#did she move back into her old job on the suggestion of a therapist who is helping her with her sudden memory loss?

[comixandco]

i’m just

there must be so many gaps in jieum’s memory

she was the girl of many trades but can she remember how she learnt any of those skills? No they were all from her past lives so they’re gone. Can she remember leaving her neglectful family to live with ae-gyeong? No because she was from a past life, so where does ji-eum think she grew up? She remembers being good at school and her awards but not if anybody was there in the audience for her. She says in her phone call to her superior that she remembers switching departments before, but she doesn’t remember working in the hotel. She cooks meals the exact way as ae-gyeong taught her and she taught ae-gyeong, but she doesn’t remember having learnt them. if she can’t remember anything to do with her past lives, she wouldn’t be able to remember anything that had happened in the past few months the drama is set over.

that must be such an odd and confusing existence, to only remember small dots and flashes of your life, and a giant gap in recent memory, and she doesn’t even seem to be affected by it either? Did she go to the hospital after coming to consciousness standing on a bridge with no idea how she got there? Did they run tests on her brain to see if something had gone wrong? Does she think she suffered a mental breakdown?

What is going on in ji-eum’s brain in those final scenes i want to dissect her thoughts like a grape

#see you in my 19th life #did she move back into her old job on the suggestion of a therapist who is helping her with her sudden memory loss? #she was living with ae-gyeong where did she think she lived? #does she have monthly visits to a group of doctors that are fascinated by her oddly specific memory loss? #in those first few days after losing all her memories. did people she knew try to approach her and she freaked? #if she’d gone to the hospital ae-gyeong would be her emergency contact. maybe it just slipped through the cracks because she was also in #hospital recovering from surgery at the time. #there is a large set of contacts in ji-eum’s phone that she doesn’t recognise at all - not just numbers from her loved ones #but contacts for her job at the hotel as well and anybody she’d met during the show’s run #imagine with me if you will if there had been one final episode instead of those few scenes #ji-eum recovering from what she can only assume is some kind of mental breakdown from stress and her childhood #ae-gyeong coming to visit her in hospital and this deliciously heart-wrenching scene that mirrors ji-eum by her bedside when she was ill #and ji-eum doesn’t recognise her at all and only feels a base level of concern knowing ae-gyeong had surgery not long before #ae-gyeong promising to take care of ji-eum but turns her down because her head and heart hurt from being near her so she rents out an #apartment. she has no recollection of working at the hotel and seo-ha isn’t ready to see her yet it’s too soon so doyun has to handle her #transition back to the engineering track. and in her phone she deletes all the contacts she doesn’t know but when she looks at the photos #and icr if she took one with seo-ha but she must have but defo the one with her ae-gyeong and cho-won. she can’t bear to delete them #even though she doesn’t know them or remember why they were taking this photo. but bc it’s a romance she has to have a few photos of seo-ha #and she sort of ponders over them like. who are you. who were you to me. but it hurts her head so she puts down her phone #and there can be a bunch of times throughout the episode where she just misses him like. she’s asleep in hospital and he brings her flowers #and she wakes up just in time to see the back of his head leaving the room. she could visit ae-gyeong to try to rebuild this #parental relationship she doesn’t remember but has all the proof that this is the lady who raised her. and like in the show seo-ha could be #sat right behind her but he doesn’t interact with her directly they just do the napkin bit and then he leaves w/o looking at her #and the meet-up with cho-won could stay the same with the difference that ji-eum recognises her from their photo and says something like #’we know each other don’t we.’ and cho-won gets so excited and maybe even calls them sisters but then she realises what she’s doing and is #like. ‘that’s how it felt for me. we worked together just a few months ago. i’m cho-won’ and then ji-eum can do that #gorgeous reach for her memories from the show where she rolls the name around her mouth because it’s just so familiar #and ofc i’d change nothinf about the scene where she finally re-unites with seo-ha that was delicious af #but i feel like there were just too many gaps in her memories for it to have been smoothed over y’know? #disclaimer i read the webtoon first and loved it but think it had to change for the adaptation

[foxymoxynoona]

Amended Drabble: The Waterslide

Story: Amended Characters: Jungkook x infant son Kai Length: 1937 CW: language

Despite the malicious accusations of his wife, Jungkook didn’t do it on purpose. There was no intention behind the way he kicked off his slides, or yanked his shirt over his head –one arm and head first, transfer the baby, then the other arm– or walked with his son hooked in his arm, back to chest “like you’re posing for a tots and thots calendar.”

Isabella’s words, not Jungkook’s.

“He’s not a tot yet, don’t rush him,” was Jungkook’s response because could she stop! Time was already passing too quickly with Ezra and Lily who he’d watched evolve into older and more mature young people but watching the baby grow was disorienting. So fast! So fucking fast! Eight months old, crawling, pulling himself up, incoherent babbling, stealing real food off of Jungkook’s fork– he’d be a toddler before Jungkook was ready for it to happen and while some things would definitely get easier, Jungkook was in no rush for babyhood to be over. Not even the frustrating or difficult parts. This was his one chance to enjoy it and he didn’t want to miss a minute.

Kai had been delayed on a few milestones, nothing too scary individually, but with the concerns around his birth, they were watching closely. Not that Jungkook would have balked at the idea of daddy and me swim classes anyway, but when the Early Intervention therapist had suggested swimming as a way to help Kai’s gross motor skills pick up, he’d practically launched out of his chair wanting to do it. 

So now he did, every Wednesday morning after he dropped Lily and Ezra off at their schools. He’d bought a new suit for it –not quite matching with Kai’s, but they complemented. He even got Kai little sunglasses like his, though they weren’t necessary since the pool was indoors, and Kai wouldn’t wear them anyway, he just pulled them off to chew on or throw to the ground.

“Hello goldfish swimmers and guardians, it’s time to step on deck for your class…” 

Jungkook shoved their bag into the cubby and blew a raspberry on Kai’s cheek, then bounced him as he followed the stream of other families into the heated pool area.

“Oooh toasty today, little crunch,” he narrated to his son as the humidity hit them. Jungkook had turned his nose up at the YMCA’s offerings and enrolled Kai in the fancy swim school, where they had heated water, high humidity, showers along the wall with communal Baby Johnson’s shampoo for rinsing off afterwards, private changing rooms, hair dryers, and even swimsuit dryers. 

Kai lifted his feet as Jungkook stepped into the pool alongside the three other parents with their infants –one other dad and two moms. None of this only moms bullshit here; Jungkook was glad to be part of a new age of fathers who were involved. He’d gloated about it with Brian, who was currently a stay-at-home dad with a flexible part-time graphic design job while his wife carried the finances on her Business Relations salary. Jungkook knew all about the other parents in the class. He was friendly, out-going, eager to expand Kai’s social circle at every opportunity.

Jungkook nodded a greeting to Brian and Chelsea and Ghita before sinking lower into the pool so Kai couldn’t avoid the water anymore. He let out a shriek of laughter at first touch and then relaxed, gummy grin wide aimed at Jungkook.

“Yeah, see? It’s nice. Every week you forget how nice it is and every week you like it once we’re in,” Jungkook reminded him. He dragged Kai through the water so he could feel the ripples. Kai stuck his tongue out and kicked his legs, exactly like they wanted him to. “Kick kick kick, little fishy.” 

The teacher called the class to begin but there wasn’t a rigorous structure. At this age it was all about getting comfortable in the water, moving those little legs, and teaching them water safety. Jungkook had been shocked to see how natural things like holding his breath under water and rolling onto his back to float came to his infant son. He knew the class worked its way up to full on tossing the babies into the water and that had sounded unhinged to him in the beginning but now he could see how smart that was! He’d managed to never get called out to a child drowning but he knew how often it happened and had been in full support of Isabella’s request to buy a house without a pool. Anything he could do to prepare the kids for water safety was worth every fucking penny

Just the thought of the dangers made him overly hot with dread. To distract himself, he lifted Kai high into the air and let his feet rest on his chin, something he liked to call Daddy Dance Floor. Kai babbled happily and stomped on Jungkook’s mouth without hesitation, then audibly gasped as Jungkook tossed and caught him before lowering him back into the water.

Jungkook’s eyes went wide to mirror Kai’s. He waited, mouth open, as Kai deliberated whether that had been too scary, too much. Jungkook’s eyes had dominated Isabella’s in the gene pool and now he got to be on the receiving end of those big, sparkly orbs. He’d asked Eomma how she ever possibly said no to anything and she had laughed it became very easy with the sort of things you asked for, believe me.

Jungkook lowered himself into the water like the teacher was doing and blew bubbles. Total game changed; Kai shrieked with delight and tried to blow spit bubbles of his own. 

“Let’s do the water slide,” the teacher called, half-dragging a foam waterslide mat into the water at the edge of the pool. Jungkook thought it was pitiful as far as thrill-seeking went but Kai had yet to take to it; every time they tried, Kai refused to unlatch from Jungkook’s arm to even sit on it. Jungkook secretly thought this showed serious intelligence, that Kai could see the other babies go down it and think fuck no. Like, that was advanced for a baby, right?

But he decided to try it again, since Kai was so much bigger and braver every week, and floated over with him.

“I was thinking, maybe letting go of you is the hard part for Kai,” the teacher suggested. “Why don’t I take him and you go ahead and wait at the bottom while I put him on the slide?. He’ll be glad to go to you.”

For a moment, Jungkook hesitated. The parent always waited at the bottom; they put the baby on the slide and the teacher held the baby as the parent moved to the bottom of the slide, which was about two feet away. But saying it like that made it sound like it was so far away.

Craig was an A+ teacher though and Jungkook knew Kai was safe with him even if he was barely out of college and not a father. Kai trusted him too and had no problem grabbing onto Craig instead when Jungkook handed him over.

But as soon as Craig set Kai on the slide, Kai lifted his feet and let out a warning shout, face scrunching up angrily.

“It’s ok, I’m right here!” Jungkook called and clapped his hands to get Kai’s attention. That wasn’t the problem though; Kai was looking right at him, obviously aiming his displeasure at the father who’d abandoned him to this. “Kai, it’s ok, just lay back and you’ll enjoy it!” Craig gently tried to get Kai to do so. If Kai had really fought it, Jungkook would have called it, but Kai complied with the lying down, he just shouted about it. Was this one of those parenting moments when Jungkook had to encourage Kai to push through his fear and discover something new that he liked?

Kai’s cry escalated. Jungkook could not have explained why he understood it, but he felt it in his gut, that the cry meant Daddy come get me I don’t want to. He just knew it.

“Ok we’ll try–” Jungkook started to move back to the edge of the pool to get him, just as Craig sang, “Here we go!” and released Kai down the mat.

The wail Kai let out stabbed Jungkook right in the chest. The slide lasted exactly one second but Jungkook yanked Kai up before his little toes even hit the water and crushed him against his chest.

“Ok ok ok it’s over, all done! All done!” Jungkook sang, trying to be cheerful and distract Kai, even though he knew he sounded frantic. “Never doing that again, it’s ok!” Kai continued to wail and writhe in his arms, chubby little slippery body twisting as his fingers scratched Jungkook’s shoulders, like he was trying to climb out of the water –or worse, away from his asshole father who had allowed that asshole swim teacher to toss him down a slide like a piece of unloved garbage.

“I’m sorry, Kai. It’s ok. Never again. Neeeever again you don’t ever have to go on a water slide again,” Jungkook promised him. “I’m sorry, snugglebutt, I’m sorry.” He slid low in the water so they could both be warmed by it, soothed by the ripples as he walked backwards to put distance between them and the slide. He ignored the sympathetic smiles from the other parents because he didn’t need their sympathy. Parents didn’t deserve sympathy when they fucked up. He knew Kai didn’t like the slide before, why had he distanced himself in that moment? Why had he pushed it? Fuck water slides!

He commiserated with his son now, “It’s ok. Fuck water slides. You know what? They aren’t for everyone. You don’t have to like them.” He rubbed Kai’s back and tucked him under his chin and spun slow circles in the water. Kai’s cries slowed to intermittent and intentional shouts, a clear tirade at his treatment. “Not everyone likes water slides and that’s ok. If you’re just scared, you can try something new and that’s really brave, but you know what? It’s brave to say fuck no to your dad, too. You can say that too.”

Obviously Kai could not pronounce fuck no just yet, but he did let out a lout “mahhhh baba” that Jungkook knew in his gut meant the same thing.

Eventually he managed to soothe Kai back into enjoying the rest of his swim class, but they stayed clear of the damn water slide. Just swam around and ducked under sometimes so Jungkook could brush his hair back from his face. By the time class ended, Kai had forgiven Jungkook. And Jungkook had even almost forgiven himself. He couldn’t even be mad at Craig still because hey, he was the dad, it was his job to decide when was the right time to push his kid and when was the right time to hold close in a cuddle. When it came to water slides, lesson learned: cuddle.

He’d do better next week, he promised Kai. No more slides, just two cool dudes splashing around, enjoying a float.

And hey, if Jungkook earned some appreciative glances as he and Kai exited the pool afterwards –adorable giggling Kai perched wide-eyed in his dad’s embrace, bundled in a warm blue towel while Jungkook just accepted the goosebumps across his exposed skin beneath the chubby fingers scratching at his tattooed arm– well, so be it. It wasn’t the point of swim class but hey, Isabella could be glad she married a hot dad.

#amended #jungkook ff #dad jungkook #jungkook fluff #jeon jungkook fluff #jungkook fanfic

[queersolar]

⚠️TW Vent⚠️ I don’t know what to warn for but it’s basically about being an autistic kid raised by a non autistic parent

My father unintentionally said something really shitty to me today. We were talking about my new job and the anxiety I had when he brought up I might have to shave for the job and the relief when the job told me I did not. The conversation continued about how I like my beard. It makes me feel masculine and handsome. My father disagreed saying my beard was patchy (which honestly it is) and it didn't make me handsome.

And here's where my brain splits. Knowing my father I know that's what he meant. He thinks the beard does not make me hands-on, not that he thinks I'm not handsome, but it is not because of the beard.

But what I hear is “You're not handsome.” Which sucks as someone who already has a plethora of issues with my body. It broke a piece of my self confidence which I've just started to gain.

We jokingly go back and forth with it. “My beard makes me handsome.” “No it doesn't.” “I am handsome.” “Think what you want.”

I don't know if my father considers me handsome. That thread of self-consciousness starts to spread and I convince myself he meant what he said.

I'd moved on and was saying good night to my stepmom, joking about how I'd asked my father to take me clothes shopping instead of her. After a bit of joking around I made a joke about not wanting to take my father anymore because he's mean to me. A joke I use a lot when something minor doesn't go my way. You won't let me rub glitter on you? God you're so mean to me. You don't play along with my games like I hoped you would? You're so mean to me. It's never a real issue when I say it, just a joking pout.

So my stepmom asks what my father had done, and I had to think on what “mean” things my father has done and still in a joking manor I tell my step mom about the beard discussion.

And she gets this look about her. God I just put my dad in the dog house. Because she heard the same thing I did, even though I explained it the way my father meant it. “He said my beard is patch and it doesn't make me attractive.”

I'm not really upset by the matter but I'm not fine with it either. I should explain to my dad how it sounds to me, but the fear of him agreeing stops me. I've also never been great with communicating how something makes me feel. Which is probably why my stepmom took the issue so strongly. But like I feel bad for getting my dad in trouble for it.

On the other hand my stepmom is probably the best thing that's happened to my father and me (not my older brother but he's a dick anyway.) Especially since an old therapist suggested I may have autism. Like as a kid food was the enemy. I had a very select group of food I would eat, like most children, but I wouldn't eat food that touched without a fight. I refused to mix food (like spaghetti noodles and tomato sauce.) if my father ever treated to leave me at the dinner table until I finished my plate is get comfortable and sleep there.

And I just think of a couple years ago when my dad and I got into a huge fight about spaghetti. My parents had a rule that I needed both pasta and tomato sauce on my plate, otherwise I'd just eat a plat of noodles. I'd accepted those terms and while never a lot, always made sure my plate had tomato sauce along with my pasta. After some time my father decided it was time I start mixing the two and that fight was bad. My father had threatened to blend all of my food together and have me drink it, and he tried to smack my mouth for back talking, but missed and gave me a bloody nose. Eventually my stepmom involved herself, because the fight had escalated too much, and started chewing my dad out. I was eating the food anyway. What did it matter if it was mixed or not? And since my father has never brought up the issue again.

I don’t believe my father is a bad guy, but he has ideas that don’t work with my brain. He thinks things should be a certain way and I didn’t fit that mold so he tried to teach it to me the best way he knew how to forcing me to bed to his ideas. And my stepmom has taught him that maybe that isn’t the best thing to do, and has helped him become more open and communicative.

Another little autistic thing my brain is thinking about is comfort clothing. Not like I’m wearing this because it’s comfy, but I’ve worn this same jacket for the last 8 weeks because it makes me not want to die. I remember my mother making me throw away one of my comfort shirts when I was younger because it no longer fit me, and it was a fight. Or I used to get comments about wearing the same thing for two days in a row or before and after a shower. And now with the McGill Sweater, nearly every moment I’m home I’m wearing it. It’s another thing that makes me feel attractive and it brings me so much joy. Neither of my parents have commented on how often I’m seen wearing it, and as long as it’s in the house and I’m keeping up on my hygiene it’s not too big an issue.

Anyway I love my stepmom. She is my favorite parent and both my biological parents know that. Rip little 9 year old me who believed in evil stepmothers and hated her for taking my mom’s place. Yeah we don’t always get along, but she cares about me like I was her own child and loves me as such.

[o-avosetta]

Hey oz,

Salamat for tagging! I am so curious about A Nord's Last Thoughts, Shane the Accountant, and the Maru/Sam story.

Any little tidbits/blurbs you can provide? How did you find these fics moving you out of writer's blocks? And what's your favorite of these WIPs?

(I know that's more than required, so don't feel pressured to answer any of these questions if you don't want to!)

-foxy

Hmm, hard to pick a favorite since I didn't get attached enough to continue them. 😅

A Nord's Last Thoughts

Skyrim prequel fic set in the desert of Hammerfell. Imperial soldiers camp by a fire. Jergen and an OC keep watch. The OC is slow to warm up to Jergen because the latter flirted with his pregnant wife once and is also a werewolf, and there's not much to hunt in the desert, is there? But, all that happens is they talk about fatherhood and the people back home.

(In Skyrim, Jergen is the missing dad of Farkas and Vilkas. Depending on which twin you talk to, he's either a good guy who went off to fight or an abandoner of sons.)

Shane the Accountant

Slice of life thing about the Shane going around in the background of Wardens, studying to get his license back, and being the prickly boyfriend of the two resident artists.

Shane always did Marnie's books. Even when he was hung over, whenever she asked, he mustered his remaining brain cells to go over the columns, balance them out, and fill up the forms every filing season. He hated doing it, day in and day out, at his old job, but for some reason, it wasn't so bad here. Void, it was almost relaxing. Definitely sobering.

His therapist suggested it was because he was doing it for a client he actually cared about, and whose business he actually cared about. Shane just figured it was the least he could do, living on the ranch rent-free. Plus, Lewis took enough advantage of Marnie without skimming her profits. The less the skeevy mayor hung around, the better; Shane liked knowing he could do something about that, too.

He also does Leah and Elliott's taxes because they're hopeless.

Sometime back, there was this post about writer's block going around that suggested you just write to push the block out, like dried-up gunk in a tube, so you can clear the way for better ideas to flow. John Darnielle also said in his podcast episode on "Hand of Death" that he doesn't believe in writer's block. He compared his process to painters doing studies, still lifes, and other exercises — maybe not all of it will be usable, but they're still drawing/painting.

So, this Shane thing was a way for me to get into the world of my main story without trying to brute force my way through the block.

I think one other reason I stopped was actually to avoid comparison to your story, Nuclear Visions. I know they're not the same, but I was trying to be wary.

Maru/Sam story

Was gonna be a short fluff thing, the whole "I think I like my brother's best friend / my best friend's sister" thing. Abandoned because I started to feel I needed to play the game again and romance Maru and Sam for more back info, and I didn't have the time. 😅

Takes place post-Harvey-marries-farmer. Sam runs a summer skate program to keep the local kids, including Harvey's, busy. Every day ends with a trip to the clinic.

As she bent over Sam's arm with antiseptic, she couldn't help admiring the fine blond hairs that grew out of it. They complemented the light bronze of his early summer tan.

"Heh. You and the doc have fixed me up way too many times, I bet," Sam said.

"You're good for business," Maru said, returning his smile before quickly bowing her head over his arm again. She tried not to think about how close their faces were at the moment.

#writing #fiction #fanfiction #asks

[jadekitty777]

Love on Borrowed Tai: Chapter 6

So hey how about we celebrate the second to last episode of Ice Queendom with the second to last chapter of this insane AU of mine? lol

In all serious, sorry it took me so long to get back to this one, but hopefully it was worth the wait!

Rating: T overall

Word Count: 6.7k

Summary: Tai’s life was simple. He rescued and rehabilitated injured Pokemon, helping them get back on their feet and back into the world. Then fate decided to throw him a curveball in the form of Qrow Branwen.

He had no idea how to rehabilitate a person… but his natural goodwill, and maybe a speck of loneliness, made him want to try.

~

Qrow was lost in more ways than one. With no home, no job, and his team and himself left severely injured, he finds himself desperately turning to the one man in Alola who could help him.

…A man he’d already met once before, but could never tell him how. [Pokemon AU]

Ao3 Link: Chapter 6

~

Qrow carefully tossed the blueberries in the colander as he ran them under the water, trying his best not to bruise them. A few more throws, and then he left them in the sink to drain, moving on to gather what he’d need for the waffle batter. As he passed Emerald perched on the counter, he gave her a little pat, the feline still nose-deep in her food bowl.

It had been his idea, actually. After noticing how fast she tended to eat on the floor – an issue that sometimes ended with her regurgitating it - he’d suspected the Glameow was nervous the other two might take her food. Considering how much of a bully Cinder could be, he could absolutely see why. So, he suggested having her eat up high where neither would reach and it had greatly improved her dining habits.

He still remembered how nice it had felt, when Tai had praised him for it. It was the first time he really felt like he was contributing.

Tai…

Thumbing idly at the new ring on his finger, his thoughts started to stray to the other man and last night. Despite everything, they had had fun. Normally, events like the Halu Halu were exhausting to Qrow. There was always too much noise and too many people. But Tai’s energy had been infectious, the blond leading him all over the grounds, always with a smile and a laugh as they tried the food and games, or marveled at the fire knife dancers with their Marowak and Braxian companions.

Nothing quite compared to the end though, sitting atop the island’s peak, snuggled together like a pair of roosting Pidoves as they enjoyed their private viewing of the fireworks.

He was grinning dumbly at the sugar shaker, before he realized what he was doing and shook his head vehemently. “Stop it.” He griped under his breath, setting it down with the rest of the ingredients.

He knew he couldn’t keep this up forever. He knew it.

And yet…

He just wasn’t ready to turn those smiles into scowls. Even if it was what he deserved.

You selfish ass.

Qrow sighed, setting the mixing bowl down a little harder than intended. Who did he have to blame but himself, really? Arceus, he shouldn’t have let things go as far as they had last night. What a hypocrite he was, telling Clover his feelings couldn’t matter. Look at him now, letting them mess him all up anyways!

He had to put a stop to it, before he ended up breaking Tai’s heart in an entirely different way.

Tonight.

He’d tell him everything tonight.

…At least he’d have that moment with the fireworks to comfort him when everything finally ended.

Qrow swallowed around the knot in his gut, and just like his therapist had told him to, started to hum old tunes, the focus-centered activity keeping his mind distracted from falling into darker thought patterns. By the time he’d gotten the batter all mixed together, he’d belted into a full-on song, some hit from ‘99.

“♪You take a chance, you roll the dice You risk it all, it's just a part of life You hold on tight to what you know You can't hold back, you got to let it go Every little step that you embrace One road ends, another begins And takes you to a better place♫”

He folded in the blueberries, keeping up the limericks and when he’d run out of words he remembered, moved to another one. Then another as he set up the waffle maker and went to go get the oil. Found himself feeling just a little lighter as he struggled to piece together how The Power of One went.

“♪You can make a difference You can make things right! To dream and make it ideal♫ – Hah, no. That’s not right.”

He shoved aside a couple bottles of cooking oils to get to the spray can. He’d just closed his fingers around the cap, when a slam from down the hall had him jumping back. The can fell over on its side and rolled off the shelf with a hollow clang, the sound of stomping feet thundering over it.

Something was wrong. Had something happened outside?

Qrow whirled, the concerned question already rising as the blond came into view, only for it to die in his throat as the other’s furious expression registered.

“T-Tai?”

Tai looked him up and down, snarling. “You…” He took a step forward, voice rising in pitch as he screamed, “YOU SON OF A BITCH!”

The noise sent the Trouble Trio into hiding – Emerald rocketing from the counter to underneath the coffee table in two seconds flat. Cinder stuffed herself behind the entertainment system and Mercury found a spot between the books on the shelves.

Recoiling himself, Qrow stumbled back, confusion and fear tumbling together. “W-Wha-? Tai?!”

“I can’t believe you!” Tai slammed his fist into the pantry door, before he started to advance towards him. “When were you going to tell me?! Huh?!”

His stomach dropped out, clarity hitting him like a Double Kick to the gut.

No.

No, not now. Not like this.

Instincts crawling, Qrow continued to back away, getting the counter between them, trying to formulate a response. Formulate anything.

What came out was a weak, guileless, “T-Tell you what?”

It was the wrong thing to say.

“Don’t act stupid. You fucking know what! You- you were there!” Tai hissed, keeping up the pursuit, backing him into the living room, “That’s why you called me Yang that day, isn’t it?!”

“I- What?? Look, just calm down. I can explain–wah!!” The shout punched out of him as his knees knocked against the coffee table and he went spiraling back. The impact left him winded, but he scrambled back up on his palms. Too late, because Tai was already standing over him.

Nowhere left to go.

“Tai… Please.”

Looking down upon him, fists clenched and face twisted in rage, literally shaking in his fury, Tai seemed terrifying.

So how was it, when he spoke next, the obvious catch to his voice still managed to shatter Qrow’s heart?

“Why would you do this to me?” Tears budded in the corners of those pretty blue eyes. “Just… why?”

He had no answer.

Qrow lowered his head, shame lodging in his throat. “I’m sorry.”

“SORRY DOESN’T BRING MY FAMILY BACK QROW.”

He ducked further down, wanting nothing more than to withdraw like a Wartortle as guilt and grief consumed him. And because he had nothing else, could only repeat, “I know. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Hands reaching towards him had Qrow flinching back.

A sharp movement caught the corner of his eye, a blur of gray.

Tai took hold of his collar, starting to pull.

Yelled right in his face. “You think that you can just-”

Claws dug unforgivingly into Qrow’s back, and then Emerald was on his shoulder, spitting fiercely as her eyes gleamed.

“-Just!” Tai’s own eyes glowed unnaturally, and he started to blink rapidly. “….J-Just….”

That was all the warning Qrow got before the other man was tipping forward, nearly crushing him with his heavier weight as he fell atop him. He grunted, getting pinned back down onto the table.

Well fuck. What did he do now? ~ He found the evidence on Tai’s bedroom floor.

“Stupid, stupid, stupid!” Qrow jeered at himself as he paced the room, the paper crimping in his tight grasp. In the other hand was the phone, the cycle of never-ending rings only feeding his desperation. “Come on Clover, pick up!”

A click. “Hello, this is Clover’s voicemail, please-"

“Ugh!” He threw the phone across the room before he turned back to the man on the bed.

It had been ten minutes, but Tai had yet to awaken from his Hypnosis-induced rest. But as the seconds ticked on, he knew it was only a matter of time before he did and Qrow damn well had to be ready for it, unless he wanted his face smashed in.

The macabre thought only conjured back up the frightening image of the other stalking towards him, eyes blazing and teeth bared, all kindness stripped from those once-gentle features, leaving nothing but rage and hate behind. The look of a man who’d had a piece of his family horrifically ripped away from him and had just discovered he was in the presence of one of the people responsible for it.

Except… it wasn’t true. Not the way he knew Tai had come to accept it as, at least. But there had been no one left to clear their names. To tell the media what really happened that fateful day fifteen years ago. So speculation had taken hold and treated it like truth, tarnishing the reputations of those involved simply to tell a better story.

Now, he could finally set the record straight.

But as he looked to the one man who needed it most, Qrow asked himself, did it matter anymore?

Moreover, would Tai even believe him? Did he even deserve to be believed after he’d spinelessly hidden behind his justifications all this time? Made up excuse after excuse how it was for Tai, for himself, for this, for that? It was only in hindsight he realized what a fucking idiot he was and now, it all felt too late to repair.

A quiet grunt had his heart leaping from his chest, and he whirled, fully expecting Tai to be staring back – nonono, he wasn’t ready Arceus he needed more time – but the blonde had only shifted slightly, head dropping to the other side. Peaceful and unaware of what he would eventually awaken too.

But Qrow was still shaking, sweat beading along his forehead.

He couldn’t…

He couldn’t do this.

Frantically, crazedly, he ran from the room, finding the first pen he could and started to write.

Ten more minutes later, the house and the field was one person and five Pokemon emptier.

Resting on the bedsheets by Tai’s head was the article, folded over. On the blank side was only one sentence:

It was never their fault. ~ The first time Qrow had ever run away, he had been seven and a bit foolish. He talked big about how he’d start his journey early and become rich and famous by the time he was ten. The police had found him three days later, sleeping underneath the bleachers of Motostoke Stadium, living off stolen snacks from the concession stand.

Change the location, and the story was nearly identical to when he did it again six months later. Then another five after that. And once more, days after he had turned nine. Aimless, stupid decisions that all had the exact same problem attached to it.

Now, two decades later, as he sat on the beach, watching the waves roll in, miles of nothing but sea between him and another region, he found it hilariously ironic that the issue had still remained the same:

Where was he going to go anyways?

Qrow sighed, burying his head into his knees. “Are you really doing this?” He mumbled.

He didn’t expect an answer.

“Why, does coffee not suit?”

He started, clutching at his chest as his head jerked up.

Bart smiled back politely, holding two steaming mugs. “I just noticed you’ve been out here awhile.”

Qrow looked past the man to the single house that sat on this side of the beach, realizing quite suddenly he was technically moping around on the man’s front lawn. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to-” Trespass, “-I mean. I can go if I’m bothering you.”

“Nonsense!” With little preamble, one of the coffees was shoved at him. It smelt strong. Probably had enough shots in it to energize a Jolteon. “I don’t brew my favorite espresso for company I want to shoo away.” He nodded to the spot of sand beside him. “May I?”

Keenly aware this was still Bart’s property, he shrugged minutely, mumbling, “Knock yourself out I guess.”

“Always the mordant one, aren’t you?”

Used to the other’s sometimes diverse vocabulary, Qrow just quietly assumed that was a bad thing.

His lack of response did little to deter the other man, who unfolded like a sun lounger beside him yet still managed to appear unrelaxed and jittery somehow. After a long draw of his mug, Bart spoke up, “If I may be so bold, what troubles you?”

What a loaded question that was. He snorted, “How long you got?”

“Longer than I’m sure you’d care to talk.” He rightly guessed, peering at him atop his spectacles. “Perhaps just the abstract then?”

Qrow frowned, tapping his fingers along the ceramic. What did he really have to lose? “I lied to Tai about something. Something big. He found out a part of it and was furious with me, but instead of coming clean, I ran off instead.”

“Why not tell him the truth?” Bart asked, plainly and without judgment.

The list he’d conjured up over the months rolled through his thoughts. Any one of them would have sufficed for an answer, even the few Clover had crossed out for him…

But Qrow was getting really tired of lying. And at the heart of it all, he knew what it was.

“I’m afraid…” He lowered his head, sighing, “That once he knows he won’t see me the same way anymore.”

A thoughtful hum. “I see. And now you’re here. Wallowing on an empty beach, all alone.”

“Well, I mean, I’m not all alone anymore.” He tried to joke, without any touch of humor.

Still, it brought a smile on the other’s face. “Appreciated. But kind of ignoring the point, don’t you think?”

In lieu of replying, Qrow took a sip of coffee instead, grimacing. Bitter.

It deterred Bart none. “Did you know history is full of lies? Many times, this is because truth is often hidden purposely by those in power for various reasons. As a historian, sometimes we stumble upon these inconsistencies and have to choose whether to report our findings or not.” He tipped his head, the glint of the sun gleaming across his glasses. “And I’m certain you’re wondering – why would anyone choose not to report a finding? Is that not our job? But, the terrible fact of it is, many are not ready for some truths or find them so outlandish, they might even laugh you right out of the association. But there is a reason to take that risk.” He looked Qrow straight on. “Do you know what that reason is?”

He barely held back from rolling his eyes. Maybe Bart should have been a teacher, because he certainly felt like a student right now. “Because it’s the right thing to do.”

Bart’s reply surprised him.

“Oh no, not quite. Some things can really damage.” He turned back to the ocean where the waves swept closer and closer to their feet with each roll. “When I look at history, I see knowledge that could have helped. Lessons that could have stopped tragedies. Lives that could have been changed insurmountably had we just known more. I tell the true story because it’s what people deserve.”

Qrow hunched down, murmuring, “Even if it hurts?”

“Especially then.”

He knew what Bart was trying to communicate to him. He knew he was right, too. Above anyone else, Tai did deserve the truth. Not because he’d been kind to him. Not even because they’d developed feelings for each other. But because this was his family, his history and he had the right to know it. Even if it hurt.

Even if… it changed everything between them.

It was time to go back to that house, grow a pair, and take the Bullet Punch to the face.

Qrow sighed slowly, setting his cup down by his hip. “Yeah, I-”

“Flllly!!!”

The cry startled them both, heads turning towards the sky.

Dread curdled in his gut upon realizing it was Liusha coming right towards them.

And on his back… was Taiyang.

Something on his face must have given him away, because Bart lent close, asking, “Should I stay?”

He entertained it for exactly three seconds, before shaking his head. “No. I… I’ve got this.”

“As you will.” Bart picked up his mostly full cup before getting to his feet and with a parting, “I wish you luck,” scurried off back to his home without even giving Qrow a chance to thank him.

He shut his eyes, taking a few deep breaths to calm his nerves, before he got to his feet. Tried to look tall as he waited for the two to descend. Liusha soon touched down a few paces away, stirring a small sand cloud that settled quickly.

In the air, it had been impossible to gauge Tai’s expression, but as he slipped off his dragon’s back, it was clear there was still tension lining his features. His jaw was set and his forehead furrowed.

“H-Hey Tai.” Qrow inwardly cursed as his voice cracked.

Blue eyes, still searing with fury, crashed into him harder than the waves that knocked into his ankles. “Hey.”

Just do it. Do it already! “Look I-”

“Clover called.”

That derailed him completely. “…Oh.” He swallowed, crossing his arms to hide his shaking fingers. “And he told you… about me?”

“He told me…” Tai shook his head. Whether it was out of disbelief or frustration was hard to tell. “Enough. But I need to hear it from you. I-” He hesitated, expression shifting to something closer to pain. He looked away to hide it. “I need to know you didn’t have anything to do with my family’s deaths.”

Though he said it steadily, there was a vulnerability in the way his arms came up to hold himself.

Protecting himself, Qrow realized.

The ocean pushed against his legs again, urging him forward. He followed its guide, walking forward.

Maybe it was the realization they were both afraid for this conversation, or maybe it was because he’d do anything to get rid of that frailness the other man suddenly bore but finally, the fear that had knotted up inside of him for so long now loosened and Qrow found his voice.

“I’ll tell you everything.” ~ Qrow had been nineteen when he first met Ozpin.

Pure twist of fate, really. He’d been traveling the last stretch of Route 205, just entering the woods with Harbinger, when Blight popped out of her pokeball, barking frantic warnings. She’d developed several different ones over the years, each one conveying a different sort of instruction.

Today, she was saying ‘Follow me!’

Without hesitance, he and Harbinger sprinted further into the woods, his Abosl leading the way. It was barely a few turns through the trees before he found the looming danger – a man with silver hair was stooped over a thick overgrowth of wood ferns, inspecting them under a magnifying glass. Completely unaware that above him, a branch from a rotted tree was giving way.

It snapped before Qrow could yell to move – so he changed it to a command. “Harbinger, Slash!”

His speedy Scyther leapt to action immediately, clearing the distance in milliseconds. The man looked up just in time to see the branch being sliced in half mere feet above his head. It split above him, the two pieces dropping harmlessly on either side of him.

Qrow sighed in relief. “That was a close one. You alright?”

“Why… yes.” The other seemed lost in shock, looking between him and his Pokemon in confusion.

“Be more careful, yeah?” He said before nodding to his companions. “Good job you two, let’s go.”

They barely got a few feet before a hurried “Wait!” caused them to pause. Qrow looked back.

“At least allow me to repay you with dinner. My wife is making a wonderful stir fry.” He offered.

Years later, Qrow would ponder how much of his life would have changed, had he just said no. But the him who was ignorant to his future instead listened to his rumbling stomach and shrugged. “Sure, why not?”

“Wonderful!” Ozpin’s gaze darted between Qrow and Blight, eyes lighting up with excitement.

Three days later, he was walking into Pine-A-Co Labs, fiddling with the ridiculous collar of his newly minted lab coat as Ozpin introduced him to everyone as their new safety manager who would be in charge of warning them of any 'catastrophic failures' from here on out.

It seemed a rather extreme measure to take - it wasn't until he was scouring the Terrarium Department for the first time that he learned one of the first secrets of the lab.

"So, is it gonna explode?"

Qrow felt his eyebrow twitch at the question he'd heard much too often this week - mostly mockingly. No one thought a scruffy kid fresh out of the training gig had any right to be here. And as he stared down at the dials and mess of wiring he had no knowledge about, he couldn't help but feel they were right.

So. He snapped. "I don't know, okay? I don't know jack shit about this kind of stuff."

Perhaps had he looked at his inquior first, he might have never said a thing, because his first impression of Huáng was just how intimidating he was. Built like a Machoke and taller than even Qrow's modest six feet three, he was a giant of a man. So, he was surprised by how gentle his smile was when he said, "'Course you don't kid. I don't think that's why Oz hired you on."

"Uhhh..." Was his intelligent reply.

Huáng chuckled, "Heard what you did for the boss. Your Absol really noticed something as small as a branch breaking?" He asked as he leant back against the heavy duty glass of one of the terrariums. It could take the force of a Hariyama's Palm Strike, yet somehow Qrow was still surprised it didn't shatter.

"...Yeah?" He answered uncertainly. "Why is that a big deal? Absols are known for sensing disasters."

"Big disasters. Rockslides, floods, breaking dams - things like that. If you've got one that can pick up something small like that, she's got a lot of potential." The other man tilted his head, nodding to the device before Qrow. "That panel right there? Caught fire a few months ago. She's strung together with spare parts. If we had killed the power before it had happened, might of been able to spare the company the hassle."

This time, when he looked down, he suddenly saw the things he'd missed. The obvious mis-matched parts, the edges of the casing that were oddly blackened. He frowned. "So I'm just a glorified disaster detector. What an honor."

Huáng snorted. "Look kid, I get it ain't all glitz and glam, but, believe it or not, we could use a bit of that 'round here. Place has been falling apart at the seams lately. If we didn't believe in what we were doing here, lot of us probably would have jumped ship by now." He sighed, long and loud. "You should hear my wife. Love her to pieces, but she nags like nothing else about how I need to leave before we blow this place sky high."

"Now, now Huáng," A voice chastised before a much older woman stepped around the tank. She was stout but sturdy, with long graying hair tied back in a ponytail. Qrow could instantly see the family resemblance in their similar blond hair and identical lilac eyes. "You know Keahane just can't bear the thought of leaving her only child fatherless. Perhaps if you gave her another one to worry over, she'd ease up."

"Ugh. Mom." Huáng pinched the bridge of his nose. "That's the worst pitch you've given me yet."

"I just don't know why you can't give me a granddaughter. Named after me, naturally."

"Taiyang is named after you!"

"And he's a lovely boy, but it's not the same."

(Qrow stumbled a bit on his words when Tai actually laughed.

"Sounds like Nana alright." His eyes were distant but fond. "She tried the same spiel with me when I got old enough to marry."

Qrow glanced his way tentatively. "Would you of done it? Had things gone that way?"

"...Yeah. I think I would have." A beat. "Anyways, keep going.")

What Qrow wouldn't learn until a few weeks more was that he had joined the company in its very first year. Working in a lab that hadn't gone through proper inspection in years and with a very small grant fund, the researchers had very little to work with in terms of proper conditions and equipment (most of which had been donated from other facilities). With the government withholding any future funds without the team churning out results - a ploy to kill the program before it could start - they had to get by with pure perseverance and stubbornness.

So things were band-aided and everyone moved on and hoped to replace it a few years down the line.

Qrow knew a little something about what it was like for the world to work against you at every corner and respected the small team for fighting back anyways. That respect eventually grew into a determination to at least do his part and help bring the project off the ground. So he trained his team to help out as much as they could - Blight would keep tabs on the issues. Yoraito's natural lighting made him ideal during blackouts or night excursions. With Reaper's natural homing skills and Harbinger's precision cutting, they were a perfect duo to send out to collect heavy, faraway tree trunk samples to bring back.  

As for Qrow himself, he just did what he could. Cleaning, filing, categorizing. Whatever small task needed handling, he took care of. Which included, at one point, taking ownership of the little stray Zorua that kept hiding in their storage space because Yang just had to feed it.

"You started all this, why do I have to take her?" Qrow complained.

"These old bones of mine just can't keep up with a youngling like that anymore." Yang  reasoned mournfully... even as she fed the little scavenger more table scraps. "Besides, Beatrix has an aesthetic that matches you like a Ditto."

"What is that supposed to mean?" He grumbled only to blink and groan, loudly. "And please do not tell me you named her that!"

"Why? Does it sound-" Her grin was absolutely evil. "punny to you?"

(Tai was laughing again, harder than before.

Qrow wished he was surprised.)

As the years passed, and the money started rolling in, and the facility got a shiny new look as each new machine took the place of something old and archaic, Qrow wholly expected the same would eventually be done with him.

And yes, a new, actual safety manager eventually took his place and did a damn better job than he ever could.

But instead of kicking him out the door, Ozpin promoted him into being his personal assistant.

Qrow couldn't have been more over the Cresselia about it. Finally, he had something to give him purpose, with work that paid well and sought to make a difference. With friendships that were lasting and a place to call his own.

He felt at home.

Then one day... it all came to an abrupt, terrible end.

It was rare anyone was in the lab on a Sunday; but on this occasion, Qrow had been asked to come in for the test run on their newest machine.

Nothing was really out of the ordinary. He'd been asked to be on standby for the first fire up for dozens of heavy machinery in the past. Blight could tell if something was about to blow out - though the most they'd ever had to deal with was a small bit of smoke. Doing so on the weekend was merely an extra precaution - it meant if something went really wrong, then the amount of injury was limited to just the few on site, rather than the entire crew.

The only thing that was truly out of place was that no one seemed to know what this new machine was for. It had been being built at the back of one of the observation rooms for weeks now, taking up a sizable portion of the area. To Qrow, it just looked like nothing more than an altar of gears, as if a gigantic grandfather clock had been stripped of its housing, leaving its moving parts bare.

When he asked what it was all for, Oz only smiled in that secretive way of his, eyes lighting up brighter than a Chinchou's bobbles as he told him to wait and see. The same look he always gave when he'd come across the missing puzzle piece he'd been looking for and couldn't wait to show it off when the time was right.

When Qrow arrived that morning, he truly had no reason to believe anything was wrong.

"How much juice is this thing gonna need Oz?" Qrow asked as he bolted in another cable line to the main machine. Huáng was on the other end of the line, strapping it into one of the heavy-duty generators. Five others just like it were lined up beside it.

Just one was enough to power the entire building - what were they doing that would require this much energy?

"Oh this may not even be enough." Oz replied distractedly, focused on the meters on the machine as they fluctuated. "Go to medium power ladies!"

Yang and Salem, at two of the generators they'd already gotten connected, hit some buttons at the controls and they started to hum louder. Oz wrote some stuff down as he watched the machine take in the influx, completely absorbed.

Resigned, Qrow just continued to hook in the wiring.

Beside him, Huáng gave a chuckle. "That's old Oz for you."

They spent the entirety of the morning working at their assigned tasks - and it wasn't until a little after 1 that Oz announced they were ready for the first full test. They were all given a station - Yang, Huáng and Salem were to man the generators, while Oz was on the main control panel. As for Qrow, he and Blight were on standby at the gauges just slightly to the left; if things started to overheat or his Pokemon gave the call, they were to stop immediately.

"I'm so pleased I was able to have you three come here today. Three of my longest and loyalist employees, about to see the future of our industry." Oz was saying as he started to flip some switches. There were a number of controls - including a large, red button off to the side with a large white S on it. Qrow assumed it was the emergency stop button, just like they had on rollercoasters.

"Heh," His boss chuckled. "Or perhaps I should say the past? Would that be more appropriate dear?"

Qrow could probably count the amount of times he heard Salem laugh on one hand - yet every time it sent a weird shiver down his spine. "A bit of both darling."

"Boss, you know I always love a good pun but, helps if we know the context." Huáng said for them all.

"Yes, yes, of course." Oz flipped one last switch before reaching down for a box that had been brought and set aside when they first got here. "You remember when Salem and I traveled to the Spear Pillar to explore the flora there after the wildfire? We stumbled upon something - an incredible discovery! Part of the forest had already grown back, as if it had never been burned at all." He flipped open the box. "But not only had it grown back, it had grown back with flora that has not been seen in that region for hundreds of years. So we dug - and we found this." He lifted out a small, red gem that was shaped like an elongated hexagon. "We've been testing it ever since and the results have been the same; wherever this gem is buried, it grows the forest back from ages ago. This machine is meant to amplify that power; if we can do it right, we'll be able to regrow struggling forests in no time."

Huáng's eyes had grown large - and it wasn't from the pun. "Oz, are you serious?"

"But how could that be?" Yang shook her head. "That shouldn't be possible."

"The best hypothesis we have is that this gemstone has some sort of absorbent properties, and due to its proximity to the Pillar, it took in the power of Dialga. Perhaps in part due to the actions of Team Galactic all those years ago." Salem surmised.

Qrow grimaced, running his fingers through Blight's scruff. It had been an event that had occurred before he'd reached the region, but the news had been global - the leader of Team Galactic, Cyrus, had attempted to call forth the Legendary Pokemon, Dialga, to use its power to reshape the entire world.

This was starting to sound just a little too similar. "Look, I know I ain't a brainiac like you all, but are we sure this is something we should be messing with?"

"Think of all the good it'll do!" Oz exclaimed as he whirled on him. "Qrow, no matter our best efforts, nothing we do recreates some of our biggest losses during deforesting. Entire root systems are lost, carbon storage is reduced, and the entire microorganic ecosystems are wiped out. Restoring all that, it's-"

"Revolutionary." Huáng finished, eyes alight with excitement.

A quick sweep told him it was much the same for the women. Feeling outnumbered and defeated, Qrow slumped a bit, nodding.

Oz patted him on the shoulder. "Good man. And don't fret, the moment something seems amiss, we'll cut the test short." ~ "But then..." Qrow trailed off, swallowing hard.

At some point, they had started to walk at a leisurely pace across the beach. But he'd been talking so long, they'd wandered about halfway up Top Carat Hill. Suddenly though, he couldn't manage another step.

It only took two paces before Tai stopped as well. His expression was again hard to gauge and he wasn't entirely sure it wasn't just wishful thinking that he no longer appeared angry. "Then?"

He swallowed again but it did nothing for the dryness. "It went wrong. You know the rest. Place imploded and I ended up here while they..." He looked away, unable to say it.

"That's not enough." Dirt crunched underfoot as Tai came forward. "So how?"

He ducked his head further, entire stomach roiling like it was ready to twist itself inside out. Every word was as painful as if his organs were being ripped out with them as he whispered the damning truth. "Because it was my fault."

"How?" Tai gripped his shoulders, tight enough to hurt.

It did little to unmoor Qrow, jaw tightening to the point his teeth ached.

"You said it wasn't their fault."

His heart was thundering, eardrums a discordant collision of sound.

"But everything you've told me so far is that my family agreed to - to whatever the damnation this was!"

His eyes were beginning to burn.

"So how was it yours?"

When the silence only grew, Tai shook him, voice breaking with desperation. "Qrow, please!"

"Because I'm a fucking idiot, okay?!"

The eruptive shout was enough to make even Wela Volcano shudder away - and yet, somehow, Tai stood strong against it, not even flinching.

Somehow, that only made Qrow more angry. He knocked his hands aside, snarling, "Don't you get it, you idiot!? I KILLED THEM." The tears he'd been fighting back welled, traitorously slipping down his cheeks.

Qrow knew he didn't deserve to cry.

"Everything went wrong." He choked out, as if they were being scraped along the grater in his heart on the way out. "It just happened so fast. The machine, it started to-" ~ -to crackle, like it was generating a lightning storm all on its own. The heat gauge was going out of control. The gears of the machine were screeching horribly as they moved at unprecedented speeds, blue, electrical sparks discharging from the joints.

Before Qrow could even shout a warning, before Blight could even bark, a stray spark lanced across the space and hit Ozpin square in the chest.

It threw him back several yards, almost to the generators. Salem gave a cry of alarm, running to her fallen husband, while Yang and Huáng worked furiously on their panels.

"Shit!" Huáng snapped, "They're not turning over."

Yang's voice was clear over the chaos and noise. "Qrow! Shut it down!"

Qrow had ducked, gripping onto his Absol, trying to force her to the floor as more energy flew above them. But at the call, his eyes landed on the big, red button he'd spotted before. He was about two meters from it - so he recalled Blight and started to crawl the agonizing distance to the panel.

All the hairs on his body were standing on end.

The ground underneath his hands was shaking.

There was a loud bam as the top of one of the generators blew off.

The walls began to expand and contract, as if they were overtaken by an earthquake.

Huáng gave a shout of agony as something else exploded in his face.

Salem was screaming Ozpin's name, over and over.

Qrow reached the button.

His fist slammed down atop it.

There was a breath as everything stopped.

There was no sound and no movement. He could see Huáng, hand over his lower jaw. Yang poised in mid-run towards him. Salem, mouth open, yelling nothing; Oz, still in her arms. Even the electricity above him had frozen. He could make out every bend and crinkle like it was as stationary as a drawing.

"What?" Qrow had enough time to whisper, horrified, before a void opened up where the red gemstone once was and swallowed him.

There was no explaining what he fell into. It was a world of black and grays turning on each other like empty galaxies, the only source of light an occasional flash of blue or orange lightning. In each flash, he caught sight of Unown as they flew past him by the dozens, making foriegn tones that sounded almost musical as they undulated around chunks of a building - parts of the lab.

He wasn't sure how long he'd been falling before he called upon Reaper and tried to navigate the netherspace, to find his way back home.

But then he saw them - seemingly from nowhere and nothing, glowing eyes peering over him.

Another lightning flash illuminated the rest of Dialga, briefly, before a roar shook him to his core and the first attack came.

So much raw power behind it, that Reaper's wing snapped instantly.

They went down, wildly, barely managing a landing on one of the building slabs that might have been the ceiling.

Fear struck him like never before as he watched the massive Pokemon fly towards him. With no choice but to engage, he called the rest of his team out.

None of them stood a chance.

Blight's blood seeped into the ceiling tiles.

Beatrix lay, howling, the stench of burnt fur and skin filling the air.

Yoraito's ring gave one last pathetic burst of light from his mangled leg before it fizzled out.

Harbinger shook as he tried to stand, using his scythe-arm as leverage, his other laying three feet away.

Qrow's knees gave out from under him- ~ -And he fell into Tai's arms.

In the sea of darkness Qrow found himself lost in, Tai's fingers working their way through his hair was a lead pulling him back and his voice a gentle, guiding anchor.

"Sssh. No more." They settled, together, on the ground, Tai's grip never faltering. "No more Qrow. It's okay. It's over now. You're going to be okay."

The words welled a new set of tears to his eyes. But this felt different, shaking out of his very soul as he sobbed a great heaving pain into the other man's shoulder.

For the first time in months, Qrow allowed himself to finally and truly grieve.

#qrow branwen #taiyang xiao long #Taiqrow #taiqrowweek2022 #rwby #fanfiction #Chase Firekitten's Tale

[initiala]

Do you have any tips/recommendations when it comes to looking for a chiropractor? I know you've mentioned going to one before, and between my desk job and general skeleton weirdness, I'm starting to think a visit would probably be a good idea on my end. Or if you recommend a different kind of professional, like a physical therapist instead, that'd be great to know too. Thanks for any advice!

I don't have that many tips, just because I feel like I got really lucky with my old chiropractor and she was the first one I visited and felt like it was a good fit.

Definitely look at their website, make sure they're actually a chiropractor that will do stuff and not just some "vaccines are bad, try these essential oils while we do bone restructuring". My chiro specifically has on her website that she practices the Gonstead method, which means she took X-rays of all the areas where I was pointing out pain, using different tools to see if I had any disc problems in my spine, and did a lot of palpation when I was both sitting or laying down and moving to make sure things were where they were supposed to be. I feel like that helped me more, because she could pull out an X-ray to make sure we were focusing on the right spots, and it looks like (on the internet, anyway) it's generally regarded as the most effective method for pain management.

There's also six other kinds of chiropractic care but this one's the one I felt worked for me.............and also I haven't experienced any other kind.

Other people have said that a better alternative (their words, not mine) is physiotherapy/physical therapy, because it's helping teach you how to move and flex your body around in a better way than you currently are to improve your quality of life, and also there's more focus on muscles and tendons, whereas chiro focuses on bones.

Here's a couple of good comparison articles about the differences and benefits of each, while not trashing each other.

I honestly can't say which is going to be better for you specifically, because only you know where your pain radiates from. If you feel like you're not able to move as well as you should for a person of your age and health status, then you might need physiotherapy more. If it's more centered on your torso and neck, it might be chiropractic care. And hey, who says it can't be a little of both? (well. your insurance might. but that's them)

I first went to a chiro because I, a full-grown adult, kept getting double-ear-infections, which is not a thing adults should get (I blame the water in Texas) and my mom suggested a chiropractor because it helped some of her coworkers' kids. (idk. I'm not a scientist or a bone specialist or whatever, I just know it worked) And while I was there and getting looked at, I was able to get some ongoing chronic pain issues treated as well. I didn't know it was my hips being slightly displaced that was causing my lower back issues, just like I didn't know that my upper spine had been curved because of all the books I had to carry in my backpack in high school and college, so we were able to start correcting that! And now I'm not like, chugging a bottle of ibuprofen every other day.

[prnanxiety]

8/23/23

Patient on my unit told me about a true crime show that his childhood was involved in; poor guy suffers from psychosis and even outside of that we’re taught to take everything we hear from our patients with a grain of salt. But I looked into it between his chart and the social workers, and it turns out it’s 100% true information. He gave me the name of the show, the episode number, and where to find it. He was really ready to finally open up about what he’d been through as a kid. One of the social workers suggested he was glorifying it, but I’m not sold. So far I think he’s just celebrating the fact that he can be open about it after surviving his suicide attempt. Anyways, I went and found the episode he was talking about and watched it during a quiet part of the shift. Gruesome.

Walk of honor on a different unit, Charge nurse let me run off and watch. First time ever being to one, someone was on their way to Die of cardiac death and let their organs save who knows how many lives. It was nice finally seeing one in person. A new nurse did a good job convincing me maybe this new hospital isn’t as bad as my old one. I feel more confident about making a move into critical care in the future, after I get comfortable in acute psych. Psych ED would already take me in a heartbeat as it stands, but I know enough about desperate units to be wary.

Read my email after being off for nearly a week to see that on the 17th I received a very official email stating I was cleared by some kind of unspecified investigation for an event that happened on the 7th. I looked back through my calendar and once I saw where I was on the 17th I knew exactly what I’d been investigated for. I never had a doubt that I’d be cleared of any wrongdoing, but I won’t deny I’m curious to know how they investigated and what they found. We’ll see if my boss gets back to me with details.

That first guy, though. He’s got some quirky beliefs that are most likely not delusions, just zany conspiracy theories that he saw on social media and isn’t educated enough to question. He came to me with the notion that the united states faked the moon landing, and I challenged that. But then he came back with “why have we been to the moon, but we know so little about our own ocean?” He’s not stupid, just uneducated. Talks willingly about plans for discharge, finding a job, what he wants in a girlfriend. Motivated plans that have nothing to do with suicide or gang affiliation. We talked for a little while about how important it is to stay on the prozac, but also how yeah, I can bottle prozac, but I can’t bottle a new job. Or whatever. He understood me; the pills will help but they’re not a magic cure for any future urge to kill himself. I wonder if therapists and doctors ever stumble over their words like that.

One of my coworkers made sure I reached out to her personal trainer friend, bless her. She calls herself a mother hen, but if that’s true then she’s also one of the horniest mother hens I’ve ever met. And one of the kindest! I don’t think my coworkers understand how thankful I am that they’re welcoming of me learning their shift and expectations. “Nurses eat their young” May be true, but it doesn’t have to be.

#dear diary #Nursing #psych #psychiatry #diary entry #cw: suicide #psychosis #nurse

[sorryiapologized]

So I got COVID... again.

Not gonna lie, I'm pretty embarrassed about this. It's not as bad as it was the first time, but it just means more isolation. My partner is now recovered, so I'm in the isolation room of shame while I get better so I don't reinfect them. Maybe I'll rewatch that Brie Larson movie, since I'm feeling pretty trapped and my only companion is my son (my dog.)

Jk it's not as bad as that movie. The loneliness has given me a lot more time to think about all kinds of things, and nothing can beat the weird-ass dreams you have when taking Nyquil.

Here's what I've been thinking about today:

I always feel like I'm in a rush to be someone special. When I was a kid I felt like I was in the prequel part of my life. What an asshole thing to say, right? My dad used to tell me I'd be a great teacher, but I said I didn't want to be a teacher because I wanted to be something important (I was and am kind of a pretentious dick.) What I realized is I want to tell stories. I want to be a writer. And since realizing that, life has felt like a ticking time bomb. I feel like I have to make all the right career moves, form the right connections, and if I take one wrong step I'll never make it to where I want to be. Older people in my life are always telling me there's no right way to do it. There's no game plan for getting to where I want to be. And maybe there's not a game plan, but as a girl, it always feels like there's a countdown to the buzzer. That if I'm not the youngest in the room I won't matter. That nobody will want me once I'm thirty. I worry that I'll age past some magical prime number and all of a sudden be too old to not know everything. Maybe that doesn't make sense?

This is what I talked to my therapist about this week. Because I'm 23, and I'm working at a job I don't particularly like, and I don't see any doors opening into the field I want to be in. My therapist suggested I learn more about the people who are there now. I told her I've read their memoirs, but she said to look at Wikipedia pages to get a better idea for their own timelines. I just did that and wow! Amber Ruffin lived abroad when she was 30 and didn't start her career in comedy writing until she got back! She auditioned for SNL at 36 and was rejected! Jenny Hagel graduated from a master's program in screenwriting around the age of 30. When they were my age they were fucking around just like me. Maybe 23 isn't the age when we have to have our shit together. I am laying the groundwork for a future, but that doesn't mean I can't travel, live, and make mistakes. One (or two) bouts of COVID won't set me back in my aspirations. Maybe the only 23 year olds working in their dream careers are the nepo babies. Fuck them.

#comedy #fuck covid #brie larson #nyquil #nothing new #feeling sick #in my phoebe bridgers era #sorry for the rant #rant post #nepo baby #i still have time #amber ruffin #Jenny Hagel #late night #anxiety #20 something

[hidingmurklins]

BAD VIBES POST, PLEASE KEEP SCROLLING, I JUST NEED TO PUT THIS SOMEWHERE.

This summer job was supposed to help me afford to live but the stress from the whole car situation and being sick has drained me so much I can't focus on anything long enough to get all my hours in. My boss suggested keeping me on longer to make up for it, but I'm already getting off just a couple days before the annual family memorial gathering up north where we celebrate my dead dads birthday and I get a fucking break from this hellhole of a city.

We live in a city that has a severe lack physical or mental health care services of any kind (including a years long waitlist to see a psychiatrist or get a family doctor/nurse, weeks or longer to see a fucking "walk-in" doctor, and no more access at all to obstetricians or vets) during an addictions crisis, a housing crisis, and a plethora of other crises, while the local industry pumps noxious gas into the air to an extent that some days I can't see or breathe in my driveway as late as 11am. And we can't afford to move anywhere, including back North, because some assholes from the south (maybe even overseas) keep buying up properties, flipping them, and selling them for ridiculous prices that nobody around here can fucking afford. Even if we could afford it, that would mean abandoning my education and just taking what I can get for a job up there, which probably wouldn't afford us a decent quality of life anymore.

I asked my grandmother to take my car to a shop one day a month ago because for weeks we had known we had to either fix the wheel wells or get a new car and I simply didn't have the time. Instead she took my brother to spend my savings on a car that is older and rustier, that we just found out for sure I can never actually drive because where the rocker panels are supposed to be is completely rotted out and those are mandatory. I'm getting my money back from them, but in the meantime they've also sunk a large sum of money into it and it's still in my name, and the car I'm currently driving could lose its shocks at any moment because of how far the mounts have rotted.

Every day I wake up, have a coughing fit, work for 3 hours, then pass out and panic until I have an hour to myself in the evening after dinner. But that moment doesn't come now because my grandpa injured one hand and the other elbow faceplanting in the driveway and can't do anything for himself. So I just panic until I dissociate to tiktoks long enough to fall asleep.

I have court this Friday where I'm supposed to update them on my mental health status and how well I'm keeping up with my listed supports, but I am not in contact with anyone except one of them very 2 weeks because none of the others have called me back in over 2 years except my family doctor who I only hear from every few months and can rarely get a hold of otherwise. She just wants to prescribe me a new med that is going to put me through potentially debilitating side effects, and nasty withdrawal symptoms if I happen to miss a dose, while doing nothing about my actual problems or the skills I need to cope with them. So I said not until I get some therapy, but we have 6 weeks to figure out this diversion stuff while the waitlist to see a fucking therapist is 6 months.

If I go to prison, my 7-year-old daughter will be stuck with her dad whose coping skills and ability access to resources are worse than mine, and I don't trust any of my family to help raise her because they did a fucking terrible job with me and she deserves better. I also don't want her stuck in the foster system, because that's worse. I need to be around to keep her safe and surround her with other safe people like the grandma's and aunties I've been connecting with through my job and school events. If I'm not around, there is nobody but my mom who might do that, but my stepdad comes with her and I can't stand the thought of what my kid might go through being around him. So I've potentially saved her from one bad situation only to throw her into a worse one with even less support.

I am in fucking agony. I don't know what to do anymore. I can't afford to check myself into psych (if there's even room for me, I might sleep in emerg for days before they kick someone out to let me in), but that's the only way I can think of to get me on the fast-track to see one of the only psychs we have.

#silly kree kree #not okay

[questioningyourfate]

Timing Is Everything

Fate here to provide a lesson from my therapist’s mouth to yours on the power of adapting to adverse conditions. Or maybe that was the biologist who appealed to me for help after claiming I was the cause of him being ostracized from his church, his colleagues, and his community…who can keep ‘em straight, amirite?

Fate,

I was literally born with a skewed sense of timing. Had I been born one day earlier, I would have been the oldest of the students in the grade below me, but as it was, I wound up being the youngest of the students in the grade I was in. Research suggests that surely being that far behind the bulk of my classmates, even if it was by a matter of weeks to months, was the reason I struggled so much with classwork, homework, and team sports. 

I got chicken pox three months before the vaccine was available. I didn’t get symptoms until the very end of the last day of class fall semester, when my mom sent me to school because I faked sick so much she was sure I was doing it again, and then had to spend the entirety of Christmas break cooped up away from my family and friends with a fever and the constant itching, only to be just fine when school and all the struggles that came with it started up again.

The year I took the SATs was the year the College Board switched from the 1600 point system with no mandatory writing portion to the 2400 point system where essay writing, never my strongest subject, became a required part of the package. The local college I did manage to get into instituted strict caps on their financial aid packages that year. They also dropped the major I had wanted to get my degree in just as I was eligible to declare it (and had already gotten a good amount of the introductory classes out of the way). 

I busted my ass to graduate a year early in spite of all this and did so…just as the Great Recession was declared and employers stopped hiring. I probably would’ve been okay, because my parents had been planning to move away, rent out part of their old house/my childhood home, and let me due landlord/property management duties, but the rental market dried up and I was forced to move back in with them with no resume-padding opportunities (and also living with my parents again, le sigh). 

I’d gotten a degree in computer sciences, which should’ve led to all sorts of opportunities, but every tech firm or private development co. I joined would fold within months of me coming on board. I did manage to save up money which I’d invest, only to have whatever promising company I’d bought stock in collapse overnight due to being busted for fraudulent practices or whatnot.

I finally got a stable-sounding opportunity a couple years ago. I was set to start on March 16th, 2020. Two days before that, most of the US followed the example of most of the rest of the world and shut down in a mostly useless attempt to stop the COVID-19 pandemic in its tracks. My new company immediately switched to remote work for its existing employees, and for those like me who would have to be physically present in order to do our jobs (the role was in computer hardware rather than software), well, we were S.O.L. And speaking of the ‘rona, there’s another fun disease I caught just before the vaccine was made available. This time, I got it a week before I would have been eligible to get my first dose from the local pharmacy. For having an allegedly mild case, I sure do have an awful lot of trouble breathing when I walk across parking lots still, not to mention feeling slower and even shorter on attention than I used to be.

The big picture’s bad enough, but there’s also other, pettier stuff: trying to take Mom out to her favorite restaurant only to find that they’ve changed their schedule and we’re going there on the day they’re closed. Trying to take a date to see a movie only to find that the theater’s shut down to deal with an emergency flooding situation. Not having time to claim a Buy One, Get One Free coupon until the day after it expires. 

My grandmother always used to tell me that “God chooses his toughest warriors to fight his greatest crusades,” but Fate, can’t you (or Him, or whoever) cut me a break once in a while?

Your God may indeed want strong warriors, but I believe He (or I, or whoever) also needs test dummies to see how the status quo compares to the new idea in order to verify whether “new” also means “improved.” Sometimes, He/I/Whoever will let our guinea pigs - er, subjects - flip from the control to the experimental group, and as with all experiments, the outcome is uncertain until we let the test run its course. 

It’s not all the time that we have a favorite subject whose results provide constant amusement, of course.

#bad timing #fate's plaything #guinea pig #test dummies #fate #questioning fate #questioning your fate

[beyondspaceandstars]

Coffee & Meetings

Relationship: Dark!Bucky Barnes x Innocent!Reader Warnings: stalking, drugging TW, manipulation, Summary: Prequel to Pastries & Memories - Bucky sees you day after day at a bakery and decides you’re just perfect for him. All from Bucky’s POV. A/N: someone suggested this on ao3 and i really liked that idea so I hope i did it well! I am thinking about expanding this to a bit of a mini-series... :)

Masterlist

Six months earlier…

He first saw you on a Monday. A bright, sunny, lovely Monday morning. He hadn’t even been looking for you — hell, he hadn’t really been looking for anyone.

Bucky was planted at a little table in the corner of a coffee shop, sipping on a dark roast, watching people come and go on the sidewalk. It had become his new morning routine, an interesting yet annoying suggestion from his therapist. She had become concerned he was too into his previous routine. She wanted him to step out of it for a bit, expand horizons, maybe even find a hobby. The craziest thing he had done yet was this — drinking overpriced coffee at a local shop.

He had to admit, it wasn’t the worst thing in the world. Sometimes he looked forward to this new start to his day. Everyone at the shop was always nice to him, amazingly. They didn’t mind him dilly-dallying, nursing his coffee, as he people watched. They even had a bakery attached which was part of the attraction to the place for Bucky. He had smelled their pastries one morning and was hooked.

As Bucky sat watching the people, he was contemplating getting an almond croissant to go when something caught his attention. From the corner of his eye, like a little flash, he had seen someone that made him perk up.

It was her. It was you. You were standing in front of the bakery entrance debating on going in. You looked between the coffee and the bakery sign. You checked your phone then you walked in. Bucky watched as you entered the bakery, your face bright with the kindest smile he had ever seen as you greeted the cashier. He didn’t have to hear your voice to know it was contagiously joyous.

You were like a little tease standing around all those baked goods, flicking your hair over your shoulder as you pointed at which donut you wanted. Bucky suddenly felt hungry for something else. Especially when you bent over to point at the strawberry glaze on the bottom row.

But then you were gone as fast as you had come. He watched you from the window as you got back on the path to wherever you were headed, he guessed your job. Your hair blew in the wind. Your skirt bounced as you walked proudly, your hand grasping the box of donuts tightly.

Oh, yeah, Bucky thought, this new routine was definitely what he needed.

***

You quickly became the most exciting part of Bucky’s day.

With his cup of coffee and hawk-like gaze, he’d sit at the little coffee shop table, watching the world outside the window. You’d come strolling by fairly early, looking so classy and professional. He figured you worked in an office which seemed very unnecessary for a girl like you. You didn’t need to work, he decided. You were too beautiful, clearly too bright, for that.

But you never seemed to recognize this yourself since you were constantly strutting past in your blouse and skirt, stopping in every day to collect some new pastry for your coworkers.

The way you talked to the bakery staff was what really won Bucky over. You were so gentle and patient when the kid behind the counter fumbled with the boxes or accidentally grabbed the wrong item. You’d still shoot them your lovely smile and make light conversation as they rang you up.

You were too generous, especially noted by the strawberry cake you had purchased one more for your work. Whoever was on the other end of your kindness better appreciate it, Bucky thought. He also didn’t miss your obvious love for strawberries.

Bucky watched you for a while, almost for two whole months, in that coffee shop seat drinking in every inch of you. The baristas didn’t seem to mind his lingering. He always made sure to order two cups as some sort of compensation for letting him sit there and watch his girl. Yes — his girl, that was what he had marked you as in his mind. You hadn’t noticed him yet but Bucky wasn’t sweating it. All in due time, he silently promised you.

It took Bucky a few days to gather what was needed. You still weren’t noticing him but he was way past being bothered by that. He had been screwed by life enough to know that sometimes you just have to take what you want. Sitting around waiting and hoping was for men who had patience. He was over it. Little worked out for him so now he had to make it work.

The morning of the commencement of the plan, Bucky stood in his kitchen double-checking the items needed. Content with it, he carefully drew up the correct amount of light sedation into the syringe. It wasn’t anything crazy and apparently affected the mind first, body second. You’d be on autopilot for a bit, walking more like someone who was just having a rough day. But that wouldn’t be an issue because Bucky would be there. He’d be able to escort you to his apartment, simply appearing as the concerned, protective boyfriend among the sidewalk pedestrians. He got a bit giddy just thinking about it.

Moments after you were properly sedated, he’d need to administer you another drug in a timely manner. This one would be focused on memory loss. He’d discovered it on some corner of the black market while originally on the look for types of sedation. Apparently, this drug was part of some sort of failed spy mission in Europe. The seller swore it boasted good results, citing studies conducted. Bucky looked into it and agreed. After some clumsy navigation in the world of online shopping, it was his within a few days. The concoction seemed like it would do that job.

The goal was to pretty much scramble your brain just a little bit. Nothing crazy like making you totally forget key components of yourself but still hit a point where you didn’t have enough to fight Bucky’s word on, well, anything. This drug wore off, though, so he would have to come up with ways to get it in your system over the course of your relationship. It was still worth it to him. He wasn’t stripping you off your personality, just some little details here and there. You’d still be his shining girl, just only now focused on him.

The final items laid out were various feet of rope. Bucky was being overly cautious with this. He didn’t know if anything actually was going to work. What if you woke up and realized you weren’t in your apartment? That you were being watched over by a stranger? You were bound to panic but he understood that. If need be, he could restrain you while he figured out the right way to go about it all. It would never be to hurt you, of course — in fact, he felt it was more for your safety than anything.

After another run of the mental checklist, Bucky gathered the syringe and headed out to the coffee shop. The idea was fairly simple. After you came in for a box of pastries, he’d head out behind you, try to chat you up a bit. He had some old moves he could flex. Once you got comfortable enough, he’d make the move and then lights out. By the end of that day, you’d be making yourself comfortable in his apartment.

Bucky practically fawned over the idea as he walked. He had taken some steps earlier in the week to add some things for you in the apartment like ladies’ toiletries and new outfits. He had even finally purchased a real couch. All for you, so you could have a home. A real home. With him.

Bucky was still lost in his daydream as he sat in the coffee shop, looking between the clock and the window. He waited and waited and waited. The syringe growing heavier and heavier in his pocket as the seconds went by.

The clock struck a new hour. Something Bucky never planned for was unfolding: it didn’t look like you were coming today. He almost about lost it there. Almost went into the streets stomping away in anger. Everything was perfect, how could you just be the only missing piece? Did something happen? Were you okay? Gosh, he should’ve got to you sooner—

Your hair suddenly came into view. You were walking furiously, just glancing at the bakery this time before deciding not to go in. You looked anxious which certainly wasn’t like you. He wanted to crush whatever was making you feel such a way. But Bucky had to snap his thoughts back. You weren’t coming into the bakery. He wouldn’t be able to follow you out, to casually build-up to this moment. His heart was pounding. He panicked.

In a moment of stupid impulsivity, Bucky quickly left the coffee shop and began racing to catch up to you. He took long strides, quite amazed by how fast you walked in those heels, but it didn’t take him very long to now be right on your tail. Few more steps and he was able to pop up right in front of you. You jumped at his sudden presence. Bucky smiled, finding you so amusing.

"Sorry to bother you, ma’am, but I think you dropped something." He lied through his teeth so gloriously, way too easily. It was just the right comment to get you to stop in your tracks but didn’t completely scare you off.

Your brows furrowed, adorably confused. You looked down, searching for whatever it could be. "I’m sorry, sir, but I don’t think I did."

Sir. The word stuck with him a bit. Maybe after some coaxing, you could always be calling him that. Bucky didn’t have much time to think about this, though, as you began to step around him. You had taken his moment of silence as a way to evade him. Smart, but frustrating. A mix of annoyance and anger shot through him. He grabbed your arm and pulled you into him quickly. You let out a yelp in surprise. He ignored it and before you could ask any questions, the syringe was plunged into your neck. To outsiders, it looked like a couple in some weird embrace, but to Bucky, it was just the beginning of something beautiful.

He got you back to his apartment fairly easily after that. You were eventually out cold and the next step of the process could begin. He was pretty much banking on the memory loss solution. Not a very religious man, Bucky still said a silent prayer as he administered it.

He took a step back from his bed, watching you look so at home knocked out on it. It was a wonderful sight, one he was saving in the back of his mind, even though he’d now see it every single day. Feeling quite content with how smoothly that all had gone, he had nothing to do now but wait for you to wake up.

Bucky took this free time as a chance to begin cutting off connections you had. Thankfully, your bag held your laptop along with other necessities like your phone and wallet. He was pretty thankful he wouldn’t have to try to get into your work to grab your devices. That would rely too heavily on whether or not you overshared. No one would believe he was the concerned boyfriend if just last week you ranted about how single you were.

Sliding onto a stool at his kitchen counter, Bucky set up your laptop. The first thing he noticed was your lack of password. You were too trustful, too good, and that was only example A. Bucky suddenly felt so relieved he had you in the safety of his apartment. There were lunatics out there.

Bucky navigated your laptop fairly easily. While he was pretty new to the technology scene, he could at least find the basics and you weren’t exactly running some government-level device. With a few simple taps and clicks, he was writing out messages to your boss and family.

He put in your letter of resignation, something short and vague, to your boss at the public relations firm you were an assistant at. Lower level work, not even anywhere near the big dogs. No wonder you constantly brought in treats for everyone. You were hoping your kindness would get you ahead. Bucky shook his head at your naivety.

A simple Google search showed him you were not the only assistant to the head of the firm. You probably wouldn’t be missed. The pastries, maybe, but you? An assistant? Someone would take your place within the week. Bucky was turning out much better for you than he had realized. He mentally patted himself on the back as he moved onto looking into your family.

Scrolling through your email contacts, it appeared you only had a sister for immediate family. No mentions of parents and… sure enough, another search brought up an obituary for your mother. No mention of a father. Even better, he thought. You needed that strong, guiding force.

A few scrolls through your current email thread with your sister and Bucky found out she was studying abroad. Could this all get any better? Nothing was in the immediate area of a threat. He responded back to the last email your sister had sent. Copying your language the best he could, he dropped some hints that you wanted a vacation. In just a few more exchanges he could drop the news that you were off in paradise. Correspondence could easily fizzle out and your sister would be too caught up in her European dream to notice an absence.

If this ever called for any more attention, Bucky figured he could easily invite her over. It’d take some training but you’d eventually remember your sister — or, what Bucky would plant in your head about her — then you’d happily host a dinner. Introduce your two favorite people to one another. He bought himself enough time to spend with you.

Of course, Bucky realized he got very lucky with you. He had done some minimal research beforehand but everything had been behind sign-in walls. He didn’t know if he was really ready to break into social media and instead decided to risk it. If all had gone to shit, like you having a real big, caring family or a prestigious job, there wasn’t anything a little talking couldn’t fix.

But Bucky had also kind of already knew you as he watched you day in and day out. He had felt that dire need to be comforted, to be loved, to be cared for, to be protected behind those cheery smiles and generous small talk. You always tried too hard as if you needed everyone in the world to love you, to praise you. That wasn’t it at all. You just needed him. And he needed you.

Lost in his dreamy thoughts, Bucky nearly jumped out of his skin (leave it to you to be the first person to actually scared him) when your soft voice called from the bedroom doorway.

"Excuse me," You said, nervously fidgeting as you slowly walked from the hall into the kitchen. "W-What’s going on?"

Bucky shut your laptop quickly and hopped down from the stool. He gave you a warm smile which you seemed to try to return. So obedient and caring already and you didn’t even know why — yet.

"Hey, doll," he said, keeping his voice steady and gentle. "You okay? You laid down for a nap earlier. I was worried you were getting sick." He placed a hand on your forehead pretending to check your temperature. Thankfully, you allowed it. After a moment, he pulled his hand away with a curious hum.

You frowned, obviously confused, much more than you were earlier. You looked totally clueless at the situation. It was the best reaction Bucky could’ve ever hoped for.

You glanced around the living space. "I- Yeah, I think I’m alright… I’m sorry, I can’t seem to remember much. Who are you?"

Bucky chuckled, "I’m your boyfriend. Bucky. And this is our apartment. You remember, don’t you, honey? Maybe you’re just still a bit sleepy."

He watched as you blinked a few times, probably wrestling with whether to admit you really didn’t remember anything or to go with the lie. If you were a good girl, like he predicted, you’d settle with the lie.

"Oh." You bit your lip and eventually nodded. Jackpot. "Of course. Again, I’m sorry. I must’ve been really tired." You glanced over at the clock. It read just before noon. "I’m a bit hungry. Would you like anything, B-Bucky?"

He smiled. "A sandwich would be great, doll."

You nodded once in acknowledgment then began hunting for everything you needed in the kitchen. You looked a bit confused at first but slowly Bucky saw you get the hang of it. He took his place at the kitchen counter again, sliding the laptop out of your sight.

He sat there waiting and observing as his new girl began making him lunch. It was a sight he had dreamed of, but Bucky also knew this was too perfect too soon. You were bound to stumble within time but that was okay. He would have to fine-tune the details later but he was already complying some ideas on how to shape you into who you were destined to be.

Yes, he had a long way to go, but it would all be worth it if he got to come home to you standing in his kitchen whipping up a special treat like the sweetest housewife to ever exist. Because that certainly would be the next step down the line — making you his darling wife.

#bucky barnes #the winter soldier #bucky barnes x you #bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes one shot #bucky barnes imagine #bucky barnes fanfiction #dark!bucky barnes #dark!bucky barnes x reader #dark!bucky barnes x you #dark!bucky x reader #dark!bucky x you #dark fic #bucky barnes angst #angst #dark #dark au #marvel one shot #marvel fanfiction #marvel #mcu #mcu fic #fanfic #fanfiction #one shot #avengers

[purble-turble]

We all really be out here fucking up Time Traveller Red as much as possible, ain't we? poor thing.... Maybe it's time we give him a goddamn win for once? Cuz, I mean, He's already super depressed and thinks so little of himself and so highly of MK that Sure, he could probably buy some of the things that YandeMK has been saying about him, that he's a waste of his therapist's time, and all that, but YandeMK probably can't keep up the act forever. Just because THIS version of the others didn't steal his Red and keep him from him doesn't mean he won't hate ALL versions of them for it. And Time Traveller Red Son probably doesn't hate himself to the point of stupidity that it would take to not notice that thinly veiled disgust whenever he mentions Mei in this or that story. What was it that other timeline's versions of Mei and himself were saying about their MK again? They'd talked so much about MK getting his 'hooks' into him, talked about whatever MK had been 'convincing him' of he was completely full of it, and had directly called him a dangerous manipulator, easily able to wrap people up in lies and abuse their insecurities- oh fuck. "Mei I'm gonna need you to promise you won't freak out" "Oh my god what did you do" "I think an evil version of MK replaced our MK and stranded him in his world" "WHAT DO YOU MEAN-" "Keep your voice down! He can't know we're on to him!" "....You're taking this surprisingly well. You'd normally be panicking right now" "I think i might be too pissed to panic" "Ahh about time we got the old Angry Red Boy back!"

Yes, let's give TT Red a win! We've already had scenarios where King Red thought he could replace TT Red Son and got put in his place by MK who made it known he would definitely notice such a change. If MK were replaced, Red Son would certainly notice too! It just takes him a little longer as Yandere MK is a lot more sophisticated than King Red, and he ramps up his controlling and manipulation of Red over time.

To be honest tho, this MK could probably do anything to TT Red and he would just let it happen, even if he finds it a little out of character for MK... he isn't stupid, but he does think he doesn't deserve MK. So, if his Noodle Boy's a little prickly lately, then that's no big deal. He's probably just getting irritated by having to put up with Red being so much work. The thing that definitely raises a red flag is when MK suddenly doesn't want him around Mei. Maybe she tries to come over to see how Red's doing (he's not usually in a depression for this long after a time travel incident, and she's worried) but MK doesn't even let her inside. He completely shuts her out, making excuses that Red Son isn't in a mood for visitors, and doesn't even let Red get a glimpse of her before the door's slammed in her face.

That's really weird. MK has never been so rude to Mei... after that, TT Red starts to put the pieces together, and he thinks back on what MK has been doing to him all week. Every time he suggested leaving the apartment, even for his therapy session, MK convinced him not to leave. Worse yet, he managed to make him think it was HIS decision not to go. How had it taken him being cruel to Mei for him to realize this was NOT his MK??? Wow, he really needs to have more self-respect... but more importantly, where is his MK????

Red does his best to keep his cool, but he's definitely furious and worried. Nothing gets him riled up like someone hurting MK, even if they kind of are MK. He doesn't do anything to get Yandere MK suspicious that night, even when he starts to suggest that they move out of the noodle shop's apartment to "get some breathing room." Now that he knows who this is, he clearly sees it for what it is - an attempt to isolate Red even further, maybe even hide him away from his other friends... but he just nods along the whole time. Once MK leaves for his job in the morning, Red sneaks downstairs to find Mei and has that whole conversation just as you laid it out there :U

#ask #spicynoodleshipping #dark spicynoodles #time travel #yandere mk #Anonymous

[dream-a-little-bigger-x]

The Perfect Night | Charlie Gillespie

Requested by anon: Can you please write a fanfic with Charlie Gillespie x reader where you're taking him with you as a plus one to your high school reunion because you don't have anyone to go with but then they realise they really like each other

Pairing: Charlie Gillespie x Female!Reader

Warnings: a few curse words like bitch, fluff 

Words: 2,622

High school wasn’t your favorite. All the bullies and the stress to fit in. Everyone laughing at you because you were the nerd with all the stories piled up on your computer and the fantasy of a child in your head. You’d thought you left all of that behind. But then came the reunion. You’ve only graduated five years ago from high school and only last year from college. Though you had an amazing job as screenwriter and some really great friends, you didn’t have a date to bring to that reunion, and you knew all those people would pick on you for old time’s sake because you didn’t have a date. “Hey, you okay? You seem stressed,” Charlie’s voice shakes you awake from your anxious thoughts about the reunion. You look up at him and offer him a nervous smile. Charlie Gillespie is your co-worker, and along with the rest of the Julie and The Phantoms team, one of your newest friends. Yes, you were on the writing team for Julie and The Phantoms, and you had just finished a table read for season 2. “Yeah, I just—there’s this high school reunion tonight and I really don’t want to go.” “Not a fan of high school?” he asks as he falls into step with you, the two of you walking out of the building. “Not at all…” he gives you a curious look, “Eh, they used to bully me because I was a writer and spent my time writing books instead of going out to parties or spending time with friends,” you give him the synopsis. Charlie doesn’t need to know about the nights you spend crying in your room or going to your therapist. You were close, just not that close. Besides, you’d rather forget about your past. “And now you’re a part of the writers’ team on a popular Netflix show?” he tries with a smile, but you just give him an unimpressed look. “Come on, Y/N! This is an opportunity to show them what you made of yourself! Brag a bit about how amazing a job you have!” You shrug, still not convinced. “I just don’t want to face them alone…” you mumble, staring at your moving feet when suddenly a thought pops into your head and you stop in your tracks, looking up at him. “Do you want to be my plus one?” He halts too, raising his eyebrows at you. “Nope, you’re right, that’s stupid!” You start walking again, Charlie following your example. “No. No, it’s not stupid. I just didn’t think you’d ask me?” “You’re one of my best friends here, Charlie. It’s just logical.” He smiles at that. He really has become your best friend since meeting him a couple months ago. “Okay! So, am I playing your boyfriend? Husband? Just a best friend?” You furrow your eyebrows at him, glaring at him questionably. “We could make something fun out of this, Y/N!” He’s almost bouncing off the walls with excitement. That’s the Charlie you know and love. “Okay… Uhm, let’s pretend you’re my boyfriend. I bet they wouldn’t expect the antisocial nerd to have a boyfriend.” The giggle that comes out of his mouth is too adorable to handle. “How did we meet?” he asks, making sure you got the story straight. “Uhm, here?” you suggest. He rolls his eyes at the obvious answer but goes with it. “Okay! Uhm, let’s – let’s say I fell for you when you bossily told me how I should say a line in the dialogue you wrote?” You nod your head slowly. That sounds kind of cute. “What was our first date?” “Uhm, I don’t know? Movie and dinner?” He scrunches his nose, shaking his head. “No, girl… Charlie Gillespie doesn’t do basic dates!” You chuckle at this, stopping in the hallway of the building to check out. “You like hiking, right?” You nod your head, signing your name on the paper at the front desk. “I took you on a hike on the Eagle Bluffs trail in Vancouver and we had a romantic picnic on the mountain with a gorgeous view over the Cabin Lake.” You nearly melt away at the thought of him taking you on a date like that. “That’s a cute date,” you tell him, impressed, and trying not to show what it’s really doing to you. “And I kissed you on that mountain top.” He raises an eyebrow as an amused smirk pulls at his lips. “No one at my school would ever think I’d be the one to take that step.” “And our first ‘I love you’s were accidental slip ups at work!” He sounds way too excited and he’s getting way too into this. “Like, I’d accidentally completely mess up the punch-line of the joke you wrote, and you’d get annoyed and angry, and then I accidentally said “Okay, sorry, thank you, I love you”.” You giggle at his ideas as the both of you exit the building together. “Anything else we need to discuss?” you ask, grabbing your car key. “Don’t think so…” he trails off, really mulling it over. “Oh! Is there a dress code?” “Yes! It’s formal,” you reply, hoping that wouldn’t be too much of trouble so last minute. He thinks about it for a moment, going through his own wardrobe in his mind. “What are you wearing?” he questions. “Not sure, a red dress, I think…” “You think?” “Yeah, I might change my mind if I don’t like it.” He nods his head understandingly. “What time does it start?” “Seven. It’s about fifteen minutes from my place.” “I’ll pick you up at twenty minutes before then,” he suggests. You nod your head in agreement, then say your goodbyes and go your separate ways. That night, Charlie’s eyes widen when you open the door in your red, tight-fitting bodycon dress with spaghetti straps. He’s not used to seeing you out of your comfy mom-jeans and T-shirts or sweaters. “Uh… Okay… First of all,” he gestures to your body, “Wow!” You laugh at him, feeling a blush creeping up your cheeks. “Second of all… WOW!” “It’s not too much?” you ask, shyly. “No! No! Not at all! I’m very glad I get to play the boyfriend of a goddess like you.” “Oh, shut it, Charlie!” you slap his chest playfully before grabbing your clutch and leaving your apartment. “You look pretty wow yourself, by the way,” you say, approving of the suit he’s wearing. He bashfully smiles as you exit the building. He opens every door for you, like a true gentleman. You’re pretty sure no one has ever done that for you before. You always thought it would be so cliché, but it’s actually really nice. “Hey, how far are we going to go with PDA?” he asks when he gets in behind the wheel. “You know, holding hands and stuff…” You blush a little at the thought alone. Being single for so long almost made you forget that was a part of it too. “Uhm… Just improvise,” you shrug. “You’re the actor after all.” You go over the story again with Charlie, making sure neither of you will forget and give everything away. “You ready?” he asks as you’re standing in front of your high school. Terrible memories flood back inside your mind, sending shivers down your spine. As if on automatic, you grab Charlie’s bicep for support – both moral and physical. “Let’s do this.” The two of you walk inside the school and find the gym where they’re holding the five-year reunion. The music’s blasting, lights are flickering, and people are mingling, reminiscing over their high school memories. You already spot a few people you know, but much rather not talk to. “If you ever feel overwhelmed and want to leave, just tell me, and we’re out of here,” he whispers in your ear. You can’t help but smile at his words. A true gentleman.   “Thanks, Charlie,” you whisper back. He takes you straight to the bar where he gets you your favorite beverage. “How’d you know?” you ask when he hands it over. “You always order a G&T at the crew parties,” he tells you nonchalantly. “How attentive of you,” you compliment with an endeared smile plastered on your face. This man keeps surprising you with the smallest thing, and it’s the cutest thing you’d ever witnessed. It gives you the feeling of being seen and appreciated and respected. For the first time in your life. “Oh my God! Y/N!” you hear the shrill voice of Ella, one of your classmates from back in the day. One of the biggest bullies from your senior year. “You look amazing! How are you doing?!” she grabs the hand your not holding your drink with and presses a kiss to your cheek. “Hi, Ella…” you greet, putting the fakest smile you can muster on your face. “I’m good! How are you?” Charlie watches you to find any sign of uncomfortableness. “I’m good! You know, recently engaged.” She shows you her hand, which is decorated with the shiniest, biggest diamond ring you’d ever seen. “Oh, wow!” you glance at Charlie, “Look, babe, she’s engaged!” If he’s surprised by the sudden pet name, he doesn’t show it. “Congratulations, Bella!” You know he’s butchering that name on purpose, and you have to try your hardest to stifle a laugh. “You have a boyfriend?” Ella asks, clearly bitter over either him butchering her name or you, having such an attractive boyfriend. “There’s nothing on Facebook about that?” she chuckles awkwardly. Charlie wraps a protective arm around your waist, pulling you closer towards him. “Uhm… Yeah… We’re keeping it lowkey, you know?” you reply as convincingly as possible. “He’s an actor, so…” you trail off, hoping that would impress her. Ella’s demeanor changes all of a sudden. She goes from total bitch to flirty bitch. “Really?” She twirls a strand of hair around her finger. “Y/N?” Another voice chimes in, this one belongs to Addison, Ella’s bestie. “Hey, Addie…” you greet, clutching your glass really hard. Charlie can feel you tensing up beside him and starts rubbing circles on your hip. “Y/N has an actor boyfriend,” Ella informs her. Addison’s eyes widen as they dart from you to Charlie and back. “How’d you meet?” Addison questions, intrigued by this entire story. The two of you glance at each other, trying to determine who’s going to tell the story. “At work, actually,” you start. “I’m on the writers team of the show he plays in.” “Yeah! She bossily told me how to deliver the line she wrote, and I’ve been in love with her ever since.” He looks down at you with the most endeared smile on his face that makes you melt like ice cream in the sun. “Aw! That’s adorable!” Addison clutches her heart as if it’s about to burst out of her chest. “When did you fall in love with him, Y/N?” You glance at Charlie for some assistance or some inspiration. “When he suggested that instead of a boring movie and dinner date, we’d go hiking together. I just knew he was the one for me at that moment.” You’re not going to lie, Charlie taking you on a hiking date would totally make you fall in love with him. Ella’s and Addison’s noses scrunch up in disgust. “Also…” she adds, then leans in closer to the girls to whisper, “His arms! The boy has guns, I tell you!” The two girls gasp, scanning Charlie entirely from head-to-toe. He snickers, then pulls you closer again. “You did not fall in love with me for my arms,” he tells you, shaking his head with an amused look on his face. You look up at him, eyebrow raised. “I do see you every day with those muscle tees, babe. You really think I wouldn’t swoon for that?” You couldn’t lie. Charlie’s arms were killer. But obviously not the only thing that made him attractive. “If you don’t mind, ladies. I’m going to take my lady for some food,” he nods towards the other side of the gym where food is stalled out into a banquet. Addison and Ella bid their goodbyes, and the two of you make your way to the catering. “I hate them with a passion,” you grumble as you take a plate to fill with canapes. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone as fake as them, and I’m an actor.” You giggle at his comment and reach for the mini-pizzas at the same time he does, your hands touch, making both of you freeze. “Sorry,” you both mumble, pulling away, flustered. “Hey, Y/N!” A voice you really didn’t want to hear sounds from behind me. “Kill me now,” you mumble, earning a worried look from Charlie. “Ex-boyfriend.” Charlie takes your plate from you and places it onto the table, leaving you a little confused. “Do you trust me?” he asks, hushed. “Yeah, wh—?” before you can finish your question, Charlie presses his lips to yours, pushing you gently against the wall behind you. You’re startled, at first, but then melt into the kiss as your stomach starts to do flips and turns. You didn’t realize until now that this is what you’ve wanted all along. You always wondered why your eyes always automatically darted to his lips. Now you know why. “Ooh! Get it, Y/N!” you hear your ex’s best friend shout. Nothing about high school has changed. Except now Charlie’s here. He pulls away and stares at you for a moment, equally as overwhelmed as you. “You want to get out of here?” he whispers. You simply nod your head, running your tongue across your bottom lip as though the taste of his lips is still there. Charlie grabs your hand and pulls you to the door of the gym. As you pass your ex and his friends, you offer them a wave of your slender fingers. For the first time in years, you feel powerful in this gym, like you can conquer the world. Charlie takes you into the hallway, and pushes you against the wall of lockers, kissing you again. You can’t help the smile tugging at your lips as your hands tug at his suit jacket. “I wanted to do that for so long,” he whispers when he pulls away for a second, pressing his forehead against yours and tucking a strand of hair behind your ear. “What do you mean?” you ask, keeping your voice down too. “You really think I made all of that up in there?” he chuckles. “I really did fall for you when you told me off about delivering that line wrong.” Your mouth drops open before your lips turn up into a surprised smile. “It was incredibly hot.” “And I do swoon every time I see you, by the way,” you admit for the first time to yourself. “And I would really love that first date you imagined for us.” “Good,” he replies, “Because I was going to ask you to go this weekend.” Your eyes widen, and Charlie notices a sparkle in them that he’s never seen before. “Thank you for tonight, Charlie,” you whisper, pushing a strand of hair from his forehead. He has that Patrick Swayze hair he had a couple of times in Season 1 of Julie and The Phantoms, the hairstyle you find way too attractive. “No, thank you.” He smiles down at you before connecting his lips to yours again in a deep, passionate kiss. Tonight, you not only conquered your dreadful past, but you also found the love of your life in your best friend. And you couldn’t possibly ask for more. This was a perfect night.

Taglist: @hannahhistorian92​ @marinettepotterandplagg​ @thequirkybookaholic​ @parkeret​​ @lukeys-giggle​ @gingerxarmy​ @lovesanimals​ @bookdealer5​ 

#julie and the phantoms #julie and the himbos #Julie molina #charlie gillespie #charlie gillespie x reader #charlie gillespie fic #luke patterson #reggie jatp #jeremy shada #alex jatp #owen joyner #madison reyes #requests #anonymous

[vintage-marina]

A woman out of time (james norrington x f!reader) chapter 2

TW: suicidal thoughts, idk what the word is but the reader is seeing things that isn’t there

You washed your face and looked into the mirror, the circles under your eyes were enormous and it looked like you hadn't slept in days, what indeed was. Every time you closed your eyes you saw the battle of Wakanda or you saw the faces of people that you had murdered. Murdered, you had murdered them. You screwed your eyes shut and clung to the sink for dear life, a sob escaped your lips. I don't deserve this, you thought to yourself, your victims should be alive not you, them. Not you, Vision, Vision deserved it. Or Wanda, Bucky, Sam, Peter, T'Challa everyone besides you. T'Challa, yes he deserves my place, but he isn't here to take it isn't he? You softly hummed a song to yourself, a method to soothe you. After a few minutes of humming, you opened your eyes. Red, your eyes were red, you touched your cheeks and you realised you were crying. You stared into the mirror, you saw yourself but you couldn't reconise her. You stared to face and noticed the scars on it, they were small and were from the bomb that exploded right in front of you and you noticed the burn on your neck. You didn't found them ugly, but you didn't love them either. They were a part of you now and you couldn't do anything about it, just like your arm. You felt neutral about them. You picked up your toothbrush and brushed your teeth, the feeling of guilt slowly washing away. You knew that that feeling would never go away, but just like your therapist said you must learn to live with it, if you wanted to live your life in a somewhat peacful state.

Ever since half of the population died you didn't knew what to do, you felt like you didn't belong in the group that they called themselves the Avengers but you also didn't fit in as a civilian, so in the chaos that Thanos left you packed your bags and moved away, after you were fully healed ofcourse. You left everyone a handwritten letter and then you moved into a little old house on the shore.  

You heard the telephone ringing, you walked toward the livingroom and picked up the phone. Maybe it was Steve, Natasha or Tony you didn't knew. You wiped your tears away, stupid ofcourse because the caller couldn't see them. ''Hello, with Y/N'' you said into the phone, it was Natasha. ''Hey Nat! How are you? No, I'm not crying why did you think that?'' ''You know that you don't have to lie to me right? But if you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to'' ''Yeah, I've been crying but I'm fine now. '' The last part was half a lie, you were fine but a few minutes earlier you weren't. ''Im glad to hear that you are doing alright, sometimes it is just so hard you know?'' You hummed in agreement, not knowing if she talked about her past or about the guilt she felt with the whole Thanos hassle. '' But, Y/N/N, I, no we have something important to talk about. Scott, you remember Scott right?'' ''Yeah, I remember him, he was snapped right?'' ''We thought that too but a few hours ago, he showed up on our doorstep of the compound.'' ''So he wasn't snapped away, you mean'' now it was her turn to hum in agreement. ''Y/N, what I want to tell you is that we can bring them back and we want you to be there,'' you smiled a little and you whispered: ''Ofcourse, I will be there'' ''We will pick you up in an hour, see you then'' ''See you Nat'' Natasha hanged up and you pressed the telephone to your chest and let yourself fall on your little couch and let out a laugh. A few minutes ago you felt on a point of breaking down and now hope streamend into your veins.

An hour flew by and you saw in the distance three figures walking, one blond headed, one red headed and one had dark brown hair. You openend your door and welcomed them inside, ''Hi guys'' you said to them and gestured that they can sit down, you went back to your little kitchen and brought back some drinks and cookies. You sat on a chair and turned your eyes to Scott, ''so you just showed up after 5 years of radio silence?'' ''Yep'' ''how?'' ''I got stuck in what they call the Quantum Realm'' ''What the hell is that?'' you mumbeled, ''Alright so, that realm is a microscopic universe on its own and if you want to be there you have to be really tiny. Time works different there and basically I got stuck there'' ''What do you mean time works different there?'' you asked to him. ''Well, I was missing for 5 years right'' you hummed in agreement, ''but for me it was 5 hours. So I thought what if we can navigate that universe and can enter it at a certain point in time but then exit the realm at another point of time.'' Your eyes widend and your brain couldn't proces it really, ''I don't understand what you mean and that doesn 't make ant sense Scott'' he sighed and then said: ''Timetravel'' ''Like back into the future type of thing?'' you said to him, ''Wait how do you know about back into the future Y/N?'' said Natasha surprised, you turned to Natasha ''I saw it on the television ofcourse!'' Steve furrowed his brows and said: ''How have I never heard of that movie?'' you shrugged your shoulders and focused your attention back to Scott. ''So how do you guys want to timetravel, I still don't understand how you guys want to do this but I'm in.''

At the compound

After you guys could convince Bruce to help, things had happend quickly. First of all he was green, that was pretty weird for you and for the rest of your team. He explained to your group that he emerged himself and the Hulk together, you were pretty grossed out about this and was scared to asked how he did that. Secondly, you couldn't convince Tony to help out wich was disappointing but not surprising, after all you two held contact and you knew that he had a family. You understood that he was scared to loose his life or his family so you didn't try to persuade him into helping your group instead you were chatting with Pepper. Thirdly, without Tony's help was Bruce all alone on how to make this time travel thing. You hoped that he knew how to make this thing, but you weren't so sure about it. Scott was the test person and when he was gone you thought it finally worked but instead he was a teenager, then he was a baby, then he was a grandpa and then he was finally back to normal. There was panic and not just a little! Natasha was relieved when she saw that Scott went back to normal and Bruce spread his arms out and said proud: ''Timetravel!"

''But it didn't work really work'' you noticed, ''yes but also no'' Steve shaked his head and then Bruce said: ''What? I see this as an absolutle win''

Night time

A radio was playing a soft melody. The woman who you stared at didn't move a muscle, she looked like a dear in headlights. Time moved slow, to slow for her and sweat was forming on her forehead. You didn't even knew her name or why you were here, you only knew you had one job. The room reeked of blood and it was coated on the floor, you raised your arm and pulled the trigger before she could even scream. You could hear her body fall, finally you woke up and you could hear your heart racing. You clenched your jaw and stepped out of your bed, your feet touching the soft floor, you hummed softly trying to calm yourself. But you couldn't hear yourself, all you heard was the soft tune of the radio. Shuffling in the dark is never easy, your fingers touched a wall and your eyes went wide. Blood, why was there blood on the wall. You squeezed your eyes and then you saw the pattern on the wall. It was dark green with little leaves and flowers on it, your hand flew towards your mouth when you realised you were not in your bedroom anymore. You turned your head and then everything went back to normal. You didn't saw the blood splatters and the wallpaper anymore but you were in your bedroom?

The next day

A lot happend during the day, Tony showed up out of nowhere. Thor was back, who looked like shit. Rhodey suggested to go back in time when Thanos was a baby and to strangle him, which you found very amusing and Clint showed up with tattoos and a sad background that he killed people just because his family passed away. Everyone grieves differently I guess, some people like me you thought are gonna live in solitude and other people are gonna kill people for the fun of it. So now you were lying on the floor next to Bruce, Natasha and Tony trying to figure out where the stones are. Tony, Bruce and you were arguing about which place and time is the most convienent but Natasha broke your quabble. ''Guys, if you pick the right year there are three stones in new York'' ''Shut the fuck up'' ''You're a genius you know that right'' ''Whoah'' were the three things that were said in unison to her.

After five years you finally wore your suit again. The med pack on your bag felt familiar and you almost forgot how thick the leather was, the only bad side was that you now had to wear a mask. On your wrist was a watch and after twenty explanations from Tony you understood how to work with that thing, above your suit you wore another suit were you would timetravel in. You are going to travel with Tony, Scott and Steve to New York 2012 because Tony could help you with your suit when you didn 't knew how to work with it. ''Can someone please explain to me why I would have to wear a mask again?'' Actually you did know why, because the four of you didn't want to risk that 2012 Steve would regconise you. The Avengers and you were walking in unison and you guys formed a circle. Natasha and Steve looked at eachother and she said to him smiling: ''See you in a minute'' a machine whirred above you and you clicked on a button to summone your helmet and then you were shrinking.

It was a really weird experience to say atleast, your tummy was doing cartwheels and you felt your fingers (but not from your vibranium arm) tingling. You saw blue everywhere and it looked like honeycombs. You marveled at this, but then someone's elbow went into your ribs and you flew out of the orbit. Instead of going right with the others you went straight ahead. Shit, shit shit! But everything went so fast you didn't even had more time to think about it. A flash happend and you had your eyes shut. Your vibranium arm was stuck into something but not for long, whatever your arm was in was ripping and flew down with you. You could hear yells and cursing and then you fell on the ground. Well, not ground but on wood? You heard it crack underneath you and you thought you had fallen through the floor. Something is strange here, you didn't hear any cars, you didn't hear airplanes and you certainly didn't smell the fumes. You sniffed again, and you regconised it, it was salty and now your ears heard the soft waves of the ocean. You were on the ocean, you cracked one eye open and right in your face was a small man with dirt on his cheeks and wearing a mullet. ''Witch! A witch is on our ship!'' Fuck.

#james norrington #james norrington x reader #james norrington imagine #norrington #commodore norrington #potc #elizabeth swann #will turner #jack sparrow #henry turner #commodore norrington x reader #marvel #fanfic #marvelcrossover #avengersinfinitywar #avengers endgame #avengers

[harrypotter-imaginess]

Part 1 Here!

Commission Info for letters from your favorite comfort character here! 

A/N: If you want to be added to the tag list for this, The draco muggle series, or the Fred and George Weasley best friends Series let me know!

- “What’s the hurry boss? Where are you heading off to?” One of your co -workers asks as you rush around the store double checking all the locks on the entrances and giving your plants one final spritz

- “Hot date?” The other asks with a suggestive raised eyebrow

- “Yes.” You say simply,

- They both sputter at that

- “What? Seriously?!”

- “With who??” The other shrieks

- And right on cue there’s a light tap on the door

- Cue your employees squealing again

- “Him?!?”

- “The hottie with a dye job?”

- George offers you a smile and a wave and you smile back

- “Ainsley I trust you can lock up?” You ask, pushing the key into their hand

- They only nod

- Henry’s looking at you with his his mouth open as he watches you leave, George and you smiling at each other like a couple of lovestruck fools

- “I told you he had a crush on them” Ainsley says with a grin and Henry has a blush blooming on his cheeks as he pulls a five pound note from his wallet

- “I mean I did too- I just didn’t think he would work up the nerve to actually ask them out.”

- A moment of silence fills the air

- “I bet Ten pounds they find out if that’s their natural hair color tonight” Ainsley says with a grin, and Henry looks at her with a slightly mortified expression

- I mean, the implication of how you would find that out is just-

- “Yeah alright, our boss is a prude there’s no way” he says shaking Ainsley’s hand.

- So when George meant dinner- he meant dinner

- You’re at the tower restaurant in downtown London

- It’s on the fiftieth floor at a skyscraper at the heart of London.

- He reserved a table specifically next to a window with a view of the canal and the London eye

- It’s quite spectacular

- “Have you been here before?” He asks

- You’re glad you dressed a little nicer than you were originally thinking

- “A few times, once for a birthday and once-“

- You’re interrupted by your server bringing a bottle of champagne

- George gets a puzzled expression, he hasn’t even ordered yet

- “Compliments of the Owner, we’re still grateful you were able to fulfill that order last minute when our other florist backed out.”

- “Not a problem Charles, it was my pleasure”

- When he’s gone George flashes you a smile

- “I feel like everyone knows you” he says, lifting up a champagne flute as you toast.

- “That was just one person” you say with a smile and a giggle

- “You should have been at the store last week, my brother wouldn’t shut up about you” he says with a grin

- “Who’s your brother?”

- George describes Ron, but it doesn’t spark anything in you until he mentions the red hair

- “Oh yes, Ronnie! He comes by every month to get flowers for his girlfriend, I didn’t know he was your brother”

- What a small world

- You should have seen the similarity from the start, the hair was a dead give away really

- How come no one else at the shop had noticed either?

- “Well one of them” George shrugs

- “How many brothers do you have”

- George grins

- “That’s enough for a volleyball team!”

- “We have a sister too, the running joke is our parents wanted a girl, just one”

- By the time the appetizers are being brought out George has got the family picture from when they visited Bill in Egypt out (charmed so it doesn’t move of course)

- “You have a twin?”

- You know the second you’ve asked it that you said something wrong

- It’s not that George looks upset, or that his expression has darkened-

- He just looks so sad

- The kind of sadness that’s as deep as the Mariana Trench, hidden behind a kind smile and the gentle warmth of longing

- “I did have a twin-“ George knew this would come up sooner or later, he just didn’t want to ruin the nice mood you had going so soon

- “He passed away a few years ago”

- George is waiting for the look-

- The wide eyes, and the slight pout. That overly sympathetic look he’s gotten so often, it’s only natural. It happens to everyone, he won’t hold it against you. 

- And it forms on your face a little, because you can’t imagine what it’s like to lose someone like that. But the next thing that comes out of your mouth is original

- “What was he like?”

- “What?” George is taken aback, he was expecting words of condolence, as is typical for this situation

- “You told me all about Bill, and Charlie, and Percy, and Ron, and Ginny-“

- Now he’s surprised that you’ve remembered all of his siblings names, and correctly at that

- “Now tell me about your twin”

- Your eyes are twinkling when they look to him. All of London stretches out behind you, like something from a painting. Your face is illuminated by the small candle in the middle of your table.

- It feels like something out of a movie, and George is afraid he might cry from the sheer beauty of it

- He never thought he would feel this way again

- “His name was Fred, and he was my best friend”

- He’s talked about Fred before, to his family, to his therapist and old classmates

- But he’s never had an experience quite like this

- “Umbridge? Oh she was the worst, like the bitter old nun who slaps your wrists with a ruler”

- Only worse

- “Anyway Fred and I- we planned this entire thing when we decided to leave school-“

- He tells you about the fireworks in the main hall of their boarding school, and the way they raced through the door and never came back

- “I think I would have liked Fred” you say, a warm look in your eyes

- He would have liked you too, George wants to say

- But that’s a little forward for the first date, he feels like he’s already unloaded enough with his broken family and their loss

- Lucky for him, dessert has just arrived

- “Compliments of the owner, we hope to see you both here again” Charles tells you, setting down two impressive plates of Tiramisu

- “Why do I get the feeling that whatever you did was more than just a last minute order fulfillment?”

- You shrug

- “Well after the whole thing- they started contracting me to do their regular day to day flowers” you shrug, it’s not that big of a deal, fancy places like this use a few different vendors, they probably have a different one for each day

- Which is for the best since your shop can only handle a few days at most.

- It’s not that you can’t produce enough flowers or anything, it’s just you wouldn’t be able to give Ainsley and Henry the leisurely work hours you do now, not while maintaining quality for your existing customers

- And that’s a big no for you

- “I take it business was always this good?”

- With how successful you seem, he honestly can’t imagine you struggling

- You scoff

- “It was tough at first, when I was by myself.” You still remember your family telling you that it wasn’t to late to declare bankruptcy and get a real job. “Things got better when Ainsley showed up- holidays are still tough though.”

- “Ron’s told me all about the hour long line at Valentine’s Day” George says with a grin and you bury your face in your hands with a muffled groan

- “Oh it’s going to be terrible this year.” Valentine’s Day is still a few months away, but you can already feel the dread

- “We started doing appointments only last year- because the amount of people that just show up and ransack the place is just-“

- “Oh I know,” George says. “My store doesn’t even sell anything all that romantic, but the amount of people who show up last minute to buy anything- one time a bloke even bought the decorations I had up.”

- “Have you noticed-“ you voice lowers as you lean forward. “That’s it’s never people looking for things for their significant other, it’s always-“

- “For the mistresses?”

- You nod enthusiastically

- “I thought maybe it was just my store-“ George leans forward as well now, talking very quickly

- “No the same person who ordered flowers two months in advance for their husband, will spend thirty minutes begging for me to put a bouquet together for their special friend”

- George leans back and shakes his head

- “It’s crazy isn’t it? How many people cheat?”

- You sigh, leaning back into your chair shrugging

- “It’s not our place to judge.”

- Especially not when the person in question is shoving fifty quid in your face for a god d*mn cactus and a card

- George knows that, and he knows there have been times that the only reason he was able to keep his shop afloat after Fred left is because of Valentine’s Day

- But still- cheating just irks him

- It’s the most unforgivable thing a person can do, to betray the person they love the most like that

- George knows every relationship is different- and that things aren’t clear cut-

- But he can’t ever imagine doing that to someone

- “I don’t get it though, I can’t even get one lover, let alone two or more” you laugh, and George swears it looks like you’re glowing

- He feels a smile twitch at the corner of his lips, the mischievous streak in him rolling awake after what feels like years of slumber

- “What if I told you I was trying to change that?”

- His arm is on the table, the tips of his fingers brushing against yours slightly

- You feel your face grow hot as his words sink in one by one

- A smile spreading across you face

- “I would say, I’m looking forward to it.”

BONUS:

- “So did you find out if Hottie’s color is natural?” Ainsley asks, a mischievous smile curled onto their lips. 

- “Ainsley, his name is George, he owns a hobby store a few lanes over.” You say as you finish tying the bow on an arrangement. 

- There’s a second of silence in which Henry and Ainsley exchange a look. Henry’s feeling pretty confident right now, Ainsley might have worked here longer than him, but he feels like he knows you pretty well, and he-

- “And yes it is, so you should both stop calling him Dye Job.” You say with a smile twitching on your lips. 

- Henry.exe is broken.

- Ainsley has to hide their joy, internally cheering and wondering how to spend the money. 

- “H-how do you know that?” Henry asks, maybe you’re just saying it so he and Ainsley will stop teasing your new love interest. 

- You stop, looking up from your arrangement in slight wonder.

- Ah, he was right! It looks like you’re trying to come up with an excuse.

- “Well his brothers all seem to have that hair color, I think they get it from their Dad.”

- Ainsley and Henry.exe have stopped working. 

- “YoU mEt HiS fAmIlY??” Ainsley shrieks. 

#harry potter imagines #george weasley imagine #george weasley headcanon #george weasley x reader #fred weasley imagine #goerge adn fred weasley reader insert #fred weasley headcanon #harry potter headcanon #harry potter reader insert #harry potter preferences #harry potter imagine #harry potter

[rogerslovesstark]

Hi there! A huge fan 💜💙 I was wondering if your requests are open?

If yes, could you please write an angsty fic where in reader is dating Bucky and for some reason he belittles her and breaks off their relationship. After which eventually everyone on the team stops talking to her. She's forced to leave off on her own and struggles a lot. Later Bucky realises his mistake and tries to contact her but the old her is gone. Like she finds her own happiness. Sorry if it's too detailed☹️

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 1.7k

WARNING: Angst

Your recruitment to the team was quick and very low-key. Almost no one knew that you had joined the Avengers because you requested Tony not to hold a press conference. You loved being an Avenger, the idea of helping people in need was so fulfilling.

However, the spotlight of being an Avenger was not pleasant. You did not know how Tony and Steve were able to handle it, the constant feeling of eyes on you, paparazzi almost always being on top of everything you do.

The few events you did go to, you stood with Bucky most of the time. He always kept you safe and comfortable while the party was booming. The two of you would walk around the venues Tony would rent out, looking at the architecture of the building, admiring the art that was around.

The conversation was kept minimal because there was already so much noise from the party. Both silently agreed that there was no need for extra noise.

It was the New Years Party two years ago where Bucky asked you if you wanted to slow dance. The Venue had multiple balconies and he chose the smallest one for the two of you to dance.

The two of you swayed to the soft music that could be heard from the party. Once the clock hit 12:00, Bucky leaned over and kissed you. You two began dating shortly after.

Every Sunday was a day for a date unless either of you had a mission. Every other week you planned a date for you and Bucky, walks in the park, restaurants, bars, everything you could think of.

You developed a dependency on Bucky. Always seeking his reassurance, seeking his comfort and touch. You felt as though you were not complete unless you were with Bucky. 

Your childhood was to blame, primarily your father. Physically, your dad was there but not emotionally. You never received emotional love from your father, the ‘I’m so proud of you’ or ‘you’re doing amazing’ Just a stiff nod.  

Being raised by your psychotic father was the reason you developed into the cold-hearted killer you were. From 16-19, you worked as a mercenary and killed for money.

You craved emotional validation from someone because you were so deprived of it when you were a child. You struggled to form relationships with others because of it too. That was one of the main reasons why you were not as close to the team.

Bucky would always smile at you, or kiss you when you were excited about something you would accomplish. On missions, he would always stay near you unless instructed otherwise by Steve. 

Bucky has been extremely off recently, always working with Steve, or working out with Sam, helping Wanda train her new abilities because it’s hard to kill a super-soldier than a normal human. 

He had missed five Sunday dates. Five of them. In those five weeks, you barely saw him and it was driving you crazy. You constantly would search for the time where the two of you could just be alone. You were so deprived of physical touch and emotional love, you began to fall into a depressive state. 

You walked towards the conference room, you asked Friday where Bucky was. She said he was in the conference room alone which is weird that she specified.

You opened the door and found Bucky just sitting on his phone. It was almost 10:30pm and he was just chilling in the conference room on his phone.

“Baby, I’ve been looking for you,” You said, walking over to him and running your hands along his broad and muscular shoulders. He was always so tense when he was sitting hunched over.

He shrugged you off his shoulders and turned to look at you. Not a soft, loving kind of look that a lover would typically give his lover; he gave a harsh glare as if you had done something to him. 

“God, you are so fucking annoying, you know that,” Bucky said. He grabbed that hand that was touching you and stood up from his chair. He let go of your hand rather quickly as soon as he stood from the chair. 

“I can’t fucking stand being around you Y/n, I don’t know why I ever asked you to be my fucking girlfriend,” He said, lowering his face closer to your face so the two of you were at eye level. 

Tears pooled in your eyes, every word he said was like a thin blade stabbing you in the stomach over and over again. You did not know what you did wrong, you had not even seen him in almost a week despite living with him.

“I’m sorry Bucky, I’ll be better, what can I do to be better, please,” You whispered, if your voice were any higher, you would being sobbing. 

Bucky just watched as you pathetically tried to hold your sobs in. You really were a weak woman and Bucky knew that. He knew that he held you in the palm of his hand and if he wanted to, he could break you.

He watched as your world crumbled around you because Bucky had decided to hurt you. Your hands were shaking and curled into fists. Your nose was turning red from holding back your tears.

“You are nothing without me, and I don’t want you anymore, so get the fuck out of my face and leave. No one on the team likes you, they would rather see you dead than ever have to see your horrific face ever again.” Bucky snarled, ready to see you burst into tears.

He knew that was the last straw.

You quickly turned around and left before you burst into tears. Bucky grabbed your arm and tried to turn you around, wanting to see you cry. You were forced to turn around, tears in your eyes pulling your hand back and smacking Bucky on his cheek. 

You left him dazed in the conference room. You ran to your shared room, collecting all your belongings. You had a small apartment in the heart of Montreal that no one knew about. You deliberately left off your information given to FRIDAY.

“FRIDAY, get rid of all information regarding Y/N L/N” You requested.

“Request denied, reasoning: unauthorized access to function,”

“Override denial, code Tony Stark has a fat ass” You rolled your eyes at the code Tony had told you to be used as a last resort code.

“Permission granted, removing all information regrading Y/N L/N,”

You grabbed a piece of paper on your desk, writing a short goodbye to Tony knowing he would wonder where you went. You quietly walk over to Tony’s office and placed it on the monitor he mainly used.

You left the compound shortly after, walking seven miles to the small car you planted in the forest. You prepared this as a last resort option. You never wanted to use this car but times were desperate and you had to get away from Bucky.

++++

You were struggling, barely able to figure out how to live on your own. The money you had saved from working for the Avengers was running low and the waitress job you did have has barely enough to pay the bills you had. 

Montreal was really expensive you ended up realizing, with such a horrible job, you sold your apartment and moved in with some college students in a small house. You shared a bedroom with one of the women in the house. 

Ashley, your roommate, actually found the job for you, she helped you changed your appearance and spotted your money whenever you were desperate for it.

You had no skill set for an actual job, the only skills you had were killing. And your skills had developed rapidly as an Avenger. You knew what you had to do to survive.

The first kill that you had was a child trafficker in Toronto. Ashley covered for you, saying you two would go to a spa for a girl's weekend. She stayed at the spa while you finished the job. You gave her 20% of the income made. 

You two had gotten close over the two years that you spent in the shared house. She was one of the only people that you trusted at this point. She suggested that you started therapy, which you decided to actually go to.

Your therapist wanted you to start realizing that you were more than who you surrounded yourself in. You deserved the love that you craved and you could only get it when you truly loved yourself.

++++

Bucky was laying in the bed the two of you shared. Two years had passed since he had driven you out of his life. He didn’t know why he did it, he was so upset because he saw you flirting with Tony. But Tony got engaged to Pepper only a few days later. 

After nine months of you being away, he started to crave your presence in his life. He asked FRIDAY where you were but she had no information on you. When FRIDAY said she had no information on you, he had one of the biggest meltdowns he ever experienced. 

You were officially gone from his life. Even with all the winter soldier experience of tracking people down, he couldn’t find you. Bucky knew that you were smart, you could hide in plain sight if you wanted to. 

It was in Toronto that he saw you again. Bucky’s whole world stopped after he saw you. You were so different now. Your hair was completely different from what he was used to, and you dressed differently too. 

It took him two months to finally get you to speak to him.

“What do you want Bucky?” The way you used to speak to him was so soft, now you were so cold towards him. Bucky’s stomach churned, almost nervous to respond to you.

“Y/n, please come back, I’m sorry for everything I have done to you, everything I said was a lie. I still love you” Bucky pleaded to you. 

“Bucky I’m not the same woman I used to be, you broke me, I was so broken and I was the only one who fixed me. You don’t get to come back after I learned how to not live with you.” You shouted at him.

Tears pooled in Bucky’s eye, he had lost the one person who had shown him, true love. The one person he wanted to protect for the rest of his life. He lost you, forever.

#Bucky Barnes #bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes angst #bucky x Female Reader #Winter Soldier #WINTER SOLDIER ANGST #james barnes #james barnes x reader #james barnes angst