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#okay it might have been an actual genuine hunting accident but i only read about dead monarchs for THE DRAMA let me have this

downwiththemutantnjnjaturtles · 3 years

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Could u also do the four with an S/O that can read them like a book, and just out of no where knows what’s going on and gives random (good) advice? Thank you so much!!

Agh, anon, your requests are a breath of fresh air—feel like I'm going back to my roots with these classic headcanon-type posts 😭💜 I figured this would be a good post to go into some of the problems the boys might have, if you don't mind!

The Boys with an S/O who can read them like a book:

Donatello

• His latest projects, practical and obscure, have not been going well as of late

• He's in a slum and can't seem to get out of it, trying incessantly to fix the various issues to no avail

• It's not often he gets like this but it's here and he's irritable—unable to peel himself away from his projects even late, late into the night when he should be in bed

• You find him up way past the hour in his lab, having heard him tapping his instruments, shuffling around the space, he's not making an effort to be subtle but generally no one approaches him in these times

• Well, except for you

• He doesn't quite notice your presence until he turns around to find you leaned on the doorway

• "You know, all this stuff isn't going to run away from you," you say diplomatically. "It's going to be here when you wake up in the morning. So why don't you go to bed, Donnie?"

• "Because I have to figure out what's wrong," he sighs. "If I don't do it now, I'll..."

• You walk over and take the empty pipette from his hand, setting it down on the counter behind you. "You have all the time in the world to tackle this stuff; you really should go to bed, Donnie. Like I said, your projects aren't going to be gone in the morning, or the next, or the one after that. You shouldn't live life with a constant sense of urgency."

• It may not be what he really wants to hear, but he can't deny that he is impatient at times and tends to prone to anxiety when things keep going wrong.

• "You...may be right. Possibly. Maybe," he says, a hint of defeat. "Okay. I'll go to bed."

• Kisses the top of your head on his way out.

• Someone to understand and give him a gentle perspective without judgement is a very welcome change

Leo

• Leo always has a looming feeling of being unprepared

• What if Mikey won't be paying attention when he needs him to? What if Raph has an explosive episode on the surface and puts their mission on the line? What if Donnie's equipment fails them at the worst moment?

• It's why he's always harking on everyone to make sure everything is in place, pushing for training, trying to avoid creating conflict. He just wants everyone to be safe, and so the micromanaging begins.

• His brothers have been more uncooperative and uncoordinated than usual

• Meditates excessively when these things are on his mind, today being no different—he enters a distant state of mind while doing mundane tasks and his usual practices that makes him feel unapproachable

• You find him doing it yet again, he's cleaning his portion of the lair and re organizing things he's already organized

• "What has you so frazzled, Leo?" you ask.

• He doesn't even respond until he's done setting his books back in order.

• "Nothing," he says. "I'm doing what I always do."

• "You sure?" "Because it seems like you're stressing right now."

• "I'm fine. This is how I relax."

• You take a seat on the edge of his bed. "So you are stressed?"

• Leo hadn't seemed to notice the words he'd used but knows he can't backtrack.

• "You can trust your brothers, you know that, right?" He sits down as well and sighs. "Even when you guys are a little...off beat, you always pull through, don't you? That's why you're so good, it's because you can improv and adapt. There have been times where you are totally not on the same page and still managed to make it out, and pretty successfully, might I add."

• He contemplates for a minute. You're right; with or without all of his excessive efforts, they always found a way.

• "Hearing it from someone else makes it easier to see, I guess. Thank you, (Y/N), I'll keep that in mind."

• The surprise advice is unexpected but appreciated, as no one can make him relax like that besides Splinter

Mikey

• He doesn't realize just how obvious he is when he's bothered

• Genuinely confused when point out his fiddling with random stuff, going back and forth to the kitchen more than normal, a little quieter than you're used to. Weirdly enough, he gets a bit lethargic when things like this crop up because he thinks so much

• Like now. He's used to being low-key criticized for his natural behavior and mindset, but a guy can only take so much, can't he?

• He doesn't want to feel like a kid and like he's incompetent, yet he feels that way at times due to how people talk to him

• He's fidgeting with some trinket on the couch when you approach him and seems unenthusiastic

• "Oh, what's up babes?"

• "You're doing the thing again," you say with a chuckle, "being told you're doing something wrong feels pretty bad, huh?"

• He's a little confused

• "What do you mean?"

• "I mean that sometimes your family doesn't understand that you function a certain way and, there's nothing inherently wrong with that, but at the same time, we have to be conscientious, don't we? Not every criticism is a personal offense, so try not to take it to heart too much, babe."

• He takes a moment to process, but you know he's got it when his eyes light up and he puts down whatever he's messing with

• "How come you like...always know what to say, angelcakes? You're so smart!"

• Will end up coming to you instead when he's got a problem if Leo or Donnie's a part of it, because they used to be his go-to, but telling it to his partner just hits different

• Your words actually stick with him and he's not too stubborn to take them in stride

Raph

• To be honest, Raph doesn't do well with being confronted while he's angry in general...

• Tends to blow steam off in his gym or practicing with his sai (or, if he's in a REALLY bad mood, knitting) though can only spend so much time doing that

• Not before you say something, at least

• Raph is a highly emotional person, not limited to anger. But this of course makes him an accident waiting to happen at times because of his intense disposition, so his attitude can be shit-starter, especially with Leonardo because he envies his position leader

• So, he's been clearly fuming and you've decided it's time to say something

• He's at his weight bench repping it out

• "Have another argument with Leo?"

• "Something like that."

• "You understand he's under a lot of pressure, right? That being team leader isn't that easy?"

• "What would you know?"

• "It's not hard to figure, Raph, you guys are being actively hunted and the responsibility's on him to keep you safe when Splinter can't be there. Yes, that's you too. Try putting yourself in his shoes and think about how that would make you feel. It's hard? Yeah. I know it's not what you want, but you have your own special place in the family, and no one can replace you. Think about how much Leo and the rest of your brothers would flounder if you weren't there. They need you where you're at, just like you three need Leo. You're their big guns, big guy."

• Of course, he doesn't want to admit that you're right, that hurts the pride

• But deep down he knows that it's true.

• "I'll tell y what, baby girl, you've got the nerve, I guess. I ain't saying you're right or anything, but..."

• He's always going to remember this, but unfortunately, he won't always heed your advice. It gets lost in the moment and it's his personal problem that he must deal with himself.

#tmnt #teenage mutant ninja turtles #tmnt x reader #tmnt donnie #tmnt mikey #tmnt raph #tmnt leo

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deejadabbles · 3 years

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Vampire Atem/Yami Alphabet Headcanons

Found this list of vamp-themes headcanons by @an-annyeoing-writer and I knew I had to do them for our favorite king-turned-spirit!

For those of you who read my Spells of Defiance series, these headcanons can be taken as 100% canon to that AU <3

A - Accident - would they turn someone to save their life?

Oof, already starting with a hard one. So, Atem is one of those vampires who hates his existence, he believes it’s a curse. However, he does still love and care for people deeply, and he knows that for many, life is sacred even if it’s a cursed life. I think in a moment of weakness, especially in his earlier years as a vampire, he might turn someone just because he’s desperate not to lose them, only to regret his decision later, especially if that someone is like him and hates what they’ve become. We all make mistakes, right?

B - Bite - how do they bite? Sensually, aggressively? Do they make it hurt or try to be gentle?

Atem is extremely gentle when he feeds off of people, always careful not to bite too deep or tear the skin more than needed, he even holds you and tries to soothe you with gentle strokes of his hands. Now, whether he tries to make it “sensual” or at all sexual...that’s a complicated topic. While Atem is almost always disgusted with himself when/while he feeds, he does recognize that there is a level of intimacy and even romance that can be connected with drinking blood, so sometimes he can be persuaded to make it a more sensual thing if you’re his lover.

C - Control - do they take advantage of their powers?

That depends on who’s in the equation. I can see Atem using his new powers in order to bring justice to those he sees as wrong doers (like his season 0/early manga-self) as a way to make his vampire abilities useful, so from that angle he would “take advantage” of his powers. He might even get some small gratification in using his strength and speed to hunt down evil people, them cowering in fear is retribution for their wrong-doings, but even that’s not too over the top. Other than that, no, he doesn’t really use his powers for advantages over others.

D - Dangerous - how scary they can get? How bad things can they do? What’s their ethics?

So, while Atem does have a very strong moral code, Atem also has a temper, and said temper might be harder to control when he’s a vampire. Even when he’s not growling in anger, he can have this cold glare that could make bikers squeamish. There are moments, especially when he was a younger vampire, where he loses his temper and can get pretty scary. If you’re his loved one don’t worry too much, he would never lose control enough to hurt you, even though his yelling (and maybe throwing a thing or two) is pretty scary on it’s own. If you’re someone he sees a vermin though watch out, when he gets scary you’re probably going to end up dead or wishing you were dead.

E - Exchange - do they opt for blood bags or animal blood, if possible?

He opts for animal blood as often as he can. Sometimes he’ll hunt said animals himself but even that is a little too violent for his liking (Atem is a softie okay?!) so if he can go to a local butcher and get animal blood from them he’ll do it that way. He’s not fond of blood bags because A) they’re harder to acquire and B) having human blood in a cold plastic bag just makes him long for warm human blood and skin under his teeth more. Sure animal blood isn’t as sustaining for him, but Atem spent decades (maybe even centuries) figuring out how much animal blood he needs to consume in order to keep his blood lust under control so he’ll choose that over harming an innocent human.

Also, side note, if you live with him I hope you don’t have a sensitive sense of smell, because he heats up the blood on the stove to make it taste better and it can make the house stinky lol

F - First bite - on what occasion would they bite you for the first time?

Oooh that’s a good one. Like I said Atem has a very complicated relationship with feeding from his loved ones, especially his s/o, and he’s never going to ask you for your blood. So I’d say that not only would you have to offer your blood to him, but he would have to be out of other feeding options at the time. He knows that once he reaches a certain point of hunger he loses control and might kill you in a hunger-induced blood rage, so if drinking from you now, before he gets to that point, prevents that danger, he’d be willing to. Like I said above, Atem would be very gentle with you on that occasion, holding you close and stroking the skin around the bite mark to soothe any pain, and when he’s done he’d kiss the wound and the sore skin around it as amends.

The only other “first bite” scenario I can think of is if you spend months convincing him that you don’t mind (or even like) the occasional bite and finally convince him to drink your blood during an intimate moment, and again he’s very gentle and mindful of not hurting you.

G - Growl - are they more on the “civilized” side or do they enjoy hunting their prey down?

A bit of both, I guess? Since he tries not to drink from humans he’s more civilized in that way, but like I said before he does “hunt” evil people like an avenging dark angel, which he may get some small form of enjoyment from, so...

H - Hate - how do they feel about their kind? About themselves?

It’s honestly pretty depressing how much self-loathing Atem harbors. He genuinely thinks he’s an abomination. It doesn’t help that in all his centuries of living, he’s met very few vampires who’re “good” like him. He’s also someone who’s on a high horse and if he met a vamp who didn’t kill human’s but also wasn’t self loathing like him, he’d look down on said vampire. I’m warning you now if you fall in love with him, his self-hatred is very upsetting and can be hard to deal with.

I - Intimacy - how fast would they let you close to them? Would they want to share with you what they are?

Surprisingly, I say it’s not that hard. See, even though Atem thinks he’s a monster and tries his best to stay away from people, he also craves companionship and love. Sure, he’s spent several chunks of his immortal life isolating himself in remote woods and tall mountains for decades at a time, but he always returns to humanity at some point. So if you show that you want to be close to him he’ll try to warn you or even scare you away a bit, but it won’t take too long to let you in. And yes, he’d share what he is with you if you started to get close to him, not only as a means to scare you away “before he can hurt you” but also so you know what you’re getting into by being near him.

J - Joke - would they do pranks on other people with the use of their powers?

Sometimes, yes. If he’s close to you, he’ll start to get comfortable and like teasing you, so he’ll do minor things like sneak up behind you soundlessly and jump scare you, or zoom past you to get to something before you and play keep-away. Also, he doesn’t do this one intentionally, but sometimes he’ll be sitting in a dark room, and when you walk in you just suddenly hear this voice calling out to you in the darkness, scaring the crap outta you lol

K - Key - what’s the way of making them open up to you?

Honestly just...continue to shove your friendship in his face. Like I said under “intimacy” he still craves relationships and companionship despite how much he fears hurting people. He may try to push you away at first but if you just continue to hang around him he’ll eventually stop trying to scare you away and start opening up to you little by little.

L - Life - do they wish they were human?

Absolutely. I can see Atem, ever the fixer of problems, spending the first few hundred years searching for a cure for his “condition” not just for himself but for others who view vampires the same way. He often thinks about what his life would have been if he hadn’t been turned, and daydreams about the possibility of becoming human again.

M - Murder - would they kill someone while feeding? Have they ever done so?

Atem has killed while feeding, yes, but not voluntarily. I’m going with the general lore that vampires, when starved too long, can't control their bloodlust and Atem has killed while in that state. When he wakes with a limp, lifeless body in his arms, he’s a devastated wreck. Hurting innocent people is literally his living nightmare and the idea that his bloodlust can turn him into an animal sickens him. He would spend decades learning how much blood he needs to consume and how often, in order to keep that bloodlust from taking control.

N - Nature - do they justify their doings? Do they consider them natural?

Atem, the self-loathing martyr of a fanged prince, considering his bloodlust natural? LMAOOOO No. No he doesn’t, nor does he ever justify his actions. In fact, he uses the terrible things he’s done to justify why he shouldn’t be loved or even alive.

O - Odd - do they have any specific hobbies or habits?

Our gentle dark prince still loves games and puzzles, I think he’d like modern brain teasers that keep his mind sharp and un-ironically loves the puzzle games printed on the back of sunday newspapers, even though they aren’t hard (for him anyway). If you got close to him and showed him games he never got to play bc they’re multiplayers he’d honestly love you. He’d win most of the time, let's be honest, especially things like Clue, but his expression is just so cute and excited when you play his favorites that you’d lose 1000 times over just to see it.

P - Pain - are they sadistic? Do they enjoy what they do?

Nope. I think you all have the idea by now but Atem is one of the most self-loathing and gentle vampires you’d meet....or at least he’s gentle with you. Other vampires who hurt people for fun? Okay, I can see him being ever so slightly sadistic when dealing with creatures like that, he has no mercy for vampires who’ve embraced their monstrous curse, best you run the other way when he punishes them, else you may actually get a little frightened of him...

R - Roles - do they enjoy pretending to be normal people? How do they feel about leaving their life behind to start a new one?

I wouldn’t say that Atem pretends to be normal, in fact, the only part of his vampirism that he embraces is being an “other”, or rather, the aesthetic of being odd, something that most humans feel uneasy when confronted with. He’d see this as a good tool to keep people he may hurt away from him. He’s no stranger to stalking graveyards/cemeteries, creeping in the shadows in a way that has others scurrying past if they happen to spot him, basically anything that makes him seem creepy and makes others keep their distance. Ultimately it hurts him since he’s unexplainably lonely, but it hurts more to know he may hurt the humans he comes across. On the same note, leaving behind one life for another to avoid suspicion is a double-edged sword for him, while it reminds him how terribly lonely existence is, it’s good to keep those who might’ve grown close to him safe.

S - Scars - do they leave marks or try to make the wounds small and invisible?

If Atem feeds from someone voluntarily (as in, not in an animalistic state), he’ll do everything he can to not leave lasting marks. Leaving marks means more pain and we all know how much he hates causing pain to others.

T - Turned - how were they turned?

In my fic, Marik turned Atem as a form of revenge, but otherwise, I could honestly see Atem being turned by any YGO villain. I say villain because him being cursed with this life by a villain (like Bakura for example, or maybe another minion of Zorc) kind of goes along with the original story’s need to punish Atem and cast him into darkness for things that ultimately weren’t his fault.

U - Universe - what’s their biggest wish that they can’t achieve as immortals?

Mostly just...being close to people without constantly worrying that he’ll hurt or kill them. I can also see Atem yeaning for the simple pleasure of growing old and dying with one's family. If he fell in love he would crave the ability to just settle down and grow old together. Hell, he’s even one of those morbid romantics who thinks couples dying within days of each other is sweet and wishes he could do that when he loses his lover to old age.

V - Vampire - would they turn you?

Man again with the hard ones! Oof, okay, so...If you asked Atem to turn you, he’d say no, reciting his monologue about how vampires are cursed vermin who shouldn’t even exist, even if you retained your humanity after the turn, he knows the deep reaches of this curse and what it will make you do, and he hates the idea of you going through what he has.

...However, much like in the very first headcanon on this list...Atem makes mistakes and has his weak moments. If your life ended unexpectedly, of you were taken from him suddenly, like attacked or in some fatal accident, he may turn you in a moment of weakness; a desperate need to cling to you taking over his better judgment. He’d hate himself after and the only way he’d ever feel okay with it, is if time proved that you retained your humanity. He would teach you how to control your blood lust so you don’t have to go through half the things he has, and only then would he be okay with what he did to you in his moment of weakness.

W - War - would they engage in fighting their own kind for the humanity’s sake?

Yes! No one even has to ask him, Atem basically thinks the only good thing he can do with his powers is to rid the world of other vampires. He’s basically an avenging angel who’ll hunt down any vampire who threatens a human.

Y - Yandere - would they become dangerous to you (their lover)?

For the most part, I’d say no. Atem is self-aware and emotionally intelligent enough to tell if he ever starts crossing lines into “unhealthy” territory, and if that ever happened, he’d literally run away. He would leave you in order to protect you, no matter how much it hurt. There may be one (literally ONE) incident where he does something to you that crosses the line, but he’d be instantly horrified and remove himself from your life, moving to the other side of the world with no means to follow him, if it meant protecting you from himself. Now the chances of this happening in the first place? Hard to say. I really don’t think Atem is unhinged or even violent enough for it to be likely, but, an argument could be made that after everything he’s gone through, Atem may start seeing you and his love for you in an obsessives, unhealthy way. Again though, even if this did happen he would realize it and run away before it can go too far.

Z - Zombie - are they on their way to losing sanity?

I don’t think so. Atem is as strong (mentally/emotionally) as they come. Maybe eventually, after millennia and millennia of constantly losing loved ones and dealing the the monster he’s become he would start losing his sanity, but that would take a long, long time.

#atem #yami yugi #atem x reader #yami x reader #pharaoh atem #yami yugi x reader #yugioh x reader #vampire au #vampire Atem #vampire yami #ygo #headcanons #atem headcanons #yami headcanons

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judesstfrancis · 4 years

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Hope you don’t mind me asking but you are well versed in horror films. What would you recommend as a good place to start for someone who is not comfortable with demons or jumpscares? (Ghosts are fine but there’s something about demons that really unsettle me for some reason) thanks!!!

I don’t mind at all!! honestly I love answering questions like these, I grew up with horror so I love helping other people figure out what they might like.

before I start, I do wanna note that jumpscares have a very broad, kinda vague definition. it really all depends on your personal sensitivity! so while some of these movies have scenes that are technically labeled as jumpscares, they may not actually read like that onscreen. a good resource I think is wheresthejump.com, and I’ll be providing links for each movie that has a profile on the website. regardless, I’ll make sure to only rec movies that I don’t consider to have blatant jumpscares and that only have minor jumpscare ratings on the site. and bc I’ll be linking you to the profiles directly, you’ll be able to decide for yourself if it’s something you want to actually consume. the profiles will both describe what the jumpscares are, how major or minor they are, and the exact time stamps they occur at. if the movie doesn’t have a profile on the website, u should ostensibly be safe!

here we go!

my personal first introduction to horror was the lost boys (1987) and I cannot recommend it enough. really classic 80s horror, vampires, extremely Gender and extremely Homosexual Subtext. a young boy and his family move to santa carla and his older brother accidentally gets turned into a vampire bc he’s trying to impress the local hot boys! he’s technically trying to impress literally the only woman his age in the movie, but look. the vampire men look Like That, he was trying to impress the local hot boys. (no profile on wheresthejump)

I also have to rec scream (1996) bc it is my absolute favorite horror film. this movie is like a really classic teen slasher but, and I’m sure u already know what I’m about to say if you’ve followed this blog for more than 24 hours, it is full of incredible twists. absolutely deconstructed the entire slasher subgenre and is the reason the Film Nerd Who Knows Everything About Horror trope was popularized. it absolutely does not take itself seriously and there’s a lot of outside references to other horror projects the director was involved in and honestly that’s what makes it genius. it thinks its a joke! it treats itself like a joke, but it’s not. also sidney prescott is like THE horror franchise frontwoman, thank u miss neve campbell (wheresthejump profile)

okay other recs that I’m hopefully gonna not talk as long about since I’m trying not to make this Super Long:

us (2019) everything jordan peele has ever done, horror wise, is a masterpiece. the man simply knows what he’s doing. this one has a family vacation gone wrong, dopplegangers, and an overall amazing narrative. (wheresthejump profile)

van helsing (2004) this may perhaps be way too cheesy to label as a horror movie but look I love it and it’s been a favorite of mine for a very long time so I’m including it. hugh jackman plays van helsing! real fun vampire hunting. (wheresthejump profile)

when a stranger calls (1979) the call is coming from inside the house! your classic babysitter horror but like. it was the Blueprint for classic babysitter horror, u know? absolutely amazing, one of my favorites. (wheresthejump profile)

the raven (2012) one of my favorite movies, even outside of horror! it’s actually labeled as a crime mystery/thriller but we all know how I feel about thrillers being horror. also it’s a serial killer so like. horror film. anyway it’s based on edgar allan poe and he has to help solve murders based on his own stories! really neat premise! (no profile on wheresthejump)

coraline (2009) technically marketed as a fantasy kid’s film but look shit is SCARY. I watched it for the first time when I was 18 and I was spooked. really cool kinda adventure-y thing where she finds a portal to an alternate universe and hangs out with her Other Family and has fun initially but then things get Weird. (no profile on wheresthejump)

don’t look under the bed (1999) this shit was apparently so scary that disney had to take it off the air for a Very Long Time after it was first released on the channel. what happens when u forget your imaginary friends? apparently boogeymen! one of my absolute favorite movies in the entire world, I was always so excited when it actually was on tv (no profile on wheresthejump)

lady in white (1988) ghosts! this one’s just really neat. narrated story about a little boy in the 60s who sees a murder and gets haunted afterwards. but like in a cool way!! he helps the ghosts it's neat (no profile on wheresthejump) (no demons)

the frighteners (1996) another favorite of mine that I just love to death. this one’s part comedy! michael j fox gets into a car accident that kills his wife and can talk to spirits after that so he makes friends with them to stage hauntings and scam people out of money by pretending to get rid of them. things get wild tho when he finds an evil ghost pretending to be the grim reaper that is actually the ghost of a serial killer from however long ago and is now marking victims to kill them later. (no profile on wheresthejump) (evil spirits but no demons, it is very clear that he is just a regular, human serial murderer turned ghost)

hope this was helpful! I tried to give a good little sample mix of some of my favorites that weren’t Too Gross and didn’t rely on just blaring loud music and shoving a scary picture in your face for no reason. overall I’d say probably creature features and slashers might be your best bet for avoiding jumpscares and demonic narratives? older movies as well will rely on jumpscares less so that’s something to keep in mind. if you’re ever unsure, make sure to use wheresthejump.com for descriptions/time stamps/ratings of jumpscares and check out doesthedogdie.com as well! doesthedogdie originated to warn about animal death in horror, but it has a wide array of phobias and potential triggers that it tracks too, so it’s good for a number of things.

also delving into horror that’s marketed for kids slaps. there’s a lot less possibility that it’s gonna be gross just for the sake of it and those usually don’t have jumpscares. they’re also a lot more creative! it’s why I added coraline and don’t look under the bed to the list, I truly just think horror that’s marketed for children is amazing bc it doesn’t have the ability to rely on tired, cheap gimmicks to get their scares. I hope this doesn’t come off as me being like patronizing or anything bc I truly am being genuine, like as a fan of the genre I just love children’s horror. I recommend that everyone checks it out bc it is absolutely unparalleled, so like definitely delve into that a little, too.

#thanks for asking!!! hmu if u have more questions or anything #long post #asks #anon #horror tag

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chicago-reeed · 5 years

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PHCK ME - Reed900 Fic Rec List

Hello!!! You might not remember, but awhile back I mentioned I had the start of a fic rec list that I planned to post (which I never did). To celebrate all 1K+ of you, I thought I would finish the list for you! It is my duty as a loyal reed900 servant.

DISCLAIMER: This list of reccomendations was made purely out of personal opinion. I by no means want to discredit any other fics/authors. Some may not agree with my choices, and that’s totally understandable. I just wanted to share these fics because I personally enjoyed them <3

I didn’t include some fics because they haven’t been updated in a long time, or I didn’t remember them enough to give them accurate reviews. Also, I’m sure there are many more fics that I forgot to put on here (these are from my ao3 bookmarks). I might include them in a future update.

Anyways, all of my recs are under the cut! There are a lot!! I had eight pages worth of them in my documents haha

Mint Condition - by itsdefinitive - Mature - Content warnings - Chapters 18/? - Reed could see what they were going for there -- the whole infallible super-soldier thing. A monument to testosterone made perfect, cast in steel within plastic. It was actually really creepy. Maybe that was on purpose.

The first reed900 fic I read, and it’s honestly what got me into the pairing itself.

Charon - by Vapewraith - Explicit: only suitable for adults - Author chose not to warn for content - Chapters 20/20 - Gavin Reed, a mess of a human being, just wants to be left to his self destructive tendencies. RK900, an android designed by the most brilliant minds in the world to be the perfect machine, is desperate to grasp the full range of emotional freedom now afforded to him. The two will need to find an equilibrium before their incompatible personalities—and an eccentric serial killer with a dangerous piece of tech—swallow them whole.

I can’t even describe how much I love this fic. I’m a slut for horror, and there’s plenty of that in here. It might just be my favorite. Definitely recommend.

Two Sides of a Vaguely Similar Coin - by ZombiBird - Mature - Author chose not to warn for content - Chapters 13/? - RK900 is lost.

It’s been months since the Revolution and he’s still no closer to figuring out what the hell he’s supposed to be doing with himself. He feels like an outsider in his own body. Completely detached, nothing more than a quiet observer; like he’s looking down at the world through a layer of glass instead of fully living in it.

Gavin Reed is a temperamental asshole.

This isn’t news, okay? Gavin’s fully aware of what he is. He burns bridges instead of building them. Bites hands instead of shaking them. Would rather drown in a sea comprised of the consequences of his faults and misdeeds than try to change the way he is. Because people like him? Maybe they deserve to drown.

[Alternatively: Both lost in different ways, Gavin and RK900 try to figure their shit out and end up learning that, sometimes, it takes two people who have absolutely no idea what the hell they’re doing to get a goddamn clue.]

I don’t remember much about this fic, if I’m honest. Not that the story is forgettable, it’s just been awhile since I read it. However, the title definitely stood out to me so I know it was very good :P

Captcha Encryption - by Cerulaine - Explicit: only suitable for adults - Content warnings - Chapters 18/? - It's a little over a year after the android uprising and it's still the end of the fucking world.

Back in the day when things became shit he used to enjoy a drink or two. Or Five. It all depended on how long the shift ran. After 'The Accident' he can't even cough without Nines breathing down his neck anymore.

He just wishes everything would go back to normal, but if there's anything Gavin has learned it's that you can't unring a bell once it's been rung.

Or whatever. Fuck if he knows.

Similar situation to the last fic: I don’t remember much about it (my memory SUCKS), but I do remember thoroughly enjoying this one.

Daydreamer - by Pence - Mature - Content warnings - Chapters 21/24 - Large purple bruises twined prettily around the corpse’s throat, every finger defined in perfect cruelty. His eyes tore away from the handprints as a cold finger traced the lightning strike scar across the center of his face—drawing his attention to a small, blue lipped smile.

“Do you think you’ll ever leave this town, Gavin?”

________

When a series of Detroit murders are linked as originating in his hometown, Gavin Reed is unwillingly assigned the case. Fowler insists that his history with the place and people will hugely benefit such an investigation.

He was fucking wrong.

This fic is one big holy shit moment tbh. Really fantastic. Really makes you wonder why these authors aren’t paid to do this.

All Aboard the Underground Railroad - by Senjihae - No Rating - Author chose not to warn for content - Chapters 11/? - What starts as sticking it towards his half brother evolves into something with the potential to rewrite android history as he knows it. Gavin doesn't realize what he gets himself into until he is mistaken as the 'Android Messiah' of all things. It's not like he goes out of his way to help them, but his life gets a lot harder once Hank is assigned a shiny new boy toy ('sent by CyberLife').

Things only get worse when he's gifted a heap of metal of his own ('sent by Elijah Kamski').

(Yeah, fuck off Elijah)

Very interesting fic. Gavin is RA9 so that’s a thing. A nice slow burn!

Dragon Become Age - by errantwheat - Explicit: only suitable for adults - Content Warnings - Chapters 11/? - Y’all wanted me to write dragon age!au so I did :)

YES! YES! YES! DRAGON AGE AU! YES! YES! YES! (it’s really gud)

Warmth - by TheRedPaladin101 - Teen and Up Audiences - No Warnings - Chapters 1/1 - Gavin frowned, the aching in his shoulder fading from his mind for a moment. “Then give me my jacket.”

“Your jacket is in no condition to keep you warm,” he stated. “For now, use mine and stay warm while we wait to head back to the station.”

----

Five times RK900 gave Gavin Reed his jacket, and one time Gavin gave his in return.

Very wholesome. Lives up to its title. Some good ole hurt/comfort!

Letifer - Terminallydepraved - Explicit: only suitable for adults - Author chose not to warn for content - Chapters 19/19 - Gavin Reed is a DPD beat cop determined to make detective by any means possible, and putting an end to a string of murders looks like the quickest way to accomplishing that goal. Unfortunately for him, he fails to account for the real culprit— or the thought that perhaps he isn't the only one on the hunt for a killer.

(Now with cover art by Leetmorry!)

I love beat cop!gavin. It humbles him. And vampire!nines is scary and amazing. Love how the author wrote both of these characters (and the others too!). I definitely recommend this one!

A Strange and Beautiful Creature - by LittleLalaith - General audiences - No warnings - Chapters 7/7 - Scientist Nines is called in to Amanda's lab to assist with a new discovery - a genuine Mermaid.

While Amanda is indifferent to the creature's circumstances, Nines builds an unlikely connection to the specimen and they grow a little closer than either of them expected.

(AKA Gavin is a sassy sea slug and Nines thrills in breaking the safety protocols)

Mermaid au! Nines wants to save mermaid Gavin, and it’s all very wholesome.

I Think You Do - by spotlightonmringenue - Teen and Up Audiences - Author chose not to warn for content - Chapters 16/? - “Son of a bitch, there’s another one. What the fuck is it doing,” Gavin says, grip going white on the gun as the android continues to stare at him without acknowledging Connor.

“RK900, my name is Connor. I’m part of a group called Jericho that recovered you from Cyberlife’s Production Center late yesterday. We are currently in the Detroit Police Department Central Station. Are you feeling okay?”

“It doesn’t feel shit,” Gavin mumbles, resisting the urge to step back as the RK900 takes a step closer. It holds out the cup, and Gavin’s eyes dart to it for only a second before flipping between Connor and his doppelganger.

“You requested coffee,” it says, and Hank sighs, leaning back against his desk while rubbing a hand over his forehead.

Quality ‘enemies to friends’ content. Nines is intimidating. Gavin is confused. Good times.

Flying with Crooked Wings - by UnCon - Mature - No warnings - Chapters 20/? - “Listen, kid,” Gavin started, cutting off the desolate child. Sure it was sad his dog had died but it wasn’t Gavin’s fault no one taught the little twerp chocolate was a dog’s kryptonite, “he’s in a better place, alright, so if you’d just stop asking for him to come back—it’d be much appreciated.”

“You promise?” the eight-year-old asked, his big brown eyes looking like glass—fragile and sparkly.

“Yeah,” Gavin lied, looking away as he did it—his halo going a bit crooked. To be honest, he wasn’t sure where dogs went after they died, only that he was tasked with calming the little boys and girls who despaired after them—at least until his punishment was up. “So just, you know, go to sleep and all that.”

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In a world where angels and demons inhabit the same earth, both searching for a way to overthrow the other, both failing--Gavin sits right in the middle, with a crooked halo and a pair of wings to match. It's not enough to be a bit mischievous, however, he also has to get caught up in the demon brothers' scheme to take over heaven. Perfect.

Really good! This fic has the interesting dynamic of Gavin as an angel and Nines as a demon. Check it out!

The Red String Will Still Connect Us Ten Thousand Miles Apart (and to the moon and back) - by Jillflur - Teen and Up - Content warnings - Chapters 5/5 - Gavin, an ‘unlovable’ man without a Soulmate. He was used to it, never had one since he could remember. However, that little fact changes when he wakes up one day and realizes that he suddenly has a Red String connected to his ring finger. It only gets worse when months later, an android walks into the precinct who apparently is his new Soulmate!

Can androids even have Soulmates?!

To make everything even more complicated, a sudden new killer is on the Streets, and he murders people by cutting their Red Strings!

A soulmate fic by our very own jillflur! So good. Amazin. I love the red string trope so much. Yall should big read.

the prince & the reed - by Pence - Mature - Content warnings - Chapters 2/? - "I wanted to marry you," the prince murmured, polished armor gleaming as he stared down at the injured man--icy eyes tinged with sadness. Regret.

A guttural scream ripped from the soldier's throat as a heel dug into his wound, arm coated crimson from his weeping shoulder.

The soldier's teeth were stained pink as he jerked his chin up to grin toothily at the other man, bloody fingers scrambling down his thigh in search of the dagger tucked into his boot.

"Then drop to your knees and ask me properly, Nines."

Okay this fic is only two chapters and hasn’t been updated in awhile but GOT DAMN do I love how the author set this medieval fic up. I’m a slut for the medieval au’s, so that’s just extra points.

Not a teacher but I can teach you a thing or two - by Adishailan - Teens and Up - No warnings - Chapters 20/20 - Gavin owed the walking hunk of plastic. He owed him. Ugh, Gavin hated owing people stuff. It gave him a horrible feeling in his stomach, like indigestion, except worse because it involved emotionsTM. This, coupled with the fact he was pumped up with drugs and suffering a concussion, was why he was about to make a terrible, terrible mistake.

“‘Kay. Fine. Thanks or whatever. Lemme know if you ever need anythin' prick.”

RK900’s LED went yellow at this, and this time Gavin was pretty sure he was doing the processing thing. It was still yellow even when he nodded in a serious way and said:

“That would be useful.”

Oh man this one is BIG CUTE! It’s so soft, and is a fantastic slow burn. I totally recommend this fic.

O May I Join the Choir Invisible - by BanishedOne - Mature - No warnings - Chapters 13/? - Gavin Reed was a new inmate at a prison where the infamous killer, R. Nathan Kearney, was on death row. Circumstances led to an unfortunate encounter.

Okay don’t quote me on this but I think you can find the rest of this fic on Twitter. It was posted in a bunch of seperate posts and it was really confusing but there was definitely extra chapters. You can find the post here (or at BanishedOne on twitter). Other than that, this is a really good fic! The boys get into a lot of trouble!

Neon Maps - by caffienefueledfeels - Explicit: only suitable for adults - Content warnings - Chapters 11/11 - Everyone has their limits. Gavin is about to discover several of his own.

He's broke, barely scraping along, and struggling to keep an aggressive black-mailer off his back. On top of that, the grey-eyed distraction in his bed is about to test his heart in more ways than one.

Cyberpunk fic!! Super interesting! Go check it out!

Computers Are Elaborate Cat Beds, Actually - by errantwheat - No Rating - Author chose not to warn for content - Chapters 6/? - “Marvelous find, Gavin. They’ll promote you for this, surely.”

Gavin pulled an exaggerated frown. He was awfully animated for a robot. “Jesus, What kind of human are you? I’m waving a fucking kitten in your face and you’re still a bitch.”

Really cute. I’m pretty sure there’s some art to go with this fic. Super duper cute reverse au!

More Than a Woman, More Than a Bride - by AvixiLynn91 - Explicit: only suitable for adults - Content warnings - Chapters 38/? - When Gavin’s life is threatened for the last time by a violent gang expanding the production of a new drug in Detroit, Captain Fowler must come up with a plan for his safety. Perhaps forcing a marriage between Nines and Gavin wasn’t the best solution he could come up with...

Oh man. This fic. Let me tell you. I’ve been with this fic since the beginning and it is one hell of a roller coaster XD. The author updates constantly, it’s really impressive.

More Like You - by Mooneye - Teen and Up - No warnings - Chapters 1/1 - “This next bit’s going to get awkward. I’m going to interface with you.”

At that he could feel the collective confusion in the room. His eyes darted up to look at Hank and then Nines. They both seemed eerily still and were possibly thinking that Gavin had surely lost his mind.

Gavin has kept his prosthetic arm, with good reason, a secret from humans and androids alike for as long as he’s had it. The prospect of losing Nines threatens to unravel everything, but perhaps it’s worth the cost.

The idea of Gavin (an android hater in-game) having a prosthetic-android arm is definitely interesting!

An Unforeseen Union - by AvixiLynn91 - Explicit: only suitable for adults - Author chose not to warn for content - Chapters 16/16 - Gavin and Nines are sent undercover to investigate a slew of brutal murders at a gay counselling and therapy resort for androids and humans. They're forced to pose as a couple, but soon feel their relationship becoming more than an act as real feelings develop.

I loved the dramatic whodunnit vibes in this fic! It gets crazy :P

The Great DPD Kink-Off - by connorssock, LittleLalaith, Skye_Willows, Stujet9rainshine - Explicit: only suitable for adults - Author chose not to warn for content - Chapters 24/24 - It started out as a bit of rivalry and turned into a competition. Who was the kinkiest android in town?

If you like smut, then read this. That is all I will say.

The Black Nights, The Long Dark - by bvssbot - Explicit - Content warnings - Chapters 8/12 - translation of an amazing russian fic тёмные ночи, долгая тьма (the dark nights, the long darkness) into english

An unknown catastrophe was the reason Gavin ended up stranded alone on a godforsaken Canadian island. Having almost made peace with the thought of living in solitude for the rest of his days, he saves the life of a pilot named Richard, whose airplane crashed in the middle of his humanitarian mission.

Shit, I loved ‘The Long Dark’ and I love this fic. I don’t speak russian, unfortunately, so I must wait to read the end. But this is still amazing and you all should read it.

Detroit: Outlast - by Cardboardghost - Mature - Content warnings - Chapters 1/? - Connor Upshur is a down on his luck reporter, who spends his nights getting drunk and passing out at home. A mysterious email calls him to Mount Massive Asylum, owned by the Cyberlife corporation. Armed with nothing but a camera and his wits, Connor must brave the asylum's horrors and find way to save the people Cyberlife stole from him.

Gavin Park is a beat cop looking for a more well paying job. So when an offer to work private security at the Cyberlife corporation all but falls into his lap, how could he refuse? Gavin quickly realizes things are not what they seem, and in an attempt to expose Cyberlife, he ends up further in their clutches. Now he and Connor must work together to claw their way out of the asylum's depths, and the familiar faces that wait inside those walls.

This fic only has onw chapter, but go check out Cardboardghost’s art if you finish reading this!! They have provided so much quality content for the Outlast/DBH crossover I didn’t know I needed.

Gin & Tonic - by limchi - Explicit - No warnings - Chapters 8/? - People didn’t like Gavin Reed. Gavin Reed didn’t like people. It went together like gin and tonic, you can’t have one without the other. Nines hated him and he hated Nines. Those were the rules they played by, the rules that couldn't be changed - until fate decided they could.

It turned Gavin into pretending to dislike and Nines into a dense idiot with a crush, unable to grasp the concept of love. Both in utter denial. The catch: gravity worked against them, pulled them together at a frightening pace. Push against and defy the rules of nature or go along the prevailing forces?

Your friendly neighborhood reed900 fic. Very epic slow burn and fluff (and a hint of angst tbh). I definitely recommend!

Bitter Half - by turnabout - Mature - Author chose not to warn for content - Chapters 5/5 - Gavin Reed was born unmarked, and had spent his entire life expecting to die like he lived - alone. It isn't until Tina points out the new serial number on his chest that he realizes everything is about to change. Whether that's for better or for worse is up to him.

I’m a sucker for soulmate fics and this one does not disappoint!

K-900 - by Serazimei - Teen and Up - No warnings - Chapters 3/3 - Gavin and Nines were a great team. Unfortunately they were both huge workaholics. That's why when Nines' body gets busted on a job and the needed parts aren't available yet chaos is inevitable. Needing to choose between waiting and potentially being of no use at work or participate in one of Kamskis experiments and transfer his mind into an Android dog the decision is easy to make.

Who knew being in a dog body could become such a hassle? Not Nines, that's for sure.

Nines is a pup!!! I don’t believe I’ve seen a fic like this yet, so it’s really cool!

Thanks I'm Hating It - by Lupo (LupoLight) - Explicit: only suitable for adults - No warnings - Chapters 4/4 - Gavin goes to a fast food burger joint and Nines judges him. Then he realizes that Gavin isn't as much of a dick as he used to be, except he is, but in a different way. He isn't sure how to react to this knowledge.

QUALITY reed900 content

Bloodstains - by DeviantAlicee - Mature - Content warnings - Chapters 12/? - Nines is an interrogator & detective for the DPD with a dark past. His thick skin & smarts helping him to be one of the most valuable members of the department. He's cold & daunting.

GV200 is one of the first police android models who's partnered with a cruel beat cop who not only hates that his partner is an android but doesn't think GV can feel any of the cruel things he does or says to him. The android doesn't speak up due to the fear of being shut down.

Nines has no clue that the android he bumped into at a bar is in fact a police android. He just thinks that he might be somebody in need of some help. But, as time passes by & a new drug that can be used by androids begins to circulate, Nines begins to realise the situation is a whole lot more convoluted than he originally thought.

This is a really interesting reverse au! Check it out!

Team spirit - by ilse_writes - Mature - No warnings - Chapters 4/4 - Someone had the unholy idea to go camping with the department, all in the name of 'team building'. Gavin is not liking it very much. That tall instructor with his haughty manners and cool eyes... that one he likes very much.

I don’t think I’ve seen another au quite like this one. Very epic content, can we hit Gavin Reed?

Wake Up - by SkySquid22 - Mature - Content warnings - Chapters 6/? - “Gavin!”

GV200 slipped out of his stasis. He didn’t get a chance to open his eyes before a file came down on his face, smacking him.

“And here I thought tin cans didn’t sleep.”

Something was wrong.

Something was very very wrong.

DIS GOT ME F U C K E D U P!!! Bruh @skysquid200 really out here shaking my world with this fic. I was hollering while reading this like I got HYPED

Natural - by Erik_Heinrich - Teen and Up - Author chose not to warn for content - Chapters 1/? - They are all wing people.

Gavin gets partnered with Nines. As expected hes not too happy about it, but their partnership seems to be going well. That is until spring comes along. Nines wings seem a bit fidgety and Gavin is nesting. Nines doesn't realize he's been trying to court Gavin, and Gavin is just as oblivious.

or. They are both complete idiots the whole time

WING FIC WING FIC WING FIC!!!! Yall dont know how long I’ve looked for a reed900 wing fic. My homie @phckingusername out here doin God’s work <333

Thank you all so much for 1K!!! Being able to hop on Tumblr everyday and talk to you guys makes me so happy!! I really hope I didn't f up this rec list anywhere lol. Hope u guys like it!!

#thank yall so much #i cant say it enough #dbh #detroit become human #gavin reed #rk900 #nines #reed900 #fic rec list #reed900 fic recs

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lets-talk-appella · 5 years

Text

i’m nobody’s but yours

Chapter 16/25 - Chloe

Summary: Beca is straight as an arrow. 100%, totally, completely straight. Except for one problem that 100%, totally, completely changes everything: Chloe Beale.

Title borrowed from Calum Scott’s “If Our Love Is Wrong.”

Word Count: 6k

Rating: M (for dark themes, homophobia, masturbation, and eventual smut in later chapters)

AO3, FFN, and below.

Chloe’s not entirely sure if what she has planned counts as a date. It’s very different from their other dates; this one involves staying home and shooting each other with Nerf guns, rather than going out mini-golfing (which she’d been horrible at) or going coffee-shop hopping over the course of a single day.

Chloe had borrowed the Nerf guns from Ashley and Jessica after she’d gotten the idea watching them shoot each other in the yard. It had looked fun, and Beca will probably like it.

The only problem is that it’s rapidly growing dark outside. Chloe knew about Beca’s dinner with her family, but she hadn’t thought it would take – she glances at the clock for the third time in ten minutes – two and a half hours.

She paces around her bedroom, Nerf guns waiting for their users on her bed. She knows the anxiety rolling in her stomach is unreasonable; Beca had gone to a nice dinner at a nearby restaurant. It’s not like she’s out hiking in the woods after dark or at some shady bar somewhere. There’s really no reason to be worried.

Chloe clutches her phone in her right hand, begging it to vibrate with a message from Beca. Even something simple, like “On the way now,” would soothe her nerves and ease the rebellion of her stomach. She debates whether distracting herself by looking at more applications for veterinary internships (specifically in New York, Chicago, or Nashville) would help anything, but she knows she won’t be able to focus clearly on those.

Beca’s been gone for almost three hours.

Chloe doesn’t have Warren’s phone number, or Sheila’s, though this makes her think she should get them. She knows she could try calling Beca herself, but if Beca’s driving, she doesn’t want to distract her from the road.

She’s not sure whether she should go downstairs and tell the others about her fears. She can distantly hear Cynthia Rose, Flo, and Emily in the kitchen, prepping their own dinners. She’s sure Amy has to be around somewhere, unless she’s with Bumper, and Chloe has a feeling she just needs to shout Lilly’s name for her to appear out of nowhere.

Beca really has been gone a long time.

She makes up her mind and crosses her room, opening the door to head downstairs, when she hears the front door open.

“Hey, Beca!” Emily��s voice chimes, and relief floods Chloe’s veins, weakening her knees.

“Beca? You okay?” Cynthia Rose’s voice comes next, followed by the sound of familiar, rapid footsteps up the stairs.

Chloe closes her eyes in disappointment. Dinner must not have gone well, then.

When she reopens them, she sees Beca climbing the stairs to the second-floor landing, safe and sound, but pale.

“Bec, what –”

Before Chloe can even get the question out, Beca reaches her, throwing her arms around Chloe’s frame and holding tight. The force of the hug, and Chloe’s surprise, sends Chloe stumbling backward into her bedroom. Beca only pulls away long enough to shut the door behind them and then she’s clinging to Chloe again.

“Are you okay? Where were you?” Chloe asks, alarmed. She loops her arm around Beca’s waist, feeling Beca burrowing tighter against her.

Beca doesn’t answer, only turning her face to press it into Chloe’s neck. She takes several deep, shuddering breaths.

“Beca, talk to me,” Chloe says softly, rubbing her hands up and down Beca’s back. “You’re scaring me.”

Beca sighs and sags in her arms, then whispers against her neck, “I told them.”

Chloe freezes. “What?”

“I told them – about us,” Beca replies shakily, pulling away so Chloe can see her properly. When she does, Chloe has to hide her shock; Beca looks exhausted, older than she’s ever seen her.

“It was an accident,” Beca continues tiredly. “There was – a couple came in, two women, and Sheila – she just said the worst things and I – I just blurted it out.”

Beca looks so miserable that Chloe immediately draws her back in for a tight hug, ignoring her own rising fear. Beca shudders against her, and Chloe resumes rubbing her back.

“It’s okay, baby, it’s okay, just breathe,” Chloe whispers, her eyes closing in sadness as she draws her own conclusions about what happened.

“No, it’s not okay,” Beca sighs against her skin. “They – Sheila –” she cuts herself off, pulling away and out of the hug completely to dig the heels of her hands into her eyes.

“Did she say something?” Chloe asks cautiously.

Beca blinks at her, anger replacing the exhaustion previously marring her features. She moves around Chloe with a huff Chloe knows isn’t directed at her and goes to the bed. With barely a glance at them, she moves the Nerf guns aside to make room for herself, sitting on Chloe’s bed with a sigh. Smiling sadly, Chloe joins her, taking one of Beca’s hands into her lap to trace over it softly.

Beca draws a deep breath, then forces out between clenched teeth, “Sheila said – horrible – these lies, these horrible things.”

“Beca…”

“I don’t even want to repeat it.”

“It’s okay, you don’t have to,” Chloe promises, stunned by the venom in Beca’s voice.

“She was horrible.”

“I’m sorry,” Chloe whispers, wishing she had something better to say. “Come here.”

She draws Beca back into her arms, Beca immediately fitting her head under Chloe’s chin. Chloe doesn’t know what to do beyond continuing to hold Beca. She’s never had to deal with something like this.

“Do you…” she begins cautiously, Beca pulling away slightly to look at her. “Do you, maybe, want me to get Cynthia Rose? She might understand more...”

Beca stares at the carpet, seeming to think it over for a minute. “I think… maybe I’ll talk to her later,” she eventually decides. “Right now, I just want to be with you.”

Chloe nods, not knowing what to say. Her mind whirs; she genuinely can’t imagine what Beca must be feeling, never having faced anything like this. Rejection from her family, based on who she is as a person, had never been something Chloe had to face. It had never really crossed her mind.

She’s starting to realize she’s incredibly lucky in that aspect.

“Where did you go?” Chloe asks tentatively. “You were gone for so long, and – I’d started to think…”

Beca runs a hand through her hair, glancing over at her. “Yeah, um, sorry. I should have texted or something, but I had to clear my head. I just drove around, tried to calm down. Had to pull over a few times so I could breathe.”

Chloe frowns at that, and Beca’s eyes widen.

“I put gas in the car after, don’t worry, dude,” she assures.

Chloe huffs and rolls her eyes, a habit she’s starting to pick up more and more. “I wasn’t upset about the gas, Bec,” she says. “I was more worried about you driving while angry.”

Beca shrugs, not making eye contact. “Yeah, well. I didn’t want you to see me like that.”

With a small sigh, Chloe lets the issue drop. The last thing Beca needs from her right now is a lecture on safe driving.

Besides, what Beca says next shoves everything else from Chloe’s mind.

“She asked if I was ever molested. If that made me like women.” Beca’s voice is quiet, but Chloe doesn’t miss the disgust and anger in it.

“What?”

“Yeah.”

Chloe stares at the opposite wall in shock, utterly appalled that Sheila – that anyone – would say that to someone, much less their own step-daughter.

“I – I don’t even –” Chloe stammers. “I’m so, so sorry. That’s –”

“She’s horrible,” Beca supplies in a whisper.

“I know, babe,” Chloe says, wishing she could say or do something to make the situation somehow better. “I know. I’m sorry. She was wrong to say that. That’s – it’s not how that works.”

“Yeah.”

“Did… I mean, did your dad try to –”

“He just sat there,” Beca says icily, her frown deepening. “He didn’t – he actually expected me to answer that bitch.”

“I…” Chloe trails off helplessly.

“Besides, he couldn’t have done anything,” Beca runs her hands through her hair in frustration. “There’s nothing that he – Sheila, she’s just like that, there’s not really anything – but still, he just sat there!” Beca finishes with a wordless snarl.

Chloe doesn’t know what to say. She’s never felt so useless.

After a long moment, Beca shakes her head and takes a quick breath. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore,” she says, but not harshly.

“Okay, we don’t have to,” Chloe says softly.

She’s stunned. To have to go to what should have been a civil dinner and be asked questions like that… Chloe’s sure there’s more Beca didn’t repeat, other terrible things that had been said, but she doesn’t want to push Beca into telling her. With a sinking feeling, Chloe guesses they probably had to do with her.

She has half a mind to hunt down Sheila and tell her how wrong she is, and maybe show her that what she and Beca have isn’t something to be afraid of. It’s the only thing that makes sense; Sheila must be ignorant, that’s all. Surely, she can’t be that inherently hateful – no one can be, right? Sheila just doesn’t understand. If Chloe could somehow show her, make her understand, maybe things would be different.

“What did you have planned?” Beca’s question breaks through Chloe’s musings.

“Hm?”

“Earlier, you said you had a plan. For us.”

“Oh,” Chloe blinks at the reminder. Somehow, something as lighthearted as Nerf guns doesn’t quite seem appropriate anymore. “I mean, I did, but now –”

“Chlo, please?”

“I – okay, I’d thought maybe we could play with these Nerf guns?”

Beca blinks at her in confusion, then twists around to see the toys behind her on the bed. “I wondered why these were here…” she trails off, the hint of smile playing around her lips.

“Or, you know, I could give you a – a back rub instead?” Chloe tries, desperate to salvage the evening somehow. “I’ve been reading up on some techniques, and I thought maybe it would be nice to try it?”

“You’d planned a date with a Nerf war and a backrub?”

“Yeah, kinda,” Chloe admits with a shy shrug. “Okay, I guess when you say it like that –”

“I love you.”

Everything stops.

“What?” Chloe chokes out.

Chloe gapes at Beca, positive she must have heard wrong, certain she must be dreaming, because this moment can’t be happening. She must be imagining it, that’s the only explanation, because there’s no way, no possibility, that after all this time, Beca Mitchell would be sitting on her bed and saying –

“I love you,” Beca repeats, and Chloe then knows for sure she’s be dreaming because Beca suddenly looks nervous and scared, as if there’s any way Chloe could feel any differently. “And you don’t have to say it back. I know it’s probably way too soon. Really, we haven’t been – you know – um, dating all that long and... I just – I realized it today. Or, I mean, maybe I’ve known for a while, but, um, I’m kind of in love with you,” Beca finishes in a rush, her cheeks tingeing pink even as she meets Chloe’s eyes steadily.

“Then we have a problem,” Chloe manages.

“W-why?” Beca’s eyes widen.

“Because I’m in love with you, too.”

For a second, she thinks Beca’s eyes are actually going to pop out of her head.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes,” Chloe smiles, more sure about this than she has been about anything in her life. “I love you, too.”

With a bright laugh, Beca flings herself forward to crash their lips together. It’s a little over-enthusiastic and their teeth clack, but Chloe doesn’t mind. She pulls Beca closer, immediately weaving her fingers through dark tresses to hold her in place. Beca’s lips are soft but relentless, and almost instantly, Chloe feels Beca’s tongue tracing over her lips. She parts them, and Beca licks into her mouth, more needy and desperate than Chloe has ever felt her.

Chloe can’t stop the low groan from tumbling from her chest, only for Beca to echo it with a whimper a moment later. One of Beca’s hands pushes at her shoulder gently and she shifts, and Chloe gets the message. She reclines, and Beca follows, until Chloe’s flat on her back on the mattress with Beca hovering over her, half on top of her and half to the side.

Kissing Beca like this is… different. Chloe feels every single point of contact between them acutely, every inch where Beca’s body presses against the length of her own. Her hands fly to Beca’s back, fingers tracing over the material of her shirt, catching on the line her bra strap creates halfway up. Beca rests on a forearm, but her other hand smooths up and down Chloe’s side, from her hip and almost reaching to her breast.

Beca breaks away from the kiss, her mouth descending on Chloe’s neck without warning. It tears a gasp from Chloe’s throat and has her back arching up, pushing her even more into Beca. Beca leaves wet, open-mouthed kisses in a trail, moving from under her jaw, down her neck, and then back up to flick her tongue over Chloe’s pulse point.

Chloe whimpers at the contact there, unexpectedly sensitive, and she feels Beca hesitate above her.

“Can I…”

“Yes,” Chloe agrees instantly, tilting her head and exposing her neck to give Beca more room to work.

She keens when Beca reattaches her mouth, sucking the skin into her mouth and grazing it lightly with her teeth. She releases it with a hum of satisfaction, soothing the sting with her tongue and lips. The thrill of being marked, of Beca claiming her, sends a primal rush of pleasure coiling low in Chloe’s gut. Her body rolls under Beca’s and instantly, Beca’s mouth is back on her own.

Chloe’s hands scrabble at Beca’s back, trying in vain to pull her closer, ever closer, until, with a huff of impatience, they ghost under the material of Beca’s shirt, seeking out soft, warm skin.

Above her, Beca shivers at the touch, groaning into the kiss and turning it heated and deep. The sound of Beca’s pleasure pulls on Chloe like a magnet, raising her back off the bed yet again. Beca’s hand on her side stutters in its path, reversing until Chloe feels fingers tracing at the hem of the shirt, dipping just under to brush low on her stomach.

Chloe slows down the kiss, taking control of it even though Beca’s the one on top, and eases back. “You can touch me,” she whispers against Beca’s lips, digging her nails lightly into her back for emphasis.

Beca’s breath leaves her in a whoosh and her hand slides up, drawing a path of fire up Chloe’s twitching stomach and wrapping around her ribcage. Chloe sinks back into the mattress, chest heaving as she waits desperately for Beca’s touch. She feels when Beca’s fingers nudge the underside of her bra, can hear Beca’s breath catch in her throat. Beca teases, her fingers moving sideways along the strap without venturing higher. From somewhere far in the distance, Chloe hears a faint buzzing noise, the sound of a phone on vibrate, but she ignores it, as does Beca.

Chloe arches, desperate to get Beca’s hand higher. Beca chuckles and finally, finally moves her hand up. The slightest hint of pressure brushing over Chloe’s right breast through her bra sends a hot bolt of desire direct to her center and her mouth falls open, and then Beca does it again, and again, until finally Beca’s entire hand lands on her, cupping her delicately.

A ragged groan tears free from Chloe’s throat and before she knows what she’s doing, she’s tugging at the back of Beca’s shirt, trying to yank it off; Beca sits up abruptly, the sudden lack of contact making Chloe gasp in surprise, but then Beca’s reaching down and crossing her arms and lifting her shirt up. Chloe can only stare as Beca reveals first the porcelain skin of her stomach, then a simple black bra stark against perfect cleavage, then the shirt comes completely off over her head. She drops it to the side of the bed, a question in her eyes.

Instantly, Chloe’s struggling upright too, lifting her shirt, Beca’s hands helping her, guiding her, until her own shirt joins Beca’s on the floor. Beca’s eyes drop to her chest, and Chloe momentarily feels self-conscious; she’s in a blue bra, nothing fancy, and she’ll definitely have to make a trip to the lingerie store first thing in the morning, but then Beca’s leaning forward and Chloe’s falling back to again land flat on the mattress.

This time, Beca doesn’t hesitate.

A hand finds her instantly, palming and kneading and circling through the thin material of her bra, each pass tightening the knot low in Chloe’s stomach and sending a fresh wave of heat crashing between her legs. Feeling Beca’s bare stomach against her own is simultaneously too much and not enough, and her senses launch into overdrive as Beca’s tongue again slips between her lips.

The need to touch Beca appears, as strong as the need for air, and instantly, Chloe’s hands trail from Beca’s back down around her sides. Beca, realizing what she wants, pulls back just enough, resting her forehead against Chloe’s to create the space Chloe’s hands need to slide around Beca’s ribs and land on her breasts.

They both groan at the touch, but Beca is louder. Swollen lip drawn between her teeth, Chloe, using the gentlest pressure she can muster, squeezes.

Three things happen.

Beca swears and shifts on top of her, her thigh landing between both of Chloe’s to press.

Sparks ignite in Chloe’s belly and she’s hit with a bolt of arousal so strong it’s almost painful.

Images flash behind Chloe’s eyes in a series, thoughts of reaching down and unbuttoning Beca’s jeans, then taking them off her or just sliding a hand inside, flare across her mind like stars shooting through the sky. In that moment, she can imagine it, how their bodies would twist together, moving with purpose, edging closer and closer to the brink.

She wants that, more than anything. She wants Beca.

“Stop. We need to stop.”

Beca freezes above her, the hand on her breast immediately retreating down to rest just above her hip.

“I –” Beca has to stop, moisten her lips. “Did I do something wrong?”

Chloe laughs, a breathless huff, and her hands drop away from Beca’s chest to rest, fingers interlaced, over her own stomach.

“No, you really, really didn’t,” she breathes, watching the anxiety melt from Beca’s expression. “Just. If we don’t stop now… well,” she half-shrugs. “We should talk about that, first.”

“Oh.” Beca’s eyebrows shoot toward her hairline. “Oh. Yes, we, uh, we should. Talk, first.”

She sits back, moving off of Chloe, reclaiming her leg from between her thighs. Chloe misses the touch even as she breathes deeply, trying to calm herself. Beca looks down at the floor, then reaches and collects their discarded shirts, handing Chloe hers with a slightly awkward smile.

As Chloe pulls her shirt back on, she tries to quell her sudden worry. The old flash of unease resurfaces for the first time in weeks, the fear of objectifying Beca inappropriately returning for a horrible second until she reminds herself that this is okay, that she and Beca are together, that they both consented to go that far and – almost – further.

“It’s okay,” Beca says, and Chloe looks at her in surprise until Beca continues. “It’s okay. Don’t feel bad about stopping.”

Once she realizes that Beca hasn’t, in fact, read her mind, Chloe smiles and nods, her unease vanishing as quickly as it had come. It’s okay. She’s not a bad person for wanting to be with her girlfriend.

“Um, did your phone…?” Chloe asks, remembering the buzzing from earlier.

“Oh, shit, yeah, hang on,” Beca says, reaching behind herself to tug her phone from her back pocket.

While Beca checks her phone, Chloe straightens out her shirt, tugging it back into place. From downstairs, she can still hear the distant voices of the other Bellas. It makes her blush, wondering if they’d heard any of the sounds she and Beca had been making. They hadn’t exactly been quiet…

Beca’s snort of disgust startles her. Beca lowers her phone from her ear, a sour expression on her face.

“It was my dad,” she explains. “He called, left a text apologizing for Sheila at dinner. He says she didn’t mean it, and… and they’ve invited us for dinner this weekend. Both of us,” she emphasizes, looking disgusted.

“They… really?”

“Yeah. He says they want to get to know you more.”

Chloe remains silent, drawing her lower lip between her teeth. If they could do this… if she could just show them it’s okay… if Sheila could see how happy she and Beca make each other…

Beca’s still talking. “... and really, I don’t know where they get off thinking I’d put you in that situation after all the shit –”

“Why not?”

“– they put me through, I really – what?” Beca stops mid-rant, staring at Chloe like she’s suddenly stopped speaking English.

“We could try it?” Chloe suggests mildly, fingers toying with the bedspread.

“Chloe,” Beca says, her tone careful. “Are you insane? Didn’t you hear what that monster asked me?”

Chloe winces, but stands her ground. “I know what Sheila said, and it’s – it’s awful.”

“It is!” Beca gestures widely, staring at her uncomprehendingly. “So why on earth do you want to see them?”

“I don’t want you to not have your family because of me.”

Beca draws up short, blinking several times before pinching the bridge of her nose between thumb and forefinger.

“I… appreciate that,” she says slowly, “but you – the Bellas – this is my family. I don’t need anything else.”

The raw honesty in Beca’s voice tears at Chloe, making her think of the rapidly-approaching lease-end date. The realization that in less than a month, the Bellas will be going their separate ways sends pain flaring through Chloe’s chest, but she knows now isn’t the time to bring that up.

“Look,” she says instead, “you said your dad was okay with us. Maybe if we give them some time to cool off, talk it over…”

Beca’s already shaking her head. Chloe scoots closer, taking one of her hands and pulling it into her lap.

“Please, Beca. I think, if they see how happy we make each other, you know, I think it’ll be different.”

“Chloe…”

“Please? I really think that we can show Sheila how it’s okay. I think we could try.”

Beca looks at her, expression unreadable. Chloe doesn’t push further, merely letting the idea hang between them for Beca to consider. With a sigh, Beca runs her tongue over the front of her teeth and closes her eyes.

“I… okay,” she finally agrees, “but if they’re rude –”

“We’ll leave and that’ll be that,” Chloe promises.

“Fine,” Beca says, reopening her eyes. “We’ll try it. I don’t like it, and I’m worried about it, but we can try.”

“Thank you,” Chloe says sincerely.

“Yeah, yeah. Also, I thought this date was going to come with a backrub?”

Chloe grins.

If the Bellas downstairs hadn’t heard noises of their earlier activities, Chloe had no doubt whatsoever that they’d heard almost every second of Beca’s backrub.

“God, you’re loud,” she laughs, lifting herself from where she’d been seated on the backs of Beca’s thighs.

“Well, dude,” Beca says, rolling from her stomach to her back to grin up at Chloe, “not my fault you give great backrubs.”

Chloe hums in acknowledgement, stretching out her hands. Just as she’s about to tease Beca more, there’s a knock at the door.

“Are you two done boning yet?” Amy’s voice sounds through the wood. “Some of us actually want to sleep.”

“Or join in!” Stacie’s voice adds.

“Go away, you pervs!” Beca calls back.

The door is flung wide with a bang and a horde of Bellas spills into the room, Stacie in the lead with her phone raised hopefully. Beca shrieks and flinches back from the camera, even though there’s really nothing to hide.

“Damn, I missed it,” Stacie says, disappointed, putting her phone back into a pocket. Then she grins at Chloe. “Nice hickey.”

Chloe just laughs while Beca sputters wordlessly behind her. “Thanks,” she says, touching the bruise Beca left on her neck. “And you didn’t miss anything. I was just giving Beca a backrub.”

Skeptical silence meets her words, Flo and Jessica exchanging a look with eyebrows raised. Cynthia Rose covers her smile with a raised hand as Emily elbows her in the ribs. Amy coughs unconvincingly and says clearly, “Slut.”

“Oh my god,” Beca groans, her head flopping back onto the mattress. “Do you want something?”

“Yeah,” Cynthia Rose says, “we wanted to see why you flipped your shit earlier.”

“That was aca-scary,” Emily nods, eyes wide.

Chloe shifts uncomfortably on the bed, not knowing if Beca wants to share. To her surprise, though, Beca merely tosses an arm over her eyes and sighs.

“The step-monster was being monstrous,” she says. “Found out about Chloe and I.”

“Chloe and me,” Stacie corrects, then frowns. “That’s a tough one.”

Cynthia Rose nods. “Yeah, that’ll happen, B. Ugh, I’m sorry. The best thing to do is pick yourself up and not give a flying fu –”

“I can butcher a cow in seven different ways,” Lilly whispers, appearing out of nowhere beside Jessica, who jumps back in horror.

“In my country, she would be exiled to the dogs,” says Flo with a firm nod.

“Forget her,” Emily says bracingly. “We’re your family. We’re sisters. We’ve got this, together.”

“Yeah, uh,” Amy says, “that’s actually something smart coming from Legacy’s dumb mouth. We’ll support your lesbian activity, but… keep it contained, yeah?”

“Oh, whatever,” Beca snaps, but Chloe can see she’s smiling. “Like you and Bumper ever ‘keep it contained’ when you have –”

“Stop!” Emily cuts her off, hands over her ears. “I don’t want this!”

“Bumper, what?” Amy asks loudly, looking around. “Um. Ummmm.”

“Uh huh,” Chloe says, staring hard at Amy. “We all saw you paddle across that lake. If you get to make fun of us, we get to –”

“Listen, nature calls,” Amy says loudly to several displeased groans. “I should go.”

With that, she turns and makes her exit from Chloe’s room, Emily plugging her nose just in case.

“Yeah, since you two aren’t actively having sex right now, I guess I’ll go, too,” Stacie sighs.

“You’re actually disappointed,” Jessica stares at her in amazement.

“Eh,” Stacie shrugs, then turns and leaves the room, humming a song that sounds suspiciously like “Problem.”

Gradually, the others trickle out after her, Emily waving goodbye, until Cynthia Rose is left. She looks pityingly at Beca, who is still lying on the bed.

“That bites, seriously,” she says. “But you gotta focus on the good. Like us, and your girlfriend, and hey, maybe she’ll come around eventually.”

Beca grunts in acknowledgment, propping herself up to look at Cynthia Rose. For a moment, Chloe feels as if she’s intruding, but it’s not like she can really go anywhere.

Beca stares at Cynthia Rose for a second, lips pursed, then sighs. “Yeah, I hope you’re right. Thanks, dude.”

“Anytime,” Cynthia Rose nods. “And if you aca-bitches are done keeping me awake, I’m gonna go.”

With that, she leaves the room, closing the door behind her.

“That was a lot,” Beca says immediately.

“They wanted to check in,” Chloe replies, stifling a yawn.

Beca frowns at her. “Are you tired?”

“Kinda,” Chloe admits, “but if you want to talk more, we can.”

“No, I’m okay,” Beca shakes her head. “It’s been kind of a long day. Should probably get some sleep.”

She stands from the bed, stretching. A strange feeling comes over Chloe, and suddenly, she can’t stand the thought of spending the night alone.

“Wait, can you stay?” she blurts right as Beca leans to kiss her goodnight. “Please? Just to sleep,” she clarifies when Beca hesitates.

Beca looks at her curiously, but says, “Yeah, I can. Um, can I brush my teeth first?”

Chloe agrees, and, with a quick peck on the lips, Beca leaves the room to get ready for bed. Excited at the idea of spending the night with Beca, Chloe picks up her own bathroom caddy and heads down the hall to brush her teeth and remove her makeup.

Back in her room, she starts to undress, then hesitates; sleeping in the nude, though it’s what she normally does, might not be the best tonight. Frowning a little, she goes to her dresser and digs through it, searching for something comfy to sleep in.

She eventually finds a pair of short shorts and changes into them, pulling a tank top over her head and deciding to leave her bra on. Moving the Nerf guns off the bed – maybe they’ll use them tomorrow – she climbs into bed and gets comfortable under the sheets. She only has to scroll through her Twitter for a few minutes until Beca’s characteristic double knock sounds on the door.

“Come in,” she calls, plugging in her phone and putting it face-down on her nightstand.

“You decent?” Beca asks cautiously, only easing the door open a crack. “Jessica warned me…”

Chloe laughs and calls back, “Yes, I’m actually wearing clothes. Your eyes are safe.”

Beca opens the door and slides in, closing it again behind her. Chloe has time to appreciate her simple (and very short) blue shorts and oversized black T-shirt before Beca flicks off the light and moves toward the bed.

“Very sexy,” Chloe grins, though Beca probably can’t see her in the darkness.

“Yeah, well,” Beca huffs, pulling back Chloe’s covers and sliding under them. “Remind me to go shopping tomorrow.”

“Mmm,” Chloe hums, sliding in close behind Beca and wrapping her arms around her waist. “I had the same thought earlier.”

Beca’s breath catches audibly and Chloe smiles, pressing a kiss to the back of her neck. Beca melts back into her with a quiet hum of contentment, and Chloe tangles their legs together. After so many years of dreaming about this, having Beca in her bed like this, even for just sleep, is amazing. They’ve shared a bed before, but never while dating, so being able to hold Beca like this is everything.

“So,” Beca speaks into the darkness of the room, the vibrations of her voice traveling through Chloe’s body where they’re pressed together. “Earlier, you said we should talk about… um. You know.”

Chloe has to think for a moment, not sure what Beca’s getting at. When she realizes, though, she has to hold back a giggle at Beca’s inability to say the word. “You mean sex?”

“Yeah, uh, that,” Beca replies, her voice higher-pitched than normal, and Chloe takes pity on her.

“Do you want to talk about that… now?” she asks.

“Um, yeah, I guess, if you’re down?”

“Sure,” Chloe agrees easily, then, figuring it might be easier for her to go first, starts, “Well, sex… it’s just something I’ve been thinking about lately. With… you.”

“Yeah?” Beca sounds surprised, but pleased.

Chloe wishes she could see Beca’s face, but realizes that’s probably why Beca chose this moment to talk about it, when they’re spooning in almost complete darkness.

“Yeah. Does that… is that okay?” Chloe asks, a little nervously, when Beca doesn’t say anything else.

“Yeah, of course,” Beca replies instantly, reassuring Chloe. “It’s just. Uh, different.”

“Different how?” Chloe whispers into Beca’s shoulder.

“Um. Because it’s… you? I guess? And I’ve never… with a girl.”

“I’ve never with a girl either.”

“Really?”

Chloe almost wants to snort at the surprise in Beca’s voice.

“Really,” she answers. “I’ve dated girls, yeah, but never… I was waiting, I guess.”

She stops herself before she accidentally says who she was waiting for, but by the way Beca doesn’t say anything and leans back against her even more, she imagines Beca gets it.

“I don’t want to rush you,” Chloe says. “I know you wanted to wait with – with Jesse.”

Beca shifts in Chloe’s arms, rolling until they face each other. In the dimness of the room, Chloe can’t really make out her features, but she can see the faint outline of Beca’s profile. Beca’s hand lifts, moving Chloe’s hair back gently, almost absentmindedly.

“With Jesse…” she starts, “it was just different. I never really thought about it – sex – with him. I’ve thought about it with you, though,” she adds a little shyly.

Chloe’s stomach flips so hard she’s amazed the whole bed doesn’t flip with her.

“Chloe?”

“Yeah, that’s… good,” Chloe clears her throat. “Of course. That’s really – that’s great. I just. Um. I don’t want this to be, like, deadline-sensitive, you know?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, with the end of the lease,” she says gently, feeling Beca stiffen. “I don’t want us to rush it, I want it to just…”

“Happen,” Beca finishes in a sigh.

“Yeah.”

“When we’re both ready.”

“Right.”

Beca’s quiet for a long time after that, until Chloe wonders if she’s fallen asleep. But then, the mattress dips and Beca scoots closer, winding her arm around Chloe’s waist and nudging their noses together.

“What if I’m ready now?”

Chloe’s heart almost bursts out of her chest, but then Beca smiles against her lips and she realizes she’d only been joking.

With a smile of her own, Chloe presses a light kiss to Beca’s lips. “Go to sleep, weirdo,” she whispers affectionately.

“As you wish,” Beca replies, though whether she knows she’s quoting Chloe’s favorite movie or not is unclear. She turns again so her back is to Chloe’s front. Chloe snuggles close to Beca, inhaling the soft scent of her body lotion.

“I love you,” she whispers, feeling a small shiver run through Beca at the words.

“I love you, too,” Beca replies with a yawn. “And… soon?”

“Soon,” Chloe promises, and then she’s drifting to sleep with Beca in her arms.

#bechloe #bechloe fic #my writing #beca mitchell #chloe beale #pitch perfect fanfic #i'm nobody's but yours #chapter sixteen #dialogue-heavy at the front #the bellas are obnoxious honestly #i never know how to tag these tbh so

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phantomphangphucker · 5 years

Text

Questions Of An In-Between Existence - DannyMay - Day 25 Theory

Summary: What’s a bunch of Fenton’s to do when a mystery presents itself? Science!

Warning: injuries and healing, mild angst

(Sequel to my fic A Ghost! But Not?)

Danny wakes up with a jerk and winces in pain. But blinking as it hurts way less than he knows it should. Looking down at his left arm and hand, experimentally bending it slightly. It hurts a little yeah but the bandaging is almost more uncomfortable. Twisting his hand back and forth only confirms that. Muttering, “ok? I’m not complaining but I’m pretty sure this isn’t normal”. Sticking his finger under the bandaging on his chest and gaping at the white branch-like scarring. Breathing out, “oh yeah, not normal. Not normal at all”. He may not have a bunch of medical knowledge but even he knows scars don’t form overnight. Heck, he’s sure his chest was burned up yesterday and now it didn’t even hurt. His hand and forearm did, but that’s it.

Once again he’s left wondering just what the hell happened to him. Being a freaking ghost wasn’t some fever dream or pain induced hallucination, was it? Shaking his head as he swings his legs over the bed and heads downstairs, both thirsty and hungry.

Both the Fenton parents go slack-jawed as they watch their son bounce energetically down the last few steps and into the kitchen. He looks a bit awkward as he looks up and sees them gaping at him, “er, kind of hungry”. Maddie just nods as she points for him to sit down while she gets food for him, completely baffled because he should still be in tons of pain. He really shouldn’t even want to sit up, none the less actually get out of bed.

Jack closes his mouth and clears his throat before speaking, “you’re feeling better I’m assuming, son?”. Danny nods, responding while rubbing his neck awkwardly, “um, yeah but not, like, completely. Which while it is nice, it’s also freaky”. Jack can’t help but agree, no one heals that fast. Maddie nods at Danny as she gives him his cereal, “while I agree I’m glad you feel better, it is definitely odd sweetie”. Jack awkwardly eats a few bites of his pancakes before pointing his fork at Danny’s chest, “think you’re up for us checking you out again?”. Even though Danny nods, both of them can read the nervousness and reluctance on his face and in his eyes.

Danny’s not too sure about this, what if he really was a ghost but could like mimic a heartbeat and pulse? Or maybe ghosts still had those somehow but just slower? If that was the case then what? His parents were freaking ghost hunters, sure he’d like to think they wouldn’t do anything to him but still. Even if they didn’t hunt him or whatever, what if they started to view him as one of their projects or an experiment? That, that would almost be worse. But he doesn’t really see any way out of this, they would have insisted on changing the bandaging eventually anyway. And considering it had only been one night and his gut told him that everything not hurting was totally healed, no way they wouldn’t notice the freaky healing.

So he takes his time with his cereal and hopes they just think it’s because he’s not at a hundred percent.

Pushing his cereal bowl away before hopping onto the stool next to the sink. Lifting up his arms gently so his dad can cut away the bandaging on his chest, everyone hears his dad gasp a little, “oh wow, it’s, you’re, wow”. Danny can’t help but cringe a little both from his dad’s words and from the sight of the scarring and faint bruising on his chest. Danny pretty darn sure that scars just don’t heal or go away, even if his healing is completely jacked up.

He can feel his dads eyes on him so he tilts his head back up to meet his gaze, “wow, son. You weren’t kidding. I am glad you’re okay though”. Danny smiles awkwardly and holds out his arm, looking back at his chest while his dad cuts the rest of the bandaging off, only wincing after he cuts past the elbow. Jerking a little and clenching his jaw as his dad peels of the bandaging.

Jack winces apologetically, “sorry”. Danny just nods before examining his arm. Maddie shakes her head as her son slowly opens and closes his fist, it’s clear his arm’s still pretty bad but nothing like the charred black mess it had been only hours ago. “Well, we’re definitely re-bandaging that, but otherwise you’re ok. It ok if I check your pulse though?”, Danny nods but again he looks uncomfortable and like he doesn’t really want to. Jack and Maddie share a look of concern, Maddie’s officially a bit worried that he might be a bit traumatised and being reminded of what happened might not be the best thing for him. Jack shuffles slightly and is obviously making a point to speak gentility, “son, if you’re not ok with this that’s fine. You’re walking, talking and healing; that’s enough for us”. Maddie nods and ruffles Danny’s hair a little, which apparently makes him blush, “sorry? Just kind of freaked out I guess”. Though both of them can tell by how he looks around awkwardly, that there’s more he wants to say but that he’s also looking for an excuse to not say it. So Jack pats him on the leg supportively, while Maddie gingerly cleans Danny’s arm off. Danny winces a little but just seems to start rambling, which tells them he’s been thinking about this for a while now, “like this, this is really weird and with the whole dead or ghost or whatever thing earlier. What if I’m still like that but like faking stuff somehow or like slowly becoming like that again or like possessing my own corpse or something? And you’re hunters, ghost hunters. So just what?”. Maddie can tell he cut himself off, and considering the apologetic look, she’s sure he was about to ask if they were going to, going to hunt him. That thought makes Maddie’s stomach clench and she’s a bit worried he might have had a nightmare about that. Jack responds near instantly before Maddie even gets the chance to, “then we’ll deal with it like a family. A Fenton family but still family. We’ll figure this out, together”. Maddie nods and smiles at Danny, picking up that he didn’t hear quite what he wanted to, “and we’d never hunt you, sweetie. God, we never could”. Maddie can tell by Jack looking a little startled that he didn’t even think of that, “what?! Never! Danny-boy you’re safe here, no matter what. Human or ghost. You being dead was what scared us. I mean I thought-”, Jack cuts himself off to clear his throat, “-I thought our invention killed you. Hell, I’m not happy you got hurt at all!”. Both them can tell Danny’s smile is more genuine this time but Maddie feels the need to reinforce that they’re parents first, “you're more important than any of our work, hunting or research. Always”.

Danny smiles a bit more at that because yeah it could be easy to forget that, with how excitable his parents could be about their work, “thanks, I needed that”. Looking between them he can tell they both mean it and he likes that his dad apparently never even thought about even considering hunting him.

Pulling his hand and arm up and twisting it a little, the bandaging was still uncomfortable but better, “I’m guessing I’m still not going to school though”. He really hopes he doesn’t have to because dealing with classes is not something he feels like having to do. Both of them shake their heads rapidly, “of course not sweetie! We already notified the school you’d be out for at least a week”. He is damn pleased to hear that, though something tells him, he’ll be healed long before then. Rubbing his neck a bit awkwardly, “what’d you say happen to me?”. He’s seriously hoping it wasn’t remotely close to the truth, for oh so many reasons. His moms' smile is soft, which pretty well assures him that she or they didn’t give the school even close to the full story, “just that there was an accident and that you got electrocuted. That’s it”. Danny nods rather relieved, scrunching his eyebrows up at the feeling of all of his hair standing on end, but the feeling isn’t quite right. He doesn’t get a chance to check as his dad startles the crap out of him by jumping off his stool, for whatever reason that chases the feeling away. His dad’s slack-jawed again and he really has no damn clue why. “Uh, dad?”, his dad closes his mouth and shakes his head, before looking at his mom, clearly worried. Which only makes Danny worried, “okay? What’s going on here?”, Danny’s not really a fan of how confusing crap keeps happening.

Now both Maddie and Jack are certain that the ghost thing has clearly not gone away. Both officially worried that their son might have been on to something with his earlier worries about still being a ghost. Maddie not sure if it’s bad or good that Danny, clearly, has no clue what he just did, so she speaks softly aiming to not freak him out, “sweetie, you were just invisible”. She instantly feels bad as she watches him go wide-eyed, “what!?”. Both of them nod at him, while he looks between them for a moment before tilting his head back and groaning, “well that’s just great”. Bending his head back down and running a hand through his hair, before look back up to them. Maddie can clearly see the pleading in his eyes, “so what the hell am I then?”. Maddie hates that she really doesn’t have an answer for him, before it was easy to go with ghost but there’s no way he could be a ghost now, right? “I wish we knew but regardless, you’re family”.

Jack doesn’t really want to admit that he’s a bit excited to figure out this mystery, this could be some new discovery and the powers ghosts had were pretty cool; if a bit startling. But making sure his son’s ok, and not just physically, was more important. And it was pretty clear that, at least right now, his son was not finding the powers cool. His mental state was also, clearly, not ok. Jack pats him on the shoulder and smiles, “whatever this is we’ll figure it out. If you’re ok with that, of course. And I can’t say I’ve got any more ideas than what you already mentioned”. Chuckling a bit to try and make this all more light-hearted, “but I’m pretty sure we can rule out you possessing yourself or faking stuff. Ghosts can’t mimic the living on such a deep level”. Maddie nods, it would be kind of terrifying if they could actually, but no, a ghost having an audible and feelable heartbeat and pulse shouldn’t be possible, “I’d say we’re both positive you’re still alive sweetie”.

Jack taps his chin, “maybe the portal just infused you with ghost powers?”. Danny doesn’t really look like he believes that, “and what? Decided to make me a ghost or whatever for a few minutes, for kicks?”. Jack shrugs as he really has no clue on that one, but Maddie clearly has an idea, “near-death experience maybe? The portal just made it visible?”.

Danny tilts his head, because yeah that could make sense, “I mean, maybe? I don’t know. But yeah, I definitely want my heart and stuff checked now”. Once again hoping to everything that he actually has both. His parents look a bit apologetic and he’s not sure if that’s cause they feel bad for him, cause they feel bad that he’s freaked out, or that they feel bad about examining him. All three are pretty darn reasonable though.

Watching his mom listen to his heartbeat through his, now bare, chest and not seeing concern is extremely reassuring. She passes it off to his dad while she checks his pulse, “well it’s the same as last night. Slow but there”.

“How much slower are we talking?”

“Too slow, about half what it should be”, Danny frowns, not exactly liking the sounds of that. He’s pretty well sure that shouldn’t be survivable, none the less maintainable, “so...I’m not dead, but I should be? That’s ridiculous”. Both of them nod, clearly agreeing with him. But obviously there’s something else as they share one of their knowing looks, his mom pats lightly at his hand, which is not currently comforting, “and there’s something else, we don’t really know what but we noticed it last night too; we just didn’t want to freak you out more”, his mom shuffles a bit before continuing, which screams stalling and that’s worrying, what other weird thing is going on with him now?

“There’s also a humming sort of sound, it was possible the bandaging could have been causing it or maybe lingering electricity yesterday. But now that’s pretty unlikely, that sounds the same too”. Glancing down at his chest incredulously and trying to think if it felt any different. Thinking about it, yeah he could feel like an energy, kind of like when he feels giddy or like an adrenaline rush but localised and compacted inside his chest. There was a faint vibrating too, come to think of it, and a fullness. He had probably blamed that on the bandaging yesterday, at least if he had even noticed it at all, what with the pain and thinking he was dead. Shaking his head a bit before looking up quizzically at his parents, “I mean, I guess there’s sort of a vibratie fullness”.

Jack taps his chin, “well maybe you did get literally infused with ghost energy? I could see how that would vibrate and feel filling. Like eating too much”. Jack wonders if maybe this could happen if someone just absorbed an insanely high amount of ectoplasmic energy? If that’s the case then maybe it would eventually all just leak out of him or get used up? Danny snorts a little bit but then promptly confuses the hell of both Jack and Maddie, completely derailing Jack’s train of thought, “and I mean the portal’s a bunch of ghost energy, isn’t it? And that hums so?”. Both of them glance at each other before Maddie asks, “it, hums?”. Now Danny’s looking at them confused but then groans and seems to be more so talking to himself, “oh don’t tell me only I can hear that”.

Jack pats him on the shoulder, with the amount of energy that must be in the portal he wouldn’t be too surprised if it did make sound, “maybe? We weren’t exactly focusing on the portal last night”. Danny rubs at his neck, “oh yeah, point”. Jack chuckles a little bit and pats him again, he can’t really blame his son for being slightly out of it, “well, that’s something easy enough to check, if you want to”. Jack will admit he’s a bit excited by Danny nodding and Danny does glare at him a bit over that excitement. “Sorry Danny-boy, but we’re scientists, hard not to get a little excited. So long as you keep healing and are ok”, Danny sighs, “yeah I know, just, don’t start treating me like an experiment or something”. Jack blinks, a bit frazzled by that, what kind of father would do that? He was curious yes but not like that.

“What!? Of course not, I mean we’d like to run tests, you know, figure out what’s going on and that you’re ok. But again, you’re our son first”, Maddie nods with Jack as they all head down to the lab. Maddie ruffles Danny’s hair a bit, looking to make him feel more comfortable and like this is less freaky, “if you’re not comfortable or don’t want to do something then we won’t. All you have to do is say so. And we are absolutely not doing something if we even suspect it’s hurting you”. Both them are glad he smiles warmly at that, before rubbing his neck, “I think I can be ok with most things then, just please tell me what you’re doing first? Also yeah, the portal hums”.

Danny knows pretty well immediately that it’s just him who can hear it as his parents look at the portal and back at him, both looking slightly guilty. “Sorry sweetie, it’s just you”, which is just wonderful, something else completely weird about him. Though clearly his mom’s got some kind of idea, based on how her eyes practically light up, “maybe it’s because it’s the portal's energy that’s in you? So it’s just reacting to that”. Huh, she’s got a point there. Plus it’s not just that it has a sound, he can feel the humming too and it makes him feel kind of...comfy. Like the air around him is a thick soft blanket and like something is softly massaging or kneading the inside of his chest. Shrugging at them before Jack asks, “does it sound kind of like a deep humming in time with a powerful drum beat but inside of a cave?”. Danny blinks a bit because that’s pretty darn close before cluing in that that must be what they heard in his chest, “yeah but kind of soft, like a deep cats purr”. Obviously, that’s enough for them to pretty well decide these two things are related and yeah it does make sense. “Well maybe if it’s the portal's energy it will get used up or fade away over time, I could see it being possible that you got such a massive shock of energy that it’s enough to make you a bit ghostly”, his dad has a bit of a point, so what? Is he just going to do random ghost stuff till it goes away or something? What if it just doesn’t though? He really doesn’t want to voice that worry though, he’s got no clue what he’s going to do with all this odd if it is permanent. Though he guesses there’s not really all that much right now, but what if there’s more?

Danny raises an eyebrow as his mom pulls out this box thing, “it’s like a scanner, a regular hospital scanner that we modified to also pick up on all things ecto. All it does is scan though”. Yeah, Danny figures that might be a good idea. See what’s going on in there, regular hospitals are probably out of the question now. Oh man, yeah they’d freak over his vitals alone, assuming this was just his new normal anyway.

Shuffling to sit in front of it and nodding at her, “remember just tell me if you want me to stop, for any reason. And I mean that Danny”. Danny smiles at her, even if he’s a bit nervous. Though kind of wishing the machine wasn’t blocking his view of his parents' faces. Especially when he clearly hears his dad mutter, “woah”.

Jack and Maddie glance from each other to the machine's screen. Maddie taps on it a few times to make sure it’s not glitching. Shaking her head in mild disbelief as the image doesn’t change. Smack dab in the middle of her son’s chest is a ball of pure ectoplasmic energy, extraordinarily strong and condensed ectoplasmic energy. No wonder they could hear this! Actually, be more weird if they couldn’t. Though Maddie’s not exactly pleased that his hearts been pushed to the side a bunch and his lungs too, to make room for the energy ball. Jack mutters faintly, “well there goes the, just absorbed a bunch of energy and it’ll go away, idea. Plain energy couldn’t reorganise organs”. Maddie’s not sure what new idea he has got, as Jack snaps his fingers and starts rummaging through books, as Danny pipes up sounding rather worried, “um guys? “Woah” what?”. Maddie quickly takes a freeze frame on the image and waves for him to come over, feeling a little bad for worrying her son; but it was pretty hard to not be shocked by this.

Watching as her son goes wide-eyed and puts his uninjured hand over the centre of his chest, “woah, that’s, in me? What, what is it? Ghost energy? Ghost portal energy?”. Maddie nods patting him on the back before speaking, “yeah, it’s definitely ecto-energy, but other than that, I’m not quite sure”.

Jack nearly knocks Maddie over as he excitedly slides back over, plopping one of the potential theories journals down. Maddie feels kind of silly that she didn’t think of this as Danny leans over the book, “ghost cores?”. Danny shuffles a bit before speaking again, “looks like that’s kind of a flat out ghost only thing though. So what? Are we back to, ghost but not a ghost, somehow”. Maddie’s not even sure there’s another explanation at this point. Cores are supposed to be like a heart or the centre of a ghost. Let’s them form, holds their consciousness, grants powers, the most vital thing. Absorbing and feeding off the ectoplasm in the zone to sustain itself, so what is even sustaining her son’s? Not only that but he’s not like a ghost at all outside of the apparent powers and so far what happened earlier with the transformation thing, was just a one-off occurrence. He should be lit up like a lightbulb with this much ecto-energy in him. Maddie just mutters at him, rather stumped, “I don’t know”.

And that was not really the answer Danny wanted, but apparently, his body or core or whatever decided now was a good time to be invisible, as his mom pokes at him, “sweetie, you’re invisible, again”. Danny tilts his head down and yelps a little at his see-through hand, he can make out a weird outline but other than that. Shaking it before he just tries willing it away but the, invisibility feeling he guesses, stays, “well, I don’t know how to make it stop so”. His mom nods clearly sympathetic but then looks a little sheepish, “you think maybe you could go in front of the scanner again? See if anything looks different?”. Shrugging, he goes and sits back on the stool but promptly facepalms, realising she can’t freaking see him. “I’m on the stool again mom”, he feels a little bad about starling her as she snaps her head to face him. Clearly embarrassed as she talks, “alright sweetie, just give me a second”. It doesn’t take long before she pokes her head over, “it’s still the same, might as well come back over. Just tap on the desk so I know though”.

Danny feels incredibly awkward having to actually do that just so she knows where he is. Sure he can already think of so many sneaky ways he could use this, heck Sam would adore this. But right now he’d like to be able to actually control it. Trying again to make it stop to no avail. Danny’s a bit embarrassed now as his dad looks up from the journal and looks around a bit confused, speaking a bit awkwardly again, “I’m over here dad”.

“Oh! You’re invisible again. Well alright, I’m guessing you can’t control this can you?”, Danny damn well wishes he could, because it is beginning to annoy him. Shaking his head, “I’m trying to make it stop but no luck”. Both of them nod at him or, he guesses, more so in the direction of his voice. His mom smiles softly, “I’m sure you’ll figure it out sweetie, and you got us to help, as much as we can anyway”.

All three of them hear the ding from the oven, Danny chuckles, “lunch already wow”. His dad chuckles, “yup! Time sure goes by when there’s a mystery to solve!”. Danny smiles a bit but gets jostled by his mom bumping into him but that seems to be enough to get him back to visibility again, “oh sorry Danny and oh!”. Again Danny feels bad about startling her, “uh, sorry?”.

Maddie quickly waves off his sorry, he’s got nothing to apologise for, he doesn’t even have control over this. Though she’s seriously hoping she’s right about him being able to learn to control it. Smiling at him softly, “it’s fine, and I’m guessing you want food?”. Danny nods but it’s clear he’s a bit freaked out as he heads up the steps before her.

Maddie’s in the middle of serving out her own portion of spaghetti when Danny’s goth friend, Sam, full strength kicks the door in. Nearly making her drop the pot and startling Danny enough to phase through his stool; which clearly startled him even more as he scoots away from it and scrambles to stand up.

Putting down the pot, she joins Danny in glaring at them, Sam apparently doesn’t care though. Pointing at Danny while dragging Tucker in without even looking inside yet, “I had to hear from one of the teachers that you go- OH MY GOD!”. Tucker quickly joins Sam in gaping, “HOLY SHIT DUDE!”.

Danny can’t really blame them for being freaked and now he kind of wishes he put on a shirt, “uh, was kicking in the door really necessary?”. Sam closes her mouth and clears her throat before speaking, “what, what happened?”.

“Dude, just damn”, Tucker tilts his head a little, “looks kind of badass though”. Danny wouldn’t know, he hasn’t even looked himself over really and he can’t say he really gives a damn how it looks right now. Glaring at Tucker a little, “I don’t really care”. Blinking a bit as Danny realises that it’s only a little past noon, “did? Did you guys leave school?”. Danny’s pretty sure his moms crossed her arms and he can see his dad has, while Sam puts her hands on her hips and Tucker just looks unimpressed. “Danny, you didn’t even text us that something happened”, Danny does really care that they’re unimpressed when how alive he was is in question, “that wasn’t exactly a priority”.

“Dude, what even happened? You look like a lightning bolt assaulted you”, Danny would almost prefer that because at least then his body wouldn’t be doing all this weird crap. And what is he even going to say? He doesn’t get a chance to come up with something as his mom responds, “he’s supposed to be resting not texting, like I told the school, there was an accident and Danny got zapped”.

“Uh, no offence Mrs. F, but,” Tucker points at Danny’s chest, “that looks a lot worse than zapped”, oh it damn well was worse than zapped. At the very least he died for a bit and now there’s a ball of energy in his chest. Danny can’t help but look down at his chest though, officially glad they did not show up yesterday. Also officially deciding he’d like to actually know what’s happened to him before even attempting to tell his friends. Sam walks up to him but looks a lot more concerned than upset now, “there’s no way that didn’t hurt, while scarring is cool and all. There’s no way we could stay at school not knowing if you were ok”. And now she looks unimpressed again, “I mean Danny for all we knew you were in a hospital or something”. Danny admits she’s got a point there but both his friends worriedly hovering around him and scrutinising him, combined with his parents slowly looking more defensive; makes him feel like he’s just causing problems and how he’d really rather not be here right now.

And then his body decides to oblige him, and he’s not sure if he’s glad he recognises the feeling as invisibility near instantly. But even if he hadn’t, his friends both jumping and going wide-eyed would have clued him in.

Jack jerkily stands up and glances at Maddie just before everyone hears Danny yelp and practically shout, “oh come on!”. Jack glances down at the floor, quickly realising his son must have phased through the floor. He jerkily points at the lab door before running down, only catching Sam wave her hand through the air where Danny had been.

Maddie watches her husband retreat before looking back to her son’s slightly freaked friend’s, “now I know that was unexpected but Danny really needs to just rest. I’m not sure having friends over is the best thing”. Judging by how both of them gape at her incredulously, they’re not going anywhere. “Ok, I, no we, need an honest answer after that. Is Danny ok? Like actually ok? What just happened?”, Sam almost sounds aggressive while Tucker looks down and taps at the ground with his foot before looking, of all things, impressed. Whispering, “holy shit”, but then snapping his head over to Danny as both he and Jack come back up.

Maddie cringes a bit at how Tucker erratically points at her son before speaking, “dude! You have superpowers! Oh man, that’s cool”.

Danny blinks and gapes at his friend a little, cool was not the reaction he was dreading. Scrunching his eyebrows up, “cool?”. Letting his arms fall limp at his sides and staring at them incredulously as both of them nod, Tucker a fair bit more excitedly, “dude, what. You try your body doing random crap with no control. And that’s not even mentioning that dead not dead but maybe dead crap”.

Danny can’t even bring himself to care about his mom cringing, as he’s officially certain he has the worlds weirdest friends. Sam tilts her head at him, “last I checked corpses don’t walk around Danny. Again, what happened? No way this was just a zap”. Well at this point there’s really no point in even waiting, but considering literally none of them really seem to know exactly, “accident, electrocution, pain and bullshit”.

Maddie sighs and sits down, she’s both impressed and weirded out that her son’s friends aren’t utterly freaked, instead, they seem impressed by his little display. Clearly, they’re not satisfied with Danny’s response though, “he got caught inside the portal when it activated”. Danny rubs his injured arm a little, “I hardly even care about that after the whole ghost thing. I was literally dead”. Danny glares at Tucker, “and dude, I’ve been way too focused on making sure I’m not dead dead to find any of this cool”.

Jack pats his son on the back, but phases straight through him on the third pat, making his son jerk and glare at him a bit. Effectively ruining the comforting effect Jack had been aiming for, “sorry, but we are still positive you’re not dead”. But Sam looks a little impressed and Tucker looks excited, “dude! What does that even feel like?”.

Danny blinks at his friends, “it...tingles”. Why was that what his friends cared about? “So what? You can go through things and be invisible?”, Danny and his parents nod at them. Now Sam actually looks confused, which is finally a more expected reaction, “and did you say you were a ghost? So what? Are these like ghost powers?”. Well duh, Danny’s not sure what else they could possibly be.

Danny can tell his dads still clearly a bit excited over the whole researching and trying to find an explanation thing, which is still a little off-putting. As Jack talks a little animatedly, “still trying to figure out why, but making sure Danny-boy here’s ok was and is priority”. Danny blushes a bit but he likes the reminder. But it’s clear his mom is going to shoo his friends off, as she walks up to them again, “I know you kids are curious but you should be in school, and Danny really does need to rest. We’re figuring this out, you can pepper him with questions later”. Danny can read the protectiveness on his mom's face as she points her finger assertively at Tucker, “but only if he’s ok with it. No pushing him”. Honestly, Danny finds that a little embarrassing. He’s freaked and completely damn weird, not fragile. Well, ok he hopes he’s not fragile.

Danny is a bit surprised that his friends actually let her push them out, sticking his head out the door before she closes it though, looking at both of them, “obviously don’t tell anyone. I seriously can not deal with the whole school freaking on me. And I think all three of us have really earned the title weirdo trio at this point”. Tucker smirks at him, “how nice of you to finally join us, and dude, duh. We’re not idiots”. Sam pushes him on the shoulder with a wide grin, “the two of us have always been straight strange, you just came from a weird family. Now you’re straight strange too”. Danny wants to feel offended but she does have a point and her now soft smile makes it hard to be mad, “and Danny, your conscious and walking around. If you’re dead or a ghost, or just partly that way then who cares. Just makes you unique”. Danny has no response for that, she’s acting like he just got a tattoo or something. “I, um, see you after school I guess”.

Maddie’s honestly impressed her son’s friends didn’t freak, and he actually seems more okay as he turns back to them, “well, that was unexpected. Kind of nice to know though”. Maddie ruffles his hair up, “you’ve got good friends sweetie”.

Jack smiles widely down at his son, who he's glad to see returns it readily, “you know, powers are a bit cool. But well, you know us, anything ghost is cool”. Jack hopes that with his friends also agreeing that Danny will see this all better, even if they still don’t really know what’s going on. Danny sighs but there’s still a hint of a smile, “I guess, but right now it’s just freaky and annoying and startling and a lot of things. None of it even makes sense”. Jack titles his head because that’s not quite true, “well, we’re pretty sure you have a core. So that must be where the powers are coming from”.

Maddie blinks releasing that doesn’t quite make sense. Core’s are the heart of a ghost yes and their powers too, but from what she knows their cores are only directly responsible for more specific or unique powers. Not the general ones her son’s been displaying. Ectoplasm by its very nature can become invisible or intangible. That’s not to mention that ghosts use their cores power(s) by channelling it through their ectoplasm. Ectoplasm in their bodies, that makes up their form. Maddie looks at her son both worried and baffled, he really should need ectoplasm all over and in him to do what he’s been doing. Clearing her throat, “I might have an idea but, well, I’ll need a blood sample”.

Danny is both confused and freaked out, what would a blood sample solve? He guesses that’s a routine thing at hospitals but it’s not like he’s been bleeding or anything. Deciding it couldn’t hurt and it’s not like they haven’t taken blood samples from him before, shrugging, “I guess, but why?”. Clearly his dads a bit confused too, but seems to understand way quicker than him as she explains, “if theory is correct a core really shouldn’t be able to even give you powers that can actually be used. Unless there’s ectoplasm to act as a conduit and ectoplasm innately has invisibility and intangibility. So I want to check your blood for ectoplasm”.

Danny can’t help but glance incredulously at the veins in his wrist, they look pretty normal. But if he flat-out bleeds green that will honestly be freakier than phasing through the floor. Nodding at his mom a bit numbly and seriously hoping she’s wrong. Because could ectoplasm or whatever even actually support a living human?

Muttering as they’re back down in the lab again, “so what does it mean if there’s ectoplasm instead of blood? Because again with the, what am I question?”. His moms smile is clearly meant to be reassuring and it’s also genuine, which does make him feel a bit better, “it’s more that I’m looking for specks of impure ectoplasm rather than expecting straight pure ectoplasm”, she pats his hand before continuing, “see it’s already odd that you’re not glowing with likely having a core, but to also having nothing but pure ectoplasm goes from odd to impossible. At the very least, your veins would be glowing and green”.

Maddie watches him give an accusatory glare at his uninjured arm as she wipes the crook of his elbow with a cotton swab. Holding up the needle, “you okay with this?”. Watching him nod a bit jerkily makes her feel a little bad, but of course, he’s nervous. She’s pretty sure they all are, but if he does just have little specks then that further proves he’s very much alive and human. Plus it explains the use of ghost powers, and it’s perfectly possible to just decontaminate some impure ectoplasmic particles. Arguably the core should just fade from there, even he couldn’t, or possibly didn’t want to, be decontaminated; it’s arguably safe to live with a mild amount of ectoplasmic contamination.

However, everyone goes wide-eyed as a mixture of red and green fills the tube. Maddie gapes as she holds up the, now filled, first tests tube. Looking to be about an exact fifty-fifty mix, “I, I’ve got no explanation for this”.

Jack gingerly grabs the tube out of her hands and tilts it around some, it honestly looks kind of neat but he’s got a bad feeling this is pure ectoplasm. At the same time, he’s got no clue why it isn’t glowing. Even impure ectoplasm glows a little.

Danny’s honestly feeling a bit like a lab rat now, with the quizzical way he’s dads just staring at the vial before running off with it, doing who knows what to it. While his mom fills up the two other tubes, though he can’t help but watch.

He gets a bit startled when his mom offers him one, looking up at her confused. But he doesn’t even have to ask, “it’s yours sweetie, it doesn’t make any sense but I imagine you’re curious. Well, and freaked out. I’m going to go work on this one so you hold on to that one, maybe snoop it some yourself?”. Danny nods a bit numbly as he takes it from her.

Staring down at it, he can’t help but find the swirling of colours kind of...pretty. Beautiful even, it kind of looks like a little galaxy; a galaxy that was inside him. Feeling a little bit better, he clutches it to his chest as he walks over to his parents.

“So um, what are you doing to it?”, flicking his eyes over to his dad as he taps on a machine. “Separating it, hopefully this baby will separate ectoplasm from blood”, he turns and smiles softly at Danny, “that way we can all get a better look”. Danny nods, deciding that makes sense. Kind of hard to get good results or whatever, if the two are just mixed together in a swirling mess.

Tilting his head at his mom, who’s looking down a microscope. But the only response he gets from her is a gasp, at first he’s worried but at realising her gasp sounds more pleasant than freaked, he’s just confused. “Mom, what is it?”, his dad also looks more curious than worried; but Danny’s not sure if he finds that comforting or not.

Maddie’s not even sure what to say as she stares down at the, clearly intermingling, blood and ectoplasm. It’s pretty clear the ectoplasm is pure, which just makes this even more confusing. Watching as her son’s blood appears to be coating over the ectoplasm, like it’s hiding it. When the ectoplasm should logically be destroying the blood. Right now, she’d think the ectoplasm was the one being destroyed if she couldn’t clearly see it’s particles there. It’s almost like the two are...coexisting. But that’s completely impossible, isn’t it? It doesn’t take long for the whole droplet sample to be completely red.

Pulling her face up and gaping incredulously at her son, “I’m not sure how to even describe this”. Clearly seeing the mild panic on her son’s face, “but, it’s very obvious that the ectoplasm isn’t hurting your blood sweetie”. Danny looks from her to the slide, squinting at it, “it’s entirely red? Did the ectoplasm go away or something?”. Maddie glances back down at the slide still stunned, “or something, the ectoplasm’s still there. It’s just, you’re blood is covering? it up”. Turning back to her son, “I think, if we left this all here for a bit. It would all be red when we came back. But it would still have the same concentration of ectoplasm”.

Jack sticks his face over the microscope as Maddie moves aside, he’s shocked to see that she’s right. But there’s something else too, it looks like the blood and ectoplasm is sharing, sharing nutrients. Which is beyond illogical. But then it hits him, the ectoplasm, it’s being sustained and stabilised by the blood. And the blood cell walls and particles appear to be reinforced. Like, mutualistic symbiosis.

Patting at his son’s arm excitedly as he gets an idea, pushing a piece of metal at him without even looking away from the microscope, “give that a squeeze, like as hard as you can”.

Danny’s got no clue where his dads going with this, “uh, okay?”. Glancing at his mom who shrugs, obviously she’s got no clue either. Shrugging back at her before squeezing, only getting a second to dwell on the slight vibrating in his hand before both of them promptly gape at his hand, as he only has mild difficulty in completely crushing the pole. There’s no way that should be possible for him, at all.

Danny’s guessing the crunching sound is what gets his dad to turn around, and Danny only gapes more as his dad doesn’t even look surprised. Watching as his dad nods at the metal, “your blood and ectoplasm is doing more than just existing together, it looks like they’re supporting each other. Blood stabilising ectoplasm and ectoplasm strengthening blood. Making all of you stronger”.

“So what? Super strength? Ghost strength?”, Danny glances back down at the metal as his dad nods. Flicking his eyes over to his mom as she talks, “with that logic I think, no I’m sure, it’s more than just physical strength. Everything should be strengthened”, obviously something else hits her as she snaps her fingers, though Danny’s not sure where she could be going with this. Pointing at his arm, “you’re healing. Maybe it wasn’t because of what caused it but because of you”.

“Uh, well I’m not cutting myself or something to test that”, his mom looks flat-out startled by that. Shaking her head vigorously as she responds, “what?! No! Of course not sweetie. There’s a much easier way”. Now Danny’s just confused until she points at the cotton ball tapped on the crook of his elbow. Quickly going to peel the tape off but wincing, having forgotten about his messed up hand. “Sweetie I’ve got it, don’t hurt yourself”, Danny just nods as he holds his arm out to her, as she peels off the tape booth of them blink down at his unmarked arm.

Jack taps at his chin, “speed and your senses probably too”. Jack’s just going to assume that if his son’s senses are better he hasn’t really noticed, otherwise Jack’s sure his son would be very overwhelmed by that. It’s clear he wasn’t aware of the strength for sure, or maybe it has to be activated or something. Jack doesn’t really get to mull it over as the centrifuge finishes.

Popping it open and pulling out the vial, there’s a fine layer of fizzing ecto-energy, plasma, pale green ectoplasm, white blood cells and platelets, red blood cells, vibrantly glowing ectoplasm, with a small bit of painfully bright glowing blue something? at the bottom.

Jack wastes no time in getting out the blue stuff before it could possibly mix with anything. While his son tilts his head, “what even is that?”. Jack really has no clue and looking at Maddie, it’s clear she doesn’t know either. So the only response he gives is a shrug, which Danny is clearly not impressed by.

Maddie lets Jack deal with the unidentified stuff under the microscope, while she takes samples of the pale ectoplasm and white blood cells. Explaining to her son as she begins testing it for DNA, “I’m checking to see if your DNA’s changed or been damaged at all, as for the ectoplasm, I’m checking that against the portals samples. If they’re the same energy they should match”. Danny nods, “yeah that sounds like a good idea”.

Maddie’s glad he’s more ok with this but she’s flat-out freaked when the results print out. Grabbing the blood DNA profile first and finding that half his DNA is completely missing. Which is not only not maintainable but should be instantly deadly. It makes zero sense. Grabbing at the ectoplasm print out next and having no clue what to do with this. Not only does it have DNA, which it only should if it was taken from a ghost, but it also only has half the proper DNA. On top of that, it does not match the portal, which completely eliminates their only really good theory.

But somethings nagging at her and as she looks between the two print outs it clicks. The two samples, if combined, result in a complete DNA profile. Blinking down at the ectoplasm printout and tilting her head, each ghost would have unique DNA, like humans, and this ghost DNA matched the human DNA; which only left one possibility. They belonged to and were explicitly created by one person, this was her son’s ghost DNA, or half of it at least, not just some ectoplasm. His body would have to be creating more, actively maintaining these levels; this absolutely was not ectoplasmic contamination.

Danny is very much freaked out now, not just because of the startled and baffled expressions on his moms face. Side-eyeing what was left of the separated sample from him, as the ectoplasm seems to be foaming or something and the red blood is turning black. “Uh, um, mom?”, Danny honestly doesn’t care that he sounds a bit freaked out though his mom instantly bringing her attention to him does make him feel a bit better.

Danny doesn’t even bother with pointing as he can tell she’s followed his gaze by how she gasps, quickly taking samples of both the red, now basically black, and vibrant green, now mostly sticky looking foam. And practically shoving his dad out of the way to look at the new slides.

Danny just glances worriedly from the vial to his dad who now also looks deeply worried, but looks down at the slide he has. Tapping it on his fingers a bit, “well, son. You definitely have a core I’d say but I’m not sure how important that is right now”. Danny just points at the slide and blurts out, “core ectoplasm?”. His dad nods before his mom practically drags him back over to the microscope, and judging by how she looks a little teary-eyed when she turns to face him this isn’t good.

Danny fiddles with the one vial he’s still holding on to as she talks, obviously trying to speak gently, “sweetie, this, whatever exactly it is, isn’t going to go away and I really really think we shouldn’t try to make it”. Danny had a gut feeling that was the case but it’s downright freaky and daunting to know for sure. He was stuck with this, and he still didn’t even know what this even is. Gulping a little, “I, I had a feeling. That this, this was probably permanent”. His moms nods softly and glances back at the microscope, while his dad stands up straight, “son, I’m not sure how but your blood and this ectoplasm, they need each other. They’re not just helping each other, they’re codependent”. His mom blinks a bit before grabbing at the papers and shoving them at his dad. And now he really wants to know what that says, he hopes clearing his throat is enough to make that clear.

He has to clear his throat three times before his mom gets the message, “sorry Danny, sweetie. I’m just a little frazzled”. Danny is not happy to hear that, because that means whatever it is its either extremely weird or bad. She then clears her throat before continuing, “you’re DNA is messed up, really badly. And the ectoplasm, it’s not just ectoplasm. It’s your ectoplasm, as in specifically yours. With its own DNA matching your human DNA. But that DNA’s also messed up”. Yeah ok, that is both extremely weird and bad. So what? He had two different species DNA? Alive DNA and dead DNA? But both were screwy? Is his whatever going to start foaming or blackening suddenly? He’s not even sure either of them hears him whisper, “oh god, what am I?”. Because really, with this there’s no way he’s just human. So what, human and ghost? He doesn’t get a chance to ponder that as all of them hear his dad mutter, “like two halves of a whole”.

Jack rubs at the two papers, it’s clear to him that it’s like two puzzle pieces that click together. Two technically separate things but are meaningless and incomplete unless clicked together to make a whole. Flicking his eyes to the microscope, two things that don’t work apart. Flicking his eyes back over to his son, or where his son was, glancing down at Maddie makes it clear that Danny must have gone invisible again.

Immediately deciding not to mention it, just in case he freaks him out more.

Maddie scrunches up her eyebrows before leaning back to squinting down at the papers that Jack’s still holding, because something just struck her. This, it was like hybrid plants, to different plants combined to make something new but also not. Blinking as she remembers how Danny’s blood and ectoplasm looked, because it really was his ectoplasm wasn’t it?, it was pretty much exactly half and half. And his DNA was half and half. Looking back to where she thinks her son is, thinking she might just have an answer to the one question he’s asked repeatedly. But really how was that even possible? Humans and ghosts weren’t compatible, they were mutually exclusive, weren’t they? Human blood and pure ectoplasm shouldn’t even be able to be in physical contact as the ectoplasm would be corroding the blood, none the less be able to coexist; and certainly not be codependent. And yet the impossible clearly was possible.

Clearing her throat, “sweetie, with this I think it’s clear to say that you are still human and alive, but also a ghost”.

Danny can flat out tell she left out the, “and dead”, part; he doesn’t blame her because how does that even make sense. Dead and alive? At once? What? But what other possibility was there? All the other theories or ideas had been pretty well disproven. Plus, he had pretty well come to this conclusion himself already, human and ghost. “So what? I’m half ghost? Half dead?”, Danny scratches his head because, come to think of it, if he’s part way dead then what the hell is keeping him part way alive?

Danny can clearly tell the, “dead”, comment is what made his mom cringe and his dads, a fair bit forced, comforting smile really does the opposite of making him feel comforted. But remembering how Sam had just flat out called him dead or part dead like it was nothing, and Tucker clearly agreed that it was no big deal. Heck, they’d known about this situation for all of half an hour and had pretty well decided he was a little bit dead, a ghost, and that it was...cool. Danny’s not sure if he feels the same.

“Are we, like, sure I’m at least partly alive and staying that way?”, his parents near instant and confident nods actually do work to comfort him. So alive and dead, that was his life now or part life? Half-life?. Shaking his head as he goes to run his uninjured hand through his hair only to stop short. Blinking at the faint semi-transparent outline of his hand, which he knew no one else could actually see. Groaning, “well, okay then. I guess I’m just going to have to, have to learn to control this then”, Danny seriously hopes he can because there’s no way he can tolerate randomly going through things or being invisible.

Danny tries to make the hair-on-end invisibility feeling, feel more like hair being smoothed down and is actually a bit startled as he blinks back into the visible spectrum.

Jack’s glad he can actually see his son again, but he’s more glad that his son doesn’t seem too freaked. Aiming to be reassuring as he walks up at pats him on the shoulder, “well I’m sure you’ll figure it out Danny-boy. You’re a Fenton after all, and you’ve got us to help, of course”. Maddie comes up beside him and bends down to be on eye level with their son, “and I think you’ve got your friends too”. Both of them are glad his smile is a genuine one, “I really hope so, I know and I think they might actually like it. Which is weird in and of itself”.

“I can’t say I’m too surprised sweetie, you’re friends have always been a bit strange. But strange can be good”, Maddie tilts her head back at the equipment, “but I think this is enough strange discoveries for one day”. Turning back and smiling at him again, “besides I’m going to have to make a pretty big super, with your friends coming over”. She can tell that he’s a little uncomfortable about something as he rubs his neck. She elects to wait for him to speak as he gives her a slightly nervous smile, “um, do you think my strange is good?”.

Jack doesn’t even give Maddie a chance to respond, because really he does still find this a bit neat even if it’s also a bit startling, “so long as it doesn’t start doing you harm then absolutely, Danny-boy. Besides you’re still very much human, just enough ghost to have powers”. Maddie blinks a bit before nodding, “yes, I think saying you’re flat-out half ghost might be a bit of a stretch. You’re DNA might look to be exactly split but you don’t look anything like a ghost”, Maddie nods strongly because think about the hybrid thing, “if you really were exactly half like that you should look it”.

Danny’s not really sure he believes that, he did literally look like a ghost for a while and maybe all the ghost stuff was just inside or being covered up, like how his blood apparently hides his ectoplasm. “Well, what if it’s just hidden or not noticeable yet? What if I start changing?”, he can tell neither of them really thought of that. But his dad smiles warmly, “then we’ll just have to see, son. But even if you do change you’re still you, just a bit different”.

Danny can’t help but return his dads smile at that, though he’s hoping he doesn’t get any weirder. Dealing with having powers was enough of a mind trip and hassle, without adding ghost puberty or whatever into the mix.

Deciding he really could do with some normalcy, Danny points at the stairs, “so, food?”. Earning loose smiles from both of them, with his mom messing up his hair before heading up. Grumbling, “mooooom”, as he follows.

Danny’s not too surprised that his friends get over damn quick, Tucker finger guns at him before spotting the food, “nice! Thanks, Mrs. F!”. Turning back to Danny after sitting down, Danny can tell he’s got something probably stupid to say, “so, hows half-life or whatever treating you”.

“You’re awful, Tuck”, Danny can tell they can all hear the slight humour in his voice as no one even seems to look concerned. Shaking his head as he actually responds to his friend, “well besides this being a forever thing, I’m pretty well a superpowered hybrid thing with no damn control”.

“Sweetie, you’re not a thing”, Danny winces a bit because that is so not how he meant that. Sam puts her hands on her hips, “of course he’s not and I’m pretty sure he didn’t mean it that way”. Danny points at Sam and nods before starting on his noodles. While Tucker chuckles, “again, cool. Freaking spiderman but ghosts instead of spiders”. Danny can’t help but cough and laugh a little as the image of a ghost biting him pops into his head.

Maddie’s got a feeling that maybe his friends might be better at making him feel alright with this, their carefree and joking nature seems to be making him at the least less overwhelmed and pessimistic. Heck, they hardly even seem slightly bothered or even phased by this. If anything they seem almost proud, like this is a gift. Sam clearly picks up on Maddie’s assessment, “Mrs. F, Danny’s unique and unique is good. Besides pretty sure we’re still stranger than him”.

Maddie’s not sure what to make of that because being part ghost and having powers was definitely beyond strange, just how unusual where her son’s friends? Obviously very, as Tucker promptly baffles her, “so what can you do anyway? You can’t like vomit up ghosts or something? Even if that would be hilarious”. Danny starts cough laughing again, and puts his hands over his eyes as he wheezes, “god no, what? Tuck man, why, why is that the first, god, the first place your brain went?”. Sam points at both of them, “could you imagine if Spider-Man did that but with spiders? Or webbing?”.

Now even Jack is laughing because that is so absurd. Though it’s clear this is good for his son, “thanks for horrifying me, Sam. I’d think, think I’d rather die, again, over spider vomit”.

Danny’s still wheezing a bit as Tucker starts poking at him, “so powers dude?”. Danny goes to shove him but, based on the tingling, he went through him instead. Tilting his over and yeah his hand went through Tucker's head but Danny doesn’t even feel bad as Tucker just look animatedly excited. Watching as Tucker erratically waves his hand through Danny’s a couple of times before Danny can sort of tell he’s not doing the whatever anymore. Not even bothering to warn Tucker as he straight up slams his hand into Danny’s now solid arm. Smirking as Tucker yanks back his arm, “you deserved that”. Sam’s snort clearly means she agrees.

Tucker rubs his hand for only a second before poking at Danny again, so Danny rolls his eyes and decides its best to just indulge his friends. Even if he really has no clue what in all he can actually do or just how much it’s affecting his body, “Tuck, you are insufferable. But, outside of the stuff I’ve already accidentally pull on you guys, the invisibility and go through thing. We’ve pretty much come to the conclusion of at least super strength, speed, healing and senses. Though I haven’t noticed them, so no clue really”.

“Dude, that’s already better than Spider-Man!”

Maddie can’t help but shake her head, it’s like they didn’t see even a slight problem with this. But she guesses kids will be kids, heck maybe her son wouldn’t have been freaked himself if it wasn’t for the injury and actually caring about how alive he is. His friends seem to not care about that at all.

But Maddie is glad to hear some concern in Sam’s voice as she points at Danny’s arm and asks, “speaking of healing, how bad was that?”. Maddie’s not sure if she should be worried as Danny rubs at the centre of his chest, but the action seems more absent-minded than from discomfort, “pretty well everywhere there’s a scar I was burnt up. But I wasn’t exactly focused on how I freaking looked. I thought I was dead and not to mention in pain”. Both of them cringe a bit, but Tucker smacks him on the shoulder, “well I guess you have one damn extreme origin story then. The people with the wildest and most extreme backstories always make for the best superhero’s”. All three Fenton’s gape at him, before Danny flicks him in the head, “dude, what? I’m not about to go play freaking vigilante. Hell, I’m not even leaving the house till I’ve got at least some control over this crap”.

Sam points her finger at him, “so if a ghost popped up and started attacking people, you’re telling me you wouldn’t do the Fenton thing and beat it back to wherever?”.

Jack blinks as he hadn’t even considered his son actually using these abilities for something. But if he’s literally a bit ghost wouldn’t it be kind of messed up for him to be a ghost hunter? Even with the powers he’s displayed he’d still need weapons too and...Jack pales a little and he stares accusingly at one of the ectoguns lying on the counter. They were built not to hurt humans, but what about his son? He wasn’t completely human, these were made to hurt ghosts and he was a bit of a ghost.

Maddie can tell something’s bugging Jack but she’s much more concerned with the idea of her son putting himself in danger to fight ghosts. Sure it’s the family business but he’s still just a kid, and Danny looks a bit embarrassed. Meaning he absolutely would go fight some ghost, “while I’d be excited at the prospect of Danny being interested in ghost hunting, I don’t think you should be encouraging him to just go off and pick fights”.

Danny’s damn sure he actually would, if the ghost or whatever was putting people in danger. No way is he about to let someone get hurt, and no way is he just going to stand by and let that happen; when he’s possibly capable of stopping it. Blinking and tilting his head, finding his own pattern of thought to be a bit weird. Normally he was more of a flight not fight guy. And that was with humans not ghosts, ghosts which apparently all have powers. Sure he’d take Dash’s, and other bullies, hits for other people but bullies aren’t aiming to kill or majorly injure someone. A ghost would be, wouldn’t it? Yet that thought just makes him feel like he needs to get involved. Which is again weird and definitely not his mental normal.

Danny can tell that his moms noticed his mild confusion as she’s looking at him quizzically. Shrugging at his friends, “I mean I guess? Again, that’s not something I’ve been exactly thinking about”. Both of them roll their eyes at him but neither respond as his dad puts a small rock on the table, “uh, what’s with the rock?”.

Danny’s officially a bit worried at how his mom's face matches his dad's concerned face pretty quickly. And it’s just plain weird that a rock could be causing that. Tucker tilts his head while Danny’s dad clears his throat a little, “it’s a bit of ectorainium, and thinking of ghost hunting. Well, this stuff is what fuels a lot of our gear currently and it’s supposed to, well, hurt ghosts”. Danny doesn’t get to dwell on this as his mom speaks up quickly, “I think what your father’s trying to say is, that he is and now I am, worried our stuff might be able to hurt you”.

Sam instantly looks defensive and protective, which actually pleases Maddie, “if anything can hurt him now then you two better find a way to fix that”. Both Fenton parents nod aggressively, Jack speaking up, “of course! It’s bad enough our portal hurt him”.

Danny waits till they’re all distracted with borderline bickering about his safety, to poke at the rock. Promptly seeing green electricity or something jump all over his skin seconds before getting rather painfully shocked. Phasing straight through his seat and the table, fully assuming his body did that just to get away from the contract with the rock.

Danny grumbles incoherently as he gets back up, glaring at Tucker as he snickers at him. But the sound of him landing on the floor clearly drew everyone’s attention back to him, as his mom gives him a soft comforting smile, “you alright sweetie?”.

Danny mutters, “yeah”, before glaring at the rock, “but that thing definitely hurts me”. Which earns frowns from everyone, while his dad picks up the rock and throws it into a capped container. It doesn’t take long for Tucker to start snickering again, which Danny glares at him for, though slightly amused himself, “Tuck, you’re the one who makes out with his PDA, that’s way worse than me not being able to touch a rock”.

Danny can tell Tucker’s going to try to slug him in the shoulder so Danny decides to see if he can actually make himself intangible. Promptly smirking as Tucker goes right through him and falls on the floor, “HA!”.

Jack can’t help but feel a little proud as he’s pretty sure his son didn’t do that little stunt on accident but he’s also a bit worried. There’s a lot of anti-ghost stuff in the house and he certainly doesn’t want his son to accidentally get hurt by any of it.

Eventually, after Danny’s friends leave the two of them manage to shoo him off to bed. Looking at each other before Jack grabs the container, “obviously we’ve got to figure out if everything anti-ghost hurts him. What about shields? Would sensors pick up on him? I don’t know Mads, but our home is loaded with stuff that might hurt him now”.

Maddie nods as the two get to work gathering up everything that might or should affect ghosts in any way. Putting anything made to hurt them, straight into the weapons vault. Maddie sighs, full well knowing they’re going to have to ask Danny to test this stuff. Which she feels downright bad about but they really do have to know just what affects him and what doesn’t.

Looking up at Jack, “you think we could possibly isolate his ecto-signature? If he even has one? And use that to make all our stuff exclude him”. Jack nods a bit enthusiastically and snaps his fingers, “and if we make some modifications I’m certain we could even do that too the weapons. Though we definitely can’t leave any ectorainium laying around”. Both them nod officially deciding they have a new major safety rule in the house. No uncontained anti-ghost stuff unless it cannot harm or hinder their son.

Danny does feel a little bad that his parents are probably freaking out about their stuff being dangerous to him. But he’s finding that hard to really care about when he keeps phasing through either his blankets or his bed entirely. Electing to just sleep on the damn floor after the fifth time falling through the bed. Muttering at the ceiling, “I kind of hate this. Sure powers are kind of cool I guess but not when you can’t god damn control them”. And he doesn’t even want to think about if someone other than his family or friends saw this crap. He’s positive his friends are only okay with it because they’re weird and his parents are, well, his parents.

Putting his hand over his chest, partly wanting to will away the vibrating fullness but also feeling oddly comforted by it. Thinking on it, he could feel there was power there, making him shiver a bit at how he kind of really doesn’t want that to go away.

A little curious, because it was his so he’s allowed to be, he mentally pokes at it a bit. Feeling kind of like he can tug at it, but there’s a bit of resistance or something. Jerking and bolting upright as he seemingly gets it past whatever and feeling it pour out. Snapping his head down and scurrying to stand up as a cold white ring of light shoots out from his torso. Not even getting a chance to poke at it as it splits, one half going up and the other down, his body.

Instantly he starts flailing his arms because, holy crap, he’s floating again. Jerking his head around and spotting his feet, which are somehow back in white jumpsuit boots and they’re glowing. Yanking his hands in front of his face and yup, also glowing and white gloves. He attempts at swimming motions, running and just straight up willing himself to move towards the mirror in his room. Groaning as he just winds up spinning in a circle. “Well goddamnit, I’m-”, Danny cuts himself off at the sound of his voice. Touching his throat, “woah”. He’ll admit the echoing sounded really cool actually, ironically haunting but cool.

Getting startled as he feels his back touch the floor faintly and spinning himself around, placing his hands on the floor, “alright, ok, I can work with this”. Gripping at the carpeting and using that to pull himself along, the rest of him still floating in the air. Letting go and slowly righting himself once he’s in view of the mirror, and oh yeah definitely ghost again. He’s offically certain half-ghost is more accurate than a human with ghost powers. Muttering at the mirror while he spins slightly, “so what? Shapeshifting? To different bodies or forms or whatever? That I can just switch between?”. Shaking his head a bit because this is ridiculous but then laughing at his reflection, watching as his hair lazily floats or waves about. Shaking his head around as his hair can’t seem to decide between being completely unaffected by the motion and waving about like he’s underwater. Snickering, “even my hair doesn’t know what to make of this bullshit”. Glaring at the mirror a little as he promptly becomes invisible, “oh so what? I mock you and you run away?”. Sticking his tongue out and knowing there’s zero chance of him sleeping like this. Grabbing at random stuff to pull himself through the air, occasionally floating higher or lower, trying to get a feel for this. But eventually, he does wind up falling asleep, back against the ceiling.

Maddie’s not sure what to make of the little yelp she hears from Danny when she knocks on his door, “you ok?”. Maddie’s also not sure she believes his, “yup”, as he sounds clearly startled and a bit off.

She’s then flat out startled herself, as she puts down his cereal bowl and turns around, seeing a pair of white-gloved hands holding onto the wall, with white hair and glowing toxic green eyes peeking around; at least a solid seven feet off the ground. “Uh mornin, obviously things have happened”, Maddie nods as she closes her mouth. Pointing at his cereal before composing herself, because she’d really rather not freak him out, well, more than he likely already is. Clearing her throat, “do you, um, need help? And are you ok?”. She’ll admit his look is startling and his voice is pretty strange. But it’s still clearly her boy, though she’s starting to think half-ghost is indeed more accurate. Though she’s got no clue how he’s transformed again.

“I’ve been like this pretty well all night, so I’m ok. I think I activated it or something somehow. More or less figured out how to drive this floating thing, little awkward though”, even if he looks rather sure of himself Maddie still stands close by as he jerkily floats over. Grabbing his chair and pretty well pushing himself into it. It’s really obvious he’s using the table ledge to hold himself in place.

Jack blinks and jumps a little, caught off guard by his son being all ghost again, “woah, alright, not a one-time thing”. Watching as his son tilts his white-haired head back, “yeah, don’t ask me how though. The best I’ve got is that I can feel the power or whatever in the core thing and tug on it”. Danny waves his hands over himself, “then this”.

Jack taps at his chin a bit as he sits down, his son clearly watching him as he eats his cereal. The intense glowing green eyes makes his staring a little bit unnerving but they do accent his hair nicely and it is definitely very ghost. Tilting his head a bit as he takes in his son’s clothing, “I’m going to assume the jumpsuit just appeared on you when you changed? And maybe if you tugged this out, you could yank it back in maybe?”.

Danny can’t help but snort a little at the double maybe, plus he kind of already tried that. Well ok, he sort of tried that while figuring out the floating thing. But he knew he could change back, his mom startling him nearly made him faceplant into his carpet this morning. But it was kind of like he’d just changed back on reflex to avoid the impact. Nodding at his dad and responding after he swallows, “yeah, two bright rings of, I guess, energy and this just sort of appeared on me after they passed over. And maybe, was a little busy trying not to just float all over the place”. This lack of control thing is starting to go from startling and a bit scary to just annoying and embarrassing. He’s sure he looked straight up silly spinning around and bumping into shit.

Danny watches his parents share a knowing look and he’s just hoping it’s something good. “Those sound like the same rings that passed over you when you changed back human before”, Danny nods, as he remembers the cold feeling from them before. He’s not quite sure why his mom looks a little guilty, “do you think you’d be up to letting us check you out again? See if anything’s different when you’re like this?”. Ah now that makes sense, he’s kind of glad they still feel a bit awkward and cautious about testing on him and stuff. But yeah it does make sense to check, “yeah, it’s alright. But it’s just the same stuff, right? Heartbeat, chest scan thing, and blood or ectoplasm or whatever, samples?”.

Smiling at them as they nod, while his mom goes to grab the stethoscope. Danny’s not really sure what the hell to think if he doesn’t have a heartbeat while like this, and how would that even work? Hearts don’t just turn on and off.

Finishing off the last of his cereal and having to hold onto the table to keep from floating up, while his mom listens to his chest again.

Maddie’s more than a little glad to hear his heartbeat, it’s still way too slow but that’s probably just his normal now. Pulse is the same, “well all the same, which I’d say is good”. The chest scan is also the same, and the blood/ectoplasm samples seem the same, excluding that his ectoplasm is actually glowing this time, until Maddie looks at it under the microscope. Blinking as she watches the basically opposite of what happened yesterday. Now his ectoplasm is coating over and hiding his blood, once again without harming it at all. It’s literally flipped and eventually, the whole sample is green and glowing.

Sitting up and holding up the slide, while Danny’s floating over Jack’s shoulder and she’s pretty sure Danny’s holding on purely so he won’t float around. Danny tilts his head, “ok? So what, does my ghost hide under my human but I can change to make my human hide under my ghost? That is beyond weird”.

Jack can’t help but agree that it’s very strange, it’s like his son’s a coin; all Danny but one sides human and the other ghost. Which really, this all just eliminates him being only a little bit ghost, “I’d say so son, and those light rings must be like a switch. Flipping what half’s on top”. Danny nods and fiddles with his fingers a bit, “yeah, that’s pretty well what I’ve decided too. Two halves, so half human half ghost. Which is still completely weird”. Jack knew his son had pretty much already decided he wasn’t just a little bit ghost but it’s so hard to believe, obviously his son’s not finding it quite as unbelievable. Even if it’s rather impossible and absurd, he’s glad his son seems a lot better about all this. Whether that’s because of having answers or just getting a little used to it, doesn’t really matter to Jack. Hearing his son laugh a little and realising it’s actually cause he’s gone invisible again, but he pops back into visibility after a couple seconds, “oh and it seems it’s a lot easier to use and control the powers like this”. Matching his son’s faint loose smile with a large one of his own, “I guess that would be expected. You’ve probably got more access to anything ghost like this. And in the same vein have more accesses to human stuff while human”.

Danny’s pretty sure he agrees with his dad, he’s not even sure if he can float while human. Though it’s still very odd to think the phrase “while human”, “more than likely yeah, now just got to learn control”. Both his parents pat him on the shoulder, even if both of them have to lift their arms up to do so.

All three tilt their heads to the stairs as a knock is heard. Danny decides to stay hidden in the lab doorway, not really knowing who’s here and it’s not really worth getting spotted. A floating glowing teen is bound to startle the neighbours and start some new rumours. But Danny smirks as he hears Tucker’s voice, “the resident spooky superpowered teen up yet?”. Chuckling to himself a bit before forcing the invisibility and smiling down at his hand, with only a clear outline around it. Quickly floating next to Tucker as he’s got no clue who long he can maintain this, whispering “boo” in his ear and promptly losing his invisibility from laughing, as Tucker jumps a solid foot off the ground. Floating to hover just above the ground, curled up and laughing while Tucker shouts, “HOLY SHIT DUDE!”.

Jack’s actually a little impressed with himself that he didn’t jump from his son’s stunt himself and he’s straight up pleased his son has figured out enough control to actually pull that off. Maddie was pretty clearly caught off guard though, yelping, “Danny! Oh my god”, before laughing herself. While Sam bends down and pokes at Danny’s hair, “wow Danny, built in alter ego much”. This gets Tucker’s attention enough for him to go from glaring at Danny to looking excited, “dude, secret identity. No super-suit needed, you’ve already got that covered”.

Maddie will admit, her son having what’s essentially an automatic hazmat jumpsuit would make him a lot safer if he does have to deal with anything ghostly. It was pretty clear that his own ectoplasm was safe for him but who knows if other ectoplasm was as well. Both her son’s friends gape excitedly as he floats back upright and blinks open his eyes, “Tuck, did you just develop a recent obsession with superheroes or something?”.

Jack’s actually a bit glad that both Sam and Tucker seem to not be bothered by the unnatural toxic green eyes, Jack can’t even tell what one seems to find them more impressive as Sam speaks, “Oh wow, that is sick and very cybergoth”. Tucker quickly joins in, “man this just keeps getting cooler, do they work as flashlights?”.

Danny can’t help but start laughing again, because of course, Tucker would ask something completely unexpected. But at the same time, he was totally right. Nodding a little before being caught off guard by feeling that cold energy come out of him again. Quickly making a point to actually pay attention to how it feels this time so he can maybe figure out how this transforming thing works. He's not too surprised his dad was pretty right, feeling the power and energy being pulled or yanked back inside; before he promptly falls on his ass.

Glaring at his two friends as they both bend over laughing, Sam pointing at him, “that is really freaking bright Danny. Not to mention cold”. Rolling his eyes, “you don’t say, not unpleasant though”. Somehow he doubts his friends care about that really, well they do just not enough to really be worried about him feeling cold. Patting off his PJs as he stands up, “so pretty well positive on the half-ghost thing and I have two bodies now, I guess”.

Danny just stares at Tucker as he holds up his hand for a high five, “hurray for weird!”.

Maddie can’t help but laugh a little, she’s starting to think Danny’s friends are more that just a little bit odd, which might be good for him. Make Danny feel more normal and it’s pretty easy for weird to handle weird, “I’m pretty sure it’s more like one body but two states”.

Jack smiles at his son and his two friends, “but all Danny and I’m sure you’ll make this work for you. We aren’t a family of geniuses for nothing!”.

End.

#danny phantom #phandom #dannymay19 #dannymay #theory #danny fenton #jack fenton #maddie fenton #sam manson #tucker foley #injuries #mild angst #science #phantomphangphucker #have a fic suck my dick

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adventuresloane · 5 years

Note

102 hurloane or danbrey?

“So you come here often?”

“Aubrey, I live here.”

She heard a small, strangled sound behind her. When she turned around, she found the new girl with a painfully wide grin and a pair of eyes that darted in every direction but hers. Her full lips, colored a neon orange that clashed with the lodge’s deep reds and dark woods, scrunched up into an “o” shape as she sucked in a breath and started to fan herself. “Old thermostats here?” she asked too loudly to be convincing. She was supposed to be a stage performer? Honestly.

“Your room’s down the hall up here,” she said once they had both reached the top of the stairs. “313, if that’s alright with you.”

“You’re not one of those hotels that skips 13, huh?”

She turned back enough to see the puff of tight, candy-red curls bobbing behind her as Aubrey followed her. “I guess after what you just saw, it won’t surprise you to know we’re not afraid of superstitions around here.”

“Heh, guess not.”

“Seems like you’re not either.” She unlocked the door before dropping the keys in Aubrey’s hand, then stepped through the threshold. Inside was the bed with the spread of earth-toned patchwork, the oil painting of a stag in autumn woods, the television that looked entirely too sleek and modern for its rustic surroundings. “Here you go. The rooms are a little small, but I think they’re comfy enough. I’m not sure what you’re used to, but–”

“Oh, much worse than this!” she answered brightly. She tried to throw her duffel onto the bed, missed, and didn’t pick it up when it banged against the nightstand. The bag had nearly as many patches as her denim vest, many of them from the places she had been, so that the pieced-together fragments could be read like a map. “Usually the places I go to are the ones where you have to shake the sheets to get the bedbugs off.”

“Ah.” Dani glanced dubiously at the luggage. “When was the last time you slept somewhere with bedbugs?”

“I haven’t been itchy lately, so not for awhile. Damn, this is a nice bed.”

Dani felt a tickle against her ankle and looked down to find the white rabbit brushing past her as he hopped into the room, having followed behind his owner. “I guess I’ll leave, uh, both of you to it.”

“Oh, um…” Having flopped, spread-eagled, onto the bed, she suddenly sat up, alert. “You don’t have to. I mean, you’re not bothering us. She’s not bothering us, is she, Dr. Harris Bonkers?” The bunny looked at her and calmly twitched his nose twice.

Dani almost wasn’t quick enough to bite back the laugh she felt worming its way out of her suddenly. Dr. Bonkers still sat within arms reach of her, and before she could resist, she bent down to rub his forehead with two fingers. He let her. “I do actually have to go. I promised Mama I’d do some stuff around here."

By now, Aubrey had gotten up from the bed and padded softly over to her, at least as much as one could softly pad while wearing spiked boots with inch-thick soles. She remained a poor actress–her smile wasn’t enough to belie the traces of what looked like regret in her eyes. "Alright, well, you’ll stop by later, right? Any time is good, probably. Promise me you’ll come back?”

“I don’t really do promises,” she mumbled. They set people up for disappointment, she didn’t add.

“Oh, me neither,” Aubrey said with a quick flip of her hair. “Commitments are for plebs. No gods, no masters."

This time, Dani couldn’t help but snort. Somehow, Aubrey’s smile looked a touch more genuine afterwards.

"But, uh, Dr. Bonkers doesn’t think so,” she continued after a moment. Carefully, she scooped up her rabbit and took hold of one of his feet, flipping the paw up and down in what looked like a wave. “Come see us again soon?”

Dani felt the bottom of her eye twitch upwards as the side of her mouth lifted into a grin. “I’ll see you around one way or another.”

“You’ve really got to stop trying to train at night,” she said, teeth gritted to keep her lips from quivering. Everything about her felt shaky, actually, as she watched the dribbling blood glint in the fluorescent light of her bathroom. It took every bit of concentration her 12:34 AM mind could muster to keep the needle steady as she stitched together Aubrey’s skin.

“Don’t tell Mama,” Aubrey said quickly, a little pleading. “She’ll want me to go to the hospital.” She watched as the silver point stick her over and over and did not wince once. Dani wondered how much her pain tolerance had increased since she had started going on Pine Guard missions. This night would leave her with a pale scar cutting across her heart and head and life lines, one she could conceal at the center of her fist. Dani wondered what other scars she had collected that were hidden from view.

“How did you even get a cut this deep?”

“Practicing with Sniaytch. I was trying to see if I could make it fly back to me handle-first. You know, we’re, uh, still working on it.”

Dani breathed out a small laugh, not because that was particularly funny, but because laughing was the only thing she could do. She threw another red-drenched wad of toilet paper into the wastebasket and dabbed at the wound with a fresh one. Her fingers were sticky with it now, too, clinging to the needle. This was the amount of bleeding she got just from a training accident. Maybe this was nothing compared to what could happen on hunts out in the woods. “Out of pure curiosity, are you this reckless on missions too?”

“I’m kind of this reckless at all times. Reckless is my baseline state. But hey, don’t take me for a slouch!” She took a moment to flex with her free arm.

Dani just shook her head. Sometimes, when the abominations came through the gate, she would be too busy to spend any real amount of time at the lodge. Days would go by without her seeing the bright flash of the spikes on Aubrey’s jackets or the colorful shock of her loud makeup. She noticed it, now, when those bright sparks were not there to signal Aubrey’s presence. She didn’t want to think about what would happen if they left her life entirely.

“Hey, hey…” Aubrey put an uninjured hand on her shoulder. Leave it to her to try to be the comforting one even when her flesh was torn up. “I’m gonna be fine, alright? I promise I’ll always come back from these hunts, no matter what.”

There had been many people, in the past, who had promised never to leave her. All of them were currently on a different planet. “You can’t guarantee that. Not when the risks are as high as they are.” She sighed. “Nothing personal, Aubrey, but I still don’t really believe in promises.”

The rings in her eyebrow shifted as she furrowed her brow in concern. Then, after a moment, her face loosened into a smile. “Well, I’ll believe for both of us, okay?”

“It wasn’t you.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“It wasn’t.” Aubrey’s voice was strained, almost angry. “You didn’t kill anyone. I know you didn’t.”

Dani shuddered. Sweat pasted the cover of the book to her hands, making it cling to her. Its many eyes seemed to fix on her, scrutinizing. It might have been the lack of sleep making her vision lose focus, but she swore she saw the slit pupils move around. She felt heavy with exhaustion. Even her breath seemed like a weight in her lungs. She did not bother asking how Aubrey could possibly be so sure.

Aubrey’s arms wrapped around her, and for half a second she wanted to shove her off, to warn her off. She might change into that beast at any time. But the warmth of the embrace began to seep into her and she couldn’t help but sink, relax the muscles that had been tense for days. She wasn’t sure if the comforting heat came from the magic or from the girl herself. There might not have been a meaningful difference between the two anyway.

“I know you.” Aubrey’s lips moved against her shoulder, her voice muffled. “And I promise you’re better than that. I’ll believe it even if you won’t.”

When she turned towards Aubrey, the bright red curls brushed her nose. She grounded herself in the sensation. “Aubrey?” She hated the way her own voice cracked. “Do you promise you’ll come back with answers?”

“I promise I’ll do better than that. I’ll put a stop to all this.” And even in the dark of the bedroom, her orange eye seemed to glow like an ember. It might have been from the magic or it might have been from something that radiated out of her like points of light from a star, something that could only be called faith. She placed her hand over Dani’s. “You just promise you’ll come back to me too when it’s all over, okay? Promise you won’t let this ruin your life and you’ll be the person I knew before. Can you do that?”

“I can.” She wasn’t sure if she could at all. But just feeling Aubrey’s breath against her gave her hope, and that was almost like belief.

((Sdvksbvk sorry this took forever and came out kinda wack I think. But you opened my third eye to cynical!Dani and I had to try writing her.))

#tysm for the ask!#dani #aubrey #danbrey #taz #taz amnesty #the adventure zone #taz fanfic #my writing #ask meme #idkaylaaa

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thisdiscontentedwinter · 5 years

Text

Bad Blood - Chapter 5

You can read it here on AO3 or find the Chapter Index here.

*****

Allison Argent is like a ray of sunshine, and Stiles is… well, Stiles is like a vampire, he guesses. He’s deathly allergic to rays of sunshine. He doesn’t feel happiness whenever Allison visits, even though he wants to, because it’s Allison. She’s sweet and funny and genuinely seems to care about Stiles, even though she hardly knows him, but all Stiles feels when she talks is a weird sense of envious disdain. She talks about school, and how she worries that she’s not fitting in, and how she misses her old friends in Phoenix, and Stiles is above all that, isn’t he? It’s petty teenage bullshit, because Allison doesn’t even know there’s a war going on—Allison doesn’t know anything about werewolves, or the multitude of other nightmarish creatures that actually stalk the world—and the stuff she cares about is childish and irrelevant, and Stiles wants to laugh at her for it, except he can’t, because whenever he tries to he feels a burn of pure jealousy in the pit of his stomach because she’s so normal. And he knows he shouldn’t want the things that she does, he knows he has a higher purpose, a birthright, but he remembers back when he thought he was just a normal kid too, and… and he thinks he was happy back then.

It’s hard to remember.

It’s harder still to evaluate his memories, because every single one of them has been tainted by his father’s betrayal. Every single one has been poisoned by the shame and the anger and the hatred Stiles feels now.

There was a time when Stiles thinks he remembers loving his father, but what the hell did he know back then? Nothing. He was just a dumb fucking kid.

“Stiles?” Allison asks, her forehead creasing. “Are you okay?”

Stiles jolts slightly. “Sorry. I zoned out. What were you saying?”

Allison smiles and elbows him. “I’m saying that there’s this boy and I think he likes me!”

“Of course he likes you,” Stiles says. “Who wouldn’t?”

They’re sitting on Stiles’s bedroom floor with their books and schoolwork spread out around them. Stiles’s curriculum doesn’t quite mesh with Allison’s, but it’s still fun to have someone to do homework with. Well, Stiles guesses everything he does is technically homework since he’s homeschooled, but it still feels nice. It feels almost normal.

That’s the trap, probably.

There’s a locked box under Stiles’s bed with his Kel-Tec PMR-30 and four clips of wolfsbane bullets in it. Stiles is still getting used to the Kel-Tec, but he likes the European-style magazine release.

Allison dropped a pencil a little while ago, and it rolled under the bed. She touched the box getting the pencil back, and she doesn’t know. They’re sitting here talking about schoolwork and a boy she likes, and she doesn’t know Stiles is a hunter. She doesn’t know he belongs to a very different world than hers. There’s something absurd about it, something jarring. It’s unsettling. Stiles has spent the last six years around hunters. He’s forgotten how to pretend to be a regular person.

Allison laughs, the colour rising in her cheeks. “That’s so sweet!”

“Totally true though,” Stiles says. “You’re smart, and pretty, and just about the nicest girl I know!”

She raises her eyebrows appraisingly. “Am I the only girl you know right now?”

That startles a laugh out of him. “Yeah, I guess so.”

Her expression softens into something uncomfortably close to pity. “I wish you could come to school with me.”

Stiles blinks down at one of his textbooks for a moment. “Yeah, Me too.” He doesn’t know if it’s a lie or not today. He forces a smile. “Anyway, tell me about this guy again. Is he cute?”

“Adorable,” Allison says. “He almost stabbed me with a pen the first time he met me.”

“That doesn’t sound very adorable.”

“It was an accident!” She laughs again. “I don’t even know how he knew I needed one, and then he shoved one at me so fast he almost fell over his feet. Maybe he tries to impress all the new girls with pens.”

“Ah,” Stiles says. “The mating rituals of the awkward teenage boy.”

“Do you have some experience with them?” Allison asks.

Stiles feels it again: that jarring, dizzying sensation. He shouldn’t have asked if the guy was cute, because is Allison… is she asking if…

Stiles flinches before he can stop himself.

“You seem like the sort of guy who’d accidentally stab a girl with a pen,” Allison says hurriedly, the rush in her words like she realised what she was implying, and backed the hell away again because she saw the flash of panic in his eyes.

“Yeah,” Stiles says with a weak laugh. “That sounds like me.”

Allison hesitates. “His name’s Scott,” she says at last, and Stiles feels a swelling of affection for her for not pushing. “He has floppy hair, and his jaw is a little crooked, and he has the most beautiful smile!”

“He sounds nice,” Stiles says.

Allison ignores the rasp in his voice. “He’s invited me to a party on Friday night.” Her eyes widen. “You should come!”

Stiles shakes his head. “I don’t think—”

“No, it’s perfect!” Allison exclaims. “Because Mom and Dad are being all weird about boys, as per usual, but if I say that you’re going with me, they can’t say no!”

Stiles bets they can. He also bets that Chris and Victoria’s reluctance to let Allison out of the house after dark has less to do with boys and more to do with the fact that there’s a werewolf pack in this town.

“I’m supposed to be concentrating on my schoolwork,” Stiles says.

“Stiles!” Allison rolls his eyes. “It’s one night! Ask Grandpa if you can come with me, please!”

God. Put him in a dark forest with an entire pack of werewolves and he knows exactly what to do. But navigate the social quicksand of a high school party? Stiles has no fucking idea how to do that.

Not that it matters, of course.

Gerard won’t approve, so it’s never going to happen.

“Sure,” he says. “I’ll ask.”

***

There was this boy, once.

Just a boy on the street in Budapest.

It had been winter, and everything was bleak and cold and grey, and this boy had been wearing a red coat, a flash of colour. A red coat, and a blue woollen hat, and he’d laughed, and Stiles had looked over at him—

He’s beautiful.

—and Gerard had followed the direction of his stare, his eyebrows tugging together in a scowl, and Stiles had torn his gaze away from the boy.

Gerard’s stare had settled on Stiles like he was seeing him for the first time all over again, except that this time he wasn’t pleased with what he saw.

Stiles never looked at another boy on the street again.

***

Stiles lands on the mat, and all his breath is knocked out of him. He rolls onto his side and gets his knees under him. He tastes blood, and wipes his mouth on the back of his hand.

Shit.

Gerard might be old, but he still has moves.

Not that Stiles has ever been stupid enough to underestimate him.

“Get up,” Gerard says, a growl in his voice. “If I was a werewolf, you’d already be dead.”

Stiles climbs to his feet. He sucks in a breath and rolls his shoulders. He dodges Gerard’s next punch, but a jab to his ribs has him twisting the wrong way, and Gerard punches him hard on the jaw.

Everything flares white with pain.

Stiles gets his gloves up in front of his face to protect himself. His vision is swimming, and he’s clumsy on his feet now. Still, he knows Gerard is right. A werewolf isn’t going to give him a chance to walk it off, is it? It’s fight or die in a hunter’s world, and if Stiles can’t handle a few punches from Gerard, how is he going to survive the real thing?

This time he takes a punch to the gut.

And a voice in the back of his head asks him: But if he keeps punching the shit out of you like this, how will you be in any fit state to go on a hunt at all?

Stiles ignores it, and sways on his feet for a moment, trying to find his balance.

A blow to the temple sends him down onto the mat again.

“Useless,” Gerard mutters. “Get up, Stiles!”

Stiles grunts, and tries to roll over. Flops onto his back again instead, and blinks up at the lights in the ceiling. There are more of them then there should be. He squeezes his eyes shut for a moment to try to clear his vision.

“Useless,” Gerard says again.

Stiles opens his eyes and squints up at Gerard.

Gerard is unlacing his boxing gloves. “What the hell is wrong with you tonight? You’ve got worse form than a goddamn child.”

Stiles wishes he could say the words sting more than the cut above his eye that Gerard just opened up, but that would be a lie. “Sorry, sir.”

“You’ll get yourself killed out there!”

Stiles nods and swallows, and tastes blood again.

“You think that Kroměříž counts for anything here? You think that the Novákovi are anything like the Hales?” Gerard sneers at him. “You won’t last a second against the Hales unless you get your head out of your ass and remember how to goddamn fight!”

“Yes, sir.” Stiles tries not to wince when he breathes.

Gerard huffs and shakes his head. “We’re done here.”

He tosses his gloves down on the mat, and leaves the basement.

Stiles lays there a while longer, waiting to catch his breath.

He’s not sure how long it is until he’s able to climb to his feet, but the sweat is chilling on his body when he finally manages it. He stoops to pick up Gerard’s gloves, and places them back in the cabinet. It takes him longer than it should to unlace his own, picking at the knots with his teeth.

Gerard’s right.

He was useless tonight. He barely landed a hit before it was all over for him. He needs to train harder. He needs to get better. He needs to remember who he is, and what he’s here for. He’s a Stilinski, and he has a birthright. He’s a Stilinski, and he’s going to make that mean something again.

Something more than cowardice and betrayal.

He makes his way slowly up the steps, and into the kitchen. He fills a glass with water from the tap, and drinks it. Then he grabs a piece of kitchen towel and wads it up to hold against his split eyebrow.

He thinks of Allison and her normal life and her party and her crush on that boy who almost stabbed her with a pencil.

He doesn’t want that.

He doesn’t want anything like that.

He doesn’t.

He’s a hunter, not a kid.

Except later, when he’s curled up in bed trying not to move because it hurts, he finds himself texting Allison back and forth for a while and pretending, just for tonight, that he’s a regular kid after all.

And that, he discovers, hurts a lot more than any of his bruises.

#sterek #steter senior #my fics #discontentedwinter #bad blood

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allimariexf · 5 years

Text

Green Arrow Exposed

Rating: G

Relationship: Oliver Queen/ Felicity Smoak Tags: Fluff/ Romance/Season 7/post-7x09 Summary: The Oliver Queen publicity tour gets an unscripted guest appearance

Notes: Read/comment/kudos on Ao3 ^_^ This is just pure self-indulgent fluff. I have no idea.

Oliver settled in to the plush loveseat and looked out over a sea of faces in the studio audience. This was his third of several planned media appearances that Dinah had somehow convinced him were necessary in order to bolster public confidence in his ability to work with the SCPD.

Oliver had doubts as to whether the publicity was actually doing anyone any good, but he was willing to reserve judgment. The first appearance hadn’t been terrible; he’d been interviewed by a respected news anchor who’d asked concrete questions about his time as the Green Arrow and his plans going forward with the SCPD. The second appearance, however, had been on a local talk show, and the hosts had seemed more interested in hashing through some of his more embarrassing youthful exploits than discussing any of the good he’d done for the city since then. He’d managed to stop himself from walking off set in the middle of filming, but afterward he’d wanted nothing more than to find his way into Felicity’s arms and let her remind him of all the ways he’d changed since those days. Unfortunately, Felicity was in Central City assisting Team Flash with a case, so he’d gone home to wander forlornly through an empty, still half-unpacked apartment. He’d called her, just wanting to hear the sound of her voice, but apparently the case she was working on was pretty intense; she’d texted him back and he hadn’t had the heart to insist she call him back.

“Are you ready, Mr. Queen?”

Oliver glanced over at the tall woman leaning toward him with her elbows on her desk. Maria Banks, host of an entertainment and pop culture television show. Oliver sighed internally. It wasn’t that he had anything against Maria herself; it was just that he didn’t understand how entertainment television had anything to do with him. He had almost refused, but Dinah had gone on and on about the need for him to have a friendly, personable image - one that the public could trust, seeing as how his cheerful mayoral image had been completely undermined by the fact that he’d been boldly lying to the cameras the whole time about not being the Green Arrow. It was a good enough point that Oliver had agreed, at the time, to go on the show. But that was before he learned that the format of this particular show was entirely live Q&A.

His stomach swooped unpleasantly as he studied the faces in front of him, realizing that they were almost all women. And that every single one of them was staring at him intensely.

He turned his head and met Maria’s expectant gaze, giving her one of his practiced public smiles. “I’m ready.”

Oliver beamed at the cameras as Maria began her show. “My guest tonight needs no introduction; you know him as Oliver Queen, wayward son and heir, miraculously rescued castaway, former Mayor of Star City, and last but not least, the Green Arrow!”

Maria turned her head and stared at him in silent awe while the studio audience cheered loudly, as if listing his many identities had made her realize exactly who was sitting five feet away from her. For some reason, her discomfiture made Oliver feel a little more at ease. He smiled at her and bobbed his head pleasantly at the wildly screaming audience.

“Okay, Mr. Queen, as you might know, we are going to be taking questions from the phones and the internet, but to start off we’ll take questions right here from our live studio audience.” She gestured toward the line that had formed in front of a standing microphone. “Beginning now. Hello, what’s your name?”

The microphone was only about ten feet in front of Oliver, so he had no choice but the look the woman in the eyes as she spoke. “Hi, my name’s Andrea, and I just wanted to tell you, Oliver, that I think you’re a hero. You’ve done so much for this city and I love you.”

Oliver’s smile froze on his face as stared back at her, wondering if she expected him to reply. Thankfully, Maria knew how to do her job.

“I’m sure Mr. Queen appreciates that, Andrea. Do you have a question?”

“Oh, yes, um.” Her eyes remained fixed on Oliver. “Will you go out on a date with me?”

Oliver’s jaw dropped as he scoffed in disbelief. He waited for Maria to save him again, but after a moment of silence he realized he was on his own. “Um. Thank you, I do appreciate your support. But, uh,” he laughed uncomfortably, “I’m married.” He stopped talking, waiting while the woman stood there staring at him. “Happily.”

She was still standing there. “So that’s a no?”

A small disbelieving laugh escaped his lips before he could stop it. “Yeah. That’s a no.”

“Next question, please!”

“Hi. My name is Paige Duchamps, and what I want to know is: who takes care of the Green Arrow? You’ve been taking care of Star City for years, but who takes your poor, broken body and rubs it back to life?”

Oliver choked on his breath at her obvious sexual innuendo. He was acutely aware of the live cameras pointing at him, and the fact that his entire purpose for being here was to polish up his public image. Somewhere in the back of his head he was aware that being rude on live television would probably work against that goal. “I….” He just didn’t know where to begin, and his practiced charisma was utterly failing him.

The host once again stepped in to his rescue. “Ms. Duchamps, I believe Mr. Queen already mentioned that he has a wife, who I am sure is quite capable in that capacity. Thank you.”

The minutes wore on, and Oliver entertained several more audience questions that all followed a similar theme. Oliver had always tried to ignore the day-to-day shifts in public opinion of the Green Arrow, choosing instead to focus on the good that he was trying to do, though he’d be lying if he said he hadn’t been discouraged whenever the city seemed to turn against him. Still, he had never been aware of the very particular type of support that was overwhelmingly present in that room: people (mostly, but not entirely, women) who assumed he was alone and lonely; mentally, emotionally, and physically neglected and in need of their personal help and love. And now, given the chance, they were absolutely jumping at the chance to offer it to him.

“You must have been so lonely all those years, hiding your identity, unable to confide in anyone. How did you get through it?”

“You’ve spent years risking your life, your peace, and your body, all while being hunted, villainized, and sent to prison! You deserve so much better than that. Is there any reward I can give you?

“You really just look like you need to be kissed, and I would love to be the one to do it. Would you kiss me?”

Oliver’s ability to remain pleasant and affable was eroding with every question. It wasn’t the repetitiveness of their questions that bothered him, though that was annoying. Neither was it the overtly sexual suggestiveness, which once might have boosted his ego but now just made him extremely uncomfortable. Rather, it was the fact that all of them blatantly disregarded Felicity’s existence, as if she weren’t important to him, as if she wasn’t capable of providing the love and support that they assumed he was starved for. It was taking all of his willpower to avoid setting the record straight on all the very important roles she played in his life, but he bit his tongue because he and Felicity hadn’t talked about whether or not she was comfortable with the public scrutiny that went along with being outed as a vigilante.

By the time Maria announced they were going to start taking questions from the phones, he was almost completely out of patience.

“Hi, you’re Live with Maria, did you have a question for Oliver Queen?”

“Hi Maria, yes, I do.” The voice that came through the speakers had Oliver sitting up in his seat immediately. “Mr. Queen, I’ve been listening to your answers and it seems to me like everyone’s been assuming you were working alone all those years as the Green Arrow, but I noticed that you haven’t come out and said whether or not that’s true. So would you care to clarify whether or not you were, in fact, working alone?”

Oliver took a deep breath, a smile spreading over his face as he spoke with confidence. “I was never alone.” He swept his gaze over the audience; the faces he saw seemed distinctly startled.

“Oh. Well that’s surprising. Are you saying you had a partner?”

Oliver sat back in his chair, warming to the line of questioning. “Not exactly. At first I sought out help only when I needed it.”

“Ah, so you employed consultants?”

Maria cut in. “I think we should probably move on to our next -”

Oliver waved her into silence, shaking his head and speaking directly to her. “Please, I’d like to answer these questions.” He continued speaking, changing his tone to address the woman on the phone. “At first I thought I could make do with consultants, part-time assistance, yes. But what I really needed was partners. People I could trust with my secrets and my life.”

“Hmm. That is very interesting. So how did you end up with these particular partners? Did you hold auditions or something?”

Oliver laughed, genuinely amused by her unconventional humor, like always. “No, it was completely by accident. I found myself in the company of a trustworthy person who also possessed unmatched tactical and combat skills. I could have searched for years and never found a more qualified brother-in-arms, but somehow he was there for me. Before I even realized I needed him.”

“It sounds like you two were a perfect team.”

Oliver paused, musing. “We worked well together, but I wouldn’t say we were a team until we met our other irreplaceable partner.”

“Ah, a third partner!” Her voice was intrigued. “And what necessary assets did he bring?”

Oliver glanced at Maria and then the audience. “She.” There was an audible gasp in the room.

“She…?” the woman drawled suggestively. “Okay. Why did you recruit her to your cause?��

Oliver rolled his eyes at her obvious implication, determined to make it absolutely clear that his female partner was, without a doubt, the single most valuable member of his team. “Well, at first I believed it was because of her intelligence. She’s brilliant, a genius. A technical prodigy.” He heard the ring of pride in his voice. It was the first time he’d ever publicly admitted to the existence of Overwatch, and he was surprised at how excited he was for people to learn about her.

“She sounds amazing.” Her voice sounded slightly wistful. If Oliver didn’t know better, he’d guess she sounded a little jealous.

He smiled. “You have no idea.”

The line was quiet for a moment, and Oliver closed his eyes, imagining what she must look like at that moment, a flush creeping up her neck. He made a mental note to spend more time telling Felicity how amazing she was. When she spoke again, her tone was less playful, more tentative. “But if I’m hearing you correctly, it seems as though it wasn’t her technical prowess that made you recruit her to your team?”

Oliver sighed. “If I’m being completely honest, no. Not that her brilliance wasn’t an asset from the start, because it was. But her technical abilities were only part of what she brought. I quickly came to rely on her in a hundred small ways without even realizing I’d become so dependent, but it was still a long time later when I finally realized that even at the beginning, I was coming up with every possible excuse to seek her assistance, because I needed something else from her.”

“And what was that?”

“She...she had a way of putting things into perspective.” Oliver ran his eyes over the audience, absently noting their rapt expressions. “I would get so stuck in seeing a problem one way, and all I needed to do was hear her perspective, and suddenly everything would be different. She always had a way of making the most difficult problems seem simple.”

“So her intelligence, like you said.”

“Yes, but not only that. There was just something about her. She woke something up inside me whenever I saw her.”

There was a long silence on the other end of the line, but Oliver remained completely focused, waiting on her response. “Sounds like you were in love with her.”

Oliver closed his eyes, suddenly transported to the past, remembering the sense of clarity and awe he had felt when he finally let himself realize it. “I was in love with her. But I fought it for a very, very long time.”

She released a long breath, as if she had been holding it. “Why did you do that? You have a pretty well-known reputation. It’s not like the Oliver Queen we all know to show restraint where women are concerned.” The teasing tone was back in her voice, but Oliver refused to rise to her bait.

“She isn’t like other women.”

She snorted a laugh. “You didn’t think she would reject you, did you?”

Oliver smiled, remembering Felicity’s obvious admiration for his salmon ladder workouts, and the adorable accidental innuendos that used to slip so frequently from her lips. “No, it wasn’t that, it was...I wasn’t worthy of her, not like that.”

“Surely she didn’t believe that.” Her tone was flat.

Oliver took a deep breath, calm despite the fact that he was so publicly revealing feelings that had remained private for so long. Somehow, it felt right. If he was truly going to go public as the Green Arrow, people needed to understand that the Green Arrow was more than just one person; it was even more than the team made up of the three of them. At its core, it was this. It was the faith they had in each other. “No. She believed in me. She believed in who I could be. But I couldn’t admit that I loved her...not even to myself...until I believed in myself, too. And that was the most important thing she did for the Arrow, for me. She believed I could be better. And she made me want to be better. And she showed me how.”

The line was quiet for the space of several of Oliver’s elevated heartbeats as he waited for her response. “Wow.”

“Yeah.”

“So then what happened? Did you tell her how you felt?”

Oliver paused, feeling the tortured weight of a protracted year filled with almost-confessions, before dismissing it from his mind completely. “I did.”

She didn’t respond for a moment, and Oliver wondered if she was similarly caught up in heavy memories.

But then she stepped out onto the sound stage, emerging from a side door. Oliver’s breath caught in his throat and the studio audience collectively gasped as they put the pieces together. “Did she feel the same way?”

Oliver stayed in his seat, his eyes locked with hers. “She did.”

“And then what happened?” She started stalking toward him, still speaking on the phone, her projected voice slightly delayed like a natural echo. “It seems to me like maybe you should have married her.”

She stopped a few strides from him and he looked steadily back at her as she lowered the phone and disconnected the call. He stood up slowly and held his hand out as he crossed to her with a small smile on his face. “I did.”

He placed his hands on her shoulders and leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I thought you were still in Central City.”

“I took an early flight. I was on my way home when I heard your voice on the radio.” She raised her eyes to find him looking at her in that private, adoring way of his. She smiled back for a long moment, both aware of and yet uncaring of their attentive audience.

Finally, Oliver turned, letting his hand slide from Felicity’s shoulder to interlace with her fingers. “Maria, I don’t believe you’ve met Felicity Smoak?”

The host stepped from behind her desk. “No, I haven’t. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Smoak!”

Felicity reached forward, shaking the host’s hand graciously. “Felicity Smoak Queen, actually.”

Maria stepped back, a slightly dazed expression on her face.

Oliver half-turned to face the audience, making it clear that his words were for them as much as they were for Felicity, the caller on the line who was no longer on the line. “So as I was saying, I was never alone as the Green Arrow, or the Arrow, or the Hood, or the vigilante. I had a partner who was there with me through it all.” He turned his head to meet Felicity’s eyes. “I could never have done any of it without her.”

Felicity smiled, returning his private gaze while pitching her voice for the audience’s benefit. “It’s true, there are a lot of criminals you never could have tracked down, a lot of buildings you couldn’t have entered, a lot of cases you couldn’t have solved, if there hadn’t been someone to lend,” she wiggled her fingers in front of her face, “technological assistance.”

Oliver tilted his head theatrically. “That, too.”

Felicity raised her eyebrow, playing along. “What else?”

“Well, you were always there for me to confide in.” He reached out and poked her shoulder with his index finger.

“Mmm.” She couldn’t stop the smile that was tugging at her lips.

He raked his eyes down her body, smiling suggestively. “And when I was wounded you always took care of my body.”

Felicity bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing out loud. “I have gotten really good at suturing. And applying bandages. And I did have that crash course in defibrillation, which is still one of my least favorite skills to put to use.”

Oliver was outright grinning at her. “At least your bedside manner has improved.”

“Hey! In my defense you used to be a terrible patient.” She cocked her head. “You’ve gotten a little better, I guess.”

Oliver gazed down at her warmly, letting the teasing tone drain out of his voice. “And of course your brilliance extends way beyond your technical genius. You’ve inspired some of my best plans, and come up with just as many on your own.”

“Hmm.” She reached up and laid a hand on his cheek. “We are a good team that way.”

“We’re a good team in all ways.”

“And we always have been.”

“Always.”

They let the moment stretch between them, private yet on full display, and after all it turned out to be not so different from anything else. They had always been able to be alone together in a crowded room, just as their way of being together had always attracted attention that they easily tuned out.

Eventually they let themselves acknowledge their audience, and Felicity quirked her lips, signalling that she had a plan. She pulled away from Oliver and stepped up to the microphone that was still set up from the Q&A.

“I have one more question. Is that all right?” She looked to the host for permission.

Maria looked surprised for a second, then gave a hasty nod.

Felicity looked directly at Oliver. “Hi. My name’s Felicity and I was wondering, will you kiss me?”

Oliver bit his bottom lip to stop himself from smiling. “Well, as I said earlier, I’m married.”

Felicity utterly failed at keeping a straight face as she whispered dramatically, “But I’m in love with you.”

Oliver’s face lit up with a rare huge smile. “Then it’s a good thing you’re my wife.”

Felicity crossed toward him and Oliver leaned down, deftly removing the microphone from his coat with one hand while cupping her neck with the other, pulling her mouth to his. After several soft kisses, he leaned back just enough so their noses brushed, keeping his eyes closed and enjoying the shared sense of intimacy despite the fact that they were being broadcast on live television. He felt the familiar puff of Felicity’s breath over his lips. After a moment he drew back slowly, opening his eyes and holding her gaze. “Was it as good as you hoped?”

“Better. Always better.”

Oliver turned to the television host. “Maria, we’re done here, right? I haven’t seen my wife in four days, and we have some catching up to do.”

#arrow #olicity #olicity fic #arrow fic #my fic #hearts and scars #green arrow exposed #arrow season 7 fic

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huntertales · 5 years

Text

Part One: Don’t Say Something You’ll Regret. (Torn and Frayed S08E10)

Episode Summary: Castiel turns to Dean and the reader for help when an angel is being held captive and must rescue him. Meanwhile, Sam is given an ultimatum from Amelia; stay with her or leave and never make contact again. The decision grows complicated when Sam learns a secret the reader has been keeping from him, making him choose between the woman he loves or the family and lifestyle he’s only known. Word Count: 6,474. Pairing: Dean Winchester x Reader

Previous Part | Supernatural Rewrite Masterlist

You knocked on the motel door of room number one-eighteen that was booked for the night by a man that matched the description of someone who was six-foot four, neck length brown hair and was probably wearing plaid. The person behind the desk instantly knew who you were talking about, he said something about how he used to work here a year or so ago and helped fix up the place with a dog that he accidentally hit. You helped fill in the gaps when he tried to think of the dog's name, you knew Sam had mentioned it was Riot. An Australian Shepard he left in Kermit, along with the woman he loved and a bit of happiness he spent his entire life trying to get. Only to come back when he thought his real life had caught up with the other one he spent such a short time enjoying, in a way that forced him back into all of this the first time he tried a go at leaving it.

You were honestly surprised that Sam opened up the door and only half attempted to slam it on your face when he saw it was you and his brother. You didn't smile, you didn't apologize right away for what you did. Instead you let Sam decide how he wanted things to go. Sam stood in the motel doorway for a moment, his infamous bitch face directed towards his older brother to show off how much he was pissed off at how things ended up here. Dean didn’t take much offense to it as he stepped inside the room, brushing past the both of you as he looked around to see if it had just been Sam. You walked into the room a second later with your arms crossed over your chest.

“Who did you expect?” Dean asked his little brother.

Sam didn’t responded to the question, he slammed the door behind you when he saw that it was the only two people he didn’t want to see. You wondered if he had seen Amelia being able to live a life without him. Maybe the both of them had met up again, and you reopened old wounds for the past couple. Sam stood where he was as Dean walked across the room. “Long drive?”

“Well, I wouldn’t had to make it if you hadn’t have hung up on me.” Dean responded.

“Yeah, well,” Sam said, defending himself for the actions he chose in the spur of the moment. “I heard all I needed to hear.”

“No, you heard what you wanted to hear.” Dean said, feeling the need to take it upon himself to correct his brother’s way of thinking and feeling. It was almost as if he could justify his choices to make them seem like it was the right thing to do. “I told you Benny wasn’t killing. Hell, Y/N watched him end the fangbanger that was.”

“How about Martin?” Sam questioned his brother. “How did he end that?”

“Stupid—just like I said it would. Crazy son of a bitch didn’t give Benny a choice.” Dean said. “It was self defense.”

"Seriously, Dean? That's the story you're going with?" Sam asked in almost a mocking tone from the excuse he was hearing and how ridiculous it sounded. "That the victim was the real victim here?"

"Hey, like it or not, that's the truth, okay?” You couldn’t help yourself but speak up, trying to help guide some direction into this conversation before it turned into an argument. But you knew that it was impossible with the two brothers when they were worked up like this there was no way of talking them down like you hoped for.

“And there was a time when that actually meant something.” Dean said, feeling the need to add that in. As if that was going to change his little brother’s mind.

“Yeah, yeah.” Sam agreed for the most part with that line of thinking. “No kidding.”

Dean stared at his brother with a slightly confused expression at the muttered remark, knowing it meant something more. "What does that mean?"

"You think this is just about Benny?" Sam asked his brother.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"What the hell do you think I'm talking about?"

"Amelia?" Dean asked, suddenly catching onto the reason why his brother was so pissed off at him. It wasn't just because of the whole Benny situation, but because of a cheap trick he used to get him out of the way. "Oh, come on, man. I sent you that text 'cause I needed you to—"

“You needed me to what? To tear ass to Texas? To be afraid that what happened to Jessica, what happened to…” Sam trailed off for a second as he started to slowly pace around the room, telling you about his worst fear that haunted him like a bad dream for so many years and came right back after he read that text. “Everybody that we care about might have happened to her?”

"You were gonna kill Benny." Dean said. "What was I supposed to do?"

"Is that what we are?" Sam asked. He knew him and his brother were still on rocky terms, but he thought the man was better than to do something so low like this. It seemed that he was wrong to think so highly of his brother, because it seemed the man didn’t feel the same way about him. “You save a vampire by making me believe that the woman I love might be dead?"

“What do you want to hear, Sam? That I was wrong? Fine. I was wrong.” Dean said, apologizing in his own way that he thought was going to fix everything. But it didn’t take an idiot to hear how insincere the words sounded. You gave him a look of disbelief, Sam did everything in his power not to start punching his older brother. Because he really didn’t mean it. “But if you had just heard me out, if you had trusted me, all of this could have been avoided.”

“You didn’t want me to trust you. You wanted me to trust Benny, and I can’t do that.” Sam said, sticking to his morals of how he felt about monsters from his own past experience with them. “Not the way you got Y/N thinking he’s a good guy. Because I know what he is, and what he’s capable of.”

Every part of you wanted to speak up and defend yourself against what Sam said, but you remained silent, because it meant you sided with Dean. And if you mentioned the dangers that Benny brought along, it meant you were siding with Sam. So you remained silent. Because you saw no improvements for the near future. The both of them were so caught up in the past or trying so hard to be a good friend to the person who saved them from the afterlife, they forgot who really mattered the most here. You wandered over to the bed when you felt a dizzy spell hit you out of nowhere, but it went unnoticed by the brothers.

"Okay, well, then," Dean said, knowing for himself that this conversation was getting nowhere productive. Both of them had stated the grounds of how they felt, now it was time to figure out where they went from here. "What the hell do we do now?"

"That depends. It depends on you." Sam said. "On whether or not you're done with him."

“Well, honestly, I don’t know.” Dean mumbled, having the audacity to say such a thing after all that was said and done. Sam seemed genuinely surprised at his brother's decision, and even the slightest bit hurt that he was trying to hide. You couldn't take anymore of this argument if this was where it was going to lead.

Dean knew that Benny was the one person that was tearing the both of them apart, but he was still holding on, trying to be more of a brother to a vampire he spent one year with and saved his life from purgatory. Yes, you agreed to a certain point that Benny was a good guy who didn’t deserve to die again. But you wouldn’t choose him over Sam. And Dean should have known better. Sam was the only family he had left, his own flesh and blood who saved his life countless times on hunts. Who threw himself into the pit and suffered psychological damage and went a year soulless, who had been there pulling him back up to the surface every single time he dragged his feet, wanting to take the easy way out.

None of it mattered anymore to Dean because of what Sam had decided to do last year while you were gone. The younger man was overwhelmed with grief after seeing you die and then Bobby just a short time later, then seeing his brother and Cas disappear into thin air. All of his family he’s ever known was gone...just like that. But then he found Amelia by accident. Two broken people running from their past meet each other after he hit a dog and spend a year together, happy. But it was time to go back to the way things were. Sam made his selfish decisions by not looking for Dean, and the older Winchester had every right to be upset for a short while. But it was time to move on.

You wanted Sam to forget about Amelia, and you never wanted to see Benny’s face again for long as you lived. Because you realized the mistakes you made by feeding into the situation like you always did to make them happy. This was like Sam and Ruby being friends, and Dean wanting to run away to have a normal life. Now they were making the same mistakes both of them made in the past. And they never learned. You could take anymore of this argument.

“So, this is where we’ve ended up? Fighting over vampires and girls?” You asked the two brothers, even though you weren’t looking for an answer. You pushed yourself up to your feet as you stared at the both of them with a look of anger, and even the slightest bit of disappointment at how things were turning out. “After everything. You don’t learn. And you still won’t let it go.”

Sam let out a sigh as Dean rolled his eyes when you spoke up, putting yourself into an argument that he thought didn’t concern you. “Here we go.” “Yeah. Here we go again, Dean. Here we go again with the same freaking argument I’ve been having to hear for the past five months straight! Sammy’s stuck in the past and Dean trusts a vampire over his own brother.” You said, finally speaking the brutal truth that had been lingering between all of you since you got back. Neither one of the boys responded or tried to defend themselves, and it wasn’t like you were going to give them a chance if they tried. They spoke what they felt, now it was your turn.

“I’m not gonna sit around anymore and watch you two rip each other’s throats out for the same crap the both of you did. You want to know the problem is? It’s Amelia and Benny. Both of you need to cut ties with them. Or else we’re never going to see eye to eye anymore.” You said, trying to find some sort of solution that they would have to agree on eventually. "I'm not taking sides anymore. You two need to realize that there's two ways to fix this. Keep doing what you're doing...or realize that this—the three of us—is all we have left. If you want to destroy that for your own personal reasons. Fine. Just think about the future."

You knew it was a bit harsh for being so blunt like this and not giving them much of a choice in the matter of how you wanted them to handle things. But it was just your opinion, and at the end of it all, the boys were the one who were going to have to make the decisions on their own. You could only hope they were going to make the right one. Every part of you wanted to open your mouth and tell them the secret you had been keeping for the past two weeks, hoping it might somehow think about someone other than themselves. But it was always fear that held you back about how they were going to handle it. And you couldn't take anymore stress right now.

"Glad I made the drive." Dean muttered underneath his breath, responding to your advice by brushing it off like he didn't even hear it.

You scoffed from how unreasonable he could be when he got worked up like this, which meant it was going to be an awkward drive. You stood where you were, flinching only the slightest when you heard the door slam behind Dean, leaving you and Sam alone. You bit the inside of your cheek as you looked around the room, all before your gaze fell on the younger Winchester and his sullen expression from what you had done. And the actions you took part in that lead the three of you here.

“I thought you had my back, Y/N.” Sam said, speaking up now that it was the both of you. “How could you do this to me?”

"If it's worth anything, I'm sorry. I really am. I was angry at the time from what you said to me. I...I just don't like people thinking that I'm not capable of taking care of myself. You know what it's like for people to put you down." You said. You apologize to him for what you did, but you weren't going to tell him what he wanted to hear or walk on eggshells in order to make him feel better. Sam’s expression changed slightly. His shifting look of anger told you he thought your apology wasn't good enough. You rolled your eyes and let out a frustrated sigh. "What do you want me to do, Sam? Support you?”

“Well, it’s a start.” Sam said. You found yourself staring at him like he just grew a second head, making you wonder if you heard him correctly. “I told you how I felt about her and how much she means to be. And you want me to just walk away from her? You know I love Amelia—”

"I know. And I've supported you with every decision that you ever made. Right or wrong, I was right there beside you cheering you on. But...I can’t do it, Sammy. Not anymore.” You said, your voice growing quieter as you told him the truth about why you were forcing yourself not to agree with this. You crossed your arms over your chest as you stared at the man for a moment. In that moment you realized that you might not see Sam again, not in the way you were so used to. In a way that you had grew dependent on. "Because you were right about one thing."

Sam furrowed his brow slightly as his expression changed into confusion from what you meant by that. "Right about what?”

You opened your mouth to finally let out the secret you had been keeping from everyone that you were close to and try to give him some context to why you had been acting so off. But before the two words could slip out of your mouth, they were replaced with the honking of a horn right outside of the motel room. You shut your eyes as you winced, knowing that it was Dean, and he was growing impatient from how long you were taking. You thought that maybe it was the universe telling you to keep the secret you had just a little bit longer.

You started walking until you were at the motel room door with your grip on the handle about ready to open it u and head out, but Sam called out your name, making you stop and look over at him. Eventually he could catch on from what you were trying to say. If he didn't, then you had a feeling he made up on his mind on who he thought was more important to him. "Nevermind. It's not like it matters, anyway."

You opened up the door and headed out of the motel room alone to leave Sam in Texas so he could have his personal space to be with his thoughts. He needed some time to think about the future and what was important. So did Dean. You made your way to the Impala and slid yourself into the passenger seat again, a new arrangement that felt off each time you got into the car. You missed the backseat and its space, the obstructed view of two ginormous bodies occupying the front. Everything about this felt off. But you might have to get used to this. Everything felt like it was coming into perspective. You stared at the motel room door for a moment, resisting the urge to go back in there and drag Sam out of there.

Your concentration to the door was broken when you heard the Impala’s engine turn on, making you turn your head to now stare straight ahead, Dean’s outline in the corner of your eye. You watched as he shifted gears and got ready to pull out of the parking lot, but not before mumbling something underneath his breath he thought would go unnoticed. “About time.”

"I'll take as much time as I damn well please." You responded back to his remark in a cool tone. You turned your head to look at him and give him a dirty glare at his attitude he was projecting onto you. "Don't ever tell me what to do."

"I didn't tell you to do anything. I said it was 'about time.'" Dean corrected you. You responded to him by rolling your eyes and crossed your arms over your chest, moving your gaze back to the window to distract yourself for the long car ride. "Besides, it’s not like you listen to anyone half the time. You’re too busy talking over people and butting yourself in conversations where it doesn't concern you."

“I'm sorry, Dean. Next time you have anything to say I'll make sure to shut right up and listen to you.” You said to him in the most sarcastic voice you could give him to prove how annoyed you were starting to get with him. “Because your opinion is clearly the only one that matters.”

“What the hell is your problem?” Dean asked you, finding none of this amusing.

You narrowed your eyes on him from his question that only grew you more agitated. “If you took your head out of your ass for one second maybe you’d realize I’m a little stressed out.”

"We're all stressed out at the moment, Y/N." Dean said. You rolled your eyes again from his response that wasn’t exactly helpful, and he didn’t find your behavior all that amusing. “Are you capable of anything other than rolling your eyes?”

“I don’t know. Are you capable of anything other than being a dick and thinking about yourself?” You responded to his question with another. Dean fell silent for a moment as he stopped himself from lashing back at you from anger. You shook your head and adjusted yourself in your seat to get more comfortable for the long and silent drive ahead of you. “Lets just go.”

Dean was more than happy to listen to your command without backlash or another remark he tried to mutter underneath his breath. He switched gears and began pulling out of the parking spot, making you look at the motel room door one more time. You crossed your arms tighter around your body as you watched it soon become nothing more than a small object in the rear view mirror, making you wonder if this was how things were going to be. And if there was really no way of stopping the boys from making the biggest mistake of their lives.

+ + +

The both of you managed to spend most of the car ride in complete silence, the radio helping try and stop the awkward tension forming the farther you got away from Texas. Dean decided it was best to head to Rufus’ cabin to lay low for a while and for Sam to cool off. You didn't care where you ended up at this point, all you wanted to do was take a hot shower and get some rest that wasn't in the Impala. You still had every intention of not saying another word to Dean as you got out and started heading to the cabin so you could fulfill your need to unwind. But it seemed Dean had a few words lingering in the back of his mind on the drive back.

You made it halfway across the living room until Dean spoke up, the conversation starter he chose made you stop dead in your tracks. “If you were so against Benny this entire time, why did you help me out?”

“I never said I was against him.” You said, turning around to face the older Winchester to tell him how you felt. Even though you knew he wasn’t going to like it. “For the sake of everyone and my sanity, I think you should cut ties with him. The both of you are topside, go back to your lives.”

“Great idea. I’ll call Benny up right now and say never to talk to me again. Thanks for saving my life and pulling my ass out of purgatory, but my brother doesn’t like you. So we gotta end things.” Dean said. You clenched your jaw as you refrained from rolling your eyes again from how he was acting. “If Sam doesn’t like Benny, well, then that’s his problem. He never had good taste in friends. Like I’m gonna listen to him.”

You rubbed your face with your hands from how he was acting. “Do you ever sit down and think about the near future, Dean? About the possibility our family might not have Sam in it anymore because of your personal selfishness?”

“I’ll be lucky if I can even get to tomorrow, Y/N.” Dean said. “It’s not my problem if Sam doesn’t like Benny. That’s his choice he made. And I'm sure as hell not gonna change my life around to make him stick around."

You forced yourself to try and inhale a deep breath to refrain yourself from snapping at him and saying something you might regret. But it was at this point you couldn't take it anymore. Weeks and weeks of the pent up frustration you had been trying to keep at bay was too much for you to handle. You heard the boys argue and bicker over things that were small to end of the world big, but you weren't going to let them break this family up because of who they spent some time with while you were gone. Not with so much resting on your shoulders and things you had still yet to tell him. You turned around to face Dean, and without thinking, you suddenly snapped at him.

"Why are you so selfish?!" You questioned the man standing in front of you, feeling another mood swing hit you. You knew there was no breathing technique or self restraint from stopping you at this point. "What did Benny ever do that Sam never did to save your whiny ass?"

"Benny was there for me when I needed him the most! He never let me down the year I knew him, never gave up on trying to get us out of that hellhole!" Dean argued back with you, his voice rising to match yours. "Benny has been more of a brother to me than Sam had been in a long time. That's not family I want in my life, Y/N. It's on Sam if he doesn't want to be apart of it."

In that moment you were suddenly overcome with the urge to tell him the news you had been harboring in the back of your mind since you found out. You wanted to scream on the top of your lungs that the Winchester family wasn't going to be just the two of them anymore, it was going to have a new member in the next several months. You wanted to shake him and get Sam on the phone to tell the both of them to cut the crap and to forgive and forget. Much as you wanted to get this weight off your shoulders, the reality of things tugged at the back of your mind, making the scenarios you played out in your head come to haunt you.

The idea of Dean finding out that he was going to be a father always ended up tragic as it had for the Braden family when you thought about it. Maybe even worse. You thought about telling him, hoping that it might bring some happiness to him, a chance for him to realize that he could love someone and be a good father John never could for him. But he couldn’t. He dismissed all of it, because he was too scared to face reality. You pictured him storming out and leaving you, never to be seen again. Blaming it on how he wanted to keep you "safe." Maybe even having Cas erase him from your mind so you could live a normal life, as if all the years you spent together with him weren't good enough. His own self doubt and pity stopped him from facing responsibility he once would do anything to get.

Those thoughts and scenarios was when you were up late at night, lost in your own personal doubts about the future. And then there was the times you were in a conversation or doing some research for a hunt when your mind started drifting to a cute daydream of everyday life with the baby. Things that made you think that things might work out. But...then your mind started to drift to a dark place about what might happen in the upcoming hours during what you were doing. You were on the hunt, arrogant at the thought nothing could hurt you. But then the inevitable happens. You got hurt, you lost the baby. Dean hating your guts for what you had done.

You weren't sure if you would even make it to full term. You knew your own mother had complications getting pregnant with you. She had miscarriage after miscarriage until she got desperate and got down on her knees and begged for a child from a demon. And while you were human, the fear lingered in the back of your head of what might happen. What if the child came out like you had? What if you did something and it ended up with demon blood in its system like Sam had? You hoped that Dean wasn’t going to raise this child like he had. There were so many worst case scenarios running through your mind, you grew scared that all of this was going to end up badly like it had for your parents.

So you kept the secret buried in the back of your mind, deciding that it was better to store in there for a little longer until you were ready and things were looking a little less gloomy. You were barely at eight weeks. There was still so much going on from the boys to closing the gates of hell. And that's how you ended the argument, too. You just left Dean standing in the middle of the cabin, deciding you were too tired to fight anymore about this. If Dean wanted to make that decision, so be it. You walked into the bedroom and slammed the door shut, making sure to lock it when he realized what he had done. And how pissed off you still were at him.

+ + +

You remembered reading somewhere in a woman’s magazine that you should never go to bed feeling angry at your partner. You should try to resolve the problem and work out whatever was bothering you. But you brushed it off as some sort of cra that might work out for another couple that was facing issues that were more on a normal scale. You didn't think it necessarily applied to your situation. You were fighting about asking your boyfriend to stop being friends with a vampire and your best friend to abandon the life he spent a year ago being happy.

The next morning you woke up feeling worse as you had when you went to bed, only to toss and turn, hating how lumpy and empty it felt without Dean. You had no new texts from Sam after you sent one, hoping he might give you a chance to put out the fire burning the bridge between him and his brother. You rolled out of bed a short time after waking up and staring up at the ceiling, waiting to hear any sort of movement from outside in the cabin. When you deemed the place quiet, you unlocked the door and slipped yourself out to fix yourself a warm cup of tea and some breakfast if you could find any in the cabin. If not, you'd just make a run into town.

You expected Dean to be around here somewhere when you noticed the Impala was still parked out front before you made your way out into the other part of the cabin. You made your way to the kitchen and fixed yourself some hot water and fetched out a tea bag. And while you were waiting for the water to boil, you wandered over to the beat up couch when you heard soft snoring coming from there. You found Dean lying on the couch with a beer bottle tucked into his side as he peacefully slept. You crossed your arms over your chest as you found yourself standing over him, watching the man sleep without him realizing.

You suddenly found yourself growing agitated at him. Dean wasn’t doing anything and he still pissed you off...at how freaking handsome he looked at the moment. You were always a sucker for his way of looking good no matter the occasion. Sometimes all it took was one look and you were wondering why you were arguing with him in the first place, a wink or a smile to make you feel like your cheeks were on fire. You had been with him for almost five years and he still made you feel like you falling in love with him at times, like everything was still new. It was something so simple as watching him sleep made you realize all over again about how much you loved him. Switch out the beer bottle for a sleeping baby resting on his chest and that would be your future...if you only told him without chickening out.

You let out a sigh and walked away from the sleeping man and to the kettle whistling for your attention. You fixed yourself the cup of tea and had every intention of going back to the bedroom, however as you turned around, the sound of your shuffling around must have made Dean stir awake. You looked straight ahead to see a familiar face standing in the middle of the living room, making you jump slightly, only it was Dean who got a rude awakening.

Dean jumped a few inches off the couch at the sight of Cas standing over him, watching him sleep. He accidentally let go of the beer he was cradling, making some of the drink spill out onto the couch before he grabbed it. “Damn it, Cas! How many times I got to tell you,” Dean slammed the beer bottle down onto the coffee table as he started to calm down from the jump scare the angel made a habit out of. “It’s just creepy.”

"Good morning, Cas." You greeted the angel in a more friendlier tone as you approached the couch. You turned your head slightly to look at Dean from the corner of your eye before turning your attention back to Cas. "What are you doing here?"

"Dean, Y/N. I need your help." Cas said, giving you the reason why he was here. You raised your brow slightly in curiosity as you took a sip of your drink, watching as Dean tried to wipe away whatever beer might have spilled on him. "The angel Samandriel, he's been taken."

Your face scrunched up slightly at who the angel was talking about, but then you were reminded of the one you had seen Dean talking to at the auction in attempt to get the tablet back. He took the vessel of some kid, and bet almost everything valuable to get the word of God back. "You mean Alfie, the wiener-on-a-stick kid?"

“Yes. I heard his distress call this morning.” Cas informed the both of you.

“On, what angel radio?” You asked him, trying to keep your attention to Cas. You refrained from giving Dean an annoyed look as you watched him wipe away the sleep from his eyes. Either you were more hormonal than you realized, or he was doing everything in his power to make himself appear more...adorable. “I thought you shut that down.”

"Well, my penance, it's going well, and I thought it was time to turn it back on." Cas said. You nodded your head slowly, not sure if that was a good idea, considering what he told you in secrecy. However if he felt it was time to make peace with his fellow siblings, so be it. "I've been helping people."

“Well, good for you.” Dean muttered underneath his breath. He got himself up from the couch to suddenly regret the decision when he felt his neck and back start to feel sore. He let out a sigh and attempted to relieve some of the pain to a bare minimum.

“Have fun sleeping on the couch?” You curiously asked the man, hiding your smirk behind the cup as you took another sip of your drink. He turned his gaze to you and replied with a tight smile, refraining from saying anything to piss you off even more to end up in the same predicament as last night. "So, who snatched Heaven's most adorable angel?"

The angel replied with a name that made you cringe, “Crowley.”

You and Dean looked over at one another for a moment, the feelings of last night faded away, knowing that it was time to get serious. Whenever the king of hell was involved, it always meant trouble for whoever was in the hot seat. “We’re listening.”

“Samandriel is being held in the general vicinity of Hastings, Nebraska.” Cas said.

“”The general vicinity’? That’s all you got?” You asked the angel. “It’s not much to go on.”

"Yes, which is why I need your help. It seems this is gonna involve..." Cas said, trailing off for a second as he spoke of the dreaded human interaction that he wasn't ever good with. "talking to people."

"Come on, Cas." You teased the angel as you walked over to the table where you had left your laptop last night for safekeeping. “I thought you were a hunter now."

“Well, I thought so, too,” Cas said. “but it seems I lack a certain—”

“Skill?” You finished the angel’s thought as you innocently opened up your laptop, expecting to be greeted by the black screen and the reflection of your disheveled appearance you made no effort in taming. However it seemed someone was on it and made no attempted to hide what they were doing. on the internet browser. “What the hell?

You made the realization that it was the infamous website of bustyasianbeauties, and someone had been enjoying the sight late last night. Before you could say anything else, Dean quickly slammed the laptop shut, managing to miss your fingers. You turned your head to look up at the man, your expression turning into a glare. He ignored your daggers as he turned the laptop around to try and cover his tracks like he should have last night.

You crossed your arms over your chest as you raised your brow, he fumbled to come up with an excuse that didn't sound terrible. He opened the laptop back up, and quick as possible, exited out of the browser while covering the screen with his hand, trying to shield you and the angel from the young woman on the screen greeting the visitors with her dazzling smile and nothing else. You rolled your eyes when he finished up and pushed the laptop back over to you.

"All right." You said, clearing your throat as you pulled up a new browser to get started on a bit of research to track this angel down. "What am I looking for?"

“Well, when you torture an angel, it screams, and that kind of pain, it creates a ripple effect of strange incidents.” Cas explained. You began typing in something into the search bar and waited for a moment until the results came up. While the angel patiently for you to do your own research, he noticed that something was off about the dynamics. "Where's Sam?"

"Sam's gone." Dean informed the angel about the change. You for a moment when you heard him deliver the news, which was only half of it. You refrained yourself from adding more to the story, knowing you had a feeling Cas would be able to pick up more along the way. This wasn't the first time the brothers went their separate ways. "It's all right. We'll find Alfie ourselves."

"Right." You mumbled. “Because the last time the three of us worked together it ended so well."

You decided that it wouldn't hurt to give the brothers some space to work out their differences and realize what kind of horrible mistake they were about to make. It worked like a charm last time. But it took you and Dean to be hurled five years into the future and the impending doom of the apocalypse to realize the three of you were a family that needed to stick together. You felt a wave of morning sickness hit you like it always did after you woke up. It made you wonder if the secret you were still keeping from them would help put their differences aside. Or tear the family apart for good.

[Next Part]

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seraphcelene · 5 years

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TV: Roswell, New Mexico - 1x04: Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?

My thoughts are so random on this episode. There’s alot of threads being tackled and not all of them jive together. In the last two episodes watching Roswell has felt like watching three different shows all at the same time: there's a murder mystery, a family drama, and a YA high school romance in New Adult-ish clothes (omg, the genre collision). Then there are the B-plots: sexual orientation in the military and immigration politics. Trying to pull the narratives together into a cohesive whole makes for a jarring roller-coaster ride.

So, cowboys ...

Immediately, the title of episode four brings to mind stereotypes of the American Cowboy taming the Wild West. He's (always a He) gallant, tall, laconic, capable, stern, tough, emotionally unavailable, and physical.

Our candidates for cowboy hood are as varied as the stereotype is flat: Max, Michael, Kyle, Liz, Maria, Isabel, Master Sargent Manes. The problem of this line-up is the problem that the episode posits: Where Have all the Cowboys Gone? The fact is that they are missing. The stereotype is absent in the selection of characters provided. Looking back over the episode, they're knocked off one by one.

Spoilers!!

"There's a reason God put a cage around your heart."

Michael has none of the rugged, noble qualities associated with the cowboy. If anything he's more of a Drifter or a Desperado. That becomes very obvious in the light his awesome exchange with Maria:

"You drink just enough to burn off that Dramatic Cowboy Angst and then you start a fight before you have to pay."

It's SO Micheal and I am really enjoying the antagonism that exists between Maria ad Michael. The original pair had a similar, but less malicious vibe. The characters were romantically entangled, after all. Michael Vlamis's Michael Guerin is SO much more nuanced and troubled. Heather Hemmen's Maria DeLuca still carries some of Maria's quirk, but she is also very self-possessed and incredibly sharp. I still think the character is woefully under utilized, but we got to see some of her bite tonight and it was awesome!

Maria is pretty obviously our shaman in this storyline, guiding and insightful. Last week, she pointed Liz in the right direction to start her Rosa Treasure Hunt, this week it's all about revelations in the palm of Isobel's palm. Genuinely psychic, which I was so pleased to see, Maria has an odd place in the story. More connected to Rosa than to Liz, layer of remove sets her up as an outlier to all of the central action. She isn't a confidante like Kyle, dragged into the central narrative via his second romantic lead status and Liz's loose lips. In service to tonight's plot, Maria's reason for her beef with Isobel catty and high school as it sounds (I don't like you cause my BFF doesn't like you: the enemies of my friends are also my enemies, yada yada yada) acts as an entry point into a new facet of Isobel's character.

Reflections of Katherine Heigl slowly unfolds over the course of season one from this confident, sophisticated mean girl into this really lonely, needy TEENAGER was a highlight of the original series. She was clearly the best actress on the show, as later evidenced by her work on Grey's Anatomy, and I am still really disappointed that her career hasn't gone further -- you, guys, she has all the talent. Lily Cowles does a great job managing a similar trajectory, but her portrayal still reads a little disingenuous. She's missing the vulnerability that Hiegl exposed in Isabel so very well. Isobel's "carefully curated Pinterest" exterior (so aptly described by Maria) masks a woman desperate for security and stability and acceptance.

Isobel's utter pre-occupation with why Maria doesn't like her takes her down a pretty dark path. That attempted dreamwalk smacked so much of a mental rape attempt that it took me aback. Isobel's gifts make her good at violations. I didn't recognize it in last week's episode because the aggressiveness was missing. Isobel's interaction with Maria was very personal and very intent and intentional. The power dynamic though, interestingly, gets shifted pretty quickly. As Maria's psychic abilities peel back the mask that Isobel wears. It swings back again when Isobel literally shoves her abilities at Maria, demanding that she open her mind.

Isobel is obvs nobody's cowboy. She doesn't reflect the good, kind, true, upstanding hero. Her powers make her good at subterfuge.

Quickly, Kyle is way to urbane to be a cowboy. He's the town doctor: helpful, kind, smart. Master Sargent Manes is the villain. Nuff said.

Despite his very square and manly jaw and how well he fits the physical image, thus creating an expectation for us of how he will be and how we read him as a cowboy (with the hat and the boots and his thumbs in his belt loops), Max is definitely NOT a cowboy. Max is the love interest. Stereotypically, he read's as the girl in the triangle. Max is emotionally available, needy, and pining. He's laid his heart out for Liz only to have it repeatedly crushed. She does it again in this episode, admitting only that she feels something and that alot of that is terror.

In the final scene between Liz and Max, it was almost as if they were having two different conversations across time from the opposite sides of a relationship. Max, at least in his head, has been in this whole relationship with Liz that she never even knew about let alone participated in. His part of the conversation is about investing in and saving a relationship that doesn't, and never has, existed. Once again, Max declares his love for Liz and though she is able to acknowledge the feelings that he has, Liz isn't quite ready to meet him there.

So, who's left? Where HAVE all the Cowboys Gone?

Well, arguably, Liz, as much as she talks, is our laconic, capable, tough cowboy. The plucky go-getter heroine, smart, tough, distant, and capable. The entire opening scene in which Rosa describes Liz, words Liz echoes to Max, are descriptors that are traditionally coded masculine. Liz wears her distance as a badge, one that she isn't willing to let go of. I love that Liz has such a sense of herself. In that last scene, Liz is looking into the possibility of a future relationship with Max, she's still in the early exploratory phase of the relationship and is faced with a Max who is demanding more of her than she has to give. This is SO different from the original star-crossed love affair of the original series in which Max and Liz fell hard pretty instantly and equally. The shift in this iteration, the rebalancing of their affections definitely lends itself to a more grown-up narrative. Or at least, let's be honest, in this regard for Liz. While Max may still be hovering on the edges of some school boy crush for a girl he really no longer knows after an absence of ten years, Liz is living in an adult reality where love is never that simple.

Random Thoughts:

a) "People are the worse drug. They all hurt you in the end." The mystery of Rosa continues! Max does some dumb, melodramatic things and makes Jenna suspicious cause he's TIRED of hiding how much of a special snowflake he is! And then Roswell turned into a lifetime after-school special with the big reveal that Sheriff Valenti (the former) was having an affair with Liz's "teenage, drug addict sister"! Cue close-up, melodramatic tunes, and fade to black cause what can you say after that! Of course, all we've really mostly seen is Liz making one wrong left turn after another. She likes to get worked up, ratchet up the tension, make sweeping declarations inditing persons and then figuring out that okay, maybe, she might have been wrong. It's like a total soap opera.

b) What's the likelihood that crazy Alien Conspiracy Guy IS, in reality, an alien? Hiding in plain sight and all.

c) "You have exactly cinco segundos to get out!" Have I ever mentioned how much I love Spanglish? Well, any language mixing with English, really. I totes love it.

d) Master Sargent Manes remain an asshole.

e) Heart attacks out of nowhere, what up, Car Accident Kid and Papi Ortecho?!

f) I love that all of their powers have a physical limit and come at a price. It's not easy and there are repercussions.

g) Consensual, non-shamy, adult sex!! YAY!!!!

h) "I don't want to talk about him with you while I'm not wearing a bra."

i) And the finale reveals!!!! 1 - Michael killed "those girls." Does that include Rosa or just the other two? I get the feeling it was NOT Rosa, but that Michael's guilt is pushing him to become scapegoat for the sake of the family. After-school special Episode 2. No joke, it got really dramatic. 2 - The lights come back up in the city and there was, if my eyes don't deceive me, an imprint of a space ship over the city. What the actual fuck?!

#tv:miscellaneous #Review: TV #roswell new mexico

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princess-of-the-worlds · 5 years

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The Beginning

Looking for a stucky lawyers!au with no actual plot in mind? You’ve found it. Based on a conversation with my beloved friend @marleymortis.

ao3 link: here

word count: 1461

warnings: none

summary: Fresh outta law school, Steve is having a tough time finding work. Then Natasha makes a crazy suggestion that may not actually be that crazy at all. She thinks that Steve should talk to his self-declared nemesis James Barnes, and Steve decides that he might as well. Not like his luck could get any better, right?

It’s the end of a long, hard week full of disappointments and rejections, and Steve’s never felt so low since the first time he took the LSAT – he passed, but you never know with those things. Three months after he graduated from law school, he’s working in an art store a few blocks from the apartment he shares with his best friends Sam and Sharon while his classmates and friends from Columbia have found jobs at fancy Manhattan law firms.

Case in point: Natasha, who sits before him in a Starbucks, listening to him ramble about his week. Red Room Law grabbed her right after graduation, and judging by the shiny new Louboutins that shift as she crosses her legs, she’s doing pretty well there.

“So,” Natasha says, leaning forward to pick at the straw of her mocha frappuccino, “you’re telling me that not a single law firm that you applied to accepted. Didn’t even give you an interview?” She raises a skeptical eyebrow. “You, with your 3.8 GPA and resume longer than my arm?”

Steve, squeezing his own empty Starbucks cup, flushes. “It’s not that,” he states, fumbling for the words to explain his predicament. “Look. Out of the fifty or so firms I applied to, only a few called me back for an interview. I don’t want to work for the ones who did.” When Natasha opens her mouth to interject, he stubbornly bulldozes on. “Come on, Natasha. Landman and Zack is run by two corrupt partners who clearly don’t care about their clients. Hogarth, Chao and Benowitz had that sex scandal that forced Jeri Hogarth out. I don’t want to work for firms like that.”

Natasha hums thoughtfully as she taps her fingers on the table, her painted nails clacking against the wooden surface. “Oddly or not, you aren’t the only one I’ve spoken to today who’s having similar problems.” She reaches for her cup and takes a long sip.

“Really?” Steve asks, intrigued, wondering who else of their classmates could be having a similar experience finding a job.

“You might be pleased to hear this,” she begins, pushing her now-empty cup away from her, “but it’s James.”

Immediately, Steve’s brain plays a montage reel of all the times that James Barnes has tormented him, starting from freshman year of undergrad and running up to just a few months ago. “Hey,” he says, slightly insulted, “just because Barnes and I have had a few disagreements-”

“A few?” she says with a faintly amused expression. “Try a long-running rivalry.”

“Okay, fine. Just because Barnes and I can’t agree on anything ever, that still doesn’t mean that I would wish my rejection rate on anyone.” He frowns. “Besides, Barnes’ GPA was near flawless. Why is he getting rejected?”

She doesn’t reply, and it takes a moment for the answer to dawn on him.

“It’s not the thing with Pierce, right?” Steve asks with mounting horror, his suspicion confirmed by the tightening of Natasha’s smile. “Nat, that’s fucked up!”

Natasha shrugs helplessly. “He’s damaged goods,” she says with an attitude that most would perceive as nonchalance. Only someone who knows Natasha as well as Steve does would be able to see the wrinkling of her nose and gritted teeth as hints of what she really thinks of the treatment of her best friend.

“It was nearly half a decade ago,” Steve protests.

Instead of replying, Natasha checks the Rolex at her wrist and whistles. “That’s the end of my lunch break. I’ll see you soon?”

Steve sighs as they both rise to their feet; he reaches to grab her in a quick hug as she stretches to press a kiss to his cheek. “I’ll text you.”

“Great!” Her lips curve into a slight but genuine smile that fades quickly. “Now,” she says, briefly fixing Steve with an intense stare. “I know you still have James’ email. Send him a message. You boys can both wallow in misery together.”

It’s phrased like a suggestion, but Steve knows that Natasha will hunt him down if he doesn’t.

Steve’s been sitting at the bar for twenty minutes, checking his watch, when Barnes finally comes barreling through the door, wisps of hair slipping out of his man bun. He glances around for a moment, eyes lighting up when they land on Steve, and heads straight to him.

“Sorry I’m late,” Barnes huffs as he slides onto a stool besides Steve. “There was a delay on the subway, and it didn’t help that I accidentally got on the wrong train.”

Suddenly struck dumb by his somewhat nemesis’s exposed cheekbones and shadowed stubble, Steve does what he does best in moments like this. “Glad to see that graduating law school didn’t change your tardiness,” he replies snidely.

Used to their dynamic, Barnes rolls his eyes. “Real mature, Rogers,” he says. “You’re the one who asked to meet me.”

Steve sighs. “At Natasha’s suggestion.”

“Oh.” Barnes’ expression floods with understanding, and he raises his right arm to flag the bartender.

Steve notices that Barnes’ left arm remains tightly at his side, as it has been since the accident in senior year of undergrad where he lost most of its function. When the bartender arrives before Barnes, he asks for a pint of beer, and Steve can’t help himself, blurting out, “I thought you stopped drinking?”

A shadow flashes across Barnes’ eyes. “It’s been five years, Steve,” he says darkly, and the use of Steve’s first name reminds him that they’re treading a deeply personal line for two men who claim to dislike each other.

“Right,” Steve says and hastily changes the topic. “So Natasha told me that you weren’t having any better luck with law firms than I was, which fucking sucks.” He tries for a sympathetic smile, hoping the other man doesn’t read it as smarmy or smug. He’s never been good with being direct or realistic when it comes to communicating with James Barnes.

The bartender returns with Barnes’ beer and slides one to Steve, who had actually forgotten that he’d asked for a drink just before Barnes entered the bar. Barnes brings the glass to his lips and takes a long, long drink while Steve unenthusiastically sips at his own. Finally, Barnes sets the glass down with a clunk and wipes the foam from his mouth with the back of his hand. “That’s an understatement,” he scoffs. “I’m sure you at least got a few interviews, but it’s been total radio silence for me.”

Steve, as he mentioned to Natasha, actually has gotten a few unfruitful interviews, which is why he flushes; he also doesn’t dare to voice the reason they both know is why Barnes has been blacklisted from the best law firms in New York City. “Only like three,” Steve finally says, eyes cast to the wooden bartop.

“But they’re all either corrupt or problematic,” Barnes guesses correctly. “I guess that does fucking suck.” He drains his glass and then rolls it between his hands.

“How did two Brooklyn boys who both made it to Columbia luck out so hard?” Steve groans, throwing back the last of his beer. He swallows and flips the glass upside down, placing it back on the bartop.

“To be fair,” Barnes begins as he slips a stray lock of hair behind his ear, drawing Steve’s eyes to the movement, “I’m from Indiana. I only moved here in high school, so it doesn’t count.”

Ignoring Barnes’ last statement, Steve purses his lips. “Hell, even Clint joined DA Fury’s office. At this point, we might as well create our own law firm.”

A light sparks in Barnes’ eyes, and he reaches for an abandoned napkin on the bartop, pulling a pen from his jacket pocket. “You might be onto something, buddy,” he announces, uncapping the pen and furiously drawing on the napkin. He works on it for a solid minute while Steve strains his neck, struggling to make out what Barnes is sketching.

“What are you even doing?” Steve complains, but Barnes doesn’t reply.

Finally, several moments later, Barnes turns the napkin around and slides it over to Steve, who holds it up to the light.

“Barnes and Rogers Law,” reads a bewildered Steve, turning to gaze at Barnes in disbelief. “Are you serious?”

“No, I’m James,” Barnes says, cracking a rare smile that illuminates the rest of his handsome features and makes Steve’s heart stutter. “Besides, you said it yourself. We have shit luck with law firms, so we may as well create our own.” He locks eyes with Steve. “What do you say, partner?”

Steve must be losing his mind when he says, “Fine. But my name’s coming first; it was my idea.”

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how Rogers and Barnes Law was born.

#stucky #steve rogers #bucky barnes #stucky drabble

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violetosprey · 6 years

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Good/Redeemed Male Yandere Examples

So I decided to organize a little and make this post after a long conversation I had with someone on tumblr recently. In the conversation, I stated both my general definitions of a “good yandere” and a “redeemed yandere,” as well as gave a brief list of examples I’ve seen.

I figure not everyone’s going to want to hunt back through the original post specifically for the list every time, so here’s a shortcut for you. I’m basically copy pasting what I said before (with maybe some rewording on some parts so they make sense). It’s a small list and those that have been around the block looking for male yanderes will probably recognize these titles.

You’ll notice not a lot of otome game characters make the list here because a) that’s not what the original asker was interested in and b) to be honest a lot of yanderes in otome games come from the “bad endings.” That’s falling more in the villain category then.

So HOPEFULLY, with the good/redeemed male yanderes, I have remained consistent at the very least with what they are. Please feel free to let me know if the definitions below don’t appear to have been very evident in my posts, or if this contradicts past posts too much:

- Good Yandere: Still exhibits behavior and actions of a yandere that are deemed either inappropriate or bad when displaying one’s affection for the love interest, BUT still manages to keep certain behavior in “check” for the sake of their love interest (and possibly others), and shows genuine love as opposed to just obsession towards their S/O

- Redeemed Yandere: A yandere who somehow changed to understand that they need to respect/understand the point of view and feelings of those around them (particularly their love interest). Usually start off over-the-top, crazy, or villainous, but realize they’ve gone too far and end up changing for the better. Redeemed yandere can then either end up as “good yanderes” or actually fall out of the yandere category if they decide to either love in a more natural manner, or even forfeit their love interest to someone else.

Male Yandere

1) Nozomu from Hadashi de bara wo fume (Stepping on Roses) – Redeemed Yandere

While not a fan of the artwork for the story, it’s one of the best examples of a prominent male yandere in a story. Used him as an example for my “good endings” post. Without spoiling exactly what happens, I will make it clear that he just becomes redeemed, not a good yandere.

2) Kairak from Abide in the Wind – Redeemed Yandere?

I can’t find the raws to read, and it’s still being translated. I am 99% sure this has a happy ending though. I actually really recommend this story in general. Seeing as Kairak is both literally and figuratively a “different animal,” he’s a good example of making a character that becomes a very clear yandere, but that it makes sense what happened and why he can be forgiven. It’s all about how the character is set up. Like I said, I haven’t seen all the raws though, and I don’t want to spoil too much here.

3) Toma from Amnesia- Redeemed?/Good?

First off, I don’t know if you want to include this guy because while there’s an anime, it’s technically based off an otome game. So it’s really only just…episode 9 and 10 I’d say you can take a peek at for fun. Since it’s based off an otome game and only a 12 episode anime series, it’s kind of shallow though with the change. That’s why I’d say it’s kind of questionable if you agree with what Toma does and why and if he properly learned his lesson. So I can’t outright declare him as a “good yandere” or a “redeemed yandere.” That’s probably more of a personal opinion thing. …It doesn’t help that I find him kind of cute though *sweats*

4) Jung Yu from Cheese in the Trap- Good?

It’s a Korean webcomic that I really enjoy. This one would require quite a bit of investment from the reader though to determine what they think of Jung. I’m going to be blunt…there are many signs in the series that he’s actually a sociopath (or close to one). No, this isn’t a horror or thriller webcomic. This would be what I’d say is the best example of a sociopath who is NOT a psychopath. Sociopaths generally don’t care about others, just themselves. It’s REALLY hard to explain, and Jung still has some genuine caring moments. Like I said, this would be a project to get into if you want to properly determine if Jung is a “good yandere,” if you can even call him a yandere at all. I haven’t read the end yet, so I don’t know if he “redeems” either. Just know that in this story, Jung does/thinks some things that are “not right.” But he’s in love with Seol I believe. The yandere moments are sadly spread out too, but you’d notice them.

5) Onyu No from Metronome- Good

At least I think he is. Story is still getting translated. Guy’s definitely a yandere, and I recommend this because other characters than just him appear to have an obsession with the main character. So far based on the plot…I think you can call him good? Will kind of have to see what happens. He’s also the type that would never want to harm his S/O (at least I think so), so that’s a plus.

6) Darin Kim from Cherry Boy, that Girl- Redeemed

You know what…I actually DON’T consider him a yandere XD Which is weird, because he has many moments displaying behavior that is EXACTLY like a yandere. I can only attribute this to how…less threatening I feel he his? Don’t get me wrong though, he’s pretty darn manipulative. I just wanted to put this on here because I recommend it a lot. Warning, you will hate ALL the characters though for the first few chapters. You gotta ride it out a bit to get past the point “I don’t sympathize with anyone here, what the heck?” You get to the GOOD development later, trust me. Because Darin portrays at least yandere behavior, I’d say check it out to judge for yourself. It’s completely translated and finished. If you call him a yandere, I’d say he’s redeemed at the end. Up to the reader if they’d ever call him “good.”

7) Jarte from 100% Perfect Girl- Redeemed/Good?

Actually a manhwa, not a manga. Like a modern day Cinderella tale. Jarte’s yandere side starts to come out more as the story progresses and the drama occurs (serious drama at least). I’d definitely call him redeemed by the end. DURING the story you can debate if you’d call him a “good yandere.” I don’t it personally. He REALLY loves Jay, but yeah the stuff he ends up doing would not be okay in real life :P Most of the yandere stuff is the last 2 volumes I believe (but there’s minor hints before then). This is one of those one’s that’s either going to draw people in due to the way that Jarte and Jay talk with each other (or avoid talking with each other) on how their relationship is/was at any current point in time…or it’ll drive you nuts and make you pull your hair out honestly because they seem crazy. This is actually one of my favorites where I feel I like how it came to the ending it did, but in real life I would have never forgiven Jarte :P

8) …Some manga I found recently that I CAN’T REMEMBER THE NAME OF!!!- Good

Look the premise is that the male yandere kidnaps a young girl he’s obsessed with, but she’s totally cool with that. The reason is because she’s glad to be away from her abusive parents. I haven’t read too much into it yet, but the yandere himself is thinking “she probably needs to put her guard up around me more than she realizes, because I CLEARLY have something wrong with me” (cue room covered with photos of the S/O). I’ll have to see if I find it again sometime. This would be a good reference though for a good yandere who has very clear yandere behavior, but due to other circumstances in the story, is not as much of the bad guy as one would think.

…wow where the heck are my yaoi stories? I know I’ve read a bunch of them, but most were probably short with a Japanese title so I can’t remember right now >_< That or they stuck with the villain trend I liked so no point in putting them here anyway. There’s two off the top of my head right now still in the works that are WAY too extreme for me to consider either of the villains “good yanderes” at any point.

Bonus: Female Yandere

1) Yuno Gasai from Mirai Nikki/Future Diary – Redeemed/Good

People can still debate on her I guess, but I’d say she’s good because of the circumstances of the game they’re thrown into, and a lot of people believe at the end it develops into a genuine loving relationship.

2) For the love of god, WHY CAN’T I REMEMBER SOME OF THE “GOOD” YANDERE STORIES?! -Good

Look there’s this comedy one I found awhile back. Not a lot of chapters, but it’s a female yandere whose boyfriend is fully aware she’s a yandere. It’s a great use of dark comedy, and the boyfriend is actually pretty good at keep her on a leash (and he does love her). I wish I could remember the name though. If you find it, it’s not long right now and at least it’s a good reference for comedic yanderes in a relationship with their S/O :P

Aaaaand sorry that’s all I can think of at the moment XD. I mostly find female yanderes by accident :P I’m usually just hunting for the males. Some people can debate if a certain magical girl from Madoka Magica is “good,” but I’ll leave that up to them :P I’ve pretty sure there’s a bunch of female yanderes not from otome games that are redeemed or “good,” I’m just drawing a blank at the moment.

So what you might have noticed from this list is it may be more common to find a redeemed yandere rather than a “good yandere.” You more often will see the yandere give up after a long fight or learn to love like a normal person would, rather than maintain their yandere qualities by the end. They can be “good yanderes” during the story if the character is fleshed out enough and it complements the plot, but it’s super rare for them to still be a “good yandere” by the end of the story.

#own post #yandere #male yandere #good ending #redeemed #storytelling

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iris-writes-things · 6 years

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Crazy, Millennial Love Story chapter 7

Read on AO3, FF.net or under the cut!

Keith knows what’s up when Shiro insists he should go to this ‘networking’ party at Allura’s place. He’s not dumb. But, on the other hand, making friends might not be such a bad idea at all. So with home made business cards in his pockets, and faux confidence on his face, he decides to tag along.

Chapter 7 of ? Ongoing 2202 words Modern/romance

“So, did Allura say anything about the people that’d be here?” Keith asked, nervously clutching his home made business cards in the pocket of his sweater. They stood in an elevator currently going up to Allura’s apartment, and he was getting second thoughts.

“She didn’t name any names…” Shiro mumbled as he thought for a second. “But I’m sure that if they’re Allura’s friends, they’re probably nice.” He said as he patted Keith’s back when the elevator came to a halt and the doors opened, practically pushing the boy out, up to the front door of Allura’s apartment.

“Okay, but this better be good.” Keith grumbled crankily as he rang the doorbell with a shaking finger.

“Keith, Shiro! You made it!” Allura beamed as she opened the door.

“Of course we did.” Shiro smiled.

Keith glared up at the other man, only now becoming aware of his ulterior motive. God damn it, he couldn’t believe he fell for Shiro’s ploy.

“Come on in, I think Hunk just started passing out his snacks.”

“Sounds like perfect timing to me.” Keith joked as he sneaked past Allura. He looked back as he walked through the small hallway. Whatever Shiro and Allura had going on between them should have been the most straightforward thing in the universe. Why did the two of them have to make things so much more difficult than they necessarily had to be? Better yet, why was Keith allowing himself to apparently a be pawn in a game that should be strictly between the two of them. Before he knew it, he reached the living room, where he walked right into something, or rather, someone huge. “Oof--”

“Hey man, are you okay?” A voice asked as Keith was carefully hoisted back up to his feet.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Keith mumbled, looking up at the other man. He had dark skin and even darker hair, held back with a yellow bandana. And he was big. A full head taller than Keith and twice his width, and even though there was a healthy amount of fat on his body, Keith felt that he had next to no difficulty picking him up.

“Good.” He smiled, carefully placing a tray of beautifully crafted snacks on the salon table.

“Uh, sorry I almost ruined your food...” Keith said, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Don’t worry about it, man. They’re all A-OK.” The man said, shooting Keith a reassuring smile. “What’s your name?”

“I’m, er, I’m Keith.”

“I’m Hunk. Nice meeting you.” He said enthusiastically. “That guy over there is Lance, and the kid is Pidge.”

Keith nodded and nervously waved at the others, who greeted him in return.

“And of course you already know Allura.” Hunk smiled as she and Shiro approached from the hallway.

“Yes, he does. Sorry we got a little distracted.” Allura chuckled, twirling her hair with her fingers.

“Yeah, of course you got ‘distracted’.” Keith said, giving her and Shiro a knowing smirk. “But seriously, don’t be. I can take care of myself.”

“As you beautifully demonstrated by walking straight into Hunk.” Pidge, the smallest of the group joked.

Keith smiled. Yeah. He could see himself making friends here.

***

“Okay, don’t say anything.” Lance said, taking a sip from his drink as Keith sat down next to him. “You’re in art school, aren’t you?”

“Uh, yeah… I was.” He mumbled. “How’d you guess?”

“You just seemed like the type. You don’t look old enough to have graduated already, though. What happened? Skipped a few years?”

“I haven’t. I dropped out.” Keith answered simply. “I had to skip class every other so I could work to afford my tuition. I realized that was pretty fucked up, so I just quit.” Keith knew Lance hadn’t asked to hear his tragic backstory, and God knew this wasn’t even half of it, but he supposed talking about it helped.

“Oh man… I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’s not like it’s your fault.” He smiled. “So, what do you do? You don’t even look old enough to be in college.” He asked as he took a swig from the beer Allura had given him very reluctantly after their adventure the weekend previous.

“My major is international tourism.” Lance said proudly. “I travel around a lot, so I get to go sightseeing, like, all the time. Though it’s much more fun to go looking for the hidden gems, like restaurants and just really pretty spots nobody would think to visit.”

“Really? That’s pretty cool. Maybe you can tell me where to go when I’ve finally got enough cash to to on an actual vacation.” Keith said, smiling more genuinely this time. Lance’s enthusiasm was infectious, and rubbed off on him quickly.

“By the way, do you do, like, wedding photography?” Lance asked out of seemingly nowhere. “I mean, Allura showed off the pictures you took of her and her new model, under embargo, of course, and just… I don’t know, they looked really romantic. Could you do something like that again?”

“Actually, I haven’t done weddings before, but I’m willing to try if you’re offering.” Keith said enthusiastically.

“Ah, you’re my hero! The photographer my sister hired bailed on us at the last minute.” Lance sighed in relief. “Are you free next Saturday?”

Keith pretended to think for a while. Between drinking and possibly getting high if he was lucky enough to get the boyscout out of the apartment somehow, Keith’s saturdays were usually devoid of plans. “Yeah, I’m free.” He nodded, handing Lance one of his wonkily cut business cards. “You can just text me the place and time, and I’ll make sure I’m there.”

“What about pay? How much do you charge?”

He’d had a week to prepare for this, and of all things, he had completely forgotten to so much as think about his prices. “Uh… You mentioned your sister already had a photographer, right?” He tried. Lance nodded. “She can just pay me what she was going to pay the other guy.” Keith said before deciding to finish off his beer, mentally giving himself a pat on the back for that save.

“Great! Then I’ll tell her she won’t have to go over her 3K budget.”

Keith choked on his beer.

***

“What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing.”

Shiro and Katie stood in the kitchen in a Mexican standoff. Shiro still frequently called and texted with Matt and yet, he had no idea his little sister was close friends with the girl of his recent dreams.

Katie, on the other hand, was well aware that Shiro had taken up modeling. After all, she was the one who had sent Matt the article Buzzfeed had written behind Shiro’s back. However, she hadn’t signed up for watching him and Allura being sickeningly sweet in the doorway earlier.

“You first.” Katie insisted.

“I’m here to chaperone Keith. Allura took us out for dinner last weekend, and Keith had way too much to drink.”

“That’s not all, is it?” She prodded, crossing her arms and cocking her hip.

“Well, it’s Allura… I mean, any excuse to spend more time with her is a good one.” Shiro replied simply, rubbing the back of his neck. “Your turn.”

“Allura is a friend of mine. She commented on one of my #CHOOTD once and we just kind of hit it off.” The teen shrugged.

“Hashtag CH… O… What?”

“Cryptid hunting outfit of the day.” She explained.

“Oh, yeah. Matt mentioned you liked stuff like that.” Shiro smiled. “Found any Bigfoots lately? Or… Bigfeet?”

Katie buried her face in her hands, muffling a frustrated scream. “I swear, you’re worse at this than my dad.”

“How come everyone calls you Pidge here?” The older man asked, all joking aside.

“My dad told me never to blog under my own name, because ‘stranger danger’,” she said, making big airquotes “so I used the nickname Matt made up for me as a pen name.” She then gazed away slightly as she mumbled, “I don’t know. I guess I like it more than ‘Katie’...”

Shiro had never made it to being a detective, but he knew full well when he wasn’t told the full truth. However, he also knew when not to keep prying, and Katie still looked uncertain about the situation.

“Well… Would you like me to call you Pidge from now on? No questions asked.”

Katie, no, Pidge smiled and nodded. “Thanks, Shiro.” She said with an excitement he hadn’t heard from her that entire night. “By the way, my mom said Matt and I could invite someone over for Thanksgiving leftovers next Saturday, so consider this your official invitation.”

“Wait, what? Why me?” He asked, brows knitted.

“Because you haven’t visited us for ages…” Pidge mumbled, her voice taking on a much more desperate tone. “You used to come over to our place all the time, but I’ve barely seen you since the accident. I know you still call and text Matt all the time, but it’s just not the same without you around. Honestly, we miss you…”

“Well…” Shiro tried, “can Keith come, too? I wouldn’t wanna leave him home alone while I help you guys finish up your mom’s delicious leftovers.” As much as he hated to admit it, the younger man had become somewhat of a security blanket to him. It wasn’t healthy, he knew, but there still were things he wasn’t ready to face on his own. Visiting the Holts being one of them. ‘The accident’, which he caused, he reminded himself, had cost their son his promising career as a city police detective. And while Shiro knew that neither Sam nor Colleen had it in them to actually do something to him, he still felt like he couldn’t look them in the eye for taking Matt’s dreams away from him.

“Yeah, of course.” The little girl smiled brightly from the accomplishment.

Their heads whipped around when Allura entered the room. “Pidge, your brother is here to pick you up.”

Pidge groaned, but started on her way outside anyway. She turned around in the doorway with a devilish smirk. “And Shiro, keep it PG while I’m gone.” She let out a hearty laugh as she watched the two flush immediately, leaving the other five behind in Allura’s apartment.

***

It was well past midnight when Shiro and Keith left Allura’s place, and with the Thanksgiving weekend quickly approaching, the city grew darker and colder by the day. They watched their breaths turn into foggy clouds as they walked the dimly lit streets back to their apartment. Shiro ducked further down into his warm coat until his thickly knit infinity scarf, courtesy of Allura, covered his ears, all while Keith seemed to be doing just fine in a hoodie and a leather jacket. That boy was just always on fire.

“Was that Matt’s younger sister? She changed a lot since we last saw her, didn’t she?” Keith asked, effectively snapping Shiro out of his daze.

“Yeah, she did. But she’s still Katie-- I mean, Pidge. She said she wants to be called Pidge.” He replied, still making a valiant attempt at regaining his composure.

“I guess she changed in more than one way then.” Keith mused. “Hey, I got a thing next Saturday, wanna join?”

“I was actually about to tell you the same thing.” Shiro said, feeling his heart growing heavy. If Keith wasn’t there, who would ground him if things went south with the Holts? “But you first. What’s your thing?”

“You remember Lance? The guy with the brown hair?” Keith asked.

Shiro nodded

“His sister is paying me three grant to take pictures at her wedding.”

Shiro couldn’t help but smile proudly at his younger roommate. “Hey, congrats on the job. I’m sure you can focus better on your photography without me around to bother you all the time.”

“Trust me, if you were a bother to me, we wouldn’t be living in the same apartment anymore.” Keith smiled, elbowing him in the side. “But tell me, what’s your thing?”

“Pidge invited me to their place to eat their Thanksgiving leftovers with them. But… I’m not sure I should go.” ‘Not without you.’ He added mentally, glancing down as he avoided eye contact with Keith.

The younger man was having none of it, though. He grabbed Shiro’s face on both sides, forcing him to look him in the eye. “Shiro, go. You’ve been avoiding them for years, even though they have no hard feelings against you. I can’t always be there with you if something happens, but you know the Holts and the Holts know you. This may be the ideal situation to help you try and take back a part of your life your PTSD has taken away from you. Trust me. Just go to their place, and you’ll see nothing has changed.”

“Promise?” Shiro asked, the tone in his voice and the look in his face only adding to the childlike nature of his question.

“Promise.” Keith smiled, patting the other’s cheek softly. “Tell you what. You bring home a slice of turkey for me, and I’ll try to weasel a slice of wedding cake home for you. Deal?”

“Deal.”

#EN #fanfic #Voltron: Legendary Defender #shallura #modern AU

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