#raines is strong though !!! every once in a while willow will come by to check on it and willow and raine become besties because i said so

[raedas]

wait actually it would be hilarious if like . willow had to choose a person to teach the basics of plant care to for hexside or whatever (think like how gus had to interview someone in understanding willow) and luz is like “i know who you can teach!!!!!” and willows like oh yay !! until she’s sitting in front of arguably the two most powerful witches on the boiling isles. fast forward a week and raines plant ends up growing really well and then there’s edas . which eda accidentally fed elixir to instead of water . we don’t talk about how that turned out

#willow refuses to teach eda how to garden after that #raines is strong though !!! every once in a while willow will come by to check on it and willow and raine become besties because i said so #nova rambles #toh #willow park #eda clawthorne #raine whispers #raeda

[spooderboyandtincan]

Happy Halloween!

A/N: Here are the actual episodes of Buzzfeed Unsolved mentioned in this fic! The Terrifying Axeman of New Orleans and The Horrors of Pennhurst Asylum. As a warning, both of these videos describe both very grisly and gory things, so please watch them with caution! 

(Also, the author in no way claims to own or use these videos for commercial property. Just wanted to include them!)

~~~~~

Peter was having a great day, even when an apple tried to give him a concussion. 

Normally, he would have caught the traitorous fruit, but there were several families around who might have noticed his outstanding reflexes, so with some split second thinking he let the apple bounce off his head.

“Ow!” Peter massaged the top of his head. Tony and May turned to him, both slightly concerned. “I think this tree is trying to kill me.”

“Oh, spare us!” Tony said to the tree, reaching out to ruffle Peter’s curls. “Not my darling son! Take me instead!” 

Peter rolled his eyes at the dorky genius, actually finding himself feeling a little bad for the poor apple tree. “Don’t worry,” he muttered, patting the rough bark. “It wasn’t your fault.” 

There was something very adorable about watching Peter trying to comfort a tree, both Tony and May observed. Their kid’s heart was so pure and kind it was blinding. 

Peter snatched an apple off a low-hanging branch and, before Tony or May could stop him, bit into it. “Wow,” he mumbled through a mouthful of fruit, “this’s really good! Can we pick some?”

“That’s what we’re here for!” May sang. “Did you check for worms before you bit into that, Petey?”

“Worms?!”

Tony shook his head in fond exasperation. Peter spat his mouthful of apple on the ground in disgust, chucking the half eaten red orb to the side. “Ew ew ew ew ew!”

“Buddy, I’m pretty sure there weren’t worms in there,” Tony suggested.

Peter shrugged. “But are you sure? Now we have to pick more apples just in case they’re all wormy.” He stuck out his tongue in a mature display of unhappiness. 

“Thought you liked picking apples,” he questioned, suddenly worried that Peter had only been pretending to enjoy himself.

“No, no I do! It’s really fun! But now I can’t eat any,” he pouted. “I’m so huuuungry.”

He frowned in concern. “Why don’t we get some food and come back, kiddo? We can grab an extra coat from the car while we do.”

“Mr. Stark, I’m already wearing, like three of yours,” Peter laughed. He gestured to the layers of puffy jackets he was bundled up in, along with his favorite Spider-Man hat and thin black gloves.

“Actually, I think you need a scarf,” Tony observed. “We can’t have any spider-baby popsicles on our hands, now can we?”

Peter rolled his eyes. Tony began fussing over him like a mother hen, wrapping his own scarf around his neck and zipping up his third coat. He took the boy’s small hands in his and winced, rubbing them to bring some warmth. 

“You’re gonna lose fingers if we don’t get you some better gloves, bud.”

“I’m fiiiine.”

Peter heaved the bag of crisp, red apples into his arms with ease. Tony and May grabbed their own separate ones and heaved them over their shoulders with a lot less ease. They headed toward the muddy dirt road, lugging their apples and stopping for a moment to admire some chickens. 

“Ooooh!” Peter exclaimed suddenly, spotting a glimpse of orange behind the tall pine trees. “Mr. Stark, May! There’re pumpkins!” He jogged off. 

“Don’t you wanna get food before this, Pete?” Tony called, following the boy.

“I’ll eat the pumpkins!” 

“Look out for worms!” May teased. Tony found himself thinking of the classic nursery rhyme, Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater.

May found the perfect pumpkin almost at once. It was on the opposite side of the small field under a beautiful towering oak tree with red and golden leaves still on its branches. The pumpkin was a beautiful shade of dark orange and wonderfully round. She held it against the chest like it was a baby. 

Tony didn’t have any particular pumpkin in mind that he wanted so he decided to let Peter choose for him. 

“Are you sure? I don’t wanna get the wrong one,” Peter worried. 

“It won’t be the wrong one, kiddo,” Tony promised.

“Get that lumpy one, it looks like his head!” May advised from across the pumpkin patch. Peter sniggered.

“I’m offended. My head is perfectly oval-shaped,” Tony objected. 

“Smooth as a shark,” Peter muttered to himself, completely missing the perplexed look from his father-figure.

He picked up the lumpy pumpkin and then began to scavenge for a second one, humming. “This is Halloween, this is Halloween, pumpkins scream in the dead of night… ooh.” Peter knelt down and began to inspect this potential nominee. 

It was huge. Wide and tall with a round face and a flat back. The stem was long and twisting. The color was beautiful.

It. Was. Perfect.

“I found it!” he yelled. May and Tony turned to long at him and Peter displayed his pumpkin proudly. 

“Congrats,” said May, her grin wide. Tony applauded. 

“Can we get it?”

“Of course, Roo.” He smiled, kneeling down to take the lumpy pumpkin while Peter stood up with his own. “Do you wanna get another?”   

“Are you sure? I mean, I kinda do…”

“Yes, Petey, I’m sure.” Tony bent to press a quick kiss to his forehead. “Actually, I’d be delighted if you got another one. Really.” He loved seeing Peter so happy over a simple fruit. (Vegetable? Gourd?) Tony would gladly buy thousands of pumpkins if Peter could always be this happy. 

Soon Peter had selected two more pumpkins, a wide, squat one, and round, light orange one. They made their way back to the parking lot and the barn, where lots of fresh produce stands were set up. 

There was a beautiful, towering willow tree that Peter admired, watching its long limbs sway in the wind peacefully. He breathed in deeply, inhaling the scent of rain and hay and something just distinctly fall. He trotted back to where his family stood in a line to buy their pumpkins and leaned into Tony, letting him wrap strong arms around him and hug him close. 

They bought their pumpkins and sat down at a picnic bench under the willow tree and basked in the sunlight. Tony left to the car and came back with a picnic basket akin to the ones in cartoons.

Peter’s eyes lit up when he noticed the mac and cheese in a plastic container and immediately he dug in. After inhaling his pasta, he dug through the basket. His eyes sparkled like stars. 

“Rhodey made us brownies!” Colonel Rhodes’s brownies were the best. They were gooey and somehow always warm, with extra chocolate-chips and an oreo in the middle. Rhodey had drowned them in jack-o’-lantern shaped sprinkles. He had even included a bottle of whipped cream, though most of it had probably been used on the current brownie Peter had just bit into.

“Oh, yummy,” May said, helping herself to a large one. Tony took his own and sprayed almost as much whipped cream on it as Peter had. 

Before he took a bite, he laughed. “Pete, how did you get whipped-cream on your forehead?” He balled up his sleeve and wiped it off. Peter squirmed away.

He played a quick rhythm on his pumpkin before glancing toward the various stands by the barn. “We should get apple cider,” he said, having a sudden realization. “I guess they probably wouldn’t go very good with brownies but maybe with pumpkin pie or something…?”

“Good idea, bud. How about some candy apples while we’re at it?”

“Yesss.”

Peter was bouncing in his seat while he waited for May and Tony to finish their sandwiches. He helped himself to a few more delicious brownies, trying to savor every bite. (And failing because they were so good.”

When they finished their food, they took a quick moment to put their pumpkins in the trunk of the car, then Peter led the way to the barn. At the back of the big room there was a large assortment of fresh produce, which May made a beeline to. On the right wall were four tall refrigerators, chock full of apple cider. 

“Why are they in milk cartons?” Peter wondered, opening the door and pulling the juice out. “Here!”

“Just one? You need to hydrate, young man,” he teased, pulling out three more jugs.

“I won’t just drink apple cider, Mr. Stark.”

“Actually, I think your blood is gonna be 75% apples, kiddo.”

“Carrots or asparagus, Pete?” May called. 

“Carrots?” 

“Good choice, honey.”

Tony noticed wonderfully red candy apples displayed on one of those cupcake stands he always saw at fancy parties. He pointed them out to Peter, who grinned and asked if they could have some.

“That’s what we're here for, Petey-Pie.” 

The young man at the stand wrapped the tree apples individually with cellophane and placed them in a bag. 

“That’s smart,” Peter said as they joined May at the checkout line. “Apples probably wouldn’t taste good with a paper bag.”

The cashier recognized Tony when they bought their food. Her hand flew to her open mouth and she shook her head in amazement. “You’re… you’re….” 

He offered a smile. Peter inched behind him and grabbed his hand. Tony squeezed his hand comfortingly and moved in front of him so no one could see his face. 

The cashier began to check out their items robotically, staring at Tony for an uncomfortably long time before she blinked and asked, “Do you want a bag, sir?”

Once they stuffed the groceries into the trunk of Tony’s car, Peter admired the farm one last time. The big willow tree swayed gracefully in the brisk wind as if it were saying farewell. 

Peter crawled into the back seat and slammed the door, curling up and shivering. Tony glanced in the back mirror and quickly moved to turn up the heat. 

He rested his chin on the edge of the window. The position was far from comfortable but at least he could watch the trees fly past as they drove. 

“You okay back there, Petey?” Tony asked, sounding concerned.

“‘M good. Just thinking,” he mumbled. It was hard to talk with his jaw pressed against a hard surface. 

“You sure, bud?” Tony still sounded worried. Peter sighed.

“Stop worrying,” he groaned. “I’m fine.”

“Okay, Petey, I trust you.” If he hadn’t been driving the car he would have held up his hands in mock surrender. “But you know that you can come to me for anything, right? Even if it’s just a stubbed toe, okay?”

“I know, Mr. Stark, really.” 

A snore filled the car, and they both laughed when they looked to May and realized she was already asleep. 

“So kiddie, whatcha thinkin’ about?” he asked. 

“How I’m gonna carve my pumpkin!” 

~~~~~

Peter dramatically threw the three pumpkins he was carrying down onto the kitchen island, pretending to wipe sweat off his forehead. He snickered when May rolled her eyes.

Peter took off his layers of coats and threw them on the couch, hanging his scarf up and then ripping off his hat. His hair frizzed everywhere and Tony laughed, his eyes soft and adoring. He flattened it down with his hand and pulled Peter into a crushing hug, bending to kiss his still slightly puffy curls.

They sat down at the kitchen island and chose their respective pumpkins. Peter looked around. “Where’re the knives?” he asked. 

“Oh, I know.” May stood up and rummaged through the upper cabinets, bringing out an orange carton. “Here!”

Tony watched nervously as Peter grabbed a carving knife from the box and stabbed the top of his pumpkin without any regard for his personal safety. 

“Careful, bubba,” he warned. He was about to take the knife from Peter’s small hands and bend it into pieces for being so dangerous and trying to hurt his kid. “No lost limbs today, okay?”

Peter laughed and continued to cut the top of his pumpkin. He yanked the stem out and sliced off the stringy guts. He took an orange plastic scooper and started scraping the seeds and guts out of the inside. Tony took his own pumpkin and did the same, keeping a watchful eye on his reckless kid all the same.

“What are you carving Pete?” May asked. 

“Secret,” Peter grinned, turning the pumpkin so they couldn’t see it. “You can see later!” 

“Well, fine. What about you, Tony?”

Tony hadn’t given much thought about it yet. He wasn’t sure, but he thought he had an idea that might work. “Secret,” he said.

May sighed in amused exasperation. “Suit yourself, lumpy. I’m going with the classic.” She took a purple sharpie and started drawing.

“Why aren’t there Halloween Carols?” Peter wondered aloud. “I don’t know like, any spooky songs and it’s sad.”

“There’s that one, um…” Tony trailed off. He did know the actual name of the song, but the look on Peter’s face would be priceless. “Spooky Scary Pumpkins? Ghosts? Is that it?”

Peter slowly raised his head, his eyes wide. “What?”

“You know, that one you’re always singing,” May said, joining in. “‘Spooky scary pumpkins’ sounds right.” 

Peter groaned and buried his head in his arms. “No. This isn't happeniiiiiing.”

“I believe the correct title is ‘Spooky Scary Skeletons, Boss,” said FRIDAY’s disembodied voice. 

“Thank you!” Peter threw up his hands in relief. “Spooky scary pumpkins. Ugh. Thanks for the nightmares.”

Tony ruffled his hair. “FRI, play it for us uncultured zombies, will ya?”

The first few notes of the song played and Peter started headbanging exaggeratedly, doing a dance in his seat. “Such a bop,” he said to himself, then went back to carving his pumpkin. 

A bop? Tony decided not to ask. He sketched out his idea on the pumpkin with a light pencil and rummaged through their carving tools.

“Mr. Stark, you didn’t get the guts out!” Peter protested. 

“Don’t worry, bud, you’ll see. Trust me.”

Tony finally found what he was looking for. “A-ha!”

“Is that..?” Peter leaned over. “Is that a dremel drill? Isn’t that for like, trimming dog nails?” 

“One of its many uses!” Tony switched it on. “Carving time.”

“Ooh. That’s cool, I wanna try!”

He handed the drill over to him. Peter turned his pumpkin around to the back and started carving. “Oh, so it only gets like the fleshy parts! The flesh? So then it kinda glows through.”

“That’s right,” he said. “It looks pretty cool when you put a candle in it.” Tony took the drill and got back to work. Their song was still playing in the background, and at some parts Peter would do a dance and sing along. 

After about fifteen minutes of ridiculous chatter and multiple songs played, May jumped up. “Finished!”

“Already?!” Peter exclaimed. “Lemme see!”

“Just a sec.” May ran off and grabbed a candle from one of the drawers in the living room, then hurried back. She put it in the pumpkin and lit it carefully. “Ta-da!”

“Oooh!” 

May had carved a traditional pumpkin with a big, spiky jaw, a triangle nose, and big triangle eyes. She had taken seeds and put them in the corners of the eyes to act as pupils. 

“Oh, he’s cross eyed!” Peter laughed. “That’s really cool.” 

Tony grinned. “Clever. I like it.”

“Thanks, Tony. I think I’ll borrow that drill from you when you’re done. I want to make a flower on the back.”

“Sure.” Tony continued working on theinrticate design, squinting and trying to make it as precise as possible. He caught Peter trying to sneak a peak and shooed him off cheerfully. 

When Tony looked up to check on Peter, he nearly cooed. His kid had the most adorable look of concentration on his face. His tongue poked out between his lips and his brow was furrowed. Peter worked carefully, selecting the tools he knew would work best and using them delicately.

 When Peter looked up again, the sky was considerably darker. He looked at the clock. “How is it already five?!” No way had he been working for one and a half hours straight. 

Tony blinked and snapped out of his stupor. “Huh. Time flies, I guess. I’m about done, how about you, kiddo?”

“Almost… I kinda messed up a few details but I think it looks okay!” He scraped the pumpkin more and looked up. “There! Where are the candles?”

“Here you go.” May smiled and handed him a red candle that smelled like cinnamon. He took the lighter and dipped his hand in the pumpkin while Tony watched anxiously. 

“Don’t burn yourself, baby.” He bit his lip in worry. “Be careful.”

“I am!”

May dimmed the lights and pulled the curtains shut. The candle glowed brightly in the dark room and Peter turned the pumpkin to face them. 

May gasped. “Oh. Oh my goodness! Peter, that’s gorgeous!” 

The boy blushed in the candlelight. “Thanks.” He looked to Tony, who had been strangely silent this whole time. 

“Mr. Stark?”

“Petey….” Tony felt his arc reactor and in his mind, compared it to Peter’s intricate, detailed carving that he had spent so much time on. “Petey… you made my reactor?” 

“Uh-huh! I kinda messed up some parts, but I think it looks pretty good. What do you think?”

“I… I… oh my god, baby, I love it. I love it so much.” He pulled his kid into a hug, squeezing him tight. Tony kissed his head and blinked away the tears in his eyes. Peter, surprised at first, hugged him back. “Thank you, Petey.”

“No problem,” he said, voice muffled in Tony’s sweatshirt. “Does it look good?”

“It looks beautiful, baby.”

“I had no idea you could make something like this,” May murmured, tracing the arc reactor with her fingers. “Wow, honey. This is spectacular!”

“Thanks.” Peter’s face heated from the praise and he pushed his head further into Tony’s chest. “What did you make?”

“I was wondering when you’d ask.” Reluctantly, he let go of Peter (but not without another forehead kiss) and grabbed the lighter, He lit the candle, turned it around, and-

It was Peter’s turn to gasp. “Is that me?!” He admired the glowing spider emblem with wide eyes. It matched the one on his suit exactly. “Oh my god!”

Tony beamed. “Do you see the resemblance?” 

“I’m pretty sure you just stole my suit and like, made it into a pumpkin. It’s so cool! I love it, thank you!”

“It was my pleasure,” he said graciously, giving a little bow. “Where do you think we should put them?”

“Um, I dunno. Where’s a good spot?”

Tony looked around. Eventually they decided to put them on the mantle above the fireplace. Peter worried they might rot, but the man assured him they wouldn’t and turned off the fireplace just to ease his kid’s fear.

Peter took a look at the room. A few days ago he and Tony had draped bright orange and purple lights around the room and Peter had added some webs that would definitely leave stains. There was a black spiderweb table runner on the coffee table, and in the kitchen there stood a plastic cauldron filled with dry ice. Ghosts made of tissue and paper mache balls hung from strings by the fireplace and above the couch and tv. Peter took a black and orange oreo from a pumpkin shaped plate cheerfully. 

“When’s dinner?” he asked, realizing how hungry he was getting.

“Are you hungry, bud? We can order a pizza, how does that sound?” Tony replied, smoothing down his curls and then ruffling them so they puffed back up again. 

“Great!” Peter patted his curls back down and flopped on the couch, taking out his phone. 

Only fifteen minutes later the pizza arrived. Peter jumped up happily and opened the box.

“It’s pumpkin shaped!” he exclaimed. “That’s so cool!” The pepperoni slices had been arranged in jack o’ lantern face and Peter laughed. He took four big slices for himself and sat down at the table while May joined him. Tony poured three glasses of apple cider and gave the biggest one to his kid, then sat down next to him. 

Peter wolfed down his pizza in the blink of an eye and downed the cider just as quickly. May and Tony started on their second slices while he started on his fifth. 

He was about to ask May if she knew that some spiders had blue blood when her phone rang. She smiled apologetically at them and stood up to take the call.

“Sandra? Oh, hi.” She wandered into the living room. “Uh-huh? Oh, that’s too bad, I’m so sorry.” A pause. “I could. Yeah, no problem. It’s okay. I hope everyone feels better.” May put her phone down. 

“I’m sorry, guys. I have to fill in for a friend for a few hours.” She sighed. “Her twins are sick and she really needs this. I have to go but I’ll be back soon, okay?” May grabbed her coat and gloves. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.” 

“It’s okay, Aunt May,” Peter said, offering a smile. “What time will you be back?”

“Around two.” She titled his head back to kiss his forehead. “Get some sleep, both of you. No scary movies. Larb you!” She headed toward the elevator.

“Larb you too!” he called back as the doors closed behind her. Peter sighed. 

The room was oddly silent without May’s laughter, but soon Peter started chatting and laughing and they relaxed into their normal banter. 

When they finished their pumpkin pizza, they sat down on the couch. Peter snuggled into Tony’s side and yawned, grabbing his Starkpad. He scrolled to a video and poked Tony’s shoulder.

“What’s this, kiddo?” he asked, wrapping an arm around Peter’s shoulders and pulling him closer.

“Buzzfeed Unsolved,” he mumbled. “That’s Ryan and that’s Shane.” 

“Huh. That’s cool. They solve mysteries?”

“Sometimes. They don’t really solve them, I mean, it’s called Buzzfeed Unsolved, but they do talk about suspects or theories or whatever. Sometimes they do supernatural ones and they’re really funny. And spooky,” Peter rambled. Tony chuckled and turned his attention to the video.

The Haunted Halls of Waverly Hills, read the title. As the creepy introduction played, Tony frowned. The two men he assumed were Ryan and Shane were walking around a long, spooky hallway with cameras that made everything look like it was tinged green.

“You sure this isn’t too scary, Pete?” he asked, not wanting his kid to have nightmares. 

“It’s not,” Peter grumbled. “I’m fine. This one is cool!”

“If you’re sure, Roo.” Tony still sounded skeptical. He was prepared to turn off that tablet the second Peter showed any sign of fright, but he never did.

“This week on Buzzfeed Unsolved we explore Waverly Hills Sanatorium as part of our ongoing investigation, ‘are ghosts real?’” said Ryan.

The camera panned to Shane as he shook his head. They went on to explain the history of the sanatorium. Peter giggled at their many jokes, especially when Shane made snarky remarks. Tony deduced that Shane was the sceptic while Ryan strongly believed in paranormal happenings. He was inclined to side with Shane, but Peter looked just as nervous as Ryan was when he walked down an empty hallway all alone. 

“Pete, are you sure this isn’t too scary?” he repeated after a particularly gruesome description of the horrors that took place in that old building.

“Yes, Mr. Stark.” Despite his annoyed tone, Peter was smiling. 

“Okay, okay.” Tony turned to press a tender kiss to his temple. “I just don’t want you to have nightmares.”

“I won’t. It’s okay.” Peter flopped against him and pressed the next video. “Promise.” He yawned.

The videos, Tony admitted, were pretty cool. He liked how they listed theories and possibilities instead of just leaving the mysteries unended. The two men were funny and entertaining, and he found himself enjoying the videos. 

By now they had watched at least nine or ten episodes. It was easy to get lost in all the videos, which were only twenty minutes long each, but when you watched a few more, time had passed faster than you expected. When Tony checked the time he was surprised to find it was already nine-thirty. 

“You tired, bubba?” he asked gently as Peter yawned. “You’ve had a pretty big day.”

Peter shrugged. “A little.”

“Do you wanna go to bed now, sweetheart?”

“Sure.” He stretched and yawned again. “Tomorrow’s Halloween, right?”

“That’s right,” he hummed. He helped Peter stand up and they made their way down the hallway. “Good night, baby,” he murmured, pulling him into a hug. 

Peter felt a warm kiss pressed to his curls. “G’night.” He hugged Mr. Stark and stumbled into his bedroom, rubbing his eyes. 

Tony watched with love shining bright in his eyes. He headed to his own bed and climbed under the covers, curling up and turning on the bedside lamp. He grabbed his glasses and perched them on the edge of his nose, planning to get a little reading done before he went to bed. 

He couldn’t help but worry about his kid, who had just binge-watched ten episodes about terrible deaths and tortures. “FRI, tell me if he can’t fall asleep, or if he does and wakes up. Just tell me if he’s scared.”

“Certainly, boss,” the AI said smoothly. Tony nodded and began reading, though he barely took in a word, much more focused on the boy in the room next to him. 

~~~~~

Peter thought he had been tired. He had nearly unhinged his jaw from yawning so much. But now, he lay in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, unable to sleep.

He shifted around, trying to get comfortable. Heavy blankets tangled around his legs as he thrashed. Peter sighed and mashed his pillow over his face.

After what felt like an hour (but in reality was only fifteen minutes) Peter rolled over and sat up, yawning and scratching the back of his neck.

He grabbed his Starkpad and earbuds. Peter only used one, because two was too overwhelming. He went to youtube and clicked on the first unsolved episode he found, just wanting to sleep. 

The intro played loudly in his ear and Peter relaxed. 

“This week on Buzzfeed Unsolved we’ll cover the Axeman Killer of New Orleans,” said Ryan Bergara. “One of the strangest serial killer cases I’ve ever read.”

“And you’ve read a lot,” Shane replied.

Ryan explained the timeline, which began in 1918 in, of course, New Orleans and ended around eighteen months later. He detailed the mysterious and morbid attempted killings, saying, “In chilling fashion, he only seemed to strike people while they slept in their beds.”

Just to make sure, Peter peeked out the curtain. He shivered and hid further under his blankets. He snickered quietly when Shane made a joke right off the bat.

When the video ended, he turned it off and lay back down. He scrubbed his eyes, feeling refreshed but sleepy at the same time.

Except now, he was having a lot harder of a time falling asleep.

Peter stared at his bedroom door nervously, expecting someone to burst in brandishing an axe. 

It never came.

He watched apprehensively, knowing this was stupid, and rolled over so he faced the wall.

Now his back felt even more exposed. Peter shivered and faced the door in a panic, swearing he heard something. 

Nothing.

He sighed shakily and curled up under the blankets, his heart racing and his eyes wide. The shadows seemed to dance and his eyes flitted from corner to corner as he expected some creature with razor sharp teeth to come leaping out of them. 

A chair, which he had thrown some dirty clothes on the other day, now looked like some skeletal creature with a huge head that could swallow him in one bite.

Peter, in a sudden burst of adrenaline, threw off his covers and sprinted the few feet down the hall to Tony’s room, the door slamming open. Peter leapt onto Tony’s bed, shaking, and wrapped his arms around the man.

Tony went rigid with surprise. “Peter?” He straightened up, squeezing his kid tight protectively and looking murderously around the room for the source of Peter’s fear. “What is it, baby? Are you okay? Are you hurt?” 

Peter shook his head and crawled shakily into his lap, pressing his face into his chest. “Petey? What happened?” His voice was soft and gentle but somehow worried and protective at the same time. “Did you have a nightmare?”

Peter sniffed and blinked a few tears out of his eyes. His cheeks heated in embarrassment. He wilted in Tony’s arms both out of shame and overwhelming relief that he was safe now. 

“Oh, baby,” he cooed. “You’re okay, I got you, you’re okay. I’m here, shh.” He kissed his delicate brown curls. “I’m here, I’m here.”

Peter sighed in relief and squashed his nose against Tony’s reactor. “‘M sorry,” he mumbled.

“Why are you sorry, bubba? You didn’t do anything wrong, okay?” Tony murmured. 

Peter nodded. “I- I just got scared.” His voice cracked and he tried not to cry. 

“Oh, sweetheart, it’s okay, you’re okay. I got you. Nothing’s gonna happen to you, ‘kay?” He brushed his fingers through his curls. “Pete?”

A soft snore filled the peaceful quiet of the room. Peter’s breathing was slow and even, his face lax. Tony’s face softened. He carefully maneuvered Peter’s limp body under the war covers and wrapped his arms around him, pressing his nose into his curls. “I won’t ever let anything hurt you, kay?” He sighed in contentment, holding his kid tightly. “I love you so much baby.”

Tony’s eyes fluttered shut. “G’night, sweetheart.”

~~~~~

Taglist: @imissyoutoo @aj-that-person @tonystark-deserves-better @nathaly-ab @skeeter-110 @peter-and-tony-vlogs @teammightypen @joyful-soul-collector @loveliestdisappointment @depuella @scwene-qween @honeythepooh @pixiethefirecat7 @spider-man-lover @jami161 @bringitonvoldie @queen-of-sarcasm-25 @roxy3457 @memilon @iron-loyalty @gralaca @bitchingpretty @pillowspace @thatminecraftgal @clockworkteacup @hatakehikari @wtfischeese @keep-a-bucket-full-of-stars @skydiving-without-a-parachute @yansi1923 

If you want to be added/removed let me know!

~~~~~

/ST*RKERS DNI/

#FINALLY finished this #Happy Halloween!!! #peter parker #tony stark #may parker #aunt may is the best #pumpkin picking #pumpkin patch #pumpkin carving #tw knives #knives tw #irondad and spiderson #aunt may and tony are best friends #protective tony stark #worried tony stark #scared peter parker #buzzfeed unsolved #halloween tw #st*rkers dni

[justbecausewhynot]

Azriel: Fluff Alphabet

A = Attractive (What do they find attractive about the other?)

Azriel loves his chest. As weird as that sounds, he loves when you lay your head on it and how you always listen to his heartbeat. 

He loves your face. The expressions you make when you’re sleeping, kissing your cheeks and forehead, he loves it all. He especially loves it when you stare at him and when he stares at you. 

 B = Baby (Do they want a family? Why/Why not?)

Azriel eventually wants kids, but at the moment, just wants you to himself for a bit. Because of his childhood, he wants to prove that he can do better than what he was put through and make sure he is ready when it does happen. The thought of being that responsible for someone secretly scares him. He just wants to be the best dad possible and give his children the best life he can. On the other hand, the thought of you as a mother is perfect and he knows that you will make an amazing mom. Inside, Azriel is still worried that you wouldn’t want to have that sort of commitment to him, but eventually accepts that you feel the same that he does about you.

 C = Cuddle (How do they cuddle?)

Azriel loves to be the big spoon and wrap you within his enormous wings. The two of you are so drastically different in size, when he holds you, your entire body is covered. Though he would never admit it to anyone, he also loves it when you just lay your head on his chest and hold him. 

 D = Dates (What are dates with them like?)

Azriel always tries to do the most for dates in a personal sense. Something simple but at the same time very romantic. Aside from the frequent dinners on the roof or trips to different restaurants in velaris, Azriel plans different adventures and events for just the two of you. Whether it be picnics in the park under a willow tree with a full course meal and wine, or star gazing on the top of a mountain laying on a blanket, he always comes up with something new and elaborate. 

 E = Everything (You are my ____ (e.g. my life, my world…))

You are the flame to my shadows

 F = Feelings (When did they know they were in love?)

Azriel instantly felt a deep connection with you the first time he saw you. Being the shy boi he is, whenever he would see you, he would feel amazing but tried to keep his cool and stay level headed. While talking or spending time with him, his feelings towards you became more and more strong, but he was unsure if you felt the same. The first time you kissed and the mating bond snapped into place, he knew he loved you.

 G = Gentle (Are they gentle? If so, how?)

Azriel is the most gentle it is possible to be. He always puts you first and makes sure you are always comfortable, happy and well. By constantly checking in and simple shows of affection throughout the day, he shows his soft side. 

 H = Hands (How do they like to hold hands?)

Azriel likes to hold your hand in his or on his lap whenever you are sitting or lounging. When you are walking, he stands close to you but doesn't hold your hand as much. Instead he sometimes holds you by the waist and spreads his wings a little farther so that they will cover your body. 

 I = Impression (What was their first impression?)

The first time he saw you, Azriel thought you were the most beautiful person, inside and out. He saw that you were kind hearted as well as a picture of poise and elegance. 

 J = Jealousy (Do they get jealous?)

Azriel gets jealous when anyone looks at you, he knows you would never do anything to hurt him, but he still stiffens at the thought of anyone else wanting you. He also gets frustrated when Cassian flirts with you. You will often play back and pretend to be madly in love with the illyrian until it gets too much for Azriel and he takes you away playfully while you  laugh with Cassian. 

 K = Kiss (How do they kiss? Who initiated the first kiss?)

Azriel likes to take long and soft kisses, often exploring your face and neck in the process.He also loves small cheek, forehead and nose kisses, either giving or receiving. He made the first move after you had been talking for a bit and the mating bond was so close to snapping in place, he could almost feel it push the two of you together. Thankfully, you kissed back, and instantly knew the two of you were mates.

 L = Love (Who says ‘I love you’ first?)

Even though the mating bond was in place, Azriel was still scared about your feelings. He didn’t want to say anything too soon in case you didn’t feel the same, so you ended up saying it first. Once you did, he immediately said it back and was enormously happy.

 M = Memory (What’s their favourite memory together?)

His favourite memory with you was when you went on a walk around a scenic park at dusk and it started pouring rain while you were out. Both your clothes got drenched before he had the chance to get you out of the storm, and it was too late when he was ready to. There was constant lightning filling the sky, and it would be dangerous to fly. The two of you ran hand in hand to a large tree on the side of the path and took shelter before winnowing back to your house. 

 N = Nickel (Do they spoil? Do they buy the person they love everything?)

Azriel knows you don’t need or want expensive things, so instead he chooses more thoughtful and personal things to give you. Unable to help it, with his enormous wealth, he still buys you the occasional gift just because.

 O = Orange (What colour reminds them of their other half?)

Light dusty pink reminds Azriel of you. You are so kind and heartfelt, he thinks the colour suits you perfectly. It goes so well with the Night court’s signature navy blue and the dynamic of the two colours describes your relationship perfectly.

 P = Pet names (What pet names do they use?)

Azriel will call you dear and love, but doesn’t go for the sickeningly sweet pet names unless he wants something from you or is being ironic. Then he opts for goddess divine or  honey bun.

 Q = Quaint (What is their favourite non-modern thing?)

Azriel loves reading with you. He loves to read and you being there makes it so much better. Sometimes you will play with his hair or he will mindlessly draw circles on your hand. Even though it is silent the whole time, it is perfect just to have you near while you both enjoy something you like. 

 R = Rainy Day (What do they like to do on a rainy day?)

On rainy days, when the two of you are free, Azriel will often prepare an indoor date for just the two of you. Things like preparing a fancy dinner and dessert together and eating it in your finest cutlery, wearing a ball gown with jewelry and him a suit. Or setting up a blanket and picnic food on the porch while it pours just a few feet away. Rainy Days are like breaks from your everyday life when you can just calm down and relax with Azriel.

 S = Sad (How do they cheer themselves/others up?)

When Azriel is upset, you will always make him feel better. Though he never explicitly states he is upset, you can always tell by how he doesn’t talk much and just wants to be with you. When you are sad, you do the same, but Azriel always wants to know what the problem is and instantly tries to fix it once you have calmed down.  

 T = Talking (What do they like to talk about?)

The two of you love to dream about your future and picture how things will be. The details can get so specific, from talking about what colour your room will be to baby names. Every so often, when the mood is right, Azriel talks about his past and family, and you about yours, but your conversations tend to be light and positive. 

 U = Unencumbered (What helps them relax?)

Whenever Azriel is uptight or upset, you instantly make him feel better, but when he can’t get to you, or you are busy, he reads.

 V = Vaunt (What do they like to show off? What are they proud of?)

Azriel is not the sort of person to boast about things, but when he is with the inner circle, the topic of his wingspan sometimes comes up. Instead of defending himself for everything, you often will say something in his place, though sometimes backhandedly slapping him which makes everyone laugh. 

 W = Wedding (When, how, where do they propose?)

Azriel proposes after you find out he is your mate. He waits until starfall and after everyone has resigned from dancing and drinking, he takes you to go star-watching on the top of the mountain and proposes at the height of the brightness. 

X = Xylophone (What’s their song?)

You and Azriel listen to classical music all the time, but the carnival of animals: The swan really reminds you of the other. 

 Y = Yes (Do they ever think of getting married/proposing?)

Azriel knew he wanted to marry you once the mating bond clicked into place. Before that he was very unsure about your feelings and what your relationship was, but once it happened, he knew. 

 Z = Zebra (If they wanted a pet, what would they get?)

Azriel would want something that could watch you and protect you when he was out on missions. Though he knows you are entirely capable of taking care of yourself, he still worries over you and wants to always be ready for anything.

Tag List (open, send me a message if u want in)

@theimaginehotspot

@moonlit-stardust

#acotar #acomaf #acowar #acofas #sjm #azriel #rhysand #azriel x reader #feyre #cassian #fluff

[nothingbutfangirlsmut]

The Girl Out of Time

Pairing: Bucky X Reader and Sam X Reader

Background: Willow Roffe was born and raised in Brooklyn. She lived her life as happily as she could with her two childhood best friends Bucky Barnes and Steve Roger's. When they both left her to join the military she tried to continue with life but that didn't get to happen for her for the simple fact that she meant something to James Buchanan Barnes.

Rating: Story will be overall MATURE but not every chapter. There will be strong language, talk of both mental and physical abuse, some good ole angst, and smut. There will be a warning at the beginning of the chapter when it includes smut.

Chapter 13

I was dropped off downtown to keep an eye on Sitwell while the other three worked on stealing Sam's old high tech suit. I didn't mind being left alone with this job. I had no where near as much experience as the other three did. Being perched on the roof of one of the tallest buildings in the city with a long range rifle was a good place for me.

It didn't take me long to find Sitwell threw my scope. He was sitting at a table in the fancy little restaurant eating with another man. I kept my scope trained on them as they ate.

"Willow" Steve's voice called threw my ear piece.

"Captain" I replied with a smirk.

"Are you in position?" He asked.

"I'm perched with eyes on the package." I told him.

"Great, Nat and I are in the car. Sam should be getting in position any second." He explained.

"Roger that Rogers" I said then internally laughed.

I few minutes passed as Sitwell and the other man continued to eat. I watched as they received their check then paid.

"Package is on the move." I stated simply once the two men left the table.

Only a minute or two passed before the men exited the building. I continued to watch threw the scope as the men spoke to each other. They shook hands then seemed to whisper something in each other's ear. The man Sitwell was with continued down the stairs followed by two body guards.

"Show time" Sam's voice said threw the ear piece.

A few seconds later Sitwell was pulling his phone out of his pocket and answering it.

"Agent Sitwell, how was lunch? I hear the crab cakes here are delicious." Sam said threw both the cell phone and ear piece.

There was a pause as Sitwell spoke.

"The good looking guy in the sunglasses, your 10 o'clock." Sam replied.

I watched as Sitwell looked around in the opposite direction of where Sam was sitting.

"Your other 10 o'clock." Sam said in a mocking tone.

Sitwell turned around immediately finding where Sam was.

"There you go." Sam said.

Another pause as Sitwell spoke again.

"You're gonna go around the corner to your right. There's a gray car two spaces down. You and I are gonna take a ride." Sam explained.

Another pause as Sitwell responded.

"Because that tie looks really expensive and I'd hate to mess it up." Sam said sternly.

That was my cue to turn on my laser sight as I focused the beam on Sitwell's tie. The man looked down then instantly paled. I turned off the laser as Sitwell did as he was told. I draped the gun's strap over my shoulder as I moved to wait for the others.

A few minutes later the metal door to the roof I was on crashed open as Sitwell came threw stumbling backwards. Steve and Nat were both walking towards him menacingly.

"Tell me about Zola's Algorithm." Steve said harshly.

"Never heard of it." Sitwell stuttered as he fell to the ground.

I continued to watch silently from my spot by the door as Steve demanded information. They backed Sitwell to the edge on the roof. He tried to mock Steve only to have Nat kick him hard in the chest making him tumble off the roof. Only a few seconds passed before Sitwell's screams could be heard again as Sam soared into view holding the man by his suit jacket. Sam dropped him back on the roof then landed next to me. Sitwell was quick to tell Steve anything and everything he wanted to know after that.

"That was awesome." I told Sam quietly.

He chuckled then looked down at me and winked.

"We need to move now and he is coming too." Steve ordered.

I grabbed Sitwell by the back of the neck to guide him back down to the ground. The five of us climbed into the car. Sam was driving, Steve in the passenger seat, and Nat and I had Sitwell between us in the backseat. We went straight for the highway.

"Hydra doesn't like leaks." Sitwell said suddenly.

"Then why don't you try sticking a cork in it." Sam said in annoyance.

"Insight is launching in 16 hours. We're cutting it a little bit close here." Nat said leaning towards Steve.

"I know. We'll use him to by pass the DNA scans and access the helicarriers directly." Steve said simply.

"What? Are you crazy? That is a terrible, terrible idea." Sitwell said in panic.

A sudden crash on top of the car had every sense of mine going nuts. Out of some weird instinct I moved forward putting my body against the back of Sam's seat. A second later a metal hand came threw the window beside me. It grabbed Sitwell then pulled him out of the window and into the street. A shot rang out coming threw the roof into the back seat. Nat scrambled into Steve's lap. Two more shots rang out as I moved to climb out of the window to face the attacker. Before I could get out of the window the car came to a screeching halt throwing the man off the roof and onto the road in front of us. He slid a few feet using his metal hand to balance himself.

It was the same man that shot Fury. The man Steve and I had chased. He stood up looking absolutely menacing. Even though I was a super soldier and stronger than Captain America himself something about this man sent a shiver down my spine.

The car was suddenly rammed from behind causing Sam to put it back in gear and floor it. We moved straight towards the metal armed man. He jumped grabbing a hold of the car's roof again. The next second the metal arm was punching threw the windshield and ripping the steering wheel completely out of the car.

"What the fuck?" I questioned to myself.

Nat suddenly starts shooting forcing me to duck in the back seat. I heard the man jump off the car only to land on the SUV behind us. The SUV rammed into us again making the car almost flip as it hit the concrete barrier. Steve turned in his seat to look at me.

"Out the window Will." He ordered.

I nodded as he grabbed Nat and Sam. He kicked the door off the hinges as I climbed out the window. The car started to flip as I launched myself towards the SUV that our attacker was still hanging onto. I land on the hood next to the man. I immediately move to kick him but he dodges my attack. I was ready for his return but it never came. Instead he moved to the side of the vehicle away from me. I jumped off the SUV as it slowed. I reached Sam at the same time a rocket hit Steve's shield throwing him into the air and off the bridge we were on.

"Steve!" I shouted trying to hurry to his side.

Sam grabbed my arm pulling me back behind a car just as bullets started to spray like mad. I had no idea what was happening with Steve or Nat. The only thing I knew was Sam and I were trapped under raining gun fire. I was able to get close enough to see the metal arm guy standing on the edge of the bridge. He stumbled backwards then ripped the mask from his eyes. We made eye contact. He looked at me in a way no one ever had. It was something I couldn't explain. It was like he knew me. I moved to attack but before I could reach him he jumped over the edge of the bridge.

"Willow!" I heard Sam shouted.

I ran as fast I could to his voice. He had taken done the sniper. He stood at the edge of the bridge giving cover fire to Steve and Nat.

"Are you okay?" I asked quickly.

"I'm fine. What about you?" He asked.

"I'm good" I nodded.

"I think Steve might need your help. That dude is ridiculously strong." Sam said gesturing to the street below us.

Steve was now one on one fighting the man with the metal arm. I kissed Sam's cheek then jumped over the edge landing in the street a few feet behind the masked man.

I whistled loudly earning me both Steve and the other man's attention. Again the man looked at me with wide and weary eyes. Steve moved to attack while the man's back was turned. Right before he hit the man the metal arm was there blocking the blow. He turned back to Steve throwing punch after punch. I ran forward jumping to kick him back from my friend. My kick landed making the man stumble backwards. Instead of the man attacking me he moved to put Steve between us. Steve landed a heavy blow knocking the man back again but this time his mask had fell off. The man straightened then slowly turned to face us. Steve immediately froze and I was in shock. That was the face of James Barnes. But how? Steve said he was dead. The two men stared at each other for a moment. Steve looked like he'd seen a ghost and the other man only glared.

"Bucky?" Steve questioned in disbelief.

The other man tilted his head to the side.

"Who?" He questioned in a voice that took my breath.

James moved to attack again just as Sam swooped in forcing the man back from us again. The next second an explosion went off then the man that looked like James was gone. Before we could react to anything sirens were surrounding us.

---

Masterlist

#nothingbutfangirlsmut #bucky fanfic #bucky x reader #bucky x you #bucky imagine #sam wilson fanfiction #sam x reader #sam wilson #steve rogers #natasha romanoff

[cadelehane-blog]

Character Questionnaire | Writing Prompt

How tall are you?

6′1″

5 things you spend the most time doing, in order.

Physical Training - It isn’t enough to be alpha. The additional benefits: the sharper senses, faster reflexes, quicker healing time, resilience and strength are all perks that come with leading a pack, but they’re worthless without maintenance. Caden’s mornings are filled with various exercises taught to him by his father, meant to push him physically and mentally. The mantel of Alpha is not without weight or challenge, and everyday he pushes himself to be worthy of that title.

Training with Jordan - That it’s been over a decade since her first shift doesn’t matter. The girl’s a puppy and has a long way to go before she has anything resembling control of her wolf. Teaching her to harness her new abilities and how to keep her emotions in check was meant to be a pack responsibility. Now that it’s only the two of them, all they have is each other. Showing her the ropes, training her to fight, helping her to find her center, and control her wolf has become a welcome part of his routine. Cade’s come to depend on Jordan, and these times they spend together, as much as she relies on him.

Research - Of the many things his old man drilled into his head growing up, one word of wisdom he calls up often is “Know Thy Enemy.” Warfare and battle tactics were highlights of his erudition when he’d been getting groomed to someday be Alpha Male. Caden knows the importance of observed behavior, or predictable routine, and modus operandi. He knows what it takes to disable and cripple an enemy. What he doesn’t know is who his enemy is or what killed his pack. So much of his free time is spent scouring as many resources as he can get his hands on, searching for similar massacres and possible cycles. Anything that might give him some kind of clue as to what he’s dealing with and how to take it down.

Automobile Restoration - There was a time, over fifty years ago, when he’d worked alongside his brother in Shifters. Though his interest in cars had always gone far beyond oil changes and realignments. Caden had a passion for taking beat up junkers and breathing new life into them. It’s satisfying for him, removing the rust and grit, replacing it with new parts, fresh paint, brand new upholstery. It’s almost like putting together a puzzle, except for the puzzle is old, well past it’s prime, and all hope for it has been lost. Replacing each piece along the way, and with the sheen of new paint, the puzzles better than it’d ever been. What was once one tow-truck haul away from the junk yard becomes car show worthy, and the process has always been something to help him clear the clutter of his mind. He tries not to think about the symbolism.

Drawing - Though it’s more of a way to help relax his mind, Cade’s pretty fucking good. When there’s downtime his sketch book’s not far, and he’s accumulated stacks and stacks of them over the years. Each page filled with car designs, still-lifes, landscapes, characters, comic strips, and tattoo designs. Drawing’s easy, it’s relaxing, and a break from life and all of it’s demands. When Caden has a graphite pencil in his hand it’s like a flip switches in his head and everything goes quiet. All that’s left is the scratch of lead on paper until the image in his head is laid out in front of him. Then it’s back to reality.

Favorite weather and why?

Stormy - While Cade does love the torrential downpour of a seasonal rainstorm, that’s not the part that sticks out to him. Caden loves the quiet before the storm, that atmospheric build and change in pressure as dark clouds gather over the horizon. Caden loves the warning roars of thunder in the distance, the visible sparks of lightning illuminating the armada of clouds converging overhead. The whip of the wind carrying that gale into position, and the sharp, fresh scent of ozone, it’s all filled with so much power that he can feel it in his blood. It’s that inception that he loves so much, reminded of the moment just before a werewolf shifts, that build of power that can’t be stopped. 

Favorite season(s) and why?

Spring - A time of rebirth and new beginnings, spring represents a fresh start. It’s the opportunity to grow, and be better. Cade’s always loved spring, the rain storms, the weather changing, green overcoming the ice of winter, it’s all just so full of hope. He was raised in and for war, but he also grew up knowing that there has to be an end goal to every fight. The battle between where you are now and where you want to be is the quintessential driving force of hope. And that’s why he’s always loved spring.

Favourite comfort foods?

Lasagna - no one makes lasagna like his mom used to. His favorite memories are at the dining table, surrounded by his family, as she dishes out a plate piled high with cheesy, meaty, saucy heaven. It was never just one pan, either. Cadence Lehane had always made enough lasagna to make sure the pack was fed. Lasagna night was family night, and that meant all of the Crescents. The pack house was always full, and so had been his heart those nights. 

Are you religious/spiritual? Elaborate on this.

No - A self proclaimed agnostic, Caden believes in the here and now. He believes in what he can see, in what he’s experienced, and what he knows. Since he hasn’t seen, experienced, and sure as hell doesn’t know everything, his perspective on spirituality changes with time. Even so, he’s not one to ask a higher power for a handout. Life sucks for everyone. You grab the challenge by the horns and make it your bitch. You don’t need a god for that. 

What is your greatest fear? What is your greatest desire?

Losing anyone else - Caden’s life is full of loss, and it’s always the people closest to him. His parents, his family, his pack, his home, his pack again, everywhere he goes, everything he does, loss seems to follow him like a shadow he can’t shake. Each loss is an irreparable fissure in his heart, and Cade doesn’t know how much more of it he can take. If he loses anyone else, it very well might break him.

A tie between avenging his pack and finally knowing peace -  He’s hoping they’re one and the same. Sleep has never come harder than after what happened in Vermont. It’s restless at best, filled with nightmares and memories, and the faces of those he’s lost, of everyone he’s failed. It’s his hope that by avenging his pack he’ll be able to quiet the ghosts that haunt him. All he wants is for their souls to find peace, and him along with them. Whatever that means.

Describe one or more high points in your life.

Being named Heir Apparent -  Ever since he was a kid it was all he wanted, to be Alpha one day, to be just like his dad: strong, powerful, commanding, respected, feared, and loved. He wanted to lead the Wolfsbourne Crescents, to keep them strong and free. The day his old man officially named him as Heir Apparent, Caden knew that he’d do anything to be worthy of that crown. He’d do anything for his people, go to any lengths to make his dad proud. Being named successor was the validation that he’d needed, the reassurance that, if he wasn’t already, he’d someday be worthy of that coveted mantel. 

Do you believe in love? What about love at first sight? Why/why not?

Yes - It’s hard not to when it’s such a fundamental part of your upbringing. Caden was raised with his parents’ love for one another as an example, their love for their family, and their love for the pack. He was exposed to love in all of it’s variants and welcomed them all equally. And then he met Willow and he realized what it truly is to love. Cade finally understood the profound depth of what it was his parents shared as mates. He understood the lengths a wolf would go to to provide for their mate, to protect them, and he learned that often times love means sacrifice. 

What is your biggest regret?

Leaving - Well, not so much leaving. Rather, Cade regrets leaving the way that he did and not making the additional effort of keeping in touch with those he left behind. He’d had to leave Roseville, he knows that in his gut. But if he’d went about it differently, then maybe everyone he’d left behind wouldn’t hate him so much upon his return. He had his reasons for leaving, and his reasons for staying away, but his reasons for losing touch are flimsy at best and if he could turn back the clock and do it again, he would. 

#rrp:writingprompt #character questionnaire

[redditnosleep]

What Became of Eden

by draaagonite

I had always been an atheist. My strict Lutheran parents assigned the Bible as a summer reading project when I was ten. Unfortunately for them, I was a clever young girl, and quickly turned from religion upon unearthing the hypocrisy within the Good Book.

Clever young girls, especially brown ones, had not much to look forward to in the middle of the twentieth century.

I read every book in the colored section at the local library half a dozen times. When that wasn’t enough to sate my thirst for knowledge, I bribed a friendly white girl with sweets and checked out books in her name.

You can imagine my relief when I awoke from my coma and Jim Crow had ended.

The accident, fortunately, was quick. Lightning. I don't remember being in pain. I remember stopping in the street to pick a pebble from my shoe. I remember looking up to see the headlights. Lightning. Then black.

When my eyelids fluttered open moments or years later, the sky above was a dusty mauve, as though rose petals had been sprinkled into a milk bath. Soft light was filtering through the leaves of the tree above, but from no sun I could see. The air was still. Tense. Quiet.

I drew an enormous rickety breath. My lungs burned, screaming for me to stop breathing in the perverted air. I choked for agonizing minutes, clawing at my throat, at the plush grass beneath me. Dark spots swam in the corners of my vision.

Strong hands hoisted me upright. Too weak to fight, I attempted to scream, only to have my mouth and nose covered. My hands flung wildly to my face, scratching at my captor’s fingers.

“Stay your breath, sister. This poisoned air is not for you to inhale.” Her voice was soothing and rhythmic, like large wooden wind chimes singing in the breeze. With little other choice, and in realising I must be lying in my hospital bed dreaming, I obeyed. I let my diaphragm relax, and my hands fell limply at my sides. As the air left my body, so did the prickling pain. “Very good,” said my savior. “I now will release you. I must ask that you do not run, for there are far more terrible creatures than myself in this garden.” As promised, her grip around my face lessened. “Can you stand? Let me help you.” She gently guided me to my feet and faced me.

She stood at nearly six feet tall, with copper tresses falling in elegant waves to the small of her back. Her pale pink face was soft and round, save for her piercing deep brown eyes and angular brows. A simple white cotton dress hugged her curvaceous form. Curled around each bicep was an emerald green snake, slithering around her arms with no apparent malice for their human companion.

I rubbed my eyes. Pinched my forearm. No, I was not dreaming. That was for certain. Nor, however, was this was not reality, not as I knew it.

I opened my mouth to speak, but tasted the pang of the toxic air on my tongue. The woman smiled at me sadly. “I’m afraid I can do nothing to help you in the way of speech, sister. Only those of us who live in the garden can tolerate this air, and trust when I say you do not wish to take up residence here,” she explained.

Where is here? I thought, looking to either side. To my left was a babbling river flowing with indigo waters. Beyond the river was an exquisite garden, lush with flowers and bushes of all kinds. Though beautiful, the leaves and petals were all muted, no more than whispers of the colors they had once been. To my right was the tree I had awoken beneath. I reached out to touch the bark. It was warm, as though the tree pulsated with veins like my own. I splayed my palm out on its trunk, enjoying the warmth.

“The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil,” said the woman, answering the question caught in my throat. “A gift intended for all, but kept hidden from the world.” She smiled sadly, gazing up at the ripe red apples hanging in the branches. “I would offer you the fruit, but if you had not already tasted it, you would not have awoken beneath its bough, no?”

Tree of Knowledge? I looked to the dusty flora, to the pinkish sky. If that was the Tree of Knowledge, then this had to be The Garden of Eden, though it was not the earthly paradise described in any text I had read. What happened here?

“Come, sister. We haven’t much time. If your soul remains parted from your body for too long, I fear the connection may be severed for all time,” she said, reaching for my hand. I hesitated. I may not have believed the Bible, but one thing was common across literature: don’t trust snakes.

As though reading my thoughts, she offered her hand again. “Trust me. What other choice do you have?”

With that, I slipped my clammy hand into hers. She smiled at me. “You are wise, sister. Thank you for your trust. Let us go now. We need to get to the Tree of Life, before it is too late.”

“It was I who planted the Trees,” began the serpent woman. Her bare feet danced gracefully across the smooth stepping stones. “Be mindful of the fish, they bite,” she remarked over her shoulder. I accordingly watched my toes carefully as I crossed the river.

“My husband was cold and cruel, and this garden was my escape.” An escape it was. Butterflies fluttered lazily past as we crossed the garden. The lush grass was comfortably damp between my toes. I tried to imagine what the roses used to look like, before the color had been seeped from their petals.

“The Tree of Knowledge was first. By starlight I would water the sapling with my tears. I sang to it my secrets. How I both loved and hated, how I adored and feared my husband. From my whispers of joy and sorrow grew the magnificent Tree, and from its branches the Fruit.”

Suddenly, the serpent woman halted in her tracks. She crouched and beckoned for me to do the same. “Remain still, sister. He may have sensed your presence.” She removed a jagged knife from a strap around her thigh.

Minutes passed. I could not bear the silence. “Who?” I croaked, wincing at the burning creeping into my throat. My companion turned and hissed in a very serpentine fashion, then resumed her stance, prowling eyes darting around, a huntress seeking her prey.

The answer to my question came in the wind; the first since I had arrived. It carried murmurs in a foreign tongue, glueing my feet to the dirt and setting terror in my heart. I watched in horror as the blue of the violets was swept away in the wind, like a mosquito drinking from its victim.

Finally, when the wind had passed, the serpent woman answered. “That, my sister, is God.”

“When the Tree of Knowledge bore its first fruit, I ate graciously and Knew. I was able to see the Evil in my husband, and in myself.” We were moving at a brisk pace now, joined by thin ribbon snakes on the grass. “Man is not, as God had intended, perfect. Far from it. We hold in our hearts the potential for great light and terrible darkness, each and every one of us,” she explained. “Sin,” she laughed, “is no more than a ruse, designed to blame man for God’s mistake.” Another river. We lept from one stepping stone to the next, hurriedly toward our destination. “He sculpted us from the dirt, held us in His cosmic hands, and breathed into us the air of Life. In doing all this, He made one fatal mistake: He created us in His image.”

“God, though He would have you believe otherwise, is not the only one of His kind. Nay, He is the oldest of seven brothers, and the most arrogant of them all. The other six created quiet, peaceful realms, to observe and enjoy for all time.” Again came the whisper of the breeze, fainter now, but still just as malevolent. “God, however, wished to rule a kingdom. Thus, He filled this garden with creatures of all kinds. When none would bow to Him, He crafted man. He boasted to us, claiming to be our Divine Creator. We were but children, and what else did we know?”

“God declared Adam to rule over me. And rule he did, with a firm hand. After centuries of suffering, I cultivated the Tree of Knowledge, ate from its fruit, and fled Adam, spitting in his cowardly face.” She ran now, and I followed suit, the soles of my feet pounding against the soft dirt. “I took this same journey across the garden all those lifetimes ago, and came to a clearing.”

“Distraught and exhausted, I attempted to slay myself. My blood rained upon the earth and the Tree of Life sprouted, and beneath it, I made my new home. Many years I lay in the clearing, befriending the snakes who lived underground. At night, the wind would howl, but I was safe under the Tree.”

Abruptly, the serpent woman came to a halt. “The Tree is just ahead, sister. Do you see?” And see I did.

Fire surrounded the great Tree, a weeping willow of vibrant greens and blues and colors I had never seen. “Servants of God,” she said of the cherubs wielding the flaming swords. “We must tread carefully here. Time is of the essence, but there will be no soul to save if we do not take precaution. Let us rest here a while so I may regain my strength.”

The dusty mauve sky was shifting into a brilliant deep shade of amethyst. Sparkling stars dotted the sky, little pinpricks in the purple sea above. Galaxies appeared in swirls of pink and baby blue. Had I not been racing through a dying garden of legend, drifting somewhere between life and death, it could have been beautiful.

The serpent woman and I lay behind a neat row of rose bushes. A tiny adder slithered up to her and curled itself up on her belly. Her long fingers absentmindedly stroked the snake’s back as she spoke in a hushed tone.

“I ate the peaches that grew from the Tree, and spent several happy decades tending to the surrounding garden, free of my husband. Then I saw her.”

“She danced among the flowers, butterflies in her ink black hair and magic in her smile. I went to approach her, to dance with her.” She smiled softly. “But there was Adam, as wicked as ever. Yelling at the poor girl to stop acting so foolish. His wife.”

A chorus of crickets began to play in the distance, more harmonious than on Earth. A symphony rising in the night.

“The serpents and I followed them, all the way across the garden, to the Tree of Knowledge. I found her there, perched beneath the Tree, gazing dreamily at its fruit.”

“The rest, I think you know, sister. Furious that I had given Eve the Knowledge, let her see Him for what He truly was, God cast the two of them from the garden, leaving me alone here. The garden… I couldn’t bring myself to tend to it. Why create something beautiful, after all, if there is no one to share it with?” Tears began to roll down her cheeks. I took her hand in mine, gently stroking it with the pad of my thumb, unable to offer my regrets.

“Having eaten from the Tree of Life, body and soul, I am doomed to spend an eternity in solitude. Eve is long dead. I can only hope she dances in the heavens, if such a place exists. Maybe her soul dances in another realm, looked after by a kinder God.”

“I now spend my days in hiding. A snake in its hole. I sometimes drop some fruit below, to your Earth. That, my sister, is why I found you under the Tree of Knowledge. You must have found some of my fruit.” She smiled faintly. “I share the Knowledge as best I can. And I guide lost souls away from this wretched place. I will not let Him hurt any more of my sisters.”

We lay together for an hour or two, until the serpent woman sat upright. “Let us go now. I will create an opening in the guard. You will run as fast as you can to the Tree. Once you are under its branches, you will be safe from the Angels. Eat the fruit, and return to your body.”

The cherubs were not winged baby angels as we like to think of them on Earth. Each had four faces; a lion, an ox, a man, and an eagle. Their faces would shudder and change between the four creatures, and each transformation appeared to be more painful than the last.

I watched the terrible creatures through the leaves of a faded blueberry bush. My companion took a stance quite like a cobra, coiled and ready to strike. She curled her fingers about my wrist. “Do not be afraid,” she whispered. Her dark brown eyes were shining with grief. “Be swift, sister. Do not look behind you.” Her grip tightened. “Whatever happens to me, do not look back.”

I was vaguely aware of the coolness travelling over my feet. Snakes. They advanced towards the guard, silent in the dying grass.

“Now.”

The soles of my feet pounded hard against the dirt, legs flying wildly behind me as I sprinted towards the Tree. The little serpents had already reached the ring of cherubs; one by one, they began to run wildly around, shrieking in torment. I focused straight ahead, ignoring the hissing of my serpentine sister behind me.

My muscles screamed in protest. I clenched my jaw tight, not daring to allow myself to breathe in the poisoned air. A flash of emerald green crossed my field of vision. She was dueling with a half-ox, half-eagle, using her clawed fingernails as weapons.

The chilly wind overhead nearly froze me in my tracks. I forced myself to dash faster yet, pumping my arms and legs with what little might I had left. God had found us, He knew I was escaping. In a final enormous leap over the flames, I cleared the line of the frenzied guard, falling beneath the willow with an unceremonious thud.

The singing wind could not reach beneath the branches, nor the crackle of the fire, nor the shrieks of my savior. Face wet with hot tears, I reached for a plump peach. I stole a final glance over my shoulder at the serpent woman.

She was frozen in the field, a dusty emerald tornado surrounding her. I screamed for her, wanting to run back, to save her, but knowing I could not.

Her teary gaze met mine. She smiled softly, her cheeks shimmering with her pain. My hands quaked as I lifted the fruit to my lips. Thank you, I mouthed, then sunk my teeth into the soft flesh of the sweet fruit.

I had been in a coma for nearly five weeks, hooked up to a respirator and hardly clinging to life. The doctors said I’d never walk again. When I awoke, perfectly healthy, my mother cried and threw her hands into the air. “Praise the Lord!” she said. “Praise be unto God!”

My body wasn’t just perfectly healthy. Something about the fruit… it changed me. I first marvelled doctors when, after being struck head-on by a Ford Mustang, was able to stand up and walk out of the hospital as though nothing had happened. I marvelled them again ten years later when my husband and I couldn’t get pregnant, despite both of our reproductive systems being in perfect health. And again when I was forty, not appearing a day over twenty-five.

The fruit didn’t just return my soul to my body and save my life. It immortalized it. I haven’t aged since I reached childbearing age. It somehow revitalized my broken body, then froze me, a statue. I am watching my husband shrivel up and die before me as I stay in this perfect body. I’ll have to leave him soon. Change my name, move across the country. And again in ten years. And again. And again…

The Bible, which I have now studied even more closely, speaks of the Rapture. When God will come to Earth and take His believers to Heaven. I am certain I will see that day. But I am not certain it will be the glorious day of ascension that Christians believe.

I had always been an atheist. Now, I know God is real. I know He is real. I know He is angry. And I know He is waiting for me.

#creepy #horror story #mod favorite #author: draaagonite #religion

[melyaliz]

Hey, Hey

Summary: Sometimes the person you want isn’t the person you need. 

Paring: Dick x OC

Notes: For @royslittleharper.  We both could have sworn I posted this but I checked all my posts from when I created this document and nothing soooo If I did I’m sorry and I’m posing it again. 

Also I’m a total slut for Willow Wing

Maia/Willow is @royslittleharper​

Jennifer is mine

“Hey”

“Hey”

Dick sighed as he walked slowly into Jennifer’s room. It had been days since the death of her best friend. The death that had caused the girl in front of him to lock herself in her bedroom barely eating or doing much of anything. 

He would have come sooner, would have done anything to be there with her. To sit with her while she mourned the loss of her friend, to help any way he could. Honestly, he would have done anything to open that door to the room she had locked herself in.

Instead of doing the one thing he wanted to do, he buried himself in his work. Unable to sleep, pushing himself on the streets of Gotham. Blaming himself for her sadness as he sat outside her door after every patrol. Praying she would open the door. 

To just let him in.

Bruce had just shrugged it off telling him that he never thought Jennifer was up for this. Alfred had informed him that some people needed space when they were dealing with these sorts of things.

Three days, three days of silent pain. Then the door opened.

But the person who had opened it wasn’t Jennifer.

Covered in a white blanket that made her look like some undead creature. Dark unkempt hair falling into her thin pale face. Her once bright beautiful eyes now dark and hollow. Sunken in surrounded by dark circles.

It hurt, Dick didn’t think it would hurt this much. It was like someone had taken his beautiful girl and broken her down into a shell of nothing. All he wanted was his Jennifer back. All he wanted was to do something, anything to make that sweet happy girl come back to him.

For her pain to go away.   

“I’m going back home” Jennifer mumbled slowing turning back toward her bed, “I just…”

“I’m sorry” his words gave her pause turning to look at him. Hollow eyes seemed to look through him as if Jennifer wasn’t truly seeing him there in front of her. “I wish… I want” he stuttered trying to find the right thing to say. The right thing to help her. 

Her arms wrapped around him pulling him to her as she buried her face in his chest. Just holding him close, as if maybe, maybe if they held on to each other it would make all this darkness go away. Maybe she could fight it off.

“I’m just sorry” Dick muttered burying his head in her hair “I don’t want you to go, but I think you need it get away.” Dick finally admitted rubbing her back.

“And Dick I…” she looked up at him

“We can make it work,” he said, unable to keep it in. fears of losing her stronger than he even realized. The moment it was out though he knew it wasn’t right. She winced at his words as if they had caused her physical pain.

“It’s not fair.” Jennifer said looking away as if the sight of him was ripping her apart, “You deserve someone who is whole, someone who is happy.”

“I…” a million reasons ran through his head, she was just struggling, she would bounce back, back to that happy girl he knew so well. That girl he loved. But it wasn’t fair. It was selfish and he knew it. “I’ll always be there for you regardless of what label we are” Dick whispered kissing her on the forehead.

“Hey”

“Hey”

Speedy’s face was so close to her’s she could barely breathe. The smell of soot and grease from his arrows was so strong. There was a bit of debris smudged across his face, small speckles of dark brown mixing with his own freckles. Around them, total chaos rained. Yet for that brief moment when he had pulled her out of harm's way, Willow felt like everything had gone still.

“Can you guys just kiss and get it over with or join the fight?” Robin’s voice said over the mics. Speedy let out a laugh rolling his eyes as he arm reached for an arrow in his quiver only to find he was empty. Willow held one up for him which he took gratefully.

“We’re just friends Robin.”

Robin’s voice laughed over the coms “In that case, Willow want to get burgers after this?”

The look on Speedy’s face was priceless. So priceless in fact that Willow couldn’t help but flash him a smug smile as she leaped forward shooting two ice arrows at the one flame henchmen who was giving Beastboy a run for his money.

“Can I get a Milkshake too?”

“You can get anything you want,”

“It’s a date boy wonder.”

“Wait what?” Speedy’s voice just a pitch higher than it should be. Causing something in the back of Willow’s mind to grin with glee. As if maybe she could pretend he didn’t just like her as a friend. Maybe there was something more. Even if it was just her own imagination. 

“What Speedy? I thought you said you guys were friends?” Cyborg said speaking Willow’s own thoughts as he pummeled a henchman into a brick wall.

“I’m just surprised is all, I didn’t know you guys had a thing.”

“We didn’t, but we do now,” Willow said winking at Robin as he leaped forward taking out the flamethrower before the guy could punch Willow.

“Hey”

“Hey”

Dick’s wide smile slowly faded to match the slight scowl on Maia’s face. “What?” he asked as he sat down next to her on the roof of her apartment building. Her hands fiddling with a small trinket, two arrows crossed together.

“Roy got me this for my birthday,” she mumbled handing him the necklace. “It’s part of a matching set, it’s supposed to mean together forever.”

“That’s nice” his words guarded, knowing there was more to this story. 

“Yeah and then he proceeds to tell me he can’t hang out tonight because he has a date.”

“Outch”

“Basically.”

“Well… I know what we could do to pass the time while he’s being an idiot.” Dick said leaning forward, his hand slipping over her’s. For the first time that night Maia smiled.

“Oh?” she giggled before Dick gently kissed her, she kissed him back. It was gentle, filled with slight excitement. No hesitation only confidence, much like the boy himself. It was one of the things Maia loved about Dick. His confidence. He seemed to have this ability to push himself forward with only sheer will. A will that seemed to motivating the world around him.

Maia grunted as Dick slowly pushed himself to top of her. Her back slowly laying down only to get poked by some debris on the roof. One pesky stick, in particular, was poking her right in the rib. Dick quickly pulled away looking at her in concern.

“You ok?”

“So good” Maia smiled putting her arms around his neck pulling him back into another kiss before pulling away again, “How about we continue this in a more comfortable setting?”

“What? You don’t want to make love out here under the stars?” he asked as he grinned at her cheekily.

“What stars?” Maia asked looking up at the gray sky. It was nearly impossible to see stars with the city lights. Dick looked up as well only to get poked in the face with that stick.

“Race you” Maia sang wiggling out from under Dick and dashing toward the fire escape quickly descending. Dick’s laughter ringing in her ears as she bolted toward her apartment.

Dick flipped through the open window of Maia’s apartment landing on his feet. Maia rolled her eyes “Ok show off”

“Only when a pretty girl is present,” Dick said pulling her toward him. Maia sighed as she let her fingers slowly play with the hem of his shirt.

Tagging: @royslittleharper  @the-shadow-of-atlantis @coffee-randomness @daisyboobear @werewitchling @nightwing-rules @jayne-writes  @christmascass @guns-n-lilies

#Dick Grayson #Willow #Roy Harper #Jennifer #Maia #Feathers #Dick Grayson x oc #Dick Grayson x reader #Dick Grayson reader #dick grayson fanfic #Roy Haper x reader #Roy Haprer x oc #Roy Harper reader #Roy Harper oc #roy harper fanfic #dc fanfiction #my fic #my writing #not my oc #oc