Jot Junkie

Animorphs: Much Philosophizing about Plays

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 07:31:22 GMT

Title: Much Philosophizing about Plays
Fandom: Animorphs
Characters/Pairing: Erek King
Rating: G
Summary: Erek likes Shakespeare. His Chee companion doesn't.

Author's Note: For perpetual_poet, who wanted something about Erek. I picked Hamlet since I noticed Erek's first line was a Hamlet quote.

The crowd below us, the peasants, was enraptured despite the discomfort of their situation. As sympathetic as I was to their plight, having "died" building for the Pharaohs, I was grateful that I'd been assigned to a slightly wealthier class in this decade.

My companion, having lived mostly wealthy "lives", didn't really share my sympathy. Or any of the crowd's enjoyment.

"I don't know why William thought this would get an audience," he hissed in my ear. "It's just more pandering to the commoners. Have you heard the language? And that 'lay my head in your lap' bit? Vulgar! Not to mention the way it drags on - the protagonist should've killed his uncle in the last act!"

I sighed, having long ago given up trying to explain that Hamlet's delay was the point. "We've had this discussion before. Remember the last play we went to? Remember how you tried to convince me no one cared about bratty young nobles in love?"

My companion forced his humanoid appearance into a scowl. "That just proves the public has terrible taste. I know you like this playwright, Erek, but he's forgettable."

"When we find ourselves studying this, ages from now, with schoolchildren... I will laugh at you."
"Right, because talking to a skull, that's high art. You just like this Hamlet because he's capable of doing something you can't do. Something we can't do."
"And what's that?"
"Taking revenge. At least I hope so! How many more acts does this Prince have left to waffle through, again?"

Taking Requests!

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 04:08:56 GMT

Since I'm going to be having a little more free time now, thanks to Thanksgiving, I figured... why not? Got something you'd like me to write? Comment here with an idea and I'll write a drabble for you.

Spider-Girl: Knowing

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:36:57 GMT

Title: Knowing
Fandom: Spider-Girl
Characters/Pairing: Kaine, May "Mayday" Parker/Spider-Girl
Rating: G
Summary: Kaine tries to give his niece some fatherly advice.

Author's Note: My ninth Parker Family drabble for marvel_drabbles. For the "Cut" challenge. A little more SG-continuity heavy than the other May drabbles, but it should still be easy to follow. See the table here.

With eyes wearied before their time, Kaine watched his niece wince as she swung onto the rooftop. He was certain, although he couldn't see it, that she was smiling underneath her mask. It was a smile he didn't deserve. But onto more important matters...

"Still hurts, doesn't it?" He asked, pointing at her side. "That cut?"

Spider-Girl laughed. "What cut?" She asked, holding her side. "I feel just fine."
"You were stabbed in the gut."
"And I heal really fast. Good as new! I promise."

There was a long, awkward pause. He pretended not to hear her mutter "Geez, you're worse than my Dad," under her breath before whispering "Maybe it still hurts a little."

"I could look at it, if you'd like."

He knew she'd decline. He wasn't expecting this, though: "No, it's all right. Actually, um, Normie did a really good job bandaging it. I should probably have said thanks instead of running off to go take the Black Tarantula's call."

Kaine smiled, thinking of Whedon's face when Osborn had threatened his pompous boss. But when he thought about it, it was remarkable. The way Parker's child had defended an Osborn against a Goblin, and he bandaged her wounds, neither of them hesitating or even noting it as out of the ordinary.

"You probably don't hear this from your father, because worries for you. But it's a good thing you've done for that young man."

She laughed. "What? Take phonecalls?"

"Don't play dumb with me. It's brave of you, to fight for someone who should have been your enemy."

She was rolling her eyes under the webs. He could almost see it. "I don't believe in that fate stuff! And even you are way too old to be letting loose cliches like that. Besides, it wasn't so much 'fight for' as 'friends who are tied up by psychopaths can't fight for themselves'."

"Is that why you do it? Because he's your friend?"
"We grew up together. I knew he wasn't a killer. Not really."
"I admire your optimism, but try not to let it get you killed someday."
"Now you really sound like my dad."

Kaine smirked. It took time to fade, as it took time to voice his speculation - his worry - aloud. "Just don't end up playing Juliet, kid."

Another laugh. Kaine told himself it wasn't forced. "What are you- You don't have to be in love with someone to save their life. Maybe you are a little more motivated if you love them, but it doesn't have to be that kind of- why are you saying this, anyway?"

"Don't make an old man ruin his reputation. If you want me to say I worry for you, I won't."
"You didn't say you didn't."

"I don't think that sentence made any sort of sense."
"Blame the New York school system."

He leaned over the railing, looking at the city. Soon, she joined him. "You didn't deny it, either."
"I know," she whispered.

"Do your parents know?"
"Mom suspects. I think. Dad... I don't think he wants to know."
"Understandable."
"How'd you figure it out?"
"Observation. That and you're a terrible liar."
"I know. I'm- I'm kind of glad to get it off my chest, though. Do you know what that's like, having this big burden, the big secret you've been holding onto for so long that you don't think anybody could ever under-"
"Believe me, child, I know."
"Yeah. I guess you do."

Spider-Girl: Best Mom Ever

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:11:22 GMT

Title: Best Mom Ever
Fandom: Spider-Girl
Characters: May "Mayday" Parker/Spider-Girl, Mary Jane Watson, Benjamin "Benjy" Parker
Rating: G
Summary: May needs her Mom's help with a - well, a problem.

Author's Note: My eighth Parker Family drabble for marvel_drabbles. For the "Pain" challenge. It's a total cliche but I just had to write about May and MJ dealing with the thing that really bonds women together. See the table here.

May's mom had always been there for her when bad things happened. Cuts, scrapes, bruises all healed with the magic power of a Mom Kiss. (Or, now that May thought about it, Mom Saliva.) It wasn't just the physical stuff she helped with, either - a broken heart, stupid friend drama, stupid school drama, stupid superhero drama, Mom had taken her whining about it all.

But this... this was something new. Something embarrassing. So May waited a long time (and definitely until Dad was out of the house) to mention it.

"Uh, hey, Mom?" May peeked into the living room. "I hate to interrupt your Benjy time, but-" I need to talk to you about this in private without any male things around?, her mind supplied, before May shook it out of her head. "But, uh. I have kind of a personal thing I wanted to talk about."

MJ smirked. "Is it about boys?"

"For once in my life, no, it is not about boys."
"'Cause I had this great 'always use protection, not just for body, but also because they'll break your heart' speech prepped. Your Aunt Gayle and Aunt Felicia helped me write it."
"...Now it is definitely never going to be about boys."
"Aw. 'Cause I also have a 'boys to annoyingly hint you should date' list. Your Dad helped me write it."
"Mom!"
"Then there's the 'boys I think you should go for anyway 'cause they're cute and you're only going to live once' list that I needed no help with..."
"Mom!"
"What, you think I'm kidding? I can so pull out that list. But, seriously, hotshot - what is it?"
"Well, um..." May's eyes darted in Ben's direction. "I'm not sure I feel okay with talking about it in front of Ben."
"Oh, no, I was kidding about the protection."
"Don't panic. I'd need a boyfriend first."
"Which brings me back to my lists." She smirked again.
"It's not that! I just, I - feel a little weird - talking about this in front of a guy. Even a little sweetheart like him."

May fidgeting under her Mom's long, steady, serious stare. Usually that look lead to long screaming matches about the spider-thing. This time, though, MJ just muttered 'give a minute' and something about being right back. Then she disappeared into the bathroom and May was left standing there, distractedly playing with her baby brother while nursing a case of the worries.

Seconds later, MJ returned. With a tiny box. That she shoved into May's free hand (Ben had stolen the other one).

"This is what you wanted, right?"
"How'd you know? I didn't-"
"What else would you feel weird about talking about? Besides, I should've seen it coming anyway, what with you being more sensitive overall since you... started doing your thing. Although it don't think it works like - then again, of course your father wouldn't ever complain about - anyway, just take them twice a day and that should help with the cramping."
"You're the best Mom ever."
"I know. Now, if you want I could help you design a suit for that time of the..."
"No thanks, I think I'll pass. This was embarrassing enough."
"But mother-daughter bonding! I'll even leave Ben out of it."
"No, Mom. I love you, but just... no."

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:46:38 GMT

Title: The Mystery of the Demon DNA
Fandom: Spider-Girl
Characters: Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Reilly Tyne/Darkdevil, Phil Urich/Green Goblin
Rating: G
Summary: Peter hates that Darkdevil guy, but he can't resist the chance to check out his DNA.

Author's Notes: My seventh Parker Family drabble for marvel_drabbles. For the "Regret" challenge. Warning, this one's long. Almost fic-length. See the table here.

Peter slid a cup of weak coffee to his lab assistant, looking over Phil's shoulder to check out his work. He couldn't explain the disappointment he felt when he saw the results. "Nothing yet, huh?"

"Are you really surprised, Peter?" Phil pushed up his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Whoever Darkdevil is, his DNA probably changed on some level when he was made into... whatever he is. Assuming his DNA was anywhere to be found in our records in the first place."

Peter took a long sip. Just enough to savor the awful taste, ugh. "He's instigated or been in a large number of gang fights in this city. I know you like the guy, Phil, but he's a vigilante. I just can't believe he hasn't spilt blood at some other crime scene."

Phil wiped his glasses, not looking at Peter. "I'm not telling you this because I'm trying to protect him. To be honest, I really don't understand what your deal is with the guy."

"He's sent seven men to the hospital this week. In my friend's name. In Daredevil's name. That's my deal."
"Like Matt never did that."
"Not like this. I'll tell you, I know it sounds crazy, but I can believe he's a demon of some kind. The way that guy fights..."
"Which you haven't seen much of. Have you ever fought beside him, Peter? I'll admit he goes a little crazy when he's solo, but-"

Peter glared at him. He wasn't in the mood to hear excuses when it came to Darkdevil. Never had been. If he was honest with himself, he knew Phil had a point. Maybe he was a little too harsh on the guy. But - to abuse Matt's legacy the way he did! And then there were all those little things.

The cryptic remarks. The way he refused to give a straight answer. Must have picked it up from Kaine, Peter thought. Then there was the fact that he even hung around Kaine...

Peter's angry brooding was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. Phil smiled at him, weary. "I've got to go - Merry's having this supper, I think some of her interns are invited and if I don't go again, she'll- sorry, Pete."

Peter smiled. "It's all right, Phil. Go be with your wife. Annoy the interns for me."
Phil gave him a pat on the shoulder. "You, too. Don't make May and MJ worry while you stay up all night trying to solve the mystery of The Demon DNA."

"I won't. Don't look at me like that, I mean it. You're probably right. Even if we found something out, we couldn't really go anywhere with it."
"Yeah. G'night, Pete."
"Night, Phil."

As soon as he heard the door close behind him, though, Peter slid into Phil's chair. Adjusted the microscope. Got ready to peer at the cells of a man he hated. It wasn't that he disagreed with Phil, really, and even he wasn't sure what he'd do if he found anything out - confront the guy and risk being outed as Spider-Man? No. Not now, not with May on the weblines.

"But if I can figure it out," Peter muttered to himself. "I have to know."

And so he looked. And saw the last thing he expected to see.

"No. No, this-" His nervous laugh echoed through the empty lab. "This is a trick of the light."

But he knew it wasn't. Knew, now, the truth. The truth that - perhaps - he'd known all along. The real reason he kept waking up in a cold sweat, visions of demonic vigilantes ruining his family dancing through his head. "It's got to be a trick. I'm not seeing this. I'm not seeing this."

It was his brother's DNA.

He was his brother's son.

"Ben," he whispered. "I'm so sorry."

Spider-Girl: Superpowered Coffee Buddies

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:34:22 GMT

Title: Superpowered Coffee Buddies
Fandom: Spider-Girl
Characters: May "Mayday" Parker/Spider-Girl, Reilly Tyne/Darkdevil
Rating: G
Summary: Darkdevil swears he's not trying to bribe Spider-Girl with coffee. He just wants to talk.

Author's Note: My sixth Parker Family drabble for marvel_drabbles. For the "Forgiveness" challenge. Finally, one in which Darkdevil is mercilessly made fun of - I mean about May and Reilly! See the table here.

Spider-Girl pulled up her mask and let her lips touch the lid. Waited a whole, like, three seconds for a spider-sense tingle before taking a long sip and long look at her new Superpowered Coffee Buddy.

Darkdevil caught her look, rolled his eyes, and scowled. "I didn't do anything to your coffee."
She took another sip. "You're still being weirdly nice to me today."

"I am not. They just gave me two cups at the coffee shop. I don't know, maybe the person in front of me forgot to grab theirs."
"The person who just so happened to order the exact same thing you did?"
"Yes."
"An iced mocha latte grande with cinnamon and nutmeg?"
"Ye... s."
"Uh-huh. Look, you really don't need to lie to me, 'cause you're kind of horrible at it right now. So, Hornhead, what are you trying to bribe me with caffeinated goodness for?"
"Never use the phrase 'caffeinated goodness' again, please. I'm not trying to bribe you!"
"I don't know." Sip. "This tastes like a bribe."

Darkdevil sighed and adjusted himself until he was perching, with his feet, on the railing. If she didn't know better, she'd almost think he was clinging to it. Weird. She'd have to ask him how he did that someday.

"So, what is it? Dating woes?"
"...What? No!"
"'Cause, you know, if you're having trouble that - which, no offense, would be no surprise - I know there's a few superpowered singles out there. Although, come to think of it, do you prefer, um-"

He shot her a horrified look. "Spider-Girl!"

"What? I'm making no assumptions, it's just that I don't think I've seen you shown interest in anyone, so I wanted to make sure before I started naming nam-"
"It's not about that!"
"Then you'd better tell me what this is about or I'll keep annoying you until I finish my drink." Sip!
"Hey, that's not fair. I paid for that."
"Ha! I knew it wasn't an 'accident'. But, seriously, if you wanted me to just sip and shut up you should've bribed me with a smoothie."
"I'll remember that next time."

Then he sighed, looked out at the skyline, and took a long sip of his drink. Looked back at her with some odd expression May couldn't quite figure out. After another sip, he spit it out. "It's Kaine. I - I need to apologize to Kaine."

"And you thought I could help you with this... why?"

There was a hint of a smile on his face. "You and your father seem to fight a lot of the time."

"Hey, Spider-Man is not my dad! Just because everyone assumes he's-"

Darkdevil gave her a Look. "Don't. I'm sure he appreciates it, but you're not fooling anyone. You talk like him. Dress like him. Fight like him. You're his."

"Elektra said the same thing."
"Did she? Was that meant to prove me wrong, 'cause it's really not working."
"You know, you're kind of annoying like Kaine. Is that why-"

She had the oddest feeling he was looking at her suit, not her, when he said. "Kaine's not my father."

"But... he's a friend. Sort of. And I need your help fixing this."
"All right. But only because we're Superpowered Coffee Buddies now."

Spider-Girl: Talk To Me

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:36:03 GMT

Title: Talk To Me
Fandom: Spider-Girl
Characters: Reilly Tyne/Darkdevil, Kaine
Rating: G
Summary: Kaine's just trying to protect his nephew, but Reilly's tired of being treated like a monster.

Author's Note: My fifth Parker Family drabble for marvel_drabbles. For the "Distrust" challenge. A little "darker" than the other drabbles. Oh, I'm so punny. See the table here.

The demon had his pale, tattooed back turned to the old clone. "I. Don't. Care."

Kaine took a step forward. "They won't believe you. You know this. Not when you're-"

"And whose fault is that?!"

Kaine pulled his hand away, took a step back. "I didn't mean for this to happen. I only wanted to save you, Reilly... and Daredevil. Do you think I don't regret it, knowing that I failed your father aga-"

"Don't talk to me about my father! Don't- don't you dare come here and apologize to me when you're worse than Parker could ever be. When you abandoned me the moment I became a monster. Yet when she shows up you'll come waltzing back into town to kill and ravage and rampage just for the chance to see her."

"I was sending a message to Fisk. Remember, the man who killed your hero? Or is it just coincidence you're dressing up as a knockoff of Daredevil, despite what Parker calls you for it? Monster. Disgrace. Freak. That's what he thinks of you. And how much worse do you think it will be when he finds out it's not just Murdock's legacy you've tarnished?"

He took a deep breath, then, and his form changed. It was no comfort to Kaine to see his brother's features on that face. To see Ben's eyes holding back that pain. Ben's grimace. "Maybe you're right."

It was what Kaine wanted to hear, and yet...

"And maybe you're wrong. I'll find out when I do tell him - which I will. On my own terms. Someday. And no, I don't care what objections you have. I'm not my father. I won't let you destroy my life."

"I'm just trying to protect you!"

"And you've done an amazing job so far." It was more twisted than he'd ever seen it, but it was unmistakably Ben's grin. Then it changed back to a demon's visage. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go check on the one person that doesn't treat me like a monster. I'll tell her you said hi."

Spider-Girl: Duty

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:30:37 GMT

Tite: Duty
Fandom: Spider-Girl
Characters: May "Mayday" Parker/Spider-Girl
Rating: G
Summary: Her father had been broken. Their families had been broken. Mayday wasn't going to let that happen again.

Author's Notes: My fourth Parker Family drabble for marvel_drabbles. For the "Broken" challenge. A May-centic one, finally! See the table here.

May had always known her father had been broken. Other dads had both their legs, after all. She'd heard, too, the way his voice would break when he talked about his Uncle Ben. It wasn't until that day she realized why.

When he walked out the door to face Normie - no, the Green Goblin, now - she understood why he went.

Because he'd asked for Spider-Man. Her father for his. Spider-Man's life for another man he couldn't save. A family broken for another family broken. Because when Spider-Man didn't do his duty, people died. Lives were left broken.

As she lay in bed, she wondered if that was what had happened to her Uncle Ben. She didn't have much time to wonder, though, because the next moment she heard her mother close the door.

She ran to the attic. Opened up the case and pulled out the second costume. Uncle Ben's.

"I won't let it happen," she whispered to herself, putting the suit on. Slipping her hands into the gloves. "I won't let my parents die. I won't let anyone die."

Then, there was the finishing touch. She slid on the webshooters and webbed away.

If her father didn't do his duty, people died. But if she did her duty, people would live.

Spider-Girl: A Sort of Bedtime Story

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 04:18:48 GMT

Tite: A Sort of Bedtime Story
Fandom: Spider-Girl
Characters: Peter Parker/Spider-Man, May "Mayday" Parker/Spider-Girl
Rating: G
Summary: After a hard day's night, Peter talks to his daughter.

Author's Notes: My third Parker Family drabble. For the "Sore" challenge. I really liked how this one turned out. See the table here.

Peter could hear the sound of sirens as he hobbled into the house. Made a desperate, lucky, grab for his cane and pills. He kept falling on his way. The sounds that echoed through the house were almost like clockwork. A cane dragging through carpet, a shout, soft irritated mutterings, groaning, panting, and then silence. And repeat.

Until he reached her door.

May, of course, slept right through it.

"Hey, Mayday," he whispered. Then collapsed in the chair MJ had placed beside her crib for him. "Daddy's doctor would be very, very mad at him right now if he knew what Daddy did tonight. Oh, my leg is killing me."

She continued to slumber, even as Peter continued to babble, taking off his artificial leg and applying a topical creme to the stump. "See, Daddy's not supposed to strain his good leg right now. He talked to his friend, Dr. Connors, about his leg and Mr. Connors said 'Peter, that leg's all you've got now, and I'm afraid this artificial limb isn't meant to withstand any sort of intense activity... but then, welllll, some things happened and Doctor Connors started to get very scaly."

Peter glanced over at the crib and smiled. "And I have got to stop telling you things like that, or you're going to start talking and blabbing to your friends about how your Daddy's Spider-Man and then your Daddy will have to think of new ways to spy on you during dates and make sure you're... I kind of got lost in the middle of that, didn't I?" He shook his head.

"Sorry, these pills make Daddy kind of loopy."

Peter spent the next half hour just watching his daughter sleep. Seeing her little chest rise and fall. Seeing her toss and turn. Seeing her drool. After wiping it up, he said, "Your mother thinks I should stop. Says I can't save people any more. Not with you here, and definitely not like this. What do you think?"

She, of course, said nothing.

"I think... she's probably right. I almost got someone killed today. Billy Connors. You don't know him yet, but you will. I'm slow now, and if I'd been just a second slower, that debris-" Peter hung his head. Took a deep breath. Then he kissed his daughter on the forehead and hobbled to the door.

"Good night, Mayday. Sweet dreams."

Spider-Girl: Old Man's Tale

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 04:16:31 GMT

Title: Old Man's Tale
Fandom: Spider-Girl
Characters: Kaine, Reilly Tyne/Darkdevil
Rating G
Summary: The boy has his brother's eyes. Ben's eyes. And he is dying.

Author's Note: My second Parker Family fic for marvel_drabbles. For the "Sick" challenge. There was originally a lot more to this one, but it was turning out fic-length, so I had to trim a ton. I hope it still works this way! See the table here.

The boy was praying. He was looking up at him with his brother's eyes, with Ben's eyes, and he was dying. "Are you my guardian angel?"
Kaine held out his hand to the homeless boy soaking in rain. "I'm here to help you. Will you come with me?"
The boy took his hand. "What's your name?"

"Reilly."

Of course it was.

"Make it stop. Make it stop," Ben had begged him all those years ago. As Kaine took the needle out of his skin, smiling as he watched Ben's body writhe with the pain he knew all too well. He'd give him a vaccine later - it wouldn't do for Ben to die halfway through his torture - but for now...

Now, Ben's son was screaming. "Make it stop! Make it stop! MAKE IT STOP!"

And all Kaine could do was place the boy in suspended animation. And pray.

Kaine visited him almost every day. Most of the time, all Reilly could do was open his eyes. At first, Kaine would spend these moments working like a man possessed. He could've drowned himself in the various vaccines he concocted. Supplied a scrap shop with all the equipment he smashed. After a while, though, he stopped. It began to dawn on him that these moments might be the only time they'd have.

So he began to talk to his nephew instead.

"I don't suppose anyone's told you about your cousin? You... couldn't tell me if they had, could you? Oh well. Would you mind suffering through an old man's tale?"

Kaine smiled, then, and liked to believe the boy in the tube smiled back.

Spider-Girl: Mrs. Responsible

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 03:09:08 GMT

Title: Mrs. Responsible
Fandom: Spider-Girl
Characters: Mary Jane, Gayle Watson, May "Mayday Parker"/Spider-Girl
Rating G
Summary: MJ knew she'd have to let May go someday, and she trusts her sister, but she's never been good at waiting.

Author's Note: My first Parker Family fic for marvel_drabbles. For the "Haunted" challenge. This turned out a lot longer than I thought it would. Oh well. See the table here.

As Mary Jane held her daughter close, her face flooded with relief. This had been the first time, since Kaine brought her baby back to her, that MJ had let May out of her sight. Into someone else's arms. She'd been so scared.

Scared that as Gayle pulled up, some maniac would come flying by and carpet-bomb her sister's car. Scared that there'd be a wreck. Scared that Gayle would notice something she, in her desperation to believe, something she didn't. Some flaw. Some feature. Some thing that would prove that none of this was real. That this wasn't her daughter. Or even worse, that May had stolen someone else's heart. That Gayle, just like that Mongrain witch, had fallen so hard for her little girl that she wouldn't give her back.

"Hey." Gayle put a hand on her shoulder. "I know it's hard, but I only had her for a day."
"I know. I just got so.... scared."
"You do scared now, Mrs. Carefree?" Gayle raised an eyebrow. "I thought you avoided that kind of 'heavy scene', hep cat. Preferred to stay in Chilltown, near Groovesville."

MJ gasped, put a hand to her chest, and turned to face her sister. "How dare you make such slanderous statements against my character, sister!" Thinking about just how true it had been, painful slang aside, was enough to help MJ turn on the tears. "In front of my daughter, no less! Have you no shame? Think of the damage you're doing to our tender, fragile mother-daughter relationship. Why? How could you?"

Gayle was unimpressed. "So how much money did you blow learning how to ham it up, again?"

"Shut up! I had some very prestigious parts... as an extra... back in the day."
"Hmph. Let's just hope she doesn't inherit your flair for drama."
"Are you kidding? Look at that face. She's going to be breaking so many hearts she'll be deep in drama whether she wants it or not."
"True." Both women smiled at the sleeping baby.

But, eventually, Gayle was able to pull herself away. "Sorry, MJ. I'd love to stay and coo at the baby with you, but I've got to pick up my boys from soccer practice."
"I understand," MJ said, eyes glued to her girl.

It wasn't hard for Gayle to walk away, at first. As much as she loved her sister - and, oh, who didn't love that little girl - things were still uncomfortable. There were resentments. Things left unsaid. But turning back to look at her sister, Gayle knew she had to say it. "Mary Jane?"

"Yeah?"
"I know... things haven't been easy between us. But I want you to know, that's in the past. I'll do whatever I can to help out you and Peter, because I know... well, I don't know what it's like to lose your baby, and I hope the bastard who took her paid... but I know what it's like to be afraid. To be haunted by the mistakes you've made. Every time the boys ask me about their father - wait, sorry, this is coming out wrong. I just mean, I'm here for you. I'll help you. 'Cause I know the fear doesn't get any easier to deal with."
"Thanks, Gayle."
"Anytime. Really, who would've thought you'd end up a Mom? Married to Mr. Responsible himself. I thought you were all about avoiding that responsibility scene, daddy-o."
"You know, Gayle, I love you but if you break out the slang one more time..."
"Sorry, but I'm never letting you live that down. Or the go-go boots."
"Pfft," MJ rolled her eyes. "I was modelling. That's my excuse. But..." MJ kissed May's forehead. "You're right. I guess we've all to grow up sometime."
"Yeah. Look, I really have to run, but - call me sometime?"
"Sure. And hey, if you ever need someone to look after the boys?"
"Oh, you don't want to give me an excuse to abuse free babysitting. But sure thing, the boys have been dying to meet Mayday."

As her sister drove away, MJ looked relieved. Maybe she was still haunted by her fear of losing May, but at least she'd lost one other ghost of the past.

"Come on, Mayday, let's go inside. My diaper-sense are tingling. What did she feed you?"

marvel_drabbles: The Parker Family Table

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:10:34 GMT

01.	Pain	02.	Sore	03.	Sick	04.	Broken	05.	Distrust
06.	Haunted	07.	Forgive	08.	Lost	09.	Regret	10.	Cut

Evangelion: The Cello

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 21:52:14 GMT

Title: The Cello
Fandom: Neon Genesis Evangelion
Characters: Shinji
Rating: G
Summary: How Shinji got his cello.

Author's Note: The second of ten fics for 10_prompts about Gendo and Shinji. For the "Music" challenge. See the table here.

Sensei, as usual, is not home when Shinji comes back from school. There is something unusual, though, this day. There is a package. For Shinji.

After a few moments of inspection, the boy discovers that it is an anonymous gift. Whatever it is. "I'm not charity," he mutters, dwelling on the many looks of pity he'd seen in his short life. (Accompanied by whispers, always, about his mother.)

It bothers him. The whispering. The looks. The handwriting, which makes Shinji's address clear but leaves no clues about itself, but Shinji feels he should - there's something about it, something he should know. Something that bothers him.

"Don't pity me," he scowls at the box, not knowing why. He clenches his fist. "I don't need your pity!"

He raises his hand. He's going to smash it, smash it like he smashed his sand castle.

All the other children, their mothers had been at the beach. Had helped them build. Not Shinji's. He'd been left alone, with no mother, no father - just a stupid box and-

He sniffles. Drops his hand. He doesn't know why his anger disappears, but for the moment, it does. Although it's soon replaced with annoyance as he drags the box into the house. Into his room. It takes hours.

Sensei is still not home when Shinji opens the box. Sensei is not there as Shinji peers inside. Sensei is not there to hear Shinji's surprise. Sensei is not there to hear Shinji's first eager, but ear-splitting, notes.

Once Sensei does come home, Shinji is sprawled out his bed, clutching his mother's cello.

As he sleeps, Sensei tells Gendo that Shinji is glad for the gift.

Evangelion: The Smile He Ran From

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:19:11 GMT

Title: The Smile He Ran From
Fandom: Neon Genesis Evangelion
Characters: Gendo, Rei, Yui
Rating: PG-13 for Flashback!Gendo/Yui post-coital snugglin'.
Summary: Gendo shows Rei the Evangelion, and she smiles. But it's not Yui's smile.

Author's Note: The first of ten fics for 10_prompts about Gendo and Shinji. For the "Afraid" challenge. See the table here. (Wish me luck, it's my first table!)

It was the first place Gendo took the girl once was she well enough to leave the laboratory. He hadn't wanted to go back (and hovered near the exit), but he felt she should see it. The Evangelion. What would be her Evangelion. And the place where her... no, mother wasn't the right word. Donor, perhaps. Yes, Gendo could use that word without guilt.

He felt Rei should see the place where her donor died.

Like most young couples, they had fought before making love (he hated that phrase, it seemed so sentimal, but even though neither of them were sentimental people it was what Yui preferred). From everything he had heard from others, Gendo knew that this was normal, especially for young couples with children. But it bothered him.

"How horrible," Yui said in that cheery voice of hers. "Most women would be complaining 'he won't be gentle', 'he's so cruel', but you..." She snuggled against him, laying a hand over his chest. It still fascinated him, they way she'd stay so close to him even after they'd been beyond close. No, especially after that. "I know your gentle side, so it's like you're scared to show me that monster you show to everyone else."

He stared up at the ceiling. "I'm afraid of losing you."

She was quiet for a long time. He almost thought she'd fallen asleep listening to his heartbeat, until she said, "We all have monsters, even me. I never told you - I thought you were so cute under those bruises, despite what everyone said - so shy. You remember those rumors? 'He's seducing her because some shadowy motive', that nonsense. As if you knew how. You're so horrible with people."

Despite the insults, he smiled. Was this really her idea of a compliment?

"But, that wasn't all."
"Do you... really mean that?"
"Yes, I do." She chuckled. "You'd better not fall asleep on me now! I'm not done with my story yet, Horrible Interpersonal Communicator Gendo Rokubungi-kun."
"Rokubungi-kun. Been a while since you've called me that. How does the story end, Yui-kun?"
"'Yui-kun'. You shouldn't tease me-!"
"But, you did it first."
"Anyway! The end of the story of this: everyone thought the monster was seducing the princess for his own shadowy reasons, but, what the princess found was that the monster was just a cute young man underneath it all. Someone who could understand the monster underneath the cute young woman."

He looked at her again. Gendo couldn't stop looking at her. Not for long. "There's a monster here," he muttered, tracing her body with his lips. "How horrible..."

"Hmph. It's true after all. Men don't care what you say so long as-"

He pulled away from her after a moment. "Don't leave me alone."

She kissed him back, but it wouldn't be until years later that Gendo realized she no longer looked him in the eye. "You'd have Shinji."
"I couldn't - I'm even worse than the man you were told about. If you-"

Her kiss was more gentle than it had ever been before. Considering this was Yui, that was saying something. He didn't realize, then, that she'd been shuddering. Even though they should have still been warm. "I'm going to take him tomorrow. It will be all right."
"But, he's just a kid, he won't even understand... Yui, what-"
"Our son's sleeping soundly for once. We should take advantage of it. Besides, don't you think he should see the bright future?"

That was the last time they made love. Because Yui died the next day.

Still, Gendo wanted Rei to see her future. And although the girl didn't know (couldn't know, he reassured himself), Gendo wanted her to see her past as well. Even if she wasn't reacting to it like he'd... expected. Hoped, perhaps.

Gendo had wanted to see Yui's smile on her lips as she looked through the glass at Units 00 and 01. That was the smile he imagined he'd see every time he saw her, all those long nights in the lab, watching as man created a girl against the will of God. When she'd be able to smile, he was sure it would be Yui's smile.

But it wasn't Yui's smile he saw when she spotted Unit 00. That was something foreign, almost frightening. And it wasn't Yui's smile he saw as she stared at Unit 01. No, that was another smile. One that made him look at his watch instead of Rei. It was the first time, since he'd seen Rei, that he had been able to look away.

He had to look away. Looking at her would have meant looking at that smile. The one that wasn't Yui's, nor the one he couldn't comprehend, but instead the other smile Gendo knew too well. And at the sight of it, all he could do was run away.

"Shinji!" He calls out to the girl, like a stern-but-loving father would, not realizing his mistake until the name has left his lips. She doesn't seem to hear him. But knowing what he knows of her, Gendo wonders.

He pushes his sunglasses up with an unsteady hand, hiding his frown, and tries again. Softer this time. "Rei. Come."

She turns to him at this time. A pleased look in her eyes. A small smile. Yui's eyes, under the red. Yui's smile. This time. But, Gendo thinks to himself, he should have remembered. This girl wasn't the only one with Yui's smile.

Gendo imagines it's an accident that she digs her fingernails into his hand, as she clutches it the way Shinji used to do. Yet, part of him - the part that generates the nightmares about Yui - wonders.

And she looks up at him with his wife's eyes and smiles.

10_Prompts: Gendo/Shinji Table

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:08:47 GMT

01.	Castle	02.	Book	03.	Simple things	04.	Boat	05.	Music
06.	Gloomy	07.	Scarred	08.	Spotless	09.	Dying	10.	Afraid

Animorphs: The Incredible Xena [1/?]

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 06:14:16 GMT

Title: The Incredible Xena
Characters: Rachel, The One and Tobias, with cameos by Marco and Jake.
Rating: G

Author's Notes: Another old fic I found on my hard drive and fixed up. I'm really sorry to say I don't remember where the story was supposed to go after this, but I think I have some new ideas anyway, so... we'll see.

My name is Rachel and I should be dead. In fact, any history book you pick up - and believe me, there's tons - will tell you I'm dead. The news says I'm dead. The government says I'm dead. Even my own mother thinks I'm dead. But I'm not. It's a long story and I still don't know all of it. Then again, I never had any of the answers before, so why should I have them now?

I guess I should start at the beginning. When I came back to consciousness.

Everything was kind of a blur. I couldn't see then, not really. My eyes hadn't been working in a few years, so it was going to take them a while to get used to this sight thing. Still, I had a vague awareness of two things: a pair of hands holding me down and that I was lying on my back.

And no, I'm sorry, this isn't that kind of story. And any chance of it turning into that kind of story was kind on killed by what happened next.

Pain. The mind numbing, feels like your body is frying but it isn't, oh god why I am still alive to feel this kind of pain. I screamed. Loud. I think the pain was what made me realize I was alive. Oh, god, it hurt. It hurt worse than anything I could ever remember. Worse than that polar bear paw through my gut. But the pain was the least of my problems. No, my biggest problem was that I needed to get control, and fast.

I tried to sit up, but the hands forced me back onto my back. "Rachel, no!"
Rachel, I remember thinking. That's my name. Rachel. I'm Rachel.
I screamed again as another wave of pain shot through me. Then I heard it - the voice - for the first time.
[ Welcome home, ] it rasped. [ Rachel. ]

"There's a voice in my head," I said. Or tried to. It came out more like "Gezza woyze ig myded."

"What?" The person holding me down asked, shaking me a little. But I didn't respond, because I was busy having a conversation with my disembodied voice buddy.

What's going on? I wondered.
[ You died, Rachel. Lovely, beautiful Rachel, ] the voice told me.
Oh yeah, I thought, I did. I remember. Tom killed me.
[ Yes, he did. Or rather, his yeerk did. Ran his paw clean through you. I imagine it hurt. ]
I felt my mouth twitch into a grin. Understatement of the year.

That was the cue for another wave of pain to sweep my body and a scream of agony to leave my throat.

This is giving impalement a run for its money, though. Which reminds me, hey, I've got some questions. What's going on? Why can I feel that? Why can I think? Why am I...
[ Living? ] The voice swelled with pride. [ Because I told you to. ]
You what?
[ I ordered your sweet stinking corpse to live again. You see, dearest Rachel, I need a host. ]

"Yeerk," I hissed. "Get out of me, you filthy slug! You piece of shit, get out!"

The voice started laughing. A calm ripple of amusement that chilled my bones.

[ Oh Rachel, I'm no yeerk, ] It said.
Then what are you? I asked it. Who are you?
[ Guess, ] it ordered me.
Crayak.
[ Oh! So close, but so far, so... sorry, babe, but no cigar. Rachel, my dear, you can call me The One. ]

After that, I guess I passed out. Maybe my body couldn't take the pain. All I know is that I was waking up again. I still couldn't see, at least not much. Everything around me was gray and blurred.

But I could hear.

"Her eyes are twitching," somebody said. A boy, I think. No, no, my mind told me. That was a guy. Just one with kind of a high-pitched voice.
"Really? I thought they were doing jumping jacks." A different voice. Lower than the first.
"Shut up and check her pulse," muttered a third voice. The lowest yet. And tired, I thought. Very tired.

I felt a hand grab my wrist. It was one of the hands that pushed me down, I was sure of it.
"Still beating," said the low-but-not-lowest voice. He was relieved.

Relieved, I realized, to know I wasn't dead.

The memory, the whole memory, came back to me now. The cold snow, the stench of blood in the air. The paw going clean through my stomach. Pain, unimaginable pain. Their faces on the screen. Shocked, sad, crying. His face. Human now, just for me.

"I love you."

The hand dropped my wrist. My arm fell to the floor, but I guess I'd gone numb from the pain, because I didn't feel it.

"What'd she say?" High-Pitch asked, his voice blending in with Lowest's, addressing the guy holding me, I guess. "Tobias?"

Animorphs: The Imaginary Man

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 04:34:31 GMT

Title: The Imaginary Man
Fandom: Animorphs
Characters: Loren, Elfangor, Tobias
Rating: G

Author's Notes: An old fic, originally written for 30_kisses , that I scrapped at the time because I couldn't figure out how to rewrite it once I remembered Elfangor wasn't around at all when Tobias was little... but now I think I like it better as it is. Somewhat AU.

Tobias was crying when we walked to the bus. It took me a while to notice because he was so quiet. His cries are always quiet. It used to upset me so much, this horrible feeling that I'd never know when my baby was in trouble, never know when he needed me, never know because I would never hear him.

It comes back to me as I sip my coffee. Cold wood under my bare feet, such a different feeling from the warm drink in my gut right now. The floor was uncomfortable but nothing compared to the cold dread in my chest as I stood in the doorway, hoping to see my boy, going crazy at the thought I never would.

I opened my mouth and jumped back as his finger touched my lips, which curved into a smile. He never had understood the idea of personal space.

"Sssh," he whispered, "he's feeding."
"You could have woken me up," I said, stretching out to touch the fuzz growing on Tobias's head.
"Sorr-ii-yuh. I thought you needed more rest-uh," he whispered and I shook my head. He'd managed to keep it under it control - at least, there never was a repeat of The Pictionary Incident - but I didn't mind, not really. I'd never put in these exact words, and I never would, but it's one of the things I loved most about him. Besides the awesome daddying, that is. Which reminded me...

"He wasn't crying, was he?"
"No."
"Then how did you..."

He gives me a Look, and even in the dark, I swear his eyes changed. Gray to green, gray to that green.

"I just do."

It's insane, I told myself, rubbing my aching head. Insane to remember my husband knowing my son so well, to imagine him caring enough to get up in the middle of the night even if he did. Insane to remember him rolling around on the floor with Tobias, running around the house with Tobias, telling stories and singing songs. It's the songs that I remember most. The words are gibberish now, but I remember them being words once, even if I didn't understand them.

"Oh, Loren, you're not well," I said, coffee still in hand. It's a perfect imitation of my Aunt Gertrude, and if my son had heard me, his laugh would be so loud.

But he's not going to hear me for much longer because my family thinks he's better off with them. Because I'm poor. Because Daddy left. Because Mommy has become a nutcase because she keeps imagining herself married to someone who couldn't be Daddy, because the Imaginary Man actually cares about Tobias.

Tobias with his quiet cries, whose cries have become even more quiet, thanks to the taunts and the toilet dunks. I tell myself that's why he hugged me so hard this morning. That's why he cried, why he smothered me with kisses, why he whispered, "I love you, Mommy."

He did it because the other boys were mean. Yes, they were just mean, not scared or confused because my son was...

"He's not normal, is he?" I whispered, looking at the baby suckling on my teat, then up at the man I swore I reminded that forumla is only for emergencies.
"Are we?"

"As normal as he can be with you for a mom," I mutter. Sarcasm is nice, comforting. Keeps me from stressing over being late to work, keeps me from wanting the light to change, keeps me from thinking that my crying son is not normal, that I'm going to lose him, and that he knows all of this. Keeps me from thinking that it seems like he knows so much.

Keeps me...

The brakes screech. I think of Tobias's hair under my fingers. Then I forget eveything.

Spider-Man: Personal Files.

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 04:33:32 GMT

Title: Personal Files
Fandom: Spider-Man (comicsverse)
Characters: Harry Osborn, Ben Reilly
Rating: G

Author's Note: This was born from a crackfic idea that I'm pretty sure I'll never make into a story, even if the idea won't let go. My first time writing Ben or Harry. Hopefully they don't suck! For the "googling yourself" challenge at marvel_100.

"C'mon, roomie, they're going to catch us," my 'roommate' hissed in my ear. If you broaden the definition of roommate to include guy-I'm-forced-to-share-a-S.H.I.E.L.D.-compartment with. Which I do. "What are you looking for, anyway? More bleach, Blondie?"

"No, Har. I'm looking for the magical cure to your cornrows. Or is it male pattern baldness?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him roll his eyes. Good to know some things don't change. Even if you are a different man.

"I hope you know your roots are showing, Benny-boy."
"Speaking of showing, you see anyone headed our way?"

"Not yet." In the corner of my eye, I saw him make a fist. Or maybe he was holding some imaginary pumpkin bomb. Who knows.
Although it was good to know that he wouldn't be aiming that imaginary-bomb at me - some things do change, after all - but it still wasn't something I wanted to dwell on. "Shouldn't you be on lookout, anyway? You've got your spider-sense. Even with my goblin gear, I've got... nothing. Besides, I'm good with computers."

"Yeah, I know. Pete told me all about that robo-parents thing," I muttered, not thinking about what I was saying.

I didn't find my name or Harry's in any of their records. I was sure that couldn't be a sign. But there was one more thing I had to check, while I could, before we got caught- one more thing I had to know.

"I just meant I could help you search," Harry whispered, unclenching.
"Oh, jeez. I'm sorry, Har-"
"Stop calling me that, Ben. Peter calls me that."
"I-" I grit my name and typed another name. This time, into the news search. 'Elizabeth Tyne'. "I didn't mean- look, it's just- this is private. Something I need to know before we get shipped off on some suicide mission."

Harry gave me a long, sad look. To this day, I'm not sure why. Probably because we were both drudging up stuff about Peter and Norman and all of that we'd both rather forget. But sometimes I think maybe there was something in my desperation to know that he recognized in himself. He had to be going mad with worry about Liz and Normie, even though we'd found out they were still alive and safe.

But maybe I just think that because...

I turned back to the screen and found the last bit of information I ever expected to find about Elizabeth Tyne.

"Harry-? Harry. You- you're good with computers, right? I need- this can't be right-"
"They're coming!"

Spider-Girl: Not Funny.

Sun, 09 Sep 2007 07:47:07 GMT

Title: Not Funny
Fandom: Spider-Girl
Characters: Spider-Girl/May "Mayday" Parker, Normie Osborn
Rating: PG, just to be safe, for talk of suicide and some innuendo.

Author's Notes: Written for the marvel_100 tattoo challenge, but it turned a lot longer than I planned. Takes place sometime during Spider-Girl #31-#35.

Normie Osborn had noticed May was staring at something while he worked on her glider, but when he figured out what it was, it was too late. She'd grabbed his arm and he knew, from experience, that she wasn't going to let go anytime soon.

"What is this?" May asked, touching his scar. "This isn't a tattoo."

"Mayday, can you please let go? I'm kind of holding a sharp, pointy thing here and I'd kind of feel bad if I stabbed you with it on accident."

"That's not what you were saying last month," she deadpanned. "I'm serious. Tell me what this is."

He tried, and failed, to free his arm. "It's nothing, okay? Just-"

"You have two of them!" She'd seized both his hands now, causing him to drop his sharp pointy thing. "Why do you have... two..."

She'd put two and two together. He could tell because she let go of his arms. Which he was grateful for, since being gripped by someone with spider-strength was just a little bit painful. "I told you," he said, picking up his pointy thing, "I tried to- before I ever tried to kill you, I- I told you that."

"You didn't tell me how," she said, hugging her knees to her chest. "Or why."

"Why? Come on, didn't you know slitting your wrists is the way to commit suicide? All the cool kids are doing it."

"That wasn't funny," she scowled. "And I thought all the cool kids were taking pills."

"Yeah, well, I was allergic to the pills- which is a funny story, but it's also really embarrassing, so I'm going to stop talking about it and shut up right now."

"I hate when I can't tell if you're joking or telling the truth."

"Now you know how I felt when we fought, Miss I Make Jokes While I Punch People in the Face."

"You're just jealous I have the better punchli- wait, how is that the same thing? Just 'cause I joked about it doesn't mean I didn't want to punch you in the face. Probably 'cause of that threatening to kill my family thing."

"You think I'm lying?" He didn't know it, but he looked hurt. "There really was a funny- and embarrassing- side effect with the pills."

"Oh yeah?" She was smiling again. Sure, it was a little faked, but at least it was a smile. "What kind of side effect?"

"Something really... see, when I say embarrassing, that means I'm not telling you! Okay?"

"Spoilsport. You still didn't answer my other question."

"What other question?" Normie turned his back to her, going back to poking at the glider with his sharp pointy thing.

"Why'd you do it?"

"I..." he turned to look at her, and as soon as he did, she regretted asking. He couldn't look more like she'd punched him in the gut than he would if she really had punched him in the gut. "I don't feel like talking about it, okay? I told you some of it, anyway. I couldn't live up to my grandfather's exceptions. I couldn't kill you or your parents. And... look, maybe later I'll tell you. If you still want to hear about it. I'm just not ready right now."

"Okay," she sighed, leaning back in the chair. "Can I ask you something else, then?"

"Sure."

"Did it hurt when you got those tattoos?"

"Like you would not believe. The ones on my arms were bad enough, but the other ones... I can't even laser them, it'd hurt as much as getting them in the first place. Not to mention it'd be really expensive."

"Oh, like you have to worry about cash. You're an Osborn," she rolled her eyes. "Wait. You have other tats? Where?!"

"Not there, if that's what you're thinking," he said, rolling his eyes back at her. "They're on my chest."

"Can I see them?" May smiled again. For real this time.

"No, they'd just depress you. Trust me."

"Oh, come on, what's so bad about them? Is the long list of your lady loves all misspelled and scratched out or something? Was the coloring really bad? Is it something really girly, like..."

"It's not any of those." Normie muttered. "By the way, lady loves, what? No, there's- there's a whole murder theme. You really don't want to see it. Although I think the coloring was really nice done, which it better have been considering how much I paid for it, but..." he shrugged.

"Oh. Well, that's okay. I guess I can live without seeing you shirtless."

"...Yeah, I was about to say there's also the fact that your father would kill me if he even suspected I did anything involving you, me, and a loss of clothes."

She snickered. "He's also going to kill you for all these secret afternoons spent with his precious daughter, so really, why should that stop you?"

"Now, see that-" he bit back a grin and waved his pointy sharp thing in a disapproving manner. "That was not funny."

Spider-Girl: As Bad as Your Father

Sun, 09 Sep 2007 05:31:40 GMT

Title: As Bad as Your Father
Fandom: Spider-Girl
Characters: Darkdevil/Reilly Tyne, Daredevil/Matt Murdock
Rating: G

Author's Notes: For the tattoos challenge at marvel100. Oh, and this is set sometime soon after Reilly becomes bonded to Matt.

Reilly had always wanted tattoos before he was forced to get some. The problem was, he couldn't show them off, not without outing himself as a freak. In his experience, people didn't look too kindly at freaks. He'd learned that the hard way - and that was when he was a freak who didn't have to blend in.

When he was just an average with an above-average sense of danger. Now, he was...

If you think 'I'm a monster' again, I won't teach you how to use a billy-club, the dead guy - Matt - told him.
Reilly rolled his eyes. "Oh, like I can't read about it or something. Big deal," he muttered, straightening his tie.

Well, that's what he thought he was doing.

For Christ's sake, kid. You're almost as bad as your father. I mean, Peter. I mean- well, I suppose he and Ben were the same. I don't know, I never understood all of that clone nonsense.

"You knew my father?"

We had hot dogs once. Fought together a few times. No, kid- Reilly- you're supposed to knot it, not just tie it around your neck.

"What was he like?" he asked, untying his tie. "Who did you fight?!"

Stop thinking this 'I'm a monster' crap and maybe I'll tell you. Oh, and don't forget to camouflage your markings or tattoos or whatever they're called. Trust me, no admissions office is going to want to give a scholarship to a kid covered in ink.

"Whatever you say, Dad," he grinned, as his markings disappeared and his demonic features faded away to reveal a human face.

Matt, the old soul growled. My name's Matt.

"What'd you say, Hornhead? Something about some Murdock guy?"

If it was possible for a soul to sigh, this one did. Just as bad as your father.

Utena: How to Handle a Sword

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 03:33:03 GMT

Title: How to Handle a Sword
Fandom: Shoujo Kakumei Utena
Characters: Utena, OC
Rating: G

Author's Notes: I got to wondering about Utena's childhood, and specifically, how she learned to fence. So I wrote a fic about it. My Utena fic -- hopefully it isn't horrible (or the prose too urpely). Enjoy!

"Girls shouldn't handle swords like that," The Instructor said to himself, the petulant look on his face polished with a pout.

He knew that some girls could use swords. After all, he had trained a few in the art. Still, just because he had to train the nation's many orphans in the basics of combat (better than letting the unlucky twerps run wild over the countryside, went the reasoning, and at least they learned a useful skill - even if it was a skill that they'd only use on the battlefield) didn't mean he had to like it. Or agree with it. Especially when he'd received orders to start training the young ladies.

There was just something so... un-ladylike about it. Young girls with their hair pulled back, limbs flailing as they tried to dodge their opponents' foils, sweating and shouting and laughing and... he couldn't deny that it looked like they were having fun, but it was still inappropriate. Especially when they were paired with friends - especially those of the opposite sex.

He felt these fights always had a tension to them that these children were - thank the Lord - too young to understand. (Well, except the young couple he had found last week, but they were exceptions to the rule. Or so he liked to believe.)

Still, during those fights, there was something disconcerting... something so adult in their jibes, taunts, and moves. It made him nervous. Made him dwell on unpleasant thoughts, like the days when his duelists of times past would come to his door to tell him they had been drafted. Oh, sometimes they wouldn't come bearing bad news - one had even come to announce his placement in a prestigious tournament - but that was a baleful rarity.

This was why The Instructor was fond of Tenjou. She was almost past childhood now, but she had still retained her innocence.

Oh, she was the least ladylike of the lot - he had tried everything he could think of to get her out of the male uniform, to no avail, and he assumed it was only by the grace of God that she hadn't tried to cut her strawberry locks again - but it was rare for The Instructor to have uncomfortable ruminations about Tenjou's impending adulthood. During duels, at least.

At other times, he had many worries about Tenjou. Not the least of which was wondering what kind a man would marry such a... masculine young woman.

During duels, however, there was something about Tenjou that put his many fears to rest. Perhaps it was because Tenjou was a clean fighter. The Instructor admired that - it was a good sign of a student's trustworthiness in adulthood. (Being trustworthy in dueling was, of course, a double-edged sword, but it was a quality The Instructor admired. Perhaps because he was so lacking in it.)

It amused him when he noticed that Tenjou was not prone to backhanded tricks like so many of her peers, no doubt because of her childish notion of becoming a prince.

"Princes don't fight dirty," Tenjou had told The Instructor once, when he had asked her why she refused to stoop to the level of a dishonest sparring partner. She had seemed so earnest then, so certain that she was speaking the truth, that he couldn't bring himself to tell her that most princes did fight dirty - that was often how they became princes, after all.

Perhaps it was her earnest nature and her to all appearances endless optimism that gave him faith in her future. Though it shouldn't, The Instructor knew that too well. There had been many Tenjou Utenas in his years of training. Almost all of them never came home - attacked by the enemy if they were lucky, stabbed in the back by a friend if they weren't. Life taught him that he should except no better for this boy-girl. Even if by some miracle she managed to never lose her nobility (and she wouldn't, he was sure, for no man or woman - or whatever Tenjou was - could live up to an ideal), The Instructor knew the world would be cold and cruel to such a child.

There was no place in the world for a woman who handled a sword like that.

The Instructor stopped pouting, though his arms remained crossed. "Fix your posture, Tenjou!" She turned to him, annoyed, with a pout to match his earlier one. "Talent won't win every duel, Tenjou. You must listen to me and learn how to fight - the right way."

Tenjou huffed, blowing her hair out of her eyes, but there was a determined look on her face as she straightened her posture and took a far less vulnerable stance. It was almost... regal, The Instructor thought, feeling a smile spread over his lips.

Then he returned to his usual scowl. It wouldn't do to show any sign of favoritism among his students. Especially not for a student like her.

Nevertheless, he could mask his pride as he saw a streak of strawberry blur past a larger, more experienced boy. Tenjou Utena had won this duel. The Instructor allowed himself some short, soft, dignified applause.

Everything he knew his long life told him that Tenjou Utena would fail, as the many stubborn idealistic fools before her had failed. Nevertheless, he couldn't help but think - hope - that this one stubborn idealistic fool could make a place in the world for a woman who handled a sword like that.

Animorphs: Midgets.

Mon, 07 May 2007 05:32:17 GMT

Title: Midgets
Fandom: Animorphs
Character(s): Rachel, Marco, Helmacrons
Rating: G

Author's Notes: Spoilers if you still don't know how the series ended. For trelali, who wanted a Rachel-Marco friendship drabble with the premise: "Because I said no," plus a Bossy!Marco.

She was doing the Puppy Dog Eyes. I hate it when she does the Puppy Dog Eyes.

"Marco, can't we--?"
"No," I crossed my arms and tried to look tough. Not so easy to do when you're only like... maybe the same height as someone, by the way.
"Puh-leeze?" Now she was flashing me that grin. Not the 'oh, I'm about to something reckless and violent that'll get us all killed' grin, but the 'gosh, I'm an awfully cute blonde girl, aren't I?' grin. Which might've worked before I dated a lot of pretty blonde girls.

Okay, it still kind of worked. A little. But don't tell Rachel or Tobias that.

"No. You can't just enslave a species like that. Isn't that what we fought a war for?"
Rachel rolled her eyes. "I'm not enslaving them, they want to follow me. Besides, they're Helmacrons, who'll miss them?"
I tried to puff out my chest. Keyword, tried. "Rachel."
She just grinned. "Marco. Come on, I came back from the dead! Don't I deserve a cult of little midgets? I so deserve midgets."

Spider-Man: Just One Thing.

Mon, 07 May 2007 04:53:31 GMT

Title: Just One Thing
Fandom: Spider-Man (comicsverse)
Character(s): Spider-Man/Peter Parker, Iron Man/Tony Stark
Rating: G

Author's Notes: For skalja, who asked for something about Peter, Tony and 8 million dollars. Some spoilers if you haven't read anything about the Unmasking and the Clone Saga.

"--And that's it. He killed my brother, killed... kidnapped, I don't know... if he kidnapped her, she must be dead by now, her and Kaine. Or she's off being raised by my killer clone in Egypt or something, I don't... I want to believe that, but I don't."

Peter took a deep breath and put a hand over his eyes, seeming to forget he still had the mask on. Then they sat in silence, two grown men in two "differently pretty" (as MJ put it) red-and-gold suits.

Until Tony said, "There's one thing you didn't tell me, Peter."
Peter grunted, as if to say, "What?"
Tony looked at the floor. "What ever happened to Gwen's clone?"
Peter felt his mask slipping off as his weary, shaking hand trailed over his face -- it was weird, reminding himself that he didn't have to pull it down. "Why do you want to know?"
"I was just thinking... it'd be difficult to explain her existence to Ms. Stacy's family," Tony stared at his palms.
"Oh. I never did," Tony could see Peter biting his lip under the mask, mulling over some new worry. "I didn't know how. She, god, she's probably in danger-- if anyone finds out about her--"

Tony put a hand on his shoulder.

"I'll take care of it, Peter."
"But it's my fault someone even created her in the first place, I should..."
"Not everything is your responsibility, Peter. The last thing you need to worry about right now is your ex's clone."

Slipping his mask off, Peter let out a breath he hadn't even known he'd been holding. "Thanks, Boss," he muttered.
"Anytime," Tony waved, as he headed to the Quinjet. "It's not like you have to pay me eight million dollars to spend a night with a clone of the lovely Ms. Stacy."

Peter nodded, soaking in a blessed moment of peace while that sunk in. "Wait. Tony--!?"

Spider-Man/Daredevil: That's a Bummer, Horny.

Mon, 07 May 2007 04:40:20 GMT

Title: That's a Bummer, Horny
Fandom: Spider-Man/Daredevil (comicsverse)
Character(s): Daredevil/Matt Murdock, Spider-Man/Peter Parker, Mystery Woman
Pairing(s): Spidey/Daredevil, Matt/?
Rating: PG-13 for implied sex. Also for zombies and het.

Author's Note: For wormmonabc, a Spidey/DD drabble that turned out a lot longer and, well, straighter than I planned. But no fear! There is Spidey/Daredevil here! It's just surrounded by het for some reason. This is my first time writing for either fandom, so hopefully I didn't screw up too much. *fingers crossed* Enjoy!

"He was... one of the most infuriating men I ever met," Matt Murdock muttered, trying to find -- God, where did he put his sunglasses?
She just chuckled. If a sound could have words, it'd would've been something like 'Talk about an understatement'.

"He just- had this way of being so- why did have to joke all the time?"

He pulled his pants back up. Took him a while to remember they'd landed on the floor, not the chair. With him, they'd always-- the sound of her laugh broke him out of his brood, if just for a moment. Matt knew her so well now that he could almost see her lying there, grinning at him. When he wasn't joking or moping, he was always talking about her, he thought.

"Do you do this after all your dates, Matt? Brood and moan about your ex-boyfriends?"
"He wasn't my boyfriend," he scowled, pulling his shirt back on. "We just... experimented a few times. Peter was an attractive man, but I'm not... they were life or death situations, people do things-"

Even if he wasn't blind, he couldn't have looked at her then. Matt could 'sense' she wasn't looking at him, either, and the grin was long gone.

"That's a bummer, Horny," she laughed. It almost sounded genuine - but then again, she'd had practice. "I always told Petey, you know, I did a little 'experimenting', too. I didn't care if he liked boys and girls, as long as he loved me. And, hey- I mean, if he ever wanted to 'experiment' again, I wouldn't mind..."

The Man Without Fear just held The Woman Formerly Known as Mrs. Spider-Man. Not like he'd held Peter -- he hadn't ever held Peter, really, the man squirmed too much -- and he prayed that it was nothing like how Peter had held her.
Mary Jane, on the other hand, clung to him. Trying to find anything and everything in his embrace that could be like having her husband back in her arms. It couldn't be that hard, they pretended to be each other all the time...

No. Peter never kissed like that. On the forehead. Like he was a kissing a sister. A sister he'd had accidental, grief fueled (but far from bad) sex with, sure, but - "Sorry," she whispered.

"Don't be. I needed -- someone. I'm..." Matt laughed. "I want to say honored, but you'll make fun of me."
"Never, Hornhead," she grinned, emphasizing 'horn' in that sexy-joking way that Peter had constantly told him about, no matter how many times he begged him to shut up. "But I know what you mean."
"Good," he ran a hand through her hair. "I don't want you to think--"
"Just two friends comforting each other," Mary Jane interrupted. "In a very nice and one-time way."
"Exactly," he nodded. "Good."
"Good," MJ agreed, leaning against his chest.

"Hey, wait. Were you serious about the experimenting thing? Did you really-- would Peter have really--?!"
"Well... obviously not now. I'm an open-minded girl, but my husband would have to be a zombie or something, and Mary Jane does not play that game."