I'm all for Captain MacTavish never really naming Ghost by a pet name - not during sex, not to tease him, not out of principle.
Because that man was deprived of his own name for so long, identity taken from him, convinced he wasn't a person.
To MacTavish, it's always Riley or Simon. The only exception is John calling him "baby" on rare occasions when the affection he holds gets too much and he needs to express exactly how loved his boy is.
Thanks for coming to my hc ted talk - I'm emotional about them. 😭
Grian had done all the right things, pulled all the right strings.
One goal in mind.
Bring them back.
The watchers, the Gods already disliked him.
This would mean nothing, it's his server, his rules!
It took a bit of fiddling.
Cleo had the power, and Cleo did not like him, but Gem did! And she let him talk to Mumbo and Skizz.
They looked rotten. It hurt.
But it's ok. They were back. It was them.
« I loved you guys so much I concocted this whole scheme just to have you back! »
He said that with the biggest smile he could manage.
They were back. They were his again.
He couldn't let them go.
He had them for five minutes.
Five minutes he could look at their faces again.
Five minutes they smiled at him again.
Five minutes they were his, for no one to take away.
It hurt when the time was up. When they died- when he killed them (again. Because it had been all his fault. It had always been his fault. They'd said so themselves. The tower he built for them had only brought them despair.)
It hurt when they had to go back to their master.
Minions, they'd become.
It was the best he could do for them.
« Cleo said I could be your zombie again! »
When Mumbo said that, Grian was ecstatic.
He didn't believe it- not really. He knew better than to think Cleo would let him have Mumbo back.
But Mumbo wouldn't lie to him, would he?
He got to hold his face again.
Mangled. Dirty.
But his mustache was still there. His blue eyes were there, glassy and pale but Mumbo's.
They were the last thing he saw, as he sank into the river, a wound caused by Mumbo's axe in his back.
He heard a faint « I lied, I'm sorry! »
But it didn't matter.
« That traitor…! »
Grian had done all the right things, pulled all the right strings.
With only one goal in mind.
And they'd betrayed him. Turned their backs on him.
But they'd forgotten something.
He was the one who held the strings.
He was the one who brought them back, the one who could send them away again.
Messages flooded the chat.
Many, many messages- achievements, deaths…
One repeated over and over
[Mumbo was slain by Grian]
[Mumbo was slain by Grian]
[Mumbo was slain by Grian]
Sometimes with little differences.
[Mumbo was shot by Grian]
He didn't know what was happening to his mind.
« I WILL SLAUGHTER EVERY ONE OF YOU! »
The ringmaster had snapped.
The ringmaster was gone.
« End of the session for you. »
Purple hues floated around his arrow as it sank into the other's chest.
The feathers, his feathers were the last thing Mumbo saw.
Once a bright red, now taken over by a deep purple.
Currently working on a mini s3 rewrite with platonic Madwise/willel and jealous mike wheeler 😼 it's not gonna have anything to do w/ the actual mindflayer plot bc I prefer the drama!!! YAYYYY
Also its not the fake dating au have planned bc that'll be longer n more thought out!! But it is smth :0
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 2/?
Fandom: Batman (Comics)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Arthur Brown & Stephanie Brown, Stephanie Brown & Tim Drake
Characters: Stephanie Brown, Arthur Brown, Roman Sionis, Tim Drake, Original Characters
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Historical, 18th Century, Alternate Universe - Fantasy, pirate AU but not really, whaling au (sort of), (there are mermaids), the author used this as an excuse to spend 30+ hours in historical research, poor fatherhood as a narrative device, Physical Abuse, Morally Grey Parent Arthur Brown, he loves his daughter but he sucks, Implied/Referenced Ritual Sacrifice, Roman Sionis is there, historical essays in the footnotes, graphic description of non-human corpses, Blood and Injury, cross-dressing as a narrative device
Series: Part 1 of just offshore
Summary:
Stephanie Brown means to have her father out of her life by any means necessary. These means include disguising herself to trap him in a clever little scheme that means Arthur and his crew might rot in jail or the stocks before he can get back to her and her mother. But this crew is hunting something a little different, and there’s no way to predict how quickly she’s tangled in this net of her own devices.
(A historical AU based in a world where merfolk become common knowledge sometime in the 17th century and are fished and hunted commercially through the 18th. This story is placed somewhere in the 1720's.)
thoughts: i had a rough start, but i'm a little ahead for my 15k goal now, i've settled into the routine of writing more, i'm invested in my story (i fucking better be after writing and rewriting this thing for the last 9 years), and i'm certainly enjoying my made-up horrors more than the real life horrors right now 🙃
pairing: joel farabee x reader + best friend!kevin hayes
words: 4.0k
warnings: mentions of alcohol, bars, kissing, and ofc teasing by friends
author’s note: hi hello! i apologize for any errors as i’m eighteen and have never drank/gone go a bar before:) thanks, besties. also special tags to @joelsfarabees (helped me come up with the idea), @huggybug , @cartahhart79 , @quietblues , @ethancale , and @1-800-iluvhockey for encouraging + proofreading + and giving me ideas. and ofc @fiveminutesforfarabee for throwing hc’s about bf!joel with me to go back on for this fic. this wouldn’t have become a thing without any of you- i love you all forever<3 and @bitchinbarzal because i said i would tag you<3 your ig edits are immaculate
the fluorescent lights from the dance floor bounced off the blue swirls of the bar counter. it felt cool against your forearms compared to the warmth and humidity of the club- sweaty bodies smashed together, laughing as they downed drink after drink as if it was water. your eyes met the rim of your glass, filled with some alcoholic beverage that you had ordered half an hour ago. the ice was slowly watering it down, not that it mattered, as you honestly weren’t that interested in it.
your gaze broke from the glass as suddenly an arm found its way around your shoulders. you flinched slightly before relaxing into the familiar feel of kevin hayes. his cologne smelled of sandalwood and lavender, something that was unique to him.
“fuck yeah! y/nnnn!” he slurred, pulling you closer as he swayed side to side, “where’s your lover boy, bestie?”
you chuckled, softly pushing him into the wooden stool next to you, “he’s not my lover boy, kev, he’s over there chatting with teeks and ratty.”
of course, kevin was talking about joel. you and joel had met several months ago from mutual friends, kevin being one of them. the moment you had met him, his honey pooled eyes, goofy smile, and just the amount of calm he brought to a room stole your heart. however, you knew that the gorgeous hunk of man was so obviously out of your league. joel was a national hockey league player with a bright future and a huge heart; someone you felt would never be interested in you.
“fuck that! you want him to be!” kevin giggled, as he poked your knees repeatedly with his finger. “i think that fucker likessss you!”
you snorted, “yeah okay, hayesy. whatever you say, dude.” you slipped your drink, grimacing at the slight burn of the watered-down alcohol. you knew kevin was drunk, but your heart ached to believe that maybe, just maybe, joel would feel the same way about you.
“shit- can- can i tell you a secret?” kevin hiccuped, a mischievous grin dancing across his face.
“sure, kev. what’s up, buddy?” you motioned for the bartender, mouthing water, pointing at the 6’5 drunk next to you.
the bartender chuckled, sliding you a glass as kevin continued.
“i-i know something about beezer that you don’t!”
“i’m sure you know a lot of things about joel that i don’t.” you passed him the water, satisfied as he downed half of it in one gulp, the large bar glass looking small in his hand.
“no, no-“ he coughed, placing the glass back on the bar counter, “fuck- i mean- he likes you! shit- you’re all he fucking talks about during practice and games. god, he never shuts the fuck up about you, y/n/n!” he was giggling like a schoolgirl, too out of it to notice how red your face had become. “hold on, i’m gonna go get another fucking drink! byeee y/n/n! i looove you, bestie!” kevin gave you a half squeeze before wandering in a random direction.
watching him walk away, you felt your heart start to race. what the hell was kevin talking about? joel? have feelings for ME? you thought, yeah okay. out of habit, your eyes wandered to where joel was standing with travis, oskar, and isaac. his head was thrown back, bouts of laughter escaping his lips, which of course hid his teeth. he was dressed in a white collared shirt, the first few buttons undone with black jeans. his chest was in full view, his gold chain glistening against the vibrant lights of the club. your eyes followed his arms to his hands, the left one holding a beer while the right moved as he talked.
your eyes closed as you pursed your lips, butterflies filling your stomach. he looked incredible. opening your eyes again, you saw a new addition coming to joel’s presence. kevin.
you chuckled as he stumbled into joel, grinning as he did so. you sipped your drink again, watching the five interact. however, you choked as kevin pointed at you, joel’s eyes finding yours.
attempting to regain your composure, you offered a smile and a tiny wave that joel returned before turning back to his friends. you watched kevin babble to them and point in your direction before he started heading over to you again.
“yes, hollywood? how may i be of service?” you sipped your drink, attempting to mask the anxiety of whatever shenanigans he was up to as he approached.
“need you to come with me-“ he slung an arm around your shoulders, pulling you with him. “it’s important, bestie.”
“christ- okay. hold on, buddy.” you laid a bill on the counter, paying for the drink you had barely touched as you grabbed the rest of your things. “okay, now, where are we going?”
kevin gave you a mischievous grin, “i’m being your fucking wingman!”
you sputtered, confused as he led you across the room, “w-what? what the hell are you talking about?”
“just trust me, babe- shit’s going to be great.”
you groaned, “kevin- you’re way too drunk for this!”
he scoffed, “actually, y/n/n, i drank water, remember? i’m cool as a damn cucumber.”
“yeah- and you went for a drink afterward, remember?” you mocked him, “besides- when the hell do you ever say you’re-“ you were cut off abruptly when you came to a screeching halt. a few feet away stood the same man you were admiring from the bar moments ago. joel.
“now here’s the plan-“
“plan?” your head whipped over to kevin bewildered, “what?”
“the plan for you to admit to joel you-“ he started, but you slapped your hand over his mouth.
“no. he’s-“ you ran your hand through your hair before pulling the 6’5 giant outside of the bar. as you gently made your way through the friday bar crowd, you could feel yourself spiraling. sure, kevin did know joel better than you, but joel liking you? you had gone through endless scenes where you confessed to him, but none of them ever resulted in what you wanted: reciprocated feelings- much less a relationship.
your thoughts broke as you opened the bar doors; the february air nipped at your arms, and the absence of a coat caused you to shiver.
“listen, i appreciate you. i do. you’re a great person and friend- and maybe an even better hockey player, but i’m not telling joel anything.”
he scrunched his face in confusion, his blue eyes searching your face for an answer, “what? why?”
you turned your head away from him, biting the inside of your cheeks harshly, struggling to find the words you wanted to say. the street was lit up by streetlights, apartments, and businesses that were strangely still open at midnight.
“kevin-“ you sighed, “he’s out of my league. he plays in the NATIONAL hockey league. he’s gorgeous, intelligent, funny… he could have anyone he wants- not me. i know what you said earlier, but… there’s no way he’s talking about me. you’re hardly present, dude.”
kevin’s face softened, “y/n…” he blinked his eyes a few times before putting a comforting hand on your shoulder, “listen, i know i’m fucking drunk right now, but you should hear him talk about you. not anyone else. you. he’s fucking like- god, i’m going to ruin his chances because i’m fucking-“ he groaned, “y/n/n, he’s whipped for you. i’ve never seen him like this- we’re all sick of him. you’ve gotta talk to him- i know you like him too.”
your heart was hammering in your chest again. joel? liking you back? it felt like a dream. you felt so giddy as if you could do anything- which could be kevin’s second confession or the decent amount of alcohol in your system. “are you messing with me?”
he shook his head rapidly, “i mean every word, dude.”
you rubbed your hands on the scratchy, black material of your jeans, the anxiety and giddiness mixing in all at once. “okay.”
“huh?” kevin scrunched his face in confusion.
“be my wingman.”
he squealed (which honestly threw you off a bit, seeing as you didn’t know such a sound could come from someone that tall), “y/n, everything’s going to be great. here’s the plan.”
——
you had never felt this nervous in your life. your hands were clammy; you kept wiping them off on your black jeans to no avail.
kevin’s hand was resting gently in the middle of your back, rubbing small circles, attempting to at least relax you a bit. he had already given you two shots of tequila for confidence, but they didn’t seem to be working as you both walked closer to the high table where joel, isaac, travis, and oskar sat. you could hear joel’s laugh from a mile away, causing butterflies to build in your stomach.
“hey, guys!” kevin grinned, “look who i found!”
all four men offered hellos, immediately including you in the conversation of doors versus wheels. you were only half paying attention, your full attention being on joel. his brown eyes were concentrated as he discussed and took the side of doors, which made you accidentally snort in laughter.
joel turned to you, a smirk dancing across his face, “you’ve got something to say, hm?”
“no-“ you grinned, chuckling, “it’s just obviously wheels.”
travis immediately signaled a high five, which you reciprocated. “thank you! someone with sense. i’ve been struggling with these guys forever!” his own brown eyes twinkled, seeming to grin as much as his mouth did.
“oh shut up, teeks. it’s totally doors.” isaac groaned, taking a sip of his beer, his other arm resting on the edge of the table.
“it’s fuckin’ wheels! office chairs, stupid.” kevin piped up, beaming as you and travis both high-fived him.
joel, noticing a particular blonde was quiet, nudged his head towards oskar. “osky, baby, what’s on your mind?“
oskar set his beer down with a soft smile, “i have my thoughts, but you guys are more entertaining to watch.”
the conversation continued, laughter and teasing erupting often. by the time kevin beckoned for travis, isaac, and oskar to follow him for more drinks (not before he sent a wink your way and mouthing go), it was only joel with the opinion of doors.
“i can’t believe after all that evidence you’re still saying doors!” you exclaimed, joel throwing his head back in laughter.
“maybe i’m just saying it to see your reaction,” he smirked, lifting his beer to his lips, swallowing what was left.
you glared at him, slightly kicking him under the table, “farabee, you’re a menace.”
“says you! you’re kicking me!” he teased, slightly kicking you back.
“you’re a hockey player!” you retorted, “you feel nothing in your calves!”
joel fake gasped, “how rude of you to assume they feel nothing!”
“beezer, you get hit with high sticks, slashes, and pucks on a regular basis. my size seven foot isn’t doing anything to you.”
he stuck his tongue out at you as you laughed. the energy around you felt electric. music blared over the speakers as you both got lost in conversation.
as you felt joel’s fingertips creep against your own, the familiar chords of paper rings by taylor swift caused you to break out in a grin.
“cmon farabee- you have to dance with me!” you closed the distance, grasping his hand and slipped out of the tall, wooden chair.
joel‘s face reddened as the quick source of contact, letting you lead the way. “but babe!” he whined, “i can’t dance!”
the nickname caused your face to do the same as you pulled him onto the dance floor. “who cares?”
in response, he gave you a nervous smile before spinning you around. his white shirt opened revealing more of his chest and chain.
“see? you’re doing great!” your eyes found his, trying not to stare at his neck as you gave him a reassuring smile.
you both danced a while, laughing as the other stumbled a little. the room around you melted again. it didn’t matter to joel that it was late and he had an early practice tomorrow. nor did it matter to you that here you were, dancing the night away while you had a final paper to work on. the bodies around you seemed to disappear. the budding chemistry that had shied away during the first months of friendship had now come with full force. not that either of you would admit it to each other in the moment, but this felt different.
little did you know, joel felt dizzy. having your hands wrapped around his? he felt like he was dreaming. his eyes kept finding your lips, which was engulfed in a smile at him each time. joel could hardly keep his rhythm, too infatuated with you.
song after song played, before finally settling on a slow one.
“may i?” joel’s hands softly found their way to your waist, watching your face for any signs of discomfort.
you gave him a soft nod as your hands found their way to his neck.
a comfortable silence fell over the two of you. moments passed before the melody of joel’s sweet compliments fell upon your ears. “you look so beautiful, you know.” he muttered, continuing to gently sway your bodies back and forth.
your cheeks reddened, his voice echoing in your head just as the feeling of his hands that rested near your belt loops started to sink in. “i was- i was just thinking the same about you.” your voice came out softer than you intended, as your fingers gently started playing with the ends of his hair, attempting to test the waters. the boundaries of this dance- of whatever this was- were unclear. sure, kevin had told you joel had liked you. sure, this seemed pretty romantic with the whole slow dancing and being called babe. however, everything was still unsaid which increased your anxiousness of the whole situation.
noticing your apprehension, joel sent you a soft smile and a gentle nod, letting you know it was okay.
in comfortable silence, you both danced together. it felt nice to just be with joel. having the same friends as well as being friends, everything felt chaotic. but here and now? though the music was loud, being connected with simple touches was exhilarating in the calmest way.
“hey,” joel mumbled after the song ended, “it’s getting late. do you need a ride home?” his fingers gently slipped under your shirt, rubbing gentle circles in your sides, still swaying.
“no, no. i’m okay. kev was my-“ you cut yourself off, your face scrunching in confusion as the realization hit you, “what the hell happened to our friends?”
he chuckled, scratching the back of his neck sheepishly, “no clue- kinda glad they disappeared though- nice to be with just you, y/n/n.”
you felt your face heating up as you hid in his shoulder, “shut up, farabee.”
a laugh echoed through his lips, his chest vibrating with the sound, “sorry, y/n.”
the comfort yet excitement you found in the moment made you dizzy. the buzz of the alcohol faded, but the buzz of joel was building. HIS hands on your sides; HIS chest against your face. you were on fire. your skin felt hot as you slowly looked up at him, his hand finding your face.
time felt slow as you watched his eyes glance at your lips as you glanced at his until you found his eyes again.
joel’s pupils were blown and only focused on you.
“can… can i kiss you?” he whispered, eyes scanning your face for any signs of discomfort.
you nodded, a gentle smile taking over as he finally pressed his lips against yours.
the feeling of joel’s lips on yours was electrifying. it felt like fireworks were exploding in every nerve of your body. if this were the princess diaries or some older film, you’d have the foot pop. you never wanted it to end.
——
you and joel kissed for a long time, his gentle lip bites and face holding drove you crazy in the best way. fireworks still gently exploded throughout your veins, and the feeling of his face against your palms made you feel dizzy.
when he did finally pull away, cheers and whoops exploded from the booth behind you, causing you to whip around to find the culprits. meanwhile, joel’s arm found its way protectively around your waist- pulling you closer.
kevin, oskar, travis, and isaac had begun to all high-five each other.
“fucking finally, dude!” a huge grin covered kevin’s face as he barreled over, crushing you both into a hug. “i’m so glad this is finally out in the open. you guys are fuckin’ perfect for each other!”
“i had to get the right moment!” joel replied, “this is the one that matters, kev! i couldn’t just wing this shit.”
a huge smile covered your face as the words left his mouth. “one that matters, huh?”
realizing what he said, joel’s eyes met the tiled floor as he blushed with a soft smile, “well… yeah. it’s you.”
although the club was loud, a comfortable silence fell over the six of you. though neither you or joel knew it, the peace that your friends felt for you was immediate. they knew how much you liked each other from the beginning. it was the small things. it was oskar that first started noticing the small stares joel would give you from across the room. it was isaac that noticed how different joel would act when you were around- even before you met- back when you were just kevin’s friend. it was travis that noticed how your eyes seemed to gloss over when you and joel were properly introduced to each other. finally, though, it was kevin who pieced together that the person joel was whining and going on about was you- his best friend.
“joel, next time, maybe try not to wait six months to ask them out.” travis chirped, earning a glare from the man in question.
you blushed, kissing his shoulder, “six months?” you teased, giving his hand a gentle squeeze for reassurance.
pretending not to hear you, joel sent you a sheepish smile, “so… do you still want me to drive you home?” his arm still wrapped around your waist.
you chuckled, noticing his change in demeanor, “i do, is that okay?”
“yeah, y/n/n! cmon. i’ll drive you home, yeah?” joel’s lips found the crown of your head, sending the boys a wave, ignoring the teases they sent your way.
as you both started to make your way out, your eyes found kevin’s as he gave you a thumbs up. you mouthed thank you, watching as he shook his head with a smile.
turning back as joel opened the door for you, your hand found his. “i had a great time tonight.”
his calloused fingers, though rough, felt soothing against the top of your knuckles as you both walked. “me too. i’ve wanted to do that for so long.” he admitted, “i just never thought in a million years that you’d like me back.”
screeching to a halt, your head whipped around to face him bewildered. “what? you- joel? are you serious?”
he chuckled at your reaction, gently pulling you to walk again, but stopping when he realized you were serious. “well… yeah. most people only like me for my money. you aren’t like that. you’re going to college- you could have anyone you want. i’m just a hockey player. i never finished school. sure, i have a career that i’m somewhat successful in, but i mean- i don’t have a degree. this ends in what? twenty years? that’s not stability. don’t get me wrong, i love the game. i wouldn’t change my life for anything- this is a dream and i’m so grateful for all the opportunities i have. but for you? you deserve someone with an education- someone who can provide for you and be home for you all the time. you and kevin are close, you know what it’s like. i just… i never thought that you would downgrade your options for someone like me.”
you felt yourself start to spiral. the facts that joel firstly, liked you first, and secondly, didn’t think he was good enough for you hit you like a truck. the same man that you had been crushing on for months and sneaking glances at from afar thought he wasn’t good enough for YOU.
“joel- what? how could-“ you were sputtering, struggling to find the right words to say. “how could you even think that? i’m not trying to be invalidating, but you’re… you. you’re becoming one of the best hockey players in the league. you were drafted at eighteen. g said you were going to beat all of his records- not just anyone, but claude giroux said that to you. you have the biggest heart of anyone i know. you’re constantly putting your all into the game and life. joel, no offense, you could be working at wawa and I wouldn't give a shit. i like you because you’re you- not because of your career or how much money you make. you’re an incredible human being, joel farabee. i never want to hear you say any different.” you finished, slightly out of breath.
joel just stared at you, his mouth slightly agape.
“alright. now that that’s taken care of, c'mon. i’m tired.” you grabbed his hand, pulling him to his car that sat a few feet away.
wordlessly, he opened the car door for you as he unlocked it, still in a daze. you watched as he got into the driver’s seat before he turned to you.
“that was one of the sweetest things anyone has ever said to me. thank you for believing in me.” joel sent you a toothless smile, before starting the car.
the ride to your apartment was quiet besides the gentle hum of the radio and the beating of your heart as his hand found yours.
as he pulled into the parking lot of your apartment complex, he parked the car wordlessly before jogging over to open your door for you.
“what a gentleman.” you giggled, as you took his hand.
“only for the best.” joel smiled as he shut the car door behind you.
hand in hand, you both started the walk to the elevator. of course, joel held open every door for you- excluding the elevator button as he remembered how kevin said you loved to do so. the elevator ride was also silent, the two of you simply buzzing from the effects of each other.
as the elevator reached your floor, your smile fell a little, knowing that your time with joel was almost to an end. before you knew it, you were face to face with your door.
“so… i had a great time tonight,” you said, breaking the silence, and pressing a gentle kiss against his cheek.
“me too.” he grinned at you as you pressed another kiss to his nose. “maybe we could… do it again, sometime? just us?”
you exhaled, letting out a breath you didn’t realize you were holding. “yeah… i’d love that. i’d really love that.”
“great. tomorrow at seven?”
“that’s perfect.”
joel couldn’t stop smiling and neither could you. his right hand gently raised to your face, holding it gingerly as he gently leaned in.
your heart was racing, even if you both had just made out an hour prior. just like before, fireworks were exploding in every nerve in your body as his lips touched yours. you felt like you were floating.
the kiss seemed to be too short as he softly pulled away, “i’ll see you at seven. goodnight, baby.” giving your hand a squeeze, he waved as you went inside your apartment.
you slid against the door, a blush covering your cheeks. you couldn’t believe that joel had just kissed you. you felt so giddy.
you fished your phone out of your pocket and immediately sent a text to kevin.
to kevin mccallister 🏒: i owe you one. thank you so much<3 guess who has a date tomorrow @ 7 !! spoiler- me 😌
as if on cue, your phone dinged. confused as kevin never replies that fast, you looked at your phone again, immediately breaking out in a smile.
from joel 🥰: you’re an absolute dream. just left and i can’t get enough of you. can’t wait to see you tomorrow💞
Pope's eyes slanted when the blond boy turned on the lamp. Until then, they had been in the intimacy of Pope's dark bedroom, the moon as their only source of light.
"Pope, it's like our first time making out in your bed. I need to see your gorgeous face."
The dark haired boy snorted, and JJ's smile turned into that boyish grin of his that made Pope positively melt.
"You're so corny."
"Yeah, yeah. Come here."
send me a ship and a prompt word and I’ll write a 3-sentence fic
