tacticiansquill

[tacticiansquill]

summary: errant thoughts in the midst of a tense evening estinien/f!wol 

Though Estinien had an inkling of what the Warrior of Light would ask of him, he would humour her yet. He sat beside her on the bedroll within their rather cramped tent. He would typically share the space with the youngster of the group, while the two women had the other (though it was not much more of a luxury). Yet it would suffice to protect them from the elements, and the bitter chill of the outdoors. It was the eve before their meeting with Hraesvelgr (they prayed, at least, the weather would be ideal in the morn). “Tell me, what prompted the change in sleeping arrangements tonight? Ah, you wished to spare yourself of yet another one of Ysale’s sermons, though what the boy has done to deserve this, I do not know…” 

“Estinien,” she rebuked him gently. “She has been nothing but cordi--” He flashed her a glare to spare of him of such falsehoods.

Though she had bested primals, he had little trouble silencing her with his trademark steely look. She pulled her part of the blanket up over her knees and sighed. “Well alright, but you cannot claim to have no fault.” Estinien conceded nothing but a shrug of his shoulder. “Speak, Warrior.” “Well...I was told to look out for you.” “Mm,” he said noncommittally, mulling over whom his well wisher could be.

“You...you’ve been different.” “Mm,” he said once more. She pouted softly, and pressed him. But he would give her naught. “Have I softened up? Pray tell, I can sharpen my wit once more.” “Estinien...You’ve been quiet. And no,” she added impatiently, with a small huff, “I don’t mean for you to sass me anymore than you already have.” He sorely resisted the temptation to make yet another quip. After all, it was far better to harass his friend than to think of painful events, of unending nightmares. The answer he gave her was simple. “I’ve been thinking.” “About?” She leaned forward. “Many things.” he answered just as tersely. “Such as…?” The impatience in her voice did not miss him. “None you need to concern yourself with.” Though it had taken time for both him to understand her, and for her to reveal more of her true countenance, he would say he could sufficiently read the Warrior of Light these day (a fact that delighted him more than he would care to admit). And so the way her face fell ever so slightly betrayed that she was indeed hurt by this remark. “You are used to those around you baring to you their thoughts, their emotions. I do not fault you for wanting to know of mine. But tell me, Natsuko--though we are close, if I may assume so...must we dredge up painful memories? At a time like this even. We have far enough ahead of us. And you--you have not been forthcoming with anything.”

“You know naught of me...nor I of you.” She sighed. He nodded imperceptibly. “Tis not only I, who remains in the dark. The boy has many a night expressed doubt of your friendship.” It truly was news to her, if the way she reeled backwards was to be any indication. She bit her lip awhile as a gust of wind strayed into the tent. He silently reached past her to refasten the ties, and she looked up at him with wide eyes. They were painfully close, he realized, and quickly took his position back to sitting down, though now he was all too aware that it wasn’t much better. “I thought we were close friends. Of everyone I know...it is he, who is always at my side.” “And yet how much have you confided in him? He suspects that it is because he is lacking the courage to shoulder anyone else’s burdens. He is not the single minded fellow that we begun our journey with. He is a kind-hearted lad, though it is now that he’s learnt to see past his schemes.” “Though I...do not bare my soul to him, I would do anything for him,” she said with a quiet fierceness.He had seen so for himself. Always fretting over him in her own silent ways, she would stand over him protectively, watch him as he learned to handle tasks himself. When something frightened him overmuch, she would pet his head until he would at last smile again. For a woman so powerful and mighty, she had the gentlest soul amongst them, and she saw him no less than a family member. Yet, a wounded soul, if he could gather correctly. There was no way the events in Ul’dah had no effect on her, but none of them were the wiser to it.

“And that you would. Yet the commander of Dragonhead has been the sole man to be blessed with the true contents of your heart.” At this she pressed her lips tightly together, and furrowed her eyebrows.

“We were discussing you.” “Aye. And that discussion ended promptly.” “And so will this one.” They both stared at each other for a short while, until he relented with a sigh. It was rare that they would have a disagreement at all. Her disposition was genial, and he found her company the most pleasant of the entire group. He found it prudent to change the topic and ease the air between them.

“Now, will you relieve Alphinaud of his companion or stay the night?”

“Will you allow me to remain here? Or have I lost the privilege?” “Nay, my lady,” he allowed a small smile upon his face for the most fleeting of moments. She caught it and smiled back. It was full of relief, he assumed, that they wouldn’t slumber in a tense atmosphere. He lay beside her under the same blanket, and the two of them flushed the same shade of pink. Foolish--it was out of necessity that they camped together. “Let it be known, I have many scruples left. You need not fear for your chastity.” She let out a peal of laughter. “Azure Dragoon, I dare you to try it.” “Ah, what is one lecherous elezen against a fearsome primal slayer. Yet, were I to fall prey to lust, I think I should dismember my--” “Good night, Estinien!” She flushed red and clamped her hand over his mouth. He raised his eyebrow at her and it served to only turn her even redder as she retreated away from him and under the safety of her blanket. Cute , he thought. Don’t be daft, you have other things to worry about...and yet would this not be a welcome diversion to unwelcome thoughts...

“I fear it is I, who is in danger,” he muttered rather gravely under his breath. He received no response and chuckled under his breath. Perhaps it was the ire of the Warrior of Light that would be more comfortable than whatever was stirring in his heart right now...and for the nightmares that were sure to visit him in due time.

With her back against, however, he prayed that he could have a lighter mind--if only for a little while.

[tacticiansquill]

a quiet moment

haurchefant/vague f!wol

simple fluff, first kiss, wol letting her feelings out T 

It had happened not longer after Emmalaine’s debacle in Camp Cloudtop. She had taken a well needed break in House Fortemps Manor, alone in her generously given quarters. Emmalaine had offered to keep her company in the parlor (she was certain that his mark still smarted, and was loathe to remain alone with his father) but she declined. To be surrounded by such splendor—frightened her. She was always nervous that she would knock over one heirloom or another, and rob their benefactor dry. Haurchefant would always tell her to be at ease—for one as she deserved to walk proudly, and comfortably. He would not have her be so stiff in his own home!

Yet, he was scarce these days. Ishgard had much work cut out for him, but even so, she found herself missing her presence. She, who was always too busy to pay mind to these things, had yearned to see him and his sunny smile again. He had a way with words that had her on her guard, but the way her chest warmed up gave him allowances to continue his, erm—flirtations, if she were to speak the truth.

As though he had heard her thoughts and come running, he knocked on her door. “Oh Warrior of Light,” he called gently, mirth in his voice. “Do you have time to spare?”

“Hm,” she answered. “I suppose so.” Immediately he entered, and looked at her with a grin that could warm all of Foundation.

“Why are you holed up in here? Your fireplace is barren!” Haurchefant tutted at her sternly, and fussed over getting her room nice and warm.

“I’ve gone through the most frigid blizzards, as of late. I do think I’ll be okay.”

His brow remained furrowed, unsatisfied with her answer. “One of these days, I’ll have you take my offer of warming up by my hearth.”

“And until then, won’t you be satisfied with warming yourself with mine?”  She grinned playfully at him, until she realized that her words could hold another meaning. Especially when she was dealing with this particular. “I—“

“Don’t mind if I do,” Haurchefant was not one to excuse her, and happily took a seat next to her. On her bed. All alone. The both of them. Her heart was racing with the speed of an airship. Her eyes darted side to side and looked at anywhere but him. His next words surprised her, though, and all thoughts of romance exited her mind. “How are you feeling, my friend? Is your heart still heavy? I’m certain it must but—surely...surely I can alleviate a bit of your heartache? If there’s anything I could do, anything at all…” For the first time Haurchefant showed her his hesitation. Always, he was the one giving her pep talks, and spirit rousing speeches. But inside he knew that wounds would not be treated so easily.

“I’m alright, Haurchefant,” she spoke slowly, unable to meet his eyes yet. “I truly appreciate you caring for me—it means the world to me.”

“Of course I care for you, I care for you so dearly—But...I fear that I’ve neglected your feelings. You, who has stayed strong for your companions, always steadfast. But tell me—have you ever laid your heart bare?”

He held her chin with the most fragile touch, and pushed it up to meet her in the eyes. Intense and fiery, and ever unyielding—his determination, his spirit was so beautiful. To her dismay, tears welled up in her eyes. Everything she’s ever suppressed—she did not know how, but Haurchefant was extricating out her emotions from behind the stone wall she’d built in front of her heart. “Damn it...do you wish to make me cry?”

“I wish for you to let yourself feel.”

She began sniffling. Never, had someone so earnestly comforted her in this manner. Most assumed she was alright—she wanted people to think her as alright. But nothing ever truly left her. Every death she could never prevent—every life that was robbed in front of her. And now...her closest friends…”Haurchefant…”

And like a child, she wailed.

He was startled, at first. Never did he hear her so earnestly show her emotions. Her eyes were round and watery, and looked up at him helplessly. His heart was roused to see her so vulnerable, so raw.

“I’m sorry...I’m so sorry...I couldn’t stop anything...Noraxia, Minfilia, Wildred I--I--” She became incoherent for quite a while, but it was alright. He held her head to his chest and sat her between his legs, so that he could rock her back and forth. His head made continuous passes over her head and hair, and he allowed his shirt to be used in lieu of a handkerchief. “My sweet, sweet--” He cut himself off before he addressed her as warrior...No, he would only use her name right now. “Do not fault yourself, for what is out of your reach. Not even the sun can reach every corner of the world--You have saved so many lives, and don’t you dare ever forget that.”

Haurchefant’s speech seemed to finally reach her. She relaxed in his arms, and nuzzled into his chest, searching for warmth that only he could give. He held her tightly and refused to let her go until the very last sob subsided, and that the only dampness on her face remained upon her cheeks. She looked up at him with wide, still pure eyes and unable to stop himself, he leaned in to kiss her sweet, parted lips. Though he yearned to delve his tongue inside and ravish her, he remained gentle and tender. She kissed him back just as softly. She smiled at him after they parted, and nuzzled into the base of his neck. “Thank you…” she murmured softly, and he hushed her with another kiss.

“I don’t want to hear that--I just want to see you smile.” And smile, she did.

Omake

Once they had settled into bed (she hadn’t retracted her offer to keep him warm) they had shared more than a few kisses. Though she was uncertain at first, both her mouth and her hands had gained more confidence. It was when her hands had ventured into his shirt that he stopped her, both surprised at her and himself. How often had he fantasized about this very thing? But he knew that now was not the time for it--tomorrow, however, may turn out to be a very different story.

“No, not tonight, my dear.” Her eyebrows raised high at that, and he pouted at her. “Come now, why must you look so perplexed? Do you consider me so depraved that I should take you after you’ve poured out your heart and soul?” She blinked innocently.

“Ah, your silence tells all. I’m wounded. But have faith in me yet--I should only pounce on you when you’re in better spirits, and better rested.”

“There’s the Haurchefant I know and love--” She immediately buried her face in her pillow when that sentence slipped out. Haurchefant looked as though he’d won the lottery. “You what?” “Nothing.” “Tell me, dearest, what do you hide from me,” he sounded so utterly smug, and yet so utterly pleased. “Nothing--nosy Ishgardian.” That was all she had to say on the matter. But Haurchefant could see her small smile all the same. And he saw it grow even wider when he admitted that he too, felt the same, and that he too loved her with all his heart.

[tacticiansquill]

Tides Unknown - Chapter 1: it begins

A reincarnation AU that comes after Birthright canon. Xander is a sailor of Nohr that meets Corrin who longs for adventure, and is headstrong despite the situation. Together they'll embark on the seas, meet both old and new allies, face their inner turmoils, and discover the link that binds them both.

Note: there are certain quirks that may be different from the original Fates verse, due to the Birthright having a lingering effect that will be explored in time.

Fluffy white clouds filled the sky, and the sun took mercy on the town below, and yet the Corrin mourned as she watched strangers throw her rent money away without a care in the world.

She strolled in the nicer area of town that drew the merchants in and stimulated the economy. The walls were always painted in fresh coats, and the pillars stood strong in contrast to the dirtier sector in which most residents made their homes. The shops and restaurants made it a good area to sell flowers, but intense wanderlust struck her as she watched them come and go, even as she stood out in her plainer dresses than the noble folk. Sometimes those that took a liking to her brought her back trinkets from abroad that she stashed away with great care. She went so far as to create elaborate security measures for her precious treasures. She couldn't fault the people for playing a small game, as they did take kindness on her (she assumed her looks played a part in this).

For that reason she eyed the large, gaudy wishing fountain in the square with disdain. It held a small fortune that would actually solve her problems, yet it would all just rot away uselessly.

Corrin didn't put much stock into superstition, for fun or otherwise. She certainly didn’t have lady luck on her side in her years. But even before her luck took a darker child, as a child, she never bothered with eyelash wishes or blowing dandelions. Birthday wishes were a waste of time, and she didn’t spare shooting stars a second glance.

If she wanted something, she would get it herself. That was that. Yet, her stash all held items she’d sourced from others. Clips and books, toys and spices, things she yearned to see with her own eyes in markets she’d never been able to go to herself. 

To see so many tourists having their merry time throwing coins into the fountain always had her envious. How frivolous, to be able to travel the world and wish for what one already had! To spend at her leisure, and not have to rely on someone else to get a taste of the world. Just as she felt another pang of envy, a most delightful sound reached her ears. A stray coin that rolled away from the fountain, and towards her feet. Well, no one seemed to be missing it greatly--

 She snatched it up between her fingers and grinned at it’s glimmer. How generous of its owner. She did feel bad about robbing a wish… she turned her head from coin to the fountain that so irked her, when someone bumped into her and sent the coin flying in the air.

The loss of her prize made her mind up, and she took quick strides over the hot cobblestone to retrieve the gold coin. “Butterfingers!” she scolded herself as she fumbled with it, and just as it flew into the crowd, another hand grabbed it with ease. And as soon as she felt ease, she felt loss once more.

The man who was her temporary savior deposited the coin into the fountain with ease, and his golden locks shined brilliantly as he looked at her. “Well now, it certainly would have been unfortunate should you have lost your wish. You offered a handsome amount there.”

“My wish ,” she pouted, “was to keep that. I’m no noble, to be able to spare such wealth for a tourist attraction. Oh,” she added when the man’s smile froze in place as he realized what he had done. “I’ve spoken rudely haven't I? I suppose I should thank you for at least trying to help me.”

“''Twas my mistake to assume your intentions. May I rectify my error? I've incurred you a great loss, I imagine.” He extended his arm to her, and she looked over him to judge his character.

His brow was not furrowed, yet appeared stern all the same. He had strong features and looked older than she, and he was handsome for certain. He looked like a man that kept a level head, yet his actions showed some form of ineptitude that she couldn't analyze from a short glance. His loose clothing and kerchief gave away that he was a sailor of sorts, and the scent of the sea clung to him to confirm so. Even if there was the likely risk of him being a flirt, she was intrigued. After all, how could she have any adventure if she never tried anything.

Said all those who died stupidly , she thought dryly.  

“And how are you making it up to me?” she inquired.

 “What do you wish for?” 

“To travel the world.” Her eyes lit up as she said so, and her annoyed countenance melted away just a little.

He gave a loud laugh that prickled at her. Was it so silly for a man like him to hear. At her frown, he quickly sobered and explained himself. “Please do not misunderstand...I don't laugh at you. It's just pleasant to hear something so pure and naive.” 

“It's not pure, nor naive. What, will you buy me some necklace that I can pawn off later. Or simply spare me the trouble and pay me back?” She held out her palm with an expectant look. 

“You know,” He scratched his chin, “I don't think that coin was of your possession to begin with. A hefty sum wouldn't be something you would play with so carelessly, after all.”

Her ears pinked. Damnation, the man was more observant than she gave him credit for. Perhaps he knew so, and devised this entire plot so they would chat. “Then why do we still converse?”

“Because you have piqued my interest.”

“Ah,” she said with mock remorse. “A flirt after all.” She turned on her heel when his next words had her pause.

“So you wish to travel the world?” 

“What is it of your concern?”

“None, perhaps. It is a pure wish. However, the world has great evils.”

She gave an impatient exhale and glanced to the side. “It's not exactly sunshine and daisies here either. At least you get to escape to a boat at night, with only the sea to stop you.”

“I do not wish to turn the conversation heavy--”

 “Do not stop for my sake.”

“Very well. It is as you say. You can escape trouble by sailing away….but burdens are never easy to stop bearing.”

“Then teach me. Take me with you,” she challenged him, and the man sighed.

“You don't even know my name, yet you decide to embark to god knows where with a strange man. What if I were to sell you off and rid my hands of you.”

“I can handle myself in a scuffle,” she muttered, her pride taking a dull blow. After a short while

of silence, her curiosity got the better of her. “Where would you take me anyways?”

“Would you like to see?”

“Yes,” she said and stepped ahead of him. “Let me see where my unfortunate fate will take place. I do think I’d fetch good coin.”

He didn't offer his arm again, but he took a leisurely pace beside her as he guided her to his ship. The docks were situated nearby, as they wanted to draw all the sailors and travellers to the bazaar they were in. “Are you trying to convince me to put you on the market?”

 “Well you won't hire me. Do you not take women in your crew?”

 “On the contrary. I have formidable women that have saved me in many a fight. You, however, seem to be a worrisome hire. To put it kindly, naive.”

 “Unkindly?”

 “A fool,” he laughed, and she pouted at him once more. “I jest. You eye me with much  skepticism, yet you follow me easily. Truly, you’re an odd character.”

 “I am very skeptical,” she said as they reached the docks. They walked to a rather handsome ship, and she wondered just what fortune it cost to buy it. He dressed much shabbier than his boat-- ‘twould make a fine vessel to travel in. “I told you, I'm very capable. I beat up some boys the other day.” She climbed up and on to his dock, and admired it. She had never stepped foot on a boat before, especially not one as fine as this.

He smirked. “Had their voices cracked yet?”

She scowled for a moment, then returned to gawking around. “Hey, are you the captain?” She narrowed her eyes as she judged his attire again.

“Indeed I am. Care to see my quarters?”

“A risky proposition. But I’ll take your bait.” She dashed in front of him and asked to see every part she’s ever read about in books. Maps, and compasses, navigation devices and ship tools… everything was so fascinating to her, it already felt as though she were in another world. “Where is your hat?”

“Pardon?” he paused as he was in the midst of moving aside some barrels so she could look in the storage.

 “Don’t captains wear hats?”

“I… am not that sort of captain.” He spoke honestly.

“Then, are you a pirate?” That too, sounded true. 

“Not that either. I simply make deliveries and run errands,” he spoke as though it were the truth, yet deep down Corrin knew he was hiding his true occupation. She didn’t think of him shady… but she was dying to know the truth.

 “Then there should be no problem if I tag along then? You don't do anything dangerous, right?”

 “If that is what you think. You should be going home now.”

 “Are you… leaving today?” She spoke with reluctance. Though she knew him not long, nor had much reason to be attached, deep inside she wanted to get to know him better.

 “In the morning. So I’ll be taking your leave once I see you off.” With a nod he indicated that they should make their exit, yet they both dragged their feet as they left the boat and went their way back into town.

 They walked together in mostly silence. She stood at his side closer than before, and pointed out places of interest to him. He listened with genuine attention, and just as they went back to a cheerful banter, they arrived at the shabby little neighborhood she called home. Dilapidated and dusty, it wasn't somewhere she was proud to show him.

 “Ah….well, don't get into any more trouble,” she kicked away a pebble as she stood away from him to wave him goodbye.

 “Don't wander on to any strange ships.” He hesitated, then gently patted her shoulder before he turned away. The sight of his retreating back wasn’t pleasant to see… but it wouldn’t be long until she saw him again. She couldn't just ignore the niggling feeling that she couldn't let him leave. Like she would be left behind if he were to go. And beyond that… this was her chance to explore. Even if they dumped her at the next port, it would be a hell of a lot better than being stranded in the same place forever.

 Luckily for Corrin, he gave her a time frame to make her move, intentional or not. Until morning. That was the time she had to sneak onto his ship and stay hidden.

 She gathered her clothes, necessities, life savings, and her beloved souvenirs into a bundle. With some rope in hand and a candle, she slipped into the night and said goodbye to the home she lived in for so long. She didn't hold much attachment to it. She had grown up with her family somewhere else after all. This place did nothing but remind her that she just had herself.

 Though it was a risky move to abandon all and stow away on a ship that didn't want her, she didn't hesitate. She felt an unreasonable amount of trust towards the captain… yet she didn’t even know his name yet. A voice murmured in her head as she thought that. It was fuzzy, and annoying. She bit her lip and stood still to focus. Her head cleared, yet she felt as though she had just lost something. “Ah… I must be tired.” Corrin ignored all else and retraced her steps back to his ship.

 What luck! They were hauling merchandise onto the ship. She could sneak in easily! She crept around some crates, and knelt into a box of cheeses. “Stinky… Do they really eat this?” Even as she wrinkled her nose she nibbled on a variety to pass the time. Finally, she felt the crate lift and hoisted into the ship. This was it--now or never to make a run for it. She felt more excitement than trepidation, and the adrenaline of it all had her running on a high. After a while she was set down, and all was quiet.

 Now she would just have to wait out the ni--The lid was being slid off and light filled her little hiding spot. Oh no no no! She didn't think they would indulge in dairy so late in the evening! She peeked up very, very slowly and saw a familiar wooden room, and an even more familiar face.

 “Ah, there you are,” the man held out a hand to her. “Having a feast are we?”

[tacticiansquill]

Quick little Marichat! It can be a stand alone, but I think I’ll write some more short things using this sort of premise.

Things had to become difficult for the poor boy. It was ironic. All he had wanted before was for Ladybug to only have eyes for him. But the small thrills he’d receive from her reciprocating his casual flirtations had all but disappeared.

Now, he found that his mind would often wonder to another girl, Marinette. How they’d had a troublesome meeting on his first day of school. How she’d always trip over something or another when they’d meet. Her grimace when she’d messed up. During a particularly tricky case, he’d worry about whether or not Marinette was safe. Was she at home? Was she in any danger?

Sometimes he’d idly make a comment asking about her, to which Ladybug would respond with an odd look. He could never decipher what she meant. It couldn’t be jealousy? She would blush around him, and act similarly to how Marinette did around him. Why now…why, when he fell in love with Marinette.

It wasn’t to say that he held no feelings for her still. No, whenever their hands touched he felt a buzz, a shock jolt him into confusing feelings. But he felt that very same sensation with Marinette. And it was common for him to go through that. He was always catching her, keeping her out of trouble.

The odd thing was, Marinette’s attitude changed toward him. No longer was she bumbling over objects or fumbling for words. He was pleased to be treated like a normal person, of course, but there was a twinge of sadness. She didn’t light up like a Christmas tree anymore, when they spoke.

Hanging out with her as ‘Adrien’ began to make him hopeless. Having a good friend like her wasn’t bad, but he found himself wanting more. He wanted her to go to him with her troubles. He wanted to play games together while eating whatever her parents made for her that day. He wanted that smile to light up his day.

And so, without realizing what he was doing, he transformed into Chat Noir. He wasn’t granted this gift for such purposes but, he’d let his heart lead the way for a while.

The way to her house was all too familiar to him, and in an instant he was on her roof. Like a gentleman, he knocked before just barging in (he would be horrified if he caught her in an…embarrassing situation).

Marinette poked her head out in an instant, and the shock on her face was apparent in an instant. Her eyes darted to the side, and he could swear he saw a red blur.

“Chat? Is there a problem?” She opened the window for him, and he swung in, taking a seat on her window sill.

Was there? He was now enamored with a girl that now had no more interest in his regular old self. The girl who saw Adrien as just Adrien had slipped away from him when he had the chance. The girl he used to be in love looked at him the moment his heart went to somewhere else? Was there a problem? Of course.

But one look at her and he felt his stresses melt into happiness. A cheshire smile graced his lips, and he teasingly put a finger under her chin, already beginning their rapport.

“I just wanted to see you.”

When her eyes widened, he realized that the sentence came out far more honest than he’d intended.

But you know what? He didn’t care.

[tacticiansquill]

A. W. E. Ch 20 - Say My Name (2/2)

Prologue/  1  / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 /  19 /

Rating: Explicit (I think)

Pairing: Fredrobin

AO3/ff.net(might get taken down though lol)

Well, that did not turn out to be like he thought it would, Frederick mused as he traced circles around Robin’s navel. The tips of his fingers flit across her stomach, and lingered over the light musculature that was beginning to form. Ah, so all his training had kicked into use. He feared that so much time with the candy lover might have put her out of shape. He could still traces of the time she was poisoned, with the way her skin clung to her ribs. How so many things had changed in such a short time…and how some things he didn’t.

He never thought in all his life that the one place he would have lost stamina was in bed. Frederick was doing his best to not contemplate his failure, but him being so finicky about every task, how could he not? He sank his face into her abdomen out of mortification, and Robin grumbled something in her sleep. He thanked Naga that she was such a saint about it, and assured her to not worry, that these things happen.

He was too spent from his orgasm and couldn’t even use his mouth to pleasure her. Not once did she cry out his name in pure ecstasy…He was desperate to go inside of her, and he’d mounted her to begin their coupling. He had gone in once, twice, three times, but not even all the way through. She was moist and clenching around him and he was going wild. There was not an ounce of rational thought within the man. All he could think about was how warm she was and how beautiful she looked under him, her skin against his, her breasts heaving and her legs wrapped over his shoulders.

 He’d thought they would finally unite when the urge to come over powered him and he had to retreat. His lungs only knew her name, and it would be no short of a miracle if no one recognized his voice nor her words. By the time he mustered the energy to try once more, the young woman had fallen asleep from exhaustion. He’d sufficed to simply gaze at her in her wondrous form, thinking about everything at once until he fell asleep, just like he was doing that morning.

 What good was all his training for, if he couldn’t even pleasure the woman he cared for? Well he trained for battle not…for sexual activities. He wondered if he should have done that too. He didn’t think that he’d be so overcome with his greed for her that at the crucial moment, he lost it all. But more importantly…he realized that this was what he wanted.

Not losing control of himself at the wrong moment, no, but to be able to wake up next to her like this. Every morning. He didn’t want it to end.

 His fingers danced across her cheek and she wrinkled her nose and smacked her lips. Though she stirred, she did not wake just yet. “I like you,” he whispered softly, and gently kissed her forehead. When he pulled back he could see her smiling up at him, if her smile had a tinge of sadness.

 “Morning,” Robin said sleepily, though her eyes lost their sleepiness when he kissed her. A wanton sigh passed from through his lips to hers and several minutes were lost to this. “Mm, this is a nicer way to wake up than your screaming.” Of course she’d slip in a quip the second he let her go. He rolled his eyes, but instead of returning with a retort, he rest his forehead against hers.

 His heart hurt with a pang; it was a surprisingly intimate gesture, even as they lay bare against the other, this was something that went far between an agreement.

 But such an agreement…was it ever meant for people like them?

 “I—I want to say something.” Frederick mustered up all his courage for…he didn’t even know what to say. It wasn’t like him to be so reckless, but…

 “Is it about last night? Don’t worry Frederick,” she said, a little pink. “It happens.” “Well, it’s not—It’s…Gods, this is troublesome.” He should just forget it and not bother. No, what was he thinking? A soldier never retreated. Even if it was from a troublesome tactician with some questionable…things. However that went, they would have to discuss some things over, one way or another.

 “I…I wish to spend more time with you, Robin. I care for you. There. I said it,” he added with a Robin-esque pout. Gods, but she was having such a heavy influence on him. He found that he didn’t mind. He was more open now, less stifled in his ways and the weight constantly on his chest would lighten whenever she was around…as much as she would also cause about at least half of his problems.

 She blinked up at him in shock several times. She opened her mouth, closed it, and opened it once more. “Look if this is about last night, we can just finish now and—“

 “Robin…” “N-no it’s okay, you don’t have to force yourself…just be honest,” she said, her voice rose higher in pitch and faster in tempo.

 Was he making her uncomfortable with this information? Regardless of how pettily he treated her, he knew that she simply wouldn’t sleep with him for no reason. The tension grew between them until they could barely stay two inches apart. Just one coupling it…it’s not enough to quell something so strong. “I was being honest,” he said quietly. “I enjoyed this,” he gestured at them. “Waking up like this.”

 “Naked?” Robin asked, and he gave her a look. Though as soon as she had the word out, the sarcasm was gone and she was feeling very self aware. She suddenly pulled up her blanket over her chest and was adorably red.

“And you bother being modest now?” Frederick teased her lightly, and pulled her blanket back down to kiss her chest, eliciting a squeal from the white-haired woman.

 “Frederick!” They fooled around for a minute or so, until it fell into silence. Robin bit her lip, and he could see she was deep in thought. “I…I want this too. But…” She put her hand under his chin, and stroked his bottom lip with her thumb, “I want this to work. No more misunderstandings or running in circles or—”

 “Keeping secrets?” He gave her a meaningful look and she grinned sheepishly.

 “Don’t you trust me?” She asked, with a tone full of accusation, and this time it was his turn to be shameful.

 “I—I want to.” Robin sighed and sat up, drawing the blanket over her chest as she did so. “That’s not an answer, Frederick.”

 “I know.” He rest his forehead against her bare shoulder and exhaled deeply. “I know…But…won’t you tell me just what you’re up to every night with…” He bit the words ‘that thief’ on his tongue before letting it slip. It would be rude…as is the product of jealousy. “Gaius.”

He drew circles into her barely covered thigh, and she hummed at his feather-light touch. Frederick did this, venturing further and further until she gave her answer. “I promise I’ll tell you…soon…” He frowned at her. “Soon!” She jabbed him in the chest. “Soon, soon, soo—mm!”

 Frederick pounced on Robin with a kiss, sending her lying down and looking up at him once more. He bit her lip and tugged it roughly, leading her to dig her fingers into his back. His tongue slid into her hot mouth, and just as she reciprocated, he pulled back. “Soon,” he mimicked her, and her jaw dropped open.

 “You tease!” She drew up her knee to nudge him in the chest, less gently than she thought. While he didn’t make a sound, his eye twitched enough for her to notice. But he was quick with his rebuttal.

 “I’m the tease? Why not tell me now?”

 “Because it’ll mess everything up. You need to not know. Even Gaius is regretting letting me know,” she pouted. “We’ll tell you when we take care of it! Now stop pestering me and calling me mean things.”

 “And no more rudely pinning you against places anymore?” Frederick added. While his tone was half apologetic, the other half held a deeper meaning that darkened the woman’s eyes with desire.

 “Well…it depends on the situation,” she purred. “I wouldn’t mind you pinning me down again and finishing what you started…properly this time.”

 His pride rankled. “I thought you weren’t going to bring it up!” He went to flick her in the forehead, but she giggled and dodged his attack

 “Okay, okay I’m sorry! Just that once. I promise.”

 He narrowed her eyes at her, and his fingers trailed over sides to under her arms. Just as she realized what was going to happen, it was too late. He began his attack, and she was screaming and writhing, giggling her head off.

 “Sorry!” She squealed, as he tickled her relentlessly. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” She managed a few more apologies in between snorts and hiccups and her resistance grew weaker and weaker. “I surr-*hic*-ender! Please!” At last his hands stilled, and he moved his hands to her waist, and pressed his lips to her ear. He sucked on her earlobe, turning it red from a few gentle bites, and his tongue flit along her cartilage.

 “I’ll forgive you,” he whispered huskily, “under one condition.”

 “What?” Robin tilted her head to the side and he gently rubbed her cheek. “I’d like it if you…called me by name more. My actual name, not your amusing nicknames.” “So you admit they’re funny?” A sly smirk. “Mm, I know my sarcasm is not lost on you, my lady.” He breathed his words and they became tangled into even more kisses…he swore both of their lips would be utterly swollen by the time they parted for the day.

 They were getting better at kissing, he noted wryly as they separated to breathe, with their saliva obscenely connected together. Things were moving faster than he’d ever thought.

 “Who knew so much would change in one night?” She voiced the thoughts dancing in his head. Really, he was serendipitous. It was a risky venture and yet…and yet for once they aren’t angry at each other. He’s not running away like a craven, and she’s actually smiling at him, not annoyed with him one bit. Her teasing is innocent and sultry, and they’re finally together. His heart that was beating in fear, now trembled with joy. Truly he never thought a wretched man like him could experience something like this. Especially not from someone who’d caused him so many tribulations. “I suppose one understanding leads to another…even if the first one didn’t come to fruition.” But the smoldering look he gave her suggested that he would be more than happy to finish what he started. She hooked her legs around his waist easily, and just as he was gaining the surge of heat towards his length that only she could cause….

 Outside their tent pile of dishes could be heard breaking, with a very disheartened Sumia crying over them.

The knight and the tactician shared a look and sighed.

 “I guess that’s our cue to leave,” he sighed ruefully, and stole one last kiss before extricating himself from her. Easier said than done because neither she wanted to let go, nor did he want to part. “Get ready quick, so you can get out without anyone seeing you.”

 And he knew it then, that he loved her. But he had summoned enough courage for one day. He would have to see how things played out, and where they would go. But in his heart he knew, that he never wanted her gone. They had a lot to overcome, but it would happen.

 He would make sure of it.

 Unfortunately, things weren’t going to go as smooth as he’d dared hope for.

[tacticiansquill]

Are you going to continue writing the fredrick and robun fanfic? its my birthday tomorrow and i would love to see it update

I def will! I’m kinda slow with smut because I’m a little bit of a perfectionist but omg happy belated b-day anon! ill definitely pick it back up this week, i think you’ll really like this chappie ^_^

[tacticiansquill]

A.W.E - Ch 19: Say My Name (1/2)

Prologue/  1  / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 

Rating: Explicit (I think)

Pairing: Fredrobin

AO3/ff.net(might get taken down though lol)

This chapter is gonna be a two parter because it’s just so long. Enjoy <3

“You know,” Robin said once her knight (her knight for the night, that is) pinned her down on his bedroll.  “Doesn’t this go against some sort of code? Didn’t knight training cover this?”

“Cover what?” he emphasized when her hands started undoing his buttons in a frenzy.

“Not you,” she murmured slyly, and he stole a kiss from her. Even in a circumstance like this, he found her adorable. As he was too loathe to admit that, he’d only kiss her as much as he’d wanted to in the name of lust. Loose morals was easier to face rather than feelings. “But you know…No sleeping with the tactician? Keeping your chastity and all?”

He flicked her on the forehead, and she furrowed her brows at him. “Consider yourself lucky, milady.”

She mumbled something that sounded like mood killer, and yanked him down roughly for a sloppy kiss, giggling lightly when their teeth clacked together. “Well, you’re getting more than your fair trade. I’d feel like I’m seducing away your chastity, yet my virginity is going to have your name stamped on it.” He felt his spirits soar at that. It was silly, and yet he rather enjoyed being her first. He liked it a lot. An intimate experience that the two of them would share…

And then what?

Thoughts of the future were a bit blurred when a beautiful woman was nibbling along his neck and to his collarbones, back and forth in a zigzag-like pattern (Thoron, he’d say).  “I wonder if I should…leave behind any presents,” she laughs as she flits her tongue along a patch of skin that makes him grunt in a way she liked, rather than his usual grumpy sounds that sounded like he’s in pain.

“Don’t you dare, woman,” he warned her and slightly jerked when she sank her teeth into his hot skin.

“That’s for calling me woman,” Robin chided him, and let her saliva relax the red marks on his skin. “Mm, how are you going to explain this one?” she asked just before she left another bite right below his ear. He flinched less that time, growing used to her sharp bites.

“I’ll tell everyone an annoying pest had something to do with it,” he said, as she discarded his shirt from his shoulders, with his help, and tilted her head to take in the sight.

“Wow,” Robin murmured, highly impressed. “Much better than the last time I caught a peek. Tell me, have you been working out?” She smirked at him and he kissed her neck. He unexpectedly hit a sweet spot, and he could feel his erection grow when she let out a breathy moan in response.

“Only for you, milady,” he sighed against the soft supple skin of her neck and playfully dragged his teeth down to her collarbones. “A peeping tom like you only deserves the best.”

“And it’s the best indeed,” she grinned as she slid her hands up from his abs and upwards, tweaking his nipples between her slender fingers. “You know, I regretted not poking the other one,” she murmured and rubbed his brown nubs to her heart’s content.

He grunted a little under the stimulation and closed his eyes. She took that to be a good sign, and sought to further increase his pleasure. “Just as…” he suddenly said, “you allow me to do the same to you.”

A warmth pooled between her legs at the thought of that. Him toying with her breasts as she’d squirm underneath him, trying to make him sing like a nightingale. It would almost be like their usual game of domination except better, much better. “I think that’s a deal that I can manage,” she murmured, and lay a few more kisses against his breast, grasping it while she did so. When her tongue flit the nub on his chest, Frederick decided that now he would be having his way with her.

His hands veered sharply to her chest and he palmed her breasts. Even through her shirt, he could feel her nipples reacting to his touch, and it was then he noticed how quiet she’d suddenly become. He worried if he’d overstepped his boundaries as he took in her flushed expression. Her brown eyes were wide and trembling with emotions he’d never seen before. Her teeth worried her lip as she gazed up at him with an almost reverent gaze, yet her look was permeated with curiosity. Her cheeks were flushed with arousal and what he was sure was shyness. As playful as she was, this was also her first time; surely her nerves were also a bit rattled.

Was he stealing away something precious? Did he have the right to? His hands stilled and immediately her lips turned downwards.

“Did I tell you to stop?” she asked him with a hint of irritation. “Or do you make empty promises?” Though there was a false sense of bravado in Robin’s voice, he could still detect it being a little shaky.

“Are you okay?” he pressed her and her eyes softened. “You seem…hesitant.”

“I’m just a little…well it’s my first time. While I certainly have no intention of stopping you or your iron rod (he groaned at the epithet), forgive me if I feel a little shy. I’m not…accustomed to exposing myself to anyone, let alone a man like you.”

“A man like me?” he quipped, as his lips sought to conquers her once more. “And what is that supposed to mean?”

“It means,” she said in between kisses,  “You’ve probably got a lot of expectations. You only want the best, after all.”  They traded kisses as though they just couldn’t get enough. Frederick memorized each little crevice in her lip, and his pride grew the more swollen and red it grew. His tongue flew into her mouth and traced her teeth with relish. He was one to multitask, and his hands brazenly traversed her body, slow enough lest she decided to make any objections. Her eyes fluttered shut as his fingers slid up her shirt and over her breasts, only covered by an old, torn up brassiere. He marveled at just how smooth her cleavage was, and a painful pang coursed through his manhood as he ached to see her uncovered and bare. Just as he was delving under her cup to touch her directly, she shook her head.

“Do it properly. Un-undress me first,” she said, dipping her head down to avoid looking at him. Her cheeks were painted with a rosy blush, and he couldn’t help but want to kiss her cheek. It almost felt like he was deflowering his bride for the very first time. How he wished that were true. Perhaps he could pretend it was so, if only for that moment. He kissed her other cheek, and she turned to look at him coyly just before he pulled off her shirt.

He took a moment to just stare at her, before he would render her completely topless. He stroked her stomach and circled her navel and wandered to her hips. She closed her eyes and sighed happily, and flinched when he touched her bra. “It’s kinda old…” she apologized, and Frederick had to bite back laughter.

“It still looks just as exquisite on you, even if it were the finest lingerie in the land,” he reassured her. He thought it would be best not to tease her about such things; as rude as he could be to the young woman, he knew that right then she was at her most vulnerable. Whatever agreement they had made surely couldn’t last…not when two such as them were displaying such trust to the other.

“Flattery will get you nowhere,” Robin said, even as she blushed furiously. She leaned up to kiss him again, and her knee pressed up against the bulge in his pants and started to rub it. He groaned into her mouth, and his fingers became frenetic in it’s search to undo her brassier. He pulled at her clasp with such force, she murmured a warning to not rip it.

“I’ll buy you a new one,” he whispered back, and finally, finally stripped the last bit of fabric from her upper half. Just as he slid the straps down her shoulders and revealed her milky breasts, she brought up her hands to cover her chest. “W-wait,” she said, wracked with a sudden wave of self-consciousness. “I—Um…”

“Take all the time you need,” he said, and kissed her shoulder. It was a little sad, he thought, that the kindest he’s ever been is during their lovemaking—that’s what this was. Perhaps their initial heat could be taken as pure, raw, fucking, but this…no this was an exchange of emotions as they buzzed and swirled in a frenzy of an unknown territory, a new territory that came with exploring each other’s bodies and seeking to increase the sexual pleasure of the other. He pressed butterfly kisses up across her bare shoulders, nipping every few inches until he reached her jawline. His hands covered hers, and the more she rubbed his crotch, the further down their hands moved.

Yet again his mouth was glued to hers, as though seeking a source of air only she could provide him. He could feel her aroused peaks pressing against his chest, and it felt like he was about to burst out of his pants. Instead of first groping her like a heathen, he instead unfastened his pants to allow his erection some peace.

“Touch me, Frederick,” Robin asked gently, as though telling him to pass her the salt at dinner. “You can look at me now,” she smiled, and he smiled back at her, just as fondly. He moved a strand of sticky hair out of her face even though it would be displaced back into its messy state not a moment later.

His eyes slowly looked down at her chest, and his “iron rod” reacted appropriately. He felt like he couldn’t get any stiffer, and a lustful moan forced its way out of his mouth. He gently took each breast in his hand and stroked over her nipples, turgid and solid under his skin. She moaned, much louder than he has so far and looked embarrassed to do so.

“Wh-why am I louder?” she complained even as he drew mewls and whines out of the woman. Her back arched into his hands, and then against his lips when he traded one of his hands for his mouth. His left hand pinched and flicked her left teat, and his mouth suckled at the other one. His tongue swirled around and around, pushing the nub with more force than she’d treated him, and Robin’s hips were writhing. He used his free hand to pull down her trousers, and she rushed him. She yanked off her pants, but saved him the honor of stripping away her knickers.

“Don’t worry Robin, I’ll match your volume yet,” he said, and let a trail of saliva trickle down from her breast. She smirked at his response and lifted up her bottom so he could slide off her underwear. But her mouth formed a little “oh” when he literally tore away her underwear from her.

“Frederick!” she scowled at him and swatted at his head. “Supplies are scarce, you know!”

“I’ll get you a new pair,” he promised. “Consider it a present. Now then,” he said businesslike and kissed down to her apex. “Spread your legs for me….and say my name.” His voice grew husky all of a sudden, and when he looked up at her she could see the change in his pupils. No longer was he just Frederick the annoying knight…he was simply Frederick, the man who would take her tonight and possibly leave their lungs bereft of any air at the end of it all.

“Frederick?”

“Mm…” he closed his eyes and remembered the first time he heard her say her name. Now here she was, breathless and moaning, calling for him and no one else. She would plead with no one else but him, and may Naga help him, but he wanted to be the last man she’d ever ache for like this…be the only man to see her like this. Face shaped into an expression of pure desire, breasts covered in lovebites, and her legs spread wide open and slick with sweat and fluid. “Your sex is beautiful…as is the rest of you, but I’m sure I need not tell you that…”

“It would be nice to hear it more often,” she said petulantly. “Instead of hey you, woman, blah blah blah—ah….” Her sentence distorted into a high pitched sigh and he smirked with pleasure as he stroked her folds.

“So warm…won’t you say my name?” he asked her. He positioned his lips in front of hers, and his tongue quavered, yet not touching her walls at all.

“Frederick…Frederick please…”

“With pleasure, milady.”

[tacticiansquill]

I commissioned @yuropyon again for one of her lovely drawings! Check out the Freddy she did for me before ahh

I’m properly introducing my custom Kamui, Miyuki with her beloved butler! You can check under the cut for her summary~

Keep reading

[tacticiansquill]

This is Vivian, my non-Kamui Nohr OC!

Okay, so her design actually began as a mistake on my part. I had an image in my head for what I wanted for her, and saw that the cleric (?) design from Hoshido matched perfectly. After sketching I realized wait…she’s a Nohr unit. I saw that Rod Knight was the Nohrian equivalent, and so decided to combine the two classes designs to suit my taste, and add some bits here and there.

So, her cleric cloak actually gets a story, which ties into her background. I considered making her grandmother Hoshidan but eventually decided to make things a little more shady. Her cousin and uncle are actually black market traders that travel from Nohr and Hoshido, and since she’s close to her cousin, he’ll pick up things from her every now and then. When he discovered that she had saved up and bought a stave, he’d gifted her a cloak he’d gotten from a friendly ‘granny’-like character from over the border.

Rest under cut

Keep reading

[tacticiansquill]

Pendulum

Fandom:: Story of Seasons Pairing: Klaus/Minori Rating: K+ Genre: Angst, Romance Summary: Klaus must make the most difficult decision of his life...but what will he ultimately choose?

ff.net ao3

Minori should have seen this coming for a long time. His countenance grew more and more melancholy, and he said every I love you as though it were his last. Whenever she asked what was wrong with him, he’d only run his lips up along her neck, whispering the word selfish as though she couldn’t hear him.

And then he’d be coming around less and less. Every evening she’d eagerly set the table for tea for two, but one cup would remain untouched. With a sad sigh she’d drink his cup too and wash the dishes by herself. All the bitter sweets she’d set aside for him would go back into the fridge, and she’d go to bed one more night without a sweet kiss goodnight.

Whenever she’d confront him the next morning, he would use the guise as work to be his excuse. It was one she could believe; crumpled papers would litter his typically immaculate floor. Either Klaus really was on the verge of some sort of breakthrough or…something else was wrong.

“Are you ill?” Minori asked worriedly one lunch when she’d stopped by to drop some fresh roses for his desk, blue, his favorites. She’d put a hand to his forehead, as though that would automatically diagnose him. She wasn’t far off the mark, as his forehead was burning hot. “Klaus you are ill! Your work is important but…is it so important that you let yourself get hurt?” Before Klaus could even utter a word she’d wrenched him away from his desk and forced him into his bed. His mouth was pressed into a firm line, devoid of any of his wry jokes. “Klaus, you’re hiding something from me.”

“Minori…I’m fine. I have medicine from Marian. Just...leave me be.”

“Klaus?” She looked so crestfallen that the man had to avert his gaze.

“I—I’m working on a special fragrance for you, you see,” he said, mustering a horribly fake smile. With a sad smile he reached up to tap her cheek, and she tried to return his smile. “Come, smile for me and I’ll feel all better,” he teased and winced when she glared at him.

“I don’t want you to make yourself ill for me, Klaus,” Minori insisted, and threw a nasty glare at his desk, as though it were responsible for her boyfriend’s current state. “Please, relax?”

He tapped her cheek once more and let out a burdened sigh. “Minori…I can take care of myself, I promise to eat and take my medicine in time just please…leave me be until I come to see you. Please?”

It was a strange request but…if that was what he wanted, then she wouldn’t question it. He must have his reasons, if he was acting so irresponsibly. “Alright,” she said quietly and kissed his lips gently, fever be damned. “I’ll leave the medicine on the table. I love you Klaus,” Minori told him, as though it were a reminder.

“And I you,” he dared to return. Like the selfish man he was, he indulged in just looking at her as she left him to his own devices.

-

Perhaps what Klaus was doing was too cruel. He should allow her a clean break; an opportunity to forget him and everything he came with.  He’d dragged her down with his baggage long enough. And yet he couldn’t resist creating one last memento. The man convinced himself  that it would be a thank you, for everything she’d done for him. One measly bottle of perfume couldn’t do that…maybe this was for him more than for him. Selfish as always.

Would a gift make parting any easier? He’d finally managed to get her to stop seeing him at all, but how long would that last? Surely he’d hurt her just for telling her to leave him be, in the name of work. His heart cried for her when he saw the sadness in her eyes…he despises himself for putting it in there.

It was all for the best though, he told himself. Soon enough she’d be free of him and find someone that would at least be half her worth. He’d had his indulgences; truly, he was shocked that he was ever the object of her affections.

He shouldn’t have ever confessed to her. He shouldn’t have cradled her head to his chest and spilled out his heart to her. He should have steeled himself harder, reinforce all of his defenses against her lovely, wonderful, perfect self. How could he? The smile that greeted him every day as she’d come armed with tea, or god forbid; bouillabaisse.

“How did you know?” he’d asked Minori when he’d abandoned his work for the sake of scarfing down a fresh helping of his favorite dish.

With a sweet smile she tapped her nose, as though keeping it a secret. Not a second later she’d revealed that she’d simply asked Raeger what he liked the most. He’d laughed, almost choking on his food, and invited her to join him. He’d insisted on sharing, and even was so bold as to feed her from his own plate. The soup was running down her lip, and before he knew it, he’d leaned over to lick it off; and thus stolen her very first kiss. It was fine, she’d insisted, considering they were going steady. Though it wasn’t the typical picturesque setting, she’d said it made her happier than if it were. From that day on, the dish was definitely cemented to be his favorite. She’d bring him as much as he wanted and he felt he was on cloud nine.

Nowadays, he couldn’t even bear to see its name on the menu.

Just eating anything seemed like too much of a struggle.  He’d open the pantry to see sweets, and his stomach hurt to think of all of the dark chocolate treats she’d prepared, just for him. His fridge held leftover bouillabaisse. His house held her traces wherever he looked. His vase was full of blue roses from her, there were her hairs on his pillowcase from when she’d sleep over….and engage in other activities. He shuddered. Someone pure like her, and he’d tainted her with his selfishness and lust. Another pang of guilt as he’d opened his dresser to find underwear she’d left behind. His home…could he call it his own? It was like the home of a couple…a couple that shouldn’t be.

But it would all be over soon, he thought with great determination. His heart wavered enough for a tear to slide down his cheeks and into the bottle he held. White; pure like her. “It’s tainted,” he growled, tempted to lob the bottle over his shoulder and just give up entirely. Why, why couldn’t he just keep away from her. This present…it would be his last act of selfishness. With a sigh and a heart full of lead, he left his house on his memorized path to her house.

The winter was harsh to him, as though it were telling him to go back. He didn’t need Mother Nature telling him that he shouldn’t do this; his heart was screaming for him to stop this as it is. But he couldn’t do this to her any longer. Why would he burden a young girl like her with a fussy old man like him? No, someone like Raeger would be a much better fit. The moment he set foot on her farm, the symbol of how hard she’s worked since her arrival, his sweetheart sprinted across the field and bounced into his arms. Since this was a rather common occurrence between the two, his reflexes were fast enough to wrangle his precious princess.

“Klaus!” She beamed and flung her arms around his neck. “I missed you so much!” Not a hint of anger was in her face, and she kissed him so fervently his resolution was soundly shaken.

“As I—I, erm, is that so? Surely it hasn’t been so long,” Klaus forced a nonchalant tone, and she looked like he’d stung Minori.  It felt like years to him, he wanted to say. Cutting her out of his daily life was the hardest thing he’d had to do in the past decade, at the very least. Even confessing his love was easier than everything he’d resolved to do.

Her grip on him loosened and she shuffled her feet. “Well we…we always spend time together so it felt like a long time to me. Maybe I’m just too used to having you around, haha.” There was a blush on her face and she was looking down awkwardly. May god strike him down for that…Feigning coldness, hurting her, wouldn’t it be better to remain by her side? Didn’t she hate him by now? He was being the worst boyfriend he could be.

“Perhaps it would be better if we…if we stopped spending so much time together, overall.” He wrenched out each word out of his mouth with torrents of pain framing his sentence.  She stared at him for a few moments, although they felt like hours to him…And then she shook her head.

“Klaus,” she whispered, understanding what he was trying to say.

“Minori,” he caressed her cheek, as though coaxing her into agreeing with his decision. “Listen to me—“

“I don’t want to,” she said firmly and stepped back from him. “You—you’re not feeling well. You’re overworked. You’re not thinking straight.”

And that’s where she was wrong for once. It hurt as she parted from him, but it was best that she’s separated. He couldn’t hold her in his arms and break her heart. God, he missed her warmth so much. “But for once…I am.” Or almost, he added, as the lump in his coat felt heavier than ever.  “Minori, I can’t do this to you.”

“That’s right,” she assented. “You can’t, and that’s why you’re going to come inside and have tea and—“

“Minori….”

“Klaus!” She suddenly clasped his hands in hers and tried to drag him along, using her newfound strength to tow him along. But Klaus wouldn’t budge…too much.

“Minori, this is for the best. I want what’s best for you, Minori. Nothing more.”  His voice beseeched her to understand, to let him go, to just see his way. But she wasn’t having it.

“How do you know? How do you know it’s for the best? Klaus I’m not a child, you can’t just make decisions for me, okay? You can’t…you can’t treat me like a child.”

“And I’m afraid I can’t do that. Minori, I want to protect you from everything…including myself.” Was she finally able to see? That she would be much happier without an overbearing, fussy old man. She had her youth ahead of her, waiting with wide open arms. He had nothing to offer, other than stealing her away.

“You need to stop thinking like that Klaus. I love you, I chose you to be with me. No one else.” She pressed his fingers to her lips, and he shuddered involuntarily.

“Minori,” Klaus said her name like a final plea, “If I allow to let this go any longer, I will hate myself. I can’t look in the mirror without feeling guilt burning into my bones.”  He pried his fingers away from her, and breathed out a shaky sigh. “Please,” he choked out.

Minori looked at him with a long hard stare, and turned around. She clenched her hands into fists and spoke slowly and deliberately. “So that’s why you’d been avoiding me. That’s why you bailed on spending time with me. You lied about your work to me to keep me away. I saw Iris, you know. At your house. I wondered, why she wasn’t interfering your work.”

“She’s always been a friend, and you know that Minori,” he countered. Although he wasn’t willing to raise himself in her eyes, the last thing he would ever want her to believe was that he’d left her for another woman. That was a pain he didn’t wish to inflict upon her ever, and he would kill any other man that would.

“Of course,” Minori said, a hint of cynicism trickling into her words. “Klaus, why didn’t you just tell me?”

“I…I don’t know. I’ve tainted you enough as it is…”

“Tainted me?” Minori scoffed, turning around with teary eyes. “What do I seem to you, a saint?”

“You are no less than one.”

“No, I’m a child to you. That’s why you weren’t direct with me. You think you needed to be all indirect about this, but really you were acting like a kid, Klaus, it was you. You say you’re just an old man, but you’re a child. Y-you couldn’t even trust me that much?” Sobs started to permeate her words and Klaus couldn’t fight his instinct to embrace her. Every fiber of his being wanted to take it all back and to promise her forever, but he couldn’t live himself if he turned back now. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe we can’t go anywhere like this.”

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered, although all the apologies in the world couldn’t do anything for her then.

“You hurt me Klaus. You should have just told me. I wasn’t…I wasn’t going to force you. This…your behavior hurt me more than anything.”  And it was then when he realized that what he did was terribly, terribly wrong and everything she spoke was true. He’d committed a larger sin, when he’d put forth so much effort into atonement.  It seemed the serpent slithering near his heart has sunk its fangs too deep; he was making blunder after blunder.

“I…I should take my leave,” he said finally, just as the sun was beginning to set. The woman raised her head from his chest, with a look on her face he’d never seen before. He’d seen her sorrow, he’d seen her anger…but he’d never seen her bitterness. An icy cold that wasn’t a result of the snow surrounding them.  And it chilled him inside in a way that made him want to vomit…he’d blackened something so white, so pure.

“Wait Klaus,” she’d fisted her fingers inside his sleeve, as she was habitually prone to. “One…one more?” A hint of the Minori he loved so much flickered in her eyes, and he could do nothing but nod.

His lips met with hers for one last kiss. It was desperate, the way their mouths moved together, and a warm respite from the cold that surrounded them. It was hungry, searching for something that couldn’t be given, and yet slow….seeking to hold on to the tenderness that was left, reluctant to give up on a wonderful love. He held her tightly, his lovely princess that he’d promised to cherish. He still would, but only from a distance.

“I’ll always love you, Minori,” he said, once they’d finally parted. He stroked her hair in familiar strokes, wishing that he could stop time and just continue touching her without any worries.

With a sad smile, she returned his sentiment. “Always,” she whispered, voice thick with tears. “You should get back to your work.”

But before he did that…he took out the bottle of perfume, perfected for her and etched with her namesake. “Please,” he pressed the bottle into her hand and her eyes widened with understanding.

“Don’t Klaus, don’t—“

“Please,” the man begged, requesting her to allow one more selfish act. “As a token that I did care for you.” He closed her fingers over the present until she accepted it. She couldn’t bear to look at him any longer and he left, wordlessly. He wished his legs worked faster; he heard her sob before she even made it to her house. The sounds of her animals gave him the small comfort that they would be with her, but it did not stop him from wanting to sink into the ground.

It was over. Just like that. Sweet, forgiving Minori…and he lead her around in circles like this. She was correct, he was the one engaging in childish behavior. She deserved nothing but the truth from him, after all he was putting her through. He somehow made his way back to the forest path and bumped shoulders with someone.  Too weary to even see who it was, he kept walking, but the man he ran into wished to exchange pleasantries.

“Hey, Klaus!” Raeger waved cheerfully, his face pink from the cold. He was wrapped up to his mouth with a scarf, and his words were barely audible. “Not supposed to tell ya, but,  Minori wanted me to give her some more recipes. I think she’s worried you’re tired of bouilla—hey where are you going? Are you okay, Klaus?”

Klaus sped up his pace, wiping his eyes with his sleeves. He told himself that he would hold it in but he couldn’t he absolutely couldn’t.

It wasn’t until he’d almost gone out of the woods when he realized that he would succumb after all. He ran, all grace be damned back to her farm. He would take everything back. He would work hard to be the man she deserved. But god damn it all, he wouldn’t let her go, he couldn’t let her go.

He wasn’t expecting to meet an obstacle when he’d reached her soil; a right hook to his jaw sent him flying backwards and looking at a circle of stars above his head. Up above him was Raeger staring at him with more sadness than anger. “I—“ Klaus couldn’t say anything.

“You broke her heart, and you’re here to rub in the salt. Klaus, I have great respect for you, but I didn’t think you’d do something like this to Minori. How could you?”

“I’m here to—“

“Leave it,” Raeger said coolly, running his fingers through his hair. “I’ll see you later.” With a recipe book underneath his arm he marched away, not giving the older man a chance to speak. Although he’d hoped Raeger would respect his elders more, that blow did a great deal to his head. Slowly, he rose. And he knew then what he what to do; and this time he would stick with the decision come hell or high water.

He only wished he’d seen it sooner.

He was a terrible, terrible man.

[tacticiansquill]

i am literally SCREAMING. i NEED to know what happens with freddy and robin! its 3 am and i should be asleep but here i am fREAKING OUT about these two dorks. thank you for making me suffer.

OMG dont worry i started the new chapter this week! im finally feeling a little inspired again so hopefully it’ll be up sometime this upcoming week! Thank you for liking it so much and while i am sorry for your suffering im happy to have such an effect hahaa

[tacticiansquill]

Cherry Pie

Fandom: Story of Seasons/Harvest Moon Rating: General Audiences Word count: 1377 Pairings: One sided Klaus/Minori, subtle, possibly platonic Raeger/Minori Summary: Minori should be getting ready for a wedding; the festivity of a sleepy town like theirs. It's the fact that it's the wedding of the man she's in love with that's keeping her away. Simple story of hurt/comfort. Crossposted at AO3 and ff.net

Stereotypical, Minori thought dryly as she forked through her cherry pie. She didn’t even like cherries all that much. Thought they tasted too much like medicine. Although she was doing a terrible job of maintaining a cheerful ruse, she had been moping at a table in the corner for about half an hour until Raeger gently asked if she’d wanted anything. She’d hurriedly pointed at the first thing she saw, earning herself a strange look; he knew her tastes well enough, but who was he to say no to her?

And here she was. The stereotypical heartbroken girl, gorging herself on sweets…

Or trying to. If she was going to triple her dress size, she should really do it with things she likes. She poked at her dessert yet again until Raeger crossly took it from her.

“I’m confiscating this from you,” he announced. “I don’t want anyone eating my food like they’re being tortured.”

“Sorry,” she mumbled, and placed her arms on the spotless table—always spic-and-span thanks to Raeger’s diligent efforts—and sunk her head in between them. He patted her head, and promised to be back in a jiffy with a nice big plate of chocolate cake on the house.

She heard a tinkling noise; someone had come into the restaurant. Great, they probably were here to—

“Heya, Raeger,” boomed the ever jovial Fritz. “Ya got the cake ready? Mistal’s being kinda cranky about it.” Hearing the boy’s voice did nothing for her spirits, and only felt her heart further plummeting. And she felt even more pathetic, if it were even possible.

It was the wedding day, the dreaded wedding day. His wedding day…When she’d received the card, all pretty and mature and grown up and fancy and just…perfect. Everything she wasn’t, after all she was just the plain girl from the city that failed everything else and came to be a farmer. How could she ever live up to the beautiful, talented, well to do renowned older author? She should have known it was a battle lost from the start. And the damned card served as a mocking reminder.

The card had immediately met it’s fate with the fertilizer. Bless Hanako.

And here she was on the wedding day, where everyone else was helping out, being productive and getting ready, and she’s Raeger’s only customer, probably burdening him further. He’s frazzled, although anyone who knew him less could never tell. Here Fritz was trying his hardest…

Ah, Fritz.

The boy was earnest through and through. Always a little roughed up with scabby knees and crooked smiles, he was ready to come through. He had a lot of growing up to do. She felt more of an older sister to him than anything. It had felt awful, so horribly awful when she had to turn him down…

Was that…was that how he felt? He was mature, refined, and here she was a hot-headed rash bundle of energy, ready to crash headlong through any challenge, without any idea about what she was doing. God, she was so stupid! He must have felt so mortified, so uncomfortable. And yet he invited her all the same, even asked if she was going to come with the steady smile she supposed came easily with age. Everything he did…she misread. Should have, could have, would have. If she could turn back the clock, she’d have never fallen in love with him at all.

She fingered the perfume she still has safely tucked away in her purse, in the inner pocket and always accessible. How many times had she unscrewed the cap to smell it whenever she needed comfort? Through fevers she’d earned from typhoons, or through dung-filled days, the memory of his inquisitive face and the beautiful scent he’d made just for her kept her going.

So shouldn’t she pay him back? Shouldn’t she be part of the happiest day of his life? Even if she can’t be in the role she’d give anything to play. She wasn’t the most cooperative member either…every time someone suggested she pitched in she’d offered vague smiles and some eggs. She didn’t even have a wedding gift prepared…she’d whip up some wine later.

“Hey,” Raeger’s voice broke her reverie. “This one you better finish, or I’ll be seriously offended. You want to hurt the cook?” He ruffled her hair, displacing her kerchief.

“Raeger…” Her voice came out in a low whine, embarrassedly enough.

“Minori…” He pulled a chair out next to her and sat down, and put the plate before him. Gingerly, he brushed away some tears from her eyes and it was only then she realized she was crying. He wasn’t too sure how to handle this sort of thing…but he hugged her. He thought for a moment it was the wrong course of action when she pushed him away.

“No,” she said firmly. “You’re busy, I shouldn’t keep you here.” Her eyes were pitiful, and to leave her like this would be like kicking a puppy.

“Minori, I’m finished. Cake’s loaded, I’m the only thing missing.” He patted her head, and then took a spoonful of cake. “Though this isn’t the creation meant for you to taste today…open up.” He pressed the silverware against her lips until she opened up. She felt like a child, coaxed in a high chair to stop fussing and bothering everyone. Each time she tried to speak he silenced her with another bite of cake, until eventually she gave up and let her tears stream steadily.

Until there was nothing but crumbs and a smear of frosting on the edge of the plate, he fed her. Finally he put it away and held her to him, and she cried into his apron. “There’s no one here,” he soothed her. “Let it all out Minori.” He kissed the top of her head and out came the sobs. This was the first time she cried to someone who could understand and respond to her. As much as Hanako and all her other beloved animals attempted to comfort her…they could give her nothing but her warmth. They did not understand heartbreak. They didn’t suffer the pain of losing her first love. Losing someone she’d devoted so much time to, spent so much time pining for, visiting, making little gestures to only have it all come to naught.

Finally she stopped, and pulled away from him. “I’m a mess,” she sniffled. “Don’t look at me…won’t you be late?”

“But I need a date,” he replied smoothly, winking at his lame joke. He’d almost warned her to not cry more tears than the bride, but that would not be apt for the situation. He dabbed at the wetness on her face with a blueberry scented handkerchief, and even let her blow her nose in it; he had to refuse all demands to let her clean it. “Won’t you go with me?” He held her hands in his. “C’mon, you’ll be so pretty, he’ll know what he’s missing out on.”

“I don’t have anything to wear,” she said sadly, looking down at her farmer clothes. It had absolutely no appeal. No surprise no one wanted her.

“Mm, you’d be surprised. Eda’s dropped off something for you earlier, when you were engaged in a glaring contest with my precious pie.” There was a little bit of a hurt tone, and she knew he’d tease him relentlessly later about wasting his food. “Or if you really want, I suppose I can wear a flour stained smock. Then we’ll match, and it’ll be terribly romantic. Might even outshine the bride and groom.” He winked at her and she swatted his arm.

He poked her in the cheek, and then looked at her seriously, trying to conveying to her what needed to be said with silence. “Minori,” he said once, and finally she nodded, determined to march forward with this. He helped her up and the two shared one more hug. “I’m proud of you…I’ll be with you through this, alright? But…I’m proud of you,” he said one more time, and with a firm resolve, she followed him upstairs to change.

It was time for her to do some growing up of her own.

[tacticiansquill]

At Wit’s End - Ch 18: Deal

Prologue/  1  / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16

Cross posted at AO3 and ff.net

Rating: T

Pairings: Frederick/Robin, Chrom/Robin, platonic Gaius/Robin

The two were locked in a steely glare. It was as though they were on opposite ends of a battlefield; weapons raised and ready to defend themselves in an instant. Needless to say, their tension was so palpable, one could only cut it with a weapon like Falchion.

It was a deadlock; who would speak first?

“I--” “We--”

They both opened their mouths in unison, and averted their gazes from the other with a scowl on each face. Perhaps they should try again. Frederick cleared his throat and gestured for her to go ahead.

“I--No, first I want to ask, why are you here?”

“Do I not have the liberty to go where I please? Or perhaps I should report to you about my every movement?” The bite was still strong in his words, but at present she had no energy for any bark. She sighed and situated herself atop of a crate, trying to best think how to go about this. She had gone over a thousand options for this situation...but now that she was here, she didn’t know what to do. And here he was, already being overly defensive...as always.

“Frederick, please. Not now.”

“I came to see what you were up to...of course you were traipsing around during ungodly hours with that thief again.” “He has a name,” she grumbled, and crossed her arms. “What if I started referring to you as ‘stick-up-his-ass’?” He cracked a wry smile at this. “So you don’t refer to me as that already? Should I consider myself lucky?” His joke lifted the atmosphere considerably and he was treated to her peals of laughter; gods, he hadn’t been on the receiving end of something so wonderfully pleasant for what felt like ages. He’d long passed denying that there were certain feelings inside that he couldn’t deny; he could only run from them and hope to forget.

Or that was the plan. He saw them sneak out once again, and they’d seemed closer by the day. But he was baffled. Was she enamored with the prince, the thief, or him? “What are you up to?” She blinked at him. “Well, it certainly isn’t what you’re thinking...Naga knows your imagination runs wild these days,” Robin said nonchalantly and bounced her leg with her words. That...was not helping. That was not helping at all. He had to focus. What he had to focus on he truthfully didn’t know, but he had to keep a calm mind regardless.

“Then what are you doing every night?” “...Recon,” Robin shrugged and kept bouncing her legs, now at an even rhythm. “Just doing my part, you know.” “Your part,” he emphasized, “is to be tactician, here at camp and on the battlefield. Not lurking in shadows and dealing with goodness knows what.”

“Maybe you just really want to keep me to yourself. Locked away in your tent, and doing goodness knows what...shady business.” Her gaze was away from him, but the way her fingers just happened to run up and down her thigh...she knew what she was doing to him. It felt like an invitation for him, wrapped up and waiting for him to open. His pants begun to form a tent around his crotch, and he had to casually turn around. Perhaps they should finish their business here quickly.

“Please,” he struggled to steady his voice. “Do not project your fantasies on to me, milady.”

“No? Then why oh why, did you kiss me? Why do you get so angry when I talk to any other male, men who treat me well, whereas all you do is cast suspicion on me day after day. I as much cannot use the latrine without you getting hot and bothered about where I am.” Her words were...incredibly provocative. She was meek at first, but suddenly she’s becoming her true self. Prepared for a fight, or to get whatever she wants. Gods damn him if he gives it to her...the satisfaction of messing him up. “Look at me, Frederick.” Damn it she knew, she knew of his issue...He pulled out his shirt to cover his front and turned back to face her, and her infuriatingly smug smirk. “Robin...” He had intonations of a warning, but the woman ignored him easily.

“And then you’ll ignore me. But then you take many, many pains to disguise the fact that you’re helping me. What is it that you want? What’s on my chest? What’s between my legs?” Her motions continued, and his eyes were shameless drawn to them. How they pulled, taut between her thighs as she graced her body on whatever fortunate crate of vegetables lay under her bottom. But she...she was absolutely vulgar, and Frederick had no patience. Not when he had a horribly jealous streak going on...he couldn’t face her until then.

“Robin!” With three long strides he had her arms gripped in his hands, and pulled her off of her seat with such force, a pot with leftovers from dinner spilled over beside them.

He jerked her up in a manner that their lips had almost met; their bodies were pressed so that he knew that she could feel that but he didn’t care and neither did she, it appeared, although he’d finally managed to paint a blush on to her cheeks. Her eyebrows furrowed immediately, and he’d finally caught her off guard, for once. “You will not speak to me that way.”

“Oh, as if you’ve treated me with respect,” she spat out, and stomped on his foot. He flinched, and only pressed her back to the canvas. “You’re so damn mean, but you decide to be nice sometimes and it confuses me! It would confuse anyone! You make me tea, you take care of me, you almost fucking died to save my life, and you won’t even let me help your leg! Never have I met anyone so obstinate as you!”

He laughed bitterly. “Have you perchance looked in a mirror? Perhaps I should procure one.” He glared down at her, and especially at that thing around her neck, and a growl escaped from his throat before he could stop it.

“And you...you hate when I wear this and you...you...you kissed me! Why did you do that? You can’t just kiss people and not tell them why! Stop being a coward!” She was goading him...she was goading him into saying something he would regret, but gods damn it all he would not be called a coward and take it lying down.

“Why? Did you want more? Are you sad it was over, all too soon? Milady, you’re more lustful than I expected.”

“You’re not the first person to call me a whore you know,” she said, and broke eye contact when tears welled up. He felt an incredibly painful stab of guilt; he’d not implied that at all and yet...yet she has been exposed to something he couldn’t protect her from. He felt angry, angry that he couldn’t. And so he directed that at her.

“I didn’t say that at all, and you know it. You...you’re not a loose woman. Even if you have violated me,” he sniffed haughtily, and she snorted. He left the first incident...that time she dared to kiss his cheek. No woman had dared such a bold act and yet she had claimed him as her own. Ridiculous.

“Oh shut up, you kissed me and just dumped me outside. And you know what, maybe you are right. Maybe I do want you to kiss me and do unspeakable things, cause i can’t stop thinking about you. When you took your shirt off I was looking, sorry.” This time he was agape. Goodness, he forgot just how direct this woman could be, if she set her mind to it. “Robin...” “No, you listen to me. I wanted to touch you, and I still want to touch you, and I know you want the same cause there’s a bar of iron stabbing my thigh right now. Just from jiggling my legs, might I add.”

There was a weighty silence. Their chests heaved in unison, and they were both disheveled. Her hair was barely tied, and she looked so breathless he wanted to take her right then and there. Truthfully, he was being plagued by the same problem. He was consumed by thoughts of her. He wanted her to himself, he wanted her to smile for him, he wanted her to look for him and be worried about him. He wanted to kiss her...he wanted to kiss her.... His mouth ghosted over hers, and slowly their breaths mixed together...their mouths were open, and their lips skirted over the other in a cruel taunt.

“You want me to kiss you?,” he breathed as her tongue earnestly made its way to his mouth. “You want me to touch you?” His hands went to her bottom and elicited a squeak when he cupped it in his hands. “Very well...so long as you understand this...” He couldn’t tell her just what he wanted her to know...she leaned up and yanked him by his hair...her tongue slid across his teeth and they moaned in what he could only call a beautiful chorus. The taste of her saliva was intoxicating, and he had to push her back to clarify just what was going to happen between them.

She pouted and tried to capture another kiss from him, but he used all his manpower to utter his next, heartbreaking set of words. “A man and woman in close proximity for so long, put into dangerous situations may...may have urges like this. That doesn’t mean anything. This is just to relieve that, understood? Then it’s--” “Back to normal,” she groaned impatiently and rubbed her crotch against his. “I get it.” The part of him that was greedy could feel a tinge of sadness in her words. Sadness, anger, but most of all, impatience. He was denying her what they both wanted, what they both needed, to be frank.

“Will you forgive me in the morning?” He asked her, and clutched on to her hand as though it were a lifesaver. He felt he was soiling her, just by interlacing their fingers together. While his heart was still thrown into conflict, he was being allowed to do whatever he wished...this was never the outcome he had suspected would happen...but with a woman like her? Should he really have been surprised that she’d turned everything around on him? Never would he underestimate her charms again.

“That depends...if you’ll ignore me all over again...I might just have to violate you again,” she whispered with a cat-like look in her eyes. She bounded with him, and he tried to hush her; they would have to get back to his tent without being seen by a single soul. He used that as another excuse to hold her close to his side; because waiting to touch her until they were alone was too much a herculean task for him to achieve. It was too much to ask for...After being put through the wringer...he could have this much.

As for tomorrow...he’d think about that later. Right now...was going to be the most memorable night the knight had ever lived. He could afford to be self-indulgent for once. And he was no brute; he’d return every favor with an extra present...

He’d leave her sore and raw until she could speak no more.

Oh, how his mouth watered.

“Frederick, we need to take care of that iron rod.” “Will you quit calling it that?” “But it’s massive!”

[tacticiansquill]

At Wit’s End: Ch 17 -Tension

Prologue/  1  / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16

Cross posted at AO3 and ff.net

Rating: T

Pairings: Frederick/Robin, Chrom/Robin, platonic Gaius/Robin

She wouldn't think of the way his muscles tensed and stretched when he discarded his shirt. She was told not to look, after all. but of course the second Frederick had to look away she took in an eyeful of his body. Muscles taut, probably rock hard from years of training. She wanted to touch them. Robin had briefly fantasized just lying Frederick down next to her so she could trace his abs. And then maybe do some more things afterwards. Wait, didn’t she say she wouldn’t think of that? Then why was she? “Oi,” Gaius rapped the distracted tactician’s head. “Get your head outta cloud nine, ‘s kinda important.”

“Right,” Robin nodded, and focused her attention at the mission on hand. She gulped as the band of assassins narrowed their eyes at her. It was tough, integrating amongst these types of folk. They’d scrutinized her endlessly, questioning Gaius’s claim that she was there for the same cause. Gaius had infiltrated the band before she, and had already established some sort of relationship with them. Getting them to include her two was a little more challenging, especially considering her role as tactician and the fact that there was a traitor in their midst sitting in this very circle. She personally wanted to jump them all and find out who it is. Gaius of course had to talk her down, to make sure she didn’t do anything reckless, and assured her that he’d love to beat down the traitor too, although with different intentions than she.

All things aside, she still wasn’t feeling too great. Although she wasn’t feverish, things were beginning to pile to be a bit too much. What with Emmeryn’s assassination plot in the palace to all things after, the tension was growing thicker by the day. One would think that all focus would be on the war. But, humans will be humans, she’d reasoned. When she wasn’t busy with her duties, she’d be dueling with relentless thoughts of everything else. Her friends...yes, she supposed she could call them that. Friends she didn’t even know she had once were ready to defend her with all they had.

Some of the soldiers still regarded her strangely, but Lissa would always glare at them on her behalf. Lissa, Sumia, Stahl...that new farmer they’d recruited the other day that had been training with Chrom ever since...even the prickly Lon’qu...they all were her friends. Sure they’d poke fun at her (or in Lon’qu’s case growl about her mere presence) but they loved her. Her best friend of course was Chrom. She wouldn’t trade her time with him for anything.

There was just one big question mark left. Frederick. What was he--OUCH!

“Bubbles, you wanted to do this, I need you to keep your head in the game. Tactician duties overwhelming you? Or is it something else,” he hissed in her ear with an accusatory tone as quietly as he could. That earned them a few more suspicious glances, but Gaius covered it with a quick peck against her ear.

“Lovebirds, keep it in the bedroom,” a blonde woman said snidely. “We don’t have all day. Something big’s gonna happen soon. If they don’t kill the prince, we do.”

“Yeah,” a bald man snorted. “Like that’s goin’ well. How did that last plan go, exactly?”

“Shut up. Didn’t think that stupid girl woulda been the one to scarf them grapes down,” the woman said scathingly. “Whole damn camp was kissing her ass. Can’t blame ‘em.” The woman chewed on an apple and spat out bits of the peel into the campfire. “Prince Chrom’s new shiny toy, who wouldn’t be interested? The man probably goes through a dozen a month though, so I’m sure the shine will wear off soon. ‘Course, we’ll snuff him out soon enough.”

Wait...did that mean that she was the one to poison the grapes? That she was the one feeding all the information to this group? Robin glanced at Gaius out of the side of his eye, and could see that Gaius wore a blank expression. He squeezed her hand once...that was enough for her to know that he was thinking what she was. They got her...what they could do with this information, however, would be left to the ginger.

There was one issue though. Robin was close to lunging at the woman, who seemed to be the most evil one of the group. And the most competent. And the last sentence revealed that it was she who was the traitor. Well of course...to keep a charade this long...it would have to be someone brilliant. Brilliant but...a certain word Robin was furiously repeating inside her mind. She felt pressure on her hand again, likely from a Gaius who had a faint idea of what she wanted to do. She clucked her tongue and focused on the licks of fire before her. This was supposed to be a simple meeting...they could leave soon. And then she’d release her rage into a more positive outlet. Yes.

“That slut though...how many guys do you reckon has sucked her--” “Hey, shouldn’t we get back to the plan?” Gaius’s jaw is set, and although it was a small slip in composure, it was monumental for someone like him. This time it was Robin’s turn to squeeze his hand. He returned the pressure, and indicated that he wasn’t about to blow his top. But the anger radiating from him wasn’t very convincing.

“Eh, there ain’t much to talk ‘bout today. Gotta see what Mad King Gangrel’s up to. No use dirtying our hands if the freak gets the job done ‘fore we get there,”  another man said. “Time for shut-eye. ‘Sides, looks like the lovebirds are ready to get frisky, eh?”

“We can keep our hands to ourselves,” Gaius said smoothly. “So nothing? I told you all our movements for nothing then, huh...” “Hey now, youse volunteered,” the man continued. “We ain’t gonna spill all the beans to ya.”

“Then there’s no point stickin’ around to watch all of you get trashed. Come on.” Gaius stood up with Robin in tow, and without any fanfare, left behind the band of assassins. She’d stopped asking if they should say bye or not. It was too polite, he said.

Considering the vulgarity she’d just been party to...she finally understood.

--

She’d had to cut dinner short, so the two of them decided to make a quick trip to the kitchen. Truth be told, she still had a strong aversion to the area thanks to the poisoning incident (courtesy of the blonde woman she’d be exacting her revenge on), but Gaius promised to try everything before letting Robin have a taste. It wasn’t exactly reassuring, but he was hungry and claimed that he’d go hard, or go home.

They had been recapping whatever they’d learned. That the bandits were pretty lazy, but they would be figuring out someway or another to kill the prince, if the war didn’t take him first. Gaius said that he wouldn’t have even considered them a real threat, had they not already managed to poison Robin. It was just too simple to blend in, and Chrom was much too trusting. They were at a standstill; and it looked like they didn’t take a liking to Robin either (who was posing as his girlfriend). He’d said that perhaps it would be better if he went alone for a while.

As much as she wanted to help him, she’d agreed that this was probably better. And loathe as she was to admit it, her tactician duties were catching up to her. Planning, bonding with the Shepherds, her pesky relationship issues...Her body was growing more and more weary by the day. She’d claimed to be a master at stress, but the weight was starting to be a heavy weight on her. And the guilt, oh the guilt. If it weren’t those horrible nightmares, then it would be the guilt that would be keeping her up...or something of a more mature nature.

Cordelia had given her back the necklace after dinner, earlier that day. She cooed over how beautiful it was, and it was back around Robin’s neck, tucked under her shirt before she’d left for her mission (yet something else that was robbing her of her sleep). It didn’t help that the very people that she wanted to kill thought of her badly...in a way that she really didn’t want to be thought of. Rumors shouldn’t hurt her, but the way she was treating her best friend...it wasn’t good.

Every time she walked she could feel it thud against her chest with every step. She didn’t deserve it. She didn’t deserve it. Why did she take it in the first place?

She clutched at her necklace, wondering if she should bring it up. “Hey, Gaius...” Robin said in between picking up an apple (helpfully taste tested be Gaius) and digesting it. What they had said, earlier at the campfire was bothering her. Crude words were used, but really, was she any better than that? “Yeah?” He’d started to ‘test’ the sweets now. “Mm, no poison here.” His stuffed mouth proved that much. When he’d earned Robin’s eye-rolling, he swallowed and went back to what he knew was really plaguing her mind. “Don’t pay attention to them.” “But I--I know you know Gaius.” It was a vague statement, but she knew Gaius was sharp enough to know what she was saying. The ruffians hit a nerve, but could she blame them? She felt no better than a common tramp.

He took a deep breath and set down the bag of goodies on the makeshift counter. He put his hands on her shoulders (she winced, as she was only in her usual top and thus bared her shoulders; his sticky hands were not pleasant against her skin). “Listen, Robin. Whatever emotional crap you have going on with Blue and Tight Pants doesn’t mean you’re a bad person. You’re confused. It’s quite common at your age,” he said sagely.

“And how old are you?” she narrowed his eyes. ‘At your age.’ As though he were the all-wise sage or something.

“Older than you. Not important. The point is that even though you need to sort your shit out, you can’t beat yourself up over it...or get distracted when you need your head in the game.”

Just then there was a rustling as Frederick entered the tent. His hair was tousled, and his clothes were wrinkled. She’d say that it looked like he couldn’t sleep, but he was still in his dress pants and shirt, suspenders and all. Just what was he up to?

“Here’s your chance,” Gaius whispered in her ear and clapped her on the back. He winked at her and bowed out. He knew when to make his exit, and abandoned the poor tactician without so much as a goodbye.

“Dammit,” she muttered under her breath. “Good for nothing...” She awkwardly fiddled with her apple core and avoided looking at the elephant in the room. She did poke his nipple, after all. He couldn’t be too pleased about that. She wouldn’t be either...well...that would depend on the situation. She dared a glance at him, and he was just standing there. Why was he there in the first place? Should she leave? She looked down at once was an apple and back at him. He wasn’t leaving either...what could she say? Hey, how’s the weather, were you out collecting pebbles? Yes, that sounded good enough. The weather was always a safe topic.

So with that in mind, she furrowed her eyebrows and looked him directly in his eyes, equally as intense as hers.

“We need to talk.”

Those words flowed out of her mouth...at the same time as they did from his.

Oh dear.

[tacticiansquill]

I just read your F!MU/Frederick fic and I really like the way you write him! Can I get some Lissa/Frederick maybe, when/if you're feeling up for it??

I stopped shipping this, but here ya go! Haha I forgot I used to write here…this was probably from a year ago, so sorry!

The young princess puffed out her cheeks as she mulled over her dilemma. Somehow the knight she’d been secretly pining for had finally confessed to her. And she was thrilled! She was floating on air, and that other romantic nonsense.

But there was one small issue.

He still was treating her like a princess. Most girls would enjoy that, but he was treating her like the literal princess of Ylisse. If there was a puddle, he’d crouch over it and tell her to step on his back. If someone dared sneeze around her, he would be lecturing them for an hour and forcing them to take herbs of all kinds, lest they spread their germs to her again. And then he’d start treating her in advance, even if she had a perfectly clean bill of health! Gods, she loved him but she had no desire to keep being coddled for the rest of their lives! She really didn’t want him to be collecting pebbles when he should be knitting in a rocking chair?

Keep reading

[tacticiansquill]

At Wit’s End: Ch 16 - Mind over Matter?

Prologue/  1  / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 /

Cross posted at AO3 and ff.net

Rating: T

Pairings: Frederick/Robin, Chrom/Robin, platonic Gaius/Robin

It was the middle of the night, but she was going to do it. She was going to scream. She was going to scream, and everything would flood into her tent, armed and ready, and she wouldn’t care.

Or so she thought as she settled for screaming into a pillow. She did a lot of flailing though. She buried her screams in her pillow, and thrashed around her limbs in frustration.

What was that?

What was that?!

He kissed her! He. Kissed. Her.

And she kissed him back! She kissed him back, and dear Naga, she was ready to do so much more than just that. She was ready to throw away her virginity that moment, and the worst part is that if he came back right then, she’d give it all to him. She was trying to forget about him, but with the way things were going, it was going to be impossible. What was his logic? He just kissed her, he was always acting like she was filth on his shoe, yet he fucking kissed her! What on earth was going through his mind? Was it some new method to annoy her? Did he pick up that she was attracted to him?

He wouldn’t even look at her and they kissed! How? How? Was the world going to end the next morning? Should she get her affairs settled?

She screamed again.

She could feel it, she could feel how his mouth moved against hers. She remembered the warmth of his lips, how it was a little chafed, and yet how it tasted good when she ran her tongue over it, the hint of mint pleasantly surprising her. He kissed her like he’d been holding it back for years, and yet he’d been so cold to her not so long ago. He’d even touched her chest! Goodness, the man moved fast. And she! She did something so embarrassing as to moan. A reaction to pleasure, sexual pleasure. Why? Whyyyyyy?

She would not be getting much sleep, would she?

-

And she was right. The next day she was practically a Risen. The human mind was a beautiful thing, she had found. She had reprieve from her terrifying nightmares only because whatever dreams she did have were of a more...adult type. That had her wake up in a sweat and desiring a nice cold glass of water. Or perhaps a tub of it.

Well, that wouldn’t do because the moment she’d woken up, Lissa had marched in her tent alerting her for battle.

They had a minor skirmish to settle, and at least with the endless hours of training Frederick had put into her, she was able to fend off the ruffians without too much trouble. She even saved the knight from a terrible blunder; he looked like he was spacing out, even as he chopped down enemies with ease, and she had to push him out of the way (easier said than done) to avoid an arrow in the shoulder.

He flinched more at the fact that they touched than the fact that he’d almost been wounded. He muttered a quick thanks and resumed to killing people...further away.

What a stupid man, she’d thought. But it was a little satisfying to see that he was affected by the ordeal as much as she was. Ordeal. Being kissed was an ordeal and wait a minute...

Was that her first kiss? Oh dear Naga, her first kiss wasn’t even--

“Robin watch out!” Chrom’s voice crashed into her thoughts loud and clear and he neatly cut down a barbarian that had his sights set on her. “What’s got your head in the clouds today?” he joked, as he slid Falchion out of the dead body before them. When she doesn’t smile right away, his own grin falters and he moves in closer to whisper, “Not getting enough sleep? I couldn’t find you so I haven’t--” “Thank you Chrom,” she said quickly, and turned away. He was getting better and better at reading her, as one would expect of a close friend. “I--I think I’m fine. Just got carried away taking a walk...that’s all.” “That’s quite some walk,” Chrom said with a great deal of skepticism, and Robin fidgeted with her necklace. The two of them were looking around to see if the coast was clear, and from the sounds of retreat and hollering, they could surmise that they’d won the battle. She sighed in relief, always happy to see her comrades spared from casualties, and she looked back at the prince, who was regarding her with a strange expression.

“Chrom, shouldn’t you be checking out our surroundings, instead of me?” “They’re clear,” he murmured, and he took off his glove so he could stroke the gem on her neck. “You’re wearing it...You’re wearing the necklace.” Where his fingers once touched skin touched smooth fabric and a cold stone instead. “Indeed I am,” Robin said, and clutched her arm with her shoulder, her nervous habit acting up again. And perhaps twinges of guilt. She wasn’t a fool. She could notice how much this meant to him, and yet here she was, going behind his back and kissing his right hand man.

She stepped back in quick jerky movements, and Chrom retracted his hand rather embarrassedly. “Ah, sorry.”

“It’s okay,” she said, and looked down at her feet. How long would this pattern continue? She had to let him know that...that it wouldn’t happen, it couldn’t happen. Not when she couldn’t give him her heart. Not when her mind was consumed of thoughts of...him.

Speaking of, she was scanning the grounds for the knight on his steed, but saw nothing. Her heart rate quickened in panic. What if something had happened to him? What if he had suffered a blow? It would be her fault and she could do nothing about it? And then there was that leg injury? Was he taking care of it?

She was breaking into a sprint and before she could help herself, she was calling his name. Her ears were deaf to Chrom’s cries for her to wait; she only needed to find him, to know that he was safe.

“Frederick! Frederick, are you alright?” By now he should be making some sort of snarky response, unless he’s determined to subject her to the cold shoulder yet again. “Frederiiiiiii--Oof!” She crashed headlong into Sumia, who she sent flying into the ground. Oops.

“Sorry, Sumia!” Robin quickly proffered a hand to the pegasus knight, who took it with a weary smile.

“Thank you, Robin.” Sumia stumbled a few times but with the help of Cordelia (who’d come to check out the commotion) they got her righted eventually. “We don’t need to send any more to the healers’ tent, Robin,” Cordelia teased the tactician, and worried over her friend. “Sumia falls on her own enough, as it is. But I hear you were looking for the Lieutenant?” “Y-yeah,” Robin said, and scratched her cheek awkwardly. “How did you know?” “Dear, I believe even the corpses could hear you,” Cordelia sighed, and patted Robin’s head once. “Cordelia, that’s so morbid,” Sumia clasped her cheeks and shook her head. “Oh,” she frowned, and took a handkerchief out. “Your necklace is a little dirty.” She rubbed at it, but it was no use. The gem had a mark on it.

“Oh no,” Robin begun to frantically rub at it, but Cordelia swatted her hand.

“Robin, that’s not going to help things. Give it to me, and I’ll clean it up for you,” Cordelia said, and without waiting for Robin’s response, she unclasped the necklace and carefully stowed it in her bag.

And just like that, it was off of her neck...she felt like she could breathe properly again. It was a horrible thought to have...perhaps she didn’t deserve to be freed of that shackle after all.

“Where are you lost again, Robin?” Sumia waved in front of her face. “Go find Frederick, I’m sure he’ll want to see you.”

“Oh yes,” Cordelia stifled a laugh at the young tactician’s expense. “Run along now,” and with that she and the pegasus knight pushed Robin forward. “You’ll find him back at his tent, I’m certain.” They wondered if they got through to her...Robin stumbled forward in a light daze.

--

Robin walked into sounds of Frederick hissing, thanks to what she could tell was rudimentary self-care. She saw a few wads of cotton littered on the floor, completely soaked with blood. She tsked audibly. It was bad enough that he was being cheap in taking care of himself, but to this extent? He heard her of course; his hearing was rather astounding, if inconvenient for her at times. He almost dropped the bottle of alcohol, a sign that showed that he really was out of sorts.

“Give me that,” Robin said snippily, a no-nonsense tone that made Frederick muse about whether or not she’d picked it up from him. She’d snatched the bottle from him, and took a copious helping of the cotton next to him. “Sit down. I can’t believe you’re standing. Sit, I say.” He looked at her warily, but once she had her hand on his arm, he’d sat down on command, after flinching a little. “Did I hurt you?” She asked. He snorted. If only that were the problem, she sighed to herself. Instead of voicing her complaint, she knelt down next to the man.

Robin treated the cut on his hand, and noticed it running up his arm. “Frederick, I need you to roll your sleeve up.” Thankfully he’d already taken off his armor; she’d prefer not to command him what articles to strip off of him; this was awkward as it was. He hmphed, but did as she said. Unfortunately, the man was not anticipating just how tight his shirt was and flinched from the pain. “Careful, you dolt!” “Tactician, I did as you said to,” he countered, and she rolled her eyes.

“Yeah the one time you listen to me is to hurt yourself.” “I do not recall asking for your help,” he said haughtily, and she resisted the urge of giving him a good dosage of the stinging sensation of rubbing alcohol. She could say the same for herself, but she clamped her lips shut, not wishing to goad him further.

“Just, take your shirt off.” “Pardon?”

“Ju-just, do it. You’re going to die of an infection at this rate. You don’t take vulneraries, and you’re barely helping yourself this way. Look, just...” Robin tucked the cotton under her arm, hastily set down the bottle, and her hands were at his chest, unbuttoning his shirt as though she did it daily.

The man, needless to say, looked absolutely astonished. “Hey, you! The nerve, undressing a man like this, I can do it myself you know.” He swatted her fingers away, and hurriedly unfastened his shirt before she could touch him anymore. She was studying his visage, still red, and wondering about what he was thinking. Robin was ashamed to admit it even to herself, yet she wondered if the reason the simple action flustered him so much was because he had other thoughts connected to them. Thanks to the events of that night, she’d begun to doubt all his intentions. He touched her chest, after all. That was condemning enough. “Avert your gaze, perverted woman.”

She scoffed at that! Why she never--“Shut up you kisser,” she snapped, and her brown eyes shot wide open at what she’d just said. “S-slip of the tongue,” she tried to amend hurriedly, although context considered, perhaps it wasn’t the correct idiom to use.

The man closed his eyes shut, and let out a labored sigh. “Robin...” Curses, why did he have to go say her name? She hated when he did that. It was mean of him, to address her so informally, as though they were friends. “Before you say anything,” she said, and pressed a finger to his lips. “Just let me fix you up.” “Mm--” “Shut up,” she said again, albeit without the added epithet. She’d dabbed his wounds inexpertly, but it was far better than leaving him to his own devices. His breath hitched every now and then, whether it was because of the tension between them, or the fault of the alcohol, she didn’t know. When she lifted up his pant leg to inspect a previous injury, he jerked away.

“That’s enough of playing doctor,” he finally said, and took the bottle back from her. He sighed at the amount of supplies she’d used on him, and screwed the cap back on.

“But aren’t we going to talk?”

“There is nothing to talk about,” he said tersely. “Thank you for your assistance, as unwanted and forced as it was.” “Frederick! You can’t just kiss me and not talk about it!” she protested, but it was futile.

The man gripped her under her arms, and set him outside his tent. “I absolutely can, and will.” Her legs flailed and kicked, but she couldn’t actually hit a man she’d just tended to. Just before Frederick turned around, she did something very immature. She reached out and touched his chest, poking his nipple and drawing out a wonderfully shocked expression.

“See how it feels!” she stomped her foot petulantly, and considered marching right back in, but rejected the temptation. To his credit, Frederick returned back inside. She would have given anything to be inside his mind right then.

[tacticiansquill]

Diversions- Ch 3: Caught

Ch 1/ Ch 2/

Read original on AO3

Summary: Gaius has a silver tongue, and he puts it to use in giving both him and Robin what they need. However, when pleasure starts to mix with a pesky thing called feelings, they’re not sure what to do.

Rating: Explicit

Pairing: Gaius/f!Robin

Oh that was it.

Enough games.

She had her revenge. They were even. Now he was going to finish what they started. No interruptions, no breaks, come hell or high water.

She had the gall to tease him like that, did she? Since when was she such a little vixen anyway? Half an encounter and she became little miss seductress? Well, he didn’t want something easy anyways.

Bring it on, tactician.

  He cornered her in her tent just as she returned. Actually, he had been laying on her bedroll once more, except this time he took the liberty to strip down to his underwear.The trap was set, and now he just had to wait for her prey. He had found the undergarments she took care to leave behind in her tent, and was playing with it. Hm, how unsexy her smallclothes were...he’d have to take care of that if their meetings became a usual thing. Some sabotage would have to be in order sometime in the near future.

A lovely lady returned to her tent to find an interesting surprise. “Oh, I’m sorry, am I in the wrong tent?” she asked drily, an eyebrow quirked as she saw him twirling her knickers around his finger.

  “No, you’re just in the right place, Robin,” he emphasized her name. His anger leaked into his voice, and she gulped. This game of cat and mouse was going to end right there, right then, or his name wasn’t Gaius. He flung her underwear across the tent and made a come hither motion with his fingers. She rolled her eyes, but figured it wouldn’t do any harm to entertain him. She watched him lick his lips as his eyes focused on how her hips swayed, how her clothes still clung to her body...and he was fantasizing taking them off.

  Once Robin was in reach, Gaius hooked his foot on the back of hers and tripped her so she was on top of him. He flipped her then so she was on her back and he was over her. He winked as his fingers traced the curvature of her face and then wrapped around her wrists so he was pinning her down. She glared up at him, and squirmed half-heartedly underneath his body.

  “Safe word is licorice, capiche?” “Huh?” Robin looked utterly confused, and Gaius had to bite back a laugh. Was he really going to corrupt an innocent flower like this? Why of course.

  “I do anything you don’t like, or you want to stop, I’ll stop, no questions asked. Got it?”

  She nodded, a little stunned by this information. “Got it...” “Say the word after me, licorice.” He nipped at her lip as he said the word, and pulled down to admire her flushed cheeks as he awaited her answer. “Question.” “Shoot.” “Why licorice?” “Do you prefer Falchion?” Gaius said, clearly taking a dig at the tactician, who blushed, remembering just what game she’d been playing a while ago. Dear god how was she going to face Chrom the next morning...If she would even be able to get out of bed in the morning.

  “Ugh, licorice...” “That’s my girl,” Gaius said proudly, and with that his lips worked over hers. “I’m going to, mm, punish you so hard...” He kissed her lasciviously, the sounds he was making had the girl red from head to toe. He relished the way her tongue nervously slid against his, the way her saliva was mixing with the fluids in his mouth...

  He moved quicker this time. Their game served to be as foreplay on it’s own, and he’d gotten a good taste of her good bits earlier on. He didn’t have much patience for taking her top off again, though he’d slipped her tank top just so he could scoop out her breasts and grope them.

  “Pervert,” she mumbled and squeezed her eyes shut. Her confidence from earlier had since evaporated, poor thing. She was grinding her hips against him rather needily this point, and her back arched up into him, making it that much easier for him to have his way with her. He didn’t spend too long on this part, only tweaking her nipples briefly before he wanted to get to the good part. His erection was screaming at him to move on, and he was sure that she’d be sopping wet by now.

  She was underneath him, trying to reciprocate, but he didn’t let her touch him so easily...not after all the chasing he had to do. She rolled her lower half against him frantically, searching for reprieve. There was no rhythm, no grace. It was animalistic desire, and he fucking loved it.

  He almost ripped apart the ties that held her trousers up and shoved down her pants, not bothering to take the whole thing off. He let her kick it off while he bit into her knickers, (baby pink, how quaint), and tugged them off so roughly he probably left a little mark into her legs.

  “You doing alright?” he asked her, surprised at how low his voice was. He peered into the tactician’s face, pieces of white-blonde hair stuck to the sweat on her skin. Her eyes were diluted, her face completely red, and her mouth hung open. She couldn’t get much out in way of words, but heavy panting and a few nods indicated that he hadn’t knocked her out just yet. He was rather pleased that he’d rendered the sassy tactician wordless for once. An impressive feat, if he did say so himself.

  He pressed a palm to her chest, curious as to what her heart rate was, and he could feel his own heart spike when he felt just how fast hers was running. Curiosity dealt with, he put his fingers to better use....inside her (after tugging her stiff nipple one more time, being the pervert that he is). Well at least one set, the other was getting rid of what was the last thing that kept him from fucking her senseless.

  He’d been keeping a steady pace doing the girl with his hands, at least, and the way she was grinding into them assured him she’d be coming soon. He only had to lightly brush her clit to have her shouting expletives and all manners of encouragements, and he knew he had to work quickly.

  Soon the entire camp would know just what the tactician is up at night for, for once. His pants was discarded carelessly, probably wherever hers were. Or not, he really didn’t care, and the moment he’d taken off his boxers her legs were wrapped around his hips. “Ready, Robin?” “Gaius, keep me waiting any longer and I’m never fucking you again.”

“Fair enough,” he smirked, and with that he slid his length into her warm heat, slick and waiting just for his arrival. It wasn’t too bumpy a ride, considering he was right in his predictions that he’d have her soaked, and soon he was completely encased of her warmth.

  “Yes, Gaius, Gods, that's amazing” she’d thrown her head back, eyes closed, against her bedroll as he’d begun moving inside of her. When he was slipping out of her her eyes shot open, and she glared up at him. “Don’t you dare,” if looks could kill, they’d find his dead body...probably covered in substances that he would not like others to discover.

  “Didn’t I say I’d punish you?” he teased her, wanting to see the sweat covered, lust-addled Robin struggle to keep an angry look on her face for a little longer. When she’d dug her nails into his back to keep him inside her, he relented. “Fine,” he kissed her swollen lips. “Next time, since taking your virginity is reward enough for me.” “Good--oh fuck, fuck yes...” Her sass turned into a guttural moan as the man thrust inside of her again, this time with much more force.

  “Didn’t say I wouldn’t leave you sore though,” he said, keeping his voice as steady as he could. He could feel a lightness in his head as the tension built in his core. He gritted his teeth and thrust harder, and faster...he was close to coming, but so was she...they’d end up a complete mess by the time it was all over. His body fell apart the moment she came, screaming his name and also things that were not a part of his name...unless he was in bed. He himself fell flat at her side, waiting to build up the energy to go again.

  He was thinking of just how she shuddered as she came all over him...and how he matched her messy state just as well. Wanting to see that face again was more than enough for them to go another round. And a third one for good measure. When they were both bruised properly, he’d decided that it was enough. Though his legs were jelly, he’d still tried to stand up...but she stopped him.

  “Stay,” she yawned, stretching out her bare arms in a way that his eyes were drawn to her chest once again (covered in dried saliva and patterns of hickeys, courtesy of the ginger).

  “I didn’t believe a cuddle-buddy was part of the agreement. That costs extra, you know.” He tightened the bandana on his arm as he said that...though she knew what was there, he still didn’t want it out in the open. He’d rather not fuck the girl while she was thinking about him being a criminal.

  “Get over yourself Gaius...I’m not just a one night stand, am I?” her voice was a little sad, he’d noted, and that told him that he needed to leave faster. Yet he found himself snugly settling in with the woman, his arm secured over her body as she had his back to his chest. He’d fucked her till she could barely breathe, yet, why did this seem like the most intimate position they’d been in the whole night? He didn’t know, and frankly, he didn’t want to find out.