gecko looking creatures spun in the air.

She stepped backwards smiling at him and sat down, her legs crossed. She gestured for him to join her. He sat, watching her intently as she pulled her Queue. Quaritch mimicked her movements, she held out the sensitive branches at the end of her braid and connected them to the ground beneath her. Again he copied her movements. And that’s when he felt it, he felt like he was bathing in light. He felt everything around him, the trees next to him breathing in the carbon around them, the animals that were landing on the branches or plants that were way out of his line of sight. It was too much. He jumped up, almost falling back in his shock.

“What the-”

“Quaritch-”

“NO!” she flinched back from him stepping back ever so slightly. He had threatened her, he had manhandled her, but he had never yelled, no that was a scream. “What was that”

“You felt an echo, an echo of Eywa” he looked at her with nothing but anger and distrust. “You can try and say I am lying, but you felt it! something you could never have felt as a human. Everything is connected! You could connect with Eywa directly, but I don’t-” she paused.

“Yeah, ya don’t trust me.”

“How can I? You are only now starting to ‘see’ the beauty of this planet, yet are helping to destroy it.”

“I-”

“I have seen the struggle in you Quaritch, you feel drawn to her. To Eywa.”

“Don’t try to tell me what I am feelin’!” he warned. Sympathy filled her eyes.

“Please, just listen to me” He was agitated and distrusting. What he had felt made him question everything, everything that he had believed, everything that he had been taught about this planet was wrong. “I know your confused, It’s like a crisis of faith. I didn’t believe in Eywa, before-.” She paused swallowing hard. “Before Grace died, but her dying words were ‘she’s real, I am with her. I am with Eywa’ Grace was the most objective and fact ruled person that I have ever met, she was in her human body yet she connected with the great mother and she is with her now. I’ve seen her through the tree of souls” Quaritch rubbed his large hands over his face, he groaned. He couldn’t comprehend this. It was too much. He turned and tried retracing his steps back to the Ikran, he needed to get out of the forest. As he stormed away all he could think was if Jake Sully hadn’t helped kill him in his so called former life he wouldn’t have to contend with these emotions. He wouldn’t have to think about all this, feel this guilt or struggle. He hated him for this reason and this reason alone, his mission was a way for him to vent this anger without being questioned. (Y/N) said nothing, just followed behind him. He reached his Ikran and attempted to climb it, ready to head back to base. “Please, don’t make me go back yet” He paused, he had realised today just how painful it was for her to be trapped in that room. No connection to the world she loved so much and it tugged at him in a way that he wished more than anything it didn’t. He would sort that out later though. For now they would stay, he would give her this. He used the excuse mentally that he needed to conduct himself mentally before returning to his team.

“Fine, two more hours, that's it. Then we go back.” She smiled at him, only slightly, but she showed her appreciation. Her ears raised and her tail curled slightly upwards. She walked over to a more densely grassed covered area, and laid down. She let out a long breath.

“I wont teach you anything more today, I think I overwhelmed you, I am sorry.” He was sat down next to her not looking at her at all.

“Don’t worry about it, sweetheart. I’ve dealt with worse.” She chuckled slightly

“I do want ya ta teach me one more thing today” He looked at her then, expectedly. She leaned up on her elbow and stared at him with confusion. She hadn’t expected any of this. His eagerness to learn.

“What is it?” She asked and he lifted up his Queue and allowed the sensitive ends to wriggle in the open air.

“What is this thing? I know it allows me to connect to other things on Pandora but, I feel like there is more too it than that.”

“You’re right, the Na’vi use their Queue’s to bond with the world around them, the animals and Eywa. I’m sure the scientists explained how its connected to the base of the skull and brain?” She quizzed him unsure about how to approach the topic of mating with him. It shouldn’t be uncomfortable? It’s just information.

“Yeah taught us it would be real painful if it was cut off” The women grimaced at his words.

“That’s a very redundant way of explaining it”

“To cut someone’s Queue would be like cutting off a limb. It’s considered shameful for a Na’vi to be without his Queue, its his way to connect with the world around him and the people”

“People?” He was intrigued looking down at her own Queue. She held the end against her chest, almost defensively she could tell what he was thinking. His body language was easy to read.

“Yes, to connect to another Na’vi is sacred. It’s how Na’vi mate.”

“Mate?”

“Yes” She laughed at him. “They really didn’t explain any of this?” It shouldn’t have surprised her. The military had one goal with the recons, have the advantage. Unlike the Avatar program they weren’t supposed to assimilate.

“They just told us it was sensitive and to keep it safe really, not to use it on anything...”

“Making Tsaheylu, the bond with another person would be the equivalent of two humans getting married.” Quaritch froze. “It’s for life” her words struck him to his core, he knew Na’vi lived their lives with partners but he didn’t realise it was something that was so deeply spiritual, but he couldn’t help the almost crude question that left his mouth.

“So Na’vi only marry and have sex with one person for their whole lives” He scoffed. “Prudes” (Y/N) laughed and even rolled on her side from the laughter. She leaned up and sat up facing him bracing her weight on her hands.

“They really taught you nothing” he raised an eyebrow, it was a taunting look. encouraging her to explain. “Sex is different to Mating. Having sex outside of a bond is frowned upon but not forbidden. However making the bond with another person is a serious commitment, it changes you. You become connected to that person in every way, you see them.” He was silent taking in the information. “And you can bond with several people but one relationship doesn't end to start another. Polyamory is a common practice amongst the people, but each mate is a commitment and you are responsible for them in every way. Each partner is responsible to make sure their mate is safe, happy, healthy all of the normal relationship stuff. It’s just that most Na’vi choose to be bonded to one mate. The first person you make Tsaheylu, well some people have said that that one person makes everyone else seem like background noise.” Quaritch had been quiet the whole time, he hadn’t interrupted her, until his next question.

“Did Sully tell you that? The background noise thing?”

“Damn, you’re obsessed with him. Next you’re going to ask me if he’s good in bed.” Quaritch’s spine straightened and an unforeseen amount of shock was displayed on his face.

“How would ya know that?” He was furious, he didn’t know why. The women began rolling around the grass laughing again. “Stop laughing and answer me” she didn’t “Don’t make me tell ya again or so help me i will throw you over my shoulder and we’ll head back to base.” she tried her best to calm down, raising her left hand in hopes that he would give her time.

“I- Don’t” she gasped out “But I wanted to see you’re face.” she let out several long breaths and gasped in air. He watched her, her cheeks flushed, eyes closed, and chest heaving. His own face began to burn and he threw his head up looking away from her.

“Not funny, at all” he said

“It was a little bit” she indicated this with her thumb and pointer finger. He still wasn’t looking at her when he asked the next question, one that took her off guard.

“So you’ve never slept with anyone in your Na’vi body?” she paused. This was rather blunt of him. It was an invasive question and she wasn’t sure how to respond to it.

“That’s a personal question.” She started playing with loose fabric around her ankles. Not wanting to meet his gaze.

“Ya right, I’m sorry” he then smirked “Guess I’ve got to call ya virgin now?” he was laughing trying to take his mind off the rage he felt from those two seconds where he thought she had slept with that man.

“Really?” she gaped at him in shock and slapped at his biceps. “You’re one crude, crude man”

“Well ya ain’t denying it”

“Is that what you want? me to tell you whether or not I've slept with someone in this body?”

“You don’t have to tell me nothin’ princess, but I can tell either way, you haven’t been fucked right in a long time” she was stunned, she had no idea how to respond.

“Is that so”

“Yep” He was curt, and didn’t want to press any further.

There was a silence between them, somehow his words kept having this effect on her the way he spoke sent shivers down her spine, and she liked it, but she didn’t know what to say. So she blurted out the first thing that came to her mind.

“I slept with Norm” Quaritch’s head snapped to look at her, he was furious again.

“The limp dick science major that tailed ya, Sully and ya sister?” His anger thrilled her, she wanted to respond with. ‘Not so limp dicked’ but she knew she would push him too far and she didn’t know how to respond. He shook his head, he was muttering under his breath, but he refused to meet her eye.

“It was a one time thing if that means anything to you” (Y/N) tried to act casual shrugging her shoulders.

“Okay?” he stood up “Ya gonna tell me you mated with the idiot as well?” he turned around and started walking over to his Ikran. (Y/N) scrambling to keep up with him.

“No? of course not, that’s not something I would do casually.”

“Well clearly there’s a lot ya do casually, like taking men into the woods, is that how ya did it? Snuck into the woods and let him fuck ya?” She was hurt by his words. It didn’t matter how or why it happened, he was humiliating her and shaming her for it, and that wasn’t okay. She wanted to scream at him ‘fuck you’ but she knew that he would say something worse. He was already in the air flying in the direction of the base when she found herself on her own Ikran. Not a word was spoken when they arrived back, night had fallen by this time. He simply stomped behind her. When they reached her cell, he didn’t say goodbye or make a comment like he normally would, he simply locked the door and left her there in shock at his behaviour. Why was he so angry? Even he didn’t know, and he hated not knowing. On his way back to his own quarters he ran into Lyle and was greeted with jeers and laughter. Lyle has spider held tightly in his grip

“Did you have a good time out there Colonel?”

“What?” He knew what they were implying but he needed them to say it, he needed to hit something

"What are you doing with the kid?" He quizzed.

"The General had some questions, since you were busy" He threw a wink at Quaritch, the act grinding down on his already thin patience . "So we interrogated the kids" He looked down at the boy, his head was hung low. He looked tired and filled with anger. "So did you?" Lyle asked, slightly confused at the Colonels behaviour.

"What?" He asked again.

“Did you get some ass? Cus if you can than any of us have a chan-” Lyle was cut off by a strong angry blow to the face. One, that is all it took. And the recom was laying on his ass, hands to his face. “What the fu-” The blow had caused Lyle to drop Spider from his grasp. Quaritch catching him before he hit the floor.

"Show some fuckin’ respect lieutenant, I am your superior” Lyle nodded in response. "Take the kid back to his room, Not a scratch. Understood?" Lyle nodded again and moved out of the way allowing the Colonel to walk into his room, slamming the door in anger. Sitting down on his bed changing into his sleep cloths. As he laid there trying to sleep he realised. That what he felt wasn’t just anger it was jealously. He didn’t understand why, and Lyle? Well he realised that Lyle was saying in no certain terms what he had said to her face. And hearing the words repeated back to him he was pissed. He had acted like and ass and he needed to make amends. Groaning Quaritch rubbed his hands over his face. His now not causing pain at contact, He needed to figure out why the fuck the idea of her sleeping with someone pissed him off so much. He wasn’t the kind of person to judge people for being sexually active, he knew that wasn’t the case. After a period of time, he gave in and admitted to himself what he didn’t want too. The idea of her sleeping with anyone let alone Norm enraged him, because he wanted to be the only one. The only one to touch her. But he knew she would never have him, she would never see him.

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#(y/n #avatar #avatar 2 #avatar the way of water #colonel quaritch #miles quaritch #miles quaritch smut #na’vi #na’vi quaritch #reader insert #na'vi miles quaritch series #miles quaritch x reader #smut

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theinnerunderrain · 1 year

Text

Exchanges between Women [Yan! Scaramouche x Fem! Reader]

Warnings: Yandere themes, unconsenual kissing, deception, implications of violence, slightly suggestive content towards the end.

The Raiden Shogun was uncertain of why she had opted to keep Kunikuzushi alive, let alone assign him a name.

He emerged as a result of constructing the Shogun. She could be beginning to feel indebted to him in some way, but she restrained from attempting to control him. Perhaps that's the reason she's enabling him to stay in her residence for so long and why she's postponing implementing Miko's advice to get rid of him.

She likewise felt a twinge of guilt after witnessing him establish friendships with a young woman from the Kamisato clan, despite the fact that she knew he was too frail to handle the responsibilities of the Shogun and really had no purpose of being brought to existence. But it was too early to make any quick judgments; perhaps she'll give him a little more time to appreciate his tranquillity, or perhaps that's what she constantly tells herself.

He is harmless in any case, so there is no reason to subject him to suffering.

Given his incredibly mild nature, which prevented him from expressing any desires or demands, this was the first time in his brief life that he had ever desired for anything. She thought that if he could build a relationship outside of his comfort zone, he could be more than capable of taking care of himself. She therefore permitted him to pose as a young woman and don the attire of a lady of Inazuma because he claimed that this was the only method a timid woman like you would let him get near to you.

He was correct, despite the fact that his morals appear a little skewed. He may not yet have a firm understanding of what is good and wrong, and morality isn't her strong suit considering her understanding of it did fade over time.

The two of you got overly close after a few get-togethers and playdates. In the view of the general public, they would appear to be two close friends, but Shogun knew better and couldn't shake off that strange feeling. Kunikuzushi had a pretty physique, making it much simpler for him to abruptly pose as a woman, thus it was almost convincing.

Maybe she should halt this play before it develops into something much worse that she would later regret.

It should be fine. He's harmless.

Ei stopped at the door, positioned her delicate fingers on the doorknob, and eased it a little bit open, breathing out an unintentional sigh. It has been a few hours, so it was time for you to end this date of yours and return home. However, what she saw beyond the doorway made her shiver—you and the puppet were both nodding off against the chair. The indigo-haired man was dozing off in your lap, his dark hair spilling over the edge of your lap as you sat erect with your eyes closed. She was aware of Kunikuzushi's partiality toward you, but she may not have foreseen the extent to which he would develop feelings for you.

No, it was her fault. She should have known a fragile being such as Kunikuzushi would end up developing some sort of attachment towards others sooner or later.

Maybe she's just overthinking?

You both must have slept off after sipping some tea. Maybe it's best if she returns later, there's no point in disturbing your peace.

Ei peeks through the door's opening once more as she prepares to seal it, but as she does, she is diverted by the sound of faint shuffling. In order to get up, Kunikuzushi lifted himself off your knee, positioned himself against your lap, and leaned a little too close to you for the Shogun to consider it appropriate. She was aware that you only permitted him to approach you so closely because you believed he was a woman. Perhaps she even felt a little bad for letting him fool you in that way.

What is he…?

Your cheeks are pinched between Kunikuzushi's fingers as he chuckles lightly, causing you to squirm and turn in your sleep due to the intense discomfort.

What a mischievous child. Quite rude to be doing that to someone who's sleeping.

The Shogun let out a further sigh as she prepared to enter the room and reprimand the puppet for his uncivil behaviour and demand that he leave you alone. But once more, the Shogun comes to a stop as she observes in astonishment as Kunikuzushi leans so near to your face that his nose was practically brushing over the side of your flesh.

It was her first time seeing him allowing himself to be vulnerable to others.

He appears to study at your face before descending to give you a chaste kiss on the lips while trying to incline his head so that your lips may fit together more pleasantly. The sight was illuminated by the sunlight filtering through the drapes, which Shogun thought was reminiscent of the lovely Sakuras that would frequently bloom in spring. If it had been carried out with her approval rather than without, she would have felt it was a superb picture. She was aware of how repulsed you would be if you ever learned that a man had polluted you, given that you weren't married to him.

Poor child.

Kunikuzushi leans back and carefully traces the contour of your face with his fingertips up to your cheekbones, ending behind your ears. As he drew you closer for a second kiss, he this time put his tongue in between your lips, licked the inside of your mouth, and then chewed on your bottom lips. His eyes were half closed and his face was a bright scarlet, and when his other hand slid under your kimono, Ei couldn't help it but uttered his name.

"... Kunikuzushi."

When the Raiden stepped back, she unintentionally bumped up against the door, causing Kunikuzushi to break off his kiss and gaze at the entrance. As if he were a predator discovering his prey, his eyes appeared to turn gloomy and ominous. Both of them made eye contact, with Kunikuzushi appearing to glare at her—surprising given his generally reserved demeanour. He appeared to have been caught red-handed when his hands slipped out of your kimono, but he made no effort to apologise or explain himself.

He doesn't understand his actions were wrong.

Kunikuzushi maintains his fixed gaze on Raiden before making the shush gesture with his lips and fingers. In fear that you might wake up and realise your predicament, perhaps even causing you to lose your temper and become despondent, Raiden made no attempt to move.

No, he knows that his actions were one of sin.

Yet he doesn't care.

After all, perhaps she ought to have listened to Miko.

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am-i-the-asshole-official · 6 months

Note

WIBTA for kicking someone out of my D&D campaign for reasons not entirely related to the game?

This is long but the context is important I swear.

About a year ago, I (30X) tried to assemble a D&D group with my coworkers. After a whole lot of fucking around, the guy who was going to DM moving across the country, and a bunch of people quitting or getting fired, it ended up being me as the DM, my brother, a few other people who I met through a different campaign, and one guy who used to work with me.

This guy, J (23M), had a lot of personal problems when he worked for us, most of which contributed to him being let go. He had a lot of family issues that led to him missing a lot of work (and I mean A Lot. We have a Very good PTO system for the US that basically amounts to accruing one day off for every 50 hours you work, earning more the longer you stay with the company, and more allowance for attendance infractions than any company I've ever heard of in the states). He also had a lot of interpersonal issues with some of the employees, one in particular, K (21F), with whom he had some kind of situationship. I try not to get involved in work drama, so I don't know all the details.

J also has issues with money, transportation, and depression/suicidal tendencies. I'm not judging him for any of those, as I have experience with them as well, but he has been leaning on me pretty heavily around every time we hang out to play D&D. I would cover his 120$+ Uber rides home, which he would sometimes pay me back but sometimes not (if I couldn't afford it once a month, I wouldn't do it, but he insists he's going to pay me back; since he has lost yet another job I am not expecting it at all and don't hold it against him really, but I do think it's kind of shitty to insist you're going to when you clearly won't be able to), pay for his food, work with my family members to get him home, and let him crash at my house to avoid ordering an Uber. He also messaged me when he was feeling suicidal - bad enough to be institutionalized after I sent him the number for the suicide hotline. Again, no judgement, but it made me uncomfortable because I struggle with the same things. He seemed bothered that I told him I wasn't able to talk him through it, but that may have just been the crisis talking.

After all that, we come to a game session that involves more than just navigating dangerous spaces and fighting off wild animals. The rest of the party does fine, but J really botches the social interaction part, despite everyone telling him what he's doing is a bad idea and me doing my best as a DM to communicate that he should change tactics. He does not change tactics and instead doubles down and goes full murderhobo, which is not the kind of player I'm interested in playing with, something I thought J understood from previous conversations.

My original plan was to say something to the table at our next session about removing themselves from the game if the themes weren't something they were interested in engaging with, but then I get some additional info today about J and K.

Apparently J has been incredibly possessive towards K - someone who, again, he was not dating in any meaningful capacity - for weeks or months, to the point that she has blocked him on social media off and on. And then this past week, J has sent her screenshots of her location, contacted her ex who she still lives with for logistical reasons, made him upset to the point that K thought he was going to kick her out of his apartment, and harassed K's brother to try to get her to talk to him again. K is seriously considering taking out a restraining order against him at this point. J has also been updating his social media to imply that he is going to kill himself.

To say this behavior raises some red flags is an understatement. Clearly J needs help, but as a regular guy, that's really not something I'm able to provide beyond sending mental health hotlines, and I don't feel comfortable being his support system in the way he obviously needs.

All that said, I feel like I might be an asshole for kicking him out of the campaign full stop, because he's been really excited to play this whole time. But the combination of all this really worrisome, potentially dangerous behavior and the mundane reality of him just being a really annoying player kind of has me at my wits end, so, WIBTA?

What are these acronyms?

#aita #am i the asshole #suicide cw

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scentedstrangercreation · 1 year

Text

An Indecent Proposal

Absolutely self-indulgent fluff. Fake proposal trope 🤡

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

The wrench slipped from Garrus’ hand, bouncing off the thanix’s compressors and sliding beneath the cannon.

“Dammit.”

He crouched down and sprawled onto his back to slide under the battery. The opening was too narrow for his carapace, so he could only lean against it and stretch out his arm. His talons just barely grazed the tip of the wrench, spinning it hopelessly in place. Garrus sighed, tapping his head against the cannon’s base. His omnitool pinged on the opposite arm. He turned his head and watched the red light blink in its slow, deliberate rhythm. There was no point in checking who it was from. He’d only just spoken to his father yesterday, and the message had been clear: It’s time to stop playing mercenary and come home. There was a position ready for him on Palaven, a good service role. One that would make his family proud. The past few years would be forgotten—the Normandy, his time on Omega, Cerberus. Even the battle at the Citadel was becoming a distant memory everyone wanted buried. The bottom line was that the council wanted to move on—and Shepard was becoming a liability. The light pulsed again. He wasn’t sure why he bothered putting off his response. Turians didn’t make requests. Garrus was being given an order—an opportunity—and there was only one answer. Yes, sir. The door to the battery hissed open. “Garrus?” Shepard entered the room and the door shut behind her. He tried to sit up, forgetting his arm was still jammed beneath the Thanix, and slammed into the steaming pipes, “Spirits,” he grunted, extracting his arm. “Sleeping on the job?” Shepard crouched down beside him. “We didn’t all get a palatial suite.” He squinted up into the light as Shepard came into focus above him. “How’s the face holding up?” she gestured around her jaw. Garrus sat up, touching the bandages around his face. “Don’t worry. I’ll still be pretty.” “Thank god.” She offered her hand and he pulled himself up, “Wouldn't want you scaring the children.” He should have laughed, said something quippy back, but he was out of practice. Instead, he just stared at her for a minute in silence. He still wasn’t used to it—to her. Shepard was here. She was alive. He didn’t like thinking about it too much. Part of him was worried that if he wasn’t careful, he might wake up. Garrus shook the thought from his mind and cleared his throat, “What do you need?” Shepard held up a data pad, “Just wanted to go over—” Garrus’ omnitool pinged three times in quick succession. “You need to take that?” “At some point.” he dismissed the messages without looking. She looked at him curiously, but didn’t say anything. “It’s—nothing. Just…” he’d have to tell her eventually. He just wasn’t sure when…or how. She tapped the data pad against her leg and tilted her head slightly. He could tell she wanted to say more. But at Miranda's request, she had been practicing her…restraint. He smiled. It was like she had to physically restrain each word before they bullied their way out of her mouth. “Actually, we can do this later.” She gestured with the pad, “Want a drink?” He waved her off, “I should probably get back to—” “If you say calibrations, I’ll vent the battery.” “Well, I won’t say it then.” “Come on, don’t make me beg.” She turned around and started walking as if he’d already agreed, “have a drink with me.” “It’s actually been more threatening than begging.” “Oh, good. Then you’ll take it seriously.”

Shepard’s cabin was garishly large. He knew she agreed. The fish tank held nothing but water and the entire back half of the room was left untouched. He suspected she didn’t even use the bed, with its corners pulled taut and undisturbed. The contrast against the couch was almost cartoonish. It was clearly a hive of activity, dwarfed beneath a mountain of clutter. There were signs of small, abandoned projects strewn about: stacks of tablets, an omnitool’s motherboard exposed and connected to a desktop by frayed wires, her sniper disassembled and half-polished. His gaze continued about the room before settling on Shepard, rustling around in a small cabinet. "Look what I’ve got.” She retreated from the cabinet, two glasses and a bottle of something dark in her hands. She tossed it to Garrus. He caught the bottle, twisting it in his hand to see the label and released a low whistle. “Guess working with Cerberus has its perks.” He joked, flaring his mandibles and holding the bottle out to her. “Guess so,” she took it back and filled up a glass, passing it over before filling her own. “To the perks,” she said, gently knocking her glass against his. Not hard enough to spill it, but enough to make a sound. A ‘cheers’ she’d called it before. It always surprised Garus how many casual little rituals humans had. They enjoyed the first sip in silence. She released a groan and sank back into the couch, “Don’t tell Chakwas, but this is so much better than brandy.” “Your secret’s safe with me,” he walked over to the empty tank. Even without fish, it was relaxing to watch the light move through the water. He almost forgot what he’d been trying to ignore when his wrist pinged again. He could feel her watching him. Now or never. “My father reached out yesterday.” She made a noncommittal sound behind another mouthful of wine. “There’s, uh…” he struggled to find the phrasing, “He asked me to come home.” “Is everything okay?” she asked. “Yeah, everything’s fine.” He cleared his throat, “He just thinks…it’s time.” He knew he sounded foolish. He wasn’t sure how to explain it to a human. There was so much context she couldn’t understand. He watched her reflection. Her expression was carefully neutral. She seemed relaxed, but her eyes had a slightly unfocused, calculating bearing. “Is that what you want?” She asked like there was an easy answer, missing all of the complexities that seemed so obvious to him. “My father—,” he turned to face her. “I don’t care about your father.” He laughed, “You two have something in common.” “You know what I mean,” she rebuffed his joke. “What do you want?” “It’s…complicated. It’s not about what I want.” “Why not?” “Because...Turians—,” He paced a few steps away, releasing a frustrated sigh and rubbing his head. He wasn’t going to explain the intricacies of Turian culture to her. He wasn’t sure he even could. “Garrus, this isn’t some teenage rebellion.” He didn’t understand the phrase but he let it go. “This is for the galaxy. Your people should be rallying behind you.” “The way your’s have rallied behind you? Shepard, we're working for a literal terrorist organization.” “With” she corrected, “...But your point isn’t entirely lost.” He could see she wanted to argue more, but had decided on a more tactical route. “So what’s the situation exactly? You go home or you’re what? Banished?” He laughed a little, “Not with quite so much flair.” It was hard to put words to norms he’d always just accepted, “I don’t know how to explain it. To put yourself before the family, before the colony, is…You just don’t.” “This is the opposite of putting yourself first.” He wished he could say that was true. That if it weren’t for her, he’d still be out here fighting the good fight—but he knew better. Sure, he believed in what they were doing, but he was here for her. And they both knew it. “This isn’t Blasto 6, Shepard. I can’t just ask the Turian Hierarchy to just ‘go with it.’ Even you know how crazy it all sounds: ancient machines culling the galaxy?” He paused but she didn’t counter. “As far as they’re concerned, humans have been the biggest threat to the galaxy since the Geth.” “How flattering.” She gulped down the rest of her wine. “And then, after the Citadel, after…you—you know…” he stumbled over his words, refusing to make eye contact. “Well, they gave me time to grieve, and now it’s time to get back to reality.” “Glossing over the fact that this,” she set her glass down and tapped on the table, “is reality. So, what? You don’t go home and it ruffles a few feathers?” He ignored the turn of phrase.

“It’s more than that. We’re a collective, going against the Hierarchy is…egomaniacal. It goes against everything my people stand for.” She still didn't seem convinced.

“It’s not even really about me.” He sighed, “I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but I’m...not exactly a model Turian.”

She raised her brows and tilted her head. He could tell she was fighting a small mirk, but she didn’t say anything.

“I was a lost cause long before teaming up with the illustrious Commander Shepard—but my family?” Her brows furrowed and he tried to think of an example, “Say a Turian is demoted. It’s not really his fault. The disgrace lies with whoever promoted him in the first place. It’s the same principle in a family. They’re responsible for my actions as much as I’m responsible for theirs.” He thought he spied some semblance of understanding, “and since I’m not married, that means my father and sister would be—,” “Wait,” she held up her hand, “what does marriage have to do with it?” “It’s—,” He exhaled, annoyed by the tangent he’d introduced to the conversation. Shepard’s eyes flickered with a teasing curiosity, and for the umpteenth time since they’d met, he was grateful Turian’s didn’t blush. He rushed through the explanation. “Every Turian is completely tied to their family from birth. Your name, your reputation, your accomplishments and your failures. Everything is shared. That doesn’t change until you’re married. Then it sort of…” he searched for the right word, “transfers to your spouse?” He watched her carefully, trying to gauge her understanding. “Then, when you have kids, they’re tied to you and your partner until they marry—and so on.”

He caught a flicker in her expression and stopped, “What?” “So you’re saying you’re twenty-seven years old, you’ve no money and no prospects. You’re already a burden to your parents and you’re frightened.” her words sounded strange. It took him a minute to realize she was using a different accent. He wasn’t sure what purpose it served, but he figured she was making a joke he didn't understand. “I guess?” He shrugged. She dropped it. “So if you were married—,” “It was a bad example.” “No, no, listen. If you were married and your spouse—hypothetically—requested that you fight, I don’t know, the Reapers, you’d have to listen?” “Have you taken a psych eval lately?” She ignored him, “Then, even if the Turian Hierarchy comes knocking, it’s just about you and your partner? No kids, no dad, no sister to worry about.” “How romantic.” “Is that really how it would work?” She pressed. “You’re glossing over a lot of nuance and context—but on a basic level…yes? I guess.” He crossed his arms. How had the conversation gone so off-course? “Regardless, I still need to—” he stopped, “is something wrong with your leg?” Shepard was crouched down onto her knee. “What? No. This is how humans do it.” “Do what?” “Propose.” She said it so matter of factly he almost felt absurd for asking. “Shepard—” “Garrus—” “Shepard, don’t—” “You can just call me Jane now.” “Stop.” He pulled her up, doing his best to ignore the uncomfortable fluttering in his stomach. She wore a calm, level expression that frustrated and excited him. “I’m not joking.” Her eyes left his and began to drift across the room as she seemed to consider her words. “Listen. I…need you.” She let the words hang for a minute, as if testing the waters. Her eyes finally settled on a point just over his shoulder, mercifully avoiding his gaze. “We’ve been in this together since the beginning. I trust you and I can’t imagine doing…any of this without you.” She finally turned her eyes to his. Her expression serious. “You're my best friend, and if I’m going into hell, I want you at my back—If you’ll have me.” She added.

“Now you’re begging.” She grinned but continued to push, “I’m serious. Nothing has to change between us. You just get a Turian hall pass to come save the galaxy with me.” It wasn’t that simple, but there was something there. “I feel like this conversation has gone from zero to 100.” He rubbed a hand over his face. He felt like he was watching himself, standing dumbly in front of her. “Time’s kind of a luxury these days,” she shrugged. “Shepard, I don’t—this is crazy.” He shook his head. She stepped towards him and took his hand, “Garrus Vakarian, will you marry me?” He sighed and she laughed. He was confused, flattered—a little annoyed—and something else he couldn’t quite put his talon on. “I’m not taking your name.” He said, finally. She laughed again, and this time he smiled.

#shakarian #Shepard x Garrus #Garrus Vakarian #garrus x shepard #garrus x femshep #awww shiiiiii #mass effect 2 #Mass Effect

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rhondafromhr · 4 months

Text

Chapter 3 of the nerds corruption au

Update: this is still consuming my life and I’m not even mad about it. I’m just straight up having a good time.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

“We’re Gonna Become the Bullies” - Chapter 3: Hold Me Closer Than Before

Peter can’t believe he’s actually doing this. He’s going to go confront Brad Callahan. Not only that, he has Max goddamn Jägerman psyching him up to do it. The same Max Jägerman that was beating him up for trying to talk to Steph not even a week ago. If Max still objected to it now, he probably would’ve said something about them holding hands, so it looks like they have his blessing. Pete’s really glad Steph joined them. It’s both endearing and kind of hot how fired up she is to defend him.

They finally track Brad down in the hallway and corner him. Max takes the lead, shoving him up against a locker and snarling, “Did I not make myself clear that Spankoffski is off-limits now? Who the fuck do you think you are that you get to talk to him like that? The order of things here at Hatchetfield High has changed and there’s nothing your weak ass can do about it, so you’re going to show him some goddamn respect from now on.”

“Oh, what, just because I called him one little name? He’s suddenly too cool for ‘Micro-Peter’ just ‘cause you said so?” Brad fires back.

“What are you, new here? Yes he fucking is, that’s how it works! Don’t forget, I’m your god,” Max says, staring him down with unbridled fury in his eyes “And now, so are these two. So we’re going to make sure the message gets through your thick skull this time. Steph, I believe you mentioned something you’ve always dreamed of doing.” Max restrains him while Stephanie raises her arm and backhands him hard, her other one still gripping Pete’s. How’s that for learning to multitask, Miss Tessburger? she thinks smugly. God, that was fucking cathartic.

Max turns his attention to Peter, Brad still in his grip. “Okay, Pete, you’re up! Throw a punch, show me what you’ve got!”

Peter reluctantly lets go of Stephanie’s hand and begins winding up his fist. He has no idea what he’s doing. The closest he’s ever gotten to a fight was that one time he tried to stand up to Max and that didn’t exactly work out in his favor. Or maybe it did? It was the catalyst for the Waylon place incident, which is the whole reason he’s in Max’s good graces. But, he realizes, if he wants to stay there, it would do him some good to impress Max and not throw a weak, half-assed punch right now. To motivate himself, he thinks back to the pantsing incident, growing angrier and angrier as he remembers how small and humiliated and helpless Brad made him feel. Suddenly, punching Brad square in the face as hard as he can stops being an obligation to hesitantly fulfill and becomes a long-overdue opportunity he absolutely relishes. As Pete’s fist slams into his face, Brad tries to play it off like it doesn’t hurt, but the pained groan he lets out is unmistakable. Holy cow, Pete realizes, he gave him a black eye!

“Good job! That was actually really good for a first try. I could feel the righteous fury just radiating off of you. Chills. I’ve got chills right now,” Max says encouragingly.

“Oh, um, thanks. That’s what I was going for,” Pete replies, a little dazed.

“You, too, Steph. The form on that slap? Absolutely impeccable. You might even be able to teach me a few things.”

“Well, I have been training for this. At this point I’ve probably done like ten thousand practice runs of this scenario in my head,” Stephanie deadpans.

“Well, team, this has been fun, but we’ve gotta get to class now, so this trash’ll just have to deposit itself into the nearest receptacle!” Max releases Brad, who books it to get away from them. Looks like their message sunk in.

Later that day, Peter sits in Calc and as hard as he tries to focus, his mind keeps wandering back to the incident with Brad. Even if he didn’t do it alone, he can’t believe he actually beat somebody up. He feels like he should feel at least a little bit guilty, but he doesn’t, and he feels a little guilty for that. Then again, why should he? When has Brad been anything but a complete asshole to him? Still, it kind of concerns him how good it felt to be the one in control for once. Before he can dwell on it too much, a stern, clear voice over the intercom interrupts his internal debate.

“Would Stephanie Lauter, Peter Spankoffski and Max Jägerman please report to the principal’s office immediately? I repeat, Stephanie Lauter, Peter Spankoffski and Max Jägerman to the principal’s office.” Well, there’s a sentence he never thought he’d hear. Even just “Peter Spankoffski to the principal’s office” would be unusual. He really should’ve been prepared for this, but the possibility didn’t even cross his mind. Somehow, it felt like being with Max would give him some sort of immunity. He packs his things and stands up to leave, hyper-aware of his classmates’ curious gazes burning into him.

When he arrives outside of Principal Blim’s office, Steph and Max are already there waiting for him. Stephanie slouches in the cheap, blue plastic chair and seems more bored than anything. Much to her father’s dismay, this is a pretty familiar scene for her. Max just looks confused and possibly a little nervous. Peter supposes that makes sense; there’s a good chance he’s never been here, either. Max has been doing stuff like this for years and hasn’t gotten in trouble once. The school cares way more about keeping their star quarterback on the field and beating Clivesdale than they do about bullying. Principal Blim cracks open the door and pokes his head out.

“Oh, good, you’re all here. Take a minute to collect yourselves if you need and come on in. Let’s start a dialogue,” he says.

Stephanie notices how tense the boys both look. She can’t help but crack a smile. It goes without saying that Pete is adorable, but the sight of literal monster Max Jägerman dropping his tough-guy persona and acting like a scared little kid about getting a scolding from their (honestly pretty chill and understanding) principal is pretty entertaining, too. She squeezes Pete’s hand and gives Max a little pat on his shoulder.

“It’ll be alright,” she whispers as they all head in. It seems to relax them a little bit.

Principal Blim’s office is surprisingly cramped. Or maybe it just feels that way due to almost every inch of wall being covered in cheesy motivational posters, many of which feature adorable cats in ridiculous situations. Peter thinks maybe it’s supposed to brighten up the room and make it feel less intimidating, but to be honest it’s having the opposite effect on him right now. What is it that Max always says about intent versus impact?

“Well, I assume you all know why I called you here today,” he says gently. Stephanie shakes her head and gives him the most puzzled look she can manage. Max and Pete follow her lead.

“You know, owning up to our mistakes is the first step towards doing better. But you don’t seem quite ready to do that, so I’ll spell it out for you. You’re here because the three of you attacked Brad Callahan this afternoon. Quite frankly, this is, as the kids say, ‘out of pocket’ for all three of you, but especially you, Mr. Spankoffski.” How is this in any way out of pocket for Max? Peter always assumed the school administration chose to look the other way on his behavior, but maybe they really are oblivious to it. “Now, I can’t let this slide without issuing some sort of punishment, but I’m willing to hear you out before I make any decisions. You’re all good kids, why did you lash out at Brad like that?”

“He was, um, he was picking on Hannah Foster again!” Stephanie exclaims “We all saw! He’s always making fun of her for stuff she can’t even help and he won’t stop no matter what we say to him! We had to do something, but we just felt so powerless. Believe me, we didn’t want to resort to violence but we just didn’t know what else to do.” Man, being able to cry on command would be awesome right now. Maybe Ruth knows some theater kids that can teach her.

“Yeah,” Peter adds “we couldn’t just stand by and let him pick on a defenseless freshman! Being a bystander is just as bad as bullying. You said so yourself at the anti-bullying assembly!”

“I did say that,” Principal Blim admits “And this isn't the first I’ve heard about Brad giving Hannah trouble. I can see where you’re coming from. Standing up to bullying is always admirable, although your execution was less than ideal. I’ll let you kids off with a warning for today, but if you see Brad bothering Hannah again please just come to me with your concerns instead of escalating things to the point of physical violence.”

“We will! Thanks, Principal Blim! Go Nighthawks!” says Max cheerfully.

“Mm-hmm. Go Nighthawks, fuck Clivesdale. Stay out of trouble, you three.” On that note, he ushers them out of his office.

Once they’re safely back in the hallway and out of earshot, Max holds one hand out to each of them for a fist bump, which they awkwardly return.

“Good thinking back there,” he tells them “you guys are so smart!”

“We learned it from watching you,” Pete points out “using anti-bullying rhetoric to perpetuate bullying is kind of your signature move. I hate to admit it, but it’s pretty clever. And it clearly works.”

“Yeah, it really came in clutch today. If my dad got a call from the school about this, he’d hold my phone hostage even longer. You’re kind of genius for coming up with it,” Stephanie adds.

Max sniffles. “Thanks. That’s, like, the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

“Wow,” says Stephanie, feeling a sense of déjà vu “that’s really sad.”

“I guess it is.” Max chuckles. “It’s just, I don’t feel smart most of the time. I have horrible grades in most of my classes, even remedial algebra. My dad’s always on my ass about it, too. Says I’m lucky I can throw a football because I don’t even have two brain cells to rub together.”

“Well, what the fuck does he know, anyway?” Stephanie spits, suddenly furious at this man she’s never met. This hits way too close to home for her. “Grades aren’t everything. Look at me, my grades are abysmal, but read my takes on Twitter sometime. Some say I’m the voice of a generation.” She hopes her encouragement makes him feel a little better, at least, but she knows all too well that it’s not enough to heal years of having a shitty dad who loathes your existence and devalues you at every opportunity. She thinks of the striking parallel to her own father’s favorite jab: “I want to have an intelligent conversation with you. In other words, shut up.”

“I concur,” says Pete “Ruth and Richie both have really good grades and they’re absolute disasters sometimes. Don’t get me wrong, I love ‘em both, but it’s true. Even they’d probably agree with me. Ruth’s an anomaly, I’ll never understand how somebody who regularly blows off homework to write erotic Star Wars fanfiction keeps her GPA so- You know what, I’m getting a little off-topic, but the point is you’re smarter than you think you are, Max.”

A lump forms in Max’s throat and his eyes water. “Thanks, guys. That, uh, that means a lot.” He pulls them into a group hug more gently than either of them would have thought possible for him. They hug him back tightly and after a solid thirty seconds they reluctantly let go. Honestly, all three of them could stand to be hugged more.

#nerdy prudes must die #npmd #npmd corruption au #max jagerman #peter spankoffski #stephanie lauter #hatchetfield #lautski #my favorite part of this might be Max instantly switching up from lautski hater to lautski shipper #ruth fleming #cw child abuse mention #cw emotional abuse #brad callahan #max jagermans shitty dad #solomon lauter

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darklydeliciousdesires · 1 year

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Runaway - Chapter Fourteen.

Wow, besties! You reached that unlock at speed! Something tells me that you’re going to be exactly the same with this chapter, too :D Thanks for your engagement as usual, and I hope you enjoy!

Previous chapters - Prologue One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve Thirteen

Taglist - In the comments, please DM to be added/removed

Words - 1,638

Warnings - 18+ content throughout, minors DNI!

Ahhh, stories from respective pasts. A fantastic way to get to know someone, and be thoroughly entertained throughout. At that point in the evening, and with the storm showing no signs of abating, they were covering the school years.

“So I ask her again, and she predictably tells me no, but by this point I feel like my fuckin’ bladder is gon’ burst, so I just said to her, ‘fine, you asked for this’, got up, walked over to her plant in the corner, and pissed right in the pot. She starts screaming at me, I calmly told her that she should have just let me go to the bathroom, but at least with my way, she got to see the fact I had a real big dick, so it was a win win scenario.

“The entire class went crazy laughing, she reported me to the principal, but it was only the comment I made about my dick I got in trouble for. Turns out the principal’s wife was a urologist, and so because he knew how bad it was to hold a piss in, she got in deep shit for not allowing kids to go to the bathroom.

“That ain’t even the wildest part of the story, though. I saw her in a bar years later, and gave her hell about what a tyrant she used to be. She just stood there and took it, then said that since I’d grown up to be such a knockout, I should let her make it up to me. I went home with her that night and fucked her until her bed broke.”

Hannah almost choked on her wine. “Oh my god!”

“What?” he laughed, his dirty chuckle filling the room. “She was a bitch, but she was hot!”

“I’d say I can’t believe that you fucked your former teacher, but it’s you after all.” She nudged him with a teasing foot, Manny grabbing her leg and tickling behind her knee, where he knew she couldn’t bear to be touched. “Get off me!” she cried, her giggles sending sparks of happiness through his insides. It had been a while, since he’d been playful like that with a woman.

“Oh and I bet you were nothing short of perfect at school, right?”

She fought against him, kicking his thigh until he finally let go. “I was, actually. About the worst thing I did was let the fire alarm off to get a guy I liked out of a test. He never really noticed me like that before, until I walked past him when we were filed up outside, whispered ‘you’re welcome’, winked and walked away. I’d like to think that was one of my smoother moments in life.”

“And did it work? Not that you should have needed to resort to such, being as gorgeous as you are.”

She nodded, dropping her head for a moment, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Yeah, it worked. We dated for four months before I broke up with him. Me and my poor impulse control struck, the impulse being that the quarterback of the football team asked me out, and I looked at him as a better option.”

Manny leaned forward slightly, arching an eyebrow as he lifted his glass to his lips. “And was he?”

“Nope! I never seem to learn my lesson there. Then again, the last time I acted on impulse, I got something wonderful.” He gestured for her to continue, watching her smile grow. “I got Lola.”

“And you didn’t end up married to an asshole either,” he observed, draining his glass, Hannah hauling herself up to fetch the second bottle from the kitchen. “Anything more there, or is he sticking to his restraining order?”

“I’ve had a few phone calls come through where no one talks, and I know it’s him. I block all the numbers he calls me from just as I always have, but he’s persistent, uses pay phones, I think at one point he was using cheap prepay phones as well. I just have to keep a diary of it, but it’ll be hard to prove it’s him unless he talks. It’s a nuisance, but what can I do?” Sitting down again, she topped up their glasses, setting the bottle down on the table. “I heard through the grapevine that he moved away recently, he’s gone up to northern Cali somewhere, so as long as he isn’t a physical presence in my life, I don’t mind so much.”

“I do,” he stated with vehemence. “I mind him bothering you. If he ever does turn up again, you tell me, okay? Fuck the police, fuck the courts, you come and you tell me. He’ll leave you alone for good.”

Her eyes widened a little. “You wouldn’t...” she made a gun motion against her head, her thumb pulling an imaginary trigger, “would you?”

“No! Don’t be crazy, of course I wouldn’t. But I’d make him believe I would.” That was only half the truth. If he ever physically came near his daughter in a threatening way, Michael would cease to breathe, although that wasn’t a truth Manny was quick to share with her mother. “And I’d probably smack him around a little, just for daring to fuck with someone I care about.”

He couldn’t help but add that, the wine getting to him a little. Anything stronger than beer, and it was essentially like giving him truth serum.

“Manny,” she warned gently, reaching for his arm. “Please, don’t.” It took him a moment to answer, the feel of her hand upon him, her skin on his, even though so innocently placed there making a jolt run straight to the pit of his belly.

He raised his eyebrows, recovering himself. “He’ll be fine, unless he breaks his restraining order. I saw it, when you broke down and revealed it all, just how fucking stressed out the motherfucker had made you. That don’t happen on my watch, Hannah.” Pausing, he leaned forward, reaching for her face, gently stroking her cheek with his thumb. “Don’t matter how unique it all is, our relationship as parents, what could have been, if the circumstances were different. I meant it when I said I care about you.”

Perhaps he hadn’t recovered himself sufficiently enough, the blue of her eyes like cloudless skies he wished only to sail through, shining through the candlelight. His mouth felt dry, taking another swig of wine, his heart beginning to pound. No. He couldn’t act. He had to shove it down again, but the lure of her. Oh, the lure, his loins burning at the memory of how it felt, when he was with her. Fuck.

In turn, the pull she felt to him was intense, like he’d lassoed her insides, as only an accomplished cowboy could, the rope being wound in with every statement that passed over his lips, every compliment, her foundations feeling shaky in the presence of him. Despite herself, her hand covered his, the light of her gaze meeting the dark of his, both paused, perhaps for too long... or not long enough... the wine clouding them, the memories of one another returning. As if that attraction had ever been far from the surface.

The storm outside swirled with all the potency of what they’d both tried to push down, the sky illuminated as Manny set his glass down, taking hers from her hand, moving up the couch, his hands gripping her knees, opening them enough for his body to slot between them, the boom of thunder rocking the ground as their mouths met.

Any reservations they might have had were swept away as they fell headlong down the rabbit hole, the tempting promise of what they would experience in their own Neverland of blissful sin tugging at them too strongly, dragging them down, until all that was left was them. There was no Carmen, no time between their only night together and then, no reason why not. Only them.

A scattered path of kisses scorched her skin, the firm grip of his hands moving to pull at her vest, Hannah suddenly stopping him.

“I... I look... different.” Her stammered words made him pause, searching her eyes, resting his forehead to hers. “I don’t look as good as I used to, since the baby.”

“Let me be the judge of that.” His kisses landed softer, his haste calmed as he slowly lifted her vest, pulling it from her body, her sweats next to go, Manny sitting back on his heels as he looked down at her, his gaze finding the nerves in her eyes. “This body is beautiful. You know why? It’s the body that grew my child safely for nine months, and if you think just because it’s a tiny bit different to how I remember that it’ll put me off, then you’re crazy. Now, lie back and let me show you just how goddamned beautiful I think you are.”

She’d be lying if she said her confidence had been truly bolstered in the wake of his praise, no matter how lovely his words were, but still, she felt desired enough to pull him back to her, their mouths locked together, undoing his shirt as kisses of sugared embers grew hotter, the feel of his skin on hers torridly enchanting.

“Wait.” Sitting up, he lifted her, Hannah wrapping herself around him. “I need more room than a couch has to really fuckin’ enjoy you, darlin’.”

As soon as the bedroom door closed behind them, so did the chapter of them entitled ‘Two parents trying desperately to convince themselves there was only a child connecting them.’ And lord, the chapter they would write together to follow, only legible until the flames that roared between them threatened to burn each word off the page entirely.

#manny mayans mc #manny mayans mc fanfiction #manny mayans mc smut #manny mayans mc imagine #manny mayans mc x ofc #manny montana #manny montana fanfiction #manny montana smut #manny montana imagine #manny montana x ofc #mayans mc #mayans mc fanfiction #mayans mc smut #mayans mc imagine #mayans mc fanfic #mayans mc fic

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grave-c · 10 months

Text

5AM headcanons as I slowly get back into Moral-ing

- idk how much from Narcissism the fandom accepts, but it does make me categorize Bloberta as the “prettiest” / most desired woman in moralton based on the fact that she made Putty climax with words alone.

- As goofy as that is it also re-contextualizes a lot. She is “off limits” even in infidelity because she’s the mayor’s wife.

- I also think if Dottie tried her routine on Bloberta, Dottie would end up crying wayyyyyy earlier. Bloberta’s numbness includes an immunity to gaslighting. Also there is one element that actually connects the 2 characters that I wanna draw. Here’s a different scene for now:

Dottie: Can I sit with you Bloberta so our kids can talk to each other and not us?

Bloberta: … you talk to your kids?

Dottie nervously lights a cigarette.

Dottie: I- uh, well I mean-

Bloberta puts out the cigarette by clasping the end with her bare fingers.

Bloberta: If you’re going to do that, I think you should sit somewhere else.

- Blobbie / Censordoll discourse is also interesting bc I think of it as “numb & barren” (ship name maybe?) - things kinda also come full circle. In Help: Bloberta fails to help Fran, feels like she helped Clay and marries him, Orel is born and goes on to be Fran’s main helper in her campaign against Clay, with signs made by Bloberta.

- Gay Clay vs. Bi Clay was a debate brought up in one of my streams and I said my answer keeps changing. There are “tactile” arguments for Bi Clay but they all really start to evaporate for me with the scene in honor. There is no exact science, it is just a uniquely gay anguish confessed. alsogayclayrhymes

- I think about Clay’s rise to office a lot and what exactly enabled him to do so, and I’m beginning to think he may have used his mother’s death in his campaign as he starts to pen her lost commandments into Moralton law. Much to Arthur’s dismay, which only encourages Clay to take things further.

- A newer idea but I feel like Danielle’s experience encouraging Orel might have kindled something, and if Fakey can go from coach to Principal so can Danielle.

- I think now that Bendy is reconnected with Joe, the Fakey situation will actually quickly lead to a restraining order. Since Bendy no longer has to telephone through Ms. Secondopinionson to talk to Joe, Fakey talks to Secondopinionson for updates on Bendy. I think Fakey’s mental state will decline between his ruined marriage and “mistress” cut off, but for some reason I think with Secondopinionson’s infinite patience she becomes a sort of friend + makeshift repressional since Putty’s having none of it anymore. In that circumstance I think Secondopinionson becomes comfortable speaking to him in her natural voice . I think Fakey loses his job to Danielle like above, then idk, gets part time work at Steph’s shop or something.

- The David Tuber interview mentioned that Orel goes goth but also goes atheist, and the blue heron as a symbol of his faith begins to follow him around. I think the “Nature rematch” would be Orel getting Ol’ Gunny with actual intent to kill the Heron.

- Which brings me to the tinfoil hat section. Consider this my “Season 4+”

- By this time Censordoll has a stranglehold on Moralton. With no role models and in complete nihilism Orel kills the Heron in anger. In absolute darkness Orel finds no solace, he then notices the Heron’s nest.

- I have no idea what Steven Universe / Demon Slayer script we’ll need to get to this point but I really think that if Censordoll is the “final boss” of Moralton it should end with her and Orel nurturing the blue heron egg until it hatches, roll credits.

#moral orel #headcanon #text post

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justimagineok · 1 year

Text

2:30 series - self sabotage

Summary: One too sure, the other not that much. One focused on the present, the other too stuck on the past and afraid of the future. Both of them in love with each other.

genre: angst

A/N: Self Sabotage by Abe Parker is another song I also loved and hear when writting the 2:30 series, so give it a listen if you can! Let me know if you have any questions ;) as always feedback is always appreciated! feel free to reblog, comment or send me an ask at anytime 😊

"What are you doing, Jungkookie?", Jimin watched as the maknae removed the portraits from the wall.

"I gotta get this things out of my sight.", he says without stopping his mission. "I feel like I'm having a stroke whenever I look at them."

Jimin stood there, watching the scene.

"Where you want me to put them?", he questioned, taking the box from Jungkook's hands.

"In the trash.", he said firmly.

"Trash?! But Jungkookie, this is yo-",

"I know what's in these pictures, Jimin. I've been looking at them for the past two years and a while.", Jungkook cut him off abruptly. "Are you gonna help me or not?"

Jimin nodded, heading to the garage. He made sure to cover the box and put it in the corner, hopeful Jungkook would change his mind.

"Is it really over?", Haru sat by your side after hearing everything that happened.

"Yes."

"did you want it to end?", she questioned again.

"Yes."

"For real?"

"What's the point of answering all these things, Haru? It's over!", you snapped at her. Haru only nodded in response.

"Because I feel like you're making a huge, huge mistake, YN and as your best friend I have to tell you that."

You got up from the couch, having heard enough.

"My father came to my work last week. My mother probably told him where it was.", you said in a low voice, and if the word "father" hadn't come out of your mouth, Haru would probably have ignored what you said. She was up from the couch with a jump in the blink of an eye.

"WHAT? Why? How?"

"Yeah. I saw him when I was leaving for work. He was standing, leaning against the car. I thought he would come to me, but he didn't. He just stood there, watching me. I got in the car and drove around the neighborhood to see if he would follow me, but from what I saw, he didn't. He hasn't been back there since."

"You should go to the police and get a restraining order from them, YN! You can't let him bully you like that! I'll go with you!"

"He didn't do anything, Haru. What am I going to tell the police?", you responded in defeat.

"You can tell the truth! That they are horrible parents and have made your life hell and are still trying to do so! She can say that her mother is a bitch who thinks she is better than everyone else and that her father is a freeloader just like her. Don't let them do this to you, YN. you are not alone!"

Haru waits for an answer from you, any sign that you wanted to fight it, but you didn't.

"Look at me, Haru.", you ask. "Do you really think I have something to lose?", your eyes filled with tears as she hugged you. "I keep screwing up my life even after all these years away from them...", you confessed, hugging her back. "Why can't they just leave me alone, Haru? Why can I move on from them? How do I get out of my head"

Haru didn't say anything back, just huggin you tight.

"Sometimes I feel like I'm not gonna make it, Haru.", you started to sob, your body shaking. "I feel like I'm never gonna make it. I feel like I won't survive this."

next>>

#bts fake texts #bts fic #bts fake chat #bts fake chats #bts scenarios #bts #2:30 #jungkook x yn #jk x you #jk x reader #jk x oc #jk x y/n #jungkook x reader #jungkook x you #jungkook x oc #jungkook x y/n

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misosuper · 2 months

Note

So given from the looks of it you’ve read the Talon comic quite in depth;

Say you work at DC Comics (May God have mercy on your soul but I digress) and were granted a good hefty amount of creative control with one particular assignment:

Brining Back Calvin Rose, Casey Washington and her daughter or at least having the reappear in any ongoing book of your choosing before they can get their own book once again should sales work great

Basically, what would you do if you’re writing a Talon book?

If ever found myself in that position, I don't need God's mercy nearly as much as some of the folks at DC if I cross paths with them. Assuming I successfully hold myself back from getting a restraining order against several members of the DC staff and focus on the project at hand:

Casey is the focal point for any meaningful interaction with current comics. By the end of Talon, Casey's group is continuing its former work but with significantly more funding. She's also had her civilian identity restored, along with her position as CEO of Securitus. She already has a team with plenty of personal history with different villains and organizations. That gives a lot of flexibility in how we could bring Talon into Dawn of DC.

One straightforward, easy answer for an ongoing series to reintroduce the Talon characters would be Detective Comics. Casey's team could reasonably collaborate with the usual 'tec cast by bringing their own strike team or intelligence to a case.

The other ongoing comic that comes to mind would be Birds of Prey. Dinah headhunting Casey for her expertise would be a cool way to see her reintroduced without bringing in the rest of her crew. I'd very happily settle for a good short-term cameo of Casey in BoP, maybe one that introduces a hero name for her now that she once again has a civilian identity to protect. Since this ask gave me creative control, I do what I want, and I'm giving Casey the codename Firewall.

But the true dream for reintroducing the Talon cast to an ongoing title, without question, would be the current Outsiders series. Casey already has a strong rapport with Lucius Fox, and in her role as CEO of a tech company with very strong ties to WE, Casey establishing a rapport with Luke in turn would be very reasonable based on her tech skills and professional role.

Just read the blurb for the current Outsiders comic and you will understand my vision:

What better way to compliment the goal of digging into the fictional "forgotten corners" of DC than to bring in characters from past titles? The goals of Luke's organization form an interesting venn diagram with the goals of Casey's. This gives us peak synergy, but with a supernatural twist that would be SO fun to see Casey and Calvin navigate. Anya and Joey would kick ass in this comic. I cannot imagine a more perfect way for Talon characters to re-enter canon than Outsiders, which is something I'd never have considered without this ask, so thank you for my new favorite brainworm. I'm going to be thinking about this forever.

Now onto the goal of a whole new Talon story. Sketching out what that would look like is far above my paygrade and ability level, so all I'm gonna do is outline my selfish wish list:

I'd love to see the end of Talon retconned. I gotta be honest, I think using the Lazarus Pits to perform Turbo Resurrection on Calvin was pretty cheap, and also undermines some of the most compelling and central aspects of his character explored in Talon Vol 2. Now that they've dealt with the Court, how does Calvin navigate freedom when so much of what he is and knows was shaped by their abuse? Now that he doesn't have to run away, what's he going to run toward? I want to see him wrestle with these questions, and a whole new Talon book can explore them in the ways the trite happy ending to the original series couldn't.

Now that the retcon is out of the way, I want this new book to explore Sarah more as a character as she ages - we ended Talon with a recovering but deeply traumatized kid. I was shocked that Talon had ZERO acknowledgement of the parallel that Calvin understands what being a kid brainwashed by the Court of Owls feels like, albeit as a Talon and not groomed to be an Owl. I want to see him help Sarah as she processes what she went through! There was a deeply bad scene at the end of Talon where Sarah was triggered by seeing Calvin in uniform, and Calvin was like "huh wild :)" without ANY meaningful connection and I am still wallowing in the missed opportunities there.

As this is quickly becoming a novel-length daydream session, I'm going to cut myself off here. This was such a fun ask to think over, thank you :D

Tl;dr crossover between Talon and Dawn of DC Outsiders my beloved

#ask #into the soup #calvin rose #casey washington #sarah washington #talon #outsiders #dc #long post

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yukirayu · 1 year

Text

Meta: Taku Was (Not) in Love with Maya

One of the things that tends to get brought up every now and then when talking about Taku is how he supposedly had feelings for Maya.

Now this is only my opinion, but I do believe that it is nothing more than a misconception.

To recap, it was first brought up by Toono after he had Towa all "dolled up" in order to fluster Taku. No one can deny that Towa is almost a dead ringer for his mother, and since he was dressed in feminine garb, Taku instinctively responded by mentioning Maya's name.

To which Toono then drops the "bomb": Taku was in love with Maya, but since the woman is dead, Taku is settling for the next closest thing: Maya's own son.

Because Taku reacts in shock to that and angrily denies it, it's easy to assume he got caught red-handed.

And when Towa confronts him about it himself, he only denies again that none of what Toono said is true, but he visibly struggles to say the words.

So once again, the easiest interpretation of this scene is that it's all actually true, and Taku is just in denial.

Taku does set the record straight by saying that he only admired Maya. He can't deny that she was beautiful, but he wasn't infatuated with her, per se.

But after what's revealed about Taku in Fujieda's route, you may think that this is just one of his many lies.

Though let's give the above scenes a closer look. When the first one happened, let's recall that at least an hour ago, Taku almost got killed and was taken hostage alongside Towa. So it's only a given that his mind isn't exactly at its most rational or restrained state.

And Taku first showed shock not when Toono claimed that he had feelings for Maya, but when he answered Towa's question of who "Maya" is.

At first glance, it seemed to be because he can tell where Toono's getting at and thus panicked. But in truth, that's not the case.

Remember, Taku is trying to keep Towa from knowing about his past no matter what. Even when he'd tell Towa false stories about a happier childhood, it should be pointed out that Towa still never knew even just Maya's name.

Taku didn't tell him even that.

Which was why he was alarmed when Toono said that Maya was Towa's mother. He feared that even that alone would already trigger some horrible memories for Towa.

It's not as if his assumption is senseless, since even in his dreams, her mere shadow already stresses Towa out.

But even without Toono around, Taku still sounds like he's fighting against himself when he refutes to Towa that he didn't see Maya that way. Though it's not because he's still in denial or is rattled at getting "exposed".

As explained during his final Interrogation:

For more details, some time after Towa's "euphoric session" with Asakura, Taku's feelings gradually changed.

He was aware of it, and he struggled with it, because with everything Towa had been through, with how long they've known each other, it would be inappropriate.

It's why Taku sounds like he's having a hard time saying just the words "That's not true." He knows the rest of the sentence.

"I never loved her that way. I'm in love with you. Only you."

But at the time, he was still trying to bottle it up... until he no longer could.

What about the part where he says that he once looked up to Maya? It could be another lie. But he visibly fumbles more when he lies. Then again, he could have learned to say some lies with a straight face.

But what if he was talking about something that used to be true?

Let's not forget that Taku had a complicated history with his mother. He loved her a great deal. But according to him his mother was sheltered and never learned to cope, having fallen after her husband left her and Taku, and fallen hard.

To poverty, to drugs, to death.

But then, there's Maya. It's repeatedly made clear that Maya is deception personified. It would be all too easy for Maya to make Taku think she was nothing but a normal, kind and loving mother.

Can't let the physician suspect anything, after all.

Back then, Taku was still struggling, even more so than now, due to what happened with his mom, so he'd naturally admire someone who could run a successful business while still finding time to take care of her son. If only he and his own mom had found that stability.

But of course, no physician would be foolish enough to see Towa's injuries and just brush them off as nasty accidents. Not when there's so many of them.

And some of the dialogue during their pillow talk confirms that Taku already started having his suspicions.

What's left implicit is that it wasn't until after the "accident" for his suspicions to be confirmed. Exactly how and when? We don't know.

But it should be pointed out that he's not put in the same position as Hasegawa, who was blackmailed into keeping silent about Maya.

In other words, Taku managed to find out - even if not all - at least enough about Maya without Sakaki ever catching wind of it.

It would have been too easy for Sakaki to use Taku's debt to Toono as leverage, but that kind of situation is never brought up even once.

To go back to my main point, it's likely Taku wasn't lying. He may have technically told the truth: he /used to/ look up to Maya. At most, he admitted she was beautiful. But that's something absolutely no one denies.

More importantly, Taku's words are a foreshadowing.

To what? To how a certain someone else fits the description better.

Taku "admiring Maya" and "seeing Towa as a substitute for Maya" is something I've already covered before in a different meta, which I'll link here. All the details are there.

That leaves one last thing. Whether Taku's lies stay unexposed or not, he never once seems to talk about Maya with loathing or anger, even in Fujieda's route.

But given how much he cares for Towa and how much Maya had hurt Towa, shouldn't Taku be mad?

And again, it's easy to draw the assumption that it's because he's still having difficulty reconciling the fact that his "beloved" is actually such a cruel psychopath even at present. But, at least to me, that's not what the narrative seems to be going for.

When he's not caught lying or keeping secrets, of course he wouldn't let any of his real emotions show.

At most, the narration just mentions his expression turning dark when Towa asks if he had a horrible childhood, and Taku simply confirms it without giving more details.

And in the scenario where Towa finds out that Taku knows about his past, keep in mind it had been years since Maya had died.

For years, Taku been far more preoccupied with worrying about Towa than wallowing in shock or resentment over his broken faith in Maya.

And Taku never personally knew Maya. He mentioned them all having dinner once, but there's no other hint of them being close in any way. He wasn't all that familiar with her.

So let's say if he ended up harboring bitter feelings about her, it's undoubtedly in the more distant sense.

Putting that aside, Taku wouldn't just suddenly fly into a rage or glower at the mention of Maya.

In the true route, he's more concerned about how Towa's faring as he learns more of the truth. Towa and Towa's condition is his priority. Not some dead woman or how infuriatingly vile she was.

And there's at least 90% of why I think Taku definitely did not have feelings for Maya and how it's nothing more than a misconception that's easy to take as truth because Taku's secretiveness doesn't help his own case to anyone, not even the player.

#slow damage #fen writes meta

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metamorphosisff · 11 months

Text

|Interlude| II. FaceTime

[Author’s note: Interludes are not in chronological order as they are scenes that were deleted from chapters.]

Call Ms. Lena

The alert popped across the top of my phone screen in the midst of me watching a Tik Tok that explained Avengers: End Game that Xavier sent. Sighing, I finished the video but not nearly as into it as before. My thoughts were transformed by having to fulfill my one true duty as a sibling. It wasn’t that I didn’t like Ms. Lena, she counted as one of the people I loved but it was a love I could only maintain from afar. When I got too close, the love we shared hurt from the past that still tethered us together. Even at my big age I felt like a burden to her and Lonso. Something on a to-do list much like keeping in contact with them was for me but what choice did I have? They were the only remnants of my family that I had left. Closing out of the app, I found her name in my contacts, and pressed the Factime icon.

As prompt as ever, she answered on the second ring. Her mahogany smile filled the screen inciting my own. Ms. Lena was the epitome of ‘Black Don’t Crack’, with regal cheek bones, a small pointed nose, arched brows and full lips, she commanded attention. It was easy to see why she and my father had fallen for each other, no matter how messy it was for them to do so while he had been engaged to my mother. I didn’t hold my father’s transgressions against her though.

“My other baby decided to finally give me a call,” she beamed, excitedly.

“I’m sorry, my current schedule leaves a lot to be desired,” I chuckled, even though we both knew I was only good for a call per quarter, warehouse job or not. “But I had to call because it’s your birthday and I wanted to wish you happiness to your face.”

I truly meant that. There was a time in my teens when I resented Lena for grabbing Lonso and leaving me to deal with the aftermath of my parents but as I grew older I understood there wasn’t much for her to do. Legally anyway, my grandmother had more rights over my custody and Lena didn’t want to stay behind to fight for me with a new life waiting for her in Virginia. I would have left too. She made the right choice for her family. I just wished I could have been a part of it.

Her face lit up as she pressed her free hand to her chest, “Thanks MiMi, that means a lot to me.”

I almost physically cringe at the nickname my parents used to call me but restrain myself in time. The muscles in my cheeks work overtime to retain my smile. “Any plans for today? I know the party is this weekend but I hope you’re taking some time for yourself.”

“I took the whole week off. Wasn’t about to let them folks at the office stress me out during my celebration time,” she cracked, as she propped the phone against something, allowing me to see the rich burnt Sienna sundress she wore. “Speaking of my party, we were hoping to see you. I know Lonso is a little disappointed.”

My eyes rolled then, leave it to him to complain about my absence when my presence was barely wanted by him.

“Now I know you two have been more like oil and water lately but he does miss you. That I’ve heard him say verbatim,” she added.

“Then maybe he should lead with that instead of being a judgmental prick,” I said.

“He does come on...strong, get’s that from me and the tactless part from y’alls daddy,” she said, causing me to snort.

Our father used to always say the first thing that came to his mind whether it was proper or not. His candid nature is what gave me my non-bullshit attitude. I hated when people beat around the bush. I preferred honesty. However, I had no tolerance for brutal honesty. There was always a way to be straightforward without making someone want to punch you in the face.

“That he does,” I agreed. “I will be there for Thanksgiving promise. The whole week according to the flight information he sent. Right now I’m working on a few things and can’t get away. I’m sorry it can’t be sooner.”

The work I was putting in on myself took precedent over everything and well...almost everyone. I was in the middle of a shift that couldn’t be threatened by examining things I was not ready to face. Lonso thought all my problems could be fixed with a military career and change of address. Truth was, my biggest problem stared at me in the mirror every morning. My reflection had to be something I could stomach before I could start proving my worth to anyone else.

Nodding her head in understanding, “I understand baby, I do, I just miss you that’s all. Looking forward to being able to hug on you and really see how your doing with my own eyes.”

I chuckled nervously as I said, “You’re looking at me right now.”

“No, I’m looking at your defense mechanism. Something I know can be lowered with a scoop of my peach cobbler,” she said with a conspiratorial wink.

At that we both laughed knowing how I used to bug her every holiday season for her signature dessert. I know Lena means well, that her love could probably pave the cracks in my heart if I let it but I needed to be the one to heal me. That way if it broke again I would know how to fix it.

“I miss you too.”

#metamorphasisff #slow burn romance #black romance #Black Fiction #zendaya x mjb

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nubian-nutcase · 7 months

Text

Inspection (TCW oneshot)

I CAN SHARE MY SW WRITING NOW >:D I wrote this story literally years ago, but it's one of my favorites and I'm proud of it. So. :)

Summary: When Anakin receives word that a team sent by the senate is coming to inspect his fleet per protocol, he isn’t particularly thrilled. In an attempt to dodge dealing with the team, Anakin decides to instruct his Padawan in the responsibilities of being a general by ordering her to be General Skywalker for the duration of the inspection.

I.e. Anakin and Ahsoka swap roles and chaos ensues.

The bridge of the Resolute was quieter than usual. Many clones sat at stations, sifting through information listlessly. A few stood towards the back, equally engrossed in their work on some data pads. The Force hummed along with the destroyer’s engines. It was a calm end to a calm day.

Anakin hated it.

The Jedi general leaned heavily against the holoprojector at the back of the bridge. His fleet had been stuck in the same plot of space for the past week and he was about to lose his mind. They had pushed the Separatists out of Republic territory and needed to press the offensive, but the senate had suddenly decided that the best strategy was a solid defense.

In other words, they just didn’t want to do anything. Anakin had heard from the most recent HoloNet report (he didn’t care to keep track of senate affairs, but at this point it was his best way of seeing what Padmé was up to) that the senate was frantically trying to draft a new bill that would aid in the war’s funding. He didn’t know much about it, but he knew it meant that they would basically be grounded until the useless morons could come up with the money required to continue the war.

Anakin curled his lip in disgust. He was positive the Separatists weren’t having the same problems. It wasn’t like the senate couldn’t get the money somehow. They just needed to decide upon it and then kriffing do it!

The room spun, and Anakin’s skull felt like it was being pinched by impossibly powerful fingers. He bit back a moan and closed his eyes, leaning forward some more. He’d been staring at the same holograms all kriffing day, watching as reports from the Strategic Information Services trickled in with the latest updates on Separatist activity. He was chomping at the bit to get going, and he’d figured he could spend his time strategizing how best to eliminate all the fleets he saw sitting around waiting to be destroyed. He’d come up with at least four different plans in that time.

Blast it, he couldn’t stand this much longer. When he wasn’t strategizing, he was tinkering; when he wasn’t tinkering, he was sparring with Ahsoka or by himself; when he wasn’t sparring, he was tearing up his boots and the floor by pacing endlessly in the observation deck. He hadn’t slept in roughly two days (at least he thought it had been two days – all nighters made one day blur into the next to a point where he’d lost track). He needed to move, he needed to do something!

Restraining a growl of frustration, Anakin pulled away from the holoprojector (and quickly tried to ignore the sudden wave of dizziness) and headed towards the exit.

“General Skywalker.”

Pausing, Anakin turned and saw Adm. Yularen approaching him. A small flare of hope dared to light itself in his mind, and he faced the man fully. “Yes, admiral?”

“We’ve received a message from command, sir,” the admiral informed him. Anakin’s hope brightened exceptionally, and he nearly interrupted the man to ask where they were being sent when Yularen continued, “We’re expecting an inspection team from the senate. They should arrive by the start of the day cycle at 0600. I’ll send further details in writing, sir.”

An inspection?! What?! How the blazes was that going to help anything?! Anakin clenched his jaw, biting his tongue. He flinched and nodded in acknowledgement, exiting the bridge wordlessly.

After storming to an empty hangar, Anakin pulled out a data pad and looked at the information sent to him. He grew steadily more annoyed as he read through it, and eventually he found himself rearranging the entire hangar in a fit of energy.

Ahsoka stumbled upon her master as he was moving all the extra storage crates from one end of the hangar to the other for the fourth time. The rather loud clanging noises the crates made when they were unceremoniously dropped had caught her attention in the first place, as well as the ripples through their slowly forming training bond. It had been five months since she’d become his Padawan, and she was fairly certain she’d never seen him go this stir crazy. Then again, she’d never really seen him have to sit still for so long – Ahsoka herself had been sent back to the Jedi Temple on multiple occasions while her master had remained on the battlefront, much to her annoyance.

“Master?” she asked softly as Anakin kicked a defiant crate into its proper spot. “What’s wrong?”

Anakin faced the stack for a while and then sighed heavily, turning around to look her in the eye. “We’ve got an inspection coming.”

Ahsoka nodded. “I know; Adm. Yularen sent a message out to everyone a few minutes ago. We’re not in trouble, right?”

“No,” her master replied, running a hand through his hair.

Ahsoka shrugged. “Well, at least it’ll be something different; we’ve been doing nothing for the past week.”

Anakin grumbled under his breath, and his padawan gave him a funny look in response.

“What’s so bad about the inspection if it’s not because we’re in trouble?” she asked.

Anakin huffed. “This inspection is just the senate pretending to be doing something productive.”

“What do you mean?”

“The entire military is basically grounded until the senate can free up more funds,” Anakin explained, growing angrier as he said it; he couldn’t believe he was talking such nonsense with his Padawan when he should be instructing her on more important things. He wasn’t mad at her so much as the situation, and it was just making his headache worse. “Because of this, it makes it seem like we’re not doing anything to fight the Separatists—which is absolutely true. So, the senate wants to make themselves look good and keep the people happy by sending inspection teams out to put up appearances and act like they’re actually doing something—ensuring proper protocol and all that bantha poodoo. It’s ridiculous and pointless.”

“It’s something different,” Ahsoka argued with a shrug. “And on top of that, it’s a new pair of eyes to look everything over. Don’t you always say we should use everything as an opportunity for improvement?”

“Terrific; you just volunteered yourself to go over all the reg manuals,” Anakin quipped cheerfully.

Ahsoka pouted. “Come on, Master, why me?”

“Because you’re the Padawan.”

The Togruta teenager grew annoyed. “Fine. I will review them, and I’ll show you that this isn’t a big deal.”

“Let me enlighten you to the delights of inspections, Snips,” Anakin said, walking over to her. Adopting a flawless Coruscanti accent with just the right amount of snobbery to it, he demonstrated what was to come. “I see the lighting in this area is rather bright for the night cycle; do you have it at twenty-five percent capacity, as protocol dictates? You know how important it is to follow energy protocols. And tell me, are these crates stacked in alphabetical order? And—”

“It can’t be that bad,” Ahsoka rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, giving him her typical you’re exaggerating look.

Anakin crossed his arms in retaliation. “Yes, it is.”

The two Jedi had a glaring contest for a few seconds before Anakin was suddenly struck with an epiphany. A mischievous smirk crossed his face, and his body was filled with energy. “You know what? You’re right. It isn’t that bad… in fact, I think anybody could handle it.”

Ahsoka looked a little suspicious, hesitant to acknowledge Anakin’s sudden backtracking. Her expression amused her master to no end.

“Ahsoka, you’ve given me a great idea,” Anakin continued, and Ahsoka’s suspicion only increased. “I think it’s time you start taking on greater responsibilities. From this point forward until the inspection is completed, you’ll be the general in charge.”

Ahsoka blanched. “What?”

“You heard me,” Anakin encouraged, his smile widening. “You’ll be Gen. Skywalker to the inspection team.”

“What’ll that make you?” Ahsoka asked.

Anakin considered it. “I’ll just be some lackey on the ship making sure things are running—”

“You’ll be my Padawan,” Ahsoka interrupted, putting her hands on her hips and mirroring her master’s previous mischievous smile.

Now it was Anakin’s turn to give her a startled look. “What?”

“Well, everybody knows that Gen. Skywalker has a Padawan,” Ahsoka explained as if she were giving him a briefing. “The Separatists and Republic alike have heard of the great exploits of Commander Ahsoka Tano.”

Anakin furrowed his brow, skeptical and exasperated. “They know me, Snips. Even if they do know you, it’s just as my subordinate.”

Ahsoka’s eyebrow twitched in annoyance. “They still know about me, then. So I, as General Anakin Skywalker, have to have a Padawan to save my sorry asteroid.”

Anakin could practically hear Obi-Wan griping about Ahsoka’s language, and he knew she’d picked it up from him and the troops. Amusement trickled through him, but it was squished by irritation at her remark. She would pay for that. “Fine. I’ll be your precious Padawan who knows nothing but what her brilliant master taught her.”

“Great!” Ahsoka acknowledged, stiffening. Then her irritation dissolved, and the Force rang with delight. “Now all we have to do is switch outfits.”

Anakin jumped. “What?! I’m not wearing your clothes!”

“I think the leggings would look good on you,” Ahsoka laughed. “Or the top.”

Anakin huffed. “I’ll wear your battle armor, thanks.”

“No, we’re not in battle.”

“I’m not wearing a tube top!”

Ahsoka lost all composure at the thought of it, irritating Anakin all the more.

“You still have to wear the beads, though,” she eventually said, pushing past the argument.

Anakin restrained a sigh. “All right, all right, hand them over.”

Smiling triumphantly, Ahsoka removed her Padawan braid and held it out for him to take. Then she paused, realizing that he wouldn’t have anywhere to hang it, and she took off her entire headdress. Anakin, who had been hoping she wouldn’t come to that conclusion, was all the more annoyed for it. He snatched it irritably, but he refused to put it on just yet.

“So what are we going to do?” Ahsoka asked, suddenly serious. “I mean, when the team arrives everybody will introduce us as Master and Padawan… and it’s not like the records don’t talk about what we look like or our genders or anything.”

“Relax, Padawan,” Anakin assured her. “These people are coming from the senate; they’re not military. The only information they’re armed with are regulations.”

“They’ll also be armed with whatever HoloNet’s been spouting,” Ahsoka pointed out. “And I don’t think they haven’t mentioned your gender.”

Anakin waved a careless hand. “Propaganda, my dear Padawan. SIS wanted to make sure the Seps couldn’t figure out who the real threat was.”

“Master.”

“Yes?”

“No, I mean you should say my dear Master,” Ahsoka corrected him, smiling slyly and crossing her arms. “You are my Padawan, after all.”

Anakin felt his eyebrows twitch in annoyance and he huffed. “Not yet.”

“You said from this point until the inspection is complete.”

“I’m amending it,” Anakin frowned. “From the point just prior to the team’s arrival until the inspection’s complete.”

“That could be anytime,” Ahsoka put her hands on her hips, arguing her point. “The inspection—”

“Isn’t until tomorrow,” Anakin pointed out, satisfied that he had gotten the upper hand once more. “So best study the reg manuals, Padawan.”

Ahsoka huffed and turned to leave. “Fine. I’ll see you in the morning, Padawan.”

Anakin grumbled and wandered over to his ship, tinkering on it. Artoo eventually joined him and the two silently worked through the night. When his chronometer read 0530 Anakin finally pulled away and cleaned himself up for the day, heading to the bridge to spread the news about the new arrangements for the inspection.

Ahsoka was already there, dressed in her battle armor and wearing her Jedi robe with the hood drawn to hide her youth. She was currently spouting orders to Yularen, who was looking both baffled and irritated, while Rex stood a fair distance away trying to hide a smirk of amusement. When the admiral noticed Anakin’s arrival, he approached him.

“Sir, your Padawan stated that you two are… switching identities for the duration of the inspection?” Yularen said, questioning Ahsoka’s words. Anakin was slightly annoyed that the officer would doubt Ahsoka or think she would make such a silly remark without Anakin’s permission, but he supposed he shouldn’t blame the man too much; neither Master nor Padawan was exactly the orthodox pinnacle of obedience and decorum.

“She’s right,” he confirmed with a small nod. “You are to address her as Gen. Skywalker so long as the inspection team’s here.”

“And he’s Cdr. Tano,” Ahsoka called cheerfully from where she stood. “Speaking of which, my young Padawan, shouldn’t you be wearing your braid?”

Anakin sighed heavily and pulled out the headdress. Rex’s smirk grew and he coughed harshly, looking away and covering his face with his hand. Anakin felt his cheeks flush, and he held back some foul Huttese remarks as he laid the item over his forehead, trying to put it in a spot where it wouldn’t slide around. Yularen, on the other hand, looked more exasperated than ever.

“Sir, may I remind you that the inspection team will be expecting to speak to the real Gen. Skywalker?” he asked, his voice a little tight from annoyance.

“The real Gen. Skywalker is right there, admiral,” Anakin said stubbornly, pointing to Ahsoka. “If you have any concerns over the inspection, you should address her, not me.”

“Sir,” a clone called from farther into the bridge. “The inspection team has arrived. They’re asking for permission to board.”

Deny permission deny permission deny permission Anakin mentally begged, even though he knew that would be pointless.

“Permission granted,” Adm. Yularen sighed, apparently resigned to his fate. “Guide them to Hangar 12.”

Anakin exhaled slowly, trying to release his frustration to the Force as Obi-Wan had taught him. Instead he felt it morph into amusement as he glanced at his Padawan. Well, it got rid of the irritation in either case.

“Master,” he called in a sing-song tone. “Shouldn’t you go meet the team in the hangar? I’m sure they have plenty of questions for you.”

Ahsoka smirked. “Of course I should, Padawan, but you should come along. After all, it’s your first inspection; you have so much to learn about it. In fact, since I have such important matters to attend to—”

“Capt. Rex, won’t the team be expecting the general?” Anakin interrupted to prevent Ahsoka from throwing the responsibility back onto him without the perks of being the man in charge. He would not let this plan backfire.

Rex looked like he’d rather be kept out of this feud, but he did agree with Anakin, smiling apologetically at Ahsoka. “The commander’s right, sir. The team will be expecting you.”

Ahsoka frowned, defeated, but not put out. “Very well. Come along, Padawan.”

Anakin followed her cheerfully and the two silently made their way to the hangar in question. When they entered the shuttle had already landed and the ramp was just lowering. The people disembarking were not clones, nor did they look military in the slightest; their clothing made them look more like techs or aides, which was no great surprise to Anakin. A real inspection team would have had clones and would have never been sent by the senate – it would have been sent by military command.

The one in charge, a male red-skinned Twi’lek, approached both Jedi, looking between the two. It was apparent that he did not know the physical description of either person he was going to meet, and Anakin immediately knew they could pull this plan off.

Everyone was silent for a millisecond, and Anakin gently nudged Ahsoka with the Force, reminding her that as the general she was to start the conversation.

Ahsoka flinched a little but quickly covered it, smoothly saying, “Welcome aboard the Resolute. I’m Gen. Skywalker, and this is my wonderful Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, without whom I could have never accomplished all the victories under my belt.”

Anakin glared irritably at his master.

The Twi’lek grew confused. “I was under the impression that Gen. Skywalker was a man. And aren’t you both a little young to be a general? Where is Skywalker?”

“Are you doubting our competency?” Anakin blurted before he could stop himself, rising to his full height and glowering at the inspector. “Need I remind you that our fleet is among the most successful in the entire military?”

“We’re not here to deduce how many victories you have achieved,” the Twi’lek snapped. “And your competency is in question until we can confirm otherwise. That is the purpose of this inspection.”

“Forgive my Padawan,” Ahsoka quickly said. “He tends to be a little defensive. I think all he was trying to say is that you shouldn’t make such assumptions.”

Anakin raised an eyebrow in her direction, surprised at her self-control; he knew how much remarks about her age bothered her. Then again, his surprise disappeared when she added, “After all, even a Jedi youngling could defeat all of you. Rank is based on skill.”

It took all his energy to not laugh out loud. The Twi’lek flushed, annoyed at the remark.

“So now that we’ve got that cleared up, where would you like to start?” Ahsoka continued, radiating satisfaction at shutting the man up. “My Padawan can take you wherever you need to go.”

Anakin jumped. What? No, no, no, he was not letting her slip out of her responsibilities that easily. “I’ll happily escort you wherever needed, inspector. My Master is very busy and must return to the bridge, but I’m sure that’s the first place you’ll want to check anyway. Chain of command and all, right? I wouldn’t know too much about anything anyway; after all, I’m just the Padawan.”

If looks could kill, Ahsoka would have shredded Anakin into tiny pieces. But looks couldn’t kill, and even if they could, his smug confident smirk would have deflected anything she could toss at him.

“I have many questions for you and the admiral, general,” the inspector said, his body rigid from the earlier insult. “Your Padawan will not suffice.”

“Aw, too bad,” Anakin sighed, though he couldn’t muster up any regret in his tone. “Well, I’ll hold down the bridge, then. Have fun, Master!”

“We’ll go to the bridge first,” Ahsoka immediately said, grabbing Anakin’s arm. “That way you can learn as much as possible, Padawan. Though really, I do think you guys could just ask him – Ahsoka is an extremely intelligent and insightful Padawan, and oftentimes I find myself marveling at how much he can do. In fact, I doubt this ship would run so well without him!”

“Everything I know, I learn from you, Master,” Anakin rebutted with as much convincing charm as he could, though it came out through gritted teeth. “After all, you know far more than I do.”

“Nonsense!” Ahsoka shook her head dramatically. “You’ve been tossed around so much between different masters that you’ve picked up far more experience than I could ever impart.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Anakin almost snapped before he bit his tongue to save face; he’d rather have Ahsoka bashing him a little than have to guide the team through their mind numbing tasks. He would make sure she paid for this, though.

The inspection team watched curiously with a touch of suspicion, and both Jedi quickly realized they were slipping at their little game. Clearing her throat, Ahsoka motioned towards the door. “Shall we?”

As everyone walked to the bridge, the team immediately began to take notes, glancing around the hall and at Force knew what else. Anakin rolled his eyes in exasperation, clenching and unclenching his fists in an attempt to release some energy that was quickly broiling in his chest. Ahsoka glanced at the team a little nervously, and she skipped ahead to speak with Anakin privately.

“Is that normal?” she whispered, nodding towards the team’s extensive note taking.

Anakin nodded, scowling. “If they find a speck of dust out of place they’ll report it.”

“Did we have the place cleaned up?”

Her innocent concern was beyond amusing, and Anakin smiled. “Yularen would have handled that. He takes care of all the useless protocol.”

The group reached the bridge and Rex called for attention on the deck. Everyone saluted and remained still.

And continued to remain still.

Anakin cleared his throat loudly.

Ahsoka jumped. “At ease.”

Everyone returned to their stations, and Yularen and Rex approached the group. Yularen nodded to Ahsoka. “General.”

This alone made the team grow confused once more. It appeared they had half convinced themselves that Anakin and Ahsoka were playing some joke on them, but since the admiral was also acknowledging Ahsoka as the general they were beginning to wonder if it actually was the case. Just watching their utter bewilderment was amusing enough, honestly.

“Admiral, this is the inspection team.” Ahsoka introduced them. “Please accommodate them in any way necessary.”

“We still have questions for you, general,” the Twi’lek noted before she could leave.

Ahsoka stiffened, starting to grow annoyed. Anakin smiled happily.

“Gen. Skywalker?”

Anakin turned automatically at the clone’s voice and then froze halfway. Ahsoka, thankfully, also turned.

A moment passed as everyone stared at the clone trooper, who also shifted his gaze between Anakin and Ahsoka. Then Ahsoka said, “What is it?”

“Eh, sir,” the clone said awkwardly, still looking between the two Jedi. “There’s a transmission for you from Gen. Kenobi.”

Anakin’s eyes widened. Shavit shavit SHAVIT—

“Oh. Is it urgent?” Ahsoka questioned, her voice higher than normal, crossing her arms and puffing out her chest in an attempt to look more confident than she felt.

“Well, he was fairly insistent, sir.”

“By all means, general,” the inspector piped in. “Don’t let us interrupt your day to day duties. Your apprentice might be able to answer some questions until you’re finished with Gen. Kenobi.”

Anakin felt his blood curdle even more. What?!

Ahsoka smirked. “You’re very gracious. I’ll take the call in my quarters, trooper.”

“Master,” Anakin interjected. “This sounds urgent. You should take the call here.”

Ahsoka curled her lips in annoyance. Anakin glared at her. He didn’t care if it blew their cover – he was not going to be stuck dealing with this guy and play Padawan. Besides, he could still make this work. Somehow.

“Master Kenobi can wait the few minutes it takes for me to walk to my quarters,” Ahsoka reasoned, trying to cover her reaction and win this fight.

Ahsoka had a lot to learn. Anakin would never give up that easily. “Master Kenobi wouldn’t be calling if it weren’t important. It would be irresponsible to make him wait.”

Ahsoka’s mouth became a thin line. She was cornered and she knew it. The bridge was silent.

“You’re right, Padawan,” she finally conceded, adding, “Like many other times before, you have proven your exceptional wisdom.”

Anakin rolled his eyes. Oh brother. “I learned from the best, Master.”

Rex coughed loudly in the corner. Anakin glared at him.

“Put him through,” Ahsoka told the trooper, getting Anakin’s attention once more.

The holoprojector came to life with a hum, and Anakin and Ahsoka hastily stepped towards it so they would both be in view when Obi-Wan appeared.

The familiar face of Obi-Wan Kenobi materialized, and he glanced at the two. “Anakin.”

Anakin cleared his throat loudly. “Why, Master Kenobi, it’s so good to see you! My master and I were just getting ready for an inspection, but when they said you were calling we figured it had to be urgent.”

Obi-Wan blinked a few times and then furrowed his brow. “Your—your what? A—”

“Anakin must have something important to talk about with you, so I’m going to do my duty as her Padawan and answer some questions for the inspection team. What questions I can, of course, since I have so little knowledge about these affairs—”

“Oh, Padawan, you’re far too humble, you know almost as much as I do!”

“Oh no, no, I would never presume to be that arrogant—”

“Anakin.”

Both Anakin and Ahsoka shut their mouths at the stern tone. Ahsoka lowered her eyes in an admission of guilt while Anakin glared at Obi-Wan defiantly.

Suddenly, Rex piped in. “Commander, I believe the team still needs your help.”

Anakin and Obi-Wan both turned their attention to Rex. Obi-Wan then automatically looked back to Anakin, as if ready to resume his conversation while Ahsoka walked away, but Anakin quickly took the lifeline Rex had thrown him. “Right! I’ll do that.”

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow, even more baffled, but then exasperation settled on his face and he sighed heavily. Anakin walked towards the inspection team, who looked even more suspicious than ever, but still not quite ready to accuse them of anything.

“So what do you need, Master Kenobi?” Ahsoka asked. Anakin flinched; he addressed Obi-Wan as Master, but he doubted the team would know that.

“Well, I was going to talk to… to you about your report concerning the battle over Ryloth – it needs revision.”

Anakin bit back a groan. Great. The last thing he needed was to give Ahsoka more fuel against him.

Ahsoka crossed her arms, suddenly looking delighted. “Really? I didn’t write the report correctly?”

Obi-Wan stared at Ahsoka for a few moments to see if she would back down from the game, but she stood her ground, making Anakin smile. He sighed. “Your phrasing could use improvement.”

“How so? Did I misspell something again?”

Anakin opened his mouth to retort, whirling on Ahsoka, when he remembered the team watching him and bit his tongue so sharply he tasted blood.

This was ridiculous. He was not going to listen to this. “Master, you know Master Kenobi is really picky and just prefers things written his way.”

Ahsoka only half faced him. “Hush, Padawan. The adults are talking.”

Oh that was it, he was going to kill her—

“Padawan, I do have several concerns about the state of this bridge,” the inspection officer said impatiently.

“I’m sure the admiral can address them,” Anakin snarled with such hostility the man took several steps back.

Thankfully, Adm. Yularen did in fact step in to handle the matter, apparently growing tired of the charade. “What concerns do you have?”

Ignoring the impending boring tirade from the team, Anakin stomped over to Ahsoka, who was trying to encourage Obi-Wan to discuss the report.

“We’ll explain later, Master,” was the only thing he said to Obi-Wan before completely cutting the connection and glaring at Ahsoka. “You’d better watch it, Snips.”

Ahsoka smiled smugly, crossing her arms. “I’m the Jedi Knight. I get to say whatever I want.”

“Is that what you think?” Anakin snapped. This girl needed a reality check – if Anakin could say whatever he wanted—

Well. Maybe he did often state his opinion a little loudly. But he didn’t always—there were times where he held his tongue!

He couldn’t think of any right now, but he knew they’d happened!

“So do you normally mess up your reports?” Ahsoka asked.

“I don’t mess up my reports,” Anakin snarled. “I just don’t write them in a standard fashion.”

Ahsoka laughed. “Can’t say I’m surprised.”

“Pretty sure you have an inspection team waiting for you, general.”

Ahsoka looked over at the team to see them finishing their interrogation of the admiral. She sighed.

“Well, Master, I’d best spend my time in the training area now since you’re no longer busy,” Anakin said loudly as the team approached. “After all, my lightsaber skills are still sorely lacking.”

Ahsoka bristled. “Actually, they’ve improved so much you don’t have to worry about training today. I’m quite impressed with your abilities.”

“Pretty sure I still hold the lightsaber backwards,” Anakin said thoughtfully, stroking his chin and hiding a smirk as Ahsoka grew even more annoyed.

“That’s a certain style of fighting,” she corrected him, and Anakin raised an eyebrow, knowing he’d won this round. She caught herself and faced the team. “I apologize for the delay.”

“Bye, Master!” Anakin chirped happily, rushing for the door.

When he finally reached the hall and the door to the bridge closed behind him, he allowed himself to relax and smile.

I win, Snips.

Elated to be free, Anakin went to the engineering deck and hung out with the clones for several hours as they all tinkered on different parts of the ship. Anakin was particularly engrossed in the hyperdrive alongside Twitch when he sensed Ahsoka approaching.

“Padawan, there you are!”

Pausing from his work, Anakin twisted his torso to look down—he was lying on top of the large hyperdrive after all—at Ahsoka, who stood on the catwalk. He was unpleasantly surprised to see the inspection team with her. However, his amusement returned when he saw the haggard look on Ahsoka’s face – he bet she was sick of dealing with them by now.

“Hello, Master,” he greeted with a knowing smile.

Ahsoka’s eyes narrowed. “I thought you said you were doing lightsaber practice.”

“I did briefly, but I recall you saying I was too good to worry about it today, so then I decided to practice on my mechanic skills. Force knows I need it.”

Ahsoka bristled and then bit her lip to prevent a retort from flying out.

The team leader took this opportunity to pipe in. “I wish to speak to the chief engineer.”

Ahsoka jumped, her eyes widening, and Anakin had to cover his laugh for a cough. Ahsoka knew many of the men in the 501st, but not all of them, and she was particularly unfamiliar with the engineering deck. She had no clue who the chief engineer was.

“Right,” she replied, rubbing her hands together. “Right. The chief engineer.”

Looking around desperately, she pointed to the first clone she saw. “Soldier! Get the chief engineer.”

Anakin curled in on himself, hiding his face from view because he was about to lose it.

The clone, Dune, stared at her awkwardly. “Uh, I am the chief engineer, sir.”

Anakin again coughed, this time in a fit so bad that his head was spinning by the time he was done.

“Well, there you go,” Ahsoka said, embarrassed and likely gesturing to the engineer for the team. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to—attend to important stuff.”

Anakin sensed Ahsoka flee the room and he rolled onto his back, still trying to catch his breath from laughter. Twitch was trying his best to maintain the decorum so typical of clones, but Anakin could tell he was biting the inside of his cheek.

Glancing at his chronometer, Anakin realized it was close to dinnertime. By the time the inspection team finished in the engineering deck, they would either be departing or staying the night, depending on how long it had taken Ahsoka to guide them through the Resolute. Anakin prayed it was the former.

Subtly exiting the area, Anakin headed towards the mess hall and ran into Ahsoka on the way. “Having fun?”

“Shut up,” Ahsoka grumbled. “I didn’t know people could get so picky about the stupidest things.”

Anakin smirked knowingly.

Ahsoka rolled her eyes. “Fine, you were right.”

“Ready for dinner?”

“Yes.”

As they entered the mess, Anakin asked, “So how far along are they?”

“I don’t know. Do they ever shut up?”

Anakin barked a laugh. “Not really, but if you go through all the areas, then you can at least cut them off.”

As the two grabbed their food, the clones acknowledged them with smirks and snickers, and Anakin had to laugh at it all. Today had been crazy.

“How did you like running the ship?” he asked, his stomach tightening at the sight of the rations on his plate.

Ahsoka shrugged. “Hard to tell considering I spent all my time dealing with them.”

“Welcome to the headache of bureaucracy,” Anakin snipped, waving a hand dismissively.

“Regulations are important, though,” Ahsoka tried to reason. “They keep everything universal and they keep people in line.”

“They can also get in the way, and this is a prime example of it.” Anakin corrected her.

Ahsoka bit her lip, looking away uncertainly. “I guess.”

The two sat in silence for a few moments as Ahsoka nibbled on her food while Anakin merely pushed it around with his utensil. Then she asked, “So if the team has to stay the night, does that mean I get to sleep in your room?”

The utensil scraped the plate loudly as Anakin jumped. “What?”

“I mean I’m still Gen. Skywalker right now.” Ahsoka explained, tilting her head to the side and smiling.

Anakin rolled his eyes. “Fine, whatever. Sleep wherever you want.”

“And you can sleep in my room!”

Like I’ll be sleeping. “Sure. Wait—I need my pillow.”

“It’s my pillow now!”

“No, it’s mine!”

“It’s Anakin’s—”

“I don’t want you drooling on it!”

Ahsoka huffed. “I won’t!”

Anakin crossed his arms. “Please. My tunics beg to differ.”

Ahsoka’s orange cheeks darkened in embarrassment, and she didn’t know what to say. Anakin felt a little bad for pointing out that he’d helped her fall asleep and stayed with her during the first month or so of their time together, but it wans’t like it was a big deal, at least not to him. He would be damned if he left Ahsoka feeling lost and alone and terrified in the middle of the night, haunted by nightmares of the battlefield.

Pushing the matter aside, he said, “Just eat your dinner. I’ll grab my pillow.”

Mumbling some kind of reply, Ahsoka lowered her gaze to her plate.

“Anakin.”

Anakin nearly jumped out of his skin alongside Ahsoka as Obi-Wan’s Force presence suddenly appeared out of nowhere just as he heard the clipped accent say his name. Leaping up, his foot caught the bench of the table and he nearly face planted into another table before Obi-Wan caught him.

“Master!” he yelped.

“What in the blazes is going on?” Obi-Wan asked, already sounding resigned to whatever insane plan Anakin had concocted.

“We—we were—what are you doing here?!”

“I was going to tell you that I was en route to your location, but you cut me off.”

Anakin blinked. “Oh. Well. It’s good to see you.”

Obi-Wan gave a small smile and tipped his head in acknowledgement as he steadied Anakin. Then he frowned. “You look terrible.”

Anakin swallowed. How the blazes did Obi-Wan always see through him? “I’m fine.”

“Master and I switched places for the inspection team,” Ahsoka explained with an excited smile, not quite catching the subtle change in conversation.

Obi-Wan gave Anakin an appalled look. “Anakin—”

“Hey, it was a good learning experience for her,” Anakin tried to reason, raising his hands in defense.

“Inspection teams suck,” Ahsoka added helpfully.

Obi-Wan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Now let’s talk about that report!” Ahsoka piped up eagerly.

“No, Ahsoka,” Anakin immediately replied. “Finish your dinner. Obi-Wan and I will handle the report.”

Sighing, Ahsoka complied, probably because she was too exhausted from the day to argue any further. Anakin glanced at Obi-Wan and motioned for him to follow. Obi-Wan took a brief look at the table and then accompanied Anakin to the hallway.

“You didn’t eat your dinner,” he remarked.

Anakin rolled his eyes. “It’s fine.”

“I’m fairly certain starvation and sleep deprivation aren’t fine, Anakin.”

“Master,” Anakin begged tiredly, leaning against the wall. “Not now. Please.”

Obi-Wan watched him worriedly and sighed. “All right. Let’s discuss the report. Follow me.”

Reluctantly, Anakin followed his former master, tiredly and confusedly noting where they were going. “This doesn’t lead to the bridge. Or the observation deck. Or… where are we going?”

“Your room.”

“Technically it’s Ahsoka’s room right now.”

Obi-Wan threw an exasperated look over his shoulder. “Should we go to Ahsoka’s room, then?”

Anakin thought about it, scrunching his nose, and then shrugged, too tired to care. Obi-Wan didn’t change direction, and Anakin didn’t argue anymore.

The two continued in silence until they reached the small quarters provided to Anakin aboard the Resolute. It was a standard officer’s room, roughly the same size as his bedroom in the Jedi Temple. A cot was in the far left corner, a dresser along the left wall, and a sink and mirror on the right wall. Obi-Wan pulled at the covers of the cot and looked at Anakin.

“Master,” Anakin grumbled. “I told you I’m fine.”

“We’re going to talk about your report,” Obi-Wan said to appease him. “But you’re going to lie down.”

“But—”

“Now, Anakin.”

Grumbling under his breath, Anakin slipped his boots and belt off and settled on the mattress. At Obi-Wan’s raised eyebrow, he reluctantly slipped his feet under the covers and lowered his head to his pillow. He felt the mattress shift as Obi-Wan sat at the bottom edge. Immediately his eyes felt heavy, and he fought his hardest to keep them open.

“Now, about this report,” Obi-Wan said, his voice suddenly soft as if he were trying to be quiet, “You know you can’t write tricked the idiotic Seppies into believing my surrender so my Padawan could kick their asteroids, right?”

Anakin snorted in a confused response of laughter and cringing. He’d been particularly tired when writing that report and he supposed he’d forgotten to edit it before submitting it. Oops. “I mean it’s not wrong.”

Obi-Wan sighed heavily.

Whatever response his master had in store for him as his eyes suddenly closed and he jumped, rising into a seated position in what felt like a heartbeat.

A warm, gentle hand pressed against his shoulder. “Rest, Anakin.”

“The report—”

“Can wait.”

Trying desperately to find an argument to stay awake, Anakin said, “The inspection team—”

“I’ll handle them,” Obi-Wan assured him softly. “I’m sure you and Ahsoka have done enough damage already, anyway.”

A giggle escaped Anakin’s lips, and he saw Obi-Wan’s face soften at the sound of it. He still didn’t really want to sleep, feeling like he hadn’t accomplished anything the entire time they’d been floating around doing nothing. He’d needed something to do. But now, with Obi-Wan’s warm, familiar, calming presence humming in his mind, he finally let his exhaustion catch up to him. Obi-Wan always managed to quiet his mind, to make the constant drone of life and death that bounced around in Anakin’s mind settle and melt away for a time. And if anything did finally happen, Anakin knew they were all safe with Obi-Wan there.

Or he would wake up to have to rescue him. Either was a possibility.

“Night, Master,” Anakin mumbled, finally succumbing. Something brushed the hair out of his eyes, and he felt the blankets get tucked around his chin. “Good night, Anakin.”

#writing #WOW I did NOT realize this was 19 pages on a word document lol #I... should probably post this to AO3 but #I'm not a huge fan of attracting attention of the Star Wars fandom as a whole #so for now they're staying here

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