#theworldofprompts

[amarantine-amirite]

Well, This Sucks

[characternerdocs]

Heath reuniting with his moms for the first time, for the prompt. :3c

|| Prompt ||| @chickypoodoodloos ||

Well Heath has always seen his moms. Baby Heath grew up seeing Kat as she passed shortly after giving birth to Heath and his sister... like minutes after. So she's always been hanging around for him, or his sister. It's was clear which of the two was gaonna be the Keeper of the mark.

Sloan, on the other hand. Well that's a different story cause obviously someone had to raise the twins for a little bit as you have to give the kiddos some happiness before smacking them with the tragedy of their back story.

It was well past bedtime as Heath sat awake under the covers of his bed in the large sleeping hall. He and his sister had been here almost a month now. Neither of them really like it, the other kids were rude and not exactly welcoming to them. And despite all their best intentions, the adults weren't much better. Heath pulled his bear, Lord Pickleson closer to his chest as he turned his head to his sister's bed. She was already asleep while a cold blue ghost of a woman sat on the corner of the bed, watching her. Kat liked to watch his sister but it took Heath awhile to realize it was because unlike him, his sister couldn't see their momma. And neither could Sloan, even though she would often played along with him. He found it odd he was basically the "go-between" for the two of them; Or how their relationship worked before him if he was the only person who could see or hear Kat. "Momma?" Heath whispered, trying not to wake the girls in the long dormitory hall as he called for Kat's attention. "When's Mommy getting here?" As she turned to him, Kat's kind eyes framed but the heavy dark bags fell on her son. "Soon, hopefully. But we can't rush her. Mommy's been working really hard so you can see her." "Why?" Heath whimpered meekly. Kat stood up as she tried to find the right way to phrase the issue for Heath. "You know how some of the people you can see, they look rather frightening?" Heath nodded and Kat continued. "What happened to Sloan left her looking frightening. So she decided to take sometime before she um... appears to you so she don't look as scary. Understand?" Heath nodded again. "But why does it take so long?" "It's a hard process. It's not as simple as getting yourself dressed in the morning. Sloan was really badly hurt by what happened that night. I've been helping her, cause sometimes when a person passes away, particularly if it was traumatic, it can warp their perspective of themself. Then those negative emotions can make them look scary to you. If Sloan doesn't change her appearance before you see her, she won't be able to. She'll be stuck." "Why?" Heath questioned. Kat shrugged. "Don't know. One of those weird ghost rules, I guess." "Oh, okay." Heath paused a second as he looked around the long dark room. Anxiously he rung his hands tightly around Pickleson's neck as he was over come by his dislike for this unfamiliar place. Truthfully his vocabulary wasn't strong enough to have the right words to express his feeling so the place, so sad and sort of scary, would have to do. "Can we met Mommy in the 'happy place?'" "I don't know, Heath. If she's not quite ready. I don't want get her stuck in an appearance neither of you are comfortable with." "But I don't want to meet her here. It's not - I mean it doesn't feel right." Sighing, Kat nodded. She couldn't argue that having Sloan reunite with their son at an orphanage didn't seem like the best of settings. "Alright. Do you remember how I showed you?" Nodding as he pulled himself up against the bed board, Heath closed his eyes. "Alright, first you're going to focus on your breathing, a deep breath in." Kat demonstrated and Heath copied her. "Now hold for 1, 2, 3, 4, and breath out. Good, now as you breath start picturing Orchard Hill. The tracks of roller coasters and how they weave through the park. Think of the smells, that scent of fried dough as it cooks." "What going on here, Kit-Kat? Trying to put the kid to sleep?" Kat laughed. "No silly, Heath's trying to focus on the 'happy place' to see you." Kat paused a second as she did a double take. "Oh Sloan!" "Mommy?" Heath exclaimed as he bolted up in bed, eyes snapping open. And there she was, another ghost of a peachy-orange hue standing at the foot of his bed, her coy smirk slipping into a toothy grin as she saw Heath light up at her arrival. "Hey there, kiddo. Looked like you were about to pop off to bed there before I could show up." "No... No I just," Heath smile faded as he looked around the sleeping hall. "Hey,

[shewillreadyou]

Ex’s and Oh’s...

As always. I hope that you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing.

A/N:This was written after reading the first chapter of book three. So if you haven’t read it. Beware of spoilers! Also, this wasn’t the Valentine’s Day one shot kinda turned into a series in my head. So let me know if there is any topic you’d like me to touch on. I’m not scared, LOL, Enjoy. Thank you to @secretaryunpaid for the pre-read and workshopping with me. 

Disclaimers: Characters and some lines are property of Pixelberry

Warnings: None really, angst and language.

Catch up: I think I wanna marry you

Word Count: 2401

Prompts: @theworldofprompts “I never wanted to hurt you.”

“I did this for you.” Will appear in bold.

Pairings: Ethan x MC (Rhyann Hill)

Song inspiration: Ex’s and Oh’s Elle King & One Hundred Ways- Quincy Jones

Be Kind: Hit the heart button, leave a comment or reblog. It makes a writer so so happy. 

They returned from Martha’s Vineyard just in time for the new hospital opening. They were lost in a sea of hospital staff. The energy was electric. Everyone was shocked by all the upgrades and just so eager to get their day started. Sienna was more eager to chat with her friend who had texted about big news. They planned to meet after the diagnostic team's morning meeting. 

In the morning meeting

As Rhyann sat sipping her cappuccino from the new doctor’s lounge, Ethan and Dr. Emery walked in together laughing about God knows what. Rhyann shot Ethan a look and he immediately returned to his normally stoic demeanor. Baz sat at the end of the table staring pensively into space.  Ethan cleared his throat before standing.   

“Before we get started, it is my sincere pleasure to officially welcome Harper to the team.”

“Oh stop, Ethan we both know you have no flair for drama,” Harper blushed.

“Welcome, Dr. Emery!” Rhyann said, glaring at her new husband. 

“Rhyann, no need to be so formal. We’re colleagues, call me Harper.”

“Very well then, welcome Harper.”

Compliment what she does

Send her roses just because

If it's violins she loves

Let them play

Dedicate her favorite song

And hold her closer all night long

Love her today

Find one hundred ways

Rhyann crossed her leg dangling her favorite black Steve Madden pump off of her pedicured toes. She was lost in thought. She had never noticed how well Harper and Ethan got along. They were going to be working very closely together. She wondered if they were always this in sync? She was not used to this feeling. She wasn’t sure she was jealous but she knew she didn’t like it.

“Harper, you always did know how to keep me focused.”

His words returned her to reality. She knew that if she stayed, and they kept this up, she would not be able to keep things professional. She would surely embarrass herself as well as Ethan. She decided to excuse herself.  

“If that’s all, I’m going to go check on our patient,” Rhyann stood to leave.

Ethan cleared his throat, “Uhh, Dr. Ramsey? Do you mind running the bloodwork?”

She stopped in her tracks. She would have to get used to the way that sounded. When she looked over her shoulder, he winked at her. There was a glint in his eyes as he beamed proudly at his new bride. Harper’s mouth was agape. 

“Sure thing,” she smirked as she headed out into the hall with Baz in tow. After she got a lab tech to draw the test needed for their patient, she ducked into the new doctor’s lounge to meet with Sienna.

“There you are! I thought you forgot about me.”

“Never.”

“Ok, so sit. Spill it!”

“Well, hmm..”

“Rhy!!! Come on, your pregnant aren’t you?”

“Pregnant? Dear God no!”

“Well then what is it? Spill!”

“Okaaaay, but call me Dr. Ramsey.”

“What?”

Rhyann looked around the empty lounge before she confirmed. She bit her bottom lip and innocently nodded to her friend.

“We did it. We eloped.”

“OMG! No way! Congratulations!!!”

An excited Sienna pulled her friend into her arms. 

“Who all knows?”

“Well, Naveen was there.”

Sienna sadly dropped her head. 

“Don’t look like that. It was a surprise. Only our parents were there. You know Ethan considers Naveen like a father.” 

“I suppose.”

“It was nothing fancy, but it was beautiful.”

“Harper knows now. Ethan called me Dr. Ramsey and her mouth fell open.”

“Oh, how is that? Working with his ex?”

“Awkward, they were really vibing off of one another this morning and it made me feel invisible.”

“Speaking of awkward…”

She motioned to the door where Rafael stood. She couldn’t lie, he was still extremely attractive to her. In those scrubs, he was almost irresistible. Almost. 

When he spotted her his eyes danced. He smiled and shyly waved at Rhyann. 

Don't forget there could be

An old lover in her memory

If you need her so much more

Why don't you say?

“What are you two gossiping about?”

They both laughed awkwardly. 

“Oh, trust me, nothing you’d want to hear about.”

“Raf? What’s with the scrubs?”

“It’s my first official day as a physical therapist.”

“Oh? Well, that’s exciting! Congrats.”

She really was excited for him. But she was also uneasy about working so closely with him. He had no idea how serious things had gotten with Ethan. He was going to be crushed when he learned that they were husband and wife. 

“Thank you. I thought it would be a good fit for me.”

“Well, that’s great. I need to check in on my patient. Si, I’ll call you later. Raf, it was good to see you. Congrats again!” 

She walked into the diagnostic room and looked up the results of the labs she ordered. She was still waiting on a couple more tests to come back. She opened up a new tab and did a Google search for “The Annulment Process in Massachusetts” when the door opened. It was Ethan and Harper still giggling together. She quickly clicked on the results tab.

He was surprised to see her sitting alone in the room. She quickly made an excuse to leave. 

“Ethan, the results are pulled up on the laptop. If you will excuse me.”

Maybe she has it in her mind

That she's just wasting her time

Ask her to stay

Find one hundred ways

She ducked into the restroom inside the diagnostics office and turned on the water to muffle the sounds of her sobs. Did she make a huge mistake? Did Ethan still have feelings for Harper? Could she be married to Dr. Ethan Jonah Ramsey and be this insecure? 

Ethan’s POV 

Harper would be a great replacement for June. She is a brilliant physician, but how will it make Rhyann feel? For the first time, he felt like he had lost control over the situation. It’s not like he had the opportunity to pick her. He is just doing the best he can with the hand he was given. 

Bein' cool won't help you keep her love warm

You'll just blow your only chance

Take the time to open up your heart

That's the secret of romance

Then there was Rhyann, his colleague and his new bride. She is usually amazing at keeping professional and work feelings separate. But this morning she seemed to be struggling. She abruptly excused herself at least three times and had given him a death glare twice during their morning meeting. It is clear that Harper being here makes her uncomfortable.

In the diagnostics office

Baz knocked on the door to the restroom asking her to join them at the table. Rhyann quickly washed her face, cursing herself quietly when she realized that she left her purse under Ethan’s desk. They were surely going to notice her red puffy eyes. She fumbled finding her dark shades tangled in her soft wild coifs. She knew it would draw some strange looks, but it was better than explaining why she was in the bathroom crying for the second time before lunch. 

She joined the team at the table, she sat at the opposite end from Ethan, Harper was at his side. Baz cleared his throat and announced that he would be leaving the team. He seemed teary-eyed and immediately got up and headed out of the room. Rhyann followed him calling out to him from the door. He had been such a great part of the team and the timing of his departure didn’t sit well with her. 

“Baz! Wait.” 

He stopped in his tracks and turned to her. His eyes were filled with sadness and something she didn’t recognize. 

“Hey, what’s up Rhy?”

“Let’s take a break. Let me grab my purse and I’ll meet you at the coffee shop. It’s on me.”

“I’d like that.

“Perfect. Meet you there in 10.”

Rhyann went back to the diagnostics room to retrieve her purse and froze when she walked in to find Harper’s hand on Ethan’s knee. He immediately stood. She saw red. She wanted to react but she knew for the sake of her job, grabbing her purse and leaving was best.

She met Baz at the coffee shop a short time later. She sent Ethan a text, letting him know that she would not be returning for the rest of the day. The coffee date revealed that Baz was being “recruited” against his will by June. She wanted to promise him that she would help him figure a way out, but she had no idea how she’d get out of her own dilemma.

She returned home and the moment she stepped inside the threshold she let her bags and coat drop to the hardwood floor. She walked over to the small golden cart that housed their stock of libations. She poured two fingers of the oldest scotch he owned and drained the tumbler in two gulps. She settled into the corner of the couch where she sat for almost an hour staring into space. She stood with hot tears flowing down her face and padded into the guestroom to get a small piece of luggage. She needed time to think. She knew that she was not going to be able to objectively figure out her next move if everything around her screamed Ethan. She had fought so long and so hard to be with him. 

She placed the bag on the side of their bed and began to throw random pieces of clothing inside. She didn’t even hear him come in. She walked into the master bath to get a few toiletries and when she came back into the room, there he was. Her husband was sitting quietly in the chair in the corner of their bedroom. 

Sacrifice if you care

Buy her some moonlight to wear

If there's one more star she wants

Go all the way

“Rookie?”

She looked at him like she saw a ghost.

“Ethan, you scared me. What are you doing here? Your shift isn’t over for another 4 hours.”

“I came home to check on my wife. I’m glad I did. What the hell are you doing?”

“What does it look like Ethan? I’m leaving.”

“Allow me to rephrase. Why are you leaving?”

“Do you still have feelings for her?”

“No, but I am pretty sure she still has feelings for me. She took things too far, and ... I didn’t stop her.”

“How would you feel if you walked into a room where I was alone with Raf and his hand was on my knee?”

“I--point taken.”

“Ethan, I’m not a jealous woman, and I am not normally insecure. But today was supposed to be a great day. I got to keep my job and I am newly married to the love of my life. Then I sat and watched my husband carry on with his ex in a way that made me feel invisible. I will never be satisfied with just a piece of your heart. I can not compete with her. So, if this is what being married to you will feel like, you can have it! I need you to be very honest with me. Is she going to be an issue or not?”

He stood pulling her close to him. She tensed up on contact and couldn’t meet his blue eyes. He placed two fingers under her chin forcing her to look at him.

“Let’s get one thing straight; Harper Emery has nothing on you. She can’t compete with you. I know that I am not the most romantic person in the world, but when you smile, I get butterflies. When you look into my eyes the whole world disappears. You have my entire heart Rhy. You took it captive the day we met. I don’t have feelings for Harper. I will have a talk with her tomorrow about boundaries. My apologies. In my attempt to make her feel welcomed, I didn’t consider how it made you feel until it was too late. If me working with her makes you uncomfortable, I will resign. I never meant to make you feel invisible, and I certainly had no intentions of running you off. I saw your annulment search.”

“I wasn’t going to go through with it. I just needed to know my options.”

“Leaving me is an option for you?”

It brought up his childhood trauma behind his mother walking out on him and his father. He waited quietly for her response trying not to get pulled into his toxic thought cycle.

“Well no, I would never just leave you. But if Harper continues to be an issue, I won’t just stay and be miserable. The idea is to be happily married. Not just married to say I’m married.”

“Noted,” he choked out.

“I never wanted to hurt you.”

“I did this for you.” 

“You did?”

“Absolutely, I had much better offers, but it would have required us to relocate. I only stayed on at Edenbrook so that you could finish  your residency. Now come on, I’m making you my very best, “I screwed up” meal. I’m sure that it won’t be the last peace offering, but I need you to know that I am fully committed to you and to our vows.”  

They enjoyed dinner and drinks with soft music before Ethan stood asking her to dance. She accepted and he pulled her into his strong arms. His scent was intoxicating. He held on to her like his life depended on it, because to tell the truth, it did. Medicine used to be his entire life and now, she was his world. The way he held her made her feel like she was the only woman in the world. At least the only one who mattered.

In your arms tonight

She'll reflect that she owes you

The sweetest of debts

If she wants to pay, find one hundred ways

The next morning they gathered in the diagnostics office for the morning meeting. She braced herself for what was sure to be an extremely awkward day until the door opened and in walked Mr. Bloom with Baz’s replacement. They locked eyes and he immediately smirked seductively at Rhyann. Ethan’s face instantly turned red as he began to uncomfortably fidget in his chair. Talk about leveling the playing field. Mr. Bloom cleared his throat before speaking.

You better believe it or love her today

Find one hundred ways

I'm telling you to love her today

Find one hundred ways

“Good morning team. I pride myself on having the best staff in all of Boston. So it is without further ado that I present to you Dr. Mirani’s replacement, Dr. Tobias Carrick.”

Tagging: @pixie88 @txemrn @khoicesbyk @lucy-268 @lovelyladyk88 @choicesfannatalie @kimmiedoo5 @secretaryunpaid @hopelessromanticmonie @lem-20 @maurine07 @romewritingshop @texaskitten30 @secretwolfdreamertree @mom2000aggie  @bbrandy2002 @shanzay44 @wingedhairstylemusicweasel @sfb123 @queenjilian @dcbbw @shannonsaid@romereadingshop @hopefulmoonobject @missdreamsalot @blackkingliamstan @burnsoslow @zaffrenotes @choiceslady @tayroleplays  @cooljustanotherrookiesportskid @omgjasminesimone @janezillow @sirbeepsalot @utterlyinevitable @justanotherrookie  @openheartthot @rookie-ramsey @aussieez @fanjessfic @starrystarrytrouble @ @the-pale-goddess  @kat-tia801 @kingliam2019 @mskaneko @blackcatkita @bay-lee @choicesficwriterscreations @bobasheebaby @darley1101 @mainstreetreader​  @queenrileyrose @theworldofprompts

**I only tag those who ask for it. Let me know if you want added or removed 💖

[t-underneaththeradardancing]

a bake sale for satan  - start a fire  - promptly 

let it burn like exploding trees duz 

a disco inferno and where is dante 

prolly hanging w rimbaud   ( do the watusi ) 

godot 

still waiting 

i told her about sin eaters 

[mytchthemyth]

Dialogue Prompt

I’ll be trying a prompt from @theworldofprompts. Check them out!

Prompt: "What makes you think that everything will turn out okay?"

"Well, I mean we did save the world together."

Theo sighed. “That’s different! We’re talking about a date here! A date!” He looked out across campus from the classroom’s window, nervously tapping the windowsill. Jorei leaned against the wall.

“I’m still surprised that you managed to ask him out, honestly.”

“I’m still surprised that he accepted.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Yes, but now I have to figure out what to wear to the dance.” Theo slumped forward and sighed. “I have no idea what I’m doing,” he groaned. Jorei had to suppress a chuckle. Here was the son of the greatest knight in history and the vanquisher of the World-Ender Wyrm, scared to go on a date.

“What do demons typically wear to dances?” the wyrm slayer asked his friend. Jorei thought for a minute.

“Well, demonic formal attire is pretty similar to humans’. I guess the biggest difference is that we allow for more skin to be shown and usually dress in more muted colors. Of course, as royalty I get to break all the rules and still get compliments on my outfit. I could probably wear a potato sack to a dance and all the nobles would be complimenting me on my ‘avant-garde’ attire.” The two boys chuckled a bit at that before a thought came to Jorei.

“Is your father going to be there?” he asked, suddenly remembering one of the reasons Theo might be so anxious.

“No, thankfully. He doesn’t like going to parties, although my brother did say that he would warn me if my dad changed his mind. It’d be a disaster if he saw me and Ashlynn together.” Theo winced at the thought of it, Jorei gazing on in sympathy before giving his friend a playful punch to the shoulder. “Hey, everything will be fine. You got this.” Theo smiled, thankful for Jorei’s reassurance.

“Richard and Erik actually invited me to go shopping for an outfit for the dance. Why don’t you come with? We can help give you pointers and stuff.” Theo perked up and nodded excitedly, his smile widening into a grin.

“That’s a great idea! Thanks, Jorei!” Theo hugged him before grabbing his bag and heading out the classroom, all signs of worry disappearing from his face. Jorei laughed a bit to himself at the sight. It truly seemed like Theo had a one-track mind. I wonder how Ash feels about all this, he thought as he left the classroom.

                                                         *  *  *

“What makes you think everything will turn out okay?”

“Well, I mean we did save the world together,” Solomon replied. Ashlynn sighed and slumped on top of the table. “That’s different! This is a date we’re talking about here! A date!” Ashlynn nervously played with his ponytail. “I don’t even know what to wear...” Solomon couldn’t help but chuckle.

“I’m sure you’ll think of something,” he reassured his friend, who began groaning in response. “I’m surprised that you accepted Theo’s invite, though. I figured you would shoot him down again.”

“It’s not like I shot him down because I didn’t like him,” Ashlynn replied quietly. Back when Theo first asked him out, Ashlynn didn’t feel comfortable around him. Back then, he thought Theo would be just like his father. Honestly, he was still scared of what Theo would do if he found out about Ashlynn’s mom. But he was a lot more confident that Theo could look past that now. Not that he could tell Solomon any of that. “I just wasn’t ready to get into a relationship at the time.”

“And now you are?” Ashlynn nodded matter-of-factly.

“I think so.” He stared off into space for a moment before hitting his head on the table and groaning again. “Ugh, what am I going to do?!” he cried out. Solomon sighed from the opposite end of the table.

“If you really don’t have any ideas, why don’t you come with shopping with me tomorrow? Rufeus and Archer are going to be there.” Ashlynn looked up.

“Rufeus? Theo’s older brother?” Solomon nodded. Ashlynn’s eyes widened and a smile spread across his face.

“I’d love to go! When and where are we meeting up?”

[redspeedy]

Together

Hey everyone. I am new to tumblr and english is only my second language, but I have enjoyed reading everybody’s stories and posts and I wanted to try writing something myself. Hope you’ll enjoy this.

Prompt: - “What are you doing here?”                - “I missed my last chance, so I thought I’d creat a new one”

Credit: #theworldofprompts

Natasha Romanoff was standing on the edge of the balcony watching the last light of the day slowly disappearing into the void. She had never been a sentimental person, but even the Assassin had to admit that it was a beautiful view to enjoy. In a few hours the Team would set out for Wakanda and make their last stand against Thanos. This was not how she had expected her return to the Avengers facility. They had been on the run for a couple years now and this morning her and Steve’s biggest worry was finding another safe house to stay in. Now they were once again faceing the end of the world. At least this was going to make a good story to tell to Yelena if she would ever get to see her again.

The sound of footsteps on gravel interrupted the redheads musings and she didn’t have to turn around to know who was about to join her at her hidingspot.

“Well, this all seems horrible.” a warm voice greated her as Bruce Banner placed his arms on the railing next to her. He had changed into a purple dressshirt and greyish cotton trousers. The sad smile on his face reminded her of simpler days and the thought made her heart clench in her chest.

“You found your wardrobe.” she commented with an even tone, trying to hide just how much it hurt to see him this way.

“I honestly thought you guys would have thrown out most of my things, but everything is still there.” Bruce shrugged and looked into the distance as if facing Natasha was something he wasn’t ready for.

She joined him at watching the sunset. For a while they were just standing in silence. Natasha felt the fabric of his shirt slightly brushing against her bare arms whenever he moved and he moved a lot. Bruce wrung his hands, pressing his fingers together only to release them a minute later. She watched him fidget and shook her head, amused.

“You know, I have always liked sunsets and this new bulding you guys got? It’s really nice, Tony really outdid himself.” The scientists voice broke the fragile silence around them and Natasha exhaled a long breath.

Never one to take any bullshit the spy faced her former teammate. “What are you doing here, Bruce?” she asked. “Aren’t there other things you could do to occupy yourself with? I am pretty sure the lab has everything you need to fix up Veronica. If you are still serious about taking part in the fight.” Natasha couldn’t hide the bitterness that entered her tone as she spoke and he flinched.

Bruce’s disappearence had been hard on her. On one hand she blamed herself for pushing him into a hole on the other hand she hadn’t had much of a choice, but it didn’t change that she had been worried about him ever since. When he strolled into the facility earlier today she hadn’t been sure if she should yell at him or hug him. Now, she was just angry. At him, at herself, at the fact that they didn’t have time to figure things out before propably getting killed.

Bruce took a deep breath. “Ouch. Well, I propably deserved that.” He rubbed his hand over his features and turned a little to face Natasha before he continued. “Nat, listen. I know you propably didn’t expect that we would see each other again like this. To be honest, the circumstances are pretty grim.”

“I have seen worse.” she joked dryly. Bruce regarded this with a pained smile, but soldiered on, nervous as he was. “The thing is... we kind of missed our last window, so I thought I’d create a new one.”

Natasha’s head snapped up. Her expression nearly stunned by the familiar words. “What are you saying, Bruce?” She didn’t want to believe it. After all this time and everything she had done, why would he choose these words to say to her now.

The Doctor released his arms from the railing and took a step closer. “What I am saying is that I want a chance. I know this is messed up and the world will propably collapse tomorrow, or sometime next week and we should worry about pretty much everything else then the thing we used to have a few years ago.” He breathed out hard as if he was steeling himself for something, her rejection perhaps? But as Natasha kept silent he continued. “To me, Sokovia was just a few weeks ago. It feels distant. I don’t know how to describe it, but one moment you were kissing me and the next thing I remember is Thor telling me I had been the hulk for two years an” “Bruce?” Natasha interrupted. “Yes?” “You are rambling.”

Bruce wanted to answer, but the two of them were interrupted by an announcement. “Miss Romanoff and Doctor Banner. Your attendance has been requested at the HQ” FRIDAY informed them and she sighed. “Duty calls.” he said with a sad look on his face. Natasha nodded. She turned and walked a few steps, then stopped. No! She refused to just let it go. The world would have to wait for a minute. Natasha whireld around and closed the distance between her and Bruce. Her hand found the back of his neck and their lips met.

It was like something melted inside her. Bruce smelled familiar. His aftershave and the smell of what she associated with a warm summer evening still clung to him like it did in Sokovia. Warmth spread through her body as he returned and deepened the kiss. Bruce’s arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer.

They remained like this until they were flushed an breathless, holding onto the other as if their life depended on it. “How, what?” Bruce was the first one to speak and clearly confused. “You’re right. We did miss our window.” She said with a smile. Bruce shrugged. “Sooo. If we’re really lucky and the world doesn’t end tomorrow. Could we create another one?” he asked now smiling too, holding Natasha close and secure in his arms. She nodded against his chest. “I think that sounds like a good deal, Doc.”

They remained on their spot for a little while longer wrapped up in each other. Whatever was waiting for them in Wakanda they would face it together.

[amarantine-amirite]

One Troublesome Fallout

When Michelle Jared was small, her mother became upset about how the physical education program in elementary school no longer involved actual physical movement. Her mother brought her with her when she stormed into the school to tell the principal why they thought it was wrong. He brusquely told her mother that she was elitist for thinking that everyone could move as easily as Michelle did. Among the torrent of name-calling, Michelle distinctly remembered the phrase "We don't want children to feel self-conscious about their bodies."

That sentence played in her mind on a loop ever since. We don't want children to feel self-conscious about their bodies. We don't want children to feel self-conscious about their bodies.

Michelle believed that if seeing other people be active makes you feel embarrassed about yourself, the other people are not to blame for making you feel self-conscious. She never wanted to say "grow a pair" because there are many reasons that people feel self-conscious about their bodies, but nobody could doubt what the first words that ran through her mind were.

Until today, she thought she had forgotten that feeling of utter frustration when someone you trust considers you a bad person for disagreeing with their utterly bizarre points of view.

That day in study hall, Mrs. Pattinson, the teacher on duty, said, "Actually, ordering off the McDonald's secret menu is antifeminist. If you'd seen any of the Transformers movies, you should already know that by now."

She had no idea where Mrs. Pattinson came up with that. It sounded like the ramblings of someone with a brain disorder. "You don't mean that, do you?"

"I would never be insincere about something as important as feminism." She blustered. What Michelle said had ruffled her feathers, "Are you insinuating that I'm an insincere feminist?!"

Michelle's patience had worn thin. She'd had it. She didn't want to get into an argument over a sentiment that was a step above random sleep-babbling in terms of coherence. "I don't want to sit here and listen to the shit that comes out your mouth," she said as she walked away.

She didn't care if you're not allowed to go off on your own anymore. She couldn't take listening to that crap. She needed time away from all this.

"You come back here!" Mrs. Pattinson shouted as they chased her, "You're not allowed to leave! Get your ass back here!"

The study hall teachers are scared shitless of letting the kids leave the room during class. It's all because one stupid kid snuck out of school early to throw a rock off a bridge. Said rock hit somebody in the head and killed them. Thanks to him, now nobody can leave anymore. If Mrs. Pattinson goes on an insane rant, everybody has to sit there and take it.

Michelle heard her voice as she followed her. "What part of the word stop do you not understand?" Mrs. Pattinson bellowed, "Turn around and get back here! You're not supposed to leave!"

She didn't turn around. She kept right on going. Right up until she got to a cemetery on a hill. All the headstones in the cemetery were jammed right next to each other. Everything was close enough together that it gave her the sense that people buried here were buried vertically instead of horizontally. Directly behind the hillside was an apartment complex. The building overlooked the cemetery and appeared to have seen better days 30 years ago.

No sooner did Michelle get halfway through the cemetery than she encountered a dark figure wearing worn-out fatigues, combat boots, and those plastic dreadlocks that people wear to cybergoth parties. He appeared to be homeless. And out for blood.

Sensing disaster, she tried a weird tactic to defend herself: she pretended she knew him.

"Hey!" she said, "I haven't seen you in forever!"

"Um, have we met?" He replied with a confused look on his face.

"Yeah, 9th-grade geography class" Michelle laughed.

That was a lie. Ninth graders do history, not geography. Also, Michelle was in the second half of 10th grade, while this guy was easily in his 50s.

Somebody overheard their conversation and said, "That's a lie. I'm a teacher, and 9th graders don't do geography in our state."

The homeless guy glared at Michelle. "So you lied to me, you little punk?!"

She ran towards the building, he pursued.

"Get your ass back here, you little shit!" he barked.

Michelle kept going. She ran up the stairs until she got to the top floor. She booked it down the hall and hopped out the window onto the fire escape. She found a maintenance ladder and climbed onto the roof.

Unbeknownst to Michelle, the homeless man got there before she did. "Bitch, you're going to be sorry for trying to fuck with me," he asserted, pointing to her.

Michelle chuckled defiantly. "What are you going to do," she taunted, "push me off the roof?"

"Don't mind if I do."

A quick shove later, and that was it. Michelle fell to her death. She hit at least 16 different things on the way down.

@theworldofprompts

[fearlessneri]

Writing Prompt Practice

theworldofprompts

Cerberus goes missing. You have to break the news to Hades.

I knocked on the door to Lord Hades’ office, my knuckles catching in the grain and grooves of the wood. I wiped the blood from my hand and tried to ignore the knotty slab of black oak in front of me. Faces faded in and out of the knots in the wood, and looking at them too closely was ill-advised-- or so I’d been told by not one, but six different colleagues on my first day on the job. How had I managed to get roped into being one of the many assistants to the lord of the dead? The door slowly opened on its own, as usual. 

I stepped inside the office and held my clipboard to my chest, bracing myself for what was to come. Lord Hades wasn’t cruel, or even particularly wrathful. As far as Olympians are concerned, he was actually quite reasonable. Even so, being the bearer of bad news to someone who could send your entire being into Tartarus without looking up from his desk was more than a little daunting. I folded my hands and gripped my clipboard for dear life, then cleared my throat.

“Lord Hades, sir? I’m very sorry to bother you, but there’s been a situation-” I began. He looked up at me and raised an eyebrow. 

“A situation so dire that you had to personally inform me of it?” he asked, his voice steady. I nodded slowly and tried again. 

“Yes sir. You see, there’s been a breach. Cerberus has absconded from the underworld and is running loose in-” I said, my voice shaking nearly as much as my knees. Hades held a hand up to stop me, then rubbed his brow, exhaustion and tension clear on his face. 

 “I am looking at an sharp increase in the influx of souls within the next half-decade that I need to prepare for, as well as overseeing the flow of eight-billion potential destinies with the Fates. I do not have time to deal with this. Convince a hero to do it-- if I have to recapture Cerberus myself, you and every soul from here to Asphodel will regret it. Do I make myself clear?” he said, crossing his hands in front of him.

 I nodded and backed out of the office, my knees about to give out on me. 

“Yes sir! Absolutely sir! I’ll get right on that!” I stuttered, nearly toppling over myself as I backed out of the room and closed the door. I dropped to my knees and pressed my forehead against the rough black oak, closing my eyes tightly.

Lord Hades did not tend to wander out of the underworld so it was unlikely he knew, but the odds of finding a hero in the twenty-first century were not good. Folks didn’t dedicate themselves to heroism like they used to-- they hadn’t in quite some time, in fact. Demigods were even harder to track down. Why did there have to be so many useless humans? No, if I wanted to get Cerberus back, I would have to head above ground and do it myself.