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bentaylorrogerhardy · 5 years

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Lily of the Valley - Part 7

Joe Mazzello! x Reader!

Summary: Being a young, single mom that worked full-time was hard. When you weren’t working, you were taking care of your five year old daughter, Lily. You had given up on dating after many failed attempts. That was until after a rough day of dealing with your ex boyfriend, your best friend introduced you to Joe.

Word count: 1931

Warnings: FLUFF. JUST STRAIGHT UP FLUFF.

A/N: I was on my way to work one day and was listening to The Greatest Showman soundtrack, and got an idea, so this is what came out of that! Also, this is kind of a filler chapter before things get wild, but it’s still really cute in my opinion. ENJOY! Leave me some feedback if you liked it! Reblog/comment/like/send me an ask or DM. Anything!

Joe decided it would be a good idea to spend the night at your place, so he could help you with Lily when needed. With his help, you managed to get a few hours of sleep, in between having to wake up whenever Lily did to give her some medicine. It was a long night, but with Joe’s help, you don’t know what you would’ve done without him there.

The next morning, you and Joe were both wide awake at 8AM. You had taken the day off from work, and Lily was staying home from school. You were in the kitchen making some coffee for you and Joe, pouring it into two coffee mugs and handing one to him.

“I literally don’t know how to thank you for last night,” you yawned, taking a sip of the hot coffee, “I don’t know what I would have done by myself.”

“It was no issue,” he smiled, taking a sip of his coffee as well. “That’s what boyfriend’s are for.”

“No, seriously,” you said, looking over at him, “Chad hasn’t done in two or three years what you’ve done in a month. I can’t remember when the last time was that he wanted to see her for more than thirty minutes.”

“She’s a great girl,” he smiled, looking at you, “I’m happy to help.”

“And I’m happy you’re here,” you said, getting up and wrapping your arms around his neck, kissing the top of his head.

“When am I gonna meet this Chad, anyway?” he asked, grabbing a hold of your hands, placing soft kisses to the top of them. You hadn’t really thought about that. Eventually, they were going to have to meet. But, when? How? Would Chad have his shit together long enough to meet Joe? Well, the answer to that was most likely no, but it was bound to happen sooner or later.

“Umm, don’t know,” you laughed nervously, letting go of his hands and picking up the two empty coffee cups, walking over to the sink and setting them in, “he’s got...issues.”

You washed the two mugs and dried them, then put them back in the cupboard. For the time being, you and Joe decided to head into the living room and watch some TV, while you waited for Lily to wake up. The two of you sat on the couch under a large, warm, fuzzy blanket; your head nestled against Joe’s chest as he rested his chin on top, tracing his finger up and down your arm.

“I really like you,” you said quietly, tilting your head up and pressing a kiss to his jaw, “a lot.”

“I really like you,” he said, nuzzling his nose against yours, “a lot.” You smiled and pecked his lips sweetly, toying with the hair on the nape of his neck. His hands moved to your hips and rested there as you laid your head back down on his chest. A few minutes went by as you relished in the moment, here in Joe’s arms, and you were still in shock that he was now, officially, your boyfriend. How lucky could you be?

---

Thirty minutes had passed, and you and Joe were still in your same position on the couch, when you heard the shuffling of two little feet making their way out of your room.

“There she is,” you smiled when Lily appeared, her hair in full bed head mode, as she sleepily rubbed her eyes and walked over to the couch you were on. She climbed up on the couch and crawled into your lap, laying her head on your shoulder, “how’s my girly?”

“Hungry,” she said groggily, reaching for Joe’s hand and holding it.

“That’s better than yesterday!” you said, rubbing her back, “what do you want to eat?”

“Food,” she said, giggling and sitting up to look at you.

“Obviously,” you laughed, “what kind of food, silly?”

“McDonald’s?” she questioned, looking at you with pleading eyes.

“How about I fix you some toast, and if you can keep that down, maybe we can have McDonald’s for lunch, yeah?” you asked, kissing her forehead.

“Okay,” she giggled, climbing down and heading to her room.

“She feels better,” Joe chuckled as you got up and headed to the kitchen to make her toast.

“Much,” you laughed, popping two pieces of bread into the toaster. A few minutes later, the toast popped up, and you added a little bit of butter to them and sliced them both in half, putting them on a plate and setting it on the table. Lily wandered out of her room and into the kitchen, Joe following behind her, and sat down in front of the toast. You and Joe sat back down at the table as she took small nibbles of her toast.

“What are we doing today?” she asked, looking between you and Joe.

“Whatever you wanna do,” Joe answered, “it’s your day.”

“I took the day off from work, and you aren’t going to school today, so you can do whatever you want,” you said. Lily’s face displayed great joy as she took more bites of toast.

“Whatever I want?” she asked, giggling enthusiastically.

“Well, don’t go crazy” you laughed, “but, yes.”

“We can watch movies? And cuddle? And eat cookies?” she asked again.

“Whatever you want to do,” Joe said, glancing over at you and smiling.

“I don’t think we have any cookies, but I can run to the store and get stuff to make them,” you suggested, and Lily squealed with delight.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah!” she giggled, clapping her hands together.

“I can go get them, baby,” Joe offered, standing up from the table and grabbing his keys.

“You sure?” you asked him, “you’ve already done enough.”

“I insist,” he smiled, pulling you into him and kissing you, causing Lily to squeal even more.

“Okay,” you smiled, “hurry back.”

“Of course,” he chuckled, then walked out of the door to head to the store. Lily finished her toast, and drank a whole bottle of Gatorade, and managed to keep it down for the half hour Joe was gone.

“I’m so happy you feel better, babe,” you said, pushing her hair out of her face. The two of you had now migrated to the living room, waiting on Joe to return.

“Mommy, can I ask you something?” she asked, looking at you.

“Sure,” you said, raising an eyebrow.

“Is Joey your booooyfriend?” she giggled, and you laughed in response.

“Yes, he is,” you smiled.

“Are you gonna marry him?” she gasped, her eyes widening. You laughed again and shook your head.

“I don’t know,” you shrugged, “we’ll have to see.”

“Can we stay in our pajamas all day?” she asked, changing the subject.

“Of course,” you said, “if you want to.”

“Uh huh,” she nodded, “I do.” A few minutes later, Joe arrived back at your place, with all the essentials for baking cookies, along with a few other miscellaneous items.

“What all did you buy?” you asked, sorting through the bags and finding multiple different candy bars, “Joe, we have enough candy.”

“You can never have enough candy,” he chuckled, “right, Lily?”

“Right!” she yelled, walking over to the counter where you were standing, peeking into the bags.

“Okay, let’s get these cookies started,” you said, and started to get various mixing bowls and kitchen utensils out of your cupboard to start measuring everything.

---

Not even ten minutes in, Lily lost interest in the baking process, leaving you and Joe in the kitchen with all the dirty work. You were mixing the chocolate chips into the dough mixture when Joe walked up, stuck a finger in the bowl, and ate a small portion of it.

“Hey!” you laughed, shaking your head at him, “they’re not done.”

“Still taste good,” he shrugged, going back in for another finger-full, but you pulled the bowl away before he could.

“We actually need some of the dough to bake,” you laughed, finishing mixing the dough and started scooping some onto a pan.

“Joey!” Lily called from the other room, shortly making her way into the kitchen, a DVD in hand.

“Yes?” he asked her, looking at her.

“Can we watch this movie?” she asked, holding up the DVD, revealing it to be The Greatest Showman.

“Sure!” he smiled, “I love that movie.”

“We can watch it while we eat our cookies,” you said, finishing up the pan and sticking it in the oven, “shouldn’t take long, only about ten minutes.”

“YAY!” Lily squealed, running back into the living room, waiting impatiently.

---

Ten minutes went by and the cookies were done, so you took them out and put them on a plate to cool while Joe got the movie ready. When the cookies were cooled down, but warm enough to eat, you put a few of them on a plate and brought it into the living room and set it down on the coffee table, taking a seat on the couch next to Joe with Lily sat on the floor in front of you. Joe pressed play on the remote as you nestled back into him, back under the large, warm, fuzzy blanket from earlier.

As the movie went on, the three of you belted out every song, from A Million Dreams to The Other Side to Rewrite the Stars, Lily doing so with a mouth full of cookies majority of the time. The movie got to the scene with the song From Now On, and Lily let out a loud squeal.

“THIS IS MY FAVORITE SONG!” She yelled excitedly, turning to you and Joe.

“Really? Mine, too!” Joe laughed, watching as Lily got up and walked over to where the two of you were sitting.

“Dance with me, Joey!” she said, pulling his hand.

“I’m not much of a dancer,” he laughed, shaking his head.

“Pleaaaaase?” she begged, sticking her bottom lip out.

“C’mon, babe,” you said, nudging him and sitting up, “show us your moves.”

“I guess I can,” he said, getting up. Lily pulled him to the middle of the living room and started ‘dancing’, which for her was holding Joe’s hands, swinging them side to side, and jumping up and down.

“Look at those moves!” you joked as you watched the two of them, ‘dance’ around the room.

“Mommy! Dance with Joey!” she said, letting go of Joe’s hands.

“But, you two look so cute dancing together already,” you commented, pulling the blanket off of you and tossing it to the side.

“Come dance, baby,” Joe said, holding his hand out to you. You smiled and took his hand, pulling you up and leading you over to the center of the living room where him and Lily just were. You wrapped your arms around his neck, swaying side to side as the movie continued to play.

“AND WE WILL COME BACK HOME, AND WE WILL COME BACK HOME,” Lily belted out, jumping around you and Joe, a cookie in hand.

“Hooooome agaaaain!” you and Joe sang out in unison, with him dipping you, causing a squeal to emit from your lips.

“Joe, don’t drop me!” you laughed, holding onto him so you didn’t fall.

“I’ve got you,” he chuckled, pulling you back up and kissing you, “always.”

The song faded out, and the movie continued. Lily took her spot back on the floor in front of the couch, while you and Joe took your usual spots, snuggling back under the blanket; him running a finger up and down your back; laying there in perfect contentment with life as you knew it.

Tags: @hargreevesgrace @deakyspuff @okiegirl24 @joalsglasses @toger-raylor @panicatttckiss @cheeseedreams47 @shesakillerquueennn @cruelnatalie @mrsmazzello @rogerina-owns-me @johnricharddeaconn @jiswoogannon @loveofmychips @v-o-o-d-o-o-c-h-i-l-d @littleliv1 @walkingwheels @cryinq-mazzello @ramibaby @queeniesteiins @inthelapofthe39 @caborhapch

#joe mazzello #joe mazzello fanfic #joe mazzello x reader #joe mazzello imagine #bohemian rhapsody #bohemian rhapsody movie #borhap #fanfic #bentaylorrogerhardy

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idontknowwhatsarcasmis · 5 years

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The Lost Moments - Endgame

I’ll admit that the film reaaaaaaaaally got me upset and I was very much discouraged to write the next chapter…. Sorry about that! BUT my life has also gotten ridiculously crazy with post graduation, work and shit soo it wasn’t juuust cause I was angry at the franchise… But recently I watched the trailer for “Away From Home” and Maria *talks in the trailer*, guys! She has LINES!! =D

Soooo I sat my ass and tried to write more haha! Hope you enjoy it =D

Also, hooray for me for posting this BEFORE the new Spider Man comes out… it was hard XD I’m sleepy, but almost yay!

P.S.: Sorry for the possible tears… but pleaaase comment! :D

P.P.S.: Pleaaaaase don’t hate me! If you guys ask nicely I miiight continue!

Ao3

Ff.net

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The ship had barely landed and Natasha was already tripping her way down, arms wide and ready as her daughter threw herself at her. Tears broke out as soon as she felt the slim arms around her body. Pain shot through her side because of her injuries, but she barely felt it.

She didn’t care.

As soon as she felt she sweet smell of her daughter's perfume as she cradled Nicky's head closer to her, the shaking started. Natasha could not tell if it came from her or Nicky, but soon the sobs that came out had a very clear point of origin. Natasha had to fight hard not to wallow in despair alongside her daughter.

"Momma, Ka-kaelan, momma…"

Natasha pulled her tighter, tapping into whatever pool of strength she had left to keep control over her emotions.

She could feel the others back on the ramp, giving them time.

“I know, little one.” She said, voice trembling. For the first time in decades, Natasha wished she hadn’t tried so hard to overcome her Black Widow’s training. She wanted to be able to talk to her daughter without falling apart.

“He’s just gone, momma. G-Gone.” Her daughter kept saying, voice becoming an incomprehensible sound as the sobs become worse.

Natasha closed her eyes tighter, biting her lip so hard it drew blood. She couldn’t say anything. There was nothing she could think of… Maria would have known what to say. Oh, she knew her wife would have been heartbroken as well, but she knew Maria would know just the right words.

God, not even 24 hours and she was already a mess without her.

She opened her eyes and looked up to the sky, trying to blink away the tears, taking deep breaths.

Making shushing noises, Natasha crouched to pick up her daughter – not a feat as easy as it once was, especially with her whole body aching from the fight and grief, but the weight still brought her comfort. To have her daughter so close to her, a piece of her and Maria.

She walked up to the front porch, opening the door and picking up a blanket before sitting down on the couch with Nicky on her lap. She felt more than saw the others approaching and closing the door behind her.

“It’s gonna be alright, little one.”

She let her daughter cry on her shoulder, just repeating the words like a mantra. Her eyes glanced around the room, watching her friends who were still there, standing in her living room with tears in their eyes. They were all silent, staring at nothing, minds far from this place, where they’d met so many times to celebrate or joke around. Natasha’s eyes closed once more as she caressed Nicky’s hair.

“W-where is Clint?” Steve said after what was probably half an hour. Natasha froze, looking around her, and it clicked. Something really didn’t add up. Clint. Where was he? Why was he not here, with her daughter, his goddaughter?

“He left.” A broken voice whispered.

Silence.

“What?” Thor asked, taking one step closer, voice barely above a murmur.

“H-he came to see me after…after…” She trailed off, but now she wasn’t the only one shaking.

"He did WHAT?!" Natasha asked, using her hands to push Nicky away a bit so she could look her in the eyes.

"He left... aunt Laura and… and Nataniel and Cooper and Lila... they vanished… l-like Kaelan…"

Natasha just kept looking at her, her mind blank.

"Uncle Clint, he looked at me.... hugged me... said he was sorry... and left."

Steve was quick to pick up Nicky from her lap one second before she got up, phone on her ear as she stormed through the house towards the backyard.

Voicemail.

Redial

Voicemail.

Redial.

Voicemail.

“YOU SON OF A BITCH!” Natasha screamed as soon as she was far enough. “How DARE you Clint?! My kid just lost her brother and her mother, and you left her?! ALONE?!” She was fuming, walking around blindly, hoping that Nicky couldn’t hear her. “You fucking bastard! How could you?! You are her godfather!! COME BACK! She needs you! We need you! Clint, for fuck’s sake! I need you!” She dropped on her knees, tears back on her eyes as she punched the ground.

“Please Clint…what do I do? I can’t do this by myself…”

Strong arms wrapped around her, tightly.

“You’re not alone, Nat.” Steve’s voice sounded soothing in her ears. Broken, but sincere. “You’ll never be alone, okay?”

Natasha just nodded, letting her phone drop as she let herself beheld for a second. Steve pulled away to look at her. He hesitated on saying something, and Natasha almost scoffed.

“What is it, Steve?” What else could happen to hurt her, after all.

Steve looked pained. Even more than before.

“Nicky… Nicky’s asking where’s M-maria...” He finally said, and Natalia wished that she hadn’t asked anything.

Her daughter needed her. Needed her to answer that her mother was not coming home. That Natasha had failed. That Maria was never coming home, cause Natasha had been too incompetent to stop that fucking bastard.

Taking a deep breath, Natasha got up and walked back to her house, head held high, hands shaking with the effort of trying to look calm. Trying to look comforting. Trying to look exactly the opposite of what she was feeling. She felt more than heard Steve right behind her, whispering her name, but she couldn’t stop. She needed to do this now.

She could do this. She could look her daughter in the eyes and comfort her as she said it. As she told her Maria would not come back.

She walked through the back door and the kitchen. They were still in the living room. Nicky was sitting on the sofa, wrapped around a blanket Maria had gotten especially for her.

She could do this.

Silence.

She could d-

"Momma... where... where's mama?

Natasha closed her eyes, fists tightening. She opened her mouth but nothing came out. She tried a second time. Nothing.

Nicky got up, shaky hands touching Natasha’s.

“Momma?”

Silence.

She didn't need to say anything anymore. She felt her daughter jerk one step away. Knew she was looking at the others for confirmation.

She knew the second she found it.

The tears fell down once more and the shaking doubled.

Shame.

She'd failed the Universe and her team.

She'd failed her daughter.

She'd failed her son.

She'd failed Maria.

She was no good. To anyone.

It should have been her.

Xxxx

Natasha hugged Nicky tightly as the others got ready to get on the ship.

“You’ll bring them back?” Her daughter asked. “Both of them?”

Natasha didn’t dare answer. What if they couldn’t?

They had to…

But what if…?

“Momma?” Her daughter’s voice was desperate with hope.

She felt all of her companions hold themselves back at that. Knew they all wanted to come and hug Nicky with her. All of them, no exception. They’d grown as a family. Despite all the pain and anger that may have happened through the years between them, Maria and her two kids were a point of reference for every Avenger. The superheroes were all rather tied around Nicky and Kaelan’s fingers.

“Ma?” Nick asked again, voice once more worried and Natasha broke.

“Yeah…” she whispered, hearing everyone sucking in their breaths. “W-we’ll…” she swallowed “We’ll do our best, okay? We’ll bring them back.”

“Promise?”

Natasha closed her eyes, tears forming up.

“Baby, please…”

“Promise, momma!”

Her daughter was crying and Natasha caved.

“I promise.”

They had to bring them back. They had to.

Cause Natasha just didn’t know what she’d if they didn’t.

It should have been her.

Xxxx

Hope.

Hope was a funny thing, wasn't it?

So easy to build. Equally easy to destroy. Very hard to forget.

All very much represented in one phrase. In the swoop of Thor's axe.

In one head rolling on a dirty floor.

Gone.

Poof.

Swish.

Just like Kaelan and just like Maria.

Now she'd have to go back home and take the hope away from Nicky again. She closed her yes.

She wouldn't blame Natasha. She had too much of Maria in her. Of her Masha. She wouldn't blame her. No one would. They didn't have to. Natasha blamed herself enough for it.

She felt Danvers’ hand on one shoulder and Steve’s on the other. She wanted to shrug them off, but couldn’t muster the strength.

It should have been her.

Xxxx

Five years.

Five years go by really fast.

And, at the same time, it went by so painfully slow

Nicky grew up, of course, into an amazing teenager. At the age of 13, she was already so very much like Maria in personality that it was actually quite scary to look at. If she didn’t know better, Natasha would have said the two were actually blood related. Even after five years, Natasha wasn’t sure if it hurt more or less to see her wife in the movements, the words, and the looks her daughter would throw around. In the pose of a hand. In a raised eyebrow. In a glare…

All of the Avengers had kept in touch in a way. Always showing up for her birthday and special occasions. Tony, Pepper and their little girl in particular made sure to always come by and let the two girls get to know each other. Steve was always around. The most frequent visitor. It seemed he’d taken upon himself to be there for every little thing Natasha and Nicky needed. Natasha appreciated it more than she had words for, and she knew that Maria would have as well.

As for Natasha herself, well... She had no idea how she’d survived those past five years. She didn’t really remember how she’d gotten day by day. She just knew that she’d tried her best. She’d been right; Nicky hadn’t blamed her. There had been no need, though, as the broken sobs her daughter cried in her arms when the group returned from their failed mission had stayed with her since that day. Every time she kissed her girl to sleep (cause she still did it every night, even with her being a teenager now), she’d hear it as she closed the door. And she’d fall asleep with that sound. With the sound of a ringing phone and no answer.

It should have been her.

Xxxx

Natasha just kept looking at Steve on the other side of the table.

Hope.

As she heard Scott talking and talking about time travel, and all that crazy stuff, the only thing on her mind was ‘hope’.

Maria.

Kaelan.

Hope.

It was selfish, but she didn’t care. Hope of fixing this sad excuse for a life. Hope of having the love of her life in her arms again. Of having her little boy running around their backyard.

Her whole family together.

“So, who do we talk to about this?” Scott asked.

Natasha was halfway through the room by the time he’d finished asking. She didn’t bother to turn back; she knew Steve was gonna take Scott to the ship and tell him to keep his mouth shut.

She had a daughter to wake up and a billionaire to visit.

Xxxx

As soon as Morgan saw Nicky, she ran from Tony’s to her daughter’s arm.

“Nicky!”

“Morgan, hi!”

“You came to see me!”

Natasha had to laugh at the statement, not a question. that came from the little Stark. That was all Tony.

“I have! Let’s continue that game we started last time you came over?” Her daughter asked, voice excited, and Natasha knew it wasn’t fake at all, even though she’d asked Nicky to distract Morgan when they arrived. She hadn’t questioned anything, and Natasha thanked her lucky stars (if there were any) for that; she did not want to give Nicky hope again if it had no foundation.

The group watched as the two girls excitedly entered the house, hearing Pepper greet them warmly inside.

“That was below the belt. Using your kid. Not fair, ‘Tasha.” Tony said in lieu of greeting. Eyes never leaving Scott. “You’re alive.”

Natasha stepped between them.

“We need to talk, Stark. Now.”

“Stark? This is serious.”

“You’ve no idea.

…

Every rebuttal from Tony’s lips made Natasha’s fist tighten with anger.

“That’s right, Scott, I won’t. Even. Got a kid.”

Natasha snapped.

“And weren’t you lucky she wasn’t born yet five years ago.”

Everyone went silence. She knew why. She knew how her voice sounded. Dead silent. Devoid of any apparent emotion, just a deadly fury hiding underneath.

She was done being nice. She didn’t care about the slim chances. Didn’t care if it was based on a fucking film. She wanted her family back, and he was denying her that chance.

“Yeah. I was. Very lucky, and I don’t intend to mess with that.”

“So all those that weren’t that lucky? Screw them, right? You’re still the same damn selfish son of a –“

“Oh, don’t act like you’re all so different, Natasha!” Tony raised his voice to match hers, both ignoring the warning tone from Steve. “If it was the other way round you’d-“

“I’d what Stark? We’ll never know what I’d do, cause I don’t have them! I don’t! I didn’t even get to say goodbye, Tony! All I’m asking is for you to give us a fucking chance to get the people we love back!” She knew she was crying, could feel the tears running down her cheek and she got madder.

“You’re asking me to risk the life I have!”

“I’m asking you to get off your ass and fight, goddamn it!”

She said, taking one step forward, hands gripping the lapels of his jacket. Steve and Scott both took a step closer with her.

“Nat, stop.”

Steve was trying. Natasha knew he wouldn’t succeed.

“Natasha, it’s suicide. There is absolutely no guarantee-“

“I’m good with that.”

“We’ll, I’m not in the mood for dying!”

Natasha heard steps coming on the porch. Part of her knew that both their kids were now watching, and so was Pepper. She didn’t care. He needed to agree to this.

She wasn’t the only one to notice the new spectators though.

“Think of your daughter, then. What if you die in this?” Tony said, voice low, hands gripping her wrists back just as tightly.

“I’m trying to get her other mother, brother and the fucking world back.” she seethed, gritting her teeth so hard it almost hurt.

“You really think Maria wou-“

She didn’t hesitate, her fist left the jacket and flew straight to his face at the mention on Maria’s name.

“Momma!”

“Dad!”

The two kids shouted, but no one moved, not even Pepper.

“Do not. She’d do anything. She’d have rationalized a plan. And she’d have done it years ago.” Natasha whispered, voice broken.

“Yeah… she would have.” Tony agreed, fingers lightly touching his nose to check the damage. As she looked back at him, she saw tears in his eyes, but Natasha knew it wasn’t from the pain. She’d held back. His nose wasn’t even broken.

“I’m sorry, Nat. I really am.”

Natasha turned around and left. Not looking at her daughter’s slightly confused, slightly hurt eyes. Didn’t look at the pity in Pepper’s. She just walked, focusing on her breathing. Already planning on how to get to wherever the fuck Bruce was.

As they were all sitting and the quinjet was taking off, Natasha just mumbled.

“Green.”

Steve nodded. Scott and Nicky looking confused.

“We need a bigger brain.” He explained.

Nicky got it. Scott didn’t.

Her daughter rolled her eyes.

“Uncle Bruce.”

“Who?”

She stared at him and, at any other moment, Natasha would have laughed at her daughter telling off Ant-man.

“The Hulk… duh.” Steve did laugh. Scott just looked ridiculously embarrassed with blushing cheeks.

“Ah…”

Xxxx

“Well, you pulled this off. I remember a time when that seemed pretty impossible too.” Natasha said, eyes never leaving Bruce’s.

He sighed, shoulders dropping, and Natasha held back her breath.

“He said no, didn’t he?” Bruce asked, eyes on the ceiling.

Her fists tightened, and she let Steve answer that.

“Yeah… He did. He has… reasons.”

Before Natasha could open her mouth, Steve was already speaking again.

“We might not agree with his decisions, but we can’t deny his reasoning behind it, Nat. You know we can’t.”

She just shook her head, refusing to speak at all in fear of saying something she might regret later. She just looked at Bruce again, who was analyzing his hands.

Silence.

“Bruce… please.” She mumbled, and at any other time she’d have flinched at her own tone. At how pathetic and desperate she sounded. She knew all eyes were on her. She didn’t care. She’d do anything for a chance at getting all of her family back. Anything.

“Okay.”

It was like she could breathe again.

Xxxx

“Momma?”

“Yeah?” Natasha mumbled, eyes fixed on Bruce and Scott as the he gave instructions to the latter.

“This is crazy.”

Natasha bit back a laugh.

“Well… most of our plans have always been crazy.”

“Momma…”

“Good! Cause if we blow the grid, I don’t wanna lose tiny here in the 1950s!” Bruce said, and it snapped Natasha to attention, her eyes widening like her daughter’s and everyone else’s in the room.

“Excuse me?” Scott panicked, almost backing away from the machine.

“He’s kidding!” she was quick to say, taking a step closer to Bruce, knowing her daughter was right behind her. “You can’t say things like that!” She angry whispered to him.

“It was a bad joke!”

Natasha shook her head. Glancing at Nicky, who was just now shooting her an incredulous look, she turned back to Banner.

“You were kidding, right?”

“I have no idea. We’re talking about time travelling here!”

Natasha felt a tug on her top.

“Momma…”

Natasha just nodded this time.

“Yeah, okay…”

Maybe this was a bad idea.

But… Maria…

Kaelan...

Bruce pressed the button and all of them held their breaths.

A teenager… a teenager was in front of them.

“Guys… who’s that?” Nicky asked.

“Ahm…” Bruce said as he stared.

“Is that Scott?!” Natasha asked incredulous.

“Yes!”

Button.

“Oh dear…” Nicky said, hands sort of covering her eyes, but not really. Natasha felt like doing the same.

Old Scott.

“Momma, this is not working.” Nicky deadpanned.

Sometimes Natasha hated how similar her daughter was to her and Maria.

“Yes, baby, I can see that.”

Another try. A baby.

A fucking baby.

They were doomed.

Bruce waved his hand at her urgently.

“When I say kill the power, kill the power!”

“Oh my god.” She mumbled heading towards the generator, ignoring her daughter’s disbelief look.

As soon as she hit the switch, they all stopped, holding their breaths.

“Somebody peed my pants...” Scott, an apparently normal Scott, said.

“Oh, thank god.” Natasha exhaled, letting herself drop against the wall. She saw her daughter shaking her head and leaving the room right about the time Bruce yelled something about this being time travel.

Maybe her kid and Tony had a point... this was too crazy even for them.

Xxxx

“Feeling more confident?” Natasha asked her daughter, a smile on her voice.

The beam she got in return made her heart lighter. Hope. Hope shone brighter than the damn sun in her Nicky’s eyes, and it lit up Natasha from the inside out. Because this had to work. There was no way around it.

“Well, Uncle Tony is in on it now! Nothing against Uncle Bruce, but I mean…”

Natasha laughed; it’d been a long time since she’d seen her daughter this free. This… happy.

“Yeah, I know what you mean.” Pulling her into a hug, Natasha just sighed happily. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell him.”

“Don’t tell either of them… Uncle Tony would get an even bigger head!”

The two shared a laugh at that.

“He really would.” Natasha agreed.

Mother and daughter stood quiet for a few moments, both staring at the frame on the opposite wall.

It was the four of them. Maria and Natasha each had a kid on their hips. Smiling like it was the happiest day of their lives. Natasha smiled; she remembered that day. Natasha had just settled home for good and Maria had been ‘fired’, so it had been the first day of a long period of time where they would just be together. Just the four of them and visits from their odd little family once every so often. They were happy.

The happiest Natasha had ever been.

“We’ll get them back, momma.”

Natasha started when her daughter spoke. She was so focused on the picture and the memory that she’d had a momentary lapse. She looked at Nicky; the intensity of her gaze made Natasha think of her wife once more.

“Yeah. We will.”

Cause she really had no idea what to do if they didn’t this time.

Xxxx

“Natasha, someone has to get him. Someone has to stop him.” Steve said, voice clear.

She hummed, eyes fixed on the ground outside. Steve sighed.

“Natasha-“

“He left, Steve. He just left her here. Alone.”

There was silence. Steve knew there was no possible excuse for Clint having left Nichole alone the way he did. None of them would have done it. None of them should have done it. No matter the circumstance. They were family. Family.

“Nat, he… he knew we’d get there so-”

“He did not know that. He didn’t. He had no fucking clue if any of us were alive, Steve. So don’t bullshit me. He left like it didn’t matter. Like he didn’t care, so why should I go now then?! Why should I try to save the bastard who left her, who left all of us when we most needed him?!”

She didn’t realize she’d started shouting, but she had. By the end of her tirade, she’d turned around and was starting at Steve with tears in her eyes, heart beating fast. The wound was 5 years old, but it still hurt. Everything about that day still hurt deeply. But there was nothing to be done about some things… anger was easier. More liberating.

“Why should I bother, Steve? Just because we have hope? He wouldn’t stick around when we needed him, so why would I try and giving him anything?”

She asked and saw hope leaving his eyes.

“Nat-“

“Because it’s the right thing to do.”

Natasha and Steve both turned around fast towards the door.

“Nicky…”

“Because it’s the right thing to do, momma. Yes, he was a coward. Yes, he left. But he’s still Hawkeye. He’s still Uncle Clint in there somewhere. Even after everything... You got him back once, ma. You can do it again.”

“Nicky, what he did… How can I-“

“We’re not the only ones hurting, momma.” Her daughter came closer, grasping both her hands in her slightly smaller ones. “You still had me left. And I had you. Can you imagine if that hadn’t been the case?”

“Nicky!” she admonished her. She didn’t wanna think of it. Never. It’d come so close to it.

“Momma.” she said, voice steady and serious, the look on her eyes so full of trust, love and determination that it was as if Maria was staring at her, chastising her for being too stubborn. “I know you wouldn’t have done the same as him, but momma, I know enough to know that it’d have crossed your mind.”

Natasha stopped, staring at her daughter. At the faith she had in her. Natasha wasn’t so sure she wouldn’t have done the same as Clint… the killing part, not the-

“I’d never have left any of the kids. Never.” she said instead.

“I know, momma. I’m not saying to forgive and forget. But he needs to be stopped. If not for himself, ma, then for Aunt Laura and my cousins. When they come back, they deserve better than what Uncle Clint has become.” she said, with such an air of certainty and finality that Natasha felt as if she was being sent off on a mission.

A chuckle coming from behind, told her she wasn’t the only one.

“It’s uncanny, isn’t it?” Natasha asked, cupping Nicky’s cheek with one hand.

The girl blushed as Steve laughed. Natasha smiled, feeling a bit of laughter coming up as well. She needed that.

“Mommaaaaa!” Her daughter complained, making both adults lose their restraint and really give in to the moment, making it much lighter than it was before.

Cheeks still red, Nicky puffed “I was being serious!”

Still chuckling, Steve approached her, putting one arm around her shoulders.

“We know, squirt. But it was really funny how it brought back many, many memories.” There was a nostalgic smile on his face, and Natasha knew the same was on hers, if perhaps a bit more pained.

There was a small silence.

“Do I really act that much like her?” her daughter’s voice was quiet. Almost as if she were afraid to bring up Maria’s name. Natasha knew it was her fault… She’d always get in a weird mood when Maria was mentioned. Her punching Tony was proof enough of that. She swallowed the lump on her throat and managed as proud a smile as she could.

“Yeah. Especially when you get bossy like that. You look and sound exactly like M-Maria.” She said, and both Steve and Nicky’s eyes widened at that.

…It hadn’t been that long since she’d said her name… had it?

“Yeah?” Nicky asked, shyly.

“Yeah.”

“And you’ll talk with Uncle Clint?”

“I’ll kick his ass.” She answered.

“Back here?”

“I’ll try.”

“Good. I’ll take that.”

Steve laughed again. “This is ridiculous!”

Mother and daughter laughed at that. Natasha looked at Steve.

“Stay with her?”

He looked her in the eye.

“Always.”

Xxxx

“Alright, I’m going…”

It’d be the first time they were apart since coming back with news of Thanos’ death. Natasha was really reluctant. And now that they had to say goodbye, she could see Nicky (despite her hard orders) also hesitating.

“Yeah… kick his ass, momma… then bring him back, yeah?” Her daughter asked, arms still around Natasha’s waist.

“Yeah, I’ll try.” She answered. “To bring him back, I mean. I know I can kick his ass.”

“Okay!” Nicky laughed, squeezing her one more time before letting her go. Natasha was a bit slower to do the same.

With one last smile, she turned to head to the quinjet.

“Momma… be careful.”

Natasha pause. Closing her eyes, an unbidden smile came to her lips.

“Is that an order, little agent?”

She just knew her daughter was straightening her shoulders.

“It is, agent Hill!”

“Aye, aye, ma’am.”

With a smile, and an ease she hadn’t felt in years, Natasha boarded the ship.

Xxxx

"You son of a bitch." Natasha said quietly. Silent fury still there, reaching this massive strength that was just ready to explode.

All of her guilt, all of her frustration and anger and hatred and hurt of five years about to come unleashed and she couldn't stop it.

She did not want to stop.

He turned.

"Nat...I'm-"

She didn't let him finish, she attacked.

It was ugly. It was bloody. And both her wife and daughter would be sorely disappointed in her (or them both). By the time it was over, Natasha was hurting in places she did not remember could get hurt. Lying on the floor opposite of Clint, who also looked like he couldn’t move at all, she spat some blood.

“Ouch.” Clint said after a while.

“Yeah.” Natasha mumbled, feeling her ribs hurt at even that. Maybe those five years had made her soft.

“Let’s not do this again.” he said.

“Don’t make me want to do it, then.”

She couldn’t see it, but Nat knew he was nodding.

Silence.

“I am sorry, Nat.”

“That doesn’t cut it, Clint…”

A sigh.

“I know.”

“But it’s a start.”

They both smiled at each other. It was a start.

As they both helped each other to the quinjet, Natasha started to laugh.

“What?”

“You do know that as much as this hurts right now, Nicky’s waiting for you when we get home, right?”

The fact that Clint went paler than ever before made Natasha feel better than a punch or two possibly could.

Xxxx

"Barton." The clipped voice, the squared shoulders reminded Natasha so much of Maria she had to look away. She saw some of the others do the same.

She saw the hurt appear and disappear from Clint's face, and she knew that he didn't believe he deserved to feel hurt. He was right.

"Nicky."

Everyone held their breath as she approached him.

She was expecting a punch. He was expecting one. Hell, everyone in the room was probably expecting one. Natasha would definitely have punched him. Natasha had punched him.

Repeatedly.

But then again, Maria was there as well; it was not just Natasha.

Nicky just looked him in the eye for close to one minute. One tense minute, before she turned and started walking away.

Natasha was about to let a relieved breath, when it happened.

"I'm so sor-"

The punch was so fast that Natasha would have admitted she was impressed even if that wasn't her daughter right there. As it were... she was hella impressed. And also very proud.

"I don't hate you. But please don't speak to me. Not now."

She turned around before anyone could say anything, walking from the room.

Silence ran for a bit longer, the echo of her steps fading away.

"Clint?" Antman asked.

He made a very pained noise.

"That hurt."

Natasha smiled. Well, she had a lot of Maria in her alright, but she also definitely had some of her in there as well.

Xxxx

As everyone was just standing there, looking at the glass platform, Natasha took one step forward. The chance to see Maria and Kaelan, if just for one second, was more than enough.

“I’ll do it.”

Before she could take one more though, a hand on her top pulled her back.

Nicky.

Natasha froze.

This had a huge probability of going ridiculously wrong. The chances of her not coming back were real. And she was just gonna go and leave Nicky behind?

What the hell was wrong with her.

None of the avengers said anything as she stared at her daughter’s eyes, worry clear there, a sort of desperation that Natasha hadn’t seen in years. She was the cause of that. She was the reason her daughter’s hand was gripping her shirt with fear. She didn’t even have to say anything; the silence and emotion on her face was more than enough.

Maria would not have made this mistake. Would not have so willingly offer herself up when Nicky still needed her.

It should have been her. It’d been a while since she actively thought that, but it was true, wasn’t it? Maria would have… Maria...

“I…”

“I’m game. I’ll do it.” Clint offered himself up, interrupting whatever stupid excuse she’d have come up with.

Natasha looked at him; he just nodded.

Taking one step back again, Nicky wrapped her arms tightly around her torso, and Natasha put her own arm around her shoulder, pulling her close.

I’m sorry, she wanted to say. But no words came out.

As she watched Clint go up the steps, she held her breath.

Back. He was back.

She ran towards him, and this time Nicky didn’t stop her; she was right there with her.

“Hey, hey. Look at me. You okay?” she asked, wanting to ask so many other things, but holding herself back.

“Yeah. It worked, Nat. It worked.” he said, eyes meeting hers right on. A light shining fiercely there. A hope so strong, that Natasha’s heart started to beat faster.

Her daughter’s hand was gripping her arm tightly.

“It worked?”

“We’ll get them back, Nat.”

“All of them.”

“All of them.” The answer didn’t just come from Clint, but from everyone in the room. Natasha looked around. At her family, determinated faces, a united front with one goal. Saving the ones they loved. Saving the whole universe.

She smiled, tears in her eyes.

“Let’s do this.”

Xxxx

“You guys look very sad right now.”

From her uncomfortable position on top of the table she and Tony decided to have an impromptu nap on, Natasha raised her head to look at her daughter

“Well, thank you.”

“You’re as tactful as your mama.” Tony’s voice came from her side, but he didn’t move at all.

“And as smart.” Nicky said in a voice that brook no argument, making the three adults in the room move to look at her properly.

“Not that I doubt it, but what?” Tony asked.

“Well, genius.” the sarcasm in her voice was too much and Natasha had to cough not to laugh.

“Yeah, little Hill?”

“You didn’t realize that, if you pick the right year, there are three stones in New York, did you?”

Silence.

Wait… what?

“What?!” Tony jumped off of the table, along with Nat and Bruce.

“Shut the front door!”

Nicky rolled her eyes, a smirk on her lips.

“And you call yourselves superheroes.”

That little smirk, that light in her eyes, Nat could see, made the whole room relax.

That was her girl.

Xxxx

They were all there, up in the glass platform already. Except her.

Natasha was standing with Nicky. Her hand gripping hers so tightly, that Nat was sure she must be hurting, but she didn’t show. She knew what could happen… she sniffed to get rid of the tears gathering in her eyes.

“Momma?”

Closing her eyes quickly, Natasha opened them and turned to hug her daughter as tightly as she could.

“It’ll work out, baby.” She said, fiercely. “Mama will be back soon, with your brother, okay?”

“And you, momma. It has to be all of us. We’re a team, remember? You said so.”

Natasha squeezed her tighter.

Silence.

“Yeah. We’re a team.”

“You’re coming back.”

It was an affirmative, not a question, but Natasha would not know the answer even if it was.

She squeezed her tighter.

“Momma?”

“We’ll succeed, okay?” She said, pulling back to kiss Nick’s cheek, but refusing to meet her eye.

“Momma?”

“You stay here, we’ll be back before you know it.” She said, caressing her cheek and kissing her forehead before getting up.

Natasha turned her back, tears running down her cheeks now.

“I love you.”

She stopped at her place beside Clint and finally turned to meet Nicky’s teary eyes.

“I love you too, baby. It will work.”

She said loudly.

“It will work.” Her daughter repeated, and with a last tight smile, without moving her gaze, they were gone.

Xxxx

A soul for a soul. So this was how it was gonna end… It’s wasn’t too bad, exchanging her life for those she loved. She couldn’t leave Clint to die. As she looked at Clint, she tried to push the image of Nicky’s teary eyed face from her mind.

“I guess we do.”

“I’m starting to think we’re thinking of different people here, Natasha.”

A raised eyebrow from her side, a slight foot movement from his, and they were off. It was that day in Japan once more. running, punching, tripping, and somehow, they were both dangling off the damn cliff. Clint holding on to Natasha so she wouldn’t fall.

“Come on, Nat! This makes no sense!”

“How doesn’t it?!”

“All I’ve done, Nat! How can I face Laura and my children like this?!” he shouted.

“Don’t be a coward, Clint! They will love you regardless! Don’t run from your mistakes! You taught me that!” she said, and immediately regretted it.

Natasha closed her eyes, the hand gripping her arm tightening.

“Have I taught you that? Am I really the one running here, Nat?” His voice was quieter now, but it was ringing louder than a shout in her ears.

She shook her head. It should have been her; it would be her. Natasha had screwed up. She did everything wrong. Maria would do it right. Her daughter wouldn’t be alone. She had her uncles and aunts. She’d have Maria.

It should have been her.

“What if it doesn’t work, Nat? Nicky will need you!”

“If this doesn’t work, we’ll be as good as dead anyway!”

“No, we won’t! You told me not to leave her, you don’t get to go ahead and do it well, Nat!”

“I’ve been surviving, Clint. Not living. I can’t carry on without her, Clint. I can’t!” she cried out. “If this doesn’t work, if I can’t bring them back … I don’t know how I didn’t the first time! I’ll lose it, Clint!”

“No you won’t! Nicky knows you won’t, I know you won’t… You’re stronger than me, Nat. You’re stronger than all of us… You could have lifted that damn hammer if you’d tried!”

She shook her head at that, tears running freely on her face. Maria had told her that once. She still didn’t believe it.

“And what if we do it, Nat?! What if they come back? How do I look Maria in the eye, and tell her I let you jump to your death?!”

She closed her eyes. She couldn’t imagine Maria’s face in pain. No.

“How do I tell Laura?!”

“You have a daughter that’s ALIVE, Nat! ALIVE!” He screamed and Natasha’s heart clenched. “If our positions were reversed, would you let me jump?!”

“Bu-“

“No! Nicky needs you, Nat… Maria and Kaelan will need you too… They already lost their parents once, Nat…”

Natasha laughed out of despair. She couldn’t do it… It should have been her, but to cause this much pain to Nicky… to Maria, to Kaelan. She couldn’t. Damn Barton, for making her think.

“Fuck you, Barton…”

Nicky, I’m so sorry for what I almost did… Maria, Kaelan…

“If Laura kills me for this, I’m punching you in the afterlife!” Natasha screamed, hand tightening on his arm as she prepared to climb back.

Clint laughed, a teary and desperate sound.

“Yeah, you do that.”

Looking in his eyes again, Natasha put a foot on the hill, to get impulse.

“Come on, Nat.”

“Love you, brother.”

“I love you too, sis.”

Push.

Stone crumbled.

Loose hand.

Fall.

Natasha only realized what was happening because of the horror in Clint’s eyes. She didn’t hear his scream. Didn’t feel the wind on her back.

Nicky…

Kaelan…

Maria…

I’m sorry.

Xxxx

The sound of Nicky’s scream would forever stay with all of the Avengers, of that they were very much sure. The punches she threw on Clint’s chest were nothing, nothing compared to the hole he felt inside. They were nothing compared to the complete and utter destruction they saw in her eyes.

As they gathered around to snap the damn fingers, she wouldn’t leave Steve’s side. Glued to him as if he was the only thing keeping her up. And he probably was. Tears in everyone’s eyes.

Birds. Plants.

It worked.

And then it was a mess and they were fighting Thanos again.

“Where is Nicky!?” Clint shouted into his comms.

“She’s safe! Tony, get her away from here! To a quinjet to her house, go!” Steve screamed back.

“Laura will be there, tell her to go!” Clint shouted back.

“Will do!”

He was gonna save her. He had to.

As portals started appearing left and right, and a gigantic Hellicarrier showed up, Clint felt a huge wave of relief, but also an even bigger weight on his shoulders.

Maria.

Fuck.

Xxxx

As she observed the field beneath her, barking orders left and right, Maria zeroed in on the little group of superheroes at the front.

No redheads.

Well, her sight wasn’t that good. It was quite far away.

She ordered people to stand at the ready and prepare to engage, making sure all hands were at the proper stations, before tapping in her comms.

“Nat?”

She asked, trying to keep her voice from showing her longing to hear her wife.

Silence.

Her hand started to shake. She closed them into fists, crossing her arms.

“Steve! Clint! Where's Nat?”

They were silent, and Maria stopped all movement.

“Clint?”

Silence.

“BARTON! ROGERS!”

No answer.

“Stark? Thor? Bruce?”

No one answered her.

That in itself was all the answer she needed. The one answer she didn’t ever want to have.

“Maria... I-” Steve started, but she interrupted him.

“Don't." Her voice was numb. Devoid of any emotion. She kept looking ahead, at the war waging under her, but it meant nothing anymore.

Natasha... Nat was...

She closed her eyes, a ringing sounding in her ear so loud that it made everything else fade away.

She started to feel dizzy, a sense of out of body experience taking over her. Why shouldn't she leave? Why shouldn't she go and, hopefully, meet Natasha in whatever it was that came after this? What was the point in coming back if her wife, the one who has made sure she was happier than she'd ever been, was gone? What was the point?

There was none.

She felt her knees buckle. Her body and mind were screaming at her to just give up. Her heart was broken and bleeding and just begging to see Natasha again.

She let go.

But before she could actually fall, before she could reach the ground and just let it all just go away, two arms grabbed her around the waist.

She tried to fight it, eyes still closed but the ringing started to lower in volume. She suddenly became aware of far too many voices in her ear screaming her name, pleading for her to respond, to talk.

She didn't wanna talk.

"Maria."

Coulson. The arms around her, a voice not in her ear but by her side.

She gasped.

"Maria, Nicky and Kaelan are at home, waiting for you to go back after this.” His voice was fast and quiet, but starting to make sense. “The Avengers need you right now. The Universe needs you present. We need you to be strong just a little longer."

Her kids. They were both alive. She had to make sure they remained that way. But...Nat...

Nat...

She opened her eyes to look at her best friend, the tears that somehow gathered there making it harder to see. By how close they were, though, she could see his eyes were red, and his whole expression was that of pain.

She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

She tried again.

"Nat…" she said. Or tried to, she wasn't sure that the sounds she managed to produce could count as a word.

The voices in her ear went quiet.

"I know." Phil said, voice low. After a beat he continued "Nicky and Kaelan, Maria. They're waiting for you."

Maria closed her eyes and shook her head. She had seen out of the corner of her eyes everyone in the Hellicarrier looking at them. She must have been louder than she thought. She could feel their sympathy. She didn't want their sympathy. She wanted her wife.

"They are waiting for their mums. Together." Maria rasped out. Her voice hollower than ever before.

"You're not alone, Maria."

Everyone in their comms repeated the sentiment, Nick's voice resounding louder than everyone else’s.

"For Nicky and Kaelan, Hill."

She opened her eyes and looked around. Everyone was waiting for her. Waiting for her orders, for her to get herself together as a war waged on down on Earth.

'Come on, commander' she heard her wife's voice, saw her face. 'Kick them to hell and back'

She squared her shoulders and put her hands behind her back, taking one step away from Phil with a nod. Her body was still shaking, her heart still broken. But there'd be a time for this. A time to grieve. Now she had to make sure there'd be a tomorrow for her kids. Her friends. Her family.

"For Nicky and Kaelan. For... Natasha." she whispered, and Phil nodded at her.

She looked at the room at large. She took a deep, shaky, breath.

"To your stations, agents. Rain it down on them. Protect our people. Now!" she barked the orders, and everyone turned around, fire in their eyes. She let muscle memory take over her, let the years and years of command take control in this hour of need.

She'd break down later.

Xxxx

Steve looked at the stones, and looked at what he could have.

He could give them all back, go back to the 70s and stay there... he could just live the rest of his life with Peggy. But then, he stopped. He remembered. He remembered Maria's face as she saw Natasha walking down the aisle. He remembered Maria's kind smile when she put the lasagna on the table. He remembered Kaelan and Nicky running around the backyard, laughing and shouting and just being kids. All the Avengers together on that house, just being friends. Being a family.

He remembered Natasha's expression of pure and unaltered joy after so much pain and suffering. He remembered the joy of the two kids at having two mothers that loved them. The pain they went through when they lost their biological parents. He remembered all of it. He could see it as clearly as the mountain in front of him.

And he couldn't do that. He couldn't alter the future.

He knew what he had to do.

Xxxx

“A soul for a soul.”

Hollow eyes stared back at him.

The skeletal face nodded, ever so slightly

“A soul for a soul.”

Xxxx

#blackhill #black widown #natasha romanoff #maria hill #martasha #blackhill fanfic #marvel fanfic #Captain Marvel #the lost moments #endgame #avengers endgame

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green-eyed-weirdo · 6 years

Text

Bechloe week day 5 - Road Trip!

Another entry for Bechloe week. Did I actually only start writing them 5 days ago? This is crazy! As always, thanks to @aca-awesomenerd for going on this ‘trip’ with me 😉 Enjoy! @bechloe-week

Chloe has always had a hard time letting go. Most recent evidence of that being, her failing Russian Lit three times to be able to stay with her Bella’s. Unfortunately now it was time. All the girls were graduating, so Chloe had decided to graduate too. Right after graduation, they’d flown to Copenhagen and with the help of an arsenal of former Bella’s, won the World Championship of Acapella.

Being back at the house, Chloe felt the weight of the nearing end heavy on her chest. She didn’t want this to end. She wasn’t ready to move on just yet. Luckily, Jessica felt the same way. After a night of drinking wine, laughing and crying about it, they came up with the best way to extend the time with their self-chosen family. They should all go on a road trip! One last trip with the Bella’s bus and their beloved sisters. They brought up the idea at dinner the next night. Thankfully, everyone was super excited about it. All but one certain brunette DJ...

Beca loved the Bellas. She freakin’ loved those awesome nerds. But spending many hours in a bus with them on a road trip, was definitely not her idea of a last hooray. She could appreciate the thought of course. She knew that Chloe was having a hard time with the moving on thing. But still, a road trip with 9 other girls? Really? Haven’t they done that enough for competitions?

“No, I’m not coming. You guys have fun and keep me updated.” Beca told her girlfriend, for the fourth time that week. She had tried many excuses, but of course the redhead saw right through all of them.

“Come onnn, Becs! Please! It won’t be a Bellas road trip without all of us there.” Chloe said with a small frown.

“No, Chlo I’m serious. I really don’t want to go. Going anywhere with these weirdo’s is always chaos.”

“Becs, pleaaaaase. I’m not going if you’re not going. But I reaaaally wanna gooooo” Chloe gives her girlfriend her very best puppy dog eyes.

“Ugh. Fine!! Dammit Chloeeee!” Beca whined, but gave Chloe a small smile.

“Yay! I’m so excited!” Chloe squealed. Yes, she’d done it! She knew Beca couldn’t resist her puppy eyes.

One week later

The day of the Bellas road trip was finally here! The girls had spent many nights thinking of the perfect place to go, and they eventually settled on Florida. Jessica’s parents have a beach house near Tampa and they were going to stay there for about 10 days. Everyone was getting onto the bus as Chloe mentally checked off all of the Bellas. Stacie ✔️ Lilly ✔️ CR, Jessica, Ashley ✔️ Flo and Emily ✔️ Amy ✔️ and wait… Dammit!

“Have you guys seen Beca?” Chloe asks. She hears a chorus of ‘no’s’ and let’s out a huff. Why was she even surprised? It wouldn’t be a Bella’s trip if Beca wasn’t late.

Chloe jogs back to the house to find the brunette fast asleep on the living room couch. Of course.

Chloe approaches her girlfriend and lightly shakes to wake her up. Nothing. She shakes her a little harder. “Becs,” Chloe calls out. “Beca,” she says a little louder. “Baby, it’s time to go.” Still nothing. On to plan B.

Chloe quickly goes to the fridge and finds an extra bag of ice from the party they had a few weeks ago. She grabs the bag and returns to the living room. Once at Beca’s side she attempts one more time to wake her up with a shake, but still doesn’t get a response. Chloe’s left with no choice but grab the bag of ice and put it against Beca’s back. The DJ wakes up with a jolt and a lets out small screech.

“What the F-!”

“Come on Becs.” Chloe guts her off. “Everyone is waiting for us. Let’s go!” Chloe gets up to leave, but soon realizes that Beca isn’t following her. She turns around to find Beca standing with her arms crossed, looking at her grumpily.

“Really Chloe? You want me to be nice company on this trip? This is not the way to achieve that.” She says with a pout.

“You’re right, I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you later,” Chloe says with a wink.

Once everyone was finally on the bus they were off on their Bella’s road trip. It wasn’t until about an hour into the long ride ahead that Stacie noticed that Beca’s usual seat on the bus was empty. She started looking for the short brunette and found her asleep, her head on Chloe’s shoulder. Beca never sat with anyone on the bus, she liked having her space. So finding her snuggled up to their other captain was a big surprise. Stacie quickly signals the other Bella’s around her and pointed towards the front of the vehicule.

“O-M-ACA-GEE!!” Emily squealed. “They are so cute!”

Amy looks in the rear view mirror and whisper shouts “BHLOEEEE!!”.

The rest of the girls just smile at each other, staying quiet to not disturb their captain’s moment.

Meanwhile, Chloe was stroking Beca’s hand as she watched her girlfriend sleep peacefully on her shoulder. She suddenly heard squealing coming from the back of the bus. She then heard someone mention ‘Bhloe’ and smiled to herself. She had gotten together with Beca after the retreat. The comment Chloe made about experimenting had really gotten into the DJ’s head. Beca had already broken up with Jesse a while before. Jesse had graduated early and gone to L.A. Beca was certain they would not be able to maintain a long distance relationship, so she’d decided to end things now.

After Chloe’s confession in the tent, Beca mustered up the courage to tell her best friend she was in love with her. They’d been together ever since.

The two co-captains decided to keep their relationship status to themselves, so the rest of the Bellas would stay concentrated on graduation and winning Worlds. But that was all over and done with now, so they would no longer sneak around and wouldn’t mind if the girls found out. They would’ve already known if they’d payed closer attention anyway, but that’s another story.

After a few hours of driving, the Bellas took their first pit stop to get refreshed and fill the gas tank. Chloe told Amy that she would fill the tank. She didn’t want to repeat what happened four years earlier.

There was a small, nice looking diner and the girls decided that it was a good opportunity to get something to eat. Beca had to go to the restroom and Chloe told her that she would order for her. She knew exactly what her girlfriend would want.

When Beca came back into the diner, all she saw was chaos. Amy was standing at a table, apparently in the middle of a story, talking way to loud. Stacie had went off to flirt with a group of guys at the other end of the diner and who knew where Lily disappeared to. Jessica and Ashley were sitting next to each other, bickering about the fact that Ashley had gotten the wrong flavor milkshake for Jessica.

Beca looked around the diner as she let out a frustrated sigh. This is exactly why she didn’t want to come along in the first place. She could maybe go out like this as a group occasionally, but having to endure it on a ten hour road trip. Heck no!

When Chloe sees Beca coming back to the table she smiles. That’s until she notices the annoyed look on her girlfriend’s face.

“What’s wrong?” The redhead asks.

“Are you serious!? Can’t you see that we are disturbing the peace in this small diner!” Chloe looks around to find some of the Bellas had left the table and others were talking a bit too loudly.

“This is exactly what I was trying to avoid! We can’t go anywhere without causing some kind of chaos!’ Beca continued in a frustrated tone.

“Hey!” Chloe stopped Beca from going on, “It’s okay. We’ll fix this.” Beca gave her a look of disbelief. “I promise.” Chloe reassured giving the brunette’s hands a squeeze.

Chloe let go of her girlfriends hands and began reassembling the Bellas.

“Jessica. Ashley. Stop fighting over a milkshake and just get a new one. Amy you may want to tone it down a little. Flo go find Lily, please and I’ll go get Stacie.” Chloe was now in full captain mode. After giving out a few more orders, she stood up and walked straight towards Stacie who was sitting at a table at the opposite side of the diner.

“Stacie!” Chloe called out. “Keep it in your pants and let’s go. We have to get back on the road soon.”

Stacie lets out a dramatic sigh. When she stands up from the table, she slips one of the guys a note, presumably with her phone number. “Bye boys.” She calls out over her shoulder as she walks towards Chloe. Chloe rolls her eyes and grabs Stacie’s arm to drag her along back to their table.

Once she came back with Stacie, she saw Flo come back with Lily. They seemed to be coming from the kitchen, but Chloe wasn’t really surprised.

The rest of the evening went by as smoothly as possible. Beca was still a bit irritated, but Chloe tried her best to calm her down. Once they all finished eating and paid their portions, the girls walked out to the bus.

“Uhh… Uhmmm…”

“Ames? What’s wrong?” CR asked.

“It’s pretty cool actually…”

“The keys! They are still in the bus!” Flo shouted.

“Of course! Things couldn’t get any better than this!” Beca said sarcastically right before she stormed off.

“I’ll go after her. Amy! This better be solved by the time I get back!” Chloe said before she ran off after her girlfriend.

The redhead searched around the parking lot and finally found the brunette behind the diner.

“Hey.” Chloe said softly.

“I’m gonna call a cab. You guys enjoy the rest of the trip, I’m going home.”

“Come on Becs. The trip just started, I’m sure it’ll get better.” Chloe pleaded.

“Exactly! The trip just started! If this could happen in the first few hours, could you imagine how much worse it could get?!” Beca’s practically yelling at this point.

Meanwhile, the Bellas had lucked out. One of the men Stacie had been flirting with happened to be a mechanic. With a little convincing, Stacie got him to help out and they quickly retrieved the keys from the bus. Now all they had to do was find their captains.

“Becs, I know you are at a breaking point here. The last few weeks have been really stressful for all of us, but especially for you, with the internship on top of everything else. Babe, I really think once we get to the beach house, it’s gonna be aca-awesome.”

“Oh god…” Beca always finds the aca-phrases so cheesy. She gives Chloe a small smile. “I don’t know babe…”

“Please Becs, stay… for me? Besides, If I recall correctly, I have some making up to do tonight… You wouldn’t want to miss out on that, would you?” Chloe says with a flirtatious wink.

Beca let’s out an exaggerated sigh “Okaaaay… only for you though!” Beca leans in and the two girls share a soft kiss.

The Bellas had locked up the bus with the keys this time, thanked the guys for their help and started to walk towards the back of the diner, where they’d seen Chloe disappear to. As they turned the corner, Stacie, Amy and CR, who were walking at the front of the group, immediately stopped in their tracks so the rest of the girls bumped into them. There, by the back door of the diner, they saw their two captains having a private moment.

“Are they…?” Emily started.

“Yup!” Stacie said with a smile on her face.

“Pay up, bitches!” CR says to no one in particular, but she is sporting a very smug look.

“BHLOE IS REAL!!!” Amy actually shouts it this time.

This pulls Beca and Chloe out of their moment and they look towards the Bella’s who are all smiling at them. “Yeah Ames” Beca says, “Bhloe is real.” She gives Chloe another quick kiss as they start walking towards the girls.

“Let’s get back on the road, you awesome nerds!”

#bechloe week #bechloe week 2018 #bechloe week day 5 #bechloe #bechloe fanfiction #beca mitchell #chloe beale #beca x chloe #beca and chloe #Pitch Perfect #pitch perfect 2 #bechloe oneshot #barden bellas

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iammarylastar · 6 years

Photo

1. D-Day, 0957.

“Morning Cup!”

I stop in my tracks, hearing my name shouted from behind.

It’s become common for me to be greeted in every corner of the streets of the military camp base, women seem to appreciate my stunning self.

Blame my body for that.

I’m grateful for that aura of mine, which assures me good and beautiful company when I’m fed up with my mates.

I love them like my own bros, but there’s no Louis, Phil nor Mac when there’s Nora, Emily or Madeline.

Fuck you guys!

My eyes spot the latest person I’d like to meet today.

Michelle. Michelle damn crazy Minelli.

We’ve slept together once or twice last month and now, she’s more like a pain in my ass than a bitch on my cock.

She’s been harassing me for weeks to date or meet her parents; she’s been talking shit like engagement ring or marriage or I don’t know what bullshit only female can focus on more than the 20 seconds I usually gave her.

Hopefully, my eyes always switch down to her breasts and I marvel at those two beautiful mounds that bounce rhythmically with her rambling, as she speaks out loud and shakes her hands and arms like the good Italian immigrant she is.

My head nods yes at whatever she says while my mind flies to the nonetheless sweet memories of us having sex.

I hate her. She’s like the chewing gum that sticks under your shoe, or the stinky dog shit you can’t get rid of.

But today, I love her. It’s a matter of time but my life will change today. Thanks to that hot, crazy chick.

Not now, of course. As she starts to jog towards me with that ridiculous gait of hers, perched on too high heels, I try to escape her.

I wish I could disappear or turn into dust, anything to not talk to her or see her face.

I feel like eyeing her boobs will not be enough this time.

“Michelle! Nice to see you! You make the Sunshine look so pale, didn’t she, hey Cup?”

I glare at that asshole that’s Mac. He knows everything about anything of my life, since we share the same room. His favourite hobby is to throw salt on my wounds and stab me in the back. Bastard.

“Maaaaac!” She whines with that annoying voice. “You make me bluuuush!” She waves her hands before her face like to cool down the air around her face.

Mac winks at me and goes on with fake flattery about her dress colour, which elicits more overplayed ‘Oh my Gooood’ and ‘Maaac pleaaaaase!’

Please, Mac, Jesus, someone, shut her up!

“Blahblahblah, blah blah, blahblah…” she starts to speak to me but I’m already gone.

Dead or dumb, whatever.

I just come back to Earth as she puts a coffee cup in my hand, saying her favourite lame joke for the thousandth time.

“I brought you a cup, Cup!“

Then throws her head back, to let out her hysteric laugh which sounds more like a hyena’s than a human being’s.

"That woman knows to treat you well Cup, I can’t understand why you still hesitate to marry her!” Mac opens once again his dirty mouth.

I throw him another death glare, but see with relief that Mrs Pain in my ass turns to face him and giggles before going on with her verbal diarrhea.

And this happens.

My eyes land on an angel.

She’s walking the other side of the street, half hidden by the cars that are parked over there.

Beautiful is not enough to describe her face. Words fail me to tell what I’m feeling right now and my knees get weak under me.

For the first time in my damn life, my dick doesn’t react to the view of such a goddess but my heart does. And it’s the most painful thing I’ve ever experienced.

The way her long straight hair waves around her delicate features undoes me in way I can’t neither explain nor understand.

My heart screams inside my chest and its rhythm starts to panic, while my mouth goes dry like I ate a ton of sand. My brain turns into dust instantly, bringing my self-confidence down with it. I feel dizzy and just want to burst into tears.

Someone will tell me later that’s called love at the first sight, but I’m sure it’s more than that.

Something that hasn’t been named yet because no fucking body has ever felt this before.

Call me a fool but I can already feel the softness of her skin under my fingertips and I swear I can smell her intoxicating natural fragrance from where I stand.

Who’s that girl that stole my heart and soul in a blink of an eye? What has she done to me? I’m a bloke, I’m a fucking pilot from the US army, I flying the hugest bombardier like it’s a fucking bike, I go without fear almost every day on dangerous missions that are most of the time close to suicide one’s, and I’m just turned into a fragile pussy after just a glance to…

Fuck I’m struggling with words. No word fits her.

“Cup! Are you listening to me?”

“No.” I blurt out, not realizing what shit I’m getting into.

“Hey Honey!” She snaps her fingers before my face, wasting the perfect view I have on my girl.

“I was telling you my parents wanted to have you for lunch on Sunday, after the office. What do you think?”

I move her hand from my face the most gentle I can, never taking my eyes off my gorgeous angel.

“Not on your life."

Go to hell Michelle.

"What? Cup! Cup!” She tries to turns my face to her, grabbing my chin, but I harshly yank her arm away.

My patience have run out. Nobody is allowed to stay between my mysterious girl and me.

“ Who are you drooling at? Hey, I’m still here, your girlfriend! Look at me!”

I don’t budge. Nothing could distract me from staring at my bright diamond, especially not that agitated mosquito buzzing around my ears.

“Don’t you dare gawk at another ass than mine! Who’s that bitch? So you’re cheating on me? Fuck you!”

The hyena yells at me.

“Shut up Michelle. Go fuck yourself. ”

Just shut up and leave me alone.

Mistake. I just unleashed the beast.

I wanted nothing more than stay in that nice daydream but the hurricane next to me turns into category 5.

She starts to howl what sounds like Italian gibberish to which I don’t give a shit: all the fuss she’s making ends up drawing attention on us.

“Bastardo! Sei proprio un stronzo! ”

My angel stops in her tracks the other side of the street and notices us.

Notices me.

A huge smirk lightens my face and so does hers.

It’s like her sweet gaze asks me if I’m in trouble. I glance at the fury screaming next to me and shake my head no, a pout on my lips.

“Nothing to be worried about.”

I silently tell her.

Her eyebrows frown the cutest way, saying “that’s not what it looks like.”

I shrug lightly, rising mine

“This? Naaah drop it, she’s crazy.”

I’m in heaven, silently chatting with my angel, even with the Devil spitting her poison out on me.

Crazy Michelle is spinning her wheels, starting to move her arms and hands frantically, hitting my arm relentlessly, showering me with more strange love words.

“To odio, figlio di puttana! Vaffanculo stupido tu e la tua sgualdrina!”

She’s making big gestures, yelling at me with her hands, and purposely or not, hits the cup of coffee, spreading the whole hot liquid all over my shirt.

My mysterious girl can’t help but chuckle, politely hiding it behind her hand. All I can do is shrug my shoulders again, lifting my hands up in defeat, while the crazy chick turns on her heels and finally leaves.

“Good luck with your new crush Cup. She’s not for you anyway.”

Mac’s arm wraps around my neck and squeezes, pulling me down as this idiot places a kiss on my cheek.

“That was a hell of a break up man. It seems you’re not too desperate of losing crazy Michelle!”

He laughs in my ear.

Still laughing to herself and surely at me, the new love of my life, my new sunshine waves at me, like to say

“Nice to meet you”

I wave back at her, stupidly smirking, stupidly covered with coffee, stupidly happy.

“My pleasure” I mouth at her, before watching her walk away until she disappears around the corner.

“Who’s that girl? I’ve never saw her before.” Mac says, surely drooling at that stunning piece of ass walking away.

“She’s my wife. But she doesn’t know it yet.” I state.

Mac bursts into laughter before ruffling my hair.

“Yeah bro, she’s the new love of your life for the next two weeks. I started to know you, butterfly!”

No you don’t know me, man. She will be the one. She will be mine until the end. I swear. Till my dying day.

@jaihardy @jaicourtneyseyes @kiiiimberlyriiiicker1995 @captstefanbrandt @pernilleals @pathybo @frecklefaceb @societalfailure @kenzieam @oddsnendsfanfics @sajess98 @jojuarez26 Thx to my beta girl @tigpooh67

#morning cup #jai courtney #unbroken #chapter 1 #angelina jolie

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seaofvollyballs-blog · 6 years

Text

There were 6 Legendary. One Crew.

“Tell me it again! Please! Please! Please!” Hinata begged so egregiously that it was a wonder he could breathe. He clung to Asahi’s arm as he was set into the hammock for bed. The boy was the newest member of the Karasuno crew and as such he had yet to calm down from the big adventure endorphins. Asahi knew it was his job to settle in the youngsters before he’d join the others above deck for another Captain’s meeting. Daichi would surely not stand for any noise below deck and Asahi would get the brunt of blame. He couldn’t handle that. The responsibility, it was just so overwhelming. He could hear Noya cackling over his failures. “please! Please! PLEASE OH PLEAAAAASE!”

Asahi tried to quell him by putting a hand to his lips and shushing. Hinata was so much like Noya had been when Asahi had started onboard. That guy never stopped talking but in this case Asahi knew Hinata only saw the ship, the crew, and the action with big starstruck eyes. “Ok, ok, please just settle down. OK?” Asahi pretty much begged and Hinata bit his lower lip to bounce up and down eagerly. Asahi noted the two other new members were already laying in their respective hammocks and seemingly uninterested in them entirely.

If he didn’t quiet down Hinata he’d bother his fellow crewmates no doubt. And then Daichi…Oh no no no. “Okay, okay, Hinata. W-what do you want me to t-tell you?” just the thought of Daichi’s rage or even Suga’s punch with that beaming face…It made him shiver.

“The Legends! Tell me about the Legends again!”

“Again?” Scoffed Tsukishima from his hammock. The young blonde man was the third most recent crew member and surprisingly the second tallest crew member. He only just beat Daichi and didn’t reach Asahi but it seemed to bring Suga great glee regardless. Tsukushima stuck out not only because of his height but because of the spectacles he had kept on his face. He was apparently from a relatively wealthy family and so his desire to go to sea didn’t seem to have anything to do with gold. “That shitty ass story is so overtold it’s not even remotely true anymore.”

“Hehehe, you tell him Tsukki.” Yamaguchi the other new member, a shorter plain brunette was always trailing along beside Tsukushima and neither seemed to be able to be separated. It reminded Asahi of Suga and Daichi in the beginning.

“Pathetic…” Tsukki murmured to himself but it made Yamaguchi giggle.

Asahi turned down to look at Hinata who sat curled in his hammock looking truly dejected. Asahi knew that look. He’d worn it over half of his life as a crewmate. Things were never easy for Asahi Azumane. His mother had never wanted this life for him. It would only make him like his father. A man who says he’ll love you forever and leaves when the surf pulls him. Asahi couldn’t understand a spoiled kid like Tsukushima. He couldn’t understand his motivations but Hinata’s face, that expression…

“Very good, The Legends….how did that go…hmmm…” immediately Hinata perked up, eyes brimming with the same bright orange color of his spiky hair.

“There were 6 Legendary Pirates! One Legendary Crew!” Hinata recites from heart waving his arms about the hammock so it flips with him in it. Surprisingly he manages to stay upright as the hammock just swings back around and he looks up at Asahi whose kneeling next to him with eagerness.

“One legendary crew..yes…” Asahi shut his eyes remembering the story that all pirates tell to new crew members. It’s a tale but it is also a warning, a whole truth and yet a story unlike any other.

There were 6 Legendary Pirates. One Legendary Crew.

Together they were undefeatable. They were the ones the Jolly Rodger fought and lost against it. The Navy’s finest armada frigate torn to pieces by the Legendary 6. Piracy which had been on it’s deathbed was able to flourish once more and under the new guise of brotherhood and international democracy.

The 6 were permitted their own ships, their own time and their own reaches of the sea. Naturally this peace which was born under the rivalry and destruction of the Jolly Rodger could not be held without it.

The 6 turned on each other. Their brotherhood sunk to the pits of Davy Jones’s locker with the Jolly Rodger.

The sea undivided once more, free and open.

“And C-c-c-C-C-CAPTAIN SAWAMURA!” Hinata stuttered out clenching and unclenching his fists in front of him as Asahi paused to think of how to best phrase the next part.

The 6 Legendary Pirates are now 6 still quite legendary captains.

Daichi Sawamura, the Crow; the Legendary Carpenter of Karasuno the Northeastern Iwate Sea.

Kuroo Tetsuro, the Cat; the Legendary Quartermaster of Nekoma the Central Edo Divide.

Terushima Yuji, the Tiger; the Legendary Rigger of Johzenji the East Miyagi Coast.

Bokuto Kotaro, the Owl; the Legendary Boatswain of Fukurodani the North Kanto Region.

Wakatoshi Ushijima, the Hawk; the Legendary MasterGunner of Shiratorizawa the South Sendai.

Oikawa Tooru, the Crown; the Legendary Captain of Aoba Johsai the West Osaka Reef.

With every name, every title Hinata’s eyes grew wider and wider. He leaned more and more forward. Asahi smiled back at him but he himself could recall all their faces with each title. The feelings of complete loss, the images of their fleet sinking as their flags flew high. And Daichi…Daichi always picking them back up afterward. Fixing them back together…

“Then there was a 7th.” Tsukushima mutters and Asahi doesn’t need to look behind him to know the boy isn’t even looking in their direction. “The 7th is always the problem…it’s just uneven after all.” He chuckles and that makes the waves pummeling into the sides of KARASUNO sound all the louder. They all let the boat sway with them in it’s belly and Tsukushima speaks again, “what was his name? Snake Captain?” Below him Yamaguchi has fallen asleep, his faint snoring can be heard as his hand dangles off the side of his hammock.

Asahi sits still and stiff while Hinata looks between them both, eyes blinking and at a loss. He wants a hero story…unfortunately this one has little heroes in the present day version of it. Asahi decides to ignore Tsukushima for the young man who asked for the story.

When our Captain, Daichi Sawamura was just a young lad like yourself he lived in a small town on the mainland. His parents had been carpentars and their parents before him. All of them were kind and strong although their hands were withered, tattered and worn from the generations of work. Sawamura pushed himself to make his parents proud. He worked day in and out under his grandfather and father, trying to learn the tricks of trade. Still every day he would find a ache in his chest and no amount of work or time could fill it. One day Daichi’s grandmother fell and with no one to cook or shop Daichi had to miss a day of work to fish. His mother had always loved to fish and so they had all the fixings. She’d unfortunately passed in childbirth but it wasn’t such a rare thing in that time. Daichi grew up with his grandmother and loved her as he would his mother. He wanted to catch her the best fish but naturally he was untalented. He failed no matter how hard he sat there, no matter how much bait he used to catch a fish.

“Why?” he asked himself staring at the sun as it slowly set below the horizon and the water rose up to lap at his feet, “Why won’t you let me help her?” he just wanted one measly fish. Was that so much to ask?

That night he wouldn’t go home no matter how dark it got, or how cold. He tried and tried but still no fish came. When the sun rose once again he saw a group of crows had managed to sneak their way into his bait while he nodded off from exhaustion. He jumped to his feet and tried to shush them away. They cawed and flocked about him, starving themselves they began to peck at him. He swatted and shouted with ferocity so great the sea pulled back from the shore and shriveled into itself.

The crows were unafraid. They brazenly circled him in amazing number and in that moment Daichi thought he’d meet his mother. Then as soon as the black curving wings encircled him, they were just…gone. The only things left at his feet were a grand amount of sparse black feathers and…

A flopping fish.

“BULLSHIT.” Tsukushima snarled and Asahi held up his hand, not looking over his shoulder at the punk. He watched Hinata who beamed slowly at first only to slowly tilt his head to one side thinking about this.

“W-what did he do then?” Hinata asked.

He brought the fish home of course. He brought it right to the stove where it was cooked and prepared for his grandmother. She ate well and began to regain her strength. Meanwhile his grandfather had worked far too late into the night doing the work Daichi would have done. He collapsed from exhaustion.

By the time Daichi came to find him it was too late. His grandfather had gone to meet his mother.

Daichi felt so horrible he worked day in and day out from then with no distractions. His grandmother grew weaker but she managed to keep them all fed. Still her spirit seemed to fade the more his grandfather was gone.

“Daichi dear?” she asked one day, “When are you going to meet a nice girl and fall in love?” it was such a typical grandmotherly thing to ask he never thought twice about it.

“Why…haven’t I met one already Gran?” his charm and wit was never lost on her and she brimmed with love for him.

“Dear, you’re working yourself to hard…your grandfather wouldn’t want this. Go. Please. Have a day to yourself.”

“But father doesn’t-“ Daichi tried to argue.

“Of course he does, Dear.” She squeezed his hand and Daichi swallowed his nerve. “How do you think he met your mother and had you?” Daichi looked down, somber and ashamed. Had that been so good? Had he really brought them such good? All this death…all this emptiness…and no food on the table. Daichi’s father had always said that what mattered was what was in front of you. Only solid evidence of success could prove your worth. It was a tough fact but it was strong and true. Daichi wanted to be both those things so badly. Grandmother always knew what he was thinking and so she gently touched his cheek, her black piercing eyes peering into his. Daichi had always wanted to be more like his mother and she apparently was the spitting image of Grandma. He only had light brown eyes like his father and short ruffled dark brown hair. “You must spread your wings dear. Life can not be lived in a tiny room doing the same thing over and over.”

“Gran…” Daichi hushed her, pulling away from her hand. He’d regret it later. He’d miss it.

“You might want to stop with the death and dying. I don’t think the baby crow can handle it.” Snickered Tsukushima. Asahi would have hushed him but Hinata’s eyes were watery and his bottom lip was wobbling a little as he listened.

Asahi sighed and tried to linger a little less on the depressing bits. This was after all why Suga called him ‘DEPRESSING GOATEE’.

“You okay, Hinata?” Asahi asked gently trying to not push to much.

Hinata nodded and in a faint very audible whisper he asked again, “What happened?” Tsukushima snickered from his hammock. Yamaguchi snored and rolled over.

So Daichi took his Grandmother’s advice. His father became angry with him. He said terrible things to Daichi before he left. Things he’d come to regret. Things Daichi would never repeat to anyone else. Even now. Daichi went out for his day free of duty. Unsure of what to do with himself he wandered…and his legs naturally led him to the seashore where he had fished before.

This time there was another fishermen there but he was apparently a young man from Sendai near the Aoba Castle. He smiled gently at Daichi as he approached him and yet spoke little as they both stood their before the sea. “What might you be doing here then?”

“I was thinking I might fish.” The young man answered him and his charming good looks seemed to hide something behind his smile. Daichi noted the dangling silver earring, a tree with flocking branches that formed into a crown at it’s top.

“Here?” Daichi asked, frowning. The young man has said he was from Sendai. Surely there was plenty of fish in such a populated area.

“Hahaha….ok, yes, you caught me.” Chuckled the young man putting his hands behind his back as he teetered a bit back and forth on his heels. “I’ve heard wonderful stories about this village.” The strange young man covered his mouth and chuckled a bit at the shocked look on Daichi’s face. “I guess they can’t be true based on that look on your face…”

“W-what rumors?” murmured Hinata. He seemingly was getting more and more lost.

Tsukushima sighed and adjusted the spectacles on his nose, “How do you not even know that much? Didn’t you grow up in the same Kirimai village as Karasuno’s Captain?”

Hinata pouted, “Well yeah. But like…outside of it. I wasn’t born here.”

Tsukushima snorted.

“Neither was he.” Asahi corrected Tsukushima who finally rolled over and ignored them both, clearly annoyed with that notion.

“Sooooooooo-” Hinata urged Asahi on, looking intently. “What did the strange guy do? Was he another captain?”

Asahi smiled.

He wasn’t just any captain. He was the Legendary captain, Oikawa Tooru. The one strong enough to lead and know the entirety of every Legendry’s abilities all the way down to their greatest flaws. A fearsome friend and foe.

Hinata whispered squealed.

Oikawa told Daichi he’d come to his village seeking out a siren. A woman of immense beauty who had taken sailors and pirates alike from their ships and used their beauty and song to serenade them to the deep.

Daichi had of course never heard of such a thing. He told Oikawa as much. The people in the village were not beautiful. They were all simple, like him and had no real money. Then Oikawa asked.

“Has anyone died suddenly or abruptly around you?” the question took Daichi by surprise both because Oikawa was not smiling when he looked directly at him. It was like he knew, his eyes the same color as the clearest tropical waves he’d only ever seen in pictures. Daichi honestly wondered then if the man in front of him was the very siren he spoke of. He made Daichi feel weak and small. Everything he’d ever been afraid to feel.

“Yes, there has…” Daichi answered him back and in that moment a flock of crows flew low and from their beaks they dropped a slew of fish at his and Oikawa’s feet. The moment passed and Oikawa leaned down and picked a fish up by it’s tail as it flopped desperately in his grasp. Oikawa twisted his nose in disgust before looking at Daichi.

“Friends of yours?” Daichi wasn’t sure what he meant. The fish? The crows? Then they came back. They circled right back around and again dropped another multitude at fish overhead. Many over Oikawa who covered his head and shrieked in disgust.

“THE HELL! STOP IT!” he shouted as the cawing and flocking of feather reminded Daichi of his last trip here. Before…grandfather had…

The circling of crows flapping and pecking at Oikawa, reaching for his earring all stopped as once again Daichi’s voice boomed, “ENOUGH!” and even the sea shrunk back in fear. The crows broke apart, the fish flopped and gasped for air at his feet. Oikawa slowly looked up at him and with a sneer spoke carefully.

“my, my…you’re the siren’s son, aren’t you?”

Asahi opened his mouth to continue but there was stomping coming down the hold and soon enough Suga ducked below his silver hair and quizzical expression made Hinata shyly cover his face in his hammock. “Oi, oi! Meetings started twenty minutes ago…Put’em down and let’s get a move on.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll be right there.” Asahi stammered but the Karasuno’s Quartermaster just sighed indignantly at them and passed below deck to approach Asahi and Hinata. Tsukushima made no movement, Asahi just assumed he was either asleep or pretending.

Suga looked at Hinata with a patient sad smile, he’d had a soft spot for the boy ever since they’d ventured ashore to pick him up. “Shoyo, it’s time for you to sleep. Big day tomorrow of cleaning decks and rigging.”

“I can go to the NEST?” Hinata asked once again very hopefully.

“You know that’s Noya’s job…” Suga waggled a finger at him but smiled anyway, “We will see.” With that Hinata rolled over and closed his eyes. Asahi stared at Suga with an open mouth in shock. WHAT was he made out of? Only Suga.

Of course that’s why he was Quartermaster. The one member of every crew that was responsible for the crew and it’s well being. A lot of people underestimated that position because it was often over shadowed by the Captain position. Still no one would ever think twice about Suga being anything else. He was perfection at the job and when it was beside Daichi, well…in all honesty Asahi couldn’t count his blessings fast enough.

Suga motioned widely to the above deck and Asahi pulled himself away from the hammocks. Hinata probably would ask again tomorrow night anyway. Asahi followed Suga above deck and noted how dark it had gotten. The sea seemed to be a little more calm as distantly the storm they’d passed through ragged on.

“We still headed for Korea?” Asahi asked curiously. The navigating was once his job but since the third year had passed for the last new crew members and Ennoshita had been trained under Asahi for navigation. He took up a great deal of time preparing travels now. When Asahi was needed Ennoshita found him but overall it was more of a passing retirement.

Suga hummed gently to himself and nodded in answer as they moved along the deck. By the cannons stood Tanaka, always on guard. His shaved head and the few tattoos he had sprawled right along his right cheek up to his eyes made him stand out somehow even more. Well besides the fact he was always shirtless. Even when it was freezing outside Tanaka found a way to keep his shirt off. “Meetin ain’t over yet?” Tanaka raised a eyebrow in amusement as they passed.

“Not yet!” sang song’d Suga as they moved by. Tanaka yawned widely and stared out at sea. Asahi noted the cannons farther down the way were being cleaned out by Hisashi and Narita. Those two had started with Ennoshita and now they were more focused on improving equipment and following Tanaka around like the cabin boys they started as.

Asahi followed Suga into the Captain’s Quarters, every stem of it decorated in the orange and black regalia of the Karasuno crow. Their captain’s emblem. Daichi sat at his desk, eyes staring down at two pieces of parchment that had two different black daggers planted into them. Asahi knew what that meant. They were deciding the next voyage, right here- right now.

Suga gently closed the door behind him and Daichi looked up quickly to see them both. “Ah, Asahi, good.” He motioned for Asahi to approach quickly and take the seat between Noya and Ennoshita. He did so quickly.

The black drapes Suga went to behind Daichi and collectively untied them, the orange binding around them unfurling to reveal a crow raising it’s wings up and tilting it’s head to the sea. Suga then moved to stand beside Daichi, hand on the back of his chair as Asahi’s eyes fell to the two pieces of parchments.

“I’m telling you the voyage to Hokkaido would provide us a chance to resupply. We’re running low on rations plus we have to regroup before we can take on another fight.” Ennoshita, ever the enthusiast for common sense pushed this idea, pointing to the right parchment. Meanwhile Noya pried Daichi’s attention to his paper.

“It’s a HUGE CACHE, Dai-chan! We’d get a TON of loot and you know THAT would really make the crew’s day. PLUS we could really use a new adventure.”

Daichi made no movement in either direction. He just looked down at the papers and seemed to consider them both equally. Suga leaned down and murmured something in Daichi’s ear directly. Daichi just nodded and looked up to meet Asahi’s eyes. Asahi flinched, disliking the immediate attention.

“What do you think Asahi?” a democracy, that was what Daichi had always pledged to them. Ever since he’d become captain he swore that leadership was a matter of teamwork and teamwork was a matter of evidence. It was how it worked when the going got tough. How they held together. Everyone mattered. “Asahi?” Daichi repeated, more demanding this time.

Asahi let out a long winded sigh and looked down at the two pages, “Y-y…you know I don’t like….ma-making this kind of deci…decision…”

Suga snickered behind a hand while turning away from the table. He’d known for sure Asahi would react this way. Daichi looked less impressed, “Asahi…you are a valuable member of this crew. I need you to at least give a little insight-“

“Sir,” Ennoshita tried to speak up then, “If I may-“

Daichi held up his hand instantly silencing him. “No, Ennoshita as much as I value your opinion I have heard it. Now it is time I trust your superior. If only he’ll speak up.”

Asahi avoided Daichi’s preening gaze while Suga crossed his arms and shut his eyes waiting as well. These two….Asahi swore he wouldn’t be where he was without them, in so many ways.

“I guess….I guess I should….” Asahi murmured looking between the two papers. He felt them all watching him. Noya practically preening at the idea that Asahi would choose his. Meanwhile Ennoshita kept looking wistfully that his plan would be picked. Oh god…oh no…..the…the pressure…the…

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” Asahi took off out of that chair so fast it clattered underneath him as he flew out the captain’s quarters.

Suga burst into laughter and Daichi sighed while handing over a pouch of gold, “Told you he wouldn’t pick, pay up!”

“Again…” grumbled Daichi.

“He kind of looked at my plan, yeah?” Noya turned to Ennoshita who just shook his head and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Why was his mentor like this? WHY?

2 notes · View notes

sootemptation · 7 years

Photo

IMAGINE DOING A PHOTO SHOOT WITH BYUN BAEKHYUN.

(Gif not mine. Credits to the owner)

You could barely hold your excitement as the moment you had been waiting for the whole week was about to come. Your nerves were going to kill you with the anticipation. When your manager told you that one of the cutest vocalists of EXO, Byun Baekhyun, had been chosen as your partner for the couple photo shoot you were going to do you tried your best to keep it cool, but you failed miserably, making him laugh at your hyped reaction. Byun Baekhyun. The one and only Byun Baekhyun. That boy had been the center of your life, honestly, ever since EXO debuted, and having the chance to be close enough to him to hear his voice or watch his beautiful smile was driving you crazy.

When they called your name to enter the room you wasted no time, and as soon as you got in your eyes scanned the place looking for him. The world stopped moving as you spotted him in the back of the room, next to a large window. The light coming through it made his hair and skin shine bright, and when his gaze met yours and he smiled at you, his features became even brighter, if that was possible.

Yes, Byun Baekhyun was looking at you. Not just that, he was smiling at you. The guy who had invaded every single one of your thoughts since you could remember was right now in front of you, looking at you with such a charming and mesmerizing smile that you found yourself unable to look away.

“Did you hear what I say?” asked your manager next to you, snapping his fingers in front of your face.

“Y-yes,” you answered still in trance.

Baekhyun, who was witnessing the whole scene, lowered his head and giggled. It was such a beautiful sound… It made you think about that quote Every time a baby laughs, a fairy is born, but you were sure that instead of that, the real statement should be something like Every time Byun Baekhyun laughs, a fairy is born or even better Every time Byun Baekhyun laughs, an EXO-L is born.

“Ok, I’ll leave now. See you tomorrow.” He waved before turning around.

Wait. What? See you tomorrow? I’ll leave now? WHAT? Once you finally assimilated his words you sprinted after him.

“Where are you going?” you whispered placing yourself in front of him.

“Really? Do you ever listen to me when I talk to you?” he scolded.

“Yes, I do! Of course I do! I was just kidding!” You smiled taking one step back trying your best to pretend that you knew what was happening.

“Oh really? Repeat what I said.”

“Mmmmm… you said you’ll leave now and we’ll see each other tomorrow.” You smiled innocently.

“Before that!”

He was bitch-facing you so hard that you couldn’t suppress a giggle, “I’m sorry, you’re right, I was not paying attention.”

He whined, done with you, and repeated what he had told you before, “I said that I have to go back to the agency and I won’t be able to come here and pick you up once you’re done, so you will have to go back by taxi.”

“Ok, I’ll do that. See you tomorrow, manager-nim,” you sang praising him so he wouldn’t stay mad at you.

“Yeah yeah, whatever,” he mumbled waving his hand in the air and walking past you. “Send me a text message to know you got home safe!” he shouted while leaving.

You nodded, but he didn’t see you. When you turned around Baekhyun was right behind you, leaning slightly in your direction with a huge smile on his face.

“Hi!”

You took a deep breath and tried to sound cool while repeating to yourself Don’t act like a crazy fangirl.

“Hi,” you answered with a shy smile, looking down. It was really hard to keep looking at him when he looked at you with such a sweet smile. Those pink lips…. What you would do to those lips…

“Guys,” called the photographer, “we are ready. Whenever you want…”

“We’re ready too,” he shouted taking your hand in his and leading the way to the small set they had prepared for the pictures. When his skin touched yours, a jolt of electricity ran up and down your spine. His hands seemed to be huge holding yours. You stared at them, realizing that every single post you had seen in Tumblr related to his hands would never describe how perfect they were. You suddenly felt kind of ashamed. All about him was perfect.

“Well. The concept today is couple clothes so we are going to make it simple. You just have to act like a couple. Talk about any random thing, joke with each other, hold each other's hands… That kind of things. The point is that it feels natural, like a picture taken on any given day. You got it?”

“Yeah! Totally!” He smiled. You just nodded, since you weren’t so sure if you could act natural when he was around.

He walked to the yellow couch and laid there. Then lifted his face and poked the spot under his head, indicating you to have a sit.

You did as he told you and he rested his head on your lap.

“Is this OK?” he asked looking at the photographer.

Unconsciously, you ran your hand through his hair, unable to look at anything other than him.

“That’s perfect!” smiled the woman, raising her camera and capturing the moment. “If you could look at her and just talk... that would be great,”

His eyes met yours and you smiled trying to hide your blush. He smiled too.

“So… do you live far from here?”

What is that question?

“No, not really. It takes ten minutes. Thirty if you walk. Why?” you asked.

“I might have overheard your conversation with your manager and I thought that I could take you home so you don’t have to hire a taxi service.”

How could he be such a gentleman? Did he use to act like that with everyone? Because if that was his daily self you couldn’t understand how every member of sm staff could work with him without falling in love.

“I-I appreciate it, but I think I’ll just walk. I feel like walking today,” you stuttered.

He sat abruptly.

“Why?” You didn’t understand.

“Why are you rejecting me?”

“I’m not rejecting you, I just don’t wanna be a bother.”

“You’re not! Pleaaaaase, let me take you home,” he pouted, “Do I disgust you so much that you don’t want me to help you?”

“What? No! It’s not that!”

So this was what the other members of EXO meant when they said that he was a drama queen? Or that he used to overreact over little things?

“Then why don’t you accept my offer? OH MY GOD…” he suddenly moved to the other end of the couch. “You don’t like EXO.”

He looked so terrified with the idea, and it was such a stupid idea, that you bursted into laughter. How could he be that cute?

“I do like EXO…” you managed to say.

“Then let me take you home. I’ll behave, I promise!”

As if he could sense that you were about to give in he pouted, but his eyes were smiling.

“Ok. If that’s what you want…”

“Yes!” he exclaimed standing up and taking your hand expecting you to do the same. “Let’s dance to celebrate.”

What?

He pulled you close to his body holding you by your waist. Your head was spinning as he jumped around the sofa with you in his arms, but you didn’t know if it was because of his twists or just because of him.

“This is gold!” exclaimed the photographer giggling at the scene in front of her.

When your photo shoot was over and everyone seemed satisfied with the results, you changed your clothes to your black sport leggings, your oversized hoodie, and sneakers. Had you known your platonic love would be driving you home you would have dressed like a proper human being.

After checking once again that you didn’t forget any of your belongings you headed to the parking lot, where Baekhyun was already waiting for you. You were thankful that, despite your clothes, at least your face looked nice with the makeup they had put on you for the photo session.

“You ready?” he asked. You didn’t fail to notice how he looked at you from head to toe.

“I am,” you answered lowering your gaze, feeling ashamed again.

“Let’s go then!” He opened the door for you to climb inside of his car and did the same after you.

You gave him your address and he tapped it in his navigator before driving you there. The first five minutes or so he was quiet so you curled up in the car seat, as you used to do to feel comfortable, and focused on keeping still the fangirl inside of you.

“Soooo… you like EXO.” He smiled without taking his eyes off the road.

His smile was contagious, “I do.”

“Oooook… aaand…” it was like he wanted to ask you something but he didn’t dare.

“Come on! Spit it.”

He wasn’t expecting that kind of answer, but it gave him the courage he was looking for.

“Who’s your favorite member?”

Your eyes widened. You couldn’t answer that.

“I won’t tell you.”

“Why?” He frowned.

“Because I won’t feel comfortable. Ask me any other question if you want, but I won’t answer that.”

He looked at you briefly, “Will you answer any other question?”

“Try me.”

You were teasing him now. He knew it, and you knew he knew it, but it was too funny to stop.

“Ok, I have a lot of other questions, ready?

“Shoot!”

“Who is the most handsome member?”

“Suho.”

The fact that you didn’t hesitate cheered him up and he kept going.

“Who’s the cutest?”

“Kyungsoo.”

“The sexiest?”

“Sehun.”

“The most seductive?”

“Kai.”

He quietened for a second before starting again,

“Who’s the sweetest?”

“Chanyeol.”

“The funniest?”

“Chen.”

“The most adorable?”

“Lay.”

Another pause.

“Ok, if you don’t wanna tell me who is your bias... at least tell me who is your bias wrecker...”

You smiled.

“Xiumin.”

And then he lost it,

“Really? REALLY? And what about me?”

His pout was too cute for you, and you would’ve done anything to keep watching it a little longer, but you were also disappointing him and that made you feel bad, so you tried to fix it,

“You have really nice hands,”

He stopped the car and looked into your eyes. Sadness still in his gaze,

“Just nice hands?”

“Not just nice hands… REALLY nice hands! Oh! And you’re super cute when you pout.”

His features softened a bit, but it didn’t feel like it was enough,

“Well, we’re here. It was nice meeting you.”

It was just then when you realized that he had stopped the car because you were actually in front of the building where you lived.

“Oh! Well, thanks for the ride. I hope we meet again soon.”

He nodded softly before you took your bag and left.

As you entered the hall you felt sorry for messing with him so much, he was your favorite after all… Why were you like that?

When the elevator reached the 17th floor you looked for your keys in your bag and walked down the corridor until you reached your door.

As soon as you entered your apartment you dropped your keys and, recalling what your manager had asked you, you reached for your phone to tell him you were at home safe and sound, but you didn’t find it.

No way. Where was your phone? You checked again the front pocket of your hoodie, being sure that you had put it there, but it was empty. Just in case you were wrong, you searched in your bag, but it wasn’t there either.

It hit you then. Everything used to fall from the pocket of your hoodie when you curled up, so there was just one place where it could possibly be, and it was Baekhyun’s car.

You ran towards the elevator, but it would take it too much time, so you used the stairs instead. Maybe if you really hurried up… he was still there.

You were out of breath when you reached the hall and ran across it to get to the door. Then, someone shouted your name, making you stop right away. The receptionist walked in front of you and handed you something. Your phone.

“A guy gave me this saying that you had left it behind. He wanted to give it to you himself but he didn’t know your apartment and… you know I can’t provide anyone that kind of information… I hope it’s ok…”

“Yeah, sure,” you answered.

You knew it was his job, but you wouldn’t mind if Byun Baekhyun had paid you a visit. Taking the phone from his hands you said goodbye and went straight to the elevator.

You were still trying to catch your breath when you almost choke on it.

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NOOOOOOOO

YOUR LOCKSCREEN. IT WASN’T POSSIBLE. HAD HE SEEN YOUR LOCK SCREEN? HAD YOU JUST RUINED EVERYTHING BECAUSE OF YOUR STUPID LOCK SCREEN?

You pressed the power button and when the screen lighted up you saw your damn lock screen once again.

Suddenly, the notification of a new message showed up, but you didn’t recognize the number:

You should have a better screen lock than just the swipe thing. Hope you don’t mind the changes, I just followed the lock screen instructions.

Kind regards,

Your bias.

Aaaand... he knew. You smiled thinking about him calling himself your bias or using your phone to call his so he could get your number. He was such an idiot... You adored him.

But what did he mean when he wrote Hope you don’t mind the changes?

When you tapped the home button you finally understood. Despite you looked crazy laughing out loud alone in the elevator you just had to. He had changed your wallpaper. And you loved it.