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raysofcrosby · 3 years

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WHATEVER LIFE THROWS AT YOU – m. tkachuk

part six – COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS...OR YOUR SECRETS

warning(s): language

summary: a stressful few weeks full of changes and frustration leaves matt feeling less than thrilled for the thanksgiving holiday and having more questions than answers. but another day helping ethan work on hockey gives matt more than he was expecting and changes everything he ever knew.

word count: 10,139

an: pls this summary sucks i hate them sm. shout out to the flames for firing geoff after i started this series bc now i feel obligated to change that [even if this is literally a work of fiction and set in 2023 lmao] anywho, enjoy the angst bc i know i did 😈

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Matt had settled into a comfortable routine within the last few weeks. Go on a morning walk with his Mom, go to his physical therapy three times a week, hang out with Ethan whenever his Dad brought him home from school until he went to practice, say a quick hey to Caroline when she came by to pick him up, go to bed and do it all again. On the days that Matt didn’t have PT, he’d meet up with his trainer Roger and just make sure that he was staying in some sort of shape, so when he was cleared to play again, he wasn’t lagging on the ice.

Also in the weeks since Halloween, Matt had made pretty good progress with Caroline. She not only unblocked his number but had unblocked and refollowed him again on Instagram, as well as friended him again on Facebook, Snapchat, and Twitter– a fact he didn’t want to make too much of a commotion over until he saw just how inactive she was on Twitter. After he sent her the photos from Halloween, the two of them stayed up and chatted for about an hour after. She told him about chaperoning the dance and how the kids these days “have no shame” after telling him she found at least four different couples in bathroom stalls. He told her about the 12-year-old girl who came strolling up to the door with her younger brother and asked for Matt’s number– which Caroline kept laughing over.

Even in that short block of time, Matt felt like things between them were almost back to how they were before everything fell apart.

Matt kept his promise and worked with his Dad to try and get Ethan to move on from practicing his wrist-shot and start working on his backhand, but he wouldn’t budge. Right when they’d mention it, he’d get all nervous and make a small mistake and then insist that they keep working on whatever it had been that they were. He was starting to think that Caroline was right about the reasons why Ethan was too nervous to take a shot at it– he wanted to be perfect at it from the beginning. Matt found it honorable because he found himself being like that sometimes too. You always want to be the best at your craft and it’s super nerve-racking going from being able to master one part of it, and then having to start all over again at another part.

When he mentioned this to his Dad, Keith agreed and said that the two of them would figure out some way to try and get Ethan past it. Whether that meant letting him work through it on his own or trying some fun way to get him into it– Matt didn’t know and he often found himself scrolling through google during his breaks at PT for an answer.

It’d been three weeks since Halloween, and up until the beginning of this week, Matt had been having the time of his life in his new routine. But that Monday at PT, his first day of being rid of his stupid sling and actually getting to do some kind of shoulder movement that weren’t just simple stretches, ruined it all. His shoulder was stiff and he could barely do any of the exercises Devon or the Physical therapist wanted him to do. It was honestly totally crushing and defeating– the fact that he was finally free of the confines of his sling and he could barely do jack shit with his arm. Four weeks into recovery and he still felt like he was back at square one. They tried to tell him that it was okay for the shoulder to be feeling that way, this was its first time with a sort of free range of motion that its had in weeks. To give himself some time to adjust and just take it in stride.

But Matthew Tkachuk couldn’t do that. It’s practically embedded in his fricken DNA to be unable to sit back and let things happen as they come. He had to be doing something, anything to make it happen quicker– and right now, he couldn’t. If he did, he’d fuck up his recovery even more.

To make matters worse (or better, who knows) Treliving got rid of Geoff and hired Daryl Sutter, a two-time Stanley Cup champion. Matt got to talk to him over the phone and the guy seemed like he obviously wanted the best for the team, even coming in almost two months into the season. He seemed open to Matt’s situation and took in everything Matt told him about the team and the players. And when he reached out to the guys, they all seemed to be okay with Sutter’s presence, though a few were a little bitter when their first full practice with the guy ended in a bag-skate.

Positive praises and good words or not, it was important for a team to have their Captain there, especially when they were going under a coaching transition...and Matt was in St. Louis.

It was a lot to deal with mentally and add in the fact that Taryn had come home for Thanksgiving break and the fact that Thanksgiving was tomorrow– Matt felt like he was going to lose his mind. Maybe the only bright side of it all was that Mitch was able to get Ethan his signed Mackinnon card with a little message to go with it. Mitch, also being the way too generous person that he was, got the rest of the Avalanche roster to sign a little team poster for Ethan and even sent along a signed Marner jersey, which only made sense to Matt now after it came into the mail that Mitch had asked him for a size.

Other than that, everything just seemed to be going downhill fast and bad. So bad, that instead of going to meet up with Roger this morning, he opted to stay in bed...didn’t even leave his room.

Until his Dad barged in, told him to get up and get dressed. And when Matt asked why, all he said was – “we’re going to practice.”

Matt felt bad at just how out of it and even a little annoyed he was that his Dad made him tag along to Ethan’s hockey practice. All he wanted to do was lay in his bed and drown himself in his sorrows while he still could. It wasn’t that out there to where he couldn’t be allowed to be upset over the slight bump in the hill of recovery or the fact that he wasn’t there for a coaching transition and his Dad understood that. He also knew that hiding himself away in his bedroom wasn’t the best thing for Matt to do...which is why he couldn’t be mad at his Dad.

He did, however, opt to hang out in the locker room of the rink while Ethan and his team were on the ice. He wasn’t really wanting to sit out in the seats and watch a bunch of kids play hockey. He hated to admit it, but he knew that the moment he saw the bunch of six-year-olds skating around and enjoying themselves, he’d feel a little bit of jealousy. But towards the end of practice, he realized that he was kind of being a dick about it all, especially since he’d been helping Ethan out for weeks.

So, he forced himself to leave the locker room and make his way through the seats before reaching the bench. When his Dad saw him standing there, he waved him down to come in as he stepped off of the ice and onto the bench. Matt instead opted to just walk down to the side, leaning against the boards.

“Nice to see you finally joined the rest of civilization,” he laughed, grabbing himself a water bottle.

“Figured I owed it to Ethan,” he replied, looking out towards center ice. “Is practice over?”

“No, it’s getting ready to be though,” Keith replied, nodding. “They’re gonna play a fun game of King or Queen of the hill.”

“Are we banking on Ethan to win?” Matt asked, trying to spot the #7 jersey on the ice.

“Oh yeah, either him or Melody, #12. She’s a little firecracker they talked about moving up a year.” Keith replied, pointing out the blue jersey that came to a stop by Ethan, two braids poking out from the back of her helmet. “Parents decided against it, she seems happy with this group.”

“She’s tall for her age,” Matt nodded, looking at the height difference between her and Ethan, the two of them talking. “She’s got at least what? Three or four inches on him?”

“Well, Ethan’s pretty small for his age,” Keith laughed, putting the bottle down. “By at least, two or three inches. He’ll grow into it though.”

“What do you mean small for his age?” Matt asked, furrowing his brows as he turned to his Dad. “He’s about the same height as other six-year-olds isn’t he?”

This time, Keith was the one giving him the confused look, blinking once or twice before quickly looking away and taking another sip of his water. Before he could reply, the other coach on the ice called him over. “Gotta go, need to finish up the drill.”

Matt’s gaze followed after him before drifting off to Ethan who was still talking to #12, Melody. She looked like she could be six too, but with the way his Dad was talking, it was like that definitely wasn’t the case. He was knocked out of his thoughts as the whistle blew and Matt focused on the group of kids all skating within the confines of a circle, each trying to keep control of their puck. As the kids started to wean out, each losing control of their puck or getting it knocked away, Matt saw that his Dad was right and amongst the six players that remained before they blew the whistle to make the boundaries smaller...were Ethan and the girl Melody.

And when the drill started again, he saw Ethan and Melody talking, skating around each other until they were the only two left. In a quick second, Melody was able to knock his stick away long enough for her to nudge the puck away from him...sending him out of the game and giving her the title of Queen of the Hill.

The kids skated back to center ice and each took a knee as the head coach and Keith talked to them. It wasn’t long before they broke away and started to help pick up the pucks on the ice. He kept trying to gauge the other height of the kids who were around Ethan— some were the same height as him, others were a little taller, all looked around the same age as him.

“Hi, Mr. Tkachuk.” Matt looked away to see a little girl with a #12 stricken on her helmet. She had golden-brown skin, big light brown eyes, and black hair braided into two pigtails that were poking from beneath her helmet.

“Hi, Melody,” Matt replied, laughing to himself as he saw her eyes go wide from the fact he knew her name already. “You can call me Matt.”

“Okay, Mr. Matt.” She replied, looking over her shoulder like she knew she was probably not supposed to be over here. “Ethan said you’ve been helping him with hockey...is that true?”

“Yeah, we’ve worked on a few things,” Matt replied, nodding as he spotted Ethan passing pucks over to another teammate.

“Could you help me with my backhand?” She asked, playing around on her skates. “It’s my weakest and I need to be better than the boys.”

Matt laughed. “From what I hear you’re already better,” he smiled leaning against the boards. “Not to mention you’re Queen of the Hill. And I’m not just saying that, because as a very frequent winner of King of the Hill, I can see you’ve got major skills.”

She smiled, ducking her head down as she blushed before looking back at him. “I could’ve moved up…” she looked over her shoulder at her teammates and shrugged, looking back at Matt with a smile. “But I really like playing with my friends.”

“Hi, Matt!!” He looked over to see Ethan skating over with a few more of his teammates in tow. “Did you see my puck control? I’m getting better.”

He was already great at it for his age, but it was one of their most recent lessons that he refused to move on from.

“I did, you looked great out there,” he nodded, smiling at all the kids. “All of you guys did.”

“So can you help me, please?” Melody asked, sticking out her bottom lip.

“Are you gonna work with us too?”

“Can you help me with my wrist-shot?”

“What’s it like to play with Johnny Hockey?”

“Can you play King of the Hill with us?”

Matt laughed as the kids all tried speaking at once, not even stopping when they heard their friends talking either.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, relax,” he laughed, raising his good arm. “I can’t do much since my shoulder is still recovering, but I can see and try to help.”

“Great, guys let’s go to center ice!” A boy in the back said, skating away and his friends following suit.

“He’s so cool,” Melody smiled, looking at Ethan. “You’re so lucky he’s your friend.”

“Yeah, Matt’s the coolest,” Ethan blushed, nodding his head before turning to Matt as Melody skated away. “Are you really gonna help us?”

“Of course,” Matt slowly climbed his way over the boards, placing his feet carefully on the ice. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“I don’t know,” Ethan shrugged, dragging his stick along the ice in front of him. “You just seemed kind of mad in the car.”

“I was just a little upset about my appointment earlier,” Matt replied, Ethan, skating slowly alongside him as he moved across the ice. “Remember how we talked about how I had to do stretches and stuff for my shoulder so I could get back to Calgary faster?”

“Mhhm.”

“Well, I got new ones and they’re just a little tough. I was just frustrated with myself.” Matt rested his hand on Ethan’s shoulder, stopping him. “I didn’t mean to make it seem like I was frustrated with coming here and I’m sorry if I did.”

“It’s okay. Everyone has bad days sometimes.” Ethan shrugged again, smiling. “My mom says it’s okay to have them and to be upset, but not to focus on them because they’re just reminders that you have good days to look forward to.”

“Yeah, well your Mom’s a pretty smart lady,” Matt said, letting his hand drop. “She was always the smartest between us, but don’t tell her I told you that because she’ll hold it over me forever.”

“My mom and I don’t have secrets,” Ethan replied, shrugging. “So sorry, I’ve gotta tell her that you told me she was always smarter than you.”

Matt laughed, nodding and patting his shoulder. “I’m okay with that, now come on let’s join your team.”

Ethan skated to his team and Matt shuffled his way over to his Dad and the head coach. “Nice to meet you, Matt. I’m Trey Hastings,” the man smiled, shaking his hand. “Your Dad’s talked a lot about you, not that I don’t know who you are.”

“It’s nice to meet you too, Coach Hastings,” Matt replied, shaking his hand. “I hope it’s alright if I kinda hang around?”

“More than. It’s not often that the kids get to meet a current NHL player,” he smiled. “Besides, your Dad told me you’ve been joining in on the efforts to get Ethan to work on his backhand.”

“Unsuccessfully,” Matt sighed. “I talked to Care, his Mom and she said she thinks that he’s just scared of not being perfect from the start.”

“He’s definitely a hard-working kid. Only one out here who works just as hard as my daughter, Melody.” He nodded over to Melody who was passing a puck to Ethan and another player. “We’ve got the ice for maybe another 30 minutes, I always buy a little extra time for the kids whose parents don’t get off work till a little later. So whatever you want to do, you’ve got it and your Dad and I will help.”

“Just some fun drills, really. Keep it light and fun since it’s the end of practice.” Matt replied, resting his hands in his hood pockets. “Is that okay?”

“Sounds great, son. We’ll just be here for whatever you need.”

“Think you guys can set up for five puck shootout race?” He asked. “That should cover shooting and puck handling they want to work on, plus a little extra skating never hurt anyone.”

“Sure thing.” They nodded, skating off to opposite ends to set up— Keith grabbing one goal and sliding it to the opposite side of the ice.

Matt shuffled his way over to the group of kids, standing in front of them. He didn’t even have to say a word before they all quieted down, taking in his presence.

“So for today, we’re just gonna do something fun that kinda covers all the bases.” He said, looking at the group. “Melody, Ethan, you two are Captains, you’ll pick your teams.”

Ethan and Melody skated up and stood on either side of him. “What are we doing, Mr. Matt?” Melody asked, looking up at him.

“Have you guys ever played five puck shootout race before?”

Matt barely slept for more than a few hours at a time. If it wasn’t him accidentally rolling over onto his side and his shoulder aching, it was his neck aching from sleeping propped up. He tried to put on some music as background noise to get himself to fall asleep but found himself singing along. He even signed up for a free trial of that calm app and listened to crashing waves– but instead of making him want to fall asleep, he only kept thinking about how bad he needed to use the restroom. Most of all, he couldn’t get his mind to wrap around what his Dad had said at Ethan’s practice– “He’s small for his age” and when Matt questioned him about the average height of six-year-olds, his Dad just skated off.

He couldn’t even get a word in with the rest of Ethan’s team if he tried, they were all too excited about Matt being there and playing hockey. There was no way for him to casually slide in a ‘hey how old are you guys?’ question in there. And the ride home was even less of a chance since his Dad took over most of the conversation.

So in between his restless sleep, he grabbed his phone and started to investigate. He started off on Caroline’s Instagram, taking his time looking through the pictures since he was using his phone and wasn’t worried about Brady coming around any second. He tried to find any sort of certain beginning to Caroline and Jonathan’s relationship, maybe even a wedding he hadn’t been invited to and probably should’ve been offended by that aspect– but he couldn’t and he wasn’t. Caroline had pretty much fallen off the face of the earth on her social media for a few years, posting small glimpses of her life but never giving all that much detail.

When he got to the first picture she’d posted of her and Jonathan, he couldn’t find a comment or tag that would lead to Jonathan’s profile, and her caption didn’t give much away, so he kept scrolling until he found one that did. And the only one that did, was the one he saw the other day– the picture Heather had taken. Which is how he ended up scrolling through Heather’s photography page. Endless of wedding photos, senior portraits, birthdays, elopements– it seemed like she’d started up a very successful photography career and while the two of them never saw eye to eye much, he still thought that was pretty cool.

It took a lot of scrolling for him to find the familiar picture he’d just come from on Caroline’s profile. A post from six months ago. It was the first in a series of five– all black and white and in various poses from walking hand in hand, her hugging him and looking over his shoulder and into the camera with the diamond on her finger in full view, another of some fancy looking sign reading ‘i said yes’ with the diamond resting against it and the last a shot of just the bottom half of their faces where Jonathan was cupping hers and kissing her, once again, her ring on display.

Heather’s caption is what sealed the deal to just what Matt had thought that these pictures were– Just call me cupid for playing a role in these two lovebirds getting together. It all started with a blind date and now they’re engaged! Can’t wait to photograph their wedding 😘❤️

After that, Matt had put his phone down and tried to go back to sleep, but the wheels in his brain wouldn’t stop turning. Caroline and Jonathan weren’t even married...at least not yet. But Jonathan didn’t bother to correct Matt when he called him her husband. He couldn’t find a timeline to their relationship, but it wouldn’t be all that uncommon for them to have had Ethan before they got married. A lot of families are starting out that way nowadays. Maybe they’d finally gotten into a financially stable part of their lives to where they could plan a wedding. But still, that didn’t explain why his Dad had been so weird at Ethan’s practice or back at Brady’s game when Ethan would get into talking about school, Andrew would kind of steer him away from the topic and put it back to hockey.

There was really only one way that Matt could find the answers to all of his questions because no one is more talkative than a kid hanging out when the adults are all too busy.

Which is exactly what Matt had planned for today– Thanksgiving. He knew it would be a nuthouse with all of the cooking and setting up that needed to be done and someone would have to hang out with Ethan, so why not him? It wasn’t like he could do much lifting anyway. However, that next morning didn’t work out the way he had planned it to. Mainly because since he had stayed up so late with his tossing and turning...he’d also slept in, missing the arrival of the Marsh clan and his prime opportunity to get Ethan to want to work on hockey in the basement.

When he woke up, Emma and Taryn were keeping Ethan company in the living room with the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade and he barely got to fully step into the kitchen before his Mom sent him off to go help Brady set up the veggie tray in the dining room. He barely got to sit down at the table before Ethan came running over to show him that he was wearing Matt’s old Blues jersey– “my mom washed it and I’m not supposed to be wearing it so it doesn’t get dirty, but I hope it’s okay that I am” to which Matt only laughed and told him it was fine, but he might have something he’d want to wear better– he just had to wait for Matt to finish up the veggie tray.

Ethan, of course, replied with excitement before running back off into the living room and plopping himself down between Emma and Taryn.

Before their Mom or anyone else could instruct him to do something else, Matt snuck back upstairs and grabbed the folded jersey from off of his dresser, keeping it hidden behind his back before walking into the living room. Everyone was standing around the living room, looking like they were taking a break from the food preparation as they watched one of the floats pass by. “Hey, Ethan.”

“Huh?” Ethan barely turned to look at Matt when he tossed the jersey at him, effectively hitting him in the head and the folded jersey falling into his lap. “What’s this?”

“Consider it an early birthday present.” Matt smiled, crossing his arms and nodding down at it.

“Matt, you shouldn’t have…” Caroline said, sitting across on the sectional, Jonathan beside her as she drank some coffee.

“It’s no big deal, really.” He replied, nodding down at Ethan. “A good friend of mine sent it over. Heard about how big of a hockey fan you are and I think he might be trying to bribe you into liking him.”

Ethan scrambled to unfold the jersey, the Avs logo facing him. “Whoa!” He smiled, flipping it around as his eyes went wide and he brought the jersey closer to him. “Mitch Marner signed this?!”

“That little sneak,” Brady scoffed, sitting on the arm of Keith’s lay-z-boy. “Don’t fall for it, Ethan.”

“I told you, he might want you to be a fan of his now,” Matt laughed, watching as Ethan stood up.

“You know Mitch Marner?” He draped the jersey over the top of Taryn’s head before taking off Matt’s old jersey and putting on the new Avalanche one. “This is so cool, Momma look!”

“I see it,” Caroline laughed, Ethan running over to her as she reached out to touch it. “Turn around, let me see.”

Ethan turned around, a big smile on his face as he looked at Matt. “Thanks, Matt, this is the best early birthday present ever!”

“Whoa, whoa, calm down there buddy,” Brady replied, holding up his hands. “I think you should wait until you see what I get you.”

“Is it a signed Krug jersey?” Ethan asked, looking at him.

“Ethan!” Caroline laughed, tugging on his sleeve. “Don’t be like that. Whatever Bee-Bee gets you is going to be perfect.”

“I know,” Ethan replied. “What does it say, Mom? I can’t read cursive yet.”

Mitch hadn’t written in cursive, but his handwriting also wasn’t the best and clearest– so it was no surprise Ethan wasn’t able to decipher his chicken scratch.

“To Ethan, happy birthday, hope to see you at a game someday! Go Avs! Your friend, Mitch Marner #16” Caroline let the bottom half of the jersey fall as she patted Ethan’s upper back. “What do you say?”

Ethan ran over to Matt and wrapped his arms around his waist, almost knocking him over. “Thank you so so soooo much, this is so cool.”

“You’re welcome, I’ll tell Mitch you loved it,” Matt replied, hugging him back.

Ethan pulled away and his smile fell. “You’re friends with Mitch Marner?”

“Oh we’re best friends,” Matt replied. “Used to be teammates too.”

Ethan whipped his head around and looked at Caroline. “Mom, can Matt and I go play hockey in the basement so he can tell me about Mitch Marner?”

“Sure,” she replied, her, Susan, and Chantal getting up along with Keith and Richard. “I’ll come down and get you when everything is ready.”

Yes.

“Hey, I know cool people too,” Brady huffed, standing up. “I want to come down and play too.”

No.

“Okay, but hurry up Bee-Bee,” Ethan replied, running down the hall and towards the basement stairs. “We’ve got serious hockey business to talk about.”

Matt and Brady both got up and followed Ethan to the basement door and down the stairs. “You sure you don’t want to hang out with Emma? Aren’t you getting ready to go on that long roadie soon?”

“Nah, she won’t mind. She’s been dying to talk with Taryn about wedding stuff.”

“What about Care? Isn't she getting married too?” Matt asked, trying to play it off casually. “You guys getting married at the same time? Eskimo wedding?”

“Dude, no,” Brady laughed, rolling his eyes. “That would be saying that Emma and Line are Eskimo sisters, which would mean Line got a piece of the better looking Tkachuk.” He smiled, shrugging his shoulders. “Which we all know, she liked me better than you.”

“Please, you hit puberty like 5 years too late.” Matt scoffed, this time being the one to roll his eyes. “I mean, didn’t your balls just drop last week?”

They both laughed and shoved the other, Brady being careful not to mess with Matt too hard because of his shoulder as they reached the bottom step.

“But really, Emma’s wanting the summer wedding when the season’s done.” He replied, looking at Matt. “Line and Jonathan haven’t even set a date yet.”

“Has she said why?” Matt asked, letting Brady walk ahead of him.

“Um, not exactly,” Brady hesitated, shrugging his shoulders. “I think it’s just a hectic time for them with school and stuff.”

“Are you guys done talking or can we play already?” Ethan huffed, already standing on the shooting pad with his hockey stick. “Is talking too much a Tkachuk thing?”

“You’re one to talk, blabbermouth.” Matt laughed as Brady picked up one of the extra sticks they kept at their parents' house. “You talk all the time.”

“That’s just ‘cause I’ve got a lot to say,” Ethan replied, shrugging his shoulders. “Come on Bee-Bee, let’s play horse, Matt can keep score.”

“I don’t know why you’re willingly agreeing to get your butt kicked,” Brady laughed, kicking his leg out at Ethan as Matt dumped the bucket of pucks out.

“No way, I’m gonna win,” Ethan smiled, nodding at Matt. “Matt’s been helping me with my shots.”

“And you can’t even try and say that me helping him won’t do anything, because I helped you when we were kids.” Matt smiled, nudging Brady’s shoulder.

“How? By tanking yours and making me look better?” Brady chirped, giving Matt a sarcastic smile. “Oldest goes, so me first, top right.”

“Is it because you need more time to focus since you’re old?” Ethan asked, leaning against his stick.

“You need a new chirping instructor, they could really use some work,” Brady replied, taking the shot and sinking it through the target. “You’re up little man.”

Matt nudged a puck over to Ethan and watched as he went through the routine that even Matt knew by heart now. Once he finished his routine, he fired a quick shot towards the top right target, sinking it through and turning to Brady with a smile. “I hope you’re ready to lose, cause it won’t be me.”

It took a few rounds before either of them gained a letter and it was Ethan who gained the ‘H’ first with a bounce shot into the bottom right corner. But after that, he was able to keep up with Brady easily, and soon, Brady was the one falling behind and both Matt and Ethan weren’t letting him hear the end of it.

“Hey, Matt? How do you spell horse?” Ethan asked, standing on the shooting pad and juggling the puck.

“H-O-R-S….Brady?” Matt turned to his brother, a smile on his face. “Care to fill in that last letter?”

Brady, being the big sore loser, rolled his eyes as he leaned against his stick. “Shut up, both of you. It’s Thanksgiving, be happy.”

“I will once I win.” Ethan smiled, nodding at the tarp. “Top left.” He took the shot and the puck hit just above the target, only to slide down into the hole.

Ethan walked off of the shooting pad and stood next to Mat as Brady stepped on, picking his puck. “You get a signed Marner jersey and now you think you’re a great shooter?” He scoffed, a heavy hint of sarcasm in his voice as he tried to fight off his smile. He stalled for a few seconds, focusing on the target before taking his shot, hitting just above the hole...but the puck hit the edge of the tarp and fell flat down onto the ground instead.

“E! I WIN!” Ethan cheered, jumping up and down.

“Yeah, yeah, relax,” Brady laughed, shaking his head. “At least I’m not stuck at the kid's table.”

“There is no kids table, Bee-Bee,” Ethan replied, rolling his eyes as Brady ruffled his hair. “Now I get to tell all of my friends about how I beat you in horse.”

“How about you don’t and I get you that signed Krug jersey instead?” Brady smiled.

“...I don’t know,” Ethan replied, resting his arms behind his back and looking at Matt. “What do you think?”

“I say you compromise.” Matt laughed, shrugging his shoulders. “He gets you the Krug jersey and you only tell everyone upstairs that you beat him.”

Ethan nodded and turned to Brady. “Alright, those are my conditions.”

Brady nodded, shaking his hand. “Pleasure doing business with you.”

“Hey, Brady?” Emma’s voice called out. “Can you come up here please? I want you to show your Mom the picture of that tux style you found!”

Brady groaned walking by them. “I’ll see you guys upstairs, duty calls.”

Matt felt relieved as he watched his brother leave, knowing that there was probably a 99% chance that he’ll be able to get all of the answers he wanted from Ethan without anyone trying to switch up the subject.

He turned to Ethan and nodded. “You crossed your fingers, right?”

Ethan brought his right hand from behind his back, his index and middle finger crossed. “Yep. And I’m totally telling all of my friends that I beat him in horse.”

“Perfect,” Matt smiled, giving him a high-five. “Come on, let’s collect the pucks, and then we can work on some stuff before we get called up.”

Ethan got to the tarp before Matt did and lifted the back of it to start scooting the pucks out. Matt put the bucket down and squatted down to help him pick up the pucks so they could get started faster.

“So what do you want to work on now?” Matt asked, picking up five pucks.

“I dunno, really.” He shrugged, scooting out from beneath the tarp. “Can we do flips into the bucket or something?”

“Yeah, sure,” Matt nodded, the two of them walking back up to the shooting pad. Matt emptied the pucks onto the shooting pad before placing the bucket down just in front of him. “You sure this is what you want to do? Food’s almost ready and I can guarantee we’ll be in food comas later to work again.”

“Yeah, this is good,” Ethan replied, picking up a puck with his stick and tossing it into the air before trying to bat it down into the bucket, hitting just the edge. “Hm, too far.”

“You know,” Matt said, nudging another puck towards him. “Next practice I’m staying a bit with Melody to help her work on her backhand shot...do you want to stay too?”

Ethan didn’t look at him as he picked up another puck, but Matt could see by the way he was biting on the inside of his cheek, he wasn’t focusing on the drill. “No, that’s okay.”

He tossed the puck up again and hit it down, this time making it into the bucket.

“How come?”

“I just don’t want to.” Another swing down, but this time he missed. “Dang it.”

He reached for another puck but Matt swatted his stick away with his foot, gaining his attention. “Mind if I ask you something?”

“You just did, but okay.” He replied, shrugging.

“Why don’t you want to move onto backhand shots?” He put his hands in his sweatpants pockets, every so often needing to kick Ethan's blade away from grabbing a new puck. “Your Mom says it’s 'cause you’re scared you won’t be perfect at it.”

“My mom may be a teacher, but that doesn’t mean she knows everything,” Ethan replied, quickly poking his stick by Matt’s foot and snatching a puck.

“So she’s wrong?”

Ethan was silent as he picked up the puck before holding it right over the bucket and dropping it in with a sigh. “No.”

“You know even the greats weren’t perfect in the beginning,” Matt said. “It took tons of practice. The same goes for my Dad, Brady, and me. And you, were you always perfect with your shots or passing?”

“Kind of,” he replied, shrugging his shoulders. “I was better than most kids on my team.”

“Did you like being better?” He could see the hesitance in his response, knowing full well that Caroline probably taught him how to be humble. “You can tell me, it’s fine to be a little cocky every now and then.”

He tried not to laugh as he thought back on all of the times growing up that he’d been on the end of a Caroline Marsh humbling speech.

“Well yeah,” he shrugged leaning against the stick. “Who doesn’t like to be the best?”

“Apparently you since you won’t work on your backhands,” Matt said, reaching out and taking the stick away from Ethan, holding the stick in his right hand as he tried to pick up a puck himself. “How are you supposed to be better if you won’t work on all of your skills?”

He picked the puck up, tossed it, and hit it down into the bucket, making it before holding the stick out to Ethan.“So why don’t you tell me the real reason you’re so adamant on working on skills you’re already great at.”

Ethan grabbed the stick and pulled a puck towards him. “I don’t know, I guess I feel like if I’m perfect at everything, then Jonathan will stop trying to push Baseball onto me.”

Matt furrowed his eyebrows as Ethan lifted the puck and hit it down into the bucket. “You call your Dad by his first name?”

“Jonathan’s not my Dad,” Ethan replied, face scrunched up as he shook his head. “He’s just my Mom’s boyfriend...fiancé now, I guess.”

He lifted another puck, tossing this one a little higher before batting down faster and harder, the puck making it into the bucket. “And he keeps trying to get me to play baseball, but I don’t want to. I want to play hockey, I’m great at hockey.”

“What’s your Mom say?” Matt asked, trying to keep up conversation even though his brain was running in circles.

“She told him I don’t want to, but that doesn’t mean he won’t stop suggesting it.” He tossed another puck, hitting this one even harder. “So, if I’m perfect at everything, she’ll let me stay with hockey.”

“I’ve known your Mom for a really long time, Ethan. There’s no way she’ll ever force you to do something you don’t want to.”

“Yeah but what about when she married Jonathan?” He huffed, leaning against his stick. “Then he’ll be my step-dad and have a say in it and then they’ll fight.” He picks up a puck, “and my Mom hates fighting. So she’ll give in and I’ll be playing baseball.”

He huffed in annoyance and tossed the puck, swinging down at it hard and barely making it into the bucket. Matt walked over to him and grabbed the stick before squatting down to his level.

“Your Mom is a really strong-minded person, she always has been. Trust me, it’s practically impossible to try and get her to change her mind about something.” He reached out and grabbed Ethan's arms. “She loves you and if there’s something I know more than anyone else about her, it’s that she’ll always do what’s right for the one she loves, okay?”

Ethan nodded, looking down at him. “I just want to be really great at hockey. Like Papa Walt, Bee-Bee, and you.”

“You’re already better than I was at your age,” Matt smiled, nodding at him. “Let me help you work on your backhand shot and I guarantee you’ll be living it up in the NHL one day breaking all of our records.”

For a few seconds, Ethan looked unsure. Avoiding any eye contact with Matt after the offer, looking between the pucks and the bucket before finally looking back at Matt, his blue eyes shining as he smiled. “Okay.”

“Great,” Matt smiled, squeezing his arms before standing up. Let’s get some pucks down by the tarp and then we can work on it.”

Ethan nodded and he started to pick up the pucks quickly, even carrying the bucket down to the tarp and not letting Matt help. When Matt joined him down there, Ethan was already waiting to learn.

“So obviously we’re gonna do this shot up close, but at practice, we can try to do it from a distance too if that’s okay.”

“Okay, yeah.” Ethan nodded as Matt brought the bucket towards him and sat down on it, reaching it and tossing a puck down by Ethan’s feet.

“I know you’re probably familiar with this, but we’ll just go over it anyway, okay?” Ethan nodded and Matt leaned forward. “Keep the stick in front of you and the backside of your blade facing the net, yeah good.”

“Now what?”

“Relax,” he laughed, moving the puck over. “Just line the puck up with your front foot and then put your blade right behind it, but keep the blade open a bit.” Ethan did as told and Matt nodded. “Great, now just push down with your top hand and pull up with your bottom.”

Ethan paused like he was trying to understand what Matt was saying, but he soon followed directions, and then the puck went flying up...and over the tarp.

“That wouldn’t go in the net,” Ethan huffed, obvious frustration written on his face. “It’d probably sail over the glass.”

“It’s fine, you might’ve just overdone it a bit. Now just set back up and try again.” He replied, sliding another puck over.

Ethan went over the steps and did it again, this time too soft and the puck barely reached the tarp. “I don’t want to do this.”

“Just try it two more times and if you don’t get either one, we’ll call it a day, okay?” Matt said, sliding another puck over. “This is the part of hockey people don’t see, all the hard work that goes into making those cool shots on the ice.”

“Did you like backhand shots?” He asked, lining the puck up with his front foot.

“Hated them,” Matt laughed, shaking his head. “I couldn’t get them right and it annoyed the hell out of me. But I practiced and I got better and now I can even get a little fancy with it.”

“Like between the legs fancy?” Ethan asked, eyes wide.

“Even fancier. Now come on, two more than we’ll see how you feel.” He replied, nodding at him as Ethan started to set up again. “So do you get to see your Dad often?”

“No,” Ethan replied, looking up from the puck. “I’ve never met him.”

“Your Mom‘s never mentioned him?” He asked, furrowing his eyebrows as Ethan managed to lift the puck up perfectly. “Nice job, that’s what we’re looking for, do it again.”

Ethan nodded and smiled before grabbing another puck and shrugging. “I used to ask about him all the time when I was little, but I could tell that it upset my mom every time I did...so I stopped.”

He went to take the backhand again, only to have it skid across the floor and smack the tarp. “Damn it!” He snapped his head up to Matt, eyes wide. “Please don’t tell my Mom I said that.”

“You’re fine, it’s frustrating I get it.” Matt laughed, picking up another puck and dropping it. “Go again.”

“No, I don’t want to.” He huffed, scooting the pucks he already shot, back towards them. “You said two, I did two and I still suck.”

“Come on, one more.”

Ethan sighed and pushed all the pucks towards Matt except for one, setting it up by his front foot. “I can’t do it.” He said, looking at Matt.

“Obviously,” he replied, rolling his eyes. “But if you don’t practice you never will.”

Ethan pouted before looking back at the puck and bringing the back of his blade to it. Footsteps echoed through the basement before ending just behind them where Jonathan stood.

“Ethan, your mom wants you to come upstairs and wash up, it’s time to eat.”

Ethan looked back at Jonathan, nodding down at the puck. “Can I just do this one backhand? Matt’s teaching me how to do one and—“

“Your Mom asked Ethan,” Jonathan said, shaking his head as he turned to walk away. “Don’t make her ask again.”

Matt could feel the harsh tone in Jonathan’s voice and had an inkling feeling that it was meant more for Matt than Ethan. The dude didn’t even give him a passing glance before leaving the room.

He turned back to Ethan and nodded, motioning for him to move. “Go ahead, what’s a few seconds? Last shot.”

Ethan sighed and shook his head. “No, that’s okay. I don’t want to make my Mom mad. I don’t want to work on this anyway.”

“Okay, then we’ll pick up after we eat and—“

“I don’t want to,” Ethan’s voice was raised, but he shrunk back as his shoulders slumped. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to raise my voice...I do that sometimes when I get really frustrated. My mom’s helping me work on it.”

Matt stood up, shaking his head. “It’s fine buddy, really.” He bent down and started to pick up the pucks, putting them in the bucket. “I get frustrated sometimes too, it’s natural.”

“Can you hold my jersey for me and put it somewhere so I don’t get it dirty?” Ethan asked, picking up the bucket as they walked back to the shooting pad.

“Sure.”

Ethan put the bucket down and brought his arms into the jersey before sliding it up from the bottom, only to have it get stuck on his head or better yet probably whatever was on the necklace he was weaning. “Matt I’m stuck!”

“Hold on,” Matt laughed, grabbing the chain and loosening it from whatever it was caught on before tugging the jersey the rest of the way over Ethan’s head. And in that moment, it felt like the world had stopped.

Matt stared at the golden chain that hung around Ethan’s neck, or rather the pendant that dangled from it. It was two sticks crossed to make an X, one was a hockey stick, the other a field hockey stick and between the open spaces at the top...was the number 7. Like the chain, the pendant was gold and as far as Matt knew...there wasn’t another one out there like it– considering he had the one he gave Caroline custom-made.

Custom-made and given to her as a Christmas, a nod to their shared jersey number, both of their sports, and the fact that they’d both made Varsity in their respective sports their freshman year of high school months earlier.

A gift he gave to her...twelve years ago.

“Hey, what’s that?” Matt asked, nodding at the necklace and trying to hide the fact that he already knew.

Ethan looked down and picked up the pendant before looking back at Matt. “Oh, my Mom gave it to me for my birthday last year. She said my Dad gave it to her when they were younger.”

It was like someone had dumped ice water onto him, just how fast his entire body ran cold and the air left his lungs.

“Ethan, sweetie! Come up here please!” Caroline called out.

“Coming, Momma!” Ethan replied, brushing by Matt and stopping in the doorway. “Hey, Matt? Are you coming?”

Matt took a slow and heavy breath, nodding. “Oh yeah, go ahead I’ll just put this away for you.” He turned around, holding the jersey in his hands. “Hey, Ethan? How old are you?”

“I turn 8 next month.” He replied, looking away from him. “I’ll see you up there, maybe I can sit next to you this year.”

He watched Ethan disappear around the corner and then heard his footsteps echo as he ran up the stairs. Matt couldn’t move, he couldn’t breathe– it felt like he was trapped in a room where all the air had been sucked out and the walls were closing in. The only thing he could even focus on was Ethan’s voice echoing around his brain.

“She said my Dad gave it to her when they were younger.”

He closed his eyes, shaking his head as the events from the last few weeks all came into play. How Brady reacted with nervous interest when Matt had told him he met Ethan. The nicknames Ethan had for Matt’s siblings and parents– nicknames you’d give someone of close family relation or blood relation. Why Caroline looked like she wanted to vomit that day in Wal-Mart when they ran into each other– the shared looks between her, Susan, and his Mom.

Why his Mom never went into detail about Caroline’s relationship with Jonathan or mentioned Ethan’s father. Ethan’s eyes and curls– Matt’s eyes and curls. The way his Dad had taken Ethan under his wing...the look he gave Matt when Matt said Ethan was six...because Ethan wasn’t six.

He was turning eight next month.

It all made sense.

“Hey, we’re setting the table, Mom wants you to come upstairs.” Matt turned around to see Brady leaning in the doorway. He thought back on when he asked Brady how long he’d known Ethan and he told him since he was a few months old, but his parents knew longer.

They’ve known all along that Ethan was his. All of them. They knew and they never told him...not for eight years.

“Dude, you okay?” Brady asked, furrowing his brows.

“Oh, uh yeah,” Matt nodded, holding up the jersey. “Just gonna put this up for Ethan real quick, I’ll be right there.”

Brady nodded and left the room, making his way upstairs. Matt followed him up soon after, keeping a distance between them. When he reached the top of the stairs, he walked out of the hall and rounded into the living room. He could hear the laughter of everyone as they walked around and got settled in the dining room just around another corner. He could see the smiles on their faces as they were finishing setting up the table and he just felt sick. Caroline came walking out of the kitchen and turned down the hall, not seeing him standing there by the couch.

He placed the jersey on the back of the couch and walked down the hall just as Caroline walked into the bathroom and closed the door. He came to a stop outside of the door, feeling the adrenaline race through his body as he held up a closed fist to knock on the door. Instead, he slowly lowered it and stood against the wall directly across and waited. When he heard the toilet flush, followed by the sink water, his heart started to race again and he even felt a little dizzy like he could pass out at any moment.

The door opened and Caroline stepped out into the hallway, shocked before she laughed. “Geez Matt, you scared me.”

He clenched his jaw, unable to get the words stuck in his throat out as he felt his anger start to build. He stared at her, racking his brain in trying to find a way to ask her calmly– but there was nothing calm about this situation, about what she did.

“Is everything okay?” She asked, furrowing her eyebrows as genuine concern crossed her delicate features.

“No,” he said, his teeth clenched as he took a deep breath and exhaled.

“What’s–”

“What the fuck, Caroline?” He tried not to sound so harsh, but he couldn’t help it. There was only so much he could hold back of the anger that he was feeling. He looked down the hall to make sure that no one had heard him.

“Excuse me?” She gasped, shocked at his tone and looking just as confused.

“Don’t give me that bullshit,” Matt laughed sarcastically, shaking his head.

“Matt, I don’t know–”

“I saw the necklace. The one Ethan’s wearing,” he said, motioning down the hall and nodding at her as she stared at him in silence. “You know, the same exact one that I gave you for Christmas Freshman year.” She was still silent as he walked towards her. “He said you gave it to him and told him that his Dad gave it to you. His Dad, Caroline.”

She had backed herself up to the wall, looking down the hall as the fear...and maybe even guilt crossed over her.

“Look at me!” He yelled softly, the anger riddled in his voice as he glared at her. When she finally looked at him, he let out a small sigh as he felt his body start to shake, his voice weak. “Eight years, Caroline. You hid him from me for eight years–”

She shook her head as the sounds of their families in the dining room echoed to the hall. “I’m not doing this with you.” She moved away from the wall and started to walk away when Matt grabbed her wrist.

“Like hell, you’re not!” He whispered, tugging her back as she tried to get away.

“Not here, Matthew,” she looked down the hall and then back at him, her features hardened. “Not now.”

“Oh, hey, sorry I just wanted to go to the bathroom.” They both looked towards the end of the hall to see Andrew standing there, looking at them both. “Is everything okay?”

Caroline snatched her wrist from Matt’s grasp and gave him a look before nodding at Andrew and sighing. “Everything’s fine.”

Andrew slowly walked down the hall towards Matt and stopped just by the bathroom door. The moment Matt made eye contact with him, he saw the smile fall off his face as he sighed. “You know.”

“Yeah, I fucking know,” Matt replied, shoving by him as he stormed down the hall and made his way into the dining room.

He sat down in the empty seat between Taryn and Brady, seeing that Ethan was sitting between Keith and Caroline, with Jonathan to her right. Everyone was talking amongst themselves, waiting for Andrew to come back and join the table. Matt just looked down at his lap as his feet started to bounce against the floor and he clasped his hands together, squeezing them as he clenched his jaw– the adrenaline and anger flowing through his body at levels he’d only ever experienced when he was in the middle of a game on the ice.

But it wasn’t like he could just check anyone into the boards right now. One, there were no boards to check them into and two, it would ruin the whole mood of Thanksgiving...not that it wasn’t already ruined anyway.

“Alright, now that Andrew’s back, how about we start with our normal tradition of having everyone go around the table and say what they’re thankful for.” Chantal smiled, taking a sip of her water. “I’ll go first and I just want to say that I’m thankful that we’re all here, happy and healthy and surrounded by love and friendship. Taryn, sweetie, you go next.”

“I’m thankful to be able to come home this year for Thanksgiving and everyone at the table.” She said, nodding down the table. “Emma, you can go.”

While he focused his vision from person to person as they spoke, their words went on deaf ears. How could any of them say that they were thankful for friends and family and love and all of that other bullshit? How could they all go on acting like they haven’t all been keeping the biggest secret from him? How they kept it and didn’t even seem the least bit bothered by it?

“Um...I’m thankful for hockey, food, family, my Mom…” Ethan pursed his lips as he looked up as if he was trying to remember the list of items. “And pie...yeah, pie.” His eyes landed on Matt and he smiled. “I pick, Matt.”

He tried not to wince at the sound of hearing his name come out of his mouth– his son’s mouth. He took a long sip of the sangria he had poured himself and sighed, looking around at the table of...well, liars. . “I’m thankful for food and Mom’s sangria.” He met Caroline’s eyes and nodded before looking to his left. “Jonathan, knock yourself out.”

Literally.

From the moment he spoke his piece, it was like everything was one big blur. Food got passed around as they all made their plates. Everyone partaking in conversation with one another, no matter where they sat. He had to listen to his parents and Caroline’s parents talk about all the times and trouble the kids got into when they were growing up. The embarrassing moments, the fun times.

How one time they caught Caroline and Matt sneaking in from a party when they were 16 because Taryn had accidentally let it slip that Brady was covering for them. How Brady, when he was 10, had picked flowers from the neighbors garden for Caroline and gave them to her on Valentine's Day. Another when Andrew had accidentally lost Taryn’s favorite stuffed animal at the lake house and tried to give her one of his.

He focused on the interactions between Brady and Ethan, Taryn and Ethan– hell, Ethan and everyone and with each passing second he soaked it all in– it killed him. Everyone here at this table had eight years of memories with him. Eight years of conversations. Eight years of seeing him grow up, hitting all of his big milestones and firsts. Eight years of knowing that Matt was his father.

And he had none. He didn’t have eight years of memories. He missed all of the firsts– words, smile, laugh, steps– he was the last person to even know that Ethan was his son. That he had even had a son.

So more than once, he caught himself glaring at Caroline, and more than once, she had caught him and knew of the anger he was feeling.

When the meal ended and everyone started to help clean up before following Keith and Richard into the living room for football and a nap, Matt was still sitting at the table, distancing himself from them all. Eventually, he got up and scraped whatever leftovers he had on his plate, into the trashcan before helping his Mom load the dishes. He excused himself to the bathroom and locked himself in there, leaning against the counter and trying to calm himself down.

He felt like he was going to throw up his food at any given moment.

After splashing water onto his face and cooling himself off, he left the bathroom and started to walk down the hall, stopping once he heard Caroline speak.

“No, Chantal it’s fine. I just forgot the pies at home, I’ll be right back.” He watched as she walked by the hall, not bothering to look down it before heading towards the front door.

When he heard the door close, he walked out of the hallway and back into the kitchen where his Mom was putting lids on the packaged leftovers. “Oh great, you’re here,” she smiled, patting his arm. “I was going to ask Brady but since you’re right here, I’ll just have you go. Can you go help Caroline carry the pies? I don’t want her to have to walk by herself, block away or not.”

He nodded, not saying a word as he turned around and walked out of the kitchen and then the house. The crisp fall air practically smacking him in the face as he felt his heart race with each step he took towards Caroline’s place. He had his hands buried in his pockets and an agenda on his mind, the adrenaline rushing through him being more than enough to give him the courage when he knocked on her door.

The door opened and he saw her with her back turned. “I didn’t need any help, Chantal–” she turned around and paused once she saw that he was standing there.

He only let the silence sit for a few moments, trying to push back his anger as he took a deep breath and exhaled. “He’s mine, isn’t he?”

Tears were quickly building in her eyes as the sadness and guilt washed over her. She never took her eyes off his as she nodded and whispered, “yes.”

He nudged the door the rest of the way open as she stepped aside, letting him walk into the house. He closed the door behind him and turned towards her. “Tell me everything, now.”

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superman86to99 · 3 years

Photo

Superman #85 (January 1994)

Cat Grant in... "DARK RETRIBUTION"! Which is like normal retribution, but somehow darker. On the receiving end of Cat's darktribution is Winslow Schott, the Toyman, who suddenly changed his MO from "pestering Superman with wacky robots" to "murdering children" back on Superman #84, with one of his victims being Cat's young son Adam. Now Cat has a gun and intends to sneak it into prison to use it on Toyman. She's also pretty pissed at Superman for taking so long to find Toyman after Adam’s death (to be fair, Superman did lose several days being frozen in time by an S&M demon, as seen in Man of Steel #29).

So how did Superman find Toyman anyway? Basically, by spying on like 25% of Metropolis. After finding out from Inspector Turpin that the kids were killed near the docks, Superman goes there and focuses all of his super-senses to get "a quick glimpse of every person" until he sees a bald, robed man sitting on a giant crib, and goes "hmmm, yeah, that looks like someone who murders children." At first, Superman doesn't understand why Toyman would do such a horrible thing, but then Schott starts talking to his mommy in his head and the answer becomes clear: he watched Psycho too many times (or Dan Jurgens did, anyway).

Immediately after wondering why no one buys his toys, Toyman makes some machine guns spring out of his giant crib. I don't know, man, maybe it's because they're all full of explosives and stuff? Anyway, Toyman throws a bunch of exploding toys at Superman, including a robot duplicate of himself, but of course they do nothing. Superman takes him to jail so he can get the help he needs -- which, according to Cat, is a bullet to the face. Or so it seems, until she gets in front of him, pulls the trigger, and...

PSYCHE! It was one of those classic joke guns I’ve only ever seen in comics! Cat says she DID plan to bring a real gun, but then she saw one of these at a toy store and just couldn't resist. Superman, who was watching the whole thing, tells Cat she could get in trouble for this stunt, but he won't tell anyone because she's already been through enough. Then he asks her if she needs help getting home and she says no, because she wants to be more self-sufficient.

I think that's supposed to be an inspiring ending, but I don't know... Adam's eerie face floating in the background there makes me think she's gonna shave her head and climb into a giant crib any day, too. THE END!

Character-Watch:

Cat did become more self-sufficient after this, though. Up to now, all of her storylines seemed to revolve around other people: her ex-husband, Morgan Edge, José Delgado, Vinnie Edge, and finally Toyman. After this, I feel like there was a clear effort to turn her into a character that works by herself. I actually like what they did with Cat in the coming years, though I still don’t think they had to kill her poor kid to do that -- they could have sent him off to boarding school, or maybe to live with his dad. Or with José Delgado, over at Power of Shazam! I bet Jerry Ordway would have taken good care of him.

Plotline-Watch:

Wait, so can Superman just find anyone in Metropolis any time he wants? Not really: this is part of the ongoing storyline about his powers getting boosted after he came back from the dead, which sounds pretty useful now but is about to get very inconvenient.

Don Sparrow points out: "It is interesting that as Superman tries to capture Schott, he at one point instead captures a robot decoy, particularly knowing what Geoff Johns will retroactively do to this storyline in years to come, in Action Comics #865, as we mentioned in our review of Superman #84." Johns also explained that the robot thought he was hearing his mother's voice due to the real Toyman trying to contact him via radio, which I prefer to the "psycho talks to his dead mom" cliche.

Superman says "I never thought he'd get to the point where he'd KILL anyone -- especially children!" Agreed about the children part but, uh, did Superman already forget that Toyman murdered a whole bunch people on his very first appearance, in Superman #13? Or does Superman not count greedy toy company owners as people? Understandable, I guess.

There's a sequence about Cat starting a fire in a paper basket at the prison to sneak past the metal detector, but why do that if she had a toy gun all long? Other than to prevent smartass readers like us from saying "How did she get the gun into the prison?!" before the plot twist, that is.

Patreon-Watch:

Shout out to our patient Patreon patrons, Aaron, Murray Qualie, Chris “Ace” Hendrix, britneyspearsatemyshorts, Patrick D. Ryall, Bheki Latha, Mark Syp, Ryan Bush, Raphael Fischer, Dave Shevlin, and Kit! The latest Patreon-only article was about another episode of the 1988 Superman cartoon written by Marv Wolfman, this one co-starring Wonder Woman (to Lois' frustration).

Another Patreon perk is getting to read Don Sparrow's section early, because he usually finishes his side of these posts long before I do (he ALREADY finished the next one, for instance). But now this one can be posted in public! Take it away, Don:

Art-Watch (by @donsparrow):

We begin with the cover, and it’s a good one— an ultra tight close up for Cat Grant firing a .38 calibre gun, with the titular Superman soaring in, perhaps too late. An interesting thing to notice in this issue (and especially on the cover) is that the paper stock that DC used for their comics changed, so slightly more realistic shading was possible. While it’s nowhere near the sophistication or gloss of the Image Comics stock of the time, there is an attempt at more realistic, airbrushy type shading in the colour. It works well in places, like the muzzle flash, on on Cat Grant’s cheeks and knuckles, but less so in her hair, where the shadow looks a browny green on my copy.

The interior pages open with a pretty good bit of near-silent storytelling. We are deftly shown, and not told the story—there are condolence cards and headlines, and the looming presence of a liquor bottle, until we are shown on the next page splash the real heart of the story, a revolver held aloft by Catherine Grant, bereaved mother, with her targeting in her mind the grim visage of the Toyman.

While their first few issues together meshed pretty well, it’s around this issue that the pencil/inks team of Jurgens and Rubinstein starts to look a little rushed in places. A few inkers who worked with Jurgens that I’ve spoken to have hinted that his pencils can vary in their level of detail, from very finished to pretty loose, and in the latter case, it’s up to the inker to embellish where there’s a lack of detail. Some inkers, like Brett Breeding, really lay down a heavier hand, where there’s quite a bit of actual drawing work in addition to adding value and weight to the lines. I suspect some of the looseness in the figures, as well as empty backgrounds reveals that these pencils were less detailed than we often see from Jurgens.

There’s some weird body language in the tense exchange between Superman and Cat as she angrily confronts him about his lack of progress in capturing her son’s killer—Superman looks a little too dynamic and pleased with himself for someone ostensibly apologizing. Superman taking flight to hunt down Toyman is classic Jurgens, though.

Another example of art weirdness comes on page 7, where Superman gets filled in on the progress of the Adam Morgan investigation. Apparently Suicide Slum has some San Francisco-like hills, as that is one very steep sidewalk separating Superman and Turpin from some central-casting looking punks.

The sequence of Superman concentrating his sight and hearing on the waterfront area is well-drawn, and it’s always nice to see novel uses of his powers. Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman does a similar trick quite often on the excellent first season of Superman & Lois. The full-bleed splash of Superman breaking through the wall to capture Toyman is definitely panel-of-the-week material, as we really feel Superman’s rage and desperation to catch this child-killer.

Pretty much all the pages with Cat Grant confronting Winslow Schott are well-done and tensely paced. While sometimes I think the pupil-less flare of the eye-glasses is a cop-out, it does lend an opaqueness and mystery to what Toyman is thinking. Speaking of cop-outs, the gag gun twist ending really didn’t work for me. I was glad that Cat didn’t lower herself to Schott’s level and become a killer, even for revenge, but the prank gun just felt too silly of a tonal shift for a storyline with this much gravitas. The breakneck denouement that Cat is now depending only on herself didn’t get quite enough breathing room either.

While I appreciated that the ending of this issue avoided an overly simplistic, Death Wish style of justice, this issue extends this troubling but brief era of Superman comics. The casual chalk outlines of yet two more dead children continues the high body count of the previous handful of issues, and the tone remains jarring to me. The issue is also self-aware enough to point out, again, that Schott is generally an ally of children, and not someone who historically wishes them harm, but that doesn’t stop the story from going there, in the most violent of terms. In addition to being a radical change to the Toyman character, it’s handled in a fashion more glib than we’re used to seeing in these pages. The mental health cliché of a matriarchal obsession, a la Norman Bates doesn’t elevate it either. So, another rare misstep from Jurgens the writer, in my opinion. STRAY OBSERVATIONS:

I had thought for sure that Romanove Vodka was a sly reference to a certain Russian Spy turned Marvel superhero, but it turns out there actually is a Russian Vodka called that, minus the “E”, produced not in Russia, as one might think from the Czarist name, but rather, India.

While it made for an awkward exchange, I was glad that Cat pointed out how her tragedy more or less sat on the shelf while Superman dealt with the "Spilled Blood" storyline. A lesser book might not have acknowledged any time had passed. Though I did find it odd for Superman to opine that he wanted to find her son’s murderer even more than she wanted him to. Huh? How so?

I love the detail that Toyman hears the noise of Superman soaring to capture him, likening it to a train coming.

I quibble, but there’s so much I don’t understand about the “new” Toyman. If he’s truly regressing mentally, to an infant-like state, why does he wear this phantom of the opera style long cloak while he sits in his baby crib? Why not go all the way, and wear footie pajamas, like the lost souls on TLC specials about “adult babies”?

I get that Cat Grant is in steely determination mode, but it seemed a little out of place that she had almost no reaction to the taunting she faced from her child’s killer. She doesn’t shed a single tear in the entire issue, and no matter how focused she is on vengeance, that doesn’t seem realistic to me. [Max: That's because this is not just retribution, Don. It's dark retribution. We’ve been over this!]

#superman #dan jurgens #joe rubinstein #cat grant #adam morgan #toyman #dan turpin #joke guns that only exist in comics #cat grant the dark retributor #coming soon to image comics

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duncanxtrent · 3 years

Text

The Punks vs the Parents

(A quick none ABC related Duncan story based on a wondeful prompt by @trash-that-loves-total-drama. Go follow them for more good Duntrent stuff ;) Anyways on with the story)

(Also for context, Trent, Geoff, Katie, Sadie, and DJ all also attend the daycare along with the other kids)

*insert Baps and Beeps by the TDR kiddos intro here*

“UGH!!!!” Duncan screamed

Duncan stormed into the daycare. Visibly angrier than normal.

“What in the world?” DJ glances at him confused.

Duncan just storms to his time out corner and quietly crouches in the corner.

“Are you ok, dude?” Trent asks

“NO IM CLEARLY NOT OK!!!” Duncan shouts.

“What’s going on?” Beth asks

“My parents are coming over…” Duncan mumbles.

“They are?!?!” Beth shouts in excitement.

“EEEEEEEEEE!!!!” Owen squeals wearing a lot of Banana and Cheese merch.

“Oh great… Another cringy concert…” Gwen groans.

“What? No! Those guys aren’t my parents anymore…” Duncan counters.

“WHAT?!?!” Everyone screams.

“What happened?” Owen cries out in sadness.

“Well…” Duncan trails off.

FLASHBACK

“Letting your child set off several kilograms off explosives?! Leaving your child alone for months at a time?!?! Leaving the child with only 2 weeks of supplies in food per month?!” The social workers screamed.

“What? We needed money for props!” Cheese explains.

“Yeah.. And besides I don’t think it was that bad!” Banana adds.

“Your son is literally in the hospital after collapsing of exhaustion and starvation…” The child care worker sighs.

Banana and Cheese just look down at their feet.

FLASHBACK END

“Oh so that’s why you weren’t here Monday through Thursday!” Beth concludes.

“Yeah, I was in foster care for about 2 weeks before a new pair of parents adopted me. A pair of local cops…” Duncan explains.

“That doesn’t sound so bad!” Trent says

“It’s just… Listen I don’t want them coming…” Duncan sighs.

“Well we can try and stop them. I’d be glad to help!” Trent offers.

“And this is why you’re my best bro!” Duncan says clapping Trent on the back. “Let’s do this!”

The two of them quietly sneak into Chefs office. They pay Owen some cookies to distract Chef while Trent messes around with the computer.

“Alright what should we do?” He asks

“How about you shut down some traffic lights? That should cause some chaos!” Duncan offers.

“Sounds like a plan!” Trent types some things into the keyboard and shuts down some traffic lights in the neighborhood.

Meanwhile

Jackson eagerly bounced up and down in the police car as June quietly drove to the daycare.

“I’m so excited! Visiting my son in the Daycare, and getting to present to his class! I can’t wait to see him.” Jackson excitedly cheered

“We’ll be there in a bit. Just be patient.” June explains.

“Do you think we’ll meet this infamous Trent he’s always going on about?” He asks

“Probably… Not many people were absent today…” June explains

“Oh I can’t wait to meet him. He sounds amazing from the way my son described him.” Jackson sighed.

Suddenly the radio in their car went off.

“All units we have a traffic light shut down on the corner of Maizono and Kuwata. Please call in to direct traffic.” The police chief reports.

“What?! Come on!!!” Jackson shouts.

“That’s awfully inconvenient.” June mumbles.

“UGH!!! And just when we were going to see him too!” Jackson cries planting his face into the dashboard.

June looks at the map and sees the daycare is only a couple blocks away.

“Hey Honey do you think you could run today?” She asks

“Yeah why?” He asks sitting up.

“Well what say I go handle the incident with the traffic lights. And you go run to meet our son at the daycare.” June offers.

“Really?! You mean it?!” Jake asks excitedly.

“Just be careful ok?” June smooches Jake on the cheek.

“I will! Thanks!” Jake says hopping out of the car. June drives off to handle the traffic incident while Jake begins running back to the daycare.

Back at the daycare

“Seems like THEYRE on their way to deal with it. They shouldn’t be around for the whole day!” Trent explains.

“Awesome! Thanks dude!” He says quickly hugging Trent before retracting and hopping down.

Duncan begins humming and walking back to the main room when the door bell rings.

“I’ll get it!” Chef calls approaching th door.

“Probably the mail man…” Duncan assumes.

Chef opens the door and wouldn’t you know it? Jake is standing there patiently waiting to get inside!

“Mr. Fuego! A pleasure to see you!” Chef waves.

Duncan stops in his tracks.

“I-I’m sure it’s another-“ Duncan is cut off.

“DUNCAAAAAANNN!!!!!” Jake runs past Chef and immediately picks ups and squeezes his son in a hug. Duncan struggles to get out but eventually reluctantly accepts and hugs him back.

Jake sets him back down and Jackson crouches down. “How ya been little dude?!” He asks excitedly.

“How’d you get here so fast?” Duncan asks in retaliation.

“Your mother and I were supposed to help with a traffic problem but she offered to take care of it while I ran here.” Jake explains.

“How nice…” Duncan mumbles, red in the face.

“You ok little dude? The summer heat getting to you?” He asks

“No no… Everythings cool Dad…” Duncan stutters.

“Ah good! Wouldn’t want anything happening to my little buddy!” He says ruffling Duncan’s hair.

He stands up and turns to Chef. “How’s my son been doing?” He ask

“That’s actually what I invited you to talk about.” Chef explains

Jake looks at him with a questioning face. Chef leads Jake to his office and sets Jake down in the chair in front of his desk.

“What’s going on?” He asks

“Your son is an absolute menace in our school! He’s constantly setting off explosives! Bullying the other kids! And he’s always destroying things!” Chef explains.

“What?!?! That doesn’t sound like him at all!!!” Jake says genuinely shocked.

“You mean he doesn’t experience this behavior at home?” Chef says obviously expecting that he does.

“No! He’ll knock things down on one rare occasion when he’s running around, and he’ll usually apologize for ti even. And whenever other kids are over he’s always incredibly nice playing with them! The parents even confirmed this!” Jake explains.

“See exa- Wait HUH?!” Chef says clearly shocked.

“Did you really come here to lie to me about my son, Mr.Chef? I’ll have you know I can easily arrest you for that.” Jake glares.

“N-no! Your son always exhibits this behavior at school! I don’t know why he doesn’t do it at home!” Chef explains.

“You’re sure?”

“Yes!” Chef insists

Jake sits back down “Well then if you would like I wouldn’t mind observing your classroom for a bit to see this ‘behavior’ you claim he has.”

“Ok sure! I could use the extra hand.” Chef offers.

Jake nods and walks outside the office to observe the kids.

Outside, Duncan was fully prepared to knock over Cody’s tower. But sees his dad mid way and stops and turns around quietly.

Cody turns around looking confused.

Transition

Later the kiddos are eating lunch together when Beth accidentally trips Duncan over.

“Oh my god I’m so sorry…” Beth shouts.

Duncan quietly gets up and Beth expected a violent response but instead Duncan simply reached out his hand.

“It’s fine! Everyone makes mistakes!” Duncan says shrugging.

Duncan just quietly walks over and begins eating his lunch, which was thankfully I damaged due to the fact that it was still in his lunchbox. But Beth just looked at him confused.

“Huh?”

Another transition

The kids are quietly finger painting, and Courtney ‘accidentally’ spilled some paint on Duncan.

“Oops… Sorry…” Courtney says sneakily.

Duncan growls for a minute but then takes a deep breath and faces Courtney.

“Can you please be more careful next time? I like this shirt.” Duncan asks shockingly polite.

Courtney just looked at him confused.

“Im going to go clean up…” Duncan walks off to clean up in the bathroom.

“What the?” Courtney stares at him confused.

And another transition because TDR moves fast

All the kids are quietly napping away and Trent approaches Duncan, quietly scooting up next to him.

“Dude what’s going on?” He ask

“What do you mean?” Duncan asks

“You’ve been incredibly well behaved the entire time we’ve been here. What’s going on?!” Trent says clearly confused.

“I just wanted to not break the rules! What’s the problem with that?” Duncan shrugs.

“Yes but that’s the attitude you NEVER have!! What’s going on?” Trent asks

Duncan looks around for a moment. Then sighs and gets up quietly.

“Follow me…” Duncan asks.

Trent gets up and the two of them head to the bathroom where Jake can’t see them. Then Duncan turns to Trent.

“Listen… I’m trying to be on my best behavior for my dad. Ok? I don’t want him to know that I’m this thug punk guy that beats people up on the daily.” Duncan explains.

“Why? Just because he’s a cop doesn’t mean he’ll hate you if you’re a thug…” Trent explains.

“No! That’s not it! It’s just…” Duncan sighs “Dad and Mom were way better than Banana and Cheese were. They actually gave me attention! They never abandoned me or had me cook my own food just because they were busy. They helped me! They cared for me. Yes they punished me which is a little unfortunate but the punishments weren’t ever extreme. The worse I ever got was having to clean out the toilets for a couple days. And even then they helped me by showing me how to do it. Dad and Mom, they are the only adults I actually trust. And I don’t want them to think I’m just a bad kid who just puts on a show for them for the sake of getting love and cookies or whatever. I love them… I love them too much to betray them…” Duncan begins noticeably crying.

“Dude… Are you ok?” Trent asks reaching a hand out.

“IM NOT CRYING YOURE CRYING!!!” Duncan sniffles.

“Hey dude it’s ok…” Trent reaches around and hugs Duncan. Duncan quietly hugs him back.

“It’s fine dude… If you wanna start changing your ways. I’ll be by your side no matter what…” Trent says patting Duncan’s back.

Duncan lets go. “Thanks…” He mumbles wiping his eyes.

“Should we head back now?” Trent asks

Duncan nods and the two of them open the bathroom door…

To find Jake standing outside the door, with tears streaming down his face.

“Ah nuts…” Trent mutters.

“Dad… I-“ Duncan gets cut off by Jake picking up Duncan and pulling him into a hug. This time Duncan only has a slight hesitation before pulling his Dad into a hug as well. The two of them sit there quietly hugging as Trent stands by and awkwardly watches.

“You really love me that much?” Jake mumbles.

“Of course I do. I love you so much, Dad. I don’t wanna hurt you…” Duncan responds.

“I love you too…” He says hugging him harder.

Finally Jake sets down Duncan and wipes his eyes. “I get it though. You always loved to play the villain. It’s not necessarily good for you, but if it’s what you want to do that fine with me. Just don’t do anything highly destructive, ok? And nothing majorly emotional damaging obviously. Basically just don’t go too big.” Jake explains.

“Ok Dad…” Duncan hugs Jakes leg before wandering back to the nap room. Trent gets up to do the same but Jake stops him.

“So you’re the Trent I’ve heard so much about!” Jake says smiling.

“Hmm?” Trent looks at him confused.

Jake crouches down. “Duncan talks about you all the time at home. He considers you his best friend, I’d almost say he loves you. He really is a good kid at heart, I want you to know that.”

“I’ve always known that…” Trent chuckles.

“Good. You seem like a good friend for my son. Hope to keep seeing you around.” Jake says ruffling Trents hair and standing up.

“Thanks…” Trent is about to walk back but stops.

“One more thing…” Trent says turning around. “Do you have any embarrassing photos of him?” Trent asks

“Whaddya mean?” Jake asks

“Like photos of him being cute or dorky or stuff that isn’t cool or villainous or whatever.” Trent explains further.

“Ooh! Yes actually I have the perfect photo I’ve wanted to show for a long time.” Jake explains.

Jake pulls out his phone and scrolls through his photo till he finds the photo in question. He crouches down again and shows Trent the photo. In the photo, A starry eyed Duncan is clinging to Jake’s arms in a white shirt with red sleeves smiling giddily as Jake smiles back at him. The photo was presumably taken by June.

“That is so cute. I love it.” Trent laughs.

“He’s so cute isnt he?” Jake smiles.

“He is! Anyways that’s all! Have a good day Mr.Fuego!” Trent says wandering off.

“You too!” Jake says waving.

(End)

#duncan td #total dramarama #not Duntrent #for once lol #Duncan hates not being a bad boy #but really loves his parents #for some context #June is his mother’s name #and Jackson is his fathers name #I just realized #I took the prompt for like a minute #and then started doing my own thing #uh whoops

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electricskelly · 4 years

Text

Promise Me (pt.1 for NaNoWriMo!!)

This is based of @miafic ‘s MIA universe! well... the foster AU part of it anyway. Hope you enjoy!!

(1169 words)

“Daddy, Daddy!” Awsten shouted as he ran towards Geoff with a big grin on his face.

It had rained the day prior, so Awsten was clad in his Paw Patrol Sweater, and froggy rainboots. Geoff smiled despite himself when he noticed the young boy purposely running through the puddles left behind from the precipitation. He had explained to Awsten earlier in the day that running though every puddle he saw isn’t necessary, but to that, Awsten had simply exclaimed, ‘the puddles need to have fun too, duh!’ and that was that.

“I have a surprise for you!” he shouted with excitement.

“A surprise?” Geoff questioned with amusement.

“Mhm! You get to come to my school tomorrow and we’re going to- “Awsten cut himself off, quickly placing his hands over his mouth, eyes wide. “Wait, I’m not supposed to tell youuu!” He sing-songed, hugging Geoff’s legs.

“Is that so? I suppose I will just have to find out tomorrow then, won’t I?” Geoff hummed, removing Awsten’s arms from around his legs so he could pick up the small boy. “Shall we make our way home now?”

Geoff could feel Awsten nodding against his shoulder. “I have to tell Tuna what I’m gonna do, she’s really good at keeping secrets.”

Geoff could practically feel his heart swelling in his chest. The immense amount of adoration he gathered for Awsten in the last few months always hits him at the oddest of times. He never thought he would be a father, but he’s so glad to have Awsten in his life.

As they walked towards Geoff’s car, he felt Awsten pull away from his shoulder, narrowed eyes demanding his attention.

“Is there something wrong?”

Awsten scrunched his face cutely before placing his hands on either side of Geoff’s face, squishing his cheeks together momentarily. “Nope! Just wanted to say I love you!” He giggled quietly, looking proud of himself.

Geoff smiled softly and replied, “And I you, Awsten.”

Awsten’s surprise wasn’t what Geoff expected, to say the least. Not that he had many expectations to begin with, but it completely slipped his mind that it was Father’s Day. With his tiny hand clasping Geoff’s larger one, a very bouncy Awsten lead Geoff to a table with several chairs, some big, and some smaller. He had been filled with pent up energy the entire morning, so much so that he was too excited to eat breakfast. Instead, Geoff decided he would take Awsten out to a diner after school as a treat.

Once all the parents and children had arrived, the teacher began explaining the activity. Awsten couldn’t keep stilling, tapping his feet against the floor, or fiddling with the art supplies laid out on the table.

Geoff soon learned that the kids were going to be decorating rocks with their dads for Father’s Day, which was the cause of Awsten’s excitement.

“See,” Awsten whispered loudly, “This is the surprise! Ours is gonna be the most cool.”

Geoff smiled, but shushed Awsten, quietly telling him to wait until his teacher was done talking.

A few minutes later, they were allowed to begin decorating their rocks. “Okay, so I was thinking we could make Tuna! Cause she’s cool, and she didn’t tell you what the surprise was.”

“I think that that is a fine idea, Awsten. Where would you like to begin?”

Awsten squinted his eyes for a few seconds before his face lit up. “We need to paint our rock first, Daddy. The rock is brown, but Tuna is grey. It would be… like, muddy Tuna!” Awsten laughed, imagining Tuna all covered in mud, ears plastered to her head with discontentment.

And with that, the two began creating Tuna. Awsten painted the rock while Geoff cut some pieces of white and grey pipe cleaners, bending them to make ears, whiskers, and a tail. Occasionally, he glanced over at Awsten to see how he was doing. One second, Awsten was painting with the paintbrushes provided to them, and the next, he was dipping his hands into the paper plate of grey paint, using them to cover the rock.

“Awsten, whatever are you doing?” Awsten’s head snapped up fast, eyes wide with the realization that he had been caught red handed. He smiled sheepishly, once he saw the small, albeit confused, smile on Geoff’s face.

“The brush was taking too long, and I couldn’t reach the bottom of the rock, so I used my hands.” He explained, as if the reason he was using his hands should have been obvious.

Geoff sighed softly, standing up from his chair. “Now you need to wash your hands, Honeybee. I would not like for you to get paint on your shirt.” Geoff motions for Awsten to stand, and the two make their way over to a small sink located near the corner of the classroom.

Awsten quietly sang baby shark under his breath to make sure he washed his hands for long enough, Geoff mumbling the ‘doo doo doo’s’ along with him.

Once Awsten’s hands were clean, they returned to the table. “Now we need to give her big googley eyes!”

“Shall we glue on her eyes before these?” Geoff gestured towards the pipe cleaner bits.

“Her eyes are the bestest part, so we have to do them first so everything else will be good too.” Awsten nods his head seriously, examining the different sizes of eyes laid out on the table.

“Of course, I had not yet thought of that.” Geoff shook his head and held back from correcting him.

The pair carried on with their project in comfortable silence, other than when Awsten would let out a small ‘aww’ at how cute Tuna Two looked. (That’s what Awsten decided to call her.)

By the time the teacher announced it was time for them to clean up, Awsten and Geoff were covered somehow covered in more silver glitter than Tuna Two herself. Either way, Awsten was very pleased with the way she turned out, and announced, “I told you ours was gonna be the most cool. She’s Tuna Two! She’s grey not blue! And she’s friends with Tony too!” he sang to Geoff.

“She isn’t she?”

“You still have that stupid rock?” Awsten asked, surprised, when he walked into the living room, met with the sight of Geoff smiling at Tuna Two, who’s now a little over 12 years old.

“Of course I do. You were so excited to make it with me, I could never part with it.”

Awsten walked over to the couch Geoff was seated on and sat down beside him, folding his legs underneath himself. He smiled fondly at the chipping paint and crude handwriting done by his first grade self. “I really was, wasn’t I?”

The two stared at the rock in silence until Geoff quietly said, “She’s Tuna Two-”

“Don’t tell me you remember the song too!” Awsten exclaimed.

Geoff simply leaned over to place a kiss on Awsten’s cheek. He could never forget something so special.

I didn’t proof read this so if you saw any mistakes, no you didnt.

#promise me #nanowrimo #this was so fun to write #sweet boys #i love them #this is completely self indulgent #i think tomorrows ficlet will be p&p Jawsten cause i live for that #okay byeeee

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ericsonclan · 3 years

Text

A Gesture of Tradition

Summary: Omid and Christa gather their family around to play their yearly tradition of Christmas charades

Word Count: 3028

Read on AO3:

“Thanks for helping me,” Jesse’s voice drew Ruby’s attention away from the stocking she was working on. She gave a warm smile to her brother and waved a hand dismissively.

“Aww, Sug, think nothing of it. It’s an easy fix.” Ruby’s eyes returned to the needle as she rethreaded it. Once she had done so, she worked to get the letter E back onto the cloth.

“You’re good at it,” Jesse leaned forward casually. His compliment made Ruby smile once more.

“Ruby and I had to sew all our clothes when we got a tear or something when we were in foster care.” Brody added with a gentle smile before handing her sister the pair of scissors. Ruby looked surprised for a moment when she received the scissors. Brody had learned to read her sister pretty well, making their timing when working together always go smoothly. Jesse’s face took a rather sour note at the mention of foster care. His younger sister seemed to pick up on that fact rather quickly and continued to speak. “But this is loads more fun, right, Ruby?”

“Mmhmm,” Ruby held up the finished stocking with a small victory sound. “Here you go, Jesse, good as new.” It was a simple stocking with his name and few felt horses on the bottom of it.

“Thanks,” Jesse reached out his hand to grab the stocking only for Buddy to headbutt his way in between. The orange tabby cat made a loud purring sound before plopping over.

“Buddy,” Brody leaned forward and picked up the cat. “Don’t get in the way.” A small meow from below the table drew the auburn’s attention downward where a small black cat was waiting impatiently for attention. “Uhhhh…”

“I’ll grab Squee,” Ruby offered, passing over the stocking then leaning down to give the cat some much needed attention. Jesse rose up from his spot and made his way over to the wall where the other stockings were placed. It was in order of age so Christa was placed first right beside Omid. From there was Violet’s dark blue stocking, her name written and surrounded by bright yellow and white stars. Next to hers was Louis that had some piano keys and music notes dancing around on it. After that was Brody whose stocking looked just like a beach, warm sand and seashells covered it. Besides hers was Ruby, her name spelled out with what looked to be lasso rope, the R on her name holding a small cowboy hat on it. Lastly was Omar’s looking like a page of a recipe book with little food illustrations that all his siblings helped make special for his stocking. Jesse had a tiny smile on his face as he looked at his family’s stocking before placing his right before Violet’s.

“Alright! Gather around, kids!” Omid’s lively voice made the three siblings look up from their separate tasks and at their dad. Omid walked down in a green T-shirt and hat that had little elf ears sticking out. “It’s time for the annual Christmas Charades.”

“Yes!” Louis’ bright voice echoed from the staircase that he was walking down with Christa, Violet and Omar. A sleeping turtle with a small Santa hat was gently swaddled in his arms.

“What teams are we doing this year?” Christa asked, then placed a quick kiss on her husband’s lips. That kiss made Omid giggle as he stood proudly in his spot with his hands on his hips.

“It will be guys vs girls. The ultimate showdown!” As their dad was speaking, the six siblings were making their way to the front living couches. Violet sat on one of the couch arms while Brody stood beside her, Buddy tucked in her arms. Ruby immediately took the spot beside her sister and plopped Squee down on her lap.

Christa had gone out of the room while Omid started to explain the rules like he did each year. All the kids knew the rules by heart so they just took the time to get comfy. Louis took the spot on the other couch next to the armchair so he could put Geoff the turtle there when it was his turn. Jesse took the opposite side of the couch and was pleasantly surprised when Fletch came forward and reached up his head to the oldest son’s hand. The black and white border collie gladly accepted Jesse’s affection before taking a spot by his feet. Omar came over and took the spot in the middle.

“So that’s the rules.” Omid smiled proudly at his kids. “Oh, and no cheating.”

“I got the hat,” Christa walked forward with the Santa hat and shook it; a gently crinkling noise emitted from it, all the pieces of papers bouncing and brushing against each other.

“Awesome! Thanks, babe.” Omid got on his toes and planted a warm kiss on Christa’s cheek. “So, which team wants to go first?”

“Oh, oh, oh!” Louis bounced in his seat for a second then froze when he remembered that Geoff was still asleep. “I want our team to go first.”

“Is that alright with you guys?” Omid looked over at his daughters who all seemed fine with the decision, giving short nods of approval.

“Okay then before we start we must know what we are fighting for!” Omid declared loudly. “The losers will make hot cocoa for the winners and give foot rubs.”

All the kids made faces at the last part of that sentence.

“I’m not rubbing anyone’s feet,” Jesse had a small frown on his face.

“Yeah, no way in hell I’m going anywhere near their feet,” Violet leaned back in her spot with her arms crossed.

“I think Omid got a bit too excited. That part of the winner’s reward is only for the two of us,” Christa gave a small smile. Small sounds of disapproval still showed on both sides of the couches.

“Anyway, shall we get started?” Omid smiled over at his kids. “Which one of you wants to go first?”

“Shouldn’t it be Louis?” Omar glanced over at his older brother. “He was the one that got excited about it.”

Louis’ eyes grew large before falling. “I actually want to go second. Geoff is still asleep,” Louis gently brushed the tip of the turtle’s nose then moved to pet the top of his shell. “I want to give him some more time for his nap.”

“Then why did you volunteer us?” Jesse asked with a raised brow.

“I just…. I was really excited,” Louis disappeared further into the couch.

“It’s fine. One of us can go first,” Omid took a spot in the middle of the couch with his sons.

“I can go,” Omar suggested in his calming voice.

“Sure,” Jesse shrugged. The other two seemed to be in agreement and so Omar walked forward and stuck his hand into the Santa hat and selected a scrap of paper. His face remained neutral as he unfolded it and read its contents.

“Just let me know when you’re ready and I’ll start the timer,” Christa stated from her spot on the couch with the girls.

Omar remained quiet for a few seconds then gave a short nod. “Ready.” Christa pressed the button and Omar began the charade. He held out two fingers to his team.

“Two words!” Louis swayed back and forth lightly in his spot. He always loved this game. Omar moved onto the next part, standing with his hands on his hips. Omid shouted out the next answer.

“It’s a person!”

Omar gave a short nod then proceeded to move his hands in a half circle over his stomach. Next he motioned to his face bringing direct attention to his chin then pretending to have something on his back.

“Santa Claus,” Jesse said simply.

“That’s right,” Omar moved to grab another piece of paper and the charades continued. They were able to score four points thanks to Jesse and Omar being on the same wavelength. Omar returned to his spot, sharing a high five and small smile with Jesse before sitting. Omid ruffled his son’s hair and Louis leaned over to give his younger brother a fist bump.

“We’ll be able to beat that, right, girls?” Christa smiled over to her daughters who all seemed to be in agreement.

“Yeah, we’re winning this year.” Ruby gave a competitive smile over to Louis who returned it in kind. Brody was the first up for the girls; her fingers searched for a scrap of paper. Once she read it, she took a deep breath.

“Take your time, Brody.” Omid reassured while holding up the stopwatch.

Brody gave a gentle smile over to her dad then gave a nod. “I’m ready.”

The soft click of the stopwatch threw Brody right into the charade. She held up five fingers.

“Five words,” Violet mumbled.

Brody’s smile grew and she continued on. She posed and looked like she was singing.

“It’s a song,” Christa’s guess made Brody nod her head happily. She then held up three fingers.

“Third word,” Ruby leaned forward, her arms wrapped around Squee who simply seemed happy for the warmth. Brody nodded and pointed to Ruby’s hair.

“Hair?” Violet’s guess made Brody shake her head wildly. She took a deep breath then pointed to her own hair.

“Red,” Christa’s smile grew when she saw that she had clearly gotten it right. Brody held up four fingers.

“Fourth word.” Ruby was determined to get this one. Brody tapped her nose. “Nose. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.”

“Yep!” Brody took another breath then moved on to the next charade.

When the time was up the girls were up by one point.

“Good job, Brody,” Violet smiled warmly over at her sister.

“Thanks,” Brody took a shaky breath; charades always made her a bit nervous. Ruby gave her a side hug and Christa continued to give her praise when Louis dramatically got up from his spot.

“Father!” He held out Geoff ever so carefully. “Hold our good luck charm while I win us enough points to win the game.”

Violet snorted at her brother’s cocky statement but that only seemed to make Louis more confident.

“Win us those points, Louis. I got Geoff,” Omid took the turtle and placed him gently on his lap. Louis strolled forward and turned away from his family while he read his charade. With a sharp spin and a beaming smile, he gave the go ahead that he was ready.

Shooting out his arm, the dreadlocked boy held out two fingers.

“Two words,” Omar guessed as he gave Geoff a few pets. Louis gave a nod, making his dreadlocks bounce before getting in a stance with his hands on his hips.

“A person,” Jesse’s hand wandered down to give Fletch some attention. The border Collie stuck his tongue out in approval. Louis nodded then moved his hand back and forth, making his older brother furrow his brow. “What do you mean sort of?”

Louis waved a hand dismissively then held out three fingers before tapping them on his arm.

“Three syllables,” Omid’s words made Louis’ smile grow, showing they were on the right track then Louis paused before placing a single finger on his forearm. “First syllable.” Louis pointed towards Ruby’s hair then Brody’s.

Omid started to list as many things as he could think of. “Hair, red, girl, bro, country…” The list went on and on but Omar and Jesse shared a look before Omar gave his guess.

“Ginger?”

Louis jumped up and down.

“That has two syllables.” Jesse pointed out but quickly brushed it aside.

“Oh! Oh! Oh!” Omid practically jumped off his seat and would have if it were not for the turtle that was resting on his lap. “Gingerbread man!”

“Righty-o!” Louis gave a quick bow then moved on to his next challenge. When the time was done Louis had successfully gotten his team three more points. His brothers gave him praise for his good work while Omid gently handed back the pet.

Violet was up next. Her hunched form moved over to the hat and she casually rummaged around for a piece of paper before pulling one out. After giving a quick nod the blonde began her charade. She held up one finger towards her group.

“One word,” Brody gave some headscratches to Buddy who purred loudly in approval. Her sister nodded then moved on to point at her wrist like she was wearing a watch. “An event.” Brody added. Her older sister continued on, holding up two fingers then tapping them on her arm.

“Two syllables,” Ruby answered. Violet then held up a single finger again. “First syllable. Violet’s hand then moved up to her ear and she gave it a quick tug.

“Sounds like,” Christa jumped in on the guessing. Her oldest daughter then pointed towards Louis. “Louis?” Violet shook her head then pointed again before moving her hand in circular motion in hopes her mom would continue to guess. “Lou.”

Violet nodded.

“Yuletide!” Christa shouted excitedly, causing her daughter to give a small smile and nod. Violet continued on from there, snagging her side three points as well. Violet received praise from her sisters and mom who gave a small head pat which made the blonde smile.

The rounds continued from there, continually being as heated as ever and the points being nearly the same amount through the whole game until the final two rounds were upon them. Christa was up now and she grabbed one of the pieces of paper, studying the contents for a few seconds. After taking a deep breath she gave a nod, holding up one finger. Brody guessed that it was one word then Christa moved to act out the charade to show it was an item which Ruby picked up on. Christa then held out three fingers and tapped them to her forearm.

“Three syllables,” Violet mumbled. Christa then held three again and placed them on her arm. “Third syllable.” Her mom then leaned over and pointed at the tip of her foot. “A toe?”

“Oh, oh!” Brody jumped up and down “A mistletoe!”

“That’s right!” Christa smiled warmly over at her daughters then moved on with the charades. She was successfully able to snag a grand total of five.

“Well played, Christa. But I’m going to blow that number out of the water.” Omid smiled over at his wife before pulling out a piece of paper and immediately acting out the charade.

It was going to be a close game. Omid had successfully been able to get four points and only needed one more to win. He glanced down at the scrap of paper. A small inkling on nervousness appeared in his eyes only to fade away a moment later. He shot out his hand with all five fingers sprawled out.

“Five!” Louis shouted, his body leaning forward and bouncing nervously. Geoff lightly bounced along too, his dark eyes looking up at Louis with confusion. Omid nodded his head wildly then with all his might pretended to crank an old movie camera.

“A movie,” Omar’s guess was right and his dad continued on, holding up three fingers. “Third word.”

Omid nodded then made face after face of grumpiness and anger. His sons continue to guess here and there but none were hitting the mark.

“Sad, mad, anger, salty,” Louis spouted out as many words as he could. Omid glanced over and saw that his time was running out. It seemed all hope was lost when he noticed that Violet had a rather grumpy look on her face and happened to be wearing some green. Omid felt guilty to be using his daughter to win a charade game but he couldn’t say no to his competitiveness. He pointed over to Violet who looked shocked for a split second before returning to her previous expression.

“Prickly,” Jesse guessed, causing his sister to shoot over a glare at him. He gave a smug smile in return.

“Grumpy?” Louis guessed and flashed an apologetic grin over at his sister. The three brothers went down through a list until Jesse’s eyes grew large.

“Grinch.”

Omid hopped up and down at that.

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

“Yes!” Omid slid down onto his knees. “We won!”

“Omid,” Christa’s tone had some warning to it. It was clear she didn’t approve of the way Omid had won. Omid’s face fell when it had hit him anew what he had done.

“I’m sorry, Violet. I got so caught up in the game.” he apologized.

“Eh, it’s fine.” Violet shrugged. “Let’s just get the hot chocolate started.” She hopped off the couch and soon Brody and Ruby followed along. The three brothers moved to the kitchen too to give their sisters some company and most likely boast a bit about how they won this year.

Omid sat on the couch with his wife. “I didn’t think that idea through,” Omid fell back on the couch. “I’ll be sure to pick up some chicken nuggets for Violet.”

“That would be a good idea,” Christa’s serious expression melted into a happy smile. “Guess I owe you a foot rub.”

“Oh yeah,” Omid put his legs up and on his wife’s lap. “It’s nice to get the charade crown back this year.”

“Well, just wait for next year. I’ll be the one getting the foot rub, not giving it,” Christa had a competitive look in her eyes as she smiled over at her husband. Her hands began to gently rub the soles of his feet. Omid was about to speak up when he heard some of his kids speaking in the kitchen.

“Sorry, Vi.” Louis’ voice appeared from the kitchen. “I can make you hot cocoa too,”

“It doesn’t matter. Besides, if anyone was the grinch in this house it would be Jesse,” Violet’s voice had a bit of a bite to it but it was obvious that it was said in jest.

Jesse’s laugh appeared before he spoke up. “If that means I get hot chocolate, I’m fine with that.” The conversation continued from there, the six siblings talking and laughing in the kitchen while they made hot cocoa.

#twdg #twdg violet #twdg brody #twdg ruby #twdg louis #twdg omar #twdg geoff #twdg jesse #twdg omid #twdg christa #omista #fanfic #everett bunch au #twdg christmas

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of-wrens-and-whirlwinds-blog · 4 years

Text

Cyrano Who?

Commissioned by the fantastic @likearumchocolatesouffle! Commission info is here!

“He doesn’t like me,” Rabiya muttered, bouncing her tennis ball off the wall.

“So?” James asked, scribbling in his notebook and glancing at her often. He was still having trouble describing her eyes.

“So… I feel like he should.” Rabiya threw the ball extra hard and dented her wall.

“Hey, easy!” James protested, reaching out to touch her arm. Rabiya stopped and turned to look at him sullenly. “Do you even like him back?”

She rolled her eyes. “Yes,” she replied forcefully, frowning. “I mean… I think I do. He’s nice, and handsome, and rich, and mom and dad like him...”

She sounded utterly unconvinced. That hurt, but James didn’t say that. If Rabiya wasn’t attracted to Geoff, who was quite a few things besides nice, handsome, and rich, then what could she see in James, who was depressing, ugly, and poor?

“Maybe you just have to get his attention,” James suggested, a little weakly. “Do something that will interest him.”

“Like what?” Rabiya snapped. “He’s at the same law office as me, he reads the same books as us, and that’s it.”

James frowned, wracking his brain. The best he had ever done to attract a lady’s favor had been… “Write poetry?”

Rabiya finally laughed and punched James’ arm. “That’s your answer to everything!”

“Sometimes it works!” James protested.

“True, true.” Rabiya stopped laughing, and stared into the middle distance, thinking. James knew better than to interrupt her thoughts. Instead he listed every brown gemstone he could think of, trying to match her eyes. Sweet Rabiya, with her beautiful brown eyes and brown skin and her favorite shimmering purple hijab…

Suddenly, her face lit up, and she whirled on her cushion to grin at James. The gleam in her eyes scattered his thoughts, and instead of longing, he felt the excited dread he usually felt when she had a grand scheme.

“You write the poems,” she told James.

He blinked at her. “What?”

“You write them! We’ll say they’re from me, but you’ll be the writer! You’re better anyway.”

“Rabi, you know I can’t write poems about guys!” James protested, feeling his face flush. She was the only one who knew he was bi—and also the only one who knew he was worse at talking to guys than he was with girls. “And I don’t know him.”

“Ah!” Rabiya raised her hand, holding up one finger as she grinned. “But you will know him. You’re going to the company picnic with me, aren’t you?”

“Well… yes...”

“And Geoff has said he will be there, with his sister!”

“Rabi, I think I know where you’re going with this...”

“Get on her good side. Use your Adorable Face. We both know girls are suckers for your Adorable Face. Talk to her, be friendly, ask about her relationship with her brother, and glean as much info as you can. Geoff told me she’s talkative; all you have to do is encourage her and ask questions!”

Put that way, it sounded relatively simple. James swallowed hard. The pure glee on Rabiya’s face made him long to write another poem about her. Finally, he sighed. Anything for her. “Alright, fine. When do you want me to start writing?”

The first poem was insipid and lacked depth, but Rabiya said it was perfect and slipped it to Geoff the day before the picnic.

The picnic itself was… well, stressful. A bunch of mature adults in mature clothing, teenagers in mature clothing that they were obviously uncomfortable in, and small children in comfortable clothes perfect for playing in the dirt and woodchips. The adults spoke—whined, really—about youngsters these days and the cost of champagne and politics. The teenagers talked about school, teen drama, and politics. The children just ran around on the playground shrieking and laughing.

James felt even more uncomfortable than the teenagers. He was only twenty-one, but that was too old to talk to seventeen year olds. It was also too young to be taken seriously by the older adults. And his one nice outfit was a little tight and he couldn’t help adjusting it constantly. He knew he should’ve begged his mother for a new shirt at the very least.

Rabiya was cool and effortless, chatting with lawyers and doctors and CEOs as if she’d been doing so for years, despite also only being twenty-one. It was probably because she was tall, and looked damn good in a dark purple suit and an even darker hijab. James felt severely outshined, which wasn’t unusual.

Geoff and his sister were standing at the other end of the veranda, also looking out of place. Geoff’s locs were pulled back in a ponytail, and his face was set in a pleasant smile, but from the way he fiddled with his cup, James guessed he was bored, or nervous. Seeing the glazed eyes, James chose bored.

Geoff’s sister was not dressed like the other women. Her hair was wrapped in a bright yellow-and-red scarf, and her dress was of a fluttery fabric in red, yellow, and green. She stood out, proud and bright, lounging on the veranda pillar with a champagne flute. No pastels or jewel-tones there. James found himself thinking immediately of how the warm colors gave a rosy tint to her dark skin, how the green on her dress suggested ever-present life in the fires of the universe, how—

They both saw him staring. He looked away quickly, blushing furiously. There was nowhere to run, though. He had a drink, nonalcoholic punch; he had already had a few snacks, he didn’t want anyone to glare at him for going back to the snack table; and Rabiya was so engrossed in a conversation about private versus federal prisons that she barely noticed him.

James felt very alone and forgotten.

Someone tapped his shoulder. He jumped and spun, and the hand gripped his bicep to keep him upright.

“Hey, hey, sorry about that,” Geoff said, smiling. He had a very nice smile, his hand firm and warm as James steadied. His voice was nice, too; soft and smoky and still with a Jamaican accent. “You look a little bored. I’m Geoff.” He held out his hand to shake, and James returned the favor.

“I’m James,” he answered, ignoring how his hair flopped in his eye. Again. He really should’ve gotten it cut a while ago. “Um. I came with Rabiya.”

He didn’t know if that was the right thing to say, but Geoff’s face lit up anyway. “Oh, Rabiya! Yes, I know her. She’s fantastic. If you came with her, you must be her friend the poet.”

James blushed. “Yeah,” he said softly.

“Do you want to hang out with me and my sister? We’re both tired of talking to the old people.” Geoff made a face, and James smiled. Well… maybe he could write a few poems easily enough.

Geoff’s sister hadn’t moved an inch, but when Geoff introduced James, she smiled and shook James’ hand. “Nice to meet you,” she said, her voice lighter than James had expected. “I’m Marie. Want some champagne?”

“No thank you,” James replied. “I don’t drink.”

“Good,” she said cheerfully, “’Cause this stuff tastes like pi—”

“Company,” Geoff interrupted. Marie stuck her tongue out at him.

It was actually quite nice, how quickly James relaxed with these two. They were funny, and kind, and Marie teased Geoff constantly. They had both read plenty of work by Maya Angelou, who was the only poet allowed in James’ parents’ home, and Marie had plenty of recommendations for Jamaican poets that James eagerly noted in his phone.

“My dad is pretty bad with poetry,” he admitted in a small voice, “And my mom can’t read English very well. I translate the English orders usually.”

Geoff and Marie nodded in understanding, and didn’t push the issue with the usual questions that made James feel small and sick.

He didn’t need to use his Adorable Face. The conversation was so natural that he picked up plenty of information without even meaning to. Then all three of them went on Facebook on their phones, and the siblings sent James friend requests. He accepted them so fast Marie laughed, but instead of feeling embarrassed, James just felt relieved. Hopefully they wouldn’t mind his daily haikus.

Rabiya glided over, and all three of them greeted her with pleasure. The catering had come and gone and everyone else was eating by the time they realized that several hours had passed. There was only one open spot big enough for the four of them, close to a table of loud children. James felt terrible upon seeing the spread of food, and only took one ham-and-cheese sandwich and a scoop of potato salad, while Rabiya, Geoff, and Marie loaded their plates. They all took their seats, and before any of them could take a bite, one small child leapt up from his seat, pointed right at James, and started making squealing noises like a pig.

The other small children laughed. James blushed so hard his face hurt, and he didn’t touch his food, even when the boy’s mother snarled at him about manners. Rabiya said softly, “James, really, it’s okay,” but he just shook his head and mushed his potato salad around. He hadn’t been hungry, anyway.

Around 8PM, the picnic broke up. James was glad. The small children had continued making pig-noises at him, no matter how many times parents or his friends told them off sharply. He felt sick and tired and the more he realized what bad company he was being, over something small like kids being kids, the more guilty he was.

When he and Rabiya climbed into Rabiya’s car, he was close to tears. Rabiya hugged him, and said quietly, fury in her voice, “Those fucking spoiled-ass brats. I’ll get you a smoothie. We can play Mario Kart for a bit before you go home.”

James nodded because if he refused, Rabiya would be sad, and he didn’t want her to be sad.

The smoothie helped, and he realized with another pang of guilt that most of his being upset was because he actually had been hungry. Rabiya’s parents were having another shouting match and didn’t notice them slip upstairs to her room.

James felt better after playing Mario Kart and telling Rabiya everything he’d learned. She teased him when he went on at length about how well-read Geoff was, but this kind of teasing he was used to. He could smile and pretend it didn’t hurt.

When he got home, his father was drunk and asleep, and his mother was painting again, some of James’ poems. They hugged, she gave him some soup, and he went to bed.

Poetry is hard.

James was used to filling up pages and pages trying to describe nature or emotions or Rabiya, but trying to write about a guy he barely knew was the hardest thing he’d ever done. Finally he decided to write about his voice. It had been a lovely voice. Very sexy. James emailed the poem to Rabiya, she printed it out and doodled some hearts and flowers, and then she slipped it to Geoff.

This was the point where James realized Rabiya actually wasn’t interested in Geoff.

He’d read her poetry. It was fantastic. Her love-poems were moving and her prose was spectacular. But… she could not draw up the emotion to write one of these poems for Geoff.

“I told my parents I was sending Geoff poems, because they were badgering me about marriage again,” she told James heavily over the phone. “They seemed pleased.”

“Are you pleased?” James asked.

She sighed. “James, let’s not go there. I’m tired of discussing it.”

“Okay. I’m sorry.”

The more James forced himself to consider Geoff and write up as many passionate poems as he could, the more baffled James was. How could Rabiya not be interested in Geoff? It was very confusing.

One night, James was on Facebook, scrolling through some of the poetry groups he’d joined, when someone messaged him. Thinking it was Rabiya, or maybe Carl back in California, James opened the message without reading the name.

It was Geoff.

Hey, James! I have a conundrum and I was hoping you could help me. I keep getting these poems in my mailbox at work and I think they’re from Rabiya.

James’ stomach dropped.

I like them a lot, she’s an awesome poet. But I was hoping, can you help me write back to her? I’m not good with poetry. I’ll pay you if you’d like!

James took a deep breath, swallowed hard, wondered why he felt so anxious and sad, and answered.

No payment necessary! If it’s Rabiya, I’ll definitely help you out.

I insist. What’s your Paypal?

When they had negotiated the terms (which was really just Geoff wearing him down and offering him ten dollars a poem), James wrote up a poem to Rabiya’s lovely writing skills and emailed it to Geoff. Geoff thanked him, paid him, and they talked about other things until midnight. James was sorry to stop talking to Geoff.

The next day, James was finishing up his latest editing gig when Rabiya called him.

“Someone put a poem in my box at work!” she started right off with, sounding panicked. Not excited, not gleeful: truly frightened. “I swear I thought no one saw me put one in Geoff’s!”

“Hey, hey, chill a bit,” James cut in, trying for a soothing tone. “I’m sure it’s fine. What did the poem say?”

Rabiya recited it, but her frightened tone sucked all the warmth out of it. James felt awful all of a sudden. She was scared—of reciprocation? Of it being so soon? Why? He didn’t know if he should ask.

“Do you want me to stop writing poems to him?” James asked, startled to realize he didn’t want to.

Harsh breathing on the other end of the phone, and a hard swallow, then Rabiya replied shakily, “No. No. This is fine. This is fine, this what we were aiming for. God, James, I’m sorry, I’m just… I don’t know why, but I started crying, and it wasn’t happy-cry. I was genuinely scared, and I don’t know why, and that scared me more. He shouldn’t know yet.”

“Who else would put poems in his box about how wonderful he is?” James replied. “You’re the only nice person there.”

“Melody is nicer,” Rabiya retorted, uncertainly.

“But does she have access to his box?”

“No. She’s also seventy and has grandkids.”

“So you’re the most likely person.”

“I… yes.”

“So it probably wasn’t hard. It’s okay, Rabiya, we can stop if you’re scared.”

A whimper, and then she said, her voice almost a wail, “I hate this! I hate trying to make people like me! Why can’t I live alone and be a boss-ass bitch lawyer?! I don’t want love!”

James blinked, and stared at the poem on his wall that his mom had painted and illustrated. Not one of his; one by his grandfather, who was actually a published and renowned author back in China. Almost a prayer, asking for strength and heart and freedom. James had needed it often in high school, and he suspected he needed it now, because he really didn’t understand—but he had to. For Rabiya.

“Then… you don’t need it,” he said slowly, trying to think past his own bewilderment. “If you don’t want love, and it scares you, then you don’t need it. You don’t even need to get married.”

“My parents,” she sniffled, and James saw the second biggest facet to the problem. “They want me married off, fast. But I don’t want to. We’re still kids, James. We have legal responsibilities, but we’re kids.”

James frowned worriedly. “Could you… marry someone you at least get along with? Not me,” he added hastily, startling himself. “I do want love. But you could, I dunno, sift through some people and agree to marry and you can keep it open. Your parents will be happy, and won’t be after you about it, but you’ll be happy too, because it’ll be more business than love.”

The sniffling was quieter. Then Rabiya asked softly, “Do you think that would work?”

“I don’t see why not.”

“...Do you have the next poem ready?”

Six months later, James realized he was well and truly fucked.

Rabiya had insisted on tapering off the poems a few weeks after her scare; James had agreed. Geoff had called him, and asked worriedly if Rabiya was alright, and if he should stop commissioning poems for her; James soothed him and said she was just going through a rough patch, and that probably all sympathy should be kept to a minimum, because Rabiya was just like that. Geoff had sighed, thanked him, hesitated, then asked James about his work. So they’d talked on the phone for a few hours, and James had found himself laughing, and being sad that they had to hang up.

Loving Rabiya didn’t feel like this. Loving Rabiya felt like passionate despair and pained yearning, knowing she was too good for him and if he confessed, she wouldn’t want to be his friend. Talking to Geoff felt… nice. Like something he could do every day.

Marie messaged James on Facebook to say, If you break my brother’s heart, I’ll break your nose.

What? It’s not like that! He doesn’t like me like that!

Hmph.

And she’d logged off.

But now, every few days, James and Geoff would meet up, and hang out. Sometimes Marie came along, and James was happy to see and speak with her, but he couldn’t help being a little grumpy, because Geoff was less candid around his sister. When it was just the two of them, they talked about all kinds of things. Movies, visiting family in other countries, books, video games, work. Geoff liked to knit; James sewed a lot of his own clothes. It was… enjoyable, to spend time with him.

He told himself he was researching for his next poem. He knew that wasn’t it.

Rabiya was getting jumpy. They would go out to movies or clubs or their favorite frozen yogurt shop, and one minute she’d be laughing and talking easily, and then the next she’d be tense and fidgeting. James couldn’t figure out what was wrong. It hurt, that she wasn’t comfortable around him anymore.

Finally, one day after playing Mario Kart, she asked him abruptly, “Do you like Geoff?”

“Yes,” James replied, puzzled. “He’s a great guy.”

“No, I mean do you like-like him?”

James opened his mouth to say no, then closed it. His face began to burn. Rabiya sighed—in relief.

“Oh, thank god,” she said, and patted his arm. “Then you won’t mind if I marry him and you come live with us.”

“What!” James squeaked, looking at her in horror. “What, that’s—what do you mean?!”

Rabiya snorted. “You told me once to think of marriage as a business transaction,” she reminded him. “So, I talked to Geoff about it.”

“When?!”

“Oh, a couple months ago.”

Months. James’ stomach dropped. Months. He’d been blissfully unaware, falling in love with Geoff and writing poems for them both, and they’d been talking about this for months.

Rabiya looked at him, and her face clearly showed sudden guilt. “Oh, James,” she said, and tried to hug him. But James didn’t want to be hugged, he didn’t want to be—comforted. He felt—betrayed, and he wasn’t sure why or by who. So he stood up and walked away, still staring at her, shocked.

“Months?” he said, quietly, and his voice was shaking.

Rabiya’s arms were still outstretched, and now she looked just as upset as he felt. “James—I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you—we both did. But it didn’t seem right. We both love you, okay? Just—you’re my best friend, and he loves you like you love him.”

“I don’t love him.” But it was weak and shaky and he still felt cold and alone.

Rabiya stood too, slowly, her arms falling to her sides. He didn’t want to look at her anymore. He didn’t want to see her guilt. He’d start wanting to forgive her, and that just wasn’t right. He looked down instead. He was hugging himself. He hadn’t realized. God, he just wanted to disappear. This was just too much. The two people he loved most, letting him believe this fiction of them both trying to woo the other, while they plan a marriage, and just like that, she drops it like a bombshell and breaks his heart.

“I’m sorry,” she repeated, and she sounded like she was trying not to cry.

James couldn’t think of a response. So he left.

Geoff called him three times that week, leaving voicemails that got more and more frantic, until the last one sounded like he was crying. Marie sent James a message on Facebook saying she was so sorry, she hadn’t known, she’d yelled at Geoff and he really was sorry. James didn’t reply to her.

He sat in his room, quietly, staring at the poem on his wall.

Mom left him dinner outside his room. He took showers when he knew his parents were asleep. He refused to talk to anyone until he had thought this through completely.

About ten days after Rabiya had told him that, James sent both her and Geoff an email asking them to meet him at the diner that all three of them used to go to. He got agreement from both of them within minutes. He tried to feel something about that, but he was already feeling a lot of things.

Fear. He was afraid. And hurt. But he’d thought about it. And he thought he knew what to say and do.

He got to the diner first, and sat in a booth at the back, precisely placed so neither of them would sit with him. They arrived together. He only knew because, since he was staring at his glass of water, he didn’t see until they both slid into the seat across from him.

He raised his head and looked at them both. Neither of them looked like they’d slept well. Rabiya’s eyes were red. Geoff’s hair wasn’t as neat as usual. They both looked scared, and hopeful.

James would’ve cried, but he’d already thought it all out, and he no longer had tears for this.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked, deciding to get the hardest question out of the way first.

“Because it… it didn’t feel right,” Geoff answered, haltingly. His voice was rough, like his throat hurt. “I figured it out after the first few poems you sent me to give to Rabiya. You have a really distinct style, and… and I didn’t know what to do. Marie has already smacked me for not just asking either of you. And then we started hanging out, and...” He blushed and looked down at the table.

“I wasn’t thinking about the love part,” Rabiya admitted softly. “Because it just… didn’t seem important. I thought, well, hey, you two loved each other, if we did this then you two would be happy and everything would be fine. I didn’t think about if it would hurt you. I’m sorry, James.” Her lip trembled and two tears escaped her, as she stared at him. “I’m sorry,” she repeated.

James nodded, and went back to staring at his water. That made sense. Rabiya didn’t know that he loved her, and he had been the one to suggest the business line of approach. She was one of those people who was so focused on the goal (get married and get her parents off her back) that she sometimes forgot about others on the way (like James). And Geoff… well, Geoff was hesitant. Didn’t like to make the first move until he’d thought about it hard, and then sometimes it was too late. He had told James, and demonstrated, that he was the opposite of impulsive.

And James was a fool for thinking they wouldn’t team up behind his back.

But they had considered him. They had decided that they would make room for him. It was just Rabiya’s poor word choice, bad timing, and James’ own fear that had made the moment a botch.

“You should have asked,” he told them both.

“Yes,” Geoff said simply. “We should have. And we are sorry.”

Rabiya swallowed hard, and asked softly, “Can we try again, James? Please?”

James had already known the answer to that. He reached out both hands, and Geoff and Rabiya grabbed one each, tightly. “Yeah,” he said, raising his head and managing a smile. “Yeah. I’d like that.”

The wedding was great, and James just smiled softly as Geoff and Rabiya led the dancing. It had been about a year since their talk in the diner, and he sometimes worried that he would, at any moment, be thrown to the wayside.

But that hadn’t happened. They’d all three moved into an apartment together, and James had found out that Geoff was an excellent kisser. Rabiya had made obnoxious kissy noises at them until James threw a crumpled piece of newspaper at her. They might all have been drunk.

Ostensibly, the master bedroom was for the engaged couple, and James had the smaller one. In reality, Rabiya had shoved them both towards the bigger room and told them to “work out which side of the bed is whose”. James still felt a little odd, sharing a room, but cuddling in bed was great, and sometimes Rabiya would come in and drape herself over them and eat rice crackers while they all three watched She-Ra or The Last Airbender or even just some crime drama that Rabiya and Geoff would thoroughly eviscerate from a legal standpoint. James loved those days.

Geoff was very much his mother’s child, in that he insisted that James stop skipping meals out of shame. Since the meals were uniformly delicious, James found it easier to accept this new rule. When cuddling, Geoff would sometimes end up with his face smooshed against James’ soft tummy, and James could never help feeling such a strong surge of love that he almost cried. After years and years of people taunting him, there was someone who appreciated him—all of him.

So James watched the wedding from the sidelines, and didn’t even care when people gave him their fake condolences that the woman he loved was getting swept away by someone else—by a better man, though they didn’t say that.

He just smiled and thanked them and drank his soda contentedly.

After the wedding, when they made it back to their apartment and divested themselves of their wedding finery, Rabiya called, “Dibs on first shower!”, grabbed a towel, and darted into the bathroom. James shrugged and Geoff sighed morosely. There was glitter on his face.

“You knew what you signed up for,” James teased gently, putting his arm around Geoff’s waist. Geoff grinned and wound his arms around James.

“Yes, I certainly did. May I have this dance?”

Swaying to Geoff’s lazy humming, they danced slowly in the living room. Their wedding dance. James wondered if anyone had ever been as happy as him in this moment.

#writing #commission #queer characters #commisions open

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mamawolfblood · 4 years

Text

Though he didn't know it yet Chris Mclean was in for a shocking revelation. One of the campers is not exactly just some rando kid. This camper is his kid and she is out to expose it.

Name : Iris Escalona

Age 16

Eye color green

Caramel skin

Black hair that she keeps in a high ponytail. A Cherokee rose on the left side of the hair tie.

Iris is 5ft 8",135lb

Out fit-White tanktop with the alchemists symbol blue acid washed jean shorts black converses

Iris has a dark sense of humor. She loves horror,pranks,is resourceful. Iris is not above smashing some skulls together. She is not quick to anger but Heather pushes a lot of her buttons.

All her life she just wanted Chris to know she was alive. Her mother never gave the reason why she left. She is the oldest of seven children.

________chapter 6_________

Chris: Last time on Total Drama Island… A talent contest brought out the worst in our campers. It was awesome! The Killer Bass struggled to find any talent on their team, and Bridgette’s clumsiness pretty much knocked out their best prospect, Courtney. Iris stood up to Heather, so Heather swore to make Iris's life miserable by stealing her diary and birth certificate. Then she read it in front of the entire viewing world, revealing that Iris is my daughter. Then, Heather managed to save her butt by convincing the rest of the team to vote off Justin McGorgeousness. Who will be the next one to walk off this crappy dock? Find out tonight in the most dramatic marshmallow ceremony ever! On Total. Drama. Island!

Iris pov

I sat with Gwen and Leshawna waiting for my dad to arrive. "So is Chris really your dad?" Gwen asked I nod "I didn't want him to find out yet. I was waiting for the right moment to tell him myself. You know because it was my right to do so." I said Glaring at Heather.

(Confessionals)

Heather

"Oh please it will be easier to get rid of her now. They will take their anger out on her because of her dad. Oh this was just a freebi."

*static *

Iris

"That cow has another thing coming if she thinks I'm going down. She will be out before I am trust me."

(Static)

(End of Confessionals)

Chris: Campers, today’s challenge will test your outdoor survival skills. I’m not gonna lie to you. Some of you may not come back alive.[Beth and Owen gasp] Just joking. [laughs] All you have to do is spend one night in the woods. Everything you need is at your team’s campsite in the forest. You just have to find it. Oh, and watch out for bears. Lost a couple of interns in pre-production. First team back for breakfast wins invincibility! [blows airhorn] Well, off you go!

Leshawna started to freak because of bears. This was followed by Owen saying he killed a bare. Izzy the proceeds to tell a storry about her encounter with a bare. This made Lindsay sick.

We all started to walk threw the woods to find our camp. Gwen looked a bit down so Trent tried to talk to her, but she just pushed him away. It was sad because the poor guy didn't know what to do.

I hope the other team will be ok.

*Meanwhile with the Killer Bass *

Katie: Sadie, lookBlueberries.

Sadie [after she gasps] : I love, love, love blueberries!

Katie: Oh my gosh! Me too!

(Confessional: Katie & Sadie)

Katie: Sadie and I are BFFFL’s.

Sadie: Best female friends for life.

Katie: We even got the chickenpox together!

Sadie: Oh my gosh, that was so fun.

Katie: It was so fun to have someone to scratch all your little scabs!

Sadie: I know, right?(confessional off)

(Honestly those two are just idiots)

Heather was complaining about I'm the next one getting voted off. Trent asked why and she said before "Iris took Harold's ant farm and poured on me!" She growls scratching I turn to face her. "Oh really it's my fault. I only did it because you did something to me unprovoked. I warm you now do anything like that again and it won't be ants in you be next time. "

I said my finger in her face. "Come on white girl lets focus on the challenge." Leshawna said pulling me along and away from Heather.

(Meanwhile with Katie and Sadie)

Katie: Okay. Those were so yummy. Can you believe how yummy those were?

Sadie: They were so yummy. Katie, where’s the rest of the team?

Katie: I don’t know. They must be nearby. Killer Bass, where are you?!

Sadie: Killer Bass! [gasps] This is just like when we were seven and we lost our moms at the mall.

Katie: And you started to cry and the security guards had to like, page our moms and they were so mad.

Sadie: Oh my gosh, like, take a pill. We’re fine.

Katie and Sadie[shouting]: Killer Bass, where are you?!

(Back to the Gophers)

I set up the tent and make a fire brake for the camp fire. "Wow you sure know what your doing. Unlike some people who are lazing around." Leshawna said looking at Heather. "These hands were made for shopping not camping." She said crossing her arms. Owen and Trens talk about the task and Owen leaves to get food.

(Cut to Katie and Sadie.)

Sadie: You don’t know where we are, do you?

Katie: Yes! Okay, no. It’s so not my fault. Have you ever notice that all trees look the same?

Sadie: Ooh, I knew I should have known better than to listen to you.

Katie: What, you don’t think I’m smart enough to find them?

Sadie: You’re not exactly the best with like, directions.

Katie: Yuh-huh, I am!

Sadie: Nuh-uh! Apparently, you’re not! ‘Cause we’re L-O-S-T. Lost!

Katie blows raspberry

(Back at the screaming gopher's camp)

Everyone was waiting for Owen to come back with food. Some started to complain. "Hey what are you nibbling on over there." Gwen said looking at me. "Dried mint want some." I said holding up my bag. They take some when owen comes back with fish.

(Killer Bass camp)

Geoff makes a commitment about Bridgette. It didn't come out right.

Duncan: What’s for dinner, woman? I’m starving.

Courtney: I hope you don’t expect me to dignify that with a response.

DJ: Hey guys, look what I found![ pat, pats a bunny wich coughs]

Duncan: Well, I’ve never had rabbit stew before, but what the heck? I’m game.

DJ [after he sighs] : This is my new pet! I’m callin’ him Bunny!

Courtney: You couldn’t find any food? [gasps] Then it looks like we’re acting grubs and berries for dinner.

Duncan: Has anyone seen Tweedledumb and Tweedleidiot?

[creature howls]

(Screaming Gophers camp)

Owen has the Fish grilling

Trent and him start talking.

"So you and your grampa to down a bare?" I asked

Owen: Heck yes. It was the scariest day of my entire life.[Lindsay gasps.] We were out in the woods when we came upon the great beast. I tell you, he was ten feet high if he was a foot! And then he roared his terrible roar! [imitates roar] We grabbed our shotgun. We knew it was either him or us. It was nothing personal, just the law of the wild. And then, bam! One shot was all it took to fell the great beast. We took his blood and marked ourselves to honor him. It was a good death.

Heather was a skeptical about it. We all then noticed Izzy was gone and started yelling for her.

At the Killer Bass camp Ducan was telling a horror story)

Duncan: So suddenly… They-they heard this tap-tap-tapping on the side of the car. The girl started to freak out, and by this time, even the guy was getting a bit scared. So he turned the car on and he stepped on it. When they got back to the girl’s house, she opened the door and screamed! Because there, hanging from the door handle… [sinisterly] Was the bloody hook. They say that this killer is still alive, wandering these very woods. He could be just about anywhere, really. Maybe even right here!

Killer Bass screaming.

Duncan laughs evilly.

Courtney: Duncan, that was so not funny!

Duncan: Oh, yes it was! I just wish it was all on camera! Uh, oh wait, it is!

Courtney: You are so vile. Do your parents even like you?

Duncan: I don’t know, Jumpy McChicken. I haven’t asked them lately.

[wolf howls]

Courtney gasps.

(At the Gophers camp)

In the trees everyone was arguing. That was till Leshawna fell come to find out the bare was Izzy. I jump down relived that she was ok. Once the fish was done we started to eat.

At the Killer Bass camp

Bright had to pee so she ventured out of the tent only to burn the tent down when a bat hit her face.

Courtney freaks out.

The next morning was a race back to camp when we reach it the Killer Bass were there but was pointed out that Sadie and Katie were missing. Only to have them show up a few seconds later.

Chris: All right, Killer Bass. One of your fishy butts is going home. Gophers, you’re going on an all-expense paid trip to… the Tuck Shop!

I watched the marshmallow ceremony wanting to see who is going home.

Chris: You’ve all cast your votes The camper who does not recieve a marshmallow must immediately hit The Dock of Shame, grab the Boat of Losers, and get the heck outta here. And you can’t come back. Ever. Now. I can see you’re all tired, so tonight, I’ll just throw them to you. Savvy? Courtney. Duncan. Bridgette. DJ. Harold. Geoff. Tyler. Ladies. This is the final marshmallow of the evening. Sadie.

Sadie started to cry not wanting to let go of Katie.

I felt bad but it is what it is.

After everyone left and my dad closed the show me and him sat down and just hung out. Getting to know him is not that bad. We are kinda the same but he is more sinical than me.

#total drama leshawna #total drama island #td gwen #td heather #oc #romance #chris mclean #original characters #pain #camping

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serrj215 · 4 years

Text

2nd Room

There was so much to do, too much to do. Raven was starting to regret refusing Bart's and Conner's offer of help. They would have been moved in less than 30 seconds. Of course it would take days to figure out where everything was, and if Bart’s room in the tower was any indication she would be finding her clothes in the dishwasher.

Moving is exhausting despite mystic talents or super powers. It was a mental drain trying to figure out where everything went, where it was supposed to go and what they were missing. Raven had spent half an hour trying to place a small protective statue of Athena. A house warming present from Donna Troy. It was a lovely piece but there was no obvious place to put it. It was the same story with an area rug given to them by Wally and Linda West. It was thick and well made, and it was obvious that Linda picked it out. It was still rolled up leaning against the statue of Athena.

It took Raven hours trying to get the kitchen in order. It didn’t help that her boyfriend's packing style was a little haphazard. She had found most of the utensils in a box labeled bathroom, and the mugs were hidden under Garfield's anime dolls, no sorry figurines he was sensitive about that sort of thing.

It also didn't help that their friend Victor had given them every kitchen gadget known to man as his housewarming gift. It was very sweet of him but Raven was not sure if she trusted herself to operate a microwave, let alone a blender with 26 different speed settings.

Garfield had been a whirl of green energy since she had said "Yes" and agreed to move in together. He had started packing before they even found the apartment. Then he insisted on loading and unloading the moving truck himself. Every time she got close to lifting a box no matter how small or light he was there. "I will get that for you Rave" She started to wonder if he suspected. Maybe he knew on some unconscious level.

Still even without the heavy lifting it had been an exhausting day and each room still had a small mountain of boxes. Where did either of them get so much stuff?

"VICTORY!" Garfield shouted

"And who have you defeated?" Raven shouted back though the apartment as she opened another box labeled kitchen to find two spatulas and a bunch of video game cartridges.

"Come to OUR bedroom and look!" Gar had been doing that all day. It was not the kitchen it was 'our kitchen', not the bathroom it was 'our bathroom'. You have never met someone so happy to be sharing a space.

Raven walked into the bedroom just in time to see her boyfriend flop onto the bare mattress of the newly assembled bed. Once settled on his back he lifted up a small brass L shaped tool and threw it across the room behind a mountain of boxes he had hoped never to see again. This was his 5th attempt to turn a box of wood and steel into a bed.

"I never thought I could hate a piece of metal so much. " he said breathing hard like he had just ran a mile full out.

"Well it's finished. Congratulations. " She said leaning over him.

"Not Yet!" He reached up and pulled her into the bed with him.

"What are you doing!"

"Testing phase, the most important part of the process." He said with a laugh as they tossed together for a moment settling with Raven lying on her side resting her head on Gar's shoulder.

"Satisfied?" She asked pushing her hair out of her face.

"Not even close." He said pulling her closer starting to kiss down her neck. The warmth from his lips flooded into her and started stirring something.

"Not now." she groaned out reluctantly pushing him back a bit. It was sometimes too easy to give in to him. Raven knew if she did they'd be spending the rest of the day “testing” their new bed instead of getting anything done. "We still have to finish unpacking."

He groaned and let his head fall back. "I know we still gotta get the living room setup, the Wifi, we got to find out if the neighborhood pizza place is any good."

She craned her head to look him in an eyebrow raised.

"What? A guy has to eat, and we haven't hit the grocery store yet all that’s in the fridge is water and empty ice cube trays".

She thought for a moment. “The Thai place up the street, it's menu has a big vegetarian section.”

Garfield ears perked a bit. “That does sound good” He sat up a bit in the bed. “I could go for noodles and peanut sauce”

“That and you eating a little less bread a grease might be an idea.”

“We have been moved in for 17 hours and you're trying to change me already?” he said with a laugh.

Ravens arm wrapped around his chest “I just want you around for a while, I promise Pizza is in our future just not tonight. “

"Speaking of the future, what do you want to do with that spare room?" He asked. "I mean we could just do a guest room but maybe a home gym would make more sense?"

"We do still have the Tower for that, I did have another idea."

“You're going to let me turn it into a man cave?” He said with too big a grin to be taken seriously.

“As much as it appeals to me to sequester you, your xBox, your plastic anime girlfriends and eventually Victor so the rest of the house is available for my own peace and quiet, no. “

Garfield tried to hold back a laugh. "How about Raven’s little library. Get some comfy chairs, floor to ceiling shelves for your books, a sign on the door that says SHHHH, the whole 9 yards. All the peace and quiet you could want."

"Tempting, but not what I had in mind.” She squeezed him a bit. He could live there just wrapped up in her.

“Raven, this is our place, You tell me what is going to make you happy, I am just so glad that you are here with me. “

"A nursery" she said quietly.

"You mean like plants?" His mind immediately jumped to an image of a room full of lush green and potted flowers.

"No Gar, there is something that I need to show you.” Raven said getting up. She straddled his waist”

“Oh I like where this is going”

Raven ignored the obvious innuendo and placed her hands on either side of his face. Her eyes closed “Azerath Metrion Zinthos” she chanted opening up a pathway between her and the man she loved. It was not the first time that Raven shared something like this with him. It was another way for her to be close to someone, and it was time to share a secret she had been keeping. Garfield got lost in the sensation and the rhythm of her words, his own lids fell.

Thoughts and images poured into Garfield mind. Playgrounds,joy, stuffed animals,excitement, names,trepidation flashed at random then he felt it. There was another presence, un-directed curious and simple. When Garfield focused his other senses came along. Raven’s familiar scent had changed, intensified in some ways softened in others. Her skin had taken on more color, he had written it off as some extra time in the sun but then he heard it. The gentle but regular thumping of a small heart.

His eyes shot open and his surprise the shock breaking the link. “Raven you're pregnant? I mean that's what I felt right! You...we... are going to-” his voice started shaking.

“Yes Gar.”

“We're going to have a baby?” he said just above a whisper.

“Yes Gar”

“I am going to be a dad?”

“That's generally how it works. “

Garfield was still as a statue for a moment. Then it happened. Raven didn't know what she felt more the tidal wave crash of emotion or the fierce hug wrapped around her. He buried his face in her neck.

"Baby!" He declared “Rave, I didn't think we could, I mean, I thought that this was impossible." His voice shook. “You are going to be a great mom!”

Raven’s arms came around him. “Thank Azar, I wasn’t sure how you would react.”

“I have never felt something so big in my life!. I want to tell everyone, I want to go out and get toys and diapers and you're going to, and things and that things and-” He was talking too fast and his mind was jumping to a dozen places at once.

“Slow down.” Raven said softly one of her hands slowly stroking the back of his head. She kissed his forehead.

He wiped his eyes with his hands, trying to steady himself. The last few minutes was like getting hit by cold lighting. He wanted to tell Vic, and Bart, and Conner, the justice league, he never met Darkside but if he did the first words out of his mouth would be “Me and Rae are having a baby!”

Then a horrible realization hit Garfield square in the face. “SHIT!”

“What’s wrong?”

“The kid is going to need a crib, and a changing table and a dresser, I am going to have to find that damn Allen key” Garfield said flopping back into the bed.

Raven gave a small laugh. “Yes our child will need those, later. Right now can we just enjoy the moment?”

“Your right, we need to celebrate.”

“Gar, the aprt-”

“Can wait!” He sat up taking both her hands. “The boxes are not going anywhere. Let me take you to dinner tonight. Then maybe we can open Dick’s housewarming gift.”

Raven was almost afraid to ask “What did Dick get us?”

Gar’s face broke into a smile a wild look in his eyes. “Satin bed sheets” he said before pouncing on her. The next thing she knew, Raven was on her back. His hands quickly ran under her shirt to do deliciously sinful things. His mouth biting that one spot on the base of her neck taking a sledgehammer to her self control.

“Gar” she moaned out. “What are”

“Trying for twins.” He said before capturing her mouth with his.

@westernfan1 Requested this story and asked for it to be based on the Geoff Jones version of the characters. This was an interesting challenge for me since most of my stuff I write I base on the TTA universe borrowing from other cannons when I need to and where it doesn't conflict. So I do hope you all enjoy it and please be forgiving if a few details are a little off.

I would also would like to thank @loubuggins who gave me a dissertation worthy of university admission on this subject. Thank you Lou in my mind you are the foremost expert on Jones version of Beast Boy and Raven.

#bbrae fanfiction #bbrae babies #serrj215 original #bbrae

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miafic · 4 years

Text

geoff’s breathing was slightly out of his control as he followed his class - his safe, alive class - out into the hallway and toward the front exit.

the door handle of his classroom had jiggled hard for several seconds, and all of his students were cowering in the corner, whimpering in fear and crying as silently as they could. geoff had his arms wrapped around them and his back to the door, fully prepared to go down protecting them, but he prayed that it wouldn’t come to that. he had a boy at home.

or, more accurately, he had a boy down the hall.

and whoever had fired the gun had fired at least twenty shots. probably more.

geoff wiped at his eyes, his hands shaking, his heart racing. all he could think of was finding his son. awsten was a sophomore at lakeview. he was supposed to be in history right then, and the history classes were down in that section of the hallway where the shots rang out.

geoff felt like he was going to faint.

“DAD!” came a shout, and geoff had never heard anything more beautiful in his life. he whipped around, and there, diving out of line and sprinting down the hall, was awsten.

geoff raced toward him, and they crashed together in the tightest hug geoff thought they’d ever shared.

“daddy!” awsten gasped into his shoulder. “daddy!”

“awsten.”

awsten was a sobbing mess, and geoff was crying, too. students filed past the father and son and out to find their own parents, but the pair paid them no mind.

“are you alright?” geoff demanded.

“y-yeah!” awsten sobbed. “are you?”

“yes. yes, i am fine. i am fine.” he kissed awsten’s head and held him closer. “oh, thank heavens you’re alright. i was scared to death.”

“i was scared to death, too.”

reluctantly, geoff pulled back. awsten kept sobbing, his eyes red, tears streaming down his face. geoff wrapped an arm around his shoulders and led him toward the door. “let’s get you out of this building,” geoff murmured. “i want you far away from here.”

“dad,” awsten was still pleading as tears streamed down his cheeks. “dad...”

“it’s over now. everything is alright.”

“no, wait - where’s otto?”

geoff’s stomach plummeted. “let’s find him, shall we?”

#tw #foster au geoff #foster au awsten #foster au: in between #hcs #foster au #otto is fine!!!

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thecomicsnexus · 5 years

Photo

JUSTICE LEAGUE #1-6 NOVEMBER 2011 - APRIL 2012 BY GEOFF JOHNS, JIM LEE, SCOTT WILLIAMS, ALEX SINCLAIR, HI-FI DESIGN, GABE ELTAEB, SANDRA HOPE, MARK IRWIN, JOE WEEMS, TONY AVIÑA AND MATT BANNING

SYNOPSIS (FROM DC DATABASE)

Batman is pursuing one of Darkseid's Parademons across the rooftops of Gotham, while the Gotham police pursue and fire upon both of them from helicopters. Batman blinds the police in the helicopters with smoke bombs, then stops the Parademon and is attempting to interrogate it when it lets out a burst of flame, forcing Batman to release it. As Batman and the Parademon face off again, Green Lantern interrupts the fight by slamming a fire-engine construct into the Parademon. The Gotham police continue firing on Batman, Green Lantern, and the Parademon, but their fire is blocked by Green Lantern's shield constructs. As Batman and Green Lantern talk, the Parademon recovers and destroys the police helicopters, but Green Lantern creates bat constructs which hold up the helicopters and prevent the heroes from getting injured. As they follow the Parademon into the streets of Gotham, Batman suggests that Green Lantern return to Coast City, since "Gotham's mine. Coast City is yours." Green Lantern responds by saying that the entire space sector is his and he was alerted to an "unauthorized extraterrestrial presence" in Gotham.

Batman and Green Lantern move underground in pursuit of the Parademon. Green Lantern asks Batman whether he has any powers. Batman replies "No.", to which Green Lantern replies, "Hold on a second, you're not just some guy in a bat costume, are you? Are you freaking kidding me?!". Batman then holds up Green Lantern's power ring and asks him how it works, upsetting Green Lantern who asks if Batman would really want to pick a fight with someone who can create anything he can think of. Batman says that he'd be worried if he thought Green Lantern could think.

Batman then points out the Parademon attaching a Mother Box to a sewer wall. With a shout of "For Darkseid!", the Parademon blows itself up, attempting to kill Batman and Green Lantern in the blast, but Green Lantern creates a (literal) safe construct to save them. When Green Lantern attempts to scan the box, the ring can't identify it, which Green Lantern says is impossible since the Guardians know everything. Batman says the box looks like some kind of "alien computer", and the two agree to go to Metropolis to ask the known extra-terrestrial Superman about it.

Meanwhile, at a high school football game, wide receiver Vic Stone impresses several college recruits. After the game, the scouts all want to talk to Vic. In the meantime, a despondent Vic is on the phone telling his father (or his father's voicemail) that his coach won't let the scouts talk to him without his dad there, and that they won the game (not that his dad would ask). After he hangs up, Vic, along with most of the team, runs outside to excited shouts as Batman and Green Lantern fly overhead in a jet construct. One of his teammates asks Vic if his dad studies super-humans, and he says that while he does, he never talks to him about them.

After landing in Metropolis, Batman criticizes the jet construct as being too visible while he and Green Lantern look for Superman. Green Lantern's ring leads them right to him, at which point Green Lantern encases Batman in a cage construct and tells him that he can also handle it. A moment later, Superman, using super-speed, knocks Green Lantern through the cage construct and into a pair of parked cars, apparently knocking him unconscious. As Batman begins to rise up from the ground, Superman looks at him and says "I don't handle easy. So...what can you do?"

At the crime lab of the Central City Police Department, Barry Allen is arguing with Director Singh because the latter ordered him to leave a case. The reason is because their chief wants them all working on the "Flash case": They must find out everything about the vigilante named "the Flash", including his secret identity. Of course, the CCPD is unaware that Barry Allen is the Flash.

Back at the fight between Superman and Batman, the Man of Steel points out that Batman's utility belt is empty, leaving him without any means of defense against him, as nothing Batman used so far on him has worked. Superman charges against Batman and crushes him against a wall. He then starts interrogating the Dark Knight, demanding to know where the mysterious boxes that have been appearing over the last few days come from and what are they for. Green Lantern gets up while people run away from him and gets ready for a second chance against Superman. While the latter is choking Batman, Green Lantern attacks Superman, while Batman tries to stop them both. Lantern captures Superman in chains made by his ring, but Superman points out the absurdity of doing so and easily frees himself by breaking them. He then starts attacking both Green Lantern and Batman, constantly punching Green Lantern's constructs. After Lantern creates a shield construct to protect himself and Batman, he gets the idea of calling a friend who may be faster than Superman: Barry Allen, the Flash. Barry gets surprised by the fact that Hal is with Batman and is fighting Superman. At first Barry refuses to help Hal, since the last time Green Lantern and the Flash were seen together they destroyed the Museum of Natural History while stopping Gorilla Grodd. Since the situation against Superman is getting critical with Lantern's shield giving way, Barry is convinced to help Hal, gets on his Flash costume and starts attacking Superman. At first he only teases him by easily avoiding his attacks, until Superman manages to hit him.

Batman quickly intervenes and stops the fight, explaining to Superman that they had nothing to do with the invading Parademons, and Green Lantern and him were also attacked by them. While Batman explains that the reason why they looked for him was because he was also an alien and could better explain the nature of the boxes and the Parademons, the Flash starts cleaning up and repairing the site of the fight, but they get interrupted by the forces of the government, so they quickly go into hiding in the sewers, convincing Superman to go with them.

Meanwhile, in Detroit, at the S.T.A.R. Labs Super-Human study center, Silas Stone and his team are studying the mysterious box from Superman's battle earlier that morning. While doing so, Silas gets informed of the arrival of his son Victor, to which he reacts frustratingly annoyed. Victor explains to his annoyed father that he has great chances of lots of full scholarships. His father answers that he is already paying him his school, so he doesn't need a scholarship. While Victor tries to explain to his father how important sports are to him, Silas points out how pointless is to take interest in sports in a world full of super-humans that have abilities over the finest of regular humans, thus rendering any effort to be a great sportsman obsolete. Victor then wants to confirm whether his father really isn't going to come to one of his games, to which his father confirms. Meanwhile, the four heroes have hidden themselves at an abandoned printing press, the only safe place Superman knows at Metropolis. Green Lantern suggests to Flash that they better get rid of Batman and Superman, because they would only be a burden. Flash refuses because they need someone to help them figure out the nature of the boxes. While they are examining the box, both their own and the box at S.T.A.R. Labs start reacting strangely, opening a Boom Tube that teleports a swarm of Parademons in both places and start tearing Victor apart.

In Washington D.C., military personnel, including Colonel Steve Trevor, are observing TV reports of crowds protesting against Wonder Woman because she is a pagan, and because she, like the other super-powered humans, is perceived as dangerous. Apparently, Diana had previously been with them at their office in the Pentagon, and Trevor asks where she has gone. He is told that she was watching the TV news; and when she spotted a report about a winged monster terrorizing people in downtown D.C., she took off. Efforts to detain her were futile because of her raw power.

Wonder Woman is walking in D.C. as a crowd gathers and gapes at her. The crowd remains silent out of fear, until a young girl seems unafraid and introduces herself. Wonder Woman and her new friend enjoy an ice-cream break together. Steve Trevor arrives and tries to talk Diana into returning with him to the Pentagon. Diana resists, saying that she wants to fight the forces of darkness that are lurking nearby.

Suddenly they are startled to see one of Darkseid's minions, making the same pinging sound as before. Several of the aliens swoop down to attack Wonder Woman. Diana is pleased that the battle has come to her, and beams with excitement.

At S.T.A.R. Labs in Detroit, the winged monsters are terrorizing the workers. One of the monsters snatches and abducts Professor Ivo. Dr. Silas Stone is cradling his son Vic, who was seriously hurt in the explosion last issue and appears to be near death. Dr. Stone defiantly says that he once watched his wife die, and will not let his son die too.

In Metropolis, at the site of the abandoned Daily Planet printing press, we see lots and lots of the winged monsters causing more terror. We are told that portals are opening up across the world; and that the armies of demons are pouring out through the portals. Someone exclaims that this is "judgment day". Superman, Batman, Flash, and Green Lantern are fighting the monsters; but there are now so many of them. Flash, listening to radio broadcasts in his earpiece as he battles, indicates that the attacks are happening all over the world, and that the populace is blaming the super-heroes.

The heroes talk as they fight. Batman and Green Lantern continue to bicker. Flash is surprised to hear that Batman has no powers. Batman wants to step back and regroup because there are just too many of the monsters. He prefers having a strategy instead of just using brute force. Superman is having good success fighting many of the baddies at once, using a nearby 18-wheeler truck as a weapon to pulverize the monsters.

Back in Detroit, we follow Dr. Stone and his co-workers as they enter a secure medical room at S.T.A.R. Labs, carrying Victor as they go. Dr. Stone implores his son to hang on.

Green Lantern is amazed to see Superman swing an 18-wheeler "like a baseball bat". Superman and Batman observe that the winged monsters are abducting many people now; carrying them away rather than hurting them. Batman wonders what their motive is. Several of the monsters chant "For Darkseid" like before. As the nascent Justice League continues to battle the creatures, Wonder Woman joins the battle. She shouts "Back to Hades" as she barrels into the swarm of monsters, swinging her sword. The other heroes are impressed with her display of strength and fighting prowess. They seem to be impressed by her beauty as well.

In Detroit, Vic Stone, barely alive, goes into cardiac arrest as his father works feverishly to save him using experimental technology. As they activate nanites to help with the integration of the new bio-technology, Vic starts spouting binary code. Subsequently, we hear a message from Vic's machinery indicating that he is now online.

Wonder Woman explains that she followed the winged monsters, which led her to the other super-heroes. She saw their battle in progress, and decided to help. The winged monsters are circling above a body of water, and then start again making the pinging sounds, which usually indicates that an explosion or other dramatic event is imminent. A waterspout appears rather explosively, and then a large and mysterious object emerges from the ocean. The object appears to be a conveyance of some kind, like a spaceship or watercraft. But it may be something else entirely. The heroes wonder aloud what it is.

Suddenly Aquaman rises from the water, saying the monsters and their giant mysterious object were visible in the water as well. Aquaman wants to know which one of the heroes is in charge; and suggests that he would be a good choice.

Victor finally comes to in the red room of S.T.A.R. Labs and notices his now cyborg body and is confused. All of a sudden a group of Parademons bursts in and attacks the group, and Victor uses his newly discovered sonic cannon to destroy them, and then see's himself in a mirror, to which he is taken aback. He then jumps out of a hole in the roof, blaming his father for his new body. Meanwhile the Justice League examines Aquaman's intentions and skills. After getting a demonstration they hold off the Parademons while also fighting the military who have been told to engage all non-humans including superheroes. After debating how to handle the men shooting at them they find themselves in front of a delirious Vic Stone who tries to warn them of an already approaching Darkseid who has now appeared in front of them.

The heroes are recovering from the violent explosion caused by Darkseid upon his arrival in the last issue. Flash is the first to regain consciousness, and is horrified to see Darkseid destroy a military jet and its passenger with his Omega Beam. Superman awakes next, and Darkseid targets the two of them with another Omega Beam. Flash grabs Superman and begins to carry him to safety at super-speed, urging him to move it. When the heroes split up, the twin beams split up also, each beam targeting one of the heroes. As an evasive maneuver, Flash vibrates and passes through one of the demon-bots, causing the beam to destroy that robot instead of the Scarlet Speedster. As Flash catches his breath after this exhausting but successful maneuver, he looks up to see that Superman is not quite so lucky. Taking the full brunt of the Omega Beam, Superman is knocked out, although not destroyed; and is seen being carried away by one of the winged demon-bots. The other heroes are regaining consciousness now, as Flash shares the horrible news that Superman has been abducted. The heroes discuss interrogating Darkseid to find out why Superman was taken. Green Lantern springs into action and attacks Darkseid. His constructs are not effective against the god of Apokolips; but GL courageously keeps trying even while being on the receiving end of several vicious blows from Darkseid. When Green Lantern shows his determination to continue the battle, Darkseid lifts Hal by his right forearm and applies crushing force, causing the arm to break in a couple of places. Darkseid sends him flying with another punch, and then walks away as Hal struggles to recover and persist against all odds.

Batman attempts to deter Green Lantern from going up against Darkseid in his badly injured condition. Batman wants to gather the rest of the team and form a strategy. He criticizes Green Lantern for wanting to carry on the fight with a broken arm. In response, GL fashions a moveable cast with his ring, and says he is prepared to die if necessary.

Batman continues to ask Green Lantern why he is driven to press on in this futile attack. Batman implies that he understands Green Lantern well because they are very much alike. After Green Lantern rejects this notion, Batman pulls a very surprising maneuver. He removes his mask, introduces himself as Bruce Wayne, and tells a short version of his origin; explaining that he was driven to train for a life of fighting crime after witnessing the brutal death of his parents at the hand of a mugger when Bruce was ten years old.

Bruce asks Hal to regroup with the other heroes, keep them alive, and keep Darkseid busy until Batman returns. When Green Lantern asks where he is going, Batman responds that he is going to rescue Superman.

Batman stands in the open in plain sight with his arms outstretched in an apparently submissive gesture. It does not take long for one of the flying demon-bots to swoop down and carry Batman away.

Green Lantern does regroup with the other heroes, and helps pull them out of the rubble. He shares his plan, that they should go as a group and follow Darkseid, who was last seen heading into the city on foot. GL explains that the heroes should stay out of sight for the moment. When they find Darkseid, Green Lantern will act as a distraction to lure him out, so that the other heroes can attack. This was precisely the plan proposed by Aquaman last issue. Green Lantern gives Cyborg the option to stay behind, since he has not yet officially declared himself as a superhero, but Vic is eager to join the battle. The heroes head towards the heart of Metropolis, to meet up with Darkseid.

We follow Batman as he is carried to another portal created by a Boom Tube. As Batman steps through, he finds himself in an unlikely place; peering out over a hellish landscape. It appears that Batman has been transported to Darkseid's home world, Apokolips.

In the middle of the parademon assault, a writer named David is trying to save his family, wishing for some help. His prayer is seemingly answered by a set of green fireworks on the horizon. The fireworks are part of the Justice League's plan to fight Darkseid.

On Apokolips, Bruce Wayne sneaks through the building he is in, finding a pair of superbeings discussing the invasion of the Multiverse in search of Darkseid's daughter, who was apparently kidnapped. The superbeings have Superman tied down before them, and they plan to clone him as part of the next generation of parademons.

On Earth, Cyborg uses his new machinery to tap into he Mother Box network. By saying the word, he is able to suddenly overload the system, causing teleport holes to appear all over the area - and on Apokolips. This shocks the two beings torturing Superman, and Batman uses the moment to free Superman, before the two escape back to Earth through the Boom Tubes. They try to trap Darkseid on the other side of a Boom Tube, but he grabs Superman. With seconds to spare, Cyborg works out how to shut down the network, seemingly killing Darkseid. The world is saved.

In the immediate aftermath, a crowd gathers around. The group thinks they are to be stoned, but instead they are cheered, hailed as the world's greatest superhumans. Writing after the fact, Graves acknowledges the wording was off. The group were the world's greatest super heroes. At a subsequent awards ceremony, the U.S. President gives a speech about how this team of heroes saved the world. Green Lantern is about to break ranks and say it was a one-time deal, but Batman stops him, pointing out that official sanction will get the GCPD off his back, the Air Force off Green Lantern's and the Army off Superman's. The President receives a message from an aide, to say there has been a disaster, and the group is needed. The Flash announces that they have a name, and tells the President to call them the "Super Seven." The rest of the team hates this.

A writer named David Graves writes a book about them later, coining the term "super heroes." In his book, Graves calls this team the "Justice League." The book is titled "Gods Among Us" and the cover depicts them fighting a starfish-monster (Starro).

In London, a man with the shadow of a devil meets a man with glowing blue eyes. They discuss the fact that since the Justice League started, similar beings have become active: Green Arrow, Hawkman, Zatanna. The second man muses that if these are super heroes, then people like himself would be called super villains. As he lights a cigarette, we see he has a monstrous-looking lapel pin.

On a street in the rain, a man has been murdered. The Woman in Purple is there, trying to investigate. As she walks away, she is accosted by the Phantom Stranger, who tells her that she was wrong to alter the timeline as she did, and that he is to take her in. The Woman in Purple says that she is done being passive, and shoots the Phantom Stranger in the head. He recovers instantly, and the Woman in Purple says it was a warning shot. She will do what she will do.

REVIEW

I usually tag some reviews as “Post modern age”. There is no such thing. But to me, the era of the relaunches needed to be separated from the common Modern Age of comics. And while the New 52 is the clear beginning of it... I also put Spider-man post “one more day” under the same tag.

The New 52 had a purpose that is very clear in this story. Tell new stories with these characters and do not be afraid of changing them to make those stories work. Love it or hate it, you have to respect the determination of blending three universes. This worked pretty well during the first six month of publishing, but “creative differences” became a major problem for DC that still plagues them until these days. It’s a mess.

But the initial idea is great. When you read this story, you have to remember this is a fresh start. So it doesn’t really matter if Superman is more violent and talks aggressive, or if Aquaman is too cocky (well, maybe that didn’t change so much). This is the first time you are meeting these characters, and this story sets up a few other arcs (that we feel even after Rebirth).

This story inspired two movies: Justice League and Justice League: War. Scenes from this story can also be seen in Wonder Woman. This is no coincidence, as Geoff Johns was also involved at some point in those projects.

Perhaps the biggest difference is Wonder Woman here against the one on her own title. There is something missing from this Wonder Woman, that compassion that makes her different.

As a result of the approach, these characters are way more violent than they used to be a month before.

The art starts very well and then begins to change in terms of quality. If you look at the credits, several inkers and color separators were involved in half back of the arc, so I guess that explains it. It still looks amazing... but it could be better.

Darkseid barely speaks in this story, but we learn his motivations thanks to that scene with Desaad and Steppenwolf, mentioning Darkseid’s daughter. This arc will bookend this title (will be explored during “Darkseid War”).

Cyborg debuts as the 7th member with this story (displacing Martian Manhunter to Stormwatch). To be honest, the logic for this is still an enigma to me. I understand why Martian Manhunter wasn’t popular, but Cyborg wasn’t that great either. My guess is that he gained popularity through the titans animated shows, but this created a hole into the Titans history after the New 52. The Titans are the real losers of this relaunch, in general. If diversity was the concern, I would have gone for another woman (as Diana is the only female hero), or perhaps someone with a different color (like Vixen, Doctor Light II, etc). Ultimately, the usefulness of Cyborg in the context of the group is that he can teleport them. That’s his main asset. I respect it, but I am still not convinced.

I give this story a technical score of 10

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