Donnie's Visions (apocalypse Seer Twins comic) Part 5 (complete!)

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I should wait until tomorrow to post this so i can make sure i didn't miss anything. But i don't particularly want to wait. It's the last part and i just really want this to be fully complete (post and all.)

anyways, i hope you enjoyed this comic! I am very glad to get to check one thing off my to-do list.

✧I Need You✧ Chapter 141

Though she grumbled about it the entire way, you had to watch your dead zones. Nobody could know you were flying into Brooklyn holding a woman who was holding an unconscious man. Jessica seemed to care less about your reputation considering what cargo the two of you had- and maybe that was fair… but- you had a lot more to worry about than just optics. People would go looking for you if they followed a trail. Cops could show up. Bystanders. Paparazzi. People would follow you around if they thought they saw an Avenger disappear into a defunct building in Brooklyn. 

But even with all the circling around and low flying and then eventually just sneaking, the two of you made it to the place she’d been trying to lug Kilgrave off to this entire time. You had no idea how she knew about this place, or who was even still running it, but after walking up a flight of stairs (so not really a bunker, per se…), she tossed Kilgrave into your arms so she could start setting up. Turning things on, hooking wires up, filling up a couple buckets of water from the dingy sink in the back corner to flood the floor of the cell Kilgrave was to be locked up in. 

Though it was unimportant, the silence was a little unnerving. Listening to Kilgrave’s slow, almost peaceful breathing was starting to get to you. “Who were those people on the front lawn?” 

Jessica was bent over a table, plugging in the laptop she’d brought and then connecting an overhead projector to it. She then stepped over to a camera on a tripod. “Idiot friend of my sister’s. Wants to help. Can’t get out of his own way.” 

It was thoroughly obvious Kilgrave had probably used him in some way, just like the rest of you. “He knew where you were. He know about this place, too?” The last thing you needed was another confrontation like that. 

Her smile was bitter. “Yeah. He actually introduced me to it.” Well that was just fucking great. “Throw him in. I’m finished over here.” 

Gladly you obeyed, wanting to be free of him for now. Walking him into the cell, you set him down on the small metal bed attached to the wall and then stepped out, closing and locking the heavy metal door and then the second security door after that one. It was a small cell, enough room for only the barest pacing. Uncomfortable. Gloomy. With only that small bed on the wall. The entire front wall was made of three thick window panels. Easy to see in. And out. 

Deactivating the entire suit with a small double-tap at your chest, you perched to sit on the corner of the desk Jessica was working from, crossing your arms. “So what’s the plan here?” 

“That room’s hermetically sealed. CDC used it for infected patients during some outbreak or something. He can’t hurt anyone while he’s in there. But we’ll hurt him.” Turning your head, the two of you locked eyes briefly before she sat down in the chair and just stared straight ahead. “The floor is wired on an open circuit. We can give him a nasty shock any time he misbehaves.” Pointing at a big red button on the table.

It was too easy to see she was taking a certain pleasure from all this. Maybe you should have been, too, but… “I just…” You had objections. “This is all about getting him to confess? On camera? It’s not something that would help our case- ...showing this to a jury?” 

“He’s a monster, in case you forgot.” Glaring up at you then.

You retained your calm. “You know that. And I know that. But people who don’t know him are going to be fed a story that this man- that we’ve locked in a prison- that we’re electrocuting for a confession- that we’re-” Your thoughts died with a shake of your head, a harder tuck of your arms. “To anybody else but us, it looks like we’re torturing somebody innocent. It’d be completely inadmissible, even if he did confess.” 

This would never work. And maybe having somebody lay it all out really hit home. Just not in a good way. She stood quickly, slamming a hand down on the table to lean in and invade your personal space. You sat there, unflinching. “Do you have a better idea? We get one shot at this. And this is all we’ve got.” When you continued to just look at her, she backed off a little. “For Hope we have to try. I won’t give up.” Her eyes searched yours when she brought her gaze back up. “And if you have any reservations about that, then just go. I don’t need you here.” 

Turning your head you looked back into the cell. Kilgrave was here now. Locked up. In a place where he couldn’t touch anyone anymore. So long as you held him… “I’m not leaving.” This you knew for sure. But… Hope’s trial might not have been the reason anymore. 

“Good.”

                                                                  --- 

You couldn’t help pacing just a little bit. More than anything you wanted to talk to Tony, but if you just started speaking to your earpiece, it would be a little too obvious that this plan had technically been spied on the entire time. Though you wanted to fill the silence, what Jessica decided to fill it with was unwelcome. 

She tested the overhead projector, playing a video from the laptop. Stopping in your slow back and forth, you held very still as images lit to life inside the cell. A young boy. Strapped to a table. Wires covering him. 

“Be a big boy for mommy and daddy, Kevin.” A woman’s voice- presumably his mother- spoke off camera. 

To say that this was disturbing wouldn’t even be cutting it close. “What is this?” 

She slung her arm back over her chair. “That’s him.” 

You felt unable to move as a few doctors came closer, one with a giant needle, bending him forward, ignoring his screaming as they stuck it into the back of his neck. This was what he’d been alluding to all that time ago. “What are they doing to him?” He’d been experimented on. Sanctioned by his parents. 

“Extracting brain fluid. His parents turned him into a labrat. And when he wakes up, that’s exactly the excuse he’ll use as to why he’s allowed to rape and torture innocent women.” 

“Mommy please! Make it stop!” Genuine fear and pain. A small child. Being tortured like that. For what reason? Maybe she knew but… was it worth asking? Was it worth asking why Kilgrave- Kevin they’d called him- had been experimented on as a child? 

“Honey.” Tony’s voice startled you and you turned away to hide the small jump. 

Pulling your phone out of your pocket you made a weak attempt at hiding your upset over all this. “I have to take a phone call.” When she made a dissatisfied grunt, you walked out of the room, closing the door behind you. Though she wasn’t watching, you still held the phone up to your ear. “I don’t know what we’re doing here anymore.” You kept your voice quiet. There was an unexpected silence from his end of the comm. “Tony?” 

Then you heard him breathe out. “Look- come home, if this is spinning out of control.” 

“We have all the control. For the first time. But I just don’t know what we’re doing.” Jessica’s plan was to emotionally and mentally torture Kilgrave into a confession and when that didn’t work she’d go physical? This would never work. Was this even really about Hope anymore? ...and if it wasn’t… then you felt like… “We should just put an end to this…” That same dark, clawing feeling you’d had in the house. 

You had him. This could be over. Right now. 

When Tony went silent again for too long a time you sensed something was up. Something urgent. “Is everything okay over there?” 

“I’m trying to thread the needle here-” Even this far away, just that small note of disappointment in his voice resonated deep in your chest. “I don’t want you to think I’m not paying attention- but the team found a king rat’s nest in Belarus-” 

Your back met the hallway wall as you sloped uneasily. He was busy. The team was busy. This had to be over. The two of you couldn’t do this anymore. And you couldn’t ask him to. “Do what you have to do. I’m alright.” It was far from true. In this one moment, this one instance… it would have been nice to be able to talk this through with him. To decompress. Even a little. But that wasn’t fair to him. “Be with the team.” 

“I’m not leaving homebase.” At least trying to make sure you knew that. 

“Sure. But- pay attention to them. Help them. I’ve got this.” 

He made some sort of noise, holding out a thought or… trying to scrape one together. In the end it died and he tried again. “I have the line open. Always. Alright?” Facing defeat in the measure of making this choice. 

The two of you had to pick the one thing in front of you that wasn’t each other. And it sucked. “Yeah. I’ll call, if I need anything. Go be a hero.” Weakly smiling as you said it.

“You, too.” 

You took just a moment. One. A single moment just for yourself. To gather everything you had. Your supposed courage. Your strength. And on the next deep breath you entered the room again. Kilgrave was awake. Shouting- raving in his cell as Jessica sat behind her table, playing a different clip of his childhood torture into his room. His younger self screaming was the only thing in the air. Kilgrave’s own ranting was silenced behind those thick walls-

And further still when he came close enough for him to see you. Jessica half turned in her seat, looking at you. “He seems to like you. Any idea why that is?” Miffed if nothing else. When you said nothing, she held her hand over a smaller console. “Let’s find out.” 

An electric buzz tapped the air and you heard Kilgrave’s heavy panting inside his cell, microphone turned on. He laid his hands on the glass and you felt drawn towards him. “Was this all your idea, puppy? The hostage situation? The heroics? All of it?” You stopped just in front of him, still staring at him as he stared back. His face softened as he shook his head. “No. Couldn’t be… you know this is wrong, puppy, I see it in those soft eyes of yours… she built up my trust- she gave me a taste- a feeling that I could be a hero- like you- and then she tore it away-” 

Jessica spoke up behind you. “You’re not a hero, Kevin.” 

You watched as he flinched, hands tensing on the glass. “Shut up.” A quick growl. Demeanor completely changed from that whimpering sad man. A real reminder… 

To show him the situation he was really in, Jessica was quick to keep talking. “Go ahead. Command me again. That’s a hermetically sealed room, Kevin.” 

He laid his head on the glass. “Kevin died in that lab.” A low utterance. “Puppy- you’ve watched that footage- I’m sure she told you her version of events, let me tell you mine- I was tortured- left to die- by the people who were supposed to love me-” He looked up at you again. “You of all people- you must understand- you know this isn’t right…” 

The worst part of all of this, was having to stand there, stock still, while he bounded from one emotion to the next. He was so severely- gravely angry with Jessica. Any time she spoke he’d flare up in such a heavy rage. But listening to his own childhood torture? There was a similar anger but it was swallowed by gut wrenching heartache. But not the same kind that he spit out as he looked at you. As he begged for his life with you. Begged you to find some semblance of humanity. No for those… for those it was all empty.

With a trembling hand you reached up, placing yours over his on the glass. There was a dim mostly hidden smirk at the corner of his mouth and an air of satisfied victory. Reminding you. Reminding you there was no humanity to be had here. Not for him. “Admit what you did.” Cold as you stared at him then. “Admit that you made Hope kill her parents. Admit what you did to Jessica- to everyone- to-” 

Whatever warmth he was playing at for you died. His expression went slack. And then just a biting twist of annoyance. “What? To you? Let’s see now… it was a warm night in May. You’d stepped out of your cozy abode and we bumped elbows on the street. I can’t fault you, the way you admired my charm- I even felt a little terrible- the whole world knows you pretend to be in love with Tony Stark. But when you asked me to take you away- how could I say no?” He got the reaction he was looking for as your hand curled into a quick fist and hit against the glass. His smirk grew then. “Who would have thought America’s little darling would be such a whore. But you enjoyed it. I wonder if Stark knows? What you did for me?” 

The shift was quick. A shock sounded and he crumbled in on himself, falling in a heavy seize to the floor while crying out in pain. You stepped away from the glass, turning back to look at Jessica. Her hand was steady on that button for a few seconds before lifting. “Forgot to mention, the water in your room is a conductor to an open wire. It was jerry-rigged by a former Spec Ops interrogator. Clearly he knows his shit.” 

Kilgrave fought through his panting, palms hitting the wall as he ambled back up onto his legs. “You want a confession, too? Taking me to proverbial church?” Baring his teeth in a snarl. “Don’t you remember, dear Jessica, how we met? In that dark alleyway… where I dried your tears. Fed you dinner. Took you wherever you wanted. Did whatever you wanted. And when we made sweet love, I-” 

Her hand slammed the button again, sending him into another shock that ended his little tirade. Moving over to her you put your hand atop hers, giving her just a little look. Trying to will her back off that edge. “Stop.” 

Broken laughter from that cell cut your both your attention back to him. He was sitting, knees up, arms atop them. “There we are… two of the world’s biggest liars in the same room…” His head swayed to eye the both of you. “Can’t imagine what the two of you don’t know about each other. I could help lighten the mood. Maybe we can all make some peace over this.” He took another breath. “The clock is ticking. Let’s not waste-” 

Reaching over, Jessica flipped a different switch and Kilgrave’s voice died, though his mouth kept moving. “Let’s give him a little time to think about his predicament, shall we?” Leaning over, she then started playing the files from the laptop again. He seemed to stop talking immediately, setting his gaze dead ahead. Stewing. “And a little incentive.” 

Looking at the screen, littered with files in that one folder, you couldn’t help but ask. “These are all of him?” If it was a long experiment trial, it would make sense, but… “Where did these even come from?” 

“There are other kids. I wonder if he killed them. You think he’ll tell me the truth if I ask?” Rolling her eyes to indicate she thought not. 

“Can I back these up to my servers?” This needed to be looked into. If not immediately- while Tony was busy- then soon. This wasn’t right. And if there were more children that had been birthed from these experiments- more like him… they needed to be found. 

She sat down, shrugging. “Knock yourself out.” 

You pulled the chair out next to her and turned the laptop your way. Logging on to the secure Stark Industries Servers you glanced over the laptop as Kilgrave knocked on the glass. He was staring at you again. Pointedly moving his mouth. And you heard him. 

The clock is ticking, puppy. 

Your eyes dropped to the corner of the computer screen. It was a little after seven in the morning. Time was running out for sure. You couldn’t keep him locked up like this forever. Even if nobody knew he was here. There just wasn’t a point to all of this after a certain measure of time. But as to who that really benefited…? 

                                                                 ---

It took a little over two hours to build a dangerous momentum. Kilgrave had gone from sitting to kneeling. Then to standing. And then to pacing. Prowling, more like it. Like a caged tiger. The walls were closing in. And he didn’t seem like he could take much more of this. Truthfully, neither could you. Sitting there while a child screamed in the background, subjected to tests and trials, needles and wires… it was about all you could do to sit there stone faced. 

“He’s going to explode.” Maybe saying this because it would put a stop to it. 

Jessica leaned back in her chair and eyed you. “Oh he is, is he?” She was on edge too, but loathe to show it. ...only realizing, at that very moment, Kilgrave was not the only subject of your focus. “That part of the thing you can do?” 

Putting a hand to your temple, you eased some stray hair back. “What did he tell you about me, exactly?” Now didn’t really seem like the best time for this. But it may also have been now or never. 

Her eyes dropped and she gave a halfhearted shrug. “Just that you fuck with people. Like he does. But worse.” Then she looked up again, “Is that true?” Regarding you very carefully suddenly. 

You perhaps didn’t hide the slide of your eyes up to the camera still pointed at Kilgrave’s cell well enough. Checking to make sure that little red light wasn’t still on. It wasn’t. And so… “I’ve never used my powers the way he made me.” 

“And what did he make you do?” Not accusingly, surprisingly. Just openly asking you. Even gently, if she had it in her. 

“For a long while… I think it was just a game. Of seeing if he could make me submit. Seeing if he could break me. And he tried for a long time. When that got old he found someone new to play with. And then… asked me to look inside her. Asked me to see how his powers affected people. He knew he could tell someone to smile, but he couldn’t make someone happy. But… he knew that I could.” Emptying all of this out didn’t feel good. But. Maybe it was time. “I’m pretty sure I ruined a woman’s life for him. I violated every part of her.” 

“Where is she now?” 

“I don’t know.” Shaking your head and then looking down at your hands. “I freed her the night I escaped. And… that was that.” 

Almost in solidarity, the two of you looked up in sync. Staring at him as he paced. “How did he find you?” 

“I was out- I went out to get something for Tony’s birthday party that night. A journalist was following me- I… I was worked up and- ...I’m making excuses.” Realizing now. Realizing the irony Kilgrave had tried to impose on you. You’d abused your powers to make some small-time paparazzi go away. That was the reason for all of this. You caught a wave of tears mid drop, wiping your hand across your face. Kilgrave had stopped pacing. Now watching you. “I hurt somebody because it was easier. He saw it and wanted that for his own. I think.” 

There was just not enough time between your own selfish grief and what Jessica said next. “He made me murder an innocent woman in the middle of the street.” And when you cast a sideways glance her way, you saw the fresh wetness in her eyes, too. One she was valiantly biting back. “So I get it. Alright? Now we both know. We can stop the pity party and focus on what really matters.” 

Acutely aware the both of you were being watched, she switched the video to one of the other kids in the trials he’d been exposed to. A poor young girl. Strapped to a table. Crying. As she switched his audio feed back on, you stood, coming closer to his cage. He watched every single step you took. Close to the glass that separated the both of you, you tipped your head to the side. “Where are these other children?” 

This genuinely seemed to surprise him, and his head dropped, pressing against the glass with a little breathy laugh. “Oh, puppy. I admire you, really I do. Worried about all the innocents of the world.” His head moved sharply back up. “Or is it you’re worried there’s more like me out there?” Hissing this quietly at you. “One can never tell with you. You’re so spitefully two-faced.” Practically spitting at you. 

“What they did to you- what happened- it was terrible.” Watching him, still, as you said this. Allowing yourself one brief moment to feel an ache for him. It eased him, leaving him standing there, both hands against the glass, openly regarding you. “I can’t imagine being tormented like this so young. If you know what these experiments were- who was conducting them- why-” 

He pressed his forehead against the glass again, eyes fluttering closed. “My terrible parents had a mind about them to change me. I wasn’t good enough. I suppose all those other brats were in the same boat. I don’t know anything about them.” His voice was low and you sensed he was telling the truth- or at least his version of the truth. But when he looked up again there was a strange fire in his eyes. “Are you disappointed in me, puppy? I’m not quite like your dear Captain am I? I didn’t make it out on the other side with such an unquestionable sense of right and wrong.” 

Even now. Somehow. Even now you were still terrified of him. But you stayed. And you tried. “You can make it right. You just have to start telling the truth.” 

“Here’s the truth, my sweet, innocent, stupid puppy.” His voice had dropped to a bare murmur, but it was shaking with a heavy fury. “When I get out of here- and I will- I will devastate your life. I will take everything away from you, like you have from me. I’ll make you see you’re not the hero you think you are, and only when you’re begging for the sweet release of death, I’ll deny you.” His fists banged against the glass. “I’ll kill you over and over and over again and watch you wither away into dust. I’ll sit back and watch you ruin your own life while you’re trapped inside that worthless prison, and maybe if I’m feeling merciful, I’ll let you love me after. But not before every inch of you dies by my hand.” 

For a moment you knew you were not in your own body. You were about a single inch just outside of it. Not in control. Just standing there. Staring out blindly. Staring into the void that was Kilgrave. Black. Angry. Massive. No light to speak of. Ready to suck everything into him. Never stopping. Only expanding. Growing. 

Growing every second you let it. 

The sound of the doors in the back of the room opening startled you back to your bleak reality, but what really frightened you was the quick snap of Kilgrave’s behavior. Where he’d been staring at you with a promise of a long and painful death, he suddenly looked terrified as he jumped up and down and banged his hands on the glass. “HELP ME! PLEASE HELP ME! I’M BEING HELD CAPTIVE-” 

Jessica’s hand smacked the red button, sending a shock current through him and he fell to his hands and knees again inside the cell. Taking a breath you stepped back, confused to see Jeri Hogarth approaching. “What the hell are you doing? Stop. Now.” 

Kilgrave was whimpering in his cell. “Please stop them- please, I beg you-” He had his face pressed against the glass. “Oh god bless you… god bless you…” Wheezing for breath. Crying. All the dramatics. 

Going back to the table you crossed your arms as you and Jeri regarded each other. She was the first to speak. “This was your plan?” 

Jessica’s anger flared just a little as she reached to turn off the audio, silencing Kilgrave- and his ability to hear outside his own cell. “My plan was to cut his balls off. Now I’ll settle for a confession.” 

Jeri narrowed her eyes at you. “And you. You’re fine being party to this? To kidnapping and torture? You should be smarter than this. Does Stark know you’re here? That you’re threatening-” 

Leaning closer to her, you couldn’t help your own temper. “Don’t pretend like you give a damn about me or my life. I’m surprised to see you. How does your being here benefit you? It must in some way, I’m sure.” 

She crossed her arms. “Even if it did, this is asinine. You know better. A confession gleaned in this manner would be considered under duress. Inadmissible. Worse- it’ll indict the both of you. You should just let him go and hope he doesn’t press charges.” 

Showing her inability to deal with this situation, Jessica scoffed hard and turned around. “You two really are more alike than you know. How come it took me to get the both of you together?” 

Jeri shook her head. “So at least one of you has some sense, then.” Reading the room. Knowing you’d already tried to tell Jessica this wasn’t going to work. “You need more than whatever the hell this is.” 

Trying to figure anything else on the spot you asked, “What about the survivor group?” “Hearsay. What else do you have?” 

Jessica pointed to the laptop. “What about the videos?” A sense of desperation was rearing its ugly head. “His parents-” 

Jeri stopped her. “-were evil scientists, yes. I listened to the files you sent. But there's nothing to link the boy in that video to the man you are torturing.”

“Then we’ll make a new video.” It really didn’t feel good that you were so far in this know that Jessica was backing everything up as we. Did you really want to do this? “I’ll force him to use his powers.” 

The air in the room went a little cold as Jeri shook her head and put her hands on her hips. “There’s no time.” 

Confusion struck you the quickest. “No time?” 

“The DA offered Hope a plea bargain. All the stories, all the crazy claims coming out of the woodwork- it makes for bad press. They want it done.” 

You stepped one pace back, not really removing yourself from this situation but… thinking. Jessica was ramping up. “No. I’m too close- I have him.” Ah. Suddenly… no longer we. Why was that? Everything was slipping through her fingers. And you had a feeling… had this really been about Hope? The entire time? Some part of it must have been but… 

“Hope will do twenty years. Maybe fifteen for good behavior. If she turns it down she could do life. I have a legal obligation to present this plea deal to my client.” It sucked that Hogarth was the only one trying to make any sense out of this. Anyone trying to do right by Hope. Because- ...surely it had to have been obvious, right? You’d never take down Kilgrave. Not like this. Their arguing went on behind you as the reality of this situation started to dawn.

There isn’t a jail in the world that can hold Kilgrave.

When I get out of here-

“You need a witness with legal authority.” 

“What about her?” This broke you free and you found yourself closer to Kilgrave’s cell than to the two women arguing at the table behind you. Turning you gave them a confused look. Jessica continued, waving her hand about, “She’s party with the fucking UN. If anyone has legal authority over this bullshit world that they put together- it’s her-” 

Jeri’s tone was extremely stern. “You need to calm yourself and think about this rationally. The both of you kidnapped this man. Have had him here for who knows how long. And you want to use her as an authority over the situation? She’s biased. If you wanted to use her, you would have been smart to leave her out of it until now. As it is, she’s useless. She’s just as implicated as you are. And a judge would never authorize her as a credible source- let alone being even able to use this as evidence for a jury.” 

Jessica’s disappointment was a hot flash that you just didn’t need right now. “So- what- I need like- a cop? Or a judge?” 

“Either would be fine. But the DA is giving me a forty-eight hour window to decide on the deal.” 

You wanted to interject. To ask if any of this was worth anything. But something was drawing you in closer. Sucking you in. That vortex that was swirling around Kilgrave was calling you. And so you turned away- in your uselessness- to go back to the cell. 

They continued to squabble until Jessica decided she was leaving. She was going to get a cop. The longer you stayed here the worse it would be. She called your name. “Stay here. I’ll be back. And then this can be over.” You gave her a weak nod, about all you could do. 

Then she was gone. And for a long while, you and Kilgrave just stared each other down. You crossed your arms, but he held his hands against the glass. As if yearning for any sort of contact. The air in the room was uncomfortable at best. But growing tenser by the second as you heard Jeri typing away on her phone. It didn’t take an empath to sense she was a little distracted by something in her personal life. 

And almost exactly an hour after Jessica had left, Jeri stood. “I need to take a phone call.” 

“I’m fine here.” She wasn’t asking your permission, but you gave it anyway. And as she moved to leave, you followed suit, going over to the table. And when the doors closed behind her, you flipped the audio back on. 

Immediately as you did so, he droned. “Oh, puppy…” And when you turned to look at him, he smiled. “My sweet, puppy. Won’t you come over here? Can we talk like civilized people?” Part of you wanted to disobey. Not give in. He had no power here. No power over you. But you went anyway. Slowly. In a shuffle of one foot after the other. And once there, his smile grew absolutely sunny as he rested his head on the glass. “That’s my good girl. I’m sorry… about what I said… it’s all Jessica- you couldn’t possibly understand, she just makes me so…” 

As he breathed a clenched breath out, you lifted your hands, matching his across the span of the glass, and then you laid your forehead against his, too, and closed your eyes. 

“Puppy, you are so sad… and so frightened. This isn’t you. I know you. This isn’t right. Let me out. The two of us- we can just- leave. Make it all go away. I’ll forget it ever happened. We can leave this all behind.” 

Trying so desperately to entreat you. To appeal to your sense of the greater good. As if he really knew you. Like he knew anything about you. 

It was why his shock was so pleasing as you lifted your head, pressing every part of yourself against the glass. Glaring at him. “I’m going to kill you.” 

You’d made this promise before. This one would not be unbroken, either. 

But it seemed to stun him. Frighten him, even. 

Good. 

“What? What did you just say to me?” Staring at you, eyes wide. Like he couldn’t believe it. 

“Jessica might not see it yet, but I do.” Your voice lurched a little and you felt a hot wash of fresh tears. “There’s nothing more for you. You won’t change. You’ll just keep hurting people. I’m going to give you a mercy no one else has shown you. Mercy for you and the world.” 

That darkness circled in on him and then exploded. Strong and wild. His stupor died down as he looked at you. Eyes unmoving from yours. “So that’s it, then. You’ve decided I’m the villain. And you’ve decided I’ll die?” 

“That’s right, Kilgrave.” Soft as you replied, nuzzling your forehead against the glass. “I decided. A long time ago. And now it’s time. I’m going to kill you. So keep putting on a show. Keep running out the clock for Hope. None of it matters. The both of us know that. You’re just biding your time until you can get free- isn’t that what you said to me? That you’ll get free and torture me until I long for death?” Your suddenly heavy breathing fogged the glass with every strike. He was wild. You were wilder. “Just be thankful I’ll make it quick for you.” 

The two of you stared at each other for perhaps too long a time. Too close. If the glass wasn’t there, you’d be skin to skin. But finally, just as the doors opened and Jeri came back in, he smirked. “You really are an animal, aren’t you? That’s what I love about you. That’s what I’ve always wanted you to see. What I saw. You take whatever you like. You know, for a while, I had a mind about me to use you. To make Jessica see what I know is the truth.” 

Behind you, “What is he talking about?” 

Kilgrave slammed his balled fists against the glass. “But now I want the world to see you- see you the way I do. To know what you can do. I’m going to use you to your full potential, puppy. You’re going to make people kneel for me. Make them feel that I am their king. I am going to make you regret everything up until this point. Sooner than you think.” The two of you stared each other down until he hit his hands again and cast a glance sideways. “Let’s start, shall we! Did you know she has powers like mine? I’ll bet not. Everyone in her entire world- no, the entire world itself- is manipulated by her- yet I’m the dangerous one?” 

There was a muddy disbelief behind you, but it was overshadowed by shock. “...you’re enhanced?” It would have been easy to break away. To deny it. He was a crazy man in a cage, after all. He’d say anything to be free. But instead you just stared at him. And said nothing.

Kilgrave returned that toothy, wolfish smirk your way. His voice was a wet, gravelly whisper. “I said I’ll destroy your life. I meant it.” 

You’d held so still that entire time. Allowed yourself nothing. It was somehow so easy to square up to him again. “I said I’d kill you. I meant that more.” 

Ladybug and Reine Nuit: Chapter 10

Gamer

Disclaimer: I don’t own ML.

Surprise double update! Both to celebrate getting a new laptop (FINALLY) and for more Chloé smackdown ft. Adrien with a spine!

@miraculousl4dybug​ @livinthebilife​ tagged as requested :)

Part 9 | Part 11

Although things on the Chloé front have been tense since Adrien had told her to buzz off, it’s all been relatively tame for a few weeks now. She hasn’t done more than scowl and drop a mean comment here and there when Adrien’s not around, with many nasty comments directed at Alix, who’s been quiet since her akumatisation into Timebreaker a few days prior. But, far from being a relief, it only puts Marinette on edge; when will Chloé strike next and what will she do?

Chloé’s next move comes during the Françoise Dupont tryouts for the Paris Ultimate Mecha Strike III Tournament in the library, to find a partner for Max.

“He’s totally unbeatable! And this tournament is his whole life!” Kim says as Max and Adrien mash their buttons. “He’s been grinding all year to level up!”

Just as Kim says that, Adrien utterly creams Max’s robot and comes out in the lead with more points. While everyone cheers, Max says, “Awesome job. We’re gonna make a killer combo!” and high-fives him, although Max looks a little miffed that someone had actually beaten him.

“So, like, Adrikins got the best score, right?” Chloé says. Why she’s even here, Marinette has no idea; if Chloé genuinely likes video games, Marinette will eat her earrings.

“Yes,” Max says. “That means if anyone was to beat me, they would take my place. But no one will beat me!”

“Oh, I don’t have to.” With a smirk, Chloé approaches Mr Damocles. “Mr Damocles, sir, I believe that second spot belongs to me.”

“Wait, what?” Max bursts out. “You haven’t even played, Chloé!”

“Mr Kanté is correct, I’m afraid,” Mr Damocles says. “If you’d like to try out then you’re more than welcome. But I can’t just give you his spot when he earned it.”

“Hmm. Pity.” Chloé pulls out her phone. “I guess my daddy will have to hear about this. Would be a shame if he pulled the school’s funding –”

“No! No! That’s not necessary!” Mr Damocles clears his throat. “Chloé Bourgeois and Adrien Agreste will represent Françoise Dupont High School at the Paris Ultimate Mecha Strike III Tournament. Good luck to both of you.”

“Yay!” Chloé bounces over to Adrien and plants a kiss on his cheek. “Isn’t this just amazing, Adrikins? Now I get to come over and practice with you! You can totally give me private lessons in this game!” She winks. Adrien looks like nothing in the world would please him less than having to hang out with her in private.

“This is totally bogus!” Alix says.

“Yeah!” Rose adds. “Max won that spot!”

“My decision is final!” Mr Damocles says quickly. “Now, the library is closing up, so I suggest you lot get moving!”

“Max?” Marinette rests a hand on Max’s shoulder, but he shrugs her off. “We’ll fight this, you know. Even if we have to kidnap Chloé and tie her up in a supply closet so that you can play.”

“I’m right here, you know,” Chloé drawls. Marinette pulls a face.

“Unfortunately.”

“Thanks for trying, Marinette,” Max sighs, standing up. “But there’s nothing you can do. I simply have to accept this unequivocal travesty.” He shuffles out of the library with slumped shoulders.

“Max! Wait!” Kim runs after him.

“What time suits you, Adrikins?” Chloé says in a sickly-sweet voice. “I know you must be very busy with your schedule –”

“How about never?” Adrien growls. Chloé shoots a quick glare at Mr Damocles.

“Ahem – um – Mr Agreste, cooperation and partner chemistry are very important –”

“You hear that?” Chloé throws her arms around Adrien. “Chemistry! You and moi!”

“Then I’m forfeiting my position,” Adrien says. “Max can have it.”

“You got the higher score,” Mr Damocles says. “That’s not possible.”

“Chloé didn’t even play!”

“This gaming session is over! Clear out!” Mr Damocles says loudly. Fuming, Adrien gets up and stalks out of the library. Chloé follows, though not before shooting Marinette a smug little smirk on her way.

“That cheating little brat!” Marinette hisses, clenching her fists.

“Girl. Chill.” Alya grabs her shoulders. “I’m just as mad, trust me. But calling her names isn’t gonna do anything.”

Marinette squints at Alya. “You’re telling me not to call Chloé Bourgeois names? Who are you and what have you done with Alya Césaire?”

Alya laughs and links their arms. “Trust me, I can’t believe it either. But if there’s one thing that Ladybug and Reine Nuit have taught me, it’s to plan someone’s demise rather than rushing in. Chloé won’t get away with this, believe you me.”

.

“Oh, it’s been so long since I was in here last!” Chloé sighs, bouncing with her hands clasped in the middle of his room. Adrien’s eye twitches. What did he do to deserve this? And what happened to the Chloé he remembers? The one who was biting and took no shit but wasn’t a nasty bully?

Maybe that Chloé never existed. Or maybe she only ever existed for him.

“Okay, so, like, how do you play this Mecha whatchamacallit?” Chloé says, throwing herself onto Adrien’s white couch. “We’ve only got a little time, partner!”

“You’re not my partner,” Adrien growls. “Not technically. You cheated your way into it!”

“Oh, please,” Chloé scoffs. “I didn’t cheat. I just offered a very strong incentive.”

“By threatening to cut the school’s funding! No wonder no one’s done anything about your bullying! Why would they, when you’re the one holding the strings?”

“You really got yourself in a twist over this, huh?” Chloé says. “I didn’t know you cared so much about some school, or some weird nerdy loser who wears suspenders.”

Adrien just shakes his head. “You need to apologise to Max. You’re really disgusting me right now, Chloé.”

Chloé snorts. “Me? Apologise? No way. Why should I?”

“Because otherwise, I’ll never talk to you again.”

“What?” Chloé jumps up. “What are you talking about, Adrikins?”

“I don’t want to lose your friendship,” Adrien says. “I never did. But if I stand by and let you pick on others, I’m just as complicit as you are. So, if you keep on getting meaner and meaner, I’m not going to talk to you anymore. I won’t want to talk to you anymore.”

“Ha! You’re talking to me right now. You just needed the incentive, didn’t you?” Chloé flips her hair. “It’s okay to admit that you need to come crawling back to me.”

With a growl, Adrien storms out of his room and down the staircase to the front doors. He has to get out of here. He can’t blow up at Chloé. The last thing he needs is to be akumatised over this.

As it turns out, he’s not the one who was akumatised over this injustice.

“Wait! Adrien!” Chloé cries, chasing after him just as he pushes open the front doors. His eyes are immediately drawn to the gigantic black and green pyramid looming over him with two massive mechanical legs. Its green eye locks directly onto him and Chloé.

“Chloé Bourgeois,” snarls a digitised voice from the pyramid. “Let’s see if you really can game against me, the Gamer, or if all you can do is go crying to Daddy.”

“Look out!” Purely by instinct, Adrien tackles Chloé as the pyramid shoots a ray of green coding at her. Chloé beams at him from beneath him, but he just rolls his eyes and jumps to his feet.

“And Adrien Agreste,” Gamer growls. Adrien’s eyes widen as he realises who it is. Max! “If not for you, Chloé would not have pulled her despicable trick.”

“Wait, what? How is this my fault?” Adrien says. “I tried to pull out and give my spot to you after you left, but Mr Damocles wouldn’t let me because of Chloé!”

“Hmm.” Gamer’s pyramid just continues to stare.

“Come on, do you really think I’d even want to be Chloé’s partner in the first place?” Adrien says.

“Hey!” Chloé huffs.

Before Gamer can decide whether he’s going to spare Adrien, two blurs of colour land in front of Adrien and Chloé.

“Sorry, but you haven’t unlocked these challengers yet,” Reine Nuit says, twirling her staff.

“You do know that implies that Adrien and Chloé are harder bosses to beat than us, right?” Ladybug says while spinning her yo-yo by her side. Reine Nuit rolls her eyes.

“Hey, I never said I knew a lot about video games.”

“Excuse me, but can you actually save us instead of bantering?” Chloé demands. Reine Nuit grimaces.

“Do we have to save Chloé?” she complains.

“Why is everyone badmouthing me when I’m right here?”

“Yes, kitty,” Ladybug says firmly. “She’s a civilian.”

“Hmph. At least someone’s on my side,” Chloé says. Adrien struggles to conceal a snort at the way Ladybug’s eye twitches.

“Enough! Game over!” Gamer aims at them, but the heroes are quicker; Ladybug scoops Adrien up in her arms, while Reine Nuit groans and throws Chloé over her shoulder, and then they’re off just in time to avoid Gamer’s laser beam.

“Split up! Meet at the brat’s headquarters!” Ladybug calls to Reine Nuit, who salutes and takes off in another direction while Chloé loudly complains about how her expensive clothes are getting dirt on them. Ladybug heaves a huge sigh and swings behind a building for cover in case Gamer attacks them.

“I don’t think he’s coming for us,” Adrien says when there’s no sign of a laser beam.

“No wonder Gamer’s angry,” Ladybug says. “I heard that she cheated her way into his spot.”

“It wasn’t cheating,” Adrien says with an eyeroll. “Just heavy bribery and blackmail.”

“What a difference,” Ladybug deadpans. She bites her lip and peeks around the corner, but there’s no sign of Gamer. “Looks like he’s angrier at Chloé than he is at you. Why is he mad at you, anyway?”

“He thinks it’s partly my fault,” Adrien says as Ladybug swings off again, this time in the direction of Le Grand Paris. “Because if I didn’t end up getting the second spot, Chloé wouldn’t have done what she did.”

“Okay, that’s just taking it too far,” Ladybug says. “It’s not like you asked Chloé to do that. And from what I’ve heard, you tried to pull out and give your spot to Max.”

“Mr Damocles wouldn’t let me. Chloé threatened to cut the school’s funding, since her dad’s the mayor and everything.”

“Of course,” Ladybug mutters. Something small flutters in Adrien’s stomach at the sight of Ladybug with narrowed, determined blue eyes as she swings in a wide arc up to the top of the hotel. He doesn’t actually have feelings for Ladybug, he’s sure of that…but maybe if Marinette hadn’t come in first, he may have fallen for Ladybug instead. In another universe, perhaps.

“Oh, good, you’re here,” Reine Nuit says when Ladybug lands on the rooftop and lets Adrien down. “If I had to spend another minute with this brat –”

“Keep going and I’ll make sure all of Paris shudders at the sound of your name,” Chloé threatens with crossed arms and a petulant scowl.

“Wow, I’m so scared of the girl who needs her daddy to get anything done.”

“Okay, enough!” Ladybug says before Chloé can shriek in outrage. “We don’t have time for this. We need to figure out how to take down Gamer.”

“I want to help,” Adrien says. “It’s partly my fault, anyway.”

“What did I just tell you?” Ladybug says.

“I know that part’s not my fault, but I should’ve done more to stand up to Chloé!”

“Hey, don’t go taking the blame that isn’t yours,” Reine Nuit says. Her eyes dart from side to side, keeping an eye out for the massive akuma. “Chloé’s the one who blackmailed her way into the spot, not you.”

“What?” Chloé gasps, covering her mouth. “I didn’t – you liar! How dare you? You’re totally trying to ruin me in front of my BFF!”

“Save it, Chloé,” Ladybug says. “Adrien told me the truth. You need to take responsibility for your actions instead of blaming others.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

“Fine!” Chloé shrieks. “Gang up on me! But you’ll come running back to me soon –” She’s cut off by a green laser beam hitting her and dissolving her into code.

“Thank you!” Reine Nuit calls to Gamer, while Ladybug grabs Adrien again. “Sorry we have to kick your butt!”

Ladybug’s eyes widen when she sees that the robot has upgraded and now has arms and thicker legs. “He’s level three now!” she cries.

“And four is the highest level!” Adrien adds. He grins at Ladybug, who beams back.

“So…that’s bad, right?” Reine Nuit says as they bound off again.

“Yes!” Ladybug and Adrien reply. Ladybug yelps and dodges a laser beam, which hits a building and turns it into green code.

“Okay, well, we gotta get him out of here or he’ll destroy the whole city!” Reine Nuit calls, using her staff to propel her out of the way of an attack. Ladybug’s eyes land on a billboard advertising the gaming tournament at the stadium, and her eyes light up.

“The stadium!” she says. “Come on, Reine Nuit!”

As predicted, the robot follows them to the stadium, so Reine Nuit uses her Cataclysm to destroy it and expose Gamer himself. Although they get a tonne of loot for their trouble, Gamer just touches his glasses and respawns his robot around him.

“Aww, not the old spawn point glitch!” Adrien groans.

“But did you see how he pushed that button on his glasses?” Ladybug says. “I bet the akuma’s in there.” She touches their red loot sphere to claim it, and is gifted with a massive, ladybug-patterned cat robot. “Ha! We’ve levelled up too!”

“Uh, slight problem.” Reine Nuit holds up her beeping ring. “I’m fine for now, but I don’t know if we can take him down before I turn back. Plus, I’ve got literally no idea how to play this game.”

“I can help!” Adrien bounces on the spot, wondering if he’s died and gone to Heaven. He can actually help the heroes out this time? No way!

“It’s too dangerous!” Ladybug says automatically.

“It’s not like he’ll be any safer out here,” Reine Nuit points out. “Gamer’s after him, remember? Besides, he’s way better at the game than I am.”

Ladybug chews her lip, then makes a snap decision before Gamer can launch another attack. “Fine. Just stick around in case we need you on the ground, Reine!” she says before grabbing Adrien around the waist and swinging up to the top of their robot to slide inside.

“Can I man it?” Adrien says when they’re in the cockpit. He whips out his phone to take a rushed selfie for his Instagram before the action begins; thankfully, Ladybug doesn’t notice this.

“No way,” Ladybug says. “You can shoot. You’re already in enough danger in here as it is.”

Together, Ladybug and Adrien utterly lay the smackdown on Gamer with move after move, but he fires back just as hard. Stuck in a stalemate, Adrien can’t see how in the world they’re going to get out of this one.

“Take the controls, Adrien,” Ladybug orders, swinging herself out of the cockpit. Adrien scrambles over to her seat just in time to see her summon her Lucky Charm outside, which turns out to be a can of spray paint, and Adrien has no idea what the hell she’s supposed to do with that until he sees her leaping over to Gamer’s robot and spraying the eye.

“Of course!” Adrien gasps. “He’ll have to come out and –”

Sure enough, Ladybug snatches Gamer’s glasses when he pops his head out to fix the problem, then releases and purifies the akuma. Her Miraculous Ladybug deposits Adrien safely on his feet as their robot dissolves, and he bounces like he’s high on sugar as the ladybug cure fixes everything. He got to be an honorary hero! He totally helped Ladybug! This has to be a dream! Dammit, why didn’t he get the chance to record this?

“What am I doing here?” Max mumbles when he’s detransformed from Gamer and is pushing himself off the ground. Ladybug grins at Reine Nuit when the cat superhero comes over, before turning to Adrien and directing that grin at him as she holds her fist out.

“Oh my god, really?” Adrien gasps. Bouncing even more, he fist-bumps Ladybug and Reine Nuit. “Pound it!” he gets to cry with the heroes.

“I recharged while you were kicking his butt,” Reine Nuit says, holding up her hand to display her fully-charged ring. “So, I can take Max back to the school on my way.”

“I’ll take Adrien back, then,” Ladybug says. She slips an arm around Adrien’s waist and then they’re off, swinging across Paris, and Adrien can’t help the giddy laugh that slips out of him because this has been the best day ever.

.

“Where’s Chloé?” Marinette says to Adrien as he draws level with his classmates outside the stadium. “They’re about to call you guys up!”

“About that…” Adrien says. He holds out one of his controllers to Max, who squints at it. “She refused to come. Said that she “didn’t want to play that stupid game anyway”. I think she’s just still sore about Ladybug telling her to take responsibility for her own actions.”

“Really?” Max gasps, taking the controller and staring at it with shining eyes. “So – this means –”

Adrien grins. “We’re gonna kick their butts.”

“And now, representing Françoise Dupont High School…” comes the announcement from inside the stadium.

“Wait!” Marinette says. Adrien’s stomach does a hard flip at the gorgeous smile that lights up her pretty face when she holds out a little pink and green charm bracelet. “You should take this, Adrien. It’s my lucky charm.” She winks and says, “Can’t hurt, right?”

Adrien just blinks, then he blinks again, staring at Marinette with an open mouth. Is it possible to fall in love with someone all over again? Because he’s pretty sure that’s what just happened right now.

“Uh, dude?” Nino nudges Adrien. “They’re waiting for you!”

“…Right!” Adrien shakes his head and tears his eyes away from Marinette, otherwise he won’t move for the next ten years. He grins at Max as they approach the stadium doors. “Ready, partner?”

Max grins back. “Let’s show them who’s gold.”

Fox Hunt

Kinda miffed with ML’s choices for the miraculous’ powers, and just frustrated in general with their writing, so decided to dust this off.

This is just a rough draft, though. Trying to hammer out some more plot details first.

They say every person comes to a crossroad in their life. A choice of two paths, one that will become the best decision you ever made, and one that you'll regret til the end of your days.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng hadn't quite decided which path her current one could be considered, but scurrying around the edge of a tower in the dead of night wasn't what her fourteen-year-old self had in mind when she'd stopped to help an old man.

A pigeon giving her the bird-version of a side-eye wasn't doing her any favors either.

"Don't mind me, Jacques, just running a little errand." She waved distractedly as she made her way over to one of the filthier windows on this side of the building. According to the schematics, the third window from the right should be the one for the file room. Would be nice if she could actually see inside to confirm, though…

Guess all she could do was hope and pray for the best, then.

Shifting her flute into a narrower shape, she jammed it underneath window and quickly levered it open. Dust and metal flooded her nose as she took in the room. The large room with file cabinets and shelves. With walls and walls of file cabinets and shelves. All most definitely filled to the brim with documents and security footage.

"Well, it's definitely the file room…" With a sigh, she made her way inside and started scanning the labels for what she needed.

2001, 1999, 1997, 1995… 1993, there we go. Now, which of the 8 boxes could it be…?

Her ears caught the sound of footsteps echoing on a staircase, charging their way up to her floor. Why would they…?

A red light blinked out of the corner of her eye, and with a groan, she turned to look at the camera she didn't even think to watch out for. Oh, Trixx was probably loving this right now.

Time for Plan B. Well, technically Plan G, but it's not like anybody else had to know that.

Still trying to keep some level of stealth (if for no other reason than to salvage her wounded pride), she whisper-yelled the command, "Fox Sense," and tapped her flute against her head.

Immediately, a strong smell of plastic assaulted her senses, and her eyes were drawn to the box on the highest shelf. She crawled her way up and yanked off the lid, rifling through the tapes as quickly as she could without making too much noise. A shock raced across her palm, prompting her to look at the label on the tape currently in her hand.

15/03/1993 'Frelon Roi Goes Dark'

Gotcha.

Moving fast, she tossed the lid on, slid the box back into place, and leapt over to the window just as footsteps reached door. By the time the security staff burst into the file room, she was already outside and running across a roof two buildings over.

Giddiness overcame her as she realized that–despite screwing up with the camera–she'd managed to make a clean escape with her loot. And no birdbrain in sight! Looks like her luck was finally turning around-

Shwing!

Unable to help the little scream that escaped her, she quickly leapt back from the hardened feather embedded in the roof mere inches from where she'd been a second ago. A rustle in the wind was all the warning she had before a dark blue shape was dropping down on her from a nearby building, forcing her to fling herself off her own in an effort to get away.

Down in the street, she sprinted a few yards to put some distance between them before pivoting to face her pursuer, whom had quickly made his way down to the lower level as well.

"Shouldn't you be in bed, young lady?" drawled a familiar voice, casual tone belying the blackened eyes latching onto the tape in her hand and bringing a pinched look to his masked face.

If Marinette had any hope of getting out of this with the tape in her possession, she could not engage in a direct fight. Time and again, he managed to snatch every piece of evidence she had ever managed to find, and she couldn’t afford to lose this one too. They needed this.

A quiet beeping from her necklace reminded her that she was also on borrowed time. She scanned her surroundings as subtly as possible whilst distracting the Peacock.

“Oh, Jay Bleu. The sky is clear, the breeze is sweet, and the city of Paris is at peace. Can’t a girl just enjoy a beautiful night every once in a while?”

There was an alley two buildings down. Narrow spaces wouldn’t do her many favors, but if she remembered right, that alley was a shortcut to the Seine…

Taking a menacing step forward, Jay shifted a couple more feathers into his hands. “Young women need their beauty sleep, my dear. That’s why everyone is currently resting safe in their homes.” Sirens sounded in the distance, tugging a smirk onto his lips. “Well, most of them, anyway. I’m afraid someone has disturbed our esteemed officers’ sleep.”

“Well, that hardly has anything to do with me,” she blithely denied, keeping eye-contact with him as she slowly circled around him and tightened her grip on her flute. She had to time it right, or he would be on her in no time.

Jay Bleu rolled his eyes. “Fox, let’s not waste our time tonight. We both know how this ends. Just give me the tape and go on home, before your time runs out.”

She stiffened, just as another beep sounded in her ears.

A sigh escaped him, letting his eyes close briefly before he fixed her with a flat look. “Even if I couldn’t hear it, that necklace of yours is painfully obvious, blinking light and all.”

Almost there. “Come on, can’t you let me have a win for once, Jay?” she pleaded, lacing her voice with false sweetness. “It’s not gentlemanly to keep denying a lady like this. If you're not careful, girls might start hating you~”

He rolled his eyes a second time.

So close. She shifted her weight onto the balls of her feet. “Also, the name isn’t Fox.”

Almost.

She gestured at the pot of red flowers next to her. “It’s Camellia!” she stated, pride seeping into her tone as he took the bait, glancing over at it.

Now.

“Those aren’t-” Thwack! Her flute struck hard at his ankle, and down he went. “Shit!”

Not even pausing to see if he’d hit the ground, she made a break for it. First to the alley, which would hopefully have enough debris for her throw in Jay Bleu’s way. Then, it would only be a sprint to the bridge-!

A feather just barely brushed her cheek, forcing her to duck to the left and-against her better judgement-peer behind her. Jay Bleu had already gotten his feet under him and was pelting after her, a dark glare making his already intimidating gaze even more terrifying. She didn’t even hesitate to grab the nearest thing (a trashcan lid) and sling it at him.

The oof! behind her assured that she’d hit her mark, and she used the opportunity to put on an extra burst of speed, using whatever she could grab onto to fling herself even further away from her pursuer and leaving it lying in his path.

Another beep sounded, signaling that she had only two minutes left. If she didn’t make it, she was done for.

Desperation was fueling her as she burst out of the alley and sped out into the open. The cursing and crashing behind her said that Jay Bleu wasn’t far behind, so if she was going to do this, it had to be now.

Reaching into the pouch on her hip, she spun around and made eye-contact one last time with the boy behind her. Unable to resist, she smiled smugly and threw down the smoke bomb.

As smoke exploded into the air, she sprinted for the little bridge and promptly flung herself over it.

The Seine rushed up to meet her for just a second before she used her paw pads grab onto the side of the bridge and catch herself. She scrambled as quickly and quietly as possible to the underside and then waited.

Footsteps pounded overhead, reaching the middle and pausing as the boy gasped for breath. Nothing could be heard, save for the sound of his coughing every few seconds.

She held her breath and then suddenly remembered, wrapping one hand around her miraculous just before it beeped again, muffling the sound.

A few more seconds passed by, and the fox began to fear that her time would run out first. But someone must’ve been taking mercy on her, because after coughing rather hard one more time, Jay Bleu cursed and ran away, apparently having given up and simply deciding to try a random direction.

After waiting a little to see if he’d come back, she let out the breath she was holding in a big sigh of relief, shoulders beginning to relax. And just like that, orange light engulfed her and took away the fox guise, leaving simple Marinette behind.

Simple Marinette that had no way of holding onto the underside of a cement bridge.

She barely had time to scream before she fell into the river, a big splash erupting as she hit the water hard. She re-emerged, coughing and sputtering as she treaded water to keep herself afloat.

“Well,” she sighed, “that could’ve gone worse. At least I got...” Her eyes snapped open wide.

Video tape + water = OH NO!

Before she could begin to panic though, a deep, soothing voice called out, “No worries, Mari. I’ve got it.”

There, floating above her, was a little fox with large ears and slanted eyes glimmering with amusement. And in their paws was the video tape…!

Marinette couldn’t help her giggle of relief. She waved up at him in glee. “Thank God you’re here, Trixx!”

A chuckle responded back at her. “No no, you did all the work, Mari. We’re still  a little rough, but this is the proof that you’ve got what it takes.” They swooped down to hover just a little in front of her face, a foxy grin aimed at her. “Congratulations on your first successful heist, Camellia!”

Marinette’s responding smile was blinding as the reality settled in. She’d finally done it! She’d finally beaten Jay Bleu and recovered her first piece of the puzzle to finding the other missing Miraculouses. She could actually do this!

“Yes!” She thrust her fists up in victory. Maybe this was the right choice after all.

Could you make a story about 3 college girls hypnotizing each other into bimbo puppy girls?

Sorry, but I tweaked this one just a little bit. Hope it’s still ok.

   The girl’s nerves were made apparent by the shifting of her feet and the tension she held in her exposed shoulders. She waited on the decorated slab of concrete that marked the entryway to the sorority house. Her name was Mary, and she found her should entering her sorority sisters home on little more than a silly dare. Still, she knew the need for caution was now. She was no mystic by any estimation but she knew you didn’t play with forces you didn’t understand. But caution in the face of the unknown was not something Amy was in favor of, and Tracy just did pretty much whatever Amy said in the first place. How were they to know if she had been hypnotized at all? Which is, of course, why she was now going to be filling in as the hypnotist.

   It really was a stupid, childish idea. And like most of them, it began by trying to emulate a youtube video. It was Amy who found it, she was usually the mover and the shaker for the crazy bets they partook in. It was just a simple video from some stage hypnosis show, but it was Tracy in a rare show of original thought that said: “That’s so totally fake.” That was all it took for Amy to latch onto the idea of experimenting with hypno videos and audio files. There was over a thousand dollars on the line at this point, all the pair of them had to do was resist any command given after the “trigger word” each of them was going to be given by Tracy was said.

   That was over two months ago and since then every single night Amy and Mary had to listen to a general hypnosis induction file that Amy told Tracy to find. Mary had an inkling that the file she was given was on the expensive side, no doubt Amy taking advantage of Tracy again. If she wins she had every intention of sharing some of the cash with her, Amy certainly wouldn’t. It wasn’t as though Amy was a bad person, however, far from it. She just had a nasty habit of getting tunnel vision when making wagers.

   The doors opened and the rush of warm air from inside tickled her skin. Tracy stood in front of her wearing an adult onesie. It always brought a smile to her cheeks to see Tracy like this. She just came off so innocent and huggable, always just waiting for a moment to make someone happy. A fact Amy took advantage off a bit too often. It was a real shame that she wore that, otherwise she looked amazing. Her short red hair framed such a cute face and her body was that of a svelte athlete. It was a mystery where she found the time to exercise, but she had the burgeoning abs to prove it. “Hey Mary, are ya ready to get hypno’d? I’m so gonna make you guys cluck like turkeys and stuff!” Tracy said. “Not if I can help it Trace,” said Amy from her perch atop the stairs.

   She already had on perfectly applied makeup, as usual. She was one of those “image is everything” type of women. Her mother was a politician so it’s easy to see where that came from. As she descended the stairs her attitude became more apparent. She wore a dress far too fancy for such an occasion. It was a floor length navy blue that cut a deep swath of cleavage. Her ears were studded with diamonds and she wore a pearl necklace she had told everyone was a family heirloom. This was her war garb, her declaration that the contest was over before it started.  “So, ready to give me a thousand bucks?” Amy said.“Not hardly, you ready to cluck like a chicken for Tracey?”“Not hardly. Well, why don’t we get this show on the road? I have a party to get to after this. Are you ready Trace?” Tracy nodded excitedly as she led the pair into the house.

   Tracy lead them to her bedroom. It was towards the back of the house so they were less likely to be disturbed while they sorted this out. “Ok guys, so first things first I need to do one in person session with you two and try to put you both under. And if I can do that then I’m going to try to implant some trigger words and once you guys wake up we can see if they worked. Whoever they don’t work on wins the bet, ok?” Amy and Mary both nodded in agreement. “Yay! This is gonna be so fun you guys, trust me. Now I’m just going to put on some mood music and then we can start. I even got a pocket watch to use, isn’t that cool?” She declared with unbridled excitement.

   “Ok, Amy you stand here and Mary you stand on her left. Alright, so last chance to back out?” Amy rolled her eyes, “Just get on with it Trace. Like I said I have plans later,” she said with an exasperated yawn. Tracy withdrew the pocket watch from her dresser drawer. It was simple for a pocket watch. A polished steel exterior that didn’t have any sort of engraving except for the manufacturer logo. She held it outstretched and subtly swayed it back and forth before the two young women. “Look at the watch. Watch it sway back and forth and back and forth. Each time it swings back you find it more difficult to turn away. Each time it swings back you find yourself going deeper, and deeper, and deeper. You’re beginning to feel lighter. Back and forth, back and forth.” Tracey was right. Both Mary and Amy found it so difficult to focus on anything but the watch. Its motion was so smooth and enticing, just back and forth, back and forth.

   “Back and forth, back and forth. With every motion, you feel yourself falling deeper into the trance. I’m going to start counting and when I reach zero you will be completely under my trance. Ten, watch the motions back and forth. Nine, you feel yourself being drawn down deeper and deeper. Eight, you are so relaxed. Each swing of the watch drives away any stress or confusion. Seven, it’s so hard to focus now, you’re becoming so relaxed. Six, you’re so close now, so close to perfect relaxation. Five, back and forth, deeper and deeper. Four, so nearly there. Each swing brings you closer and closer. Three, you’re bodies are so relaxed now. Two, back and forth and deeper and deeper. One, almost totally relaxed now. Zero…”

   Mary was more peaceful than she had been in years. If nothing else these files and this session at least gave her some really great sleep. She was a little miffed when she vaguely heard Tracy say “Wake”. She and Amy were bounced back to reality very abruptly. Tracey still stood before them with a wide smile on her face. The watch she held stood still on its silver chain. Amy waited for nothing and asked: “Well, who won Trace?” Tracey just smiled at them, but it wasn’t her usual chipper smile. This one filled Mary and Amy with a small feeling of dread. “Well, Amy. I’m pretty sure that I just won.”

   Amy and Mary both looked at each other with faces screwed up in confusion. “Um, the hell are you talking about Trace? You weren’t a part of this remember?” Instead of responding to the question she placed her watch back in the draw it came from and turned back to the pair and said: “Sit.” Amy and Mary both responded instantly and squatted down on their haunches. Mary wore a functional pair of leggings and had no problems following the order. Amy’s dress, however, was not intended for such a sudden motion and the tearing of fabric was unmistakable. Neither of the girls saw fit to question the order they were just given though. “Damn it Trace!” Amy said, “This dress was expensive! You are so going to—” Before she could finish Tracey said, in an uncharacteristically commanding voice, “Heel.” Amy instantly shut her mouth and cowed to Tracey’s command. Mary wasn’t speaking but she knew she couldn’t until Tracy said it was ok. “Now that I have your attention, Amy, why don’t you go ahead and get Mary naked. And Mary, you do the same for Amy. But no using your hands, just your teeth. And why don’t you guys just stay on all fours from now on?”

   It was a pretty great idea and Amy and Mary leapt at the opportunity. Amy took the initiative and bite at Mary’s light grey t-shirt and pulled it off her, revealing Mary’s ample chest contained in a pink lace bra. Amy’s dress was a more complicated matter. Mary had to begin at the bottom and pull it over her hips and torso. Amy must’ve been planning on having a good party, she didn’t bother putting any panties on. “Oh Amy, I always knew you were a naughty girl. If only you had picked that up about me, you might have avoided this,” Tracy said as she unzipped her onesie, revealing beneath an ensemble of black leather and exposed skin in all the wrong places.

   “Good little pups,” Tracey said as she stared at her two subs, fully under her control, as they sat on all fours. Their pert asses were in the air and they wagged them side to side. If they hadn’t agreed to listen to those “primer” files she supplied they might have been able to resist this session. Now, Mary, you can go over to the bed and start humping the mattress, really give it your all. And Amy, you can come over here and start lapping at your masters pussy, like a good puppy.” Amy actually yipped in excitement. Still wagging her bottom, she crawled over and sat on her knees. She grabbed Tracey’s ass for support and lapped and licked and teased her masters pussy. Mary was so jealous, but master told her to give the mattress her all and she was not going to disobey. Mary whimpered and moaned as she rubbed her needy crotch into the corner of her master’s mattress. It felt so good to follow her commands, she was sure to get rewarded. Then she would be top dog servicing master.

The End. Hope Y’all liked it!

Change In The Weather

Sometimes I just sit and write and see what comes out. This is one of those times. It was going to go in a few directions, but I decided to keep it shorter and simpler. Sending this out to @clumsy-grace, my fellow hockey loving boo. Enjoy!

1. Where there were open bottles of champagne, there was always a smile on Grace's usual resting bored face. Coming back to tour after hers and Michael's sporadic break had been a surprisingly good for her. She never would have guessed that babysitting drunk young men and listening to the same songs every night would nurse her bruised heart. She was grateful for the room Michael made for her even if she wasn't always fast to express it to him. 

"You good?" Underneath his girlfriend, holding her knees as she sat on his lap, Michael rested her chin on her bare shoulder and asked directly in her ear over the music playing in the London night club. It was Ashton's girlfriends birthday and no one planned to go home sober. 

"Yeah." Grace knocked her head so that her cheek landed on top of his head, her contour looking particularly chiseled under the flashing red lights. "I'm having a really good time." She had only been back for two weeks and it hadn't been an easy decision to return. She had left for two months and driven a painful wedge between herself and her musician boyfriend. She covered one of his hands on her knees, holding it by slipping her fingers between his.  Illuminated rouge, they grinned gingerly at one another, eyes locked and refusing to move. He leaned in quick to stun her with a kiss, but Grace invited it with a pull from her bottom lip between his. She tasted like the bubbles she had been drinking all night and Michael hoped to get drunk off her perfect painted red pout.  "Do you want more?" He asked, tapping the side of her empty flute with one of his fingers. He wanted another round of liquor himself. Michael was looking forward to being a beautiful klutz with his stunning girlfriend later, fumbling in a friend's guest room and kissing her until every inch of her had felt his crazy he was for her.  "Please." A second hadn't passed since he asked and Grace pushed her glass into his chest, twisting herself to better face him. It didn't occur to her to get up off his lap until she felt him move beneath her butt. She carefully stepped off of him, keeping her knees tight since her dress was shorter than her paitience. "I will be right here." Grace wasn't in the mood to dance tonight. She just wanted to cuddle in a booth with Michael, laugh with the drunk British celebrities that Simone was lucky enough to call friends, and drink free Cristal.  Michael kissed her once more, adventuring his hands down her perimeter, enjoying her firm curves, and then leaving to the bar. He felt so lucky that she was back. For a second, he wondered if his drunk prayers had Ben answered when he would lay awake, missing her, and wishing she would change her mind. She laughed as he excitedly introduced himself to Kit Harington on his way. He nearly knocked the birthday girl over with how fast he reached out his empty hand to shake the actor he had watched religiously. Grace slid back into the leather cushioned booth, hugging herself and how warm she felt inside. She was like a pillow and she felt so scared that someone would unfluff her at any moment. It was one of her least favourite things about herself: She was always waiting for the other shoe to drop.  Grace watched Michael until he disappeared in the crowd, Kit and Ben Barnes following him around dancing bodies to the bar that they had deduced had the shortest line. She reached across her drawn on and painfully right cleavage to her clutch by her side and checked her phone inside. No one from LA had called her. She hadn't heard from her old life since leaving again. Grace felt disappointed, but not surprised. She was about to open her texts to reread the last message from her sister when she felt the cushions beneath her shift. Quickly, she turned her face with an ecstatic expression she strictly reserved for Mike, eyes stretched open with lashes fluttered and lips working a tried and true smoulder. As soon as she realized it was Ashton and not Michael, Grace relaxed her face and set her body upward with tense shoulders. She was always ready to defend herself and many people found it off putting. "Hi..." She curled her right hand at him lightly, showing off her coffin tips. Grace was boldly herself when she met people, unafraid to show off the person she raised majorly by herself. She felt embraced by a couple of Michael's friends, like Calum, and accepted by the others, but there was an uneasiness between her and Ashton that everyone could feel. He sized her up whenever he looked at her and he never pointed his body to face her. There was space between them and he put it there on purpose. Grace could feel it and she complained to Michael who never denied it either. So Grace always put on an invisible apron and slipped into her old waitressing shtick when he was around her. She did everything she could to leave him without a reason to dislike her.  "Mike just went to get another round." She leaned closer to.gim, her back never leaving the booth, and shouted to Ashton over the music. Grace doubted that the drummer was there for her. When close enough, she could inhale the marijuana and beer sweating through his skin. It prompted her to find it painted in different autumn hues in his eyes.  "Why are you here?" Ashton just yelled back while holding back a small involuntary burp.  "Your girlfriend invited me." And because she wanted to be, but Grace had to remind herself that a good waitress wouldn't say that to a customer no matter how rude. "Sim is nice." He didn't slur, but his words were dripping from liquid courage. "It's a nice thing to do to invite certain people." Grace only nodded, her eyes taking the the time to notice the stain from a spilled drink on his dark brown pants. She didn't have to ask, she knew that she was one of those 'certain people'.  "I meant why are you here?" He called again, pressing his hand into the leather between them and bringing his mouth closer to her ear.  "Like in this booth? Or in London...or..."  "No!" He cleared his throat after shaking his head sending the top part of his hair bouncing as he did. "Why are you back? You left without a fucking word and then you just came back." "It wasn't quite like that." It always bothered Grace that Ashton spoke and behaved as if he knew everything, but she didn't pick a fight. He was one of Michael's favorite people after all and Michael was truly her most favorite person that wasn't an old Hollywood movie star she saw on TV. "There's more to it."  "Mike was starting to move on. He was happy and fine and then you came back." Ashton continued, his eyes growling at her through the darkness.  "Is this really how you want to be spending your girlfriend's birthday?" Grace bit on the tip of her tongue for just a moment. He was working her last nerve like a patron who instructed her to smile. "Interrogating me?" "He was seeing someone and then you came back." "Yes, I came back. I can tell you're really miffed about that." Grace gripped her clutch to her side with one hand, pushing the tips of her nails into her side deeply as a way to maintain her temper.  "I don't trust you." Bluntly, he came right out and said it. Grace wished for a moment that she was insulted by Ashton's omission, but she wasn't. It was obvious in how he shifted his position when she walked in a room or how he barely greeted her when she was around.  "Color me stunned." In monotone, she answered and kept eye contact with an uninterested stare. For Michael, she could show off a tapestry in her gaze, but everyone else was given frosty blank stares.  "You were an actress in a music video, you knew Michael liked you, you played hard to get, you slept with him, you went back and forth, you ghosted him..." Ashton listed improperly for her, not earning a nod back of acknowledgement from the pin up looking beauty. "You don't give two shits about his feelings."  Grace waited, making sure Ashton was done before jumping down his throat. He leaned back proud of himself and took his last sip from his bottle of beer. "I actually slept with him before I played hard to get." Confidently, she corrected even though she never intended to play hard to get. Grace had a bout of indecision that kept her from completely giving into her own feelings for Michael. She wasn't about to go into that with Ashton though not when he was being so unwelcoming to her. "That's your first mistake." She scooched closer to him. "Unless you are so inadequate that I've fallen asleep every time you've joined Michael and I in bed, I don't think you're actually a part of our relationship. So, you don't actually have all of the facts, believe it or not." Ashton cleared his throat and tried to look away, but Grace would not let him. She knocked her knee against his leg and pulled his focus back to her. "This is the most you and I have ever said to one another, so maybe that is is why you don't trust me because you don't know me.  If you knew me, you would know not to corner me in a booth and try to read me." She moved Ashton along the seat, her waitress costume removed as she lost her self control. "Lucky for both of us, I don't need your trust. I sleep fine without it and you better fucking believe that Michael doesn't need it in order to love me." Grace scooched closer just a smidgen more and Ashton lost his balance. He almost fell right off the booth and onto the floor with a hard thud. However, Grace's quick reflexes from a life of shoplifting and running from strangers sprung into work. Her hand curled around his wrist and she yanked him into place. "Do not come for me." Her teeth were locked tightly as she held him before her, warning him. This was not her first time having to stand up to a man who thought he had the upper hand. Grace relinquished her hand and grabbed her clutch, instantly putting more space between them. "And not that you deserve to know, but Mike means everything to me." One last time, Grace shouted over the music to Ashton before standing up to leave from the other side of the booth. "Think about that when you go and fuck yourself."  In front of him, the black round table between them, Grace finished and started to walk away. She ran into Michael who would recognize her pissed off face anywhere. He looked over her straightened hair to see his dumbfounded friend, but chose to chase after his dream girl instead. All Grace was thinking was that Ashton was lucky she didn't have her refill because he would have been wearing it.

******* *** *** *** *** * * * *  

2. She had on his flannel shirt, one he usually wore open over a plain t shirt and loose over his shoulders, but even though it was keeping her warm outside and under the midnight Finland breeze, Grace still fumed angry with her husband. Emmeline was fast asleep back at the hotel with Cagney and Penelope, but Grace was contemplating waking her daughter who was knee deep in the terrible twos.  Michael had been on tour for forever it felt like to Grace even if it hadn't been nearly as much as it was when they first dated. There was a lot more standing still in his life since Emmeline was born. Maybe even before that when Ashton and Simone were expecting Molly. It was around then that they took longer expansions of time off and stayed in one place at a time more often. Michael had come home every weekend when Emmeline was two months old and the band was finishing their music festival commitments. He always tried to put them first at the cost of his own comfort. Six months pregnant again, Grace was livid after being promised that Michael would have time to themselves before their second child was born. Michael's parents has already agreed to take Emmeline for a weekend, she booked a day for them at a spa since she knew she wouldn't be encouraged to fly by then, and Grace was looking forward to it. Having two small children was a frightening reality as much as she was hungry for it, more excited during this pregnancy than her first, but Grace had focused on her week at home when she needed to relax. She had let herself feel giddy at the prospect of finishing up a nursery for their new little person and preparing Emmeline to learn to entertain herself or hold a baby. She hadn't had much practice since she was only a touch older than Connor Irwin and Penelope Hemmings.  Perhaps, she had overreacted, but Grace couldn't manage her hormones along with the disappointment Michael's life brought her sometimes. There were times where she felt like he didn't even consider her and it hurt when she had been made his priority for so long.  Grace hugged her arms around herself and sighed. The night was clear and while Helsinki was far away from everything that felt like home to her, the cool breeze across her face was comforting. She closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh air. She wished she was at one of the parks, staring into the water and watching swans, instead of at the arena where the crew was still packing up.  "Hey..." Making her jump in her skin, Ashton's voice poked in to make himself known before he walked in front of her. She opened her eyes, startled, and saw him apprehensively approach her. "You stormed out so fast, you forgot your coat." He had her red parka hanging over his arm and offered it to her. "I also grabbed you a banana." She had craved them with Emmeline and was craving them again this pregnancy. It led her to believe that she was pregnant with another diva.  Once Grace took the coat from Ashton's limb, she saw the freckled fruit. She slid her arms into her jacket that barely zipped up now that she was showing and then took the banana from him. "Thanks." It was very thoughtful of him. She knew he had overheard her shouting at Michael in the hallway. She had even noticed him put down his plastic cup full of vodka to hear if they were okay.   "You don't need to tell me to understand or see things from your managers perspective, Ashton, I get it." She began to peel her snack, sighing through his nostrils with exasperation at what she suspected he had come to say to her.  "I wasn't going to say anything, just wanted to check that you're okay." Ashton held up both his palms as if he was the victim of a stick-up. She was pregnant and she ran out of the arena like it was on fire. He noted the way she raised her boldly drawn on brows at him and sunk into himself, taking down his hands as she took a big first bite of banana. "You said you were going to leave..."  They hadn't always liked one another, but Ashton had come to appreciate Michael's wife from spending so much mandatory time with her. She had been a great supporter of Simone's work and helped at all hours of the night when Molly was teething. She was someone who always rose to the occasion and Ashton appreciated that. She was feisty and not always kind, but she loved his two kids like they were her own, she rocked Michael's world, and she always tried to make Simone's life easier. Ashton also privately thought she was one of the funniest people he had ever met which was strange to him because he knew her upbringing had been far from joyful.  "I don't want to startle Emmeline and make her fly all day with me." Finland to Sydney wouldn't be the longest flight they had taken together, but they never flew commercial when there was a great distance. Grace didn't know how she and Emmeline would do on a standard airline for hours and hours. "I'll have to see how things are in the morning." With her empty hand, she shook her hair back from its crown and kept biting at the fruit in her other hand. "Simone doesn't like all the schedule changes either. She thinks it's inconsiderate." He couldn't say the last word without hearing his wife's posh accent in his head, yakking at him through a speaker phone. "It is." Grace agreed without hesitation. "It was before you had your own families, but even more so now. We plan our lives to the minute so that everyone's day works and then everything changes just because." It was nothing she hadn't already let out inside the building. "I get it too. It's part of it, I know. I just ... " A sigh like a gust of wind was forced from her body, making it shudder as she dropped her Ames to her side, the banana peel hanging by her knees. "I wish Michael seemed more upset about missing out on time with me or Emmeline." "Grace, come on," Softening, Ashton came closer to her and leaned up against the building right by her. "You know how much you two mean to him." A very drunk Michael had expressed to Ashton and Calum that he would have nothing to live for if something happened to his two girls which really frightened his band mates to hear. "I think he keeps himself level because he knows you're so worked up. You're worked up enough for everyone." He sort of chuckled. It wasn't a completely safe thing to say around her, but Ashton took his chances since it was true. In his relationship, Simone was the one to keep calm while he tunneled into tizzies. He knew she could feel things just as urgently, but chose to play it cool since no solution could come if they were both freaking out with their head in their hands.  "We are about to have a second kid. I can do it by myself..." Grace felt that she could do anything on her own even if that was hyperbolic. "I don't want to though." "Simone said a very similar thing to me after Con was born." He understood where she was coming from completely.  "Yeah, well she had a business to run to so I can only imagine." She rolled her eyes at herself and began to walk over to a garbage can to drop her banana peel in.  "It doesn't matter. You want your team mate there." He said to her back before she turned to rejoin him. "Would you be cool if I talked to him?" Ashton was going to anyway unless she explicitally didn't want him to get involved. He considered himself the self appointed Dr.Phil of their on the road family. He liked to be needed.  "Actually, yes." Vigorously she nodded to his offer. "Michael listens to you. He tunes me out." She could be like a dog without a bone, relentless, she knew that.  "He just hears how angry you are," Ashton corrected with a smile, reaching out and running a hand from her shoulder to elbow. "Not what you're saying". Michael wanted to do right by his wife, Ashton knew that. It was a challenge though to please all the pieces of his life.  Feeling somewhat better, Grace reached for Ashton's hand and put it on her stomach.  "Whoever you are, this is Uncle Ashton. Don't give him any trouble, he kept your mother from leaving your dad." She jokingly talked to her stomach before looking to and laughing with Ashton. "Thank you though. You're very good to us." She said, referring for her whole family - unborn second child included. Grace was very grateful for Ashton. Their friendship had grown organically and they had both had to come to understand one another. It was work, but it had been worth it for both of them. Ashton saw Grace like an older sister and she saw him like a father figure, something neither had had before. "You're my family." He shrugged like it was nothing and then tossed his arm around her shoulder, pulling her in for a hug at the side. "Let's get a car to take you to the hotel. You should be resting." He growled as he pressed their cheeks together, just like he would to his wife when she was pregnant and working all hours of the day. Ashton placed his hand on her stomach again, feeling around for signs of who was inside, while walking her through the warm hallway. He was always excited, each time their band family grew. Ashton wanted their kids to grow up to be as close to one another as they were. It was his biggest hope for them.