Fractured Defiance

[fracturedefiance]

sylphic-hope​:

Oh. He didn’t know Sign. Okay, that was fine. A lot of people didn’t know Sign. It wasn’t that big a deal….usually. But with his hearing aids and mask damaged, it made communication difficult. Zeke pursed his lips in a frown and tapped a finger on his thigh for a moment as he thought.

Then he lifted his hands and gestured writing. That, at least, shouldn’t be too difficult to parse. His eyes skimmed over the man for a moment, taking him in. Were he anyone else, he would’ve had thoughts about running his hands through the other’s hair. Of course, he did still have those thoughts, but they weren’t accompanied by the actual feeling of thick hair on his skin but gloves dampening the effect

He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head, one of his hands coming up to his temples and a quiet gasp of pain escaping his lips. He needed to open his eyes, he knew, it wasn’t safe to not have them open at the moment. But he needed a moment with them closed.

Liam looked back to catch the motion for pen and paper. Then his eyes drifted to the brilliant blue eyes of the other boy. For another moment he was frozen in spot. Finally he snapped out of it. Pen and paper where had he seen pen and paper in this apartment? He scrunched his eyebrows together in thought. He hadn’t been here long, so he was still getting used to where everything was. 

Quickly he turned heel and sifted through the apartment visually. Finally he found a notepad sitting on a desk next to a landline of all things. He rolls his eyes and grabs it, making his way back to the room.

Where those blue eyes were closed. He just woke up, was he supposed to go back to sleep. He didn’t know. What if he was concussed? “Hey... Hey wait don’t go back to sleep” Liam’s words left his mouth before he could think about whether or not he could hear him. 

[userarmand]

Booboo Stewart in Julie and the Phantoms

[fracturedefiance]

sylphic-hope​:

Zeke didn’t know what happened. One moment, they’d had the villain pinned. His partner moving swiftly to take them down. The next he was being pushed back, his head slammed against the ground, and then nothing.

When he came to next, his head was pounding. There was something cool on his head, though, so that was good. Hopefully. With a gasp, he jolted up, which was a bad idea. His head hurt. He couldn’t hear anything either and a quick check told him his hearing aids were busted. 

His vision was a little foggy, but, as he pulled his mask away from his face, he figured it was just the lenses being a little damaged than anything with his vision. He sighed and finally took the time to glance around, blinking in surprise as he locked eyes with another man.

“Where am I?” He signed, avoiding speaking when he couldn’t hear himself. “And who are you?” Hopefully this guy knew sign, or this might be a bit of a problem.

Liam was pacing the living room for a long time until he heard movement coming from the bedroom. He peeked his head in quietly, his hair falling over his shoulder. 

He met the blue eyes of the super and blinked. His head suddenly empty. Not that he had many thoughts running through it anyway. Then the super began moving his hands, gesturing. Sign language? Liam recognized it but couldn’t read it. 

Other languages, and just schooling in general weren’t high on his mother’s priorities with him growing up. 

So he just waved back. 

“Sorry, I-- Uh...” He started but soon realized that it was pointless, if he was signing he was probably deaf and couldn’t hear him anyways. He scrunched up his face a little in frustration before hanging his head with a sigh. 

[fracturedefiance]

bloodwhispered​:

       Rafael’s eyes lazily flicked over Liam’s expression, settling finally on the glass of water unceremoniously placed before him. A runaway, but an adult man at that. Life could be complicated but it was better not to pry into a sensitive matter- unless that sensitive matter was going to risk the lives of other people.

Still. There was an opportunity here. Positive change.

“All of the money in the world can’t help you if you’re just going to be running all of your life,” He interjected, finally coming to a decisive conclusion. “You’re trying to avoid something and in this city that can be very bad.”

He steepled his fingers, the jovial look on his face dropped for something far more serious, red eyes burning into the other’s face and finding only fear and anxiety in its wake. It was time to drop the act.

“You don’t have to give me specifics if it makes you uncomfortable but I need to know who it is that you’re escaping. Is this life and death or is this personal? Are you in danger?” Better yet, was this kid a criminal? Rafael would rather look on this with a positive outlook but the invisible little facts were starting to add up.

“I have an opportunity to help you but I need the truth. You don’t have to trust me but I’m going to do what I can.”

Liam didn’t like this. Any of this. So he clenched his menu and let his eyes pour over words like homestyled and housemade without actually reading any of that. How had he gotten himself into this mess. Caught in a place where he had someone prying into his personal life. 

He knew how. He just didn’t like the answer.

Liam eyes the door for a moment. But he had a feeling this man would stop him before he could even leave the booth. So he turned his eyes back to the other man peering over his menu. In another situation, another location, another set of circumstances there would be a very different conversation one where Liam would have felt more in control. 

Then Rafael’s demeanor changed completely. And Liam felt his chest seize up in fear. Sudden change in someone was never a good thing. He was used to it though. 

“Maybe I am.” He almost snaps at him, he didn’t mean for his tone to be aggressive but he couldn’t contain the bristles. It wasn’t fair that this stranger could tell that he was hiding from something, running from something.

“I thought I told you no questions.” A deep set frown finding it’s place on his face. The way he was poking and prodding him was causing him to start to wondering if he should take a chance on the doorway. He could probably take him in a fight. Liam set his menu down. He was starting to get the feeling this man was more than he was letting on, something about him wanting to save Liam from his situation was annoying as well as terrifying. Something told him there was more to this man than he was letting on. 

Maybe he was some kind of hero. 

If that was the case then he definitely didn’t want him mixed up in all this. His mother wasn’t really known for her love of heroes. And Liam himself really didn’t have the cleanest slate. 

And despite his insistence on being aloof, he had a feeling he wasn’t leaving this booth without letting out some of his secrets. 

“I’m just running away from home. I’m only in.... danger.... if I’m caught.”

[fracturedefiance]

@sylphic-hope

Shit.

Liam Correia was just walking by when the supers came by. It was a buzzing fight. And he found himself ducked in an alleyway hoping that whatever villain didn’t see him and report back to his mother. His heart pounding in his chest. What he didn’t count on was the fight moving on without one of its members.

He had peaked around the corner and saw one of the heroes collapsed on the ground unconscious. No one else around. 

Shit. Shit. Shit.

In a panic Liam carefully lifted up the super in blue, scooping him up one arm under his legs and one arm under his back. He couldn’t just leave him like this. What if the villain came back? Panicked, he went to the only place he could think of. He climbed up the fire escape deftly as he could. And stepped in through the window. 

Simon shouldn’t be home. Probably. And even if he was, wasn’t he always telling him to help people without hurting someone. 

He laid the super in his bed and went and got a cloth with some cold water. That’s what people did for unconscious people in movies right? Liam was a little out of his depths here. He walked back in the room and gently put it on his forehead. 

[fracturedefiance]

bloodwhispered‌:

        Rafael was fast on his feet; years of active patrol ingrained every detail of Olive City in his mind. The cafe in particular he had been thinking of was small, good at hiding. Secretive; he could glean the kid’s situation from there. It was easier to skip the formalities; he opened the small restaurants fancy french doors and offered the younger man to go on in ahead.

Inside they slipped into a surprisingly spacious booth in the back where they could be left alone. It was partially shaded and cool; easier for him to see but still not dark enough to remove his floppy brimmed hat and sunglasses. “So-” HE began, interrupted by a cute waiter who had four eyes and little, orchish fangs who handed them their menus and ran at the sight of a celebrity. 

Poor kid.

“So,” Rafael began again, much quieter now, “You’re traveling light for someone that’s skipping town.” 

He traced one finger over the menu, catching on the embossed letters on the sleek black cover, a look of mischief quick to overtake youthful features. It was funny that this other guy was younger than him by probably a good 15 years but Rafael himself still looked younger. Less world weary, brighter eyed- 

Not that it was a competition. It was just jarring to see the difference in himself and ordinary huma-

Stop. He caught his spiraling thoughts before they could begin to descend. You’re still human.

“I’m not about to stop you or chase you down,” He crossed on leg over the other and rested his chin in the palm of his hand, “You look like you’re in a bad place. I want to help.”

He had had a better look now, this man wasn’t older. Maybe. Honestly it was getting hard to tell when people were older or younger or around his age. Maybe that had to do with his mother who only showed her age around her eyes. As long as she dyed her hair.  She often got mistaken as his older sister. Whatever, he didn’t actually care about the man’s age. 

Inside the cafe was weird, it was nice and quiet but weird. The waitress ran off in a hurry that caused his heart to start pounding. What if she recognized him? What if his mother had set out a search for him and this was the bitter end of it all. He’d only had freedom for a day. His muscles tensed and he was ready to book it if anything came along. 

After a moment of nothing, he let his breath back out. Allowing himself to wave the paranoia from his brain slightly. His eyes still watching the doors and windows for anything familiar. 

He watched the shadows too. 

“Yeah. I guess I am.” He shrugged the answer distracted by his surveillance. 

Maybe this man really wanted to help. Maybe nothing was coming after him yet. Maybe he was being paranoid for no reason. 

Maybe his mother didn’t care enough to chase after him.

He almost shuddered at the thought. He didn’t want her coming after him. He didn’t want her in his life. But there was some part of him that wondered if she ever really did care. And if she did wouldn’t she want him back? And what would it mean if she didn’t. 

“Help how? If you’re talking about money. I’ve got money. I don’t need anymore money.” Liam shoved his hand into his jacket pocket where the heavy piece of plastic was. With more money than he could ever spend. 

[crispspringmorning]

@fracturedefiance

Really, this was the perfect place to be working on a case. The cafe itself was barely inhabited, few people bothering to enter. The booths were also spacious, giving him more than enough room for his turkey sandwhich platter and the files, which took up the inside half. Photographs of the crimes lay spread across the cheap table, some overlapping, many of close-ups of objects found at the scene of the crime.

Each of them,  a piece of metal, each trying to form a whole. For the umpteenth time, York rearranged the bloody photographs, fitting piece after piece like a puzzle created by the hands of a demented monkey. It looked something like a page taken from the books of the old masters of horror. HE could just imagine it now, penned by Poe…

A person passed by. Without looking, York thrust his cup out and towards them. “Could I get more coffee please? This time, with a small pitcher of milk.”

When there was a lack of response, he glanced up. “Oh, sorry. I assumed it was one of the waitresses. Say, you seem to have a good eye. Could I borrow you for a second? I need a fresh gaze at these.”

[fracturedefiance]

Liam liked this cafe, it felt safe and anonymous. A good place to get a meal when he was hungry, and the workers here didn’t seem to recognize his face even if it was the third or fourth time in here for him. 

He had finished his sandwich and fries. He had tried something different each time he had come to this cafe. The first time had been the pot roast, and honestly he didn’t think anything had come close to that first meal. Maybe because it was paired with relief? Or maybe he just really liked the gravy. 

As Liam got up to leave, he was stopped. He looked down at the empty cup. Confusion twisted his face for a moment before he heard the man speak.

“One of the--” It was almost enough to bring back a younger Liam, one who probably would have hit this man over the head with the coffee cup he was shoved. But he was better than that now. Right? He wanted to be at the very least. 

He glanced down at the pictures sprawled across the mans table. Now, Liam was not a squirmish individual by any right. Not at all. He’d seen and caused his own fair share of bodies beaten beyond recognition. For a moment his heart raced though, not in disgust of the images but that maybe he might have caused them. Probably not though, there seemed to be quite a few weapons.

That just wasn’t his style.

“I don’t know if I’d be any help honestly.”

[fracturedefiance]

bloodwhispered‌:

        Rafael wasn’t often ran down by people that looked to be in a hurry; usually the people that hounded him were very well aware of who he was. He was generally met with the flash of a camera, rapid fire questions like ‘how do you feel about-’ or ‘what’s your secret to perfect, ageless skin?’ or stalking.

This was by far favorable. With a deft arm he looped it around the young man’s back so he didn’t fall and with his free hand captured the confetti of money that fell around them. There, easy. He was careful upon passing it back, lingering no more than he had to as he met the eyes of the younger man with a look that was meant to be cheerful. The smile met his carmine eyes, easier than ever. It just took years of practice until he got it right.

“Sorry about that, I wasn’t watching where I was going.” He remarked, dragging a ring covered hand through tousled hair, lopsided smile bright. The smile fell, slowly, as his trained gaze flicked over the other’s face, over his stance- fear. He was running from something or someone. Ah, this would eat away at Rafael until he rectified this somehow.

“Hey, have you ever been to the cafe on Main street? Let me show you the way, it’s a great place to relax and clear your mind.” He offered a hand and steadied his parasol, blocking the dying light of the sun as it dipped below the buildings, casting the world in brilliant orange and gold. “My treat, okay? I won’t pry too much, I promise.”

Shit. Damn. Fuck. 

Those were the only words flying through Liam’s head. It was one thing to be princess dipped in broad daylight in the middle of a busy city street. It was another thing to be princess dipped in broad daylight in the middle of a busy street by what looked like could be one of his mother’s boyfriends. They were all the same handsome, rich looking, older men. And this one who so deftly caught money out of thin air.

Fuck. Shit. Hell. 

Liam was righted and he didn’t feel any less dizzy. The man was speaking to him so casually and clearly, then why did it seem like he was underwater. The words that reached him were meant to be reassuring and calming. And he was calm wasn’t he. Ignoring his sweating palms, and his racing heartbeat. He was calm. Totally and completely calm. 

“It’s my fault really.” He grumbles out quietly. And he really did mean it, he wasn’t watching where he was going. He should’ve been on higher alert. It was his fault, all his fault. Liam felt himself tense up waiting for retribution.

Instead he was offered a treat?

That didn’t seem right. Confusion filled his face and his immediate reaction was to turn down the man. “No. I’ve never been there.. But uh. I’ll go. But no questions.” He accepted the offer but not the hand. 

[uvparadise]

[15th-october-deactivated2022082]

[highbcltage-blog]

why should i resolve things peacefully when i can fucking punch you in the face

[the-empty-quill]

You can tell how dangerous a person is by the way they hold their anger inside themselves quietly.

Unknown (via the-empty-quill)

[the-empty-quill]

You can tell how dangerous a person is by the way they hold their anger inside themselves quietly.

Unknown (via the-empty-quill)

[violentwavesofemotion-deactivat]

There’s a dark place in me,

Margaret Atwood, from “The Year of the Flood,” published c. 2009 (via malglories)

[kniveslookbooks]

there’s nothing more satisfying than the sound of hitting someone solid in the fucking jaw.

[fracturedefiance]

@bloodwhispered

         Liam's pockets felt heavy, too heavy. Breathing had become hard for him. Too much it was all too much, too much money, too much freedom. And nowhere to put himself. Could the money be traced back to him, could his mother find him. It would leave a paper trail wouldn’t it? Everything about this was bad, a bad idea. He could’ve just stayed. He should’ve just stayed. She wasn’t that bad, not to him at least right? She was much worse to the heroes she fought, or cronies who didn’t follow her every word. 

         No. He couldn’t think that way. There was no going back now was there. That group back their stuck their neck out for him. He found his way to an atm. His hair falling over his eyes. Now what would be an unsuspicious amount to pull. A couple hundred? Definitely under a thousand. How many hundred were too many. And what could he buy with that much money. A hotel room for the night? Dinner? Some new clothes? He stood at the atm and let the card sit in the machine, frozen in thought about what to do. He pulled out the slip of paper with the pin and slowly, almost leisurely, punched it in. Carefully he chose to withdraw $300. That was a small enough amount. People pulled out that amount of money all the time. 

          If he had thought his pockets felt heavy before, the stack of twenties weighed him down like lead bricks. He turned swiftly, his eyes shifting nervously across the city streets. It was one thing for Liam to act calm doing something he knew he shouldn’t. It was an entirely different thing for him to doing what he was supposed to. 

Ducking his head, he made his way into the flow of traffic. Walking fast. To a destination anywhere but there. Paranoia making his hair stand on end. And adrenaline making him sloppy. He didn’t realize until it was too late, him colliding with an older gentleman, cash flying up into the air. 

[flosphenerps]

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