#ouch exerpts

[applesap-fics]

Im putting an exerpt of my big gay bruno fic here because im very unsure of using it bc it reads kind of crack-y and I don’t think I like some of Bruno’s answers that much. Anyway!

---

"Do you have a boyfriend?" One of the kids asked, breakfast entirely forgotten.

"Er, no."

"Do you want a boyfriend?" 

"Uhm, not sure?"

“When did you know?” 

“Well I suspected since I was a teen. But I didn't have much to go off of. And I only really got to terms with it when I was… you know, gone. But! Pepita, when you got your first boyfriend - you know, Raúl. Oh boy, that’s when I knew for sure. I thought I was jealous of him for stealing my sister, but really-”

“You fell for that swagger,” Pepa laughed, suddenly remembering fully well the way the boy had carried himself.

Julieta stifled a laugh against her palm, “Oh, Raúl. He was a bit, ehm.”

“Might’ve been a better fit for you, Brunito.” 

Bruno rolled his eyes.

“Oh, where’s he now, though?” Mirabel asked, a tad too enthusiastic. “Is he single? Maybe we could-!”

“Ah, no, mi sol. He’s married. Happily, with five kids last time I heard,” her aunt said, making Mirabel pout. “However did that happen,” she muttered after. 

Even though it had all been somewhat of a joke, Bruno still wondered, and cringed a bit at the fluke of an attempt to be set up. It reminded him too much of his mother’s enthusiasm about girls his age back in the day - the nothing substance with which she based his attraction on.

“How did you keep it in all these years?” It surprised Bruno when it was Dolores who asked. Wouldn’t she know about keeping secrets and desires hidden?

“Well, you know. It’s easy when you know it’s gonna give trouble.” That was the boring answer. He pressed his wrist to his forehead, “But, oh! It’s even easier when you’ve resigned yourself to a life as a forever bachelor. I’m a wretch! Who could ever want me?”

Camilo mimicked him and transformed into a busty woman in a frilly dress, “Oh woe! All the women are stealing my suitors!”

His mamá slapped his boobs, which jiggled like raw eggs. “Behave, you.”

“Ouch, mi tetitas,” he said as he transformed back. Bruno laughed, admiring his nephew’s gift of transformation. If he could swap his own gift for another, he would pick that one over the others any time.

“Any other questions?” Bruno asked the group.

“What do you like about guys?”

“Oh, I don’t know. When they’re tall. Bit of meat on them. I like it when they’re inspiring! And, uh, sweet to me.” That last bit he stammered, suddenly feeling put on the spot despite initiating this question round. Who cared about physical descriptions? It was intimacy he didn’t quite know how to handle, much less expose his desire to want it at all. How did you tell your family you wanted to be intimate with a guy who treated you sweetly? You didn’t. You hoped they would all take the hint and get out of the house. He’d learned that from irritating Pepa.

“And who would be the girl, you or the other guy?” asked Camilo, who got another slap for it. “Hey! Everyone’s thinking it!”

“I’m not!” Mirabel said, and the girls nodded along with her, knowing very well the sort of politeness that had to come with sensitive topics like this. 

“Well, I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m just curious how it works!”

Bruno thought about the question and couldn’t blame his nephew much for going with stereotypes. After all, he’d asked himself that same question many times before. “Eheh, well,” he said. “I have always wanted to be your auntie.”

“Oh, that old joke,” Julieta rolled her eyes, grabbing Pepa’s arm joyfully. “‘Can’t wait to find out if I’m an aunt or an uncle!’ He’s been telling that one since before Isabela was born-”

#encanto #bruno madrigal #and others... #I might change it up bc there’s some things in here I like. #such as: foreshadowing drag auntie bruno #and i like the dolores-bruno parallel but i have to find better words cos this is just clunky #camilo is kinda weird funny but i dont think it sticks #also his questions might be taken as too crude but like he said.. he didnt mean it like that<3 #also im trying to write all tha kids as schrödringers gay. one of these is going to come out to bruno first but thats none of our business #fic drabble #lpqnh #<- acronym

[blindtaleteller]

Ouch Exerpts - DREAMS - ‘the drop’ [Gamora] Ch. 7

One thing I both cringe at, fear and am excited for at the same time out of the result of Infinity War and Endgame, especially being someone who loved Guardians: is maybe seeing how the canon writers deal with the death and displacement of Gamora. Because, think about what happened there; and it’s a horrible part of the story as an emotional and psychological twist. But also has so much potential, from a storyteller’s point of view that, I hope to god they don’t  waste.

Think about that, especially from Peter Quill’s point of view; and it’s so, so bad and absolutely heartbreaking, and more than a little cheap how the mainline Avengers story glazes over it with that singular shot of Peter looking for her in the viewer. Makes my heart hurt just to think about.

That said, I touch that a lot with my Quill muses. Because it’s simultaneously the thing they feel most cheated on, and the thing they absolutely simmer about, in a lot of ways. Peter’s never really allowed time to mourn having been part of the snap’s victims; and when you think about the extra awkward, and the little weird hope coming back from the snap he definitely had there?

Ugh, and yeah; they project so many feels at me that it had to be addressed. And it had to be done in a way that fit Pete himself.

In DREAMS in particular, it gets sidelined early on too: and this one, is the section where Clint catches up with Loki a little more in realizing it after Pete gets pulled into their business and literally to the other side of the world. Clint has even closer deaths to mourn in DREAMS that connect the two of them even farther so. This scene is as hard on Clint in particular with DREAMS changes mostly being centered post Endgame because.. lets not forget. Clint had the up close and personal view of what the Soul Stone asked for in retrieving it.

     “ Clint, where’s Nat? “

===========---------CHAPTER SEVEN : Photograph (Ed Sheeran)

   There was just a few moments, looking at him like standing there like that, backlit by that otherworldly shimmer and haze of water lit by the fluttering movements of the unassuming and actually he had to admit very beautiful animal slipping through the water in the wall-length tank: where Clint didn’t think he’d forget that particular moment he almost turned by half and looked right back at him. Those few seconds had a strange sort of weight and a silent agreement to them Clint’s conscious brain couldn’t quite hook; before a buzz sounded off from the small table where Quill had dumped his stuff on when they’d brought the fish in: pulling both their eyes that way and snapping the moment shut.

Peter was on it quick, tugging his other phone out again with a sigh and getting a small scowl from Clint as he brought it over and sat himself down on the free pillow he’d set down next to him as offer. “  ..sorry. Forgot when Lily started flopping around. ‘S good though.. “ and he tapped the back of the phone; a clipped on device blinking yellow. The phone buzzed again and Clint leaned to get a look as Pete checked the new message, and Loki stirred a little behind him.

And maybe he shouldn’t have looked, because he ended up feeling like twice the ass after seeing the time stamps; and being reminded the guy had his own issues he was trying to deal with.

From

   SwordsNSass [8:26 AM]: And I meant it, by the way.

   SwordsNSass [10:45 AM]: cannot believe you left us behind.

   SwordsNSass [11:17 AM]: You know, I thought the *point* of these was to be able to communicate more easily?

   SwordsNSass [12:07 PM]: Did you take the powder we picked up on Pailene with you? It’s missing and Groot is really mad.

   SwordsNSass [1:02 PM]: At least answer or call us?

   SwordsNSass [5:24 PM]: You know what, fine. I don’t know why you’re even angry at me; but it had better not be about this morning. You dragged me into this, not  the other way around. Time we had a talk, you and me.

   SwordsNSass [6:58 PM]: Brunhilde is taking us up, you had better be there.

   SwordsNSass [7:02 PM] : And we aren’t done with that conversation, just so you know.

   SwordsNSass [8:12 PM]: Rocket says you asked him *not* to let us back on the Benatar until upgrades were finished?

   SwordsNSass [9:21 PM]: Okay. Where are you Peter.

   SwordsNSass [9:23 PM]: We’re back on board. Contact us if you don’t want me to shoot an annoying little rodent and find a way to lock out this new program.

“  Go ahead and make the call man. “ called attention to the fact he’d been snooping; not that Peter seemed to mind. He looked combination pissed and .. Clint wasn’t sure how to label the rest of it. Tired, definitely.  Distressed?   He was staring at those messages with an almost flat expression, a little too still before he finally nodded, pressed the call button and brought it to his ear. Clint settled back, watching the jellyfish; half waiting for Peter to stand up and take it outside.

                                        He didn’t.

      And Clint took that for what it was, him and Quill both knowing well enough he would hear every word when he heard the pickup; and Peter took a breath, keeping his voice low.

“  Before you say word   one   ; know if you actually wanna hear me, this is as loud as it’s gonna get; and I am hanging up and shutting this off if it sounds like you’re not gonna actually   listen   : cause there’s somebody else sleepin’ in the room and I ain’t waking him up after the long-ass day we’ve had.  “

     ‘Where the hell   are   you? Was having them leave us behind your way at getting back at me f--’

                                 “ I ain’t playin’ that game right now, Gamora. I asked him to leave you and your sister behind, ‘cause the both of you’ve been on attack mode for almost a month with no given reason or reprieve; and I didn’t want that slowin us or the Benny down long enough for someone else to catch on and tag her, and make it worse.   Time saving   . We   at it   ; and frankly.. I am   not   for draggin’ our feet on this any more than the two I’m with want or need to. Especially not when you’re like   this   . When it’s not me? Now there’s Loki, and that’s bullshit. You never even met the man for more’n a minute or two in passing. Haven’t bothered to try even talking to him, or his guy.  “

   If she had anything to say to that, it didn’t come. He rubbed his brow between his fingers; and Clint knew that look, all the tired and trying to be patient. Still nothing. Not from her end. Just quiet, and he could see it pulling that tension, and pulling it; until it snapped with some small metallic sound from the other end that had nothing to do with anyone’s voice; a sound that poked and burst the bubble he had barely brushed on the too-still surface of his breath. “ ‘ Course. Why am I not surprised.  “ and he blew out a breath and let his head fall back. “  I thought, I didn’t wanna do it like this; but you know: I think any other way’d just be worse for all of us, so here it is.  “

Clint felt a slow cringe creeping up his core at that tone, because that kind of phrase never meant anything good was coming after it once it was said. The clench wasn’t as low as it should have been though. And he didn’t feel like he should get up, or plug his ears into something else. He wanted to tuck the guy, hearing the tone to his quieted voice. Sounded way too familiar, and it snagged his sleeve and tugged a little, not that he was wearing the kind of shirt that had any. Part defeat, a dead acceptance for it and whatever he was about to spit out. “  I’m done.  “ was about half what he expected. “ And I hope you’re listenin’ cause here’s your out: if all of this is too much for you? Any of you? Take the Benatar and get to the nearest yard on the way to finishing up what we need to do for Thor and his folks and maybe picking up M if she’s ready. I’ll open up my savings and buy you something to get you around to wherever you go that isn’t here, doin’ whatever you want that isn’t this.  “

               ‘Quill! You do not get to pull this kind of crazy shit and just walk it off!’

                                                                    “ Shut up a minute, cause that ain’t what this is and I ain’t done. Loki found the Milano, not that you’d remember her; and the Benny was always more Rocket’s bit than mine, no matter how much I messed with her. Kraglin only put her in my name cause Rocket had his licenses and permits revoked in so many quads. Which, we already got fixed since. So if he wants her, she’s his whether he stays or goes; though, I’m pretty damned sure he’s all in, same as me. I seen and heard too much. I ain’t good for standin’ aside, and sure as hell not for beatin’ the ones we should be helpin’ down in the process of finding out where we fit next to ‘em.”

“I can wait for the Milano, however long it takes. If his work fixin’ her’s as good as what I’ve seen of it so far, I’ll pay the god triple the tribute she’s worth to get her back, no matter the wait: if he even wants it.  “ a breath in. Peter had a staying capacity he envied; the kind that went way past the physical. All that, and he had barely raised his voice over a whisper even once. Though he was pretty sure he was going to regret this. “  What I   can’t   wait for any more, is a solid answer from you. It’s been almost a year, and nothin’. Today was it. That’s all I had left. That talk you messaged me about? That’s over. That was over when he pushed her off that cliff;  “

                                                                                         Fuck, I almost forgot about that. Shit.That was a sucker punch, kid.

“  and I just …...I am, so   tired   ; of getting kicked in the gut, the head, or the balls every time I try, just   try   and believe there’s a tiny chance we can start over and step around that. So here it is; I’m gonna treat this like I should have when the whole story was piled in my ear and knotted up in my chest seeing you standing there; breathing, looking down at me. “  

And what do you  say  to that?  What do you say, when you realize; the other reason he’s whispering, isn’t because he has to?  That he didn’t have the breath himself, for anything more. The guy was so damn up sometimes; so seemingly put together where it counted. Steady and on point it was so easy to forget what else he’d been carrying around all day, and longer. Easy to forget, the first words he’d walked up on well before they'd gotten into each other's faces.

That this one; this girl he was talking to, was the  days of the past  copy. That  his  her had  been killed in hand by the shitstain that had been the closest thing she had to a father, as a trade for one of the rocks they were recollecting. The same trade that had Nat had outright  fought him  to give her life  willingly  for,  for them  ; but without the  willing  part having  anything  to do with it. Peter's Gamora had been murdered. So Thanos could kill a lot more. His kids. Laura. So, so many others. Half a universe worth. Peter included. And he'd come back to this.. probably thinking they were brought back together: and getting something else.

 “You want to help? Your sister wants to help? Then stay on, sure. Pick a ship and stick to it if you wanna. You’re part of the fam regardless. That ain’t gonna change. But don’t go thinking I’m looking for or expecting any more, from here on out. You’re right. I dragged you into this.  “

                                  '  Peter...‘

                                         “  And I’m sorry about that. “ the depth of the inhale between, made Clint want to scoot over and actually pet him through the set that followed; and that felt.. right, and weird all at once.  “ Real sorry, about it. A whole lot of sorry cause I absolutely did, and I knew better. I knew better and I chased this anyways. But, and you gotta have seen this coming; I’m also sorry partially ‘cause it took me spending the whole day toting a living, breathing infinity stone in a big plastic box full of salt water and tiny baby shrimp with a pair of crazy people who know me less than you do; and they managed to make me feel more comfortable, welcome and needed than I’ve felt in the last almost ten months   straight   in my own home:   even then   . You don’t want whatever this is, Gam. If you wanted this, if you were feelin’ this even a little? We wouldn’t be having this conversation almost a year later. Tell me I’m wrong.  “

And there was that silence again; and for all the ouch he was being allowed to listen in on: that absolute hush had the most dig to it out of the whole lot. “ Yeah.. that’s; about what I figured. “ he was staring at the ceiling, head back on the bed. “ I’m not mad at you. Still want you around. Everything else aside you’re a friend and one of the best fighters I know; and if you want it, that’s still there. But this is done, whatever this is, okay? I can’t take it no more, girl. So .. who all’s left needs to make up their minds. First rock … Fish, is in the net. It’s time to buckle in, or get out the crew seat; and either bail: or shut up, take a deck bench and enjoy the show. Cause the rest of us are stickin’ together and doin’ this as a family like we always have. That said ..you got anything to say, say it now. After all the crazy-cool shit today I am tired and sprung as all hell, all at once and just.. in need of a break. Really tired, of feeling like I'm half talking to myself; hoping you’re actually listening. “

It took a few seconds, but finally there was an answer. ‘ Get some sleep. We’ll ..be waiting for you. All of us. ’

Quill lifted the phone from his ear to check it like he knew before either of them saw the  CALL ENDED message; grunting at it before he sent a quick response message finally to let them know he was shutting it off, powered it down and half tossed it between them; far enough it landed somewhere on the carpet below his knees. He let out a long breath and pretty much mirrored Clint’s position: hands up behind his head, ankles crossing after he unbuckled and toed off his boots to the other side. The new phone came up out of Pete’s pocket, along with the earbuds and a few other small items he let dump on the floor between them, and Clint watched him in his peripherals as Quill almost plugged both in; hesitating before offering the second one over to Barton without actually looking at him.

He was  too connected  to the stillness in the room between them not to take it.  Too curious  not to stick it in his ear; and  too strung in next to him  not to just  listen when he hit play, almost surprised by the sound of violins that strung out the intro: and they sat and watched the almost eerie, really,  actually beautiful glowing red and violet sea umbrella open and close, pushing and pulling itself along on it’s own way exploring the water in its new tank again. The piano rung in like singing bells with the first breath-hushed verses, and Clint was caught; eyes trying not to close as he let the song wash over sink into him. Because he knew what was being said even between the lines, and where his head and heart was more with every word.

     ‘How can I say this, without breaking?

      How can I say this, without taking over?

      How can I put it down, into words?

      When it's almost too much for my soul alone?

        I loved, and I loved and I lost you..

        I loved, and I loved and I lost you..

        I loved, and I loved and I lost you..

                And it hurts like hell...’

#DREAMS #exerpts #ouch exerpts #ouch #angst #mourning #post endgame #Lokiverse #Peter Quill #Gamora #Clint Barton #The Price #The Soulstone #emotional pain #emotional baggage #bottling #grief #coping #sharing their grief #Viedimadr #Lilybrin #a sleeping Loki/Laufeyson #Loki

[poisoned-words]

In my dream you told me you loved me. I woke up and cried. And all there is to say is this: it hurts it hurts it hurts.

#ouch #quotes #quote #exerpt from a book i'll never write #extrasad #extra sad #excerpt from a book i'll never write #excerpt from my journal #poem #prose poetry #prose #poetry #heartbreak #tulipsink #tullipsink #loveserum #lovehigher

[nonobadcat]

Yandere Mr. Compress X F! Reader

Rating: Explicit - for readers 18+ only

Whole story TW: Rape, breeding/pregnancy kink, condom failure, unwanted pregnancy, discussions of abortion, stalking. A consensual relationship that devolves into non-con.

TW for this chapter: Postcoital tarot card reading and Mr. Compress asks if he can keep your underwear as a joke. Dedicated to Miss_Mystery3 Read the entire story at Archive of Our Own

Chapter 3 Exerpt:

The moment lingered in cozy comfort for an indeterminate amount of time. Your eyes drifted shut, enjoying the feel of his warm breath on your skin. He curled his body around yours, wrapping one leg over your hip. His hands found the notch of your hip and clutched you tight to his frame with a gentle squeeze.

"You know, I was thinking…"

You raised an eyebrow. "Sounds dangerous."

Your boyfriend frowned and pinched the roll of skin just beside your belly button.

"Ouch!" You yelped.

He sneered. "I'm not into bratting."

You rubbed the sore spot. "Yeah, well I'm not into bastard boyfriends."

He coughed loudly to clear his throat. "As I was saying, I was thinking of something to help with your doubts about the future."

You raised an eyebrow. "What exactly?"

Atsuhiro sat up and smirked at you, placing a hand on his chest. “How would you like to have your fortune told by the Incomparable and Mystical Master of the Magic Arts: The Incredible Mr. Compress?”

You climbed to your elbows and blinked. “Fortune?”

He wagged his finger at you. “Yes, my muse. Your fortune.” With a smug thumb on his chin, he cocked his head and stared down his long shapely nose. “While it’s not my favorite performance, I still make a devil of a divinator.” He held his hand out to you. “I rarely make such an offer, but I suppose for my darling muse I could be swayed.” As he winked, his wavy hair bounced along his ears. “After all, you’ve got me wrapped around your finger.”

Why was this man so hot?!

You clasped your hands to your face and looked down into your palms. An excited squeak flitted from your lips as a huge smile burst to life on your face. You threw yourself forward into his arms and wrapped your own around his torso.

Mr. Compress scratched the side of his head. “So… is that a yes?”

You looked up at him with the beaming shine of a woman madly in love. Your eyes gleamed with glee. “Oh my gosh heck yes!”

Atsuhiro ruffled your hair and held out his bare arm. He twisted it back and forth in front of your face. “Nothing up my sleeve. Agreed?”

Giddy with laughter, you nodded.

Compressed snapped his fingers and in his hand appeared a deck of bright orange cards. The edges were frayed and worn slightly. He lowered them to your level and took your hand in his. Then he placed the stack in your palm and closed his other hand overtop.

“There’s an old belief that the first tarot deck one uses must be given to them as a gift. It’s said to bring good luck and make the divinations stronger.” He nodded hand the deck in your grip. “This deck belonged to my great-great-grandfather. It’s been passed down the family since then.”

“Who gifted it to him?” you asked

“Oh!” He squeezed your hand. “That is an interesting question!” He lifted his chin and proudly declared: “He stole it.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Stole it?”

Your boyfriend shrugged. “Well… as far as he was concerned it was as if the store gifted it to him.” He wagged his fingers at you. “A five-fingered gift as it were.”

You snorted into your free hand and giggled lightly. “Well, it sounds like eccentric runs in the family.”

Atsuhiro’s eyes sparkled. “You have no idea.”

Read the rest at Archive of Our Own

For those that were curious the cards in the banner ARE significant and are NOT the ones in this chapter. They're a little Easter Egg for you all.

The Lovers (reverse): imbalance in the relationship, unequal lover or power in love

The Magician (reverse): romantic illusion, romantic trickery

The Devil (upright): lust, hedonism, selfish disregard for lover’s feelings, obsession

If I missed anyone in the tags let me know!

@awkward-confused @raygard-elvets @somechick30003 @thicchaco @shigashigashig @teachillvibes @knifeewifee @dokoni-mo @shig-a-shig-ah @sadlynikki @the-midnight-slasher-thot @questylousqueer @lynaminroll @crackheadwithtoes @crispyathletepurseduck @shadyfarmcookiefish @bouncing-bunnie @serenesong @kirishimaisthatbitch @oikawascakee @lisajamie99 @lilypadofthelake @softdumpling @neutralchaosintheworld @asianchubs @lovely92sworld @feral-creep @arie1107 @razormoon @serenesong @edensblog101703 @all4one @wifeofhandvillain @fallen-baron

@cityscapingly

@jjk-is-my-shit

@ilovefanfics2019

@justineangelrococo

@sweets-and-fire

@imdatingyourdad

@thebrunetteavenger

#mr. compress x reader #mr compress x reader #sako atsuhiro x reader #yandere x reader #yandere mr. compress x reader #yandere sako atsuhiro x reader #yandere bnha x reader #yandere bnha #reader insert #bnha x y/n #bnha x reader #mha x y/n #mr. compress #sako atsuhiro #atsuhiro sako #bnha x female reader #bnha x fem!reader #yandere my hero academia #yandere x y/n #tarot cards

[texasthegreatdestroyer]

Exerpt 2:

In a drunken rage as his eyes set at the last person eh wanted to see, Qrow charged Raven, however she wasn't as submissive this time around. She felt no obligation to deal with this pettiness. Had he really came all the way out here to seek her out? This was one thing she wouldn't tolerate from her brother. As she too lunged forward, their blades ready to clatter against each other once again, to her surprise she was met with an unexpected, swift, heavy duty boot to the stomach, kicking her backwards, all the while Qrow's blade clashed with another other than her own. One that was rather sizable, but not as so as Qrow's. An older, salt and pepper haired, rough looking male in sunglasses, a scar running down his right eye, and dressed in a red kimono like robe, and black cloak had blocked the strike and stood in Raven's place. What was more estonishing is how the man's left arm rest in the nook of his vermillion clothing. He was holding back Qrow's attack one handed.

Qrow releases pressure against the other male, and backs up. His gaze drifted over to Raven who sat back and gritted her teeth ready to charge the same man who had blocked his own attack. "What are you doing??? Stay out of this! This is between me and her!" The man approaches, no hesitation in his step. This was enough to make Qrow shrink down a bit, as he took in the stern look that unmasked it's self from behind those dark blue shades. Soon a man who was before hand shorter than Qrow by an inch, was suddenly towering over him. "You will stand donw, soldier. As second in command of this team, that is an order." Hearing the gruff, blunt words of the older looking male was enough to make Raven back off as well. But upon meeting each other's stare again, the twins resorted to a bickering match, one of which was enough to make the people around them roll their eyes in annoyance. "I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE!" Qrow's words spat out like venom, but Raven's poison was much meaner. "OH PLEASE. I WAS FINALLY CONTENT ENOUGH TO LEAVE YOU TO YOUR SELF PITTYING BULLSHIT, BUT YOU HAD TO FOLLOW ME ALL THE WAY OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF BUMFUCKED NOWHERE-" "ENOUGH! BOTH OF YOU!" The unidentifiable man that they only knew as "Second command" was not the only one to include his two cents. Hei took a step forward, looking at both the twins as they stared at him with shock upon hearing him raise his voice in such an aggressive manner.

"I expected better from both of you, and for you two to act so unprofessionally in my presence before you've even made a name for yourself here? I'm disgusted. Insulted even... Now, I want you to give me a good reason why I shouldn't fire you both right now." A gulp in Qrow's throat, and a shiver up Raven's spine, they stood there dumb struck for a second. If there's one thing the two had in common without realizing it was that they both needed this job, and now it was in danger because of their distain for one another. Qrow was the only one able to muster something up out of the two. "I thought she was stalking me..." Hei's facial expression changed upon hearing Qrow's failure of an explaination to that of disapointment and slight infuriation. "Anything to add to that Raven? I'm still waiting on you." "I thought HE was stalking me!" "AH! NO BICKERING. I'M NOT HERE TO LISTEN TO YOU TWO HAVE A BITCH FEST." Hei thought about their prediciment for a bit before he finally came to the conclusion that this was all just a big misunderestanding. "Okay... So I don't know what's going on with you guys, but I do know one thing. No one is stalking anyone. Raven. I hired you at a work fair event. Qrow... I literally found you as a sad heap of human flesh on a corner, and decided I could probably use you for something. This is just a really terrible couincidence. Anyways, with that cleared up, you two best be getting to solving your issues, and stop trying to kill each other, because GUESS WHAT??? YOU'RE TEAM MATES! AIN'T IT GREAT!?"

Hei's big dorky smile faded as he watched the two cringe at the thought. "Okay, seriously. What's your two's beef? You look like sad, miserable excuses for human beings, and it's annoying the shit out of me." Raven lets out a sigh. "Qrow's my brother. We're twins-" "Ehem, ESTRANGED twins." Qrow cuts Raven off. "She's kind of a bitch." Qrow informs Hei with a snarky smirk on his face "Yeah, yeah. I'm aware. That's why I hired her." Raven glared at both her boss and her brother as they exchanged wise cracks at her expence. "Well, Qrow! I like ya, my guy, but~ yeah, you need to stop crying about how much of a cunt your sister is, and work things out with her. You two are going to have to work together, and the way you two act towards one another is enough to cause a fault in the team dynamic. That's a recipe for disaster." Raven let out yet another exasperated sigh, as she knew Hei was right in this instance. Recklace behavior can lead to death. A disfunctional team can cause that reckless behavior. Not to mention, that soft spot for her brother she had accumulated the past two years still hadn't completely gone away. She turned to Qrow, putting her hand out. "...Truce?" Qrow stared at his sister blankly... "I'll just go get friendly with old man jenkins over there." He says, walking over to the man he had briefly fought. "Hiya, sorry for the rough start. The name's Qrow Branwen, and you are???" "Hmph... If you must know, my name is Auron-" Raven vaguely tuned in the conversation, but soon the realization if how much her attempted kindness failed set in and saltiness began to hit. Ouch... that had to hurt. Raven put her hand down as it had finally picked up on the fact that it's services were no longer needed. "That rough?" Hei's curisiotiy gets the best of him. "I... wasn't the best person when I was alive... Qrow suffered the consequences for it. It's stupid of me to try and force forgiveness... Especially so soon after being reunited." "Give it time Rae. Maybe it's just me, but Qrow doesn't seem like the kind to hold grudges, no matter how hard he tries. He gave me that salty, abrasive attitude as well at first, but I broke the surface. I think he just needs time to see you've changed. Anyways. I have to go prepare for a repeat of the Qrow and Raven show, just with a different cast! I maaay or may not have hired mortal enemies to work together, soooo... yeeeeah. They're likely going to try and kill each other! Now that was intentional... Anyways, take care Rae~" Raven found herself standing there alone, watching as all her presumed co-workers talked amongst themselves. She pulled out a pack of cigs, lighting one, and taking a drag from it to take the edge off. This was her life now. Living with a bunch of strangers, a lunatic, and her resentful brother... This was going to be one hell of a ride...

---To be continued---

More bounty hunter shit, because yes, I enjoy the idea of Qrow and Raven haphazzardly working together on a team full of other bounty hunters.

#rwby qrow #qrow branwen #qrow rwby #qrow #uncle qrow #branwen twins #drunkle qrow #raven branwen #rwby raven

[iamanactualrealhuman-blog]

He always broke things and demanded they work. It was almost funny until it was my turn.

C.m.h.

#exerpts from a book i'll never write #poetry #break up #ouch #words #thinking about you

[romance-is-tragic]

Excerpt From My Writing - Talking About Depression

Author's Note: Hi guys, I've been dealing with depression and anxiety for a while and since I'm very into writing, I tried my best to turn it into a scene for one of my novels. I hope you guys like it. As always, feedback is always appreciated. Thanks.

Warnings: Mentions of depression, suicide and abuse.

Talking About Depression -

"Charity," he whispered, looking up at her. "we need to talk." She nodded. Trembling, he grabbed a folder from the bed and watched her eyes widen. "Anxiety attacks, panic attacks, depression counselling, history of abuse, antidepressant prescriptions, sixteen suicide attempts, what the hell ?" he asked.

She kept her voice steady as she said, "I love you Richard. And so I'm not going to lie to you. I… I've had depression… since I was twelve. Since… oh never mind. The history of abuse, that was Johann. Suicide attempts, during my time with Johann. I basically lived on antidepressants back then." Her voice faded to a sob and Richard put a hand on her arm. "Why didn't you tell me ?" She looked at him, her eyes pained and tearful. "I didn't want to be a burden. This…" she gestured, "it's a burden on me and if I told you, it'd be a burden on you. I was… afraid… that you'd stop loving me…"

He pressed a chaste kiss to her forehead, "I could never stop loving you." He pulled her into his arms, wrapping both arms around her waist. "Tell me," he whispered, "how did you cope ?" She pulled away, trembling in fear. "Richard, please… don't…" He took her arm and sat her down on the bed. "Darling, I love you and so I'm not going to let you deal with this alone. We can sit here all night if you want but please… please tell me…" She nodded.

"At first I just ignored it, I didn't understand it. That was just after Quintin Chambers left me for Jeyne Wilson."

"You were twelve. No one expected you to understand it," he said gently, taking her hand. "Go on."

"After I met Jamie um Hugo, he was like a distraction. I never thought about it when I was with him. But it came back from time to time. I just plugged in my headphones or I read. I never did anything else." Richard nodded solemnly, wiping the tears off her cheeks.

"I always hoped that there was someone I could talk to but my parents were adamant that I was faking it so they never let me talk about it," she said, staring endlessly into space. "I kind of hoped that Johann would be my solace but you know Johann. He never understood these types of things. And after he made it worse and you know… PTSD… I felt strange, unloved, worthless, not confident at all, about anything. I tried to push it away, I tried to find something small to live for, every day but it was halfway impossible. Johann, he was horrible, abusive, manipulative, the opposite of everything he was at the start. I tried writing, I tried counselling, I tried antidepressants, I tried suicide but it never worked. Nothing ever worked," she sobbed.

"And… the cutting ?" he asked hesitantly. Charity looked at her husband with tear-stained eyes.

"Only after Johann started being… toxic…" she choked out. "I-I couldn't handle it. Sometimes I still can't. I just - I just felt so unloved." Richard sat in silence, stroking his wife's hair with fingers as light as a summer breeze.

"Show me your scars," he said quietly. She looked at him in fear and surprise.

"Richard…" she began but he cut her off.

"Show me." Charity tugged her sleeves up, surrendering her wrists to her husband. He took her hands and ran his fingers over the dozens of little scars left there by knives and razors. He looked up at her, the tears brimming in his eyes falling onto her wrists. Softly, deftly, he kissed the scars of self-harm and pulled her closer, tucking her head under his chin.

"You said that you always wanted some way to cope, someone to talk to. Promise me one thing, if there's anything, anything at all, no matter how big or how small. Promise me that you'll tell me," he whispered, running his fingers up and down her back. She held him tighter, " I promise," she said quietly, the taste of the lie sour in her mouth.

#exerpt from my writing #depression #ouch #angsty

[blindtaleteller]

GROUNDED: Favorite (ouch) exerpts : Ch. 5 - Youth

“ Something, happened. “

                             “ Question is  what.. “ from Clint was in business mode and leaned in closer behind him to try and keep it between them. Not that it would last long, with the crowd. “ ..isn’t that his doctor? The one that met us at the bridge? “ That, took Tony’s eyes further back down the great hall; and her appearance drew his brows together on his own face. Skirts up in her hands and running; straight for Thor when she saw him. Completely unlike Eir. Distraught. Almost a little panicked and, nearly out of breath: as though she had run all the way from Loki’s halls. “ Uhm.. maybe we should head over. “ from Natasha as the noise of the crowd picked up from that end. Sending the creeping feeling that much more securely up his spine.

  “  ...yeah.  “ wasn’t even fully out of his mouth before Thor and not just one; but every honor guard in the room started making the way she’d come at a similar run: and Eir raised her hand spotting them “ Anthony! “ she had to breathe, between after the run. “ It’s Loki! “ putting a stop on his heart and a thundering explosion of conversation to a start around him. He was moving without the need for another word. “Just him! We’re trying but.. “ and he was past her, making a full sprint for his Jaded Hall. He knew she was trying to be right behind him after that. Heard the sound of her footsteps as heavy on the tiles as his were, but faltering a bit.. Likely from the tire of the run just prior.

His head was in the worst possible places when he came down it. Passing not just his usual guard but the presence of most of Odin’s personal guard as well. Buzzing by twice the extra faces, spears and shields. The door to Lolo’s bedroom feeling too far away as he saw through the doors that had been left open and almost into the one beyond it, where one guard was leaning, trying to get a view of whatever was in there.

He had to slow down once he got to the sitting room door, he knew: if he wasn’t going to bowl past it and into the bed or anyone else inside. As it was, he very nearly ran straight into Iona; spooking her a little out of a look to somber for him to like it at all. “ How is he? “ the first thing breathed hard out of his mouth from the run. Tony  knew it sounded more demand than question, and took a few more breaths before taking her shoulders, forcing himself to be gentle with the freckled brunette and starting to move her aside. “ I’m sorry.. Sorry, Iona. Just.. I can’t take this roller coaster right now okay? Just tell me. “ He could hear other footsteps, a little slower, a little less quick, from the hall. A glance: Eir had fallen behind. “ Ser, I.. you must be quiet, please.. “

That didn’t help, and she snatched his arms; careful but firm. Caught his eyes from the turn they were making into that bedroom. “ He sleeps. “ okay and that calmed him for a moment until she said “ Again. “ in that particular way. With that particular look. “ My lady will.. Ser.  Go in.  My lady will explain what she can, when she joins you. “

He felt like the floor was crumbling out from under him. More so as he turned that way, and she the other; probably with the intent to meet Eir there in the foyer. It was quiet, but and as he came in, he could hear Thor’s tones. His eyes were stuck on that bed though. On the man who, had just the day before yesterday been smiling at and joking with him. He had, still looked frail in his sleep. Frail, but well; yes, beautiful. Still did right then. If not for the differences in stillness he’d come to recognize and even fear a little he might have expected him to just turn his head and yawn before sitting up. Dark hair against ivory pillows, against the near shade of his skin. The weight he’d lost though it didn’t seem as much when he was animated? That much more noticeable. “ ...you  must have known  how he would react, father;  why?  Why would press this,  now ; when you  know  he is not fully recovered? Eir,  and Iona, and  every healer  from the waters had warned us. You  knew-- “

          “ I thought I might reach through to him with reason. “ Fingers laid out over the quilt on either side. The monitor slipped back into place at the end of one. “ That  perhaps, he might see the futility of such attachments, where they lie now. “  Futility..?  “ That he would take even into better consideration his own health, for that matter. Take the offer; to mend his place  here, with  us.  “  The place you sent him out from not even in chains, but with chains in him?  “ With his family; his  own people. I was wrong. “

              “ Didn’t stop though, did you. “ was the sentence that made it out of his mouth. “ You pressed.  Kept  pressing.  Didn’t you?  Because the king’s got  to  have his way; whether it hurts or kills the people around him in the worst of ways;  isn’t that right? “ His eyes tore up the space between where he was on that bed, and where Thor and his father stood, nearer the window. Thor… actually surprised him a little in that he had a hold of his father’s coat at the front, was letting go of the bunching, white knuckled grip when he did. “ He said  something once, about the last time you lost your temper at him; really lost it. It hit me just now;  that’s what the feeling is I get from you. That’s what feels  so wrong, about you. That he felt that  every word  and  look  told him things he should’ve seen coming  a few ages  later. That he was happy and found it elsewhere, so  you would not be  until that happiness was in ashes if it wasn’t in your hands. “

                  “ Stark, you do not know what-- “

                                                             “ Thor,  leave us. “ cut thunder britches short. “ And take the guard with you. To the hall proper. “ allowed no interruption in the staring contest they were having, or for argument. “ I needs  have words  , with young Anthony.  Tell others; until such a time as the King  leaves  his son’s hall: none but Eir and her apprentice are to set foot  within.  “

          “ Father, Tony does not-- “

                                “ Do I: make myself,  clear? “ was almost growled at him, breaking briefly from his daggered gaze at Tony to ask Thor as a warning. “ Or, is there need to call Rorkin into these rooms to take you in hand: rather than vice versa? “

And that was that. Just the slightest hesitation, and Thor was on his way out without another word; the weight of his admonishment and more dragging behind him. Kicked puppy, just didn’t cover it. “ Close the  doors, on your way out. “ just as stony, though; as the old goat started to consider a seat on the windowsill, he did have the forethought to gentle it a bit. “ I’ve no want for our conversation to become a public affair. “

The door shut. Tony heard a conversation. Eir. Asking the big guy to go out with Iona,find their friends. To take them aside and explain what had happened. Odin met his eyes with the one he had left. Up through his brow and all but expressionless. He wondered briefly, if he could see the seething cold hate that was splintering up in him; while they waited for the blast radius to clear. There wasn’t another word for it. And he was tempted; really, terribly,  frighteningly tempted: to forget about the repulsors. Jolt forward. And shove the twisted old bastard back first out the open window behind him with his own two hands.

   He had to look away, just thinking it. If he did that; he couldn’t say who he was with certainty if, he did. And if he couldn’t.. He didn’t know who Lolo would wake to; but it wouldn’t be the same. For that, for him and for everyone else who mattered in his life.. The satisfaction wouldn’t be had. Focus on the man he’d come here for. Kept, coming here for.

        He was alive. There was that. But they’d had that conversation too, him and Eir. The possibilities and examples of how long, he could be like this. “ You just..  Couldn’t leave it   be.  Could you? “ snapped out the moment he heard the deeper in double click.The outermost door closing behind Odin’s blooded son.

            “ You don’t know him as I do. Nor will you ever,  truly.  He may, recover.. largely in part because of you.  Especially you; Anthony. “ Tony thought he heard a sound at the door, but ignored it in favor of trying not, to give into the back and forth pulse of rage. “ But in the end; if I let him  go:  if he lived out this  fantasy,  what then? “

                           “ How  we’re  connected, is  more  than a fantasy. And you  know it.  If it weren’t; you wouldn’t be  nearly  as threatened by how  close we are  now. “

                “ You’re right. “ Pulled Tony’s head back a little, maybe more so for the repeat in a much more gentle tone. “ You are, right. “ surprised him, just a little. But he was weary enough of Odin by now not to let his guard down. And the firmness in his words was back, though the softer tones were weaving into them with what Odin said next. “ A very smart man.. and yet you miss the point. You are what.. forty? Fifty at most? Charging, towards the beginning of the end of your prime. While, at thirty or forty times your years; Loki, has barely begun the first steps into his. “

                                   “ Thirty five point seven, actually. “ raised the old man’s brow. “ Times, my age. So. This is where it came from. “

                 “ I beg your pardon? “ It wasn’t funny, how the old man had just; pulled that almost-fistfight right back up in Tony’s mind, clear as day. Fresh as if it had been yesterday.

“ When we  came  to collect your  other  kid? His girlfriend, and you know: stop the-- “ a hand waved off towards the ceiling. “  --elves?  I got stuck sitting in on a  very   similar  argument between brothers. I  didn’t  agree with it then.  Broke my heart  hearing it, actually. Here he was, this guy;  alive as he was,  all the joy --even as twisted-sweet as it’d turned out--  all  , the joy to give when he.. doesn’t  even  try? And you  what?  Thumped into his head the idea that .. because  some  lives are shorter than yours, he should  ignore them?  Not  cherish  what he gets  while he’s got it?  “

And okay. All right, so that rage was.. Flipping into something else. And even though he had finally caught his breath after that dead run: it felt like it was still coming up short. “ How  dare  you. “ He opened his mouth, and Tony had to drive it in again. “  How, fucking dare   you   ; sir.  “

     “ You would rather that light were snuffed out watching you  die?  “ did, put a little skip to his thoughts. “ Mm. Yes.  That.  Even if you do not, die in battle;  what.  You would have him watch you wither, and age, and fall into weakness  before  death? “ He had nothing to that.  How could he still have nothing for that?  “ And, you  know  him yes?  His passion.  His  greed  too I think, keeping hold of  everything  he decides is his. Tell  me,  Anthony.. what would he turn to,  before  allowing that to happen? “

And … wasn’t that a thought. But worse was that he was able to pick out the immediate next in Tony’s. “ I think young man, that even those outside  might be able to guess that the better question would be;  what wouldn’t he , do? “

           “  Nothing.  “ Nothing, except: looking over at him right then? He couldn’t buy it. “ There’s not a damned thing, he  wouldn’t  do to keep what’s his, on his own. Not when it comes to  what matters ; but? “ Odin’s eye almost narrowed on him. He took a deep breath, and just .. let it go. Looked right back. Made sure he saw it. “ He’s  not  on his own.  Not any more.  “

            Eir chose that silent challenging moment to come in; closing the door quietly behind her. “ I suppose, not. Lady Eir. “

                    And Tony needed to know, in the interim. “ How’s he doing? “

     But the thing was; she didn’t answer. At all. His eyes had shifted back to Loki; when Odin had addressed her. The quiet though; pulled his head her way at a slow tug. More for the warning bells going off. Most men in a relationship know the kind. Well probably at least some women too, he thought. The ones where, you can’t see it; but feel the risings of a person’s temper so sharply once it’s in the room that, you just  know  when you look, that at least half of actual hell is about to break loose, and you’re pretty much dead if you get in it’s way?  Yeah. That kind of warning bell.

And when he did look? If he thought the stare-down between  him  and the old goat had been bad?  Nah, no comparison..  

         And that, was when Tony realized he was pretty much still in the ‘dead zone.’  And almost immediately took a step back, and then to the side. Because and hells if he  didn’t  have the experience; it was the nice, classy, and kind ones that  saved it all up  for a proper nuclear explosion when they got really pissed.

      “ Well? How is, he? “ was, not what he was expecting the same. Especially not from Loki’s physician? “ The boy can see for himself. “

“ Mm! I have eyes in my head as  well.  I know  very well  how I left this room; and this was not, out of  all things  what I expected to return to. “ only sort of confused Stark a little more...

Read All of Chapter Five on AO3 here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26158483/chapters/64297735

#thinking about this one today #tony mad #Mixology #Lokiverse #GROUNDED #tony stark #frostiron #loki #loki x tony #tony x loki #frostiron fanfiction #pansexual characters #bisexual characters #angst

[blindtaleteller]

GROUNDED: Favorite (ouch) exerpts - CH. 2

Realized I haven’t done one in a while after posting in response to @rhodee​

Bebs, thankies for reading if you do; and if you haven’t, this one’s for you. Cause yeah. I get the feels still just re-reading it even.

---------===========PAINT IT BLACK -CH2-PS:2-\\TONY//

“ Hey…  uh,  Lolo? ”

 “ What is it? “ he could hear him getting up the stairs. “ There’s a man that looks suspiciously like he’s come at least from your family of fantasy parade brigade, coming to the door. You know anything about this? “

    “ If I did, I wouldn’t have been as surprised as you about the sound of his apparent arrival.. “  was tossed at him on his quick way past. He was out the door and talking with him, before Tony took his own first step out; and caught sight of the three unmarked coming up his driveway. Loki had the Lord of the Rings extra well in hand apparently, but that set of trucks? He knew the model. “  Shield.  Looks like there’s some for me to handle, too. “ was said to him on his way past them to meet the other suits at least, past the back bumper of his ‘gini. It wasn’t a surprise that Romanov and Fury were the first to appear out of the trio of off-roaders. He really, wasn’t happy to see Barton right that second though. Especially with that ready to shoot set to his mouth and gait. “  Guys!  I was, just about to call you. “

                            “ Yeah I would hope so. “

                 “ Hello sir! “ was Nat completely ignoring him and stepping past to try and get … actually, and as following her brought the battle-dressed guy back into his view; why was the off-worlder she was after in the full regalia bit headed the other, way already now? And, brief twist of a too familiar device? He was gone, under the same boom. Same flash of upwards light.  Before  Nat even got a response; though how he got out was not a good sign.

 “ Was that the  Tesseract?  “ brought his eyes back to Fury, disbelieving he hadn’t been the only one to see that. Or maybe hoping he hadn’t? “ Hey! “ whipped Tony’s head back around just in time to see Loki “  I ain’t done   talkin’  to you! I ain’t even started!  “ at full speed dashing back into the house and vault the weird new railing rather than take the stairs they’d fixed. 

                 “ ...something’s wrong.  “ 

                                     “ You  think?  “

“ No, Nick.. something’s  very, wrong. “ his feet started moving late? But he was in the door and at that rail faster than the others could even get in the door. The computer was in view down from the railing. He wasn’t there; but he could hear him moving. The lack of care and crash of things falling wasn’t his way. Wasn’t his style. 

               “ Loki..? “ his feet couldn’t get him fast enough down those spiral stairs into the much smaller workshop. No answer. He could hear the hiss of a few curses, see the lock was busted on his tech garage and the doors wide open. The side light on, and harsh, fast movements going on inside between the crack of the door and the mesh wall his tools were plugged and hooked into. That alone; the space he’d promised not to go into and fact it was busted open like that; blatantly abandoned that fast. That just amped up the adrenaline, and dropped Anthony’s stomach a few more feet into his knees.

          “ Must be something, to make you break this rule, like this:  broad daylight.  We agreed,  yeah? No .. making folks, or  me; suspicious by screwing around with my garage. Computer parts,  okay.  No  suit mechanics; no  ship parts or heavy tech. Nothing substantial that might pass as or be  able  to be weaponized. That was the deal. “ only paused the motions as he slowed down, angling himself carefully to try and see what he was doing. What he might be looking for. “ I know the stuff in there  better’n  you, you know! You  wanna  tell  me; what you’re lookin’ for and; what the  hell  is going on?  Real  good time for it right now. Cause I think you’re making Barton’s bow hand  itchy, as is. “

  “ Let it, itch. “ pulled Tony’s head back a few degrees. He was taking pieces of unfinished suit bits apart. Hands moving fast, at the wielding iron and punching directions into the cutting laser like he knew what he was doing. “ Stand  aside, Stark; Nat, you too. “ Stark couldn’t see what  he was making; but it  definitely  had a purpose. This wasn’t tinkering, going on at his bench. He was more worried. “ No, “ came at a glance. He was also impressed and feeling a little cheated.  Didn’t know he had the knowhow..  “ I  won’t. I trust him. “ was said firmly enough, and with enough truth and concern behind it that it was almost flat when he finished: “ And this is  my  house. Take that gun and get the hell  out of it. “

             He heard the hissing sounds of Nat’s breath catching on words behind him; convincing Barton to do as he said. Heard the small click and shift of the safety. Yeah, he knew he’d been right on that one; but it still bit a little that was the situation they were in. “  Good girl  .. I’ll treat you to something, later. Leave us alone. Or close enough to make us feel  it? I smell something personal in the air. “ 

                  “ We’ll be right upstairs. “ had him nodding, and; as soon as he heard them clear that last steel step: taking a few forward. He knew they’d be in earshot. Or at least one or two would. He was betting heavily on all though; and wasn’t unconcerned enough to care. That they were here that fast said he and Loki had been right and they had been at the least; watching, listening, or both, for a while.

           “ You know I’ve trusted you. Still do; and a lot more than I  should  . “ slowed him down a little while he was attaching a power source. “ Come  on  man. What’s goin’ on. I’m  shit  , at reading minds so  please  , don’t make me turn the key, slap the metal on; and put you on the  floor  to get the answer out. We both know neither one of us want that. “ breath in. “ Woulda done it by now if either one a us  did . “

   “ You wouldn’t understand. “ 

                                        “ Won’t know that until you try me. “

 “ I have to leave. -- “ 

                            “ What, no. Definitely no-- “

                                                                       “ I’ll come back. I promise.. I  will  finish this work. “

                            “ -not  happening. What the hell has got you so suddenly ...crazy!?  “

                  He heard the words. He did. They just; exploded in his ears afterwards. Left him completely deaf, numb; and absolutely bereft of the ability to think of anything but. It didn’t register, right away. But oh.  Oh man, did he  get it. The quiet. The sudden  rush  to get down here, and get home:  somehow.

 All Tony could see, in his own mind; was the pretty way she would fold her mouth in when she was trying not to laugh at one of either of their stupid jokes. The quiet way she lit up when he said in so many words over those two days how much, her son took after her. The way she just; stood of to the side with the smallest happy smiles, laugh lines softening that already warm face: watching them play chess from the corner, or right there at one side of the table pouring for them while they threw out all sorts of conversations at each other.  At her  . The curtsies, she flipped him every now and again, once she realized it made him laugh too. Inwards and otherwise. The words she’d tossed at their back,  trusting him ; on their way out of that place.

       “ I don’t..  “ 

                        The air sucked right back into his lungs, took the rest of the words with it so he  almost  choked on them. All he could think of, was his own mom.

    Couldn’t  be right.

                                      Wasn’t , right.

                                                                   Right?

          “ I don’t think I heard you right. “ 

     And then he repeated it. Same tone. Same six words. Like his head was as still as the raging tornado going on in Tony’s..  No. Worse.  And he  knew  it. Knew; the only way to keep his hands steady, from breaking down into an unrecognizable heap of blood, tears and bone turned jell-o was to keep moving and keep his words even. Control  himself  ; if he couldn’t control the  situation . Because..?

                    Because I’ve been here. There. Right there.

           He saw it. The contained shake to his joints from the effort to keep it together and keep moving. Keep from stalling out and falling down. Hear, the deafening silence in between the much needed white noise of putting together whatever was being made between his fingers and the screaming, bleeding shock of insanity pushing it and being pushed away all at once in the same space.

         That was me.

                                I heard it too. Didn’t want to.

                                                        “ My mother’s dead. They killed her. “

                                           I heard him right.

Now. Breathe. Think.

         Because he can’t, not right now and not really.  

 In, and...             

           “ Tell me what you’re looking for.  And what you’re making. “ ..came out. Probably in the same tone right as he just reached over and tapped the panic button to his right. Just a little touch. With a really big backlash he put on reserve for later. He knew and didn’t care. Not about  that . 

              Eight inches of steel slab hydraulically powered to shut them in from the upper floors, and the open sea to his left. It wasn’t quiet either. And that aside, did not close without more than a few curses and calls of his name from above he was blatantly ignoring before they were sealed away behind it on all sides. The emergency lighting came up a second later. Tony was already next to him, peeling back his sleeves to help out where he could. “  One  thing I’ve learned in the week since we started working together? Four hands are better than two, when they’re ours. “

                             “ Give me the sitrep if you can, when you can get the words out. “ was said as he flipped on the extra lights above board. “ I’m in. “ he saw him turn his head, but didn’t meet the green-grey stare. And because he knew; because he was moving like that; and the guy didn’t take him back with him, but he remembered way more clearly now; that he had said he would see him: that he did.. “ You’ve got a plan. I’ll follow it. “

#GROUNDED #frostiron #the feels #frigga #angst #loki #tony stark #rhodee #<3