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therealvinelle · 3 years

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I've always wondered this, but what do you think the Cullen's political viewpoints would be, given their individual backgrounds? if vampires don't change after they turn, then surely they would all be extremely racist (especially Jasper). would this not come up at some point? they aren't like the Volturi because the Volturi are too old to care, but the Cullens are young enough that they have been brought up with opinions on stuff like sexism, racism, homophobia and the like.

Oh fuck.

You get an early answer because otherwise I'll just chicken out and delete this one, pretend I never saw it.

UMMM.

Since I'm guessing you meant American political viewpoints, we need a disclaimer. I am not American, and not too knowledgeable about your politics. Not just in the sense that I don't follow the day-to-day drama, but as I am not an American citizen there are several things I don't know, can't know because I've never lived in your country and therefore can't know what the effects of living in a country ruled by American policies is like. What I do know is based off of the news in the foreign section, social media (by which I mean tumblr posts), and Trevor Noah's Daily Show.

I am an outsider looking in.

Which is really rather appropriate, since the Cullens are too.

The Cullens go to high school and college, Carlisle works, they pay taxes, they own real estate, and submerge themselves in American culture. Esme, Edward, Rosalie, Emmett, and Bella are young enough that this is in many ways their world, and apart from timeouts they've more or less spent their entire lives, human and vampire, integrated into American society.

Not fully integrated, mind you, they do what they need to to fit in and get to school or, in Carlisle’s case, to work. They go no further. No extra-curriculars for the kids, no book clubs for Esme, no game nights for Carlisle. They walk parallel to humans, not among us.

In addition to this they're obscenely rich, which puts them another thousand miles from the experiences of your average American. They won't deal with the health system, which means healthcare is a non-issue, they're not going to need welfare or other social programs, unemployment is another non-issue. Name your issue, and the Cullens don't have personal stake in it. Even the climate crisis won't be a problem for them the way it will for us.

What I'm trying to say is, American political issues are a concept to them, not a lived reality. Just like they are for me. So hey, you made a great choice of blog to ask.

I'll also add here that you say the Volturi are too old to care, and I agree- from an ancient's point of view, racism is a matter of "which ethnicity are we hating today?", and it all looks rather arbitrary after a while. Same with every other issue - after a while it all just blends together into "what are the humans fighting over today? Which Christian denomination is the correct one? Huh. Good for them, I guess."

I can't put it any better than this post did, really. The Volturi are real people, humans are nerds and tumblr having Loki discourse. Aro thinks it's delightful and knows entirely too much about Watergate (and let's be real, Loki discourse as well), but the point I wanted to get at is that politics really don't matter to vampires.

And I don't think they matter to the Cullens either.

So, moving on to the next point while regretting I didn't put headlines in this post, I'll just state that I don't think vampires' minds are frozen. Their brains are unable to develop further, and they can never forget anything, but... well, this isn't the post for that, but in order for this to be true of vampires they would barely be sentient. They would not be able to process new impressions, to learn new things, nor to have an independent thought process. Yes, we see vampires in-universe (namely, Edward, who romanticizes himself and vampires) believe they're frozen and can never change, but there is no indication that this is a widespread belief, or even true. Quite the contrary - Carlisle went from a preacher's son who wanted to burn all the demons to living in Demon Capital for decades and then becoming a doctor and making a whole family of demons. Clearly, the guy has had a change in attitude over the years. Jasper, in his years as a newborn army general, slowly grew disenchanted with his life and developed depression. James initially meant to kill Victoria and hunted her across the earth, then became fascinated and changed his mind about it.

Had these people been incapable of change, Carlisle would still be hating demons, Jasper would be in Maria's army, and James would still be hunting Victoria.

It goes to follow, then, that they are able to adapt to new things.

The question is, would they?

Here I finally answer your question.

So, we have these people who don't really have any kind of stake in politics, who keep up to date all the same (or are forcibly kept up to date because high school) and are generally opinionated people.

Where do they then fall, politically?

(And this is where you might want to stop reading, anon, because I'm about to eviscerate these people.)

Alice votes for whoever's gonna win. She also makes a fortune off of betting each election. Trump's 1 to 10 victory in 2016 was a great day to be Alice. MAGA!

The actual policies involved are completely irrelevant, she does this because it's fun. Election means she gets to throw parties. Color coded parties for the Republican and Democratic primaries, and US-themed parties for Election Night! (Foreigner moment right here: I at first wrote "Election wake" before realizing that's not what y'all murricans call it.)

Alice loves politics. Doesn't know the issues, but she sure loves politics.

Bella votes Democrat. She actually knows about the issues, and cares about them. This girl is a Democrat through and through.

Carlisle doesn't vote. I can't imagine it feels right. Outside of faked papers he's not a US citizen, this is meddling in human affairs that he knows don't concern him.

More, this guy has never lived in a democracy.

In life, Carlisle lived under an absolute monarchy that, upon civil war, became an absolute theocracy. From there he learned that vampires live under a total dictatorship.

For the first 150 years of his life, democracy was that funky thing the Athenians did in history books thousands of years ago, no more relevant to him than the Ancient Egyptian monarchy is to me. Then the Americans, and later other European countries started doing this.

Good for them.

There's this mistake often made by those who view history from a... for lack of a better term, a solipsistic standpoint. A belief that the present day is the culmination of all of history. “My society is the best society, the most reasonable society; all the others had it backwards. Thank god we’re living in this enlightened age!”

The faith in our current system of government is one such belief. We (pardon me if this doesn’t apply to everybody reading this post) have grown up in democracies, being told this is the ultimate form of rule, and perhaps that is true - but remember the kings who have told their subjects they had were divine and the best possible ruler based on that. Remember also that most modern democracies haven’t actually been democracies for very long at all, America is the longest standing at some 230 years (not long at all in the grand scope of things) and they have a fracturing two-party system to show for it.

Every society, ever, has been told they’re the greatest, and their system of government the most just. Democracy is only the latest hit.

This is relevant to Carlisle because he’s immortal and decidedly not modern. Democracy has not been installed in him the way it was the rest of the Cullens, Jasper included. To him- well, it’s just not his world. He has no stakes in our human politics, and as he is older than every current democracy and has seen quite a few of them fall, he’s not going to internalize the democratic form of rule the way a modern human has.

I think the concept of voting is foreign to him.

It requires a level of participation in human society that he’s simply not at. He does the bare minimum to appear human so he do the work he loves, but nothing more, and I find that telling.

As it is I think he'd be iffy about his family doing it. He won’t stop them, but in voting they’re... well it’s kind of cheating. They’re not really citizens, none of this will affect them, and by voting they’re drowning out the votes of real human voters. He does not approve.

Edward votes Democrat. He's... well he’s the kind of guy who will oil a girl’s bedroom window so he can more easily watch her sleep without being discovered, justifying it to himself as being okay because if she were to tell him to get lost he’d stop immediately. Same guy is so sure that he’d leave and never return again if she wanted him to, except this is the man who returned to Forks to hang around his singer, knowing there was a significant chance he might kill her. To say nothing of his Madonna/Whore complex, or of the fact that he tried to pimp out his wife twice, and was willing to forcibly abort her child.

This guy is very much in love with chivalry, with being an enlightened and feminist man who supports and respects women, while not understanding the entire point of feminism, which is female liberation.

He votes Democrat because he’s such an enlightened feminist who cares about women’s rights.

Emmett doesn’t care to vote, but if he has to he votes Republican. The guy is from the 1930′s, and has major would-be-the-uncle-who-cracks-racist-jokes-if-he-was-older vibes.

Esme doesn’t vote, that would require getting out of the house.

More, I just... can’t see it. I can’t see her being one to read up on politics and The Issues, period, but if she has to then I doubt she’d be able to decide.

Jasper doesn’t vote. Alice can have her fun, he does not care.

There’s also the whole can of worms regarding the last time he went to bat for American politics.

I imagine he stays out of this.

Renesmée doesn't vote. She has no stock in the human affairs. Who would she vote for, on what grounds? When Bella tries to pull her to the urns, she points out that she's three years old.

Rosalie, guys, I’m sorry, but that girl is definitely gonna vote Republican. Perhaps not right now as it’s become the Trump party of insanity, but the Mitt Romney type of Republicans? Oh yes.

And for the record, yes I imagine she does vote. To step back from politics would be another way she was relinquishing her humanity, and that’s not allowed to happen. So, yes, she goes to the urns, less for the sake of the politics involved and more because like this, she’s still a part of society in some way.

Now, onto why I think she’s Republican, I think it’s both fiscal and social.

This girl was the daughter of a banker who somehow profited off of the Depression, and who then became part of a family with no material needs that would soon become billionaires thanks to Alice. Poverty to Rosalie is a non-issue, as it is I imagine she views it as a much lesser issue than what she’s had to deal with. The humans can pull themselves up by their bootstraps, Rosalie’s infertility is forever.

Rosalie’s empathy is strongest when she’s able to project onto others, and she won’t be able to project onto the less fortunate at all.

Then there’s the fact that the Republican party is all about traditional family values, and pro-life.

Rosalie, a woman from the 1930′s who idolizes her human life and who‘d love nothing more than to get to live out this fantasy, is down for that. And as of Breaking Dawn she’s vocally pro-life, so there’s that.

This all being said I don’t think Rosalie cares to sit down and fully understand these politics she’s voting for, the possible impact they’ll have- that’s not important. What’s important is what voting does for her.

TL;DR: I bet anon regrets asking.

#long post #twilight #twilight vampires #twilight meta #twilight renaissance #politics #history #twilight history #carlisle cullen #alice cullen #bella swan #renesmée cullen #jasper hale #rosalie hale #emmett cullen

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olivia-anderson-fanfic · 3 years

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Stalker X Stalker, Part 10

First

Perma tag: @nathleigh @peachmuses

Stalker x Stalker taglist: @aespades @jayjayspixiepop @blueslushgueen @fan-written @seraphichana @nerd-nowandforever @toodaloo-kangaroo

Marinette’s collection of vigilantes in her house was still growing, somehow. You’d think it would stop with just the ones that consistently lived in Gotham, but no.

Nightwing started dropping by whenever he was in town to try and teach her escrima. She wasn’t good with them because she wasn’t used to fighting people up close, but she didn’t really think that that was the reason why they were doing it.

Still, it was fun…

(Except for that one time they’d been heading back to her house and she dropped her phone down the drain and had to beg the rat-person -- she was pretty sure Nightwing had called them Ratcatcher? -- for help. It was very traumatizing. He’d given her a new phone but she was never going to recover emotionally from that day.)

And then, a few days before Thanksgiving, Flamebird had made an appearance.

The reason why was less fun, though.

She’d opened her blinds and stared at him for a few moments. He was leaning against her fire escape, hand pressed to his stomach.

“Hey, Robin, does Flamebird usually do the Napoleon pose?”

“The…? Oh, no, he does not.”

She sighed. “Yeah, I thought so.” She swung her window open. “Hi. Nice to meet you. What happened?”

“Got stabbed.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Okay, yeah, obviously, want to elaborate?”

“Got stabbed in the stomach,” he said, after a second’s thought.

So, no, then. She shrugged to herself and let him come inside.

“Right, Robin, go get the medkit out from under my sink,” she said, pulling a hairband from her wrist and tying her hair back.

Flamebird frowned. “Can’t you just undo everything with your magic?”

“Not magic,” supplied Tikki, popping her head out of Marinette’s pocket.

“FUCK,” yelped Flamebird.

Damian made the quiet clicking sound he made whenever he was about to say something rude but Marinette cut him off with a glare and pointed him towards the bathroom. Damian grumbled a little under his breath but obeyed for fear of being thrown out.

She turned back to Flamebird. “Also, that’s not how my ‘magic’ works. If I’m not involved in a fight…” She made a ‘poof’ motion with her hands. “No miracle cure.”

He nodded thoughtfully. “Man, if I’d known that I would’ve just dealt with this myself.”

“Well, it is too late for that,” said Damian, who had come back out with a medkit. “Now, sit down, we will tend to your wound.”

And they did.

(Or, rather, Marinette did. It didn’t matter if she knew, logically, that he already knew how wounds looked and how to treat them, she just didn’t feel comfortable making him help. She sent him off to play with the cat and worked on dressing it. She’d made a mistake here by doing the normal routine while stitching someone up: asking about things they liked to distract them. He said he was an ‘avid reader’, she’d laughed and said that she probably wouldn’t know any of the books he mentioned because she hardly ever read in English, and now she was apparently in a book club. That was on her, she supposed, but it was still a little irritating.)

And that was all the vigilantes. They all came over from time to time. Sometimes they’d see each other and give each other awkward smiles or actively ignore each other, but it became a constant part of her life.

But it all came to a head one seemingly regular day.

She had been walking up the stairs to her apartment with Tim, ten bags of groceries loaded onto her arms and five on his (he was to open the door), and had nearly bumped into him when he stopped suddenly.

“Cass?” He asked, confused.

She raised her eyebrows just slightly. She’d thought everyone knew about each other but, now that she thought about it, because of the scheduling Tim wouldn’t really be around when everyone else came by.

He took Cass’s arrival in stride, though, fishing his key out of his pocket and pushing the door open.

He did not take in stride the fact that Duke, Damian, and Nightwing were all inside her house already. Duke was sitting on her counter, wrapped in a blanket as he scrolled through his phone. Damian was playing with Vanelope. Nightwing was doing stretches on her floor.

“Hey, look, more people that don’t live here,” Marinette said with only a hint of bitterness.

Nightwing glanced up. “You’re out of chips.”

“Already --?!” She took a deep breath to steady herself. “Fine. Fine. I got more, anyways.”

Tim snapped out of it. He closed and locked the door quickly before sending Marinette a pout. “Alright, I can get you cheating on me with Cass, but come on,” he half joked.

Marinette rolled her eyes. “If one of the people I’m apparently cheating with is a five-year-old --.”

“TWELVE.”

“-- then I think you have more things to worry about than my serial adultery, darling.”

“... guess that’s true.”

“Also, I only buy groceries with you, so you’re clearly my favorite concubine.”

Duke grinned. “Actually --.”

“Except for that one time I asked Signal to go find ricotta because I’d forgotten it,” she conceded. “I guess he's my second favorite.”

Cass pouted and raised her hand.

“She makes a good case for herself. You’ve both been demoted,” she joked.

Tim was still pouting. Probably has something to do with going from favorite to second favorite. Who knows.

She rolled her eyes. She had bigger problems. Like her food. There were frozens and she was not going to lose her food to something as stupid and useless as the air. She waved him along as much as she could with the bags digging into her arms and started putting things away.

She tipped her head back after a second to squint at everyone. They were awkwardly staring at each other, for some reason… oh, right, they technically didn’t know each other.

“Uh, introductions, I guess. Signal, Robin, and Nightwing, meet my friends. Tim, Cass, meet my annoyances.”

Tim perked up a little at being called a friend rather than an annoyance. Problem solved. Kind of.

He set down his bags and leaned close to her ear. “So, they don’t know you know?”

“Duke does,” she mumbled back. “I’m not going to tell them about it, though, I want to see how long it takes them to notice.”

He snickered. “I can get behind that.”

“Good. You didn’t have a choice in the matter,” she joked, leaning forward to press a kiss to his nose.

She could hear Cass groan a little at the obvious affection and both Duke and Damian cringed. She fought the urge to laugh. It was just a little kiss on the nose, they didn’t have to act like it was scandalous or gross.

But, apparently, it was gross enough for Damian to grab her arm to try and pull her attention away from Tim (and physically pull her away from him, she noted, as she was forced to take a half-step back from him).

“Did you get more of my gummy bears?”

She rolled her eyes. “Did you ask for them? Did you tell me you were out?”

He looked a little put out and she felt bad enough to give up the act quickly:

“Yes, kid, I got you your weird vegan gummy bears.”

He beamed and started sifting through her bags.

She smiled fondly and ruffled his hair, ignoring the knife that was sent her way for the action with practiced ease, then started putting things away.

Everyone except Damian made their way over to help. There were no ulterior motives, they insisted, even as she watched Nightwing slip a bag of chips into Damian’s hoodie for safekeeping and Duke pocket an apple.

At least Cass and Tim were reasonably well-behaved, she thought right before she watched him split an orange with her.

Tim squinted at the three people below him.

Jon had come to visit because a) the no metas in Gotham rule had more or less stopped being enforced due to constant complaints from the Justice League, b) Damian needed friends his age, and c) it was Christmas and Jon was so sure that this year was going to be the year that Damian finally understood the holiday.

And, because Jon had come to visit, so had Conner. The worst part of being an older brother that Tim understood all too well.

But, now, he looked down at the three people gathered at the bottom of the stairs.

They were apparently competing to see who could be the stupidest. Steph was standing on a banister, Marinette was trying to sit on a vertical bo staff, and Conner was doing a handstand on both of their heads. It was a little shaky, what with Steph’s barely restrained laughter and the fact that bos are not meant to be balanced on and Conner trying to do tricks, but they were clearly having fun.

Tim crossed his arms over his chest, leaning against the entrance to the cave. Did he have a type?

Their comms crackled to life and all three went stock-still, grins wiped from their faces briefly as they listened to see what had happened.

“I am requesting the night off to have an outing with Superboy.”

Bruce gave the grunt that meant ‘fine’.

The three relaxed now that they knew that everything was okay, quickly going back to their game. Marinette had added a surfboard. Steph was struggling with an exercise ball. Conner was slowly taking off fingers.

Tim sighed to himself. Yep. Dumbasses who can only be serious for truly important things -- and, even then, only for a few seconds at a time. That was his type. Someone, please, save him.

It had been a while since Marinette had gone out on her own (with the intention of staying alone, leaving for patrols didn’t count). Really, she normally wouldn’t, but she needed to pick up a piece of fabric she’d forgotten to get the day before and it wasn’t even a meter’s worth. She didn’t need help for that.

Besides, going by herself was much quicker. She was able to go by rooftop as Ladybug.

Of course, going as Ladybug had a risk to it that she didn’t realize until it was too late: responsibilities.

She groaned to herself as she made to jump to the next roof and her eyes landed on a person getting mugged in the alleyway below her.

She looked down at the bag with her fabric inside it and wondered if it was even worth leaving it there while she got rid of the attacker. Most of the time the people mugging people in Gotham were using fake guns. Even if they weren’t, muggings were common enough that most people had little on them and were only slightly annoyed when people tried to rob them. The person below was no exception, it seemed. They scoffed when the gunman poked their back.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m going,” they said irritably.

Wait, shit, she knew that voice.

She squinted down into the darkness and, yep, she would recognize that almost unhealthily pale skin anywhere.

She dropped down into the alley between them and, to her slight surprise, it turned out the gun actually did have bullets in it. A shot rang out. She fell back a step, cradling her shoulder.

The gunman’s eyes widened. He hadn’t meant to shoot her. It had probably just been a split second reaction.

Unfortunately for him, getting shot really fucking hurts and she was going to take it out on him. Especially since he’d been trying to mug one of her friends. She glanced back at Tim, who was shaking and a little pale, and grit her teeth. Yeah, this guy was fucked.

Eventually, though, the pain in her shoulder, worsened by all the movement, got too unbearable and she rolled off of the mugger. She tied the man’s hands and feet behind his back with her yoyo and, after calling Miraculous Ladybug, called it a day. She’d get her yoyo back later.

For now, she pressed a hand to her ear. “Hey, Signal, I’ve got one for you.”

“You’re joining me for daytime patrols now?” He asked, his voice somehow brighter than the powers he had.

“Nah, just happened to come across…” She considered embarrassing Tim but decided against it when she saw her friend’s face. “... someone getting mugged while out today.”

He huffed a little but she ignored it in favor of relaying the address.

The perpetrator to be taken care of, she turned to the victim. She didn’t know whether the rules applied to people you knew, but she figured she might as well go through with the normal procedure. Tim liked procedure, it might help him.

So, step one: connect with the victim. She unzipped her hoodie and smiled brightly, making sure her eyes crinkled behind her mask.

Step two: check to make sure they aren’t going into shock.

Normally, she was able to skip this step. The miracle cure got rid of it if they had gone into it before the attack… but his eyes were somehow both fixed intensely on her like he was scared she’d disappear if he chanced a look away and extremely vacant.

She took slow, careful steps towards him, hand out to check his pulse.

Once she was close enough, he grabbed her hand and pulled her into a hug. Marinette didn’t quite know what to do. The part of her brain still doing the normal procedure told her to hug back because this was a scared victim that wanted comfort, but the other part was tempted to push him off to check for a concussion… even though, logically, he shouldn’t have one because she had cast Miraculous Ladybug so her arm wouldn’t have a bullet in it anymore --.

Oh. She was stupid.

He’d watched his friend get shot and now he was freaking out. Like people are supposed to do.

She hugged him back, bringing a hand up to run through his hair.

“Would you like me to take you home?” She asked.

“My… my friend lives near here,” said Tim quietly, mindful of the fact that the mugger was still within earshot.

She nodded. “I’m going to pick you up, okay?”

He bit his lip so hard that she worried he’d break the skin and nodded.

She took him home and, with only a brief stop to keep Vanelope from escaping, set him down on the couch. She kept a hand touching him at all times as she gathered the blankets and pillows strewn about by all the visits the bats made. For once, she was glad she never really had time to clean, she didn’t want to let go of him when he was clearly so concerned about her.

Less than five minutes later she’d wrapped them both up as tightly as she could with as many blankets as she could reach. He rested his head against her shoulder, arms loosely draped around her under the blankets. Vanelope settled on their laps and started to purr; she made a mental note to give her a bunch of treats later.

But, for now…

She cupped his cheeks in her hands and waited patiently as he struggled to pull himself together enough to actually be present.

“Darling, I said I wouldn’t go anywhere. I’m not breaking that promise. Okay?”

He nodded slightly, finally releasing his lip to speak: “Okay.”

She pressed a kiss to his nose. A half smile made its way across his face.

“Now, how do you feel about Big Fish?”

He squeezed her a little tighter. “The circus scene is cute.”

She nodded her agreement. “I like the daffodil scene better, personally, but it is pretty cute.”

She turned the movie on.

Tim was sure he was overreacting. Of course he was. She hadn’t died, she wasn’t even hurt any more. It clearly didn’t bother her, he had ‘accidentally’ chosen that shoulder to rest his head on and she hadn’t so much as winced when he had. No, the only worry she had was about him.

So, he should be fine.

But he wasn’t.

She’d been shot and, for a second, he’d feared it would be another Darla situation. And he couldn’t deal with another Darla situation. He couldn’t. He had to believe that he was better than that high school Tim that had let all his friends die. Because if he wasn’t better than that meant he couldn’t have friends and he couldn’t deal with that either.

He didn’t want to be alone again.

No, he wouldn’t let that happen. He could think of a plan, surely. He was a planner, he found problems and he dealt with them. That had been his coping mechanism pretty much since birth and (if you ignore all the workaholic tendencies, independence issues, and General Trauma) it was working out pretty well for him. Can’t be sad if there’s work to do, after all.

Yeah. Work. He was good at work.

He bit his lip.

Alright, so the problem stemmed from his fear of being alone… which wasn’t going to be fixed anytime soon. Good coping mechanisms? In this family? Please. Next.

Alright, so the problem stemmed from his fear of her getting hurt.

Simple solution! Don’t let her get hurt!

… not as simple a solution as it sounded on paper.

She wasn’t going to stop vigilantism anytime soon. He wouldn’t make her, and she wasn’t going to do it on her own accord. Even if she decided to at some point Tim didn’t have much hope for it. Every person in the family had tried that already, it never worked. They’d say that it would be fine, that they were going to stop for their mental health or even just permanently end it… but family was family and how could someone sit back and watch family get hurt when they could do something about it?

So, that wasn’t going to happen. What other answers were there?

Well, he supposed that she had left on her own and that was the main problem. If she hadn’t left on her own then he wouldn’t have followed after her in secret and he wouldn’t have gotten attacked in the first place.

But he couldn’t be around much more without it being weird unless he…

He couldn’t…

Could he?

He figured it was worth a shot. And he should ask now. If she said no he wouldn’t have to worry about her thinking him weird, she’d just assume it was a request made while in the middle of shock and forget about it.

He hesitantly let go of his lip.

“Hey, Bean?”

She stopped pretending to watch Big Fish for the sake of giving him privacy. “Yeah?”

“Remember when… I…” He bit his lip, trying to think of a better way to phrase it, but he couldn’t. There really was no casual way to ask. He took a deep breath to steady himself. “Can I, maybe, move in with you?”

She stared at him for a moment, eyes wide, before quickly shaking her head.

He must have looked pretty put out, because she rushed to explain herself:

"You’re under emotional duress, darling, it wouldn’t be right to say yes.”

He nodded his understanding and it was silent for a bit before he eventually said: “But, if I asked tomorrow… would you say yes?”

She looked at him for a while, her face unreadable, before she gave him a hesitant smile.

“Well, I already said that you basically lived here. I suppose there wouldn’t be anything wrong with making it official.”

#stalker x stalker #timari #timmari #maribat #timinette #shutterbug #marinette dupain cheng #ladybug #red robin #tim drake

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divinefireangel · 3 years

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The Way You Love

SF9 Youngbin x F! Reader Imagine.

He's so precious I WANNA PROTEC

Disclaimer: This is just a work of fiction. If this piece of fan fiction is offensive to any celebrity, fandom or culture please let me know so I can take it down. Also note that this is my version of a character or celeb, which will vary from person to person.

Author's Note: Got the idea at literally 3am. And I cried a lil while writing this. I do recommend reading this when you have a bad day. Because I have to say it is cute.

Copyright: Please note that this is my work and if you want to publish this on any other platform, take my permission before doing so. Taking an author's work and posting it somewhere else without any intimation is just disrespectful. I readily welcome suggestions and criticisms. That being said, Happy reading! 🤍

Warnings: All ages and written with she/her pronouns but everyone can read it. (nothing specified with respect to anatomy, appearance, etc of reader). Nothing really. Just pure fluff. Slowburn and crappy ending because I went blank 😂💀

Summary/Pre-Requisite: Youngbin and Y/N are in a well established relationship. But it isn't enough.

1.6k words

Youngbin smiled at the small box in his hand. He can't believe he is actually going to do this. How can something as little as this be the source of so much joy, he didn't know. Maybe it was her. Or the fact that it was for her, from him. An eternal promise to love her till his last day, last hour, last minute and final breath. Well there is still much time to worry about that now though.

Loving Y/N is definitely the best decision he took without having to take it. Loving her, was as easy as breathing the fresh morning air. Listening to her talk was his favourite sound in the entire universe. Watching her dance goofily is his ideal view, other than when she's paying attention to something. Her face looks so cute when she's concentrating, he almost feels like he can cry over her adorableness.

Watching her from across the room, her movements, the way she smiles and makes everyone around her laugh with her silly jokes only adds to one of the many reasons why he loves her. She is the brightest light in his life, illuminating his existence with unfiltered joy and eternal love and affection.

He loves it when she snuggles up to him, wrapping her small arms around his torso and asks him what he's doing with her honey sweet voice, never fails to make his heart melt and burst with adoration. He loves it when she sleepily moves closer to him, like a pair of magnets, because she feels cold and knows that she can always rely on him to keep her warm.

He loves it when she bonds with his members and treat them and scold them like they are her children. Although he loves it more when she becomes a source of reassurance not only to him but also to his little brothers. He loves it when she helps them with anything, no matter how small the help may be. Since he is treated like the Dad of the group, Y/N automatically became the Mom and he couldn't wish for someone more perfect then her for that role.

He loves her understanding nature, her positive spirit, her overly motivating presence, her genuine compliments and concern. He loves the way she looks at him, like he's the only man in a room full of people. Her eyes reflecting the same twinkles of his eyes, with just as much love when he looks at her.

He loves when she slightly shuts her eyes when he moves her hair out of her face. He loves it when her small frame hugs him so tight he can barely stand still. He loves it when she plays with his hair when he takes a nap on her chest. He loves how her hand fits into his perfectly, like pieces of a puzzle.

If there was one thing he could do again, it would be to go back in time and fall in love with her all over again for the first time. Everyday, she gives him something new to love about her. Whether it be her shy smile, her blushy flustered face or the way she gets excited when she sees something cute, the way she coos his puppy to sleep, the way she always makes him feel better on a bad day and so many more things that may seem insignificant to her, but are never to him, makes him fall for her harder and deeper in love than he ever thought possible.

"Hyung! HYUNG!!! "

Snapping back to reality, Youngbin sees a wide eyes Chani looking at him with a questioning expression.

"What? "

"Were you daydreaming about Noona again? Why are you so distracted today? "

"It's nothing Chani-ya. She just makes me happy. That's all. Did you tell the camera crew that I need them this evening? "

"Yes I did Hyung. That's what I was telling you as you were zoned out. I don't even want to imagine what it's going to be like when you get married. We probably won't get anything done at all since you will be distracted all the time. " Chani said in a factual manner.

"Okay that's a bit excessive. And you haven't found someone whom you love as much right now. You will understand better when you do. Till then I can't really explain this." The older said smiling lighty as she took over his thoughts again. Rolling his eyes, Chani patted his leader and left wordlessly.

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

"This is nice. The air isn't as humid as I thought it would be. " Y/N said as she walked next to her lover, fingers intertwined, arms swaying back and forth as they moved forward. Stopping still he twirled her around till she faced the railing covering the boundary of the lake. Giggling she wrapped his arms around her so he could hug her, keep her warm, even though she wasn't as cold yet.

Resting his chin on her head, he sighed heavily, feeling content with his beloved in his embrace. Oh how he could stay like this forever and never leave. Hmm. She's right. The air is just perfect. Like her. And it is definitely the perfect weather, to take the next step most relationships do.

Looking up at the sky, the stars shine bright, twinkling and shimmering beautifully. Taking this as a positive sign from the universe, Youngbin hugged Y/N tighter, knowing that it's now or,well later but now is nice. Turning her head to her lover, Y/N stands on her tippy toes to kiss him.

Breathing out the two lovebirds stared up at the star filled night sky. The soft wind getting stronger with time, but not too strong to have any effect yet. Just a light breeze that can be felt. Like the love that's surrounding them, keeping them warm from the exterior and from within.

"Oh! Did you see that! That star is shining the brightest." Youngbin said pointing at a distant star.

" Which one? " Y/N stepped forward by one step, trying to see the star he pointed out.

" That one? " She asked again, this time she was the one pointing.

" No. The one standing in front of me right now. "

Drawing her hand back to her body, her heart thumping strongly in her chest. Now, what had happened when they hugged is that Y/N had felt a small poke on the side of her thigh, where Youngbin's jacket was over on her. So being the smart young lady she is, Y/N knew. She knew what was happening. And it wasn't just feeling the poke, she's been feeling like this for some days now. And she knows that he has too.

Slowly turning around, Y/N was faced with her lover, who was down on one knee, holding a small box with the cutest ring she had ever seen. To say that Y/N.exe had stopped working was an understatement. She stood there, as though she was frozen. Looking up at her, Youngbin breathed heavily and started.

" When I met you for the first time, I never thought that you will love someone like me. So I was happy to settle being just your friend. But we both started liking each other at the same time. I asked you out and you agreed to date me. I never thought that you would actually date me for a long time because I've, well I was thinking that you deserve better. But you told me and made me belive different. And I am really really grateful that you did. And as time progressed, we both grew to love each other so much. You know all of this already, but saying this out loud, makes me sure that I want more. You, have helped me grow into a better person, over the time that we have dated. You, motivate me and drive me to do better, because even if no one did, you knew my limit and my capabilities. You, make me the happiest I've ever been. So will you please make me a little bit more happier by becoming my fiancee and the happiest, in the near future, when you become my wife? Will you marry me? "

Y/N stares at him, while breathing through her mouth. The only sound that's heard is the soft wind.

" Yes. "

Y/N gets down on her knees, in front of her lover, sweet tears of shock and joy streaming down her face.

" Yes. I will marry you Kim Youngbin. "

" Hyung!!! Congratulations!!!!!! "

Breaking his face into a grin, Youngbin removes the lovely and intricately detailed ring and puts it on Y/N's finger delicately. Kissing her left knuckle, Youngbin realises he is crying as well. Sobbing out loud Y/N throws her arms around him, making him tumble backwards a little. Laughing a little, Youngbin slowly wraps his arms around her, caressing the back of her head as he looked up at the sky, trying to stop the tears from falling down his cheek.

Hugging each other tight for what seemed like forever, they move away from each other's embrace upon hearing clapping sounds and cheers from the young men and their team who have now approached them.

Standing up Y/N couldn't help but hide her face in her lover's chest. Kissing her forehead, Youngbin thanked everyone.

" Let's all celebrate! Dinner is on us. " Youngbin stated looking you. Smiling you nodded you head in agreement as everyone around you cheered and wiped their tears away.

It all felt like a dream. But it wasn't. It was reality. A reality that she was so thankful to have. Smiling till their cheeks hurt, Youngbin and Y/N not couldn't wait till they were married and called as Husband and Wife.

#sf9 #kim youngbin #youngbin #youngbin fluff #kim youngbin x reader #kim youngbin fluff #youngbin x reader #sf9 fluff #sf9 imagines #sf9 scenarios #sf9 youngbin #sf9 x reader fluff #sf9 x reader

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jonnyparable · 2 years

Text

Cottage Hills: A Winter Tale, Part XVII

Cottage Hills, A Mystery

As I sit here in my room at the town's old inn, known as the Hollyhock, the wind outside continues to howl from time to time. It is bleak outside. The town truly is steeped in mystery. A mystery that I, Kano Kandidi, will solve! Hello fellow believers, and welcome to another issue of the Supernatural Times.

Just where am I you ask, and why am I here? Thanks to chocolatier Gourmand Swindleton, the once obscure and little known farming village of Cottage Hills is about to play host to some of the world's brightest stars. As they descend upon the town to catch a glimpse of the "Shalabar" songstress Contestina Divadonna, do they even know the disturbing truth of this town they are stumbling into?

But what is that truth? Well, first, how bout some history? Located near the outskirts of Idling, east of Cobbleton and along the North banks of the Lake Mineral, Cottage Hills is an idyllic little village, surrounded by water, forest and mountain. It's nearest neighbour being the mining town of Mineral Town, and the nearest major city being the railway junction of Idlington. Cottage Hills can be reached via the historic Pilgrim's Road, or by the Idling Rail. It can also be reached by boat.

The town has long been considered the home of the Goddess Etwa, and therefore, a place of great spiritual power, first appearing in historical records 800 years ago as a place of pilgrimage. Some historians, like world renowned archaeologist, Dr Artie Fachtt of the Idlington Museum, however, say that evidence points to Sim life in the area as far back as the end of the Mini Ice Age.

Dr Fachtt:

"Many signs point to Sim habitation of the area as far back as when the mini ice age ended. As the glaciers began to melt, many new societies emerged, and what is today Cottage Hills was one such area."

Indeed the town's mythical founding seens to corroborate these claims. According to the town's lore, its founders travelled here to wake an ancient Goddess, whom they called Etwa, that she may end the "Eternal Winter", which historians like Dr Fachtt now believe to be indicative of the Mini Ice Age, when much of the world was frozen over for a period of 20 or so years.

Dr Fachtt:

"This period known as the mini ice age was a traumatic and disruptive time for many of the world's early communities. If you'll look at this map*, you can see the glacial shift from the poles towards the equator. This saw many societies become eradicated or displaced by the encroaching cold and ensuing loss of biodiversity, which affected the food supply of many ancient communities. It makes sense that such an event would be mythologised."

And mythologised it was. The town's lore claims their Goddess alone ended this ice age, and gave the town's founders the gift of a Tree of Life, and the gift of fire. Gifts which Dr Fachtt dryly theorises, merely reflect the scarcity of resources at the time, and are not actual physical gifts.

Dr Fachtt:

"The Myth of Cottage Hills, or the Idrassyl, as its known in academic terms, is of particular interest to scholars of Idras, the ancient name for the Idling region. The Idrassyl shows us the world view of Sims at the time. And how the shifting climate affected their sense of self and their place in the world. The Goddess' gifts in the Idrassyl highlight what was of value to the Sims of that time, so the Tree, for instance, is symbolic of plant life, which provides food, shelter, and wood for burning, and the fire, of course symbolises fire's light and warmth."

While that may be the academic's opinion, the town takes these myths purely at face value. Even today, they believe the Goddess Etwa was, and is real, and that so are her gifts. They claim that the fire that burns in their church today is the same one the Goddess gave them all those generations ago. Many even believe the Tree of Life truly exists. I ask Dr Fachtt to weigh in.

Dr Fachtt :

"Well, (chuckling) these are really matters of personal belief, like the existence of the Watcher. Ultimately the evidence does not show that Goddess Etwa existed and neither did her gifts. But hey, take it up with a theologian."

Alright, so that's all for the town's past, but what about now? What is this town like today? In a word : It's charming. Simply charming.

Today, the tiny town is a peaceful farming community, one of many in Idling. It produces enough to feed itself, occasionally shipping goods like wine, fish, produce, fleece and dairy to Cobbleton's farmer's markets. The region is famous for its Mineral Lake Blue Lobsters, but not much else....

At least that's what they want you to think.

If this town is so idyllic, why have people been leaving? For years the town's population has slowly been decreasing. When it was finally connected to the Idling Rail, almost everyone left! But why? Why leave such an idyll? Could it have something to do with the MASSIVE EVIL FOREST just outside town?

Just outside the town's walls lies the enormous Misty Wood, a forest so ancient, so old, that it once covered all of Idling. Locals believe the forest to be brimming with ancient divine energy, home to the Goddess and her minions, and seat of all her power, a sacred place they never enter. Others say its simply haunted. So, which is it?

Former residents of the town who we tracked down and interviewed told us strange tales about the place. Eerie music wafting out of the woods. Sightings at night of creatures unknown! Neither man nor tree, what could they be? And most frightful of all, the tell-tale howls of a werewolf! Just what lurks in the town's ancient misty woods? Is that why people have left? Fed up with the town's bizzarre paranormal occurrences? One such resident we found was Boris Bakewell, who's family once owned the town's bakery.

Boris Bakewell:

"The town is beautiful, no doubt, but we just had enough of the strange things that kept happening. Our dog kept barking at night, and when we went to take a look, we saw a strange hooved man with horns, in our back garden, talking to my wife's prized Cherry Tree! When we told others about it, they merely laughed, and said that's just one of the four brothers, Sprites who live in the woods. They said its good luck but we were terriffied!"

Another former resident, known only as Mr Mills, who's family used to run the town's mill told me that at night, a large black dog could be seen in the area.

Mr. Mills:

"Except its no dog I tell you! It was a large, ugly hairy man wolf thing that walked on two legs! It saw me I'm sure of it! I was so scared I couldn't move! It ran back into the woods but I took my family and left in the spring. My sister stayed behind, married to the woodsman. She died in the woods, along with her daughter, and I believe to this day that the Black dog did it!"

Well, well, well. The town is clearly no stranger to controversy. Through the years, many truth seekers and believers have flocked here to soak in the region's mystical energy, to see a glimpse of the Goddess, or to investigate the claims of the mythical Tree of Life from the Idrassyl. One such seeker of truth was none other than famed botanist, Basil Reed himself, who had come seeking the town's enigmatic Tree of Life. His search ended here, in Cottage Hills, in the woods. What happened to him? Nobody knows. Perhaps I will follow in his footsteps.

Fear not, dear reader, Kano Kandidi will not meet his fate. I will boldly investigate all these mysterious claims surrounding the town! Continue reading The Supernatural Times for more updates on my mysterious misadventures in this eerie wayside town as I delve into the dark rumours of strange creatures and ancient Goddesses!

Kano :

"Well.... Sigh... that's a good start... But I'll need to actually find something here, or this time, I'm really fired! Where to look though... Urgh... I need a walk to clear my head."

Kano decides to leave the inn and heads out into the town towards the woods for a walk. He sees a sign saying the woods are off limits. He's about to leave when he sees a figure going into the woods. He squints through the mist.

Kano:

"Wha.... Who is that?..."

*The map of Sim World was created by Keylimepiesims and posted Here on the Sims Forum, all credit goes to them, for the very cool and very well designed map!

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quartermera · 3 years

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Ace, Thatch and Marco with a Vice Admiral Rival Imagines

Waaa ma bois! No problem anon! Thank you for your ask! It’s not exactly what you requested but I hope you’ll like it nonetheless ^^

Ships: Ace x Reader, Thatch x Reader, Marco x Reader (all gender & race neutral) Genre: fluff, maybe angst if you squint really hard idk Warnings: like... 1 curse word xD Word count: Intro: 300; Ace: 700; Thatch: 450; Marco: 350; Total: 1700

Introduction:

You didn’t know how long you had been chasing him anymore. It had been ages since you first met. You, a young marine recruit, and him, a pirate with little to no reputation at the time.

Both of you grew in your respective universes. He was becoming more and more famous, seeing his bounty grow as he became a prominent figure in piracy. Meanwhile, you were doing the same, working hard to get to a higher rank. Your goal was to change the world for the better and you knew you couldn’t do that by remaining a seaman your entire life.

You were now vice admiral. Yet you still hadn’t caught your life long rival.

A certain tenderness had grown in your heart for the pirate. He might be on the other side of the law, but his charms had worked on you... to some extend. Or at least that is what you told yourself. Some might call it a crush. But you wouldn’t go so far. You were a marine after all!

Despite that, you couldn’t resolve yourself to hate the man. Whenever you would meet, you would end up chatting in one way or another. It might end up with you chasing them and never catching them, nevertheless, you sometimes admitted to yourself you liked the pirate’s company.

However, you didn’t know how much longer your pride could take it. Seeing him run away and teasing you about it every time was becoming frustrating. It had been all fun and games until now. But now, now you were a vice admiral. Having a pirate escape you so many times was greatly affecting your reputation. You feared for your rank. What would happen to you if you couldn’t catch him next time?

Ace

“Ahhh, Y/N! How long has it been?” resonated a voice behind you. You could tell who it was in a heartbeat.

“Not long enough, clearly,” you responded, the ghost of a smile tingling at your lips.

“Come on, don’t be so moody!” he cheered.

Ace walked over and sat on the stool next to yours. He asked for a drink to the barmaid and when he wondered if he could offer you one, you politely declined.

“I’m not miserable enough to accept a drink from a pirate,” you bit.

“Ouch, Y/N!” he said in mock offense. “Beside,” the young man continued, “you didn’t say that last time.”

You huffed at his teasing. It wasn’t any different from usually, but this time you weren’t in the mood to play along.

“Can you stop reminding me that this is the umpteenth time I won’t catch you, freckles?”

Ace frowned and looked at you curiously. With caution, he asked: “Is something wrong, Y/N?”

A deep sigh escaped you as you closed your eyes. You nodded your head in negation.

“I don’t know, Ace.” You opened your eyes again and looked at him. “I’m vice admiral now, you know?”

“Yes, I’ve heard of that! Congratulations!” he intervened.

A small smile graced your lips. “Thank you. But to be honest with you, I fear I’ll lose my rank any time.”

Ace frowned once more. “Why so?”

“Because I keep on letting you run away,” you declared, bittersweet. “People in the marines are starting to think I do it on purpose and it might not be entirely wrong but I can’t keep doing that because it’s getting really suspicious and I might lose my job even though I worked so hard for it so I would have no idea of what to do if it were to happen. Meanwhile you keep running around as if none of this was happening and you don’t stop teasing me and it’s always such a pleasure to see you, freckles, but I don’t know how much longer I can handle this.”

Ace was frozen. It was a lot to process in so little time and it took him a few seconds to catch up with all the information you had just wildly thrown at him. His mouth opened and closed a few times. A frown appeared and left his features just as quickly.

After taking a deep breath, he finally found something to say: “Listen, if it’s really that dangerous for your rank and it’s so important for you... we can simply stop running into each other. I would miss seeing you, but... I don’t want to be the cause to you losing a job you worked so hard for.”

A bittersweet laugh escaped you. “Like we could actually plan that!”

Ace gulped and avoided your gaze. His hand traveled to the back of his neck.

“Well... maybe we haven’t been bumping into each other all this time so haphazardly...” he confessed.

The words were missing you. You blinked quickly a few times.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

The man was still looking anywhere else but you.

“Ace?” you called calmly.

He took a deep breath before meeting your gaze. “Maybe I’ve been going to places a few times because I knew you were there?”

You had the slightest incredulous look but it quickly vanished as Ace let out a nervous laugh. A soft smile graced your features.

After the initial shock passed for both of you, you chatted as you usually do. Making sure to not attract too much attention, you quietly agreed to keep bumping into each other but... more discreetly.

Ace gave you his Den Den Mushi contact and you did the same. You assured that you would get your hands on a white variant in order to encrypt your calls and be more secure.

The young man was happy you didn’t decide to cut off all contacts with him but rather hide them. It would always be better to him than to never see you. Plus, now you could talk almost any time.

You didn’t tell him but you were also glad with how the situation turned out. The prospect of never seeing your favourite pirate anymore had felt incredibly wrong.

You wouldn’t admit it just yet, not even to yourself, but the one you nicknamed ‘freckles’ had a special little place in your heart.

Thatch

“Well, well, well, what a surprise to see you here!” cheered a voice behind you.

A small smile graced your lips as you recognized who it was in an instant. You turned towards the man.

“Always a pleasure to see you, Thatch,” you greeted.

“And even more to see you,” he responded with a grin. “I’m going to get some rum for my fleet, wanna join?” he invited.

You nodded and the two of you started walking.

“So, how have you been since the last time we bumped into each other?” he asked.

A grimace flashed over your features.

“Could be better to be honest.”

Thatch frowned at your answer.

“Why’s that?” he pushed kindly.

You clicked your tongue.

“Everyone’s just been getting really suspicious. They’re starting to think I’m one of your allies because of how often you’ve managed to run away,” you answered honestly.

Thatch offered you a cheeky smile: “It’s not your fault I’m faster than you.”

His comment made you laugh. Despite that, you admitted: “I don’t think we should be so familiar with each other though. If anyone under my command sees us chatting so casually, I could get into serious trouble.”

A sad look appeared on Thatch’s face.

“Do you... not want to talk with me anymore?” he asked cautiously.

A sigh escaped you.

“It’s not that I don’t want to. Despite being on the opposite side of the law, I enjoy your company.”

“You enjoy my company?” he teased.

“Oh shut up!” you responded while laughing. After a quiet moment you continued calmly: “I just don’t want to lose my job. I worked so hard to get where I am and I can’t change the world if I go back to barely being a seaman first class.”

Thatch remained quiet for a bit. As you approached the most famous rum seller on the island, he carefully offered: “If you want to stop, I’d understand. But I think I’d miss you.”

You laughed: “What’s there to miss about me anyway?”

“More than you might think,” he responded with a wink.

“Shut up,” you mumbled under your breath.

As you both came to a halt in front of the shop, you took in a deep breath before meeting Thatch’s gaze.

“I’m going to go back to my men,” you declared, “and I’ll try to think of a solution by the next time we meet each other.” Your tone was confident. As much as you feared for your job you also knew you didn’t want to stop seeing your favourite pirate.

Thatch offered you a trusting smile, declaring he was sure you would and that he would be looking forward to it.

Marco

“Fancy seeing you here,” greeted a calm voice behind you.

You lowered your book and turned to the origin of the noise. There was your eternal rival. The man you had been chasing for so many years and that you had yet to catch. Maybe you let him run away on purpose on more than one occasion but then again, the idea of sending him to Impel Down didn’t appeal to you. You’d rather keep your game going even if you didn’t admit it.

“Long time no see, Marco,” you greeted back.

You scooted more to the side of the bench on which you were sitting, leaving some space for the man to join you. Marco promptly sat down next to you and asked how you had been.

“Better,” you admitted. “The rumors have lessened since the last time we met.”

The man smiled lightly.

“I’m glad to hear that.”

You took in a deep breath.

“Funny how we’ve been bumping less into each other since I told you I was scared to lose my job though,” you remarked.

Marco remained silent, looking straight in front of him.

You, however, turned towards him.

“I told you we didn’t need to stop seeing each other despite the rumors.”

A sigh escaped the blond.

“I’ve been causing you trouble your entire career already, I thought I could let you breath for a bit this time,” he admitted calmly.

You huffed: “Do you really think I’m unable to catch you if I want to?”

Marco offered you a puzzled look.

“Sure at first I was actually trying, but after a while it became too much fun. Who would I chase if you aren’t around anymore?” you said in a joking manner while actually being serious.

A small smile graced the man’s features.

“You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?” he declared. You had perceived some fondness in his voice but you convinced yourself otherwise.

“Shall we be seeing each other again, then?” you wondered.

All Marco had to do was flash you a grin and you knew his answer.

2 things: I didn’t mean to make them shorter and shorter, that just happened xD and I really hope I didn’t make them OOC because that is always my worst fear ;-;

Anyway, let me know what you thought of it, thank you a lot for reading! <3

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eleanore-delphinium · 4 years

Text

Reciprocate I

Part 1: Reciprocate I: Raven (you are here)

Part 2: Reciprocate II: Damian

Finale: Reciprocate III: The After

Reciprocate I: Raven

‘There she was again at the foot of her bed, in her room in the Titans Tower—weeping. It was like she was grieving. But knowing her—she probably was.’ He stood unmoving.

Raven’s head was buried into her hands as she cried.

This again. How many times has Damian seen Raven like this? How many times had he come and comforted her?

Raven noticed someone’s presence inside her room. And there was only one person who would come into her room in the state that she was in.

Damian Wayne.

Damian Wayne is the leader of the Teen Titans at the age of nineteen. And Raven has been a member of said group for seven years. And at twenty-one she has been one of the longest active team members, alongside Garfield or also known as, Beast Boy.

‘Garfield. It has to be him again.’ Damian thought bitterly. And how many times has he comforted her over him?

“Damian?” Raven calls out in a broken sob as she wipes her tears and glance to her left side to find him. When she met his blank gaze, she couldn’t help but give a faint smile and cried again.

“We broke up again.” She cried into her hands again. In response to her words, Damian just clench and unclench his right fist. Of course, Raven would not feel the turmoil he was feeling and had not seen his reaction. She always failed to notice him.

“And what? This if for the nth time. Am I supposed to be surprised?” Damian said in a rather cold voice laced with something else. Raven stopped crying and stared at him-- and he regretted his tone. She looks so broken and hurt, he wanted to undo how he had said his words. But the thing was—he meant it.

“You don’t understand.” Her voice comes out so weak that his heart sunk. “This time—” Raven’s eyes widened a bit. “This time—it’s for real. No more do-overs. No more makeups. This time—” Raven starts to hyperventilate. “This time we’re really done.”

And saying the words aloud—despite it not actually being loud—just vocalizing it, made Raven realize how true the situation really is. Only a tear slipped down her left eye as she sat there frozen and very unmoving.

This time it’s for real.

How many times had he heard that--was he supposed to believe it? But seeing her empty gaze and unmoving body—he knew—that this really was for real.

‘Until that ‘for real’ becomes another lie.’ Damian’s mind couldn’t help but whisper to his heart.

“He says his leaving the team— his going to join Young Justice.” Damian was surprised to hear this as the information has not gotten to him yet. “He told me not to follow him—because this really is the end of the line for him and I.” She pressed her lips together.

“Raven.” He calls out to her as he approaches her slowly. Her eyes flickers to meet his gaze and as she did so, silent tears fell from her eyes again. “Maybe that is a good thing.”

And Raven did not take it well. What did Damian mean? Her tears fell faster as she broke into a sob, she covers her mouth with her right hand.

“Raven.” He calls her again, as he sits beside her and touches her left hand with his right hand. “This could be a good thing. You can finally let someone take care of you the way you deserve.”

This wasn’t what she wanted to hear. Of all the times Damian had comforted her over her numerous break-ups with Garfield he had never—ever—said such a thing to her. And she felt as though he had punched her, she wept loudly in response.

Damian sighs and hesitates to hug her, but eventually was able to wrap his arms around her shaking form. It was not the tightest hug one could give, but it was all that he could muster to give to her.

“I love him, Damian.” She wept as she gave him a tighter hug than he was giving her. Damian flinched at the words she spoke, but of course, Raven failed to feel it.

Love? Damian wanted to snicker.

“Have I not tried everything to please him? Where have I failed?” She pulls away from his hug, the distance between their faces were only a mere two feet away. Her hands were on Damian’s chest as she looks up at him. “Am I not enough?” She sobs as he furrows his brows.

Not enough? He felt the anger that he had buried a long time ago shimmer from very deep within him.

“Is my love not enough? Is this why he never chooses me? Didn’t I try everything to please him? Do I not deserve love? Is this why I’m always—just—I’m never chosen?” She rants as her left hand wrapped around Damian and her forehead rested on the back of her right hand that was on Damian’s chest. And Raven continues to cry.

“You call this love?” He whispered unexpectedly. And when Raven pulled away to look at him with confusion on her face—Damian understood that he had spoken his thoughts aloud. He can’t take it back now. He looks down at her, mirroring her confusion.

“How can you call this love?” He says in such a low voice with plain disbelief and confusion. “How many times have you cried over Garfield? How many times have you said you two will never get back together—and yet somehow you get back together—despite how many times he has hurt you. But you hurt him too—but still—the pain you two inflict on each other—when will it be enough?”

Raven felt like he had dumped cold water on her and as Damian looked at her expression-- even, he had felt that he had dumped cold water on her.

His mouth quivers as he contemplates whether he should take it back--of how he should take it back. But he had meant every single word. Raven’s face was ashen from his words. She took in three deep breathes.

“How could you say that?” It came out barely as a whisper and her grief over her break up had become forgotten. She wipes the tears off of her face, as she completely pulled away from Damian by standing up.

“How could I?” He asked with a broken laugh after as he stood up. “How could you not? How many times have you two broken up in the span that I have been part of the team? Let’s not even count before I even became part of the team! How can you—” A pause. “You two—not respect one another enough to just call it quits the first time—or maybe by the third time of your break ups. Why would you—you two—drag out this pain for all these years?” Damian’s voice had a hint of suppressed tension in it. And Raven laughed at his rant, but the laughter sounded so resigned that Damian’s heart couldn’t help but flinch. She had looked away from him as she laughed.

“Of course, you wouldn’t understand how I feel!” Raven pauses from laughing to stare at his green eyes coldly. “I can’t believe that I had thought you understood me—I can’t believe I expected you to understand!” Another fit of broken laugher. Damian clenched his fist at her words. The distain she had for Damian—he felt. And yet she still did not see his feelings-- she still did not feel his feelings.

“I knew him for seven years Damian! Seven bloody years! And I love him. I love him so, so much.” And Raven could not help but start to cry again. “I love him for seven years.”

“Time does not guarantee that you are meant to be with someone.” Damian said it so simply and when the words fell on Raven’s ears—she froze.

“Why are you doing this?” She whispers not expecting an answer, as she simply had just spoken what was in her mind. She really did not expect this from Damian.

“Just because you know someone for a long time and love them just as long—it doesn’t mean you could not love someone with the same intensity even when you just met!” He continues on, and Raven wanted to scream to him and ask why he was continuing on.

Why was he doing this?

“Get. Out.” Raven heard herself say, it came out softly and with no weight to it. Damian looks at her with evasive eyes. “Get Out.” She says a bit more firmly to which Damian stands unmoving with furrowed brows.

He seems like he wanted to tell her more. But Raven did not allow him to.

“Get Out! I said get out!” She yelled. Damian glares at her with his jaw clenched and hands in a fist. She tried to match his anger as she glares back. Damian concedes and leaves quietly out of her bedroom. Before the door was fully closed, he hears Raven fall on her knees and wept again, muttering something he couldn’t quite catch.

“I love him for seven years…”

~.~.~.~.~

Damian was in the gym room of the Titan Tower. He was punching a sandbox with wrapped hands. He had been at it for a few days—in fact since his first failure in comforting Raven over her break up. He had tried to be unbiased, but everyone had a tipping point. And Damian Wayne simply hit his on the matter.

Even so, he tried to act accordingly as the leader of the Titans. He had started comforting Raven in the pretense of his obligation as the team leader. But maybe it wasn’t a pretense—and if so—when had it start becoming a pretense?

Raven and Garfield appeared to be as civil as they could around each other. And finally, Garfield had talked to Damian about leaving the team. Something about moving up the ladder. And God hearing that made Damian want to punch the man.

What did that entail ‘moving up the ladder’? Did Raven not fit Garfield’s desire—is that why they broke up this time around? She wasn’t too high up that ladder? But Damian never voiced out the thoughts that invaded him as he heard Garfield say what he did.

In fact, Damian try not to comment about Raven and Garfield’s relationship, or lack thereof, just as he always had. But the same could be said with anyone else. He tried to be as much of a team leader as needed be—and he did not—absolutely did not mention their personal romantic relationships with one another unless it was to remind them that he does not wish for it to affect the group dynamic. And maybe that was what led him to comfort Raven the first time around.

Damian valued the team dynamic too much just for a couple to ruin it.

After Raven kicked Damian out over what hopefully was the last break-up of Garfield and Raven, Damian went out of his way to avoid Raven in the most casual and indifferent way of his. It almost bordered to normalcy.

“Damian.” A familiar voice calls out to him, but he did not hear it as he was focused on his punches.

“Damian.” He paused. Damian steadies his sandbag and turned to look behind him with furrowed brows.

“Raven.” He greets simply and was about to continue punching the sandbag again. But she calls out to him again and he sighs.

“What is it?” He asks indifferently, his hands on the sandbag, keeping up the appearance of steading it.

“I’d like to apologize.” He raises an eyebrow, shook his head and mock punch the sandbag, it swings a bit.

“You don’t have to—” He steadies the sandbag. “I should be the one apologizing.” His eyes do not look at her though.

“I suppose.” She said quietly after what felt like a minute had passed in silence. “But you made a good point.” He stiffly nods, the apology he has been meaning to say was at the tip of his tongue. Another minute passes in silence.

“I know your looking out for the team. Thank You.” She says quietly, waiting for Damian to respond but he just nods again. Another minute of silence.

“I—I think I will take your advice—” Advice. She had called it advice; Damian’s eyes look up at her. He was surprise to see her violet eyes look at him intently with patience. “I—I should move one—close that part of my life. Start a new book.” Damian’s eye twitched in surprise. The apology his been meaning to say still in his mouth.

She smiles at him and she nods and then did a 180 turn on her heel.

“I’m sorry.” He finally said but it was only a whisper his right knuckles against the sandbag, as his eyes follow her back. For a moment he thought she froze on the spot, but she continued to walk away.

‘No. She had heard. But she did not give me a hard time over it.’ Damian thought as a faint smile found itself on his lips.

~.~.~.~.~

‘Why was I back in this situation again? Had she not said that it was over for real then? I guess today is the day it finally became a lie.’ Damian was standing as if he had seen a ghost.

Last time he was here—she was twenty-one. Now he was the twenty-one-year-old and she is twenty-three. Two years had passed since the last time he was in this situation—in her room—watching her cry herself raw on her bed.

And yet Damian knew—it has to be about him again.

Garfield.

His eye twitched at the thought. An empty smile on his lips as he looked at Raven sob.

‘Didn’t you say it was over—so what is this.’ The words never came out of Damian’s lips, but it almost had. But she felt his intentions. And if Damian had known that his thought had been conveyed to her through his emotions—then maybe he’d think: for the first time she noticed my feelings.

Raven noticed that Damian had entered her room—how could she not with what he was emitting. It has been so long since the two were in this situation. It has been two years. And she felt guilty—because the last time he had comforted her in here—she said her and Garfield were really done.

And here she is—a proof of a lie.

“I—” Raven tries to muffle her cry but fails. “Him and I—we hooked up.” And to Damian those words were crushing but not as crushing as what the word ‘hooked up’ entailed. Was she—she couldn’t be— “And so we secretly dated after that.” Damian couldn’t help but sigh when he heard her say that.

It wasn’t as bad as the thought of Raven being pregnant. He thought that he must be an awful person for thinking such a thing.

“But then… does that mean—” Damian looked at Raven in confusion, piecing something together. How long has she been lying?

“For almost a year.” She softly sobbed as she wiped a tear away. Damian felt like he had been punched. A year. He had been trying to make her happy for two—but that one year—that half time he placed in effort, even when it was masked mostly as group activities—was happiness that Damian was not able to give her—but Garfield had.

And Damian simply saw the truth of the matter, the recent year when Raven seemed even more happier than the last—it was not because of him. He should have known. No—he must have noticed—Ah. That is right. He had seen the signs but choose to ignore it.

“Isn’t he with that girl named Terra?” Damian asked softly quite blindsided by the truth. Raven nods in response and he felt that same old anger he had not felt since that time two years ago—in this room, seeing her nod. An anger that had been buried had been reignited yet again.

“But they had taken a break when Garfield and I got back together.” She quickly added before he could say something. And oddly enough that subsided a bit of Damian’s anger. “It was just a hook up, no attachment. He was upset and hurt and I was lonely—and we knew each other well.” Raven had stopped crying at this point and was picking on her fingertips looking for hangnails with burrowed brows.

“It wasn’t supposed to mean anything—”

“But the love you had for him was reignited, right?” Damian couldn’t help but cut her off with a bite in his tone. And he chuckled—it was empty and shallow. “So, what is it this time? Am I supposed to be surprised you broke up again? Well this isn’t the first break up you two had—and last time surely wasn’t the last!” A hollow laugh came from Damian as he ran his hand through his hair.

“God, how stupid!” And Raven stood up to glare at him.

“How can you call me stupid! I loved him whole-heartedly for seven years and continued to love him for two more—you don’t forget that. Even when its muddled—it’s a fact that I have loved him for so long and invested so much into him—into me—for him and me-- us. And even when we broke up—I will always love him. He will always have a special place in my heart.” Raven pauses. “Even when he broke up with me now—because he realized he loves Terra.” She bites her lip and Damian looks at her like she was the stupidest person on earth.

Damian suddenly laughs, it was a rather wholehearted laughter and yet it held such muted grief.

“You think I called you stupid?” He looks at her in the eyes, and something about his stare hinted to a degree of insanity. “You actually think I called you stupid?” He shakes his head with a faint smile on his lips as he glances at the space beside her. “I’m the one who’s stupid!” Raven took a step back in confusion, she studies Damian with a knot in her chest—she thought that Damian looked a little mad.

“I like you! For the longest time, I have liked you!” Raven looked at him as if he had grown an extra head. “I might even actually love you—but what do I know—after all—you said it yourself: I don’t know what that is like!” Raven looks at him thinking when had she said that, and she realized it must have been the last time they were in this room together when he was comforting her. She had opened her lips to tell her that: that was not what she had meant, but Damian continues.

“But you never noticed my feelings for you! I was just a fly in comparison to Garfield. Maybe if I wasn’t three years younger than you—then maybe you might take me seriously! Or maybe if I had known you first than Garfield—then maybe you would actually look my way!” Damian’s stare had started to become a hateful glare. “You know when you two broke up for reals--” He says mockingly. “I thought that maybe—maybe—this was it. This was my chance to get you to notice that I had liked you for the longest time. Maybe this was the moment you would let Garfield go and let someone else show you—just how much you deserved to be treated. How special you are to that one person—how important you are to at least one person.” Damian’s angry glare softens into resignation.

“It didn’t have to be me. It could be anyone.” A pause. “That is fine. I don’t think I deserve that kind of special someone to dote on—and love me.” He pauses again, but Raven didn’t know what to say as he looked down on the floor. “But I wanted you—” He looks back at her again with mournful eyes. “I wanted at least for you, to be happy. I wanted to know that all the years you spent crying over some stupid guy over a stupid little thing because of a stupid relationship—is happy beyond belief. I wanted that for you.” He pressed his lips together as he shook his head and evade her shock eyes.

And then the silence allowed the two to think of what had just happened. It gave Damian the time to really process what was happening—what he had said and he was shocked at what he had done.

No.

He had just confessed to her.

No.

He looks up at her with a shocked expression, his eyes so wide in realization. He had said aloud the thoughts that have been plaguing him for years, the glimpse of how his thought process has changed as Raven’s relationship with Garfield became a bane of his existence—of what he thought was also her’s and Garfield’s.

Damian’s face pales, wishing he could take back what he had just said and done. The secrets and frustration he had held in was finally said. And it sat between them rather heavily.

“I—” They had spoken at the same time and a pause followed. Damian stared at Raven, unsure who had spoken—was it her or him. Before anything else could be said and done, Damian stormed off with his fist clenched and with long strides close to a dash.

Damian had been punching the sandbag aggressively for almost two hours now following his confession. He was embarrassed and frustrated. And thinking of so many ways to take back what he had said and done. Prior to those thoughts, he had evaluated how he could have handled the situation better.

Damian gave the sandbag a very powerful right punch that the poor weakened sandbag gave in to the hit. His fist was inside the sandbag and as he was about to pull his fist out, the sand spilling out from the hole, he hears Raven calling his name. He turns to his left to look at her with furrowed brows, and her eyes shifts from him and the sand pouring out from the sandbag, her expression worried.

Raven had been calling out for Damian a few times before he had noticed her. If Damian knew he would be greatly disappointed with himself.

“Damian…” She started, her eyes at Damian’s fist that was still half inside the sandbag.

“Look—forget what I had said. I said it to distract you. I did it as my obligation as the team leader.” He says coldly as he fully retracts his fist from the sandbag, more sand pouring out from his action. He looks away from her as he checks his fists in front of him for damage. He was surprised to see that his fist was bruised and bleeding a little. His right hand getting the most damage.

“No.” Raven said as she took a step forward, he turns his head at her with a glare. Raven does not back down. “We need to talk about this.”

Damian was contemplating how to bolt from this situation and Raven could tell his intentions. So, before Damian could act about his thoughts, she grabbed his fists. He flinches.

“Seriously, we can’t have our leader’s fists injured.” She says as she checks his injuries up close, turning his fists in her hands, taking her time. He was quiet but his jaw was clenched and brows so closely knit to each other.

“I—” Raven looks up at him straight into his eyes, Damian is startled as his eyes met hers. “I had noticed your feelings before.” She softly confessed and Damian’s fists clenched, before he could yank his hands away from hers--- Raven firmly held his hands in hers. “I had noticed.” Her expression seemed to have glazed over and she sighed aloud and dispelled her thoughts.

“I had noticed. But it became overlooked as I was more focus on—other things—” And for a moment her eyes glazed over again. “On Gar.” A sad smile on her lips.

“His love overshadowed your little crush on me. I—focused on him and me so much that anything else was just white noise. I forgot that you had a crush—it was just an afterthought that was forgotten.” To Raven, Damian looked as though he wanted to yank his hands off of hers and storm off, but with a clenched jaw he fought not to. “And I am truly sorry.” She says as she heals his hands.

Raven licks her lips and pressed it together but her eyes looking at the ground, “And—yes—our age had been a factor – why I didn’t take you seriously. There was one time that I considered the possibility of dating you. And our age gap--” Raven made a displeased face. “bothered me. And three years, I know it isn’t much,” She glances at Damian. “But it’s undeniable that at some point I was of legal age and you weren’t. And that—that unsettles me. But mostly—it’s because of my love for Garfield-- that made me always overlook your crush. And—I really am sorry.”

Raven was looking at Damian with wavering eyes, she felt guilty, but she was also very sincere on her apology.

‘This,’ She thought. ‘is the final push I needed to really move on from Gar.’ As she lets go of Damian’s hands.

“I hope, everything said and done today—doesn’t affect our relationship—in fact I hope it clarified the things between us.” Raven says dispelling the guilt she had. “You are a great leader Damian, you always think of everyone, and I guess that is why you never said or did anything that could be permanently damaging to the team.”

With that Damian buried the thoughts that he was having, like did he have a chance to be with her now? No—Raven is right—he couldn’t risk the team dynamic.

‘It’s probably why you never attempted to confess to me—to not add to the mess that was Garfield and me.’ Raven had mulled over.

~.~.~.~.~

Three months after Damian’s sudden confession, Raven took the initiative to go to Damian who was in his bedroom.

It was rather late at night but she had made a decision already and wanted to tell Damian at this very moment. The room was rather dark but they were both used to it, their eyes adjusted well or maybe even better at dark.

After Damian’s confession, their relationship was rather strained-- how could it not be with such a revelation? But the two worked hard to flatten out the strain and finally they were in a position that was back to normal but never quite the same. But it was perfect—in the oddest way—it was perfect and they were contented.

“Damian, I know it’s late…” Raven rubs her left elbow with her right hand. “But with everything that has happened—I know I have to tell you this now.”

Hearing this Damian was worried. “Please Raven, continue.” He says as he pats the space beside him, on his bed. But she shakes her head in rejection and she avoids his gaze. He understood that the words she was going to say were difficult on her part, and he waited patiently. He quietly observes her as she chewed on her lips and finally sighed.

“I’m planning to leave.” The oxygen in Damian’s room felt like it wasn’t enough for him to breath. And Raven instantly became worried seeing him in a mix of shock and fear. She approached him cautiously, her hand extended towards him. Raven was two steps away from Damian when he suddenly shot up to his feet and she froze as she studies him.

Damian was ashen, his jaw clenched and his fists flexing, but his eyes that was on her—seemed to go through her and in his green eyes she saw him shredding his initial reaction into oblivion. He closes his eyes tightly and took a deep breath and when he exhaled, that was when Raven found herself unfrozen and had touched Damian’s arm. She looks up at him, a fear in the base of her throat that felt like it was going to burst, but he only glances at her in confusion.

“I don’t plan to leave now—I was just making you aware that I will—maybe in a few months.” She blurts out in order to speak before Damian could. “I think it’s for the best—it’s still kind of hard to see Garfield. Especially now—no maybe particularly now—because I really want to move on from him.”

“He will always affect you.” Damian whispered with the smallest hint of resignation. And before Raven could acknowledge it, he adds, “It can’t be helped, our team and Young Justice cross paths now and then—and recently it seems to be more frequent.” His tone was that of a firm leader that Raven completely forgot his previous remark.

“Yes, that is exactly it.” She softly agreed. In the silence that followed she realized that she was still resting her palm on Damian’s arm, she pulls away quickly and looks away from his general direction.

“I’m not planning to leave anytime soon—so you really don’t have to worry about my replacement yet.” She says jokingly but he only quietly nods as he observes her.

Not even a week after Raven’s revelation of leaving due to the difficulty of seeing Garfield, the three found themselves in a room in the Titan Tower. Damian was standing in front of Garfield while Raven stood by Damian’s left side with her arms crossed over her chest. A rather strained triangle was formed between the three.

“We need your help on this Damian, I’m here to try and convince you.” Garfield says. Damian taking notes on Raven from the corner of his eyes. She looked as neutral as she could, but he knew that she must be having difficulties seeing him so soon— with Garfield acting as though him and her were not a thing a few months ago.

“I don’t think I need the convincing, Garfield. If it’s an order from the league I cannot say no to it.” Damian simply responses.

“Well, that is true, but I guess I am here for formalities sake.” He replied but his eyes glance at Raven, who had caught his eyes and so did Damian.

“Raven is my right hand, and she had been in the team the longest. We will discuss how we can best assist and inform our team.” Damian firmly decided, Raven nods her head, arms still crossed.

“Oh—well—” Garfield glances at Raven then Damian, “I thought maybe I could—"

“We need to discuss how best to help as soon and as quickly as possible.” Damian cuts in, and Raven nods again silently. Garfield at this point is blatantly looking at Raven. He had intended to try and talk to her, but it seems that she did not want to.

“I—” Garfield had begun to say.

“We will contact you Gar.” Raven quietly says before Garfield could say anything else.

Maybe she did want to talk to him, it’s just that they were more focus on the mission and intel he had just provided. Garfield thought as he nodded absent-mindedly.

Damian turns to leave and Raven follows before the conversation between the three could be dragged out by Garfield.

Damian walked quickly to his room and Raven followed absent-mindedly. When they arrived in Damian’s room, Raven just stood in the center blankly. Damian clears his throat.

“I know this isn’t the best place to bring you in—” She hears him say and glances at her surroundings, realizing where she was. “But you don’t have to participate if you don’t want to.” Raven simply shakes her head.

“No. I am a part of this team; I am just as responsible as you are Damian.” And he knew her well enough to know that Raven had made up her mind, and that she will not change her mind. If only he had known then, what would happen in the mission-- because he had allowed her to go, then maybe things would be different for him and her.

“I know you wanted to leave because of Garfield—and this happens—if you ever want to leave this mission half-way, I totally understand.” Raven looks at him with a gentle gaze, glad for Damian’s thoughtfulness. But this was work, she should be able to do this mission. And maybe—this should be the last. And she nods as her respond to his offer, little did Damian know Raven was thinking of having this as her last mission as a Titan.

A good way to end a bad relationship she supposed—working one last time with an ex she was trying to avoid.

“I need to call in for a team meeting.” Damian sighs while shaking his head and putting a hand on his forehead. And she smiled faintly at him, but her mind steering back to a green skinned boy, she still knew she loved.

~.~.~.~.~

Damian did not expect things to turn out like this. They were pushed in a corner, the creature facing his direction trying to spot anyone on his side. Tim was somewhere behind the creature tending to a team member who had fallen. Damian was unsure if Tim was tending a Titan or a member of the young justice team from his hiding place behind a car.

Terra attacks the albino twenty-foot creature. And Raven who was on the far side of Damian’s general left area, hears Terra’s battle cry. The next thing Raven knew was a knot in her heart as she heard Garfield who was in vulture form, screaming Terra’s name.

Raven instantly stood up from her hiding place and ran to the center still very far from Damian. She sees Terra’s body being flung to her general direction, Raven caught her by putting a shield around Terra and slowing and protecting her from a dangerous fall. But the act left Raven extremely vulnerable.

Garfield had landed near Damian and shifted back into human form. Raven’s eye caught the black eyes of the creature—if you can call them eyes. And she realized what it was about to do, she placed a force field around herself quickly as she reprimanded herself for her stupid move of going out of her hiding place to help Terra out. She knew completely that her decision was impaired due to Garfield screaming Terra’s name with such fear. She hated herself for being affected by it.

Suddenly—it was quiet. Raven’s face twisted into confusion. The shield around her was up, so why did she feel the blood drain from her? She felt rather weak. She heard Garfield screaming her name—she couldn’t help but smile. Thinking that Garfield could still scream her name the way he did when he screamed Terra’s—was oddly comforting. She turns to look at her left where Damian and Garfield were, confused as she could hear another male call her name.

Raven’s eyes landed on Damian’s face, a contortion of shock and fear and maybe five other more emotions that she could not quite place. He was screaming her name, looking as though any moment now he would run to her. And she was even more confused. She turns back to look at the creature, but her gaze was casted down and that was when she noticed what had happened.

Yes, her shield was up. But there was a black spike that passed through her shield. No—it wasn’t that it passed through, it seemed that her shield allowed it to—or to be exact her shield couldn’t close onto the black spike. She followed where the spike ends after passing her shield, and she was in a state of serenity to see that it hit her-- just below her sternum.

The mix of screams from Damian and Garfield was something she tried to focus her mind on.

Her shield dissipates as she found herself coughing blood, and the black single spike on her chest retracted. She stared at the creature blankly as the spike entered its palm. Raven slowly dropped to her knees; her brows furrowed. She could not think straight.

They were still screaming her name. She turned hear head, initially planning to look at Garfield, finding it so very odd to hear him call out her name the way he was. She never knew that he would be worried about him like that after everything they had been through. But yet again, when she turned her head to the left, as her body tilted back—it was Damian who her eyes laid on.

And her eyes widened as she realized the truth. She could only hear Damian’s screaming now—but she was aware that Garfield was screaming her name too because he was in clear view from where she now laid. But her eyes focus on Damian.

For the first time she had seen and feel Damian in the most fearful version he could be. She could just feel him telling her not to give in. But her eyes were droopy. She felt tired.

And for the first time she truly felt his feelings for her. The rawness—the intensity. How could she have missed it?

Raven tried to extend her hand to Damian, feeling rather guilty—and hoping she was at least able to convey her apology though the act. But it was so very difficult to keep her eyes open.

‘I should have known.’ Raven thought as she tried to keep herself conscious. ’I shouldn’t have taken you for granted. I should have given you the chance—I should have taken the chance sooner to move on from a relationship that did me no good.’ Raven thought she saw Damian running towards her—but maybe it was just an illusion.

‘If there is some other life—I wish to give you a chance. I wish to be happy with you.’

And her eyes fluttered shut. Raven was unsure if she indeed felt her body being lifted up from the ground. But Damian held her gently in his arms. As he glared at the creature’s back who was currently distracted by Tim on the other side.

‘I should have seen and felt you. I am a pathetic empath for missing such an important thing. It was clearly so obvious—and clearly in front of me. You do love me Damian, I wish I could tell you that. You had loved me for the longest time—and I did not notice.

It’s pure and true—it is still love; The love I have been wanting— I’m glad I got it from you.’

Part 2: Reciprocate II: Damian

Finale: Reciprocate III: The After

#ANTIBBRAE #DAMIRAE #Damian Wayne #Raven #Robin x Raven #Teen Titans #Young Justice #alternate universe #Beastboy Garfield Terra #Terra x Beastboy #Unrequited love romance #AGE GAP of 3 years OLDER female YOUNGER male #TItan Tower #Love is defined in so many ways #love has many forms #toxic relationships #demonbirds

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avatarstories · 4 years

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izumi’s birthday part three: sources of wisdom

The next morning, breakfast with the family is awkward. Izumi was a few moments late, having had to stop by the royal seamstress to have the last adjustments fitted for party outfit finished. By the time she arrived at breakfast, everyone was seated, and the only empty chair was between her father and Bumi. Bumi’s stony expression made her want to just be swallowed up by the floor. Maybe she could go find Druk and convince him to eat her. She gives Bumi a sad smile, and he rolls his eyes with a noticeable exhale. Izumi takes her seat quietly trying her hardest to give him as much space as possible.

“Are we going to talk about how Izumi and Bumi are making the air in the room extremely uncomfortable?” Kya says. “Lover’s quarrel?” she jokes.

“Fuck off, Kya” Bumi mutters, looking down at the table in front of him. Kya is across from him and leans in trying to get his attention.

“Excuse me?” she says with a joking lilt in her voice.

Bumi doesn’t say anything. Instead, he throws his tea at Kya and storms out of the dining room. Everyone is silent but all eyes are on Izumi. Having managed to stop the tea from hitting her, Kya bends it back into a cup.

“Well, Happy Birthday, Izumi! What an exciting way to start the day,” Kya deadpans. Zuko looks at Izumi with a concerned expression. Azula looks ready to go to murder. Toph and Lin have their eyebrows raised and are taking a big sips of their mango juices. Tenzin hangs his head and focuses intently at his rice. Izumi notices Katara giving Aang a look that says go after him and when he doesn’t move she shakes her head.

“This looks like a job for a wise old man like me,” Iroh says, pushing his chair back so that he can stand up.

“General Iroh, it’s really ok, Aang can take care of it,” Katara says.

“Uh, I kinda agree with General Iroh,” Aang replies sheepishly.

If looks could kill, the ice in Katara’s eyes would have Aang pinned to the wall. “You are unbelievable,” she says quietly, though the anger and disappointment in her tone are unmistakable. She follows Bumi out the door

“Looks like Twinkletoes is in the polar bear doghouse,” Toph says. Aang groans and then goes after Katara and Bumi.

“Care to enlighten us, Izumi?” Azula asks.

“Not really,” she mutters. “I’m going to the training yard,” she announces quietly, and she walks out the door.

Azula looks between Zuko and Iroh “I would go after her, but I was planning to go boss some staff around to make sure her party is perfect, which I think now needs to be even more perfect,” she says.

“I will see what is bothering our dear Izumi,” Iroh says pushing out his chair once again. He and Azula leave the room.

“Man,” Lin says “I thought mom and I would be the ones to start drama.” At that, Sokka laughs so hard he snorts, and Suki punches him in the side for it. —————————————————————————————————

Izumi is moving through advanced katas when Iroh finds her.

“I have told you before, forms practiced in anger are like tea steeped in unclean water, dear Izumi.”

She finishes the form sending an arc of a flame towards the stone wall with an audibly annoyed exhale.

“Now, are you going to tell me what is wrong or should I guess? Kya suggested a -”

“IM NOT DATING BUMI! CAN EVERYONE STOP THINKING THAT!”

Iroh chuckles. “Everyone used to think the same of your father and Katara when they were yours and Bumi’s ages. When people share a special bond others cannot help but wonder. But of course I did not come here to talk about your father’s youthful affections. It appears you and Bumi are experiencing a strain. Care to inform your old grandfather so he can help you?”

“We had a misunderstanding.”

“I know that I am old, Izumi, but I am not blind.”

“Bumi was telling me about some issues in their family between him and his dad, and I basically told him that he should be lucky not to have the weight of a legacy on his shoulders.”

“So your problem stems from your fear of your future,” Iroh affirms. “Rightfully so on an occasion as momentous as your 17th birthday, but Izumi, you are a kind, gentle, and fair minded young woman, and your father is a picture of health, what has brought about this anxiety?”

Izumi crosses her arms and says nothing.

“Izumi?”

“I overheard some of the noblewomen talking about a curse on the Fire Ladies.”

“And what is this curse?”

“That Fire Ladies who die in childbirth give rise to evil Fire Lords. The spirits make them pay the ultimate price for what they bring into the world.”

Iroh takes in her words. “And so you have applied this to your own birth?” Izumi nods.

“You’re young yet Izumi, but I think you will find that destiny is what you make of it,” he says. “You and your father are the descendants of Sozin and Azulon, but you’re also the descendants of Avatar Roku on your grandmother’s side. There’s light and dark in you, and you will have to chose what nature you will allow to flourish. But knowing you, I would largely place my bets on the light side. And,” he takes a pause, “you can always seek to redeem yourself for your faults. I tried to break through the walls of Ba Sing Se, and then I took it back from the Fire Nation. Your father chased Aang halfway across the world, and now they are best friends. Azula was one of the most terrifying people in existence -”

“She still is.”

He chuckles. “Yes, she still is. But the original fire bending masters deemed her worthy of regaining her power when she lost it and repented, and they even gifted her a dragon egg as they did to your father,” he explains.

“Your father’s legacy was to end a war. Yours will be the equally important one of maintaining peace,” Iroh says. “Now, maybe you should go practice that and make your amends with Master Bumi. I am off to make some tea.”

“What if he won’t speak to me,” she asks.

“Well then your partner dance in front of the court later on at your party will be terribly uncomfortable!” he says walking back inside. ——————————————————————————————————— Bumi does not really know where he is walking to, and he just follows the direction that instinct takes him. He can hear his parents behind him, but he does not stop.

“Bumi please,” Katara calls.

He groans and walks faster. In this instance, he was incredibly pleased with himself because he still remembers some of the secret passageways in the palace that Izumi had showed him as children when they would play hide and explode with Izumi’s Aunt Kiyi and Aunt Azula, so he ducked into one that he knew was coming and hears his parents run right passed. It was slightly dark inside, which made perfect sense considering that usually only firebenders used these hallways and had no need for any other light.

Bumi went off memory and kept his right hand on the wall. If he had to figure this out like a maze in order to get out, that’s what he would do. After about ten minutes in the dark, he feels a variation in the stone that tells him he’s found a door. If he remembers correctly, this one will let him out by the portrait gallery. However, when he opens the door, he’s stopped by a piece of furniture.

“Huh?” he hears someone ask, and soon the furniture is being shoved out of the way and the door opens and bright light blinds him, and Azula is standing in front of him.

She stares him up and down. “I would offer to help you but I will warn you first that if you ruin Izumi’s birthday, not even the fact that your father is the Avatar will save you from me.”

Bumi remains frozen, unsure what to do.

“Well don’t just sit there,” she says, raising a brow. He stumbles into what he realizes to be Azula’s office.

“If you are avoiding your parents who ran after you when you caused quite the commotion at breakfast, then my office would definitely be the best place to hide. Push that back into place,” she commands gesturing to the small table she had just moved.

Bumi has not spent much time alone with Azula. Whenever he would visit the Fire Nation, he and Izumi were attached at the hip. Every summer when Kya would go to the Southern Water Tribe and his dad and Tenzin would go to an Air Temple, Bumi would get dropped off in the Fire Nation for a few months of sword training with Master Piandao. After Piandao passed away, Zuko offered to continue training him since Sokka was busy trying to get Republic City up and running. In all that time, he’d never really gotten to know Azula. From what Izumi had told him, Azula was Zuko’s right hand. She lead his small council and sat in on meetings when he was away on diplomatic trips, which made her an extremely powerful person.

He looks around her office. It’s clean and tidy. There is a small ink portrait of Izumi on the wall to the right of Azula's desk, and vases of Fire Lilies around the room.

Azula studies him while he looks around the room. “Should I ask what’s bothering you or should we pretend this exchange never happened?”

“Whatever you prefer,” he replies.

“I prefer to be well informed.”

“Izumi and I had a fight.”

“I gleaned that,” she says flatly. There’s a pause. “Izumi hates celebrating her birthday. She tells us every year it makes her feel guilty, but the 17th birthday of the Heir Apparent is a rite of passage in the Fire Nation.”

“Why’s that?”

“Traditionally, it’s when the Crown Prince, or in Izumi’s case, Princess, starts sitting on the small council and has to take up a stronger political role than just kissing babies and doing well in school… it’s seen as the last day of childhood.”

Oh Bumi thinks. “That’s why she’s so stressed.”

“Most likely a factor.”

“She never mentioned it.”

“Well, you know Izumi. Unless it’s Zuko, getting her to tell you what’s wrong is like pulling teeth. She is like you in that regard.” Bumi looks puzzled. “I read people very well,” she says in reply to his reaction. There’s a pause as she regards him. “I do not imagine it is easy to be a non-bender in a family like yours.”

“Man, you really don’t hold back.”

She offers him a half smile. “I understand the fear of being a disappointment too. When I was 12 I was so scared of failure and what would happen if I disappointed my father. It was not even two years by the time I self destructed.”

“I’m not going to self destruct,” he mutters.

“Then you might need some help carrying that weight on your shoulders around.”

He is quiet for a minute. “What if there’s no one to help me?”

She glances down at a small ink drawing of her mother, Zuko, and herself that sits on her desk. “From my experience, you can often find help in very unexpected places, but you have to be open to being helped.”

AN: you cannot convince me Azula didn’t get a redemption arc and a lot of healing and become a strange source of wisdom. you just can’t. azula redemptions are a peak of feminist literature.

I imagine redeemed Azula serves Zuko in a position similar to the hand of the king from GoT.

#avatarstories #izumi #bumi #azula #zuko #aang #katara #toph #lin #kya #iroh

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snipehuntpotatosack · 3 years

Text

Omniscient Science

A slightly scary-looking scientist has popularized the practice of yelling “Science is Right” at people who are in denial, to use a polite term, about well-established things. Like that it’s getting hotter. Or the mutability of species. Or the roundness of earth, etc. The tone imparted includes a certain righteous hostility. Of course, Mister scary-looking means, by science, what he knows to be actual, good, respectable science, as opposed to many things that get published as science which are not scientifically valid at all.

Then there are gray areas. I’ve recently seen web posts expressing this hostility toward “authors who say” “Relativity is wrong”, or “Darwin’s theory was wrong.” First, just to dispense with it, the number of humans qualified to comment in any way on the Special and General theories of Relativity is a very small number. I’m not one of them, but I know they are few.

But apart from that, when the press (past) or the media (current) headlines something as “Article contests Theory of Evolution,” it is virtually never because an author thinks Darwin was totally wrong; that species are not mutable, that environment doesn’t affect speciation, etc. It’s always about much tinier things, much more technical details - something Darwin originally said about how the whole very complex process proceeds, especially regarding humans. Darwin, after all, had no idea about genetics – that came later. The basic world-changing idea is still established, lots of specifics are still to be teased out. As non-experts, we might reasonably call these “gray areas” rather than leap tooth and nail on some tenure candidate cause People magazine accused them of disagreeing with Darwin.

Then there are areas which are not just gray but extremely cloudy, or worse. The media loves to run news about quantum physics. Which is whatever physicists say it is. An extremely well-respected and high-ranking quantum theorist, no names please, recently announced to the world that the entire universe is one quantum (i.e. a single unitary thing). He did not mean this In a philosophical way; he meant there is no time, no space, no causality as we mean it, just a frozen mass of structure that has ‘already happened.’ How there can be structure within a single giant quantum is not too clear, but… The crucial datum for believing this is a finding called ‘quantum entanglement’, showing that two quanta (infinitely small things) can influence each other across hundreds of miles of open space – like, from earth to a position in earth orbit, violating all prior understanding of physics. Based on this, says Mister Respectable, everything you think about reality is bullshit. Are you ready to swallow this whole? Of course, my attempt at explaining his position is full of error, because I am non-expert – which illustrates the problem in placing absolute trust in Science. This person is making a claim that may not be representable (or, fully defensible) in human language.

Before closing, I would like to remind you of some other things that Science says now (or at least appears to say now, according to some people, some of the time, in some of the media), and also some of the things Science has said in the past.

Science says that men are an inferior, toxic gender because their genetic tendencies, hormones, etc. predispose them to violence and bad thinking. You shouldn’t let this worry you too much, because not long ago, Science said the same but opposite About women, inferior etc., because of genetics, hormones, etc.

I.Q. tests have long said that African-Americans are less intelligent than white people, on average. Most people, though not all, now agree the “Intelligence” test does not measure what we are trying to get at when we say “intelligence,” but instead some shared cultural markers. You would think, since this distinction was made decades ago, that by now, a new method of gauging Intelligence would have been agreed on and in general use. Sorry, Science doesn’t seem to be coping with this too well. In fact, Science doesn’t do well at anything about human minds, except to demonstrate again and again how bad those minds are at nailing reality on the fly, whichever color the head is.

The list of things Science was absolutely certain about when I was half my current age, and has now completely flipped on, is too long to go on about; this thing is already too prolix. Just remember, Science has always endorsed absolutely bullshit things and then had to eat its words. That is the actual process of science – to keep correcting itself. For Mister Slightly Scary to say we can call a halt now – all things Science says RIGHT NOW are true, unlike in all of human history – is very strange. Maybe he thinks the rigor of science has gotten so keen, so diamond hard, that there are no major mistakes anymore. Well of course he would think that (maybe) – this is now, and he is living now, and you can hardly predict yourself to be wrong all the time. Or half.

Maybe what he should have said (maybe what he really meant was,) Keep Your Political Bullshit Out Of My Science. But you see there’s a problem there too, in the age that spawned the phrase “the personal is political.” Maybe you can guess what the problem is; maybe you can sense the deep divide between someone who says that and someone trying to be a scientist.

I’ve tried to lay out a defense of skepticism about science - not in favor of just believing whatever you like, but of ongoing suspiciousness, even if that sometimes makes one sound like a climate-change-denying Republican. I would never sound like him, cause he’s wrong on a specific; you have to go down to specifics. You see, they’ve been measuring the change in annual average thermometer readings since sometime back in the nineteenth century; it’s a little late to backtrack on this one.

#science

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war--lords · 4 years

Note

Hot God for mitsuhide please? Congrats on milestone! 🎉

How is it possible to be busy doing nothing? Somehow there are so many little things I need to do it takes up the whole of my time. Here’s a short one. I’m sorry I’m not so productive.

The only AU here is Mitsuhide’s taste buds.

It’s quiet.

You’re the only person in the dimly lit kitchen, with only one simple task so as to not waste precious oil for the lanterns. Nevertheless, it needs to be done right. The last thing you want to do is make your client mad.

You begin by setting up the countertop for the upcoming work as you will drowsiness away from your eyes. You have been entrusted this client for a week, yet somehow you find waking up a few hours before dawn still requires more strength than climbing a hundred steps up the temple to deliver the item later.

Thinking about it has got you tired already.

Rolling up your yukata sleeves, you begin work.

You open a shallow wooden barrel to reveal rows and rows of aburage, fried tofu skin, in its golden perfection. They were prepared around midnight by your father, the client’s first chef of choice, as a way for him to help your takeover. His age is really catching up with him—something you thought would never happen, what naivete—and after twisting his ankle walking down the last few of the hundred steps that lead to the temple, he declares that you, his only child, shall shoulder that responsibility.

The temple’s abbot just couldn’t hire any other restaurant in town to make their daily offerings.

You grab an earthen pot and pour the best grains of rice you have in store, as well as water and a little bit of vinegar. Closing its lid and placing it over an open fire, you are left waiting for it to steam. As the rice cooks, you wet your hands and begin opening up the flattened tofu pouches and placing them on a black and red lacquered wood delivery box.

The soft clatter of the shivering pot’s lid tells you that the rice is ready, so you open it to let it cool, enjoying the steam as it billows on your face. At least it’s fragrant, you think as you wipe a bead of sweat off your forehead.

Soy sauce, cooking wine, and a pinch of sugar. You wonder if it’s too sweet. Placing your index finger into the bowl, you bring it up for a taste. Your father has never officially coached you in the kitchen, not to mention share his coveted recipe. But the abbot hasn’t complained about any of the food you’ve made for Inari Ōkami, and it has been a week since you took over, so the food must be alright. Surely.

You really have no time to dwell on insecurities. Several birds are already chirping outside, which means they sense the sun rising over the horizon soon, which in turn means you have to deliver the sushi soon.

Hurriedly pouring the sauce into the cooked rice, you use a spoon to mix them all up, careful to not smash the rice into mush. With your hands you scoop them up, shaping them in your palm before stuffing them inside the aburage pouch and flipping them right side up, so as to conceal the rice inside the pouch. Shape, stuff, flip—on and on you go, like a cogless machine going through the motions.

It’s only a few minutes later that you’ve finished the sushi. Taking a step back, you spend a much needed second or two admiring your work—it’s definitely not your first time doing this, but somehow it still is sort of mesmerizing. The shiny skin of the tofu pouch, gleaming golden in the dim kitchen, the sweet scent of the rice...

Oh, right, the abbot requested a kizami topping this time. You swiftly grab a small bowl of pickled red ginger and a pair of chopsticks.

“I actually prefer it plain, thank you.”

You let out a loud gasp and, in your shock and amidst your whirling to see who’s behind you, you have let go of the kizami bowl. It would crash against the ground with a loud noise and spill ginger all over the floor if not for the man’s help, because he has a hand below the bowl, smiling cunningly as he hands it back to your still surprised personage.

It’s as if he knew that was going to happen.

You point your chopsticks at him.

“How did you get in? What do you want?” You shout-whisper, not wanting to alert your sleeping father.

The man, hair as white as snow and clothed in the best silvers and reds, chuckles at your response. As if to prove to you he doesn’t mean any harm, he takes a few steps back to the doorframe, leaning against it without a care.

“About a week ago I noticed the slight difference in the sushi. I am investigating, and I have found the answer that I seek.”

“Which is?” You say, clearly not understanding what is happening in the world. You can’t even bring yourself to confront him for not answering your first question.

“The old man isn’t in charge in the kitchen anymore. His,” the man’s eyes, which you now notice are gleaming yellow even in the dark, examine you from head to toe and you freeze, “only child is continuing his work.”

“And is there a problem with that?” You are aware of your words only sounding like mildly intimidating yet hollow signs of aggression, but that’s only because you want this weirdo to leave.

“Not at all. I quite like the child’s cooking, in fact.” His face remains that of lidded mischief before he chuckles again. “Pardon me, I didn’t mean to sound as though insulting you—you are clearly no child.”

“Get out of the kitchen,” you finally say. His only response to that is a few steps forward towards you and a palm pressing against the points of your chopsticks as if silently mocking you for threatening him with bamboo cutlery and not a knife. You are in a kitchen, after all.

“Do not be alarmed, little mouse. It is just that my business here is simply not complete until I can be assured that you will not put pickled ginger on my sushi.”

It is only then that you notice, through the dim of the kitchen, that the man in front of you has a tail, swishing left and right as a result of what you can only assume as annoyance. The man in front of you is no man.

You didn’t think it was possible for his smile to be bigger and look... schemier... but there he is, sporting a handsome grin that is too wide to mean anything good.

“Oh my God—”

“That would be me, yes,” he smirks, cupping your cheek. He’s suddenly standing so close. “It certainly took you a while to figure that out.”

An apologetic look passed through his eyes when he sees that you are unable to reply with a witty comeback—or any sort of response, at that, because you look like you’ve frozen up. He doesn’t blame you. Any human would rather dig themself a hole and stay there than realize that they’ve just pointed a pair of chopsticks as a way to threaten the Inari Ōkami.

He brushes his thumb against your cheek in what he hopes feels like a reassuring gesture. You look like you’ve calmed down a little.

Looking at his face makes you feel all sorts of things in the pit of your stomach. Adrenaline, reverence, and fear—all of those conspiring to increase your heart rate to levels of medical emergency. Add that to the fact that his face is kind of close to yours and he looks nothing like you imagined (you thought all gods are supposed to be old?), you feel like you’re... blushing?

“...No pickled ginger?” You ask, hoping to distract him from the blood that’s quickly rising to your cheeks. He smiles.

“No pickled ginger.”

“I can’t do that.” Canary-colored irises widen a fraction.

“Why, pray tell?”

“The abbot is not going to accept something he didn’t order.”

“I’ll make it so that he won’t look into that box.”

“You can do that?”

“Of course, little mouse,” he says, letting go of his gentle hold on your face. He turns his attention to the lacquered wood box and hovers his hand above it. A small breeze appears in the room, and then a light from his palm, and then nothing—he turns back to you. The spell is presumably placed, and you have no idea of knowing, yet it doesn’t occur to you to question him.

“Okay,” you say, abandoning the bowl of pickled ginger on the countertop.

“Many thanks,” he says, smoothly placing himself in front of you again. You can’t help but notice that at that moment, his tail has also swished around to stroke you around your calves.

“Your father’s recipe is astounding.” He begins, tipping your chin up to meet his gaze. You find yourself breathless. “But yours is something else. It’s exquisite.”

“Thank you,” you reply, mostly out of reflex. He’s so close!

“I hope you won’t find it troublesome if I come to visit again sometime.”

Your lips fall open, but no words come out. How can you even say no to a literal god? And there’s that smirk on his face again, like he can actually read the contents of your mind as if they were written on your forehead.

“Thank you for the food, little mouse. I’ll see you again soon.”

And then he tilts his head down, giving you the most delightful kiss on the lips that instantly renders your knees weak. There’s a taste on his mouth that feels so right, so addictive... you can’t help but close your eyes and lean into him.

More.

He welcomes you, guiding your hands to rest on his lean chest before snaking his own around your waist, pulling you closer, like a snake would a prey. And yet you can’t bring yourself to stop reciprocating—he chuckles against your lips as he delivers kiss after kiss, not at all shy at the sounds he makes, pulling away when you least expect him to and returning right after—

A rooster cries out from somewhere near and your eyes fly open in surprise.

He is nowhere to be found.

You find yourself immediately curling up into a sitting ball on the floor, melting in a kitchen with no live fire, save for the heat that’s generated by your cheeks, because they are positively burning.

Inari Ōkami told you he enjoys your food and made out with you. Heavens, how was that not a dream?

The sound of birds chirping brings you back to reality. It’s sunrise. You have to deliver the sushi to the temple now lest you want to be late, which will terribly affect your father’s reputation. Trying to ignore your heart beating loudly in your ears, you put a lid on the box of ginger-less inari sushi, and you suddenly realize something.

If the abbot chews you out for messing up his order, you’ll know the fox man was a fever dream.

If the abbot really doesn’t look inside the box, you’ll know he was real.

Hurriedly slipping your geta on, you have a feeling that everything will be okay—the abbot will be too busy to personally receive his order and he won’t be looking inside the box because it’s a sacred offering. You’ll be paid as usual. Perhaps you’ll get to meet him again soon, maybe as you leave the temple grounds, but when you do meet he’ll definitely be smirking that smirk of his again.

Touching your lips, you wonder if you’ll get the chance to kiss him before long.

#mitsuhide #akechi mitsuhide #reader insert #gender neutral #au #1.5k #imagine #imagines #scenario #darling anon #ikemen sengoku #ikesen #cybird #sfw

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dumbfuck-mojave · 4 years

Text

Companions React to Sole With Talkative Bird: Part 1

This is part one of a single ask. I just wanted to split it up since it would be long af otherwise. This react includes: Codsworth, Curie, Cait along with a short pre-war intro. Warnings for this part: Swearing (obviously) and brief mention of Cait’s drug abuse in one sentence.

This was such a hilarious request how could I not start it (almost) immediately. Also, thank you for the request! If you enjoyed, feel free to request more!

For context, I did “two parts” to each react: A part where the companions first meet Sole and their bird and another general reaction to it being so talkative. They aren’t exactly split up in a sense but I hope you get what I’m saying. I also didn’t really have a set focus on how long the certain “parts” were going to be so yeahhh 😅.

As the sirens blared, Sole looked helplessly around the house.

“Sole, come on!” Their spouse yelled frantically, holding a fussing Shaun in their arms. But another fussing was heard from the room the two lovers shared. It would never be allowed, but Sole couldn’t just leave him there. Bolting to the room, they hurriedly unlocked the large cage in the corner, holding their hand out so their precious bird could climb on.

“I don’t mean to rush but you three must hurry and go now!” Codsworth said, it almost sounded like there was a bit of nervousness in his tone. Sole rushed out into the living room once more. They looked at Codsworth.

“Codsworth, stay safe.” Sole said solemnly as their spouse rushed them to the door, somehow either missing the bird or choosing to ignore it.

“Babe, they will never let you bring him in.” Sole’s spouse said as they ran up the hill.

“We already had to leave Codsworth, I couldn’t leave Comet too. He was screaming so loud, I just had too. I'll find a way to hide him, I’m sure of it. “

Astonishingly, Sole did find a way to hide the bird during the journey through Vault 111. Comet had to have appeared on the life monitor, but it was no use worrying about now, were Sole’s thoughts as they lost their last slivers of consciousness.

Sole was so grateful Comet managed to survive being cryogenically frozen and unfrozen twice, because after what they had seen, he was the only thing that was keeping them grounded. Stumbling their way through the now deserted Vault, bright light blinded them as they were brought to the surface after more than 200 years.

Codsworth: “Sole, you’re back!”, Codsworth shouted gleefully as he saw Sole walking towards Sanctuary, Comet perched on their shoulder.

“Hello Codsworth.”, Sole seemed to be in a dazed state as they continued to look around what was once a lively, vibrant neighborhood.

“Well then, it’s to see you again! Comet is with you as well! Oh, that’s wonderful! May I ask, where are <spouse> and young master Shaun? They mustn’t be late for dinner.... Again. You do know how your spouse loved to take Shaun on walks. I remember-”

“Codsworth, please. Did you see them? The people that took Shaun? They must have passed through here right?”

“Oh, you always were a jokester, weren’t you? Unless…. You’re serious? Oh heavens!” Codsworth waved his arms around frantically, “Then what has happened to your dear spouse?”

“They’re dead, Codsworth. I need to go find out who killed them, and find Shaun. Do you know of anywhere that could help me?”

“Well, there is the town of Concord over the bridge. It’s a bit of a walk but you may be able to find some help there.”

“Ok, that’s where I’ll start. I just- I think I need to sit down for a moment.” Sole suddenly gasped, gently holding their hand to their chest. Comet snuggled his beak into the side of their head.

“Gracious, come inside at once.” Codsworth led them into their pre-war house and sat them down on the couch, “I will try to find you something to fill your stomach, not eating for two hundred years must have left you famished!”

Sole blankly stared down. How could this be? Had it really been 200 years? Who had taken Shaun? And why? So many questions rushed through their mind as Comet made his way from their shoulder to their open hands.

“Hey!” Comet chirped and whistled, looking up and Sole. Sole looked up at Comet with glistening eyes, weakling lifting their free hand to pet him on the head. After a few moments, Comet hopped off and flew into the back of the house.

“Um, mum/sir? I do apologize, but I can’t quite seem to find anything that would give you a full meal.” Codsworth floated back into the house and hovered in front of Sole, “Are you okay?”

Sole looked up, startled and focusing on the present once more, “That’s okay Codsworth. Thank you for trying anyways.”

“I think your spouse was planning on giving this to you as a gift before everything happened.” Codsworth extended his claw to drop a holotape in Sole’s hand.”, My protocol prevents me from listening to it, but I think it’s a message for you.”

Sole flipped the tape over in their hands, running their pointer finger along the ridged edge. Hi Honey was written in slanted handwriting on a small piece of paper attached to one side, a few ink spots splattered around it. Sole’s hands tightened around it as they felt more sobs grow in their chest. Whatever they were going to do after that was interrupted by Comet flying back into the room, landing on the scratched-up island in the middle of the kitchen. Comet jumped up and down, aggressively shaking his favorite toy: A small ball with a bell trapped inside it. Both Codsworth and Sole stared at him.

“I always told you you never should have gotten that for him. He went on and on with that thing during the night.” Codsworth sighed exasperatedly. Oh, of course Codsworth remembered Comet from before the war. Comet was with Sole long before Codsworth was, so they’ve known each other since the day Codsworth was booted up.

What he did not expect was how talkative the bird was going to be. Comet always seemed to be saying something and at first Codsworth thought Comet was going to only say compliments and affections. Whether Comet was complimenting Sole while on their shoulder or talking to Sole’s spouse through the cage, it was always the sweetest little things. He even complimented Codsworth, calling him “Pretty Codsy” as he perched on one of Codsworth’s eyes. Sole told Codsworth Comet probably picked it up from them calling him Codsy offhandedly and Comet’s preference for compliments. It’s not like Codsworth minded, it even gave him a small boost of confidence being complimented so frequently.

But Comet had a preference for something else. One day, while Codsworth was cleaning the living room, Comet flew in and promptly called Codsworth a “Fucking rustbucket”. Codsworth stopped in shock the same way he did when one of the neighbor's called him that earlier that day. It was probably where he learned such a vile saying. From that point forward, Codsworth slowly learned to deal with it. Comet was just repeating phrases he had heard, no matter if it was vicious insults or heartfelt compliments. And even though he would never admit it, Codsworth did feel some joy after hearing Comet tell a raider to fuck off.

Curie: When Comet flew past the window into Curie’s room, she almost couldn’t believe it.

“Is that an African Grey Parrot?” Curie asked in her gentle voice and she moved to the window, “How did such a thing ever get down here?”

“Is someone in there?” Sole’s voice echoed down the hall as Comet flew back and sat on their head.

“Oh! A human! Finally. I have been waiting so long for you to come.” Curie gasped, “Please tell me you are authorized to release me.”

“I’m not a person from Vault-Tec. Why do you need me to release you, why can’t you do it yourself?” Sole asked.

“I am not authorized to do so without written or verbal permission from a Vault-Tec representative. Are you authorized to release me? Please say yes.”

“Yes!” Comet harped on top of Sole’s head. Sole sighed exasperatedly while Comet looked down at them, waiting for a treat. Sole held up their arm so he could climb down on it and put a seed ball in their hand for him to grab.

“You now what? Whatever. I’m authorized to let you out. So you may come out.” Sole flatly said.

“Oh this is great news indeed!” Curie replied eagerly,” I will open the door for you at once”

As the door slid open, Curie held out a vial to Sole.

“I am pleased to report I finished all my duties 83 years ago. The molerats were infected with a variety of pathogens and this was made as a cure-all formula. Quite amazing, is it not? Do be careful where you use this though, as it is the only one left and I do not have the materials to make more.”

“Alright, thank you!” Sole smiled as they took the cure. They had taken extra steps to prevent getting bitten by the rabid molerats travelling through the Vault and it worked. Now all they had to do was get it back to the main part and give it to Austin, “ Would you like to come with me back to the Vault?”

“I very much would, monsieur/madame. I haven’t been out of that room for ages.”

“Let’s get going then.” Sole nodded, setting off towards the stairs.

As they were drawing close to the exit, Curie couldn’t help but stare and the bird perched on Sole’s shoulders.

“May I ask where you got your bird? I have not seen one for a very long time and a healthy Parrot no less! You must take good care of them.”

“Oh!” Sole laughed, “I’ve been with this guy a long time. I’ve had him about five/six years now.”

“He seems to trust you very much. If it is possible, I would like to take a closer look at his habits when we get out of this place.”

“You fucker!” Comet squawked as Curie finished her sentence.

“Mon Dieu! That is so rude!” Curie puffed, hovering a few inches upward.

“I’m sorry! He doesn’t mean anything by it, I think, he just repeats things he’s heard.” Sole faltered as Comet gleefully said fuck over and over, “ I may have a swearing problem to work on.”

“African Grey parrots are very intelligent, so it isn’t surprising that he picked up so many words.” Curie explained, “ Not to say that was called for.”

“I swear, he’s a really sweet bird. Comet, you’re nice aren’t you?”Sole turned to their bird, “Come on, isn’t Curie nice?”

“Very nice!”, Comet twittered, bouncing up and down, “Pretty voice, woo-hoo!”

“Oh, why thank you! My vocal pattern and accent is unique to me, designed by one of the scientists that used to be here, Mr. Collins!”

As talked about, Curie did examine Comet when they got back into Vault 81. Sole knew their bird was very much an attention hog and chuckled as Comet sat pridefully when Curie gently observed him. Comet took a liking to Curie fairly quickly and complimented her frequently. When she finally got her synth body, Comet immediately flew to her and snuggled his head against her cheek. Though she enjoyed the compliments, Comet would scream out a random curse word from time to time, startling Curie. She mostly was just excited there was a living, breathing parrot for her to interact and study with.

Cait: “Holy fuck!” A raider screamed, right before choking on his own blood.

As a gunfight started, Cait looked out of the metal cage to see a shadowed figure ripping apart raiders with an assault rifle.

“Cait! Keep your head down!” Tommy whispered as he crouched in the corner.

“Oh shove off, you coward.”

“Yeah, bitch!”

Both Cait and Tommy looked at the bird that landed in the cage with confusion. Even more confusion followed when the shadowy figure stepped into the cage, the parrot immediately flying to them.

“Hey, buddy! What’s the deal with you killing all my customers?” Tommy scoffed at Sole, who seemed mildly displeased that they had gotten so much blood on their skin.

“Um, I just saved your life. You should be grateful that those raiders didn’t start in-fighting before I got here.”

“Yeah, bitch!”

“Comet, hush,” Sole rubbed their bird’s head with a calloused thumb, “What even is this place anyway?”

“Not from around these parts, huh? This, my bird whispering friend, is the Combat Zone.” Tommy opened his arms a bit at the now empty theater, “It was a raider fighting hotspot until you decided to clear the house.”

The wheels turned in Tommy’s head and when he turned back around you could almost envision the light bulb popping up. Ding!

“So, you saw the end of my little bird’s fight, correct? How’d you like it?”

“God Dammit Tommy! I told you to stop calling me that.”

“It was very impressive.” Sole turned towards Cait, “ You are a very capable fighter.”

Cait slapped her palms against her thighs, then up in the air, “Finally, someone with some appreciation.”

“Listen, I might appreciate more if you didn’t keep plunging that junk into your arm. You’re high right now, aren’t you!” Tommy said angrily.

“Why do you care!? It helps me bring in the caps, doesn’t it? Shouldn’t matter how I do it!”

“It’s making you sloppy Cait!” Tommy said exasperatedly, “You know what? Let’s make a deal. Since I’m not bringing in any caps at the moment and you think Cait here is a capable fighter, why don’t you take her off my hands while I try to figure out a new business strategy.”

“Only if she agrees to it.”

“She’ll agree to it once she figures out we got no audience, no caps, and no one else to talk to but me.”

“Jesus, point taken,” Cait huffed, turning to Sole, “Let’s get out of here before I change my mind.”

Once out on the road again, Cait started asking questions about Comet.

“So, where the hell did you get something like that?”

“Comet? Oh, I got him before the war.”

“You what?”

Sole smiled, “It’s a long story to be honest.”

Comet jumped off of Sole’s shoulder onto their bag, reaching inside to grab at his bell. He started rattling it aggressively in Cait’s direction.

“Oh, that means he likes you!” Sole piped in.

“Well if you don’t quit that rattling I’m about to take that bell away from you.” Cait growled as the rattling got louder and faster.

Sole, not wanting to piss off Cait more, gently pried the bell from Comet’s beak and put it back in the bag.

“You’re beautiful, woo-hoo!” Comet swayed back and forth on Sole’s arms, nodding his head to an imaginary beat.

“Come on, Cait. He’s just trying to impress you.” Sole pushed, bobbing their arm up and down to match Comet’s dance.

“The day I take a compliment from a critter is the day I give up the last shred of decency I have.”

Though it took awhile, Cait eventually got used to Comet’s presence. She would never show it, but she was actually a bit scared of him at first. The first time Comet got on her shoulder she nearly slapped him off out of fear, if it wasn’t for Sole swooping in and calming her down. But during her withdrawals, when she felt too nauseous to even stand up, Comet let her pet his head softly, crooning a soft tune. That changed something in Cait. Now you wouldn’t even know Cait was scared of birds at first, as she handles him like a pro. She still doesn’t like him, so don’t even think that *wink wink*.

#original writing #fallout writing #companions react #fallout companions react #fallout companions #cait #curie #codsworth #characters react #bird #swearing #fallout #fallout 4 #ask

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wolfpawn · 4 years

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I Hate You, I Love You, Chapter 149 TW - Mentions of sexual assault

Chapter Summary - Tom decides that it has gone on too long, five weeks after the return from his Infinity War junket and if anything, Danielle had become more peculiar. So he cooks dinner and decides to see if he can get her to talk to him.

Previous Chapter

Rating - Mature (some chapters contain smut)

Triggers - references to Tom Hiddleston’s work with the #MeToo Movement. That chapter will be tagged accordingly.

authors Note - I have been working on this for the last 3 years, it is currently 180+ chapters long. This will be updated daily, so long as I can get time to do so, obviously.

Tom decides that it has gone on too long, five weeks after the return from his Infinity War junket and if anything, Danielle had become more peculiar. So he cooks dinner and decides to see if he can get her to talk to him.

WARNING - this chapter will reference Tom's work with the victims of sexual assault.

1- this chapter will include fictional sexual assault stories (sadly they are not fictional to some people, this shit does happen) including a close call for Sarah, who is a fictional version of Sarah Hiddleston.

2- the school-age jokes Tom makes are also fictional also. I have ZERO knowledge of teenage Tom Hiddleston, this is fictional.

3- Danielle's current situation is actually based on my friend, who talks to me about it and though many could never want it to be them, some women genuinely feel this way and it does impact their lives and relationships.

I have to put this here because so many people these days seem to forget that this is fiction and not an actual depiction of Tom Hiddleston, his friends and family.

tags: @sweetkingdomstarlight-blog @jessibelle-nerdy-mum @nonsensicalobsessions @damalseer @hiddlesbitch1 @winterisakiller @fairlightswiftly @salempoe @wolfsmom1 @black-ninja-blade

The trip to Suffolk to collect Danielle's bike did little to quell the odd mood Danielle seemed to be in. If anything, it confirmed Tom's concerns as his mother seemed to see something was slightly amiss also. The way that Danielle seemed to try and act around the problem she was clearly having but again, she said nothing, no matter how much Tom and Diana gently coaxed her to.

She spoke with normal frequency and used the time in the area to full effect, getting a few things organised, including a new larger cooker ordered while they were there but still, she seemed to lack some of her usual lustre.

Tom also noticed something else change. Since his return from the last bit of the Infinity War promotion, Danielle had not been the least bit interested in intimacy. She had curled in against him at night and was inclined to touch, kiss and hug him but she had not initiated any form of sexual contact and when he did something that could be considered such, she was clearly reluctant so he ceased rather than make her feel uncomfortable. But it was becoming peculiar now. They had never gone so long in each others presence without some form of sexual activity and it was worrying. Part of him thought it to be because she didn't want him anymore but then she would not curl in against him or even increase her affection in other ways, she would cease all such things. Then he thought it was something to do with her health but surely she would have said something? He was uncertain. She did everything to keep to their normal routine and whatnot outside of it, including going for walks and holding his hand in public, ensuring to smile and give him her attention as she had done before, yet there was something so incredibly different too. It was driving him insane trying to figure out what it was.

They returned from Suffolk and Danielle increased her training load with her bike to assist, and even with fewer work hours, she seemed to be gone for large portions of the day, especially if she needed to go somewhere that allowed her to cycle. By night time every day, she was exhausted and more than once fell asleep on the couch watching TV causing Tom to have to wake her or encourage her to bed.

Also in that time, a full five weeks in each other's company for the majority of the time and not once had Danielle sought him as she had before. It was beginning to take its toll and if he was honest, Tom was becoming angered. Not at the lack of sex in itself, he had gone far longer periods without girlfriends before and he, of course, respected and loved her, so he did not “need” sex with her but because of the lack of communication and the lack of even discussing the matter, that irked him. He simply wanted to know what was the issue.

The evening came where he decided to do something about it and ignoring the precooked meals that Danielle had prepared and frozen for convenience for them and cooked a lovely roast dinner and wore a tighter fitted sweater and pants that he knew that she found appealing. He pulled out all the stops and when he got a text to say she was on her way home from a swimming session, he readied the last of his plans and took out a good white wine for them.

Hearing the key in the front door, he inhaled and prepared for the evening. 'Hey handsome boys.’ Her good humour was apparent as she greeted the dogs. 'What... Tom?’ The smell of the dinner clearly made its way to Danielle. 'Tom?’ She came into view of the kitchen table and her eyes widened before she turned to face Tom and she swallowed as she took in his appearance. 'I...What…? Wait, am I forgetting something? I am, aren't I?’ Her voice was higher than usual as she spoke.

'No, no this is just something I wanted to do. I was hoping we could talk actually.’ Tom explained. He paid close attention to her reactions and for a moment, he saw reluctance. 'Unless you rather not?’ He decided to test another theory and pulled up the sleeve of his jumper and reveal his forearms. On seeing his do that, Danielle visibly took a slight step back and gasped. 'Elle?’

'I...Sure, no...I mean, why wouldn't I...I...why...yes.’ She could not form a cognitive sentence as she looked at him. When he stepped forward, she looked at though she wished to take a step back but found herself stuck to the stop, his larger frame in front of her. 'Tom?’

'Yes, Darling?’

'I...you smell good.’ She looked him in the eye, allowing him to see the physical reactions she was having to him, which, though she had not been willing to do anything about in considerable time, was showing her pupils dilate and betray her arousal. 'I..mean…’

He leant down and kissed her gently, noting her somewhat startled reaction before she pressed her lips against his and pulled herself against his body, continuing to kiss him with more and more intensity. When he pressed her against the wall and pulled back for a moment he looked at her and noticed the force she had to use to stop herself. 'Elle?’

'The dinner…’

'Can wait.’

'No, we should eat.’ She insisted, walking around him and to the table. 'It should be illegal for you to dress like that, you'll give women weakness if you do that in public.’ She joked as she went to the table and took a wine glass. 'I don't think I have seen a wine like this before?’

'It's from a small private vineyard in Italy, it's dark than other wines, stronger.’

'Are you planning on getting me drunk, Mr Hiddleston?’ She smiled playfully.

'Perhaps I am, is there a problem with that?’ He smirked.

'That depends on what the purpose is?’

'Interrogation purposes, to lower your inhibitions and get you to reveal all your secrets to me.’ He stated, waiting for her reaction.

'I don't have many secrets, I dare say that would be a boring and uninteresting endeavour for you.’

'Nothing is uninteresting about you, Danielle Hughes, not to me. So what are these secrets you have from me?’

'Nothing of importance.’ She dismissed. 'So what is it you wished to discuss?’ She asked as she took the wine and drank a large gulp of what was in the glass.

Tom was not as convinced. 'I am doing more of those interviews with these women at present. I just wanted to…’

'Why didn't you say?’ Danielle demanded, putting down her wine glass and rushing over to him, her hands around him. 'Talk to me.’

The concern and care she immediately had for him on him telling her such things rubbished a lot of thoughts he had regarding her not caring for him. 'I am just exhausted from them, I mean, I know this is not about me…’

'But even listening to what they have experienced is exhausting, Tom. Counsellors themselves need to unload from simply listening to people. That is entirely natural. Come on, we'll sit down to this incredible dinner you made and you tell me what is irking and bothering you.’ She encouraged.

Tom swallowed, it was clear that Danielle was very concerned, her reaction was as he always knew it would be in such a situation but yet the way she had reacted when he said that he wanted to talk to her said a lot also. He got the food from the kitchen and placed the plates next to each other, watching how she would react. Surprisingly, her only reaction was to get the wine and bring the glasses over to the two seats, but then she paused and got her plate. He thought for a moment that she was going to sit away from him but instead, she simply sat on the other side of him where the corner of the table separated them but gave her an opportunity to look at him more. 'How...I spoke to a woman today, she is a sex worker.’ He began. Danielle's face was one of understanding as she listened and nodded. 'Several times it happened and she never reported.’

'One, she feels she would be prosecuted as her line of work is illegal and two, she is a sex worker, many people, including women in the #MeToo movement do not see them as victims because they sell sex, but yes, they are, they suffer and they never really report, if they did, numbers would skyrocket. They estimate one in five would become one in three. That numbers of assaults reported would go up too. It's a reason many want the profession legalised, they argue it would help those in the profession be safer. Others argue it makes it easier for sex trafficking, I personally think something needs to be done to protect these women. I've seen it myself in my training. They build up this skin and accept it as an occupational hazard. I mean a slight burn from hot pots is an occupational hazard, not being raped and beaten. My heart goes out to them and I feel they are so brave to come forward. How are you after that? Tell me what's it causing you to think.’

Tom sighed. 'I just feel...I don't really know how to describe it. I cannot imagine the fear it is to be a woman these days.’

'There is no “these days”, it has always been something that has occurred. Take a look at Jack the Ripper in 1888, women have, throughout history been nothing short of objects. That is why this is a step forward. You listening is a way to start getting men to understand. It is so important to educate, you can talk to others. The harsh reality is many men won't listen to a woman as they do a man.’

'Then I was talking to a friend of mine, from college. I nearly choked on my drink when she turned up in front of me and she told me what a casting director told her to do to get a role...she has never worked in that part of the industry, he made her not want to. But when she said no…’

'He did not accept no and got what he wanted anyway and declined her the role to boot.’ Danielle nodded. 'That is very hard to listen to.’ She took his hand in hers. 'You are so incredible to give these women someone to talk to who empathises and does not want to take their stories and make them about yourself. For so many, saying it is hard, so to have someone listen as you have, it matters so much.’

'Sarah told me something too. She spoke to me about it a few weeks ago, when I said I was doing this. She told me about a time in college where if one of her friends had not called a guy to come over and help, she could have been...’ He said. 'My sister. She...she never told us.’

‘Many people go their whole life without saying anything to anyone about what happened them.’ Danielle stated, looking at the food on her plate. 'Many don't think what they endured is not worthy of the attention that they feel should be focused on other victims. Some think sexual assault without penetration is not as bad as rape so they just stay quiet.’

Tom shook his head. 'When I was younger, we used to joke in school about girls and….I feel so bad about it now.’

'Did you ever hurt a girl? Or a boy for that matter, in all of this, we have to remember there are men that have been assaulted also.’

'No, never. I felt awkward laughing along back then, but I never….I always thought of Emma and Sarah.’

'That's natural, we project. We often all do that. “Imagine that it was us and ours” sort of thing. You can comprehend the severity of something without doing that, but when we project ourselves and our families into a situation, we feel it more. It's natural. You were able to look at the children in Sudan and see them, see their suffering and feel heartbroken but if you imagined your own niece in that situation, it hits you harder and that is because as much as their lives matter to you, our own families are always one step closer to us and we feel that more. It is the same with this.’ Tom nodded. 'How old were you when those guys made those jokes?’

'Fifteen or sixteen, I think. It doesn't make it right.’

'No, it doesn't. But be the man to tell boys that age that that's not the right thing to do. Make it that if Emma has a little boy in the future, that he knows that is not how we talk about the opposite sex. Learn from it, teach from it. And don't be under any false impression that girls are not sometimes idiots too. I went to school with girls, I am a girl, I can assure you, some young women need a good dose of cop on too. I mean, they are grabbing men by the package and saying very inappropriate things to the opposite gender too. I think this generation will either make or break equality, depending on the level of self and general accountability. if people acknowledge self fault and fault among us all, we could come out of this far better a world, we can only hope and see, so long as we work on ourselves.’

'What is your fault then?’

Danielle's brows rose. 'We have to go to bed sometime this week, I cannot start listing now. I am not perfect, Tom. I know this and I never pretend to be. I suffer jealousy, envy, other such things. I suppose I also have to work on a few things. Though, thankfully, I don't see men as sex objects, so I have that one down.’ She joked.

'Except me of course?’ He gave a playful smile.

'Oh, you are not included there, especially with the pant and sweater combo mixed with that cologne.’ She grinned before she bit her lip and looked at her dinner again.

'Elle?’ She looked at him again but it took a minute as she did not seem to want to. 'I need to ask, have I done something to you?’

'What?’ She had not expected him to say such a thing. 'No.’

'What has changed. You are not the same recently. I am worried, everyone is starting to worry. Mum, me, Sarah, you won't even meet Sophie or Emma.’ Danielle chewed her lip, unable to keep eye contact with him. 'At first, I thought you were homesick, you only have that Radio na Gaeltachta on all the time now, but now I am fairly certain it's not that and you are filling your schedule up again rather than having any free time and you used to do that before because you were avoiding being lonely, but you have me and our friends and family, so why are you doing it? Is it me?’

'No.’ She answered quietly.

'No what? No, you're not homesick? No, you're not avoiding being lonely? No, you don't have me, our friends and family? Or no, it's not me?’

'No, it's not any of that, it's me.’ She looked at her hands.

'I...is there something wrong?’

'Not physically, no.’ Tom's concern only rose. 'No, I don't have depression or that either.’ She assured him. 'It's...fuck, I...if I tell you, you'll literally run away and tell me to get out of your home.’ There were genuine fear and tears in her eyes.

‘Elle, talk to me, please, Darling. I am going mad not knowing what is getting you down.’

'It's so stupid.’ She sniffed, wiping away a tear.

'If it makes you like this, I doubt it.’

'But…’

'No, Elle, no buts. Even if it is just in your head, if it's not really something serious and you know it is not but your mind is still telling you that it is, that is very important. I am not going to run away. After a year and a half together, we have been through some difficult times, no matter what it is, we can overcome it.’ He urged her. 'But you really have to tell me. We cannot work if you refuse to open up.’

'I...I just feel so odd recently. I went to the doctor about it, well, I went about ensuring I was okay to do an Ironman, but I mentioned it too and I was just told it happens sometimes and if I feel the same on a few weeks, to change my contraception.’ Tom frowned, thinking such to be an odd diagnosis. 'I think it is hormone related.’

'What?’

'I...I am scared to say.’

'Tell me, please.’

'I can't even look at Emma and today I went to the swimming pool and as I was going in, a class was coming out and I felt so fucking envious, I fucking cried, how stupid is that?’ Danielle scoffed.

‘Envious of what?’ Tom asked.

'That they were pregnant.’ Tom's eyes widened. 'See, I can see it in your face.’

'Wait, so this is about pregnancy?’ Tom asked, needing clarification. 'You want a baby?’

'No, I don't. I am not ready for one, I know I'm not. I am so busy with work, we're not there yet, it's the worst timing but literally, everywhere I look there are babies, all the people around me are having babies and my stupid brain is telling me I should have one and I don't want one yet. I see cute little outfits and instead of my usual “Get this for Sophie or for Emma”, I think I need it. I don't fucking need it. I have my bar and I am not losing you and my head is so messed up and I really have no idea how to stop it. I thought if I took the job and did my goal of the Ironman and its training it would calm it but it's not and I have no idea what to do. I miss my friend but seeing her makes me feel so bad and I am sorry I am a fucking mess.’

Tom just looked at her for a time, trying to figure out what to even say. He was incredibly relieved it was not some of the scenarios that his brain had created such as she stopped loving him or she had been having an affair with the guy from work under the guise of training that he knew were preposterous, yet his brain still pondered. But also he could see the turmoil this had created in her. She was clearly having severe problems in her own mind settling this. He had heard of it, more than once. Hell, even Ben had confessed it have been why the relationship with his last girlfriend ended. He wanted kids and she never did, so they agreed to do what they both wanted even though that meant ending their relationship. To have such an argument with one's self clearly did not go well, going by Danielle's current situation.

He had to agree, they were not ready. He wanted her to himself for another time yet, he wanted to wait a little longer before they would consider such things as a family. Were her bar to fail and she got pregnant, he would not see it as a catastrophic event but if they could decide when suited them and did it then, it would be idyllic. 'Well, it explains a lot.’ He stated, feeling a little dumb saying only that.

'I am sorry for being such a terrible partner and for...well, neglecting us. I just, my brain is all warped and it correlated sex and babies, which, really, it does go from to the other really and this is what happened.’

'I wish you told me sooner, I have been so worried.’

'I was terrified you'd run away from me.’

'Elle, we've mentioned the possibility of children before now. This is not a new subject matter to us. In time, I very much would love to have children with you. And the idea that your body is telling you that you should ignore logic and have a baby with the fine gentleman you have procured for yourself is a great compliment to my ego.’ Danielle could not help laughing at his statement as she looked at him lovingly. ‘When you are happy in work, when you have achieved your goals, however utterly bonkers they are, then we will talk about taking that thing out of your arm and having a baby but until then, I really cannot see Emma declining a hand with Ava.’

'I think it's a fight between Eva and Lucy now.’ She informed him.

'For fuck sake, she is due within the fortnight and they have decided to change the name eighty times at this stage.’

'Could you imagine after all of this, the ultrasound was wrong and it was a boy?’

Tom laughed. 'He will start school nameless.’ Danielle joined in. 'I can't say I understand what is going on with you fully, Elle, but I do know it's real to you and it is causing you a lot of unrest and it hurts me to see that. But it is hurting Emma too, you being distant has been hard on us, we all miss that spark in you that we all love and I think she should have you there for her, if you can be.’

'You're right. I am not being a good friend. I just feel so weird.’

'I understand, in a manner. I don't understand your thoughts per se, but I understand that you don't feel yourself either.’ He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it gently.

'I don't deserve you.’

'No one does really.’ He barely got the last word out before she hit him with her napkin playfully.

#i hate you i love you #chapter 149 #wolfpawn #tom hiddleston #tom hiddleston fic

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imagine-loki · 4 years

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Pride and Prejudice

TITLE: Pride and Prejudice CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: Chapter 38 AUTHOR: wolfpawn

ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine Loki was raised on Jotunheim as Laufey’s son after the war, but an agreement was then made that he would wed Odin’s daughter so Odin could secure the alliance of Jotunheim through the marriage. Loki, in turn, was raised to be king of Jotunheim, but how he views Asgard is far different from how Odin’s daughter is raised leading to a clash of cultures as well as uncertainty between the pair of betrothed youths. RATING: Mature NOTES/WARNINGS: Forced Marriage, not all fun and games. My first real step back into the Loki scene in over a year.

Tags - @skulliebythesea @asimovethroughthisworld @blackcherry26-blog @we-shadowhunter2901

Ella used her seidr to plough the snow in front of her and compact it enough to have it easy to walk on. Behind her, the majority of the men left in the city that housed the Jotnar palace were with them, ready to assist people to leave their homes as a result of Laufey’s orders.

“That is an interesting ability to have,” Greta commented.

In the hour they had been walking side by side, neither woman had said anything to the other.

“It is a learned one. It takes many hundreds of years of practice, then, by the time you die, you supposedly realise that you barely knew anything, to begin with. Or so I am told, personally, I think I know more than most considering my ability and age.” She smiled as she lifted her dress to step over a large portion of ice. “I rarely seem to use it for anything but convenience though.” “Makes one wonder why you would invest time in it, to begin with, if all it does is make things more convenient.”

Ella could see Greta’s point. “When it is needed for other matters, no skill is greater. My grandfather, Bor, he was a seidr wielder too, it allowed him the power to defeat the Dark Elves, my father holds Gungnir because his seidr is even more powerful with it. The reason specifically why His Majesty was all too happy to take my father’s offer of an arranged marriage between Prince Loki and I was because, with my inherited ability to easily be trained in seidr, I bring with me a new ability to the Jotnar royal line. It is a rarely required strength but one worth having should it be required.” Greta said nothing for a short time as she walked along beside the Aesir princess. She thought over what Ella had said as well as thought over other thoughts that came into her mind as they made their way through the snow. One thought came to her more than others as they did but Greta did not think it something she could ask.

“There is something you wish to know.” Greta looked at Ella in shock. “I can all but read the thoughts on your face. You want to know why I chose you, don’t you?” “Can you read minds?” Greta became fearful at the thought.

“No, I just can read beings. I have been around too many for so long to not have learnt many things.” Ella explained. “With regards to why you specifically. I want to get to know you a slight bit more and you do not seem to want to bury me under several meters of solid ice, so I figured this to be as good a time as any to talk.”

“Why?” “You like Helbindi, do you not?” “I do.” “And you do not overly dislike me?” “I do not dislike you in the slightest, I think you brave for not only coming here when you knew many would loathe you and you fought to stay and have done nothing but want better for our realm since you first set foot here,” Greta smirked. “And how you treat those who dismiss you is something I will never cease to enjoy.” “Being female is not a sign of weakness, nor is it a prerequisite to being such.” Ella looked at the frozen ground in front of her. “Is there supposed to be running water here?”

“There was, apparently, before the war, it is long gone. How could you know that?” “When I use my seidr to move the snow, it gives me a general feel for what I am moving, in case there is a chasm here that I am not aware of, it has alerted me to flowing water. “Really?” Greta could not contain her excitement.

“Yes, so this is good, for the record, Jotunheim is not defrosting?” “No, this is not good, it is a miracle. We never thought it would happen again, my mother spoke of it as an impossibility.”

“Now you get to tell her otherwise.” “She is dead.” “I am genuinely sorry to hear that.” In truth, Ella was.

“Without the Casket, any who get ill did not last long.” “Yet you do not hate me for my father’s actions?” “You did not take it and it was taken for the actions of Jotunheim, to be angry with the Allfather would require being angry with my father, who stood and slaughtered Midgardians which caused this mess.” She stated sadly.

The silence returned for a while before the women had travelled what they could of the day. The murmur amongst those with them as to there being water flowing in Jotunheim once more lifting spirits as they did so.

“Can I ask you something?” Ella looked over at the Frost Giant. “The customs of your realm?” “Which ones?” “The ones between mates.” “What of them?” “Who thought to ever do such a thing? To have affection for another so to attach to one another by the mouth. Who thought that was something to do?”

Ella laughed at the explanation. “I have no idea. Loki would love your analysis on it.” “Did he find it odd at first?” “When I explained what two young Vanir in the gardens of the palace were doing, he first thought they were trying to eat one another and when I explained it, I think I made him at risk of seeing his breakfast again. He was nauseous from the mere thought of such things. Though, learning the etiquette of kissing the back of a hand served him well, I think that was as far as he could ever be pushed.” Greta frowned. “So, he never kissed you?” “Norns no. He sees it as odd, which I can see the reasoning for.” She shrugged.

Greta noted the slight sadness in Ella’s features at saying that. “You wish he did not?” She ventured.

Ella admonished herself internally for not hiding her emotions well enough. “In Asgard, it is normal, to not express affection in such a manner after a lifetime of thinking it normal leads to complex feelings on the matter. It is not of great importance but it is a peculiar feeling.” Seeing that the princess was not pleased with discussing the issue, Greta contemplated not speaking again before something that she had hoped to ask anyone Aesir or Vanir on came to mind. “Whatever about the mouth-kiss thing but what in the realms is it when mates use their mouths elsewhere? Is that truly something beings do?” Knowing what the Frost Giant was referencing to, Ella snorted a small laugh. “I am no use to you regarding that matter on an experience level, but I can say from speaking to women who have done it and from having read about it, it is common in many places.” “Helbindi has been pleading with Prince Loki to ask you to give him the book on such things,” Greta informed her.

“I know, he tried to have Arden ask me too. The thing is, it was not a book but at least a hundred. Beings from different realms love to write in regards to sex and everything pertaining to the topic, I have found.” Greta found herself laughing. “He is adamant to know of it.” “And no doubt put it to some form of use.”

Greta nodded. “Yes.”

Ella smiled. “With you?” “If I am lucky.”

“He does think a lot of you. I see him look at you across the throne room,” Ella informed her. “I do think he wishes very much wishes to be your mate and I think you well suited, not that my opinion matters any bit.”

“You are an unbiased source, so I take your statement over that of others. You have no agenda to push on this matter.”

Ella gave a small smile and got into the bed she had used her seidr to make for her, ensuring that Greta had something similar.

“I have to ask though, with everything that happened with Býleistr and his mate, with how she was Prince Loki’s love before, how do you think this will go?”

“If I am honest, I am not sure. I cannot pretend that this is all going to go well but it is not about how things are with Loki and his brother but about Jotunheim and the safety of us all.” Ella stated firmly before trying to get some rest, thinking the same herself.

It took a few days to get to the location where they would part ways with the men. On route, they warned all they saw of the order from Laufey hoping the Jotnar would listen to them and make their way East to where they would be more protected.

With directions to their destination, Ella and Greta began the walk alone, not thinking of much other than what was required of them on their journey.

When they arrived at the location, Ella frowned slightly as she looked at the building in front of her. It did not look like a palace or indeed a grand house, if anything, it looked like nothing she had ever seen before in the flesh. It had the appearance of a fortress over anything. They arrived at the gates, unsurprised to see them locked. With only a flick of her seidr, she had them opened and walked in.

When they arrived to the main door, it took even less effort to unlock them also. She looked around the bare hallway they found themselves in before thinking of what needed doing. Beside her, Greta looked somewhat uncomfortable.

“Býleistr?” Ella called out harshly. “I need to speak with you immediately.” Her voice echoed through the hall.

The sound of a door opening close by telling her of the location of the older prince. She waited for his arrival apprehensively.

“Why are you here?” He growled as he came into sight. “How dare you come here and demand my presence.”

“I did not demand it, if I were demanding, I would have told you to get into my presence immediately as I was going to speak with you, not implore that I needed to, and, since you are asking why I am here, that answers if you have left here any time recently. War is upon us.”

“What?” He demanded, his concern clear to see.

“Alfheim is at risk of falling, as you know, Jotunheim is the closest realm to it. If we do not prepare, we could be next. Loki and Helbindi have already joined my brother, the Light Elves and the Vanir. His Majesty wished to allow you a few days recovery before calling on you also but Jotunheim can wait no longer, she needs her third son to join the fray. The last remaining guards are gone to get the people to bring them to the East, if you remain here and they breach the realm, you will be cut off from the rest of us and will not last long against their magic, you need to get back to the palace.” “My father banished me here.” He snarled.

“He sent you here to quell unrest, giving you time away from the talk of others with your mates, you know this was not a punishment, not in the true sense. We all know that were Laufey to command it, you would know the true meaning of suffering. Cease acting as though you will not return, you know you will assist with this, you were raised for this and are a damn good fighter who enjoys a fight so don’t pretend you are not already considering going.” She turned to leave. “Why did my father send you?” “Because the men are needed to assist those who need them, you are too remote to simply trot here and then continue to them. I offered to inform you.” “Why?” “Because, as your brother’s mate, my being here should show you the severity of the situation.”

“How do I know this is not some sort of trick?” “You mean by my father to bring down Jotunheim from the inside?” Býleistr nodded. “Because were that the case, you being here alone and unaware of such things would actually have benefited such a plot, because I broke through your defences without alerting you until I called your name.” Býleistr frowned and looked at the door, noting that she had, in fact, done so. “Because if my father were to think of something like that, he would not give one single solitary care to you and your mates as you are of so little importance to him that he would most likely forget you and they even existed because as far as the guarding of Nine Realms are concerned; you, Býleistr, son of Laufey and Fárbauti, are so far down the list of issues he would see fit to be concerned about, that you would not make it into a thousand-page book of said list, I am sorry to inform you. I respect that in your personal thoughts, you are your paramount concern, as indeed we all are to ourselves, but to my father, the Allfather, King of Asgard and protector of the realms, you are nothing. I could obliterate you right here and now, so you cannot fathom what he could do but he would not do such a thing, nor will I, we need you alive to help our realm.” Býleistr shook his head. “I will not leave to help Asgard.” “Odd you should say that since none have asked such a boon of you.” “You mentioned ‘our’ realm.” “Yes, a you and I inclusive ‘our’. I am referencing Jotunheim, our home, our realm. I know you have yet to see past my appearance to see me as of here, but I am the mate of your brother, the children of which will be of Jotunheim, raised as Jotnar. All I do, I do for Jotunheim but you are so busy hating my skin to realise it.” She looked to where she could now see Alma and Angrboða watching them. “If anything, you should like me, I opened the door to you getting your second mate and talked Loki into not wanting to have you skinned for it. Now, get what you need and come on. It’s not a swift journey.”

“I do not take orders from you.” “I do not take no for an answer, so decide now if you want to be forced back by my seidr or your own free will because we are going back to the palace and you will be facing your father, so do you do so as a son willing to serve him or as a man forced back who disobeyed not an order from me, but his father.” Ella challenged.

Býleistr snarled for a moment. “What did you mean ‘It is clear I did not know’? Did you think I had a part in this, that I would do such a thing?”

“I did not know, such as I do not pretend to know what you are thinking now with regards to how you wish to return to the palace.” She looked at Greta. “We have done as instructed, so I suggest getting a few moments to compose yourself before we return, however our mates’ brother decides he wishes to do this.”

“So you expect us to just leave and follow you, is that it?” Angrboða growled.

“I have stated that it is the order of our king, so on the presentation of such knowledge, yes, I do.”

“You think we take orders from you.” “You take orders from your King,” Ella stated each word with enunciation and loudly. “You are not above him, nor are I or indeed your mate, lest you forget you are not the child of the king but the simply the mate of said child, the same as for me. I offered to come to show the severity of the situation and upon order from my King to ensure your return, I will follow said order should my last breathe be caused by it. Only I will not be at risk of such, for none will be so stupid as to challenge me on it. Now, I will ask you once more, please, get what you need, I can use my seidr so we do not need to carry it back and we can leave as soon as possible. Seeing you travel amongst those forced to flee will give them a sense that you are there for them, it will strengthen their thoughts, not just of your father, but of you specifically for standing with them.” She looked at Býleistr as she spoke the last few words. “They want to feel safe, you are a known fighter, you will make them feel so.”

Býleistr contemplated her words for a moment. “Alma, ‘Boda, get your belongings, we leave as soon as we are ready.” He stated, walking towards his mates. “Stay here,” He ordered Ella and Greta.

“I am going getting something to eat,” Ella stated, heading towards the area she hoped housed the kitchen. “We have not eaten since breakfast and we are hungry and I can literally smell the food from here and I am not leaving with an empty stomach. You pack, we eat.”

#Loki #others #submission #imagine #Chapter 38 #wolfpawn #Pride and Prejudice

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ladala99 · 3 years

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Luke’s Rise

(Luke’s Saga, Part 3)

Luke woke up to the sound of battle. The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon, the sheltering stones casting long shadows across the dirt.

Why now? he wondered. And why had no one woken him? He was the last one in the cave, which also was unusual. He sprang to his feet and rushed out to join the battle.

No one was there. The plain was empty of lions, yet he could still hear the battle. It came from all around him, and yet visibly, everything was at peace.

”What’s going on?” he roared. “Where is everyone?”

”Luke?” Ilere’s daughter‘s voice pierced through the battle sounds.

”I’m here,” he called back. “Where is everybody? Where are you?”

Ilere appeared beside Luke. He stepped back a pace, surprised. “I got through, good!” She nuzzled his chest worriedly. “I think Lightning did something to you.”

The Exile Pride’s nature mage, and the one who wanted the Primal lions like Luke dead.

”I hear battle. What’s. . .” Luke trailed off. “Is it real?”

Ilere’s daughter nodded solemnly. “It’s not all of them, but. . . You know what? I think I can show you.”

Ilere’s daughter closed her eyes and planted her feet solidly on the ground. The silver cord that connected her and Luke, but was only visible in the dream world, materialized and grew more strongly. Light shot out of the cord, forming lions made of silvery light, roaring and battling to the sounds Luke could still hear.

Everyone seemed evenly matched. Normal lioness against normal lioness; Ilere against Lightning; and the Exile Pride’s challenging male, Blaze, against Luke’s father and pride leader, Chill.

Wait, the last match made no sense. Chill was a Primal Lion. Sure, he was aging, but he still had enough strength that he should have been able to defeat a regular lion without issue. Yet here the fight was, neither side showing weakness. Was Blaze really that strong?

”I have to wake up. I have to help!” Luke said. If he was out there, he could turn the tides. He looked at Ilere’s daughter, who was still straining to keep the images visible. “Where am I? Still in the cave?”

Ilere’s daughter let the images fade. “I don’t think so - I couldn’t find you. I used our connection to reach you here.” She looked Luke straight in the eyes. “I think, to get you out, I’ll need your help. And I’ll need help from...” she trailed off, looking at the silvery line. “I might not be the same afterwards.”

She hadn’t used her demonic powers much. She had been afraid they’d corrupt her, and Luke didn’t want that to happen either.

”Is it the only way out?” Luke asked. “If... if the fight’s not too bad, maybe we should wait until your mom—“

He was cut off by an agonized roar which abruptly ended, coming from where the battle between Chill and Blaze had been. Ilere’s daughter’s eyes widened and her ears flattened.

”Was that...?” Luke didn’t want to finish the thought. Was his father hurt? Or worse...

”We’re doing this now,” Ilere’s daughter said. The silvery line between them glowed brighter.

”What do I need to do?”

”Strengthen our bond. You know how our families go - the Primal king commands the demon lioness. Take your rightful place, Luke, and give me the order.”

Luke could tell that simply saying “get me out” wouldn’t be enough. He had to use their connection.

He reached down and grabbed the glowing chain that tied their fates together. Probably unnecessary, since it was a metaphorical object, but it felt like the right thing to do. He held it up and watched as the chain tightened around Ilere’s daughter. He also felt it tighten around his own neck.

”Use your powers,” he said, “Get me back to the real world. Give me strength for what I must do. Help me win, whatever it takes.”

The chain started to glow red, like the one he had seen connecting his father to Ilere. This was it.

Ilere’s daughter also started to glow red, her eyes brightening with unholy power. Luke felt himself being lifted up, but he still seemed to be on solid ground.

”Please stay my friend,” he added. “If it’s possible.”

Lions faded into view around them, and their chain disappeared. Sure enough, they were re-entering the real world.

And Luke saw exactly what he feared. The Exile Pride’s champion, blood dripping from his mouth, and Chill laying motionless on the ground beside him.

Time seemed to slow. Luke flung himself at Blaze with a mighty roar. He didn’t even think, he just fought. His muscles felt filled with strength anew, and it wasn’t clear whether it was instinct or Ilere’s unholy assistance.

Blaze also seemed to have help. He reacted quickly, and didn’t even seem tired from his struggle with Chill. Every blow he struck hit hard, and often hit a weak spot.

Blaze seemed unphased by Luke’s attacks and slashed with deadly intent. He hit a nerve that caused Luke to collapse, and bared his teeth, ready to kill again.

Time stopped. It didn’t just seem to stop - Blaze froze in place, teeth bared and leaning in for the kill. Lionesses froze mid-slash. Red light erupted from the ground and covered the battlefield.

Luke scrambled away from Blaze’s deadly chomp. He spotted Illere’s daughter aglow.

”How is he so strong?” Luke asked, hoping she was conscious enough to answer.

”He trained for this.” It wasn’t Ilere’s daughter that answered, but Ilere herself. The elder demon lioness padded calmly away from her fight with Lightning, who was still baring her teeth. “And Lightning’s magic is strengthening him.” She surveyed the frozen battlefield. “So my daughter has potential, after all. Well Luke, will you use this opportunity to finish your fight?”

Luke looked at Blaze and his wild expression. He still felt rage at the fiery lion for killing Chill, but this was too easy. “It feels weird to attack a frozen opponent. Can’t he be de-powered?”

Ilere cocked her head. “What about the other way?”

”Isn’t she already powering me up? Especially now with the frozen time thing?”

Ilere paced around Luke. “If she can do this, she can make you invincible. Or whatever you please. Give her the order and it will be done.”

Luke looked at Ilere’s daughter. Could she even hear them? Would she still be herself after this battle? He mentally felt around for their connection, the one symbolized by the silvery chain. He found it - it felt warm now. Warm like affection. He let that feeling fill him.

Is your mother right? he asked. How much can you do?

My mother’s main power is hypnosis. Her voice echoed all around him. Mine is all about dreams. I didn’t quite do what you asked earlier - I didn’t bring you out to the real world. Instead, I forced everyone else into the dream world. Blaze believed he was invincible, and that is why you couldn’t harm him. You cannot kill him here, but neither can he kill you.

Can you wake me and only me up? he asked.

Yes.

Luke opened his eyes. He was inside a circle of pebbles with some herbs beside him. Lightning had tried something, alright, but it seemed it held him no more. He headed back to the main territory, and lions scattered around the main camp, twitching in their sleep. All had their eyes closed.

All except Blaze. His eyes were wide open, and he was growling slightly. He clearly was trapped in a dream-like state, his body refusing to move. Chill’s unmoving body was beside the Exile champion. Luke approached and sniffed his father - the body was cold. That was real. Chill was dead.

It would be so easy to get revenge on Blaze, killing him in his paralyzed state. Too easy. And something inside Luke didn’t want to simply kill the other lion. He wanted him to fully realize what he had done. That Chill had been innocent.

Wake him, Luke commanded.

The Exile champion blinked and sprang to his feet. He growled and tried to leap onto Luke, but Luke’s superior Primal strength easily forced him back. Lightning’s power had clearly faded. Blaze tried a few more times to land a good blow, but Luke easily defended himself, continuing his defense until Blaze tired himself out.

”Give it up,” Luke said. “It’s over. You may have killed the king, but you did not win the throne. If you have any respect for how this normally goes, you would leave these lands and never return.”

”You had help,” Blaze growled. “That demon. I cannot let your plague spread!” He clawed at Luke’s throat, but Luke stepped back just in time.

”You had help, too,” Luke said. “And let’s not forget you are the one that attacked us.”

Lions around the clearing started to wake up and stand. Ilere’s daughter stood by Luke’s side. The other lions didn’t resume their fights.

”I let them know the situation,” she said. “You have allies on the other side, Luke. If everyone fought for their true loyalties, even without magic, your side would win. Lightning isn’t happy, but we are victorious.”

Luke looked at the gathered lions. “What does that mean, though? Will the Exiles go home? I don’t want this to be an endless cycle.”

Ilere’s daughter gestured and Lightning came forward. The Exile mage didn’t meet Luke’s eyes.

”She is the source of your problems,” Ilere’s daughter said. “Eliminate her, and they won’t bother us again. Perhaps they might even join us. Our hunting grounds are better than theirs.” Her speech pattern somewhat disturbed Luke; this wasn’t like her. But he’d deal with that later.

”I won’t kill you,” Luke said to Lightning. “That battle is over. However, I can't let you go free after what you have done. We would have left you alone had you not attacked.”

”She wouldn’t have,” Lightning muttered, flicking her tail at the elder Ilere. “And you... I thought you were fighting against the dark magic. And here you use it?”

“You left me no alternative,” Luke said. He flicked his tail for Ilere’s daughter. “Can you keep her under control?”

---

Being king wasn’t what Luke had expected. The former Exiles all decided to stay with his pride, although half of them were still afraid of Ilere and her daughter. Luke didn’t blame them, but he made sure Ilere wasn’t given free reign like she had been under Chill.

Lightning... was tough. Luke kept a close eye on her, and if he was busy, Ilere’s daughter kept her under watch. Or just used her magic to keep the nature mage asleep. It wasn’t the best solution, but he could neither justify letting her go nor killing her.

Blaze left the pride, defeated and embarrassed.

Ilere’s daughter didn’t regain her old personality. Unleashing her powers like that had changed her, although she didn’t seem to be as evil as her mother was. At least, not yet. Perhaps she was content having something to do with keeping Lightning under control.

#lioden #lion pride story

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theatrelove3000 · 4 years

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Moving Day

Hi! I hate writing these so I am keeping it short. I procrastinated this for the last 13 days but I finally finished it! Also, @thatavengersbitch if you post about my misspelling Stark tower, you will get no Irondad.

Summary: Loki and Noelle move into Stark Tower and watch the Baby Starks.

Warnings: Idk. Swearing maybe? There are references to sex but nothing to crazy. Mostly kissing.

Moving Day

Noelle PoV:

“I think that is everything.” I say breathlessly as I drop the last box onto the floor of the bedroom.

Loki comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. Placing a kiss on my cheek and setting his chin on my shoulder, he starts to complain.“I still do not see why we cannot just share a bed chamber. I know they do not know we are courting but... well. I don’t really sleep without you.” Loki says softly.

I turn in his arms to face him and wrap my arms around his neck. “We are going to share a room. We just can’t do so publicly yet. We have to lay low for a while.” He huffs and pouts, his lower lip jutting out slightly. I laugh and press my lips to his for a moment before backing away and starting to unpack the boxes.

“Are we going to let them believe we are simply friends? I am not sure if you have noticed but you do not look at me the way you would a friend.” He asks, picking up his box of books and starting to put them in the bookcase.

I scoff, “Me?! What about you? It’s like you have suction cups for fingers!”

“Me? Initiating physical contact? Never.” He comes up behind me and growls the ‘never’ in my ear. He is close but not actually touching me. My automatic reaction is to lean into him. It isn’t until after I did it that it occurs to me that I proved his point.

He laughs triumphantly and wraps his arms around my waist, bending to kiss my neck. Before we can go any further, we are interrupted by a knock on the door. I sigh and Loki groans, releasing me. I open the door and am met by the Iron Man himself.

“Good, you aren’t busy.” He enters the living room, looking around.

“No, no. We aren't unpacking or anything.” I mutter sarcastically. Tony didn’t seem to hear me.

He rounds on me and starts talking again. “So I have a gala tonight and I remembered that you aren’t the biggest fan of crowds so I wondered if you could watch Morgan tonight. Pete is staying here, too, so he will help out. I am willing to pay you to babysit if you want.”

“I’m down. What time are you leaving?”

“About 6:30. I can drop her here but she needs to end up in her room at my place.” He adds, glancing at a text he got.

“We can chill in the lounge and carry her to her own bed.” I say. I catch a glance at who he is talking to and what the contact name is. Spiderson. “Have you adopted the kid yet?” I chuckle.

Tony’s head shoots up to glare at me. “If you must know, I just talked to his aunt about it. I am waiting for the paperwork to show up.”

“That’s fantastic, Tones!” I hug him and he willingly reciprocates. We have been working on physical affection and he has gotten a lot better about it. “Congratulations. Have you told him yet?”

“No. I am waiting for the paperwork to ask him. Don’t say anything about it yet, okay?”

“Got it. Hey! Could I take Morgan with me to the grocery store? It would be better for us to go later in the day so that we aren’t recognized as much.” I throw an arm around his shoulders.

“We normally have things delivered if you’d prefer that than going to a store. We haven’t really been going out since the news of Sokovia broke. Quite the uproar.” He pokes my ribs, trying to make me laugh through the seriousness of his statement.

“Nah. I got this. I am better at disguises than you dweebs. Sunglasses, baseball caps, and hoodies? Amateurs!”

“You can change your appearance at will!” Tony argues back.

“You can?” I hear a voice behind me and both Tony and I jump.

“By the Norns, Loki! That isn’t funny. You can’t just pop up behind me like that; you’ll hurt yourself.” I warn him, raising an eyebrow.

He laughs and teasingly pats my head. “But then I would never get any of those amusing reactions. And you didn’t answer my question, Noelle.”

I sigh, “Yes I can change my appearance at will. I practiced with Frigga after you fell from the bridge. I thought I told you this?”

“I feel as though-”

“Okay! Time out for thee and time out for thee.” Tony stops us dramatically, “Focus on issues or focus on me.”

Loki and I pause for a moment, looking at the man of Iron.

“So the kid showed me Thomas Sanders and I think he’s funny. Sue me!”

“I am using that.”

“Thanks a lot, Tony.”

“Blame the kid! Will you come with me for a bit? I need some help with things only you know the answer to.” Tony tips his head towards the door.

“Uh, sure. You keep unpacking, I will be back.” I say to Loki as I follow Tony out the door.

We head to the elevators and he pushes the button leading to his personal apartments.

“Are you sure he is safe to be around?” he asks.

I roll my eyes and sigh. “Yes. If you are worried about how he will be with Morgan, he had a son before. And from what I have seen at the garden parties, he is excellent with her age group.”

“Wasn’t his son a horse though?”

“No!” I laugh, “He was Asgardian and looked like we do. Those stories of his ‘children’ were rumours Thor made up and spread to the Midgardians that worshiped them.”

Tony chuckles. “Whatever. If you stay with him, fine. Don't leave him by himself.”

“Yeah. Okay.” He opens the door to his apartment and I am suddenly hit with the smell of pizza and the sound of a toddler playing with her future older brother.

“Hey, kiddos!” I say as I walk in.

“Auntie Elle!” Morgan cries.

“Hi, Baby Stark! How are you?” I ask, lifting the two year old up and onto my hip. She nuzzles into my neck and Peter comes over, doing the same.

“We are great! Morgan and I missed you. Have you brought Mr. Loki this time?” Peter questions lively.

“I did! He is downstairs unpacking the apartment. He is gonna be helping me watch you two tonight.”

Peter does one of those weird dances and Morgan squeals. The children have never met Loki but Peter really wants to and Morgan doesn’t really know the difference. She is too young to have prejudices against other people.

I set Morgan on her feet and watch her take off back to the table where she colours while Pete does his homework. I spot Pepper enter the room and make my way over to give her a quick hug.

“Are you settling nicely? Apartment is to your liking?” She asks me, pulling away and patting her daughter’s head.

“It’s wonderful. Thank you both for letting us move in. We really appreciate it.”

“Nonsense. You don’t need to thank us, Elle. You are family. We wouldn’t have let you live in the streets.” Tony chimes in, draping an arm around my shoulders. “Plus, free babysitting!”

“Woah, woah, woah there, Iron Man. You said you’d pay for my services.” I tease, pushing him away.

He laughs and ducks away from me, “Are you asking for compensation, Lady Darkness?”

“No,” I sigh, “But I am not totally opposed to you buying my groceries?” I cock an eyebrow at him. Pep laughs and hands me a credit card with my name on it.

“Company card. Whatever you need, we got you.”

“Thanks, Pep. I am going to go help Loki unpack the rest of our stuff. That is, unless you need me for anything else?”

“Nope. get outta here. See you in a few hours!”

I wave to the children and head back to my room.

~~~~~Le Time Skip~~~~~

Loki is sitting in a chair with a book open in his lap while I am in the common kitchen making tea for both of us. When I finish, I take him one of the mugs. He thanks me and lets his fingers linger on mine for a moment longer than necessary. I walk away before he can decide that he doesn’t care if the others know of our relationship.

As I sit on the couch and open my book, I hear the elevator doors open and the patter of two little rubber soles running as fast as they could to the couch.

“Hi!” cries the culprit of the noise.

“Hello, Morgan! Are you ready to go to the store with me?”

“Yes!”

“Okay. Let me put my shoes on and we can go.” I tell her and set her on the couch next to me.

“We will be back around one or two. Behave yourselves, don’t burn down my tower.” Tony pops his head in and sends Peter into the room.

As I lace up my combat boots, I hear Peter approach Loki. I look up to watch what the kid does.

He sticks his hand out to shake Loki’s hand. “Hi, I’m Peter!”

Loki glances at me before setting his book aside and taking Pete’s hand. “Loki of Asgard.”

Peter releases Loki’s hand and bounces on the balls of his feet. “So… are you really a… bad guy? Auntie Elle says you aren’t but you hear things.”

Loki smirks at the spiderling’s question. “Well, Peter. My villainy varies from moment to moment.”

“Okay! So on a scale from one to ten, ten being, like, killing puppies and one being ‘I’ll spit on your hotdog’, where are you right now?”

Loki chuckles and purses his lips thinking about it. “Maybe a three?”

“Cool.” Peter says happily, “Just let me know if it gets above a six okay?”

Loki nods and whispers in my mind ‘I like him.’

‘I knew you would!’ I reply. “Okay, kiddos!” I say, out loud this time. “Are we all ready to go to the store? We need to get stuff to make cookies!”

Morgan cheers and tugs my shirt to lift her up. “Before we go… Morgan, this is my very, very good friend, Loki.”

The toddler gives him a big smile and he waves at her, smiling just as wide at her. The four of us get on the elevator and take it down to the garage level and load into one of Tony’s cars. I drive because a car is not a horse and Loki doesn’t get to drive Tony’s Mercedes.

~~~~~Le Time Skip II~~~~~

After making cookies, we all sit on the couch for a while and watch Morgan’s favorite movie: Frozen. Morgan is weary of Loki at first but after he uses his magic to turn off the lights and makes a glowing golden orb appear, she is totally comfortable with him. She even tells Peter, “Issa wizard, Petey!” making all of us laugh.

As the night grew later, Morgan warmed up to Loki considerably. She actually ends up crawling over to him and leaning into him during the movie when she gets tired. She falls asleep on his chest and he carries her up to her room.

She wakes up when he sets her down and she asks him to read to her.

“Of course, smár einn. What would you like to hear?”

She grins, scrambles out of bed and over to her little white bookcase. She pulls out the book she wants and hands it to Loki.

“Goodnight Moon?” He reads the title and she nods enthusiastically. He nods and helps her back into bed. He sits beside her after she tucks herself in. “Ready?”

“Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown. In the great green room; there was a telephone; and a red balloon; and a picture of; the cow jumping over; And three little bears sitting on chairs; And two little kittens; And a pair of mittens; And a little toy house; And a young mouse; And a comb and a brush and a bowl full of mush; And a quiet old lady who was whispering ‘hush’”

Baby Stark is falling asleep but is obviously trying to fight it. She keeps trying to keep her eyes open after a particularly long blink. I have to admit I feel a little sleepy myself, what with my lover reading one of my favorite stories from my childhood aloud. How could you not with a velvet voice like his?

“Good night room; Goodnight moon; Goodnight cow jumping over the moon; Goodnight light; And the red balloon; Goodnight Bears; Goodnight chairs; Goodnight Kittens; And goodnight mittens; Goodnight clocks; And goodnight socks; Goodnight little house; And goodnight mouse; Goodnight comb; And goodnight brush; Goodnight nobody; Goodnight mush; Ang goodnight to the old lady whispering ‘hush’;Goodnight stars; Goodnight air; Goodnight noises everywhere.” He finishes at a whisper. She is asleep.

“Well done.” We hear a whisper at the door. I jump slightly but Loki doesn’t react much. “She never falls asleep that fast.” Tony says, slightly begrudgingly.

“His voice is soothing to everyone. I am half asleep myself.” I nudge Tony as we all walk out to the elevator. “Have fun tonight?”

He rolls his eyes. “Tons. I am going to bed now. Thank you again.”

“Any time, Tones.” I say as the doors close and Loki and I are finally alone.

He stands relatively close to me and lets his fingers brush my own. If I wasn’t positive of the cameras in the elevator, I would kiss him right here and now.

‘I figured as much.’ He says.

‘I want my bed.’ I groan.

‘I love when you are in bed.’ He smirks. I roll my eyes and elbow him, causing more of a bruise to myself than any damage on him. He chuckles as the doors open again and we enter our apartment.

As soon as the door is closed behind us, my back is to it and his lips are on mine.

“Calm down.” I whisper against his lips when we come up for air.

“It is difficult knowing that I am in a society where touching you isn’t scandalous and not being able to because we have to keep our relationship a secret.” He growls against my throat. “I am touch-starved.”

I laugh and run my fingers through his hair. “I really am tired, Loki.” I whisper.

“Let me escort you to our chambers then, my love.” And with that, he scoops me up into his arms and carries my to the bedroom. He sets me on the bed and I start to stand up to change into pyjamas but he pushes me back down. He moves to the dresser and pulls out his black sleep pants and my flannel shorts. He throws them to me as I start peeling my clothes off my body.

“You didn’t give me a top.” I tell him. He pulls his own shirt off and hands it to me.

“Problem solved.”

I laugh and tug his shirt over my head, breathing him in. He smells like tea and old books and the forest. Like home.

Laying back, I settle against the pillows and watch him move across the rooms to catch the lightswitch. He crawls in next to me and lets me curl into his warmth.

“You are very good with her.” I whisper.

“She reminds me of Nari. Just as happy as he was.” He mutters.

I let my hand stroke his face, comforting him anyway I can. Nari dies centuries ago but the loss of a child never heals completely. “He loved you.”

“He would have loved you, as well.”

I smile. He thinks his son would have loved me.

Loki starts humming to me. It’s an old Asgardian lullaby that never fails to knock me out.

I fall asleep minutes later.

#loki #loki fanfic #loki x oc #loki x ofc #peter parker #spiderman #spiderson #baby stark #iron man #Avengers #avengers fic #pepper stark #pepper potts #tony stark

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hkvoyage · 4 years

Note

I am a real old lady, living in Israel, and I am a Klaine-MPreg addict. Do you have a list, or know of a list, of these stories. The regular klaine list (Lynne & Zinnia) doesn't have one. Thanks. OLK

A search for completed mpreg fics resulted in 183 fics on AO3 and 125 fics on FF.net. Here are the search results on S&C. Judging by the number of hits or favorites on these stories, there are plenty of readers that like mpreg!Klaine fics.

Under the cut are 11 mpreg!Kurt fics and 17 mpreg!Blaine fics. I placed an asterisk against the authors who have written a few mpreg stories.

Warning: Some of these also contain boypussy. Make sure you read the tags or author comments if this bothers you. Happy reading! HKVoyage

MPREG KURT

Who Says by Karanoaoi *

Wolves mate for life once an Alpha claims their Omega mate, but the ways of choosing your mate are changing from the traditional meets where all non-mated wolves of age are thrown in together and you end up with a mate. Alphas still have to start a mating run, but what if the Omega has their eye on a certain Alpha? Follow the Anderson and Hummel families through these changes. A generational fic starting with Grandma Anderson and going through Kurt and Blaines generation.

Note: Part 1 of the The Life of a Werewolf series

~~~~~

Not As It Seems by fearlessly

Blaine had been frozen where he stood. The boy in front of him was gorgeous. He had never seen a creature so beautiful in his life and quite frankly, Blaine was awestruck. His eyes, they were like raging ocean storms yet they were gentle, inviting, and so utterly … organic.

~~~~~

The Ultimate Christmas Present by LilLizzie94

Blaine has been in Afghanistan for the past 7 months and Kurt has been home by himself…they recieved some interesting news right before he was deployed…Kurt was pregnant. Blaine has come home early to surprise Kurt for christmas…but he’s not the only surprise in store for the two. MPREG don’t like… Don’t read.

~~~~~

I’ll Be Home for Christmas by DreamingisBelieving

Imagine person A from your OTP is pregnant during Christmas and for some reason of your choice, person B won’t be home for Christmas, leaving person A alone.

~~~~~

The Anderson Rose by missbeizy *

In the mountains of what was once the Northeastern United States of America, the descendants of a band of refugees who had escaped New York City at the end of a great World War are beginning to thrive after almost a thousand years of struggle. Relying on a combination of bits and pieces of advanced technology salvaged from the remains of great cities, as well as the still-pristine forest that they now call home, the people of Westerville are determined to rebuild a world in which peace, love, and cooperation mean more than victory, greed, and wealth.

~~~~~

Wont Tell Anyone by karanoaoi *

The Royal family has never had a problem securing their claim to the throne. That was until now. The King and Queen have been unable to bear any children passed their only son, Blaine. Now when their reign is threatened by other Nobel families that declare their family as weak, they turn to the one way they know that will show everyone their family line has not ended. Having their son marry and produce a strong line of heirs.

Sequel: Make a Move

~~~~~

Be Still My Heart by witchcraftandclickery

During a stressful and almost disastrous Black Friday Shopping adventure for Kurt, he meets and is saved by a strange older man. As their friendship progresses, so does their relationship. After falling in love with the perfect man, Kurt finds out he’s pregnant. Age!difference Older!Blaine

Note: Although this fic is not marked as completed, the reviews of the final chapter indicate that it is. It is easy to overlook marking a fic as completed on FF.net.

~~~~~

I Will by witchcraftandclickery

Kurt, cheerleader with the jock boyfriend is failing English. Blaine, nerd with a crush is actually really good at English. Kurt is sent to Blaine for tutoring, where one thing leads to another. A few weeks later, Kurt learns he is pregnant. MPREG. GKM fill.

~~~~~

Come Take My Hand Now by controlofwhatido

Post 4x14 AU where Blaine finds out he's pregnant (instead of Rachel).

~~~~~

Men, Babies and Other Disasters by TheWhiteOwl

Kurt, the 30-year-old successful fashion designer is desperate for a child. He visits a fertility clinic but he soon realizes that getting pregnant won’t be as easy as it first seemed. But than he bumps into Blaine, a cute and hot guy and it changes everything.A quick decision. Just one night with a stranger… Blaine doesn’t even have to about it. Too bad Blaine seems to be everywhere Kurt goes and it makes avoiding him a little bit complicated.

~~~~~

Ontás lýkos by Verseau_87

Back from New York and visiting his parent's during summer vacation, Kurt (literally) bumps into Blaine. Another werewolf like him. Their love is quick and easy, but it seems life is never that simple. Trying to enjoy their time together and merge their respective packs, they both must navigate being in love, over coming every obstacle along the way.

Note: Part 1 of Being Wolves

~~~~~

Three Times Blaine Doesn't Have Sex with Kurt, and the One Time He Does by ohmywhy

The one in which mpreg!Kurt and Blaine are just friends and shouldn’t be. BP!Kurt

MPREG BLAINE

Chances Verse by DreamingKate *

Kurt liked his new boyfriend but something was a little different about him.

~~~~~

The Odds by @gleeana *

Canon compliant with the show through the Klaine wedding, with the rather major twist that in this universe, men can become pregnant … and Kurt learns Blaine is pregnant soon after the wedding. A little too soon, given the circumstances.

This is a story about the power of love and family, and about the consequences of secrets.

~~~~~

Baby Mine (Be My Baby) by anythingbutplatonic

Summary: Just weeks after he confessed to cheating when Kurt left for New York, Blaine discovers he’s pregnant. There’s no doubt in his mind that the baby is Kurt’s, but there’s no way anyone can know. Distraught after the break-up and afraid of being judged if anyone finds out, he decides to hide his pregnancy….until he can’t anymore. AU, obviously.

~~~~~

Apple of My Eye by idoltina *

A fill for this GKM prompt. AU after The Break Up. Blaine finds out that he’s pregnant after Kurt breaks up with him (with Kurt’s child, no less). He tries telling Kurt about it, but Kurt refuses to talk to him. Blaine decides to finish his senior year at home and give the baby up for adoption. Only he doesn’t. He ends up keeping the baby – a daughter – and takes her to New York with him when he leaves for college. He raises her partially on his own with some help from his parents, and tries to juggle parenthood, school, and work. And everything works out okay for a little over two years – until he runs into Kurt.

~~~~~

At the End of the Road by slaysvamps

AU from 4x10 Glee, Actually. Weeks after leaving Kurt in New York Blaine finds himself in a situation he never would have expected. With Kurt moving on with his life and ignoring him completely, Blaine must find a way handle things on his own. Until he doesn’t.

~~~~~

What I Call Life by warblerslushie *

Kurt broke off the engagement and left Blaine. Three years later, Kurt’s at a strip club for his bachelor party and sees Blaine working. Blaine’s been working there and enduring uncomfortable glances and touches for a year to make sure that his son was properly cared for. MPREG. Based on a tumblr prompt from blangstpromptoftheday.

~~~~~

And Baby Makes Three by anythingbutplatonic

Klaine AU: A few weeks after Mr Schuester’s almost-wedding and the events that followed, Blaine starts having symptoms. Symptoms that appear to be a lot like pregnancy.

~~~~~

We’re In This Together Or Not At All. by zigzag18

Blaine Anderson’s life is about to be turned upside down. After a hook-up with head Cheerio Kurt Hummel, Blaine finds out he’s pregnant. He didn’t tell Kurt that he was a carrier, so how is he suppose to tell Kurt? How is he, a 17 year old high school senior suppose to take care of a baby?

~~~~~

Apartment 143 by idoltina *

Six years into their marriage, Kurt and Blaine are starting to be established enough in their careers to want to settle down into a more permanent residence. When they happen upon a refurbished apartment in an old building at a price that’s a steal, they immediately snatch it up. They settle into their new home over the summer, and after a fairly intoxicated and intimate Halloween, they find themselves expecting their family to grow by one more. But as the pregnancy progresses, so does the level of paranormal activity in their home. It doesn’t take long for them to bring in paranormal investigators to figure out what inhabits their home, if they can get rid of it, and how to protect themselves and their unborn child from it �� if they can.

~~~~~

Spark Like Empty Lighters by atticrissfinch

It was supposed to just be a hook-up between student and teacher…and it was. But what will happen when Blaine reveals to Kurt that he’s pregnant with Kurt’s child? an mpreg!blaine au.

~~~~~

When We’re Older by warblerslushie *

Kurt and Blaine have been married for several years and Blaine’s been wanting to start a family, especially since they’re getting older. However, with their work schedules and the fact that Kurt’s just not ready for kids right now, things have been slow within the Anderson-Hummel household. But what will happen when the couple receives some unexpected news?

~~~~~

thought i could do this on my own by ShanleenKinnJaskey

Prince Kurt Hummel falls in love with Blaine Anderson, an orphan servant boy, and thankfully he returns Kurt’s affections. But what will happen when one night Blaine disappears, leaving only a letter behind that contains an unbelievable explanation? When, years later, Blaine appears with two sons in tow (one deadly ill), will Kurt finally learn the truth?

Note: Part 1 of the to be loved series

~~~~~

Don’t Stop Believing by Julesmonster

Blaine is trying hard to win Kurt back now that they’re both going to be in New York, but even if he does, life has a few surprises in store for them, and not all of them are good. Warnings: MPreg, Character Death (Not Kurt or Blaine).

~~~~~

Hold My Heart by universalromance

GKM Fill: Blaine is a carrier who is sold by his parents when they are in need of money. He is gifted to Kurt by his buyer in order to gain favour with newly elected Congressman Hummel. He is expecting to be mistreated the way he was always told but soon discovers that there is still good in some people.

Note: Part 1 of Treasure My Heart

~~~~~

Heart Of Glass by framby

At the end of his senior year, Blaine left Kurt and Ohio without explanation. When they are forced to work together Kurt just wants to get it over with as painlessly as possible. Little does he know that Blaine's secret will turn his life upside down.

~~~~~

Nobody Said It Was Easy by Julesmonster

Following “The Breakup” Kurt and Blaine must discover where their relationship is going and if it will survive even as they face new problems. MPreg. Slash of the Klaine variety. Major spoilers for 4.4.

All Over Again by warblerslushie

Kurt and Blaine have been happily married for close to two decades and have three beautiful children. Not long after their oldest goes off to California to start college, they find out some very surprising news; the kind of news that really shakes up the whole family, especially when you're at that age where you've just started to get settled and ready for an empty nest. MPREG.

#klaine fic rec #mpreg!Klaine

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