a short thing for day 5 (if you squint and hope and interpret the prompt veeeeeery loosely) of @date2die4's kittails week. pizzaverse, so you know it's stupid
"I think the new kid hates me," Tails whispers nervously, hunched over the cafeteria table.
"What makes you say that?" Sonic asks. He very carefully doesn't look at said new kid. Knuckles, on the other hand, has no such compunctions; he leans to the side to look past Tails at the new kid in his class, sitting a few tables away and glaring daggers into Tails' back.
Knuckles whistles, long and low. "What the hell did you do to that guy? He looks like he wants to tear your head off."
Tails draws his shoulders up even further, like he can protect his neck that way. "Nothing! Or, well," he sighs, "I don't know. I don't think I did anything, but…"
"But?" Sonic and Knuckles prompt in unison.
"But I think he hated me on sight," Tails says. "We talked for the first time yesterday at robotics club and I—" He groans. "I was excited to talk to him, because he's supposed to be really smart like I am, so I called him Kit as a nickname and he said don't call me that. Then I called him by his full first name and he said don't call me that either."
The despondent look on Tails' face makes Sonic fear for the answer, but he still has to ask. "What did he want you to call him instead?"
"Nothing," Tails says glumly. "He said, don't talk to or refer to me at all."
Sonic winces. "Ouch."
Next to him, Knuckles does a poor job of stifling his laughter. Sonic elbows him in the ribs.
"I don't think he really meant that," Sonic says. "If he really wanted you to basically pretend he doesn't exist, he wouldn't be staring at you like that."
Tails' ears droop. "He's staring because we got paired up for a group project."
"Seriously?" Sonic asks.
"He's going to kill you when your back is turned," Knuckles says.
"I know," Tails groans, dropping his forehead onto the cafeteria table. Knuckles takes the opportunity to steal a seemingly forgotten fry. Sonic elbows him again. "I have no idea how I'm supposed to—"
He's interrupted by the bell. Knuckles steals the last handful of Tails' fries, stuffs them in his mouth, then gets up and claps Tails sympathetically on the back when he passes by. Sonic and Tails get up slower, lingering as long as they can get away with.
"I'm sure it'll be fine," Sonic says. "He just has to warm up to you."
"Maybe," Tails sighs. "I guess I'll see you after class? If Ki—I mean, if he doesn't kill me before then."
Sonic laughs and gives Tails a quick side-hug before letting him leave. He makes his own way in the opposite direction—then pauses after a couple of paces when he notices an open notebook on the ground.
"Hey," he says, stooping down to get it, "you dropped this. Uh—"
He manages to catch sight of just a few of the words and doodles on the page—hearts, Miles, Kitsunami Prower—before it's snatched from his hand.
"Sorry," Sonic says to the fennec fox glaring up at him. "I didn't mean to look, or anything. But—"
He doesn't get the chance to finish. Kitsunami makes an aborted motion with his hand, then stomps off.
Sonic looks after him, smiling faintly. Seems he was right—things between Tails and Kit will work out just fine.
So it turns out I've written quite a lot over the years.
If you're interested in wintershock/shieldshock/buffy crossovers/general MCU mischief, check below:
(Now with added TVDU!)
WinterShock
Series
The Pizza Dog Chronicles
pizza dog
/ pitsə dɒɡ /
noun
a domesticated (mostly) carnivorous omnivorous four legged mammal, supposedly related to the common wolf (canis lupis), typically be found in one of two places: the kitchen, or any other place where food is.
not a cat.
(18 Fics - and counting)
The Wider Pizza-Verse
These are all set within the world that Pizza Dog inhabits, but he is not the main focus of these stories, which instead concentrate on the burgeoning relationship between Bucky Barnes & Darcy Lewis.
(15 Fics - and counting)
A Small Slice of Life
Excerpts and outtakes from the Pizza-verse.
Some behind the scenes stuff, some alternate looks, some expansions on scenarios detailed in Pizza Dog Chronicles.
(3 Fics)
50 Ways to Meet Your Lover
50 different ways that Bucky meets Darcy.
(3 Fics - and counting)
Non-Series
When We Collide (We Come Together)
Wakanda has been compromised.
Steve Rogers, no longer Captain America and now an internationally wanted criminal, manages with the help of King T'Challa to remove James Buchanan Barnes before things go completely south.
Rogers leaves him with the only person he realistically can. Darcy Lewis.
Barnes, awakened prematurely from cryo-sleep and still missing one arm as well as his sense of humour, is not impressed.
The Only Logical Solution
Bucky's pining after a girl. Darcy wishes the guy she's gone on would notice her.
Somehow, there's only one logical solution.
(Warning : Explicit)
The Working Girl's Guide to Taming Your Imaginary Boyfriend
Jane, who was only trying to help - honest - inadvertently stitches Darcy up.
Darcy, who's never been known to back down from a challenge, runs with it. Awkwardly.
Bucky Barnes doesn't know what's about to hit him.
You & Me (We Gotta Whole Lotta History)
When Jane is summoned by Tony Stark to work alongside the Avengers, Darcy tags along but after a workplace accident finds herself thrown back and forth against her will through history. In the present timeline, Steve struggles with the Winter Soldier and what may or may not be left of Bucky within the hollow shell that haunts him. In the past, Darcy struggles to reconcile the man she meets across space and time with the assassin that arrives at the tower strapped to a gurney with armed guards afraid to let him out of their sight.
Back in Black (with @wunderlass)
Bucky’s the mysterious newcomer to Ramsay Street and everyone thinks he’s bad for Darcy. This is the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Australian soap opera style.
Advent
advent
ˈadv(ə)nt,-vɛnt/
noun
noun: advent; plural noun: advents; noun: Advent
Old English, from Latin adventus ‘arrival’, from advenire, from ad- ‘to’ + venire ‘come’.
1.
the arrival of a notable person or thing.
L-O-V-E (Love the Way You Give it to Me)
Bucky arrives home late after a mission as Captain America. Darcy's promised to wait up for him. (Explicit)
Ever After
When Bucky prevents little Darcy Lewis from breaking a limb or two as she falls down the stairs, he's unprepared for what the bump on her head that he was unable to stop will bring them both.
All That Hocus Pocus
Darcy Lewis does a good deed, and rescues a cat from outside her local grocers.
All she wanted was to be a good person, and maybe catch up with the other, more traditional, witches. She's in for a nasty shock.
A Twist in the Tale
Darcy's helping out whilst Jane does her bit to promote STEM to a class of little girls. They've been tasked with 'Adopt a Soldier', a program that organises letters and care packages to soldiers serving overseas. In the meantime, Jane's working hard on the Einstein-Rosen Bridge theory and when it becomes practical then the program changes quite significantly.
Do Not Count the Candles (But Notice the Light They Give)
He’s disappeared.
It’s his birthday party, the one that Stark insisted on throwing for him, and he’s just gone. Vanished like hot breath on a mirror, there and then gone, no trace left behind. No one else, she thinks, has noticed yet. Steve will, give it another ten minutes maybe and he’ll look up from the pool table where Sam is currently kicking his ass, and he’ll realise that Bucky is nowhere to be seen.
Spellbound
Halloween is 'Come As You Aren't' night; and Bucky's trying out something else for size. (Explicit)
Do You Want to Play a Game?
It had been Barton’s idea.
His idea, and his grey eyes crinkled and the corners of his mouth twitched as he looked over at Natasha whilst explaining it. The game, he said, was called Assassins.
Natasha’s right eyebrow raised at that, but she made no other comment.
Stark, also looking over at Romanoff, grinned. “Continue, Legolas.”
Shieldshock
Series
Perfect Storm (a duology, complete)
Having suffered a long week together in a tiny safe house in the Scottish Highlands, Darcy and Steve are trapped for another night when the weather turns on them. (Explicit)
The Boys in Blue
The MCU meets the Her Majesty's Finest
Non-Series
Baby Mama
What to do when your best friend has the world's cutest baby, and your biological clock suddenly starts ticking loud enough for the whole Avengers tower to hear? (Explicit)
If You're Looking for Someone (To Write Your Breakup Songs About)
Steve Rogers is a shitty boyfriend. And Darcy Lewis is - finally - going to do something about that.
Pennies & Dimes (For a Kiss)
Steve has the bright idea of selling kisses for charity. Jane's not certain why Darcy's not jumping at the chance.
0800-DRCY-LWS
Steve Rogers dials an epic wrong number; but maybe – just maybe – it was the right number all along.
Ain't Dead Yet
It's an otherwise quiet day in the Wild West when Miss Darcy Lewis seeks out one James Buchanan Barnes, he's fully intending to take the drink she's paid for and leave her be. But a wedge of cash turns his head, and suddenly Barnes is forming a man hunt to track down the fella that shot Lewis' father. Only problem is, Barnes isn't the quick draw he used to be, not after that accident.
Enter one Steve Rogers; decent marksman, preacher's son and all around upstanding citizen. Lewis & Barnes are about to change his entire world view. (Explicit)
Today's Special
Of all the diners in all of New York, he had to walk into hers. (Explicit)
Walk Me to the Water, Wash Away My Sins
Steve Rogers goes to church every Sunday to absolve his sins, even if he does it out of habit and duty more than faith these days. He finds that there are other ways to atone when he's on his knees. (Explicit)
Little White Lies
Steve Rogers has a problem with the Fourth of July. Darcy helps him end it with a bang. (Explicit)
In The Dark of the Night
Darcy's troubled by nightmares. Steve has a solution. (Explicit)
Denial
Steve doesn't think he's allowed to have the things he wants. (Explicit)
Distraction
Darcy Lewis is bored. Steve Rogers has a serious crush.
And Hawkeye always hits his target, even when hammered. (Explicit)
Slayerverse
These Endless Days (Are Finally Ending in a Blaze)
Following the events of Civil War, the Avengers are disbanded, scattered and in hiding - and not coping all that well. The rise of anti-superhuman feeling continues, and it's not only the Avengers who are feeling the effects. Steve Rogers and team are about to discover a whole other world, and with it comes what might be the biggest threat they've ever faced.
Photograph
When the chips are down, Steve knows a guy who can help.
Fun General Fics
Justice is Blonde (Legally Avenged)
The United States vs Bucky Barnes.
The Winter Soldier is called to account for his crimes. He needs a miracle. He needs a decent lawyer. He needs Elle Woods.
He just doesn't know it yet.
The Lemon is in Play
Steve takes a dim view when the team want to play games on missions.
They don't take an awful lot of notice ...
Old Dogs, New Tricks
Spotting a loophole, a flaw in their logic and ruthlessly exploiting it, Bucky enthusiastically signs up for a senior citizenship offered by Stark Industries science division. Steve has little option but to sign up with him.
The Wrong Kind of Service
Bucky's therapist suggests he gets a service dog.
It doesn't really work out that way, for anyone involved.
Do a Good Turn Daily
Steve returns to the tower every Thursday evening, looking like he’s been fighting the Nazis again.
TVDU (The Vampire Diaries Universe)
Series
Milestones (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5)
Five times Klaus Mikaelson helped Caroline and her kids - whether she knew it, or not.
Darkest Before the Dawn (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)
Caroline deals with Klaus' death.
Standalone
You'll Come Back Each Time You Leave (Explicit)
Klaus, suffering the loss of Camille, finds himself in Mystic Falls chasing respite.
Here's Where She Meets Prince Charming
The ill-advised Mystic Falls Halloween Fright Night is upon them again, and Caroline has her hands full in more ways than one.
He Told Me He Liked Turner
Instead of the Miss Mystic Falls date, Klaus' agreed date happens a little differently.
Doppelgängland (Explicit)
Klaus Mikaelson has pissed off the wrong witch.
However, he's never been one to not turn a situation to his advantage.
Wake Me Up When September Ends
Caroline, mourning the loss of her mother, switches off her humanity and high-tails it to New Orleans.
@maiyashu made this really cute and beautiful Instagram post of Pizzaverse Dave being silly and drawing little monsters/creatures on the notes he leaves for Alan and their kids around the house. Of course, Alan shows off his husband's work on Instagram. Under the artwork is an accompanying ficlet set in the future for the Pizzaverse timeline. Thank you dear Shu for your gorgeous (and funny) artwork! Happy Father's Day to the boys!
Title: A Little Piece
Pairing: Dave/Alan
Rating: General
Tags: Pizzaverse, Kid Fic, Fluff
Dave was always amused whenever Alan teased him about being the one in their relationship who was more addicted to social media. It seemed they were both on an even keel; Alan posted more often, while Dave had a variety of accounts across various platforms that he’d lost interest in after the initial posting frenzy. They had their different addictions too: Dave liked the spontaneity of Twitter and TikTok, while Alan for some reason preferred Facebook and Reddit. But Instagram was their common vice, and most of their friend circle were on it as well.
Before fatherhood, Dave had imagined that his use of social media would dwindle because he simply wouldn’t have the time. But instead he’d found the opposite to be true: now he wanted to post about Alan, Paris and Stella all the time, and he didn’t even care if no one outside their family and a few chosen friends would find it cute.
Of course, both Dave and Alan took care to obscure the faces of their daughters. But the adorable things they did were up for grabs: Paris’ first steps, then followed by Stella’s in a few years. Their first stuffed toys. Their first drawings. Dave shamelessly spammed his IG feed with various pictures and videos, and refused to feel bad about it because Martin was doing the same with his kids, and so was Fletch, who seemed convinced that his daughter was a maths prodigy.
Of course, Dave posted pictures of Alan on his feed as well. Naturally his husband was usually included if it was a picture or video with one of the girls, such as Alan helping Paris with her homework or feeding Stella at dinnertime. But sometimes Dave saved a few precious shots he’d snuck on his phone, like Alan frowning at the computer in his tiny makeshift home studio, or stealing a rare moment after the girls had gone to bed to listen to one of the many records he owned. Those didn’t get as many likes and comments as anything Dave posted of the girls, but he didn’t care much.
In truth, Dave would have probably gone on like this if Alan hadn’t taken him aside one night and asked him why he’d stopped posting pictures of his art. “My art?” Dave echoed, genuinely surprised that Alan had been keeping track because Dave certainly hadn’t.
“Yeah, your paintings.” Alan gestured towards Dave’s most recent effort, which was a white cat posing regally by a candle. Even that had been painted more than a year ago, before Stella had come into their lives. “You don’t really post them anymore. Or paint much more, for that matter.”
Dave just kept staring at Alan in astonishment. When they had gotten married and subsequently made the decision to become parents via surrogacy, it had been pretty much an unspoken agreement between them that family and work would have higher priority. This meant their hobbies were naturally the first thing to be sacrificed for time, and Dave had been fine with that. They hadn’t touched the band in years, not since the last time everyone had performed at Martin’s wedding.
But now Dave realised that he missed painting with an ache like a phantom limb, like something that had always been a part of him was now oddly missing. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d picked up a paintbrush for the hell of it. Everything he’d designed or illustrated over the past year had solely been for work, and that thought pained him like a spike through his solar plexus.
In contrast, Alan - who had always been very driven and disciplined - seemed to have no problem reviving his interests in mixing and composing after Stella had started sleeping at more regular hours. So Dave didn't even have the excuse of fatherhood.
“You should pick it up again,” Alan told him with a gentle squeeze of his hand, before moving on to the topic of Father’s Day, which was coming up. Dave just nodded distractedly when Alan suggested ordering in brunch from a nice restaurant, still preoccupied with thoughts of Alan’s mind-blowing revelation.
After that conversation with Alan, Dave decided to try and carve out time for painting. Although that wasn’t always possible, he did want to show Alan he was trying, so he started with small gestures. If he left reminders and post-its for Alan around the house, he’d be sure to draw a funny cartoon to accompany his loopy handwriting, like a sentient postbox (to remind Alan to go to the post office) or a funny caricature of Martin and Fletch (to ask Alan if he wanted to have dinner and catch up with them).
Alan never really mentioned the little drawings beyond an amused eye-roll, but Dave knew Alan was never particularly verbose about his true sentiments anyway. Dave had learned to look towards Alan’s actions instead. Sure enough, Alan started taking pictures of Dave’s little drawings and posting them on Instagram with an accompanying dry and witty caption, along with the hashtag ‘#artisthusband’. To Dave’s surprise, it really took off among their friends and other family members, and Dave always had to fend off demands from his mum and Sue about more cute artwork everytime he called home.
Since Paris and Stella loved the drawings too, he started drawing little monsters for them on their paper lunch bags, which he would prepare for them before Alan would drop them off at daycare. It wasn’t long before Alan started posting these on Instagram too, and his comment section would get animated at times because Martin, Fletch, Paul, Daryl and the rest would start discussing which creature Dave had meant to draw. He didn’t have the heart to tell them he’d made them all up on the spot.
Having Alan’s support like this, even for his silly little drawings, was more fulfilling and touching than Dave had expected. So he’d really meant it when he said he was going to get art supplies, but more often than not Dave would get distracted and buy Elsa colouring books for the girls instead. Alan hadn’t said anything at all, but Dave knew how to read him pretty well by now. His husband was definitely planning something.
On the morning of Father’s Day, Dave was the first out of bed so he put in the order at the restaurant before going for a run in Hyde Park. His metabolism wasn’t what it used to be, and he’d gotten into the habit of eating off the girls’ plates whenever they couldn’t finish their food. Alan was a really good cook too, so Dave knew he had to fit in a run today if he was going to be feasting on french toast and eggs benedict for Father’s Day.
When he got home, he thought he spotted Alan in the study with a giggling Paris and Stella. “Hello, my loves,” he yelled out at the door, even more mystified when Alan quickly stepped out of the study with the girls, closing the door hurriedly behind them.
“The food’s just got delivered, I’ll set the table,” Alan told him with a too-bright smile. ‘You go shower first, yeah?”
Dave decided to let his suspicious behaviour go for now. “Alright, sure.” He loped over to where they were, giving Alan a brief kiss and a I’m-on-to-you squint before bending down to stretch his arms out to the girls. “Can I get a hug first?”
“Daddy’s stinky!” Paris protested laughingly, while an uncomprehending Stella just giggled along with her older sister.
Dave’s jaw dropped in mock outrage. “Stinky, am I? How about I make you stinky too, huh?” He pretended to chase a squealing Paris and Stella for a hug, laughing when they ran to hide behind an amused Alan’s legs.
“Just go shower, the food’s getting cold, you lunatic.” Alan shook his head at Dave with a grin before shepherding the girls to the dining area. Dave left him to it, washing up quickly so he could join his family for breakfast.
However, he wasn’t expecting to find Alan and the girls waiting for him outside the bedroom, all of them grinning innocently at him. “What’s going on?” a suspicious Dave asked.
Paris took his hand and tugged him to the study, Alan picking up Stella and following with her in his arms. When Paris pushed open the door, Dave stared in shock at the brand new easel waiting for him, along with the art supplies neatly piled on top of a blank canvas. He stepped forward, picking up the paints and brushes with trembling hands. Alan had gotten everything right, remembered every detail from when Dave used to paint before they’d gotten married and become fathers.
“I had to take a bit out of the holiday budget for this,” came Alan’s soft voice behind him. “But it’s worth it for me to delay our trip. I’d rather see you painting again.”
“We want more of Daddy’s paper monsters!” Paris declared gleefully, while Stella stared at all of them in bafflement.
“I--” Dave just couldn’t speak. His heart was so full, like it was going to overflow with joy and sentiment and his overwhelming love for his family. There were simply no words that could possibly encapsulate the emotions warring within him now, so instead he grabbed Alan and the girls to him in a tight hug, his breaths ragged and his eyes wet.
“Happy Father’s Day,” Alan said quietly, the smile evident in his voice even though Dave couldn’t quite see his face.
“You too, Al.” Dave pulled away to kiss him, then smothered his squealing girls with equal affection.
Since Part 2 of the Pizza-verse series by the ever so lovely @youknowhowharditisforme is drawing near to an end, I wanted to post this artwork I made for the second chapter! This is in the morning right after they had sex and are just holding each other. I thought it was such a precious little moment to capture, even if following only a speedy (yet all the more passionate?) bedroom session. Somehow I think it ended up more intimate than the shower scene I did earlier. Although I drew this a specific chapter in mind, I suppose it could fit anywhere else in the story just as well.
My only regret is that I wish I had given them a nicer duvet cover! :D
Link to the chapter: https://archiveofourown.org/works/24525130/chapters/59386129
Edit: So I just checked this on my phone and it looks like there’s a completely different yellow hue to it that is absent when I view it on my laptop, where I originally posted from. Sorry about that!
