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ladylokilaufeyson5 · 2 years

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Together Forever - Pietro Maximoff x Reader

Summary: Y/n can see dead people

Warnings: death and sacrifice, some swearing

Words: 2.3K

A/N: canon is whatever i want, fuck the timeline, enjoy!

You stared at the mission report on the coffee table, twirling your pen idly around in your fingers. It was a report on your latest mission, one you went on with Steve and Natasha, both of which were in the lounge room with you, along with the other Avengers. Wanda and Vision were talking together, and Sam was having a discussion with Bruce while Tony tinkered away at something.

Wanda, Pietro, and Vision had been on the team for quite a few months now. Wanda and Vision were friendly with the entire team now, however they mostly spoke to each other and you. Pietro, on the other hand, pestered you and only you day and night. You didn’t mind, as you’d been in love with the speedster for quite a few years now. You’d been at Hydra with him and formed a close bond, one that you hoped one day could turn into something romantic. You were able to form bonds with the Avengers as well, but no one else seemed to talk to Pietro.

You put the pen to paper and began to write as something zoomed past you. You looked up to see Pietro leaning against the wall, looking at you with a big grin on his face. You frowned at him, seeing the mischief in his eyes, before he started running around, causing havoc.

“Dude!” you complained, a smile on your face. “I’m trying to concentrate!”

Steve looked over at you before glancing at Natasha, whose observation was already trained on you.

“Sorry to distract you, Princessa,” he said, his grin growing.

“Shut up, Pietro,” you laughed, rolling your eyes.

Silence filled your ears as everyone around you stopped what they were doing, all turning to look at you.

“Did you – did you just say… Pietro?” Wanda whispered, her eyes going wide and glossy with tears.

“Yeah…” you said, confused. “He’s right there.”

You jerked your head in Pietro’s direction, and everyone pivoted their heads, searching for Pietro. All of their gazes landed around him or on the furniture beside him, but no one seemed to see him.

“No… he’s not,” Natasha said, concern lacing her voice.

“Yes, he is,” you said, letting out a disbelieving laugh. “I’m looking at him right now.”

“No, Y/n,” Pietro said sadly. “They’re right.”

You cocked your head at him, confusion evident on your features.

“What are you talking about?” you asked.

Was this some sort of joke? Were they pranking you right now? You looked at Pietro with a questioning glance, and then back to the Avengers. Tony was the one to speak.

“Pietro died, Y/n,” Tony said gently. “Against Ultron, remember?”

You looked at Wanda, hoping that she’d sense your distress and call off whatever ridiculous prank this was, but she simply cast her gaze downwards, tears threatening to fall down her cheeks. Your entire body went numb, and memories you’d locked away threatened to spill over. You looked at Pietro, who had tears in his eyes.

The dam burst, and flashes of robots appeared in your mind, a jet and bullets. A flash of Pietro, bullet wounds peppering his body. You vaguely remembered screaming as he fell to the ground, feeling your entire world fall apart.

“No,” you whispered, your head turning from Pietro to the rest of the group. “No, no, no!”

“I’m sorry, Princessa,” he choked out.

“If – if he’s – dead,” you said, stumbling over the words, “then why – why can I see him? He looks as real as any of you.”

The group looked at each other warily, before Vision began to speak.

“There is a possibility that you are hallucinating,” he offered. “Hallucinations can occur when one experiences a traumatic event.”

You looked at Pietro again in disbelief. He didn’t look like a hallucination – he looked as real as anything, as real as you.

“You’re not hallucinating, Y/n,” a new voice said. “You’re a witch.”

Everyone turned to face the newcomer. He was a person you’d met very briefly in an Avengers meeting – Doctor Stephen Strange. He was a sorcerer and a master of the mystical arts. He had orange magic and cast spells, including the one that allowed him to enter the tower undetected.

“How did you even get in here?” Tony asked, curiosity plastered across his features.

“That is unimportant,” Strange said, waving a hand. “I’m here to tell Y/n to let Pietro go.”

“Why?” you asked immediately, standing up. “Why can’t he stay?”

You looked at Pietro desperately, searching his face. He was searching your own with the same intensity, but with something that gave you the feeling that he was trying to memorise your face, not find a way out of this.

“Keeping him here will only cause you both more heartache,” Stephen said softly.

“But… I love him,” you said, your voice cracking.

“Please let me go,” Pietro murmured, his face falling.

“I don’t want to,” you whispered, stepping towards him.

You took his hands in your own, looking into his eyes. But he looked down and away, not meeting your eyes.

“Please, let him go,” Stephen repeated.

“I love you, Y/n,” Pietro said, cupping your face in his hand. “But it is time to let me go.”

And suddenly you felt it. The invisible, magic string that connected the two of you – the string that held him here, on Earth, with you.

Please let me go. You closed your eyes, tears falling down your face. Pietro kissed the top of your head, pulling you into a hug. You sniffled, pulling back and placing your hands on his face. You wished you could make this moment longer, stay here stuck in time with Pietro forever, but you knew deep down that you had to let him go.

“Goodbye, Pietro,” you whispered.

He leaned his forehead against yours, and you felt him shimmer and fade away, his soul departing from this world.

And then you collapsed to your knees, grief overwhelming your senses.

—————————

Seven years later

—————————

You looked around at the new planet, purples mixing together with pink to create a somewhat gloomy and yet beautiful glow. It reminded you of the magic you possessed.

You had possessed your purple magic since Hydra had experimented on you, but you had only learned how to use it properly with the help of Doctor Strange. He helped you a lot after telling you that Pietro hadn’t actually been alive, but in your grief you’d accidentally summoned his soul to come and rest with you. Your magic had also created a block in your mind, making it impossible for you to access the memories of his death. After some time, you’d been able to remove that block, and now, seven years later, his death haunted your dreams much less than they used to.

“Ready?” Natasha asked from beside you.

Her voice pulled you out of your thoughts, and you nodded determinedly. You were here to retrieve an Infinity Stone – the Soul Stone to be precise. You were going to bring it back to the rest of the Avengers in order to bring everyone back from the dust.

You, Natasha, and Clint made your way to what looked to be some sort of mountain. You climbed it together, helping each other up here and there.

“I bet the racoon didn’t have to climb a mountain,” Natasha complained.

“Y’know, I don’t think he’s technically a racoon,” Clint corrected.

“He eats garbage. He’s a racoon,” you said.

Natasha smiled slightly and Clint rolled his eyes.

“Welcome,” an unfamiliar voice said.

The three of you immediately got into defensive positions, Natasha pulling out a gun, Clint pulling out his sword, and you wreathing your hands in your purple magic. A cloaked figure floated towards you, their tattered, black robes flowing in the wind, and ending in dark smoke.

“I assure you, you have nothing to fear from me,” the figure said, their voice echoing strangely.

“Creepy,” Clint muttered.

“Natasha, daughter of Ivan,” the figure greeted. “Clint, son of Edith. Y/n, daughter of (your/father).”

“Creepier,” Clint muttered again.

“Who the hell are you?” you growled, your magic growing brighter.

“You can consider me a guide,” the figure said, “to you, and to all who seek the Soul Stone.”

“Oh good,” Natasha said sarcastically. “You tell us where it is and we’ll be on our way.”

The figure removed their hood, and you froze as you saw a face you’d only seen in history textbooks. The Red Skull.

“Oh, liebchen, if only it were that easy,” he said.

You looked at him curiously, as did the other two, but you followed him to the top of the mountain, where a semicircle was carved into the side of it. All three of you peered over the edge and into the long, long drop.

“What you seek is in front of you,” Red Skull said. “As is what you fear.”

“The Stone is down there?” Natasha asked.

“For one of you,” Red Skull confirmed. “For the other... The Stone demands a sacrifice. In order to take it, you must leave behind that which you love. A soul for a soul.”

The three of you looked at each other in slight alarm. The Red Skull stood waiting, so you gestured for the other two to move a bit away, so that you all might be able to discuss what to do.

“Maybe he’s full of shit,” Clint said hopefully. “Maybe he has it, tucked away in those creepy robes of his.”

“I don’t think so,” Y/n murmured. “I – I could feel the other stones, back when… when…”

Memories of the battle in Wakanda flooded your mind, memories of those who had dusted creeping back. You pushed them away.

“I agree with Y/n,” Natasha commented. “Thanos left here without his daughter, and with the stone. You think that’s a coincidence?”

You looked over the edge and a sense of clarity washed over you. You knew what had to be done.

“Whatever it takes,” you murmured.

“If we don’t get the Stone, then billions of people are going to stay dead,” Natasha said quietly.

You looked back at the two Avengers, the two people who were a part of your family. Two of the people who had become dear to you, become your home. You grabbed both of their hands in yours and smiled weakly at them.

“Save the world for me, okay?” you whispered.

They both looked at you, shock and fear on their faces.

“You’re not the one who’s doing this, Y/n,” Clint said.

“You have a wife and kids, Clint!” you exclaimed. “And Natasha, you have a sister, and parents! I have no one! It only makes sense for it to be me!”

“We’re not going to let you die,” Natasha snapped.

You looked at Clint and Natasha, the two people who had become so dear to you, and you readied your magic.

“You don’t have a choice,” you said firmly.

You pushed them both back with your power, causing them to fall over. For good measure, you used your magic to hold them down, purple wisps running over their bodies.

“I’m sorry,” you choked out. “I love you guys.”

You turned and ran to the edge, ignoring the burning in your heart. You were afraid to die, but you weren’t afraid to keep your family alive, to make this sacrifice. You heard them call your name over and over, pain evident in their voices, but you pushed yourself forwards, leaping from the edge of the cliff.

As you fell, memories filled your mind. Memories of your friends, your family, those you hoped your sacrifice could bring back. But even in this moment, as you fell to your death, you thought of Pietro, and how much you missed him. And that you were glad that he was dead, so that he wouldn’t have to feel the pain of you leaving him.

Your body collided with the ground, and you felt an unbearable amount of pain for a split second before everything went dark.

Light suddenly flooded your senses, and you stood on the edge of a cliff, this one much different from the one you’d previously jumped off of. It looked over a beautiful valley, green hills rolling in the distance, skies as blue as you’d ever seen them.

Where am I? You thought to yourself. Why don’t I feel dead?

“Princessa?”

The voice came from behind you and you froze as you recognised it. Your breaths came out quicker and tears began to well in your eyes as you turned around to face the owner of the voice.

Pietro looked only slightly older than when you’d seen him last. His silver-blond hair was windblown, likely from running, and his eyes were still the stormy blue you’d previously spent hours looking into.

“Pietro,” you sobbed, running and flinging yourself at him.

He caught you in his arms and hugged you tightly. You did the same, promising yourself to never let go, no matter how long you lived. But were you alive? What was even happening? Was this some sort of dream? You’d had dreams like this before, Pietro coming back, or never even really dying, but this seemed so much more real than a dream.

Pietro pulled away slightly, just enough to see your face.

“What are you doing here?” he breathed, his eyes searching your face.

“Where – where is here?” you asked hesitantly, looking around.

You’d been too busy with the sight of Pietro to take in the golden palace behind you. It stood hundreds of feet tall and glistened in the sunlight.

“This is Valhalla,” Pietro revealed.

You looked around in awe, seeing the birds flying and chirping. You could distantly hear the clash of steel on steel, and the sound of laughter.

“You died a brave death to get here,” Pietro told you quietly. “And now we can be together forever.”

You looked at Pietro, the love you lost, only to be found again in death. You smiled at him and cupped his face, tears lining your eyes.

“That sounds nice,” you whispered.

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leoleolovesdc · 4 months

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If I got the final say on Batman movies we’d have a whole film about Stephanie Brown and Bruce Wayne as the Dynamic Duo

Imagine this: Batman is already a stabilished hero, he has been doing his thing for some years now, probably never had a Robin (at best a recently-turned-Nightwing Dick Grayson who won’t appear during the story) and during a patrol night spying on the Cluemaster’s crew he finds this one kid in between 12-15 years old with a cheap domino mask and a purple cape with a hood in the same task as himself (though way more sloppily). He tries to scold her home but she claims to be a hero too and says that she’s here to spoil Cluemaster’s plans. Bruce insists that it’s not safe and she should go home, but she is persistent and doesn’t back down until he threatens to take her to the cops. She reluctantly agrees to show him the way to her house. They both walk together, the kid anxiously gripping on his arm as they approach this one dirty-looking house in a poor neighborhood, the girl points to the house and says “This one’s mine” and gingerly goes inside without saying another word.

When Batman is leaving he notices the kid stole his grappling gun. He looks upset, but doesn’t try to get it back.

Because of the little distraction Bruce can’t catch the Cluemaster (or Arthur Brown) that night, but he keeps his eyes open during patrol, always checking in on the last location of the gang’s reunion and looking for hints of where he may be hiding, but in this job he keeps running into the kid again and again, he tries a harsher approach, convinced that he’ll be able to keep her away from danger, but she only seems to get more and more persistent. Despite being worried, at some point Bruce accepts that he won’t be able to stop her from running away from home at night to “patrol” and lets it be with one condition; they meet up at a spot near her house, keep tabs on Cluemaster together and at the end of the night Bruce makes sure she is safe and sound at home and she has to accept without complaints.

Bruce starts quite enjoying the kid’s company and they get increasingly closer. They talk about their mission, but also about random things. She brings a light and mundanity to his night shift that he never thought he’d have. She eventually agrees to tell him her name, Stephanie. She gives no last names, though. Says she’ll only reveal her secret identity when he reveals his. He laughs.

Their talks on Steph’s way home become the bast part of Bruce’s day, they discuss everything and nothing, sometimes even stopping to get food and just hang out at rooftops after patrol. Occasionally she’ll manage to steal some of his batarangs and other gadgets, he notices but never complains, letting her have this small sense of victory.

But with all the small hints Bruce starts to wonder why is this girl so obsessed with getting the Cluemaster. He questions her about it. She gets very angry, says that scum like him “deserves to die”, Batman tries to lecture her about it, saying that no one deserves to die and this type of thought is what leads people to acting like Arthur Brown, she shouts at him; “Don’t ever compare me to that man!”. The walk back to the house that night is silent.

Bruce does his homework back on the batcave, having had enough with Stephanie keeping secrets, he finds out that Arthur is her father. He tries to talk to her about it but she shuts him down, they keep having silent patrols for the next week or so, when all this laying-low type of work finally leads to a proper opportunity for an “attack”, knowing this, Batman meets up with Stephanie and tells her that she won’t be coming tonight, says this is a dangerous situation and that she should just stay home and wait for him on the next night. Steph tries to discuss, but he says it’s for her own safety and doesn’t let her have a word on the matter.

Without Bruce’s blessing, Steph goes to Cluemaster’s place by herself. There she finds Bruce in a hard fight, he is outmanned by atleast five people, she is convinced he can’t take it and jumps in through a window to help. Stephanie knocks man out in her land, saving Bruce's ass from getting stabbed on the back. They both finish the fight together, when everyone is knocked out or can't get on their feet anymore, Stephanie jumps on Arthur's throat with a chain, she starts choking him with it, and too tired to fight it, he is about to die. Bruce convinces her not to do it, and she reluctantly agrees.

Batman and Steph take the men to the police, earning some strange looks from Gordon and other cops, who end deciding on not question it. Bruce invites Steph to go on a walk with him. They go around the city, discussing everything that happened, he says that murdering is not worth it. She disagrees. He says that it won't bring her any satisfaction. She stays silent. He asks if she really wants this life for herself. Not because of her father, revenge or as a game, if she actually wants to help. She says that this is all she's ever wanted. He shakes her hand.

"What's your name?"

She hesitates for a moment: "Spoiler"

"Mine is Bruce", he answers with a smile before taking his cowl off. Steph stares at him, slightly taken a back. "Batman and Spoiler, huh? I like the sound of that", he says, giving Stephanie a pat on the shoulder.

This is pretty rough and i didnt rlly re read the whole thing to check do if its incoherent, im sorry, its late, is js spent like a solid hour making this on a ipad and my brain has melted

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justrandomfanfictionskh · 1 year

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A Blue Bird and A Black Cat pt2

Selina decides that Marinette would be better as the Cat than Adrien. Five years, later Dick is very confused about this Lady Noire

ao3 previous

Five years after the defeat of Hawkmoth...

Marinette took a deep breath looked up at the looming Gotham Museum of History from her chosen alleyway. It was a beautiful building in the daylight, and she loved sketching it. But under the light polluted Gotham smog filled sky, it was a black silhouette of edges and void. Her heart was racing in nervous anticipation, as she waited for the patrol car to slowly move past. As she waited she checked her compass again. It pointed directly at the museum, with such perfect stillness that the arrow might as well have been glued down. There was a miraculous in there, waiting for her. She was going to steal it and then crash a party. She smiled as she imagined her mentor's face upon their reunion. But first things first, she needed to focus on...liberating the ancient and powerful artifact that was technically hers.

She closed her eyes, and found her Lady Noire persona. Lady Noire was calm and confident, because nothing effected her. Words, danger, laws they tried to drown her, but all they ever did was wash off her shoulders. She laughed as she jumped from buildings. She smiled as the cops chased her. She snickered when she got away without anyone being the wiser. She was a shadow in the night that reveled in the chaos she left in her wake.

"You ready cupcake?" Plagg said with a mischievous grin, and an eager light in his eyes.

Lady Noire opened her eyes. A predatory smile flickered of her face as she looked over at her prey. She could feel the chaos energy rising within her, calling her to act, to run, to jump, to laugh. Chaos was not bound, and neither was she. She was as light as a feather, and ready to fly. "Hell yeah," she said, "Plagg! Claws Out!"

Nightwing lay on his back watching the sky, twirling his escrima sticks lazily as the warm Gotham breeze ruffled his hair. He was board. Usually his nights were a lot more active than this. But there was a new exhibit, which meant someone was going to try and steal something. Now usually smart money would be on Catwoman making an appearance, even though there were no cat pieces in this collection. However, Selina was with Robin tonight, attempting some mother and son bonding before the engagement party tomorrow. Nightwing was glad that that was going so well. Baby Bird had really come a long way. But Catwoman's shift from chaotic neutral to chaotic good didn't mean that no one would show up. Afterall the signature piece, a vambrace that had apparently been owned by Kublai Khan, was decidedly bird themed, which meant Penguin. So that meant someone had to sit up on the Museum roof all night and make sure nobody tried anything. And by somebody, they meant Nightwing. After all, he was the only one who wouldn't pitch a fit and leave halfway through the night (Jason, and Damian), or fall asleep from caffeine deprivation (Tim).

Although, he couldn't really complain, it was a nice night for a stakeout. If the city wasn't so bright, he might see stars, but that would require the clouds to disappear. But the breeze was nice, and at least it wasn't raining. Still he was so bored. Nightwing groaned and jumped up. He decided to walk on his hands for a bit, to get the blood pumping. He then did a couple of front flips followed by back flips, to keep his body awake. But that didn't change the soothing Gotham ambience of car horns, police sirens, and the distant peels of gunfire that threatened to put him to sleep. Jason's gang must be fighting Black Mask again, Nightwing thought absently. He didn't approve of his brother's ways, but he would never condemn them the way Bruce did. After all, he himself had killed the Joker. Of course B had...

Nightwing's thoughts were interrupted by a shadow's movement beyond the museum's skylight. He crouched down into the shadow of one of the eaves, watching the building below him cautiously. There were about ten displays in the middle of the floor, each surrounded by a field of intercrossing lasers. It was the light of the lasers that allowed Nightwing to see the signature piece surrounded by equally valuable artifacts. A gold vambrace, with a hawk embossed in the metal. Any one of those pieces would be worth millions of dollars to the right collector. But none of these things were what had caught Nightwing's attention, but the shadow wasn't there any more. Slowly, he pulled out his binoculars and zoomed in. He sighed. Nothing seemed amiss...except. He zoomed in closer. The motion sensors were disabled. And the cameras were off. That wasn't right. Where were the guards? This couldn't be Penguin. He wouldn't cut the security cameras. He liked making a spectacle. He'd crash into the museum on a tank if he could. So who had...

Nightwing froze. A shadow was moving again, silent and slow towards the lasers. Could it be the Shade, he thought, no it's too small...maybe-- Nightwing gasped as the laser light illuminated enough of the figure to see them. He blinked and looked again, zooming in his binoculars as much as he could. Confused he shook his head and pressed his coms. He flinched as Batman and Red Hood yelled at each other through the comms. They were saying something about a warehouse...Nightwing shook his head, that could wait, right now he had a very pressing problem on his mind. So he interrupted the argument with a firm, "Hey! Does anyone have a lock on Catwoman?"

The voices cut off in confusion as Catwoman purred, "Robin and I are just finishing up on 5th."

"Some filthy degenerates were trying to take advantage of some young girls," the curt and formal Rodin confirmed. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, umm," Nightwing said not daring to take his eyes off of the figure. "In that case...I'm just going to say it...Catwoman, since when did you have a clone?" Confused and startled yelling berated him through the comm, but he left all of their questions unanswered. He really didn't know how else to describe what he was seeing. The figure who had melted from the shadows was a perfect carbon copy of Selina, except younger and perhaps with a more stylish costume. She had the same black leather cat suite, mask, and cat ears. However, this new Catwoman (Cat Girl?) had accented her suite with bright green piping, and she had forgone the cowl. Instead, her ebony black hair fell to a braid that was almost to her ankles, and she leaned casually against a silver bow staff as she studied the complex laser grid.

"There's no way she's going to get through those, with that braid," he vaguely thought, before once again he was startled out of his thoughts by what was actually happening in front of him. The woman had collapsed her staff, and was now flipping through the lasers with the elegant, and graceful precision of an Olympic gymnast. Nightwing's breath caught as he watched, her bend, flex, and spin through the lasers in an act, that Nightwing could only describe as pure artistry. He watched as her long braid twisted around her like a ribbon flicking through the laser lazily without ever touching them. He was so captivated by her performance that he almost didn't register what her dance was leading her to. But then she stopped, as she flipped into a catlike crouch in front of the signature piece.

Nightwing stiffened as he watched Catwoman 2 flick our her claws. As she circled the glass display, with the golden vambrace glistening inside, he waited. It would be so easy to jump through the sky light, tripping the alarms, and stopping her right then and there. But a strange fascination, and curiosity over took him. He wanted to see how she got out of this. Would he get to see an encore of her laser performance, or did she have another way out? And how was she going to bypass the pressure plate in the display. His questions were answered when she scratched holes in the glass, in what had to be a Selina signature move. She then took some cord from her belt and secured the pressure plate in place. Then delicately, she removed the Falcon Vambrace, and put something else in its place. Nightwing zoomed in with his binoculars and had to choke back a laugh. It was a black cat plushie, with it's tongue sticking out. The plushie must have been weighted, because when she removed the cords, the alarms did not go off.

Nightwing finally registered what his family was shouting in his ear, as Cat Woman 2 examined the vambrace. He cut them off by whispering harshly, "Yeah I said Catwoman clone, fake ears and all! She just snagged the Falcon Vambrace. I don't know how she plans to get out with it though...oh wait, never mind."

Nightwing watched in fascination, as the woman pulled out her staff again and braced it on the ground. Then silently, and gracefully she rose into the sky as her staff extended to an impossible height. Was it magic?, he thought, that would explain the hair. As the woman began fiddling with the skylight's hatch, a security guard passed by the room. He barely registered the brand new silver pole in the middle of the room. When he did turn around with a start, Catwoman 2 was already crouched on the glass, her staff collapsed to a baton size beside her. She tilted her head as the security guard, shook his head and carried on his way. When she did Nightwing had to stifle a gasp. Her eyes were green, completely green. They had no whites, and the pupils were slitted just like a real cats. Now that's dedication, he thought. And when he saw the woman smirk gleefully at the oblivious security, Nightwing could only stare in wonder at how much she was like Selina.

As she rose, Nightwing knew it was time to move. He just needed to make the perfect quip to gain her attention. But as she stood illuminated by the contrasting colors of the moon and Gotham, his mind went blank. Everything he thought of just sounded corny and stupid in his head. But he needed to stop her, or at least stall her for a while. So as she admired the way the gold bracelet adorned her black sleeved arm, Nightwing decided to bite the bullet, as he turned off his comms. He had a feeling that he needed to focus for this, as he said, "You know if you have a magic staff that can extend to the ceiling, you really didn't have to do the laser dance."

The woman spun faster than Nightwing thought possible. Her pupils were slitted, and her staff was extended. However, when she perceived him, she did something unexpected. She seemed to relax, and she straightened out of her defensive posture, with a sly smile playing on her lips. "Perhaps," she said in a light and playful tone, "But then that wouldn't have been nearly as much fun!"

God! It's scary how much she's like Selina! Nightwing thought. Or at least, she was almost exactly like the old Selina. The one he had met, when he was just starting out as Robin. The one who stole on a whim, and escaped with a wink and a smile. He had never understood why Bruce never caught her. Sometimes, it was like he didn't even try. Now...he had a feeling that if she kept smiling at him like that, and with that mischievous sparkle in her eye, he would start to understand. Immediately he became serious. The last thing he wanted was to be like Bruce. He didn't think he could take the emotional constipation, or the mocking of his siblings.

"I don't think that belongs to you," he said glancing at the vambrace.

"Oh?" the woman said almost innocently, "Strange. Then who does it belong to?"

"The Museum," Nightwing said slowly.

"Hmm," she hummed as she moved her head lazily from side to side, "No, that doesn't sound right. This most definitely belongs to me. After all, I am wearing it!"

"Doesn't change the facts Miss. So why don't you hand it over, before I'm forced to hit a Lady."

The woman threw her head back and laughed, "Sorry Blue Bird, but I can't do that. You see this lovely piece really does belong to me. And it would truly be a crime to just leave it there collecting dust. Besides you couldn't hit me even if you tried!"

Nightwing smirked, "We'll see about that. By the way, stealing someone else's shtick, not smart. Especially Catwoman's, she's very protective of her image."

The woman's smile deepened as she said, "Oh I wouldn't worry about Catwoman. She and I have an...understanding. And if you don't believe me, you can always ask her once I'm gone. Tell her Lady Noire says high. I'm sure she'll fill you in."

"You can tell her your self," Nightwing said, and he threw his escrima stick at her. She dodged both the throw and the rebound as she charged him. Nightwing caught his stick in time to block her staff, and the dance began. She swung her staff, he blocked. He swiped his sticks she dodged. Their movements were a fluid furry of kicks, jabs, and flips. and Nightwing found that their styles were eerily similar as they both blended skilled and perfected gymnastics with graceful and fluid martial arts. They both dodged more than they blocked, and each attack flowed directly into the next without hesitation or difficulty. Nightwing wanted to smile at the ease at which the moved together, predicting the others movements and responding with accuracy. But then he saw the way she was grinning at him, and he scowled. She was playing with him! This was a game to her, and for some reason he found that very annoying.

Well, he thought, Two can play at that game! And he shifted his movements so that when her staff came round again, he dropped his escrima stick and caught her arms under his. He elecrified his second stack and swung it at her side. It was block by...her hair! He started, and she smirked as she collapsed her staff, and used both of her feet to push off him like a spring board. The force of her kick, made him hiss and release her arms. He stumbled back, as she did a back handspring. He stood clutching his side scowling, and she stood ginning like the cat that ate the canary. She extended her staff behind her and her braid flicked like a tail.

Of course, he thought, She's magic. The staff's magic, and her hair is magic. I bet her eyes are magic too. He met her strange green eyes, and her smile widened. And just as she opened her mouth (probably to say something clever), Nightwing straightened and smirked. He held up the vambrace with two fingers, and he let his smirk deepen as he watched the flurry of emotions pass over her face, as she looked between him and her now bare wrist. Her gaze narrowed as he tucked the artifact into his belt. And before he could say anything clever, she attacked again.

They fell into the same easy, violent dance as they played around each other. He swung, she dodged. She kicked, he flipped. He hit, she diverted. She swiped, and he blocked. Only now there was a new pattern to their movements. Lady Noire had shortened her staff, so that she was holding an escrima stick, and with her now free hand, every other attack was accompanied, by her reaching for his belt. He fended off her empty hand, with his empty hand, spinning her around into a stone wall, but she flipped out of his grip at the last moment. Their movements were a lot closer now as a result, but Nightwing did not have time to think about that as she was getting faster and bolder. The claws on her empty hand was out, and while she still smirked and grinned, it was clear she was no longer playing. He had taken something that she had deemed hers, and now she was going to get it.

Nightwing couldn't keep this up forever, and he was certain, that Lady Noire had more than magic hair on her side, and he did not want to find out what. So he led their dance back towards the skylight and the repeating eaves. He waited, until he had the right angle, and then he pressed a button on his controller. His abandoned escrima stick flew into his waiting hand, fully charged and bristling with activity. Lady Noire dodged the flying weapon with another back hand spring, but this time she landed in a crouch. She watched Nightwing from atop the eaves with calculating green eyes that did not seem to blink. Nightwing felt the goosebumps cover his arms, as the mental image of a cat stalking a mouse flickered through his head. Nightwing fell into his most defensive stance, keeping his weapons elecrified. They held the tension in perfect stillness. Nothing moved except for the flicking of Lady Noire's braid. Nightwing loosened his grip on his weapon. Lady Noire extended her staff. He rose his weapon to attack. She coiled her muscles to pounce. He charged, and...

"Kitten!" Catwoman's sudden voice, made Nightwing trip on thin air as he stumbled forward. He turn the trip into a spin, so that he faced Catwoman, Batman, Robin, and Orphan, who were all watching them with varying levels of confusion and curiosity.

However, before Nightwing could say anything, Lady Noire pounced with a squealed, "Lina!" And she jumped into Cat Woman's open arms. The two women laughed and spun as they embraced, leaving the rest of the family staring open mouthed in wonder and confusion.

"What are you doing here?!" Catwoman exclaimed, as she began smoothing Lady Noire's hair, checking for wounds, and generally mother-henning her, (or maybe it was mother catting her?).

"Why I'm here for your wedding of course!" Lady Noire exclaimed. "You didn't think I would miss it did you?!"

"But you never responded! I didn't think you got it, since I didn't know where you were, and--"

"And I was going to surprise you!" Lady Noire interrupted. "At your engagement party!"

"And here I was thinking, you just came to steal the vambrace," Catwoman laughed.

"Well," Lady Noire said with a devious smile, "That too."

The two women laughed, as the Bats exchanged looks. Nightwing shrugged helplessly at Batman's questioning gaze, prompting the Dark Knight interrupt the little reunion by clearing his throat. "I hate to interrupt," he said gruffly, "But Catwoman, care to introduce us?"

"Oh of course!" Catwoman exclaimed, turning he young friend to face the others. "Everyone this is my protégé, Lady Noire! Lady Noire, these are the Bats. You met Nightwing! And that is Orphan, Robin. And this is my fiancé, Batman!"

Lady Noire squealed and pounced. Even Batman's eyes widened in surprise when the small feline wrapped him in a hug that had her hanging off of his neck. He stooped to set her down, and as he did everyone heard her in the worst stage whisper, "If you ever hurt her I will turn you into dust!" And then in a regular voice she said, "I'm so happy for you! You're going to be so happy together!" And then in another stage whisper, "Because if she is not, then they will never find your body."

When Batman pulled back, his expression schooled into a blank stare (which was the closest he ever got to showing alarm), Lady Noire laughed and tumbled away from him, her braid circling around her as it had when she danced through the lasers. When she straightened, she had something in her hand. She eyed it saying, "Ooo, what's this?" She pressed a button, and the Batmobile roared to life in the distance. A wicked grin spread over her face, as Batman began patting his belt, and the others stared at her in alarm.

"Give that back!" Nightwing cried. He lunged to grab the Batmobile key, before the wild thief could get any ideas. But Lady Noire only giggled, she spun around his arm brushing up against his back as they switched places.

"But I like it!" She whined playfully, and Nightwing felt himself growl. He was so confused. One minute, she was laughing and teasing as if this was all a game. The next minute, she's threatening Batman! She just could not get a read on her. Was she an adrenaline junkie like the old Selina, who stole for the thrill of it. Or was she that deadly predator, that he had caught a glimpse of in the last moments of their fight. The threat might have been just a playful warning, her version of the shovel talk, but there was an edge to her voice, that made Nightwing think, She could do it. If B hurts Selina, which he won't, she could and would kill him. It was unnerving, and they way she just switched back to teasing and laughing, just made it worse. Which was the real her? Who even was she? What did she want? The questions swirled in his head, giving him a head ache. He just did not know what to do with this strange woman and it was...infuriating.

Lady Noire continue to fiddle with the key, smiling at him deviously. But before he could lunge at her, Catwoman said coolly, "Kitten, play nice." Lady Noire fake pouted and then tossed the key to Nightwing before returning to her mentor. "So," Catwoman continued as if nothing had happened, "How long are you here for?"

"At least until your wedding," Lady Noire declared. "I wouldn't miss it for the world. But don't worry about me! I'm staying with Harls and Ives. And I'm already settled there, so no trying to guilt me into staying with you."

"Oh! But Kitten!" Catwoman whined, "I like worrying about you! Why won't you let me take care of you?"

Lady Noire laughed as she hugged her mentor, "You have taken more than enough care of me, Lina! I owe you everything, so please let me take care of you these next few weeks!" Catwoman hummed her assent as she held the young woman close. The Bats exchanged more looks of confusion and concern. But before any of them could interrupt, Catwoman jerked up and exclaimed,

"Oh! You were in the museum tonight! How was it? Did you find what you were looking for?"

Lady Noire smiled. "Actually, yes! Tell me what do you think? I might just wear it to the wedding." She held up her wrist, and the moonlight glinted off the gold vambrace on her arm.

Nightwing sputtered and stuttered, as he checked his belt. When had she taken that?! He wondered. He looked up, and she was smirking at him again. He scowled. and said allowed, "That doesn't belong to you!"

"Actually," Lady Noire said slowly. "I kind of does."

"It's true!" Catwoman declared, examining the vambrace. "This artifact does belong to her."

Nightwing opened his mouth, but it was Batman who said in a much calmer tone. "If that is true, then there are other, more legal, way to recover your property."

Lady Noire smiled, "That may be so, but the museums would never give them up. Besides I don't like all that legal, paper work stuff. It's far to boring! It's much easier to...liberate them. and much more fun!"

"Still," Batman said gruffly, "We can not just let you walk away with a priceless artifact without proof."

"Of course you can!" Lady Noire declared cheerfully. "It's just a matter of you looking over there!" She pointed away towards Gotham with the most fake innocent smile Nightwing thought he had ever seen. Batman seemed to share in his son's annoyance, because he refused to follow her instructions, and instead chose to inflict her with the infamous Batglare. "No really," Lady Noire said again. "You should really look over their. Something is coming!"

"She's right love," Catwoman said lowering her binoculars. She handed them to B who looked briefly.

'Penguin," Batman sighed, already tried, even though he had barely done anything that night. Still he pushed on, giving out orders quickly and efficiently until he turned back to address Lady Noire, and...she was gone.

"Where did she go?!" Nightwing demanded.

"Huh?" Catwoman said with mock innocence, "Oh! Don't worry, Nightwing, you'll see her tomorrow. If I know my protégé, she has plans to crash the party. Oh! I am so glad she's here. I've missed her so much!"

She then leapt off the roof to go and chase Penguin, leaving the rest of the family, to stew and follow at their own leisure. Nightwing was the last to follow, and he barely paid attention to the fight he was currently in. Not that anyone could blame him. After fighting with Lady Noire, everyone else just seemed like an amateur. He cursed himself thinking, "Stop that! If your not carful you'll turn into Bruce!"

Meanwhile on the far side of Gotham, a girl struggled, fought, and screamed as she was dragged someplace no one would "interrupt" them. Soon the bag was removed from her head, and the girl began speaking quickly and loudly. "You have to let me go! Please! I didn't do anything wrong! I---"

"Peace Miss. Rossi," the Judge of Owls said cutting her off. "Your powers do not work here, so do not attempt them, unless you wish to feel the wrath of the Talons." Lila Rossi looked back and forth between the council in front of her and the Talons behind.

"What do you want?" she asked meekly.

The Judge smiled, though she would not see it under his white owl mask. If he did not know any better he might have believed her. But he did know better, and after taking some...precautions, Lila Rossi had no power over him at the very least. Still he answered her question simply and professionally. "You come highly recommended, Miss. Rossi. It is not easy to impress the likes of Vandal Savage and Lex Luthor. For that reason, we wish to hire you."

Any semblance of the weak, helpless girl was gone in an instant. Instead there was a composed, professional, and hungry young woman waiting calmly, as one of the Talons, began untying her. The Judge could not help but respect the young woman in front of him. Once the woman's binds were gone, she straightened in her chair, and looked them over with a calculating look. She crossed her legs and then sat as if preparing for a work interview. The Judge could respect that as well. And he put a little of that into his voice, as he said, "We the Court of Owls, have many enemies, and competitors. Our goals are simple, but these weak minded individuals continue to hinder our process. We have curated a list, of our most obstinate obstacles. We do not want anything too drastic, just that you use your unique persuasion, to nudge them towards our understanding. Do you accept?"

A mindless thrall stepped forward with a tablet, presenting it to the woman. She stared at him and the tablet without touching it, and turned back to the Judge. "You are of course aware of my contract? Bound in blood and magic. Unbreakable. Swears you won't kill me if I fail."

"Yes," the Judge said. "We have seen the copy of Mr. Luthor's contract. And we find your terms more than agreeable. You will be payed according to how many of those names you will be able to 'persuade.' And should you fail, no harm will come of you by our hands. "

Lila nodded. "In that case I must insist you sign, before I take your list. There are limits to my abilities, and I would rather we have our expectations clear before we continue," she said reaching into her bag once it was brought to her. She pulled out a thick stack of what appeared to be paper, but on closer inspection, was revealed to be very thin leather.

The Judge was the first to sign his name, and the rest of the court followed suit. They needed this girl. When it was done, Lila smiled a deadly predatory smile and took the tablet. She scanned the names casually. However as she kept going, her eye brow raised higher and higher into her bangs. Finally she said, “With a list like this, you could take over all of Gotham, maybe even the world.”

The Judge’s eyes met Lila’s. And though she could not see through his mask, their expressions were a perfect mirror of each other as the Judge said, “Let’s just start with Gotham.

Tag list (let me know if you want to be added)

@tails-and-scales @the-ghost-trader @kanamexzeroyaoifangirl @the-dumber-scaramouche @yoonjae20 @robyalix @seraphichana @iglowinggemma28 @taewinterbear95 @heretopasstimebi @littleblue5mcdork @quotesandanime @komatsuna-yuki @atractivemyfoot @death’ssilentapproach-blog @vel-vee @vixen-uchiha @lady-bee-fechin

#mlb x dc #dc x mlb #maribat #marinette dupen chang #dickinette #dick grayson #batfam #batfamily #fanfic #fanfiction #miraculous ladybug #nightwing #ladynoir #adrien salt #lila salt #class salt #since when did selina have a clone?#ptsd problems

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thomase1 · 1 year

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Two broken make a whole; chapter 3

Series Masterlist Full Masterlist

Its about food again. So get yourself a snack! 🫣

Did I write this while cooking? Yes. Did I burn my onions and garlic? Maybe.

Also, is this Y/n a little more like me than I'd hoped? Who knows. 👀

Warnings: angst, others heartbreak. Kind of boring chapter but the plot develops slowly.

Wordcount: ~2500

Deviders by @harlequin-hangout

Finally, that's over.

After a nearly two week long mission of you being on the move constantly, trying to track down a freaky new organization threatening havoc on all of humankind, you finally come back home. You are exhausted to say the least.

Sleep has been scarce. If you were lucky you got 4 hours before you had to proceed with your pursuit. And when you had the luck to sleep, you had to do so in your car seat since taking a room wasn't an option, being on the move constantly. You also only ate junk food, mostly snacks. Sometimes you'd stop at a random drive through.

You missed the others incredibly, but not as much as your bed and a full 8 hours of sleep.

On your way home you had made your plans for the next day. Greeting everybody, making a nice hearty homemade meal and retreating to your room, watching some movies or just sleeping. Throwing yourself in your sweat pants, an oversized shirt, your fuzzy robe and fuzzy socks. Snuggling into your bed. That is the plan and you won't let anybody or anything interrupt.

Finally you reach the living quarters in the Tower.

They know you are coming back today, since you told Jarvis to announce it, which gave everybody a notification. The elevator opens and you walk in the common room, plopping down your heavy duffle bag. "I'm home.", you mumble quietly, more to yourself. Nobody is there, it makes you kind of sad, not gonna lie.

It's a call from reality, that even though you tell everybody, including yourself you're fine, you are in fact lonely.

And this moment symbolizes it, coming back from a long mission and nobody is there to greet you.

But oh well, you are with the Avengers and something always requires your attention, can't be mad at them. "Jarvis, where is everybody?", you ask the AI. "Doctor Banner is working in his laboratory. Agent Barton is home with his family. Mister Laufeyson is in his living quarters. Mister Odinson, Captain Rogers and Agent Romanoff are out on a mission. They should come back shortly. Mister Stark is in a conference. Do you have any other questions?" It takes you a second to connect all these infos.

"No, that was it, thank you."

You knew of the mission Thor, Steve and Nat are at right now since it is connected to your undercover observation. Its saturday so it was pretty expectable for Clint to be home if he is free. Tony being in a conference is the usual, he is doing more press and bureaucracy than actual missions lately. Bruce working is to be expected as well as Loki being in his room.

Oh well.

You shrug and decide to pursue your plan for the day, walking into the kitchen. You open the fridge and observe which ingredients are available, deciding on a simple chicken noodle soup, figuring that is the definition of a hardy comfort food. You chop all the veggies and boil the water on the side. It doesn't take long until you have all the ingredients in the pot and the noodles are cooking.

While it simmers you jump onto the counter and scroll your phone. The others are finished with their mission, Nat texted you. Cap won't come to the tower today, but Thor and Nat will be back in about two hours. That makes you really happy since you are pretty close to them. Thor loves your cooking, it just feels nice, being able to cook for the others, like for a family.

Plus he eats a lot and the others aren't complaining about food either, which means there is never the danger of you making too much.

And Nat, well, she is your mentor, close friend and like an older sister all at once. Sadly she isn't home that often. After she and Bruce broke up, they both started to avoid gatherings. It's a shame, they were really cute together but it was just not meant to be.

Nat goes for rides on her bike every day, goes on hikes, joggs in the park, sometimes even goes camping... Just anything outside and away from the tower, from Bruce.

'You shouldn't run away from your problems Y/n, I tried it and I must report, they are always faster than you.', she used to tell you when you first arrived. But it seems she cannot take her own advice.

You text a bit with her, asking if it all went well. Since their mission is connected to yours, you are pretty interested in it all. The group is called 'Serpent', apparently a branch from Hydra. She tells you it went pretty well but that they are exhausted, well at least she is. The other two, being a super soldier and a god, could have kept going.

Sometimes it's really unfair to be surrounded by so many super humans, mutants and even gods. You just cannot keep up with them. Clint, Nat and you are always the ones that wind up in the medwing. If the others do, you know it must have been bad.

After some time you check up on the food and decide it's ready.

Getting yourself a plate you sit down at the kitchen island. You humm tasting your creation, just how you wanted it. So you sit there with your phone watching some funny videos and eat. Well, after some time you fall down a rabbit hole and totally forget eating. Damn the internet being so addictive.

You feel somebody walking past you and nearly fall off the bar stool.

"I smelled food.", Loki states flatly as he watches you in amusement, trying to steady yourself again. "Yea, I made some chicken noodle soup, have some if you want.", you explain, pausing the video, looking back at him. He plates himself some and sits down next to you at the island.

With your heart thundering against your chest, you look over to him. You notice small details about him you haven't discovered just yet. Like how silky his hair looks from up close and how each hair is curled in its own way. Or the small pinpoint scars around his lips. You are really curious about them, but decide not to ask such a question the first time you see him out his room.

He tries the first spoon full a little wary, then his eyes jump down to look at his bowl. He takes a second spoonful and the corner of his lips twitch up ever so slightly. You smirk to yourself knowing he likes it, even if he won't admit it, seeing his reaction is enough to be proud of yourself.

Continuing to eat you think about the last few weeks; you rarely ever saw Loki eat. Is he too proud or did nobody tell him there won't be people cooking for him? "I bet it isn't easy to live without maids and staff all of a sudden?"

He scowls at you, slowly laying down his spoon.

You sigh, "I didn't mean it like that.".

Why must you always mess up at moments like these? You really just wanted to have a conversation with him, you are teammates after all, you should at least be able to talk to another.

Your appetite vanishes. You get up and clean your bowl, sensing his eyes glaring daggers at your back. Feeling a need to flee this situation, you decide to bring Bruce a bowl of soup. Two birds with one stone.

You take a bowl full and grab your phone from the counter, seeing Loki give you a suspicious side eye. "I'm sorry. I didn't think that question through.", you mumble, leaving the room.

Very mature, you think to yourself, fleeing like a coward.

Out of there, you take a deep breath. Get a grip Y/n.

After the fiasco with Loki you went to Bruce and brought him the soup. He was so lost in his own thoughts that he didn't even hear Jarvis announce to you entering the lab. Only when you slid the bowl into his line of vision did he snap out of his own mind.

"Oh god, thank you Y/n. You shouldn't have, that's too nice of you.", Bruce looks at you with those innocent deer eyes of his. You almost pull a pout at how adorable he is.

"Please... did you even eat anything yet?", you ask him sternly. "What time is it?"

You look at your phone, "Quarter to 5.". He hisses, you narrow your eyes, "Bruce?". "Yea I haven't eaten since, well, since yesterday actually.", he stammered. You sigh, "I couldn't say I was surprised. I haven't seen you out of here since the space royalty arrived. I think even a fire wouldn't get you out of here!". He ruffles his hair, closing his eyes, "You're right, it's just... It's been a couple of rough weeks.".

You pat his shoulder in sympathy, pulling a chair for him to sit, "I know, it's been for both of you, but you can't hide in here for all eternity. Now sit down and eat the soup while it's still warm.". He sits down and smiles at the taste, "This is delicious. Thank you, truly. I think I would have starved already if it wasn't for your kind heart.".

"You could do one thing for me then."

"Yes?"

"Live a little. Go walk in the park, take a vacation or get a new hobby. But please, just leave this lab for a while, the whole tower at best."

He pauses and looks at you, smiling sadly, "I will try."

"And for god's sake, sleep. Please. You have whole universes of circles under your eyes.", you snort in gallows humor.

"But I can't. Everytime I do I just dream of her. How it could have been..."

"Bruce I swear on all I've got, I will tell Jar to shut out your power at exactly midnight if I have to. You're a doctor, you know well enough that sleep isn't something you can just not do."

He sighs, "Of course you're right. It's just-"

"No! I know it all sucks a lot right now but you will sleep tonight! No if's or but's!", you order.

"Yes ma'am.", he looks at you like a kid that just got grounded. "Why do I have to act like a mother for so many of earth's mightiest heroes?", you ask yourself out loud, earning a chuckle from Bruce. Well at least he can laugh again.

After some time, Bruce noticed how exhausted he was. Short attention span, how hard it was to have any actual interest in his work and how heavy his limbs feel. He decided to take an Ambien, figuring what helped Tony with his insomnia and nightmares would surely work for him too.

You stayed with him for a while and listened to his struggles and internal battles. Also about work of course.

About an hour later Jarvis announced the return of Thor and Nat which is why Bruce urged you to go meet them. Naturally you asked him to come along but he just isn't quite there yet. Nat probably isn't ready for it either.

Back in the living room, you find a defeated Nat in a puddle on the sofa. Well, almost in a puddle but she definitely looks finished.

Thor however walks around the room, blaring his triumph and raiding the kitchen cabinets.

"You could just eat some soup, you know. I made it this afternoon." He turns around and opens his arms, "Y/n! How are you doing this fine day?" You walk over accepting his embrace, squeaking at how tightly he hugs you.

You talk about your day as they eat some soup when the mishap with Loki comes up. "I just didn't think it through. I shouldn't have asked him that. I said sorry but I don't think he cared for it.", you sigh heavily. Nat shakes her head, "Oh just let him stay mad, he will get over it.". "I don't know the way I fled the scene... It was not very mature.", you remember, ashamed. "Well, he probably didn't thank you for the soup either, did he? Just give him some time, I think you two will get along at some point."

"You must forgive my brother, he has had a hard time. It was never easy for him in new environments, especially not here.", Thor explains. Nat nods in understanding, "Yea, I bet he isn't too stoked about staying with the people he tried to kill and that tried to kill him. I wouldn't trust us either." Thor nods hesitantly, "You're right, but it's not just that. He takes a long time to trust. It lies in past experiences." You knit your brows, "What do you mean by that?"

"I fear I said too much already, it really is not my place to tell. If you want to find out, you must ask him.", he puts down his empty bowl on the table, crossing his arms.

Now you are just more confused, but also twice as intrigued. The only thing left to do is befriend him. One could call that task mission impossible. Getting the god of mischief with godly trust issues to trust you, an ally of his past enemies... It could prove to be a challenge, but you are up for one.

A bit of work talk turned into personal talk. Thor talked about his once again relationship with his beloved Jane. It's a wonder his eyes didn't become heart-shaped.

Nat talked about new additions to her bike and about a beautiful mountain she camped on a few days ago.

And you talked about past pranks the chaos four, Clint, Scott, Sam and you, pulled. Mostly on Tony. It's just too fun to mess with him since he won't punish anybody.

You made the grave mistake to doodle on Caps shield once and you paid the price in 5 am jogging. For two weeks straight, mission or day off, it did not matter. You wont make that mistake again.

Pranks and missions are pretty much the only things you can talk about. There just... isn't anything else to talk about, since you don't have too many friends, outside of work.

You parted around midnight, exhaustion hitting Nat and you like a truck.

The last thing on your mind before falling asleep was;

Loki Laufeyson, I will crack your shell. Even if it takes me a lifetime.

Tags for tbmaw: @fictive-sl0th @vbecker10 @fictional-hooman @mischief2manage @maple-seed @mochie85 @holdmytesseract @theaudacitytowrite @gigglingtigger @marygoddessofmischief @goblingirlsarah @oceandeepthirst @lokisgoodgirl @fallenlostarchives @kalinaselennespeaks @sid-prescottx @assemblingavenger @loki-n-hvitserk @crzyplantladyvibes

Everything: @slytherclaw1227 @their-love @vickie5446 @buttercupcookies-blog @peaches1958

And my wifey @plushcrushdoll :D 💜

#loki laufeyson #loki x y/n #loki x you #loki god of mischief #avenger reader #tbmaw #avenger loki

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maribatz-2k · 1 year

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Day 3: Fun Times

Every summer, Marinette would go to the United States with her maman since she was 11. Her great uncle Alfred had asked for her to visit due to a new addition to the family he lives with. Marinette got to meet everyone in the family as well as the boy who was only a couple months older than her, Damian.

It was Mari's 5th summer visit when Damian decided enough was enough and he wanted nothing to do with her. Dick and Jason tell her it's just a puberty thing. Mari huffed and went to the sofa in the formal living room. Alfred had seen her upset, went to look for a box, then dropped it in the table in front of her scattering photos everywhere.

"What is this uncle?" She asked looking at the photos. The box wasn't a big box, but not was it a shoe box. Inside were loads of photos from Dick's time as a young boy to Marinette's and Damians's 14th birthday. There were so many that had no place to be. After some time looking, Mari decided to make scrape books for each of the boys. Alfred offered to take her out for supplies and off they went.

Returning a couple hours later, Marinette stationed herself in the formal living room creating each book with intricate designs then begins to fill the pages for each boy. Unknowingly, she created each book design to look like their vigilante personas.

When it was time for dinner, Alfred asked Jason to get Marinette from the living room. Laughter was heard as Jason entered, finding Mark almost in tears holding a photo.

"What's wrong pixie?" He asked come over and sitting down behind her. She loves the photo where he can see. He too began to laugh. He remembered that day like it was yesterday. Bruce had decided he needed to be parent of the day because Mari and Jason as they were running around messing with all of Demon Spawns "Toys." Jason kept hiding all the shop items when Mari would run with his art supplies. Mrs. Dupain-Cheng was not happen when she saw Bruce holding Mari in his lap eating ice cream while Jason and Damian sat and watched.

The two didn't arrive to the dining table so Alfred sent Dick to retrieve them. He found them looking at photos and laughing. The two laying into each other almost in another fit of laughs.

"What is going on?" Dick asked scared to walk over. Marinette held up a photo showing another photo of when Damian and Marinette had to stand and take photos together. They were 12 in the photo and Damian was not happy. Dick had to bribe the boy with a zoo day to even get the photo. Marinette held up another photo that made Dick laugh. It was one taken right after they had taken the first photo. Apparently Alfred took it while they were walking away. Damian had Mari's cookies behind his back as Mari had Damian's katana behind hers.

Now three didn't arrive to the table and Alfred just began to fill the plates. This time Damian went to get them. He found all three of them on the floor staring at a photo.

"Dinner is ready. What are you idiots doing on the floor?" Damian demanded.

"Oh hush. We are looking at photos." Jason said as he watches Mari apply then into a book. She was working on one with photos of her and Damian. One that shows them sitting in the other living room with Jason. This was when they were 11. Mari had managed to convince Damian and Jason to play with her. The game wasn't what was expected. Mari was mommy, Damian was daddy, and Jason, he was the baby. It had astonished everyone that the boys were even playing. No one talked about how she did it. But they did play. Damian stood there looking down his ears red.

See, what happened was that Marinette threaten Damian to play. She told him she would tell Bruce he was sneaking out at night again. Though she didn't know he was Robin. When he didn't budge to play she went to Alfred complaining that Damian wouldn't play with her with fake tears. Alfred looked at Damian with a raised eyebrow making him sigh and hold his hand out. With a sniffle and a smile she grabbed it and they went to the living room to play. Then she conned Jason to play too. He had to be the baby. So he did as such, with difficulty, but he did it. Surprisingly, Damian was a good dad to baby Jason, and Mari was just enjoying herself. Alfred had snuck a photo of the cute family curled up sleep on the floor.

Damian tackled Mari for that photo to tear it up. With no vail he didn't get it, but he did mess up her project which earned him a hand to hand combat there In the living room. No one knew, once again Alfred was standing at the door holding his camera taking photos from the moment Damian had walked in to the end of the fight.

"What? Got to keep the memories for the family." Alfred said to himself as he smiled.

@maribatserver

#maribat #mlb x dc #ml x dc #maribat march 2023

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taliaalghulhub · 9 months

Text

Talia Al Ghul in Batman (1940) Issue 257 Written by Dennis O'Neil

The twelve year old king (King Peeble IV) of a kingdom called Swawak visits Hudson university where he's greeted by then robin, Dick Grayson when a group of birds pile onto them. Dick takes the chance to use the birds as cover to change into his Robin costume and finds that the king is being kidnapped and forced into a helicopter.

Robin doesn't get there in time to stop the helicopter but he corners one of the goon who tell him that the birds were arranged by a man named Forster Aptenodytes. Robin returns to Batman who figures out that because of the birds and the fact that Aptenodytes Forster is the scientific name for an Emperor Penguin so The Penguin must the one behind the kidnapping.

We cut to Penguin, the King and a woman in a pink veil. The King tries to touch one of Penguins penguins and is threatened to which the woman in the pink veil defends him. Penguin then revals that his plan is to take the Kings power and rule over Swawak.

Batman has deduced that Penguin must be hiding the King in his own castle because it's the last place that anyone would look for him and Penguin would enjoy that fact because he's a fan of an Edgar Allan Poe story called the "Purloined Letter" which is about something being hidden in plain sight and also because the castle is called "Lu Dlom" which translates to "Roost of Wings" in the countries native language.

While climbing up Batman and Robin make note of an eagles nest with three ropes hanging on the side of the cliff they are climbing up to reach the castle. They get up the cliff Robin makes bad puns and then they go to find Penguin.

Penguin is eating in the dining room, the King complains of being cold and Penguin denies him a blanket and the woman insults Penguin calling him cold blooded.

While this is happening Batman sneaks up on them and realised that the woman is Talia Al Ghul. He threatens Penguin then Robin flying kicks him. Penguin calls in reinforcements and Batman and Robin are both pecked by a penguin who has the poison Curare on it's beak rendering both of them unconcise. Talia runs to Batman so Penguin decides that she'll have the same fate as Batman and Robin.

Penguin has Robin, Batman and Talia tied to the ropes above the eagles nest on the side of the cliff that we saw earlier in the story, this is a traditional method of execution in Swawak. Talia reveals that she was in Swawak to steal the treasure there to break Ra's out of jail and rebuild his organization.

The parent Eagle comes to protect its nest so Batman boosts robin higher up the cliff while he and Talia distract the bird. Penguin see's this and goes to shoot them both but the King bites him and says that if he harms Talia he will throw himself off the cliff, meaning Penguins plan wouldn't work, because Talia had stood up for him to penguin twice before during the story.

Robin then straight up kills the bird in front of it's kids which I thought was really funny because this was Dicks Robin.

Penguin is trying to get the King down from the ledge when Batman, Robin and Talia run up behind him. The King is so happy to see Talia up that he slips and falls down the cliff. Robin grabs Talia's legs and helps her reach out to grab the King and bring him back up.

Batman beats up Penguin, the King is saved and Batman tells Talia that even though she came to Swawak to commit a crime because she helped save the day she can leave but he askes to her to leave right away because being around her makes him want to compromise his morals because he loves her but she's Ra's Al Ghuls daughter and loyal to him.

This is the first comic Penguin appeared in after a six year gap

Ra's can be seen behind Bruce when he's explaining how he knows Penguin was behind the kidnapping

Talia's next appearance would be in the Bat murder ark where she and Ra's frame Batman for their murders

#talia al ghul #dick grayson #batman #bruce wayne #comic: batman 257 #oswald cobblepot

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maxine-drusilla-wayne · 2 years

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YOU DONT LOVE HIM!

Barbara Gordon x fem!reader

Part 2!

Series: yes

Y’all when I was first making part to tumblr deleted it while in the middle😭

Warnings;betrayal,heartbreak,crying,joker mentions (later in series),slight stalking(later in the series) reads hides a secret,sadness,revenge😈

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You were looking at the ceiling sobbing. You couldn’t believe it.

All the things you’d do….just so you could call her “mine.”

You couldn’t help but sob harder but trying to muffle it in the hotel pillows.

The things you did. You hope ,you were they’re favorite crime.

They all hated you….but still loved him? He had hurt her for years but they all still loved him no matter what he did!

How could they not believe you? How could Bruce kick you out without even getting your side of the moutherfucking story first?!

Oh that’s right….it’s nighwing

You were so depressed. You hated yourself! And you loved her so much! You should’ve know no matter what nightwing can do no wrong in they’re eyes.

But you had to stop sobbing and get up bc you didn’t want anyone to hear you and question you or go complain.

You got dressed and wore a black sexy outfit. Not to slutty. I mean nothing is! People just wanna show off they’re goddamn bodies!

You wore something like this

You decided to go to the nearest café to get some energy from spending most of the night crying.

“Oh my fucking god if I don’t get those backstabbing hoes out my fucking mind ima kill myself.”you said walking down to the café only 3 minutes from the hotel.

You walked in and sat down.

But immediately a bitch had to come up to you the second you sat down……literally only 5 seconds after you sat down.

“Hey my name is Chelsea,what can I do for you?!” She chirped generally happy which made you start taking a liking to her and she was very pretty.

“Umm can I just get a vanilla latte with caramel and and a glazed swirl donut please?” You asked with a smile.”of course coming right up!” She said and walked away.

Just then you saw someone walk in ,in the corner of your eye.

When you turn your head to fully face the person,you were completely shocked to the point where you had to stop a gasp.

Talia Al ghul…

Damian’s mother. What the hell is she doing here?! You immediately looked away but as you were turning she felt your gaze and turned her head towards you.

You saw her smirk in the corner of your eye but didn’t try to make it obvious that you noticed her when she walked in. She just sat down.

You had kept your cool to make sure she didn’t notice you panicking. Now you just wanted to get out and make sure she and or the league don’t follow.

It had been like that for five whole minutes.

“Hello ,here’s your latte and your donut!” Chelsea had came back and said but this time you noticed how she had looked you up and down with her eyes.

“Oh thank you so much!” You replied but just then you saw talia look back over at you. “You’re welcome!”then she left. You tried to ignore talias stare and just ate your food and drank your latte.

Since it was a spiral glaze donut ,it wasn’t sticky or made your hands sticky but you still whipped off your hands and used some hand sanitizer then made your way to the counter to pay and hurry to get tf outta there.

“Have a nice day!” You says handing in the money,paying your ten dollars and and thirty five cents to Chelsea. But she only took 3 dollars and ten cents.”you too!” She said with a smile and you just slightly titled your head smiling too.

Then walked out immediately. As soon as you got out you heard someone else come out and you couldn’t speed walk because then they would know you’re on to them.

You’re two minutes into the walk when someone comes up to you ,whispering in your ear.

“Well hello y/n~” talia says with a smirk.”well- hello they’re talia.” You replied nervously. She hummed and put her arm around your waist.but you knew the threatening was coming. “Well I just wanted to see why you’re not at that amazing mansion of your with my son. She said sounding scary at the end of her sentence.

You knew you could really be oversharing but as of right now you weren’t gonna hide anything or cared for all that matter.

“Because….one of his adopted brothers is a hoe who got me betrayed and kicked out with their fake asses.” You paused out of breath from walking. She looked intrigued. You? Not part of the family anymore? Oh she’s gonna make them her bitc-“what happened beloved?” She asked.

You stopped walking for a moment because of the nickname which had shocked you. You frowned for a second and tilted you’re head before walking again.

“Nightwing was always a hoe so once batgirl got back at him for the first time ever he flipped out and tried to get at me but I was I love with batgirl and didn’t like nightwing but once I told her she didn’t believe me and Batman kicked me out.” You spoke with tears threatening to fall.

“Oh sorry I forgot you already know all our names already.” You apologized.” It’s fine beloved but it seems as though boy wonder will always be the golden child.” She spoke “yeah.” You said almost breaking down right then and they’re as you came to the door of the hotel.

But she stopped you. By holding your arm with a firm grip.”listen. Obviously they don’t deserve someone as amazing ,as you. So let me help.” You turned around sniffling. “Help how?” You asked.

“Revenge.” She said with a smirk.”revenge?” You ask confused.”yes. I wanna make them sorry they ever let you go. But not only that I wanna make them suffer.”

You felt slightly overwhelmed but thankful that she generally cared. A nervous smile started trying to come at the end of your lips.

“Then…” she pushed a strained of hair out of your face and slightly cupped your cheek.”let’s make Gotham our bitch.”she said,her smirk growing wider.

You smirked and held her other hand.”ok let’s do it.” Was all you said.

@dilfwaynes here it is!

#barbara gordon x reader #barbara gordon #batfam x batsis #batfam x reader #batfamily #talia al ghul x reader #dc x reader #talia al ghul

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marauderundercover · 2 years

Text

Revelations and Help

AO3

One thing that Clark Kent hated about being Superman, was the fact that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t save everyone. It was something that had weighed heavily on him during the entirety of his hero career. It was something that he was sure would continue to weigh heavily on him for the rest of his life. When you have powers, when you can do more than the average person, the pain of failure hurts even more. Because you should be better than that. He should be better than that. Days like these easily let him fall away into his thoughts; the negativity a never ending spiral that threatened to suffocate him if he stayed in their depths for too long. Especially with no one waiting back at his empty apartment. No one there to remind him that he’s only one man. That it’s okay to lose a fight, to fail a little. That it didn’t make him any less of a hero. Slumping down onto his couch, Clark lets his face fall into his hands, squeezing his eyes shut in an attempt to keep the tears away. The shrill ringing of his phone brings him back, but he still just blinks at it. It didn’t matter. He could talk to them later. Whoever it was. Before he can disappear within his own head again, the phone rings again, this time a FaceTime request. Glancing at the caller, he can’t help the way his lip twitches up at the sight. Quickly wiping his eyes, he hits answer.

“Bonjour, Oncle Clark!” Marinette says, grinning widely. Clark grins back at his niece. She had recently turned four and, according to his brother, now thought she was very mature.

“Bonjour, Mari. How’d you get your dad’s phone, kid?” He asks with a grin. Marinette giggles.

“Papa and Maman are working. They thought I was sleeping, but you needed me.” She says. Clark blinks, raising an eyebrow.

“What?” He asks. She shrugs, huffing a bit.

“I don’t know! But you needed me.” She says again. Then, in a smaller voice, she says: “you were very sad.” Clark inhales sharply. Okay, so his niece somehow had a strong enough bond with him that she knew he was upset from an ocean away. Sure. He was going to file that away in the ‘weird things about my family’ list he had going on. A mental list, but a list nonetheless. Not that it mattered how she knew he was sad. It just meant she was different.

“Well, you were right. But I’m feeling better already.” He says gently. She grins, the tension melting away from her tiny shoulders.

“Oh, good! I watched the stars yesterday.” She says, getting a far away look on her face. He was pretty sure she remembered the short trip to the Watchtower that she’d taken when she was two. Unfortunately, he hadn’t been able to set up anything with Bruce and Dick again so the little budding friendship between the two had fizzled out. He did have hopes that one day, the two could meet again. Marinette could use a big brother in her life to watch out for her. The world was a big, scary place after all.

“Were they bright last night?” Clark asks. Sometimes, the lights in Paris were too bright for his niece to clearly watch the stars; which was something she complained about often. Marinette frowns.

“Non. They were…worried.” She says, tilting her head to the side as she thinks. Clark raises an eyebrow. Stars? Worried?

“How do- why do you think they were worried?” He asks. Her lower lip trembles slightly, and Clark’s afraid she’s going to start crying. Instead, she lets out a heavy breath, looking far too tired for four.

“I don’t know. But they’re worried about the man and the woman.” She says. Clark sits up a little straighter. Some people would just pass right over what she was saying. After all, she’s four. And she couldn’t have been awake for long, judging by the bed head and Disney princess pajamas she was still wearing. But- but Clark had proof that she could feel things she shouldn’t be able to. She knew he was sad, knew that talking to her would help. From an ocean away, his niece knew that. So if she said the stars were worried about a man and woman- well, Clark was inclined to believe her.

“Do you think you’re in danger?” He asks, trying hard to keep his tone light. No need to scare her, but if she thought there was danger…Clark was Superman. And although deep down he knew that he couldn’t save everyone, no matter how hard he tried, he’d be damned if his family was on the list of people he couldn’t save. He’d rather walk into hell itself than let anything happen to his family. The tired look on his niece’s face instantly morphs into confusion.

“No? I’m home!” She says. Clark does his best to smile, despite the tension he could feel restricting his body.

“I meant the stars, Mari. Do- do they think you’re in danger?” He asks. She hums, tilting her head towards something unseen. A window, maybe?

“I- I don’t think so. They’re worried, but they’re also waiting. It’s up to them.” She says firmly. Clark quirks an eyebrow.

“Up to who?” He asks. She shrugs.

“The man and woman.” Clark makes a mental promise to continue checking in on the situation. If he didn’t? If he missed something? And his family got hurt because of it? He would never forgive himself.

—-

Years later, after hearing about a man in Paris with the power of a god at his fingertips, Clark Kent couldn’t stop himself from being sick. At the thought of his family being hurt. At the long forgotten memory that was dredged up from the pit of his mind. A phone call with a little girl who said the stars were worried- a forgotten promise to check on the situation. A situation which had clearly surpassed anything that he could have imagined. And as Clark washes the bile out of his mouth, all he can think is: was it preventable? Could he have stopped this?

Tag list: @maribat-calendar-events @stainedglassm @kittenmywaythrulife @laydeekrayzee @doll246 @queenz-z @deathssilentapproach-blog @literaryhiraeth @unoriginalmess @kking13 @toodaloo-kangaroo @crazylittlemunchkin @buttercupsbitch @jayjayspixiepop @iloontjeboontje @idontwannaexistsopleasekillme

#supermari #supermari may #supermari may 2022 #maribat marinette dupain cheng #maribat clark kent #maribat found family #found family #platonic supermari #platonic relationships

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tryskomys · 2 years

Text

PSYCHO KILLER

Eddie Munson x OC

Chapter 18 - Born In the U.S.A.

Summary: The Hawkins gang prepares for battle in style - grand theft auto and a little redneck shopping spree at War Zone. The following weapon workshop is a bittersweet dream come true for the Dungeon Master and his most treasured lamb.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫

notes: man, writer’s block is paaaainful. alas, here we are! a big chapter for a big plot point. it’s getting real, what can i tell ya. if you’re still here, as always - thanks for hanging on and reading <3

tw: blood, the upside down is disgusting, sharp objects, emotions

Masterlist

songs:

and mentions of a few records - i wholeheartedly recommend every single one of them.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫

“You want me…to ride this?”

Maia’s eyebrows were raised as far as they could go as she scanned the small pink bycicle. She ruffled the shimmering iridescent pompom strings that were hanging off both tiny handlebars and narrowed her eyes at Nancy, who shrugged impatiently. They walked out of the infected garage, dragging behind them bikes that were near to falling apart.

“Sorry, Mai. You’re the shortest, as much as I’d love to see it, we can’t put Steve on it.”

Robin snorted with laughter as her brain conjured up an image of Steve’s luscious mane flowing in the air as he rides Holly’s bike through the Upside Down. Maia scoffed.

“Hey, I gotta ride Mike’s old bike and you don’t see me complaining, halfling. Don’t be a brat.” Eddie bit his lip to stop himself from laughing, flinching when Maia’s soiled combat boot striked his left shin.

“You owe me a lunch, Wheeler. And it better be at least three courses.” she raised a threatening finger in Nancy’s direction and threw her leg over the saddle, uncomfortably shifting when she sat down. She stepped on the pedals and set off, struggling to keep a straight line.

“Let’s go!” she hissed over her shoulder when they didn’t immediately follow her, instead staring at her back with amused smirks. Steve jumped on his bike with a chuckle and swiftly caught up with her.

・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・● ●・○・●・

“Ugh, I’m seriously not made for this amount of physical exertion, I’m about to start sweating blood.” Robin struggled to speak through her heavy breaths, wheezing with each push of force she put on the pedals.

They’ve been riding for about twenty minutes when Eddie spotted a big building in the distance. He’d seen it before, driving past it in his van on the way to school. But it was different, like everything in this place. An uncanny, disgusting copy of the real.

“Fuck, is that…” Maia mumbled, but the sentence traced away as exhaustion took over her lungs, leaving her to stare at the crumbling Creel house in terror. The rest of the group slowed down as well, startled by the raging swirl of demobats circling the perished roof. When a particularly loud clap of thunder echoed through the cloudy sky, all of them sped up again, following Eddie’s fast lead. In a few long minutes they reached the Forest Hills park and Maia cringed when she saw the Munson trailer in the distance.

Covered in sentient vines, slimy, terrifying.

“Right there!” Eddie pointed at it, driving off the road between the trailers. The dilaptated vehicles bumped along the clumps of grey grass on the dead soil and Maia had just about enough. She jumped off Holly’s bike and threw it on the ground with a rattling thump, jogging the few metres to the trailer where everyone else hopped off. Worn-out huffs and wheezing filled the air as the five of them tried to catch their breath.

“That’s gotta be a Guinness World Record. Most miles traveled interdimensionally.” Robin choked out as she wiped her hands on her jeans. Steve bursted into a coughing fit, spitting on the ground as he pointed his flashlight on the trailer.

“Just inhaled a bunch of that crap…it’s stuck in my throat.”

Eddie reached out his shaking palm to the doorknob and cautiously peeked in before letting everyone else enter. A bloodcurdlingly cold shiver ran down Maia’s spine when she walked into the room. The place that usually brought her so much comfort was rotting.

The walls were growing some kind of fungi, uncle Wayne’s mug collection was covered in slime and mould, the floor plagued with squelching vines that were writhing with morbid excitement, waiting for any opportunity to snatch themselves a victim. The ever present spores fell on her shoulders, creating a coat of dust on her dirty denim jacket.

“Fucking hell…this place is even more snafued than usual, Munson.”

Her eyes traced up the walls and stopped at the ceiling. A pounding red membrane, exactly like the one in Lover’s Lake, disrupted the dirty surface, similar to a big open wound.

The gate.

“This is where Chrissy died…like, right where she died.” Eddie mumbled, his eyes twitching at the traumatic memory of the cheerleader’s delicate limbs twisted and cracked.

“I think there’s something in there.” Robin peeped, staring cautiously at the gate. Something was indeed trying to get through, something sharp and relentless. Eddie frowned, his voice giving up on him.

“What the hell is that?”

Suddenly, the membrane broke open and pieces of it fell to the ground with a wet splash. The group jumped away as Steve and Eddie shielded the trio of girls. They all stared at the hole, horror in their faces. The drops of fluid were dripping down as warm light came through, living air wafted out of it. It felt…inviting. Steve slowly approached it, always the scout.

“No way.” he mumbled as they aligned around the opening. On the other side, Dustin, Max, Erica and Lucas smiled widely, greeting them with excited smiles. They were…upside down. The older gang shook their heads as the terrified expressions turned to awe.

“Holy shit, this is trippy.” Robin breathed out, her mouth hanging open in wonder.

“Bada-bada-boom!” Dustin screamed, his face sporting the signature toothless smile. Max giggled, exchanging a thrilled smile with Lucas.

“Okay guys, I’ve got an idea how to get you out! Stand by!” he explained loudly, his voice eerily echoing through the portal. The kids dissapeared, rumbling somewhere outside the gang’s view.

“As I said, genius child.” Robin whispered, clasping Nancy’s hand with a reassuring squeeze. Maia looked around and…something caught her eye. They all perplexedly scanned her back as she slowly stumbled a bit further to the hallway and picked it up.

“Munson, you won’t believe what I just found.”

As Eddie narrowed his eyes, she turned around with a beaming smile on her face, her eyes full of red sparkles as they reflected the alien orange glow of the gate. His heart skipped a beat at the sight, blush creeping up his neck. He dropped his eyes to her hands. She was excitedly sticking out a clunky wooden katana. The blade was painted silver by some metallic color, collecting dust over all the years stuck in time.

“No fucking way…” Eddie skipped over to her with a gasp. The rest of the group exchanged puzzled glances as they listened to the excited squeals of their two friends.

“What’s-“ Steve shook his head, his eyebrows knitted in confusion.

“This…is my larping katana from ‘83, I thought I fucking lost it but I probably just left it here after we passed out…what a day that was.” she sighed as she walked back up to the rest of them and handed the pretend weapon to Steve, who pointed the flashlight at it and studied it, darting between the object, Maia and the others. Eddie nodded enthusiastically, expecting admiration, while Nancy and Robin quietly questioned the sanity of their fugitive friends.

“Good times…” Eddie chuckled and met her mischievous eyes, remembering how the two of them drifted away to sleep next to each other on his bouncy mattress, accompanied by Jimmy Page’s guitar shreds blasting from the record player after an exhausting day of fighting at a medival festival and a night of downing one beer after another.

“Okay lovebirds, spare us from the bedroom eyes, it’s gross.” Erica’s voice carried through the portal as she carried a white bedsheet. All of them snapped their heads back to the gate. The kids arrived back, dragging Eddie’s mattress with them. They threw it under the portal, revealing the dirty surface, stained with…something. Maia slowly turned her head at Eddie, her nose scrunched and eyebrows in a quizzical arch.

“Those stains are, uhhh…I don’t know what those stains are.” Eddie muttered and averted his eyes back to the ceiling, swallowing hardly. Robin frowned and hummed, side-eying Maia and her mighty sword. Max and Lucas were tying the bedsheet in multiple knots, handing it to Dustin when they decided there were enough of them.

“Okay, not sure how these physics work, but uh…here goes nothing.” he huffed and threw the sheet in the air. As it went through the portal, it fell right to the older gang’s feet. Maia gasped, staring at the sheet in awe.

“And if my theory’s correct…abracadabra.” he mumbled and let go of the sheet. It levitated in the air, hovering through the portal as if it was held in place by an invisible force.

“Holy shit.” Eddie mumbled, shaking his head with wonder. Dustin clasped his hands.

“Okay, now pull on it! See if it holds!”

Robin looked around and approached the sheet, getting an encouraging pat on the back from Maia. She held onto the sheet as she pulled, her face frowned in concentration, but it never moved an inch. Both groups errupted in incredulous giggles and Maia tugged at Eddie’s sleeve, cackling when he looked at her.

“This is the craziest shit I’ve ever seen in my life! And I’ve seen some crazy shit.” Erica waved her arms around, eyes wide as she stared through the gate. Robin let out a shivering breath as she checked everyone once again and stepped closer to the sheet.

“Guess I’m the guinea pig…” she whispered with a soft smile. She braced against the fabric as she struggled to climb, leaning her feet on the big knots. As soon as she passed the treshold, the gravity dragged her down and she fell on the matress with a yelp, laying on her back for a few seconds to process what just happened.

“Oh, thank god. That was fun!” she chuckled and Dustin helped her up, patting her back as she went to hug Max. Eddie nudged Maia, motioning her to go next. She turned to Nancy and Steve, who nodded in encouragement. She took a deep breath and walked under the portal.

“Stand by!” she yelled and threw the wooden weapon to the air, a soft gasp leaving her lips as it turned around in the air and fell on the mattress. Erica looked up at her as she lifted it, mumbling something about nerds. Maia took the sheet in her hands, tugging just to make sure it still holds.

“Fuck, I got an F in climbing last year. Sweet irony.” she muttered as she tugged and braced her feet against the knot. She whined with each pull, her weak arms shaking when she reached the portal. The sensation of her organs flipping around in the air made stomach go up to her throat, but once she fell in the soft cushion, the bliss from being home filled her chest and overpowered any other discomfort. The pressure in her head made her lip bleed again, but that was the last thing on her mind.

“Fun…” she whispered as she nodded at Robin, who rewarded her with a huge toothy smile. Lucas extended his hand to her and helped her up. She automatically hugged him, wiggling him around like a teddy bear. Before she could take in her surroundings, a flash of brown caught her eye as Eddie’s matted curls flew through the air. He fell and immediately sat up, eyes wide open.

“That…was fun! Shit!” he exclaimed and took Maia’s helping hand with a fierce slap, pulling her into a tight embrace as they giggled with the rest of the group.

“Nancy!”

Steve’s terrified voice caught their attention as they stared up through the tear in reality. Nancy didn’t react to his franatic screams and shaking, boiling dread flowed through Maia’s limbs at the way her petite body swung from side to side mindlessly.

“Vecna.” Max whispered and looked around, fear written all over her face.

“MUSIC.” Steve screamed at them and lightly slapped Nancy’s cheek, saying her name over and over again. All of them ran after Eddie when he stumbled to his room. Maia cursed under her breath when they entered the room. It was already a mess, but when they started rummaging through all the cabinets and tapes, it became a scrapyard. She sat on the floor and reached under Eddie’s bed for a neatly organized box of their co-owned tapes.

Black Sabbath. Technical Ecstasy.

Led Zeppelin. Houses of the Holy.

Metallica. Ride the Lightning.

Dio. Holy Diver.

Iron Maiden. Piece Of Mind.

Everything Maia touched was definitely not going to wake up anyone that’s not a freak. Where’s your fucking Elton record now, Eddie? Erica busted into the room, out of breath.

“Steve says you need to hurry!”

“Yeah, no shit!” Dustin screamed, rummaging through one of Eddie’s endless boxes of tapes and records. Max threw her hands around, looking through Eddie’s underwear drawer.

“We can’t find anything!”

“Seriously, what is all this shit?!” Robin shook her head furiously, the tapes falling out of her hands as she tried to carry a big portion of them to the bed at once. A bead of sweat ran down Eddie’s hairline as he knocked down the full ashtray and condoms from his nightstand.

“Wh-what, I…what are you even looking for?”

“M-Madonna, Blondie, Bowie, Beatles - music, we need music!” she exclaimed as she held up Houses of the Holy in one hand, Piece Of Mind in the other. Pride overtook Maia when she saw her favourite record in Robin’s hand, she jumped up from the floor and pointed at the hoard under her feet, just as Eddie snatched his treasured tape.

“THIS. IS. MUSIC!” both of them screamed in Robin’s face in unison, comically mirroring each other’s deranged faces.

A loud thump from the living room snapped them all out of franatic rummaging and they took a second to look around the room to see if everyone heard it. The second thump sent them all sprinting out of the room. Robin tripped on the way over a pile of Eddie’s checkered boxers that Max threw out of the drawer in a desperate attempt to find anything resembling Nancy’s music taste. When they arrived to the portal, Steve was sitting on the mattress, holding Nancy in a tight embrace as she shook with sobs and whispers of a single name.

Barb.

・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・● ●・○・●・

As Maia hovered over Eddie’s shoulder and stared at the War Zone advert in the newspapers that laid on the table, she still couldn’t wrap her head around the plan they were about to try and pull off.

At night they somehow managed to drag the distressed Nancy to Max’s trailer across the street, her mom was on a night shift. They spent the following hours in silence, taking in the things they’ve witnessed and only when the sun started rising, Nancy was collected enough to reproduce Vecna’s vision. The logic of the idea to go back to the Upside Down was completely lost on Maia as well as Eddie, but in the end the need to save their town prevailed.

“How is any of this legal?” she shook her head in disbelief as she scanned Sylvester Stalone’s ripe muscles on the paper.

“Well, lucky for us it is, so…” Eddie shrugged and met her perplexed narrowed gaze. She just pinched the bridge of her nose and turned around, pacing around the table to calm her nerves.

“If we’re trying to avoid angry hicks, maybe we shouldn’t go to some store called the War Zone?” Erica raised her eyebrows and Maia threw her arms up, slapping her thighs as she nodded in agreement. Nancy shrugged.

“Normally I’d agree, but we need the weapons.”

“But is it worth the time? It’ll take all day to bike there and back.” Dustin sighed and Maia let out a sarcastic chuckle.

“I do realize that we’re in America, but you seriously plan to bike through the town and back with Kalashnikovs and spears in your fucking schoolbags?”

“Who said anything about bikes?”

Eddie’s voice quivered with a hint of a smile as he rose from the table, leveling Steve’s confused face.

“You got some car we don’t know about?”

“It’s not exactly a car, Steve. But it’ll do.”

His face broke into a mischeivous grin as he side eyed the rest of the group, then turned around at Max, who was standing a bit further.

“Hey, Red, you got a ski mask or a bandana? Something like that?”

Max just silently shrugged, dissapearing in her room after a few moments.

“Sinclair, I need you to go get something for me. In my room, there’s a toolbox right next to my amp, meet us in front of Mayfield’s in five.” he continued, throwing his trailer keys to Lucas, who caught them with his proper jock reflexes. He nodded and did a quick salute before heading out of the door with a sneaky hunch. Maia approached Eddie and nudged him, her brows twisted in a quizzical knot.

“Care to enlighten me, Munson?” she hissed, blush creeping into her cheeks as he let out a low hum and struggled to keep the corners of his mouth down.

“You remember the rednecks a few trailers down that called the cops on us when I bought the van?”

“Uh, what?” Robin’s eyes widened and Maia squinted, her attention still fixed on Eddie’s stupid grin.

“When Eddie and I drove the van home for the first time, a pair of resident millitia patriots called the police because they thought we stole it…Chief Hopper was pretty pissed that they blocked the line with that bullshit.”

The room was filled with silence, the mention of Hopper seemingly struck a chord that was still raw for everybody. The chief was always understanding and caring towards them whenever he had to deal with someone who requested him after seemingly catching someone from Hellfire doing “suspicious” stuff. It happened quite often and that allowed Eddie and Maia to develop a special bond with him, they even sent him a gift basket each Christmas as a thanks.

The tension was broken when Max emerged from her room, holding a rubber Michael Myers mask in one hand and a Gremlin mask of the same material in the other. Dustin choked on saliva as she handed the masks over and their friends put it over their heads. Maia bit her lip under the mask to keep herself from bursting out with laughter at the sheer bizzare of the situation.

“How do I look?” her muffled voice echoed through Gizmo’s latex head and a chuckle from her right side came as an answer.

“I don’t see a difference.” Eddie mumbled through his own mask and earned an ill-aimed punch to the shoulder.

“I feel like you’ve just unlocked your true forms, bravo.” Robin giggled and started dragging Maia away after she snatched her wooden blade.

・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・● ●・○・●・

Maia’s nostrils filled with the smell of cheap leather and cigarettes, however it wasn’t the pleasant kind she was used to from spending time with Eddie. She tore off the mask and realized that her cheek landed on a scratchy old blanket, so she jumped up and subconsciously wiped her cheek with a disgusted face, throwing the mask away on the way to the front of the RV. Eddie hopped onto the driver’s seat as Maia crouched next to him and started rummaging through the toolbox Lucas brought, he was searching for the starting cables meanwhile.

“Nurse, pliers, please.” he mumbled and she handed him the tool she dug up from the bottom of the box.

“Untidy as always, doc.”

A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest as he put the tool in between his teeth, dimples decorating his plush cheeks. Blood furiously rushed into her face and ears as he pulled out the wires and started chopping them with the pliers, his calloused fingers flexing against the handles.

She’d watched him work with cars before, stopping by in the shop to bring him lunch on the weekends, but it never failed to send a jolt down her spine. She had no idea why her body reacted the way it did, but the greasy hands and the black smudges on his face, the way his sweaty hair stuck out of his attempt at a ponytail, somehow even the dungarees…especially the dungarees. And worst of all, his smug smile when he caught her staring.

Before her gaze fell back to his expert hands, she scanned his concentrated face, his brows furrowed as he huffed with each snap. Maia attempted to swallow, but the sudden drought in her throat brought her no comfort. Eddie spotted her wide eyes and smirked, opening his mouth to say something, but his snarky attempt to flirt was interrupted by Steve.

“Where did you learn how to do this?” he mumbled with a nervous quiver in his voice, his eyes slightly narrowed. Eddie shrugged.

“Well, when the other dads were teaching their kids how to fish or play ball, my old man was teaching me how to hot-wire.” he explained and twisted the naked wires together, creating a wave of disgust in Maia’s stomach as she was forced to remember Eddie’s exquisite father, who’s abusive ass was currently rotting in jail.

The memory was thankfully interrupted when the pliers landed in her lap and she eyed the sparks coming out of the two intertwined ends as Eddie precisely rubbed them against each other.

“Now, I swore to myself I wouldn’t wind up like he did, but now I’m wanted for murder and soon grand theft auto. So I’m really living up to that Munson name.” he gave the confused Steve a sarcastic smile and got back to the starting cables. Steve let out a nervous giggle and Robin appeared behind them just as Maia grabbed Eddie’s flask, gulping down the refilled water inside to try and rinse the flaming blush out of her cheeks.

“Eddie, I’m not sure I love the idea of you driving.” she whispered, her eyebrows raised in a worried arch. Eddie turned around at her and shook his head.

“Oh! I’m just starting this sucker, Harrington’s got her. Don’t ya, big boy?” he grinned as he leaned closer to Steve.

The water in Maia’s mouth violently flew out of her nose as she snorted, biting her split lip to stop herself from bursting into laughter. Eddie connected the naked wires one last time and the engine started with a loud bang. After a few seconds, two faces of the RV’s owners appeared in the window as they banged on it, trying to pull the locked door open. Eddie broke into a wide toothy grin and Maia couldn’t help but follow as Credence Clearwater Revival boomed out of the speakers. Chaos errupted and Steve changed places with Eddie, everyone aimlessly running around the van.

“Everybody hold onto something!” Steve yelled into the crowd as he looked around the controls, trying to figure out how to drive this thing. Encouraging screams filled the van and he finally stepped on the gas, trashing the van around as they wobbled from side to side, a wave of impact hitting them when they crashed into the trash cans that stood along the road.

After the U-turn, Steve finally managed to steady the vehicle and heavy breaths and huffs echoed through the walls. They were soon replaced with giggles full of adrenaline and Maia laid her back on the floor, holding her head after she banged it on the portable kitchen counter.

“Holy shit.” Erica sharply exhaled, a disbelieving chortle leaving her chest as well.

“Did we seriously just pull that off?” Robin shook her head, falling on the couch.

・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・● ●・○・●・

As Steve neatly parked the RV in front of the huge War Zone store, Maia folded her arms and rested them on her knee.

“Do you think War Zone sells something like this?” Maia mumbled, pointing at the wooden weapon laying on the ground.

Eddie grinned and slid down the couch to sit on the floor next to her to lay low. He leaned his head on her shoulder, exhaustion suddenly catching up with him.

“Pretty sure they do. Lady Applejack, your quest for today - after you grab the spears, look for some nice, deadly blade for our resident monk, please.” he mumbled and Erica rolled her eyes.

“I’ll see what I can do, nerd.” she got up from her seat with a huff hopped out of the van.

“And don’t forget some fashionable camo garments, we gotta have the full experience.” Maia hissed after her and Nancy chuckled, following Robin’s footsteps outside.

“Stay here and wait, we’ll be as quick as we can be. Dustin, you’re in charge.”

“On it.” Dustin saluted and sighed when the door closed after the last one of them.

He sat on the ground opposite his two older friends and scanned their faces as they both stared into the ground, faces clad with a veil of uncertainity and fear.

Maia put her knee down and carefully took Eddie’s hand, mindlessly messing with his rings as he closed his eyes and inhaled the scent of her skin, ignoring Dustin’s questioning expression. He could still faintly smell her cotton-like perfume under the blanket of blood and soil. Dustin cleared his throat and they both jumped a bit, meeting his eyes. However they didn’t make any effort to move out of their positions.

“So, when did…this happen?” he pointed his chubby finger at them with a cheerful tone, but Eddie’s heavy eyelids just closed and Maia opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again and simply shrugged. After that, she got back to staring a hole into the floor. Dustin sighed, scratched his neck and then hugged his knees, resting his chin on the top of them.

“Look guys, I know all of this is too much…it’s intimidating-“

“Intimidating?” Eddie mumbled, his eyes still closed.

“Try horrifying. Crazy. Impossible?” Maia continued, ghosting her tounge over her hurting lips. Dustin nodded.

“Yeah, all of those. But we’ve done this before. We’ve won before. There’s always a price, but we prevailed. I know you’re scared, but we will succeed.”

His kind tone seeped into Maia’s heart, but she couldn’t help the stabbing pain in her stomach.

“We don’t have any other choice.”

・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・● ●・○・●・

When their friends arrived with the purchase, it was like they dumped a pot of boiling water dumped on Eddie and Maia’s heads. Jason and his group were snooping around the place and they had to leave, fast.

Maia couldn’t seem to slow down her breathing as they drove off, the memories of the jocks’ faces as they held her down flooded her mind. Tears involuntarily ran down her cheeks as she silently wiped them away with shaking fingers.

“You okay?” Eddie mumbled, tugging a strand of hair behind her ear. She just wordlessly nodded, trying to take deep breaths when she struggled to sit still. He just continued to caress her hair, softly mumbling that they’re safe.

They found a big open field a few miles away from Hawkins, just far enough to have some peace as they carried out their weapons and gear. Eddie and Dustin were making spiky shields from trash can covers and nails while Maia sat on a stump and sharpened the beautiful real katana that Erica proudly picked out for her.

The Bait trio, as they called it, was supposed to drag the attention of the demobats to themselves so the Flambé trio - Steve, Robin and Nancy - could get to the Creel house undetected and set Vecna on fire. Meanwhile, the Sinclairs and Max were to stay behind in Hawkins, baiting Vecna to stay at the house hooked into his Cerebro.

Maia looked up from the katana blade and scanned the meadow. The Sinclairs were making spears to go with the spiky shields, Steve and Robin had a small Molotov factory and Nancy was showing Max how to saw off a shotgun. The corner of her eye caught Eddie who crouched next to her, banging the nails to the metal cover. She grinned.

“This is bizzarely fun.” she mumbled and Eddie looked at her for a second before going back to his work.

“Isn’t this like…the dream? You know, going to an epic battle side by side.” he chuckled and she raised an eyebrow, looking up from her weapon again.

“Kinda wished it would never come true…but yeah.” she nodded and he proudly held the improvised shield in the air. Dustin scratched his head.

“How does it feel?”

“Light…but durable. Deadly! But reliable.” he responded, waving the shield around some more before dramatically resting his leg on the crate on the ground and raised his hand in Dustin’s direction.

“Hear me now! There will be no more retreating…from Eddie the Banished!” he exclaimed in a booming voice and Maia giggled. Dustin got up with a shield of his own and smiled widely.

“Wow, you’re really ready for battle.” he raised his eyebrows and chortled merrily, his mouth hanging open when both of his friends stared at him with deadpan faces.

“Bat-tle? B - A - T? No?” he shrugged and sighed with dissapointment. Eddie took a quick look at Maia with a mischeivous smirk and then charged towards Dustin, grappling him as she laughed at Dustin’s yelps and protests. He tried to fight back and she hopped up from her seat and circled around them like a referee, whistling on her fingers when Eddie attempted to give Dustin a wedgie.

“Time-out!” she exclaimed, her amused voice cracking as Dustin squirmed out of the taller boy’s deadly grip.

“Never change, Dustin Henderson…promise us?” Eddie held Dustin’s head with a wide smile, pushing away the hair that got into his face during the scuffle. Maia’s giggled died down as she leaned her arm high on Eddie’s shoulder to catch her breath. She looked at her dearest Dustin and his confused smile and suddenly felt a strange sense of fatality.

What if they never get to see their sheepies grow up?

What if…

“Wasn’t planning on it…” Dustin furrowed his brows, holding onto Eddie’s arm. He sighed.

“Good!”

“Good.” Maia wiggled a finger in front of Dustin’s face, breaking into giggles with the two of them as they all exchanged a few more good’s. Eddie patted Dustin’s cheek and stepped away, calling out to the Sinclairs to check in with them. Maia slapped Dustin’s butt and walked a few steps away too, bending down to a pile of new clothes.

“Catwalk time!” she exclaimed and rummaged through it, tutting when she triumphantly held up the heavy camo utility jacket.

“Not planning to ruin my mom’s jacket with more alien blood than absolutely necessary.” she mumbled as she threw her denim jacket off, making Eddie’s ears go crimson red when her laced bra peeked out again when she raised her arms to put it on. It reached all the way down to her knees and as she folded up the long sleeves, she chuckled at the inexplicable amout of pockets.

“Look, Munson, a pocket for each time Maia the Enlightened kicked your Behemoths’ asses!” she twirled around and struck a pose, batting her eyes when Dustin started clapping and whistling.

Eddie shook his head and bit his lip to stop the growing grin on his face. Then he charged at Maia the same way he tackled Dustin and she only managed to run a few steps back before he threw her over his shoulder, shaking her from side to side like a rag doll. Dustin was the one to take on the role of referee this time, jumping around them.

“Put me down so we can settle this as gentlemen!” she screeched and he put her back on her feet, quickly grabbing one of the unused covers to shield himself when she grabbed a wooden stick that laid close by, taking a proper swordsman stance.

“Begone, traitor!” she screamed as she banged the wood on the metal shield, her eyes twinkling under the cold spring sunshine.

“My squire! Quick, here!” he pointed at Dustin and then at the ground in front of him. Dustin grabbed his shield with a giggle, ran up to Eddie and crouched where he pointed. Eddie jumped over him and landed in front of Maia, attacking her ferociously with a stick of his own as Dustin stood by his side, waving his shield around.

Maia’s joyful laughter was ringing in his ears and her hair flamed around her, imprinting a brand on his brain.

Never in his life he felt this welcome, this undivided, this free…

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫

Tag list: @kik51199 @preciousbabypeter @sebby-staan @sleepysl0th03 @grungegrrrl

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