Pairing: Peter x Original Character y/n (platonic)
Summary: Peter Parker and the reader (y/n) are partnered for a school project. They decide to meet at Peter’s after school to work on it. Things don’t go as planned which leads the original character to find Peter’s homemade Spiderman suit, leaving her with some suspicions.
Authors Note: Hey guys! I felt super bad about my last fic getting deleted so I wanted to do something even better to make up for it. This story took me over a week to finish between the actual writing and editing the pictures. So the story itself is on the longer side. I’ve never written Peter before, but he’s adorable and I thought it would be a good challenge! I hope you guys like it, because I worked really hard on it so double tap and reblog!
- K
MASTERLIST
Reader’s POV
“Alright class, I have placed all of your names in this basket, I will draw two names and that will be your partner for the presentation.” your teacher announced.
“Emma and Liza.”
“Dan and Ethan”
“Ned and MJ”
“Y/N and Peter.”
Peter.
Peter Parker. You had known Peter for most of your life. You grew up together, always in the same classes because you were both very bright. You lived one neighborhood over from each other and you used to play together as children. As you got older though, you became shyer, more quiet in school. And with that, you and Peter grew apart.
You loved photography, and spent your free time sneaking into New York City to shoot art galleries and people passing by. While the rest of your class was preoccupied with after school sports and clubs. So your classmates didn’t really see you outside of the school day. You and Peter were complete opposites in personality, and that’s what scared you the most when your english teacher read his name off the frayed piece of notebook paper.
Peter turned around in his chair and made eye contact with you, nodding and giving you a smile to confirm your partnership. You half smiled back, as he turned to face the front again. “Alright class, your Julius Caesar presentation is due on Friday, no extensions!! No homework for the rest of the week but that is so you can work on the presentation. There are a few minutes left in the period, why don’t you exchange information with your partners and start brainstorming ideas on how to best communicate who was the tragic hero of the play, Brutus or Caesar. Okay?” The class chimed in with nods and groans.
Peter pushed his chair back and began to stand up. You quickly put your head down turning your attention away from his chair, and to your books on the desk. You fingered the spine of your binder fidgeting nervously when you saw his black converse on the floor in front of you.
“Hey y/n! So I guess we’re partners for the project…” Peter began excitedly. You looked up at him, and stammered for words.
“Uh, so I had a few ideas for our presentation y/n…” Peter said as he took out a piece of notebook paper. Just as he placed the paper on the desk the bell rang. You stood up abruptly and began to pack up your things.
“Uh, I’ve got to get to my next class…” you started.
“—That’s okay, uh, we can work on it at my house. Yeah perfect I’ll order a pizza and we can work on the project. I’ll dm you my address.” Peter suggested with a smile.
“Yeah, um sure that should be good, I’ll see you then.” You said briefly as you turned and walked out of the room.
Peter dm’d you almost immediately, sending you his address. You hesitated with a response, but you figured you might as well try to be friendly since this was going to be 40% of your grade.
Hey, that wasn’t too bad. Cingey small talk? Yes. But bad? Nope. You thought to yourself, and headed off to gym class.
Lunch came and went and you saw peter at his locker.
You gave a slight wave to him, and he nodded to you and looked as if he was about to walk towards you when his phone started to buzz in his pocket. He scrambled for his phone, and you waved goodbye.
“I’ll catch you later” you mouthed to him.
Peter’s POV
Peter said goodbye to MJ and Ned as he headed back to his locker after lunch. Three more classes to go. He thought to himself.
He struggled to get his books out of his messy locker, gathered them, and then started down the hallway to his next class. Then he was met with your eyes. Peter genuinely was excited about working with you. It would give him a chance to connect with his childhood buddy, and get to know you now. You waved at him, and he headed over to talk to you again when his phone started going off in his pocket. Normally, his phone is on DND during school, so he knew it had to be Aunt May or Happy. Therefore: Important.
Crap.
Peter scrambled for his phone. He wanted to tell you to wait up, but you were already leaving. He finally got his phone unlogged, stupid skinny jeans, he thought, and saw the notification pop on his screen.
Happy. I knew it.
Dang it Peter. Saving the world? ... School project? Why are you even questioning it? Ugh, but y/n...she’ll understand...right?
Reader’s POV
The bell rang for dismissal and you quickly gathered your belongings and fled the school yard. You made a quick stop at your favorite place on earth: Starbucks. They knew you by name in there at this point.
“The usual y/n?” Max your barista friend said.
“You already know! OH! Make it two today actually.” you responded.
“Two? What...Hot Date?” Max teased.
“Pfft, as if. School project. Just attempting this whole friendly thing.” you responded with a scoff.
“Ah, gotcha. Caffeine Bribery.”
“Works everytime.” you said with a smirk.
You paid for the drinks, and posted a photo to snapchat, tagging Peter so he would see that you got him one as well. You were trying everything as possible to play it off like you weren’t nervous about the whole ordeal.
You made your way to Peter’s home, and it was weird. You knew the area, but somehow walking to Peter’s house that afternoon made everything seem different. There was a new sense of beauty in the familiarity. It made you feel nostalgic when you passed the old playground on Peter’s street. Your mom used to take you up there after school on Fridays in elementary. Your mind flashbacked to playing hide and seek with Peter and MJ. Peter always being so good at finding everyone, but pretending not to see MJ hiding behind the tree. Its funny, how he clearly liked her even then.
You walked up the steps to Peter’s house and rang the doorbell. His aunt answered.
“Hi, can I help you?” Aunt May asked.
“No. —I mean, yes. I mean, hi, I’m here to work on a project with Peter...?”
“Oh okay, I’m his Aunt May, you look so familiar sweetie.”
“Peter and I, we used to play down at the playground like every Friday growing up.” you said.
“YES! Y/N! Right? Yes, I remember you, come on in.” Aunt May said as she invited you in. “Let me take your coat, Peter’s bus usually runs a little bit late, but he should be here shortly...I take it the extra coffee is for him and not me?” May teased.
“Haha, we’ll probably be working all week, I’ll gladly bring you one tomorrow. I’m a coffee addict so I have a lot of points stored up.”
“Aw, thats okay. But thank you for the offer. I’ve got to do some work upstairs, make yourself at home.”
You nodded, and Aunt May headed upstairs. You walked around the home, looking through books lying around and turning the pages of old photo albums. You had been so into what you were doing, you hadn’t realized forty five minutes had already gone by and Peter still wasn’t home. So you decided to shoot him another direct message.
No response. Well this is great. You go out of your comfort zone one time, just the one, and you get stood up. Nice going.
You waited another 15 minutes. Aunt May came downstairs and told you that Peter was probably picking up the pizza, and she promised he’d be home soon. She suggested that you look through an old box in the back of Peter’s closet labeled: ‘crafts’, to see if there was anything useful for the project. You knew she was just trying to occupy you, but you went anyway. It felt weird going through his stuff like that, but Aunt May insisted, and it would keep your mind busy.
Peter’s POV
12 Missed calls.
6 Texts from Aunt May
1 “Mentioned in Story”
2 DMS from y/n
Peters eyes locked in on that last notification.
You idiot. You forgot to cancel on y/n, how could you be so stupid. Oh no.
Peter unlocked his phone and quickly opened his inbox. He got off the bus and sprinted home.
Reader’s POV
You dusted off the craft box and started looking through it. You found dried out glue sticks and pipe cleaners, glitters and construction paper. This would be a jackpot for the poster part of the project, but you and Peter still had to hash out the research. You felt around the bottom of the box and your hand hit something soft. You pulled it out and it was a hoodie. A red and blue makeshift outfit that resembled that of Spiderman’s suit. Except very very homemade. You freaked out for a second.
Nah, he couldn’t be...Maybe it’s just a weird fascination...cosplay?? Hmm...or could he be...
Your thoughts began to run wild. Could Peter be Spiderman? You immediately googled pictures to see if the Spiderman sightings could match Peter’s height and build.
No...way.
You had binged enough of mystery netflix to piece together these random clues.
He seemed so excited to work with me in class. Then he almost threw his books trying to get to his phone in the hall. And he hasn’t come home yet...could he be...? No, no way. This is crazy. Y/N put this boy’s stuff back.
You started packing Peter’s stuff back up, trying to put everything back in the box in the order that it came out. You were so focused that you didn’t ever hear Peter come in the house.
“Hey! Y/N! What are you doing?” Peter exclaimed in the doorway.
“Oh, uh, nothing, I was just uh, looking for some supplies for our poster.”
“Oh, well that’s just a box of old junk, nothing to see there.” Peter said out of breath with a nervous chuckle. “Sorry I was so late, I was uh...jogging...I jog. After school. I meant to tell you you didn’t have to come right after.”
“Jogging huh...” You said not believing it for a second. Crossing your arms you continued. “Well I’ve been here...waiting...I even brought you coffee...You didn’t get my dm?” You said giving him attitude.
Peter stammered for an excuse. “I didn’t see, I appreciate the coffee y/n. Sorry about the message. I don’t check my dms too often. I’m much more responsive to my text messages. Here, let me me put my number in your phone.” And you let him.
“Yeah, so I will order some pizza, and we can get started, let me just say hey to my aunt and we can get to work.”
“Okay.” You responded with a smile, trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. As he was halfway up the stairs he yelled back down, “Oh, Uh y/n, you are a really talented photographer, I really wanna incorporate that into our project however possible, I think it would be very neat!”
Okay now he’s just buttering me up.
“Yeah Peter, thank you, sounds good!” you responded cheerily.
Peter headed upstairs into Aunt May’s room. And she yelled at him for not answering his phone and that that was “too close” and that he “needed to be more careful.”
You couldn’t know exactly what that meant or what any of the weirdness that you felt today was.
Girl, you must be really out of it today. You thought to yourself.
You decided to let your half-suspicions go, and focus on the project. Little did you know, just how right you were.
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I hope you enjoyed! That was a lot of work haha. Please leave a like/comment for me. Support the kid 😭.
Tagging some of you who’s pages I love and who have supported me:
Summary: After marrying Loki, you moved your entire life in New York City to live with him on Asgard. Missing your home, you write your feelings down in a diary. Feelings you never wanted Loki to know you had. He’s clueless, until one night he finds the book left open.
Warnings: None it’s pretty wholesome with a ‘lil fluff.
Author’s Note: Hey guys! Happy 2019. I know it’s been a while since I’ve written, but life has been super hectic. I hope you enjoy this little story. Loki was really sad in the last fic so I wanted him to be happier in this one, there is some temporary sadness but it’s just that temporary so read to the end!
MASTERLIST
Tagging some of you who’s pages I love and who have supported me - let me know if you would like to be tagged :)
You had been married for 3 months and living on asgard with your husband Loki. You hadn’t visited earth in all of that time. Your father was dead, and you didn’t have the best relationship with your Mom. So it at first it was a no brainer to live on asgard with Loki. Which of course had him over the moon with joy. Over these last few months though, you started to miss home. You missed your old New York City apartment. You missed being in walking distance to your favorite park and your local Starbucks. You wrote all of those feelings down in a diary that you placed in your bedside table. Loki would always try and persuade you to let him read it’s contents but you didn’t want him to think you were having second thoughts.
Tonight though, the inevitable happened. It all started when you were sitting on your bed cuddled up next to your husband looking at paint swatches. For the past week you and Loki had been looking at home renovation magazines because you both decided to redecorate his part of the palace to better suit the two of you.
“Darling, have you settled on a color?” He said with a smile that turned into a yawn.
“It’s up to you too. It can’t just be me”You half rolled your eyes and giggled. “Alright, how about this charcoal gray for an accent wall?” You said as you pointed to a swatch.
“Mhm...perfect.” Loki said as his eyes fluttered shut.
With that, Loki fell asleep on your shoulder. He always looked so peaceful when he slept. Perfection. You thought to yourself. You moved one of his silky black locs from his face and placed a kiss him on the forehead. You gently moved your body to your side of the bed, took out your journal and reading light and began to write about New York. You poured out your inner most feelings onto the pages. Unfortunately during some time of the night you fell asleep. Leaving your diary open on your stomach and your pen open, which had now left a stain on your sheet.
Loki took one deep snore, and woke himself up. It was 4 am. He caught his breath and looked at you seeing that you were okay and noticed your journal sitting open on your stomach. Normally he wouldn’t have picked it up. But when his eyes drifted to his own name on the paper, he couldn’t help himself.
Dear Diary,
I like it here in Asgard. I think it’s almost home for me. Loki’s here. His life is here. Thor is here. Everything that made me fall in love with him is here. He is my home. Then why do I always feel so far from where I belong? I miss the atmosphere of New York. How you would be met with hundreds of just by walking out the front door. I miss living like nobody’s watching. I could be myself becuase no one cared. I could practically dance in the streets and no one would even notice because everyone is so caught up in their own life. It sounds silly, like who would want that, but there’s a certain freedom in being one among millions. But as royalty it seems like everyone is watching me. I love New York. But my love for Loki is far stronger. I’m just scared of what he will think of me if he ever knew... I guess I just need to learn to love Asgard...
That was all you had written. Loki held the book in his hands and rubbed the edges of the paper. He told himself he wouldn’t read anymore entries because it was your personal thoughts and he decided he shouldnt pry. He stayed up all night staring at the ceiling thinking of ways to tell you that it was okay, and that he wasn’t upset.
The sun peered through the windows and you blinked your eyes open only to see your husband leaning over you with worried eyes. You shot up in bed wondering what was wrong. Then you saw it. You looked down at Loki’s lap and saw the brown bound book.
“You read it didn’t you.” you said with a sad tone.
“Not in its entirety, just one entry. Last night’s I believe, you left it open, and I saw my name.” He said hanging his head.
“You weren’t meant to read that, Loki, I’m so sorry.” you said placing a tight hold on his bicep.
“My love, I never want you to feel like you can’t come to me about things. Of all people I understand the feeling of wanting to be where you’re from. When I first found out that I was a Frost Giant, all I could think about was where my real home was. I felt like a stranger in Asgard. I never would have wished that feeling on you. And to know you’ve have been feeling this way, I’m so sorry.”
“Wow, I never expected you to react like that, I thought you would be mad. Here we are picking out paint colors for our home here. And I’m day dreaming about being somewhere else.” you said with tears in your eyes.
Loki sat for a moment and looked at you deeply. He loved the woman infront of him and would do anything to insure her happiness. As you would do the same. Then suddenly it hit him.
Loki wiped your tears that had fallen on your cheeks and began to smile. “Y/N. I have a proposal.”
“A proposal? But we’re already married.” You said with a giggle between tears.
He pulled you into a hug, wanting you to feel his love in that moment. “Why don’t we go spend a year on Midgard. We can move into your city, get a place, make it home. At the end of the year, if you are ready to leave and come back here we will, and if not we will stay another year. We can come back when ever you feel ready.”
“Loki, no, we couldn’t...” you started.”
“Why not? We have our whole lives ahead of us.” he responded.
“Everything is here, your throne. Your family. Your home...” you argued.
“Thor can handle the throne on his own, heck, he’d probably prefer me out of his hair. It’s not like I’m really from here anyway. You’re my most important family right now. Home is where you are. And YOU are going to New York.”
“Are you sure about this?” you said starting to smile again.
“100% my love. I have the money. We’ll find a cozy place in no time. AND we can still have our gray wall.” Loki said now holding your face.
“Charcoal gray babe.” you said before you kissed him.
“Why of course.” He said before kissing you back.
“We’ll say our goodbyes and pack our bags today, and embark on our new life tomorrow. Trust me, it’ll be perfect.”
You couldn’t believe that you were really going home, and that Loki seemed almost more excited to leave than you were.
“You’re incredible you know that.” you said hugging your husband. Loki pulled away from you, kissed you on the forehad, snapped his fingers and a suitcase appeared.
“Yeah, I know.”
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I hope you enjoyed. Thanks for reading! Please Reblog, Like, Comment and Share!
Hi guys! This is the final chapter to the “Gone, But Still Here” series. Sorry its been so long since my last upload. (more on that in the author’s note at the bottom. If you missed chapter two you can read it here.
Characters: Loki x African American OC (Mia), Thor, Skai (OC)
Tagging some of you who’s pages I loveee - let know if you would like to be tagged :) ( @music-es-vida @wokeupinawalnut @marveltrashcan @themenof--riverdale @lokixreaderfanfictionseries @lokifiction @lykaonimagines @lokifiction @celestial-penguins @blueroxset-blog @aestheticfry @i-fell-on-my-assbutt @fandom--0verdose @crimsonchaoseon @that1girloverthere)
MASTERLIST
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Acceptance
Loki burst into his room frantically, stripped out of his outer wear and flopped head first onto his bed. The events of that evening had just been too overwhelming for him. He turned over and rubbed his temples where an excruciating migraine was developing. He closed his eyes and began to drift to sleep, until he heard footsteps at the front of his bed. He quickly sat up in his bed and met eyes with Mia. She crawled onto the bed and kneeled at the end of it. “Hey, what happened tonight? Everything was going so great.” she said, placing a hand on his ankle. “What Happened? You happened, no matter how much time passes, you will always happen.” Loki said putting his head down. When he looked up, Mia was face to face with him. “Loki, babe, enough has to be enough, it’s been too long. I’m not coming back, you just hurting yourself further and putting yourself through more pain by not giving living a chance.” “Tell me something, for the time that you were there, did you have a good time?” Mia asked. “Good?” Loki said sarcastically, “It was a decent affair.” He spat out. “Stop, I even think I saw a brief smile when you were dancing with Skai.” Mia said. “Yeah well that was before I realized my mistake, I didn’t belong there, especially without you.” Mia got off the bed and stood over Loki. He adjusted so that he was sitting on the edge of the bed looking up at her. He just stared at her, for what seemed like an eternity. Mia had deep brown eyes that were almost black. Loki would just get lost in them as if he was staring at the cosmos. “Loki, what are you so afraid of?” Mia pleaded with him. “Its just. . .let’s say I do go out, and I really give it a shot, whoever she is, will never amount to you. No one would compare, and I’d be right back where I am now, that wouldn’t be fair to any one. Not to me, not to whomever, and most of all not to you.” He said taking her hand. “Darling, that’s just it, I’m not asking you to replace me, and perhaps, you won’t have some great love, but honey if you just get back out there, you just might find someone to fill this emptiness. . .” As Mia was yet speaking, Thor burst into the room.
Thor looked at his brother, who was sitting on his bed, tears in his eyes, with his hands out in the air holding something that wasn’t there. Thor rushed over to his brother and sat down next to him. “Oh my dear brother, she appeared again didn’t she.” He said. “What’s it to you?” Loki replied with an agitated tone. “I c—“ Thor started. “What? You care? You have no idea what I’m going through. You have girls lined up around the castle to see you. And that oh so magnificent hammer of yours. Me, I had one real love, and now she’s gone. So pardon me if I’m not rushing off to get drunk with some idiots, and spend time with a girl who will have forgotten about me by tomorrow.” “I can see how it may seem that way, Brother I do, but I hate seeing you like this, it hurts me more than you know. As for Skai, she’s actually here. She’s downstairs, persistent that one, eh? I think she really enjoyed herself, and seems genuine.” Thor said, trying to lift his brother’s spirit. “She’s here? Really? I can’t go down there Thor, just tell her I’m not feeling well.” Thor went to speak again, but decided against it, and got up and made his way out of Loki’s room. He glanced back at his brother one final time as to ask if he was sure, and then left.
Loki got up and went to the bathroom. He splashed cold water on his face as to wash off the way that he felt. When his head came back up from the sink he was met wit not his own reflection in the mirror, but Mia’s. He blinked his eyes hard, to clear the vision, but as he left the bathroom, she was standing in the door way. “Loki I’m begging you, don’t give up on this so easily. Since when has anyone come to the palace seeking you out, at their own risk in fact, no one has, not even me. She’s pursing you, and from what I can tell she seems like a lovely person, don’t let her just slip out of your grasp.” Loki pushed her out the way and got back in bed. She followed him, and laid down next to him. They laid there for a while, before Loki sat up straight in bed.
“Okay, let’s just say that I was considering it, how would I even go about this, why would anyone want to deal with this baggage.”
“Oh so, I’m baggage now?” Mia said with a chuckle.
“This isn’t funny M,”
Mia sat up next to him, and adjusted so that they were face to face once more. She put her hand on his cheek and took a deep breath. “Just be you Loki, that may not be everyone’s favorite kind of guy, but it’s mine. If Skai doesn’t see that then she’s not the right one, but someone is. I may be gone, but what we had was infinite, and no matter what happens, or who has your heart next. I will forever have yours. You aren’t betraying me by being happy, you’re giving someone else the joy you gave me. You don’t have to forget me just to let someone else in. And I’ll always be right there.” Mia said tapping his heart. Loki took her hand off his chest and kissed her hand.
“You know what you need to do. I believe in you Loki.” Loki nodded and kissed her for the very last time. When he opened his eyes, Mia was gone and he saw straight the wall across from him and felt the emptiness of his hands that once held her face. He pressed his lips together and felt their vacancy. His chest felt tight.
Loki knew what he had to do. What Mia wanted him to do in her honor. Just Try. He said to himself.
He ran down the steps and through the castle down to find Skai. He reached the foyer and saw Thor talking to Skai, Loki honestly believed that she would have been gone by now, but time felt exaggerated with in the hallucination. Loki ran to Thor, and told him he could take it from here. Skai’s eyes lit up as Loki took her hand and began to lead her outside. Thor patted his back in reassurance and headed off to his chambers smiling at Loki’s arrival.
Loki took her outside near a small fountain. They sat down at a bench and Loki put his cloak over her. They sat in silence or a few moments before Loki spoke up.
“As a child, I always found myself in Thor’s shadow. He always seemed to have the best of everything. Things just came naturally to him. For me well, I was given most of the same privilege, but the sun just seemed to shine on him all the time. But then I met Mia, and boy, she was special, she was everything I could have asked for, she was the first people who really understood me. Then when I lost her. . . I lost everything.”
“Loki, you don’t have to tell me this. You barely know me I understand.”
“I do, Skai, I have to. I have these. . .hallucinations. . .what ever you want to call them, I see Mia like a visual representation of my subconscious, trying to guide me through this grief I’m feeling. But Skai, you see, it’s been too long of me acting like a shut in...” Loki paused and looked at the ground as his eyes filled with tears. Skai took his hand and said, “5 years ago, I lost my father. He was everything to me. My mother left us when I was 6 and my dad went in to super dad mode. My lineage is filled with warriors and great soldiers, but my dad gave up a life of honor just to father me. Then, when I lost him, I went spiraling out of control. I would never want to go out or to even try to love again. I’m not trying to compare loses Loki, I just understand the place you’re coming from.” Loki turned to Skai and held both of her tiny hands in his.
“How’d you cope?”
“It took time of course, and it was painful. My biggest mistake was never letting anyone in. I would’ve killed to have someone to talk to.”
Loki looked up at her, and felt a small glimmer of hope within his broken spirit. “I think, I think I would like that.” Loki said, one tear falling down his cheek.
“May I?” Skai asked as she lifted her hand to wipe his tear. He nodded subtly. She wiped the tear with her thumb and then rested her hands on his knee.
“I don’t know what you’ve heard people say about me, but I can be…hard to deal with…I don’t know if you want to be around someone like me or have that burden.”
“Hey, it’s not about people have said. I remember you, from when we were kids and the children of the royal court used to get together. I was a few years younger, but I remember being around you and Thor, you were almost always alone, let me be there for you now. I remember how I felt after my father died, and the weight that the loss left on me. Let me be the person that I didn’t have for you.”
Loki looked at his feet and his leg started to tremble from the scared feeling letting go gave him. He got up, pulling Skai, up with him and said, “If you are sure, I trust you.”
The pair hugged and Loki called for a ride to meet them at the front of the palace. Skai looked into his eyes and told him, “It’s going to be okay.” Skai went to take off Loki’s coat but he put his hand on her shoulder to stop her. “Keep it, you’ve helped me more than you know.” Skai smiled, and kissed him on the cheek. He guided her into the vehicle and smiled as he waved goodbye.
Loki walked back towards the fountain, and looked at himself in the reflection of the water. HIs face morphed into Mia’s as he went under another hallucination. “You did it, and I couldn’t be prouder. I believe in you Lo, and I will always love you.” With Mia’s final words, he shed two final tears for her and watched his tear ripple into the water below as the scene changed from Mia to display his own reflection again. He walked away back to his chambers, and wiped the wetness from his cheeks, and a slight smile came across his face. Because he knew, even though the hurt would never fully go away, he now had Skai at his side to help him get through it.
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OMG GUYS I’M SO SORRY!!! I haven’t uploaded in a whole month, and I feel awful. I’ve been super busy with school and summer activities. I’ve having some writing roadblocks, with just content ideas and my own mental health, I needed a little hiatus. I feel bad leaving you guys hanging. I definitely cannot keep up with a once a week uploading schedule especially because regular school is starting back up soon. Again, please please please send me more writing ideas. I hoped you liked the ending to my little ‘Gone, But Still Here’ series. I tried to end it on a happier note, to give my poor baby Loki a break lol. Anyway, hope you enjoyed. As always, thanks for reading, and I appreciate the support. :)
Hi guys! This is chapter two, it picks up right at the end of last week’s fiction where Thor had invited grieving Loki to a guys night out. If you missed chapter one you can read it here.
Characters: Loki x African American OC (Mia), Thor, Skai (OC)
Tagging some of you who’s pages I loveee - let me know if you would like to be tagged :) ( @themenof--riverdale @music-es-vida @wokeupinawalnut @marvelfictrashcan @lokixreaderfanfictionseries @lykaonimagines @blackinkcomics @lokific @lokifiction @celestial-penguins @blueroxset-blog @aestheticfry @i-fell-on-my-assbutt)
MASTERLIST
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Guys Night Out
Loki sat on the window sill swinging his dangling feet and staring into space. “You’re not backing out on this, if that’s what you were thinking.” Mia said snarlingly.
“Why that’s absurd, why on earth would I be thinking that.” Loki replied sarcastically. “I’m in your head doofus.” “Oh yeah, how could I forget.” Loki replied.
At that moment a servant walked in and said, “Pardon me, Loki, Sir. Thor has requested that you meet him right after sundown in the foyer of the palace.” Loki nodded and went to grab his coat. He stood in front of the mirror while trying to adjust one end of his collar that would not lie down. Mia appeared behind him and smoothed out the fabric for him so that his collar was standing properly. “You look good babe.” Mia said. Loki half smiled and went to meet Thor.
“Hello Brother, glad you could join us.” Thor said sounding chipper. “Us?” Loki said clenching his fists together. “Yes, us, you, me, Volstagg, Fandral, and Hogun. What would a guys night out be without our guy friends?” Thor said with a smile. Loki took Thor aside and said to him, “They aren’t my friends Thor, their yours. YOUR little group. The great warriors three, you seemed to have left out their being here from the equation.” “Give them a chance Loki, they’re good people, plus they’ll be too busy drinking to pay you any mind. Who knows, you might even be acquainted with the word fun.” “Whatever, let’s just get the evening over with.” Thor waved for the others to come over. “Alright, let us be off now. Our night awaits.” Thor said leading the way. he just wanted to be strong for Loki, even though he was probably more nervous about the evening than his brother.
‘The Phoenix’ was one of the most popular spots as far as Night Life in Asgard. Anyone who was anyone of importance spent time there. Not that it was some extraordinary place to be, it was similar to any other club, music, lights, drinking, dancing, Loki hadn’t been there in years, not since he was a teen trying to impress some of the female members of other royal families. He didn’t have to do that with Mia, she never needed Loki to show out, she loved him just the way he was. Mischief and all. Loki missed that the most.
Gold decorations shined from ceiling to floor and music bumped through the speakers and shook the floor. The Warriors three ran directly to the bar as Thor had predicted. After standing around awkwardly with his brother, Thor went to the bar with the rest of his friends. Loki got a table in the corner and sat with his head resting on his hand. The rest of the guys ran and danced around and girls surrounded thor asking him lift objects in the club. Fawning over his strength. Always a show off. Loki said under his breath jokingly.
Loki felt a tap on his shoulder. She was back again. “Hey lonely boy, why don’t you get up and have fun, you could’ve done this at home.” Mia said sitting down. “I’m here aren’t I?” He said rolling his eyes. “Come on you need to do more than that. Hey look, over there she’s totally checking you out.” Mia said nudging loki. “You should go talk to her, buy her a drink. it’s not everyday that someone is into the whole fallen prince, estranged royalty, dark lonely boy aesthetic.” “Oh, is that me huh?” Loki said with a forced chuckle. Loki looked down at his hands and took several deep breaths. He ran his fingers through his hair, feeling very stressed. He looked up again at the girl across the room. a small teeny part of him did want to offer her one dance, but he just couldn’t do it to Mia, even though there was no more her, she was still there with him. “Loki! Loki??!” Thor shouted over the music. Loki didn’t even realize that Thor had come over, the was so deep in thought. “What are you doing mate? There are women literally feet away talking about not just me but you too, you should go over or at least dance. Do something. . .Please.” A few moments passed while Loki thought and then Thor started again saying, “Hey, I’m not going to force you, I’ll leave you alone. Just know, I know I give you a hard time, but I’m proud of you for even coming out tonight.” He patted Loki reassuringly and disappeared into the crowd.
“He’s right you know, you need to try. All any one wants if for you to be happy. That’s all I want. Go over there, ask her to dance. Or go join the rest of the guys. I’m okay with it, I’m encouraging it.” Mia said. Caught up in her kindness, Loki turned to Mia and leaned in as to kiss her, before he heard a voice over his shoulder. “Um, Prince Loki is it? Are you okay? Who are you talking to?” Loki didn’t have to turn around to realize who it could’ve been calling his name. It was the girl, who had been looking at him so intently. Loki stammered before she continued. “I—I’m Skai, I’m here with some of my friends, they’re completely obsessed with Thor, I mean, they’ve been practically stalking him all evening. I just couldn’t help but notice you though. I saw you talking to…someone? My view wasn’t clear from where I was sitting, people dancing back and forth and all. “
“No, no. I wasn’t talking to anyone, I was just planning on asking you to dance.” Loki couldn’t understand how the words came out of his mouth. But it was too late to turn back now, he had to go through with it. “Would I? I would like nothing more.” Skai said. “Well then,” Loki said offering his hand to her. “I don’t really dance, but let’s give it a go shall we.”
Loki took Skai to the floor and as timid as he was, Loki was always good at twirling his partner down the floor. Loki threw Skai out into a turn and she spun into him. As her body reached his, he caught eyes with Mia who appeared next to the bartender across the way. She gave him a wink and vanished. Loki shook his head as to erase the visual. He then saw Thor who had a huger than life smile on his face, who then gave Loki a thumbs up and saluted him. He just wanted his brother to get up and do something. Just live.
All of a sudden there was a change in mood. People started slowing down and coupling up. He was afraid of this. A slow song. Skai jokingly curtsied and fell into Loki’s arms. For a few moments he truly did forget, he really was in the moment. Then it happened. Skai’s cream colored skin faded into the rich dark tone of Mia’s. Her hair shrunk and grew in volume and transitioned from Skai’s long waves and became Mia’s kinky curls with their unparalleled softness. Loki felt how foreign Skai’s body was in his arms. He looked down at her and only saw Mia, standing there with wide eyes. He blinked and blinked, trying to focus his vision. The hallucination changed from Mia to Skai, and then Mia again. He stumbled backwards and fell on the floor crawling backwards away from her. Unable to process the fact that he had been close to anyone else. He felt like he had betrayed Mia. Skai crawled to him frantically asking him what was going on or if he wasn’t feeling well. This only made it worse. He was seeing double, as the vision of the woman before him kept adjusting and refocusing between individuals.
“I—I’m sorry, I need to go. I’m sorry.” Loki stuttered as he struggled to get off the floor. Loki took off through the crowd of people brushing past Thor who was just struck still by the current events.. “Prince Loki! What’s wrong? Tell me you’re okay!?” Skai said trying to run after him. Loki stopped cold in his tracks and she bumped into him. “Please tell me what’s going on, was it something I did? I thought we were having a good time?” She pleaded with him. Tears now streaming down his face, he turned to her and said, “The evening was lovely, it’s just…” “Just what Loki, please?” Skai said, her voice shaking with his.
“You’re not her.”
His final words still lingering in the air, Loki turned and vanished into the night.
Thanks for reading ❤️❤️ I appreciate the support. I love this idea even though I was nervous about it at first. Please show some love, like and reblog. It’s been hard for me to keep a weekly updating schedule because it’s summer and i’m still a student. So my schedule might vary, BUT i will try my hardest to keep it up. Thxx I luv ya all. Stay Tuned for more! :)
Summary: Loki suffers from terrible hallucinations after the death of the woman he loved. He can't stop seeing or talking to Mia, she seems to be everywhere his mind is.
Characters: Loki x African American OC (Mia), Thor
Timeline: Prequel to Thor - movie 1
Author’s Note: SO I RECENTLY WATCHED INFINITY WAR, AND I AM NOT OKAY! They did my baby wrong, who am I kidding, they did everyone wrong, and I cannot get over what happened to Loki. I’ve been wanting to write a Loki fic for a while now and this idea has been sitting in my drafts so I finally just sat down and wrote it. I wanted to go back to a place where Loki was still...HERE, but maybe someone he cared for was not. This will be a MULTI-CHAPTER FIC, so that’s why the chapter is short. Don’t worry I have big plans for this plot so stay tuned :)
Tagging some of you who’s pages I loveee & STAY TUNED FOR CHAPTER TWO (let me know if you want to be tagged)
“Hey you, you slept in extra long today, wild night? Come on, you’ve already missed breakfast.” Mia said, nudging Loki who was still fighting to go back to sleep. Mia took a pillow and slapped him in the leg, “Seriously babe, it’s time to get up!” Mia said giggling. Loki grunted and turned over and went to hit her back, only for his palms to be met with his sheets. Not again. He thought.
They had been happening for the last three months. The Hallucinations, that is. Ever since Mia’s death in combat. Loki couldn’t stop seeing her everywhere, hearing her voice in his head, or even talking aloud to himself as if she was right in front of him. Loki turned out of bed and wiped the crust out of his eyes. His vision still adjusting he saw Thor leaning at his doorway.
“You missed the morning meal brother. We had a servant sent after you but it seems that you have been in your chambers the whole time.” Thor said. “How long have you been standing there?” Loki asked bitterly, before standing up defensively. “Long enough,” Thor paused, and adjusted his tone. “You know Loki, we have people for this sort of thing, yet you haven’t been keeping up with your doctors visits. People are starting to talk. . .they’re concerned. Mother is quite worried. In fact, I am too.” “Shocker, ‘Golden Boy’s shadow has gone mad’ ha, I can imagine what the people are saying, and god forbid any one have reservations against royalty.” Loki spat back.
“Hey lighten up, he’s just worried about you. He’s your brother...Have you told him about me? You know...the whole, I’m still here part?” Mia said appearing behind Thor. “Of course not! He wouldn’t understand!” Loki screamed out. Thor looked behind him to see who he was he was talking to. “Loki. . .what do you mean?” he asked. “Hey, I just woke up, never mind it...thinking out loud is all.” Loki said shyly. “Out loud is about right...okay, I’ll leave you, but you must come out with us tonight, you’ve been too cooped up in here, it’s time to have some fun.”
“I don't feel like fun, Thor. . .” Loki retorted. “Come on, it could be good to get your mind off of me.” Mia said, appearing behind Thor. Loki’s eyes darted to that section of the room and he slightly shook his head with kind eyes, as to confirm that he never could. Mia put her hand on her hip and gave Loki a look, he knew he had no choice now, he had seen that look before. “Fine, I’ll go, but I can’t say that I’ll enjoy it one bit.” Loki said giving in. “Excellent. See you then.” Thor replied, and left the room, shutting the golden door behind him.
Alone now, Loki walked to his grand window and let some light in. Mia used to always burst in Loki’s chambers after training and hop in the window sill, she was always mesmerized by the beauty of Asgard, even though she lived there her whole life. “Hey, hey you, you have to go out tonight, it’s time Loki.” Mia said appearing on her usual spot on the ledge. “And why would I want to do that? I’m perfectly fine where I am.” He responded looking at the ground. Mia hopped off the ledge and half tripped on her way down. Loki caught her fall.
“You okay?” He said stabling her. “I can’t really be not okay, I’m not really here Loki. . .But seriously you need to go out.” She said. “Name one reason why I should.” he said folding his arms.” “Just one? Ha, I’ll give you five. One, Thor would be ecstatic, ‘The Odin Boys’ back in action, haha. Two, your mother would worry less, seeing you out there, living your life.Three, you’re young and handsome, and a whole prince, the girls would be all over that. Four, it’s time Loki, you're stronger than this.” Loki looked down and sighed before saying, “That’s only four reasons Mi.” “Right you are, and we have the best live music of all the realms, you used to love it when we would go out dancing.” “Ha we would hardly ‘go out’ dancing, just you me and what ever small band I would hire to play on my balcony.” Loki said with a sarcastic laugh.
“You had some moves if I remember correctly...” Mia said as Loki spun her around in a circle. They danced around his bedroom until Loki came in front of his mirror. He stopped still. “What’s wrong Loki?” Mia said, her voice fading away like a dream closing curtain. Loki looked at her, and touched her smooth brown skin, and fingered her curls. A tear rose in his eyes as he turned his eyes away from her to look at his lonely reflection in the mirror. He hated this, he hated knowing that she was never really there. That she’d forever be imprinted in his mind. But, he wanted to give it a try, this “moving on”, so he wiped his face, and got dressed for the day.
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Thank you so much for reading, I will try to update soon. Chapter two will feature Loki’s guys night out with Thor, as he attempt’s to make a social appearance for the first time following Mia’s passing.
Summary: The reader finally confesses how depressed she has been feeling following the death of her mother, but begins to regain strength with the help of her best friend, Fangs, along with the other serpents.
Warnings: Death in the family, depression, and sadness throughout. BUT *spoilers* it all is okay in the end.
Characters: Reader x Fangs. Also, Betty, Sweet Pea, Toni and Jughead.
MASTERLIST
Tagging some of you lovelies (message me if you want to be tagged or don’t) Please Reblog and Share! (@riverdalefiction @hart-of-gold @queenofbuskers @sweetpeasqueen93 @sweetpealoveshisprincess @sweetpeaxreader @southsidefandoms @juggiesgirl18 @juggiehasmyheart17 @unaveragewriterfreak @reggiefogarty @themenof--riverdale @aestheticfry @blueroxset-blog @riverdales-daily)
You walked your motorcycle over to the the chained rack in front of the Whyte Wyrm and locked it. You slung your bag over your shoulder and dragged yourself up to the building and went inside. You saw Fangs, Toni, and Sweet Pea playing darts in the corner of the bar, and you gave them a slight wave. By the couches you saw Jughead and Betty curled up together, Jug had been more comfortable bringing her to hang out with the serpents recently. Every Saturday night the six of you would meet at the Wyrm after closing time, drink Coke and joke around. But as for the last few months, you have been just going through the motions and feeling detached from the group, not that they would have noticed, you were pretty good at masking your emotions. Well, every day except for today. You flopped down on the couch across from Betty and Jughead, curled up in a ball, you covered your head with your leather jacket and closed your eyes. Then you heard it, rather, you felt the room go silent. Toni went to shoot another dart and it crashed to the ground Betty stopped giggling and you heard the foot steps of your friends coming closer. Someone gently sat down on the couch at the bottom of your feet and hesitated. After a few seconds you felt a hand on your thigh, you could tell from the weight that it was Fangs, your best friend in the whole gang.
His voice croaked with nervousness and you opened your eyes underneath your jacket as he said, “Y/N?” his voice shaking. “Y/N?” he called out again. “Y/N, buddy? What’s going on? Are you okay?”
“I’m just tired Fangs, long day okay? I’m fine.” you replied. He didn't know if he should ask you further, but he decided against it. Instead he leaned in closer to where your head was and whispered so that no one else could hear, “You know, you can tell me anything y/n, I love you.” With that Fangs signaled to everyone to leave and so each of them left, touching your shoulder as they left with words of “get well soon”, and “rest up”. Fangs was the last one to leave, but instead he quietly sat his bag down and stayed there with you as you drifted off to sleep.
You blinked your eyes open and removed the jacket from over your head. Your vision still fuzzy, you figured out you were still in the Whyte Wyrm. What time is it? You said yawning, you checked your phone to see it was 2:17 am. You walked to the supply fridge and got a bottle of water, but when you walked back you saw him. Fangs.
“Hey, y/n I didn't mean to scare you or anything. I just couldn’t leave you like that, something seemed off.” He said walking towards you.
“Sorry to disappoint Fangs, but I’m fine.” You said brushing past him to go pick up your belongings. You packed up your bag and stormed towards the door. Only to be stopped by a strong grip on your forearm. You tried to shake Fangs off but he wouldn’t let you just leave.
“Come on y/n please, you’re my best friend.”
You nodded feeling defeated. Fangs helped your back pack off and you sat down together. He sat down and you put your head in his lap. He began to comb your hair with his fingers. Even though you were older, you felt safe with Fangs, he was like the younger-older brother you never had, you had been friends for as long as you could remember. You sat laid in silence and just let him play with your hair.
“It’s been a while since we just took a moment to sit together you know?” Fangs said breaking the silence.
“I know. . .everything just has been moving so fast lately and we haven’t gotten a lot of time to just be still.” you replied back.
“Ever since...well you know...last summer. . .”
“You can say it Fangs, it’s not like we can pretend it didn’t happen, my mother is dead, OD’d on jingle jangle. No tip toeing around it.”
“I’m sorry y/n I shouldn't have brought it up.” Fangs said, resting his hand on your head. A few minutes passed before you spoke again.
“Hey, I’m sorry I snapped at you. I was never close to my mom, we never agreed on anything, and she was a real pain in the neck. But she was just always there. And she kept my father away from the bottle. It’s like. . . ever since that summer I can’t get back to the way I used to be. It’s like I’m still me, but just inside someone else’s body. Coming here every Sunday has just made it worse, I see Jug and Betty snugged up on the couch like that, see this black and white photo of my parents, newly initiated serpents sitting there. . . in love. And now it’s just vanished. Gone. Now my father has fallen off the wagon again and he’s back to drinking and all of it just makes me so mad, feel low, like I’m drowning.”
“Y/n. . .I knew it was hard on you I just didn’t know how much, I’m sorry if I wasn’t there for you the way I could’ve been.”
“It’s not even your fault Fangs, I haven't been honest with anyone, you, Toni, Jug, Pea. . . you guys are like my siblings. It’s like you said, what if I could’ve done something, or had one less argument with my mother, would she still be here? I always blamed her for my sister moving out, I said horrible things to her. I made her cry. I am a horrible person. Now I just feel this darkness inside of me, hating her for leaving and hating myself for probably driving her to to even take those drugs. It’s all my fault.” you said choking on your tears.
“Y/N, Y/N, stop.” He said sitting you up so he could look you in the eyes. “You are an amazing person, you’re a great sister to me, and a fabulous daughter. Your mom had her own demons, as we all do, and she went to far to null them. Unfortunate, but uncontrollable by you. Remember all the nights before your dad was sober? Who would be right by your mother’s side wiping her tears?”
“Me.” you replied.
“Exactly, and remember this?” He said pointing out a scar on his neck slightly covered by his serpent tattoo.
“Your tattoo?”
“No, look closer.”
“Whoa, Fangs how did you get that?” You said tracing the scar.
“Remember those rude grade school Ghoulies?”
“Yeah, they were the absolute worst.” you said with a scoff.
“Well, one of those little twerps thought he would decide to be big and bad and take his father’s knife to the playground, he wrestled me and cut me a little bit right there, he could have done way worse, but you showed up and fought him off of me. When I was initiated, I put my tattoo over it to remind me of the two most important things to me. You, and this crew. You’re family. What ever you’re going through, you can tell us, especially me. You’ve always been here for me, even when we were kids. It’s my turn now.”
You couldn’t find the words to express how much you needed to hear that, so you embraced him and cried on his shoulder. You talked until the sun came up about how the last year had been for you. He was the best listener.
You didn’t know exactly what time that you both drifted off to sleep but you woke up to the sound of jingling keys in the door. Fangs went and opened the door for Sweet Pea, Jug, Toni, and Betty.
“Guys, I want to talk to you about something...” You said. You then filled them in about how you were feeling.
Betty walked closer to you, and opened her hands, showing you half moon, crescent shape indentations and said, “I know you weren’t too fond of me from the start, but I do know the place you’re coming from all too well. Sometimes I’m just so angry and sad and my emotions are in a blender, so I just clench my fists together and squeeze, hoping to grasp onto some control in my life. I know I’m not a serpent, and I don’t share the same life experiences as everyone here but, I do understand what it’s like to be a girl, who’s afraid, and have gone through something traumatic, I mean, we’re barely over this black hood stuff. . . just know you can come to us.” You nodded and gave her a hug.
“I love you too girl.” Toni said and joined in the hug as well.
As the three of you wiped your tears Sweet Pea said, “Hey, not to interrupt your female empowerment sesh right here, I just wanted to say I’m also here too y/n, I know I’m not one to talk about anger management if you know what I mean,” he said with a chuckle. “but, if you ever need someone to punch, I’m your guy.” Sarcastic laughter broke out in the group.
“Alright, this is too sappy even for me, let’s bring it in.” Jughead said. You all group hugged and you smiled, genuinely for the first time in months.
“Hey, what’s rule number seven?!” Sweet Pea said in the group’s huddled embrace.
“In unity there is strength.” you said.
Then Fangs pulled you tight towards him in the group hug and said, “That’s right. In unity, there is strength. I won’t let you forget it.”
Summary: Main character, a serpent, struggles with her apprehensions about auditioning for the school pep rally. Confides in Sweet Pea. Goes head to head with Josie.
Characters: Josie, Sweet Pea x Reader, Veronica and the Pussycats, Southside Serpents
y/n = your name
Timeline: Season Two; post the Josie and the Pussycats breakup.
Author’s Note: There really are no warnings here. There’s a lil’ Sweet Pea x Reader cuteness, because you guys request that lol and he is bae. I did intend for the main character to be african american in this one because it supports part of the plot. Lol, read on and you’ll see. Okay, bye now, I love you all.
~ K
MASTERLIST
(tagging some of you lovelies: @riverdalefiction @themenof--riverdale @southsidefandoms @unaveragewriterfreak @juggiehasmyheart17 @blueroxset-blog @music-es-vida @jpcsource @reggiefogarty @rogue-one-shots-and-imagines @sweetpeasqueen93 @sweetpealoveshisprincess @sweetpeaxreader @riverdalee @fanqsfogarty)
It had been almost a month since the closing of Southside High, and you had finally become more comfortable walking the halls of Riverdale High. Your favorite class of the day was choir, because she loved to sing. Growing up on the Southside, it wasn’t that singing was looked down on, but you never had a way to pursue it. There weren’t too many additional electives offered at Southside High.
“Remember class, anyone is eligible to audition to perform at the pep rally on Saturday, but only one solo or group will be accepted. Sign up sheets are posted outside of the room. Okay? Class dismissed.” the music teacher said as the bell rang.
You gathered her books and bag and headed out of the doors of the class room. Already huddled around the poster was Josie, Veronica, Melody and Valerie. They were always at the forefront of anything musical.
“Well look who decided to rise from the ashes and try to do something solo. The infamous Josie McCoy.” Valerie said sarcastically.
“Don’t even sweat her, we’re three times the headlining act.” Melody said joining in.
“Now now ladies, let's not fight, pure talent will speak for itself.” Veronica said as she signed her and the pussycats up on the board. As they walked away Josie wiped a tear from her eye. You hadn’t been in the school long, but you could tell how hard it was for Josie not to be a Pussycat.
————
You walked into the lunch room and sat next to your boyfriend, Sweet Pea, who was sitting with the rest of the serpents who had transferred to Riverdale.
“Hey babe,” Sweet Pea started.
“Yea?”
“Are you going to do that singing thing?”
“I don’t know I mean, am I really ready for that? And come on Pea, its no like I would actually get it. Josie, or Veronica or one of those cats will.”
“Stop selling yourself short, you are amazing.”
“Oh please, I’ve never even sang in public before, half of the guys don’t even know I can, and us serpents share everything.”
“Alright, it’s up to you, y/n, but remember I believe in you.” Sweet Pea said and placed a kiss on your forehead.
“Ooo, what are we being cute for? What are we talking about?” Toni said as she walked over.
“Oh just y/n being a complete and utter wuss.” sweet pea teased.
“Hey!” you said.
“But you’re my adorable wuss. . .?” He said trying to clean it up.
“Nice save.” you said giving him an eye roll.
“You guys are too much, but seriously, what’s going on?” Toni said curiously.
“It’s this rally, they’re holding auditions for a headlining act, they told us during choir.” you replied.
“Wait...you can sing girl? WHAT?!” Toni said far to loudly
“Uh...kinda...can you keep it quiet.” you said with a whisper.
“She’s our very own serpent ‘yoncé.” Sweet Pea said teasing you again. He always either had a temper or played too much. You would always act like you hated it even though you loved his personality the most about him.
“So, you gonna do it? You should.” Toni said.
“I dunno. I gotta go.” you said and abuptly left the table.
After calling your name a few times he got up and chased after you.
He found you sitting in the corner of the library with your head on your knees. He crouched down beside you.
“Hey babe, I’m sorry if I was too much, I just don’t understand what the problem is, you sing for me all the time, you’re really good.”
“Yeah, but I love you. I don’t expect you to understand my reasoning, I just shouldn’t even go for it to end in a huge disappointment.”
“Then make me understand? I know everyone thinks I’m a serpent half-brain, and well maybe I am, but I’m supposed to be here for you so what is it?” He said taking your hand.
“It’s as if we’re only by some strange form of luck surviving here at Riverdale High. Do you really think that they’re going to want me as the poster child for the talent of Riverdale High? Me? A serpent? ” you said with disbelief.
“They let Toni cheer, what’s the difference?” Sweet Pea said trying to convince you.
“Oh please, Cheryl would have pulled every string known to man if that didn’t happen.” you paused and removed your hand from Sweet Pea’s grasp. You wrapped your arms around your needs again and looked at the floor. You just wanted to be alone, but you knew once Pea started, he wouldn’t let you go.
“Its not just being about being a serpent Pea, I’m black. Do you remember when Josie started performing with the Pussycats? Do you remember the initial hate she got? I would get it ten fold. I don’t have a mayor mother to fall back on. There’s people who haven’t moved on from the ideal of riverdale being this preppy ivory town, do you think they’d let me slide? They didn’t let my brother. He’s dead. All he did was walk while black. I can tell you, they wouldn’t want me to be the center of attention —“ Sweet Pea intereupted before you could finish his eyes filled with a sort of rage.
“Who would dare to say anything? I’ll bash their skull in.” he said.
“Pea, you’re missing the point, it’s not even a big deal. We’re only surviving here.”
“But we shouldn’t have to, especially someone like you. Come on you’re twice the talent any of these bulldogs, just go for it, I’ll be right there. I won’t let anything happen to you.” he took your hand back and you nodded.
—————
The next day you walked into the choir room and took a seat next to the other candidates. Sweet Pea snuck into the back of the room and crouched down in between the risers. You loved that he would skip class for you. Josie walked into the room and stepped right in front of you.
“Look who decided to show up.” She said.
“Are you actually talking to me?” you replied.
“Look, y/n, its cute that you want to try but I am the diva of color at this school. I’m getting the spot.”
You looked back at Sweet Pea in his hiding spot and he gave you a reassuring thumbs up. “Look, things are changing around here. And so am I so just deal with it.” you said and walked away from her.
You walked back and took a seat in your chair, took out your phone and saw a text from Sweet Pea.
After looking to the back of the room one final time, you took a deep breath in and got ready to be called.
It was your turn before you knew it. You walked up to the front of the room and the teacher cued your instrumental up.
“Hi, I’m y/n, I’ll be singing I am singing ‘I Am Changing’ from Dream Girls. Um, please enjoy.” you announced.
The teacher started your music and you felt your palms start to be come sweaty.
“Look at me— Look at me. I am Changing.” The song began.
As you approached the high belting notes in the first refrain, Sweet Pea couldn’t help but whistle from the back and smack the metal of the risers. You’re teacher shot him a quick cold look but didn’t interrupt your performance.
When you reached the end you pointed right at Josie with the lyrics, “I’m leaving my past behind. I’ll change my life. I’ll make a vow. and nothing’s gonna stop me now!”
The end of your audition was met with thunderous applause. Sweet Pea hopped over the riser bars and ran up to you and pulled you into an embrace.
You looked Josie right in the face and curtsied sarcastically.
“Excellent, job Miss y/n. Okay everyone that concludes our auditions, the headlining act will be posted on the bulletin board outside of this room tomorrow after 6th period. Okay? And Sweet Pea, I’m gonna let you off with a warning, don’t find yourself in my class again. Class dismissed.” your teacher finished.
Sweet Pea put his arm around you and led you out of the classroom. When you opened the door your fellow serpents were all huddled at the doorway, with Toni at the front.
“GIRL!!” she squeeled as she hugged you. “We could hear you from out here, you were amazing.”
“Like dang y/n, who knew you had pipes like that?” Fangs added in.
You smiled and you all went in for a group hug.
—————
The next day you ran straight from fifth period to the choir room. To your suprise more serpents were already lined up eager to see the winner. Veronica along with Valerie and Melody also walked up.
“I don’t know why you guys are standing there it’s obvious that we got it.” Melody said.
“As if.” Josie said walking up.
Your teacher struggled to pin the paper as the students eagarly tried to read over her shoulder.
Sweet Pea pushed past everyone and was the first to see the paper.
He yelled out a huge ‘AWW MAN!’ So the rest of the serpents along with yourself walked away.
“Hey where you goin’ guys?
“What’s the use Pea, we heard you I obviously didn’t get it.” You said looking down.
“No babe, YOU don’t get it. ‘AWW MAN!’ is what everybody else will be saying when they figure out THEY LOST!! YOU GOT THE HEADLINE!”
Your jaw dropped and the rest of the gang started cheering and coming in for a hug.
Sweet Pea came in last and gave you a hug and kiss. “See, what I tell you. You can do anything!”
You smiled and cheered. Josie, Valerie, Veronica and Melody gave sad looks from the side. But you decided to go over to them anyway.
Be the bigger person y/n. You said to yourself.
“Hey guys, you all did beautifully. No hard feelings right?” you said.
“Yeah, I guess...”Veronica said with a chuckle.
Josie gave a long sarcastic sigh and finally said, “Yeah, no hard feelings. Hey, when one woman of color wins, we all do!”
“I know that’s right! Bring it in guys!” and you all went in for a group hug.
Summary: You come from a single-parent family on the northside and you and Sweet Pea share mutual feelings for each other. Things start to complicate when you find out that your mother has decided to join the Ghoulies.
Characters: Sweet Pea x Reader, Jughead Jones
Warnings: Maybe just too CUTE of a storyline for some audiences :)
Might be a long one because I just love Sweet Pea’s character so much and my boy needs more screen time, we’ll see how it goes lol xx
Sweet Pea pulled his motorcycle onto the gravel path of the Twilight Drive In. Earlier in the year you had found him, Jughead, and some other serpents sitting on the grass having a sort of picnic on one of the off-days of the drive in. You often came to the drive in after school just to read a book under the blue sign before heading home. Coming here with Sweet Pea became a tradition of yours, that even if you came from opposite sides of town, you each found the need to relax at the end of the school day. After a while, your shared love for the drive in started to spread to each other. It was your secret escape. Everyone was oblivious, well everyone except Jughead.
Sweet Pea parked his bike and started to remove his helmet as he kicked the kick stud into place. You place your spare helmet on the back of the bike and took a deep breath. Sweet Pea brushed his bang to the back of his head and rocked back and forth awkwardly as if he was finding the right words to say.
“Hey um, y/n?”
“Yes?” you said looking up to him.
“We uh, have been spending quite a lot of time together lately but...”
“Oh no, here comes the but.” you said concerned.
‘No, just listen, we’ve been spending a lot of time together but more recently I’ve felt like you’ve been pulling away from me. We never really talked about what this was or if it was anything. I don't want things to change, I just want to know if everything’s okay.”
“Everything’s fine don’t worry.” you replied. Even you didn’t believe you, but you couldn’t tell if Sweet Pea did or not. You had been keeping this huge secret from him for some time now.
“Hm, alright y/n. You would tell me if something was going on right?”
“Yes of course.” You said looking down.
“Okay then.” He said with a half smile. He then reached in his pocket and started to fiddle with something there. Your mind wandered to how you could tell him the truth.
“I have a present for you.” he said. “Remember that first time you discovered some of my buds and I hanging out here a few months ago.”
“How could I forget. Thats’s the first time I saw serpents for who they really are and not just what everyone makes you guys out to be. We had such fun that day together, you and the rest of the guys just welcomed me and we danced and ate and it was a blast. Until you broke my speaker.” You said with a giggle
“Yeah sorry about that, I still feel bad to this day. Jughead and I can be a little rough with our horseplay. Anyway, I wanted to give you this.” He handed you a pocket size speaker that could clip to anything. “It isn’t much, but that’s all I could afford, sorry. You took it from his hand and tears filled your eyes.
“Y/N, are you crying? It’s just a speaker.”
“I know, I know. . .” You said choking back tears. “It’s just, I haven't been completely honest with you while you have been the best kind of friend.”
“W-what’s going on?”
“I just don’t want you to hate me.”
“I could never y/n.” he said placing his hand on your shoulder. You removed it and stepped back.
“Well you know it’s just me and my mom. My whole life has been a series of one bad boyfriend after another in the house. But this recent one has been the worst of them all. You know we don’t have much so my mo would jump at any opportunity to make a little extra money. . .”
“Y/N, you're scaring me.”
“This was a mistake, we should just go our separate ways now.” you said, avoiding eye contact with Sweet Pea.
“Hey, hey. Come on you can tell me anything remember, I promise. I won’t be mad.” he reassured you.
“Well, this recent boyfriend is a Ghoulie.” You saw his face fall. “At first everything was okay and they never talked about the gang stuff. But one night while I was ironically here at the drive in, my mom and her boyfriend went out on a date but before they went to the bar, they made a jingle jangle drop off. My mom saw the wads of cash that the boyfriend made and wanted in on it so she started dealing, and carrying out a few other duties for the Ghoulies. She claims she's just trying to provide for me but I swear she loves the guy. Would do anything for him.” Sweet Pea noticed the inflection in your voice when you said the word ‘anything’.
“What do you mean anything y/n?” He said, voice shaking with rage.
“We’re moving. To Ghoulie territory. My mom’s a Ghoulie now, and Malachai is looking to me to step up as well.” Sweet Pea was so mad he shoved his helmet off his bike and it flew across the yard.
“YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME Y/N!? HOW DID YOU THINK I WOULD FEEL? GHOULIES? SERIOUSLY? OUR ACTUAL MORTAL ENEMIES! HOW ARE YOU NOT EQUALLY AS UPSET?!”
“I didn’t know what to do Sweet Pea, she’s my mom, I care about her.”
“And so what? Do you just not care for me anymore? Have your feelings changed? Is that why you’ve been acting so different?”
“It’s not like that. She was in too deep before even I knew, I just didn’t know how to tell you.”
“Wait, how long have you known?”
“Almost a year. . .” you said, your voice trailing off with embarrassment.
“A YEAR?! You didn't think I deserved to know before you're just up and gone, and I’ll never see you again?” This hit you hard, you never thought he cared this much, it wasn’t as if you were officially dating.
“Hey, think of the bright sides, I’ll be living on the southside, we’ll go to the same school now, I’ll see you in the hall and we’ll always have the drive in.” you said trying to calm him.
“It won’t be the same. I don’t want you there. You're no soft northsider, but its dangerous where I live, why do you think I’ve never had you over? Its not because I’m embarrassed of us. Jughead and Betty do it, its not like any one really cares about the whole Northsider dating a Serpent thing anymore. And we might catch each other’s glance in the halls but when you're there there is no Ghoulies and Serpents coming together. Its just Serpents and Ghoulies. There’s no in between. Pick a side. ”
You stammered to make a reply but you couldn't get the words out. He shook his head, slammed his helmet back on, jumped on his bike and sped away. You stood there shocked and heart broken, as the snake on his jacket began to fade away in the fog.
Sweet Pea sped all the way to Jughead’s trailer, threw his bike against the wall and flopped onto his couch.
“How do you do it man, how do you stay with someone thats just the polar opposite of us, and the way we’re brought up as Serpents?” Sweet Pea said with a dejected tone.
“I take it you’re talking about y/n?” Sweet Pea nodded. “Well for me and Betty, the specifics of where we’re from never mattered, we loved the same things, and then we started to love each other. Now I’m not saying that there were never fights or disagreements about it, but she supports us, just like y/n does.”
Sweet Pea took a deep sigh and said, “It’s like when we’re together there is no Northside or Southside, or Serpents or Ghoulies, it’s just us.”
“Hold onto that feeling man y/n is a good person. And whoa dude, when did Ghoulies come into the mix?”
“That’s what I’m saying, let me fill you in.” Sweet Pea said, and told Jughead about the recent news.
Afterwards Jug replied, “Honestly, thats some heavy heavy stuff. But it’s also a whole lot for y/n, just imagine how she must feel, her mom’s dealing with her boyfriend’s arch enemy.” Sweet Pea cut in, “I’m not her boyfriend.”
“Oh whatever, call it what you want. The point is she obviously cares about you because she told you this top secret information, and she's been torn up inside for months. And look, she accepted you being in the serpents regardless of what people think of us on her side of town. And she comes from the same type of life as you and I, even though its on the other side of the tracks. Y/N gets us, and she’s had our back without exception. She’s being forced to pick a side out there in the world, she shouldn’t have to with us and in your heart.” Jughead said reasoning with his friend.
“When did you become such a wise guy?” Sweet Pea said with a scoff. “But you’re right. Dang it! I’ve gotta go apologize, I literally told her to choose. Thanks man, I gotta go.” And with that Sweet Pea was on his bike and off to your house.
Sweet Pea threw small pebbles at your upstairs window until you came and opened the shade. He signaled for you to come downstairs and you creeped down, hoping not to alarm anyone in the house.
“Hey, y/n.” He started.
“Hi.”
“I just wanted to apologize, I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did, I blamed you, without realizing you were the victim in all of it. I let my hate for the Ghoulies get in the way of how I feel about you.”
“It’s okay, you have to apologize, you were right this changes everything, better to just forget about each other now--.” Before you could finish he rushed towards you and hugged you, you felt small underneath the volume of his leather jacket. You hugged him back, tighter.
He whispered, “I never want to forget you and I never will. You’re my best friend. I don’t care if you're a northsider, serpent, a ghoulie, or even one of those perky river vixens, I see you y/n.”
You didn’t know which made you feel safer in that moment. It could’ve been the ironic sweet scent in Sweet Pea’s jacket, or the way he talked about seeing you as an individual. Maybe it was a combination of the two, either way, you were suddenly optimistic about the weeks ahead.
Anon requested: A military family moves next door to the Coopers for one summer and their daughter becomes friends with Betty, and the story follows their last day before the girl moves away, and Betty confides in her about her feelings for Archie and her apprehensions about returning to school.
Characters: Betty x Reader
Timeline: Prequel to season 1
MASTERLIST
(tagging some of you lovely people: @southsidefandoms @bettycooperxjones @riverdalee @riverdalefiction @themenof--riverdale @unaveragewriterfreak @barchieapahart @barchiedaily @music-es-vida @blueroxset-blog)
- i hope i wrote this correctly, might be a shorter one, love you guys xx :)
Betty rang your doorbell twice and excitedly waited by the door for you to come down. You looked at yourself in the mirror and sighed. You smoothed out your dress and threw on your denim jacket.
Last day here I go!
You and Betty embraced and squeezed each other tightly. You had become the best of friends in just one summer. This was the hard part, but you were used to it, the constantly moving, the finding friends and growing apart, the constant “summer flings” with boys, you knew the routine. That didn't make it any easier. You saw that Betty had tears in her eyes so you quickly tried to change the subject.
“Hey now, save the tears for later the day is young and so are we! Let’s go be girls. Our last hurrah!” you said trying to lighten the mood
“Alright, you’re right, y/n. Pop’s?”
“Pop’s.”
You and betty drove to Pop’s windows down and blasting whatever summer hits were on the radio. You would miss days like this.
You pulled into the parking lot and filed into the restaurant. You sat down at your signature booth. Betty ordered her signature vanilla shake and she played with the cherry as it made its journey down the glass. And you ordered a strawberry shake with some fries. You talked about the little things of the town, like the old retired serpents that would sit outside of Pop’s. They added such character to the area. You wondered what it must be like to spend your whole life and grow old in one location without moving so much. Something you would never understand.
At that moment Reggie Mantle walked in. He looked so much different than he had in the previous school year. People grew up.
“WHOA, so Reggie had a major summer glow up huh,” Betty said as she dunked a fry into her milkshake.
“I guess so, I’m never really around long enough to truly see the difference in people. But he’s definitely hot.”
“Way to put a damper on the mood y/n, we’re supposed to be talking about the inevitable end remember.” Betty said touching your arm.
“I just want to say that this summer has been great and I lo---” Betty quickly cut you off. “Absolutely not, no good bye talk, save it for later. Anyway, speaking of school and boys...there is just one more little secret I guess I’ll let you in on before you go.”
“What is it B?” You said leaning in closer.
“Well, remember my neighbor Archie?”
“Yeah the cutie who you practically can stalk from the safety of your own bedroom?” You said with a wink.
“Oh shut up y/n” betty said giggling and hitting you with a napkin.
“Well, I’ve known him my whole life, and somewhere in the mix it turned into a teeny crush.”
“Teeny? Honey, your rosy cheeks say otherwise.” You said laughing.
“Haha, it’s probably nothing, at this point i’m just trying to figure out how I am going to survive this year with out you girl!” You hesitated to respond. Noticing your delay Betty said, “Hey, we’ll write and Skype and FaceTime, and text each other until our thumbs bleed. You started to look down at your lap.
“What is it y/n?”
“It’s just that this always happens, and I’m left int he balance with a hole in my heart from where people used to be. And we will write and text and FaceTime, but then life gets in the way and we lose touch.”
“Don’t say that come on y/n, we aren't other people, its going to be fine.” You nodded in agreement.
After chatting away at Pop’s for hours you made it back to your street and you stopped right in your tracks to talk to Betty.
“Hey, I know you didn’t want me to before but I just want you to know. This summer has been so amazing and I finally felt like I was home, even if it was only for a few weeks. You’re an amazing friend.
Betty couldn’t even respond, she jumped into the arms of her best friend and it was bittersweet, on one hand she was losing her friend, but on the other she had gained a sister for life.
Summary: Shuri expresses to her mother, Ramonda, that she is more than just the pretty face of Wakanda as it’s princess. But, has a passion for training, as well as science and technology.
MASTERLIST
Characters: Original Character, Shuri, Ramonda
(tagging some of my favorite Marvel lovers) @hart-of-gold @celestial-penguins @wokeupinawalnut @muse-of-mbaku @ready-4-sin @i-fell-on-my-assbutt
“Shuri! Shuri! You need to get ready for school! It’s not very ladylike to be late.” Her mother said. Shuri didn’t respond. She had been in her lab until late last night drawing up and testing ideas for a new invention. “SHURI!” her mother called again. Again she didn’t reply. As Princess of Wakanda, Ramonda believed it would be a good idea to send her to a kind of finishing school for members of the royal class. She believed her daughter should know how to carry herself fiercely but with class. Her mother’s plans did not include having her daughter spend hours in her lab. Ramonda stomped down the corridors of their home until she reached Shuri’s room. She stormed into her daughter’s room calling her name. She found Shuri behind the sheer curtains in the small lab she created in her room.
“Do you have any idea what time it is young lady? How can you be so irresponsible?” Shuri tried to cut in and defend what she was doing but her mother cut her off. “This is exactly why I’m sending you to these classes. You need structure and focus.”
“Mom, you don’t understand, I don’t want to go to finishing school. I want to build things, I want to be apart of the action, help people, build up Wakanda.” Shuri said cheerfully.
“You will build up Wakanda enough by upholding it’s traditions. Wakanda must have it’s Princess. And not just one who wastes her days fooling around with—what is this. . . oh nevermind it. These—these gadgets! You need to become a lady. Your brother understands his place here. . . Why don’t you?” Ramonda said looking down at her. Shuri’s heart sank. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to be princess or that she misunderstood her role in Wakanda, but that her mother wouldn’t see that she was good at other things. Shuri would always find herself using her spare time to watch the Dora Milaje train, or coming up with new inventions to make life better for the citizens of Wakanda. But all her mother would see was that Shuri wasn’t taking anything seriously.
Shuri nodded and got dressed for class.
One of the assistants to the queen came and escorted Shuri to class. She begged the chauffeur to allow her to skip, but she wasnt allowed.
Shuri walked into the Wakandan School of Elegance and took her seat. She felt like the clock was going in slow motion and that she was stuck in her chair. The teacher reviewed the importance of attending different traditional ceremonies. “So class, which is the most important traditional observance that we have here in Wakanda?” Shuri put her head down on her desk, she’d been raised in the Panther Tribe her whole life and knew all about the combat ceremony. Nevertheless, she did not raise her hand. The teacher’s eyes shifted past the raised hands and called on Shuri saying, “Shuri? The answer? Some one of your tribe ought to know.” Shuri lifted her head and replied, “Since we all know the answer what’s the point in saying it? What’s the point of this class anyway? We’e all been raised in the same ways. No matter if we come from the families of Panthers or War Dogs, Mining Tribe or River, Merchants or Priests, even the Boarder Tribe. Heck, I’m sure even the J’bari with all their ancient ways are fluent in our culture. Why do we need to put so much emphasis on our presentation and how we represent our tribes to the public, instead of actually helping our people? And another thing—“ “ That is enough Shuri. Wait in my office. NOW!” Her teacher said.
Shuri shrugged the command off and walked down to the office. She passed posters of former kings and members of combat, as well as former princesses wearing tightly wound corsets and traditional jewelry and paint. There goes my life. She thought to herself. As she approached the door of the office one thing in particular caught her eye. It was a poster for the Wakandan School For Alternative Studies. Somewhere she had been dreaming of going since she was a little girl. Wait ’til they see what I can do. She said to herself. Shuri flinched as she felt a hand grab her forearm. “Please sit down.” Her teacher said as she guided Shuri into her office. Shuri sat down. “I am going to call your mother in a second, which I’m sure she won’t enjoy, but Shuri you’re a smart girl, I know you know that, so why this current attitude?” Her teacher asked in a soft tone.
“Look, I’m sorry. Also, it’s not just some childish attitude. But you were right about one thing, I am a smart girl. I believe that my time is wasted here just relearning our ways and my formal responsibilities day in and day out. I can do more than that. If someone would just let me. Come on Ms. Dalia, you have to understand.” Shuri said. “I need to make a phone call.” her teacher said and walked out the room.
Shuri sighed wondering if anyone would truly hear her or see her for something other than T’challa’s sister or Ramonda’s daughter.
A few minutes later Dalia walked back in and sat down across from Shuri. “Alright. I called your mother she insisted on a conference so she will be here soon. Which means you have approximately 12 minutes to sell me on what you think you’re fit for.” A large smile spread across Shuri’s face when she heard these words. Now’s my chance.
“Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been raised as a Panther. Now I’m not saying that I would want to join the other families, I love mine. But considering my family’s place here in Wakanda, there are constantly eyes watching your move. Each thing could make or break your family’s reputation. Let’s face it. T’Challa will inherit the throne, and become black panther. He knows that. That’s what he’s destined to do and be. He views every day as another day closer to the best days of his life. Because not only do people expect that of him, but that’s the path he genuinely wants to take. What about me? My whole life I’ve been looking for what I’m destined to do, what I feel passionate about. And yes, I love my family, where I’m from, the royalty of it all. But Ms. Dalia, there’s more to this face than the royal paint it wears.”
Dalia sighed, but did not say any words. Shuri figured her pitch would not be enough, I need to tell her. I have to tell her. “Ms. Dalia, there is something I keep to myself…” Before Shuri could finish her mother walked into the room yelling, “Shuri! What have you done this time?! Dalia I apologize for her actions, we need not talk any further, Shuri get your belongings we’re leaving. “ “With all due respect my Queen, I think there is something that you should know.” Dalia signaled for Shuri to continue. “Dalia, Mother. . .there’s something you should know. I’m kind of a technical genius. . .?” Shuri said nervously. “Do you remember when the Dora Milaje upgraded their weaponry? Well, when I was around 6 years old, I snuck off and watched the them training. I noticed that often times, even when practicing, their armor would get bent. I figured if this was happening in training, imagine if we were under attack and some force came against us full of rage, would their armor hold up? I kept this in the back of my mind and one day mother, when you had me shadow you for the day to see the responsibilities of Queen, you had a meeting with one of the leaders of the Mining Tribe. You were discussing new shipments of vibranium, and how strong it was. You made arrangements to where it would be delivered and I paid attention. . .” Shuri’s voice trailed off and her mother interrupted. “Shuri, you didn’t.” Ramona said. “Yes, mother I did. As a little girl, 6 years old, I took just a little bit of the vibranium and I studied it, with the little information I could find. At 7 I drew up my first blueprints for a new type of armor. At eight, I created my first prototype, and I finished it at ten. I met with of the leaders and showed them my idea. Their first instinct was to report it to you, but I begged that it would be kept a secret and that someone else would tell the public the inventions were theirs. Now, our warriors would have the best protection as possible. As a reward they’ve been giving me short lessons in combat, so I can also reap the benefits of the things I’ve made. Every time you’ve caught me in my lab, insulting my “gadgets” I’ve been working behind the scenes to better our life here.” Ramonda’s heart dropped as her daughter finished her testimony. She caught her balance against the wall, while her chest ached with grief. The three women existed in silence for what felt like a lifetime while Dalia and Ramona processed Shuri’s confession.
After minutes of awkward silence, Ramonda finally spoke. “I just can not figure out why you wouldn’t tell me. All I’ve wanted for you is for you to be successful.” Shuri shook her head and replied, “ I know mother, but you never asked or took the time to see what I wanted to have successes in. You just figured I’d be like T’Challa and be thrilled to find passion in my birth right, but that just isn’t me. I love my tribe and our traditions and our connections to the black panther. But I love making things and finding answers to problems. I love taking something precious to us, like our vibranium and going into the composition. I know I’m the princess, but I can also be intelligent and be courageous. I’m more than just a pretty face and mascot for Wakanda, I can fight and make things people can’t imagine. If I just had some support I would be able to do even more.”
Ramonda tried to process what she was hearing from her daughter. “So what do you expect me to do, you can’t just neglect your role, and go be some scientist, you’re 14.”
“Mom, I’m not saying that I want to neglect who I’ve always been. Actually there is one thing that you could do. . .”
“What would that be?”
“If I enrolled into the Wakandan School for Alternative Studies, I could grow my studies.”
“Hmm, Dalia what do you think? Is she ready?” Ramona asked Dalia.
“Respectfully, I think she is, her grades here are perfection, and she seems really passionate about it. According to her outburst in class, she has been raised in our way of life long enough and she is real to try something new. Plus she’s already been working behind the scenes as it is.”
“Please mother, I can do this. Just you wait. Don’t you worry either, I will still be the best princess Wakanda has seen!”
“Alright, alright. You can enroll Monday. And Shuri?”
“Yes mama?”
“I’m sorry you didn’t feel like you could have come to me sooner. I just want you to be happy. I love you.”
“It’s okay mom and I am happy. Thank you so much. I love you.
Summary: Jughead helps a new girl get settled into her new life at Riverdale High.
Characters: Jughead x Reader
Warnings: None
MASTERLIST
(tagging all my favorite riverdale pages) @juggiehasmyheart17 @riverdalee @juggiesgirl18 @riverdalefiction @sweetpeasqueen93 @themenof--riverdale
You walked up the worn gray sidewalk that lead to the double doors opening to Riverdale High School. Here goes nothing. You thought to yourself. All morning you had struggled to choose the “perfect” outfit for your first day at the new school. You finally decided on an all black ensemble, clad with ripped black jeans, a Beatles tribute Tshirt, and black combat boots. You smoothed out your shirt and gave yourself the once over as you climbed the steps and opened the door to the school. Students flooded the halls like ants. Freshmen were walking through with papers held high as they tried to match up class room numbers with the corresponding ones on their sheets. Even though they were new, you felt like even they felt more of a sense of direction than you did.
You walked down the hallway guessing and turning down different hallways until you reached the principal’s office. You missed the first couple of periods just from wandering around the school. Sat in the office opposite of the Principle was a boy wearing a strange gray beanie that had been cut into a crown shape around the edges. He turned back and looked at you, with a smirk. You had obviously interrupted a serious conversation.
“Mr. Jones.” Principal Weatherbe said, catching the boy’s attention. “You cannot continue to disrespect your teachers by writing your little gossip column and typing so loudly during the instruction period.”
“With all due respect sir, it’s not a gossip column, it’s an expose forcing the darkness and corruption within our dear peppy town of Riverdale to finally surface.” The boy retorted.
“Mr. Jones, call it what you wish my point still stands, its utterly disruptive and disrespectful, you had this issue last year, but I did not think you were going to carry it into this one, but here we are, in my office, all before lunch. Well, that’ll be detention for the remainder of the week, lets try to have a better year shall we?” Weatherbe said and folded his hands.
“ARE YOU SERIOUS? There are football players who do unspeakable things, kids are cheating on tests and running through rapid on jingle jangle, yet I have detention for the first week of school? Come on, anything but that.”
“Hm, well i suppose you are a relatively good student in other areas...I have one final proposal for you Mr. Jones. Standing back there is Y/N, she is a new student to Riverdale High, and she will need someone to show her around a bit, and help her with her locker and classes and a table at lunch. You will be that person, she will give me a report at the end of the week, and if you’ve behaved yourself, no further sentencing will be issued. Does that work for you?”
“Yes.” The boy said, and walked towards you.
He gestured to you and you followed him out into the hallway.
“So uh, what class you lookin’ for?”
“Um, math in 204...?”
“Ah, just straight down the hall and first door to the left.” You nodded and shyly went down the corridor. It was such a short exchange you could tell that he was a friendly person.
After exiting math you un-crinkled your class schedule from being buried in your pants, and tried to find your way to the cafeteria.
“Hey Lennon, you lost?” said a voice from behind you. You turned around and noticed it was the nameless “Mr. jones” boy with the crown beanie.
“Lennon?” you asked confused.
“Uh yeah, as in John Lennon. . .your shirt. . .” You glanced down and instantly realized. You let out a small laugh before the boy continued.
“So is that a yes? where ya headed, this is apparently my job right now so might as well get to know each other along the way” You paused. “My name’s Jughead by the way.”
“Jughead?” You said questioningly.
“Long story, but that’s the name. . .don’t wear it out.” He said with a chuckle. You half smiled, nervously fiddled with your hair and looked at the ground. He didn’t know if you sensed his humor, and wanted to clear the air.
“Hey, you can call me whatever you want, I normally go by Jug, I just want to make your transition here as smooth as possible, and not just beacause Weatherbe is on my tail, I for one know what it’s like to feel like you’re on the outside. Which is why honestly I don’t know why I have this job. . .Anyway, enough rambling, where ya headed.”
“Uh, okay Jug, thanks. . . I have lunch next, so I was just trying to find the cafeteria.”
“Well, wait, where are my manners what’s your name?”
“Y/N”
“Nice to meet you y/n, and its your lucky day because I also have lunch next period, you can come sit with me and my friends if you want.”
You nodded eagerly and followed him into the cafeteria. You looked at the sea of teens, divided by their cliques and sitting in their sections of the area, where do I belong. You hoped that Jughead’s friends would be welcoming to you as well.
“Hey, so normally it’s just the 5 of us, that’s Veronica, IT girl, new york trust fund baby, a total modern breakfast at tiffany’s wannabe, but a genuine friend. That’s Archie, her boyfriend, one of my best friends, football player, but he’s not a total tool like the rest of the team, a real good guy. Thats Kevin, the sherif’s son, real nice, just uh, if you’re thinking of having some wild parties maybe just...make sure his dad is not in ear shot.” Jughead said pointing to the group.
“And the blonde?”
“That’s Betty. . . my girlfriend, she’s indescribable.”
“Oh? He has feelings does he? Who knew.” You said giggling. You felt comfortable with Jughead, like you were more alike in reasons unrealized by either of you yet.
“Hey watch it Y/N!” He said laughing back. He waved to the group and you both walked over.
He introduced you to everyone and immediately it was as if you had met each other before. As you listened to the mix of conversations blend together into a soup of words, you sighed with relief. and closed your eyes, releasing the pent up energy and nervousness from the day. You heard someone calling a familiar name in the back of your head.
“Lennon! LENNON! Earth to Lennon!” It was Jug.
You were so caught up in thought you didn’t even realize the rest of the group had got up and walked on. You got up and turned around to face everyone.
“You coming Lennon? Oh I’m sorry, lemme try again, ‘you coming Y/N?” You picked up your things and ran to catch up with everyone.
Today was a good day, it’s all going to be okay. And Lennon? Huh, I could get used to that.
Summary: After finding his father dead, Erik decides to start up a journal. For his first entry he recounts the day’s events to help process what happened.
Characters: Young Erik Killmonger Stevens, N’jobu, Original Character
MASTERLIST
Dear journal,
That’s how they start these things right? Somebody has to how today truly went down even if it’s just a stupid book. ‘Specially ‘cause the cops’ll try and bury it. Anyway, today started like any other day. I went to school, and even aced a test. Which was great for me, I knew Dad would be proud. After school, I headed back home and showed Dad my grade. “Hey hey, good work my son. Knowledge and education is key to our way of life as Wakandans.” dad said. He would always say this, and talk about Wakanda and the “old country” and “our ways”, it kind of seemed like a fantasy to me.
Dad and I played with my action figures in the floor and he spoke of Wakanda and my family there. All of a sudden there was a knock at our apartment door. He looked through the peep hole in the door and started acting frantic. I never saw Pops like this before. What I didn’t know, was this was the last time I was going to see him either. “Quickly son. You have to get out of here. Down the fire escape okay?” I thought he was joking at first, then I saw the seriousness in his eyes. He then kicked my toys underneath our small couch, embraced me tightly, opened the window to the fire escape and rushed me outside. I climbed down the fire escape and saw some of my boys playin’ ball.
“Aye bro put me in.”
Kendrick checked the ball to me, and I fell right into the game. We were half court and nobody was on me so I did one of my signature moves and took my shot. I missed. The ball bounced off the back board and hit high on the brick wall of our complex. Near our window. I starred at the window for a moment, hoping to see what made Dad rush me out so urgently. I saw nothing. “Looks like somebody off they game today huh.” Kendrick said mocking me. “Aye man shut up.” I shook my head emptying the wonders from my mind. No way was I letting Kendrick get over. We played for a couple minutes until I heard a loud engine revving up. Crazy thing was, it was coming from above us. On the roof of our building was this huge spaceship looking object with silver LEDs. I nudged Kendrick and signaled the other kids over. “Yo look!”
“Ayo, the heck is that.” a kid behind me said. One second it was there. The next it just vanished into the sky. It reminded me of the weird tech Dad told me about from the mystical Wakanda. I knew something wasn’t right. I told the rest of the guys I would just be a minute and ran back to our house.
I looked around our apartment and for a second everything looked normal. Until I saw him. My dad. I ran over to him sobbing, wishing for him to come back to me. I dialed 9-1-1 and told them to come over. I traced the embroidery of Dad’s garb with my finger while I waited for the authorities to come. Then it hit me. Dad always used to tell me about how special it was to be Wakadan and how the rest of the world would want to take what was ours. I grabbed my school bag, rushed over to Dad’s hidden safe, and started filling my back with his belongings. Once the cops came, they would take everything. I had to hide it. Tucked into one of dad’s books was a necklace with my dad’s ring on it. I remember when he used to wear that ring, until one day he just stopped. I put the chain over my neck and stuffed the rest of the things into my school bag. I then heard a pounding on the door. I opened the door and a group of tall officers rushed in. They started collecting things from my house in plastic bags titled EVIDENCE. “Hey kid. I’m officer Clark we’ll take it from here.” I barely acknowledged him. “What’s in the backpack?” Clark asked grabbing onto one of the straps, pulling my body with it. I yanked my shoulder away. “It’s textbooks man, chill.” Officer Clark stood there for a second while he decided if he believed me or not. “Come look at this.” Another officer said signaling for his partner to come see the body. I couldn’t look any longer so I starred at the floor. All I felt was rage. Who would do this?
“Another one bites the dust huh.” The officer said tossing my dad’s hand over his body. “Not surprised. Theres another one every week.” Clark said kicking my father’s body with his foot. I marched over to the officers pushing them out the way and kneeled at my father. “Don’t talk about us like that, my dad was not just anybody else. You have no right.” I said choking on tears. Both cops took me by an arm and pushed me against the wall. “Watch that mouth kid.” One of them said sternly. A medical woman and her team walked in the room holding a black body bag. I rushed over to them and begged for one last goodbye with my father. I crossed his arms over his chest in an x position, as he taught me was the custom. I swallowed my tears and whispered into my father’s ear, “I will find whomever did this, and kill them. I promise you. Wakanda forever.” Immediately after, I ran down the fire escape and found Kendrick. I filled him in on what happened.
So far Kendrick’s mom has been sweet to me, giving me a place to sleep and this journal too. Tomorrow I’m going to read as much as I can from my dad’s books. I hope it’ll help me piece together why what happened did. But I’m going to to have to stop writing now, because Kendrick’s mom is calling us for dinner. I don’t know what the future holds, but this is what I know for sure, I am N’Jadaka son of N’jobu. Some day I will find Wakanda, and I will avenge my father.
Four walked into the Dauntless dorm room carrying a steel pipe in his hand. He used the pipe to bang on the stair railing, waking up everyone sleeping in the room. “Get up. No breakfast today. We’re starting training first thing this morning. Training room in 15. Got it? Dismissed.” Four left the room after giving his orders.Tris threw a pillow onto Christina’s bunk fully waking her up.“Hey watch it stiff.” Christina said with a laugh. Tris smiled back. She wondered would everyone always think of her as just a 'stiff’ forever? The rest of the imitates dragged their bodies into the training room, still tired from the night before.
“The object of today’s training is knife throwing. I explained the rules about the rankings board already, no need to waste more breath. Stand at your mark. Four will show you an example of how to angle and throw a knife into your target.” Eric instructed. Four demonstrated for the class. Each initiate lined up at a starting line across from a cardboard version of a human body with a circle penciled in around the heart area. They were given a set of 4 knives. Tris took her first shot. She made it right in the circle. Same for her next 3 tries. Four looked at her with a slight smile which he quickly hid. Will on the other hand, missed every single shot. One knife hit the target and bounced back into the range. “That was pathetic. Go get it.” Eric said.
“N–now? While every one is still throwing?” Will stammered.
“Are you afraid?” Eric asked, without an ounce of sympathy in his voice.
“Of getting stabbed by an airborne knife? Yeah.” Will replied.
“Everybody stop!” Eric shouted, and the initiates ceased throwing. “Stand in front of the target.”
“Come on ma—” Thomas started, but Teresa held him back, pulling his arm. Eric didn’t even register that Thomas had spoke out. He kept his gaze fixated on Will. Will walked slowly and nervously towards the cardboard target.
“Four, gimme a hand here.” Four walked over, expressionless. “You’re gonna stand there while he throws those knifes. And if I see you flinch, you’re out.” Tris tensed up. Oh no, not Will. He can’t do it. I have to do something. She thought to herself. “One thing that you will learn here is that orders are not optional.” Eric finished. Four gathered four knives and stood in front of Will. As Four stood ready to throw a firm voice behind him spoke up saying, “STOP! Anybody can stand in front of a target. It doesn’t prove anything.” It was Tris. "Then it should be easy for you to take his place. Same rules apply.“ Eric confirmed.
Tris walked over and switched places with Will. She gave a slight nod to Four to let him know he should continue. She looked into his eyes from across the range. Even though they were emotionless, she tried to remember the eyes she met with the first time she saw him, after jumping off the roof of the Dauntless compound. The first throw hit the wood part of the target, close to Tris’ thigh. She didn’t even look. "Oh, come on Four.” Eric said mocking Four’s low throw, not knowing it was purposeful. The second throw hit the wood part of the target again, but in align with Tris’ face. “You can get closer than that.” Eric taunted. All Four wanted to do was stop. Keeping his cover Four said with a smirk, “You want me to give her a little trim?” “Yeah. Maybe just a little off the top.” Eric replied. The third throw hit the target this time, right above Tris’ head. Tris took a deep breath in. The fourth throw was right next to her head, nicking part of her ear, making it bleed.
“Points for bravery, stiff.” There’s that name again. Tris thought. “But not as many as you just lost for opening your mouth. . . Now watch yourself. We train soldiers not rebels.” Eric responded.
“Alright meet back by the wrestling mat in two minutes. Go.” Four announced.
Tris marched past Four on her way to the wrestling mat. “You alright?” Four asked, genuinely meaning it. “You cut me.” Tris responded.
“I meant to.”
“You think he was gonna let you off without a scratch? You’d still be standing there if I hadn’t hit you.”
“So am I supposed to thank you?” Tris asked with an eyebrow raised.
“You supposed to be smart. If I wanted to hurt you, I would have.” That was his last comment. He turned and left.
What does that even mean? Does he care about me or something?
Tris walked away, put her knives back into the utility closet, and headed to the wrestling mat. She stood next to Thomas and whispered 'hi’ to him, nudging his arm. Other than Christina, Tris felt that Thomas might be her only friend.
“Christina. Molly. On the mat.” Eric ordered. Christina and Molly warred against each other on the mat. When Christina couldn’t take it any more she pleaded with Eric to let her stop. “I can’t do it anymore. I give up I give up.” She said. Eric lifted Christina off the mat. Handed her a towel to wipe the blood from under her nose. He placed his hand on her lower back as a support as he walked her over in the direction of the infirmary. “Follow me initiates.” he said. Tris thought this was weird, why would the whole group need to come to the nurse? Eric almost looked human for a second as he tenderly guided Christina through the Dauntless halls. The dauntless compound had water that ran through it. When the group reached chasm, they organized them selves single file so that they would fit on the bridge that was above the chasm.
“You feelin’ a little better?” Eric asked Christina.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” She responded with a smile, still shocked that Eric seemed to have a heart.
“Good.” He responded. Just that quickly Eric pushed Christina off the side of the bridge and caught her by her left wrist. “Grab the rail. Or don’t” He said with a shrug.
Tris looked back at Thomas who once again was ready to get involved in the issue. Tris was mortified, but she signalled Thomas with her eyes not to act. Christina struggled as her feet dangled over the bottomless chasm.
“You got three options. Hang there and I’ll forget your cowardice. Fall and die. Or give up. But if you give up you’re out.”
Christina struggled some more. Condensation from the moisture of the chasm below her, dripped from the wire cables above. Her fingers started to slip. Tris couldn’t watch. She wanted to help, but she had pushed her luck with Eric enough for one day.
“Come on Chris.” Tris tried to reassure her friend. Eric shot her a deadly look for speaking out loud again. Great. After what felt like a lifetime, Eric shouted, “Time!” and Tris and Thomas ran to Christina’s aid. She fell into Thomas’ arms panting and struggling for air as she hysterically cried.
“Oh please don’t be dramatic.” Eric said. “Dauntless never give up.” With that, he turned and left the group.
After dropping Christina off at the infirmary, Thomas, Tris and Teresa went to check the scoreboard to see where they ranked after their two days of training. Teresa and Thomas both made it over the red line, along with Minho, Peter, Frypan, Molly, and Winston. Tris held her head low as she saw the names Newt and Tris below the red line.
“When I get my hands on Eric…Tris you deserve to be up here. You had frickin’ knives thrown at your head and you didn’t move a muscle. If that’s not dauntless I don’t know what is.” Thomas said grumbling.
Teresa touched his arm trying to calm him down. Tris noticed this. “Don’t be a slinthead Thomas. Remember, we’re here to pass and lay low.” Teresa said. “Look, I’m sorry Tris. You should have been up there with us. Newt too.”
Tris looked at the ground and then pretended to tie and untie her shoes as she tried to come up with a response. She couldn’t. She left the Thomas and Teresa near the rankings board and walked back to her dorm. Thomas tried to go after her, but Teresa told him it she might want some alone time right now. Thomas fought her on it, but then came to see her point of view. Sitting on Tris’ bed was Peter, looking sly as normal.
“What the heck do you want?”
“I’m just here to congratulate you stiff.” he said with a laugh.
“Shut your hole.” Minho defended from across the room.
“What? You’re famous now.” Peter continued. “I mean not because of the thing with Eric. But, Hey. You’re in the news. Yeah, listen. 'The recent transfers of Beatrice and Caleb Prior, children of Andrew Prior, call into question the soundness of abnegation’s teachings and values. What prompted them to leave? Perhaps the answer lies in the corrupted ideal of an entire faction. The theft of resources, the general incompetence, the abuse of their children…’” Peter read from the newsletter.
“So, did they beat you? Like Marcus Eaton’s kid?”
“They didn’t beat anyone. They’re good people.” Tris said, biting down tears.
“Right. And that’s why you left?–'Cause they’re 'such good people’?” Peter said using his finger’s as quotation marks to mock Tris.
“Alright that’s it, I said shut up. ” Minho sprung from his beat and punched Peter in the face.
“Okay, okay, aight aight, I’m done, chill.” Peter said as he held his mouth.
Minho put his arm around Tris, nodded for his friends to come with and stormed out the dorms.
“Sorry, I lost my temper. He’s such a jerk.” Minho said.
“No, no. That’s okay. Thank you actually.” Tris responded. Minho nodded with a 'no problem’.
The group turned the corner and Will spotted something weird approaching them. A group of people dressed in blue started walking towards the group. It was Erudite. Leading the group was Jeanine Matthews. “What is she doing here? Why is Erudite at dauntless?” Will asked under his breath. As soon as the group of Erudite was about to pass Tris and her friends they stopped.
“You were Andrew Prior’s daughter right? Beatrice?”
She remembered my name? How?? What’s up with that…Tris thought to herself.
“It’s just 'Tris’ now.” she managed to get out.
“Ha. Tris, I like that.” Jeanine responded. She then lifted back the collar of Tris’ shirt to reveal her tattoo. “You made an impressive choice, Tris, despite your parents. And your test result.” This troubled Tris.
Uh oh, does she know it was inconclusive??
“I’m glad you were smart enough to know your own mind. Let me know if you ever need anything.”
Thomas
“Oh good, the outsiders are here as well. How are you guys accommodating here at Dauntless?” Jeanine asked Thomas and the former gladers. The gladers looked around awkwardly as they scrambled for words.
“Uh, we’re fine. We like our faction, having chose it or not. We appreciate the uh, opportunity we’ve been given to do some good.” Thomas said as he spat out the words.
“Excellent. You should be grateful. We rescued you from the maze trials, and given your dauntless aptitude we believe that you are a perfect fit here. I am pleased that it has been successful.” Jeanine said and then walked off.
The eyes of Tris, Al, Christina, and Will all turned to Thomas and the former gladers. They heard what Jeanine said about the 'maze trials’.
“Does someone care to explain?” Tris asked.
“T–Tris it’s really complicated.”
“Oh please. Need I say again I’m candor at heart. What are 'maze trials’?”
“Shh guys alright we’ll explain, just not here, let’s go back to the recreation center, we’ll grab a drink and a snack and then we will tell you everything.”
The group walked down to the recreational area of the Dauntless Compound near the tattoo parlor. Thomas looked around at the dark space lit only with red LED, as he racked his brain on how to explain where they had come from to his new friends.
“Hey shank, here’s a table.” Minho said as he gestured to a circular metal table close to the bar towards the back of the bar. The rest of the group filed into the seats at the table and a waiter approached them.
“I’m Connor, I ain’t no servant but I’ll be bringing you y'alls drinks tonight so what y'all want?” A dark skinned girl, arms covered in tattoos, asked popping her gum as she talked.
Thomas looked at the rest of the group asking the same question with his eyes.
“Nice to meet you Connor,” Frypan said stuttering at her beauty. “Uh, We’ll take root beers all around.” He said as he looked her up and down. Connor noticed him checking her out, leaned in close to him and whispered, “Comin’ right up.” and walked away.
Minho nudged him in the arm, “I see you Fry, ain’t even been here a minute and you tryna get 'em.” Frypan shugged with a cocky laugh, “What can I say, I got skills not even a maze can strip from me.”
Thomas tensed up again as Frypan said the word maze. “AHEM! There’s that word again. What flipping maze dudes???” Christina said in a yelling whisper and scooting her chair more towards the table.
Thomas looked down at his hands as all the eyes shifted to him. Why do I always have to be the one to explain everything. Mid thought Teresa whispered to Thomas so that no one could hear, “It’s gonna be fine we were invited to be here remember.” She squeezed his hand.
Thomas cleared his throat as the eyes of everyone around him peered with anticipation.
“So there’s this organization, I guess it could be compared to whom ever runs the government here. They are called WICKED. That means World In Catastrophe: Killzone Experiment Department. According to them, in the outside world massive solar flares raged on the planet. Millions died due to the excessive heat, fires, and radiation. Then, because of the decreasing amounts of resources, a virus was released as a means of population control. They created was far more dangerous than they had expected. First it breaks down your body, and then it attacks the mind. It can effect everyone, everyone except us, we are immune. WICKED was so desperate for a cure, and here’s where we come in.”
“In order to determine what makes us different from the rest of humanity. WICKED organized a series of tests that would push our minds so that they could study what enables us to survive. The first part of this was the Maze Trials.” Minho chimed in.
“Yeah… basically we were trapped in the center of this huger than life maze. We called our little center The Glade. It was where we lived. Our only out was to get through that bloody maze. We tried everything, and nothing worked, that’s until this guy showed up.” Newt said and pointed to Thomas.
“This maze was located underneath the headquarters of WICKED, so they could see everything that went on, and they could analyze our brain activity and responses to different obstacles that they threw at us. In the maze they even had these robotic monstrous creatures that would roam the maze at night. We called them Grievers. We were safe as long as we never found ourselves in the maze after dark. ” Minho added.
“Every month WICKED would send a new boy, along with some supplies to the Glade to see how each person would alter or effect the experiment. When I was sent up I immediately started running out because I was so scared. I had no memory of what had happened to me, I couldn’t even remember my own name. Long story short, I couldn’t just stay there in this Glade without knowing why or who put us here. So I joined some of the runners. The runners were a few of us who went out to run the maze during the day and try to map it out. The maze doors opened every morning so we would head out to run, and we had to be back before the maze doors closed at night. The only issue, the maze pattern changed every single night. Then, and you must think I’m making this up at this point, another unpredictable variable was thrown a—” Thomas started, and was cut off by Christina.
“Hold Hold Hold Hold up! There’s something more? That’s somethin’ else dude. Keep goin though, this is some serious stuff.”
Thomas let out a light chuckle as he looked at the expressions of the non-gladers, shocked, curious, and confused. “ Anyway, the unknown variable was that of Teresa. In this glade of only boys, seeing a girl be sent to us in the box was something rare. And she seemed to know me already. Later we pieced together with our fragmented memories that we once used to be apart of them, apart of WICKED. And they sent us in, fully wiping our memories so they could test how we would adapt. A lot of things went down, and we lost some of our friends of the glade. But for us, the only way we could stop this constant loss was to get out. So one night we did, we fought our way past the grievers and escaped the maze. Then we were rescued, and brought here. I hope that catches you guys up a bit.” Thomas said with a shrug.
A heavy silence floated over the table and everyone was stiff. The non-gladers tried to process what they had just heard, and the others awkwardly waited to see the reactions of their truth being let out to other people. Connor walked over and thumped the tray of drinks on the table, interrupting the silence. Frypan cleared his throat, “Uh, yeah thanks Connor, uh, we appreciate it.”
“No prob, y'all holler if you need anything else, you know my name, now don’t wear it out.” The gang nodded, and Connor walked away. Thomas passed the rest of the drinks to the people at the table still waiting for any words or reaction to all he just uncovered.
Tris
What does one even do with all of that. A maze? Trials? Viruses? Another organization? Confirmation that there is actually an outside world beyond the walls of Chicago? WICKED?
It was all too much for Tris but she knew that she had to say something. She could see the worried look on Thomas’ face as none in the rest of their party had uttered a word.
“Well, I guess we all come with something. And hey, don’t feel too out of place here. We are more alike than you might realize. I mean, you all had this trial, this experiment. Here we have this training. We train to see who is cut out to protect the city. You guys were studied to see why you guys were 'cut out’ survive. A–And think, remember our aptitude tests guys?” Tris said as she motioned to the group. “They are pushing our minds and bodies to the breaking point so that we can be better equipped to survive the outside world if our city was attacked. Your city, the world you knew Thomas, was attacked, by virus, by natural disaster, and by man. I–I think, I think, our leaders to some extent are all working for the same goal and don’t even know it.”
The more Tris spoke, the more everything started making sense to her, the more connections she made, the closer she felt to Thomas and his friends.
“Actually, that makes sense.” Will said. “In centuries no one has gone beyond our walls. In all the time that you were in your maze no one ever left. And no one ever came in here. It’s all too similar too coincidental. My theory is that Erudite kept tabs on WICKED possibly having knowledge of your trials, recognized your dauntless ways, and saw the perfect opportunity for more soldiers.
Wait, so if these kids were never tested and WICKED just made them appear dauntless because of their trials. Is it possible that they are divergent too? This troubled Tris, but she kept her thoughts to herself.
"Well I’ll be, it’s a bloody conspiracy.” Newt said with a laugh. “But hey, the drinks are good, theres clean water and a bed, and we don’t have to grow our own food.”
“I’ll cheers to that.” Winston chimed in, also trying to lighten the mood. The rest of the group clinked their bottles and for the rest of the evening it was pretty enjoyable.
——————–
Today was the day Tris had to fight Peter. She rubbed the scab of where Four had previously cut her ear, sighed, and hopped out of bed. She got on her uniform and headed into the pit. Some trainees were already stationed around the mat ready to watch. Tris felt failure creeping up behind her and her palms began to sweat. How could she take Peter? He hated her guts. Four walked into the training room, and up to Tris and pulled her aside firmly grabbing her arm. “What.” Tris said as she tried to get her arm loose, but Four was stronger.
“Remember what I said about attack?” Tris shook her head.
“First punch, right to the throat, and you watch him. He steps before he punches. Alright?”
Tris nodded.
There he goes again, helping me. He’s so tough all the time but, I don’t know, I think he cares about me… Knock it off Tris. Focus. He’s your instructor. Listen to what he said. 'He steps before he punches. He steps before he punches.’
The next morning, the initiates woke up got dressed in their Dauntless trainee uniforms and headed out into the Pit. “Excited for training ay?” Newt said to her and Christina as they made their way to the training room. Honestly, Tris felt sick to her stomach. In abnegation, you never tried to be the victor, you always aimed to be low and humble. Tris was small, much smaller than the rest of the initiates, smaller than Newt even, who Tris noticed was the thinest and shortest of What did Thomas call them…Gladers.
Tris got lost in the gray stone walls that lined the training room. They reminded her of home, of living in the abnegation sector with her parents and brother. I hope they’re okay… She thought. But now wasn’t the time to be nostalgic to the way things used to be, it was time to be alert and ready to fight.
The rest of the initiates filed into the training room where Eric and Four stood.
“There are two stages of training. The first is physical. Push your bodies to the breaking point and you’ll master the methods of combat. The second is mental. Again, breaking point. You’ll face your worst fears and conquer them, unless they get you first. You’ll be trained separately from the Dauntless-born, but you’ll be ranked together. Newcomers, your aptitude is Dauntless, but because you are transfers you will be trained with the rest of the deferred initiates. After initiations, rankings will determine what jobs you move into. Leadership, guarding the fence, or keeping the factionless from killing each other.” Four instructed.
“The rankings will also determine who gets cut.” Eric said with a sly smile. Cut? What did he mean cut? Would we be factionless if we didn’t make it? Tris thought to herself. Worried eyes shifted to each other and back at Eric as the initiates processed his statement. “At the end of each stage of training, the lowest-ranking initiates will be leaving us.” Eric continued. “Do do what?” Frypan asked puzzled. “There’s no going home to your families so you’d live factionless.” Eric responded. That hit Tris like a ton of bricks. Factionless. That’s the worst of all. She thought. “Why didn’t we know that?” Will questioned with his voice shaking at the thought of being factionless.“ "It’s a new rule."Eric added. "A new rule? Somebody should have told us that.” Christina said incredulously. “Why. Would you have chosen differently? Out of fear? I mean if that’s the case, you might as well get out now. If you’re really one of us it won’t matter to you that you might fail. Now, you chose us. Now, we get to choose you.” Eric responded, rendering the room silent. Oh no, I’m going to be factionless. Look at everyone here, everyone has a drive to be here something that makes them strictly dauntless. I’m so many other things. What if I’m not dauntless enough…
Troubling thoughts filled Tris’ mind and her knees locked in place, she couldn’t move.
“Hello?” Thomas said as he waved his hand in front of Tris’ face. “Helllooo?”
“Ahem, sorry, yes Tom, I’m good, ready to go so uh lets head into the training room.”
Thomas nodded and the two walked off to catch up with the others at the fighting mat.
Minho
First on the mat was Minho and Molly. “I ain’t fighting no chick.” Minho said. “I think your underestimating me.” Molly responded back. Molly and Minho crouched low like two boxers in a ring. Molly threw the the first punch into Minho’s jaw. Oh no she didn’t. Come here you little —- before he could finish this thought. Molly swiped his left support leg and Minho fell hard onto his back. He popped back up like an armadillo, and punched Molly right in the gut. She grunted in pain as she fell on her side. “Finish her.” Eric commanded. Even though Minho had a tough exterior, he did actually care about people. Seeing her in the fetus position, Minho stomped on her head knocking her out.
“That’s better Minho. Not bad. Not bad at all.” “Newt. Christina. On the mat.” Eric commanded again. “Come on buddy you can do it.” Minho said as he encouraged his friend. Newt and Christina squared up in the ring as they faced off. Christina left Newt with a bleeding nose and his blood splatter painted the area in which they fought.
Tris
“Take Newt to the infirmary. Next up. Thomas facing off with Tris.” Eric called out. Thomas? he’d been so sincere and nice to me. I’d never win. He towers over me. Tris thought. Thomas looked at her with sad eyes as he hesitated to take a stance on the mat. Tris looked at him and shook her head slightly. This would not end well. Its a means to an end she thought.
Thomas and Tris faced each other, each in a low squat position as they tried to see who would make the first move. Thomas stepped forward. Tris step backwards. Which each step forward Tris kept coming backwards until her bare foot hit the cold hard floors of the training area.
“AGAIN!” Eric shouted.
Tris stepped back on the mat. Various chants of “Come on Tris.” and “Lets go newbie.” circulated through the other dauntless bystandards. Tris took a step forward and right jabbed Thomas in the shoulder. He stumbled backwards. Thomas recovered and punched Tris in the stomach, she took the punch and grabbed on to his shoulders and wouldn’t let go. She jumped onto the front of his body, tackling him and brining him to the ground. Her small hands tried to take a grip around his neck but he was too strong. Thomas pushed her hands off of him and pinned her to the ground with a kick to her side. Tris felt weak. Eric made a snoring noise as if the fight was boring him as he said “That’s enough. Stiff you tried, not hard enough. As for you newbie…Thomas is it? Dang. You might actually show some promise. Don’t let that go to your head though, or I’ll beat the pride out of you personally.” “Noted.” Thomas said rubbing his injured ribs.
Whatever criticizing comment Eric had to give, Tris barely heard it. Her eyelids fluttered as she started to pass out.
Thomas
Thomas felt sick to his stomach as watched Tris’ eyes flutter shut. I had to do it. I had to. Thomas tried to make himself believe. Four started speaking before Eric could announce another pairing. “Alright, that’s enough for the day. Take five. Take Meet back in The Pit for further instruction. Dismissed.” Thomas ran to the cafeteria to grab a water bottle. He sprinted down the winding halls of the dauntless compound until he reached the infirmary.
“I need to speak to somebody. I need to see her now. Tris. She would have come in a couple minutes ago. Is she here? Is she okay?” Thomas said as he banged on the door to the infirmary.
“Thomas…” Said a whimpering voice behind him. "Hey, hey…what’s going on?“ Tris asked as she turned the corner showing her face.
Thomas ran to her and held her by the shoulders as he said, "Tris, oh my god, are you okay? I’m so sorry, are you hurt?
"I–I’m fine. You don’t need to apologize. It’s apart of our training.” Tris replied.
“Okay, then… hey uh Tris, I just been thinking about this whole being dauntless thing. I just don’t get it. They’re training us like robotic soldiers just made to follow such daring commands. If we fail, we’ll become factionless. Whatever the heck that means, and be left to starve and be on our own in this place we don’t even know. I was talking with the rest of the guys, and what if we’re not what what they expect us to be. How can any of us just be one thing, one quality?. I’m freaking out here, Tris.”
“Dude, why are you confiding in me, I was abnegation, the most unassuming of everyone here. I have a higher chance of being factionless than you.”
“What do you mean higher chance?”
“Never mind that.” Thomas could tell Tris was starting to close off to him, but he needed answers.
“Look Tris–” He said as he placed an endearing hand on her arm. “I just– What if I’m not what they are expecting. Is there somewhere else we can go…If we’re…not dauntless enough?
"Thomas!!” Tris said shushing him. You either fit. If anyone even senses for a minute that you’re different, they will hunt you down and kill you.“
"Wow Tris. Alright…alright. I will try to do everything I can to make sure me and the guys fit in as much as possible.”
“Not try Thomas, you will.” Thomas nodded, and the pair ran to The Pit.
Tris
“Listen Up. You know what this is?” Eric said as he pointed to the ranking board behind him. “It’s your life. We grade you everyday. If you’re still in the red by the end of the week then you’re out.” There he goes again…‘you’re out’…'you’re cut…I’m never gonna make it. “Alright. Rest up and grab lunch. Be back in the training room at 1300 hours.”
After grabbing a bite to eat with her friends, Tris headed back into the dorms with Christina, Will, and Al.
“I’m never gonna take it Christina.” Tris said.
“Yes you are.”
“I’m the weakest one here.”
“Then you’ll be most improved.” Christina replied with a smile.
“You’re Candor, you’re not supposed to lie.” Tris said with a slight grin.
“I was Candor, and I’m not lying.” Christina replied confidently.
“If they cut me, I think my parents would take me back.” Al said trying to add a positive note to the conversation.
“No, it doesn’t work like that. Even if they wanted to, their faction wouldn’t allow it.” Will said, shutting down Al’s hope.
“Even if my parents would take me back… I wouldn’t belong there anymore.” Tris said with a frown. I wouldn’t fit in anywhere if I fail. She thought.
“Alright this is getting depressing.” Christina shouted with a giggle trying to lighten the mood. Al nodded in agreement.
I wish I could tell them…about my divergence… I hate lying to them.
“You know what we should do?” Christina said excitedly. “Get tattoos.”
Tris shook her head, but went along anyway, she needed a distraction from her thoughts.
Christina said, “Alright boys, turn around boys, we gotta get cute.”
“Whaaaat? You don’t think our uniforms are fashion forward? Tris joked.
"Girl, please. Hand me one of the spare tees.” Christina said as Tris threw her t-shirt to her. Christina took Tris’ shirt and ripped it so that it became a cropped top. “Look at that. Good as new.” Tris held up the shirt to her body and looked at the ground. “What’s wrong? You can totally rock that girl especially with that body. Come on go change. We’re dauntless remember.” Tris smiled. “You seem to choose whether you’re dauntless or candor at will huh?” Tris tried on the shirt and pulled up her hair into a high bun. She toyed around with the loose strands that framed her face.
“Can we turn around yet?” Al and Will said in unison.
“Yeah.” Tris replied.
“Let’s go.” Christina said, ready by the door.
“Hold up, shouldn’t we invite the new guys?”
“I mean if you want to Tris, but’m not waiting up…see you at the parlor.”
Thomas
“Wait a minute. Dude, this is the second secretive meeting you’ve called since we got here. What’s going on?” Frypan asked. Thomas turned the corner of the hallway in both directions to see if anyone was coming. Seeing that there was no one on their way, Thomas began explaining his conversation with Tris. After explaining the the expectations of the dauntless leaders and the cautions that came with staying here in Chicago.
“So let’s be frank, huh, shuckface. You mean to tell us that every bloody person within these walls all has to act like the place of their choosing. If they act like any of the opposing factions and people catch wind of it. Ya die? Is that right essentially?”
“If you want to put it that way Newt, yes.”
“That’s seriously jacked mate.”
“I know, but it’s the way things are out here in the real world. Not everything can be as cut and dry as it was in the maze alright?” Thomas said, trying to bring his group together. “Come on Teresa, back me up here.” Teresa looked at the ground.
“No offense Tom but what do you really know about the maze. You weren’t even there a week. Who even made this guy leader?” Winston said.
“Winston, man, dude, what do you mean, I thought we were in this together?”
“I know man, I’m sorry its just you add something even more strange about this place everyday… it’s a lot to take in.” Winston said with a sigh.
“I know…let’s just agree to blend in as much as possible a—”
Tris turned the corner and stopped Thomas mid sentence, she scratched the back of her neck awkwardly as she invited the former gladers out to get tattoos and hang out with some of the other dauntless. Thomas, still stuck on his unfinished sentence, didn’t answer right away. “Sure Tris, we’d love to come.” Teresa said. Thomas hesitated while his friends walked in front of him, his mind still racing about the current information. Slim it Thomas, try to relax, you need a break. Thomas thought to himself as he attempted to clear his mind. The group headed down to the recreation area and split up.
Tris
Hip hop music filled the area of the dauntless recreation center. Red strobe lights and dark colors created the night life aesthetic of dauntless. Tris spotted the tattoo Parlor and told Thomas and the gang that they shouldn’t wait up for her, and that she would only be a few minutes.
Tris looked around for Christina and Will, she found them lost in each other’s eyes near the waiting area for the parlor. Instead of walking over, she wandered the center looking and ease dropping in different conversations that where occurring. She found Four, talking with some other dauntless leaders. When he saw her he took a step towards her and Tris quickly ducked into the tattoo shop. There she found Tori.
“Hey you remember me right? I was wondering if we could talk about –”
“I just do tattoos.” Tori said dismissing her.
“Okay.” Tris pivoted and went towards the wall where the tattoo samples where displayed on glass plates.
After eyeing some different tattoos, Tris picked one off the tray and brought it to Tori.
“Uh, I’ll take this one.”
Three birds. One for each family member I left behind.
Tris sat back in the chair as Tori did the tattoo. This reminded Tris of when Tori administered her testing serum.
“Can I just ask you–"Tris started.
"You made a mistake choosing dauntless. They’ll find out about you…”
“Who? Who will?” Tris quickly interjected.
“The people you’re a threat to.”
“Who? Dauntless?”
“No, society. If you don’t fit into a category they can’t control you.”
Tris shook her head not understanding what Tori meant by this. “I don’t get it.” she said.
She affirmed herself to Tori saying, “I’m dauntless. I’m going to be dauntless. I chose dauntless.”
“For your sake,” Tori said,“ I hope so.”
Tori finished the tattoo and Tris was on her way.
She spotted Christina and Will still flirting with one another on the sidelines. A Candor and an Erudite, interesting. She thought to herself. She looked at Thomas mingling with some of the other dauntless born, they seemed to be getting along well. She sighed with satisfaction that everyone was settling in to Dauntless. Everyone except me she thought.
She snuck away back to the dorms, put on her training uniform and headed to the gym. Four watched her leave, as he had been looking her way all evening, and he followed her at a close distance.
Four
Where is she going? To train? Now? Oh I like her. Alright Four… go after her. See what’s she’s up to–how you can help.
Four walked at a slow pace as he crept into the training room. There he saw Tris, throwing her body into every single punch. She grunted and winced at the pain in her wrists. He knew what she was doing wrong, but he admired her determination and she made a soft spot in his heart. Tris steadied the punching bag when she heard Four’s footsteps enter the room.
“Hey.” Tris said.
Four heard her, turned and walked out. Why didn’t you stay you idiot. You could have helped her. No. You have to let her figure things out on her own. This is Dauntless. Four was right. He thought that he should intervene, but for now he kept observing Tris’ progress and offering as little tips as possible.
Four went back to his apartment and looked at the itenerary for the following day. Tomorrow was the day they trained initiates to throw knifes. Ha, my specialty. He thought to himself. Four flopped down on his bead holding the plans for the next day on his chest. Thinking of Tris. Maybe it was her bravery and how she was the first jumper. Or maybe it was the fact that she was former abnegation, just like he was. Or her resilience. He didn’t know what it was that made her so interesting to him, but his thoughts overwhelmed him and soon he drifted off to sleep.
An exit sign? Really?
After everything we had been though, every extreme, the only thing standing between Thomas and the outside unknown was a door labeled EXIT. “Huh, ‘Exit’ these shanks are so original,” Minho said with a sarcastic tone.
Classic Minho, always mr. arrogant.
Thomas looked back at the group of gladers anxiously waiting behind, waiting for their leader’s next move.
Focus Tom, be brave, said Teresa’s voice in Thomas’ head.
He pushed open the door in front of him. An older woman dressed in white approached the group with male companion at her side, his identity was masked by a hood. Thomas looked down at Chuck, he thought to himself, he’s so young to have gone through this. I remembered my promise to him back in The Glade, to get him back to his mother… at this rate, who knows if any of us have anyone to go back to…
The woman took another step, the boy followed.“Welcome back,” the woman finally said. “Over two years and so few dead. Amazing.”
“Excuse me?” Newt asked. “Everything has gone to plan Mr. Newton. Although we expected more of you to give up along the way.” She looked at her companion and removed the hood from his head. It was as if Thomas’ eyes wanted to retreat back into their sockets.
It was Gally.
Every Glader’s breath in the room was sucked back and shortened.
Heat and anger filled his cheeks and he clenched and balled his fists. “What’s he doing here!” Minho shouted. “You’re safe now,” the woman responded as if she hadn’t heard him. “Please, be at ease.” “At ease?” Minho barked. “Who are you, telling us to be at ease? We wanna see the police, the mayor, the president—somebody!” Thomas was worried what Minho might do, then again, the thought of the woman getting punched in the face was close to comforting. Thomas kept his focus on Gally, trying to find eye contact. The kid looked strange, like he was in a daze as tears unwillingly dripped down his cheeks. The woman went on to say what a contribution the group made to the advancement of the world, and how their work was greatly appreciated. What was said was not clear in Thomas’ mind, all he heard was a muted hum of his own heartbeat quickening as his eyes stayed glued on Gally. “They … can control me … I don’t—” Gally’s eyes bulged, a hand went to his throat as if he were choking. “I … have … to …” He almost looked as if he was being controlled. Gally reached to his right back pocket and pulled out something shiny and silver.
It was a dagger.
Everything that followed went by in a blur. The dagger came hurling towards Thomas. He heard it pierce skin, so he patted himself down, checking his body, but he was not the one hit. Chuck, his dear young friend, had taken the hit. Blood oozed from the wound, and Chuck moaned and groaned in pain. A waterfall’s worth of tears filled Thomas’ eyes and pressure came in to his head. All he could feel was hate.
WICKED took Chuck from me. Gally killed Chuck. WICKED. Gally. They killed Chuck. This refrain kept echoing in Thomas'head.
“Someone get help! Chuck please don’t die, stay with me please Chuck, come on buddy, you’re strong. Please!” Thomas said, but Chuck still wouldn’t answer. His eyes started to blink shut. “Thom…Thomas,” he could barely make out the name. “Thomas… Find my mom. Tell her I…” With that, without even finishing his last sentence, he died.
With a ragging outcry, Thomas lurched out at Gally, jumping out on top of him straddling his body. Thomas felt the death of Chuck, and Alby, and even Ben, who he didn’t even like. He felt every unexplained inquiry he’s ever known, since the Box, since the maze, and every barely lingering and faded memory all in one moment. He used that angst to fuel each punch, left and right and right and left. He squeezed down on Gally’s throat until he was purple in the face. He didn’t care, it was Gally’s fault Chuck was dead. Whatever part Gally was playing in this, it didn’t matter, he had to be gone.
“Stop you’re killing him! Tom– Thomas!! You’re killing him!”
“IT’S HIS FAULT CHUCK’S DEAD. HE KILLED HIM!”
“Please Thoma—”
Newt and Minho rushed to Thomas’ side and pried his hands off of Gally. Thomas fell back onto the cold floor and wept.
Minho walked over to the woman and spat in her face as she trembled with fear. In that moment a team of rescuers burst into the room. They were dressed in all black, with pockets running down the sides of their uniform jackets, they each had a band of identification with a symbol of a flame.
They charged into the room and barricaded down the doors leading to the outside. One of the rescuers in front shot the blonde woman in the head and she fell to the ground. The rest of the group surrounded the Gladers and started pulling them outside. All of a sudden there were gunshots coming from helicopters labeled WCKD that surrounded the building, the rescuers pulled the teens onto their own helicopters that were on standby. Thomas stumbled back trying to keep his eyes on Teresa making sure she was not falling behind.
“Buckle up and rest up kids, we’ve got a long journey ahead of us.” said one of the masked rescuers, when they boarded the aircraft.
Newt nudged Thomas, “Whats next Tommmy?” He replied, “I don’t know man, I don’t know, let’s just try and rest. Newt and the rest of the gang nodded in agreement. Thomas looked at the logos engraved into the roof of the helicopter as it took off. A hand holding another as if it was lifting up, was engraved in gray, an eye engraved in blue, a fire engraved in black, a tree engraved in orange, and a pair of scales that was black and white. Thomas didn’t know what those meant, but for now it was time for his first night’s sleep in what felt like a life time.
Beatrice Prior
Beatrice Prior sat in the audience of the Choosing Ceremony without a single expression on her face. She thought of what faction she should choose. She looked to her left slightly at her brother Caleb who was fidgeting with his thumbs. Beatrice wondered what he would choose, would he choose abnegation–The faction of her birth? Would she? He told her that morning to “think of the family” what did that mean? Was he going to defer? Beatrice blinked and shook those thoughts out of her head. Her heart pounded as Jeanine read the name of each candidate off of her list.
“Bryan Pratt” Jeanine called.
Beatrice knew that her name would be soon or even next. She knew her responsibility to her parents, especially with the level of scrutiny that her family was under, with her parents being apart of the government. But this was her choice, it was the biggest moment she would ever undergo and this was her time not to be selfless but to actually choose for herself.
“Caleb Prior” Jeanine called.
Caleb chose Erudite, his mother and father looked with shock, how would this affect their family’s reputation? Their own son, Beatrice’s own brother, siding with the woman who attacked their faction with countless accusations.
Beatrice tensed up at hearing her brother’s name called; she would be next.
“Beatrice Prior”
Beatrice looked around as if she did not even recognize her own name. She looked around the sea of colored clothing of all the other attendees sitting under their faction’s section. All of the eyes in the room shifted to her as she stood up to approach the stage. She walked down the steps of the bleachers towards the platform and with each step she could feel the weight of her decision weighing down on her.
In front of her were 5 bowls, representing the five factions, on a tray in front of the bowls rested a silver knife and a cloth. Beatrice picked up the knife and made a slit within the palm of her hand and squeezed it so that blood would start to ooze out. She held it in the air as she tried to decide which faction would she choose.
Watching the red of her blood start to seep over the lines of her cut, Beatrice flashed back to her time with Tori in the testing room, where her results were inconclusive. She remembered her results for abnegation, erudite and dauntless. She remembered her Caleb’s advice to “think of the family”. She heard Jeanine’s words echo in her ears about how this would be our individual decision.
Beatrice took a deep breath in, held her hand over the abnegation bowl, and quickly shifted it to dauntless. Her blood sizzled in the bowl of burning coal.
Her family looked on with shock and disbelief. Caleb gave her a nod in salute to her choice and wished her well with his eyes. Her fellow dauntless cheered and roared in excitement.
“A stiff transfer? Wow, that’s something you don’t see everyday!” some loud mouthed kid from Dauntless exclaimed.
Beatrice took one final look at her parents still seated in the Abnegation sector, one glance at her brother with his new faction, and took a seat in Dauntless.
Thomas
The rising sunlight started to peer through the dusted helicopter windows. Thomas blinked open his eyes as the sun seeped through the bottom of his lashes. He turned to look at Theresa, who was still sleeping along with the rest of the gang, and he sighed. Everyone looked to him for leadership, but little did he know what would be in store for him now.
The blades of the helicopter slowed as it descended towards the ground. Murmurs of “Dude, where are we? and Thomas, what’s happening?” filtered throughout the belly of the aircraft. The rescuers in black lead each of the gladers off the helicopter and transported them by train to a large building. Thomas looked at the outside again, wondering about what those strange symbols meant that he kept seeing everywhere.
“Ay mate, why is everyone here dressed in different colors?” Newt questioned the rescuers dressed in black.
No one answered. Honestly, Thomas didn’t know the answer. Maybe the colors of the symbols had to do with their clothing…Thomas thought to himself.
“Alright initiates, welcome to Chicago. Due to your maze trials, you will be entered into Dauntless as initiates. Do what you’re told and live by the rules. Forget what you knew before. You’re Dauntless now.”
All eyes shifted to Thomas.
Chicago? Dauntless? Initiates? We were just in a maze and now we are being trapped again? Are we safe now? Is this how life is outside of the maze? What about WCKD? What role did they play in this? Series of questions filled Thomas’ mind, but all he had to do now was be brave and wait.
Beatrice Prior
“Welcome to your new factions. You will be trained in the faction of your choosing. This year unlike any other we will have guests from outside the wall be entered as initiates in dauntless."Jeanine said, as murmurs scattered throughout the building. No one had ever gone or came from outside of the wall in centuries. "No questions at this time please, you will not question our methods, everything we do is for the greater good of our society. These new comers will join Dauntless as initiates and will be placed under the same process as you. Thank you for your time and congratulations on your choice. Good Luck to you all. Dismissed.”
Suddenly, a group of teenage boys around Beatrice’s age were pushed into the ceremony room. They mingled into the Dauntless line as they ran out the building, down the stairs and out into the city square. Beatrice looked at the boys, strong, and filthy with raggedy clothes as if they had been through a war. The Dauntless born climbed up the building supports leading to the train dock. Beatrice had seen them do this before in her earlier years, so she ran up the sides, ran to catch the train, and jumped on.
Thomas
Of course, another blonde authority figure, this is all too familiar… Thomas thought to himself.
The rest of the gladers all filed into the clump with the other dauntless and they ran outside. Frypan hesitated from running with the group and shouted, “Minho, Thomas, where are we going!?” Thomas answered, “Just run with the group, heck I don’t know.” The boys and Theresa ran with the crowd, climbed up the metal support standards for the train, chased it, and ran on.
“Thomas…” Teresa whispered and gave him a worried look. Tightly packed in the train Thomas looked back at her and took her hand reassuringly and whispered back, “Everything’s going to be okay, I don’t think that they will hurt us.” She nodded, and they both looked forward.
Thomas noticed a small blonde girl sitting on the floor of the train, out of breath, dressed in gray clothing. She sat next to a dark skinned girl who appeared to be her friend. Her friend was dressed in black and white. I’ve got to know what these clothes mean. Thomas thought to himself. The girl in gray looked up at him, cracked a half smile and Thomas did the same.
“Thomas! These shanks are jumping!” Cried a voice from one of the gladers. Thomas looked outside and it was true, the rest of the dauntlesswere running and jumping out of the train and onto the gravel roofs of brick buildings.
“Alright everybody pair up, get ready to jump.” Thomas said. He took Teresa’s hand, ran to the back of the train, and on the count of three, they ran, jumped, and tumbled onto the roof.
After catching his breath and making sure the his friends were okay, they joined the rest of the dauntless that were surrounding a man.
“Alright listen up. I’m Eric. I’m one of your leaders. If you want to enter Dauntless this is the way in. And if you don’t got the guts to jump, then you don’t belong in Dauntless.”
Thomas’ eyes shifted to the boy to his right, dressed in blue, as he asked, “Is there water at the bottom or something?”
Eric replied, “I guess you’ll find out…or not. Somebody’s gotta go first. Who’s it gonna be?”
Thomas looked around in the group of kids, he certainly did not want to be first. Then again he looked at the scrawny blond girl, dressed in gray, something about her, made him curious. Was it that she was the only one dressed in such plain attire? Was it her unassuming presence that still seemed powerful…? He didn’t know, but he kept a close distance to her.
Then she did something that shocked him.
“Me.” She replied to Eric’s taunt.
All of the gladers along with the dauntless looked at each other left and right with open jaws. The rest of the kids in the clump dispersed, making a pathway for her to walk through.
She walked up to the ledge of the building, peered over the side to see the bottom, got on the ledge, and jumped.
Beatrice Prior
Beatrice looked over the building as some of the dauntless mocked her plain abnegation clothing.
“Be Brave”
She jumped.
Before Beatrice knew it she had hit a mesh net. She caught her breath and was picked up by a muscular dauntless leader, tall, incredibly handsome, and about two years her elder.
“What, you get pushed?”
“No” Beatrice replied still catching her breath.
“Whats your name?”
“B—” Beatrice stammered as she looked into his eyes. They were fierce, yet he also presented calm and kind.
“What is that a hard one? You can pick a new one if you want but make it good, You don’t get to pick again.” the leader said.
“Okay, uh–My name’s Tris.”
“First Jumper: Tris,” The boy announced to the other dauntless standing by as they cheered for her.
“Welcome to Dauntless.”
Tris looked around at the Dauntless compound.
A manly shriek came from the sky as another boy fell from the building. It was the boy from the train. The one that had noticed her.
Another leader welcomed into Dauntless and rushed him out of the way so that the next jumper could go.
“Hi, I’m Thomas.” the boy said with a nervous tone.
“Hey, I’m Tris.”
Thomas cracked another smile.
“So where are you transferring from, I don’t recognize your faction’s clothes.”
“Faction..uh..oh yeah right. Me and my crew are uh…apart of the new program I guess…transfers from beyond the wall.”
“Huh, Interesting” Tris replied. “No one has gone in or out from the wall in centuries.”
She saw the expression on the boy’s face change. Nudging him she said, “But hey we’re all new here, A stiff– first jumper. and an outsider–second! Not too shabby my friend.”
Stiff? Man, I thought our glader slang was weird. And friend. I like the sound of that. Thomas thought.
“Ha, so uh… do you think you could explain this faction thing to me?
"Sur–” Tris attempted to reply but was cut off by the leader boy who helped her off the net.
By this time the rest of the imitates had joined the group and surrounded Tris and Thomas.
Thomas
“Dauntless-born go with Lauren, Transfers, stay with me. Most of the time I work in intelligence but during your training, I’ll be your instructor. My name’s Four.
"Four? Like the number?” The girl in black and white interrupted.
“Exactly like the number.” Four responded.
Thomas could tell this was not a dude to mess with.
“What happened, 1 though 3 were taken?” the girl said sarcastically.
Four pivoted and walked forcefully towards the girl.
“What your name?” he said.
“Christina.” she replied with attitude.
“Well, Christina, first thing you will learn from me, If you want to survive here, keep your mouth shut. Do you understand me?” She nodded yes.
“Good.”
Thomas took a step back as if he was trying to make himself smaller and blend into the group, which was difficult considering his tall and broad stature.
Four then told the group to follow him. The dauntless compound reminded Thomas of the rustic unkept walls of the maze. The group walked down a long staircase of iron steps and their boots echoed against the steel walls. Thomas and Tris lead the line of initiates down a long tunnel into a high ceiling room that Four introduced as ‘The Pit’. “Its the center of life here at dauntless.” he said. Dauntless covered the floor of The Pit like ants.
Next, Four let the group into their sleeping quarters.
“You’ll be sleeping here for the next ten months.”
“Girls or boys?” a boy dressed in blue said.
“Both.” Four replied. Slight cheers came from the male initiates. The gladers cheered the most though, for it’d been a long time since they seen girls in that setting.
“Yo, this is sick. Teresa isn’t the only hot piece in here.” Minho said with a laugh.
“You guys are pigs.” Christina said while shoving Minho.
“If you like this, you’re gonna love the bathroom.” Four replied with a smirk.
Thomas looked at the open and exposed toilets and showers that were organized in rows, it was a definite improvement from the maze, but still.
“Alright, this concludes this crappy tour. Shower. Get changed. Bring your clothes to the fire pile. Dinner’s in an hour.”
“You hear that mate, shower and clothes and dinner. An actual meal. Don’t mind if I do, ay.” Newt said. Thomas looked around at the rest of the initiates and thought to himself that maybe, just maybe everything would be okay now. Everyone called ‘dibs’ on a bed and so he took the next one available. Tris called the bunk to the right of him and Minho to the left.
Frypan was the first to strip and turn on the shower water. He was so thrilled to feel hot water again. Gradually, Thomas made his way over to the showers, the warm water almost felt unnatural to him since it had been so long. He looked at the floor as a pool of water and blood ran into the drain. He felt sick to his stomach, was that Chuck’s blood. Was that all he had left? It was too late now, that last piece of him was gone.
Laid on the top of his bed was a jacket and pants with a dark red shirt. He changed, keeping his head down, trying not to make eye contact with the rest of the kids.
“Hey Tris.”
“Hey.”
“So uh the factions…this whole society and systeming… what’s the deal with the colors.Basically explain everything please.”
“Uh, okay. Society is divided into five faction, which is why you see large groups of people dressed in similar clothing. Each faction places value on a specific virtue. We spend our whole lives trying to focus on that specific value. There is abnegation, my former faction, who focuses on being selfless and helping others. We wear gray, well they wear gray in order to mask themselves and not draw attention to themselves. They are trusted with running the government because of this attitude, my parents are on the board. Amity values peace, they also take care of our farming and food supply for all of the factions. Erudite values knowledge, they wear blue. My brother deferred there. The leader of Erudite is that blond woman you saw at the end of the closing ceremony. Candor values honesty…everything is very black and white there. And this is Dauntless. We value bravery over everything. Through the rumors I’ve heard, you guys are equivalent to dauntless-born because of your "trials” whatever that means… Anyway, at sixteen everyone must go to that building you were dropped off at today in order to take an aptitude test. A hallucinogen is given to each candidate, and the results of the test are used in order to determine which faction you should be in. But, it is up to you to decide which faction you belong in. Unless well…you’re you…I don’t really know how you guys and girl really fit in…because you are transfers from the outside you’ll still be trained with those of us who deferred. I don’t know if this is helpful but, that’s all I can think of. Sorry.“
"Wow…that’s uh…alotta information Tris, thank you for that. I think that I get it. I’ll fill in the rest of the gladers.”
“Gladers?”
“Yeah uh that’s kind of what we were called where we were from… and hat’s another really long story with a lot of incomplete answers…”
“Oh, uh tha–thats okay. So who are your friends?”
Thomas pointed to each of his friends, gave a brief description, and thanked Tris again for catching him up to speed.
“Come on you bloody shank stop your flirting, hurry up, I’m hungry.” Newt yelled to Thomas.
Thomas jogged to the cafeteria along with Tris and Christina.
Tris
The rest of the initiates flooded into the lunch tables and began eating. Tris looked around the cafeteria wondering where she would sit. The rest of Thomas’ friends had already taken a table hostage and were digging in. Thomas stayed behind with her and Christina to chat, so there was not a lot of available seating.
“Maybe we should sit here?” Tris said as she gestured to a table. She spotted Four sitting by himself at the end of the table.
Why didn’t anyone want to sit with him…is he that intimidating? Hey, pull it together girl. You’re dauntless now.
Christina sat next to Tris and Thomas sat across the table on the other side next to two other faction transfers. Thomas dug into his food with out a single blink as if he hadn’t eaten in ages. Everyone else soon followed. Tris eyed the hamburgers that were there, in abnegation there were no hamburgers. Even from this small thing Tris realized how different this faction really was.
“Have you never seen a hamburger before?” Christina mocked.
“Pfft–no I’ve seen one I’ve just never eaten one.” Trish shyly replied.
“Abnegation eat plain food. A plant based diet with no sauces and a minimum of seasoning.” The boy seated next to Thomas said.
“Who’s textbook did you swallow?” Christina said with a laugh and flirty smile.
“Nice to meet you too, I’m Will. Erudite.” Christina smiled again after learning his name. Tris looked back at her food, trying to just get through the meal.
Christina interjected again saying,“ I’m surprised abnegation even eat at all.–Too selfish right? No wonder you left.” Christina chuckled.
“You gotta be pretty confident to be friends with a Candor…” Will said with his mouth full.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You have no filter, you say the first thing that comes to into your head.” Will proclaimed.
“You mean like you’re an idiot?” Another boy at the table said jokingly.
“Nice one Al.” said Christina.
Tris tried to remain quiet and observant trying to stay in the moment and remember all of the names that she had learned today.
“Hey, at least we’re honest.” Christina declared.
“Erudite can tell the truth ‘cause we have the facts.” Will snapped back.
Tris replied with an “Oooo he got you” and was interrupted with from a voice to her right. It was Four.
“I don’t want to hear about your old factions. You’re dauntless now.” Four said with a firm voice. Tris really couldn’t figure out this guy, one minute he was lifting her off a net and sarcastically making a joke, then he was exercising his authority so strong he resembled Eric.
Tris finally spoke up asking, “Where you a transfer too?…Or Dauntless-born?”
Four was taken a back, as if he was surprised that she had asked. He looked at her, and shook her head saying, “Are you kidding?”
“No.”
Will took a long long sip of his drink he just had to add to the awkwardness.
“What makes you think you can talk to me?” Four reluctantly responded.
Tris stammered for words and then finally spoke up.
“Maybe it’s because you’re so approachable.” She said with an eye roll. Thomas snickered at this, and finally looked up from his plate. After a long pause Four said, “Careful.” and took a long swig of his water. Four was then pulled away from his meal after one of his fellow dauntless leaders came bringing some news to his attention.
“You my friend, have a death wish.” Christina said with a pat on Tris’ shoulder.
“You know he was first in his class? They tried to recruit him for Dauntless leadership twice but he said no.” Will said cautiously.
“That was uh, really cool Tris.” Thomas said in a low voice.
“Thanks…OH guys, this is Thomas, he is uh from the outside, those are his friends over there, and they are joining us here at Dauntless as initiates in the new program. Dispersed welcomes and cheers emanated from the table.
"Sounds like just another person to try and knock you guys down on the ranking list. ” A boy named Peter chimed in as he nudged his companions Molly and Peter. Ignoring Peter, Thomas introduced himself.
“Where you from? How is it on the outside? And don’t lie (I’m a Candor at heart) and I will know.” Christina said.
“Oh uh, its a long story…I’d rather not talk about it, but isn’t that what we’re all here for? Choosing something new, and moving on…” Thomas said nervously, desperately trying to change the subject. “Uhh..I’ll drink to that!” Tris said, seeing Thomas needed an out, raised her glass and gave a toast to beingdauntless.
All of a sudden, the room became silent as a dark tall man walked into the room.
“Hello, I’m Max. I am one of the dauntless leaders. You have chosen to join the warrior faction, tasked with the defense of this city, and all of its inhabitants. We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, and the courage that drives one person to stand up for another. Respect that. Do us proud.” The dauntless-born started banging their cups, and cheering as they celebrated their faction and the days to come. The dauntless born lifted up the initiates so that they were surfing the crowd and cheered them on.
These kids are kinda crazy. But this was my choice. Despite the test results and the trials to come…I’m finally free. Goodbye Abnegation. Hello Dauntless.
Thomas
Thomas snuck out from under the excitement and gathered his friends around him in the corner of the room.
“Heyguys” he said. “So that was pretty crazy right.” “Yeah um, could you tell us what the bloody heck is going on here?” Newt said annoyed. Thomas tried his best to relate what Tris had told him to his friends.
“So what, hold up. We are in a strange city. Behind yet another wall. Being placed under more trials and 'training’ so that we can prove yet again more points to some authority that couldn’t give two klunks about us? Nah man. Shuck it. I say we run. Who’s with me?” Minho said.
“Slim it Minho! Look around. You were in the maze way longer than I was. Was there food, a proper bed, clothes, and better yet girls? I don’t think so. Lets say we do run. Where would we go? At least here we do what they tell us, we advance in the training and do some actual good of being able to protect a city of people. Do I trust these Dauntless people yet? Not. But when you think of our odds this seems pretty good to me. Did I mention the 3 meals a day part?” Thomas clapped back.
“Alright alright. I got it dude, I just don’t like being the greenies here, I’ll cool it.” Minho said releasing his defenses.
“Alright is every one in agreement? Say aye.” The rest of the group chimed in.
“And another thing, we are no longer in the glade, we are Dauntless now.”
Teresa pulled Thomas by the hand to the side so that they were in private saying, “Are you sure about this Tom? We don’t know anything about these people.”
“I know, but for now I needed the guys to believe in something. We’ve all spent too much time not believing in anything, now we have something new.”
“And what’s that?”
“Hope. Hope Teresa. Hope is the only driving force we’ve had. Hope is what got us to keep trying new methods to get us out of the maze. Hope is what’s going to get us through whatever these Dauntless leaders have us doing, hope in a bright and peaceful future… I know I asked the guys before, but I need to ask you. Are you with me?”
“I’m with you Thomas.” she replied reassuring him.
Thomas nodded in agreement. “Now, what we have to do is be brave.”
Teresa nodded, squeezed his palm and left to return back to the dorm. Thomas stood in the middle of the floor looking at the now empty cafeteria. He sighed with relief and began walking back towards the dorm.
You did it Thomas. You came into a new place and led a group of trapped people out of a maze. You hoped. You believed. You did it. You are brave. You are now dauntless. Said a woman’s voice in his head.
“I am Dauntless.” Thomas repeated aloud back to himself. He turned the corner, walked into the dorm, tucked himself into bed, and fell asleep.
