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m1ckeyb3rry · 2 months

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── THE GLASS PRINCESS // SEVEN

Series Synopsis: You wake up in a strange room with no memories, broken glass at your bedside, and a prince named Zuko as your only chance at figuring out who you really are.

Chapter Synopsis: You get your first taste of freedom from the constricting walls of the Earth Palace.

Series Masterlist

Pairing: Zuko x Reader

Chapter Word Count: 5.2k

Content Warnings: complicated relationships (strangers to friends to lovers to enemies to strangers to lovers to enemies to lovers), amnesia, alternate universe, lots of secrets and lying and mystery

A/N: hello everyone and welcome to part two of the glass princess!! in the next few chapters we will be learning more about princess y/n and how she met zuko/the fall of ba sing se :) thank you all for reading!! and yes i did make up an entire spirit for the #plot 😭🙏🏻 i promise she will have significance to the story later on though!!

Although it was uncharitable, you could not help yourself from thinking that the only reason Long Feng was allowing your brother to keep that ridiculous creature around was because of its apparent resemblance to Quynh. In a way, it could be considered to have been made in her image, and Kuei knew that as well as you did, which was why he was currently leaping about joyfully, shaking you by the shoulders as if he were a child instead of a man.

“I’ve found him!” Kuei shrieked at you for the thousandth time. “I’ve found Quynh’s son! She hasn’t abandoned us after all, Y/N! She sent her son to me!”

“That ghastly, muddy creature is no child of Quynh’s,” you said, wrinkling your nose at the tufts of fur all over the fine carpet. “And Quynh never abandoned us in the first place. I do not know why you think that that is the case.”

“No one has seen her in nearly a century, and it’s been even longer since anyone found Quynh’s Door. If ever she was real, she left the palace long ago,” Kuei said. “Maybe she was never a spirit in the first place — just one of Bosco’s ancestors.”

“That is blasphemy!” you rebuked him. “Quynh is no Agni — she is a concrete spirit, not an abstract deity. If anything, she is far more similar to Tui and La, from the Northern Water Tribe.”

“Who?” Kuei said.

“The ocean and moon spirits,” you said with a heavy sigh, once again finding yourself unimpressed by Kuei and his ignorance. “They live in the Northern Water Tribe and allow Waterbenders to bend.”

“Quynh doesn’t allow anyone to bend. She’s a different legend entirely. You should know that,” he said. You gritted your teeth.

“I wish you would pick up a book for once! It was an analogy, you fool,” you said.

“It matters not,” Kuei said after a second. “I don’t know why you’re so set on this fairytale, but the sooner you give up on it, the sooner you can find the wonder in the real world.”

“By the real world, do you mean my chambers?” you said. “Or yours? Because that is the extent of the world I know.”

“I mean the bear sitting before you at this very moment!” he said, ignoring your pointed response and gesturing towards his new pet with a flourish. “You are more taken with a made up story than an actual natural phenomenon. That’s a problem, dear sister.”

Bosco the bear grumbled at you in agreement, blinking his large, wet eyes at you. And perhaps you might’ve been impressed by his sturdy build and elegant snout, but all you could see when you gazed upon him was a cheap copy, a faded replica that could never hope to capture even half of the original’s glory.

“Well, dear brother, it can’t be helped. Your pet will never be Quynh,” you said.

“Always bringing down the mood, aren’t you?” he said, rolling his eyes at you. “I wasn’t saying he was Quynh, I was saying he resembled her greatly. Anyways, you know stories always inflate their characters; for all we know, Quynh really did once look like this.”

You wanted to argue with him, but of course it would not be productive. Like the element he ruled, your brother was set in his ways — the only qualities he had in equal measure to stubbornness were cowardice and naïveté, both of which he was perhaps better known for. It was true, though, that when he gained a sense of conviction for something, he’d stand by it with a fervor that he rarely displayed otherwise. It was one of the few attributes you could genuinely admire him for, even if it was inconvenient at times.

“As you say,” you said. “I see no purpose in further discussions on the matter. You do not believe in Quynh, and I do. Neither of us can change the other’s mind, so we ought to just move on.”

“Compliment Bosco first,” Kuei said. “On my authority as the Earth King, I demand it.”

“You demand a lot of things on that tenuous authority,” you muttered. Then, you smiled at the piteous looking bear. “You truly deserve to be my brother’s companion. I am certain you are possessed with the same commanding spirit that he is so fortunate to claim.”

Kuei beamed at you. “Thank you. You can return to your room.”

You snickered at him. “It is appreciated.”

Only when you were halfway down the hallway did he shout in protest, realizing your thinly veiled insult. You sped up your pace, running towards your room before he could come and question you or make another demand — you did not put it past him to insist that you compliment his bear properly.

It was one of those ways you had to get back at him. You were ever searching for more, trying your best to needle the brother who was, whether directly or indirectly, the cause of your imprisonment.

Your chambers. His chambers. The hallway in between. These were the confines of your world, according to Kuei and Long Feng, who was his most trusted advisor. It would be dangerous, after all, for a girl with no bending and royal blood flowing through her veins to be wandering the streets without protection, even in a city as safe as Ba Sing Se. So although you had begged to at least see the kingdom which was your own, you had been promptly refused every time, the locks changed periodically and the guards rotated hourly to ensure they stayed alert to your movements.

Escape was impossible, but even in such a life, you could find solace: in your dressing room, a door would sometimes appear, a door which led to the heart of the palace — not the throne room, but the true heart upon which the entire structure was constructed. Quynh’s Den, the entrance to which was constantly shifting between the spirit world and the mortal one, was the only place you had for yourself, though of course you shared it with its other inhabitant: the great mother bear spirit Quynh.

It was there today. Ensuring that the entrance to your own chambers was sufficiently blocked, you did not even hesitate to pull the door open, ducking into the stone passageway behind it eagerly. The only light came from the glowing crystals overhead, but you knew the way so well that you could’ve tread it even with your eyes closed, so the dimness did not trouble you any.

It did not make sense for such a long, winding hall made entirely of stone to be behind your dressing room, but that was because the hallway was not truly there. The door was only a gateway to the realm in which Quynh’s Den resided, but that realm was somewhere else, in some intangible other dimension that did not quite obey the same rules as yours.

Time, too, felt strange in this place. You did not know for how long you walked; you never did. You could only keep going until the narrow passage opened into a large cavern, the walls of which were studded with the same glowing green crystals that the entire hall had been encrusted with. The majority of the space was taken up by a massive black form curled up on a bed of ghostly white moss, her head resting on paws that were several times your own size. You knew from past experience that if you were to stand right beside her when she was in such a position, you would barely even be able to peek over her nose.

“Quynh,” you said. Twin jewels blinked open — her enormous eyes were the same luminous shade as the crystals surrounding her, and they, too, shone with a mysterious, intrinsic power.

“Y/N,” she said, the cavern rumbling with the depth of her voice. “I was wondering when you would come again.”

“I come whenever you allow me to,” you said, moving so that you could sit in front of her. She huffed, tilting her head so that you could clamber onto her paw and lean against the plush fur of her cheek, which would be several times warmer than the cold stone floor.

“It’s not under my control,” she said. “You know my limitations.”

“Yes, of course I do,” you said. “That’s how it’s always been. I was just reminding you, so that you are not angry.”

“I do not blame you,” she said. “For not visiting. I know that you cannot unless the circumstances align. Rather, it is that I am bereaved when you are gone. It has been many years since I could say this with certainty, but the truth is that I miss your company.”

“And I, yours,” you said. “Though you should not feel too complimented by that. It is you or Kuei, and I am, as ever, irritated by him at the moment.”

“You should not quarrel with him,” Quynh chided you. “He is the only family you have. It does you no good to fight with him so frequently. You will be sad if something happens and those are the only memories you have of him.”

“I wish that you were not inclined to defend him!” you said.

“Whether you like it or not, he is of the same line as you. I love him as well, for that fact. I am bound to,” she said. You pouted.

“You ought to love me more. He doesn’t even think you are real,” you said. “I’m the only one who’s believed in you in decades.”

“A mother cannot declare favorites,” Quynh said diplomatically. “And so, neither can I. You ought to know this by now.”

“He’s found a bear,” you muttered obstinately. “It’s a disgusting creature. Rolls in mud whenever given the opportunity and barely knows to shut its jowls when it’s eating.”

“A bear?” Quynh said, one of her ears flicking with interest. “I did not know of any which existed.”

“I suppose there is this one,” you said. “He is a true bear; I have ascertained as much. He does resemble you, though it is in the way that quartz resembles diamond.”

Bear was not quite enough to encapsulate what Quynh was. Certainly, her form was as such, but she was in a sense phantasmic, and so ascribing a physical species to her was disingenuous. That was why you found it so grating that Kuei was frolicking about and proclaiming that he had found her equal — she had no equal. Quynh stood alone.

“It is unfair,” she said, “for you to hold that against him. If you were possessed with an uneducated eye, you, too, would mistake the quartz for the diamond. He cannot be blamed.”

“I would know,” you said. “Even if I were blind, I would know. The diamond possesses something which the quartz never can.”

“And what might that be?” Quynh said.

“I don’t know,” you said. “But there is some such quality.”

“Perhaps,” she said. “Or perhaps you are upset about something entirely different and are taking out your frustration on an animal that cannot help its ancestry and a brother who is known to be a fool.”

“On that much, we can agree,” you said with a self-satisfied smile. “Kuei is a fool.”

“Y/N,” Quynh warned you. You hung your head in defeat.

“I asked Long Feng if I could leave again,” you said. “I thought he was in a generous mood, considering he raised no complaint about Bosco being moved to the royal chambers, but he refused! I told him I would not stray from my guards’ side, that I only wished to go for a matter of minutes, but still he said no.”

“Did he give his reasons?” Quynh said.

“The same as ever,” you said. “Until Kuei marries and has children, I am next in line for the throne. As the heir, I must be kept with the utmost of caution, and the only place I can be safe for certain is the palace.”

“He’s not entirely wrong,” she said. “The world is dangerous. More than you might think.”

“I don’t think anything,” you said, though you immediately felt poorly for snapping at her. “I cannot even form an opinion on the city I might one day rule. What sort of a princess does not even know her subjects? To say nothing of my brother the king, who himself has not left the palace walls in years and is entirely comfortable with that! I cannot understand it. I cannot understand why he has no desire to know his people, the very people who love him so dearly as to accept him as their ruler.”

“Not everyone is like you,” Quynh said, nudging you as gently as she could. “And your brother’s past shaped who he is now. You cannot blame him for desiring safety when he was there when it all happened.”

She spoke of your father. You had never met the man, for he had died days before you had been born, so you felt no grief at the reminder, but you knew it was not the same for Kuei. After all, your father’s death was the only reason your brother had taken the throne in the first place; a throne which, at his young age, he had been ill-suited for.

Due to Kuei’s fondness for animals, which he had had since he was very young, your father had taken him to the zoo for his birthday. There, a wayward assassin of the Earthbending variety had sent spikes of stone into your father’s heart, killing him before the guards could even react. It was all they could do to save Kuei and run — the assassin, as far as you knew, still walked free today, for they had been too concerned with your brother’s protection to chase after the killer.

The zoo was shut down. The child Kuei was crowned king, though your mother was deemed his regent. Days later, she fell gravely ill. Giving birth to you was the last thing she did — she never left the childbearing bed, using the final remains of her strength to push you out and hold you tightly against her chest until she stopped breathing entirely.

One child there for your father’s last moments. The other, for your mother’s. Quynh was not exaggerating in saying that Kuei was the only family you had left, but your lives had been so dissimilar as to be entire opposites. He had his ministers and advisors to replace the gap your father had left in his life. You had Quynh to serve as your mother, in whatever way she could.

“The guards will be vigilant,” you said. “And anyways, even if I am Kuei’s heir, I doubt that anyone would have cause to assassinate me. I am not important enough to the kingdom. If I were killed, Kuei would simply marry earlier, and have more children, so it would be a net loss for any assailants.”

“You know that I am not opposed to it,” Quynh said. “It is your brother and his advisors who forbid you; I am only reminding you to respect their wishes, for they, in some manner, have your best interests at heart.”

“But I am dying of it,” you said. “Every day I languish in the palace, I can feel my spirit being crushed by the ever-encroaching walls. My only respite is visiting you, Quynh, but even that is not enough. I am still captive.”

Quynh sighed. It was a great sound, whistling and low, teeming with disappointment and worry and affection, all in equal measure. You rubbed your hand against her fur, waiting for her response, though you doubted it would be any different than every other time you had asked.

“You want me to open a door to the kingdom,” she said.

“Yes,” you said. “If I go alone, in the garb of a commoner, then I should escape notice entirely.”

“Alright,” she said. You opened your mouth to argue before closing it.

“Alright?” you repeated. “You’re saying yes? What about the usual rebuttals? It’s too much of a risk, Y/N, you won’t even be able to find Quynh’s Door.”

“It’s true,” she said. “You won’t have that guarantee, but of course, I can manually open doors back to the palace. The danger in this is that you will have to wait until I can open a door to allow your return, even if you want it earlier. As you well know, time is different here. I could open a door for you mere seconds after you’ve left, but that still might mean you must spend hours in the city.”

“I do not mind,” you said. “I will make good use of that time. But what has changed your mind? Why have you never offered before?”

“Something has come to the city,” she said. “I can feel it. There is a presence, or perhaps multiple presences, that can change the course of Ba Sing Se’s destiny — and, more importantly, of your family’s destiny. I am not sure, but I feel as if it is imperative that you leave, or else I will be depriving you of that destiny. And that unto itself is a fate, but not the one which you are meant to find.”

“Who are they?” you said. “These presences. How will I know that I’ve met them?”

“You won’t,” she said. “There is no way for any of us to know. Even they, themselves, may not yet be aware of it. It is just like that. You needn’t endeavor to find them; if you are meant to, you will.”

“I see,” you said, and then you leapt off of her paw, beaming up at her. “Then the only thing I will

“I hope you do,” Quynh said. “Furthermore, I hope you do not regret your decision.”

“I won’t,” you said firmly. “Thank you, Quynh.”

“It is my duty,” she said. “I am obligated to. To be sure, it is difficult, for there is always some difficulty when a mother must let her child go, but it is necessary. It is a story older than even I.”

“And this story is just as old,” you said. “That even when you let me go, I will return to you. Of my own volition, I shall return.”

“So you shall,” she said. “Go, then, Y/N. And return with as much haste as you leave, so that I may not miss you for too long.”

A new hallway formed in the walls of the cave, and without a backward glance, you walked towards it. Striding down the passage, you kept your eyes forward, knowing that if you turned around, you would see the stone closing behind you. You could not go back; it was not the nature of Quynh’s power. There was only one way to go, now that the decision had been made: forward.

All of the passages made by Quynh were the same length — barring the one behind the famed Quynh’s Door, naturally — so it was a trick of your mind that made the trek to Ba Sing Se seem longer than when you returned to your room from her den. Still, eventually, you came to another door, and your entire body shuddered in anticipation as you placed your hand on the knob, because this was the moment that you waited your entire life for.

Unable to delay for a second more, you swung the door open, taking your first step into the city of Ba Sing Se, your silk-slippered foot toeing delicately onto the cobblestones. Shutting the door behind you, you glanced over your shoulder to ascertain that it had disappeared. As you had expected, the wall was smooth and bare, giving no indication that there had ever been an exit in the first place.

There were people everywhere. You had never witnessed such a large crowd before; people milled about by the fading light of the setting sun, jostling one another as they rushed to and fro. At the fringes of the throng, two men with long torches went about lighting the street lamps, though they took their own time doing so, talking and laughing with whichever passersby that they recognized.

Another person might find the chaos to be ugly, hideous in its disorder, but you found a kind of mystical appeal to the hustle of the street. These were people who were living their lives as they were meant to, with no awareness of the simple freedoms and small joys they possessed. They gave no care to the idea that their daily lives were so remarkable to you, that their going-ons were the most wonderful thing you had ever seen.

You were too afraid to step into the sea of people, so you stayed along the sides of the road, admiring them, watching them, wanting more than anything to be one of them. But of course you were not. You would never be.

The door had spit you out near a small tea shop. It was not run down, exactly, but it was lived in, homey, the wood polished and the chairs worn. You opened the door to the establishment, but found it to be devoid of any patrons. There was only an old man behind the counter, sorting the change with toughened hands, though he looked up when he heard the bell chime announce your entrance.

“Hello, miss,” he said. “I’m afraid we are about to close for the night.”

“Oh, it’s not a problem,” you said. “I wasn’t wanting tea, anyways. I was just admiring your shop.”

“Why, thank you,” he said, grinning at you. “Though it’s not my shop, so I can’t claim to have any hand in the decor.”

“It smells so lovely,” you said. “It reminds me of a very beautiful thing, though I can’t name which.”

“Flowers?” he guessed. “Maybe a garden full of jasmine blossoms, their petals facing the moon, with a few drops of rain scattered about on their surfaces?”

“Actually, yes,” you said, amazed at his accuracy. “How did you know? That was exactly correct.”

“It’s the new blend of jasmine tea we’re brewing for tomorrow. My nephew picks the flowers himself, so that we can be sure of the condition of the jasmine before we make the tea. It’s the best way to allow the flavors to come through!” the man said.

“Wow,” you said. “I never knew there was so much thought put behind tea. I just drink it.”

“Most people don’t care enough,” the man said with a nod. “That’s what sets our tea apart. It’s only when you pay attention to the most minute details that you can ensure your final product is as close to perfection as can be found in a teacup. It’s a grave sin to think that tea begins and ends with the boiling of water; in truth, it starts when you plant seeds in the soil.”

“That makes a lot of sense,” you said. “Though I hadn’t it until now. Thank you for telling me. I shall pay more attention the next time I have tea; perhaps then I, too, will be able to understand its origins from a mere sip.”

“It takes practice,” the man said. “But no harm ever befell the man who paid attention. Or woman, in this case.”

“Of course,” you said. “But I should leave you to close. I apologize for bothering you in the first place.”

“Don’t apologize,” the man said, waving you off. “It’s always a delight to have a conversation with a willing partner.”

“The delight was mine,” you said.

“Do come again!” the man said. “Perhaps earlier in the day, though. I can serve you tea — or, better, I can make my nephew do it. I think he’s about your age, and he is wanting for friends. But don’t tell him I said that! He’s not aware of it quite yet.”

Your eyes widened at the thought. You had never met someone your own age, nor had you ever had a friend — Quynh and Kuei were your family, for better or for worse, and the servants never dared speak to you beyond the barest of formalities. So, in a way, you were alsowanting for a friend, but you could not tell the man this. Instead, you smiled slightly at him, bowing your head in gratitude.

“I should like that,” you said. “If ever I am nearby again, I will surely come.”

As the night stretched on, the streets began to empty — or was it that you were wandering further and further away from the main crossroads? Regardless, there was certainly a shift in the air, and it was only when you entered a deserted neighborhood that you realized there had been footsteps following you for quite some time now.

Turning around, you saw no one. The streets were devoid of life. The footsteps had stopped, but you could not help the nagging feeling that something was wrong.

Where was the door? It had been long enough — you should’ve been able to find it by now. You should’ve been able to go home by now. But there was no door. You were alone, and you suddenly understood why you had been forbidden from leaving the palace.

“Who goes there?” you said. “I — I am armed, so show yourself, but proceed with caution!”

“Armed?” a voice said. “Don’t fool yourself, your royal highness. Everyone knows you aren’t armed.”

“Your royal — how do you know who I am?” you called out. “Coward! You dare to hide in the shadows and hurl such insults at me?”

Your response was an enormous boulder shooting towards you. You squealed and dropped to the ground, covering your head with your hands as the boulder smashed into the wall behind you, bits of rubble raining down. There was a stinging pain on your knee, and you frowned as you realized that you had scraped it when you had initially dodged.

“What are you doing?” you said. “You will kill me! Stop it! You craven hound, I command you to stop what you are doing and face me like a man! If you cease your actions and explain yourself at once, I shan’t have you put to death. I will even pardon you of your every crime!”

Again, no response, and your heart dropped as you realized that might be his goal. What other reason would the man, who apparently knew your identity, have for attacking you? It was unfathomable, but you were reminded that it had not been so long since your father had been assassinated. Whatever sentiments had driven that attack…what if you had been wrong? What if you were, for whatever reason, the target for the next assassination?

It reminded you of a story, one you had read on the tenth anniversary of your father’s death. You thought it might comfort you, or more specifically your brother, to read the tale of another king who had been assassinated but whose reign had continued on regardless; in truth, though, only one quote had stuck with you, and this quote was neither comforting nor kind.

Sometimes, these things just happen, it had said. Kings are murdered. There isn’t always an explanation. Sometimes, the only reason is the action itself. Sometimes, people just kill for the spectacle of killing.

Maybe that was the case. Maybe you were just going to be killed for the spectacle. The show. The king’s beloved sister, murdered in his own city, the safest city in the entire world.

Right when the second boulder was about to hit you, there was a metallic sound, and then something sliced through the boulder, cutting it in half before it could reach you. When you looked up, there was a man in black standing in front of you, twin blades held in each hand, his posture confident but wary.

“Who are you?” you said. The man did not respond, scanning the area. He must’ve determined it to be safe, as abruptly, he relaxed his stance, sheathing the swords and then shifting to face you.

You could not stop yourself from yelping. Instead of a face, there was a blue mask regarding you, frozen in a grotesque grin, though when you got over your initial surprise, you realized you recognized the guise.

“The Blue Spirit?” you said. He nodded. “I’ve read the play, but I didn’t realize that you were — that you were a real being!”

The Blue Spirit was motionless in the wake of your words. Or, no, that was not correct. It was not that he was motionless, but that every part of his body was constantly shifting and changing, on high alert, so that the sum total was a man that was both ever at rest yet ever moving.

You pulled yourself to your feet, careful not to hurt yourself on the scattered stones surrounding you both, and just then, right behind you, a door appeared. You laughed ruefully at the ironic timing.

“What were you doing here, anyways?” you said. He mimed opening his hand; you did so, your palm facing the sky, though you had no idea what he planned to do with it. But he had saved you, so you thought that there was no harm in trusting him for a moment longer.

He did not do anything as dramatic as grabbing it or carving his name into it. He just dropped something into it, something soft and light and white.

Jasmine flowers. The delicate cups of the blooms were opened, seeking out the moon, and twinkling in the starlight against the silky fibers of the petals were a few drops of water — holdovers, you assumed, from the day’s rainfall.

You closed your fingers over the flowers, careful not to crush them in your fist. You did not know what they meant — an offering? A price? Something else entirely? Regardless, you knew that they were important, and you vowed to reread the story of the Blue Spirit once you returned home, so that you could understand their significance.

“Thank you,” you said. “For the flowers, and also for rescuing me. If we should ever meet again, then I will thank you in a better way, but for now, I have to go. The longer I linger here, the more danger the two of us are put in.”

Opening the door, you took a step in, but before you closed it, you looked over your shoulder, back at where the Blue Spirit had stood. That strange person…you owed him your life. The least you could do was look back at him, afford him a final glance before you sealed yourself away entirely.

When you turned, though, he was already gone. The only proof that he had ever been there in the first place was the flowers in your hand, the pluming dust in the air, and the heart which steadily beat in your chest — that beat which meant you were still alive, at least for now.

You did not stand there and mourn his absence. Allowing the door to swing shut and the passageway to close behind you, you began to walk home.

taglist (comment/send an ask/dm to be added): @rinisfruity14 @c4ttheart

#zuko x reader #zuko x y/n #zuko x you #zuko #avatar the last airbender #atla #reader insert #canon au #the glass princess #m1ckeyb3rry writes

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chokememaximoff · 7 months

Text

Fainted into your arms

Wanda Maximoff x reader

Abstract: As Y/N navigates the demands of college and her family responsibilities, she forms a deep and unexpected connection with Wanda Maximoff

TW: none

Y/N Y/L/N's life had become a whirlwind of responsibilities. Her days were a relentless cycle of attending veterinary classes, completing clinical rotations, and serving coffee at the cafe until the early morning hours. Sleep had become a luxury she couldn't afford. But beyond her studies and work, she shouldered the weight of her family's needs. Her hometown visits meant taking care of her niece and her ailing mother, who required constant attention. Yet, Y/N somehow found the strength to study amidst the chaos.

As the finals loomed closer, spring swept in, bringing with it warmer days that only added to her exhaustion. One evening, on her way back home from the cafe, Y/N felt a wave of dizziness hit her. She stumbled and clutched onto a nearby tree for support, her body aching, her stomach churning. The combination of exhaustion, hunger, and dehydration had finally taken its toll.

Out of nowhere, a voice cut through the haze, "Are you okay, darling?" Startled, Y/N turned to see a striking older woman standing there. Dressed impeccably in a tailored suit, the woman exuded an air of elegance that left Y/N momentarily breathless. Concern etched on her face, the woman's presence was both comforting and bewildering.

Trying to steady herself, Y/N managed to stammer, "I'm... I'm okay, just... exhausted." But as the woman spoke, a sudden ringing overwhelmed her senses. She strained to hear, but the sound grew deafening, and darkness swallowed her whole.

When consciousness returned, Y/N was met with a throbbing headache. As she gingerly sat up, she realized a cold cloth had been placed on her forehead. Blinking, she looked around, disoriented by the opulent surroundings. Confusion gnawed at her, and an involuntary "What the fuck..." escaped her lips.

Footsteps approached, and the older woman entered the room, holding a tray of food that looked incredibly tempting. Warmth radiated from her smile as she noticed Y/N awake. Settling into a chair across from Y/N, she asked with genuine concern, "How are you feeling?"

Managing a weak chuckle, Y/N admitted, "Honestly, like shit." The woman's laughter danced in response. "You had me quite worried. Fainting into my arms was a bit unexpected. I brought you here so you could rest," she explained, her eyes conveying kindness.

A mixture of embarrassment and gratitude washed over Y/N. "Thank you. I... I appreciate it," she murmured, her cheeks flushing slightly. When the woman's hand landed on her knee, an electric current seemed to surge through Y/N, leaving her both surprised and intrigued. She attempted to shake off the sensation, not quite understanding it.

"You must have pushed yourself too hard," the woman, Wanda Maximoff, offered softly. Y/N nodded, feeling a strange connection forming between them. Despite the circumstances, a comfortable silence settled as they exchanged glances, understanding passing between them.

"I'm Y/N Y/L/N," Y/N finally introduced herself, extending her hand. Wanda's grip was warm and reassuring, and as their fingers touched, an undeniable spark coursed through Y/N. "Wanda Maximoff," the woman replied, her voice carrying a richness that resonated deep within Y/N.

...

Y/N savored each bite of the delicious food Wanda had prepared. The flavors danced on her taste buds, and she couldn't help but let out a satisfied moan. "This is the best food I've had all week!" she exclaimed, looking at Wanda with genuine appreciation.

Wanda's cheeks tinted with a faint blush. "Oh, it's nothing really. I just quickly put it together for you," she replied modestly.

Y/N playfully rolled her eyes. "Trust me, this is like Gordon Ramsay-level stuff. It's a huge shift after the cafeteria food... not that I eat that very much either. Most days, I forget to eat anything at all."

A shadow of concern flickered across Wanda's face. "That's not good, honey. You should take better care of yourself."

Y/N blushed at the endearing term of address. She looked down, a bit bashful. "I know, but there's so much on my plate. I don't want to burden you with my problems. Besides, you've already done so much by bringing me here."

Leaning in with a playful glint in her eyes, Wanda asked, "Now you've intrigued me. What caused you to faint dramatically into my arms?"

Y/N let out a sigh and began to open up, sharing the overwhelming challenges she faced daily. Wanda's concern was palpable as she listened intently to Y/N's story.

"Honey," Wanda said softly when Y/N finished, "you need to consider dropping that job. You're already managing so much."

Y/N arched an eyebrow skeptically. "And how am I supposed to pay for my dorm then?"

Wanda hesitated, a thoughtful look crossing her face. But then she changed the subject, asking if Y/N wanted a drink. Y/N, feeling flustered, declined, mumbling about overstaying her welcome.

Wanda shook her head, a warm smile on her lips. "You're not overstaying. You're welcome to stay, even overnight if you'd like."

Standing up, Y/N felt a mix of embarrassment and gratitude. "I appreciate that, but I wouldn't want to cause any trouble if someone else comes over."

Wanda chuckled softly. "I don't have a partner to worry about, whether husband or wife. Being 34 doesn't mean I have to be married, right, darling?"

Y/N's cheeks flushed as she stammered, "I didn't mean it like that." The proximity of Wanda's hand on her arm sent a shiver down her spine, igniting a spark of connection she couldn't ignore.

Leaning in even closer, Wanda's voice dropped. "And who said anything about marriage? I like to keep my options open."

Before Y/N could react, Wanda had retrieved her car keys. "Well, whether you're staying or not, I'll at least drive you to your dorm."

Y/N opened her mouth to protest, but the stern determination in Wanda's gaze silenced her. They walked down to Wanda's sleek Dodge Hellcat, chatting amiably during the drive. As they pulled up to Y/N's dorm, Wanda smiled warmly.

"Would you mind if I had your number?" Wanda inquired, a mischievous grin playing on her lips.

Y/N's blush deepened, but she nodded. Wanda handed her the phone, and Y/N typed in her number. Wanda saved the contact, and then she exited the car, opening the door for Y/N.

"Thank you," Y/N said, her voice a bit shaky as she stepped out.

Wanda's tone was affectionate as she said, "Take care of yourself, okay?" Then, in a surprising move, Wanda leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to Y/N's cheek.

"Bye, Y/N," Wanda said with a grin, before driving away, leaving Y/N standing there, her heart racing and her mind reeling from the unexpected whirlwind of emotions and connections that had unfolded between them.

...

As Y/N stepped into the dorm room, her roommate Kate Bishop sat up groggily, rubbing her eyes. "Where have you been?" Kate asked, her voice half-awake yet curious.

Y/N winced sheepishly, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up. I felt weak, so I stopped."

Kate raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And then what happened? You woke me up by entering the room like you were being chased by a ghost."

A flush spread across Y/N's cheeks as she recounted the story. "Well, this incredibly hot 34-year-old woman came up to me and asked if I was okay. I, uh, totally embarrassed myself by fainting into her arms."

Kate's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait, what? You fainted into the arms of a hot woman? Damn, Y/N, that's one way to make an impression."

Y/N rolled her eyes, flustered. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. She was really nice though. She even offered for me to stay over at her place, but I was too... flustered to accept. I gave her my number instead."

Kate chuckled, leaning back against her pillows. "Sounds like you've had quite the night. Maybe you'll actually get some rest now."

Y/N sighed, dropping dramatically onto her bed. Just as she was about to say something, her phone dinged with a message. She practically leaped off her bed to grab it, excitement bubbling within her.

Kate observed the scene with amusement. "Wow, you're like a kid on Christmas morning."

Y/N's face lit up as she read the message from the unknown number. "Hope you're getting rest, darling."

In her excitement, Y/N threw her phone at Kate, who caught it with a bemused expression. "Okay, what's got you this excited?" Kate asked.

Y/N bounced up and down, a wide grin on her face. "It's her! It's a message from Wanda! She actually texted me!"

Kate glanced at the message, then back at Y/N, and without hesitation, she playfully slapped Y/N's shoulder. "Damn, Y/N, you're gonna score an older woman. I'm so jealous!"

Y/N's blush deepened as she reclaimed her phone, practically beaming. "I can't believe this is happening."

Kate smirked. "Well, Miss Y/N Y/L/N, looks like you're in for an interesting ride. Now, lay down and sleep before I have to call Wanda to bend you over her knee for not resting."

Y/N laughed, finally settling onto her bed. As she closed her eyes, thoughts of Wanda and their unexpected connection filled her mind, and she couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement, nervousness, and anticipation for what lay ahead.

...

As the week progressed, Y/N Y/L/N found herself engaged in lively text conversations with Wanda Maximoff. Their exchanges became a bright spot in her demanding schedule, a source of comfort and excitement amidst her overwhelming commitments. Yet, despite Wanda's gentle reminders to take care of herself and rest, Y/N struggled to break free from her relentless routine.

Friday evening descended, and Y/N stumbled out of the cafe, weariness etched into her features. In her sleep-deprived state, she collided with someone just outside the door. Her murmured apology was met with a chuckle, and as Y/N looked up, her gaze locked onto Wanda's concerned expression.

"Honey, you told me you were resting more," Wanda remarked softly, concern etched in her voice. "You look like a zombie."

Y/N's cheeks flushed, her exhaustion becoming more evident. Attempting to inject some humor, she teased, "Am I a hot zombie, at least?"

A playful grin tugged at the corners of Wanda's lips. "The hottest zombie, I'd say. But this particular zombie is now coming with me to my apartment. It seems I can't trust you to rest properly on your own."

Y/N opened her mouth to object, but Wanda's hand was already wrapping around hers, leading her to Wanda's car. The sensation of Wanda's warm touch sent shivers down Y/N's spine, igniting a series of emotions she couldn't quite comprehend. The ride to Wanda's apartment was marked by a comfortable silence, a palpable connection existing between them.

Once they arrived, Y/N expressed her hesitations. "I really don't want to impose."

Wanda dismissed her concerns with a casual wave. "Darling, you're an intelligent woman. If someone invites you to their house, are you really intruding?"

Blushing deeply, Y/N murmured, "Okay, Maximoff. I'm guessing you want me here."

Wanda's grin was infectious. "Smart guess. Now, have you eaten, darling?"

Avoiding Wanda's gaze, Y/N admitted softly, "I haven't had the time."

Wanda's expression turned incredulous. "It's 11 PM. You should have at least eaten something."

Sighing, Y/N nodded. "Okay."

"Go on, make yourself comfortable on the couch," Wanda directed. "I'll whip up something delicious for you."

Following Wanda's guidance, Y/N settled onto the couch, pulling out her phone to send a quick text to Kate, updating her on the change of plans. Kate's response made her chuckle, and after stowing her phone away, she took a moment to appreciate the elegance of Wanda's apartment.

Heading into the kitchen, Y/N found Wanda with her hair in a bun, orchestrating a culinary masterpiece. The tantalizing aroma of the cooking filled the space, making Y/N's stomach rumble. However, her attention shifted from the food to Wanda, who was humming a catchy tune and swaying her hips to the rhythm. The sight was mesmerizing, and Y/N was caught off-guard when Wanda's voice interrupted her thoughts, "Enjoying the view, darling?"

Flustered, Y/N stammered, "I just... uh, wanted to check if you needed any assistance."

Wanda turned to face Y/N with a knowing smirk. "Darling, just sit there and look pretty. That's all the assistance I require from you."

Y/N felt her cheeks heat up as she obeyed, taking a seat in the kitchen. Wanda's smile was warm and inviting as she continued to prepare the meal. Y/N found herself captivated by Wanda's presence, a growing connection forming between them that seemed to transcend words.

As Wanda hummed a tune, Y/N recognized the song and pulled it up on her phone. Wanda's grin grew wider. "Ah, so you appreciate good music too?"

Embarrassed but sincere, Y/N replied, "Well, it's a classic..."

With the song playing softly in the background, their interaction continued to flow seamlessly, building a sense of familiarity and intimacy. Y/N couldn't help but feel drawn to Wanda's energy, and with every passing moment, she found herself sinking deeper into the unexpected connection that had bloomed between them.

After a satisfying meal, a pleasant drowsiness began to envelop Y/N Y/L/N. Wanda Maximoff noticed the telltale signs and smiled gently. "Well, it looks like it's time to head to bed, darling."

Y/N nodded, stifling a yawn. "Yeah, I guess it is."

Standing up, Wanda gestured for Y/N to follow her. Y/N complied, trailing behind Wanda as they entered a room that appeared to be Wanda's. Y/N's heart raced at the prospect of spending the night in the same room as Wanda.

Wanda pulled out some comfortable clothes from her closet and handed them to Y/N. "I wasn't going to let you sleep in jeans," she said with a chuckle. "There's a brand new toothbrush in the cabinet in the bathroom for you."

As Wanda retrieved a blanket and pillow, Y/N hesitated, glancing around the room. "Wait, where are you going? This is your bed."

Wanda smiled warmly, her eyes holding a reassuring glint. "I'm going to take the couch so that you can rest in a comfortable bed."

Y/N's expression turned into one of concern. "No, no, I can't let you sleep on the couch because of me. I'll take the couch or something."

Wanda shook her head, her tone firm but caring. "Darling, you need quality rest. The couch won't give you that."

Y/N sighed, feeling torn. "Well, you need quality rest too. Just stay in the bed. I don't mind sleeping with you."

Wanda's eyebrows raised, a blush tinting her cheeks. Y/N's words seemed to hang in the air, charged with unintended implications. Y/N quickly stumbled over her words, flustered. "I mean, I didn't mean it like that. I just don't want you to be tired tomorrow. I mean, look, I don't want you to think that I wouldn't... Oh god, just sleep in the bed and don't comment on it, please."

Wanda chuckled, her fingers lightly pinching Y/N's cheek. "I make you quite nervous, don't I? But that's okay. You're adorable when you're nervous."

Y/N blushed even deeper, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and fondness for Wanda's teasing. She quickly excused herself, retreating to the bathroom. Changing into the shorts and t-shirt Wanda had given her, Y/N couldn't help but smile when she realized the clothes carried Wanda's scent.

After brushing her teeth and washing her face, Y/N took a deep breath and looked at her reflection in the mirror. This was it—a chance to sleep in the same bed as the woman she had developed a crush on, a bit too intensely.

As Y/N emerged from the bathroom after changing, her eyes widened at the sight of Wanda Maximoff, now clad in shorts and a tank top. The subtle curve of Wanda's figure caught her attention, and she quickly averted her gaze, feeling her cheeks heat up.

Wanda's chuckle rippled through the air. "You're easy to impress, darling."

Y/N shushed her, her embarrassment evident. Walking over to the bed, she slipped under the covers, her heart racing. Just a moment later, Wanda returned from the bathroom, her presence making Y/N's heart skip a beat. Climbing into the bed as well, Wanda settled beside her.

Y/N fumbled for her phone, trying to steady her nerves. She turned on an alarm, prompting Wanda to raise an eyebrow. "Why set an alarm? You don't have any classes tomorrow."

Y/N hesitated for a moment before answering, "I have to catch the bus to my hometown for the weekend. You know, my mom and niece—I have to help out."

Wanda gently took Y/N's phone from her hands and turned off the alarm. Handing it back, she declared, "We're sleeping in tomorrow. I'm driving you to your parents' place."

Y/N shook her head, protest forming on her lips. "No, no, I can't have you do that."

Rolling her eyes playfully, Wanda insisted, "Honey, consider it done."

Y/N let out a resigned sigh, still feeling overwhelmed by Wanda's kindness. "I don't understand why you're being so nice to me."

There was a brief pause, a sense of vulnerability hanging in the air. Wanda's usual confidence seemed to waver for the first time that night. But then, she brushed off the moment, a smile gracing her lips. "Rest now, darling. We'll talk tomorrow, okay?"

Y/N nodded, her heart fluttering as Wanda leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. "Good night, Y/N."

Flustered, Y/N managed to reply, "Good night, Wanda," as she watched Wanda's retreating figure. Alone in the dimly lit room, Y/N couldn't help but replay the events of the evening, the weight of Wanda's presence, and the gentle kiss on her cheek, making it difficult for her to fall asleep.

...

As the morning sun began to filter through the curtains, Y/N's phone rang, stirring her from her slumber. With a groan, she moved to reach for it, only to realize that she was met with resistance. Blinking in confusion, she realized that her arms were wrapped around someone, and she was on top of them. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of Wanda Maximoff, peacefully sleeping beneath her, arms wrapped securely around Y/N.

For a moment, Y/N couldn't help but admire the tranquility of Wanda's sleeping form. The soft rise and fall of her chest, the delicate curve of her lips, and the way her hair cascaded across the pillow—it was a sight to behold.

As Y/N's phone continued to ring, she decided to answer it before it woke Wanda. Her mother's voice greeted her from the other side, a mix of concern and scolding evident. "Y/N, why weren't you answering? Did you get on the bus safely?"

Y/N winced, feeling slightly guilty. "I'm sorry, Mom. I'm fine, really. I just...slept in."

Wanda stirred slightly at the sound of Y/N's voice, letting out a soft groan. Y/N's mother continued, oblivious to Wanda's presence. "Did you wake Kate up?"

Y/N quickly shook her head, forgetting that her mom couldn't see her. "No, it's not Kate. Uh, a friend will be driving me to your house, so I just slept in a bit."

Y/N's mother sounded puzzled. "Well, if it's not Kate, then who is it?"

Blushing, Y/N stammered, "Uh, it's someone... Anyway, see ya, love you, bye, Mom."

As she hung up the phone, she became aware of Wanda's amused gaze upon her. Wanda's voice, tinged with a playful tone, broke the silence. "A friend, huh?"

Y/N playfully slapped Wanda's shoulder. "My mom won't let me live this down now."

Wanda laughed, rubbing Y/N's back gently. "Well, at least you're awake now. By the way, who's Kate?"

Raising her eyebrows, Y/N teased, "Jealous?"

Wanda rolled her eyes. "Just tell me."

Y/N chuckled, explaining, "Kate is my roommate."

Satisfied with the response, Wanda gestured towards the bathroom. "Alright, time to get up. I'm making breakfast."

Y/N nodded, finally mustering the will to extricate herself from Wanda's embrace. The warmth of Wanda's presence lingered, leaving Y/N with a mixture of emotions that she wasn't quite sure how to process. As she headed to the bathroom, she couldn't help but feel grateful for the unexpected turn of events that had brought her into Wanda's orbit.

As they sat down to enjoy breakfast, the morning sunlight painted the room with a warm glow. Y/N took a deep breath, mustering the courage to ask the question that had been lingering in her mind. "Wanda, can you tell me why you've been so nice to me?"

Wanda's expression shifted, a mixture of nervousness and vulnerability crossing her features. She cleared her throat, her gaze fixed on her plate. "Look, I don't want you to find this weird, and I really don't want it to ruin anything between us, even if you don't feel the same way."

Y/N's heart skipped a beat, her curiosity piqued. "Wanda, you can tell me. I promise I won't judge."

Wanda took a deep breath, her voice wavering slightly. "From the moment I laid my eyes on you, even though you were fainting, I couldn't help but feel drawn to you and your beauty. The more we talked, the more I got to know you, the more I realized I liked you."

Y/N's eyes widened, the realization hitting her like a wave. She listened intently as Wanda continued, her voice soft but filled with sincerity. "I'm nice to you because, honestly, I like you in way more than just a friend way. I would like to take care of you because you obviously need someone to. I know this might be too forward, and I don't want you to feel uncomfortable, but I have a crush on you, you could say."

Y/N was at a loss for words, her mind racing to process what she had just heard. She cleared her throat, her voice shaky as she repeated, "Take care of me?"

Wanda nodded, a determined look in her eyes. "Yes. I would offer you to stay at my place so you don't have to go to work, and you can rest more and just focus on your studies and your family. I really don't want anything in return. I just... I have more than enough money to take you under my wing and help you out."

Y/N's mind was a whirlwind of emotions as she tried to absorb everything. She chuckled nervously, looking up at Wanda. "Wait, you really think I don't like you back?"

Wanda's brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Y/N's chuckle turned into a genuine smile. "Wanda, I get flustered when you so much as breathe my way. I like you a bit too much if I'm honest."

Wanda's face broke into a wide grin, her eyes lighting up. "You do?"

Y/N nodded, her cheeks flushed but her gaze unwavering. "But I didn't want to push anything because I didn't know if you wanted anything with me. I mean, I'm younger..."

Wanda's grin remained, and she leaned in closer. "You know what they say, darling. Age is just a number."

As their eyes locked, the weight of their unspoken feelings hung in the air. The breakfast table was forgotten, the world around them fading as they shared a moment filled with possibility and newfound understanding.

...

Wanda followed through on her promise. She drove Y/N to her family's house, the journey filled with casual conversation and stolen glances that held a world of unspoken emotions. As they reached their destination, Wanda pulled the car to a stop. Turning to Y/N, she leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. "Have a good time, Y/N. Take care."

Y/N blushed, her heart fluttering at the touch of Wanda's lips against her skin. "Thank you, Wanda," she replied, her voice soft.

Wanda offered a warm smile before retracting and exiting the car. She waved at Y/N and watched as Y/N walked towards her family's home. Once Y/N was safely inside, Wanda turned back to her car and drove away, her thoughts consumed by the woman she had come to care for.

Inside her family's home, Y/N's grin was practically infectious as she greeted her niece with open arms. The little girl's small arms wrapped around Y/N's knees, and Y/N scooped her up, showering her with kisses and affection. After greeting her niece, she moved on to her mother, kissing her cheek and exchanging warm greetings. Her brother and his wife received the same treatment, and soon the entire family was caught up in laughter and conversation.

As they settled in, Y/N's mother couldn't help but notice the newfound glow in her daughter's demeanor. With a curious smile, she leaned in and whispered, "Who was that woman you were with this morning? And who was in that expensive car that drove you here?"

Y/N blushed, glancing down at her plate momentarily before looking up. "Well, Mom, I met a woman named Wanda. She's pretty amazing. She's a bit older, but she's really good to me and helps me out a lot."

Her brother couldn't resist chiming in with a teasing grin. "And what does she ask for in return?"

Y/N shook her head, a soft smile on her lips. "Nothing, actually. She's taking things as I want to."

Her brother exchanged a knowing glance with his wife before both of them requested to see a picture of this "amazing" woman. Y/N obliged, showing them a photo of Wanda on her phone. Their jaws dropped slightly, and her brother whistled, exclaiming, "Damn, sis."

Y/N laughed, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and pride. The weekend was spent helping out around the house, catching up with family, and exchanging stories of their lives.

Finally, Sunday night arrived, and Y/N's phone buzzed with a message from Wanda, indicating her arrival. Y/N said her goodbyes to her family, embracing each of them in turn. With a smile on her lips and thoughts of Wanda swirling in her mind, Y/N left her family's house and headed toward the waiting car.

As Y/N stepped into the car, the air was charged with a mix of excitement and nervousness. She couldn't hold back the surge of emotions that had built up over the weekend. Before she could overthink it, she reached out and gently cupped Wanda's cheeks, drawing her in for a tender kiss on the lips.

Wanda's surprise was evident, but she quickly responded to the kiss, her lips meeting Y/N's with a mixture of passion and softness. The moment was fleeting yet filled with an undeniable connection that spoke volumes beyond words.

As they pulled away, Wanda's eyes held a mixture of surprise and curiosity. "What was that for?"

Y/N's cheeks were tinted pink, but her smile was genuine. "Just missed you."

Wanda chuckled, her own blush evident. "If that's how you're always gonna greet me, I will be more than happy to drive you to your family every weekend."

Y/N laughed, her heart fluttering at Wanda's response. "Well, I guess you'll just have to find out."

The car started moving, carrying them down the road, away from Y/N's family home and toward the uncertain yet exciting path that lay ahead. With each passing moment, their bond grew stronger, and the connection they shared became more profound. As they journeyed together, they were both aware that their lives had taken an unexpected turn, but it was a turn that they were more than willing to explore.

...

On a typical afternoon, Y/N found herself in Wanda's apartment, engrossed in her studies after a long day of classes. Wanda was still at work, and Y/N appreciated the quiet atmosphere that allowed her to focus. However, her concentration was interrupted by a knock on the door.

Assuming it was Wanda returning earlier than expected, Y/N got up and walked over to the door. But when she opened it, she was met with the sight of an unfamiliar woman with striking ginger hair. Their eyes met, both puzzled by the unexpected encounter.

The woman spoke first, her voice carrying a hint of uncertainty. "Um, do I have the wrong apartment?"

Y/N leaned against the door frame, her brow furrowing. "Well, who are you looking for?"

The woman hesitated for a moment before responding, "I'm looking for Wanda Maximoff."

Y/N's expression cleared as she realized the situation. "No, you have the right apartment. Wanda isn't home yet."

The woman offered a faint smile. "May I come in then?"

Y/N stepped aside, welcoming her guest. Once inside, the woman introduced herself as Natasha Romanoff, a close friend of Wanda's. Y/N's curiosity piqued, and she looked at Natasha with interest.

Natasha's gaze was quizzical as she observed Y/N. "And who might you be?"

Y/N extended her hand with a friendly smile. "I'm Y/N, Wanda's girlfriend."

Natasha's eyebrows raised, a playful smirk forming on her lips. "Oh, Wanda keeps you a secret, huh?"

Y/N chuckled, feeling a mixture of flattery and awkwardness. "It's all very sudden."

Natasha leaned against a nearby surface, her posture relaxed. She shot Y/N a teasing glance. "Well, Y/N, it's nice to finally meet the elusive girlfriend."

Y/N blushed, not entirely sure how to respond to Natasha's playful demeanor. "Nice to meet you too, Natasha."

The teasing took an unexpected turn as Natasha leaned in slightly, a flirtatious glint in her eye. "You know, Y/N, if Wanda's keeping secrets, maybe you deserve a little fun too."

Y/N chuckled nervously, her cheeks pink. "Natasha, I don't think that's a smart idea. I'm with Wanda."

Before Natasha could continue the flirtatious banter, the door swung open, and Wanda walked in, her voice cutting through the moment. "Give her a break, Nat."

Wanda's presence instantly changed the atmosphere, and Natasha straightened up, her demeanor shifting to a more composed one. Y/N let out a relieved breath as Wanda entered the room, her eyes meeting Y/N's with warmth and familiarity.

"Well, Wands, I just had to check if she was loyal to you," Natasha quipped, her tone light. "I gotta make sure my friend is happy, you know."

Y/N's cheeks heated up, and she playfully hid her face against Wanda's neck, letting out a nervous laugh. Wanda chuckled and wrapped an arm around Y/N's waist, looking at Natasha with an amused expression. "You have a funny way of looking out for me, Nat."

Natasha grinned mischievously, raising an eyebrow. "Hey, I take my job as a friend seriously."

The tension eased as they all burst into laughter, the awkwardness of the situation dissipating into shared amusement. Wanda's gaze landed on Y/N again, a playful glint in her eyes. "So, Y/N, did you pass the loyalty test?"

Y/N peeked out from her hiding spot, still blushing but more at ease. "I think so?"

Natasha gave a mock-exasperated sigh. "Yes, she did. I mean, who could resist me?"

Wanda chuckled, giving Y/N's waist a gentle squeeze. "Well, I managed to."

The camaraderie between the three of them was palpable as they exchanged playful banter. Natasha's curiosity shifted toward a more serious topic as she asked, "So, how come Y/N is already living here?"

Wanda looked at Y/N with a fond smile before turning back to Natasha. "Y/N is working really hard, juggling studies, a part-time job, and taking care of her family. I wanted to help her out, make things a bit easier."

Natasha's smile softened, her eyes conveying a mix of respect and admiration. "You've always had a heart of gold, Wands."

Y/N chimed in, her voice filled with gratitude. "It's true. Wanda's been amazing, Natasha. She's been there for me when I needed someone the most."

Natasha nodded appreciatively. "Well, you're lucky to have her. I've been trying to score this one for a while, but I'm guessing now she was just waiting for a young, hot one."

Y/N burst into laughter, the tension fully lifted now. "Maybe she was."

The atmosphere was easy and light, a testament to the bond between the three of them. As the conversation continued, Y/N realized that Wanda's friendships were as unique and genuine as the woman herself, and she couldn't help but feel grateful for having been welcomed into this circle of care and camaraderie.

...

The weeks that followed were a whirlwind of studying, hard work, and determination. Y/N was relentless in her pursuit of success, and her dedication paid off as she passed all her finals with amazing grades. With her accomplishments in hand, she decided to celebrate with her roommate Kate and Kate's girlfriend Yelena. Y/N extended an invitation to Wanda and Natasha as well, eager to share her joy with those who had become so important to her.

As they arrived at the club for their celebratory night out, Y/N's excitement was palpable. The atmosphere was charged with music and energy, setting the stage for a memorable evening. Natasha's presence, however, sparked a surprised reaction.

Natasha raised an eyebrow, looking at Yelena with a mixture of amusement and confusion. "What are you doing here?"

The others exchanged curious glances, wondering about the unexpected connection. Yelena rolled her eyes playfully. "She's my sister."

Laughter erupted, the coincidental meeting of sisters in such a vast city adding a layer of camaraderie to the group. As they settled into the night, the drinks flowed, and inhibitions slowly faded away. Y/N found herself dancing energetically, her body moving to the rhythm of the music.

In the midst of the pulsating lights and music, Y/N felt Wanda's presence beside her. Their bodies moved in sync, and Y/N couldn't resist leaning in closer, feeling the magnetic pull that had drawn them together. As the night progressed, the alcohol added a layer of courage, and Y/N found herself becoming bolder.

Kate, with her playful nature, teased Y/N about Wanda, causing a blush to spread across Y/N's cheeks. Just as Y/N was about to stammer a response, Wanda's hand cupped her cheek, and their lips met in a soft yet passionate kiss.

Y/N's heart raced, the world around them fading as Wanda's touch enveloped her. As they broke apart, Wanda's eyes held an affectionate gaze, and her words were whispered with tenderness. "You're adorable."

The music and laughter continued to fill the air, the night a tapestry of joy and connection. Y/N had found herself surrounded by people who cared for her deeply, who had become a part of her journey and her heart. As they danced and laughed together, Y/N realized that life had taken her on an unexpected yet beautiful path, one filled with love, friendship, and unforgettable moments.

...

In the days that followed Y/N's graduation, a sense of accomplishment and relief washed over her. She had worked tirelessly to excel in her studies, and now that she had successfully passed all her finals with remarkable grades, a new chapter of life awaited. As she basked in the glow of her achievement, she couldn't help but appreciate the support and love she had received from her friends and loved ones.

Among those who had been a constant presence was Wanda Maximoff. Ever since their chance encounter and the subsequent connection they had formed, Wanda had become an integral part of Y/N's life. They had shared moments of vulnerability, laughter, and genuine companionship. Y/N was grateful for Wanda's unwavering encouragement and support throughout her academic journey.

Yet, as graduation day approached, Y/N noticed a curious change in Wanda's behavior. She seemed to take a keen interest in cars, a topic that Y/N hadn't seen Wanda express much enthusiasm about before. Wanda would often ask Y/N about her preferences, the type of cars she liked, and even her dream car.

One evening, as they were sitting in a cozy corner of their favorite café, Y/N couldn't help but voice her curiosity. "Wanda, you seem really interested in cars lately. Is there a reason for that?"

Wanda looked at Y/N, a playful glint in her eyes. "You can tell a lot about a person by which car is their dream car."

Y/N chuckled, intrigued by the enigmatic response but not thinking too deeply about it. They shifted the conversation to other topics, enjoying the comfort of each other's company. Graduation day came and went, filled with the joy of accomplishment and the anticipation of new beginnings.

On a warm evening, after a celebratory dinner with her family, Y/N returned home with a contented smile. The apartment was dimly lit, and the air was charged with an air of mystery. Wanda's eyes twinkled as she approached Y/N, a blindfold in her hand.

"Close your eyes," Wanda instructed, her voice gentle.

Y/N complied, feeling a mixture of excitement and curiosity. The blindfold was carefully placed over her eyes, and Wanda's fingers brushed against her skin as she tied it securely. Y/N's heart raced as she wondered what surprise awaited her.

Wanda took Y/N's hand and led her carefully, their steps measured and deliberate. Y/N's mind raced with possibilities, trying to guess where they were headed. The sound of footsteps echoed through the hallways, and Y/N felt a rush of anticipation.

Finally, Wanda's voice broke through the silence. "Okay, open your eyes."

Y/N removed the blindfold, and her eyes widened in astonishment. Before her stood a sleek and elegant Tesla, bathed in the soft glow of the evening lights. Y/N's breath caught in her throat, her heart skipping a beat. She turned to Wanda, her expression a mix of surprise and confusion.

"Wanda, what is this?"

Wanda's smile was warm and genuine as she took out a set of keys and placed them in Y/N's hand. "This is a graduation gift from me."

Tears welled up in Y/N's eyes, her emotions overwhelming her. "Wanda, I can't accept this. It's too much."

Wanda's expression was gentle yet resolute. "You deserve it, Y/N. To me, it's nothing, and seeing you happy makes me happy."

Y/N tried to find the right words, to express her gratitude and disbelief, but they eluded her. Instead, she reached out and pulled Wanda into a tight embrace, her heart overflowing with emotions. They stood there for a moment, wrapped in each other's arms, celebrating an achievement that felt even more special because it was shared.

As they pulled apart, Y/N's gaze fell on a neatly wrapped box placed on the driver's seat. She looked at Wanda, her curiosity piqued. Wanda's playful expression and a subtle raise of her eyebrows indicated that there was more to come.

With trembling fingers, Y/N carefully unwrapped the box, revealing a stethoscope of exquisite craftsmanship. The instrument was beautifully designed, with Y/N's name elegantly engraved on it. Y/N's eyes widened in astonishment, her hand touching the stethoscope as if it were a precious artifact.

She looked at Wanda, her voice filled with awe. "This is amazing, thank you so much."

Wanda's fingers brushed against Y/N's cheek, her gaze soft and affectionate. "You're welcome, darling. You've worked so hard, and I wanted to mark this moment for you."

Y/N's heart swelled with gratitude, her emotions swirling within her. She cupped Wanda's cheeks, a mixture of tenderness and adoration in her eyes. Without another word, she leaned in and pressed her lips against Wanda's, a kiss filled with a depth of emotion words could never convey.

As the kiss deepened, the world around them faded away, leaving only the two of them and the shared bond that had grown between them. It was a kiss that spoke of gratitude, love, and the promise of a future filled with shared moments and cherished memories.

When they finally broke apart, Y/N's gaze fell upon the Tesla once more. With newfound determination, she unlocked the car and opened the passenger door for Wanda. Wanda smiled appreciatively, leaning in to place a soft kiss on Y/N's cheek.

"Thank you," Y/N whispered, her voice filled with sincerity.

Wanda winked playfully. "Now, are you going to drive me around, or what?"

Y/N grinned, the excitement bubbling within her. She entered the driver's seat, the car's interior a blend of sleek design and cutting-edge technology. Wanda settled into the passenger seat, her smile warm and her eyes filled with affection.

As they drove off into the night, the city's lights illuminating their path, Y/N couldn't help but gush about the car's features. Wanda listened with a fond smile, her heart full as she watched Y/N's animated expressions and heard the excitement in her voice.

The wind tousled their hair, carrying with it a sense of freedom and possibility. Y/N glanced at Wanda, her heart swelling with gratitude for the woman who had not only gifted her a remarkable car but had also filled her life with love, support, and moments that would forever be etched in her heart.

...

Years had flowed by since that pivotal graduation day, where Y/N's life had taken an unforeseen turn. Her world had been forever altered by the chance encounter with Wanda Maximoff, and their love had grown in strength and depth.

In the intervening years, Y/N's veterinary career had soared to greater heights. Her clinic had become a beacon of excellence in animal care, drawing clients from near and far. The walls of her office were adorned with framed degrees and accolades, a testament to her dedication and skill.

But it wasn't just professional success that had filled Y/N's life. It was the unwavering support and boundless love of Wanda that had truly enriched her existence. Wanda had been her anchor, her confidante, and her biggest cheerleader. Their love had evolved into an unbreakable bond, a love story that had touched the hearts of all who knew them.

Wanda's own journey had continued to impress. Her law firm had flourished under her expert guidance, and she had become a formidable presence in the legal world. Yet, her true fulfillment came from the positive impact she had on her community. Wanda was known for her philanthropic endeavors, her commitment to justice, and her kindness to those in need.

Their shared life was a vibrant tapestry woven with love and laughter. Their home, once just a place to reside, had transformed into a sanctuary of warmth and comfort. It was a place where the aroma of Wanda's delicious cooking filled the air, where playful banter echoed through the halls, and where their love story was etched into every corner.

One thing that had remained unchanged was Wanda's knack for surprising Y/N. Special occasions were marked with grand gestures, such as romantic getaways to exotic destinations or extravagant celebrations with friends and family. But it was the everyday surprises that often meant the most—a heartfelt note left on a pillow or a spontaneous dance in the living room to their favorite song.

Their love story was a living testament to the power of connection, resilience, and unwavering support. Through trials and triumphs, they had weathered life's challenges hand in hand, growing closer with each obstacle they overcame. Their love had deepened, matured, and become a source of strength for them both.

As they continued to walk the winding path of life, Y/N and Wanda knew that whatever the future held, they would face it together. Their love was a testament to the enduring power of two souls united by destiny, a love story that would continue to inspire and enchant for years to come.

#marvel mcu #mcu #marvel #wanda maximoff x reader #wanda maximoff #natasha romanoff

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the-s1lly-corner · 6 months

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WOoOoOoO SPOOKY SEASON REQUIRES SPOOKY STUFF

Anyways

I would love to request an Child ghost!reader and the gang, basically child reader got murdered when they were using the VR and their soul got stuck into the game.

Their soul being so GORY AND DISTORTED, like an arm is missing, one eye is like hanging out and their head has an hole. Reader can get invisible like a ghost and move things with only their mind, and they are very quiet and just observes, rarely get mad or anything, but when they snap (for example: Because of jax's pranks) they start throwing things around dim the lights and scream, and lets put like, Reader's screams are like LOUD as hell, basically like an ghost tantrum.

So basically Child reader is just an sad messed up lil goof who needs comfort and therapy.

Sorry if its long, i love love love your blog btw!

-🌹

TADC cast x ghost!child!reader (platonic + light found family) !

going to take a different approach to writing this one, since i feel bad about being selective of cast/multi characters today, so! rather than having divided segments like usual, its going to be a group thing! hope thats alright! going to be the last request of this batch them imma make something to eat rq for dinner then get back to writing YAHOO!

when you joined the digital circus, you were already very obviously different from the rest of the gang. even if your gore was toned down thanks to your body being digitized; the programming seemed to struggle with altering your body into something unique... strange... it also seems your body is fighting back against the programming of the world, seemingly trying to restore itself. The effect makes you almost look like you're glitching, or even abstracting

Caine doesnt immediately pick up on your presence, i feel like its in his programming to be aware when a new member joins the circus, but for some reason he didnt notice you until he saw you, or someone brings you up to him

It was Ragatha, who was trying to get answers from him. Who's kid was this? Is it really fair to let a kid be stuck here? Obviously she knew Caine couldnt do anything about it now that you were here, nor did he have any hand in you putting on the headset.

Except... you correct them and say you didn't put on any headset, you were trapped in it.

Of course you're trapped, just like the rest of us, Jax says

None of them immediately believe you try to tell them you're a ghost. Except of course, Kinger, who reasons that that's why you look the way you do; and Gangle, who in my opinion probably finds interest in the supernatural.. or maybe that's just me projecting onto her. Who knows. But the point still stands, almost everyone doesn't believe you.

Not long after, Jax accidentally ropes you into prank that was originally intended for Zooble, I dont think Jax would go as far as to bully a child.... well... actually no, he seems like the type to bully kids on roblox.

The prank wasnt planned for you, you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. You open a door, and are immediately greeted with a fake snake lunging out at you. You scream, more so out of surprise and fear than anger. It does turn into anger when Jax laughs at you, still finding some kind of joy from the prank getting at least someone. Your scream rises, causing nearly everyone to cover their ears, the rest were not there in the room but would come rushing to see what the hell was going on

I think it would be that instance as well as a few other; namely ones where you became invisible and started removing one of Zooble's limbs after they (unintentionally) said something a little too mean to you. The idea of you being a ghost was further cemented when both Gangle and Ragatha watched you literally phase through a wall. But hey at least someone (Jax) starts laying off of you when it becomes clear you weren't lying

There's mixed feelings, a lot negative. I mean, you're just a kid and you're. Well, a ghost. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to come to the conclusion that something happened to you. Whether or not you remember the details of your death when you became a ghost, or after joining the digital world, is all up to you

Caine, as mentioned before in posts where the reader is a child, tries to be a father figure. He's not the best, since he's programmed to be a ring master, but he definitely tries his best. I like to think he tries to read you bedtime stories when the digital world simulates 'night'

Pomni, who I totally didn't forget, tries to overcome her fear of you and your ghostly powers, ultimately becoming sympathetic you and your situation. Not only was your life cut short, but you were trapped here too, you didn't even get to roam the world in the afterlife. Interactions with her are awkward but there's an effort to try to bring you some form of comfort

Jax, after he stops pulling jokes on you cant deny that he doesnt find you creepy. I think, though, he would ask you if you want to help him scare some of the other members. Whether you be offended by the concept or not is also up to you, since I'm not sure if you wanted the reader to be sensitive regarding their current predicament or not

Ragatha goes into full big sister mode, even before it's confirmed that you're a ghost. Sure, she's a little put off by your ganky and gorey looks, but her heart aches for you. Similar to Caine she tries to do general child care activities with you, perhaps if you let her, she would do your hair and make you dresses

Kinger will take a while to warm up to you, but I think after some time would start to open up to you, usually it's best to interact with him when he's already in a calmer state. He already gives me dad vibes that I cant pin down... but he would tell you stories of his past (in house) adventures and some funny stuff that has happened over his time in the digital world

Zooble is going to need a moment to get over the invisible dismemberment thing... as well as Zooble being Zooble and needing some time to warm up to people in general... Not much to be said, yet...

Gangle would offer to lend you some art supplies... kids like arts and crafts stuff, right? Thats her logic, at least, and if it means you have an outlet for your emotions then that would be great!

Overall you now have a funky found family, so hey, at least things aren't totally... terrible.. Unfortunately with them stuck in the digital world they can't do much to get you justice, if you let them know you were murdered. But rest assured if your killer somehow gets trapped in there with them and you recognize them, they have your back

#tadc x reader #the amazing digital circus x reader #digital circus x reader #caine x reader #pomni x reader #ragatha x reader #jax x reader #kinger x reader #zooble x reader #gangle x reader

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secretmellowblog · 7 months

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i just dont really understand why theyd target les mis? and like. its interrupting the work of actors and crew and house staff who dont have anything to do with fossil fuel corps. people who just paid to see the show who dont have anything to do with it.

i understand les mis is a show about rebellion and humanity but to me it doesnt make any sense.

( i say this as someone whos probably very unaware and very slow to realize the deeper meaning of things so i apologize if it comes off snobby i am just confused !! /genuine )

I'm very sorry if this comes off as rude but like.... "I don't understand why people would use Les Mis as the symbolic centerpiece of an act of protest/rebellion against the government" is just a very strange thing to say, and I'm genuinely not quite sure how to begin to respond XD. Like....it's literally Les Mis. It is Do You Hear the People Sing. The original novel was written to be a political rallying cry, it was written to bind together activists, and it has been used that way thousands of times since its publication in 1862. It's Les Mis, I don't know what else to tell you XD. Also I know this next comparison isn't perfect, but:

“I don’t understand why Les Amis interrupted Lamarque’s funeral. Obviously I agree with Les Amis’s goals, but was this really the right way to protest? Obviously the government is doing something bad— but was this symbolic event really the right place to talk about it? Why even choose to interrupt this event, and the lives of the workers leading it and everyday people attending it? It wasn’t responsible for what was happening!

Okay, yeah, I get the funeral is ‘symbolically significant.’ I get that Lamarque has become, in popular culture, a symbol of rebellion and resistance against a government’s unfair policies. I get Lamarque’s funeral is a pretty big public event that has a lot of symbolic significance ties to ideas of rebellion against the state.

I get that Lamarque’s words are often seen as a rebellious call to action, so illegally interrupting his funeral could be a statement about resisting tyranny. It could be a call to action playing off the popularity and symbolic role that Lamarque has in the public consciousness.

But at the same time— shouldn’t Les Amis have just gone to the palace and attacked the king directly? Why disrupt this symbolic event instead? They’re not really going after the people responsible!

After all, there were so many people there who just wanted a normal day. They weren’t responsible for what the government was doing and had nothing to do with it. They wanted to see the procession, to hear Lafayette’s speech and grieve a political figure they cared for. They wanted to hear people praise ‘resistance’ in the abstract, without actually doing it.

Weren’t Les Amis disrupting that?

Aren’t Les Amis bad activists? Isn’t disrupting people’s everyday lives for the sake of 'activism' always inherently a bad thing? I’m not against activism, but isn’t doing that kind of disruptive activism rude? Isn’t disrupting the lives of ordinary people just doing their jobs or going out for a special event evil— no matter why you’re doing it, or what your goals are, or whether the government actually is doing something vile that we should start to stage great events rallying against?

Even if this Lamarque's funeral has special significance because of its symbolic pop cultural ties to rebellion against tyranny—shouldn’t they have just avoided rudely interrupting some regular people’s everyday lives?

Protests shouldn’t disrupt things. they should be big parades that don’t make anyone uncomfortable, don’t interrupt anything, and don’t disrupt any aspects of ‘normal people’s daily life.’ No one should ever target symbolic events— like a funeral for a political figure or a musical about revolution— to make a political statement. Protests should be little quiet festivals that cause absolutely no interruption in everyday life so that we can all just safely ignore them, until the climate catastrophe they’re warning us about arrives.”

#les miserables #les mis #sklajdfsf sorry if this comes off as rude its also not my intention. im just a bit baffled XD #but slakdjfsdf #no hard feeligns though kinda #but protest is supposed to be disruptive and to prevent life from continuing as normal #and using Les Mis-- a story that is theoretically about rebellion against tyranny-- as the symbolic centerpiece of a disruptive protest #makes a lot of sense #and protests angrily decrying fossil fuel companies is important!#ive noticed its really easy to glorify the concept of protest/resistnace in the abstract #but its hard to deal with the fact a lot ground-level protest. is disruptive to every day people #because its suppsoed to be #and honestly the climate crisis will affect our daily lives far more than student activists interrupting a show #so people wll need to get refunds XD

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weirdmarioenemies · 6 months

Text

Name: Fish Bone

Debut: Super Mario World

Fish Bones are—hey! We’ve already talked about you, and very recently at that! We love you, Fish Bone, but it’s time to stop hogging the spotlight!

Name: Fishbone

Debut: Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards

There we go!

It’s that funky fresh time of year where all the strange Mario creatures retract into their holes to make way for other, stranger beasts, and boy is Fishbone strange!

Fishbones are the reanimated skeletons of dead fish, and golly, what a great skeleton to have! Just three boomerang-shaped bones and two hollow eye sockets. No spine, no discernable jaws of any kind, just pure, abject salminimalism! I bet you wouldn’t even know these were bones if I didn’t tell you, and yet they still manage to evoke a fish skeleton so well!

But whose skeletons ARE they? While we don’t have any direct confirmation, it feels pretty likely to me that we have the skeletons of dear old Floppers on our hands! There’s a common fish enemy in most Kirby games called Blippers, but Blippers are entirely absent from Kirby 64, and Floppers are a lot thinner and pointier than them anyhow!

But even with that in mind…wow! This still only barely looks like it could be in a Flopper. Just a wonderfully abstract skeletal structure all around. And it only gets weirder from here!

There’s a reason for the peculiar shape of Fishbone’s head! Rather than hop or jump around like most water-based enemies, they shoot their skulls at Kirby for damage! (Don’t worry, it grows back!) Why, you may ask? Well, they provide the Cutter ability, which in Kirby 64 looks like this!:

Most underwater enemies in Kirby don’t give abilities, since Kirby typically can’t inhale while in water (understandable!). He can do this in Kirby 64, though! With them shooting their heads to attack and being fairly common, this makes Fishbones the most Cutterest enemy in the whole game, even more Cuttery than Sir Kibble himself!

They are, in fact, SO Cuttery that Miracle Matter’s embodiment of said ability looks a lot like Fishbones!

They STILL couldn’t get enough of Fishbone, though! If you inhale and carry it over your head, you can shoot its skulls yourself! Due to the way Cutter works, this is actually MORE ideal to use when you’re underwater, since using the ability makes Kirby sink!

Sadly, they reverted how Cutter works after this, and with Kirby going right back to spitting bubbles underwater, Fishbones didn’t stand a chance ): Despite its awesome design, it just joined the foray of thousands of other Kirby 64 enemies to never see the light of day again.

But who knows? Maybe it will appear in a future game, just like beloved Plugg, and grant the Cutter ability once more! After all, the Kirby franchise has finally started begrudgingly acknowledging that Kirby 64 did, in fact, exist.

And I think that any enemy that can say they could be combined with Ghost Knight to inexplicably let Kirby create a giant toothy maw out of his arms, deserves a second chance. :)

Before you ask, no, there’s no way Fishbones could come from the only OTHER bony fish in Kirby 64, Blowfish, either. As for why, let’s take a gander at the scrapped enemy Blowfishbone herself!

“Oouuughh…I am–I’m so, so many bones…ooohgghhgh…”

Thank you, Blowfishbone.

(All gifs taken from the Strategy Wiki!)

#fishbone #kirby 64 the crystal shards #kirby 64 #kirby #not mario #funky friday #kirby enemies #mod tweeter #funky friday? on a thursday?

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catnipaddictt · 1 month

Text

Abstract

wc: 2.1k

series masterlist ⭑ co-creator @memoiich

You had finally moved away from your hometown. A final answer to your undying search for independence. A trait your mothers whipped tongue had tried to rein back for years. Something that had very clearly failed. The thought alone made you smirk a bit as you stood before your new home. The Alderaan apartments were a choice at best. Very cheap for the location being so close to the centre of the city but a little decrepit. Still it felt like a palace to you right now.

You made your way up to the 4th floor, the highest of the crumbling building. Leaving you to look out to the curtains of the slightly nicer hotel on the other side of the street. Grabbing your suitcase, you unpacked your luggage before coming to the realisation that you had no food in your new home. And of course it just had to be dark outside, evening having set. After overthinking your options you decided to ask your neighbour for some eggs. Dragging yourself to your neighbour’s door with your metaphorical tail between your legs, you knocked on the door.

A strange being poked its face through the slightest gap possible, it looked around worried. You didn’t know if it was to look for trouble or to find it. After the anxiety-writing look, the creature opened the creaking door. Now that you could see it, It was clearly a Gungan.

“Hello. Missa Jar Jar Binks. Why are you at misssas door?“ he questions “Hey, I'm your new neighbour. I was wondering if I could borrow some eggs?“ You say, a bit unsure of the Gungan in front of you. “Missa loves eggs. Sun sun or scrambled, lovely for my tumtum” jar jar snickers at the end. ”So… Can I use the eggs? You question once again. “Missa doesn’t have any eggs for sunsun but missa could go to the store for stuff and stuff.” Not only did you think of going to the store before you were now massively disappointed and also extremely tired. The less effort option was clearly the wrong one.

“No it's fine I will go myself thank you anyways.” Before finishing Jar Jar was already speaking, “It's not a big dealio, you newbie don't know the way like missa does.” Before you could protest against this clearly exhausting task, he was already out of the door and started walking towards the staircase. Not wanting to be rude, you followed. It took 17 minutes longer than normal to get to the store because Jar Jar wanted to ‘cut a cornerio’. Once at the store Jar Jar started to argue after eating a RAW egg “As a tasty jum jum” Only after 36 min of arguing and you finally offering to just buy the dozen did you start to make your way back home which also took a small hour.

You could finally bid Jar Jar goodnight. You got home just to cook the damn eggs ‘sun-sun’ style and went to bed in the early morning, you already knew this new life was going to be hard at first.

Waking up had never been so hard before, but the alarm was ringing and today was an important one. It was your first day at your new job at the paper company, ‘Paper Force’. Paper Force was located pretty far away, you would have to drive past the mustafar part of the city, making it a long trip for a very tired driver. Prepping for work wasn't the worst as you had laid out your work outfit the night before.

You got in your beat-up 2002 beetle and started the 50 minute commute. At the 20 minute point your car started to rumble, not just a soft snore, no, a rumble. 10 minutes later and you were stuck by the side of the road. You search an auto shop on your hologram immediately. The only car mechanic that wasn't 2 hours away was a place called ‘MustaCar’. Having no time to waste, you called the number.

45 long minutes later an old pickup truck pulls up behind your still-not-starting beetle. By this point you were frankly very annoyed. You were already half an hour late to your new job, and it didn't seem like you were going to get there soon. And to make things worse, you slept bad last night, meaning you were now rather sleep deprived.

The door to the pickup truck swings open with a clunk, clearly well used. A man in his early to mid 20’s steps out of the vehicle, he reaches up and moves his dark-blond curls out of his field of vision. He wears an oil-stained long sleeved button up, of which you cannot tell the original colour, as well as a pair of dirtied jeans. He spots you, puts his hands in his pockets and stalks over, clearly in no hurry.

“I was just thinking you weren't going to bother showing up” you snapped at him harshly. “Well, sorry Miss, the rest of the world doesn’t revolve around you” You let out a sharp breath at his words. “Excuse me, just look at my car and do your job”. You were fed up with this day already and now you had to deal with a know-it-all, stuck-up, man-child of a mechanic. “Parents didn’t teach you manners I see, now what seems to be the matter here? So I can do my job” He walks towards your car, popping the lid. You roll your eyes at him before speaking. “Well she won't go” He rolls up his sleeves, “Figured that much” he states. Your brows furrow in annoyance, you don’t have time for his attitude, “something started making noise and now she doesn't want to run.” He leans forward to observe your car’s engine. “She, huh, does the lovely lady have a name as well?” You can hear his smirk through his words. Your ears turn red “Shelby, the car is called Shelby”. The mechanic lets out a harsh laugh as he turns to something unknown “An old lady I suppose then, with a name like that”. You let out a huff and turn away.

“Dead Battery and the terminals are corroding”. You jump slightly, having zoned out. “Sorry?” you question. “You have a dead battery and its terminals are also corroding. Oh and you have a break problem, that's what the noise was”. You stand there a bit perplexed, “Uh what does that mean?”. “It means you aren’t gonna be able to drive Shelby until you get her fixed”. He says the name of your car amusingly. “So can you do it then?” You ask, checking your hologram for the time, you were almost an hour late already. “Well that's my job isn’t it?” He raises an eyebrow. You sigh, clearly this guy thought highly of himself. “How much and how long?” you demand, patient wearing thin at this point. “Well the battery change is gonna be about 150, plus the corrosion, about 20, and the grinding breaks, another 150 credits” he pauses before speaking again, “it’ll take a bit, have to order in the parts, could take a while, a few weeks”. “A few weeks!” you all but shout.

You pace away, trying to think. You were very very late, had little to no sleep, and now your beloved car wasn’t going, plus you might have to wait weeks to get her back running. “Fine, do what you must” you bark out. Hopefully this man could fix Shelby quickly, and you would never have to deal with him or another car problem ever again. “Need anything out of her? Or are you good?” He asks. You walk over to Shelby, grab your bag, morning caffeine fix, and sweater. You shut the door gently. The guy speaks, walking back over to the pickup truck “Okay then, I’ll take her into the shop and she’ll be good as new soon. Oh and I will probably need some contact details, unless you never want to see your car again” He walks back carrying a piece of blue-ish paper and a pen with the ‘MustaCar’ logo on the side, passing both to you. You write down your information and hand it back to his expecting hand. “You should come by the shop, I’m sure the guys would love that” And with a smirk and a wink, he turns, secures Shelby, and gets back into the pickup. You watch as he drives off with your prized possession, your Shelby, If he ruins her, he will have hell to pay. You had now been walking for 30 minutes, with your workplace still another 20 minutes away. Your hair sticks to your forehead with sweat and your feet are starting to ache. The music playing in your ears is a nice distraction from your situation as you stroll at pace. Finally after what feels like a millennium, you reach the building. The large blue letters spell ‘Paper Force’, meaning you haven’t gotten lost along the way. Making your way to the building, you check your reflection in a window, fix your hair, and give yourself a mental pep talk. Just go in, explain what happened, it will all be fine. At least you hope. With a deep breath and step inside.

Pulling up the shop with a rumble, the pickup-truck deposits his newest client's female car around the back. The fading MustaCar sign blinks slowly at him as he gets out the parked truck and steps foot on solid ground. The beetle named Shelby looks out of place among the beat up vehicles, and forgotten projects of the shop. “Anakin” A female voice yells from inside the garage before a young togruta steps out. She wears overalls and a pair of safety goggles on her head. “New project Snips” He says. “What's wrong with it? It looks pretty good to me” the togruta states as she walks over and runs a hand over the bonnet. “Battery is dead, corrosion, and breaks need new pads” Anakin explains, counting off each problem on his fingers. “We are gonna need to order stuff in for her”. The togruta laughs “Her?” she questions. Anakin sighs “Yes, Ahsoka, Her. Owner calls it Shelby". “Cute” Ahsoka shrugs “lets see what we can do”.

“Well the brake pads are definitely going to have to be replaced, there is basically nothing there” Ahsoka looks up as she speaks. “Thought as much, '' replies Anakin, as he wanders over with two cups of coffee, he passes one to Ahsoka. “Thanks”. “I placed an order for the new battery and brake pads, should take a week to arrive, but knowing the shipping times, it will probably take longer than that” Anakin says as he surveys Shelby. “At least she isn’t a complete wreck”. Ahsoka nods behind Anakin “speaking of wrecks, how is that project coming along ''. Anakin turns to look at the car sitting under a large tree. He had picked up the third generation Pontiac firebird from a man on his deathbed; it had been living in a barn for 20 years, rusted, and in desperate need of restoration. If it even could be saved. “It's a work in progress Snips”, “I don’t know, it is rusted pretty bad in some of it, it will take a genius to make it run again”, “Good thing i’m here then” He replies with a smile. Ahsoka rolls her eyes and drains the last of her drink before returning to their newest project.

A voice pulls Anakin out of his work “Anakin, I need to speak to you”. The voice comes from an elderly man, Palpatine, the creator and owner of MustaCar. “Of course” Anakin wipes the oil off his hands on a nearby cloth, before throwing it back on the table and following Palpatine. They enter the main office of the shop and Palpatine closes the door behind them. “Sith Auto Dominion is growing. At this rate we will be losing profit by the same time next month” Palpatine states. Sith Auto Dominion was the biggest competition for MustaCar, located on the other side of town on Geonosis Blvd. Over time the opposing shop had been taking their customers, meaning Palpatine and the people he employ have been having to cut costs however they can. “What can we do?” Anakin questions. “Not much my boy, we just have to be careful. I have owned this shop for 45 years and I will not see it go bankrupt” he takes a breath “You are my best mechanic Anakin, I cannot afford to lose you”. Palpatine walks around to his desk and sits down, gesturing at the seat opposite him. “I have a favour to ask you, Anakin”. “Anything” He replies. “Take your apprentice, go to Sith Auto, find out what they have that we don’t”

“Alright Snips, we have a job”

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ofcowardiceandkings · 9 months

Text

companion piece of young Link

AAHH i finally finished something :'D

i've uh had some very specific Thoughts about Zelda's childhood for a while now so its about time i put them to paper - this is actually round TWO since the original doodles are lost to ... somewhere ... i like these second editions better though so alls well that ends well

we're looking at ages around 4, 7 and 10 years old here touchin bugs in the dirt, archery practice, and playing a lyre ;w;

more detailed Thoughts under the cut 💙

iiitssss customary ranting about my BotW/TotK opinions tiiiimeeee welcome my darlingsss jfkdjfkd 💙

i had a much more solid idea about where i was going with Zelda than with Link but some of it is kinda abstract or weird lol

we know a fair amount about her upbringing in general, or can infer as much from Zelda's interactions with her father and what they and people around them wrote. she was clearly a smart and vivacious kid with a strong personality from the start, no matter how much you sort of squash that shit for the public face, repression etc. so yknow, her mother's death when she was 6, awful. her father's change in attitude especially in her teens, awful. being under public scrutiny her whole life, awful. restrictive structure of royal life, dull (i bet it bored Zelda to death at times no matter how strongly duty-oriented she is). having said that though, she got by and just by looking at her study, she clearly got stuff done to herself - you can take the kid away from the science but the science stays with the kid !!!

additionally, forgive me for mentioning ... timelines ... but in my humble onion, BotW/TotK serve as a Dragon-Break scenario which are SO far in the future from other entries that ALL timelines will inevitably converge and lead to that point, so it doesnt matter any more (i dont like extended Timeline theory, Nindooty doesnt like extended Timeline theory, the current writing team seem to want shot of it, let me be). being a history guy i also subscribe to leaning on the LEGEND aspect of 100 and 1000 year games of telephone, it makes things spicy. tradition is a strange thing, we do things we dont have much of a context for anymore, we're still living with the cultural hangovers of people living when mammoths were around and no thats not hyperbole lol its WILD. ive typed around the point enough lets get going

she was a bugs girl !!!! she still IS a bugs girl lmao but if our 16 year old girlie is gonna pounce on frogs apropos of nothing, that 4 year old girlie is gonna go catch bugs in the Royal Gardens and freak out her maids or escorts with them, good for her 💅

the other two are where my timeline thing comes in; the triforce is never mentioned by name, its just there in symbolism ?? something about the blood of the goddess ?? divine sealing powers ??? no one knows in the same vein, i like to think that its traditional for Hylian Princesses to learn archery and play a lyre or harp ... but no one remembers quite WHY ?? so Zelda does. the Priestess-Princess* role means the public is aware that Zelda had formal singing training, but its not really common knowledge outside of the Castle that the Royal Girls do THIS (no one knows why that part is important either, but it stays in the Castle). she might be a little out of practice now, but give that muscle memory enough time and she might be able to really surprise people.

*this is part of the Japanese translation, at least in Kass' final song Zelda is referred to as an term roughly meaning Priestess-Princess - which makes total sense to me

ohhh my god i talked a lot okay i just love my gorl fhjdkfjdk

actual footage of me explaining my shit and going way long

#tears of the kingdom #breath of the wild #legend of zelda #botw zelda #totk zelda #totk fanart #botw fanart #loz zelda #botw/totk #pilots doodles #botw/totk blogging #zelda blogging #rory's ramblings

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tourettesdog · 1 year

Photo

Concept:

Danny and his friends go missing and Jazz (werewolf, cause vibes) starts exploring the GZ to find him. She's never been there before and only has a journal Danny left behind to go off of as she tries to navigate who is friend and foe.

Wulf eventually becomes her travel companion.

I also wrote a story blurb to go with this (using speech to text while I worked on the shading lol) Word count: 1532 Warnings: isolation

A frigid wind wrapped around her, stirring the snow and ice. Jazz had never much liked the cold, always preferring relaxing spring days and warm summer nights. Always a bit too cold in their house, where the chill from the lab seemed to creep its way into each corner.

The cold didn't bother her as much now. It hadn't for a long while, not with thick fur to guard against the chill. Still, in the endless field of snow, even her thick pelt did very little to ward off the freezing temperature.

It stung at her ears, lashed at her snout, and worked its way through the tough pads of her feet until they were numb. The specter speeder lay behind her, the metal hull already being swept beneath the wind-tossed snow.

This was it, Jazz thought. She had finally found her most promising lead, made her way to the far icy reaches of the Far Frozen that Danny's journal mentioned with such reverence, and here she would fall.

Lost in an endless expanse of snow. Buried where none would find her. Forgotten, even by the ghosts.

Lost like Danny was.

Jazz stumbled onward, focusing only on putting one foot before the other. It was all she could do. She could see nothing, save for the white glare of snow, dappled with a green and blue hue that swirled and rippled with the flow of the ectoplasmic sky.

It was beautiful, in its own way. In the strange way that an abstract painting could be beautiful, with its hapless array of colors and shapes. Jazz stared up at it, wondering if it would be the very last thing she ever saw.

Wondering if it was the last thing Danny might have seen.

She still didn't even know if he was in the Ghost Zone. She still didn't know where to start looking for him. Every ghost she had met so far, from the cruel to the kind, had no leads.

No one had seen Danny and his friends, or at least no one was willing to say that they had.

Her legs ached with the effort of sifting through the snow. Great weights dragged at her each step, and it was all Jazz could do to make another. She wanted to rest. She wanted to turn around and go back to the specter speeder, sinking into the seats where she might find at least a trace of warmth.

Jazz turned her head to look for the speeder, but she could no longer see it. She hadn't gone very far, yet the one thing tethering her to the outside world had left, lost to the swirling white snow.

She took another step.

When jazz was ten-years-old there had been a large blizzard in Amity Park. It happened in late February, just after Valentine's Day, and had buried the town in a sea of snow. Jazz remembered how excited Danny was when it first started to snow. He was gleeful that they had a few days off of school and was prepared to throw himself into the snow with Tucker and Sam for the duration of it.

He hadn't had much time to enjoy that snow.

(Not that Time ever cared how much it gave to Danny.)

The ice on the power lines had left them without power, and without a stove to cook on the already-questionable meals that Maddie prepared became even more so. They huddled up by the fireplace with blankets, staying as warm as they could, but Danny still managed to get sick .

(He was never very lucky.)

Those five days off of school hadn't meant much when Danny spent the majority of them lying in bed, shivering and coughing, and Jazz spent that time worrying over him while their parents worked by candlelight in the lab.

Tears welled at the corners of Jazz's eyes and she couldn't be sure if they were from the sting of the wind or the ache in her chest.

She took another step.

Jazz wondered what the Far Frozen yetis were like. Danny had described them quite a lot in his journal, much more than many of the other ghosts, and much more kindly at that. He had mentioned a Frostbite, a massive yeti with a frozen arm. He sounded nice, though the name 'Frostbite' felt awfully cruel and ironic to her now.

Maybe they would find her, at least. If she couldn't find Danny, if she was truly doomed to freeze, maybe this Frostbite would find her and be able to give Danny some closure.

(The same closure Jazz so desperately sought now, if nothing else.)

Jazz's chest constricted with a cold that had nothing to do with the frozen tundra around her, just imagining Danny endlessly searching for her.

(Following in her lost footsteps, she supposed.)

Jazz would sooner consign herself to endlessly wander the Far Frozen than she would have Danny fruitlessly search for her.

(And what if her own search was fruitless to begin with? What if she had thrown her life away searching for not even a ghost?)

The horizon blurred together, the crisp white snow melting with the hazy green of the sky until it was all a swirl in her mind. Ectoplasm and ice, every bit a reminder of who she had failed to protect.

Jazz tried to take another step, but her knees buckled.

She hoped that, wherever Danny was, he still had Sam and Tucker beside him. They were always close. Always willing to have each other's backs, no matter what stakes they were facing.

Jazz wished she could have been a part of that more. Maybe then she would have found Danny sooner.

They could have been home already, wherever home was now.

The snow piled around Jazz. She no longer had the energy to stand, and hardly had enough to sit up.

Maybe she'd return as a ghost, at least. There was certainly enough ectoplasm to sustain her as one here, and Jazz felt enough aching desire to keep going that she thought it more than possible.

Maybe she'd just rest for a little while. Sink into the snow, which was already blanketing her more and more as she slumped into the drift.

Surely, Danny was never this cold. A cold beyond cold, sinking into a hollow numbness that had Jazz's mind drifting with the wind.

The sky shifted, the sea of green above flickering with streaks of deep blue, an aurora borealis if ever she saw one.

She remembered how Danny had described it in his journal. He hadn't done it much justice .

The snow shifted, warping, moving. Jazz could hardly keep her eyes open, her thoughts slipping with the drifts of snow.

She wondered what sort of ghost a werewolf would make. Danny had mentioned a wolf ghost in his journal, though Jazz couldn't be sure if he was a werewolf in life or had simply taken that form upon his death. Ghosts could be strange like that.

The roar of the wind was distant, hardly more than a whisper now. Jazz thought she could hear the crunch of snow and the echo of voices lost on the wind.

At least she would get to rest. Maybe not for a long while, but enough time to shut her eyes before she accepted whatever form fate would give her.

Eyes shut, numb to the strange world around her, the snow swallowed Jazz whole.

Warmth. She couldn't remember the last time she felt warm, lost in the zone without a sun to warm her back. Jazz had grown used to the cold, even before the snow of the Far Frozen claimed her.

And yet she was warm.

Jazz could remember falling into the snow, accepting her fate… and yet she was warm .

Opening her eyelids was a Herculean task, made no easier by the bright glare that welcomed her bleary sight. Jazz shut her eyes tight again, groaning as she turned her head to the side.

A murmured voice reached her ears, followed by another. Jazz heard a creaking sound and felt the air shift beside her.

She tried once again to open her eyes, this time squinting and finding that the glare had diminished somewhat.

"I'm pleased to see that you are awake at last," a voice said. It was a low rumble, almost more of a growl than a humanoid voice, but the words rang through clearly, as kind and gentle as any voice so deep could be.

Slowly, aching moments that stretched on for ages, the world swam into view. Rich blue hues, underscored by vibrant whites. Fractals of ice, deliberately shaped around dark stone. It looked as though they were in some sort of cave, though it had been altered into a living space with draping furs and woven tapestries.

A hulking form sat beside her. If Jazz ever thought that there was a creature fit to be called a yeti, it was them. He had snowy fur with gray markings, a cloak of deep blue, and icy horns that matched a frozen arm.

Frostbite. The name suited him; he was every bit the ghost Danny described in his journal.

#danny phantom #danny phantom art #phanart #danny phantom frostbite #frostbite #jazz fenton #werewolves #werewolf jazz #phanfic #ficlet #dogart #dogfics

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