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#beyond the fury ch 2
stardustbarbarians · 1 year
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Too Pretty For War
Chapter 1 (ch. 2 | ch. 3 | ch. 4 | ch. 5 | ch. 6 | ch. 7 | ch. 8 | ch. 9)
A Samuel Kiszka / fem!reader fic
Summary: The only way for Prince Sam to end a war is by marrying the enemy.
Tags: Prince!Sam, war, arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, angst
Trigger Warnings: blood, death, nightmares, grief
A/N: Hi uhhhh I wasn't expecting to finish part one tonight but here were are. This fic is dedicated to @safety-sam whom this fic would not exist without her daring me to write it. If you read my other fics you'll know I like to name my fics after songs, but this time the title comes from me uttering the exact words of the title upon see the AI generate warrior Sam. As always, I appreciate your feedback <3. Please enjoy! (Also this is about to be filled with historical inaccuracies but I will try my best to keep it accurate where I can)
Words: 2.1 k
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Thirteen years. Thirteen years of war had been tearing apart the country that Sam called home. Ever since the age of ten, battle had been his reality. He has had to sacrifice so much for something so ridiculous, but what he has had to sacrifice pales in comparison to what his people have had to. So many mothers, wives, and children were without their sons, husbands and fathers all in the name of protecting their country over a scuffle that meant nothing.
“Please, father, just attempt to make peace with them. This fighting has gone on long enough,” Samuel pleaded, kneeling in front of the king sitting high atop his throne. Every time he spoke to his father, it always seemed to be while he was on the throne. He never got to speak to his father.
“You beg upon deaf ears, Samuel. Let it go. I will hear you speak of this no further,” the king sternly ordered, his face imitating the marble statues decorating the palace.
Knowing when he had lost, Sam got up from the floor and swept out of the room. He was furious. Couldn’t his father see all the harm he was causing on both sides??
Much like how most conversations with his father ended, the prince sought out his best friend in order to vent his frustrations concerning the king and this war. Without so much as knocking, Samuel stormed into his best friend’s living quarters.
“He will see no reason!!” the royal blared, pacing back and forth across the floor.
“Good evening to you as well, Sam,” Daniel dryly greeted. He was pouring over academic texts that went far beyond the prince’s knowledge. But that’s why he was part of the court in the first place; he was training to become Jake’s advisor.
“Does he not understand the torment and strain he is putting on this kingdom?! If he does not end this war soon, the people will ask for his head!!” Sam continued as if Daniel hadn’t said a word. He had one hand on his hip while his other rubbed at his forehead, the cape he wore brushing against his elbow while his fingers were poked by the heavy gold leaves digging into his scalp.
“You and I both know this is a matter of pride-”
“IS PRIDE WORTH THE BLOOD OF THOUSANDS OF MEN?!”
At his outburst, the room went silent. The pair of friends gazed at one another, Sam’s chest heaving as it attempted to keep pace with his anger. While the scholar’s face was blank, in his eyes Sam saw the compassion and pity swirling in them.
With a deep sigh, Daniel stood up from behind his desk. The prince stayed in his place while the scholar approached. He placed a hand on the prince’s shoulder. This wasn’t the first time this discussion occurred between them. “There is nothing in this world that is worth a person’s blood.”
Sam deflated at the touch. Daniel was one of the handful of people that saw the prince at his most vulnerable; he was the only one of non-blood relation, as well. The prince found himself leaning into the touch, if only slightly. He closed his eyes and let all of his fury seep out and calm at Daniel’s touch.
“Who else needs to die for this war to end?” Sam whispered. It was barely loud enough for Daniel to hear.
He couldn’t see it, but the scholar’s face shifted to one of empathy. He knew the amount of guilt the prince held due to his father’s stubbornness.
Sam suddenly was overly aware of the weight of his golden crown, his head hanging in shame. He felt his friend’s hand brush against his cheek in an act of solidary.
“If you can’t convince him, I’m afraid no one can.”
+++
After the sun had sleepily slipped below the horizon and the stars and moon partook in their duty of illuminating the inky sky, the prince laid in bed. He hadn’t even seen his father at dinner, the king off making battle plans with his war advisors. That left his mother, his sister Veronica, and Danile at the table. It had been silent and tense. The one person who could diffuse the tension was long gone.
His mind busy with thoughts racing around inside of it, Samuel fell into a restless sleep.
He dreamed of blood, of weapons. Of mothers falling to the ground in mourning for the death of their sons. Out of their mouths was the voice of his own mother, her haunting wailing sending chills down to his bone. Suddenly, it was the queen crumpled to the ground under the weight of her loss. In her arms was none other than Sam’s older brother who was off fighting the war. The crowned prince and next in line for the throne was being cradled by their mother as blood gushed out of a gaping wound in his chest. It gurgled out of his lips as he attempted to speak, his skin turning ever pale as he reached a hand out towards Sam. Before Sam could reach him, his arm went limp. He had lost his brother to the war.
“Samuel!!”
With a gasp, Sam was jolted awake. Covered in sweat despite the frigid temperature of his skin, Sam frantically looked around to find himself in his bed and not on the battlefield. It took a moment longer for him to realize that he wasn’t alone.
“Daniel,” he muttered, sitting up properly to address the scholar. He rubbed a hand down his face, taking a moment to compose himself.
“Yeah, it’s me. You’re in your room with me,” he reminded the prince. The two of them had gotten into the habit of soothing each other through the horrors of life.
Sam nodded, looking around once more just to be safe. Neither spoke, the subdued noises of the night substituting conversation. The monotonous yet calming crashing of waves against the beach near Samuel’s window grounded him as well as the presence of his best friend.
“Nightmares again?” Daniel finally asked, pushing one of his curls out of the way of his eyes. His torso was exposed, the light of the moon reflecting off his skin.
“How could you tell?” he asked after nodding his head in confirmation. Sam’s voice was rough, cracking upon use and sounding as if he had swallowed sand.
That was when Daniel looked away. He always made an effort to look his best friend in the eyes, knowing that Sam’s own father hardly glanced at his youngest. “You were screaming Jake’s name.”
At the name, Sam’s breath caught in his throat. He felt the tears prickle in his eyes, glancing away from Daniel. It was a ridiculous act, really. Daniel had seen the prince cry on so many occasions; but he was a man, and men don’t cry.
“He died in mother’s arms,” Sam shakily informed, looking out towards the moon and still refusing to look at his best friend. He wrapped his arms around himself, the wind chilling his sweat-slicked skin.
Once again, Daniel offered his best friend the comfort of physical touch. He leaned over and placed a hand on the prince’s shin. Instantly, Sam felt warmth bloom inside of him from the simple act.
“Do you think they mean something? These night terrors?”
The scholar sighed. He remained silent as he searched the caverns of his mind to come up with the best answer to Sam’s question.
“You need rest. That’s what I think,” he softly spoke, his tone warm like a summer’s morning.
They stayed like that for a moment, finding much needed comfort in one another’s presence. Without any more words spoken, however, Daniel instated his own advice and made to leave. Sam regretfully watched as Daniel walked towards his door, the scholar turning to look at Sam as he opened it.
“Goodnight, Samuel.”
“Goodnight, Daniel.”
And just like that, Sam was alone again.
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The next morning, Sam was interrupted from his sparring lessons to be summoned to the throne room by his father’s request. More than a little confused, the prince set down his sword and wiped the sweat off his skin before making his way to be in his father’s presence.
Upon entering, his guard was up instantly. He spotted his father, his mother, Veronica, and Daniel, no one else. The sound of the doors closing heavily behind the prince bounced off the stone walls and amplified it tenfold. As he walked towards the front of the room he found an array of emotions on his family’s faces ranging from confusion to sorrow.
“Now that you are all present, I’m afraid I have horrible news,” the king announced, addressing the four people gathered in front of him. He couldn’t explain how he knew, but Sam got the impression that he was barely holding onto his identity as the king. It seemed as if he was struggling to carry himself with that regality that the prince had come to loathe so wholly since his boyhood.
No one spoke, waiting with baited breath for the patriarch to continue. Under normal conditions, Sam wouldn’t be able to hear the way his father’s breath hitched. But much like the closing doors, it reverberated off the walls and amplified it.
“Jacob was slain last week.”
Sam’s mother cried out in horror, her hands coming to cover her mouth as her knees gave out. Acting on instinct alone, the lone son lunged out to capture her in his arms. He carefully lowered her to the floor, caressing her arm as she sobbed violently into her son’s chest.
It was too much like his dream last night. At least the reality had a lot less blood to be seen.
“His death has moved me to consider peace negotiations.” The king’s voice trembled. Sam was right, he was barely keeping it together.
The prince was barely paying him any mind. His attention was mostly focused on the way his mother repeated “no” in a soft mantra that did nothing but further fracture the young prince’s heart. He rested his head on top of her’s, gently rocking her back and forth in an attempt to comfort her through her unsurmountable grief.
“As such: Veronica, you will be married to the Spartan prince. I will send a messenger before the sun sets to-”
“No!”
All eyes were on the prince. He hadn’t realized he protested until he gained the attention of the room. Sighing deeply, Sam looked to his sister so that she could comfort her while he spoke to his father.
“No? You finally get what you have demanded for years and you say ‘no’?” The tone his father used made Sam feel like he was a child again. The prince closed his eyes and swallowed against every instinct that told him to back down.
“With Jacob… Now that…”
Blinking back tears and straightening his posture, Sam tried again.
“As I am next in line for the throne, I will need a wife to be the future queen,” Samuel began, internally proud of himself at how even his tone sounded.
“Samuel-”
“Hush, Daniel, please,” Sam silenced, finding his best friend’s concern as he looked at him and softening, “I know what I’m doing.”
The scholar stepped back, his brow knit. He clearly was against the prince’s train of thought, but he wouldn’t protest.
“The Spartans have a daughter. Allow me to marry her.”
“Sammy, please-”
“Ronnie, this is for your own good! They’ll torture you and commit unspeakable atrocities unto you!” the prince snapped, emotional at the idea of losing both his brother and sister on the same day. He could no longer hold back his tears.
“You seem to already have your mind set on this,” the king stated. Sam looked over at his father, catching what he thought could’ve been a glimmer of pride in his eyes.
“I have, father.”
The room was silent once again. The only noise was that of his mother’s cries as she mourned her son. The king deliberated, looking to the floor as he pondered.
“I will send a messenger with your proposal.”
Feeling as if he could collapse under the weight of that sentence, the prince bowed to his father before rushing out of the room. He wasn’t sure if he had any destination in mind, but he found himself in Jake’s old room when he became cognizant again. Falling to his knees, Samuel screamed. From the depths of his soul, he screamed in sorrow and frustration.
“It wasn’t supposed to be you,” Sam choked out, speaking to the spirit of his dead brother. But what was supposed to happen no longer mattered. The facts were he was never coming back.
The facts were he would soon be betrothed to his brothers’ killer.
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Taglist:
@doodle417 @sammykiszkasunusedshoes @jmks-housewife @ageoferin @alwayssotiredbutneverofyou @etoilesnoor @ascendingtostardust @godlygreta @s0livagant @gretavanflowerpower @morganic-goods @dannythedog @baguettejuliette @fan-girl-97 @gaby-gvf @age-of-nyahh @mzbrightside @myownparadise96 @xserenax-13 @sammysvanfeet @loofypoofy @chalametpwk @seventieswhore @razorbladekiszka @kdarling1 @capturethechaos @unfortunatelykristin @welightthefire @gretavanfleas @sammiejane22 @satanplayshisfluteforhim @starsasone @mintysammykiszka @writingcold @tearsofbri @gretasmokerising @streamofstardust @lunaindigoraven @jakeydoesit @tripthelightfandomtastic @sunfl0wer-power @wingedgardener2000 @gretavanbitches @teddiie @gardensgatedaisy @sparrowofthedawnsworld @angelbabyyy99 @sammysprincess @whollyfreeamongststars @gretaswhore28 @l0rdoffli3s @kay-jordan
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snootlestheangel · 2 months
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💜
You already knew this was coming. I'll take what crumbs I can get lol
Lol I did know it was coming XD
I kept going back and forth on what I wanted to share so um... yeah I went ahead and just decided on sharing a snippet of ch. 2 cause I suddenly abandoned all thoughts except for that chapter
Price did his best to swallow back the panic building as he wiped at the girl's sleeves. How could he have been so reckless, so unobservant, as to let a fight break out without him ever noticing? A fight that resulted in an innocent bystander getting covered in her own tray of food. A fight that resulted in the girl having a full blown panic attack before him, her small frame frozen as she shook.
Staring.
The sensation hit Price like a truck as another sharp inhale from the girl brought him out of his spiral. He glanced around the mess hall only to realize it was true. Everyone inside awkwardly stared at the scene playing out, no sense of decency as they practically judged the young girl's breakdown.
No.
Price would never stand and let such a thing happen. He would never let a child be stared at and judged for something beyond her control. An almost protective fury washed over Price as he finished wiping the mashed potatoes off the girl's sweater sleaves.
"Hey, I'm gonna pick you up and take you somewhere that isn't this room. Can you nod if that's okay?" Price whispered as he leaned close to her. Still mostly frozen, the girl's eyes found their way to his; large and terrified. She took a shuddering breath before another sob rattled through her, and soon her head bobbed up and down as she nodded.
Trust.
Her dark eyes were spilling out with it as she nodded, as she realized the situation around her.
And it was all Price needed.
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jotterjots · 9 months
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Number 19 for the oc ask 😁
Aawh thanks Z, this was a great one! Sorry for taking so long- I wrote most of my response and then forgot it in the drafts!
19. things they would do have definitely done for someone they care about
For Helaena
When Helaena gets taken by her "spells", Rhae won't leave her side for a second. These instances are tiring (and oftentimes distressing) for Hel, as she already deals with sensory overload, and getting random foreboding visions throughout the day does little to help with that feeling of being overwhelmed. So, Rhae does whatever she can to make her best friend more comfortable- removing her jewelry, braiding her hair, reading passages from her favorite books. Anything that might help ground Helaena in the present.
2. For Aemond
We've seen before that Rhae has no problem putting herself between Aemond and his bullies, regardless of how uncomfortable it might be. She draws attention to her own injury to distract Luke in Ch. 4, and confronts Aegon about his dickish behavior in Ch. 6 and 8. But beyond that, I think Rhae would take additional opportunities to build Aemond's confidence. When festivities are held at the Red Keep, Rhae makes sure to ask him to dance and make him feel desirable. She doesn't feel that way about him (yet), but as his friend, Rhae still feels that it's her personal duty to make him feel every bit the Prince he is.
3. For Jace
Sometimes, Rhaenyra would stop by lessons to check on Jace and Luke's progress. Both boys are a bit behind on their High Valyrian, but Jace in particular gets anxious about it anytime his mother announces she'll be coming to visit. On those mornings, Rhae would neglect her own translations to help Jace cram as much as possible. (Rhae thought she'd be more excited to move into Helaena and Aemond's study group once the Velaryons left for Dragonstone, but she can't help but wonder how Jace is doing with his 2nd conjugation verbs.)
4. For Alicent
Raised by House Royce, Rhae mostly keeps to the Old Gods. While her house maintains a steady respect for the New (as a means of maintaining favor with other Houses), prior to her arrival in King's Landing, Rhae had not personally taken interest in the Faith of the Seven. However, Rhae has since sought out several in depth conversations about the Faith with Queen Alicent. It helps her learn, but Rhae mostly does it because she's noticed that taking a break from the politicking to discuss her faith seems to soothe the Queen when she is in a frantic or anxious state (which is most of the time).
5. For Aegon
Rhae and Aegon are obviously the iconic "Daddy Issues Duo", and they both mutually benefit from having a safe place to disclose their feelings of anger and betrayal towards Viserys and Daemon. However, I honestly believe the greatest thing Rhae has done for Aegon is hold him accountable for his actions. I think it would be easy for Rhae to complain with Aegon while ignoring his bullying towards other, and she could do so while still getting what she needs out of their interactions. But I think Rhae sees Aegon's dickish behavior for what it is- a pattern of self-destruction. By not allowing him to get away with tormenting others, she's encouraging him to embrace his family instead of continuing to push them away (as Viserys did to him). I think that unrelenting persistence is the greatest example of what Rhae is willing to do for people she cares about- she's always ready to walk the rougher road.
Thanks again for the ask :)
Bronze Fury
OC Ask Game
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mrsalwayswrite · 2 years
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I recently passed the milestone of 1K followers and am beyond honored that so many people would want to follow me and my random postings. I have met so many wonderful people on this site that have quickly become friends. You guys are all incredible!
So to celebrate I'm hosting a small challenge! Yay!
I love all kinds of fanfiction but my absolute favorite are AUs. So with that in mind, my challenge is going to be an Alternative Universe challenge!! Participants can choose an AU and base their contribution around that.
This challenge is open to everyone - friends, mutuals, acquaintances, we've never spoken but creeped on each other's blogs, you happened to just stumble upon this posting and are intrigued - the more the merrier!
Rules & Prompts are below the cut!
Rules:
-To participate you can write something, create a moodboard, edit, color palette or even a gif set.
-Please use Read More if your writing is over 500 words.
-You don't have to follow me to participate.
-Can be any pairing - x reader, x OC, canon couple. Or no romantic pairing at all.
-Use appropriate tag warnings.
-No underage fics, choking kink, humiliation kink, watersports, non-con.
-Up to 2 different people can use a prompt, then I'll cross it out.
-Feel free to choose more than one prompt, if you're inspired.
-Use the tag mzAUparty and make sure to tag me in your contribution also!
-Send me an ask with the prompt you want, so I can keep track of everything easily.
-Fandoms you can choose from: Vikings, Peaky Blinders, The Last Kingdom, Band of Brothers, Marvel, Fury movie, The Witcher, Outlander
Deadline: December 31, 2022
AU Prompts:
• Regency AU - @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie
• Biker AU - @tvserie-s-world (?)
• A/B/O AU
• Pirates AU
• Fairytale AU
• Meet Cute AU - @sophieshelby
• Arranged Marriage AU - @geekandbooknerd
• Bodyguard AU - @geekandbooknerd / @youbloodymadgenius
• Time travel AU - @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie
• Mafia AU
• Coffeeshop AU - @notyour-valentine
• Dystopia/Post-apocalypse AU - @solinarimoon / @grimeundglow / @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie
• Royalty AU - @geekandbooknerd / @runnning-outof-time
• Lumberjack AU
• Detective AU
• High School AU
• College AU
• Roommates AU -@emilyhufflepufftlk
• Soulmates AU - @typewritersandfanfiction
• (Rock) Band AU - @serasvictoria / @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie
• Futuristic AU - @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie
• Magic AU - @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie
• Supernatural/Mythological Creatures AU - @lilyrachelcassidy
• Assassins AU - @errruvande
• Monster Hunters AU - @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie
If you have a different AU you wish to use, just let me know!
(Shout out to @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie for helping with prompts)
Tagging those who might be interested: @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie @youbloodymadgenius @geekandbooknerd @tvserie-s-world @doctorwhoandfairytaillover @solinarimoon @punkrocknpearls @quantumlocked310 @runnning-outof-time @errruvande
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saiilorstars · 7 months
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Ch.5: The Worldwide Initiative
Steve Rogers x OFC fic • squeeze your eyes for a Bucky Barnes x (2nd) OFC
taglist: @ocappreciationtag​​​​​​​​​​​​ @arrthurpendragon​​​​​​​​​​​ @anotherunreadblog​​​​​​​​​​​ @maaaaarveeeeel​​​​​​​​​​​ @stareyedplanet​​​​​​​​​​​ @gloryekaterina​​​ @averyhotchner​​​ @foxesandmagic​​​​​​​​​​​​ @lenonizi@kmc1989​​​​​​​​​​​​
Story Masterlist • Seren’s Masterlist• Chloe’s Masterlist​​
Also available on Fanfic ○ Ao3 ○ Wattpad
If you’d like to be a part of this OC’s work/edits, let me know!
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Seren rocked on her feet so many times that she might end up breaking her own heels. She couldn't help it — she was beyond nervous. She was introducing her new team to the World Security Council and the evening was already in march.
"If you don't quit doing that, you'll be shoeless by midnight." Her director came by to stand beside her. Seren eyed the glass in Rebeca's hand. How Rebeca was so casual was beyond Seren. "And I don't need Cinderella, I need Agent Seren Soul right now, even though you do look like Cinderella right now."
Seren could only minimally laugh before the nerves crept in her stomach again. Several people had already arrived at the event. Waiters were passing by tables, offering drinks. Everything was casual, except for Seren herself. "I have been working my ass for the past 2 years and if the Council says 'no' then it was all a waste."
"They won't say 'no'," Rebeca shook her head. "They would be idiots if they did."
"Never stopped them before."
Rebeca nearly choked on her drink. "Ouch. Keep that one to yourself, alright? That might make them refuse to expand the Initiative."
Seren flushed with embarrassment. She hadn't meant to let that one slip but her thoughts about the Council had never been the best. She was too wary of them. She knew there were secrets under secrets when it came to the Council, even if Fury said it was all for their security. And being who she was, a potential threat as once stated 2 years ago, she felt like she would never be able to fully trust the Council.
"Simply speak about what the Initiative means to you and we'll be fine," Rebeca patted Seren's arm. "Drink?"
Seren shook her head at the offered glass and walked a little bit off. She could see the very team that she'd be talking about later on coming through the entrance doors.
Risha, Jordan, Blake and Alison were the lucky overseas versions of the Avengers' Initiative. More than a team, Seren looked at them as close friends. They'd been working heavily and close for too long to be anything but friends now.
"This looks great." Risha, the team's own leader, looked around with the biggest smile on her face. Seren thought it was better for Risha to be excited than nervous like she was. "Is the Council already here?"
"No," Seren shook her head. "But they'll be here soon."
"So what happens?" Blake was more on the nervous side like Seren. "Are we...are we supposed to speak to anyone?"
"Only if you want to," Seren said clearly. "But I'll be the one handling the questions. Of course I can't promise what'll happen afterwards."
"Can we have drinks first?" asked Jordan, the most calm of the team so far. He seemed completely ready which is what allowed Seren to think that perhaps she'd done a good job preparing them for this.
"Yes, of course," she chuckled but stopped when she spotted some familiar faces coming in. "Actually, before you go, there's a few people I want you to meet. Maybe it'll make things less nerve-wrecking for some of you later on."
"I'll try anything," Alison said with a hand rubbing endlessly over her stomach.
Seren brought them to meet Natasha first. It seemed only right since Natasha had been the first person Seren ever got to work with closely after turning 18.
"So you're the ones who took Seren away," Natasha shook hands with all of them. "I hope you're as good as she said you are."
"Natasha likes being very sarcastic sometimes," Seren chuckled nervously. Natasha almost laughed too when she felt Seren's gripping hand on her shoulder. She was silently being asked to tone it down. "But she's one of the best agents at S.H.I.E.L.D., definitely somebody you don't want to cross."
Natasha winked at the several nervous faces now staring at her. "You'll be fine kids. You had Seren training you. She's one of the best. Oh look, there's Fury right now," she pointed at the man making his way around a few other guests.
"Oh God no!" Alison shook her head with absolute fear. "Do we have to speak directly to him?" She turned to Seren, hopelessly helpless which was more than amusing for the others.
"Calm down Ally," Risha moved over to her side. "We'll be fine. What Agent Romanoff said is true. We had the best Agent training us." She cast a warm smile towards Seren.
"Nicely put," Natasha said. "Can I have a moment with your star trainer?" Seren playfully rolled her eyes at the redhead. Natasha waited for the trainees to leave before she spoke again. "So, I don't see your family around. Not even Agent Atria."
"Yeah I wouldn't waste time searching for them," Seren sighed. "Mom and Dad were never on board with me leaving and they especially don't like this whole scene."
"And grandma?"
"She never trusts the Council."
Natasha thought that was fair, very fair. "Mm, Steve and Chloe are coming in. They might be busy though…"
Seren followed her gaze to see the pair trying to make their way inside but whether or not he wanted it, Steve always grabbed attention. Seren learned quickly that she hated the people the attention came from. "I'll be attending to my team," she told Natasha rather quietly.
Natasha watched Seren go off in her put-out way and barely held the edges of her mouth from curving into a smirk. It was too damn obvious sometimes and even that wasn't enough.
~ 0 ~
It was much later when Chloe was able to find Seren without any of her trainees around her. "You're a very needed woman," Chloe laughed as she hugged Seren. "Haven't been able to get a word with you."
"Busy," Seren said and brought her current glass of champagne to her lips. "As are you guys."
"Mm, not so much me. You know that I hate attention. I prefer to stick to the shadows."
"Do you do that with Tony a lot?" Seren's question startled Chloe and even though she tried shaking it off with another laugh, Seren didn't fall for it. "Steve's told me you've been weird lately, and then he got the idea that you might be sneaking around to see Tony. What's that about?"
Chloe visibly gulped. "Well, I…I've just been busy, that's all."
Seren looked at Chloe long and hard. While her haze never wavered, Chloe's stance became shifty. Whether or not Chloe liked it, Seren had the ability to create a faux motherly glare.
"Have you been seeing Stark about your condition?" There was no room in Seren's tone for an argument or an excuse.
Chloe swallowed thickly again. "Is this really what you want to talk about right now?"
"I'm nervous as hell and you're dodging me at every corner, so yeah," Seren nodded. "What have you been up to, Chloe?"
Chloe pressed her tongue against the side of her cheek. "You know Tony, he's just a...very rich man with a lot of curiosity. I don't think it's odd that he'd be interested in what goes on in my head."
"So he is studying your condition?" Seren raised an eyebrow. "S.H.I.E.L.D. does that already. What could Tony tell you that S.H.I.E.L.D. hasn't?"
"That's what I'm seeing," said Chloe. "Plus, don't tell anyone, but he's kind of making me a suit."
"A suit?"
"Yeah, and don't worry, he's making one for you too."
"Ah, great," Seren drank from her glass again. "So, again, why isn't this common information? Steve is worried about you and he swears you won't tell him anything."
"I just didn't want to make more problems," Chloe said quickly as an excuse. "You know how they are when they're together."
"Why wouldn't you tell me about it then?" Seren watched as Chloe faltered again. "We're supposed to be best friends and yet in these 2 years I've been away, you never once mentioned to me that you're having problems with your powers."
"I…Seren, c'mon, you've been so busy and I — I just didn't want to add more to your plate!" Chloe said, smiling awkwardly.
"No matter how stressed I am, I always want to know how you're doing," Seren said sternly. "And to tell you the truth, right now I get what Steve was trying to tell me. You're acting strange, Chloe."
"I-I'm not—"
"You might get away with it because Steve doesn't know you like I do. I know you're hiding something and starting tomorrow, you and I are going to sit down and discuss everything." Once again, Seren's voice held no room for arguments. Chloe's fate was sealed.
Chloe let out a long breath. "Honestly, Seren, this is your night and you're making it all about me!"
"I'm multitasking!" Seren finally drowned the remainder of her drink and quickly sought out another waiter.
Chloe had never seen Seren be so willing when it came to alcohol. In less than a minute, Seren had gone halfway with her second drink. "Are you okay?" Chloe asked. This was supposed to be one of the most important nights of Seren's life after all.
Seren couldn't answer without giving implications but Chloe would be damned if Seren left her on hold like that. She took Seren's glass and held it behind her back when Seren tried taking it back. "What is it?"
It probably wouldn't have been that hard to keep in if it wasn't killing Seren to watch it. In the end, she let out a breath. "I forgot how hard it was sometimes to talk to Steve outside of home and S.H.I.E.L.D."
Chloe looked back and chuckled when he saw Steve still being bombarded by several people. "I know, it's so funny." But when she shifted her gaze back to Seren, she realized it wasn't that funny for her. "You're mad—"
"I am not mad," Seren snapped, trying to reach for her drink.
Chloe easily stretched her arm high above her head to where Seren had no hope of getting it. "Sounds like you're mad to meee!" Chloe sing-sung.
Seren huffed and gave up winning her drink back. "It happened the last time we went out too," Seren said, her abrupt change of subjects showing just a bit more of a deep angry feeling. "We were trying to get simple curry and this...this waitress just kept coming to our table. She gave some crappy excuses but I knew she was just there to chat up with Steve. I swear everybody acts like they want him."
"Uh, hello!?" Chloe thumped Seren on the side of her head.
"Ow!"
"Everybody does want him!" Chloe rolled her eyes. "You're the last one to find out! Right now you're talking to one of the few people who don't want to sleep with him."
Seren scrunched her face and shook her head. "Chloe!"
"I'm telling you how it is! I swear Seren that you're incredibly smart but so stupid at the same time!" Some tough love is what Seren needed right now. Chloe put Seren's glass on the nearest table then set her hands on Seren's shoulders. "We all know that you and Steve decided to stay friends but that's not really working out for either of you." Seren scoffed but Chloe kept a firm grip on her shoulders to keep her there. "You really don't see it? You're dying of jealousy and when you're not looking, Steve mopes around because you're not here."
"...I'm not dying of jealousy," muttered Seren.
"No, you're just seething with it."
Seren's eyes snapped to Chloe's. "Please..." she ended up sighing. She had no energy to argue and, if she was being honest with herself, she had nothing to argue with. Chloe, despite her fantastic way of putting it, was absolutely right. "Do you think I made the wrong choice?" she suddenly asked. "Two years ago, I told Steve that we had no time for a relationship. I was on the other side of the world — I probably will be after this too — and I couldn't bind him to a relationship like the one we would have."
Chloe tilted her head at Seren, not really giving Seren an idea of what she was thinking. "I get why you did it but has it really done any good to either of you?"
Seren shrugged. "I've done a lot with my time in London and I know Steve has done some good here."
"Yeah, no one's going to argue that but you guys are miserable because you can't move on from each other." Chloe couldn't imagine herself ever being in a situation like that. She was always very straightforward with what she wanted. She was the one who ended up asking her last boyfriend in high school out on a date. She wasn't much for pinning.
"I didn't know it was going to be like this," Seren admitted. "I thought time and distance would be exactly what we needed to...to forget. I have never been in a situation like this." She hardly dated in her teen years because she was always trying to keep herself under the radar and even when she was older and more situated with S.H.I.E.L.D., she never dated seriously. "I was supposed to move on and-and I don't know, go back to normal, but I haven't! Nothing's gone back to normal and I hate it! I hate feeling like this!" Chloe chuckled lightly, and in her state Seren took it with annoyance. "Am I amusing to you right now?"
"Seren, you don't get why you can't move on?" Chloe tilted her head at Seren. "You really don't know?"
Seren's shoulders slumped at the question. It was clear as day that she knew the answer. "Of all the people…"
"Don't do that," Chloe cut her off. "Don't do the 'of all the people in the world, why did I have to go and choose him?' It's a pointless question with no answer. You don't get to pick. It happens, and it happened because it was supposed to."
"I was supposed to fall in love with some guy from the 40s?" Seren smiled sourly. "I couldn't have just picked someone—"
Chloe didn't even let Seren finish again. "Most of the time, you were afraid to date. You were afraid of how men would see you once they learned about you. I don't think you've really thought about that stuff with Steve, have you?"
"I mean…sometimes…"
"But in the end, it doesn't matter because Steve's not exactly the most normal guy out there either. I think this was fate and you trying to act like it's not is just plain stupid."
"So what am I supposed to do?" Seren nabbed her drink from the table and drank it before Chloe even blinked.
"Well for starters, maybe you shouldn't get drunk before you talk to the Council?" Chloe sarcastically shrugged. "And then maybe just talk to Steve? Trust me, he's willing to listen."
Seren sighed. "Even if I did talk to him about it, what am I supposed to say? That I'm taking back everything I said 2 years ago? I can't...that's not fair to him, Chloe. I don't even know if I'm going to be here after this. They want me in France."
"Do you want to be in France?"
Seren swallowed hard and took to biting her bottom lip. Time was, she knew exactly what she wanted but lately that wasn't the case anymore. Her eyes drifted over to Steve who was currently having a conversation with a few people. She could say with certainty that the only thing she knew right now was that she wanted him.
Chloe presumed where Seren's thoughts went and because she loved Seren, she decided to help her out a bit. "Stay here," she patted Seren's arm then headed off in Steve's direction.
Seren dreaded what Chloe would do. "N-n-no, Chloe!" she whisper-hissed after the blonde. "Come back!"
Chloe only flashed a smirk then headed off, leaving Seren with a near heart attack. She cleared her throat loudly once she was close enough to the group. "Scuse me, scuse me, Agent Winters here — back off vultures!" She practically shoved two women in her way. They were a bit too close to Steve anyways.
As always, Steve was amused with her. "Hey Chloe," he said and, though he didn't say it, he was relieved that she was able to get him some space.
"You seem popular tonight," Chloe crossed her arms.
"Not my fault," he was quick to say. "But I did slip in as much as I could about Seren."
"I'm sure you did," Chloe laughed. "Have you gotten a chance to talk to her yet?"
"No, it's been cra—"
"You should, she's not doing that great!" Chloe's smirk widened when Steve grew concerned in record time. "Nervous, you know? I think it would do her some good to have some support from the Golden Boy."
Steve rolled his eyes at her. "I already told Natasha not to call me that."
"Just go and make sure she doesn't screw up her night." Chloe made a motion of someone over-drinking and that was definitely enough to make Steve take off. He knew that it took Seren a bit longer to get drunk than the average human but the point still stood that she could get drunk. She would hate herself forever if she did that to herself tonight of all nights.
Seren had just accepted a new glass from a waiter when he finally found her. Just as she was about to drink from it, he swooped in and took the glass from her. Their height difference would prove a challenge for her to get it back.
"We need to talk," he announced.
"Oh God, what did Chloe say?" Seren felt her heart was about to burst from her chest.
"That you're nervous and you're over-drinking."
Okay, so Chloe hadn't completely ruined her...yet. Seren took in a breath to ease her nerves. "It's a big night and I find myself confused about some things." That technically was true — very true, actually.
"I'm sure you'll do fine," Steve said with all the certainty in the world. "You always do. You've been training these guys for two years and the Council knows it needs more Agents like you."
"Thanks," Seren whispered, though she still didn't look more cheered up like Steve would've wanted her to be.
She looked so pretty tonight and she wasn't remotely happy. How on earth was that okay?
She folded her arms over her chest and looked away from him. She was in a soft blue satin dress with a cowl neckline and thin straps. Her new star pendant rested around her neck, shining constantly with each of her movements. While it covered one of her star birthmarks, her second birthmark was on her right shoulder, just where her arm began. It was the smallest of stars, but still very present. Steve knew she was a lot more self conscious about it than she let on, and so she didn't really expose it that much. He thought it suited her well because she was just that: a star.
When Seren accepted yet another glass from a waiter, Steve sprung into action.
"Hey!" Seren was tired of her drinks getting stolen by tall people.
"Let's save that for another day," Steve said in a rush. "Can I ask you to dance?"
"What—?" Seren froze altogether, only her eyes flickered to the side. She wondered if Chloe had told him — or forced him— to do this.
"I promise I'll try my best to not step on your feet…" Steve said, offering her a smile, "But if I do, feel free to step on me."
Seren laughed on the spot. It was a huge win.
She reached for his hand and walked with him. "I'm wearing heels," she remarked.
"I know…"
"So you know that if I step on you, I'm gonna stab you."
"Yeah, that I didn't connect…" Somehow, Steve was sure he'd survive it. The moment was very worth the risk. He held her just like the last time they danced together, only this time he knew he couldn't do what he did last time. Kissing was strictly off the table.
Maybe Seren was thinking something similar to that because she kept looking around. "It's concerning that I've lost sight of Chloe…" she mumbled. She could no longer see where Chloe had gotten off to and that meant she could be doing things in secret. "You know you were right. She's seeing Stark about her powers."
"And neither one mentioned a thing," Steve said, discreetly taking a look around as well. "How very surprising."
"Chloe swears that she didn't want to bother anyone…"
"And what do you think?"
"I think there's something going on that she doesn't want us to know about. I might be visiting Stark in the near future. I'd invite you but I don't want you to kill each other."
Steve smirked. "You say it like it's my fault the guy's insufferable."
"You two could stand to tolerate each other better," Seren said, finally meeting his eye. "If Stark is truly trying to help Chloe, then we'd be on the same team—again."
"Would you be willing to work with him, then?'
"I guess. At the end of the day, he's not a bad guy. Just has some flaws like everyone else."
Steve had to agree, as much as it pained him. "I'm just surprised that Chloe managed to get Tony to help her out."
Seren hummed then chuckled. "Oh, Chloe can charm her way into anything." She happened to look around again and, to her relief, and maybe to prove her point, she found Chloe. She was at the center of the reporters, and to the side was Natasha shaking her head. "Oh brother, she goes," Seren said with another laugh.
Steve followed Seren's gaze and saw what was happening. He had a laugh or two as well. "You know, she makes it look easy. The limelight is terrible."
Seren's eyes flickered to him suddenly. "You looked quite at home to me earlier."
"What? Before?" Steve blinked. Seren nodded. "That's not home to me. I'd much rather be in my actual home or with our friends. Maybe some curry on the side…?" He waited until Seren couldn't hold it back and smiled. "There we go — you should be just like this when you speak to the Council. Nobody can deny you anything when you smile like that."
Seren felt her face warm up. "Thanks for coming." She realized she hadn't shown her gratitude to him until now. "I wouldn't admit this to anyone else but I kind of wished my parents were here. I've worked on this assignment for 2 years and if this goes as planned, I will have created — recreated — one of the most important Initiatives that S.H.I.E.L.D. struggled to take off the first time around."
"Despite your differences I think that they'd be proud of you." Though Steve wouldn't say that he was irritated neither of her parents showed up for this, he wanted to believe that they were indeed proud of Seren's accomplishments. "Even Atria hadn't come tonight, after all.
Seren nodded. "Well...I'm happy that you're here," she said with a tint of pink on her cheeks. "My backup, right?"
"Of course. You know I've been talking you up to those people," Steve nodded towards the group that Chloe had finally disbanded. "Every last good thing about you. They're primed and ready."
"Thank you, that means a lot."
"So you want to tell me why you were so upset earlier now?"
Seren's face felt even hotter when she remembered her alleged jealousy. "Um…" she cleared her throat, "No, I…I was just…so nervous. Very nervous."
"You shouldn't be, because you've done amazing. You'll be great tonight. And after, when everything goes great, maybe we can celebrate with some curry or some sweet cinnamon rolls?"
Seren would have liked to say that just how Steve claimed no one could deny her anything, she couldn't deny him anything either...not when he had those charming eyes of his. "I'd like that," she found herself nodding.
"Good, and the only requisite is that you can't have another drink tonight," Steve laughed as Seren groaned.
"I literally can't get drunk!"
"Not taking any chances tonight, sweetheart." As soon as the last word left his mouth, Steve regretted it out of sheer fear of her reaction. When he looked at Seren, she was smiling softly at him. Her heart had pinged in the best of ways.
~ 0 ~
It was funny how the nerves seemed to fade the more Seren talked about what her last 2 years in London had been about. The trainees had gathered behind her while she addressed the guests. The Council, though menacing, hadn't opposed anything so far. It was a good sign that Seren would take for encouragement.
"Risha Taylor here" — she gestured to the young woman in question — "is an expert in combat and communications. She is no doubt the perfect leader for a special team like this." Risha herself stepped up beside Seren. "She was the first candidate I chose and moved through every challenge I posed for her—"
"Couldn't that have been a rushed decision on your part, Agent Soul?" One Councilwoman suddenly interjected. It caught Risha by surprise but Seren didn't falter.
She put on a smile instead. "Not at all. Before choosing her, I screened thousands of candidates for the position. Risha went through extensive one-on-one reviews and training before I gave her the title of Leader. I don't make 'rushed decisions', Councilwoman Hawley." Seren's smile was strained but authoritative — she was not to be challenged. She had dealt with the Council on various occasions in the past. "Being constantly trained since I was a kid for this very Initiative has given me a very apt perspective on this matter. It is why Director Fury—" she made a motion to the very man standing beside the Council, "—proposed that I oversee this assignment."
"Some would say that your young age has made you a little biased instead," Councilman Yen said. "This is what you know so...how do we know that your team is truly ready for the assignments that may come their way?"
"Because I have the exams to prove it," Seren responded nearly sarcastically. Some of these questions felt redundant. "I'm not just talking the talk — I'm walking the walk."
Chloe smirked. She was glad to see that Seren was forgetting those nerves and sticking it to the Council. "I love that woman…" Her eyes then drifted towards the Council who didn't seem so amused with Seren's metaphor. "I always hate these people," she whispered at her lowest to Steve and Natasha on either side of her.
"Can they be trusted?" Steve felt like his question was pretty much answered by the mere appearances of the Council. Not one of them cracked even half of a smile. "I don't understand, why wouldn't they want the Initiative to be a success again?"
"Because the Council has never been on-board having half-alien Agents in S.H.I.E.L.D.," Natasha said just as another member stopped Seren again in the middle of her explanation for Joshua's position. "She and Atria are seen as potential threats should they turn to the, uh, dark side." Chloe giggled at Natasha's tone.
"Seren would never," Steve could almost roll his eyes at the absurd idea.
"Yeah, but think about if she did?" Natasha flashed him a smirk. "She's twice as strong as the rest of us — rivaling you — and she has literal star powers. She's a threat if she wants to be one. She proved it the last time."
"Nonsense," Chloe stuck her tongue out, though she quickly pulled back in when Steve shot her a look to control herself.
Seren, however, answered the series of questions thrown her way without a slight indication that she was uncomfortable anymore. "I assure you that I have chosen my team with the utmost caution and logical reasoning. Each member I chose brings a different specialty to the team. They function as a whole, just as a team should."
"But the original team — your team, I should add — didn't necessarily follow that logic," one of the male Councilmen, Rockwell, remarked. "How can we be sure that this team of yours won't disband like yours did?"
Seren cocked her head to the side, having to bite her tongue before something unprofessional slipped out. She didn't realize how irritated she was until now. "Well, Councilman Rockwell, first of all — unlike the original team, this team wasn't brought into a room and expected to work as a team in the course of one day. They all met once they were each individually trained and ready to combine their training. They have had 2 years to perfect their weaknesses using one another for help. My original team was not so lucky. I was the only member who had extensive training specifically for the task of the Initiative. Agents Romanoff and Barton had their training for different assignments. Mr. Stark was made terribly confused by denying him the position and then proceeding to pull him in anyways as if nothing happened. Captain Rogers was a bit preoccupied learning to live in our world to focus completely on the Initiative. And last, but not least, it was decided to bring Dr. Banner to an enclosed, glorified, ship where he could Hulk out at any moment. So if we didn't stay together, it wasn't because we failed the Initiative. We were never made to be on the same page. This team—" Seren pointed behind her to the trainees, "—has had every opportunity that we didn't. That is why they will not fail. Any more questions?"
Seren was glad to see nobody had a thing to say. She did, however, meet the proud gazes of her friends.
~ 0 ~
"Okay, I know that I'm the leader but...how will I ever be like you?" Risha was finally letting all of the nerves she held in during the questioning go. Seren could only laugh at her. "I'm serious! The Council is scary and you just shut them up!"
"I honestly wasn't intending on things going in that direction," Seren said, raising her hands. "But they asked, and I answered with nothing but the truth."
"And you killed it!" Chloe called. She, Steve and Natasha were coming over to congratulate Seren and the team now that they were mostly freed up from the other guests. "
"No I don't," Seren rolled her eyes then, for her team's benefit — since they were quite new to the business — she added, "There are no dirty secrets."
"I don't know," Alison said with a face to match her doubt. "People like them always have dirty secrets."
"Oh, you're going to be a good one," Natasha pointed. "Keep your eyes open, kid." Alison fervently nodded her head.
"Please don't scare off my team," Seren sighed.
"They won't," Steve assured her and, for good measure, warned Natasha to stay quiet from now on. "You were great, Seren." The ginger beamed with his praise. "They were going hard on you but you knew exactly what you were doing."
"I was nervous up until they started asking me stupid questions," Seren admitted with a light chuckle to follow. "I stopped mostly because I was irritated with them. I guess that was better in the end."
"I'm sure that they'll approve of the team and the Initiative's expand."
"I hope so," Seren looked at the trainees with a soft smile. "I think they've earned it."
"What exactly happens if they do?" Joshua curiously asked her. They had briefly touched on the next steps if they were to gain the Council's approval but now that it was so close, he wanted to know exactly what would be changing. "Do we...do we actually take assignments now? Official ones?"
"Well, for starters, I wouldn't be coming anymore," Seren chuckled at his horrified expression. "Risha would be leading you guys."
"Why are you making that face?" Risha frowned at the man who had yet to clear said face up. "Are you trying to say that I'm not a good leader?"
"I just...it would be very different going from Seren's leadership to yours," Joshua said quickly when he felt his life was on the line.
"Mhm," Risha rolled her eyes.
Seren gestured for the two to calm down. "Anyways, if we do get the approval you would be officially based in London and should anything...special happen...you would be the first ones called."
"You mean like anything alien-wise?" Alison raised an eyebrow.
"Not all the time. Any mission that's important, you'd be on the first jet there."
"What if...what if we don't get the approval?" Blake seemed afraid to pose the question but Seren wasn't at all upset by it. It was a fair thing to think about.
"Then you would go back to your current positions," she answered quietly. The answer wasn't very well received.
"Noo, I don't like it," Risha shook her head. "Not after everything we've done these 2 years."
"You shouldn't focus on that," Seren said quickly. "Your training, whether or not we get the approval, will be enough to get you through the levels and ranks. Plus, you've made friends with each other. You'll be good with either possibility. But you know what? You've all done such an incredible job — go out. Please, just go out and have some fun."
"How about you come with us?" Alison beamed.
"No, I'm...I'm tired," Seren chuckled at her admission. "I think I need a nice calm night for me. I foresee some nice cinnamon rolls in my future." She didn't necessarily look over to see what Steve had to say about it but he was all smiles about it.
Chloe and Natasha may have seen it, though.
There was at least another 15 minutes of saying goodbyes and promises to let them know what the Council decided on. Seren even had a moment with Fury and Rebeca to talk about the chances of getting that approval. It was where she delayed her departure.
"I did what I could," she said to the pair. "But maybe I overdid it with my attitude towards the end."
"No, you did exactly what you should've," Rebeca wagged a finger at the woman. "You need to show that you are strong and you're not the type to back down, not even for the Council. Isn't that right, Fury?"
The man himself shook his head. "No, some of them appreciate that."
"But others don't," Seren picked up on the unsaid words.
"Agent Soul, you have done your job," Fury said. "Do not forget that. I have confidence that they will give you the approval you need. And after that, my guess is that you'll be packing for France." Seren's face slowly fell with the reminder, even more so with Fury's certainty. "They've been keeping an extremely close eye on the matter."
"So...so if that were to happen...how long would I be in France?" Seren couldn't help her fingers from fiddling together. She was back to being nervous.
"I would think the same amount you spent in London, of course," Rebeca answered cheerily, none the wiser of Seren's grim thoughts. "I think you established the period of 2 years being roughly the amount you need to develop a team. But imagine it, Seren, if this happens then France is just going to be the next stop of many."
"Many…" Seren repeated, eyes drifting to the side. "Yeah…"
"What's the matter, Agent Soul?" asked Fury. "It would be the opportunity of a lifetime for you to oversee the Worldwide Initiative."
"It's just…" Seren didn't know how to put her thoughts into coherent words. How would she speak of her concerns of her life and not make it sound selfish? Yes, it would be a good opportunity for her but at the same time she had to consider what she would be giving up this time. If she was always traveling then it meant less time to see her family, her friends...and anything else she might have been considering.
"Seren?" Rebeca reached to touch Seren's arm, startling the woman out of her thoughts. "Are you alright?"
Seren pulled her arm from Rebeca's hand and put on her best smile. "Of course, yeah. Um, you'll let me know what happens, right?"
"Of course," Rebeca nodded. "Are you sure you're—"
Seren bid her and Fury a goodnight and headed off. She had a lot to think about and with so little time too. She was almost to the entrance doors for some well needed air when she heard her name called. As soon as she heard him, her nerves found the will to ease up.
"We lost you there for a bit," Steve was smiling as usual, something Seren felt like she really needed at the moment. Nastasha and Chloe were following behind. "We saw you talking to Fury and Rebeca. Is everything—"
"I don't know," Seren cut him off without intending to. She swallowed hard. "I-I really don't know what I'm doing or what I'm going to do—"
"Woah, hey!" Steve held her by the arms. "What's happened? I thought you were good?"
"I am but at the same time I'm no-ot." The fact her voice cracked in the end was a red alarm.
"Seren, ease up," Steve started rubbing his hands down her arms. "Whatever is going on, we can help. Natasha, Chloe and I — we're here for whatever you need."
"Yeah, what do you need from us?" Chloe soon asked.
"I just want to go," Seren bit on her bottom lip. "I've had my fill for tonight."
"Not home, is it?" Natasha's question was odd and certainly earned her some looks. "You know there's going to be people there waiting for you to ask questions." Seren felt 10 times more tired than a minute ago.
"Why don't you come with us instead?" suggested Chloe who then looked to Steve for his reaction. "She can stay with us for a bit, right?"
"Of course," he nodded. His hands dropped from Seren's arms to her hands. As he wrapped them around hers, Seren fought the urge to just take him in an entire hug. "You want to come home with us?"
"If...if it's not too much of a bother." No sooner had Seren said those words than Chloe snorted in the background. Natasha promptly jabbed her elbow in her ribs.
"I heard cinnamon rolls were going to be served," Natasha then said. "How about Chloe and I get them and meet you at your place?"
"Sounds good," Steve said, thanking them for the initiative. "Seren?"
"Thanks," she whispered.
"Here," Chloe said suddenly and pulled out a nice small box from her purse. Seren took it, although puzzled with its contents. "It's chocolates," Chloe explained. "Somebody left them for me at my table. A little sweetness might do you some good."
Seren smiled lightly. "Leave it to you to have secret admirers at my dinner."
"Hey, there were a lot of cute guys in the room," Chloe flipped her hair behind her shoulders. "I can't help what I can't control."
Seren chuckled. "Thanks, Chloe." She held the box close to her chest then glanced at Steve. Without saying anything, he knew she wanted to leave now.
So, they left together.
Natasha waited until the pair were gone to ask Chloe what she already presumed was going to happen. "We're not actually going to meet up with them later, right?"
"Noo," Chloe said with a smirk on her face. "But Seren's suite is going to be empty, so…" She held up Seren's hotel room card.
Natasha laughed. "Sometimes, you're good, Winters. I got the wine."
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sonikkusenpai164 · 1 year
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Thank you for waiting guys! Here's a summery of Alan's main route Ch 4-6 and SP Ch 2 (⚠️WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS AHEAD!!!⚠️)
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So the day after that incident with Alan and the male concierge and MC's ( a.k.a. "Nanao Hiori" - again, using default name in the server) punishment, she quickly learns that Alan had also got that concierge fired/forced him to quit for "being rude and disrespectful" towards him (which we all know that's NOT the case - Alan did that just to keep him and any other guy away from Nanao/MC. While cleaning up the suite room, Nanao discovers a can filled with Alan's childhood items - gold medal, scholastic achievement certificates, report cards with perfect scores, and an old photo of Alan when he was a child on a picnic with his family (keep this in mind for later in this summery!).
Then that time Nanao/MC almost colasped with a high fever while helping with the Sweets Buffet at the hotel, Alan sent her back to their suit room to rest where he later came and took care of her. There, Alan told her about Hannah, his former family housemaid, how she would alway cared for him when he was sick when he was little and how she'd often became his knee pillow whenever he felt sad or lonely. She would always remain by his side... until the day she quit and left the family (didn't say why, though). This explains why he'd often use Nanao/MC to be his knee pillow when he felt he needed it. I'm guessing her kindness, in a way, reminded him a lot like Hannah's...
All seems well.... that is, until we got to chapter 6:
Enter Roy Mason - Alan's older brother and eldest son of the Mason Family!
Alan had opened up a clothing shop (translated as a costume shop in the JP server), and he with Toma's assistance, was in the middle of looking for a new suit for Mei, who was asked to perform for a wedding ceremony at the hotel for one of Toma's business partners... that's when Roy came into the shop to greet Toma. In doing so, you can CLEARLY see the tension in the room between Roy and Alan... but what finally set off the 🔥😡 Fire of Rage & Fury 😡🔥in Alan's soul is Roy having the audacity to flirt with MC 👏IN 👏FRONT 👏OF 👏ALAN!!!
(🤔... But then again, Roy IS much taller and slightly heavier built than Alan and could probably take his little brother out in one swift motion... but that's another story.😅🤷🏾‍♀️)
😰People, let me tell y'all something... from what I saw, it took Alan every, and I mean EVERY ounce of patience he had LEFT... not to choke-slam his brother in front of everybody in his store!
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After Roy left, Alan resumed helping Mei with his clothing choices... but you can also tell from his fake smile and forced laughter that he was beyond upset and angry. This facade continued when they got back home, and he went to look for his chessboard in his living room shelf so he could play with Minami...
...That was when he found the can items from his childhood past as well as his family photo when he was a child.
Nanao/MC explained to him that he found it while tidying up his room and would like to know if he'd wanted to keep them in a safe spot. Alan tossed the items aside and told her to throw them away as he didn't need them anymore. But Nanao/MC refused as believed that these are precious memories to him and told him not to throw them out...
And THAT, folks, is when all Hell FINALLY broke loose!!!
Alan finally lost it, and told her off how he knew she felt scared of him when he gave her those hickeys as punishment for disobeying his orders, how he thought something was going on between her and his brother when he said "it was good to see her again", and even asks if she would be more than happy to get away from him, just like how everyone else did in his life.
I'd be lying if I told you that line didn't break my heart after hearing all that...
This continued into SP chapter later that night when they slept in that same bed as usual... except this time, Alan didn't hug her from behind like normal. Much later into the night, MC woke up to find Alan's not in bed with her but instead sleeping on the couch. He seemed to be having some sort of nightmares from his past, so MC stayed by his side to comfort him until she fell asleep. When she woke up this morning, Alan was already awake and dressed for the day, but... he didn't kiss her good morning like usual. Finally, MC confronted him about his change in demeanor towards her, only to be countered by Alan as to why she went this far for him when she found him scary in the beginning. MC explained that she was indeed scared of him at first, mainly bc of how strong he came onto her... but after spending some time with him and getting to know him a bit, she realizes that he wasn't as scary as she found him to be in the beginning... in fact, she saw him as a very kind-hearted soul, especially after how he cared for her when she was sick.
Sadly, this explanation wasn't enough to keep Alan from needed to break things off between them. Until he can sort his feelings out, it was best that they sleep separately from now on and keep a Master/concierge relationship. Also, he wished to be left alone from now on.
And that's it for now! JP players, if I made any mistakes on the translation, please let me know.
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skyler10fic · 2 years
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Recruit: Ch. 3 The Program
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Fic summary: Daisy Johnson, Carol Danvers, Jemma Simmons, and Leo Fitz each decide to join Shield as students at Carter Academy, but when a school camping trip goes awry, will they rise to the occasion and help defeat the evil Pantheon? And will Melinda May���s Shield team survive their mission to reclaim what Pantheon has stolen from them?
Chapter summary: Daisy, Carol, Jemma, and Fitz find out about the "program" Fury is recruiting them for--or at least, they sign up to be part of it, even if they aren't quite sure what it is they are agreeing to...
A/N: AU gonna AU. This is a different universe, so let go of canon and assumptions and motives coming in. :)
Read on Ao3 | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2
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Daisy, Carol, Fitz, and Jemma (Fitz’s “friend to invite” from his video from Fury) arrived at the unmarked building at the designated time. The doors opened automatically and closed behind them. The four found themselves in a dimly lit gymnasium, but the floors, walls, and high warehouse ceilings had been painted black. Giant Shield logos marked the center of each wall and the floor. Various equipment, targets, and padding were scattered along the walls. A few other students wandered in, each looking as clueless as the others.
An old video began to play on one of the black walls. Captain Steve Rogers, one of the first Shield agents, began to talk. He was dressed in his legendary battle suit, all red, white, and blue. He had to have been close to retirement at this point. He sounded weary, and yet, wise.
“You are all gathered here because you have demonstrated abilities beyond your peers. Not physical abilities, but remarkable character and honor. Resilience in the face of struggle. You have been selected for a special program, the Secret Warriors. It is the highest honor you can receive at this stage of your Shield careers. But accepting this honor must be considered carefully. It will cost you.”
Captain Rogers looked especially solemn now.
“Being a Shield agent already takes a high toll. Your life and the lives of your team may be on the line any given day. But to become a Secret Warrior is to risk much more. Someday the freedom of many or even the fate of the world may be in your hands. Will you have what it takes to succeed, to sacrifice, to protect? Will you be the Shield?”
Captain Rogers seemed to be looking directly at Daisy, or so she felt. His words were frustratingly vague but awakened something inside of her, something that had always known she was meant for more.
In stark contrast, the silence in the room after the video was broken by the bored but loud voice of a gym teacher. “Hello all, my name is Gordon, you can call me Gordon, or Agent Gordon if you are trying to impress someone, but you won’t impress me so Gordon is fine.” A man with a buzz cut and wrap-around Oakley sunglasses (especially odd given the darkness in the gym) stepped into view on a platform and gestured to two figures in the shadows. “This is Alisha, you can call her Agent Whitley, and this is the program’s global director, Jiaying, though you probably won’t call her anything because she’s almost never here, and if she is, you probably won’t be aware of it. I won’t ask if you have any questions because I know you have more than we have time to answer, and I can’t answer them all right now anyway. Continuing on with our tour, you have the equipment; do not destroy it. You have weights; do not throw them. You have padding; it is for your protection, not for recreation or procreation or anything else beds are for. If you use a weapon on a fellow student in an aggressive manner outside of training time, you will be expelled. If you attack an instructor or faculty member, you will be prosecuted. To the left are the locker rooms, to the right is the door. Leave now if this is not your thing; we don’t have time to waste on washouts in this program.”
Daisy and Carol exchanged a look just as Jemma and Fitz did the same. Sure, this was all bizarre, but that was life in Shield. They were staying.
Gordon stepped off the platform and sauntered over to Jemma and Fitz. He pointed to two sliding glass doors with Shield logos etched on them. “Over here is the lab; that’s for you two.”
“For us to do what exactly?” Jemma inquired cautiously.
“Anything we need. Biochemistry, medical, engineering, you’ll be trained in all of it and have a great deal of opportunity to invent new things to contribute. Every warrior is different. Every gift is different. You’ll help them complete their missions, your missions,” he gestured to all of them, “with your own gifts.”
“What gifts?” Daisy dared to ask.
“You’ll see.” Gordon gave her a half smile and resumed his place on the platform. “You will be here at 7 a.m. every day once the semester starts. Your schedules will be created with this in mind. Until then, prepare yourselves. Learn to fight, learn to think, learn to question, to lead, and to follow. This program will teach you to see the world differently than you thought possible.” Gordon removed his sunglasses. Instead of the blinded eyes they were expecting, Gordon simply had no eyes at all. They were just indentations of skin. The two women in the shadows came to stand beside him and in an instant they were gone, consumed by a purple bubble of energy with Gordon at the center.
“Wot the hell.” Fitz stared at the spot.
“I’d heard rumors of people in Shield with unusual abilities but …” Jemma was pale but intrigued. Carol and Daisy, however, turned to each other and grinned.
“Okay, that was cool,” Daisy admitted. “Finally, a school with something to teach.”
Carol laughed in shock. “Do you think… are we here to learn to teleport?”
Fitz shrugged. “I suppose it’s possible. Though tech like that is way beyond me. I … I don’t know how to build that or even begin to know how to work on it.”
“Certainly would make spycraft easier,” Jemma admitted. “You’re right. It’s probably just tech. Not superpowers.”
“Wait, you think it could be superpowers?” Daisy grew excited. Jemma was the smartest person she knew. If Jemma believed in superpowers…
“He did have an uncanny ability to see us, everything around him, with no eyes,” Jemma pointed out.
Carol just grinned and nodded. “Cool. I think I’m going to like this place.”
The already dim lighting began shutting off while the lights at the exit illuminated, visually ushering them to the door. An extraordinarily tall agent stopped each student at the exit before they filtered out.
“Sign this.” The agent held out a tablet with text to read.
“Stepping outside this door, you acknowledge that everything you saw, heard, said, smelled, tasted, or felt in this building never happened,” Jemma read aloud. “This applies to each subsequent visit, mention of the Secret Warriors program (henceforth referred to as The Program), and any involvement in The Program whatsoever. No one you know excepting those present here today shall have knowledge of its existence or your involvement or anyone involved.”
“So, basically, it’s secret,” Carol summed up dryly.
“Wait, I can’t even tell my parents? They’re in Shield too.” Daisy was still trying to figure out what it meant to be a legacy and so far being Melinda and Phil’s daughter had carried more weight than being plain ol’ Daisy herself.
The agent shook his head and pointed to the screen.
“Okay, got it.”
The four signed and left with their fellow students, wandering out to wherever they had agreed to meet up with their family and friends.
“So, what do we tell them?” Daisy asked her friends. No one had a good answer.
Phil saw them walking in the dark across the lawn back to the cafeteria and met up with them. Melinda and Allan were not far behind, but just out of earshot.
“How was your meeting?” Phil asked quietly. They each exchanged looks but stayed quiet.
“Good!” Daisy answered. “Just freshman stuff, you know.”
“I know.” He nodded. “I reviewed each of your applications.”
“But we didn’t…” Jemma started, but Phil cut her off.
“They were very impressive. It’s an honor to be accepted. But, of course, we wouldn’t want to make anyone jealous, so best not to spread it around.”
“Yeah, we get it, Dad.” Daisy clapped him on the shoulder.
“I just want you to know, as a faculty sponsor of the program, I’m here. I can’t answer most of your questions, but if things come up, if you decide not to go through with it or need support, I’m your guy.” He looked each of them over. They just smiled, unsure if they were being tested already.
Melinda and Allan caught up with them, and they all exchanged contact information so they could keep in touch in the weeks before school started. In some ways, it was exactly what they expected college to be like. In other ways, it was going to be unexplainably stranger.
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keicordelle · 11 months
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Not a Champion, Just a Knight Ch. 2 (Nidhogg's Reign)
Fandom: FFXIV Rating: M Pairing: Past F WoL/Haurchefant Greystone Word Count: 5.4k Archive Warnings: Major Character Death, Graphic Depictions of Violence Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Haurchefant Greystone Lives, Angst, Tragedy, Dark, Grief/Mourning, Body Horror, POV First Person
Summary: You have ever been my hero. Now, you must be the world's. I pass my mantle to you.
Atop the Vault after racing to save Aymeric, Ser Zephirin hurls his Spear of Fury and Haurchefant is not fast enough to save the Warrior of Light. As she lies dying in his arms, she makes one final request of him: that he take up her title and become Eorzea's new hero. Overcome with grief, he vows to avenge her death, and sets his sights and his rage on Thordan and his knights twelve. Even so, he is not the vaunted Warrior of Light, and he cannot face these challenges alone.
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There was no time to linger on the hollowness in my chest where my heart used to lay, no time for my friends to celebrate our victory over Thordan and his knights twelve. Between one moment and the next, our temporary peace - in whatever form it took - was shattered as Estinien knelt to pry free the Right Eye from the Sword of Ascalon. For the barest of moments, he held them both, the sickly red aura they emitted deepening the bloody red that stained his armor until it seemed to weep freely.
"All that remains is to take them beyond the reach of man and dragon both. With this task accomplished, my toils shall finally be-" His body stiffened before he had a chance to finish, the red glow of the Eyes rising in a clear sign that something was wrong. The rest of us turned to him, concern knitting my brow. His entire body began to shake as Estinien seemed to fight an internal battle, and from beneath his bloody helm, his eyes began to glow red. Hands clutched at weapons, Emmanellain shifting nervously as he glanced between the dragoon and the path back the way we'd come.
Whatever war he was waging, it was clear he was losing. Spine arching, his head wrenched back, scream tearing from his lips. "The Eyes! They're overwhelming him!" I realized, and my shout energized the group, jolting Aymeric and Artoirel to action. As one, we lunged forward to pry them free from his hands. My fingers had just landed on the Left Eye when I was blasted back, a dragon's roar echoing through my mind. I blinked stars from my vision, and in the darkness behind my eyelids swam forth the immense figure of a black scaled dragon, red eyes focused on me and jaws parted - in a battle cry or with the intent to consume me, I was unsure.
When my vision cleared enough for my surroundings to swim back into focus, I found the spectre became reality. I could do naught but watch in horror as Estinien's limbs lengthened, his anguish that still rang through the air growing distorted as his bones shifted, restructuring themselves until four curved horns of black bone jutted forth. His jaw lengthen, lips peeling back to reveal jagged teeth, until his face was not a face but a snout. His chin grew into a sharp point, dark scales pouring over his flesh. Bones cracked as his spine shifted, forcing him to the ground as the joints in his arms and legs contorted, chest expending and shoulders rolling in until his limbs bent the other direction, those of a quadruped. His fingers and toes stretched, claws sprouting from their tips. Whether his armor had been absorbed or simply discarded I did not know, but there was nothing to hide the contortions of his body as a tail ripped itself free from the end of his spine, lashing as it tore through his skin, already covered in black scales and vicious spikes. His wail of agony reached its peak as his shoulder blades split with a sharp crack, twin wings sprouting from his back. His scream of torment would haunt me for the rest of my life, but even it could not compare to the sound that followed. My blood chilled in my veins as the monster that had torn itself free from my friend's body turned his shriek into a laugh, pure delight echoing on the heels of unimaginable pain.
I stumbled back as the thing that had once been Estinien swung its massive head towards me. Somehow during the transformation it had grown in size until it was impossibly large, bigger than any dragon I had ever fought. Red eyes flicked over our assembled party, coming to land on me. "Nidhogg," I heard my own voice breathe.
A voice that did not belong to our friend shattered the air with its bassy rumble, shaking the floor beneath us as it spoke. "For a thousand years hast I suffered the torment of man. Now shalt I bestow that same suffering upon thee and thine."
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Read the rest on Ao3!
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mrkilroi · 1 year
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The Messianic Era
By J. Immanuel Schochet
A. Restoration of the Bet Hamikdash
Mashiach shall restore the Bet Hamikdash in Jerusalem.1 This refers to the third Bet Hamikdash that will stand forever, in fulfillment of the Divine prophecy of Ezekiel 37:26-28: “I shall give My Sanctuary in their midst forever. My dwelling-place shall be over them… The nations shall know that I am G‑d who sanctifies Israel, when My Sanctuary shall be in the midst of them forever.”2
B. Ingathering of the Exiles of Israel
Through Mashiach shall be effected the ingathering of all the exiles of Israel:3
Deuteronomy 30:3-4: “G‑d, your G‑d, shall bring back your captivity… and He will return and gather you from all the nations whither G‑d, your G‑d, has scattered you. If your banished shall be at the utmost end of the heavens, G‑d, your G‑d, shall gather you from there, and He shall take you from there.”
Isaiah 11:11-12,16: “It shall be on that day that G‑d shall again set His hand for a second time to acquire the remnant of His people that shall remain from Assyria and from Egypt, from Pathros and from Cush and from Elam, from Shinar and from Chamat and from the islands of the sea… There shall be a highway for the remnant of His people that shall remain from Assyria, as there was for Israel on the day they went up from the land of Egypt.”
Isaiah 43:5-6: “Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your seed from the east and gather you from the west. I shall say to the north, ‘Give up,’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold back, bring My sons from far and My daughters from the end of the earth.’ ”
Amos 9:14-15: “I shall return the captivity of My people Israel and they shall build the waste cities and settle… I shall plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be plucked out of their land that I have given them, says G‑d, your G‑d.”
Jeremiah 23:7-8: “Therefore behold, days shall come, says G‑d, that they shall no longer say, ‘As G‑d lives who has taken up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt;’ but ‘As G‑d lives who has taken up and brought the seed of the House of Israel from the north country and from all the countries where He had banished them,’ and they shall dwell in their land.”
Ezekiel 39:25, 27-29: “…Now I shall bring back the captivity of Jacob and I shall have compassion on the whole House of Israel, and I shall be zealous for My holy Name… When I shall have returned them from the nations and gathered them from the lands of their enemies… They shall know that I am G‑d, their G‑d, in that I exiled them to the nations and gathered them unto their land, and I will not leave any one of them there. I will no more hide My face from them, as I will pour out My spirit upon the House of Israel…”4
The Ten Tribes of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, exiled by the Assyrians before the destruction of the first Bet Hamikdash (II-Kings, ch. 17), and dispersed beyond the river Sambation and the ‘Mountains of Darkness,’ will also return.5
This Divine promise of the return and restoration of Israel is unconditional. It will occur even if the people should not want to return:
“That which arises in your mind shall not come to pass, namely that which you say, ‘We shall be like the nations, like the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.’ As I live, says the Lord G‑d, I shall surely rule over them with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with fury poured out. I shall take you out from the nations and gather you from the lands in which you were scattered, with a mighty hand, an outstretched arm and with fury poured out… I shall pass you under the rod and bring you into the covenant… For on My holy mountain, on the mountain of the height of Israel, says the Lord G‑d, there shall all of the whole House of Israel serve Me… when I bring you out from the nations and gather you from the lands where you were scattered, and I shall be sanctified in you in the eyes of the nations. You shall know that I am G‑d when I bring you to the earth of Israel, to the land about which I raised My hand to give it to your fathers.” (Ezekiel 20:32-37, 40-42)
“Therefore say to the House of Israel, Thus said the Lord G‑d: I am not doing (this) for your sake, House of Israel, but for My holy Name which you profaned among the nations wither you came. I shall sanctify My great Name that was profaned among the nations, that you profaned in their midst, and the nations shall know that I am G‑d, says the Lord G‑d, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. I shall take you from the nations, and I shall gather you from all the lands, and I shall bring you to your land. I shall sprinkle pure waters upon you and you shall be purified from all your sins, and I will purify you from all your idols…” (Ezekiel 36:22-25)
C. End to Evil and Sin
The Messianic era will mark the end of evil and sin:
Ezekiel 37:23: “They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols and with their abominations and with all their transgressions…”
Zephaniah 3:13: “The remnant of Israel will not do any wrong, and they will not speak lies nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth.”
Zechariah 13:2: “It shall be in that day… that I shall cut off the names of the idols from the earth and they shall no longer be remembered; and I shall also remove from the earth the [false] prophets and the spirit of impurity.”
Malachi 3:19: “For behold the day comes burning like a furnace, and all the wanton sinners and everyone that does wickedness shall be stubble… that to them shall not be left root and branch.”
Isaiah 60:21: “Your people shall all be righteous, they shall inherit the land forever…”
Jeremiah 50:20: “In those days and in that time, says G‑d, the iniquity of Israel shall be searched for but it will not be, and the sins of Judah but they shall not be found…”6
D. Awareness and Knowledge of G‑d
The Messianic era will be a time of universal awareness, perception and knowledge of G‑d:
Isaiah 11:9: (cf. Habakuk 2:14): “…the earth shall be full of knowledge of G‑d as the waters cover the sea.”
Isaiah 40:5: “The glory of G‑d shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see together that the mouth of G‑d has spoken.”7
Isaiah 52:8: “…for eye to eye they shall see as G‑d returns to Zion.”
Jeremiah 31:32-33: “…I shall put My teaching in their inward parts and write it in their heart, and I shall be to them for G‑d and they shall be to Me for a people. They shall no longer teach one another, and a man his brother, saying ‘Know G‑d,’ for they shall all know Me from the least of them to the greatest of them…”
The Divine spirit will be upon the people, endowing them with the power of prophecy and vision:
Joel 3:1-2: “…I shall pour out My spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your elders shall dream dreams, your young shall see visions. In those days I shall pour out My spirit also upon the servants and handmaids.”8
E. Universal Worship of G‑d
Mashiach shall mend the whole world so that all shall serve G‑d in unity:9
Zephaniah 3:9: “For then I shall turn to the peoples a pure tongue that all shall call upon the Name of G‑d to serve Him with one consent.”
Isaiah 2:2-3 and Michah 4:1-2: “…The mountain of G‑d’s House shall be established at the top of the mountains and it shall be raised above the hills, and all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall go and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of G‑d, to the House of the G‑d of Jacob, and let him [Mashiach] teach us of His ways and we shall go in His paths;’ for from Zion shall go forth Torah, and the word of G‑d from Jerusalem.”10
Zechariah 9:16: “…every one that is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to bow before the King, G‑d…”
Zechariah 14:9: “G‑d shall be King over the entire earth. In that day G‑d shall be One and His Name One.”
F. Universal Peace and Harmony
The awareness and knowledge of G‑d will remove the narrow-minded dispositions that lead to strife and war. It will be an era of peace and harmony in the Holy Land11 and throughout the world:
Isaiah 2:4 and Michah 4:3: “…they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning-hooks. Nation shall not lift a sword against nation, nor shall they learn war any more.” [Michah 4:4 continues: “Each man shall sit under his vine and under his fig-tree, and none shall make them afraid…”]
Hosea 2:20: “…I shall break from the earth the bow, the sword and warfare, and I shall make them lie down securely.”
Zechariah 9:10: “…the bow of war shall be cut off, and [Mashiach] shall speak peace unto the nations…”
This new attitude of mankind will also be reflected in the animal world:
Isaiah 11:6-9: “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb and the leopard shall lie with the kid, and a calf with a lion’s cub and a fatling together, and a small child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young ones shall lie down together, and the lion shall eat straw like cattle. An infant shall play over the hole of an asp, and the weaned child shall put out his hand over the eyeball of an adder. They will not harm or destroy on all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of G‑d as the waters cover the sea.”
Isaiah 65:25: “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like cattle, dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not harm nor destroy in all My holy mountain, says G‑d.”12
G. Resurrection of the Dead
“Your dead shall be revived, my corpses shall arise; awaken and sing you who dwell in the dust, for a dew of lights is your dew…” (Isaiah 26:19)
“Behold I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the Land of Israel. You shall know that I am G‑d when I open your graves and when I revive you from your graves, My people. I shall put My spirit into you and you will live, and I will place you upon your land, and you will know that I, G‑d, have spoken and done, says G‑d.” (Ezekiel 37:12-14)
“Many of them that sleep in the land of dust shall awake…” (Daniel 12:2)13
H. Blissful Utopia: End to Disease and Death
The Messianic era will witness ultimate physical and spiritual bliss. All will be healed.14 The blind, the deaf and the dumb, the lame, whosoever has any blemish or disability, shall be healed from all their disabilities: “The eyes of the blind shall be clearsighted, and the ears of the deaf shall be opened… the lame shall leap as a hart and the tongue of the dumb shall sing…” (Isaiah 35:5-6).15 Death itself shall cease, as it is said, “Death shall be swallowed up forever and G‑d shall wipe the tears from every face…” (Isaiah 25:8)16
There will be a life of ease.17 Our physical needs will be taken care of by others, as it is said, “Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks and aliens shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.” (Isaiah 61:5)18
The earth will manifest extraordinary fertility, yielding an overabundance of every kind of produce, and trees growing ripe fruits every day.19 Zion’s wilderness will be made “to be like Eden, and her desert like the garden of G‑d” (Isaiah 51:3). “I will call for the grain and increase it… and I will increase the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field…” (Ezekiel 36:29-30) “… The plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; and the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.” (Amos 9:13)20
“At that time there will be neither famine nor war, neither envy nor strife. All good things will be bestowed in abundance, and all delicacies will be accessible like dust.”21
The wondrous events and conditions of the Messianic era will completely overshadow all and any miracles that happened before then, even those associated with the exodus from Egypt.22
Even so, these Divine blessings are not an end in themselves. They are but a means towards a higher goal:
Our longing for the Messianic era is not for the sake of dominating the world, to rule over the heathens, or to be exalted by the nations. Nor is it that we might eat, drink and rejoice,23 “have much produce and wealth, ride horses and indulge in wine and song, as thought by some confused people.”24
It is, rather, to have relief from the powers that presently do not allow us to be preoccupied with Torah and mitzvot properly.25 Our aspirations are to be free to devote ourselves to Torah and its wisdom, with no one to oppress and disturb us. We long for that time because there will be an assembly of the righteous, an era dominated by goodness, wisdom, knowledge and truth. It will be a time when the commandments of the Torah shall be observed without inertia, laziness or compulsion (other version: “worries, fear or compulsion”).26
The sole preoccupation of the whole world will be to know G‑d. The Israelites will be great sages: they will know things that are presently concealed, and will achieve knowledge of their Creator to the utmost capacity of human beings, as it is said, “The earth shall be full of the knowledge of G‑d as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:9)27
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cheri-translates · 2 years
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[CN] Gavin’s MQ: Moon Beyond the Curtain (Ch 3)
🍒 Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers for a Mind’s Quest, 帘外月胧明, which has not been released in EN! 🍒
🌕 Ch 2: here
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[ Chapter Three ]
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I return to my tent with an ice-cold fury. However, my anger dissipates abruptly when I see the sea buckthorn blossoms on the table.
Back in Hongwen Academy, Gavin and I often shared lofty ambitions, thinking about lands beyond the capital.
Although sea buckthorn blossoms were only a coarse smatter of red on paintings from Mobei, I’ve looked forward to seeing them for a very long time.
[ FLASHBACK BEGINS ]
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Three years ago.
Clutching a book of paintings, I’m filled with curiosity as I show Gavin the sea buckthorn blossoms on the page.
MC: I heard that Mobei is bitterly cold, and grass can’t grow there. I wonder why these flowers can survive.
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Gavin: They emerge from barren soil, grow in harsh winter, and probably rely completely on their natural tenacity.
Gavin sits on the porch of Hongwen Academy, lowering his eyes as he looks at the book of paintings in my hands.
Gavin: If you want to see them, I’ll find some sprouts when I head to the Mobei Army and bring them back for you.
I lift my head. Gavin’s words send my emotions soaring off to the flourishing lands beyond the capital.
MC: Aside from sea buckthorn blossoms, I’d also like to drink Mobei’s lychee wine and see the view of its mountains and rivers! When you go there, don’t forget to bring wine and paintings back for me.
My figure is reflected in his certain eyes.
Gavin: I won’t forget.
[ FLASHBACK ENDS ]
The images in my mind are so fresh that it feels as though it happened just yesterday. The sea buckthorn blossoms sway in the evening breeze, as though brushing the years that couldn’t be persuaded to stay.
I reach out to touch the petals sentimentally. Despite how soft they are, they grow tenaciously in this barren land.
Perhaps I should talk to Gavin. However, a gloominess lingers on my heart, and my gaze returns to the sea buckthorn blossoms.
MC: Since I’m in Mobei, I might as well check them out.
On my journey to Mobei, I had passed by a dune with huge clusters of sea buckthorn blossoms, and it seemed pretty close to the military barracks.
I’ll use this chance to make sense of my emotions.
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With this thought in mind, I get up and head out of the tent, then lead a horse out of the stable. Before I can reach the entrance, someone grabs my hand.
His finger pads are rough, and the thick calluses that emerged from wielding swords in countless battles can be felt through my clothes. Even without turning my head, I know who he is.
MC: Your Highness, is something wrong?
The person behind me doesn’t say anything, and simply takes the reins in my hands.
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Gavin: Horses from Mobei have a fierce temper. You’ve already scraped your hands over the past few days. If you continue gripping the reins, it’d leave scars.
I open my mouth, wanting to say something. However, I’m suddenly lifted up, and my vision whirls. By the time I come to my senses, I discover that I’ve been carried up the back of the horse.
MC: Your Highness, this won’t do!
I quickly stop him, afraid that someone would see this intimate gesture. However, Gavin holds me tightly. I can feel his rapid heartbeat across his armour.
He remains silent, and simply tightens his grip on the horse as we rush out of the military barracks. Amid the rustling wind, I hear his response.
Gavin: Don’t you want to see the sea buckthorn blossoms? I’ll take you there.
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Gavin: This is Red Moon Hill.
Gavin dismounts from the horse, then offers his hand to me. After hesitating for a moment, I support myself on his hand and leap off the horse.
Under the boundless blue dome of heaven, the icy moon illuminates fiery red petals, which are thousands of times more stunning than the paintingsI saw in the past.
The surroundings are completely quiet, and not even the digging sounds of commonly seen gerbils can be heard. Gavin sits on a sand dune, then uses his eyes to beckon me to sit as well.
MC: This isn’t appropriate...
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Gavin: I’m the chief commander of the Yanzhou Army. Since you’re in Yanzhou, you have to listen to me.
He interrupts, casting a glance at me.
Not expecting Gavin to frighten me with a military order, I remain hesitant in my spot. In the end, I move over tentatively, maintaining half an inch of distance between us.
MC: This place is... really quiet.
Gavin: It’s quiet because the flames of war from two years ago burnt everything down.
I lift my head in shock, looking at Gavin. Pale moonlight envelops his face, reminiscent of ash from the flames of hell.
MC: This was... the battleground of the Battle at Yumen?
Gavin: It isn’t as obvious now. Back then, this area was still occupied by the Rong Tribe. After a bloody battle with the Yanzhou Army that lasted three days, the crooked blades of the Rong Tribe were never allowed an inch into Yumen. Fifty thousand soldiers were born in Dayu. After they died, they ought to be buried in the land of Dayu as well.
The evening breeze brushes my face. I stare at the clusters of flowers which are icy yet ardent. They are reminiscent of brilliant and blooming flames, soaked in blood and yet illuminating the entire land.
I’ve read through every single military report, and am aware of every detail concerning the Battle at Yumen, and every person who died.
Through Gavin’s voice, the names on the military reports are given flesh and bone, giving me a completely different perspective than when I had simply read about them.
At this moment, I seem to gain a semblance of why Gavin brought me here in person. I look at him, his thick armour, and his lonely gaze.
I’ve read dossiers from the Imperial Censor Archives concerning the Yanzhou Army, and am aware that there’s a deep-seated grudge beneath this armour. 
It turns out that aside from leaving him with old injuries that can’t be healed, the battle had also left a fire burning in the depths of his heart for two years.
An icy wind whimpers, reminiscent of a lament, and also reminiscent of a tune sung by soldiers who yearn for home. While listening with rapt attention, I sing it softly.
MC: “The spring takes its time, and the flowers and trees are lush. The orioles chirp, and women gather wormwood. Prisoners are seized for interrogations, but they return happily. The north is majestic, and the people are safe.”
[Trivia] This is a poem about the hardships of war.
Hearing the tune, Gavin freezes momentarily. Tender starlight seems to fall into the depths of his eyes. He looks at me, his voice as soft as a gentle breeze.
Gavin: “The country is in shambles, and there’s no time to be an idle guest. Do you not think I yearn for home? I’m afraid there’s an urgent military order.” We learnt about this poem detailing one’s longing for home in Hongwen Academy.
Suppressing the ache in my chest, I gaze at the clusters of sea buckthorn blossoms.
MC: Your Highness, the burial mounds of the fifty thousand are in Yumen. They’ve already returned home, and there is no need for you to remain troubled. You’ve personally experienced the Battle at Yumen, but what happened along the frontline isn’t everything that happened during the battle. Would Your Highness wish to listen to what I heard?
A light flashes in Gavin’s eyes. He looks at me with extreme seriousness, as though wanting to learn everything about the past three years from my eyes.
MC: Although I was still in Hongwen Academy, I’d read the military reports thanks to a schoolmate from the Ministry of War. Back then, the entire army was annihilated, and only Your Highness remained alive. The reason why Your Highness didn’t die during the siege was because the peace party sought for reinforcements. You were in a coma for days...
Talking about this evokes lingering fear within me. Back then, an arrow from the Commander of the enemy army shot Gavin in the heart. When he returned to Yanzhou, he was in a precarious state.
After steadying my quivering voice, I continue.
MC: ...the reason why the Emperor is pressurising the army is because he intends to expend the Rong Tribe through Yumen, then deploy troops from the southwest to strike while the enemy is unprepared. He isn’t completely indifferent about your life. He simply has a long-term perspective. I’m deeply aware that in the eyes of the imperial household, every life in the Yanzhou Army can be exchanged for land at the border. However, lives shouldn’t be inserted into plans this easily. There are many people who admire your strength of character, and strive towards the Yanzhou Army. The effort put in by the imperial household will be futile if you aren’t safe.
After hearing this, Gavin’s gaze seems to be akin to the gentlest wind in Mobei, lingering on my face.
Gavin: I know about these things. I can understand that you’re trying to advise me against it, but this battle is a necessity. There’s only one thing that I can promise you.
At some point, an ashen fog appears. His tone is as determined as a boulder, and his words pelt into the air.
Gavin: Even if I’m left with one breath, I’ll return alive. When that time comes, there’s an answer I’d like to hear from you.
My heart stirs slightly while I gaze at the persistent light in his eyes.
Gavin: Back at Hongwen Academy, you were clearly striving towards freedom, and you wanted to explore the mountains and rivers instead of being stuck in a cage. Why did you end up becoming a court official?
His words stir up great billows in my heart. I recall how I had once told Gavin that I’d someday see all the rivers and mountains with my own eyes.
If it weren’t for the Yumen War and that imperial edict, perhaps I might have been able to meet him freely today.
Vast deserts, long rivers, armies and iron-clad horses - as long as I’m able to stay by his side, I can go anywhere.
All of a sudden, I feel like telling him everything without a care in the world. However, we’re no longer the same versions of ourselves at the Hongwen Academy back then.
I simply bite my lip, not allowing any signs of weakness to seep out. Noting my hesitation, Gavin changes the topic.
Gavin: Three years ago, the Rong Tribe killed the senior general at the garrison post and succeeded in its invasion. There weren’t any generals available in the imperial court, and I volunteered to lead the troops and rushed to the border. Do you still remember how you gave me a farewell dinner on my last night in Hongwen Academy?
MC: ...I remember.
I admit softly. Gavin suddenly draws closer to me. Taken aback, I instinctively shirk backwards. However, he grabs my wrist.
Our eyes meet. He reaches out to tuck windswept strands of hair behind my ear, and his extremely soft voice lands on my ears.
Gavin: That night, I made a vow to myself. I’ll tell you what it is when I return. But I wish to hear your answer, and you have to let me know what it is.
He removes the wineskin at his waist and gives it to me. While initially planning to brush him off, the scorching blaze in his eyes compels me to accept the wineskin. I nod solemnly.
MC: I promise.
-
Grey clouds shroud the moonlight. The vanguard has already gathered at the front of the barracks, looking at Gavin resolutely.
Gavin downs a pre-battle cup of wine, then tosses it onto the ground roughly. The cup shatters into countless fragments, accompanying his voice.
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Gavin: It’s been three years since the bloody battle began, and the number of dead and injured in the Yanzhou Army are innumerable. The ocean of blood is filled with deep vengeance, and it will end today.
I’m standing on the lookout tower, watching as Gavin lifts his head to glance at me, his gaze as bright as day.
With a metallic clang, he brandishes the sword at his waist, pointing it towards the faraway darkness.
Gavin: Our triumphant return will mark the day Dayu never engages in warfare again.
Soldiers: Kill!!
Under the concealment of night, those cloaked in dark amour set out to a distant place. I grip the fence tightly, sending them off with my eyes till they vanish into the night.
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🌕 Ch 4: here
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petrichoravellichor · 3 years
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Title: A New Kind of Life
Wordcount: ~10k
Rating: T
Summary: What if, when Sam and Dean break into the Empty, Cas isn’t the only one they save? A post-15x19 fix-it fic in which Crowley gets a second shot at the redemption (and family) he deserves.
(Read on Ao3)
********************
Chapter 1 (of 5) (Ch. 2, Ch. 3, Chs. 4 & 5)
“Crowley! Wake up, you son of a bitch, wake up!”
Crowley opens his eyes to Dean shaking him hard by the shoulders. Which is strange: the last thing Crowley remembers, he was dying, alone and forgotten in a parallel universe.
He isn’t there anymore. Instead, Dean is kneeling over him in a dome of golden light beyond which everything is dark, and for a brief, absurd moment he’ll chastise himself for later, Crowley thinks he’s somehow ended up in Heaven.
Then he glances past Dean and sees Sam with an exhausted-looking Castiel slumped against him; next to them is a younger man Crowley doesn’t recognize, but his eyes are molten gold, the same color as the dome surrounding them all. The amount of raw power emanating from the golden-eyed man makes every one of Crowley’s hairs stand on end, and not in a good way.
No, definitely not his idea of Heaven.
Crowley snaps his gaze back to Dean. “What—” he begins, but Dean cuts him off, hauling him to his feet.
“No time for questions!” Dean yells, and it’s only then that Crowley registers the roar coming from beyond the dome: it’s as though they’re standing in the eye of a hurricane as all around them things blow apart. “Come on, we gotta go!”
And then they’re all running, the dome of light moving with them like a shield as wispy black wraiths crash and burn against its perimeter and somewhere unseen, a hideous voice howls in rage.
*****
Once they’re safely back in the Bunker war room, Dean takes hold of Castiel and, along with the golden-eyed man—whose irises have faded to a soft, concerned blue—ushers him off in the direction of the infirmary, promising gruffly as he goes that he and Crowley will talk later.
Patience, however, is a virtue, and Crowley isn’t feeling particularly virtuous—especially not after seeing how tenderly Dean and Castiel looked at each other as Dean wrapped an arm around the angel’s waist and led him from the room. The sight had left a bitter taste in Crowley’s mouth, one he does his best to ignore. There will be time for that later; right now, he needs answers, and he’s not waiting on Dean in order to get them.
He crosses his arms and fixes Sam with an expectant glare. “All right, Moose,” he says, "out with it: what in God’s name is going on?”
Sam snorts, looking tired. “Um, yeah, about that...” He gestures towards the map table, then heads over to the liquor cabinet. “You...might wanna sit down.”
Crowley arches a brow, but he does as Sam suggests. Sam joins him a moment later and, after pouring them each a drink, spends the better part of the next hour telling Crowley all that’s transpired in the three years—three years—Crowley’s been dead.
Which is, it turns out, rather a lot.
Lucifer’s spawn survived his birth and is none other than the golden-eyed man Crowley saw when he woke up; his name is Jack, and for all intents and purposes, he considers Castiel to be his father.
An alternate version of Michael got a hold of Dean for a while, until Jack killed Michael at the cost of his soul, then, in a soulless rage, killed Mary.
God killed Jack. All Hell broke loose. Rowena, who’d apparently survived Lucifer’s last attempt to kill her, died to fix it and was now Queen of Hell.
Billie brought Jack back to kill God. Dean tried to kill Billie, so Billie tried to kill him. Castiel managed to take Billie out by admitting his love for Dean, at which point the Empty took Castiel—
Of course, thinks Crowley, the bitter taste in his mouth returning with a vengeance. Of. Bloody. Course...
The brothers had stormed the Empty not for him, but for Castiel. Good, noble, righteous Castiel, the wayward Angel of Thursday who’s been hopelessly in love with Dean for longer than Crowley has known him...and whom, it seems, Dean has finally admitted to loving back. Sam and Dean had saved Castiel because they loved him, because Dean loved him, but Crowley...They’d probably only rescued him because they’d figured they owed him for saving their denim-clad arses that day at the lake.
Now, as Crowley half-listens to Sam talk about defeating God, he glowers down at the map table and wishes they hadn’t bothered bringing him back at all, because it’s one thing to die unloved; it’s another to have to live that way. Crowley’s done both, and he knows which he prefers. At least in the Empty, he’d been at peace.
“Crowley? Hey, you okay?”
He looks up to see Sam regarding him from under a furrowed brow. Bollocks...
“Naturally,” Crowley says, leaning back in his chair with a dismissive smile. “That’s quite a tale, Moose. It sounds like you and Squirrel have outdone yourselves these past few years, even managed to pull one over on God; bravo. I’m sure Lucifer’s spawn will make a spectacular replacement: he is, after all, three.”
Sam’s eyes harden. “Jack’s nothing like Lucifer; he’s good, and he’s got us to help him, and Amara—”
“Oh, Amara! Now there’s a recipe for success if I’ve ever heard one: God’s evil sister and her Satanic great-nephew with billions of raw souls at their disposal. How could that possibly go wrong?” Crowley scoffs, shaking his head. “Honestly, there’s just no learning with you lot, is there? You just keep humming the same damn tune, then acting surprised when the notes turn sour, and it never even occurs to you to pick. A new. Bloody. Song.”
The frown on Sam’s face intensifies. “This is different. Jack, Amara, they’re on our side, and now that Rowena’s in charge of Hell—”
Crowley snorts. “Right. Care to wager on how long that lasts?” Then, at the look of sudden wariness on Sam’s face, he rolls his eyes. “Calm down, Moose; that wasn’t me plotting a coup. I have no plans to try and take back the crown.”
“You don’t?”
“Why on earth would I?” Crowley takes a sip of brandy, grimacing slightly at the flavor—for all the changes the past few years have wrought, the Winchesters’ abominable taste in liquor remains tragically consistent. “Perhaps you’ve forgotten, but I hated Hell as much as the blasted place hated me. If Mother thinks she can do better, she can have it.”
They sit without speaking for a moment; then Sam clears his throat. “You know,” he says quietly, “Rowena regrets how things ended between the two of you.”
Crowley stiffens, a stab of anger piercing his gut. “No, she doesn’t.”
“She does,” Sam insists, and how anyone can look so stupidly earnest is beyond Crowley’s ability to comprehend. “She told us so.”
Crowley scoffs. “And you believed her?” he demands, left hand closing into a fist at his side. “You know, for the longest time, I thought you were the smart one.”
Sam sighs. “Crowley...Look, I’m not saying Rowena’s perfect—”
“She’s quite literally the Queen of Hell, Moose.” Crowley manages to keep his voice level, but his fingernails are digging into his palm. “I’d say that’s about as far from perfect as anyone can get.”
“—but I think you two should talk.”
Crowley’s hand starts to bleed.
“I mean it,” continues Sam, when Crowley says nothing. “When I was a kid, my dad...he wasn’t there the way he should’ve been, and we fought a lot, and there were times I felt like I hated him, but when he died...”
A multitude of emotions flicker across Sam’s face in rapid succession, too fast for Crowley to name them all, but the final one, the one Sam looks back at him with, is regret. “When he died,” Sam continues, “I didn’t care about any of that. And maybe I should have. I know I should have. Believe me, I tried. But I just...kept coming back to the fact that what I was feeling, the good and the bad, I’d never get to actually say it to him, and if he was somehow sorry for the bad, that was something I’d never get to hear.”
Crowley’s anger flares white hot; his hidden palm is slick with blood. “If you have a point,” he growls, “I’d encourage you to come out with it.”
“My point,” says Sam, curtly, “is that you actually have a chance at some closure, and I think you should take it. For your own sake.”
Crowley clenches his jaw, looks away. “For my own sake,” he echoes, softly. As if his and Sam’s pain is the same. As if Rowena is capable of causing anything but. “Tell me, Moose: since when do you or your imbecile of a brother actually give a damn about my own sake?”
He raises his gaze to stare coldly at Sam who, for the first time since they sat down, seems at a genuine loss for words. Crowley snaps his glass down on the table and stands. “Thought as much.”
He shoves his hands in his coat pockets and turns to go—where, exactly, he has no idea—only to nearly crash headlong into Dean, and suddenly, Crowley’s anger turns to outright fury, because at the end of the day, it didn’t matter.
It didn’t matter that Crowley had gone up against Hell and his mother and even his own better judgment for Dean more times than he could count.
It didn’t matter that the two of them had shared a bed when Dean was a demon, doing extraordinary things to triplets that Crowley would have kicked out in a heartbeat if he’d thought he could get away with it.
It didn’t matter that Crowley had sacrificed his life to save Dean and Sam and the whole bloody world.
None of it mattered, because for all the times Crowley had chosen Dean, Dean had never once chosen him. Then again, Crowley thinks, maybe it’s his own fault for expecting any different, his due comeuppance for stupidly believing he deserved to be loved. It doesn’t matter; he knows better now.
“Hello, Dean,” he snarls. “Come to look in on me now that you’ve seen to your angel? Well you needn’t have bothered; I was just leaving.”
Dean frowns, crossing his arms. “The hell do you mean, you’re leaving?”
“I mean get out of my way.”
“No.”
“And why not?” Crowley demands, voice rising. “Am I your prisoner? I’ve already told your oaf of a brother that I’ve no interest in causing any sort of trouble in Hell, so if that’s what this is about, then you can just—”
“Damn it, Crowley,” snaps Dean, “no, that’s not what this is about; it’s about where are you even gonna go. You got a place somewhere we don’t know about?”
“I’ll find one.”
“Or,” Dean counters, “you could cut the crap and just stay here.”
That catches Crowley off guard, but only for a moment; he gives Dean a hard look, determined not to let the surprise show on his face. “And why on earth would I want to do that?”
“Because you know it’s the smart thing to do,” says Dean, face impassive, “and last I checked, you were an asshole, not an idiot.”
And it’s not that Crowley doesn't know full well that running off half-cocked into a world whose dynamics have fundamentally changed is naive at best and suicidal at worst—that isn’t what makes him nearly scream in rage, because he knows it’s patently true. No, the infuriating thing, the truly mortifying thing, is that Dean knows him well enough to know that he knows it, and that if Crowley does leave, he’s only going to prove Dean right.
The thought is more than Crowley can bear; still, if he doesn’t get out of this room right now, he’s going to start shouting—at Dean, at himself, at everything. There are other, less crowded places in this godforsaken Bunker, and it’s past time he went and found one. He’s not going to give Dean the satisfaction of watching him break.
Crowley pulls his fury tight and close, stepping forward into Dean’s space and glaring up at him with every bit of defiance he can muster. “Funny,” he sneers, “because last I checked, you were both.”
And he vanishes before Dean can respond.
*****
Crowley finds an unoccupied room at the far end of the hall and decides to claim it as his own for the time being. He bolts the door and turns to collapse onto the bed...only to freeze dead in his tracks.
His mother is standing in the corner. As Crowley gapes, Rowena takes a step forward, face pale and incredulous. “Fergus?” she whispers. “Gods, is it really you?”
Her voice snaps Crowley out of his shock, and he narrows his eyes. “Mother,” he growls, the word like poison in his mouth. “What do you want?”
“Sam told me they were going to try and get you back,” Rowena says softly, eyes roving over Crowley’s face as though seeing him for the first time, “and I wanted...I needed to see if they’d done it, if you were all right.”
Crowley glares, making a mental note to have a word with Sam about this particular indiscretion. “Well, you’ve seen me. Now get out.”
Rowena recoils, and if Crowley didn’t know any better, he’d swear his words actually hurt her. “You’re angry,” she says. “You’re angry, and you’ve every right to be, but if you’d just let me explain—”
“Explain what?” Crowley snaps. He clenches both hands into fists, ignoring the burn in his left palm. “What could you possibly have to say to me that I’d want to hear? You hate me, remember?”
“I love you—”
Crowley barks out a laugh. “Really? Have you forgotten the last time we saw each other? You left on a bus after you sent my son to his death, all because you wanted to watch me ‘suffer the loss of a child’, of my child!” He stumbles towards her, half-blind with rage. “Tell me, Mother: did losing me bring you any suffering, or were you just sad you weren’t there to collect three pigs in exchange?”
Rowena looks as though she’s been slapped. “Of course I suffered! Do you have any idea what I went through trying to get you back? I faced Death herself; I begged her to return you to me, but she wouldn’t do it! Ask Sam, ask Dean!”
“They’ve already told me,” Crowley grinds out. “It doesn’t matter.”
“How can you say that?” Rowena is crying now, tears rolling freely down her face. “Of course it matters! I did it because I missed you, because I love you!”
“You’ve never loved me a day in your life.”
“That isn’t true! I did love you; I do!” Rowena takes another step forward and reaches out a hand. “If you could just find it in your heart to forgive me—”
“Forgive you?” Crowley snarls, and it’s all he can do not to spit in her face. “You don’t get to ask for my forgiveness, not after any one thing you’ve put me through, not after everything! What was it you said to me that day at the bus station, your parting words? ‘Who better than me to crush your shriveled heart’? At least I had a heart, once; you never did.”
“Fergus—”
And Crowley explodes. “GET OUT!” he screams, seizing the lamp off the bedside table and hurling it at his mother with all his might...only to watch as it flies right through her and crashes into the wall.
And then Rowena’s gone, just like she always is, and Crowley’s alone, just like he always is. He stands in the middle of the room and stares hollowly into empty space. “Astral projection,” he says, quietly; it always had been one of his mother’s favorite tricks. “Of course.”
He spends the rest of the night warding the room as many ways as he knows how, determined not to let his mother or anyone else get the drop on him again.
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wiypt-writes · 3 years
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Stark Spangled Banner
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Ch 2. The Contest.
Summary: Life at SHIELD isn’t always missions and seriousness, as a good natured shooting contest between Katie and Clint shows. The questions is, as the two dead-shots face off, who will be the winner? Steve has utter faith in his best friend, so much so he’s willing to bet money on her. But is this just another ten bucks he’s gonna lose?
Either way, both are left contemplating their feelings towards one another and fast come to the realisation that they run deeper than they want to admit
Pairing: Steve Rogers X OFC Katie Stark
Warnings: Language!!
A/N: A huge thank you to @angrybirdcr​ for her lovely little edit below of Katie and Clint. She’s kingly agreed to pull a few edits together for me in honour of my relaunch so keep your eyes peeled…
Disclaimer: This is a pure work of fiction and classified as 18+. Please respect this and do not read if you are underage. I do not own any characters in this series bar Katie Stark and the other OCs. By reading beyond this point you understand and accept the terms of this disclaimer.
Stark Spangled Banner Masterlist // Main Masterlist
Chapter 1
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 Katie had no idea why she’d agreed to any of this. Actually, that was a lie, she knew exactly why she’d agreed to this, it was all down to Evans who had decided that STRIKE were long overdue a competition of sorts and had organised a shooting-slash-obstacle course tournament. Eight members had entered, going into random draws and competing against one another over the past week. Out of those eight, two now remained. Her and Clint.
A shooting contest between two Avengers was always going to draw big attention, so it was hardly surprising, therefore, that the SHIELD agents were running a book. Clint was odds on favourite to win, but Steve had so far refused to take part, that is until ten minutes or so before the contest was supposed to start. He was stood outside the shooting range, eyes focussed on Katie and Clint as they both stood checking their equipment, a crowd steadily gathering behind him.
“I know she’s good, but she really doesn’t stand a chance.” Natasha drawled as she stood at his side. Her matter-of-fact tone caused something in his chest to stir, the lack of faith everyone bar Evans and Lawson from the lab seemed to be displaying in Katie over Clint riled him and he turned to Natasha, a smirk flickering over his face as he repeated the words Katie had said to him the first night they’d met.
“Ten bucks says you’re wrong.” He stuck his hand out.
Natasha raised an eyebrow at him, before shaking his hand “Alright Rogers, you’re on.”
His hands returned to his belt buckle and both Katie and Clint signalled they were ready.
Evans went into the room, it was soundproof unless you pushed the button to listen in, which Rumlow did, of course.
“Okay you both no the rules but I’m gonna repeat ‘em just in case. No pushing or shoving of your opponent because that’s just a shitty thing to do.” Evans said, his Texan drawl loud as his hand scratched at his ginger beard. “Perfect kill shots are an extra half-point. Twenty minute time limit is in force. If you’re tied on score then we’ll go to the number of kill shots made.” Evans looked at them and they both nodded, Katie licking her lips. “Now. To your starting lines. You may go when the barriers open.” Evans nodded and held his right hand up, three fingers extended “May the odds be ever in your favour…”
Steve had no idea what that was a reference too, but he heard the rest of the people around him snigger. Katie threw her head back in a laugh as Clint mimicked Evan’s hand gesture as the other Sniper left the room.
The two opponents both looked out over the room from their starting positions at the obstacles which were constructed out of crates and various other objects. Katie cracked her neck side to side as Clint raised his pistol again, looking down the barrel before he turned his head to meet Katie’s gaze. She put her gun back into its thigh holster and turned to her old SO.
“May the best woman win.” she smirked, as she felt the blood pounding in her ears. Then, with a loud klaxon, the barriers opened in front of them and they both shot forward.
It might have been a friendly competition, but Katie wasn’t someone who liked losing so she was playing to win, and that was obvious from the determination written all over her face. Steve felt a surge of pride as he watched her leaping from obstacle to obstacle, landing shot after shot. After she hit her fourth target head easily and ahead of Clint, Steve heard Natasha hiss through her teeth.
“Ok, so maybe she has a little chance…”
He didn’t reply, simply watched, silently willing her on.
As the minutes ticked on, the two continued, both making leaps, dropping into rolls, and ducking behind corners. Katie took another shot, and paused for a split second, if she was counting correctly there were two more to go and five minutes left on the clock. She looked up for her next target and saw Clint was blocking her way, knelt down, aiming at his own. Katie knew the sensible thing to do would be to wait, but then she was a Stark, being sensible wasn’t one of her main attributes. With a smirk she re-holstered her gun and sprinted as fast as she could, launching herself forward into a perfect front flip, catapulting right over the top of Clint before she immediately slid onto a knee and brought the handgun back up, aiming at the target.
Outside the room there was a lot of cheering and cat calls at her display of acrobatics.
Katie moved to her final target, back against a large crate, aimed but then missed and Steve closed his eyes- that would cost her.
“Shit!” She exclaimed, doubling over to catch her breath as at that point the klaxon sounded again to say they were out of time. She stood up, cocking the safety on her pistol before stowing it away as Clint walked over to her, pulling her into a hug.
“Sharp shooting, Nova!” He grinned, ruffling at her hair. Both of them turned as the doors open and a few agents walked in, back slapping them both as Evans collected the targets and went to tally up the points.
“That was impressive!” Steve smiled as he crossed the room. “Both of you.”
“Yeah, not bad Stark.” Nat added, appraisingly
“Thanks.” Katie nodded, taking a drink of the bottle of water Clint handed to her. She was red faced, sweating but absolutely thrilled, pumped full of adrenaline. She placed her hands on her hips and took a deep breath
“And we have the results!” Evans said and Clint threw his arm round Katie as hers slid round his waist. “Stark you missed one giving you nine and three kill shots, taking you to ten point five.” Cheers rang around at the pretty damned good score and Katie grinned as Evans waited until the applause died down before he continued. “However, Barton hit each target, giving him ten plus four kill shots, taking him to twelve over all meaning he is the winner of this year’s STRIKE Shoot Off!”
“Damned it!” Katie groaned, shaking Clint’s hand as various cheers and complaints went up and people started to cash in their bets.
“You’re fired.” Steve heard a familiar voice say. Spinning round, he saw Fury handing over a fifty to an agent whose name escaped him and Steve bit back a smile. The Director had bet on Katie. That one mistake had been costly.
“Cough up Rogers.” Nat held out her hand and he turned to her, sighing and fished in his pocket for a note, handing it to her.
“You bet on me?” Katie looked at him, surprised.
“Course I did, Doll.” he said immediately.
 “Yeah I didn’t, sorry Stark.” Nat took the ten-note off him “Clint’s never lost a challenge yet.”
“He nearly did.” Steve looked at Katie proudly before he glanced back at Natasha. “Was worth the bet to see you get so twitchy Romanoff.”
“Seriously?”  Clint turned to Natasha. “You got twitchy?”
“I’ll admit at one point I thought Stark might have just shaded it.” Nat narrowed her eyes at Steve who simply shrugged, hands dropping to the front of his belt buckle.
“To be fair, there was one point where I thought that too.” Clint smiled, and Katie felt a surge of pride in her chest as he pulled the magazine out of his pistol. “Did good Nova, I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks Clint.” she smiled at him.
“So, who fancies a drink?” Barton looked around, clapping his hands together.
“I’m game.” Katie nodded as she stripped down her weapon.
Natasha hummed in agreement and then Steve realised they were all looking at him. He hesitated, he really did need to train as he hadn’t had a decent run that morning and he’d be restless all evening otherwise, but after that…why not?
"I gotta work out first but if you tell me where you’re going I’ll join you when I’m done.”
“Take a day off!” Nat drawled, examining her nails. Steve was about to reply but Katie got there first.
“If he doesn’t work out he’s a right crank! And no one likes a Cranky Cap.”
“You know what Stark?” Steve started but she simply stuck her tongue out at him causing him to roll his eyes, fighting to keep the smile off his face.
“Why don’t we try the new sports bar on the high-street, what’s it called again?” Clint suggested.
“Home Run?” Nat asked.
“Yeah that’s it.” he nodded “Couple of doors down from the Burger joint.”
“I’ll find it.” Steve said as Clint nodded, making for the door, Natasha following.  Katie turned to Steve, smiling at him as he surveyed the room.
"You did a good job,” he nodded to the obstacle course “Did it take you back to fighting Aliens?”
“Not quite the same, you know? No returning gunfire… no life-or-death stakes… no Captain America cushioning my fall when we got blown out of a bank window,” she teased. He laughed, as she started to back up towards the door. “I won’t take up your workout time. See you at the bar?”
“You never take up my time, Honey.” He smiled back, honestly, before he felt the flush rise up his neck. What a dumbass thing to say. “See you later.” He nodded.
With that she took her leave, tugging her hair out the ponytail as she left, allowing the gentle waves to cascade down her back.
********
Half an hour or so later, after Katie had showered and changed, the three Avengers were making the twenty minute or so walk to the bar downtown.
“You know I still can’t believe I got to within a point and a half of you.” Katie nudged Clint.
“Me neither actually.” Natasha mused. “I thought it was gonna be a whitewash.”
“Nice to know you have so much faith in me, Widow.” Katie scoffed and Nat snorted.
“Tell you who did have faith, other than Rogers… Fury.” She looked at Katie who grinned from ear to ear.
“Hang on…the boss bet against me?” Clint stopped. With a heavy sigh he shook his head. “Damned, that hurts.”
“Don’t take it personally.” Katie shrugged as they reached the bar. With a loud snort, Clint opened the door to let the girls step in first and then he joined them, looking around at the new surroundings. It was low lit but piled with sports memorabilia held in various glass cases around the room and on the walls. They took the time to look at most of it on their way to the bar where Clint bought the first round. Drinks in hand, they headed to a plush, leather seated booth and settled down.
The three friends fell into an easy chat, and then the inevitable teasing about Rumlow fancying Katie started up and she groaned. Clint and Nat enjoyed ribbing her about him and she had to admit, he wasn’t subtle to be fair. He’d asked her out three times now and she’d politely declined but it didn’t stop her friends from enjoying teasing her about it. Clint and Nat took turns in trying to highlight Rumlow’s more endearing qualities. They managed a sum total of three when Clint leaned back in his chair and shrugged.
“Yeah, that’s all I got. I’m out.” He grinned as Katie laughed, raising her glass to her mouth to drain the last of her beer.
“Yeah, he’s not relationship materiel.” Nat shrugged
“But you could just fuck him, get what you need and kick him out before breakfast.” Clint suggested causing Katie to choke down her mouthful of European lager and pick up the beer mat nearest her.
Steve chose that exact moment to walk into the bar. He watched as the beer mat hit Clint straight between the eyes, and Katie threw her head back in pure, unadulterated laughter. Something in the Captain’s chest stirred as he watched her, that wonderful smile and laugh filling her face.
“Hey.” He greeted them as they all looked up. “You guys need another drink?”
“Cheers Cap, three beers.” Clint motioned round the table and Steve headed off to the bar. Katie watched him go, eye trained on his ass which looked remarkably fine in those dark denims, then, realising what she was doing and who she was with, she let out silent groan as she turned back to see Clint and Nat exchanging a glance, a glance between two people who had just discovered the best secret ever.
“What?” she shrugged, trying to keep her face as straight as possible. “Girl can look, right?”
“Nova, you ain’t just looking, you’re practically drooling.” Clint grinned. “You soft on Cap?”
“No, I just happen to…” She hesitated as she stumbled for the words “…appreciate what my father had a hand in producing, that’s all.”
“Bullshit!” Natasha snorted as Clint roared with laughter. “You’re hot for Rogers.”
“No, I’m…”
“You know, considering you’re a secret agent your poker face is really shit!” Clint pointed at her
“Oh fuck off, the both of you.” She spluttered and the pair of them continued to chuckle, exchanging looks in that infuriating way they did, until Steve returned, setting down the four pints which he easily held in his hands and slid into the spare seat next to Katie.
Thankfully, Natasha and Clint decided to leave their teasing alone and the four of them struck up a conversation talking about everything and anything. A few more pints were drunk and when it came back to Clint’s turn to buy he came back from the bar, a wicked grin on his face.
“Oh, no I know that look!” Katie pointed at him and Clint shrugged, placing her pint down in front of her before he sat down.
“Yeah, she’s right.” Natasha eyed him. “What you up to?”
“I’m just in the mood for another challenge.” Clint leaned forward, his eyebrows raising up and down as he spoke.
“Like what?” Katie folded her arms
“Which one of you…” he said, waving his finger between her and Nat, “…can down a pint fastest?”
“Is that really wise?” Steve asked and Katie smirked.
“Not for Nat, no.”
The red head quirked an eyebrow, “I’m game if you are.”
Katie shrugged as Clint chuckled and pounded his hand on the table. “Alright then, Ladies! On your marks…”
As soon as Clint had done counting down Katie raised the glass to her mouth and chugged, draining it in four seconds flat before turning it upside down on top of her head. Natasha wasn’t even half way through hers before she groaned and set it down, trying to supress a burp.
Steve couldn’t help but look at Katie, his mouth falling open.
"What?” she laughed, shrugging as the Captain exchanged a look with Clint. “I spent three years at University, drinking with boys.”
“Yeah well I’ll stick to Vodka.” Nat shook her head “Fancy that as a challenge?”
“Not a chance.” Katie scoffed, “Although Cap could.”
“He could, but he won’t” Steve sternly shot her a look “Because it wouldn’t be fair.”
Katie rolled her eyes pouting.
“You do know I’m Russian, right. Well, I was.” Nat leaned back on the bench. “I was practically weaned on the stuff.”
“Yes, I know that, but I can’t get drunk.” Steve shrugged. “My metabolism burns it off too fast.”
“Cap,” Clint sighed, shaking his head, “that might just be the saddest thing I have ever heard.”
“Even sadder than when you heard you were shipping off to guard Thor’s hammer?” Nat asked. Clint considered her point for a moment, and shrugged.
“Hmmmm. Maybe the same level of sadness at learning I was about to head to Butt-fuck America for an undefined amount of time, yes.”
Steve choked into his beer. Besides him Katie laughed and as Steve looked at Clint, the archer snorted and shook his head.
“Cap. I’m serious. It was legit in the middle of the fucking desert. Nothing for miles.”
“Hey, what happened to that one eyed puppy we found?” Katie asked suddenly.
“Err, I took him to some friends.” Clint answered after a slight pause. “Their kids love him, he’s living the best life.”
Katie and Natasha shared a smile, both understood friends to mean his family and his own kids.
“Still eating Pizza?” Katie asked.
“Pizza?” Steve asked, frowning. “Who feeds a dog pizza?”
“Well he was a bit like you in that respect. Do anything for a double pepperoni with extra cheese.” Katie nudged him with her elbow
“As long as its New York style.” Steve drained his glass, matter of factly.
“Admit it, you enjoyed it when it took you to Second City” Katie eyed him.
“You been to Seconds?” Clint asked. “Thought you swore you wouldn’t go back after that waiter said he wanted to give you a real slice of Chicago to talk about?”
“He did not!” Natasha giggled.
Katie groaned “He did.”
“Now, I wish I’d seen that.”  Nat grinned as Clint let out a loud snort.
“She went full Supernova in three seconds flat. Dragged him over the counter and everything.”
“You didn’t?” Steve glanced at her, although he knew the answer from the look on her face as she groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose.
“Look… we had just got back from a week’s stake out in Saudi Arabia…” she sighed, shrugging as Clint and Natasha laughed “I was tired and fending off the advances of some greasy, 40 something year old man politely really wasn’t top of my list.”
“Why not? You do it every day to Rumlow” Nat smirked.
At the mention of his name Steve felt his eyes narrow. He hated the way the STRIKE leader blatantly eyed Katie up at every given chance. It was disrespectful.
“Don’t start that again” Katie rolled her eyes.
“He’s not a bad looking guy.” Nat persisted. “You could do worse.”
“You like him so much you fuck him!” Katie’s voice was snappy. Romanoff leaned back in her chair, eyeing her over half full glass, smirking.
“Touched a nerve, Stark?”
“No, you’re just talking crap, as usual.” she shot back, standing up. “My round.”
Steve moved so that she could get out from the booth and watched her head to the bar.
“Think we need to lay off the whole Rumlow thing.” Clint snorted, turning Nat. “She’s clearly not interested.”
“She’s obviously looking for someone a little less…” Nat pondered and Clint cut in.
“Of an ass hat?”
Steve snorted and Natasha shrugged.
“I was gonna say a little more of a gentleman but…if the cap fits…” Her eyes flashed to Steve and he looked at her, his eyebrows pulling together as he felt the heat flushing to his neck. She simply shrugged, in her usual nonchalant way before she changed the subject.
****
A few hours later Clint and Nat decided they’d had enough and left to grab a taxi. When Clint was in town he always stayed with Nat, prompting Steve to wonder if there was anything going on beyond the platonic friendship. He pondered it for a moment, deciding to just ask the question.
 “Is there something between them?” he nodded to the pair as they left.
“No.” Katie shook her head “Absolutely not.”
“How are you so sure?”
“Okay, I’ll tell you, but don’t be pissed I haven’t told you before…” she said, pausing “Clint…he’s married, has two kids.”
“What?” Steve choked on his beer.
“They have a place, somewhere, I don’t know exactly but it’s off SHIELD’s books and no one knows bar me, Nat and Fury.”
“Huh.” Steve pondered the information for a moment and Katie took a deep breath.
“Look, sorry I didn’t tell you but…”
“It’s okay.” Steve smiled. He’d be lying if he said he didn’t feel a little bit disappointed she hadn’t told him before, but he understood, she was loyal to a fault. “I get it, he’s your friend.”
“Yeah I know but he’s not my best friend.” she batted her eyelids at him.
“Hmmm, stop buttering me up.”
“Has it worked?”
“Yes.” He deadpanned, draining his glass and she grinned “Same again?”
They had a couple more before Katie decided she was one pint away from being drunk and Steve found himself a little bit disappointed she wanted to leave. He was enjoying spending the time with her. It felt different to their usual trips out, she’d been more relaxed than he had seen her in a long time, enjoying the gentle touches she made to his arm and leg when she was teasing him.
His mind flicked back to Natasha’s little comment before and he found himself wondering if the red head knew something he didn’t. Was there something there on Katie’s part too? As he studied her for a moment as she pulled on her jacket, talking to him, he shook himself out of it. No, why would someone like her look twice at someone like him.
He managed to tune back into what she was saying, telling her no way was he giving her a lift home on the back of his bike without a helmet, causing her to pout and bat her lashes at him in an outrageously over the top manner causing him to snort.
“That ain’t gonna work either.” He shook his head and she shrugged.
“Worth a shot.” She chuckled as they made their way to the door. “And speaking of shots, you really shouldn’t have told Nat you can’t get drunk and whooped her ass at a vodka necking contest.” Her arm linked into his as they walked, and she leaned into him a little, her head laying against his upper bicep.
“Now that would have been dishonest. “Steve smirked. “Surely you’re not saying I should use my enhancement to my advantage in such a situation?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” she nodded.
Steve laughed, sticking his arm out to hail a cab for her.
“But then you’re a very honest kinda guy.”
“I have my moments.” He turned to face her
“Moments? Nah ah, you can’t lie for shit!” she grinned at him.
“No, I can’t lie to you for shit, Sweetheart” He rolled his eyes “You know me too well.”
“Hmmm, true.” she nodded in agreement as the car stopped at the curb and Steve opened the door for her.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?” Steve asked, not particularly happy she was cabbing back alone, it was times like this he wished he had a car. “I can walk back for my bike.”
“I can handle myself, I’m a trained killer remember?” she raised her hands and made gun signs at him with her fingers. He shook his head, smiling.
“You’re an idiot.” He snorted a laugh.
“But you love me!” She grinned, standing on her toes to give him a peck on the cheek. “G’night, Soldier.”
“Call me when you’re home.” He instructed “And if I ain’t heard from you in twenty…” he raised his voice so the cab driver could hear.
She shook her head, smiling as she climbed into the taxi and waved as it pulled off.
It wasn’t long before she was home and once she made her way into her bedroom, Katie kicked off her boots, flopped down onto her bed and pulled out her phone, better do as Captain Badass instructed or knowing him he’d turn up and kick the door in.
“So I’m home Old timer…” she said, when he answered and from his sigh she knew he would be rolling his eyes.
“Less of the old” he retorted, the clinking of cutlery and plates rattling in the background.
“What you doing?” she asked.
“Making food.”
“You can’t cook.”
“Yes I can.”
“So why have you never cooked for me?” she asked indignantly, feeling somewhat annoyed that she always did the cooking for the two of them.
“Because you’re better at it.” He replied, simply. “And I’ve made you grilled cheese before. And soup. Now drink some water and go to sleep.”
“God you’re so bossy.” she grumbled.
“Someone has to be, you’re a law unto yourself.”
“If I say it will you do what I said?”
“Maybe, probably, definitely maybe” she shrugged to herself.
“Then you’re awesome. Goodnight, Doll.”
“Night Stevie.”
****
Steve cut the call, placing his phone down on the counter as he thought back over the day, waiting for his food to heat up. For the first time in a long time he actually felt completely at ease. Ease with his life both in and out of SHIELD.
Up until a few weeks ago it had still felt slightly confusing, and it still did with the STRIKE team sometimes. At first he had been tentative, not trying to step on Rumlow’s toes but that had quickly settled and the two of them had fallen into a pretty good working relationship. As much as Rumlow could rile him, Steve knew that the man was good at his job, and Steve was equally good at his. He was the tactician, Rumlow organised the troops. But sometimes, well, he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Sometimes he felt interest, but it was often coloured by the lingering disillusionment that his team were merely humouring him as the blue eyed all American hero he had been painted to be.
But never once had he felt like that with Katie.
And then his apartment seemed to blur in front of him, causing him to realise this went way beyond some daft crush. He was really falling in deep. The heat travelled up his chest into his neck and he felt his palms become sweaty. He dropped his arms to wipe them on his jeans as the fizzy feeling left his body, but stayed by him, swirling around until he could practically hear it. This really, really wouldn’t do. She was his best friend, a work colleague, the daughter of one of his friends from the forties…and then there was Peggy.
Not for the first time Steve delved into the reasons he’d been drawn to Katie, comparing her to Peggy. Both women had strong personalities, an unwavering sense of justice and ethics, a deep well of compassion, loyalty, and the air of authority that put more than one man in his place, including himself. They were both incredibly beautiful, filled with passion, devotion and ambition…
Abandoning his food, his appetite lost completely, he threw the remains into the bin and headed into his bedroom, intending to do what he did best when it came to women. 
Stick his head in the sand and hope to God it all went away.
****
Once she’d cleaned her face of make-up and pulled on a pair of pyjamas, Katie collapsed into her pillow, thinking about what a good day it had been. She hadn’t disgraced herself at the contest, had a good evening in the pub afterwards, and to top it off Fury and Steve had actually backed her in said contest.
At the thought of Steve, it reminded her she needed some water. Heading to the kitchen she grabbed a glass, filled it, and then made her way back to bed, this time snuggling down under the covers as she smiled to herself.
It was kind of nice to have Steve looking out for her, even if he was a bossy bastard about drinking water. It showed he cared. And it wasn’t just that, it was the way he was so comfortable with her. The gentle touches to her arm and lower back, the fact he called her doll or sweetheart. The smile that he flashed her that could light up his entire face, and those eyes, those god damned beautiful eyes that could drown her in seconds.
Her stomach was suddenly crawling with those damned butterflies, the same ones she had been feeling on or off around him now since Thanksgiving. And they fluttered from her stomach to her chest
“You’re hot for Rogers…”
Natasha and Clint had both hit the nail on the head, and that nail was getting harder and harder to ignore. She had feelings for Captain fucking America. Her dad’s friend, her best friend.
Groaning, she rolled over and shoved her head into the pillows. “I’m so fucked.”
**** Chapter 3
**Original Posting**
105 notes · View notes
avaritia-apotheosis · 3 years
Text
Phantom Children Ch. 3
In which: Danny getting yeeted into the Lazarus Pit yields anticlimactic consequences and Bruce Wayne converses with a fruit loop.
AO3 | Prologue | 2 | [ 3 ] | 4 |
DANIEL BARELY HAD TIME TO SCREAM before he’s plunged into the green depths of the Lazarus pit, primeval waves crashing against the walls of the pool. Talia flicked her wrist, signaling the ten League members hidden in the shadows to approach. Each one spaced equally apart around the pit with smoke pellets synthesized from blood blossoms held in their hands, ready to drop at a moment’s notice.
Pit madness rendered the majority of the living uncontrollable, with even the weakest of humans imbued with a strength that could only be induced by the purest of rage. The League was not taking chances as to how a being like her son would react to it.
The waters stilled.
Then—
A bright flash of light. Then, faster than the eyes could follow, a figure erupted from the waters. Bone white hair that twisted and curled as if it were still underwater. Skin lightly tinged frostbitten blue and clad in a suit of black and white and shrouded in an aura of blinding light. Phantom appeared from the depths, floating above the pit like a god reborn.
His eyes burned a toxic green.
“What the fuck was that?”
But not pit madness green.
Talia ordered her assassins to at ease with a raise of her hand. She slowly walked to her father’s side just as her son—Phantom—landed at the edge of the pool. Idly, Talia noticed how different Phantom seemed in comparison to her son. Physical attributes aside, Daniel tended to make himself smaller. What venom that may coat his words and the vitriol in his glares dampened by the way he held himself. Shoulders hunched and head tilted down. Non-threatening. Hands always needing to do something, whether it be holding his arms or shoved inside his pockets or constantly brushing it through his hair. No matter how she and his instructors taught him how to hold himself like a warrior, like a soldier, he still tended to present himself as a skittering little animal.
Phantom was different. He squared his soldiers and lifted his chin high, unafraid to stretch out to his fullest height and use his defiance of gravity to make himself look bigger. Stronger. His arms held steady at his sides, curled into tight fists. Green eyes—green as the Lazarus pit yet without that spark of madness that so consumed everyone else—burning with righteous fury.
“You fucking threw me into the weird green pool. What even—who does that?”
Ra’s tilted his head. “Fascinating. It seems you have a resistance to the pit madness.”
Phantom blinked, caught off guard. “Pit…madness,” he echoed. A statement, though from the wrinkle in his brows and the look he shoots Talia, it was more a question than anything else.
“It is one of the side effects of the Lazarus pits.” Talia approached her son with caution, holding his face with both hands and inspecting for any differences. “While the waters rejuvenate, restore, and even temporarily imbue one with supernatural strength, it also tends to inflict users with temporary insanity.”
“Insanity?” His eyes widened, trembling hands coming up to hold her wrists. Strangely, Daniel did not pull away from her touch. “I could have gone insane?”
Those bright eyes of his looked so frightened. Haunted. Pupils dilated to mere pinpricks of blackness, lost in a sea of Lazarus green. “Oh habeebi, only temporarily.”
“Like that’s better!” He yelled. “Even temporarily, I’m—” He staggered back, breaking out of her hold. Harmless Danny Fenton bleeding into proud Phantom as he ran his hands through his hair, unwilling to look at anyone.
Ra’s continued to watch, his arms crossed beneath his sternum, muttering to himself. Her father had prided himself on being one of the most knowledgeable about the Lazarus pits and its effects. Now, faced with a new mystery, the scholar within the Demon’s Head emerged as he observed his grandson.
“No,” Ra’s said, mostly to himself. “Perhaps less of a ‘resistance’ and more of an ‘immunity’ to it, given how both Daniel and the Lazarus pit have similar compositions. It would be a fascinating tangent to follow.” He chuckled to himself. “How droll. The life-restoring Lazarus pit holding a connection to the land of the dead.”
Talia turned to her father. “So, Daniel will not feel any of the pit’s side effects, then?”
Daniel perked up at the sound of his name, halting in his pacing. “I…might not go insane?”
“Perhaps, though it is too soon to tell. You have the waters of the Lazarus pit flowing through your veins, Daniel.” Ra’s smiled; eyes gleaming with the sparks of pride. “You and it are made of the same chemicals, the same reality-defying compounds that can bring the dead back to life.”
“Well, great. I have the same chemical makeup as a glowing hot tub, what else is new—” Her son staggered, and she caught him. Impossibly bright rings formed at his abdomen and then split, transforming Phantom back into a human. Mortal. His face haggard and sweating from the temples, eyes back to her beloved’s pale blues.
Her father did not bat an eye. “The pit’s healing effects are slowed down, then? Or perhaps it is because he has no wounds to heal?” Ra’s hummed; chin cradled in his hand. “Set him back into the pits, Talia. I believe young Daniel has yet to absorb all his needed energy.”
“Sure, yeah, that’s fine. Put me back in the crazy water, why not?” Daniel tugged at her shoulders. “Just…gently, please?”
Talia smoothed down his dark hair with a smile. “Of course, habeebi. I will even stay with you as well.”
When he looked at her, it was something almost akin to gratefulness.
------
In Gotham City, the upper echelons of society gather together at the Gotham Expo Center. The shining halls, which had been used as the site of a week-long exhibition of new scientific research, was reoutfitted to serve as the venue for the exhibition’s final event.
A gala. The hunting ground of the nouveau riche and old money families. Corporate moguls and debutants made their rounds across the floor, chatting with heirs and politicians and the who’s who of the upper class.
Scientists and researchers attempted to step out of their shells and dazzle the crowds. Wanting to fish a willing patron with deep pockets to fund their next project. Reporters huddled together like schools of fish, warily approaching the predators in their midst for a question or a photo. Both things many of the wealthy and affluent are easily ready to give, as long as it only showed off their best side in tomorrow’s society papers.
Bruce Wayne, the Prince of Gotham, and society’s darling observed everything as he always did, in that most people believed he barely noticed anything beyond what’s right in front of him. He raised the flute glass of champagne to his lips, pretending to take a sip as he listened to the chatter of sycophants around him. A few were even some promising researchers of which he made a mental note to pass along to Lucius.
Two nights ago, Bruce received a tip of unusual movements from the League of Assassins. The organization had been quiet as of late, and while Bruce had been very carefully monitoring their activities in the background, the sudden tightening of their security prompted him to take a closer look.
There had been sightings of the League of Assassins centered around a small town in Illinois—Amity Park. A rural tourist trap championing itself as the most haunted place in America. Something that Bruce would normally scoff at or zealously research about if not for John Constantine’s warning to “never go within a ten-mile radius of that hellhole.” With similar sentiments from others in the occult community, the Justice League decided to take that warning to heart. Bruce’s curiosity may have been piqued, but even he was tactful enough to avoid courting more trouble.
Suffice to say, Bruce—and especially Batman—could not afford to ignore Ra’s al Ghul’s movements. Whatever his plans were involved whatever anomalies were going on in Amity Park. And wasn’t it simply serendipitous that one of the guest lists for tonight’s gala was Vlad Masters, the mayor of Amity Park?
“Vlad Masters, is that you?” Bruce, slapping on his signature Brucie smile, masterfully detached himself from his previous group, quickly heading towards the nearby bar where he spotted Vlad getting another drink.
“Why, Bruce Wayne, it’s been so long!” The two shook hands, of which Bruce was slightly surprised at how cold to the touch Vlad was. A health condition, perhaps. Then again, there was something in Vlad’s appearance and stature that spoke of a deeper reason.
“It’s been, what, two years? What brings you to Gotham?”
“Business; the usual really.” Despite whatever friendly aura they’re projecting, Bruce Wayne and Vlad Masters weren’t friends. More acquaintances that have been forced to mingle a few times because of the nature of their business and the demands of high society. From what Bruce knows, Vlad is a business tycoon that’s as blindingly charismatic as he was infamous for his quick rise to wealth and a few rather shady dealings.
Bruce stuck his hand in his pocket. “Well Vlad, last we all heard was you dipping your toes into politics. You’re a, uh, what, a governor?”
Vlad let out an obviously fake chuckle. “Oh nothing as grand as that. I’m only a small-town mayor, really.”
“Right!” Bruce snapped his fingers. “So, what’s that like?”
“Oh dreadful work, really. So much paperwork, so many things to do or oversee, but rewarding in its own way.” He puffed out his chest. “Many of the people in Amity Park do rely on me, you know. Though I’m afraid my schedule’s busy enough that I barely have time to go home!”
“Well, we’re very happy that you made room enough to visit us here in Gotham.”
Bruce sensed Damian coming to stand beside him and instinctually placed a hand around his shoulder. Though his youngest had been steadily adjusting to his new life here in Gotham, he still preferred to stick to his father’s shadow than mingle with those of his own age groups at galas. (Then again, Bruce was very similar when he was younger so perhaps it was a genetic thing).
He smiled down at Damian—frowning as he’d rather be patrolling the streets in uniform as opposed to schmoozing with people he hardly cared about. “Have you met my son, Vlad? Damian, this is Vlad Masters, a business partner and a, uh—” He scrunched his face, pretending to remember what Vlad’s current occupation is. “Mayor of some small town out west.”
Bruce turned to look at Vlad, expecting to see some variation of ‘insulted but trying to keep up a polite façade’—only to freeze.
Vlad’s face paled considerably. His beady eyes comically wide as he looked at Damian, the fingers curled around the stem of his flute glass bone white. Damian, unnerved, steadied his stance but shifted minutely closer to Bruce.
Well, this was interesting. “You alright, Vlad? You looked like you’ve just seen a ghost.”
Vlad jerked his head towards Bruce. Surprise—and fear? —contorted his features for a brief moment before smoothed back down into a proper mask. “Mayor of Amity Park, yes. My apologies,” he chuckled. “Young—Damian, was it? —only reminded me of someone I knew once.” He shifted his gaze back to Damian. “The resemblance is actually quite uncanny.”
Damian furrowed his brows. “Amity Park?”
“You’ve heard of it, Damian?”
“I would be surprised if you did.” Vlad masters took a small ship of his champagne. “Then again, it should be expected that you might have heard of it. The town does love it’s ghosts.”
Bruce laughed. “What, like Casper?”
“Something like that, yes.” There’s a tightness to Vlad’s voice. “Amity Park is its own breed of strange. We’ve handled things well enough on our own in the past, and quite honestly you get used to all of the spooks eventually. Though I must say the shadows are quite new—I’d often ask myself if I should petition your city’s vigilante and put him on the case.
“Shadows?”
Vlad easy smile shifted into a faint grimace. “They have a rather nasty habit of snooping.”
------
Despite Bruce and Damian’s attempt at plying Vlad for more answers, Vlad kept his mouth shut, evading questions and changing topics skillfully. Something that only raised Bruce’s alarm that something was going on.
“So,” Bruce unbuttoned his suit as he stepped into the car, “How did you hear of Amity, Damian? Ghosts and ghouls don’t exactly seem like something you’d be interested in.”
He waited for Damian to buckle his seatbelt before shifting the Bentley into drive and pulling out of the Expo. They had stayed at the gala long enough, making their rounds and giving the media enough for a headline in the society pages.
Damian rested his hand against the window. His face scrunched as he watched the looming facades of Gotham’s architecture pass by. “Mother mentioned the name once or twice,” he said. “I was not…privy to every operation that happened in the League, so I don’t know anything despite that my grandfather took an interest in Amity.”
“And I’m sure that from Masters’ odd phrasing, Ra’s didn’t just magically lose that interest either.” He narrowed his eyes. “Contact Oracle and have her dig up everything we need to know about the situation in Amity Park. I think it’s time Batman made his introductions to some out-of-town guests.”
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featherfur · 3 years
Text
Big Knife Meet Little Blind Ch.2
Xue Yang meets A-Qing before he meets Xiao Xingchen and decides he needs a disciple. Somehow he ends up with a kid, a heart, and an absolute mess of a cultivation world.
Warnings: Gore, Blood, Murder, Questionable Child Rearing, Xue Yang and A-Qing's potty mouth, Xue Yang isn't a good person and needs to get there, will eventually be SongXiaoXue
Read me on Ao3,
Read Chapter 1
Xue Yang returned home much more relaxed and even entertained the idea of taking his next day off to travel down to Yunmeng with A-Qing to let her try osmanthus cakes. She’d probably enjoy the river boats and he could afford a trip there and back if he annoyed Jin Guangyao into paying him early.
“A-Qing, are you still crying like a baby?” He called cheerfully towards the shack, kicking open the door and blinking when he found it completely empty.
The hearth was still cold and the soup from last night was gone so A-Qing had returned after he sent her off. The blankets for their bed were still made like A-Qing insisted on doing every morning, even the hidden pouch of money was still tucked in the jar of seasonings on the top shelf. Yet A-Qing was nowhere to be found.
Where the hell had the brat gone?
Had she run off because he scared her? If she could get over a fierce corpse devouring and murdering humans she shouldn’t be such a coward just because he got pissed and stabbed someone. It wasn’t like he was going to stab her. If he did that then he’d have to go through the trouble of finding another disciple and he liked his.
“A-Qing!” He shouted, mentally convincing himself that he wasn’t worried at all. After all, he could always get another brat right?
A second later the door swung open and he spun, Jiangzai already before him. Luckily for him, A-Qing was still much too small for his stab to be in her general area.
She collided with him forcefully and he was about to reprimand her when he realized she was clutching onto him.
“Eh? Why are you crying brat? Did you think I wasn’t coming back?” He snapped even as he sheathed Jiangzai and crouched down so he could look her over. She was fine beyond a few scratches and he rolled his eyes at her dramatics, he really should have killed her and grabbed an older brat. They didn’t cry nearly as much.
“Yang-ge, someone tried to break the door! They wanted to kill me.. They kept yelling for you. You weren’t here.” A-Qing sobbed, the irritation that rose in Xue Yang at her obnoxious crying was immediately flooded with the fury that anyone would dare scare his A-Qing. “You didn’t come home… I-I-I hid… I hid where you told me too. Then I heard you.”
Well atleast, some of his words had gotten through her thick skull.
“Who was it?” He barked, groaning when she just kept crying. He smacked her cheek and she blinked blearily up at him.
“Answer me brat, who was it?”
She shook her head, trying to tug herself closer to his chest and he pushed her back with a disgusted noise. She was covered in snot and tears and he didn’t want to have to wash his clothes so soon. It was disgusting and he liked to play with corpses.
She just snuffled loudly despite his glare and hold on her shoulders, still reaching out to him.
“I don’t know, I promise I don’t know.” She swore, grabbing hold of his forearms with a vice-like grip. It would have been impressive if she wasn’t so damn annoying.
Xue Yang stared at her, wondering if he could smack her again to make her shut up but she just blinked her white eyes at him with unwavering trust. An unfamiliar feeling built in his chest and he released his grip on her shoulders.
She rocketed into his chest with a fresh wave of sobbing, clinging onto him with a strength that surprised him. He fell back onto his ass, crossing his legs under him as A-Qing curled in his lap.
He pulled Jiangzai out as a precaution, wondering if A-Qing would panic like before. To his pleasant surprise, as soon as the blade was resting on his knee in easy reach she finally started to calm.
Her small fingers were tangled in his robes and he reached up to pat them in a move of comfort that completely surprised himself. Then again, he didn’t like breaking his own toys so treating them properly was the best way to make sure they survived. Even if he was confused by his own actions, A-Qing had started to calm and her obnoxious crying had finally ceased so Xue Yang counted it as a win.
Still, a steady wave of anger was still sliding through him. Someone had tried to break into his house and scared what was his. Even if her own clumsiness was what caused her scratches, she wouldn’t have had to run if it wasn’t for those bastards. They owed him.
Xue Yang was going to get even, tonight. He’d had a really bad day and it was time to make it someone else’s problem.
He waited for A-Qing to fall asleep before he moved back to his feet, keeping one arm under her so she could rest against his shoulder. With a child on his right and Jiangzai on his left he stepped out of the house and started to make his way around the house.
There were indeed footprints that weren’t from him, two sets in fact leading back to the local village. They weren’t familiar to him, but that just meant it wasn’t anyone from the Jin sect. There were plenty of others who wanted him dead or beaten black and blue.
He returned to the house to drop A-Qing off but she woke the moment he put her down.
“Yang-ge, are you leaving again?” She asked, her bottom lip wobbling and he poked her cheek to startle her.
“Don’t start that crying shit, got it? Yes I am, stay here.”
Rather than listening she just bolted forward to hold onto his leg instead.
“Yang-ge don’t leave me, take me with you.”
Xue Yang kicked her off, waving Jiangzai between them to keep her from trying again. Yet she still just wobbled back up to her feet with that stubborn streak that made him take her in the first place.
The temptation to give her a reason to fear Jiangzai was almost irresistible, a few more cuts wouldn’t do anything other than scare her after all. Xue Yang was good at swordsmanship, a few slices like paper cuts would be perfect for getting her to remember her place. He flicked the sword up with a twist of his wrist and was about to slice down across the reaching hand.
“You’re… going to kill them… right?” She said and Xue Yang paused long enough for her to grab his robes again and reach up towards Jiangzai. “Like earlier.”
“No, not like earlier. I’m going to kill them myself. Now let go or I’ll kill you first.” Xue Yang warned with a growl but she barely even blinked.
“Take me with you.”
That made him lower the sword with curiosity, tilting his head down at the dirty little brat he’d stuck in his house. There was a sudden panic in his mind, like when he’d come home to find A-Qing missing, at the idea of her being anywhere near murderers. She was tiny! He could kill her with a half kick to the head and she wanted to go with him?
“Why?”
“You left and it was scary.” She said simply, letting go of his robes to hold her arms up to him. “Take me with you.”
“Little Blind,” He said ignoring her scowl, “you do know I’m going to kill. Like the man before. You cried like a little bitch not even twelve hours ago.”
He remembered that she was roughly five when she just blinked up at him and waved her hands. Right. She’d watched last time.
The panic started to drain quickly and he shrugged.
Whatever. If she died then fuck her, he’d burn her corpse or bring her back for his experiments. Oh that was an idea.
He hummed to himself as he bent just enough to swipe her legs out from under her with his arm and leave her perched on his hip and elbow.
If she died she could make a wonderful little subject to see about finally recreating a conscious corpse like the Ghost General. It really was too bad that he was completely loyal to Wei Wuxian, Xue Yang could have used a babysitter.
“If you start crying I’ll leave you in the chest cavity after I break it open.” Xue Yang threatened her and she just gave him that same confused blink. He scoffed and grabbed a cloak to toss over her and made his way out.
He was going to have to fix her poor vocabulary soon. She was great at playing a beggar for a kid, but she really missed the point of his threats and that wasn’t going to stand.
“Do you remember what the bastards sounded like? The ones who came looking for me,” Xue Yang added irritably when she continued her blinking habit. That jogged her memory and she nodded, looking out towards the approaching town.
Night had already started to fall and the last rays of light were quickly disappearing as lanterns were lit instead. Xue Yang grumbled to himself as he realized the footprints would soon be invisible but he couldn’t risk putting A-Qing down for a fire talisman or to sheathe Jiangzai even for a few seconds.
“He… He sounded like the… the…” A-Qing pouted as she tried to remember and Xue Yang suddenly understood why people found kid’s cute. If she wasn’t so annoying, A-Qing would be adorable for a little stray, she was just like a cat that never shut up.
“The pig man!” A-Qing finally declared happily, smiling at Xue Yang and lost the adorable look when Xue Yang just felt annoyed instead.
“I thought you said you didn’t know who they were.”
“I don’t. One of them sound like the pig man… He wasn't the pig man.”
Xue Yang jerked his arm to make her squeal in fear of being dropped. Then he realized what it was that she was saying.
“You mean he has the same accent as the butcher?”
Right, Xue Yang thought as she blinked blankly at him, she’s five she doesn’t know what accent means.
“You have the ugliest face.” He finally told her, grumbling when her thin fingers shoved into his cheek.
“Yang-ge don’t be mean to A-Qing.” She admonished like it was bath day and not a trip to kill a man.
“Okay brat, I get it, keep your hands off my face or I’ll bite them off.” He snapped his teeth in her direction and she retracted her hands quickly with puffy cheeks and pouty lips. The second time wasn’t nearly as adorable but when she reached to wrap her arms around his neck again he let her without question.
Honestly he was waiting for her to fall asleep on his shoulder so he just evened out his footsteps and made his way through the back alley’s to the butchershop.
“Don’t make any noise unless I tell you too.” He warned, waiting until she nodded that she understood before he finally stepped behind the shop itself.
The candlelight wasn’t very bright so Xue Yang slipped closer, peering through the window at the small group. At first he only recognized the butcher himself, then he realized he did know the other two.
They weren’t anyone important but a few years ago Xue Yang had gutted their sister for smacking him, he hadn’t realized he’d been seen at all. They must have been hunting him since then and only just now caught up after he got stuck long-term in this damned town. He would have to clean that up eventually anyways.
Talk about two birds with one stone, he thought to himself and turned to lower A-Qing to the ground.
“Are you going to help me? Or do you just wanna watch?” He whispered and she shrank down against the wall of the house before reaching out to pat the hilt of Jiangzai. “Good girl, wait right here for Yang-ge.”
He straightened with a grin, patting her once on the head before sliding open the door silently and strolling through.
“Hello you two, I heard you were looking for me.” He chirped excitedly, holding up the well-known blade. “Really, you could have just left a note.”
“You.” One snarled.
“Xue Yang.” The other said and Xue Yang rolled his eyes, chuckling at their posturing.
“Don’t dirty my name, I’m rather fond of it.” He hummed, almost seeming to glide over the floor towards them as they stumbled back. “Actually, let me correct myself. You should have just left a note. Then I’d maybe be able to bring myself to be a bit merciful, Jin Guangyao’s been teaching me all about it.”
“Will you just- Shut up!” The butcher’s voice joined the mess and Xue Yang glanced at the knife he was wielding.
A loud laugh bubbled up as he saw it, swinging Jiangzai to point at the taller one.
“You really think you can do anything to me?” In response the knife came flying at his head and he sighed softly. A simple lean was all that was needed to leave the blade well out of range of his head and it struck the wall behind him instead.
“Now, I need a volunteer.” He said with another step forward. “See, my kid’s still new to all of this but she needs to learn, so who wants to help me teach her the different arteries to cut? The other two I’ll kill a little faster.”
“You killed our sister, after we kill you we’ll get your little brat and return the favor.” The youngest brother yelled in outrage, brandishing his own sword. It wavered in the air almost shaking as much as his owner was.
The smile disappeared from Xue Yang’s face and he flashed forward. With two strokes blood spurted from the two others’ throats. He left only the youngest to cower with a scream that was silenced a moment later when Xue Yang’s fingers grabbed his tongue and with a single slice was tossed behind him. The wail was easily stuffed out with a handful of the bastard’s own robes, forcing them down his throat until he choked and gagged.
“Found my volunteer.” Xue Yang pulled him to his knees by his hair, waiting impatiently for the neighbors knocking to cease. When no one answered they dispersed with mumbles about rowdy visitors and summoning the guards to complain.
Xue Yang dragged the man through the bloody mess on the floor, glancing back at the corpses with a mournful air.
If only I hadn’t brought A-Qing, then I’d have two new subjects to play with.
He hummed as he stood in the middle of the room, realizing that this was one of those moments that Jin Guangyao had told him about. Ones where Xue Yang should have planned better before jumping into slaughter.
He wanted to take his time and teach A-Qing a thing or two, but the bastard crying on the floor had warned everyone. If Xue Yang brought him back home to teach, then he’d have to deal with the smell of blood in his house and the potential of Jin disciples finding the body.
Jin Guangyao should be proud, Xue Yang thought proudly as he dropped the man on the ground and promptly sat on his stomach, I’m thinking it through and everything.
“A-Qing, come here.” He called, waving her forward and holding his arms open to tempt her even further. As expected, she bolted into his arms without a care for the carnage around her.
“Good girl, now, I’m going to show you this trick.”
A-Qing flinched slightly when the man they were sitting on wailed against the robe. Then she scowled and leaned over him to smack his cheek like Xue Yang did to her earlier. This one was much harsher than Xue Yang had been but it still managed to make the man freeze.
“Good girl,” Xue Yang cheered, the vicious mood from earlier seeming to dissipate as he squeezed her cheek. “Very good, now, listen to Yang-ge.”
A-Qing nodded her head rapidly as Xue Yang moved over the struggling man to trace a nail over his carotid artery with a rather proper explanation of death by exsanguination if he said so himself. He followed the man’s neck down to his windpipe, explaining how to slice it properly. The man still writhed so Xue Yang clamped down on his throat, squeezing it until the body spasmed and stopped moving.
“And that is choking. Don’t worry about that right now, you’re too tiny to do it.” Xue Yang said, tilting his head to listen to the slow moving footsteps of whatever the villagers had managed to gather for a guard to check. He sighed, resigning himself to bringing her to one of his experiments later and scooting her off to stand.
He twirled Jiangzai, humming to himself as he felt its blood lust, and held it against the unconscious man’s neck.
“Well? Do you remember what I just taught you?”
A-Qing glanced back and forth between the two of them with visible hesitation. Xue Yang supposed this could be a little fast, she’d only seen her first murder earlier in the day after all.
I’ll read those damn child raising books when I get home, maybe I should wait until she’s atleast six before committing human murder. Jin Guangyao said that was harder for most people to do.
Even as he planned to kill the man himself, A-Qing’s hand moved to Xue Yang’s and held the hilt of Jiangzai. She pushed carefully until the sword was just over the artery just like Xue Yang had taught her, then she plunged it forward.
Her white eyes were glowing with fascination as blood bubbled around the wound and, when Xue Yang pulled out, the way it sprayed before Xue Yang covered her from it with his black sleeve. Still, she moved to peek over his arm when it finally stopped spurting over them. She blinked in her curious way at the corpse then scowled over at Xue Yang.
“Your robe is all dirty. It’s bath day.” She said seriously, just like Xue Yang would say when he came home to find her filthy.
Xue Yang was in such a good mood he could only scoop her up as he sheathed Jiangzai and laugh as he skipped to the door. He paused midway through and bounced back to grab the purse on the butcher and the package before bolting as the acting guards started to bang on the door.
“Oops.” He hummed, looking around the alley before kicking off to land on the roof next door. Perhaps he didn’t think things through like he thought he did.
Whatever, He slipped the purse into his robe and started back towards home. He jumped on three more houses before deciding that was good enough and leaping to the ground to walk the rest of the way.
“Yang-ge?” A-Qing said sleepily against his shoulder. “Can I go to work with you again?”
“Sure, kid, I’ll bring you again later.” He hummed to himself, cheerfully waving the package of whatever he’d stolen through the air. He debated on chucking it against a tree just to see its contents but A-Qing’s sleepy snuffles distracted him instead.
She’d done so well already, this disciple shit really was working out a lot better than he thought it would. He was surprised she hadn’t even sobbed but then again, he hadn’t cried after his first kill either and he was only two years older than her then.
He glanced down at her as she promptly passed out, completely comfortable and safe in the arms of a murderer.
So this is why people have kids, they’re actually kind of cute when they listen.
He would have to figure out something about leaving her alone in case other enemies showed up, but maybe if he dug at the Ghost General enough he would finally get that ghost babysitter.
He almost turned to head towards the experimentation compound but a single glance at A-Qing’s sleeping form made him turn back towards home.
That can wait until tomorrow, A-Qing needs more sleep than me.
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rpmemesbyarat · 3 years
Conversation
RP  meme from Werewolf: The Apocalypse "Black Furies" Tribebook (Revised Version) Ch 2 "Pegasus’ Flight"
"But how can you be here?"
"I’m sorry. I’m easily sidetracked. Where was I?"
"Every day the possibility exists that you will find some great treasure — a companion, a fetish, riches, secrets or whatever is important to you."
"Divine justice is not something that can be safely left in the hands of mortal men and women — or even certain sky goddesses, as Athena’s blindness showed."
"While limits and strictures are frightening to many, I take peace knowing that purposes exist for all things."
"The problem comes when limits become absolute."
"It’s a human mind-twister — and I love mind-twisters — that the only rule to which there is no exception is that there’s an exception to every rule."
"I said before I love mind-twisters, but it’s good to know when to stop twisting your mind."
"Change hurts."
"The questions do not always need to be answered, often just asking them is enough."
"If they lead only to more questions or to simple answers (I remember well learning the answer to “What do bees smell like?”), then that also is learning and therefore good."
"Laughter doesn’t have to be mirthful; it can be bitter or rueful as well."
"How many of these stories actually happened?"
"Take from a story the wisdom that is in it; one of humanity’s biggest problems, I think, is that many of them take their legends too seriously."
"Contemplation is good, but too much of it causes the topic to become irrelevant."
"Beautiful, isn’t it?"
"The average first-time mother can expect an ordeal of fourteen hours."
"Everyone agrees that breast milk is best for babies; doctors, researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and parenting gurus."
"I am sorry for your discomfort, but you can just suffer through it a bit longer."
"A woman’s sexuality is hers, and can be a closely guarded secret or a gift to the world, as she chooses."
"Only the weak deserve pity."
"And yet we’re still spit on as often as not. Unfair, isn’t it?"
"Sex and childbearing is all about responsibility."
"There is no honor in blood for blood’s sake."
"These assaults take place far from the eyes of humanity, and the large-scale ones are most frequently mistaken for natural disasters."
"First, while faith might be eternal, religion must evolve."
"The world is often random, and believing it to be loving and fair is just as false as believing it to be cruel."
"They aren’t thieves, mind you; they just seem to know where to find things."
"I’m quite sure you’ve heard it all. Stay awake and listen again. This is important stuff, you know."
"That kind of cruelty doesn’t really help anyone, does it?"
"Note that there’s a big difference between “breeding” and “having sex.”
"My opinion has always been that announcing one’s presence and intentions when entering another’s territory is polite and proper behavior."
"A predator sees any encroachment on her territory as a threat. If the intruder nears her den, expect her to become very violent."
"If you enter another’s territory and announce yourself, that doesn’t mean you can stay. The one who lives there can still tell you to leave, and you should respect her wishes."
"Be careful when traveling."
"Look, we’ve all got anger control problems. It’s part of who we are."
"If you’re hurt, quit."
"Die to be a hero if you want, but don’t die to prove you were right."
"When the challenge is over, when the winner is declared, accept the ruling and live with it."
"Challenges are serious business — never initiate one without good cause."
"Do not look away. I hardly need to explain what that will lead to."
"We all know why it isn’t good to eat humans; for one thing, their flesh is fouled by the chemicals they eat, and for another, we’re meant to protect and avenge them, not prey upon them."
"If it becomes necessary to kill humans, do so, but remember that you are what you eat."
"From the face you’re making, I can assume you find the notion of cannibalism to be truly repulsive."
"Find other ways to hide your action."
"The problem is that humans are resilient and tenacious, especially in fear or hatred."
"Sometimes, however, we must let go."
"When the time comes for me to die, assuming, of course, that I do not die in battle, I shall walk into the sea and let the waves take me on my last journey."
"They can’t be challenged if no one can find them."
"I’m not saying that the system is corrupt, only that it could be."
"Such a small place, yet so many differing cultures!"
"Any biologist will tell you that you may measure how well an area thrives by the diversity of life it supports."
"Women are, on average, not as physically strong as men. This means that they sometimes need protection. I hardly need to tell you who should provide it."
"Unless I missed a major theological event, there haven’t been any immaculate conceptions recently."
"No matter your personal feelings on men, they are and always have been one half of the equation."
"A man is not evil simply by dint of his sex; to believe so is no better than calling women “the weaker sex.”
"Weak people produce more weak people, and since humans have virtually no method of natural selection, it is up to us to try to correct their weaknesses as best we can."
"Something is urging the citizens towards these evils, for I cannot believe that they did this themselves."
"The idiot humans continue to think that if they could just clear away the trees, they’d have wonderful land for agriculture, never once realizing that it’s the forest itself that preserves the land."
"Tell me why you think you could do better."
"So many believe the courts will do nothing — and if their attackers are rich and privileged enough, that is sadly true."
"Celebrities and advertisements show thin and unhealthy looking women being adored and generally enjoying life. So, young girls are made to feel abnormal and loathe their bodies."
"The Church decries sexuality for any reason but procreation — and women learn to fear their sexual power."
"Time may dull the memory, but we still have blood on our claws."
"It’s harsh, but good exercise."
"Don’t let their foul behavior and mannerisms fool you. These bumpkins and slum-dwellers have contacts all over the city. I avoid them when possible, but when I am left with no other choice and need information in the city, I go to them. Of course, that information does not come cheaply."
"Some of them can get a little corny at times, I admit, but I’d rather have them with us than against us."
"A more serious bunch of assholes was never born."
"They are reprehensible dogs."
"They have money, they have places to stay, they know good places to party, and they have access to guns, and explosives, and body armor, and — well, you get the idea."
"They have a lot of hate, and the near-extinction of their species isn’t something that one just gets over."
"No one ever identifies herself as “evil.”
"You will get far more than you bargained for."
"Most national leaders are ridiculed without mercy, because every mistake they’ve ever made is on display for the world to see."
"Too much time spent mucking with forces beyond their control taints these people, if you ask me."
"Bloody opportunists."
"I’m not going to say they planned it that way, but they sure didn’t stop it either."
"Sure, they got fucked, but they’re still assholes."
"A quaint story, I thought, no more than a sort of urban legend."
"However, they do learn many secrets that we miss. Getting them to give up these secrets, however, is usually more trouble than it’s worth."
"Maybe they aren’t all dead?"
"Greek myths are replete with dragons; Ladon, Typhon, Python, Hydra, and so forth. They are never cast in favorable roles; most of them only exist for a hero to kill."
"I’ve never liked practical jokes, and I don’t like the notion of pushing someone’s buttons just to teach them not to respond. You can lose your head doing that to the wrong person."
"Other creatures share the unseen world with us, and it would behoove you to know something about them."
"The spirits of the dead do not always rest easily."
"The dead aren’t staying in the ground."
"Some of them are complete pigs, so I’m told, but even so, they can be quite seductive."
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strawbunniiee · 3 years
Text
A Girl and a Ghost Ch. 2: Wandering the Trails
YAAYYYY I FINALLY GOT MY LAZY BUTT TO POST THIS
anyways, as promised i finally wrote a second chapter! i hope you enjoy it :)
@salamifuposey @monsterbride99 just lettin y’all know this exists sjjddkfkd srry for taggin yall so much hope u dont mind aa
It had been a few weeks after Jawaii had met Phantom, and she began to see him regularly. After her meeting with him, Phantom had secretly slipped a note in her pocket that had the lyrics of a special song. If she were to sing said song, he would arrive.
Some mornings, Jawaii would wake up feeling as if befriending Phantom was all a dream. Like it never even happened, it was all in her own mind. But alas it was not, luckily for her. They would explore the town and forests and just generally have fun with eachother.
Jawaii was discovering so many new feelings... feelings she had never really felt before finally having a best friend. Each one was just as wonderful than the last.
One morning, Jawaii ran to the forest, summoned Phantom and they began to talk about what they wanted to do for the day.
"So what do you wanna do today?" Jawaii asked eagerly.
"Hmm, I'm not entirely sure... but perhaps I could show you my homeland?" Phantom suggested.
"Ooh! What's your homeland like? I bet it's cool!"
"It's quite creepy, I'll admit, but it does have a nice atmosphere."
"AWESOME! Can you take me? Pleaaaase?" begged Jawaii.
Phantom chuckled. "Of course! Now stay close, I don't want you getting lost."
And so, they were on their way to Spooky Trails, Phantom's home. Jawaii kept constantly pestering Phantom on the way, asking if they were there yet. When they arrived, it was indeed quite a creepy place, but of course Jawaii didn't mind.
"Wow... so this is your home? You like, actually live here?" asked Jawaii.
"Indeed it is! Hopefully it doesn't creep you out too much though..." replied Phantom.
"Dude, are you kidding? This is the most amazing place EVER!" she yelled.
Phantom was a bit startled by Jawaii suddenly yelling. "Quiet down, you'll disturb the spirits. They don't like being disturbed." the ghost gently reminded.
"Oh. Sorry spirit people. You guys are super cool though!" Jawaii began to skip ahead, with Phantom catching his breath trying to catch up to her.
"You're quite a brave young girl, I'll say. Not scared of Spooky Trails, ghosts in general... it's quite a surprise! I never knew there was a human who enjoyed our company and wanted to befriend us... let alone a child!"
"Duh, of course I'm not scared of you. You're amazing! And I bet all the other ghosts are just as wonderful as you are." said Jawaii.
"Aww, why thank you! However... it's quite rare that humans actually want us around, you see. They're either terrified of us, see us as an annoyance, or want us gone."
Jawaii began to realize how much she had in common with Phantom. She knew he had told her something similar the day they had met, but she never knew that he too was hunted down and wanted dead.
"...Me, my siblings and my dad are all wanted dead. Just because we're "evil". We barely even hurt anybody... I know my dad destroys planets for a living, and I guess that can be seen as bad, bu-"
"Jawaii, dear, apologies for interrupting of course, and I don't see you any different or anything, don't worry, but your father does what now?" Phantom had never heard of such a thing. Annihilating planets for a job! Who would do something like that?
"He destroys planets for a living. Besides, Dad tells me it's an important job, because if there's too many planets the galaxy could get overpopulated and it would be bad." explained Jawaii.
"Ah... fair point actually."
Eventually they made it to a large gate. It had bars shaped like musical notes and a dial shaped like a full moon.
"This is the Moon Gate, beyond it lies my stage, where I reside." said Phantom.
"You live on a stage? That's really cool!"
Phantom smiled. "It's sort of the only "house" I have. I'm glad you enjoy the concept though!"
Jawaii ran up to the gate and pushed it, pressing her entire mass against it trying to open it.
"Why won't it open?!" Jawaii growled, frustrated.
Phantom effortlessly pushed the gate open with his hand. "There you go!"
"...WHAT?!" Jawaii stood there, staring at him with her jaw dropped. "How strong even ARE you?"
The ghost rabbit laughed quite a bit. "I'm the only one who can open the Moon Gate when it isn't a full moon, I'm not THAT strong, of course."
"Ohhhh. That makes sense." replied Jawaii.
They walked up the pathway that lead to the stage. It was an absolutely massive stage, but also looked quite old. The curtains were a torn and tattered, and the wooden floor looked very scratched up. There were strange blocks scattered everywhere, with seemingly no purpose. The place definitely looked like it had seen better days.
However, Jawaii adored it and stared in awe and wonder at it.
"Your house is awesome, Phantom!" said Jawaii, running off to explore the place.
"Thank you, my dear friend! It certainly isn't much, but make yourself at home."
Jawaii climbed up and down the pipes, examined all of the spotlights, and she even poked around in the wires despite Phantom begging her not to. Needless to say, she would have nearly electrocuted herself if it wasn't for Phantom.
He introduced her to many of the Peek-a-Boos and Spooky Trails Rabbids who also resided here. She enjoyed talking to them, and yet again, it felt so nice to have people treating her as if she wasn't a threat, just a normal child. She could never get enough of that feeling. It was so wonderful to her.
About an hour later, Jawaii sat down in boredom.
"I'm bored now." Jawaii mumbled.
"Well, we have been here for quite some time, so I could see why. Would you perhaps like to go somewhere else in Spooky Trails?" asked Phantom.
Jawaii's eyes lit up. "There's more of this place? Heck yeah I wanna go!"
Her eagerness made Phantom smile. "Well then, let's head off shall we?"
They crossed a bridge over a rushing river (which Jawaii threw a stick into), passed by a few giant jack-o-lanterns and fed some hungry crows a bit of (probably very stale) bread that they found. Then they came to an enormous manor, which looked abandoned and loomed over the forest.
But Phantom was very uneasy about this mansion.
"J-Jawaii, let's explore this mansion a for just a minute and then we'll turn back, all right?" said Phantom, his voice shaking.
"Wait, what's up? Are you all right?" asked Jawaii, with concern.
"I'm fine. Just... look around for a bit and we REALLY must go back. Besides, y-you must be hungry after all of this, we should get a snack!"
"...All right, if you say so."
Jawaii wandered around the front yard of the mansion. She picked some flowers, examined some mushrooms (she tried to eat one), and threw stones against the wall of the mansion.
Phantom floated up to her as she was throwing the stones against the wall. "...We really need to get going,"
"But wh-" Just as Jawaii was about ask why, she accidentally threw a stone straight into a window in the mansion. There was a loud shatter and a horrifying shriek. Phantom immediately jumped in front of her, hiding her behind his large, round body. A big, spherical ghost with a crown emerged from the wall of the manor. He had piercing, glowing purple eyes with a cruel, furious stare. He had sharp teeth, which were bared in fury.
His crown's jewel had a massive crack in it.
Oh my God. thought Jawaii, immediately realizing how reckless she had been.
"FIRST YOU TURN MY TROOPS AGAINST ME, AND NOW YOU DESTROY MY CROWN?!" the ghost with the crown shrieked. "YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS, YOU CRUEL, DISGUSTING FOOL. YOU'RE GOING TO REGRET EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE TO ME."
Phantom quivered in terror, not knowing what to do other than to hide Jawaii behind him.
He gained the courage to speak. "I never turned them against you. I made them realize how horrible you treated them. If anything, YOU'RE the cruel one."
Jawaii knew she had to do something too. She couldn't just stand here and let the only friend she had possibly be harmed, or far, far worse.
She went out from behind Phantom. "I destroyed your crown." Jawaii said, staring the crowned ghost in the eye.
"J-Jawaii, no...!"
"WHO IS THIS LITTLE BRAT?! AND WHO DOES SHE THINK SHE IS, GOING AND DOING THIS TO I, KING BOO, THE RULER OF THE UNDEAD?" King Boo screamed.
"If you must know, she is my friend. And she is not a brat, you demonic marshmallow." said Phantom, still quaking, but trying to be brave.
Phantom's insult just made the king even more angry.
"ANGRY MARSHMALLOW? LOOK WHO'S TALKING, YOU OVERINFLATED BLIMP OF A RABBIT!" he screeched.
Jawaii came a bit closer to King Boo. "HEY! Nobody insults my best friend like that, you ugly hag!"
"...What did you just call me, you little DIRT GOBLIN?"
"You heard me loud and clear."
Unable to come up with any witty comebacks or clever responses, King Boo angrily sputtered out, "ALL RIGHT YOU TWO PESTS, GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE YOU BOTH REGRET IT."
Without hesitation, Phantom picked Jawaii up off the ground and flew off with her.
King Boo angrily cursed under his breath and went back inside his mansion, plotting his revenge on the ghost Rabbid and the young alien.
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