chaos-company

[chaos-company]

Welcome To The Outpost: Part 2.3 - Swept Away

Fandom: The Bad Batch Characters: CT-9904 Crosshair, Clone Commander Mayday Word Count: ~1375 Read Here on AO3

Synopsis: With Crosshair at his side, the two of them easily storm the raider’s mountain base. Mayday wonders about the legacy the clone troopers leave behind. Crosshair makes an unexpected admission.

Read Part 1.1 - Frozen Read Part 1.2 - Rise From The Ashes Read Part 1.3 - Lost Battle Read Part 1.4 - No Way Out Read Part 1.5 - Rock And A Hard Place Read Part 2.1 - Last Chance Read Part 2.2 - Broken

Once the rocks stopped tumbling to fill the cave mouth, the mountain rang with silence.

Crosshair turned to survey his work, lowering his rifle with little satisfaction. It had been a quick way to end things; targeting the crate of explosives to collapse the mountain cavern network, instead of tackling another wave of raiders rallying from inside their base.

Not that they had struggled with the combat. He had been reluctantly impressed at how the reg commander, a blaster in each hand, had stormed the encampment with ruthless efficiency. Crosshair had worked with command-class clones in the past, and they were the only ones who were even close to operating on the same level as him and his brothers.

Don’t think of them.

Eliminating the raider’s base with the reg commander had almost – almost – reminded him of the mission on Desix with Commander Cody.

He had known he would work well with Cody; there was no doubt about that. They had a long history together.

What he hadn’t expected was for Mayday to shadow his movements so effectively, bringing the brutal skirmish to such a quick conclusion.

There was something to be said about the ferocity of men with nothing left to lose. The hollowness that radiated out from the commander threatened to consume Crosshair too.

Mayday faced down death and the elements on the word of an officer he didn’t respect, because he was loyal.

Loyal to the Empire.

And Crosshair was at his side because the commander also carried the intense loyalty to his clone brothers that the sniper had never understood, but had found himself on the receiving end of in the tunnels.

Mayday had no business saving him from the pressure mine. It had been his own idiotic mistake to trigger it. If it had been him, he would have scoffed at the reg commander and left him; not worth the risk of accidentally detonating the mine whilst trying to disarm it, just to save one man.

But Mayday had thought it worthwhile. When he had brushed off Crosshair’s ingratitude with little more than a resigned chuckle, it made something inside Cross burn all the brighter.

The faint, creeping sensation of eyes on his back shivered up his spine – the reassuring version, the one where those eyes were his brothers’, watching out for him just as he watched out for them.

He’d had that, briefly, when Cody had requested him for Desix. Then the Marshal Commander had absconded.

Rampart’s insidious voice sounded in his mind again. Clone loyalty doesn’t seem to be as advertised any more.

Crosshair thought Cody had had his back, but the Marshal Commander abandoned him. Just like his brothers had.

He couldn’t bear to confront the nauseating fear that Mayday might do the same.

*

“Crosshair.”

“What?” Crosshair’s tone was short, but without his earlier aggression.

Mayday gestured down the mountainside, towards the snowmobile which had crashed and spilled its pallet of crates after Crosshair shot the driver.

“Let’s load the cargo and get out of here.”

Although it was night, the whiteness of the snow bounced the little light from the sky around, giving them enough to see by without drawing their torches. Sliding to a stop in the powdery snow, Mayday pulled off his helmet, loosing his unkempt hair to the wind and feeling the bite of the icy chill against his cheeks. Behind him Crosshair mimicked the action, tucking his helmet under his arm, silent and observant.

Mayday faltered as he approached the downed skiff. His eyes skipped over the tumult in the snow, the once-smooth surface marred by scattered debris where one of the cargo crates had burst a seam at the impact and spilled its contents into the night.

White on white. Gleaming plastoid against powdery mountain snow.

“Gear?”

The edge of Mayday’s voice shook. The fingers of his free hand dug into the seams of his own armour, curling against the coarse fabric wraps keeping the cold out.

“We’ve been risking out lives to recover equipment we could have been wearing this whole time?”

He sensed more than saw the sniper come to stand at his shoulder.

“It’s not clone trooper gear,” said Crosshair. The way he softened his voice at the acknowledgement spoke volumes.

“Right.” Mayday dragged the word out into a derisive snort. “New toys for their shiny new military, and we get the scraps.”

Holstering his blaster, he knelt and scooped up a cuirass from the snow, turning it to inspect the item. A coldness that had nothing to do with the mountain night curled around his chest, constricting, forcing bile to his throat.

“We were good soldiers.” The words choked past a knot of fury and sorrow. “We followed orders. And for what?”

His companion remained silent. That was fine by Mayday. He didn’t want to hear the sniper’s brand of biting commentary right now.

He dropped the cuirass in disgust, kicking it towards the other items spilled from the fractured crate.

“For three years we fought in the war,” he continued, his voice low, words spoken mostly for himself. “Earned their freedom with our blood, and never asked thanks. It’s what we were made for.”

Now he turned to Crosshair.

“Do you think they’ll even remember us?” he asked, fixing the lean sniper with a piercing stare.

Crosshair held his gaze despite its intensity, brow furrowed in a frown. He’d drawn a toothpick from somewhere, and his teeth clenched around it as he shrugged a response to Mayday’s question.

Mayday continued. “I heard the rumours about phasing out clone troopers. I didn’t really believe them until now.” His face twisted in a glare, one hand scrubbing over his face and beard as he sought to control himself. “What does that even mean? They just let us die, and not replace us?” His voice shook with anger. “I heard Kamino was destroyed. Does that mean… the end of us clones?”

Something flickered behind Crosshair’s eyes, an expression quickly shuttered. He turned his face away from Mayday, letting his gaze go long over the mountainside.

“It was.”

Mayday stared at him blankly. “What?”

“Kamino was destroyed,” said the sniper through clenched teeth. “I was there.”

Taking a careful couple of steps, Mayday positioned himself in Crosshair’s eyeline. The sniper still tried hard to avoid looking at him.

“You were on the Empire’s ships.”

“No,” said Crosshair, and his voice was barely more than a breath shuddering up from his chest. “I was in the city.”

For a moment the wind dropped away to nothing, and now Crosshair met Mayday’s eyes. Behind that hard exterior there was a fracture of fear, wide-eyed and frightened, and Mayday’s breath seized to realise how young the other clone must be.

Not much older than Veetch.

A rumbling, rushing started up. Blood in his ears.

Except Crosshair was reacting to it too. Whipped his head round to gaze up at the mountain peak, far above the destroyed cavern.

To where icy death tumbled down the mountainside towards them.

Reacting on instinct, Mayday pulled his bucket back on and clapped Crosshair on the shoulder. “GO!” he roared, and he was already running, adrenaline driving fatigue and fear from his body as his long legs ate up the ground and he raced, heedless, down the mountainside.

In moments Crosshair had drawn level with him, helmet in place also. The two clones, light armoured and dark, slid and sprinted wordlessly through the night, racing from the devastation which descended from high to sweep them away.

The avalanche would catch them. Thousands of tons of snow and ice gathered speed, must faster than their exhausted bodies could hope to outrun it.

Mayday scanned their path for something, anything, that might offer safety. Somewhere to shelter. To hope the wave of snow would crest over them and spare them.

Looming from the darkness, a jagged boulder jutted up from the mountain surface, black and forbidding.

“Look out!”

Shoving Crosshair to one side, Mayday watched as the tall clone tumbled head over heels, the unexpected push breaking his momentum.

Then the snow was on them and Crosshair was lost to his view, and the crushing wall of ice swept him against the boulder and everything went black.

I'm baack! Did you miss me?

I missed the proper posting date for this prompt which was due on the 23rd, but I hope you enjoy this chapter now it's here. Thank you to my wonderful writing buddies @kybercrystals94 and @the-little-moment for your patience and support!

Hopefully Day 26's chapter 'Grief' will be finished over the weekend.

Need more angsty Bad Batch stores in the meantime? We're using the #littlekyberthoughts tag for our joint Angstpril challenge - you can find all our fics there!

#angstpril2024

[chaos-company]

grief.

word count: 440

content warnings: death

summary: Mr. Yang is dead.

author's notes: hsr is one year old today for that occasion i killed Welt 😋 I'm evil actually.made myself sad with this HAJSJS also idk i hope i don't have to specify but this is NOT written with any romantic relationships in mind

“I don't know what we would do without you, Mr. Yang!”

Usually, whenever March said that, she didn't think much of it - or… At all, to be entirely honest. She didn't even want to think about it in the first place; either; of course, she was well aware that Mr. Yang wasn't invincible, but surely he wouldn't just - leave them, right? His presence on the Astral Express was something so natural to her like the fact that she needed water to survive, so much so that she couldn't even picture a scenario in which he would be—

Dead.

Right now, she feels lost.

She really doesn't know what to do now that Mr. Yang is gone.

Maybe it's her clue to stop classifying things as those that will surely never ever happen - after all, his death seemed pretty much impossible, and yet, here they were, without him, and to her, it's— no, she isn't even sure how to describe it. She isn't sure how to make sense of what happened, how to soothe the pain that seemed to have settled in her heart for good.

Perhaps it would be easier if she wasn't so afraid that there are many more things to come.

She knows - hopes - that Mr. Yang wasn't the very thing keeping them together, that the crew won't just fall apart completely now that he's dead, yet at the same time she's terrified that it just might. If one unthinkable thing has already happened, then why not more? And she knows, she knows it's hard for everyone to even have a simple conversation right now, she knows everyone needs time to process their loss on their own, but every next day that she spends almost entirely alone strengthens her anxiety. It doesn't help the more stubborn part of her let these grim thoughts go.

Normally, she'd talk about it with Mr. Yang.

But Mr. Yang is gone.

She can't allow to lose the others too. She can't allow to lose the Astral Express - it's her home, and the crew is her family, and if she was forced to leave all that behind - without her memories, where would she even go?

She doesn't have any other place to return to, and right now, even the Astral Express feels… Alien. Distant. The atmosphere is so heavy that March feels herself nearly crushed by it, and she doesn't know what to do to change it. 

She almost feels like she should; after all, she's always the happy, cheerful one who does her best to lift the others’ mood.

But she can't find any strength in herself to do so right now.

divider by @/cafekitsune

#angstpril2024

[chaos-company]

Almost a Year Ago

Author: Autobot2001 Genre: Fanfiction Fandom: Transformers Rating: T Warning: Mention of death Pairing: Ratchet X Jasmine )OC) Description: Jasmine is having difficulty as Audrey's first birthday approaches. Remembering Events from Her Savior.

@chaos-company angstpril day 26; grief

Ratchet walks into Jasmine’s office. He sees Jasmine staring at the picture of Audrey on her desk. The forms she said she’d have filled out by now are untouched on her desk, untouched. “You ok? It’s not like you to slack off.” “I’m fine,” Jasmine argues. It’s not like her not to talk to me. Ratchet worries. Rather than try to make Jasmine talk to him, Ratchet leaves the office.

Ratchet waits until the evening after Audrey is asleep to ask Jasmine what’s bothering her. “I just think about how Audrey’s birthday is in a week. I don’t know what’s worse; that it’s been a year since my parents were killed or that they’re missing their youngest daughter growing up.”  Tears roll down her face. Ratchet suspects there’s more on Jasmine’s mind, but he won’t ask. He believes she’ll tell him soon enough. He wants to talk to a psychiatrist at the hospital about how he can support Jasmine. Unsure if this differs from Cybertronians dealing with this situation.

#angstpril2024

[chaos-company]

Angstpril 2024 - Day 26 - grief

“Mourning Clothes”

Mia takes off her ‘city garments’, folds them neatly, carefully, delaying as much as possible the inevitable. The mourning kimono stares back at her. Inoffensive. Daring.

#angstpril2024

[chaos-company]

exhausted.

word count: 439

content warnings: mentions of self-destructive behavior, mentions of a character in a very bad state

summary: N/A

author's notes: well uh. at first i was like what if i kill someone for this prompt again, because i only knew i wanted to write about Welt, but then i decided nah. that's for day 26. :). and tomorrow is Emile again because they can't catch a break :3

“You look tired.”

Welt turns his head away from the parlor car's window, his gaze focusing on Himeko as she approaches him. He didn't hear her enter; only noticing her when she spoke. He can spot the concern on her face and it causes him to smile softly, but the smile doesn't reach his eyes. As much as he's trying to look like everything’s alright, he's also aware that the exhaustion he feels right now must be rather obvious - which Himeko has taken note of already, and the look in his eyes - almost empty.

“I'm fine,” he replies, though. He looks away, at the countless stars outside the Astral Express, and Himeko stops right next to him with a quiet sigh. He can feel her gaze on himself, but he doesn't move.

“You know I can tell that's not true,” she replies. “It’s late. You should go and rest.”

He sighs in response. 

“I'm fine,” he repeats, with a little more firmness in his voice now, but without anger. He could never get angry at her for worrying about him, even if he doesn't always appreciate it - or thinks there was no need for it. Right now, it's the former; especially since he's pretty sure he won't fall asleep anyway. There's way too much going on in his mind right now.

“I wouldn't be able to–”

He speaks again, but she interrupts him, placing a hand on his shoulder and causing him to finally look back at her.

“Welt.” Similarly to his, her voice carries no anger, but there's a bit more edge to it now, and it doesn't disappear as she goes on. “You’re not invincible. You need sleep, like everyone else.”

“I'm not tired.”

“Welt Yang.” It's almost a hiss now, she is suddenly much harsher, but he can't really blame her.

He'd much rather prefer it if she just let him be, though.

“If you're trying to punish yourself by neglecting yourself even more, then stop, right this instant.” She's annoyed at him, of course she is; he can hear it quite clearly. “What happened isn't your fault. It's not anyone's fault. And you can't act like it is. Please,” she adds, and the last word is spoken in a much softer way. “You look like you're about to collapse.”

He wants to argue with her but then he thinks of the fight they lost, of the Express’s infirmary, and of Dan Heng laying there, most likely still unconscious, and of the fact they aren't sure when he will even wake up, and suddenly all of his strength is gone.

Alright. He'll go rest.

He nods. 

divider by @/cafekitsune

#angstpril2024

[chaos-company]

Angstpril 2024 - Day 23 - swept away

“Lemonade and Sunrays”

As she stares at the scene before her, Fleur’s heart swells with a bittersweet ache. She gazes upon her loved ones, and she feels an inexplicable need to hug them tight. Like they’re about to vanish.

#angstpril2024

[chaos-company]

My Love For You

Author: Autobot2001 Genre: Fanfiction Fandom: Transformers Rating: T Warning: Mention of poor mental health Pairing: Drift X Jamie (OC) Description: Drift plans a date night for him and Jamie. His friends are supportive. Drift hopes to remind Jamie she's loved and how much he loves her.

@chaos-company angstpril day 23; swept away @theocxcanonweek; "You're my everything."

Drift knows Jamie’s depression makes Jamie feel unloved. Causing her to feel she doesn’t have friends never mind a mech that loves her romantically. Remembering how great February was reminds him of how complicated Jamie’s mental health is. Drift isn’t sure if reminding Jamie how much he loves her is helpful or would make her negative thinking worse, but he wants to plan a date.

Drift knew the others would be supportive. He laughs hearing Lily tell Sunstreaker they should also go on a date tonight. “Hey, at least we’ll be out of the house,” Lily claims, ‘but Sideswipe won’t be coming with us.” “Hey!” The others laugh, but Drift thinks how Jamie doesn’t realize the friends he has. He hides the sadness with a smile. No one knows how much he’s been faking a smile this week. That the vacation hasn’t been enjoyable. “You’ll be with me,” Crosshairs says, “we’ll watch a movie in the theater room. Drift and Jamie watch movies in the living room on their dates.” “How would you know?” Lily asks, “you spy on them?!” The others laugh while Crosshairs is silent.

Sunstreaker and Lily leave for their date at five. Crosshairs and Sideswipe go watch movies and eat their dinner in the theater room. Using a groundbridge, Cade and Vivian choose to spend the night at their Texas home. Cogman enjoys helping Drift with these dates.

The silver, human-sized butler can see something is troubling Drift, but he doesn’t ask. He suspects Crosshairs will notice and attempt to talk to Drift. He worries Drift is doing what he hates Crosshairs does; refusing to talk about what’s on his mind until he’s angry. Drift and Jamie decide to eat their dinner in the living room. Both having chicken parmesan with a garlic sauce. Drift laughs at how much parmesan cheese Jamie adds.

Drift knew the two wouldn’t be talking while eating. He’s used to watching TV while eating. Drift and Crosshairs spending much time with Jamie partly contribute to the absence of topics to discuss. Drift remembers when the two mechs cannot return to Jamie’s dimension with her, she’d talk about her pets when they return to her dimension, or she returns to theirs. Now she doesn’t do that. Drift thinks. She seldom talks. The mech struggles to not ruin his mood thinking about this.

Once the two are done eating, Drift moves Jamie onto his lap. The smaller femme leans on him. “You remember when I told you I loved you, I said it was instant? You could say I let myself get swept away. Twelve years later and I still love you. You’re my everything. I just wish I could help you better.” Drift hugs Jamie and kisses her forehead. Hoping she’s not thinking negatively. He was hoping she’d respond like she had been doing in February, but isn’t taking it as she doesn’t love him. Drift doesn’t like how Jamie doesn’t always show her love and is afraid to say they are together, but he understands why. What he hates more is knowing humans don’t care like Cybertronians do. Yes, they’re still not perfect, but Drift feels like Cybertronians are more understanding and caring than humans.

#angstpril2024

[chaos-company]

my worst nightmare.

word count: 437

content warnings: mentions of blood, descriptions of dead bodies & injuries

summary: there's one thing that scares Emile the most.

author's notes: Emile's break done 😋😋 idk i just think they'd just. like after they join the Astral Express they'd start having this one specific nightmare about losing their new family but they wouldn't admit it. and since today's prompt is 'swept away' i was thinking like,, idk swept away or overtaken by intense emotions or smth

The silence on the Astral Express is deafening.

The moment Emile opens their eyes, they can sense something is wrong; it's not unusual for the train to be quiet, of course not, especially at this hour, yet right now it feels… Ominous, almost. Heavy. 

They just know something bad has happened.

And so, they get out of bed; quietly, they approach the door, and open them just as carefully, before stepping out into the hallway.

The moment they take one look at it they freeze, their eyes widening in horror.

Mr. Yang's body is half-sitting, half lying on the floor; his back is leaning against March 7th’s door, his cane on the ground right next to him. There are several deep slashes across his chest, and his clothes are soaked with blood. 

It looks like he was trying to prevent something from getting in.

It doesn't look like he succeeded.

Their heartbeat quickens, their breathing becomes shaky.

They spot another body.

It's Dan Heng, right in front of the open entrance to the archives. He's laying down on his stomach in a pool of blood, and they can only imagine his injuries are just as bad as Mr. Yang’s.

The door to the parlor car is open as well, and they can see Stelle's silhouette in the doorway, but it’s the moment they close their eyes. They don't want to see this. They don't want to go inside either, because something tells them – they just know. They just know they're going to find Himeko there.

No, no, no, this is not happening, no.

No.

…They should move, but they can't.

They should go up to them, check if maybe anyone is still alive, if they can help, but their legs seem to be stuck to the ground, and they're blanking out as the panic takes over them.

Their own scream is still ringing in their ears when they wake up.

Their room is almost entirely dark; they take in one, sharp breath but it turns into a sob as they exhale. They curl up on their side, hugging their pillow, clutching it like their life depended on it; broken sobs escape their mouth as they press their face into the soft material, an attempt to muffle their voice. The fear is overwhelming as they cry, and their entire body is trembling, and they wish they weren’t alone right now, but at the same time, they don’t want anyone to see them right now. 

After all, it… Wasn't real.

It probably wasn't.

They are now somewhat aware of it, but it's not enough for them to calm down.

divider by @/cafekitsune

#angstpril2024

[chaos-company]

Sounds Like Him

Read on Ao3 here!

Angstpril 2024 | Day 24 | Prompt 24: Ghost of You

Rated: G | Words: 435 | Summary: Wrecker and Crosshair talk about their lost brother. | Character Focus: Wrecker, Crosshair 

Wrecker groggily wakes to the sound of sure fingers typing. “Go to sleep, Tech,” he grumbles, turning over in the pull down bunk to face the wall. 

The typing stops abruptly. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to wake you.” Crosshair’s voice. Not Tech’s. Never Tech’s. 

Tech is dead. 

Wrecker rolls to his back, stares at the bunk above him. “Sorry,” he says. 

Crosshair makes a scoffing noise. “What for? I woke you up.”

“I thought you were Tech for a second,” Wrecker says. “It just sounded…like he was here. The way you were typing. Haven’t heard typing like that since before.”

Crosshair is quiet for a few moments, and Wrecker isn’t sure he’s going to answer, and then, “Hunter types like a newborn blurrg’s first steps.” 

Wrecker barks out a surprised laugh, turning his head to look at his brother. Crosshair smirks back at him. 

“I missed you, Cross,” Wrecker says. “A whole lot.” He isn’t sure why he’s suddenly feeling sentimental, but the words need to be said. 

He misses Tech. Every day. 

But he also missed Crosshair. 

Every day.  

Crosshair blinks at him, smile dropping. He glances away. “I missed you too.” 

Wrecker sits up, ducking his head so he doesn’t hit it on the upper bunk. He leans forward, propping his elbows on his knees. “Did Omega ever tell you about Tech winning a pod race?”

A half shrug and a nod. “A little. No details, but I got the gist of it.” 

“You should’ve seen him,” Wrecker says, becoming animated. “He was the craziest racer there.” 

Crosshair chuckles. “You sound surprised.” 

“Nah,” Wrecker says. “Just proud of him.” 

His little brother hums. “I would’ve liked to see that,” Crosshair mumbles, looking down at the data pad gone idle in his lap. He pecks one finger at the screen, igniting it to life, but he doesn’t do anything else with it. “There’s a lot of things I should’ve been here for.”

Wrecker swallows, but only lets his silence agree. 

“Maybe,” Crosshair continues once the quiet between them has settled, “you can tell me what happened…with the pod race.”

Wrecker grins so big it hurts. Until this moment, he hadn’t realized how badly he’d wanted to share this story with Crosshair. All the details, even the ones he and Tech and Omega had carefully left out when reporting to Hunter and Echo. 

“Well,” Wrecker says, swinging his legs over the side of the bunk. “I’ll have to start at the beginning.” 

Crosshair rolls his eyes good-naturedly. “Well, that’s obvious,” he snarks. 

And kriff, if he doesn’t sound just like Tech when he says it. 

@the-little-moment @just-here-with-my-thoughts, less than a week left of Angstpril! But that also means less than a week until the end of the Bad Batch 😭 I'm not ready!!

And I'm posting this story before the second to last episode airs just in case it ruins me emotionally....eeeeeep!

✨Let me know if you'd like to be added to my tag list!✨

Tag List: @followthepurrgil @isthereanechoinhere96 @amorfista @mooncommlink @arctrooper69 @nagyanna424 @proteatook @ezras-left-thumb @merkitty49

#angstpril2024

[chaos-company]

Confrontation

Angstpril 2024: Day 15 (650 words)

Lin fluffed the paper, skimming lightly over the society pages. She flipped to a page of photos from return to school activities all over the city. She felt a small pang at a picture from the school she and Su had attended so many years earlier. A very stern-looking older sister led a younger sibling by the hand, looking very intent in their matching uniforms. 

The light touch on her shoulder almost distracted her from the fresh tea sneaking its way around her far elbow. 

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were looking nostalgic. It’s a good thing I know your mother formed you from a clay deposit.” Eboshi gave an amused snort before folding the paper down and leaning in for a kiss. 

Lin chuckled. She ruffled the paper again, pointing to the photo of the two siblings. “My sister and I attended there. The uniforms have changed.”

Eboshi scoffed. “At least you got educated. My apprenticeship was slower than usual because I had to learn how to read and do figures.” She flipped her hand and turned away. “It did give me more time to develop my stitching.”

Lin set the paper aside. “I’ll hire a tutor for you,” she said, reaching out a hand to touch Eboshi’s shoulder. But Eboshi scrunched her shoulders, and Lin’s fingertips brushed down Eboshi’s back. With a shiver, Eboshi wriggled her back and took a step away from Lin before turning back around.

“You sure like reminding me how much money you have,” she groused.

Lin retracted her hand as her face fell. When their eyes met, Eboshi winced in regret. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

“But that’s what you think, is it? That I just pay for things to remind you of your place?” Lin’s voice was tight and low.

Eboshi brought her hands to her face and took a harsh breath, turning her back to Lin. Lin just watched her breathe, flexing the fingers of her left hand. When she clenched her hand a little too tightly, she jolted it open. If I can keep from hitting her, she can keep from insulting me.

She spun on her heel. “I’m going to get ready. I promised you a day out, and that hasn’t changed.”

“Lin…”

Lin didn’t stay to hear the rest.

***

Lin patiently stood with the shopping bags in hand while Eboshi fished in her bag for her key. The breeze ruffled her hair, and she closed her eyes to feel its caress.

When the feeling of Tenzin lit up in her mind, her eyes snapped open to see Eboshi unlocking the door to the building. Which seemed to open of its own accord.

Eboshi startled, her key dropping to the ground as she knocked into Lin in her scramble to get out of the door’s swing. Lin moved out of the way and shifted the bags in her arms so she could bend the key up, only to see a man reach up from his knees up to Eboshi, the key outstretched in his fingers.

“I’m sorry for knocking into you and your friend. I’ve been hoping to see you again.”

Something about the man’s tone made Lin’s hackles rise. “Thanks for picking that up. We’re heading in to make dinner.”

The man startled to be addressed directly, and he stood quickly.

Eboshi steadied his elbow, and Lin watched them look at each other.

She hadn’t seen that smile on Eboshi’s face for a long time.

“We don’t want to keep you,” she growled.

They looked at her in shock, looked back at each other in apology, and smiled.

The man held the door open, and Eboshi entered.

He released the door to start closing, and Lin barely caught it with her foot.

With a quiet humph, he stuffed his hands in his pockets and walked away, leaving Lin to confront her predicament on her own.

#angstpril2024

[chaos-company]

Angstpril 2024 - Day 24 - the ghost of you

“Ghost (1990)”

Diego knows how the movie ends. What dies stays dead. And no one tells you how to live on without them.

#angstpril2024

[chaos-company]

You're Just Jealous

Author: Autobot2001 Genre: Fanfiction Fandom: Transformers Rating: E Warning: None Pairing: Sideswipe/SunstreakerDescription: Sideswipe argues that Sunstreaker is jealous of seeing Jamie with human mechs. Snippet for Hidden Killer.

@chaos-company angstpril day 24; jelousy

Sideswipe plays video games for an hour before deciding he wants Jamie to join him. The twins see Dylan talking to Jamie. Sideswipe sees Sunstreaker getting angry. “Ah, I see,” Sideswipe comments, “even while you don’t love Jamie, you’re jealous.” “That makes no sense.” “Yes, it does. You don’t want any new mechs coming into Jamie’s life. She was already friends with the mech Autobots and Cade, so you accepted those mechs being with her-.” “So all the newcomers? Rung has talked to Jamie,” Sunstreaker argues, “I didn’t tell the newcomers to stay away from Jamie. I am not Jealous! Something feels off with this guy. Sorry for trying to protect Jamie! If you pay attention, you’ll see she doesn’t like him being near her!” “That’s her anxiety-.” “Wow, I can’t believe you!” Sunstreaker slaps his brother across the face and walks away. Sideswipe sighs, rubbing his stinging cheekplate.

#angstpril2024

[chaos-company]

Between all the yells and some curse words, Nozel thought he heard things getting broken, probably by being thrown against a wall. Maybe it was one of the Ming vases. Or one of his father’s modern sculptures that looked like nothing.

Well... that's one way to start the prologue of my Modern AU. And fitting in angstpril still. Maybe? Is there also a fluff month or fluff week afterwards?

#angstpril2024

[chaos-company]

the ghost of you.

word count: 169

content warnings: N/A

summary: Welt's thoughts always seem to circle back to them.

author's notes: who would've guessed i don't have anything interesting to say here LOL they/them pronouns for Void because I said so :3 also! uhh idk implied?? something?? maybe not??? i feel like i need to write something longer again but man!!

For someone who, ultimately, was pretty certain he wouldn't miss them all that much, Welt Yang sure thinks about Void Archives a lot. 

It's almost as if they're haunting him; though now, after some time, there's much less things that would remind Welt of them, and the memory of them is somewhat bitter, they're still in his mind. He still catches himself mistaking someone else for them way too often for his liking - though back there, on the Xianzhou Luofu, the resemblance was truly uncanny; taking him by surprise, though perhaps it shouldn't have, not at this point.

If Welt was a little less reasonable, a little less sure that it's rather impossible, he'd say Void Archives is somehow doing this on purpose, only to taunt him - even though they haven't even tried to contact him or the Astral Express once since they left. 

They don't seem to care - and so he attempts to convince himself he doesn't either - but their ghost seems to follow him wherever he goes.

divider by @/cafekitsune

#angstpril2024

[chaos-company]

Chapters: 5/5      Words: 11,581 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Characters: Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach, Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon, Geralt z Rivii | Geralt of Rivia, Vesemir (The Witcher), Emiel Regis Rohellec Terzieff-Godefroy, Yennefer z Vengerbergu | Yennefer of Vengerberg, Coën (The Witcher), Lambert (The Witcher), Jaskier | Dandelion, Triss Merigold, Istredd, Dara Additional Tags: Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach Whump, Whumptober 2023, Whumptober, Alive Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach, Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach Has a Bad Time, Witcher Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach, Title from a The Amazing Devil Song, Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Major Character Injury, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Post-Canon, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Buried Alive, Sacrifice, Sickfic, Blood and Injury, Broken Bones, Friendship, Magical Exhaustion, whumpster-dumpster’s Whumpril 2024, chaos-company’s Angstpril 2024, Uncle Jaskier | Dandelion, lullaby, Tumblr: whumpers-monthly, learning the truth, Grief/Mourning, can’t sleep, weak pulse, Found Family, Fluff and Hurt/Comfort, Eventual Fluff, Family Fluff, Emotional Support Bard Jaskier | Dandelion, Protective Geralt z Rivii | Geralt of Rivia, Good Parent Geralt z Rivii | Geralt of Rivia, Parental Vesemir (The Witcher), Good Parent Vesemir (The Witcher) Summary: At Kaer Morhen, Cahir tells Ciri something that makes her scream …

#angstpril2024

[chaos-company]

Away From Him

Author: Autobot2001 Genre: Fanfiction Fandom: Transformers Rating: E Warning: None Pairing: Sideswipe/Sunstreaker Description: Sideswipe has had enough of Sunstreaker's ridiculous idea. He spends the afternoon out of the base and away from Sunstreaker.

@chaos-company angstpril day 25; cold shoulder

Sideswipe knows Sunstreaker won’t drop his suspicion about Dylan. He knows Sunstreaker is protective of the few he cares about, but Sideswipe thinks this is excessive. Sideswipe goes to McDonald’s for lunch. He informs Drift but asks him not to tell Sunstreaker where he is. Sideswipe blocks his side of the bond and puts his phone on silent.

Sideswipe walks down the street towards McDonald’s. It’s a five-minute walk, and he’s in no hurry to return to the base. He’ll go to the park instead. He knows he can’t avoid Sunstreaker forever, but he’s in no mood for Sunstreaker’s ridiculous suspicion.

Sunstreaker is not pleased that Sideswipe left the base. He knows his brother is avoiding him. Drift is concerned about why Sideswipe is ignoring Sunstreaker even while knowing the brothers argue and their anger doesn’t last long.

Sideswipe sits on the ground by the pond. Ducks show interest in his possessions. “Shoo, you can’t have this. I know how dare I brought nothing for you.” Sideswipe laughs at the duck who quacked at him as she and two others waddled to the pond. He smiles, thinking about what would Jamie say the duck said. Hoping to remember to bring up a trip to the park to Drift. Sideswipe looks at his phone, expecting several messages and missed calls from Sunstreaker, but all the notifications are social media notifications.

Sunstreaker knows his friends would tell him to leave Sideswipe alone, along with asking why is Sideswipe ignoring him, which after Sideswipe’s reaction, he’d rather not tell them even if he’s trying to protect Jamie. He worries about how long Sideswipe will ignore him. Sunstreaker knows Sideswipe wouldn’t ignore him if the two were in battle, but Sideswipe will ignore him off the battlefield.

Sideswipe returns to the base at two. The two hours out was nice. He expected Sunstreaker to be in their room, working on art, as he has the day off and Lily is at school. Sideswipe sits on the couch, puts his headphones on to listen to music, and plays a video game with the video game on mute. He knows he can’t ignore Sunstreaker forever, but he’s not ready to hear Sunstreaker’s suspicion again. He knows Sunstreaker won’t drop it, especially when he thinks he’s trying to protect Jamie. Sideswipe doesn’t know that Sunstreaker is aware he returned. Sunstreaker looks at his brother, hating he’s still being ignored. Concerned about the duration, this may persist for days or weeks.

#angstpril2024

[chaos-company]

Angstpril 2024 - Day 25 - alt. the night we met

“A little earlier, A little too late”

The night Phoenix and Maya met. 

#angstpril2024