#like it seems that in CoO they were intent on making the speaker an asshole

[futuresafe]

every time i think abt osiris’s timeline surrounding his exile i get a headache

#my posts #LFKJALSDKJFA #honestly i'm tempted at this point to write my own take since bungie doesn't seem all too interested in giving us a solid understanding of #what happened #like it seems that in CoO they were intent on making the speaker an asshole #and then in season of dawn was like ''wait why'd we do that'' and backpedaled a lot #so #ugh

[onthevirgeofdestruction]

In the Shadows (Romantic Analogical Pining)

Words: 1,832 Warnings: Food, Animals/Pets, One-Sided Pining Characters: Logan, Virgil Ships: Analogical Universe: Gen Human AU Genre: Pining, Fluff Additional Tags: Pining!Logan, Oblivious!Virgil

   Logan couldn’t help it. He was not observing the screen as the movie wrapped up. He was enjoying seeing Virgil emote along with the characters. Virgil picked at the dregs of the popcorn absentmindedly and kissed popcorn bits off of his fingers, engrossing Logan even further. Logan had selected the movie, even, for all intents and purposes, he should be watching it. But something about the way the lights from the screen bounced off of Virgil’s face had drawn his attention and enveloped him. He was lucky that Virgil didn’t seem to notice him outright starting at that mesmerizing lopsided smirk and listen to him mutter critiques of character choices to himself.

   The movie ended and Virgil patted his legs and deposited the empty cup in the paper popcorn bag before standing up out of the seat. Logan panicked when Virgil looked over at him and grabbed Virgil’s sleeve to stop him. He had to say something. He was utterly enchanted by Virgil, and it felt like the affection might burst out of him if he kept avoiding it any longer. Virgil paused and peered at Logan in confusion.

   “What’s up, L?” Virgil asked curiously.

   “Virgil, I…” Logan trailed off, swiftly losing his nerve. He swallowed heavily and drew a struggled breath. “Prefer to watch the credits. These people put significant effort into the creation of the film and deserve acknowledged.”

   “Oh, sure,” Virgil nodded and settled down into the theatre seat again. “You’re totally right, I feel like an asshole now,” he murmured, and Logan could barely hear his voice over the blaring end credits song playing over the speaker system.

   Shit. Logan shook his head. “You’re not,” he corrected him. “No one else is bothering to stay, either,” he pointed out.

   “Just because everyone’s doing it doesn’t make it right. No, I liked the movie, it’s worth watching some names scroll.” Virgil shot Logan a small smile, making his heart clench in his chest. “If I hated it, though, I’d storm out of here,” Virgil added with a roguish look before glancing up at the gigantic movie screen again. Logan watched Virgil’s pupils scan the movie before turning to study them himself.

   Virgil started whispering interesting sound last names to himself as he read along. “Holy crap, Killmaster is such a cool name,” he muttered reverently. If Logan wasn’t leaned in so close, he might have missed it.

   “If the last name was from a profession and not chosen, I would wonder if their ancestor was a gladiator or perhaps a legendary hunter,” Logan mused quietly, though he had no reason to other than the fact that it was polite to talk softly during a movie.

   “A legendary badass,” Virgil hissed back, bumping Logan’s bicep with his shoulder. Logan’s heart jumped at the contact, and once more he was overwhelmed with the need to try and tell Virgil his feelings.

   “Virgil, have you ever… struggled to tell someone something important?” Logan asked, hoping he didn’t sound as pathetic as he felt.

   “Sure, all the time,” Virgil nodded, keeping his eyes on the screen. “What kind of thing? Maybe I can help,” he offered guilelessly. Logan gripped his jeans nervously.

   “How to inform someone that you like them,” Logan clarified, his throat betraying him and tightening as he spoke. He exhaled harshly, trying to calm back down.

   “Oh, that’s a tough one. I guess, for you, it’d be best to be straightforward and say you like them. Just force it out if you have to,” Virgil suggested thoughtfully.

   “I see.” Logan wrung his hands together and glanced down at the ground. Being direct. Logan wasn’t good at using flowery, romantic language. Virgil was right. He just needed to do it. Logan took a deep breath to steady himself. “I like you,” Logan said evenly, looking at Virgil hopefully.

   “Yeah, exactly like that. You got this,” Virgil looked to Logan with that little smile that usually melted his heart. But at the moment, it was too wrapped up in confusion to react. Did Virgil not… Perhaps he was so caught up in trying to express his feelings that it did not occur to him that Virgil wouldn’t be interested in hearing it. Perhaps it was best if Virgil didn’t understand.

   Logan sat back and examined the credits in silence. He was deeply conflicted between the desire to clarify his feelings and respecting Virgil’s space. If Virgil didn’t even think of Logan like that enough to have the context that Logan was confessing, it seemed like Virgil wanted to remain friends. Or perhaps cut ties altogether after this, now that he knew Logan liked him. Pining helplessly hurt, but being completely cut off would be worse. Logan had to prevent that outcome at all costs. He would rather remain friends than be nothing to Virgil, and if he had to quell his feelings, he could do that. He hoped.

   The last of the credits rolled, and Virgil got out of his seat once more, holding out his hand to help Logan up. Logan gave him a compressed smile and stood up on his own. Virgil tilted his head in confusion and shrugged lightly, and they walked out of the theater together.

   Virgil and Logan walked into the mall and Virgil pulled out his phone to check the time. Logan panicked, wondering if he was already looking for an excuse to leave. He had to come up with a way to combat it. He needed more time to prove he could be just friends.

   “I have some free time. Do you want to go around the mall? I haven’t been in ages and probably need to walk off all that soda. I’m feeling a little jittery,” Virgil offered, scanning the area.

   Logan let out a sigh of relief. “I would like that.” Logan nodded, gripping at the hem of his shirt.

   They walked together down the narrow hall that connected the theater to the food court. Virgil stuffed his hands into his hoodie pocket and Logan mirrored him by shoving his fidgeting hands into his jeans pockets. They meandered the mall together companionably, and Logan felt relieved that Virgil didn’t opt to just leave after the confession. Virgil pointed out interesting things to Logan as if he had never said anything during the credits.

   “Oh, dude, look at those birds,” Virgil stepped up excitedly to a pet store window, glancing back to Logan with a hopeful look on his face.

   “They are lovely, yes,” Logan agreed with Virgil’s unspoken compliment as he beamed into the window.

   “Let’s go in.” Virgil pulled at Logan’s polo and headed into the open store hastily. Virgil rushed up to the large cylinder full of parakeets and leaned in to watch a pair grooming each other. He sighed happily and circled it, checking out all the birds it contained before moving on.

   Next, Virgil looked at all the various tank pets. He cooed at dwarf hamsters, stuck out his tongue at the lizards, hissed at the snakes, and lingered at a tarantula he seemed enamoured with. Virgil seemed determined to look at every pet in the store, and Logan had to admit he loved seeing him be so animated, even if he was trying to deny the part of himself in love with Virgil. He could pretend he watched Virgil purely platonically on the outside, at least.

   Virgil got permission for the pair to enter the cat enclosure and stepped in quickly. Virgil sat down on the bench and held out his hand instead of approaching any of the cats. Logan leaned against the wall and crossed his arms to watch Virgil’s determined face. Logan had concluded that Virgil was so interested in the small creatures that he was paying zero attention to Logan, and thusly Logan could secretly enjoy Virgil’s presence without maintaining any pretense.

   A black cat with a small tuft of white fur on its chest walked up cautiously to Virgil’s hand and sniffed it carefully. It reared back twice, seemingly unsure. It backed up and watched as other cats did the same, not letting Virgil touch it yet. A white cat bumped its hand against Virgil’s hand and he stroked across its long body. The cat looked incredibly satisfied and kept circling around again to get more pets from Virgil. The black cat approached slowly, sniffing again. Virgil raised his other hand for the black cat to sniff once more.

   The white cat wandered over to brush up against Logan’s legs, startling Logan from observing Virgil. Logan knelt down to let the cat sniff its hand before he offered it a few pets as well, since it was working so hard for the affection. The black cat didn’t push into Virgil’s hand, but instead hopped right up into Virgil’s nap and nestled in. Virgil made an expression like his heart exploded, rubbing the cat’s cheeks. The black cat purred so loudly even Logan could hear it over the light purrs of the white cat Logan was still petting.

   “Oh my god, I love her,” Virgil whispered, looking up at the poster on the wall with her information. The cat’s name was Shadow, and she was two years old. Compared to the kittens, she had a very reasonable adoption fee and was listed as ‘skittish, but affectionate’ in her personality profile, along with ‘vocal and independent’. Logan had to agree with that assessment.

   Virgil sat with Shadow for a few minutes, and the white cat had lost interest, wandering off to play with a ball track toy instead. Virgil kept stroking Shadow’s cheek tenderly, totally taken in by the cat. Logan stood back up and returned to viewing Virgil and Shadow interact.

   “Are you going to adopt her?” Logan asked softly.

   “My lease has a no-pets policy,” Virgil murmured, his face betraying how absolutely heartbroken he was. He stroked the cat’s back sullenly, sagging into himself.

   “My lease does not,” Logan blurted out, and Virgil’s eyes shot up to Logan’s in surprise. Logan cleared his throat, disbelieving the words that were coming out of his own mouth. “I could adopt her. That way, you may come over whenever you like to see her,” Logan offered. Was he truly willing to adopt a living creature just to hold on to Virgil? Yes. Yes, he was. “I would need help taking care of her, of course,” he added as Virgil stared at Logan in astonishment.

   “You’re serious?” Virgil asked flatly, his hand never moving off of shadow.

   “Necktie.” Logan pulled at his tie and dropped it on his chest, smiling at Virgil.

   “Right, right,” Virgil chuckled and looked down at Shadow. “Then… you’re sure?” Virgil asked meekly.

   “I’m certain.” Logan relaxed and moved to sit on the bench with Virgil. If Logan had an excuse to see Virgil every day he could, he’d happily care for a cat. He wouldn’t mind the company for his lonely, pining heart, either.

   “Thank you,” Virgil whispered softly.

#tsss #sanders sides #tsss fanfiction #sanders sides fanfiction #tsss fanfic #ayri writes #shorts #ts logan #ts virgil #analogical #analogical pining #one sided pining #pets #food

[lesbian-deadpool]

Elevators And Earthquakes

Natasha Romanoff x Reader

Modern AU

Words: 2,172

Warnings: None? Claustrophobia, maybe? Wanda and Pietro. That’s enough of a warning in itself.

Request: @barnesrogersvstheworld‘s challenge.

Summary: A lost job. A missed date. Two people trapped in one elevator. Let the fuckery ensue.

A/N: It’s late. And I only just finished it, and its early morning right now. And I haven't slept yet. So take that as you will. Also, it’s not proofread. So there’s probably some mistakes... meh.

(Not my GIF)

Remnants of frustration coursed through your body, as you banged on the button for the elevator to take you down.

The metal doors opened. Allowing you to step in.

Just as the doors were slowly closing, an arm shot out to stop them. A red-haired woman, who you've never seen in your life, stepped in. She wore a presumably expensive black dress. She looked like she had just stepped out of a modelling shoot. The cheesy pick-up line 'what's a pretty girl like you, doing in a place like this?' ran through your mind. Causing a smile to tug at your lips, because if this wasn't the most accurate representation of that line. Nothing was. She must have thought you were a complete weirdo smiling at nothing. But you couldn't find it in yourself to care.

Your arms were crossed as the elevator steadily travelled down.

Silence consumed you. Neither of you bothering to glance at the other again. Expecting to part ways, never to see the other again. Only to be remembered by the other as that attractive stranger you once shared an elevator with.

That is until the elevator started to shake. The fluorescent lights embedded into the walls and ceiling flickering madly.

Your arm flew out to grab the railing, the red-head woman doing the same. Pulling herself close to the wall, with both hands, so that she wouldn't fall over in her heels.

The shaking elevator slowed to a stop, the lights no longer plunging you in and out of darkness.

Turning to the woman, you asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," she nodded, pulling the skirt of her dress down a little, as to straighten it out, "Are you?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Are we still moving?"

"I don't think so," you said, moving to the keypad. Pressing the button to the ground floor, glancing up at the black window above the door, expecting to see the red dots indicating its destination. Instead, you saw nothing. Randomly pressing buttons to floors without looking at them, eyes locked onto the black window. Still, nothing happened.

Looking back down to the keypad, you pushed the emergency button at the same time the lights went out, leaving you trapped in darkness.

"You're not claustrophobic, are you?" you asked, turning to the vague direction of the red-head.

"I could be now."

You gave a small chuckle at her words while pulling your phone from your pocket, tapping on your "best friends" contact.

Not even one ring in and he answered. It was things like this, that gave you the reason to have his contact listed as 'speedy' on your phone.

"Did you feel that?!" Pietro asked you.

A bright light shining at the corner of your eye. Looking over, you saw the un-named woman scrolling through her own phone. The light shining on her red hair, and soft skin, giving her an almost heavenly glow.

"Yes, of course, I felt that. How did you know the elevator broke down?"

"Wait. Elevator? No, I meant the earthquake."

"There was an earthquake?!"

"Yeah, and a pretty big one at that. Wait. Hold on a sec. Are you trapped in an elevator?"

"Yeah," you confirmed, almost bashfully.

Pietro's loud laughter could be heard from the phone, the woman raising her hand, and cocking an eyebrow at the noise even she could hear. You gave her a tightlipped smile.

"What's so funny?" You heard Wanda's echoed question in the background, indicating she had just entered the room her brother was in.

"Y/N's stuck in an elevator," Pietro laughed.

"Hey, shut up!"

"Why is she stuck in an elevator?" Wanda asked, he voice clearer now. Pietro must have put the phone on speaker so she could hear you.

"Well, I can't really control that, now can I, Wanda?"

Practically feeling the eye roll she gave you, Pietro continued to ask, "Are you alone?"

"No."

"Oh my, God. Who are you with?" Pietro asked, excited at the prospect of gossip.

"I don't know. Just a woman." You smiled at her again, so that you wouldn't seem like a total asshole.

"Ooo, is she pretty?" Pietro cooed.

"Piet," Wanda scolded her brother, before continuing to ask you, "Is she though?"

Looking back to the woman next to you, to evaluate her appearance, even though you didn't need too. You turned away from her again, watching the wall intently.

"Yes."

"How pretty?"

"Y'know, Wanda, sometimes you're just as bad as your brother."

An offended gasp sounded from her, as Pietro laughed at her, pausing, then turning back to the phone.

"Hey, wait. What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Nothing. Just get me the hell out of here."

"What's wrong? Don't want to be around the pretty lady? Afraid you'll embarrass yourself?" Pietro teased.

"Pietro," your voice was stern, like 'a-mother-taking-to-their-child-when-they've-been-bad' level stern. Wanda laughing in the background told you clearly that Pietro was scared out of his mind.

"Now children. Be good while I'm away. No parties. No boys or girls- For either of you. Get me the fuck out of here. Wanda, you're in charge," you listed off.

"Hey, why is she in charge? I'm older than her!"

Before you could hear any of their bickerings, you hung up.  Turning to the red-head, you asked, "Do you have anyone you can call? Because even though they're my friends, and I love them. I don't really trust them to get me out of here."

She chuckled, "Sure."

Turning on the torch app, you balanced your phone on the handrail, so there was at least a little light, as the woman began talking to someone.

"Steve, hi," she said, "No, I don't need a rescue from my date. I'm not even on it." She paused as this 'Steve' spoke. "No. I'm trapped in an elevator."

Deciding against leaving your phone on the elevator's hand railing, instead of standing there twiddling your thumbs, and watching a stranger like a creep. You picked up your phone and began searching through news articles.

Brooklyn Blacked Out.

Fallen Telephone Wires Caused By Earthquake.

Brooklyn Earthquake: Everything We Know.

Tony Stark To Host Oscars.

Well, that's enough of that.

For the next five-or-so minutes, as the red-head explained the situation to her friend, Steve. You had scrolled through Twitter. Trying to get more information that the news was able to give you.

"Okay, Steve. Yeah, whoever you can call to get us out of this thing... okay, thanks... bye, Steve."

"He gonna get us out of here?" you asked.

"He's going to try," she sighed out, "Any updates?"

"None. Unless you count someones grandma not being able to cook dinner, and someone missing a TV programme."

"I do not," she chuckled, "Natasha."

"What?"

"My name. It's, Natasha," she clarified, offering her hand.

"Y/N," you replied, shaking her outstretched hand, "So, Natasha. It seems we're going to be stuck here for a little while."

"No. No. No. That is not possible!"

"It so is."

"How?!" Natasha asked flabbergasted, at the story you told.

"I don't know, He just manages to do this shit- His sister's no better," you replied from your spot across from Natasha on the floor of the elevator. It had been a little over an hour since Natasha had ended her call with Steve. Who you learned was her best friend, who had set her up on a blind date.

It surprised you how Natasha was so determined to sit on the dirty elevator floor, in her expensive dress. Because, and I quote, "If we're gonna be trapped in her for over twenty minutes, I am not standing in these heels". The spoken heels now sat next to her.

"You said she egged her brother, as he ran naked in the park?" she asked, getting a nod from you, "Then I don't doubt that for a second."

You burst out laughing at that, she didn't know the half of it.

"Yeah, college was a fun time. You should meet them sometime."

"Oh, I would love that," Natasha smiled, "That way, they can tell me all the weird, and embarrassing things you have done."

You paused thinking of your reply, staring at the floor between the two of you, before your eyes connected with hers, "You are never meeting them."

Her laughter turned into a comfortable silence, until Natasha asked, "So, what happened after?"

"What?"

"What happened after Pietro stole the mannequin?"

"Ohh," you drew out, being reminded of the story you currently told, "He ran back to his dorm room with it and kept it there. He still has it."

"No way!"

"Yeah, it's in his and Wanda's hallway, they use it as a key holder, it's dressed in a tuxedo, holding a bowl for you to throw your keys in," you told, cupping your hands together, to replay the image in your mind, "It's creepy as fuck."

"I can see how it would be," Natasha agreed, "But what about the police? You said they were chasing him. Did they find him?"

"No," you scoffed, mixed with a laugh, "I just don't think they cared. Must have thought it was funny more than anything."

"Makes sense," Natasha shrugged. Just then her phone started to ring. Smiling she picked it up.

"Hey, Steve... yeah, we're still in here."

"Save us!" You called so Steve would hear you.

"Oh, that's just, Y/N." Natasha hummed at Steve's question, before she answered, "Yeah, the person I'm trapped with. She's pretty cool."

"Aw, thanks, Nat," you smiled, causing Natasha to playfully glare at you.

"Yeah Steve, I'm still here... Oh, thanks, Steve. But I'm fine thanks... okay, bye."

"What's up?" you asked, nodding your head once in question.

"Steve was just checking up on me, making sure I hadn't died."

"Aw, how... sweet?"

"Yeah, he's nice like that. He's taken time out of his date with his boyfriend, just to make sure I was still kicking," Natasha joked.

"Notice how my friends haven't called?"

Natasha burst out laughing at this, leaning over her legs. Soon you were joining in with her.

"I'm sure they care," Natasha wheezed.

"Yeah. Knowing them, they've probably just got distracted."

A few quiet moments passed before you decided to speak again, "I'm sorry you missed your date," you told her sincerely.

"Ah." Natasha waved you off. "I've had more fun with you than I would have if I went on that date."

"Well, I'm flattered," you thanked, bringing your hands up to your chest.

Natasha smiled at you, and your antics. "I'm sorry about your job."

"You win some you lose some," you shrugged, "No big deal... I just have to go through the hassle of finding another job."

Natasha hummed, her eyes heavy, as she began making her way over to you.

"What are you doing?"

"Sitting next to you," she replied. Which she indeed was now sat next to you. Her arm rubbing up against yours, her head laying on your shoulder. "I'm tired."

"It's half-past nine?" You flopped your arm out as if that would prove your conclusion.

"So?"

"You're really going to-"

Right at that moment, the lights began to flicker on. Before they switched on entirely. The elevator moving once again.

You and Natasha both raised your arms, screaming out in victory.

"Fucking finally!"

Both of you practically ran out into the lit street, once the doors opened. Relishing in the cool night air.

"So," you said after a few moments, "I guess this is goodbye, Natasha."

"I hope not," she replied.

Natasha began walking towards you, rustling through her handbag, pulling out a business card and a pen. Scribbling something on the back of it, before flipping it back over, handing it to you.

"Steve's boyfriend," Natasha said, pointing to the card in your hand, causing you to glance down, catching the name 'Tony Stark'. Your eyes snapped back up to hers, as she continued, "Call the number, tell him you know me. And he'll give you a job right away. Title depending on your qualifications."

A small smile tugged on your face, "Thank you." you whispered.

"You're welcome. Mine's on the back."

Flipping the card over in your hand, you read the number written down in blue pen.

"Call me."

"I will."

You watched as Natasha began walking away, shoes swinging slightly in hand.

"Hey, Natasha?"

She turned. "Yeah?"

"What are you going to do now?"

Natasha shrugged in reply, slowly walking away backwards. "I don't really know."

"You fancy getting a bite to eat?"

"Can't get enough of me, huh?"

"Like hell," you replied.

"Sure. I'd love too."

"Hey, assholes!" You announced your presence by yelling and slamming the door behind you, in the twins' apartment. Rounding the corner to see them playing a game of poker, now looking over at you.

"Where was the help?"

"Sorry," Wanda said, "We got distracted."

"We're playing poker," Pietro added.

"Yes, I can see that." You sat on the sofa between the two siblings, sat at either end of the coffee table. Sighing you said, "Deal me in then."

#original fanfiction #shotthroughtheheart3k #natasha romanoff x reader #natasha romanoff imagine #natasha romanoff #pietro maximoff #wanda maximoff #tony stark x steve rogers #tony stark #marvel #MCU

[tigerlilynoh]

Job & Family DS: Aftermath - Playdate 2.0

Words: 2,954  Spoiler warning:  Contains spoilers for the end of Job & Family.

3/2/12

“Do you ever wonder what they say about us?”  Dean asked after he took a hit from his vaporizer.  

Sam gave his brother a sidelong glance, then turned his attention back to Kaylee, Anansi, & Malek.  Sam had asked Dean to help him watch the children since Malek was spending the day topside.  Two infants was a handful, three was an accident waiting to happen.  The brothers had settled on clearing the living room floor and piling some toy in the middle, creating a play area that they could flank.

Kaylee was a very curious & hands on two year old.  Whether it was everyone's imagination or not, the general impression was that she emulated Kay & Ruby’s leadership traits.  She liked to oversee random household procedures and helped enable Anansi & Malek as much as possible.  Her generosity toward the two younger relatives was shaping up to make her the leader of a very adorable gang- once all its members could walk.

At seven & six months old respectively, Anansi & Malek spent their time diligently learning through playing.  They could both crawl well enough to get around and babbled what might become first words before too long.  Despite not being able to talk, Anansi seemed to understand a few words & phrases beyond his own name and Malek could understand a speaker’s tone of voice.

“Kaylee can't put a whole sentence together and the others aren't even a year old.  I think you need to talk to your dealer.”  Sam teased.

“Not them.”  Dean gestured to the kids.

“Do I ever wondered what who says about us?”

“The people who know about us.”

“That's not making it any clearer.”  Sam extended his hand.  “Give me your vape.  You're way too high to be babysitting.”

“I'm not that high.”  Dean argued, but he tossed over the vaporizer.  “I mean- the angels, the demons, even nutjobs with their ear to the ground.  Weren't we supposed to destroy the world and instead nothing.  You disappeared.  I all but disappeared.”

“I don't like to think about it too much.”  Sam admitted.  “I wish more people thought I was dead.”

“You need a new persona, get you back in the world.  You might need a disguise spell or something- those things gotta exist, right?”

“I have no idea.”  Sam said as he leaned forward and repositioned Anansi’s leg so that he wasn't sitting on it awkwardly.  “I don't have time to sneak back into the world yet.”

“I guess you don't have to go very far to get a grateful mob.”  Dean acknowledged.

“You miss the glory days?”  Sam peeked over at Dean for signs that he might be growing restless in his newly quiet life.

“Do I miss the dislocated joints, having to pop two Vicodin just to survive sitting in the car for a few hours, watching you get beat up, worrying that someday-”  Dean stopped himself, then shook his head.  “I don't miss that at all, but helping people…”

“You help people.”

“I guess.”  Dean sighed.  “I haven't gone hunting in… well, since before Ani was born.  It's weird, like- I used to get this feeling from hunting, not the adrenaline, but the accomplishment.  I thought I'd lose that if I didn't hunt, and maybe I don't feel exactly proud of the mundane stuff, not in the same way… I don't know... maybe I don't need to do the big important things anymore.”

“We've still got important things, they're just small and lack fine motor skills.”  Sam smiled at his kids, then looked to Dean.  “You think you might ever have a kid?”

“Dyl would love that.”  Dean commented, then shrugged.  “Eh, maybe not- what's Michael's line matter with the asshole in prison and the apocalypse out of the way?”

“Putting aside the whole grace-vessel thing…”  Sam prodded.

Dean watched as Kaylee diligently dug through the toys trying to find the best ones to give Anansi & Malek.  After delivering the toys, she hugged Malek, carefully avoiding his horns & spikes in order to convey the affection.  Then she sat down to play with the toy tiger Dean had given her for her first birthday.  The fact that she played with it so much warmed his heart and somehow, in that moment, pained him a bit at the same time.

“I'm sure I'd like having a kid.  The other me- I could see how much Dyl meant to him.”  Dean rubbed the back of his neck.  “I don't really know if that's in the cards right now.  I'm guessing Jeremy doesn't have a female vessel he can just slip into.”

“Sounds like you two are getting pretty serious?”  

Sam decided not to pressed the kid angle and instead jumped at the opening to talk about Dean's boyfriend, who no one in the family had actually met.  As far as Sam knew, he was the only person in the family that hadn't done some sort of background check on the guy- granted that was partially because the results of everyone's efforts ended up finding their way to Sam over a few beers.  The consensus was that Jeremy was a diabetic, classic film nerd, who overwithheld on his taxes, and probably would've own a cat if not for Dean being allergic.  A pleasant, but not exciting man.

“We're slow moving.”  Dean answered ambiguously.  “But yeah, things seem pretty stable.”

“When are you going to tell him?”

“I'm not sure how to.”  Dean confessed.  “We’ve been dating for almost two years.  At first I wasn't telling him because I didn't know him.  Now I'm just like how do you tell someone you've been lying to them for two years?”

“Just start with the less crazy stuff and feel it out.”  Sam suggested.  “Maybe put the time travel at the end.  He knows what a hunter is-”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe?”  Sam stared at Dean in disbelief.  “How could he not know about hunters?”

“He's somewhere between skeptical & agnostic about a lot of this stuff.  He’s never seen any of it firsthand or had it effect him.  People like simple- it's easier to think it's all nutjob cults and horror movie publicity stunts.”  Dean's face dimmed subtly.  “He likes simple.”

“You think it'd be too much for him?”

“To believe or to put up with?”  Dean groaned.  “I'm not neck deep in the action anymore, but I've got a lot of strings attached.”

“All relationships have their issues.”  Sam offered.  “Anyway, I want to meet him, so get over your anxiety already.”

“Are you gonna ‘What are your intentions?’ him?”  Dean smiled at the mental image.

“If I don't who will?”  Sam joked.

“Dyl, 100% Dyl.”  Dean answered confidently.

“Oh God,”  Sam nodded.  “Dyl really might interrogate the guy.”

“Full on waterboarding.”

Malek very carefully picked up a soft plastic toy in the shape of a lion, then waved it around a little.  Sam & Dean both watched him nervously and Sam held up his hand, ready to telekinetically grab any potential projectile.  Instead of throwing the toy, Malek squeezed it.  There was a loud pop as the back of the lion’s head burst.  Kaylee & Anansi both stared in mild alarm, but Malek started whimpering.

“Shit, I thought we’d poked holes in all the hollow toys.”  Sam muttered as he scooped up Malek.  He started bouncing the infant on his knee as a distraction, then spoke to him in a soft reassuring voice.  “It’s okay, Mal.  Just try to be gentle.”

“Let me get that.”  Dean offered.  He picked up a turtle plushie and shook it in front of Malek.  “Come on, Mal.  Check out this awesome fuzzy turtle.”

Malek stared at the turtle for a few seconds before dropping the lion and accepting the replacement.  Dean picked up the lion, then ran his thumb over the broken edge of the rupture.

“Is it sharp?”

“Not really.”  Dean shrugged.  “Mark another one for his toy kill count.”

“Do you think you’d ever babysit Mal alone?”  Sam asked Dean while patting Malek’s head in reassurance.

Over the last few months, the family had noticed that Malek’s physical strength had increased beyond that of a normal baby- or even just a human.  The discovery was alarming, but not wholly unexpected considering who his father was.  They all strived to teach Malek finesse, which had had mixed results.  Sam & Kay had the easiest time handling him since they could use telekinesis to prevent him from breaking any of their bones.  Ruby didn't have a great way of preventing the damage, but she didn't have as much attachment to her meatsuit.  Similarly, Dylaniel had received several accidentally hits that he healed before they could start bruising.  Luckily, so far Malek had not manifested the Knight’s trait of inflicting damage that was immune to angelic healing, though they were all vigilant.  

Then there was Dean.  Despite genuinely adoring Malek, Dean had trouble getting hands on with him.  He didn't have a way of preventing or healing any injuries the kid might cause.  Whenever he held Malek, he tried to make sure the infant was clutching a toy and aimed away from him.  Everyone understood Dean's caution, though Malek was beginning to get to the age when he'd start internalizing subtle things like the fact that his uncle Dean was visibly uncomfortable interacting with him.

“Kaylee or Ani I could probably handle, but…”  Dean hesitated.  “I'm not sure how to stop a baby that can break all the bones in my hand.”

“He's actually getting pretty good about not hurting people.”  Sam assured as he released Malek back into the play area.  “It's just that objects don't say ‘ow’ before they snap.”

Malek crawled back over to Anansi & Kaylee.  Anansi picked up a fuzzy pink bunny toy and held it to the slightly younger Malek.  Malek looked between his turtle & the pink bunny, then dropped the turtle for the bunny.  He cooed a little as he hugged the bunny.

“Hell’s gonna be so pissed to find out their future king is such a softy.  You're a bad influence on him.”  Dean told Sam as he got up, then walked to the kitchen.  “You want a beer?”

“Sure.”  

“Dammit.”  Dean called from the kitchen a few seconds later.  “One foamed over.  Do you have a towel or something?”

“Check on the counter by the dishrack.”  Sam spared a glance at the kitchen to make sure Dean was on the right track.  “Yeah, those.”

When Sam looked back to the kids he saw that they were all still seated where they'd been, but Anansi was playing with Dean's cell phone.  With Malek being capable of snapping the metal & glass device in half, the phone was potentially dangerous in their hands.

“Sorry Ani, but that's not a toy.”  Sam said as he took the phone from his son, then moved it back to where Dean had been sitting, out of the baby's reach.

“Here's what's left of your beer.”  Dean said as he returned.

Sam turned to collect the bottle from Dean, but Dean was too distracted by something to complete the handoff.  Sam looked to what had caught his brother's attention.  The cell phone was slowly sliding across the floor in diminutive jerks toward Anansi, who had his arms extended, trying to grab it.  

“Ani?  Stop.”  Sam instructed.  Anansi looked up at his dad and the phone stopped moving.

“No fucking way.”  Dean exhaled.

“The kids aren't supposed to get powers like this until they're four or five years old.”  Sam muttered in disbelief.

“I think you need to invest in some heavier duty baby proofing.”

“Jesus Christ.  Hey, Tommy.”  Sam shouted to Tom, who was studying in his bedroom.

“What?”  The eight year old asked, while coming down the hall to see what was going on.

“Get your sister, take her to Belda’s.”

“What's wrong?”

“I'll explain later, just go.”

Tom shrugged, took Kaylee's hand and started walking her out the door.  Kaylee waved goodbye to her little brother & cousin as she was escorted out of the cabin.  With the infants no longer outnumbering him & Dean, Sam took out his phone and called Ruby.  He put the call on speaker phone, then watched Anansi like a hawk for the twenty seconds or so that it took for the call to go through to Hell.  

“Nobody's hurt, but Ani just used telekinesis.”  Sam said as soon as the line clicked over.

“But he’s a baby.”  Ruby replied uncertainly.

“I just saw it.”

“I don't understand… it just…”  Ruby almost growled.  “I'm gonna fucking kill Morrison.  One of the prenatal supplements I took was to reduce fatigue with powers.  It must've just made it easier for him in general.”

“Is there…”  Sam hesitated.  “is there a way to undo it?  Just temporarily make it so he can't pull everything off the walls?”

“That'd take impairing parts of his brain.”  Ruby warned.  “He could get serious developmental damage.”

Sam picked up Anansi, who hugged his dad back.  He wasn't sure how to handle a situation like this.  Malek had abilities that made him potentially dangerous, but at least the implications of physical strength were predictable.  With something like telekinesis, Anansi could do any number of things, including getting access to hazardous objects.  And that wasn't even counting the possibility that the infant could accidentally use the First Light.

“What about an anti-magic spell on the house?”  Sam suggested.

“Tommy’ll riot and we’ll end up with three kids under the age of five.”  Ruby replied.  “But it's a backup plan.”

Malek crawled toward Sam, trying to get to his playmate, but Dean picked him up before he could start climbing up Sam.  Dean held Malek in such a way as to keep the babies from looking at each other, lest they try to interact.  

“We need to figure out a way to deal with this before he hurts himself or someone else.”  Sam said while moving to prevent Anansi from seeing Dean & Malek.  He didn't know how well Anansi understood object permanence yet, but he hoped that out of sight still meant out of mind.

“Can you overpower him?”  Ruby asked.

“I haven't tried, but probably.  He was struggling to move Dean's cell.”

“Just keep an eye on him and I'll see what R&D comes up with.”

“Try to hurry, the number of infants capable of destroying the house just doubled.”

Sam hung up the phone, then simply held Anansi close for a long while.  He shared a silent, worried glance with Dean- neither of them knew what to say.  Anansi made a little sigh of contentment as he hugged Sam back.  Sam's stomach knotted at the juxtaposition of such an innocent child & such a problematic power.  He rocked his son gently while making soothing noises and patting Anansi’s back.

“Mal, gentle.”  Dean warned when Malek gripped his thumb & index finger.  “That's good.”

“You want to switch?”

“No, we’re okay.  Right, Mal?”  Malek looked up at him and smiled.  Dean stared at Sam with visible concern.  “You okay?”

“No.”

The brothers sat quietly for several seconds before Dean huffed a small laugh, causing Sam to raise an eyebrow.

“Just imagine when they start roughhousing.”  Dean explained what had amused him.

“You sure you don't want in on this parenthood thing?”  Sam smiled halfheartedly.

“Baby battle royale.”  Dean shook his head, then muttered.  “My baby would win.”

“Seriously?”  Sam’s voice was a bit lighter, pulling from the worried thoughts by the absurd distraction.  “Against telekinesis & super strength?”

“My baby could bless weapons.”

“You were a thirty year old man and you couldn't bless weapons.”

“Just think about Dyl, but tiny- a tiny, rosy cheeked killing machine.”

“I hate to break this to you, but I’m guessing Dyl gets a good amount of his gusto from being a nephilim.”  Sam countered.  “Unless you're planning on making some pretty big lifestyle changes, your baby's going to be human.”

“Batman’s human.”

“Yes, batman is human.”  Sam conceded the point.

Ruby & Kay appeared by the front door.  Both Sam & Dean let out sighs of relief at the sight of reinforcements.  Kay quickly took Malek off Dean's hands as Ruby rushed over to Sam & Anansi.

“Please tell me you've got something.”  Sam greeted her.

“Warded wristbands.”  Ruby held up two little strips of black fabric.  “These should work until he figures out how to undo buttons.”

“I guess they don't make handcuffs in infant sizes.”  Dean joked, earning a less than delighted expression from Sam.

Sam held Anansi while Ruby started putting the first wristband on their son.  As soon as both buttons on the inch wide strip of cloth had been buttoned Anansi started fidgeting & huffing.  He flailed his other arm, causing a pile of books several feet away to tip off the edge of a side table.

“You're okay, Ani.”  Sam reassured as Ruby finished putting on the second band.  Once it was on Anansi looked around the room, stretched his arms at various objects, then began crying.  Ruby picked him up and held him to her chest.

“Don't cry, sweetie.”  She said in a delicate voice while rocking gently from side to side.  “It's just for a little bit.  We just want you to be safe.”

“Alex would get uncomfortable if there was anti-magic warding.”  Kay suggested as a comparison.  “He said it made the colors dull & the Earth didn't hum- things like that.  He seemed less energetic, but I don't think it was actually painful- Whether this is like that, I don't know.”

“Does it feel weird, Ani?”  Ruby whispered, then kissed the top of his head.  After a minute his crying faded into huffing & pouting.  Before too long he started to blink slower & slower until he fell asleep in Ruby's arms.

“You two,”  Kay nodded to Sam & Ruby.  “are completely fucked.”

#job & family #Deleted Scenes #Deleted Scenes: Aftermath