#and she's like i saw your clothes before this. that one had decades & never found a sense of fashion so i'm not holding my breath with you.

[yesokayiknow]

okay so you know how it goes: fourteen comes to life in thirteen's clothes. and they're both too short and too loose and entirely too bright for his frame of mind. they worked with a doctor who hid everything behind a too wide smile; not so much with a doctor whose pain and tiredness is written across his face

he needs to change. obviously

and then the star beast starts, and fourteen leaves the tardis, and he's still in thirteen's clothes

he just. he doesn't know. how does he choose new clothes? he feels wrong. how will wearing something else change that?

(donna tells him that it's christmas, mate; it's bloody freezing. maybe wear longer trousers, yeah? also he's both too young and too old to wear braces. just a friendly note)

he doesn't have to explain who he is to the unit scientist, not with those clothes. instead he talks about how he doesn't understand why he looks like this. why he is this. why this face? why isn't he someone new?

actually. maybe he is someone new. was he ever this open before? hm

why do you look like that, sylvia hisses, trying to hide him from the daughter he destroyed ruined left

it's a lottery, he replies, purposely ignorant

he still has his thirteenth self's screwdriver. it's too small in his hands

(the whole time they were her, her hands were too small. she didn't like touching anyway, but whenever someone took her hand, it felt wrong. they were too small. sometimes it felt like if she worked fast enough, tinkered about without stopping, she wouldn't have to look at them)

everything goes wrong. his fault, like always

(blimey. of all the things to carry over from the first time he had this face, it had to be the guilt, didn't it?)

you shouldn't look like that, the doctordonna says, and he runs a hand down his face with a tired laugh

no, the doctordonna says, not the face. a hand reaches out to grasp at the collar of his shirt, at the dangling earring chain. this isn't you. who are you, doctor?

like he knows. like they've ever-

she dies.

she lives. he doesn't deserve it. it isn't about him. he still doesn't deserve it

we're letting it go, donna says, and he looks down at himself, at another him's clothes, another him's screwdriver

well, she never was subtle, his donna

the tardis is gorgeous, though when isn't she. he tries to show off his new console to donna, and she rolls her eyes, and drags him off to the wardrobe

unlike normally, where all the clothes are scattered about, the new tardis wardrobe now also has a line of wardrobes stood against the wall. fifteen of them, to be exact

the last wardrobe is open. and empty

he goes to the second to last, and opens it to reveal a wide array of rainbow patterned shirts. she probably would've hated for her things to be organised like this. always creating mess so she wouldn't have to think about anything important. he laughs. and he takes off the sky coloured coat and the worn boots and the earrings and gently places them inside. tag, he thinks, as he closes the doors

and then he moves down to the eleventh wardrobe, full of brown coats and blue suits and neatly pressed shirts and pairs of converse. and he stands in front of it. and he wonders

after a moment, donna's like wait do you want me to leave?? you never cared about nudity before, did you? and he's like oh actually i do feel more self conscious. huh. weird.

he doesn't have to say, i think i'm a different person. not to donna. she just gives him a smile, and a shoulder nudge, and tells him she'll see him in the console room

the last wardrobe is empty

he takes a breath, and then goes to rummage about in the rest of the clothes

#13 🤝 14 (🤝 12) -> dysphoria 😔 #doctor who #the doctor #fourteen #my fanfic #i mean ig #the tardis is including war. and so am i #the fugitive doctor's clothes are around somewhere also #then he leaves the wardrobe and donna's like literally all you've done is change your colour palette #and he's like oi i've only been me for a few hours! give me time to get a fashion sense! #and she's like well how long were you your last face #and he's like idk. bout a century? #and she's like i saw your clothes before this. that one had decades & never found a sense of fashion so i'm not holding my breath with you. #it's the new year i've decided to write about things only i still care abt probably dsakjlaskjl #why isn't this a proper fic. because i can't be bothered. hope that helps #bye im gonna go make brownies

[thelittleliars]

Silence (1/4)

Warnings: angst; hurt

Words: 1.2K

Summary: You accidently coming out destroyed a decade long friendship.

AN: Thanks for all the love on my first story "New Year"! I didn't proofread this one so be warned. This might get a Part 2 with a happy ending but I'm not sure.

[Part 2: Second Chance]

"Movie night later?" You asked Natasha at the dinner table where all the Avengers sat with you.

Natasha nodded her head and smiled at you widely. "Sure. But it better be a horror movie." You loved horror movie nights with her. Neither of you were scared of them but you both laughed at ridiculous scenes and cuddled anyways. 

"So tell me Y/N," Sam interrupted your conversation. "What's going on between you and black widow?"

You looked at him baffled. Natasha and you were friends ever since you both worked at shield together so you didn't get why he implied that more is between you two. "What?" You said.

"Oh come on, you two are super close, doing almost everything together, cuddle all the time, go out, wear each other clothes... there has to something going on between you two." Sam's hint at you liking girls had you shifting in your seat. It was true that you were into girls but you haven't told a soul. Wanda was the only one who might found out about it since she couldn't control her mind reading powers when she first joined the Avengers.

"We're just friends." You told him, with anxiety slowly creeping up on you. The whole team started to listening in on the conversation. "I swear we're just friends." 

"Are you sure that you don't wanna date her?" He wiggled his eyebrows. His words and behavior infuriated you. And with this rage mixed with anxiety, you unknowingly came out to the entire team. "Just because I like girls doesn't mean that I instantly want to date my female friends." 

Some looked shocked, others looked as if they had suspicions and then there was Yelena who looked happy, proud even. "Ha! So I wasn't crazy when I saw Y/N Y/L/N ogle that one girl at the mall months ago. Pay up Kate Bishop." She exclaimed excited. You blushed after hearing Yelena's words, thinking you were subtle checking girls out.

Natasha, who sat next to you, was brooding. She didn't like it one bit that you hadn't told her about your sexuality first. She felt hurt. Did you think she would judge you or not accepting you for liking girls? Were you afraid of losing your (Avengers) family? Or did you simply not trust her with that kinda stuff? You had never held yourself back before so why right then?

"Alright but do you have a girlfriend already or can I be your wingman?" You blushed and hid your face in your hands. "No help needed." You barely got those words out. "Lady Y/N, you have to introduce us to them!" Thor demanded in excitement.

"We've only been on a couple of dates." You blushed further. "Plus she's not out yet so I rather not drop any names." Thor was quiet understanding and dropped the topic. You were honestly glad for that since it ended the whole conversation about you. The topic now was about Tony and Pepper. 

You shifted back your attention to the Widow next to you who was acting strange. Her body language was awkward and you hoped once the movie night started it'd get better. But you were wrong, it got worse, the air between you two was thick and non of you uttered a word about the incident at dinner. 

The red head distanced herself even more from you after the movie night. It hurt you deeply, the pain only got worse with how hard you tried to fix whatever happened, but nothing good came out of it. Natasha shut you out so easily that you overthought your whole relationship with her. In the end you came to the conclusion that you never really knew her.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was almost 2 months since the coming out incident happened, while you and Natasha's relationship were in pieces, your relationship with the other ex-shield agent thrived. But you missed the red head dearly. You missed her warmth that radiated off of her when you two cuddled closely during movie nights. Her touch on your arm whenever she was excited to show or tell you something. You even missed her awful dry jokes she made to cheer you up. But all that was left was her ghostly presence which seemed to never leave your side. Not matter what you did, her ghost lingered every single second.

You felt heaviness inside of you as sat down on the bench in the training room, and the spot next to you is empty. Training was no longer fun when you didn't have your favorite person train with you. It felt as if the universe was against you when you saw Natasha enter the training room. What she did here at this unholy hour was beyond you. It made your mood even more sour. 

"Steve said you'd be here." She spoke up. "He said we need to spar again. So move your ass."

Your body hesitated to get up but eventual did with a heavy sigh. Exhaustion was written all over your face. Natasha was already in the ring, waiting for your slow ass to join. Both of you took your stand but non of you tried first to make a move. You both danced around each other which irritated Natasha immensely. She expected a move from you long ago since that was how you always started sparring with her. 

Her irritation turned into frustration and anger fast. And did something she probably will regret for the rest of her life. "Trouble in paradise with Agent Shaw?" She taunted you. "Saw some spicy video of hers the other day." 

That got your complete attention. You knew about Agent Shaw's private video which her ex boyfriend leaked years ago. The video recently surfaced once again and you tried your best to take it down forever. You even begged Tony for help, who was glad to finally have a small challenge again. It took him some time but it was finally gone now but apparently not before the Black Widow saw it.

"Okay..?" What else were you supposed to say to the women you once knew perfectly.

"I have a copy and I'm sure you have one too but in case you don't, I'm willing to-" She got cut off by you punching her in the face. You didn't meant to punch her this hard but you were fed up with her bullshit. 

The blow of the hit was so unexpected and hard that she fell on the ground. She looked up at you stunned as hell, her eyes fluttered a bit while her bottom lip started to bleed.

"What the fuck Natalia." The sight of woman on the floor, looking so helplessly broke your heart once again. You were fighting so hard to get the friendship back that now by realizing your friendship was broken beyond repair, thanks to her behavior, was pain on a whole different level. What you were about to feel is grief from the loss of a decade long friendship. 

Your heart and mind fought against each other but you had enough. Every single bad emotion was roaring in you as you silently said your final goodbye. Also with that, the ghost of hers that you felt all the time, disappeared. 

The silence that hung in the air after you left was loud, it started to suffocate Natasha in a way she didn't know existed. How did she let herself become a monster again? Didn't she learn from her past? No thought in the world would help her in this situation because at the end, nothing mattered anymore since it was her silence that broke you two apart.

#natasha romanoff #black widow #yelena belova #thor odinson #the avengers #natasha x reader #natasha romanoff x reader #natasha romanoff x fem!reader #natasha x you #natasha romanoff x you #natasha x y/n #black widow x reader #Silent Series

[solecize]

fic preview: save the date | san x reader

from middle school walls to lecture halls, choi san was your ultimate nemesis that, for most of your life, fought to do everything better than you. even worse, there was no escape from him when your older sister and his older brother were childhood sweethearts, disgustingly in love. years later, the inevitable wedding bells had now come around the corner for them and as her maid of honour, you had one goal: making sure nobody fucked up the wedding. specifically, you were not going to let san, the best man, fuck up the big day.

unfortunately, when the ring goes missing less than twenty hour hours before the wedding, you have no choice but to work with the said best man who you drunkenly slept with days before the wedding - yes, the same one that you hated for over a decade - to track down a ten thousand dollar ring. starting from midnight, it's a race against the clock for you and san to go on the wildest chase of your life to, well, save the date. 

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒: san/female reader 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄. non idol au, academic rivals, enemies to lovers, fluff, slight angst 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒. foul language, violence, blood, mention of drugs and drug use, general substance use (smoking and drinking), more to be added 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄. n/a 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓. tbd.

  being entrusted with the role of maid of honour meant a lot of things to different people, but it was different for you. you happily accepted the title for your sister’s wedding with one main goal in mind: making sure that no one fucks up the big day. specifically, making sure that choi san did not fuck up the big day. 

  unfortunately, with less than twenty-four hours before the wedding due to ring for your sister and san’s older brother, you realized that you were the one that fucked up.

  if someone were to tell you that you ended up dodging a robbery, lugging around a broken e-scooter, outrunning a rabid wild animal, and losing your phone the night before your sister’s wedding, you would have asked them what drugs they were on. and given a year’s worth of stress in anticipating and planning and fittings, you’d likely even ask them to share some. the worse part was that, you’d actually fucked up forty-eight hours before your sister’s wedding and the night you were currently having was just the cherry on top.

  but, that is where you found yourself in a foreign city with no money and no idea how to get back to your hotel at four in the morning. the only thing you could do was stare at choi san, still in his clothes from the rehearsal dinner earlier that night and was preoccupied with nursing his bruised knuckles. 

  san was not a smoker, but he leaned against the wall of a closed coffee shop with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. “you think this is all my fault, don’t you?” he grumbled, finally meeting your sharp gaze.

  this was not even the beginning of the story, though. the real beginning of the story begins in middle school circa 2012, when your first ever crush ruined everything before anything could even happen by simply opening his mouth. 

  choi san was the transfer student that all of the girls in your year whispered and giggled about. you only caught a glimpse of him on the first day of school when you could barely make out his face at the school assembly. 

  “he’s so freaking cute! did you get to see him, y/n?” 

  your best friend at the time jogged up to you at lunch and by this point in the day, you’d heard from nearly all your classmates about the mysterious new kid. you were a bit exasperated, feeling as though you were missing out.

  you shook your head. “no. i think i saw the side of his face, but that’s it.”

  “look at his instagram,” she swooned, tapping on her phone until his profile came up.

  you would never admit it aloud, but you thought your heart skip a beat. “that’s what he looks like? oh my god, he plays basketball, too?”

  that pretty much sealed the deal for you. without shame, you pulled out your own phone to follow san on social media, since it already looked like he was gaining mutuals from other people in your school. everyday from then on seemed to be a game of “can you spot your crush” at school and you got the closest when you lingered a little bit too long after gym class, long enough that you left as soon as basketball try-outs for the boys team began. 

  it was 2012 and nothing else mattered to you except crushing over choi san from respectable distance, gangnam style, one direction, and reading all of the hunger games books. it was like this for the first couple months at school, until you and san finally encountered one another.

  you heard from others that san was incredibly bright and academically gifted, so you were hoping that, he too, would join robotics club. it felt like a dream when your wishes came true and san walked into the first meeting of the season.

  “you’re totally staring at him,” whispered yeosang on this day, to which you elbowed him for. yes, you were definitely staring, but he could have just chose to keep his mouth shut.

  you’d avoided directly speaking to san for the first few meetings, just out of nerves alone. eventually, the club’s first major competition was to come around the corner and the club had to brainstorm their plan. 

  as one of the returning members from the year prior, you expected to be met with respect and have your opinions be considered important. the faculty supervisor had even told you that he had hopes for you taking over as captain in the next year, after the current leader, hongjoong, graduates. 

  “i can take charge of the programming team,” you offered, as hongjoong went over the challenge announcement of the competition.

  that was the moment everything went wrong.

  it looked there was no opposition, until you heard a chuckle from the other side of a room. you were confused, not recognizing the voice. spinning around, you saw that it was san and your heart dropped.

  “you? do you even know how to code?” his eyebrows were raised. 

  your jaw could have easily hit the floor, as you narrowed your eyes at him. “what?” was all you could say.

  “you’re a girl, there’s no way you should be in charge of programming.”

  that year, there were only three girls in robotics club, which was an improvement from the two the year before. it was you, who was the only female member with experience in the club, and then sunyoung and yena. 

  sunyoung never fucking spoke, she never even made eye contact with anyone. she kept to herself and was never going to speak up, but you knew that she was the highest ranking student in your year and had skipped an entire grade. you couldn’t believe sunyoung let that slide. meanwhile, yena always insisted that she was “one of the boys” and was the kind of girl to talk your head off about how she hates taylor swift. you might’ve even heard her murmur in agreement to what san said.

  “are you a fucking idiot?” your thirteen year old self snapped at san, eliciting gasps from around the room. 

  of course, your foul mouth came from none other than your headstrong older sister and at the same moment you began forming a life-long hatred for choi san, she was a couple blocks away at the high school, falling in love with choi san’s older brother during chemistry class. it was a classic high school love story, meeting as lab partners and experiencing first love in between shelves at the library. 

  one day, when your sister happily skipped into your room and sang that she now had a boyfriend, it had been weeks since you already declared san your nemesis. from what you remember, she was so head over heels for her lab partner that it was nauseating - she had to have been, since she was now marrying him over ten years later. 

  “he has a little brother your age, you know,” she said, later the same night. “goes to your school, maybe you’ve met him.”

  the two of you were relaxing on your bed, as your sister scooted closer to show you pictures of her new and first-ever boyfriend on her phone. you raised an eyebrow at her, wondering who she was talking about. 

  “maybe. what’s his name?” you asked.

  “san. choi san.”

#choi san x reader #choi san fanfic #choi san scenarios #choi san imagine #choi san x oc #choi san x you #ateez fanfic #ateez x reader #ateez imagines #choi san fluff #choi san angst #ateez angst #ateez scenarios #kpop fanfic

[whumpsday]

Kane & Jim BBU AU #3: Erased

Previous / Kane & Jim AUs Masterlist

content: bbu, pet whump, rescue, recovery, caretaking, amnesia, whumper turned whumpee, starvation

takes place 10 years after Liz rescues 913/Jim. don't forget to read ⭐ this drabble ⭐ taking place between #2 and #3 first!!

@bbu-on-the-side BBU Community Days #13: Safety

-

Jim was a person. He'd been a person for almost ten years, now. It was hard at first, but he was used to it by now.

He couldn't legally work, but he'd been helping out where he could. In a way, he was still doing the same things he did as a domestic, just by choice this time, for his family. He was good at it, and even if he wasn't a fan of all of it, he liked cooking. Liz told him he'd always liked cooking, even before. He had no problem believing that. He even did some odd jobs around the neighborhood that worked in cash, babysitting and mowing lawns and shoveling snow.

He wasn't as involved in the pet lib stuff as she was. It scared him, even after he'd started being able to stand up to the voice in the back of his head that repeated everything his handlers told him. Too risky.

Life wasn't a constant walk on eggshells anymore. He still got scared sometimes, or fell into his old conditioning, but he was safe. He was free.

So when Jim was out grocery shopping, he almost dropped his basket when he saw him.

There, right down the aisle. He'd know that face anywhere. Practically the only face he saw for the first five years of his memorable life.

He almost bolted right away, but something was... off. Master didn't look like how he usually did. Gone were the expensive suits and bitter scowl, replaced with plain clothing and an anxious frown.

He was wearing a collar.

Jim ducked into the next aisle, watching him through the gaps in the shelves. There was no way, right? Master- Kane was wildly rich. He'd have no need to sell himself to WRU.

But Kane went missing years ago. No one knew where he was, or what had happened to him.

He watched Kane further, looking down at a list and plucking items off the shelves, eyebrows bunched together with nerves. Jim had never seen Kane look this... unsure of himself.

There was a barcode on his wrist too, sure enough. It wasn't clear enough to make out from this far, but he could see the number, something with a 4 in it.

He wondered if Kane's owner gave him a name.

It was stupid, Jim knew. But he had to. He couldn't just leave, not after seeing this.

Jim hesitantly approached, ready to run at any time. "Master?" he asked, voice coming out smaller than he'd have liked.

Kane turned, eyeing him up and down, only growing more tense. "My master sent me to do his shopping, sir." He shrunk away slightly, as if afraid Jim would hurt him after finding out he was alone.

"Do you remember me?" Jim blurted out, despite already knowing the answer.

"I'm sorry, sir." Kane's hands gripped the cart's handle tight, like it would protect him. "I'm- I'm bad at- at everything. I'm so sorry."

Of course Kane thought Jim was a person. He had taken care to remove every last trace of his tattoo, though the marks on his neck from the collar wouldn't go away, even after a decade. But Kane wouldn't be able to see that under his turtleneck.

"It's alright," he said softly. The words 913 had wanted to hear so, so badly. "I'm Jim. I knew you before."

That certainly got Kane's attention. "I'm- my designation is 110146. Do you mean... before I was a pet, sir?"

"Yeah." Jim could fully take stock of Kane's state, now that he was standing close. Dark circles ringed his eyes, bruises poked out from under his sleeve. He looked thinner than Jim had ever seen him, to the point it was obvious he wasn't being allowed enough food. And-

Something that looked like a knife mark, barely visible above his neckline.

"Yours hurts you?" Jim asked.

Kane seemed to study him, searching for a shred of mocking for a moment. He found none. "Master can do as he likes with his pet," he settled on.

Jim stepped closer, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Mine did, too." His heart raced at the revelation. He hadn't told anyone outside of pet lib about his past, ever. And here he was telling Kane, of all people.

Kane glanced at his wrist again, but of course he found nothing. "Yours, sir?" he asked.

Jim tugged his collar down for a moment, revealing the faint outline of a collar that had scarred itself permanently into his skin. "Mine."

Kane's eyes widened. "Oh."

"You wanna get out of here?" Jim extended a hand toward Kane, even as every logical bone in his body screamed at him that he was being a careless idiot, throwing his life away for someone who never cared.

Kane looked around wildly. "I can't just- Master would be furious."

"Life can be better than this. I promise." Jim kept his arm extended. "No more hurting. And I can get you a good meal."

Kane stood there frozen for a long moment, just staring at him, before he broke down in quiet tears. He forced himself to nod. "I- I- Thank you."

He reached forward and took Jim's hand uncertainly, bony fingers wrapping around Jim's own.

"You're doing great," Jim encouraged. Despite a lifetime of resentment, all he could see was the terrified boxie in front of him now. Kane couldn't even remember how cruel he used to be. He couldn't even remember his own name. "Just try and calm down a little. You're gonna be okay."

Kane clung to Jim's forearm like a lifeline. "Yes, s-sir."

Jim tried to calm himself down, too. Having Kane on him like this flipped a switch in his brain that told him to cower and placate, that he was about to be hurt. But he managed to repress it, with some effort. He'd had a lot of practice over the years.

When Kane got himself to stop crying and wiped the tears from his eyes, he nodded. "Thank you for- for being patient with me. I'm ready."

"Good," Jim said approvingly. "I'm just gonna check out what I've got in my basket, and you can follow behind me and pretend to be... you know. We'll get outta here without a second look from anyone. Just follow my lead."

Kane did spare a glance for his nearly-full shopping cart, but nodded agreeably anyway. "Yes, sir."

God, that was still so weird.

Jim eyed the meat section they'd met in. Kane always loved steak. He couldn't afford the fancy stuff he used to make as Kane's pet, but he grabbed a cheap, on-sale cut and threw it in his basket.

"By the way, your name's Kane. Kane de Sang."

-

There was no issue getting out of the supermarket, and Six- Kane, now, or maybe again- followed behind Jim like his life depended on it. Jim from before. He wanted to offer to carry the bags, but he didn't. He didn't want to do anything to disrupt what was happening, this miraculous whisking-away.

He was being so bad. Master would be beyond furious. Master would punish him worse than he'd ever been punished before. But Six was so tired. He had no idea what was in store for him here, but it had to be better than back home.

Jim led him to an apartment building, opening the door and ushering him inside. "I'm home!" he called, setting the groceries down on the kitchen counter. He turned to Six and gestured toward the couch. "Have a seat there," he ordered, his voice gentle.

"Yes, sir. Thank you." Six sat, grateful for the simple, easy-to-follow order.

"We don't have a lot of extra space, so you're gonna be sleeping on the couch, sorry. I'm just gonna go explain what's going on to my sister. Don't worry, she's with us-"

"What the fuck!" a woman shouted as she came out from one of the rooms. She glared at Six, bolting protectively in front of Jim.

Six pressed himself back against the couch, putting his arms up in surrender. "I'm s-sorry, ma'am, I'm so sorry, I thought- he said-" He cut himself off with a sob. He was so stupid to go along with this, breaking the rules. He didn't even know why this woman was angry with him, but at least with Master he knew what to expect. He didn't know how to please these new people. How could he have thought this would work? "I'm sorry!"

Jim placed a hand on her shoulder. "Liz, it's okay."

"You can't have him!" the woman called Liz shouted at Six with a glare, only confusing him further.

"I don't- Ma'am, I'm so sorry, I don't understand!" Six cried.

"Liz." Jim stepped out from behind her and, to Six's great relief, got between the two of them. "Look at him for two seconds. Like actually look."

Liz listened, even though Jim was sort-of-a-pet. Her eyes lingered on Six's collar.

"He doesn't even remember," Jim continued.

Liz eyed him warily. "You're a boxie? You?"

"Yes, ma'am," Six answered, still pressed back into the couch. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize that- that my presence here would be a detriment. I could go back?" He could still make it back to the grocery store and home with the shopping. Master would punish his lateness, but it would be far better than a punishment for an attempted escape.

"You're not going back," Jim said so firmly that Six couldn't possibly argue with him. He turned to the woman. "He's just another rescue. Could we host him? I just- I gotta make sure myself. That he's taken care of."

Another? he wondered.

"You sure? You don't have to deal with him again if you don't wanna. There's plenty of people who'd be willing to safehouse. He's put you through enough."

Six's stomach dropped. When Jim said he knew him before, Six had thought he meant they were friendly. Why would someone he's been enemies with help him?

"I'm sure." Jim stepped forward and gestured toward Six. "Liz, this is Kane. Kane, this is my sister, Liz. Neither of us are gonna hurt you. You're safe now."

Six- Kane, he was Kane now, he had to remember- bowed his head. "It's nice to meet you, ma'am."

Liz wouldn't stop looking at Kane like he was a bomb that could go off at any moment. "We've met," she said coldly.

"C'mon, be nice. He can't even remember," Jim pointed out.

Liz sighed. "Yeah, sorry, you're right." Her gaze softened. "It's good to meet you too, Kane." She headed to the kitchen. "I'll put the groceries away before I head to work."

"Thanks. I'll save you leftovers." Jim sat next to him. "So, you got any questions? I know this is a lot, believe me. I've been through it, too."

"What will be expected of me here, sir?" Kane asked. That was the most important thing. He couldn't do what he was supposed to without knowing what it was first. "What will my duties be?"

"First, you can just rest and recover. It's been a while since you've had a break, I bet, and you look like a strong gust of wind could blow you over. Take a breather. Once you're better, we can split work around the house and some odd jobs I do in the neighborhood, which is mostly just stuff you know how to do anyway. Domestic stuff. If there's anything I want you to do, I'll let you know, so don't worry about trying to guess."

Kane nodded, a bit nervous about not having duties to fulfill. He wanted to make a good impression.

"I mean, I assume you're a domestic, 'cause you were doing the shopping. Unless I'm wrong...?" Jim asked cautiously.

"I am, sir," Kane assured him.

Jim gave him a wry smile. "I was, too."

Liz bopped Jim on the head as she passed by. "See you later. Uh, have fun." She stopped for a moment, looking at Kane quizzically. "Can I see your shoulder for a sec?" she asked, pointing at his right.

"Liz-"

"Yes, ma'am." Kane pulled the neck of his shirt down, exposing the scar there.

She brushed her fingertips against it, gentler than he'd thought she would be. "Does it hurt?"

"Only sometimes, ma'am, when I strain my shoulder too much. But usually not. I've always had it," he reported.

Liz tapped the scar. "I did that." She stepped back.

"Oh." Kane had been told it was a bullet wound. This woman had shot him? Why? Was she going to do it again? His mind raced with fear.

"I don't regret doing it. But I'm sorry it still hurts." Liz nodded at him before leaving the apartment.

Jim shook his head. "She's too much." He stood up. "Let's go to the kitchen. I'll make your favorite. 'Cept I can't get the fancy stuff like you used to get, but I hope you like it anyway."

Food. Kane was going to be allowed a meal, that was what Jim had said, instead of just the scraps. "Thank you so much, sir."

"No problem." Jim led him to the kitchen and indicated for Kane to sit as he started preparing food. It felt wrong. Kane was the pet, he was supposed to be doing the chores. But Jim said he wasn't supposed to yet, so he didn't.

"Any other questions?" Jim asked as he worked.

"What are the rules?" Kane ventured, trying to suppress a shudder as Jim picked up the knife. But he didn't come at Kane with it, he just started peeling a potato.

"Don't hurt anyone or destroy other people's stuff on purpose. Don't go tattling to WRU, obviously. Pretty much as long as you're not hurting anyone, no one's gonna have an issue with you. No discipline. You don't have to be scared of messing up. And you're allowed to want stuff."

It sounded far too good to be true. "Okay," he said, a bit choked up with emotion. "Please let me know if it's rude to ask, but when- when you first got away, was it easy for you, sir?"

Jim paused for a moment, then continued. Kane tensed, worried he'd offended his... new master? But Jim just kept talking. "It wasn't. I was all messed up. I was happy to be out, but I had no idea how to be my own person. And shit was... complicated with Liz. She kept expecting me to be someone I wasn't anymore. And I missed- my master, sometimes. He wasn't good to me, but he was everything I knew. And there were good times too, mixed in with the bad. So it made everything real complicated. But it all worked out eventually. I'm... actually happy now. I'm not the guy I was before, but I'm better." He smiled at Kane.

Kane didn't think he would ever miss his master. There weren't good times too. It was just pain and fear. "I'm glad you're happy now, sir."

"Me, too."

As Jim cooked, it was hard for Kane to restrain himself. When he cooked, he made use of everything he had. Potato peels that he would have eaten raw as he worked were dumped in the trash. He wondered if he would get in trouble for digging those out later. It wasn't against the rules, as far as Jim's description of them went.

At last, dinner was ready. Jim brought over two plates, piled high with food, and set one in front of Kane. He could hardly believe it.

"This is all for me?" he asked, just to make sure.

Jim's eyes fixated on him, watching intently for his reaction. "Yep, dig in."

Kane cut off a bite of meat, practically melting at its delicious taste. It was more than that- it tasted... familiar, somehow.

"Do you like it?" Jim prompted, an anxious look in his eyes that Kane knew all too well in his own. Seeking approval.

"It's the best thing I've ever tasted," he said emphatically.

Jim beamed, picking up his own fork. "I'm glad."

Kane had never eaten this much at once in his life. Everything was so good, better than anything he'd ever been able to make. When he'd finished his plat, he felt full for once, full with food he was allowed to have. It was the best feeling in the world.

"I- I'm sorry if I've wronged you," Kane said. "I didn't know. Thank you for helping me anyway."

Jim stared at him with an unreadable expression. "Oh." He shook his head. "Yeah, I mean, yeah. 'Course. You're pretty much not even the same guy."

A sneaking suspicion had been creeping up on Kane, and he was growing more and more certain of it by the minute, no matter how much he hoped it wasn't true. "Was I...?" He touched his own collar.

Jim glanced away. "Yeah."

Mine did, too. Jim said his master hit him, too. Had Kane been just like Master, but to Jim? Was that why Jim was so anxious for his approval? That's who he was before, that was Kane de Sang?

"I'm sorry," he said again, now feeling the weight of what he'd done. "You didn't deserve that. You're so kind."

Jim wiped at the tears starting to form in his eyes. "Thanks. I never thought I'd- thanks."

"Sir?" he asked, since this seemed to be going well. "You said I was... allowed to want things?"

"Yeah. You're allowed," Jim confirmed.

"I don't think I want to be Kane de Sang anymore."

-

in canon, liz has a good-sized 3-bedroom house, because housing by the vampire territory border is dirt cheap since no one wants to live there. in a world without vampires, i am whisking their comfortable house away. apartment be upon ye

and that's the final part of this AU miniseries! hope you enjoyed!

taglist in reblog!

#kane and jim au #kane and jim bbu #whump #bbucommunity #day13 #safety #bbu #my writing #pet whump #rescue #recovery whump #caretaking #whumper turned whumpee #starvation #whump writing

[sophie-hatter-jenkins]

A collection of Hinny-centric drabbles, microfics and one-shots written for the Ginny Lovers Discord server 5-Year Ginnversary Bingo game.

Chapter 10 - That Next Great Flighty Temptress

Fair warning: I sobbed while I was writing this. It's set in the afterlife so, y'know, everyone is dead - but hopefully it is ultimately a positive story. Feel free to scroll on by if that isn't your bag.

Rating - Teen and upwards

Read on AO3 from the beginning or continue below the cut for the latest chapter (1039 words)

When death came for Harry Potter, for the second and final time, he was alone. 

He was, he decided, glad about that. He could see the appeal to stepping out into the night with all those he loved and who loved him in return there to bid him farewell, but he’d never been comfortable with a fuss being made of him. No, far better to simply slip away quietly and unnoticed. The father and grandfather in him did feel guilty about it, but they would have their chance to mourn him. He just preferred it to be once he had already gone rather than before.

He had often thought, over the years, that having some experience in the business of dying might, eventually, prove helpful and when he opened his eyes, he decided he had been quite right on that score. It was all so familiar to him; the silence, the solitude and the unrelenting misty whiteness. He knew, immediately, what it meant.

Now as then, he found himself completely naked, but this didn’t perturb him; he simply willed some clothes into existence. It wasn’t until he was buttoning the jeans at his waist that he realised that his hands were no longer wizened with age. Now, that was a surprise. He wondered what he would see if he could look at his reflection, and no sooner had the thought crossed his mind than a floor length mirror in a carved wooden frame appeared next to him. 

He hadn’t seen the man staring back at him for years - decades even. His hair was raven black rather than iron grey. His face was unwrinkled. His torso was once again leanly-muscled, showing no hint of the atrophy of old age. Then again, had ever truly seen this man before? He ran his hand lightly across his unmarked chest, free from the twin scars that had marred it since he was seventeen, then peered more closely at the glass, pushing his hair up and away to see, for the first time ever, an unblemished forehead. That he could see it clearly even without his glasses made it just a little sweeter. Death, it seemed, suited him.

With a sigh, stooped to pick up the soft grey t-shirt that was still on the floor at his feet, and pulled it over his head.

“Oh. That’s a shame.”

Harry gasped. Her voice, her wonderful voice, came from behind him. For a moment, he couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. Tears welled in his eyes. Slowly, he turned around to face her.

“Gin?” he whispered, not really believing it.

“Hey there, stranger,” she said, softly. "It's been a while.”

“It has,” he agreed, his voice cracking with emotion. “Too long.”

“I’ve been waiting for you,” she told him.  

He raised his eyebrows. “All this time?”

She shrugged. “Yes. I couldn’t bear to go on without you. I’m glad you’re here now. You… er… you look good.”

“Thanks. So do you.” 

And she did - she really did. The Ginny in front of him was the one he always saw in his mind's eye. Her hair, long and vivid and tumbling over her shoulders, seemed to glow like the sunset in the soft white light that surrounded them both. Her skin was smooth and creamy and he knew it would feel like warm silk under his fingers.

Then he met her eyes, blazing hard through her tears with a look that was so familiar that his breath caught in his throat. He barely had time to register it before she was running toward him, and throwing her arms around him. Though there was absolutely no one watching as he bent his head and kissed her, Harry was sure that this time, several sunlit days really did pass before they broke apart, their salt-streaked faces split into huge grins. 

Ginny reached up and stroked her thumb across his cheekbone, wiping away his tears with a tender gesture he’d seen her offer to each of their children so many times over the years. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“Me too,” he murmured.

“What happened?” she asked. “To you, I mean. Can you remember?

Harry frowned. “I’m not sure, actually. I must have been asleep. The last thing I remember is going to bed.” He paused, not quite trusting his voice. “Not… not our bed. I’ve been sleeping in the spare room ever since… Well, ever since you died. I couldn’t bear it, you not being there.”

She looked away from him for a moment. “I was worried, you know? That you might try to come and join me before your time.”

“I thought about it,” he confessed. “For a long time. In the end, though, I just couldn’t do that to the kids. And… and the last few years have been good. Not like they were, like they should have been, with you there too. But there were a lot of happy times. I mean, I got to meet my great-grandchildren. And I’m glad about that.” 

The expression on Ginny’s face was heartbreaking. “I wish I could have been there.”

Harry swallowed hard. “So do I.”

For a moment, they simply stood, holding one another. Then Ginny took a pace back, letting her fingers slide down his arm until they were hand in hand. “Come on. We have a train to catch. I expect that there are a lot of people waiting for us.”

Looking around, Harry realised that whiteness around them had solidified into something more tangible. Now, he could clearly see a familiar, if very much cleaner, railway station platform. As he watched, he thought he detected movement in the misty distance, and sure enough, the fog eventually cleared to allow a train to pass through, slowing as it pulled into the station. 

Holding tight to his wife’s hand, Harry chose a carriage and opened the door, turning to help Ginny board behind him. They curled up together on the well worn moquette seat, his arm wrapped around her shoulders, and moments later, there was a jolt as the train began to move again.

“Where do you think we’re going?” asked Ginny, her breath soft and warm against his chest. 

Harry looked down at his wife and smiled. “On.”

#harry potter #ginny weasley #hinny #harry x ginny #ginniversary bingo #i made myself cry #i am very very sorry for what i have done

[pedros-immaculate-vibes]

I saw you said to feel free to throw Halsin smut into your inbox and one I keep NONSTOP thinking about is that like touchstarved “you have no idea how long I’ve been wanting this” desperate type shit 😭

I know he even says how he’s had to contain himself but I mean I need Tav to fight with him, getting mad about something dumb and blurting out that she has feelings for him and his chest is just heaving, eyes staring at her, before he stomps up and grabs her face and kisses her like he’s starved. Like I need them both gasping for air, him bending down to her level just to grunt in her ear about how words cannot describe how badly he’s been wishing for and dreaming of this moment that he thought would never come.

LIKE I **NEED** them to be frantically taking off clothes without breaking contact, him ripping things off of her, sweaty, panting, just carnal. But I so so so badly want that sexual tension to tear me apart first.

He’s ruining my liiiiiife 😭

Do I have a story for you 👀

If I may SHAMELESSLY plug my 22-chapter story about them essentially being too stupid to act on how bad they want eachother (but actually he’s just too fucking noble for his own relief). So far, the whole thing is them pining for each other and finding small ways to show that they care and falling deeper with no escape ladder in sight or wanted.

*coughSpecificallyChapters9.5And12cough*

FULL Feral behavior hasnt happened yet, BUT they def have a fight scene where Tav kinda kicks his ass and then, um, things are said and stuff against a tree

I haven’t found much “I want to fuck you so bad it makes me look stupid” on my Ao3 travels, unfortunately, bc that’s one of my favorite tropes.

THIS however is a good one shot from someone else where he’s like a sweet Dom and it’s hot af where they celebrate the solstice *insert dirty French laugh here*

But YES the tension that drives them both insane should be in more smutty fanfics imo

like they’re under an intense amount of stress, and he’s trying his damnedest to not lose focus, and you’re just fucking strssded

ESPECIALLY IF THIS FAMED HEALER KEEPS HEALING AND BANDAGING AND FIXING YOY LIKE OMG WHY IS THAT NOT IN THE GAME FFS

I have a lot of strong opinions on several things 😅

BUT YES

ALL THE ANON SMUTTY HALSIN OPINIONS

THE MAN IS IN NEED OF SOME AFFECTION FFS

HES BEEN RUNNING ON FUMES FOR DECADES

#Halsin #ME SCREAMING #THROUGH A SCREEN #AAAAAAAAAAAAA #halsin silverbough #A peaceful elf

[pillarofawesome]

"Does it hurt to get shot?"

Shepard must not have been asleep if that question was heard so easily. Eyes snapped open, head turned to the source of the query, and standing right next to the sun lounger was a small asari girl.

Couldn't have been older than... well, hard to tell with asari. Kid could be thirty Earth-years old for all Shepard knew. Still definitely a kid, though. A pair of eyes, one blue and one green, stared intently over a datapad clutched to her chest, a mixture of nervous regret for intruding and anticipation of an answer to her question in her gaze. Her dress had a floral pattern with African colors, a common fashion here in Rio de Janeiro. A few decades ago, it would have looked out of place on an asari. But with the relays down, the Milky Way was now a constellation of suspended melting pots. This girl was undoubtedly born and raised here. These were not "tourist clothes" for an "alien" girl making a novel visit to an alliance planet. These were just clothes, and she was home. Not a human, but undeniably an earthling now. Hell, she was even speaking English, although many asari were known to study multiple languages. They certainly had the time.

"What?" No sooner did Shepard ask that than immediately register the question. Now it had to be asked again. Shepard hated when that happened.

"Does it hurt to get shot?" The asari maiden repeated, quieter this time, face lowering to hide behind the datapad. She feared she was really being a bother, now.

Shepard was surprised to not mind the question. It would be a ridiculous question in days long past, but this was a new time with a new generation. This little girl didn't know and was genuinely curious. Shepard could recall having nothing but dumb questions to look forward to for a long time after being found and resuscitated ages ago. The most famous human in the galaxy- maybe the most famous person- was still alive. Shepard feared never hearing the end of it. What's that old saying? 'No rest for the wicked'? That was the second best adage describing Shepard's life following the Reapers behind 'it was the best of times, it was the worst of times'.

The war was actually over. No more action; just talking now. So much talking there was barely time to breathe or think. Options of what to answer or reply metaphorically floating in front of Shepard's face on a wheel, with every stupid answer to every stupid question feeling wrong. Statement this, report that, interview over there- with another Arabic-named journalist, ironically enough. There had been acceptance speeches, and many promotions offered (though Shepard only accepted one), followed by speaking tours. Then there were regular meetings with a biographer at some point. All of this was given only a brief reprieve by a stressful tenure as the commandant of the N-school at Vila Militar. After all of that, Shepard was now truly retired; finally too old and broken to even fly a desk these days.

"I-it's just that I thought I saw your face before," the girl continued. Shepard would kick Shepard's own head right now if it were possible. Shepard was lost in thought for so long that the unanswered kid was now feeling awkward. "So I looked you up," she said holding out and pointing at the datapad. "The internet said you fought in the war? I'm sorry!" She started to back up and turn away now. Come on, Shep, say something! You're embarrassing the poor little sweetheart.

"No no! It's okay," Shepard consoled with a raised palm. Straining a humbling amount, the old body augments feeling like dead weight these days, Shepard pulled up to a reclined posture, turned sideways, and set both feet on the ground to face the youngling properly. "I did fight in the war." For that to not be rhetorical, the girl must truly not be talking to the Captain Shepard, but merely an elder; an old veteran who witnessed the mythical conflict before her time that rescued her parents, making her very life possible. The near-anonymity Shepard had to this innocent child was a breath of fresh air.

She gestured with the datapad again. "It says here you were injured in combat?" Shepard cracked a grin at that, barely managing to catch an all out guffaw. 'Injured?' Is that all it said? The internet- the extranet lost its connection to all servers on other planets- was understating it just a little bit. "Yeah," Shepard replied, "you could say that."

The girl's lips pouted and her cheeks darkened a deeper shade of blue at that answer. She was sick of older people giving vague answers with knowing smirks. Everyone seemed to know something big abut the past that was flying over her head, and they weren't cluing her in. They were grinning at a naive little girl who didn't know any better, and here she was trying to learn; trying to understand. She wanted to show some attitude, but she bit her tongue, afraid she was already being rude to a stranger.

"And yes, it hurts to get shot." The girl's eyes snapped back to Shepard's at that. "The bullets themselves were atomically small, but they were projected with mass effect fields that carried a whirlwind of energy. Sometimes some other effects, too. When they pierced the skin, the bullet didn't do anything. The bolt of energy following it would go through and spread out." Shepard gestured with points of fingers and waves of hands between sentences. The asari was listening intently, and visibly trying to understand. Shepard remembered she was young, and opted to illustrate with an analogy. "It's like if a strike from a sledgehammer was contained in a needle, and injected straight into your body." After saying all of that, Shepard wondered if that imagery worked, or just sounded stupid. The "woah" from the wide-eyed youngster seemed to imply the former. Guns were actually the least terrifying weapon Shepard faced, but enough gory detail was being shared for now.

"You're lucky to be alive," she said after digesting everything. Shepard had to pause at that. It was hard to see it that way sometimes, but she was right. Shepard had suffered through so much, seen so much, lost so much, wondered so much. Why did so many have to die? Did so many have to die? What if I made different decisions? Would the ending have been the same no matter what I did, or did my choices matter? Where did the Normandy go? Did my crew survive? Where is the love of my two lives?

All the hustle and bustle following the war kept Shepard busy, putting off dwelling on it. Retirement had brought it all up at once, leaving Shepard in a dissociative state most days. But right here, right now, she was right.

"I'm glad you fought for us," she continued with a smile. "I'm glad you're not dead."

And with that, Shepard's dwellings could take a break for now. The earnest, raw, simple fact stated by this girl broke through all the what-ifs. Her mere existence was proof that despite the great cost, the war was won. Annihilation and extinction were at stake, but here we all were; battered, bruised, scarred, and scattered, but still alive. This beautiful, intuitive, emotionally-intelligent child was telling her elder it was all worth it, and she was right. It hurt to get shot, yes. And it hurt more to face all the other wounds from the war; physical and otherwise. But here sat Shepard victorious, having survived it all. And looking into Shepard's face was a generation who would never have to face such pain, living in a world that was healing from it.

"Thank you," Shepard finally responded, unable to catch the slight voice-crack. The asari girl smiled even brighter at that. She opened her mouth to say something else, but was interrupted by a call from afar.

"Atalanta! Sweetie, time to go!" The parent was a silhouette standing in front of the setting sun. The shape looked human. They must be the father.

"Bye-bye!" said the earthling, using Earth lingo that again betrayed how local she was. Shepard echoed the farewell and waved as she ran off. Lying back down, Shepard allowed the broken warrior a rest, and finally caught a carefree nap. Shepard would go back to mourning later.

#mass effect trilogy #mass effect fanfiction #short story #commander shepard #don't really know the point of this story #but it came to me so i wrote it down before i forgot #i want to get in the habit of flexing the creative muscles #even if i'm not very good #rip edi and the geth but the synthesis ending sounds too good to be true #control ending ain't even an option

[alicent-boleyn]

the wedding

Word count: 893 words

SUMMARY: Berenice convinces Rhaena to listen to her heart, 168 AC.

Despite being the same age as Rhaena, Berenice has found that they do not share much in the way of, well, anything. Sure, they may both be faithful worshippers of the Seven, but there was something of a flavor of dogmatic vehemence in Rhaena's piety that Berenice wanted to hold at a firm distance. She could not say what trait of hers similarly repelled Rhaena, only that their shared upbringing and cloistering in the Maidenvault did not have the effect of bringing them closer.

They were let out on certain occasions, mostly to attend court functions and services at the sept, and today, they were allowed to attend Daeron's wedding to Princess Myriah Martell. No one could deny they were pleased at the prospect. Daena was particularly excited for the occasion, as it meant several successive days out of the same four walls they've been trapped behind for nearly a decade. Of course, they had to sit through hours and hours of sermons at the ceremony, but even Blessed Baelor the Beloved could not stop the feasting and dancing and jousting that accompanied a royal wedding.

Berenice felt the music twirl around her, like clouds of smoke, Dornish guitars and flutes and hurdy-gurdies coming together to make sounds that were joyful, if not totally pleasant. Even Princess Naerys, still weak from the birth of her daughter Daenerys, swayed in her seat to the happy rhythm. She was glad to see her cousin enjoying her son's wedding, since the rest of life had been treating her so ill. She usually dressed in pale, nearly white clothes, but today, she wore red and black and gold, gold, gold. Her clothes almost overpowered her; the woman faded into the background, while the dress, beaded and embroidered and trimmed to excess, seemed to act on its own. Half dead already, it seemed fit that Naerys occupied her clothes like a ghost in a keep.

Strong wine flowed freely, and though she drank only half her glass, it was more than she had had in a very long time. The sound and the alcohol and her own discomfort with crowds made her leave the Great Hall for the gardens. (Since when did she hate crowds? She was never like this before Baelor.)The garden was lit sparsely, Berenice made her way by the light of a few lanterns and the nearly-full moon. Approaching the old weirwood, she saw Rhaena sitting at its roots.

“Cousin!” She said, mindful of her volume. The gods of the weirwood were not her gods, but nonetheless she knew better than to disregard them completely.

“Berenice,” Rhaena replied. “What brings you here?”

“The same as what brought you here, I'll reckon.” She sat beside her. Out of the folds of her skirt, Rhaena produced an orange and began to peel it. Watching the leaves dance in front of the moon, they shared the slices. Berenice felt a little bad, not having anything to provide for their little feast. Rhaena did not try to make conversation, and so neither did Berenice. When they finished, they sat silent for a moment, and Berenice grabbed her cousin's sticky hand and held it.

Rhaena opened her mouth, “Do y-”

“Wh-” Berenice started. They had both tried to speak at the same time. Berenice nodded and let the other woman go first.

“Do you ever think, sometimes, that being a princess is more trouble than it's worth?” She was barely above a whisper.

“Yes, much more than sometimes. Do you remember when I came to court?” Rhaena nodded in agreement. “I know I was terribly disagreeable that first year, sullen, cross with everyone and everything. But I had not been raised to be the niece of a king, or cousin or what have you. I was raised to be a holy Sister, I cannot wear the mantle of Princess with any comfort.”

At this, Rhaena's brow furrowed. “How do you do it then? How do you keep going when you find your position so… untenable?”

Berenice flicked her gaze to the sky, then back to her cousin. “Because I know I have a way out. I remember Rhaella, daughter of Rhaena, and Maegelle, daughter of Jaehaerys, and Celia, the Mother at the house which raised me and the mother of my heart.” Just a hint of hope dawned on Rhaena's face. This seems to have been the right thing to say.

“For a long time now, I have felt a… a certain something in my heart, a longing only satisfied when I enter the Sept, and breath in the incense, and feel the pages of the Seven-Pointed Star whisper between my fingers.” Rhaena sighed, “I… I know what the gods are telling me, but I don't know that I have the strength to answer their call.”

Berenice squeezed her cousin's hand. “Baelor will support you in this, you know he will, and besides, becoming a Septa doesn't mean you have to leave us quite so soon, not until after your permanent vows. The only difference between following your soul's desire now and following it later is the amount of heartache in between.”

A lull fell between them as they contemplated each other's words. The two women turned to the stars, letting the echo of the music inside be washed away by the wind and the rustling leaves and their heartbeats.

#oc: berenice targaryen #naerys targaryen #septa rhaena #asoiaf oc #asoiaf #hotd oc #got oc #asoiaf fanfic #hotd fanfic

[findmeinasunshower]

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒆𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕 1: 𝑫𝒊𝒏 𝑫𝒋𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏

word-count: <1k (little baby blurb)

genre: Din Djarin x senator!Reader, hurt/comfort, fluff

warnings: mentions of blood, canon-typical violence

Part 2   ~   Part 3

The Mandalorian isn’t sure what to think of the unassuming senator Skywalker’s sister presents him with. 

He agreed to help the Jedi fulfill a protection order for you—his twin sister’s friend and colleague. You had recently found your life in danger due to opposition in the Senate, and while Senator Organa can protect herself, you grew up on a small farming planet and never learned anything of the sort, despite your best efforts.

Din expects you to be similar to Senator Organa: A spitfire who notices every little thing, but chooses to keep certain details filed away for the right moment. And while he was right about the latter, you have a different way of firing back than Senator Organa. 

Unlike Senator Organa’s elaborate dresses and braids, you dress simply in the clothing of your people, and Din later learns you keep only one assistant to help you be presentable to the senate. The first time he meets you, he finds himself drawn to what he can only describe as a humble power exuding from your every pore. You have his undivided attention by doing nothing more than just standing in his field of view.  

The reason Imperial sympathizers decided you are deadly is because of your capacity for patience. You listen and you observe and you strategize throughout the debates until you have enough information to speak, and proceed to rip your opposition apart.

Din decided he liked you the first time he saw you give a speech on the Senate floor.

He grew to respect you when you quieted Senator Organa with a simple raise of your hand, and she proceeded to sit back and let you take the floor. You then won the debate. 

But Din realizes he trusts you the first time the Senate goes on lockdown.

He isn’t sure how he ended up on the floor of a droid closet with you pressing your hands to his stomach. One second, he heard the familiar sound of blaster fire in the conference room, and the next he was collapsing after dragging you here and barricading the door.

Later, you tell him that he had whipped you behind him and pulled out his blaster all before the Imperial spy even fired their first shot. Mando took a nasty hit to the chest from covering you as you fled the conference room and he pushed you into the first safe space he could find.

Honestly, Din was stupid to think protecting a senator of a government ripped apart by war would be an easy task. The Jedi wasn’t lying when he offered Din this job on the promise of it being “interesting.” But when he said yes, all he could think about was a steady, well-paying job that he could do while still having time to visit Grogu.

He didn’t realize how entertained he’d be in between visits to his son, watching you and Skywalker’s sister rip the rest of the Senate to shreds with words.

That’s another reason why Din trusts you — you were the first to make him realize that not every weapon is physical.

Din’s knocked out of his thoughts when you whisper: “You’re bleeding.”

“I am?” he asks. He feels your fingers curl around his in the dark, and you guide his gloved hand to press against his noticeably wet stomach. “Dank Farrik.”

“’Dank Farrik is right,” you respond, but fall quiet again when footsteps sound from the hall outside. A crick in your neck is starting to develop where half of you is laying across the Mandalorian while the rest of you is pressed up against an R2 Unit.

It feels like hours, but is probably only minutes before Din risks whispering: “Are you injured?”

You shake your head. “Not a scratch. But I feel a lot of blood, Mando.”

“Din.”

He isn’t sure what makes him say it—What makes him suddenly decide to trust you after decades of living in anonymity.

But, he decides his slip-up is worth it when you look up at him with wide eyes. “What?” you ask.

The Mandalorian clears his throat, suddenly uncomfortable being the object of your complete focus. “My name. It’s Din. I’d like you to use it.”

And for the first time, Din sees you caught off of your guard. An unfamiliar feeling takes over his chest at the soft ‘O’ shape of your mouth, the wonder that’s taken over your eyes.

He’s knocked back into reality when your hand slips against his wound. He lurches back from the accidental touch with a hiss, helmet thumping back against the wall in an effort not to scream. You’re quick to school your face back into composure at the sound of his pain. “Sorry, sorry,” you whisper and he grunts his forgiveness. You add a quiet, “Din” as an afterthought.

That foreign feeling is back as you duck your head shyly, the first time Din’s seen you bashful and lost for words. He’s noticed a lot of firsts tonight, and finds his breathing calming as he watches you school your face into careful calm. The corner of your mouth turns up when he tilts his visor to you, and Din can almost imagine you’re looking him in the eye.

“Alright, Din Djarin,” you say. “Let’s get you fixed up.”

For the second time in his life, Din moves without thinking by reaching forward and gently grasping your hand. You freeze at the sudden contact before dragging your gaze to his.

“Thank you,” he says. “For saving my life.”

You bite your lip to keep from smiling too wide and squeeze his hand back. If Din weren’t already sitting on the floor, the gesture would have brought him to his knees. “It’s about time I pay you back.”

#findmeinasunshower #sunshowerimagines #the mandalorian #the mandalorian imagine #the mandalorian x reader #the mandalorian x you #the mandalorian fanfiction #din djarin #din djarin imagine #din djarin x reader #din djarin x you #din djarin fanfiction #star wars #star wars imagine #star wars x reader #star wars x you #star wars fanfiction #pedro pascal #pedro pascal imagine #pedro pascal x reader #pedro pascal fanfiction #grogu #fandom imagine #imagine #x reader #x you #fanfiction

[dominimoonbeam]

To The Edge - 10

This work is mine and I do not give consent for my works to be used, copied, published, or posted without my permission. I am sharing chapters as I work on this story but it is copyrighted material that I plan to rework and publish when completed.

story tags: scifi romance, hijinks in space, rogues learning to trust, violence, blood, guns, death, explicit language, so much kidnapping,

Works organized and easily found over on the patreon. <3

TO THE EDGE - CHAPTER 10.

He still had bits of tape stuck to his clothes and the residue on his wrists when he stormed down the long corridors of Carina, one of the worst outposts in the whole stretch of dark space he called home.

He couldn’t believe they’d tased him again.

He checked his gun before holstering it against his thigh, hands still twitching from the electricity. Could he even aim the damn thing right now if he needed to? Maybe it was a good thing if he couldn’t, because his first shot might be for that primer.

He hadn’t been unconscious for long, though it had taken him a few minutes to get his legs under him and then find his damn guns.

His vision still had waves at the edges when he reached the station proper. A hub of transport and exchange buzzed around him, making him sway into a wall but never stop moving forward. Ships docked along arms in all directions on twenty levels, cargo pushed on trollies and driven on trucks into that center ring. He willed himself not to drop when all that sound and movement hit him at once.

Closing his eyes, Rory dragged a breath and then a second before opening his eyes and accessing his optic implant. He had maps of the whole station from previous visits, blue light in his vision putting up signs and arrows, making order out of that jumbled mess. He pulled up the tracking program and there they were, a pulse of yellow light down the corridor on the seventh floor up from where he stood.

He took the stairs rather than waiting on an available lift and with each flight he felt himself shaking off the residual disorientation and twitches of that electric shock.

When he reached the same floor as them, their beacon of light flashed at him through walls, somewhere in that direction.

Rory turned down a hall and a mercenary stepped into his path, hand on his gun and mouth pulled in a sneer.

It wasn’t like he was wearing a badge that said he was a mercenary, it was just sort of obvious after decades of dealing with them. It was the gear, the stance, and the confidence. “You’re heading the wrong way, buddy,” the guy said. A second mercenary leaned against the wall near an open docking door to their ship.

The problem with mercenaries, in Rory’s opinion, was that they were so easy to identify, and yet none of them had any idea what a bounty hunter looked like when they saw one. They saw military. They saw other mercs. And they saw pirates. But Rory? Rory was a background civilian to these people.

He pulled his gun so fast the merc barely had time to register it… and then he shot him.

The merc fell with a groan, hands to his bleeding middle, and Rory leveled the barrel on the second one. She wasn’t leaning against the wall anymore, her full attention on the situation and her hand on her gun, half-pulled from the holster before being caught in his line.

Rory laughed shakily, still looking at the second one when he said to the first. “Sorry, buddy. I meant to shoot you in the leg. I think I’m still twitching…”

The first just groaned and rolled, crying now.

“Where’s my bounty?” he asked the second.

She hadn’t let go of her gun yet. Was she waiting for a chance to pull and try her luck? “What are you talking about?”

Rory clocked the welt on her cheek and recently opened scabs on her knuckles. “Oh, I think you’ve met them. We both know I can’t stand here for long. Give them back or you’ll be on the ground with your friend.”

Her gaze didn’t budge and her hand didn’t drop.

The mercenary on the floor kicked onto his back and pulled a gun from his thigh, lifting it in a second wind of violent desperation. Mercenaries were good at that. Pirates would run, plea, and beg. Mercenaries would die with gritted teeth, taking as many people down with them. Though Rory appreciated that trait poetically, it was a nightmare in practicality.

He lunged forward, shouldering the second mercenary into the wall while dodging the first shot and trying to stop her from pulling her gun. He stretched his arm down and fired another round into the merc on the floor, still struggling with the second. She kneed him hard in the thigh, dropping him to his knee and getting her gun free.

Rory caught her hand and pushed it away just as she fired, her shot going wide while his barrel pressed right up against her chest. Her body muffled the shot and he grunted, pushing himself to his feet while she dropped to the side.

He ducked through the doorway they had been guarding, shoulder to the wall of the long hall as he jogged the length to the ship, inside just before another mercenary came around a corner.

How many were there?

The whole interior of the ship pulsed in yellow for his vision, telling him they were there…somewhere.

The mercenary held up his hands, gaze flicking between Rory’s face and his already-drawn weapon. “I think you’ve made a big mistake,” they said.

Rory was honestly surprised this one hadn’t called him buddy too. “Where are they?”

The mercenary shrugged, hands slowly lowering. They took a step back and to the side.

“I said, where is my fucking bounty?” Rory yelled, keeping his eye and his gun on the merc.

“What are you talking about?” They weren’t even trying to sound confused.

“You heard me!” His hand started shaking, not from nerves but from the fucking electric shocks of the last day. “I know you have them! I know they hired you and I’m guessing you already double-crossed them. I’m giving you a chance to hand over what’s mine before you end up like the rest of your crew.”

The merc grinned at the tremble in his hand, reading it all wrong. Their own hand, steady, drifted toward the gun holstered against their thigh.

“Don’t draw that on me…” Rory warned. “I swear, if you—”

Fearless, the mercenary pulled their gun—probably already imagining their own legend unfolding from this moment.

Rory fired before the gun was even free, blowing the merc back into the wall in a heap.

He sighed, holstering his weapon and shaking out his twitching hand.

“Okay,” he said, more to himself than anyone else, turning to consider the ship for the first time. “You’re here somewhere, Stardust. I know you’re here and you’re still alive so…”

He spun toward a thump and blinked down at a cargo box.

Something inside knocked again.

Rory bit back a laugh, stepping closer. “Stardust…are you in the box?”

A series of thumps rattled off inside the metal container.

He tapped on the outside and they drummed angrily inside. “Okay, knock twice for yes. Do you regret trying to hire these guys?”

The pause was palpable. Rory waited.

Knock. Knock.

He laughed, forgetting his anger about all the trouble they’d put him through. “Yeah. You’re lucky that bounty on you made it really clear your family wants you back alive…” This was perfect. He cast his gaze around for a way to move the box. “You’re awfully quiet though. Did they gag you too?

Knock. Knock.

“Smart. I’m kind of sorry I killed them now. They had the right idea…” This couldn’t be better. He found a trolley and pushed the cargo off of it. Boxes of protein bars busted open, spilling brightly wrapped rectangles onto the floor. “You’re lucky I caught up to you before they left the station. How long did it take for them to realize you were worth more as a bounty than an employer? Oh yeah, you can’t answer that… Yes or no questions…”

He looked at the crate. “Are you sorry you stole my ship?”

In the pause before the two soft knocks, he imagined their scowl.

“Are you going to behave if I open the box?”

Rory waited.

The knocks were quick.

He laughed. They were a shit liar even when they were gagged. “Yeah, I don’t believe you, Stardust. Not even a little bit.” Without jostling them too much, Rory hefted the crate onto the trolley. “I’m convinced that you’re incapable of staying out of trouble, which would have made you a great friend in another life but right now you’re a terrible bounty.”

They beat what he hoped was their boot against the side of the box, screams that sounded a lot like they were meant to be swears muffled inside.

“Settle down.” He pushed them past the dead mercenary and down the hall, toward more bodies. Would they care? They hadn’t been exactly squeamish about the pirates he dropped when he picked them up. “You’re not getting out of the box yet. In fact, I’m thinking I’ll drill a hole in the top here to drop in some water bottles and protein bars when we get back to the ship. Maybe you can stay in there until we get you home.” He had to kick one of the mercenary’s legs out of the way to get the cart around the corner.

Stardust banged against the lid of their box.

“Yeah, yeah, the restraints and the gag.” Dropping food and water in wouldn’t work. “I wonder what their plan was for keeping you alive in there… Or maybe they thought they’d let you out once they were on their way. Poor fools. You would have done a number on them.”

He turned down the main hall, into the flow of other visitors moving cargo around to the lifts. Carina wasn’t a lawful station by any stretch, even for the edge, but getting out of there before someone decided to care about the dead mercs was probably the best move. The last thing he needed was someone else realizing how much the cargo in that crate was worth.

He took the lift back down to the floor where Stardust had parked his ship.

“Do you still have that jacket?” he wondered aloud. If anyone noticed him talking, they would assume it was on a call over his optic implant and not to the person in the box he was pushing.

Stardust kicked and thumped wildly.

Rory laughed, biting his tongue to try to stop. It was just too good. “Calm down! We’re coming up on a checkpoint and I’d rather not have to shoot anyone else for you today…” Really, if Stardust had paid a little extra to park on one of the higher levels, they could skip the checkpoint. It was really just a shakedown for a little extra credit.

The augmented human stood in his path, one scope eye twisting side to side to analyze him and his cargo. “What do you have there?” they asked, voice shuddering with a synthetic rattle. Another augment stood behind them, more machine than human to the point where Rory wasn’t entirely sure they were alive and not just a statue.

“In this?” Rory asked, pointing at the crate on the trolley like there was any other crate they might be asking about.

Stardust screamed and thumped wildly inside the box.

The augment lifted the eyebrow they still had and he instantly hoped they never gave up that swatch of skin for more metal and tech because it was a very expressive gesture, especially with that smirk.

Rory leaned against the handlebar of the trolley. “Bought them off a skin ship. I wouldn’t suggest getting a peak. I hear they’re a biter.”

The smirk became a grin. They had metal teeth. “You’re into biting?”

“Oh, I’m just transporting,” he clarified and held out a plastic card between fingers.

The augment took it, their scope eyes honing in on the card to read the prepaid credit value before their smile turned polite and disinterested. “Have a good night,” they said, stepping back.

“Yeah, you have a good night too,” Rory pushed on, into the quieter hallway leading off into arms numbered by parking spots at the station.

His cargo had been quiet since their attempt at getting rescued. They would have been better off with the mercs than the cut-throat muscle working Carina. But how could they know that? “Did you really think they’d care? You have no idea where you are, Stardust. You should be thanking me for trying to get you home.”

There were no knocks of agreement or thumps of rage this time.

Rory laughed, pushing them back to his ship.

The door opened and he finally got them back onboard, parking their dumb ass on the deck while he manually locked the ship.

When he came back to the deck, they were pushing at the lid of their box, like it might suddenly be open.

The bounty hunter laughed and shook his head, even if they couldn’t see it. “Oh no, you’re staying in there until I’m done resetting the systems controls.”

They kept thumping but he ignored them, opening a panel to get at the primary access controls for the ship. In all the cycles he’d been picking up bounties, some willing and some definitely not, this was the first time he’d lost control of his ship.

When Stardust continued to thump, he tried a command and flooded the deck with music, pleased it had worked and even more so that the beat synced up with the primer’s tantrum nicely.

#to the edge #defying gravity #own work #scifi romance #ride or die in space #the adventures of stardust and cosmic #audio script to novel #<3 #dominimoonbeam #clover down #romance

[xtrafluffyteddy]

Weekend only boyfriend

Pairing: Eddie munson x reader

Mentions: heartfelt feelings, fluff fluff fluff love love love

So this is actually inspired by my aunt who had a metal head boyfriend even though she was a hippy type she only saw her boyfriend on the weekends because according to her he only gets to see her at her best and he’d always ask to marry her she’d always say no but he still stayed with her for like a decade and showed up at her funeral when she passed from cancer.

Eddie was what you called your weekend only boyfriend and he had been for about 5 years now atleast since you both graduated. You two were opposites in every way while he was a Metallica, Iron Maiden type, you were more a fleetwood mac, the beetles type person. Your trailer was covered in plants and painted all sorts of different colors your porch covered in wind chimes and knick knacks. How you and Eddie clicked no one knew but hey you two loved each other even if it was only on the weekends.

You were laying on your couch munching away on some Doritos when there was a knock at the door. You raised a brow not expecting anyone on a Wednesday evening. When you got up you looked outside to see none other than your boyfriend standing on your porch. You opened your a door a crack so he couldn’t see you in your comfy clothes “whatcha want honey” you questioned staring up at him “just missed you is all” he mumbles scratching the back of his neck “you couldn’t miss me till the weekend?” You joked giving him a goofy smile “to far away besides the weekend is never enough for me I want all of you all the time” he leaned against the doorframe staring down at you lovingly “mmmm I dunno honey that’d be breakin my weekend only boyfriend rule”

You thought about it weighing the pros and cons “cmon sweetheart we’ve been together for like 5 years now and I’ve only see you on the weekends since we were in high school don’t you think it’s time for a change?” He questioned as he toyed with a little wooden cat he found on your door frame “I dunno honey you may not like what you see on the weekdays” you warned not sure if he could handle you with out you bein all dolled up “I think I’m willing to try sweetheart if it means seeing more of you” he smiled standing up straight “mmm alright but this is only a trial honey” you opened the door all the way standing before him in a stained over sized shirt and mismatched socks “cmon in honey” you pulled himself inside giving him a soft smile shutting the door behind both of you.

#eddie munson x reader #stranger things #eddie munson #eddie munson imagine #eddie st4 #eddie munson stranger things #eddie stranger things #eddie my beloved

[whyiseverynametakenpls]

Don't play with us!

---------------------------------------------------

Genre : fluff

Tw : none

Pairing : Maria Marionette x reader (romantic)

Characters : you, maria, a few other dolls and your owner

Story : Hey! You can't do that!!

You shoot a hard look at Maria from the shelf right in front of her. "She really thinks she's better than me. But she's not!" you mutter, talking to yourself, as you feel a strong dislike for her.

She gives you an annoyed glare back and mumbles something; her face shows she's bothered. She gets even more annoyed as she keeps looking at you, and you can clearly see her making a face of annoyance.

You react dramatically, gasping loudly. "Can you believe her?" you say in an exaggerated way, putting your hand on your chest, and looking at her with a mix of disgust and shock. "Hm!" You turn your head away in a huff.

You can't exactly remember how this whole rivalry started, but what you do remember very well is that she got you so mad that you just didn't want to talk to her anymore.

------------------✧-----------------

“Ugh! You again.” She scoffed.

“Don’t act like you’re the only one that doesn’t want to be here! I’d rather stay in a garbage truck than be with you!” You retort.

She opened her mouth in shock. “That was so rude! How dare you!” She shouted.

“No, how dare you!?” You get mad back at her.

The other dolls looked at you and saw imaginary sparks from between your faces. A doll sighs.

“I wonder when they’ll finally make up after all these years…” She mumbles.

“10 if they never make up.” A doll chimes. “30!” Another adds.

“Wow, you guys really have no hope for them huh?” The same doll from before laughs.

A doll came from behind her and started to speak “I mean look at them! They’ve been fighting for 2 decades now! If they haven’t made up, then I’m not sure they ever will.”

“I guess so…” The woman doll lets out a sigh.

------------------✧-----------------

You were peacefully savoring the quiet moment while Maria slept, but suddenly, the sound of footsteps outside reached your ears.

You tore your eyes off the other shelf and looked at the door.

The footsteps gradually drew nearer, teasingly slow, as if playing with your senses.

You inhaled deeply and held your breath, refusing to release it in fear of what was going to happen.

The door opened slowly as a child and an old woman entered the room.

You recognized the old woman as your owner, who played with you when she was still a teen.

“Is this really all mine grandma?” The child excitedly says.

“Of course darling, but they are quite old, so you need to remember to take care of them nicely, okay?” The old grandma said.

“She’s giving us to... That demon??” You accidentally said out loud, but luckily the grandma and child didn’t seem to hear it.

“You’re the best grandma! I love you!!” The child screams and runs out of the room.

The grandma smiles as the child walks out of the room as she follows her out, closing the door on her way out.

------------------✧-----------------

You didn’t want to admit it, but the child actually took good care of you all.

The child cleaned you up, cleaned the shelves, and even made a change of clothes to all of you.

“I guess I’ve lost…” You sigh, admitting defeat because you thought the child wasn’t going to be a good owner.

“Whatever I guess…” You mumble to yourself.

------------------✧-----------------

“Now to clean my favorite dolls!” The child made excited gestures as she jumped around, reaching to both you and Maria.

You sent a glare to Maria, a sign telling her to back off.

She sent you a glare back to show that she wouldn’t back off, so you should instead.

You look away in displeasure.

After being cleaned, you both were left to stand while your child owner tried to look for the new set of clothes that they had made for you.

You continued your rivalry with Maria as your owner left.

------------------✧-----------------

“Yes! Found them!” They scream from outside.

The door opens to reveal your owner holding clothes that looked like… A wedding suit???

You looked at Maria as you saw her eyes widen.

The owner dressed you up in wedding attire.

You and Maria were both dumbfounded.

“What..?” You thought to yourself.

You both only snapped out of your thoughts when you heard the child say “You may now kiss the bride”

You both were moving closer to each other, but you or she could not do anything about it.

Your lips finally met and you immediately moved away from each other.

“Did you just… KISS ME??” You say to her, as you held a hand to cover your blushing face.

---------------------------------------------------

<- MASTERLIST

-> Some Maria fluff to help with Mysta's grad :)

#nijisanji en #nijisanji en x reader #nijisanji #nijisanji x reader #happy #whatever gender reader #fluff #nijisanji iluna #nijisanji iluna x reader #iluna #iluna x reader #maria #maria x reader #maria marionette #maria marionette x reader #happy happy #dont be sad #yayyyy #sad sad go away

[uzumaki-rebellion]

“Black Boys Bloom Thorns First: Volume 4, Chapter 64″

Need to catch up? You know you do for this long-running epic series. Masterlist HERE.

"Oh, let the sun beat down upon my face And stars fill my dream I'm a traveler of both time and space To be where I have been To sit with elders of the gentle race This world has seldom seen They talk of days for which they sit and wait All will be revealed"

Led Zeppelin – "Kashmir"

Llotliso met N'Jadaka at the entrance of his expansive office. She handed him a cup of red tea.

"They are waiting for you inside your inner office, King N'Jadaka," Tlotliso said.

"T'Challa, Nakia, and Shuri will be here soon. Show them in the minute they arrive. This is off the record, too," he said sweeping past her.

He drank the tea and stepped into his private think chamber. Yoneli and Sizani stood and watched him stride toward his chair.

"Sit, please," he said, holding out his hand.

"This must be serious to call us in without the elders," Yoneli said.

N'Jadaka stared at them a long time before leaning forward.

"How close is Wakanda with the Atlanteans?" he asked.

Sizani glanced at Yoneli.

"Has something happened?" Sizani asked.

"Answer my question," he said.

He kept his voice curt.

Yoneli mirrored his body language and leaned forward too.

"They are not Atlanteans. That is what the outsiders call them," Yoneli said.

"Captain…" Sizani said with an agitated breath.

"He is our new ruler. King T'Chaka is dead," Yoneli said.

"But the truce—"

"What truce?" N'Jadaka asked.

A knock at the door broke his attention.

"Come in," N'Jadaka said.

Tlotliso opened the door letting T'Challa, Nakia, and Shuri enter quickly.

"Tell us everything," N'Jadaka said.

Yoneli looked at everyone in the room, then lowered her eyes.

"Wakanda and the Talokan people have a truce to not speak of one another… ever," Yoneli said.

"Talokan?" N'Jadaka said.

"That is what they call themselves. In the ancient fables, there are texts written about people living under the seas of other lands. There was a skirmish two decades ago between our nations. We were doing aquatic warcraft tests far out in the Atlantic Ocean and they came to the surface to confront us. King T'Chaka ended the possibility of war by framing a truce that would keep both of our countries a secret as long as we respected their domain and avoided crossing the waters at particular coordinates. They do not want to be found, nor do they want to interact with surface dwellers."

"Who is their leader?"

"King T'Chaka met with someone alone away from the battle cruiser after your family escaped. We were only told that those people would stay below the surface unless they were threatened again," Yoneli said.

"They have underwater structures to live so deep?" T'Challa asked.

"Those people breathe the water. I only saw two who came to the surface," Yoneli said.

"What did they look like?" N'Jadaka said.

Sizani spoke up.

"Blue… they had blue skin. Wore very little clothing and had strong-looking bodies. The men I saw riding whales… they wore water masks…to help them breathe above the surface."

"Are they human?" N'Jadaka asked.

"Yes. At least they looked human. We traded soldiers so that King T'Chaka could go speak to their leader. We kept two of their people on the battle cruiser."

"Are they advanced like us?" Shuri asked.

Shuri was already on her kimoyo swiping through ancient texts looking for mentions of a hidden sea people. Atlantis was what N'Jadaka grew up with. He was curious to know what his ancestors called them.

"King T'Chaka returned to us with the edict that we would not mention seeing them or interacting with their kind. If the outside world ever became aware of them, our country was to remain silent," Yoneli said.

"But T'Chaka started flapping his gums about them when he became a bigger political player… T'Challa, what do you know about them?"

"My father only spoke of attacks when he engaged the U.N. and their troubles encountering them," T'Challa said. "I was never told about a truce or a meeting with them long ago. But he did say there was a growing problem after he began a long tour of America. That is when he started warning the world about messing with unseen forces without diplomacy. He was big on uniting other nations in peace. I didn't understand why he cared to mingle with the U.N. so much. Before he was assassinated, the attacks that were attributed to the Talokans…"

"Talokanil," Shuri said.

She presented a page from an old text on her kimoyo beads.

"There isn't much here. I will search for more," Shuri said. "The writing here tells of several fabled cultures outside the continent, and the Talokanil are mentioned in passing."

N'Jadaka grappled with the information.

"If their name is written in our books, then we have encountered them long before King T'Chaka ever did. The U.S. and Europe started blaming HYDRA, Russia, and some rogue mercenary units for the global water attacks. The Talokanil were thought to be a made-up ruse to fool people… muddy the waters of who was actually behind it," N'Jadaka said.

T'Challa folded his arms and looked at N'Jadaka.

"I was in a meeting with my father once in New York where some other foreign groups were accused, too," T'Challa said. "When my father died, whatever he knew went with him. There was pressure to get through the Sokovia accords and when I took the throne after him, the U.S. was heavily funding the Department of Damage Control in a joint venture with Stark Industries. They cleaned up messes and kept things as quiet as possible. The Talokanil were probably tucked away as a scapegoat to cover for someone else. Probably the Americans. Underwater people are not a true threat—"

"But why would T'Chaka make a truce with a powerless people?"

Yoneli looked away from him. N'Jadaka stepped to her. Taking in the captain's stressed energy, he reached out and held her shoulders.

"What is it, Yoneli?" N'Jadaka said.

"The king…King T'Chaka… that time at sea… he came back afraid. I have never seen him that way before. He wanted us to forget those people," Yoneli said.

N'Jadaka turned to Nakia.

"When The U.S. delegation comes here, we will make your formal introduction as Wakanda's ambassador and you will attend the general assembly in September back in the states. Stick close to the C.I.A. reps," N'Jadaka said.

"Agent Ross is always present," Nakia said.

"We'll use him. He thinks he's Wakanda's best buddy. Keep making him think that. I'll give orders for our War Dogs in port cities to start gathering any intel they can find about Talokan. Shuri, I need you to do a deep dive too. Pull in some of our best historians to help if you need them," N'Jadaka said.

He used his comm tab to bring up an image of a globe.

"If they scared King T'Chaka, then they must have an army down below that can do some damage," N'Jadaka said.

"Maybe that's what the Americans near our waters are looking for," T'Challa said. "All the sonar testing… underwater earthquakes. They're searching."

"What ships do we have that can pass as a research vessel?" N'Jadaka said.

T'Challa moved next to him and pulled an image from his kimoyo.

"We have the Sea Leopard. It has full submersible and camouflage capabilities," T'Challa said.

N'Jadaka and the others studied the ship. The charcoal gray vessel was sleek and curved like a bullet.

"I want that ship ready to go in three days," N'Jadaka said.

"In the middle of the conference?" T'Challa said.

"I want to find these people before the rest of the world does," N'Jadaka said.

"What about the truce?" Nakia asked.

"I'll respect it until I see what we're up against. Then I'll change the terms and conditions as needed. I don't want to take a wait-and-see approach. If the Talokanil spooked T'Chaka… we need to meet and find out why before they're discovered by someone else," N'Jadaka said.

His kimoyo beads lit up. Sydette's avatar spun on his wrist.

"My kids are up. T'Challa, notify our generals. Nakia, get in touch with Agent Ross and butter him up. Reveal your new status… let him think he has insider info about us before his bosses do. Shuri—"

"Research… on it," Shuri said.

Shuri paused before heading out of the door.

"Should we push back our sparring session until after lunch?" Shuri asked.

T'Challa tilted his head and smirked. N'Jadaka grinned.

"You two have been practicing your fighting techniques?" T'Challa said.

N'Jadaka swung his hand around playfully and T'Challa ducked, offering a counterattack that pushed the king back.

"We've been working on some moves in the gym. Gotta stay on top of the game," N'Jadaka said.

He stopped playing and huddled with his cousins.

"We won't discuss any of this with Ramonda. She's working hard on the conference and I don't want anyone outside of this room worrying about anything else."

"Agreed," T'Challa said.

"When the Sea Leopard launches, I want you on it with our best soldiers," N'Jadaka said to T'Challa.

He watched his cousins and Nakia leave. Outside of his inner office, Tlotliso waited for his instructions.

"You can go home. Thank you for stepping in on short notice until I arrived," he said.

"Not a problem," Tlotliso said.

She grabbed a sweater and started to vacate the room.

"Everything okay?" he asked.

"Yes, your highness. I have some things going on at home... the usual family stuff," she said.

"See you next week then."

"Yes, kumkani."

She left him quietly. He returned to his inner office and regarded Yoneli and Sizani.

"Is there anything else I should know about T'Chaka's meeting with Talokan?" N'Jadaka said.

Yoneli's lips quirked.

"Do you remember the whales that sang to our ship? The ones you swam with alongside your father?" Yoneli said.

"Yes."

"I do not believe their singing was to entertain themselves… not from what we saw after your family left," Yoneli said.

Sizani's forehead creased and she tapped the side of N'Jadaka's desk.

"My king," Sizani said, "those whales… they were calling the Talokanil. Those people… they communicate with sea life. The whales led them to us."

Yoneli nodded her head in agreement.

"When they left us, the whales stayed behind… as if they were watching our movement," Yoneli said.

"Then that will be our cover as we search. We're going whale hunting," N'Jadaka said.

N'Jadaka's children were delighted to have him to themselves.

He cooked them waffles with strawberries and they ate outside on his terrace before heading off to swim in the palace pool. They entertained snail races in the royal garden, then watched boats pass through the river in the middle of Birnin Zana. He rattled citizens when he walked with the children to a favorite river café that served the best coffee and tiny teacakes. The children wore dark shades and his Doras watched nearby with Kora. They crossed the small wooden bridge that led to the floating café and the owner stood there thrilled and honored to meet his little ones up close.

Their lunchtime was spent eating batter-fried sandwiches stuffed with fish and pickled cabbage while strolling through a bazaar. N'Jadaka watched with pride as his children spoke Wakandan with a fluency he was only beginning to master effortlessly. With the creamy yellow sun beating down on them, he took in the mix of old and new structures throughout the heavily trafficked city center. Wakanda reminded him of Rome. He could walk two steps and see modern structures, and two feet away, there appeared an ancient building that existed when Queen Shuriyah walked the earth. The old and new stood together in harmony.

He ruled everything.

The shy glances from citizens and the sly snatchings of holo pics of him spending time with his children was something he wanted the people to see more of to humanize himself among them. There were still many who cursed his name in quiet corners of the land, who smiled in his face and sharpened knives behind their backs. No one would dare touch him in public though. Any and all dissent would come from the shadows once he became relaxed on the throne.

Sydette couldn't stop smiling so hard at being with him and Joba. The three children together became a unit of unlimited energy. He couldn't keep up with questions and simultaneous discussions on different topics from all three. After returning to the palace, he released the children to Kora for their nap and changed into abada pants and a thin yellow t-shirt. He left his home and headed for the private gym. It took up a floor on a lower level with advanced equipment and an indoor track and lap pool. The Dora Milaje shared the space during the week, to practice safety drills with the royal family or used it during their breaks, but on the weekends, the Udaku family used it privately. The 360-degree views opened up the space to lots of sunshine.

Shuri waited for him there, dressed in skin-tight purple athletic leggings and a tank top. She stretched on the floor, then did a few body rolls on the mat with her knees tucked into her chest. Jumping up, she held her arms in a defensive position and watched him saunter toward her. N'Jadaka turned on some soft drumming music from the Merchant Tribe on the ceiling speakers that had the perfect tempo for the ass-whooping he was going to give her.

"Oh, you need a soundtrack for this beating you are about to receive from me?" she said, circling him.

N'Jadaka lunged forward and dipped low, swiping his leg against her ankles. Shuri backflipped barely avoiding contact and jabbed her fists into his chest before he palmed the side of her head and threw her across the room. She shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. Crouching down, Shuri struck his left temple and he let her get a few licks on his midsection before he caught a foot against his right cheek.

"You did not see that coming, cousin. That one I learned from Aunt Califia's old vids. There is more on the way!"

She dropped to her knees and punched him in the gut once more, scrambling between his legs to throw off his balance as he reached for her hair.

"Cheater!" she said, smacking his hand away from her high bun pinned with shiny blue clips.

"You said you wanted a dirty fight," he teased, jumping up and down.

Shuri had speed like his mother and a knack for finding weak points in his defense when his guard was down. There was a boisterous tenacity in her fighting style and he appreciated her ability to switch up her technique when she realized certain combinations of hand and leg strikes didn't work on him. Her eye-hand coordination was tightly focused on countering the capoeira he slid into easily.

They play fought for an hour and rested on their backsides next to each other. Sharing a bottle of water enhanced with recovery herbs, Shuri studied his face.

"I found someone from the Birnin D'Jata University to help me root out more details about the Talokanil. They were known as the 'Amanzi Umhlali'… water dwellers who lived beyond the sunset. I was told that in the olden days, our elders witnessed sightings of them that were mistaken for the reborn children of Mama Wati, our water Goddess. A long time ago, women who had stillborn children would take them to the sea and give their remains to the water in the hopes that their babies would be reborn and return to them. Unfortunately, the little that I have found myself is just mythical tales. Nothing is rooted in factual details. All we know for sure is that they originate in Central America," she said.

"Keep me in the loop. You find anything, no matter how ridiculous it sounds, let me know right away," he said.

"I would like to travel with T'Challa on the Sea Leopard."

"I need you here."

"This is a scientific expedition as much as it is a military one," she said.

"Fury is still sending data and I need you on top of that."

"You know I can do more than one thing—"

"T'Challa can handle any threats from the sea. I need you checking for mofos coming from space."

Shuri laughed.

"What is so funny?" he said, nudging her shoulder with his.

"You have more than you bargained for taking the throne, N'Jadaka."

"Looks that way."

She patted his back and helped him stand up.

"I'm going to shower and take a long break," she said.

"Good. Stay out of your lab today. Give your big brain a rest."

He jabbed his finger on her forehead gently.

"Not too much rest. The Talokanil have me curious… and my father… he was not one to fear anything. Wakanda was a fortress in his mind. Nothing out there should scare a man like him."

"Rest," N'Jadaka said, pushing her arm to leave the gym.

"I want to go up and see my little cousins first," she said.

Grabbing her gym bag, she pointed at him.

"Give me ten minutes to shower and change clothes. I'll come with you," she said.

She scurried toward the changing room and he tapped his kimoyo. Shuri already had reports compiled for him from the university that covered the origins of Mama Wati and the connection to the Talokanil sightings centuries ago. Stepping over to the window he took in the royal garden until Shuri came back out smelling like lemon cookies. She wiped away her body butter on her arms and checked her own kimoyo before they walked out together onto the elevator.

"Have you heard from Disa?" Shuri asked.

"No. Why?"

"Nothing important."

"Seems like everyone has been asking me about her since she went up the mountain. Y'all worried about something?"

"What is there to worry about?" she asked.

"Her new boyfriend."

"I wouldn't call him a boyfriend…"

Shuri reflected on her words and clammed up. They stepped onto his floor.

"What would you call him?"

Shuri looked him in the eye.

"Her co-worker—"

"People don't have to tip-toe around me. I know she likes, Adebiyi. That's her type. I'm not surprised."

"He's a prickly fellow, but overall, I find him a hard worker and very knowledgeable about his craft. I've met him a few times. He tends to stay in the background."

"That's where I'll keep that situation… in the background."

"I upset you."

"Nah. She's been looking forward to going there. Not just to be around him, even though I know that's part of it. I want her happy and she likes being with Ayomide."

"I am glad that you are still friends with her despite everything you deal with in your personal life. It cannot be easy for you—"

"Baba!"

Sydette had the front door open before his Doras could step aside to let him reach it.

"I'm back with you know who," he teased.

Shuri hugged Sydette who pulled her over the threshold.

"Oh… my…" Shuri said.

She took a long gaze around his lower floor.

"I have never been inside of this place when everything was uncovered… beautiful," she said.

Riki and Joba ran downstairs and jumped into Shuri's arms. They tackled her down to the floor and she rolled around with them, testing their arm strength and agility.

"Where have you been?" Joba asked.

Shuri took a seat on a carved wooden chair with wide armrests.

"Working in my lab," Shuri said.

Riki slapped his own forehead.

"Aw, that's all everyone does… work, work, work. No fun here anymore," Riki said.

Riki balanced his arms on Shuri's knees.

"Perhaps for winter solstice, we should plan a family trip out on the boat again," Shuri said.

"Yeah!" Sydette squealed.

"Show me the rest of the new home," Shuri said.

Joba pulled Shuri's hand and the other two children followed further into the next room. N'Jadaka climbed the stairs and headed to his bathing room. His kimoyo lit up and he checked for a message.

Disa sent him images of the exterior of a forest temple overlooking a mountain range. He read the note attached to it.

"It's beautiful here. So much to see. I'm getting plenty of ideas to challenge my original sketches. Kiss and hug Joba for me. Disa."

He smiled and a warm peace came over him.

After showering and changing into loungewear, N'Jadaka padded down to his home office and went over his opening speech to the people he handpicked from all across the globe to join him inside the motherland. While listening to his children run back and forth outside of his workspace as Kora fussed after them about making too much noise near his room, he made some changes to a few sentences. He stopped and opened his comm tab and pulled up pictures of his mother and Aunt Lia together in Brazil the last time they were together. Their faces told the story of struggle and the promise of a better tomorrow. N'Jadaka had the power that they could only dream of having. Tucking his hands under his groomed beard, he stared at the two women. He thought of his father arming War Dogs and the careful planning it took for him to build a secret army for over a decade. The takeover of the world had to be gradual and the grassroots had to be in control in every city they moved in. Backlash, jealousy, F.B.I., and C.I.A. plants would try to derail his plans. Unlike Black liberation movements of the past, N'Jadaka would not create a cult of personality where one individual became the face of an entire struggle. On the outside looking in, it would appear that way since he was leading the initial charge. However, everyone who joined with them would become their own leader with communal goals. There was no place for the next Jesus figure to come and save Black people. Every territory would become the savior of itself. That meant churches would have to be left out of the equation. Too many Black men pimped the church for riches and prestige, muling the labor of Black women who followed them and propped up the institution. No one from any religious organization was invited to Wakanda. White gods and grifters were not welcome there.

He left the images of his mother and aunt floating above his desk as he continued working on his speech. His strongest appeal would be toward women, but he also had to deal with men coming there who had good hearts but patriarchy hardwired in them. Twyla's tour would help break those men in. Once they saw a country led by Bast that flourished with female leadership and brilliance, they would have to shift old thinking inside of themselves. Too many men thought they respected women until faced with working for them. He used to find himself acting out of pocket with women, even the ones he loved because patriarchy and bullying the weaker sex were taught to everyone and difficult to actively unlearn. He recognized it in his life too often than he cared to admit. That was a trait he wanted to keep Riki from falling into as he grew up. He felt the same way about helping Sydette and Joba recognize the behavior toward themselves at a young age and speaking out against it without fear of retribution.

Two days.

In two days, the diaspora would arrive and see the promised land. More than milk and honey flowed throughout Wakanda.

There was a knock on his door.

"Come in," he said.

Noxolo walked in carrying a sealed gold envelope.

"This was just delivered," Noxolo said.

She handed him the envelope and left the room.

He sliced across the wax red seal with a letter opener, and read the contents from the Council of Elders. They would allow the outsiders to witness the Mama Wati celebration in Birnin S'Yan. He was surprised they would give permission. Tapping his kimoyo, he contacted Twyla. Her image popped up quickly. He showed her the official paper.

"The council granted you the right to organize a Mama Wati tour," he said.

Twyla took a deep breath.

"This is huge," Twyla said.

"Will you have enough time to put together transportation… maybe lodging?"

"BiBi and I will make it into a day trip with a picnic above the bluffs. They can see the ceremony up close on the beach, but then we'll move them a respectful distance away so families can keep their intimate rituals going afterward. Oh, Big Man, you made my day!" Twyla said.

"They trust you, Twyla."

"I won't let you down," she said.

"I know you won't."

N'Jadaka worked on going over all of the non-disclosure and non-photography agreements every visitor signed in order to visit the country until dinner. The palace kitchen sent up comfort food of mashed green banana and a savory beef stew with lentils and yellow rice. He ate with the children inside the dining room as a light summer rain planted water drops everywhere. There were virtual reality games played around the lower floor until Kora took the children away for their baths. He plowed back into his work and fell asleep at his desk.

N'Jadaka woke up in his bed with heavy eyelids pressing down on him. Alone in his room, he checked his kimoyo. The children were fast asleep in their rooms and the sun was due to rise in minutes. He rose and went to his balcony for prayers to his elder gods and ancestors. Burning incense and a small white candle near his body, he prostrated himself on a prayer rug, pressing his forehead onto the cool silky threads.

Bast and Ogum stirred inside of him and he sensed the presence of his ancestors watching from beyond.

The day had arrived.

The energy around him snapped with frizzy intensity as he stood up and watched the scheduled arrival of six half-cruisers carrying two thousand diaspora kin. He allowed the cruisers to pass directly over Birnin Zana and the palace so the visitors could get the awe-inspiring splendor that he had the first time he flew into Wakanda. Back then he had been on a rampage. At that moment, he was calm and collected.

The half-cruisers were flanked by military escort ships as they floated toward their housing for the conference.

"Morning," Marisol said.

She walked onto the balcony and handed him tea.

Dressed in her own ceremonial white clothing, Marisol stood next to him and also looked at the ships flying away.

"I will keep the press and other non-staff away. The delegates need full immersion by themselves," he said.

"Will you need me here later this evening?" she said.

"No. The nannies will help with the kids and we can have dinner together with the rest of the family."

"This was all worth it, wasn't it JaJa?" she said.

"Yes."

No matter what may have transpired in over three decades, N'Jadaka knew he was where fate planned for him to be. Ignoring the whispers that fermented in the shadows of the palace, the hushed words of resentment of a foreigner sitting on the throne, he would smash the faces of the enemies within Wakanda into the ground where they would grovel at his feet. Never had he felt more Wakandan than when he watched aircraft filled with hand-picked African-descended people meeting their future. History would be written in their blood and bones from that day forth. Their influence back in their own lands after it was over would guarantee the sun would never set on Wakanda because the diaspora would be in alignment with them.

Warlords in countries all over the world dreamed of empires and vast armies to do their bidding. N'Jadaka wanted peace for the diaspora. Comfort. Rest. How could people enjoy life when they couldn't even live properly? The things that made him happy as a child were being with his family when there was no stress. No worries about food, housing, or danger coming for them. His people would finally have the tools to create the life they wanted in their respective communities.

War would come.

Black Wall Street. The New Jewel Movement. The Black Panthers. Patrice Lumumba and the Congolese National Movement. The Move Organzation. Malcolm X. Martin Luther King Jr. Angela Davis. Assata Shakur. Medgar Evers. Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Marie Sainte Dédée Bazile of the Haitian Revolution. Queen Mary Thomas. Nanny of the Maroons of Jamaica. Ganga Zumba in Palmares. Nat Turner. Charles Deslondes and the Louisiana Slave Revolt. Flore Bois Gaillard and the Battle of Rabot in St Lucia.

Everywhere on the planet where Black men and women sought freedom in ways that worked for them, they were met with force and/or death by white supremacy and upheld by the Black people beholden to whiteness for their own personal gain. There was never a time in history where Black people encountering white people had peace. Never. Even when Black people were isolated and successful in their own community, as they were in Tulsa Oklahoma, white people envied them and burned their world to the ground with the laws of the land protecting white supremacy.

No more.

N'Jadaka took a deep breath and rested in the power of his spiritual protectors. The diaspora would have peace and he would burn down the worlds of their enemies this time around. Wipe them from the face of the earth as a warning to anyone else feeling bold enough to challenge the new world order. If they just so happened to be Black or non-white in the service of white supremacy, they could catch hands too.

Ogum sat high in his chest. Bast positioned her power above his head. His ancestors flanked him with an invisible thread of verve. It was time to lead. Time to do king things.

He ate a simple breakfast of grits and glazed peaches. After dressing in his finest black tunic and robes, he let Marsol twist his locs into a high bun. She prayed over him while smudging him down with blue Wakandan sage. He wiped a small dot of oil from the Temple of Bast onto his third eye and admired himself in a full-length mirror.

"Ready?" Marisol asked.

He nodded and followed her out of his quarters. Surrounded by his security team, he boarded the Royal Talon Fighter. T'Challa greeted him inside and they all flew together to greet their guests.

The moment he stepped out of the Talon Fighter and onto the hotel grounds his heart thudded faster. He wiggled his fingers at his sides and the kinetic sparks of energy transference were already tingling across his skin. Aneka opened the double doors of the hotel's grand conference room and the rush of energy that passed over him from the people inside nearly blew him off of his feet. Thunderous applause broke out with shrill cries of joy all around them. A standing ovation went on for ten whole minutes as N'Jadaka took long strides to the podium. Two thousand shiny and exalted Black faces made enough noise to shout down the sun from the heavens. He glanced over at Marisol and tears glistened in her eyes. T'Challa's face held an expression of immense understanding and compassion for all the people there.

To the right of the podium was a section created for his transition team that had now become his royal cabinet members. They stood there stunned at the reaction to his walking into the room. Council Elders were also present and sat up on a dais behind him, overlooking the opening meeting. The history lesson he gave them about the people in that space guided their ability to take in the importance of the diaspora being there. Zinzi kept wiping her eyes and clapped her hands with the people. N'Jadaka held up his hands to quiet down the guests but they continued to clap, hoot, stomp their feet, and holler his name. No… not his name… Wakanda's name.

The energy they sent him flowed into his chest where Ogum soaked it up.

"Please… sit…." N'Jadaka said, waving his hands down.

They wouldn't stop.

From the corner of his eye, he watched his grandparents being ushered in by Shuri. They took seats reserved for them on his left side facing the podium. The zeal in the room struck them hard, especially his grandmother. Umama held her head high as she glanced around at all the people. Finally, after much coaxing and prodding, the applause and noise died down and the people took their seats in comfortable chairs. The backdrop behind him and the elders gave the guests a glorious view of the landscape. As if on cue, a herd of giraffes strutted by and the trumpeting sound of a braying elephant blasted in the distance.

"Welcome to Wakanda," he said.

The audience laughed and clapped again.

"Today is a blessed day that I get to share with each and every one of you here. The journey has been long—"

"Amen!" someone shouted far in the back.

The audience laughed and clapped again.

"I am King N'Jadaka Udaku-Stevens. Son of The Master Hammer Califia Stevens of Oakland, California. Son of Prince N'Jobu Udaku of Wakanda. American by birth. African by descent. Like all of you here, I am a child of the African Diaspora. A child of the stolen and enslaved. We are the Lost Tribe. I stand here to welcome you home. Brothers and sisters of the diaspora, look upon this place and be renewed…"

N'Jadaka spoke with the flair of a Baptist preacher and the fiery confidence of his mother whenever she rallied up a crowd. He relaxed the audience into the global importance of the work they were about to dig into. They were the experts and Wakanda was there to listen and support. Forty minutes in, he turned the mic over to Queen Ramonda and her welcoming speech was full of passion. She was a tremendous orator and the audience sat mesmerized listening to her. Next came brief introductory speeches by the Council of Elders followed by a nervous Twyla who spoke of the itinerary changes due to the addition of the Mama Wati celebration. As the others spoke, N'Jadaka watched the audience. The meeting was long, but no one showed signs of fatigue or boredom. He took to the podium again and closed out the first gathering. The guests would spend the rest of the day relaxing, acclimating to the time change, eating delicious meals, and mingling at a mixer later that night. They would tour the country for the next few days and then the serious purpose of their being there would begin.

The joy in the room was infectious and healing. He thanked everyone for coming and trusting the process of reinventing a future they could control. The Dora Milaje surrounded him as he took the time to shake the hand of everyone who wanted to touch him. Some could barely look him in the eye from the force of his aura radiating power, while others hugged him, much to the annoyance of Aneka and Noxolo. A few only reached out and touched the hem of his tunic, too afraid to touch his skin directly. One older woman kept shaking her head, her eyes glancing around at everything before she gently clasped his hand in hers and patted his wrist.

"I don't know what this is going to be in the end… but God bless you brother for bringing me here,' she said with a shaky voice.

Outside in a garden gazebo, a small band played music that shook some hips and made fingers snap. Across from the gazebo was a buffet brunch and folks were famished. They filled plates and relaxed around tables as peacocks strutted by hoping food fell on the ground.

N'Jadaka said a quick hello to his grandparents, and Disa caught up to him.

"That was a fabulous opening."

"A long ways from that old raggedy speech I gave about Chocolate City back at M.I.T.," he said.

She laughed.

"Hopefully those dudes turned into worthwhile human beings like you. You were great," she said.

"So… your trip was good," he said.

"It was. Did you get a chance to look at the other pictures I sent you?"

"I did. But you know anything you come up with is always going to be stellar."

She wanted to say more. He felt it.

"Proud of you," she said.

She gave him a hug before rushing off with his older relatives to eat in a private section away from the main groups of guests. He looked around as he moved with his security to leave the hotel.

There she was. Talking to a group of maternity doctors near a water fountain.

Yani fixed her eyes on him and waved him over toward the small group.

"King N'Jadaka, this is Dr. Ida Bryan from St. Thomas, Dr. LaShawn Dixon from Miami, Florida, and Dr. John Alcindor from London, England," Yani said.

All three doctors nodded their heads and shook his hand. Dr. Bryan kept shaking her head like a nervous tick.

"I told you he doesn't bite," Yani joked with her mentor.

"This is almost too much, King N'Jadaka. Thank you for choosing me to take part in this,' she said.

N'Jadaka leaned forward and kissed Dr. Bryan's cheek, startling her. He held onto her hands.

"You saved my daughter's life," he said.

Yani looked away quickly, the memory of that time still close to her heart.

"Will I get to see Princess Sydette?" Dr. Bryan asked.

"Later in the week," he said.

"I never dreamed that a patient of mine was from this place… Yani was always special to me, a serious student… I'm so happy to be here," Dr. Bryan said.

Yani didn't contradict him about Sydette. Once the children were in the palace, they became his full responsibility under Udaku family rules. She had to abide by them too as royalty.

"Make sure you all get some food to eat. You had a long trip to get here," he said.

"It was so cloak and dagger," Dr. Alcindor interjected. "I can understand why you used the secrecy to get us all out of our countries. Wakanda is… I can't even find words."

"You've barely seen it," N'Jadaka said.

His words thrilled them.

"Would you like to eat with us?" Dr. Dixon asked.

"I wish I could, but I have more business to tend to at the palace. I'll see you all tonight at the mixer," he said.

Yani lowered her gaze as if she were disappointed. He casually looked over her outfit. It was an orange off-the-shoulder wrap dress. She always looked gorgeous in orange. Her brown skin popped with that color and he suspected she wore it to make that happen with the summer sun.

"It is an honor to meet you in person, King N'Jadaka," Dr. Alcindor said.

"Enjoy yourselves," N'Jadaka said.

He regretfully left Yani's side and headed for the exit where the Royal Talon Fighter and T'Challa waited for him. Glancing back, he caught Yani looking at him. He waved to her and she waved back, moving behind the other doctors toward the buffet line.

T'Challa stood with Shuri at the Talon Fighter. Nick Fury grinned at him with his foot on the open ramp.

"Looking for me?" Fury asked.

N'Jadaka shook his hand.

"Come take a ride with us," N'Jadaka said.

Fury grew nervous staring at the Doras and part of the Onyx Squad behind him.

"Relax, man. You're about to see something cool,' N'Jadaka said.

Fury's body stayed coiled and ready for anything. T'Challa's Black Panther suit shot across his body as they walked onto the Talon Fighter. The view of the hotel shrank below them as they headed toward the coast.

"Where are we going?" Fury asked.

The speed of the Royal Talon Fighter worried Fury. His eyes darted about watching every move on the aircraft. They swooped down toward the rocky barrier that separated Wakanda from the country next to them higher up on the eastern coastline. In twenty minutes, they floated above the choppy water of the Indian Ocean that the Wakandan's called Mama Wati's home turf.

"What is that?" Fury asked, gazing down at the pristine shine of the Sea Leopard.

A floor exit chimed loudly and T'Challa, dressed as the Black Panther, stood over it. He pounded his fist against N'Jadaka's and the floor swirled open. T'Challa dropped out of the aircraft and landed on the Sea Leopard below. Shuri's expression stayed sour and N'Jadaka squeezed her shoulder.

"You'll have your chance to be on it once we find what we're looking for," N'Jadaka said.

"I will hold you to that, cousin," Shuri said.

"Mr. Fury, that is a ship on the hunt for whales," N'Jadaka said. "Talking whales that spy for people down there."

The dark churning waters hid so much from the surface world.

"What people?" Fury said.

N'Jadaka studied the face of the ops. Creased brow. Deep lines on his cheeks. The downturned lips hid an irritated scowl. Fury looked genuinely confused. N'Jadaka's gut sensed no deceptive smokescreen to deflect. He moved past N'Jadaka and observed the Sea Leopard with jealous eyes.

"This place never ceases to amaze me," Fury said as the Sea Leopard shimmered in bright neon blue lights and disappeared on the water.

N'Jadaka glanced over at Shuri and she stepped next to him. Folding her arms over her chest she gave Fury a withering look. It was hard to trust a man who lived a lie most of the time.

"What people are you looking for?" Fury asked.

"Americans," N'Jadaka said.

Shuri stared at him and he tilted his head to warn her about saying anything to Fury.

"They'll always be on your ass," Fury said. A smirk crossed his face.

"Come with me," N'Jadaka said.

They walked to the back of the Talon Fighter and N'Jadaka dragged images from a digital folder of beached whales on Wakanda's rocky shoreline.

"Sonar tests are killing marine life and encroaching on our people's fisheries," N'Jadaka said.

Fury looked at the dead animals and shrugged.

"Not my department. Cut the shit, king. Why am I out here?" Fury said.

"You're my guest. I'm giving you a private look at our naval reconnaissance missions."

Fury didn't believe him, but he was still interested in their military hardware. The man had been in the C.I.A. for a long time. Their interactions had been honest although tense at times. He was already privy to what N'Jadaka planned for the diaspora. The spirits within him instructed him to wait. There was no rush to show an entire hand at that moment.

"Your speech today… to all those people… inspiring," Fury said.

"I meant what I said."

"I don't doubt it. Being a king of all of this… having your cousin as the Black Panther… another cousin being a brainiac… you are in a position no Black person on earth has ever been in. How must it feel to be the one?"

"There is no one. There's no me without we. Believe that."

"Can you even fathom the risk you're putting all of those people under once they go home?"

"Nigga, what have you done in your life but work for the enemy? Your entire career has been spent sitting on a fence. You know what we have faced all over the world, but you chose…willingly…to work for the enemy—"

"You did the same—"

"I had no choice!"

N'Jadaka's shout alarmed Aneka and Noxolo. They stepped behind Fury.

He waved his hand to them and they moved back.

"I was made an orphan by forces you never had to face. I chose to learn the enemy so I could free my people, and today that time has finally come. Don't you ever think that I'm like you. I am reaching out to my people and you… you're a pawn who thinks he has a little power. Bitch nigga moves," N'Jadaka shouted.

He pushed up on Fury.

"Look at you. No real family. No connections to anyone outside of the work you do. Every night I see my children and know what they will be up against and I choose to make a way for them and others out there who were like me. I never grew up in a world of hope after my parents were killed. As king, I bring hope to the masses. When I die… for real this time… I know that I stood for something, and the Black world will benefit from it—"

"The world isn't just for Black people," Fury said.

"Then let those people stand up for themselves instead of sucking off of our labor. I'm only here for Black and Native people—"

"Selfish," Fury said.

"Who stands up for us? Huh? I say fuck everyone else except for who I look out for. The problem with Black people is that we carry everyone on our backs. Fuck that. We look out for our own this time… just like everyone else does."

"The power in your hand…" Fury said, shaking his head.

"Get with the winning team old man," N'Jadaka said.

N'Jadaka's kimoyo lit up. Joba's avatar floated above his beads.

"Excuse me," N'Jadaka said.

He turned away and tapped his kimoyo.

"Hey Joba," he said.

"Riki won't let us play with his cow game board," Joba whined.

"No, Baba! They played it already. I want to play with it by myself!" Riki insisted.

"But you need more than one person to play it," N'Jadaka said.

"I wahn to study it without them!"

Riki snatched the board from Joba's hand. Sydette stepped in and grabbed it away from him.

"He's being a rude brat!" Sydette shouted.

"No, I'm not!" Riki yelled.

Kora rushed into the playroom and took the board game away from Sydette.

"I am so sorry they disturbed you, King N'Jadaka," Kora said.

"Put the game away on my office desk. I'll talk to them when I get home," N'Jadaka said.

"Yes, kumkani," Kora said.

"Wait! Baba that's not fair!" Riki moaned.

"I'll talk to you when I get home—"

"Baba—"

"I said when I get home. Go work on your language lessons for today."

Riki stomped away from Joba.

"Bye, Daddy," Joba said.

Her image winked out and N'Jadaka turned back to Fury. The man had a grin on his face.

"It's not every day that I see a powerful man, a king, discipline his children in the middle of a military operation," Fury said.

"I'm going to be a father no matter what I'm doing."

"I see that," Fury said.

Vid screen charts of the ocean lit up orange above the Talon Fighter workstation table. A 3D image of the Sea Leopard appeared. The Black Panther's avatar came into view.

"We have crossed the international boundary and will release sea drones within a two-hundred-mile radius at the last location sonar was detected from the Americans," T'Challa said.

"Station the ship at the coordinates Captain Lebohang set. Meet me back at the palace before the mixer tonight," N'Jadaka said.

N'Jadaka walked back to the front of the Talon Fighter where Noxolo flew the aircraft. Aneka and his Onyx Squad members kept their eyes on Fury.

"Take us for a quick pass across the water," he told Noxolo.

The Royal Talon fighter raced across the ocean less than ten feet above it. Somewhere out there was trouble waiting to happen.

"Whoever is out there, we'll find them," he said to no one in particular.

Chapter 65 HERE.

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[dumdaradumdaradum]

Raghuvan series :: chapter 2

Chapter 1 by @rishi-sita

The first thing Ram heard in the morning was Babai singing praises of his soon to be daughter-in-law. It was going to be an exhausting day, he could tell. 

It hadn't been a week since he came after a decade of being away and he was already being thrust into this- this madness. 

Aree yaar, nhi krni mujhe shaadi! 

He sucked in a deep breath and tried to silence his inner voice. He didn't expect a peaceful morning to turn into another struggle. Why  couldnt he get one silent and quiet moment to himself? 

Babai dragged him to breakfast. Ram's eyes twinkled with laughter. They were really going overboard. 

On the table there were all sorts of dishes, all his favorites. "Kya baat h mujhe chappan bhog lagane ka mann h aapka babai?" 

Ram ate up, his favorites and the reminder that his only family loved him. 

His eyes wandered around the majestic hall, taking in the smallest, most intricate designs. For a second he heard his mother's bangles in the distance. He heard all the ladies who used to work for them, their collective jokes, small smiles, everything. 

Being away for so long, he almost forgot how it felt to be in his home. Sunlight reflecting off the surface lit up his dying light. There was an old mango tree in the courtyard, as if sensing the renewed warmth, its branches brustled. 

All the steel containers sitting patiently near the handpump. He recalled how he used to play and attempt to flood the area. 

"Is ghar ne tumhe bht yaad kiya Ram." 

His eyes shifted from  the house to his uncle. He looked so different. 

The greys were more prominent and so were the bones. Did he not eat properly? Why did he look so weak? 

His heart rued ever leaving this place. 

He looked around again. Once again he drank in the view and recalled all the dusty memories. 

Breathing in the bliss, his chest expanded into exhilaration.

It finally sunk in. He was home. He was home. 

Ram was overjoyed. After searching for his place in this world for years, he was finally where he belonged. 

"Beta, I've called Adikavya over today." Before he could object, Babai added, "I'm not asking you to marry her today itself. Meet her, don't write her off just yet. Who knows she might strike something in your heart? Ha?" 

The new found joy made Ram agree. He had found where he belonged but he wasn't ready to be tied off with responsibilities so soon. 

"Babai, you know-" 

"All I'm asking is for you to talk to her, she's a nice girl." 

He supposed there was no harm in talking to her. "Alright." 

Since last night, he had been thinking about the ghats of ma Ganga which is why he called Adikavya there. 

Behind the shade of an ancient looking peepal, he sat, not caring if his clothes would get dirty. 

His ears were solely focused on the melody from a distance. It was as if the wind carried the notes over the attractive scent. 

"I could have never pegged you for someone who'd find hidden pockets and rest there." 

A striking feminine voice fell on his ears. He didn't feel like opening his eyes, the sun was too bright. 

"Did you try to understand me before today?" He almost snickered. Things society made women do. 

"Can I sit here?" 

He shifted slightly to say yes. Still not finding the will to open his eyes, he continued his previous query, "did you?" 

"Whispers from the ladies around me did give me an image of you." 

The sound of her bangles was muted. He only heard the fabric brushing against her skin. Her voice was soothing like the water gurgling beside them.

"Don't believe them. I'm not the kid they knew." 

He felt a slight annoyance. The need to hold onto the memories was all he understood. He couldn't fathom why people won't let that image go and let him be free to grow and change. 

"I can see." 

A small huff made its way to his ears. She was laughing. 

Overcome by curiosity he finally saw her. She was a pretty girl. He wasn't sure if he preferred those locks tamed or if he wanted to see them flow like a river. 

His gaze fell on her wrists, single gold bangles adorned them. 

"Was it you who said yes to the proposal?"

"Well yes. My words. Just the words. The decision? Theirs. The desire? Theirs. The doom? Mine alone."

Ram was struck. The rose in her hair spoke of a life he couldn't find in her eyes.

"I've been away for so long. I need time to settle, you- you unders-" cutting off his words, he stared at her.

Perplexed he gaped as her body shook with humor. The curls fell forward as she hunched and hid her face as if saving her from nazar.

Finally she seemed to calm down, "sorry just-" She tried to suppress the snorts and breathed deeply. "It's just the duality. Usually girls get short end of the stick but it seems to be happening to you."

He sighed, seeing why this would be funny to her. "Mhm."

"You are a slap in the face of dualistic society but not in a good way."

Ram found her sweet and- and bright. Bright, that is what she felt like. She seemed to possess brilliance of the sun.

Riding on the slow waves of Ganga's waters, their conversation  flowed. 

He questioned, inquired and sometimes tried to poke fun at her and she hit back with equal fire in her words. 

The only little task left was to convince Babai that he liked her, she was nice but not someone he would spend his life with. It wouldn't be a lie, he did find her charming and pretty.

He agreed to meet her but he wasn't going to give into the ridiculous haste his Babai had. He wasn't ready to.

Ram looked on as the azure saree disappeared from his view completely. She seemed to be a girl with a sense of the world. He prayed she would understand. He knew he didn't have to.

In their short getaway from the world he realized that she would accept his wishes, she might even thank him.

So, um it's short but i hope you like it. If anyone wants to be tagged let me or rishita know.

My taglist : @thewinchestergirl1208 @budugu @yehsahihai @vaijayantheee @chaanv @rishi-sita @ronnoxandlumoss @iam-siriuslysher-lokid @asarcasticcaffeinatedslytherin @mizutaama @jeonmahi1864 @bromance-minus-the-b @ronaldofandom @sabi5 @saanjh-sakhi @maraudersbitchesassemble @whyismynamecommon @nyotamalfoy @rambheemlove @lite-teesko @jjwolfesworld @shreyalokesh @amnmich

Series taglist : @ramayantika @bishh-kanya @obsessedtoafault @phoenix666stuff

#rrr #ram x reader #rrr fandom #ram x wife!reader #rrr prompt #rrr x reader

[sakannaz]

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐈𝐆𝐆𝐘𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊

As I said before, this will hit you hard in the chest, anyways, hope you enjoy!

Kinda made my own ending.

Warning(s): Death, that would be all!

“Are you sure you’re ready?” Jose asked, you nodded, you wrapped the blindfold around you and Jose, Marcus, And Jamie waited for you to get into the water, once you did the lights began to flicker.

You opened your eyes to see you were in the void, standing beside Eleven. She turned to you and gasped when she saw you, “Oh- (Y/N)…W-Wha-? What are you doing here?” She said, in disbelief, you smiled.

“Just to stop him.” You said, but she didn’t listen, she went and hugged you, you hugged her back, a few tears falling from your eyes, “I missed you.” She said, “I missed you too.” You replied.

You saw Lucas and max walking towards something, the blue light growing brighter and brighter..until it stopped.

“I found them.” You said, Jamie and Marcus exchanged looks before focusing their attention back on you.

Jose looked worried, something didn’t feel right at all…

“I know you can hear me. I know you can read my thoughts. Even the worst ones. Maybe mostly the worst ones.” Max said, she placed the lantern down.

You and Eleven looked at each other with worried looks, Something kept telling you to go back, but you just..won’t listen.

“Eleven…” you said and slowly turned to her, “(Y/N), what’s wrong-?” She asked, until she slowly saw you starting to vanish.

“No, No!” She said, trying to grab you but you were already gone.

The lights started flickering furiously, Jose immediately knew something was wrong, “Hey, Guys, is this supposed to be happening?” Marcus asked, Jamie shook his head, “No, not at all, something is definitely wrong.” Jamie said.

Jose got into the water and walked towards you, taking the blindfold off you and seeing that your pupils were white.

“Hey, (Y/N), I’m gonna need you to wake up.” Jose said, But there was no response, Jamie got into the water, and he saw that your pupils were white as well, Marcus hesitated, “S-Should I like- Jump in the water? I don’t wanna get my clothes wet-“ Marcus said, Jamie looked at him with a glare and he immediately went quiet.

“You don’t know exactly what I’ve been through lately…searching for you.” A familiar voice said, you slowly turned around and saw your older brother, someone you’ve never talked about before.

“W..What? I thought-“ he smiled, “You thought I died? Yeah, I did. But I can still see you.” He said with a chuckle, you began to back away, “This..This is Vecna’s doing, isn’t it?” You said, Your brother shook his head, “No. it’s not. It’s what You did.” He said, pointing his finger at you.

“No..I-..I didn’t do anything.” You said, still backing away, you saw him glance at the picture behind you, “You did. You caused our parents death. And do you want to know why they never mentioned me?” You were curious..why did they never mention him?

“Because. You killed me. They didn’t want you to feel guilty. Guilty that you caused my death. But the truth is..it was all you.” He said, you felt a tear run from your eye, you sobbed and looked away, trying to find an exit.

“You won’t find an exit. Not here.” He said, grabbing you by the leg and throwing you into the living room making you hit the stair railing a bit harshly, you gasped and wailed in pain.

He walked towards you, “See, I was thinking, if maybe, our parents would’ve never had you. Our life would’ve been better without you In it. But no, mom just had to have another child. Another child who’s useless. Was I not enough? For her? For both of them?” You shook your head.

“No..No you said- you said you loved me. And would always be there for me. You never hated me.” He kicked you in the stomach making you fold into a fetal position.

“But I wasn’t, I wasn’t enough. BECAUSE EVER SINCE THEY HAD YOU, THEY IGNORED ME. For, what, Couple of months? Years? Maybe decades?” He said, grabbing you by the shirt and dragging you upstairs.

“Unnecessary shit happened because of you, and it’s still happening because of you now. You’re friends will lose (Y/N).” He said, Now revealing his true self which was Vecna.

“I knew you weren’t him.” You said, he only stared at you, “I want you to watch. Watch your friends lose.” He said, one of his tentacles wrapped around both your legs and arms, now you were in..in..

Why did this seem so familiar?

Isn’t it that snowball dance Mike and Eleven went too? It had to have been. The same one you sat alone in.

You broke out of the tentacles and ran to max and pushed her behind you, she was shock to see you there but didn’t question it.

“(Y/N) GET OUT OF THERE!”

Everything looked so..normal. That’s how you wanted it to be. Hopefully it’d stay like this..unfortunately not. The fate of Hawkins still lies in your hands.

Max piled up a bunch of chairs at the door and you waited for any sign of attacking, suddenly you saw max stop all movement, the door had changed.

And it was slowly opening, you grabbed her by the arm and pulled her in front of you.

She closed her eyes.

“Leave her alone!” You yelled, but there was no response, you could tell Vecna was still in her mind. You couldn’t let him get far. You wouldn’t.

Suddenly, Max was thrown by a force, you as well, everything in you started to hurt. You should’ve listened. You should’ve just left.

“You are brave, Maxine. Much braver than your brother. But in the end…you are weak and fragile, just like him.” Vecna said, you tried to get to max, but it was no use, you didn’t have the power to get up.

“Like all the rest of them. And you will break.” Vecna said, then he slowly rose his hand, you tried to get to her but you couldn’t. So another person..the one you care for most..like all the others..would die?

Then you felt this energy inside of you, and you stood up, there was a cyan blue surrounding your fingers and slowly started to fade, what exactly..was that?

Vecna was dragged back to his previous spot, Eleven and Jose walked in, Jose turned to you, There eyes a cyan color, so that’s where you got the energy from.

“Get up.” Jose said, and you did, not wasting one minute of it either, you stood beside Jose and eleven.

“You.” Vecna said, “Hi.” Eleven said and threw him to the side of the room,

Eleven ran to max, “Max, are you okay?” Eleven asked, “Huh?” Max looked confused, Jose turned to you.

“Look at me, (Y/N).” Jose said, grabbing you roughly by the shoulders, “What? What’s wrong?” You said.

“Eddie..he-he’s making a distraction. He will not make it.” Those words, everything seemed to stop for you.

“No..no, no!” You yelled, shaking your head, why him? Why is it always the people you care for and love?

Jose looked down, “I am sorry.” Jose said, you felt numb. It felt as though everything came crashing down on you but at the wrong time.

You felt angry. The need to break something.

You saw Vecna appear, you turned to him, tears still clouding your vision, Jose stood beside you and placed a reassuring hand on your shoulder.

“Stay back.” You told Jose, you and eleven stood beside each other and you glared at Vecna.

“If you touch any of them again, I will kill you. Again.” You said, cause you did kill him before. And you want hesitate to do it again.

“Is that what you did? Hmm? Did you kill me? I am so glad you are here, Zev.” Vecna said, “This…is going to be beautiful.” He said, “So beautiful.”

You pushed eleven back, “Get back. Now.” She shook her head, “Let me fight. Together. We do this together.” Eleven said, you sighed and nodded.

“Together.” You said, “And it’s all thanks to you.” Vecna said, before throwing the board splinters at you.

But eleven threw it to the other direction, he threw eleven back. You raised your hand and made him fly back.

“You take my boyfriend, you take my family, you take my brother, you take my life, and now..you want to take..my friends?” You said, heaving heavily, Vecna threw you back and you hissed in pain.

He dragged you towards him, you struggled to fight back, you looked away from him, not wanting him to touch you.

“Before I kill you…I want you to watch.” You were thrown back into his lair, and tentacles dragged you by the arms and held you steady, You saw eleven and max.

“LET THEM GO!” You yelled, you tried to get your way out of the tentacles but it was no use, they started wrapping themselves around your neck, you closed your eyes.

“I know what he did to you. And how he treated you. B-Because you were different. And I’m so, so sorry. Please just let them go. They haven’t done anything wrong. Take me instead, okay? They need to live their lives. I..have lost everything. Cause you took it from me.”

He only looked at you, staring you in the eyes, “Please..please do not hurt anyone else..” you said, he stood infront if you.

“This is your fault. You made me into this. But..there is no future for you (Y/N). There never will be.” Vecna said, his claw tracing your cheek, you sobbed and looked away, just wanting Eddie’s comfort. You just wanted to leave. Have a normal life.

“Stop this. Vecna. It’s time you go away, let these people live their lives. I’m sorry you are mad that you couldn’t live yours. But that gives you no reason to ruin their lives.” Jose said, he turned to Jose, “Doppelgänger I see?” Vecna said, turning to you.

“That’ll change soon.” Vecna said and walked towards eleven.

Eddie!

You could hear Dustin scream, meaning..

You closed your eyes and sobbed, the pain in your chest increasing, this was what Jose was talking about. This is what they mean’t. But…this..this was beginning to become too much for you.

“(Y/N)…this is the end…” Jose said, you looked at them, there’s no point in lying anymore..this is the end.

He then walked towards max, she was crying, “try and stay very still.” He said to her, “MAX, NO!” You yelled.

“It will all be over soon.” He said, you tried to get out of the tentacles but they began to grow tighter and tighter.

“(Y/N), come on, wake up, wake up, Jose, Wake up, c’mon man,” Marcus said, tears now building up his eyes, Jamie was trying to shake you awake but it was no use.

“Get them out the water, now, NOW!” Jamie yelled, picking you up and carrying you to a table, Marcus doing the same.

(Y/N)? Can you hear me?

You opened your eyes, that was Jamie’s voice.

Wake up. Please!

You couldn’t do a thing..all you could do is watch, there wasn’t a thing you could do.

Listen, There’s something Eddie wanted me to tell you. Before he went with Dustin.

You looked around, your vision becoming blurry.

He told me to tell you…he loves you. Even if you don’t see him again. It will linger.

You cried, the tears now falling down.

Fight, (Y/N). FIGHT!

The blue hue around your hands vanished and the tentacles slowly started to disappear.

You successfully broke out, and you outstretched your hand letting out one final scream.

Eddie!

He was gone.

I love you, (Y/N).

You threw Vecna back using your telekinesis, you got thrown back as well, feeling a sharp pain in your stomach. You ignored it though, focusing on Vecna.

Jose was now back in reality, they turned to Marcus and Jamie, “What happened? Are you alright-“ but he was cut off when blood fell from Jose mouth and they fell down, Marcus caught them in his arms.

“Hey, hey, no, come on,” Marcus said, Jamie ran to Jose side, seeing blood running from their mouth, “Hey, hey, no, don’t do this, keep your eyes open, Jose do not do this, this is not the time. Please don’t.” Jamie said, sobbing and tears running from his eyes.

While in Vecna’s lair, you felt blood coming from your mouth, Eleven screamed, max was on the ground. Jose..disappeared. Meaning…

You were dying.

You looked down to see the sharp object that was plunged into your stomach, you felt the blood soaking your shirt and hands. You couldn’t look down cause if you did it would hurt.

Eleven moved from max and ran to you, “No, No, No…” eleven said, sobbing, she tried to help but you shook your head. Even shaking your head made the pain worse.

“N-No..I-I w-want..to stay- stay here. G-Go E-Eleven.” You said, blood still spilling from your mouth, you slowly fell to the ground, she held you in her arms, your blood coating her shirt.

“Is it bad?” You asked, she looked down and nodded, “I’ll be fine though.” You said while trying to form a smile, she pulled you close and held you close.

“I want to be back in his arms..” eleven heard you say, “I know, I know, I’m so so sorry…” she said, still sobbing.

There was nothing she could do. Your body was slowly disappearing, she looked down and saw your hand going limp.

She stood up, glaring at Vecna. This was about to end real soon. Hopefully.

Once you were back in reality, you woke up coughing blood, that familiar pain coming back to your stomach. Everything was hurting.

Once Jamie saw that you were awake, he took you off the table and placed you softly on the ground, “(Y/N)! You’re alive? How-?” Marcus tapped his shoulder and pointed to the wound, seeing that there was nothing they could do since you’ve already bled out.

“No, No, No, please. Don’t do this, please no..don’t..” Jamie said, pulling your body close to his, Marcus head was down, tears falling from his eyes.

“I’ll miss you guys a lot…” you said, looking at the both of them, “I’m so sleepy. Is anyone else sleepy?” You asked, eyes slowly opening and closing.

“Stay awake, once this is all over we’ll get you to a hospital, alright? Just stay awake!” Jamie yelled, but you couldn’t hear him.

“Okay…” you trailed off, voice a bit raspy.

There was a portal now growing, Jamie and Marcus exchanged looks.

They’ve lost.

“(Y/N), we’ll get you to a hospital okay?” There was no response, “(Y/N)?” Marcus said, Jamie turned your head to face him.

The life you had left in you was gone. Your eyes were still open but you weren’t moving. At all. Your hand fell limp, Jamie couldn’t say anything.

Marcus continued to cry, hoping that all this would just end.

You were gone.

“Someone help, please!” Jamie yelled, his tears falling endlessly, “SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!” He screamed, but no one was around.

He held you close, you were the only thing helping him. And now you were gone.

シ

TWO DAYS LATER

“Jamie, where’s the other box?” Marcus asked, “What box?” Jamie asked, Marcus rolled his eyes, “The one I gave you last week, to help the people. Y’know? After what happened?” Marcus said.

“Oh…Oh shit! Yeah- sorry.” He said, giving the box to Marcus, Marcus rolled his eyes and gave the older lady a water bottle.

“Everyone else is about to visit max at the hospital. You going?” Marcus said, placing items on the shelf, “Yeah. After that I’ll go visit (Y/N)’s grave.” He said, Marcus nodded, “I’ll go with you.”

Jamie just nodded, lately he hasn’t been sleeping, knowing you were gone wasn’t helping either.

“I’ll be waiting outside for you.” Marcus said while taking the other boxes to his car, “Yeah, okay.” Jamie said, he opened one box which had your items in it, he immediately closed it, not wanting to see them.

He clamped a hand over his mouth to stop people from hearing him sob, tears falling from his eyes.

But, every ending has a beginning. That’s what you told him.

“Do you know how much I miss you?” Jamie mumbled, holding the box close before shutting it and walking into the cafeteria.

“Alright, where to first?” Marcus said, Jamie turned to him, “You know where.” Jamie said, Marcus nodded.

“(Y/N) only wanted to be happy. That’s all.” Jamie said, Marcus smiled, “Wait, remember that time when (Y/N) did that one prank and they got detention? Man..that day feels like yesterday.” Marcus said.

Jamie nodded and smiled, he felt Marcus tap his shoulder, “Look,” Jamie rolled his eyes, “What now Marcus? You found another tarot card?” Marcus shook his head.

“No, No, Just- Look.” Marcus said, and Jamie did.

Seeing Lucas, Eleven, Dustin, Will, Mike, Nancy, Steve, Robin, Jonathan, And the others sitting at your grave. Laughing about something and smiling.

“See? There’s always hope somewhere.” Marcus said, he got out of the car and so did Jamie.

Jamie walked towards them, “Hey, I didn’t know you’d all be here.” Everyone smiled sadly, “Hi.” Eleven stood up and pulled him into a hug, he hugged her back, “Thank you. Thank you all for being here. I needed this.” Jamie said, wiping away his tears.

“They were our friend too. Of course we would come. Always.” Robin said.

“Not just our friend, family.” Dustin said, Everyone nodded in agreement. You went too soon.

So did Eddie.

“Did you both notice how they’re always together?” Robin said, everyone looked at her in confusion, “Huh?” Dustin said.

“I mean- look. It’s cute.” Robin said, pointing to you and Eddie’s grave being beside eachother.

“Ohhh, yeah, that’s right.” Dustin said, Steve smiled, “I mean, At least their together, right?” Everyone nodded.

Eleven slowly turned to one of the plants, seeing there were dying. She walked forward, the clouds were growing dark and particles falling from the sky.

The smoke coming from the portals and everything was..not the same. Not anymore.

These kids were not kids anymore. They are Teens. Teens who has to find a way to put an end to the upside-down.

Once..

And for all.

And somehow…someway…someday…you would be there. There to help.

#stranger things 4 #stranger things #eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #steve harrington #nancy wheeler #dustin henderson #erica sinclair #jonathan byers #lucas sinclair #mike wheeler #will byers #argyle #robin buckley #xreader #eleven hopper #max mayfield

[albiclalepsza]

We were going through family photo albums today and I'm so normal about it.

Where is the post that says: who are the most stunning people in the world and why are they your parents in the photos where you were a baby? Because man, isn't that the truth.

I can't stop looking at these pics, the ones where they're twenty something years younger and were doing something with the baby me around, or the earlier ones, where they were my age. Can't stop wondering if they were as lost in it all as me. They seem so well put together in these photos. Like they're sure of where they're going. Like they have it all laid out before their eyes, like they can gaze through the photo and see that it all worked out, that they can relax and pose for the photos that their kids will look at in wonder.

And we also found the pics taken on the last christmas before my eldest sister went to college. I'm a little kid standing with my 4 siblings in front of the christmas tree. The last photos where we were really together as a whole, all still living together under the same roof, sharing pretty much every moment together. Now two of my sisters have their own children, their own families.

Someone wrote somewhere that there will come a day when your siblings have their kids and when someone asks them about their family they won't name you. I will never forgive them for writing that and shattering my heart.

I'm also totally normal about seeing pictures of my grandmother, who's now 87, where she's about my mom's age. I wish I got to meet that version of her, but the thing about having couple of older siblings is that you don't get to meet the younger versions of your relatives. They live in pictures, in smirks and smiles that come together with your older siblings reminiscing about these times. When everyone was younger and seemed to have so much more energy for everything. They are always so close but unreachable for you, who didn't get to meet these versions of people you love even in your earliest years.

Then we got to the few pics from my primary school trips. It was unreal looking at the photo of me with my first friend group. Six of us. I haven't talked to two of them in a decade. My friendship with the third one ended earlier this year when I realized that the person I loved was long gone and the person who remained was someone who I didn't want to call a friend anymore.

The last two, well, I saw them yesterday. We had a great time as always. We have 14 years of always being there for each other behind us, and I hope that's just the start.

14 years ago we were all in one photo. Now half of that group is gone, and the rift between them and the two who remained with me could not seem wider.

The photos of my first dog, of the old backyard in my parent's house. Photos of my grandfathers who died before I was born, never getting to meet me. My sisters at my age, younger than me. My cousin in her awful emo phase. My favorite aunts and uncles when they were in their 20s. Me with my younger brother in matching clothes, back when we were as close as possible.

All the different versions of different people I love with all my heart, and the different people they loved and love with theirs.

Again, totally normal about this.

#family #christmas #rant #vent #parents