clairekatswritingcorner

[clairekatswritingcorner]

Hiatus Notice

I’m putting this blog on hiatus for the time being, mostly because I just don’t plan on posting any writing here any time soon. If I do produce any gen content I’ll probably just post it to my Ao3, which you can find a link to in my blog description. I pretty much don’t check on this account at all anymore, and any relevant commission information and updates about my writing can be found on my carrd or on twitter. I probably won’t check this blog for messages or notifications for a while, so if you want to get in touch with me, contacting me directly through email for commission inquiries and other things is probably your best bet. Thank you for the support over the years, and if you’re still interested in my writing and aren’t as picky about the subject matter, you can check out @nyandereneko on here, twitter, or Ao3 for my more recent stuff.

[clairekatswritingcorner]

I know I haven’t updated on this account in a while, and to be honest I just haven’t been on in...months. I’m not sure when I’m going to get around to posting any new writing here, but for the time being I wanted to say that my commissions are semi-permanently open, and if anyone is interested I’d encourage you to email me directly, because that’s the most straightforward way I’m likely to get your message. 

I apologize for the lack of activity and I appreciate everyone that continues to stick around, if you’re still interested in my writing and aren’t as picky about the subject matter, I’ve been producing a considerable amount of self insert works. I usually keep them to my self insert account just because...I know a lot of people don’t like that sort of thing, but if people are interested I can try to reblog some here, or just redirect people to my other blog/writing accounts...I promise I’ll try to get around to posting some more gen related works here eventually.

[clairekatswritingcorner]

Ko-Fi Writing Commissions

Hello! I’m CK and I’m opening discounted writing commissions for the foreseeable future.

500 words = 3 ko-fi

1000 words = 4 ko-fi

I’ll write for just about any character, scenario, ship, etc. Canon x canon, oc x canon, oc x oc, and even non-relationship focused stuff! You can read the specifics of my guidelines and what I will or won’t write here.

These commissions are not subject to the same discount criteria as my regular commissions, and if you’re interested in something longer you’re welcome to check out my standard prices on the commission page linked above.

PM me on any of my accounts or send me an email if you’re interested and I’d be happy to work with you! If I don’t get back to you immediately please be patient, I don’t check all of my accounts all the time but I do make an effort to do so at least once a day.

[clairekatswritingcorner]

Ko-Fi Writing Commissions

Hello! I’m CK and I’m opening discounted writing commissions for the foreseeable future.

500 words = 3 ko-fi

1000 words = 4 ko-fi

I’ll write for just about any character, scenario, ship, etc. Canon x canon, oc x canon, oc x oc, and even non-relationship focused stuff! You can read the specifics of my guidelines and what I will or won’t write here.

These commissions are not subject to the same discount criteria as my regular commissions, and if you’re interested in something longer you’re welcome to check out my standard prices on the commission page linked above.

PM me on any of my accounts or send me an email if you’re interested and I’d be happy to work with you! If I don’t get back to you immediately please be patient, I don’t check all of my accounts all the time but I do make an effort to do so at least once a day.

[clairekatswritingcorner]

Ko-Fi Writing Commissions

Hello! I’m CK and I’m opening discounted writing commissions for the foreseeable future.

500 words = 3 ko-fi

1000 words = 4 ko-fi

I’ll write for just about any character, scenario, ship, etc. Canon x canon, oc x canon, oc x oc, and even non-relationship focused stuff! You can read the specifics of my guidelines and what I will or won’t write here.

These commissions are not subject to the same discount criteria as my regular commissions, and if you’re interested in something longer you’re welcome to check out my standard prices on the commission page linked above.

PM me on any of my accounts or send me an email if you’re interested and I’d be happy to work with you! If I don’t get back to you immediately please be patient, I don’t check all of my accounts all the time but I do make an effort to do so at least once a day.

[clairekatswritingcorner]

Ko-Fi Writing Commissions

Hello! I’m CK and I’m opening discounted writing commissions for the foreseeable future.

500 words = 3 ko-fi

1000 words = 4 ko-fi

I’ll write for just about any character, scenario, ship, etc. Canon x canon, oc x canon, oc x oc, and even non-relationship focused stuff! You can read the specifics of my guidelines and what I will or won’t write here.

These commissions are not subject to the same discount criteria as my regular commissions, and if you’re interested in something longer you’re welcome to check out my standard prices on the commission page linked above.

PM me on any of my accounts or send me an email if you’re interested and I’d be happy to work with you! If I don’t get back to you immediately please be patient, I don’t check all of my accounts all the time but I do make an effort to do so at least once a day.

[clairekatswritingcorner]

Moving Day

Word Count: 1,330

Summary: Moving day has finally arrived for the happy couple, and Suzuki and Shinsou find that even life’s most tedious events can be enjoyable when they’re shared with the one you love.

For @kinironome!

If you enjoyed reading this piece, please consider leaving a tip or commissioning me!

*****

“Are you sure you don’t need help with that?”

“I’m alright, just help me keep an eye on Marshmallow. Make sure he doesn’t get into anything.”

“We both know that’s easier said than done.”

Suzuki faced him with a stunning smile, the kind she always seemed to give him when he was least expecting it. The brilliantly setting sun outlined her already glowing, vibrant visage in a striking golden hue. The rainbow shimmer in her gentle, thoughtful eyes; the soft pink locks atop her head that seemed to absorb the sun’s rays wherever the light touched; the sight of her took Shinsou’s breath away. He exhaled as if an anvil had just been hurled into his chest…even if that were the case, he couldn’t deny that it was the most pleasant weight he’d ever been struck by. She laughed and the sound made his ears tingle, heart fluttering like the light, anxious wings of a bird. Her voice was like a bell, accented with an enchanting lilt that never failed to bathe him with reassurance, comfort, affection. 

Despite his lingering distraction with her expression, her very being, he managed to pick up on the signs of the impending accident that was preparing to play out before him. Lacking the time to warn her properly, Shinsou watched as Suzuki lost her footing on a stair, ensuring he made it to her side in an instant to provide her with the balance she’d lost. The fluffy cat that weaved around their feet, rubbing against every surface he came into contact with, seemed the most likely cause. But regardless of the source or the intent, they both knew they’d never hold it against him.

“You should be more careful, princess.”

That pet name never got old, but at the same time Suzuki wondered if she’d ever become completely accustomed to it. The way his tone softened when he said it, the glint of endearment that sparkled in his dark eyes the moment they met hers…they were utterly smitten with each other, caught up in their own private bubble of contentment, and it wasn’t hard to see why. Her face flushed practically the same color as her hair, a delicate shade that Shinsou couldn’t deny had claimed a spot as one of his favorite colors. She would have caressed his face, or run her fingers through his indigo tufts if her hands had been free, but they were still unfortunately otherwise occupied. 

“Are you sure you don’t want me to take it?”

“I’m positive. I was just being clumsy.” 

That wasn’t entirely accurate, considering there wasn’t much she could have done to avoid the blunder in the first place. Aside from their mischievous little feline’s interference, even Shinsou was starting to feel the fatigue dragging on his muscles, bones, and eyelids. It had been quite a long, eventful day, but luckily the end was fast approaching. There were only a few boxes left to tackle, which was a huge relief that enabled them to see the light at the end of the busy tunnel. Their reward would be officially being able to call themselves moved in. 

Everything had been going according to plan, up to and including this moving day. It was almost as if fate was trying to tell them this was the right path to take. Whether the predestination of the cosmos had anything to do with it or not was completely irrelevant, however. They were inseparable--that was a fact--and nothing as flimsy as destiny could ever possibly come between them or the love they shared. It was a love they were going to be cultivating, nurturing, enriching together for the foreseeable future, and hopefully beyond. It’d started out so small, fragile, a dim flame that could have easily been snuffed out at any moment. Now it burned as the passionate fire they kindled within one another, a blaze they sustained without even really having to try. 

Shinsou focused on organizing the remaining boxes and deterring their furry little troublemaker from stirring up any more mischief, which could be partially achieved by offering him sufficient pets whenever he decided to stroll by. The curious cat hopped from one empty box to another, truly living up to his feline reputation. One of his owners found it impossible to keep his eyes from routinely trailing back to his precious partner. He didn’t need to worry about trying to steal enough glances at her before they had to part for the day anymore, though, since they were going to be falling asleep and waking up next to each other from here on out. It seemed like a dream come true, but then again, didn’t every moment with her feel that way? 

“I think that’s just about it,” the exhausted yet satisfied young hero announced as she wiped her brow with her forearm. “But stuff like this shouldn’t be any harder to handle than training. I can’t believe I’m this beat.”

“You’re not the only one,” Shinsou assured as he approached her side, draping an arm around her shoulders. “We got carried away trying to do too much at once.”

“But now it’s done!” Suzuki exclaimed with a pump of her fist. “Well, we still have a lot of unpacking to do, but you know…we don’t have to haul stuff in from a truck anymore. It’s actually kind of shocking to see how much we have.”

“Just one of the joys of moving, I suppose,” he quipped, leaning down to nuzzle his nose against her temple. She blushed and giggled softly, squirming and letting out a startled squeak as she felt the unmistakable prod of fingers wandering down her side.

“Hey, cut it out!” she asserted through another bout of giggles, and Shinsou simply nudged her closer, brushing his cheek against her sweet smelling hair.

“Sorry, I couldn’t help it,” he replied in a tone that lacked even the slightest hint of guilt. “I kept my hands to myself while we were moving all this stuff, I deserve at least some credit for that.”

“You want a trophy just because you didn’t tickle me to death?” she challenged playfully. “I don’t think that’s how it works.”

“And who decided that?” he countered, pecking her cheek before getting in one more good grab at her side.

“You’re ridiculous, you know that?” she replied, reaching up to ruffle his perpetually poofy hair. “Now, how do you propose we celebrate this grand accomplishment?”

“I think just taking a break seems acceptable enough, don’t you?”

“That sounds wonderful, actually.”

Clearing themselves a space on the couch was much less strenuous than they’d anticipated. They lounged on the cozy cushions, Shinsou sprawling out on his back as Suzuki draped herself across his torso. She snuggled against his chest and listened to the soothing sound of his breathing, the hushed rhythm of his gentle heart. Her listening was interrupted by the distinct, unmistakable pressure of paws padding across her back. With some coaxing from Shinsou the spoiled cat curled up atop them both, which Suzuki supposed suited her just fine. Sandwiched between the two loves of her life, the precious man and sweet pet she couldn’t dream of being without, the tired young woman let her eyes flutter shut.

“I love you, you know.” The words sent a pleasant shiver up her spine, and one eye popped open to meet his overwhelmingly adoring gaze.

“I love you, too,” she mumbled in reply, her chest tightening as if some unseen force was trying to suffocate her heart with love. “And I’m so glad I get to be with you like this. Any time, all the time now.”

“There’s nowhere in this world, this universe, I’d rather be,” he concurred, an earnest smile tugging at his lips. Sweeping her bangs to the side and impressing a final kiss on her forehead, Shinsou lulled Suzuki to sleep with the hum of his heart and the gentle pace of his fingers combing through her soft strands.

[clairekatswritingcorner]

One Call After Another

Word Count: 1,306

Summary: D’s been getting calls from Rhys on her comm all day, and when she finally demands an explanation for his insistent pestering, his answer turns out to be much less profound than she anticipated.

For @robotarmjokes

If you enjoyed reading this piece, please consider leaving a tip or commissioning me!

*****

The familiar buzz of her comm tingled on her wrist, vibrated in her ears. It startled her, throwing off her stride. What could he possibly want this time? It seemed like he was doing this much more frequently as of late. Which wasn’t very sensible, considering he was the one that’d given her this assignment in the first place, and who she received a majority of her contracts and assignments from. That was her job, the agreement they’d settled upon long before they’d even considered crossing the threshold of admitting their feelings for one another. So what? Was he doubting her ability, or just impatient to find out how things were going? Why couldn’t a simple text suffice? He was definitely the type to get antsy and act on impulse, and as she ruminated on that eccentricity a sinking feeling lodged itself in the pit of her gut. 

Did this mean he didn’t trust her, that he’d been losing faith in her all this time? Things had been going so well, at least she’d thought so…had she just been deluding herself? She didn’t have the strength to ask, but now that the thought had materialized, she knew she wasn’t going to be able to dismiss it from her mind. Shoving the encroaching flood of self-defeating thoughts to the side, she returned to her original dilemma. Should she answer him this time? If it was anyone else, ignoring it probably wouldn’t have been such a risky gamble. But when it was a call from him she couldn’t really afford to be skeptical.

“Yes?”

A familiar face flickered to life in the electric blue form of a hologram, bright enough that D couldn’t help blinking a few times. It seemed like nothing around here could exist without being cybernetically enhanced or saturated with neon. “Hey, D, are you there?”

“Of course I am, who else would pick up on this channel?”

“Oh, heh heh, I guess you’re right…sorry.” The exasperated woman could practically feel the motion of him rubbing the back of his neck in his tone. A sheepish reaction she’d come to expect from him when he was caught in the crossfire of an awkward exchange. “So, uh…I was just wondering where you are right now?”

“I’m in the same place I was thirty minutes ago, Rhys,” D replied flatly, eyes nervously pinballing from one piece of scenery to another. He was always harder to talk to like this, face to materialized face through the holo-comm. There were plenty of non-holographic options for communication, but for some reason Rhys was always tenaciously insistent on using this method above all else. “Do you have something to tell me?”

“Ah, no. Well, maybe.” Soon enough D was sure she’d be the one scratching her head, albeit not for the same reasons he had. “Actually, I may have something…”

A minute passed by, then two. She couldn’t tell through his holographic display if he was rummaging around for anything off screen, and she didn’t detect the distinct sound of clicking that might imply he was sifting through digital archives, keenly seeking out some insignificant piece of intangible information to share. Instead, they got caught up in an impractical cycle of small talk. If they kept talking like this, trapped in a loop of empty conversation, it was obvious D wasn’t going to have enough time left to properly finish her current assignment.

As much as she enjoyed her husband’s company, she knew there were times when other essential obligations had to come first. “Rhys, listen…”

“Oh, I am.” The words rolled off his tongue with an almost palpable bite, making her heart thud twice as hard as each one emerged. It was quite an unexpected response, especially considering the previously laid-back nature of their discussion. “I mean, of course I’m listening. Is there something you want to tell me?” 

The uncomfortable silence that threatened to envelope them was staved off by the hologram’s persistent electronic hum. “No. I just need to get back to work, and I’m sure you have your hands full with your own responsibilities. We can talk more when I get back, if that’s alright?”

He let out a dejected, almost wistful sigh…was he disappointed with her suggestion? “Yes, that sounds fine. I’m looking forward to your report.”

With a click, she was left with nothing more than her own confused, jumbled thoughts and the thrum of her anxious heartbeat as it pounded in her ears.

__________

DL knew her husband was a busy man, and that she was one of the people he relied on the most in his work, but this was getting a little out of hand. Five or six calls before noon, each one seeming to entail something even more trivial than the last. Wanting an update on the current status of her job, wanting to know if she was going to be available for tea later, wanting to know what she happened to be thinking about right at that moment. She was going to get to the bottom of it, though. She had to.

“Rhys, can we talk?”

“Of course, babe. What’s on your mind?”

As the broker entered her boss’s office everything appeared as ordinary as usual, including the inexcusably handsome man who was intently eyeing her from behind his desk.

“Is this about your report?”

“Actually, it’s about you.” An involuntary crack in her voice made her words seem like they were tumbling out of their own volition. “I was just wondering…I wanted to know why you’ve been calling me so much. On the comm. It’s just…if you have a problem with the way I’m doing things, or if you think I’m doing them wrong--”

“What are you talking about?” The weight of disbelief in his tone only intensified her confusion. “You’re doing a great job, you always do. You go above and beyond, really--”

“Then why do you keep calling me? It feels like my comm is buzzing all day, every day…”

A suspicious flush turned his face rosy, almost as vibrant as the decor of his office. “Um, well. I’m not sure you’ll like my answer.”

“I want to hear it anyway.” Her palms were slick, tongue pressed tensely, uncomfortably against the roof of her mouth. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” he quickly reassured. “I’m serious, there’s no deeper problem here I’m trying to hide from you or anything. Unless you count you not being here, or us not getting to spend more time together as a legitimate problem.”

“I’m afraid I don’t follow…”

The uncharacteristically flustered CEO sighed, running a hand through his slicked back hair. “I just like hearing your voice.”  

Well, he was right; she certainly wasn’t prepared for an answer like that. Her face lit up like a flame, as if they were in a contest to see who could turn a deeper shade of red. Rhys smiled, and the extra surge of blood her racing heart pumped out went straight to her head, making her a bit dizzy. She tried to laugh it off, but her bewilderment was too distracting.

“Oh, uh, well…” She could at least attempt to have the last word. “I like hearing your voice, too. And seeing your face…but I do need to get back to work.”

He would have gone after her, but he knew doing so would probably only make things worse. Besides, she would be back at the end of the day, settled down with him in the cozy little space they called home. It was a place they were lucky enough to share, where their love could flourish without any external interference or prying eyes. In the meantime, if they started missing each other too much, he knew he could always just call her again…with that thought, he picked up his comm and prepared to dial.

[clairekatswritingcorner]

Love Letters

Word Count: 1,289

Summary: Rhys writes D a special letter to confess all the things he loves about her that are often hard to verbalize. D is naturally quite taken aback by the gesture, not just due to the letter’s contents, but also by the fact that Rhys would bother to do something so nice for her in the first place.

For @robotarmjokes!

If you enjoyed reading this piece, please consider leaving a tip or commissioning me!

*****

He fiddled with the envelope in his hands, unable to suppress the anxious fidgeting tingling in his nerves. Widely known as the man that had spearheaded Hyperion’s downfall and raised Atlas from the ashes in its place, there should have been little that could faze him. But appearances seldom reflect the whole truth, and just like anyone else, he wasn’t immune to everything. Quite the opposite, actually, since he figured he was put off by things more often than most, even his wife. She frequently lamented and berated herself for her shortcomings, the little things that upset or unsettled her that she assumed were mainly inconsequential in the eyes of others. Rhys knew that wasn’t the case as a result of his own experiences, and he wished he could do more to help her understand the validity of her position.

But that persuasive process was going to have to wait; today, she happened to lie at the root of his problems. Not due to anything she’d done or said, since the predicament he found himself in was a rather unfortunately personal and self-inflicted one. Standing outside the door to her workshop, the place where she organized and conducted the majority of her top-secret work and contracts, his gaze flitted restlessly between the knob and the paper that crinkled between his shaking fingers. Objectively, it wasn’t a big deal, and he silently scolded himself as seconds stretched into minutes, knowing deep down that he should have been more than capable of easily accomplishing this task. Perhaps it was just the nature of the act, the risk that came with confronting her so directly, but he’d engaged in other awkward and downright foolish actions in the past and never suffered anything close to the panic and paranoia he was now.

It wasn’t like this was his first time giving her a gift. Well, he supposed it was the first time he’d given her something like this, but he couldn’t pinpoint what it was about this specific kind of gift that made him feel like he was sinking in a tsunami of self-doubt. It was almost as if he’d regressed back into a helpless pining schoolboy, nervous yet resolute in his mission to make a good impression…clinging to the hope that his crush would give him even a sliver of a chance to prove himself. But this was his spouse he was talking about! The person he’d married, his better half who’d made everything from the proposal to the ceremony the best moments of his life. Their relationship hadn’t exactly been smooth sailing from the start, but few worthwhile relationships are. With the combination of a spark and a lingering will of dedication, almost anyone can withstand even the harshest storms together…at least that’s what Rhys had learned from his time with his darling D.

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, raising a hand to knock and hesitating just a second more. Was he worried she was going to laugh at him, or reject him? Was he scared of this act he’d poured his heart and soul into falling flat, and the crippling disappointment that would surely follow? If D could manage to push through her insecurities to do better for him, the least he could do was give her the same courtesy. Rather than plunging headfirst into the unknown, though, he opted to employ a more cautious method, slipping the unassuming looking note under the door. He retreated after knocking a few times, her irritated demand to know who’d come to interrupt her following him down the hall. He figured he’d use the extra time he’d gained to properly prepare to face her reaction, regardless of how wonderful or terrible it turned out to be.

As the hours ticked by, he found himself starting to regret his decision to flee. The sound of creaking hinges and approaching footsteps snapped him back to reality, and the moment he laid eyes on her his breath was taken away. She didn’t necessarily look much different than usual…but he could tell she’d been both flustered and crying, taken aback by the honest and heartfelt nature of his modest offering. A letter detailing some of the things he loved about her, how she’d improved his life since they’d met, how much happier he was now that she was in his life. Without her, he never would have been able to achieve the happiness he had now…and his life would never be the same because of it. He hoped he’d managed to make her feel at least a fraction of the same way.

“What’s the meaning of this?” she demanded, although he could tell she wasn’t asking in a derogatory or disgruntled way.

“I just wanted to give you a little something to show I care,” he explained, stepping across the room to close the gap between them. “I mean, I know it’s not much, but…”

“Why did you make me something like this?”

He was more interested to know how she felt about receiving it, but he supposed he could humor her questions a little longer. “Well, you’ve said before that gifts make you uncomfortable. Maybe you didn’t use that phrasing exactly, but I know you’ve mentioned that getting something like a letter, a more sentimental and subdued expression of thanks or admiration, is easier for you to accept. I’ve had a lot on my mind about us, about you, especially with our anniversary coming up. So, I decided to put some of those feelings on paper…and give that paper to you, hoping that maybe it would, I don’t know, help brighten your day or something.”

She had to remind herself not to clench her fist and subsequently crumple the precious pages in her hands. Multiple paragraphs of passionate prose that clearly reflected his struggle to translate the cornucopia of feelings that fueled his affection into something coherent. Even if some parts of it were confusing or failed to make sense, the one thing that had made it through crystal clear was his ardent and abundant love for her. She’d felt similar sentiments flood her chest as she’d read this ode to his emotions, taking in his adoration and gratitude for their relationship and everything about her in general. She knew sometimes the hardest thing to do was simply putting thoughts into words, and this must have been one of the most taxing attempts he’d ever made. She couldn’t think of a more complicated topic to parse.

“This was very thoughtful of you…and very kind,” she finally confessed, setting the papers down on the nearest surface. “It’s the first time anyone’s ever done something like this for me. The first time someone’s actually bothered to remember me saying something like that, too…something so small I can’t believe you bothered paying attention.”

“Nothing’s too small to pay attention to when it comes to you,” Rhys insisted, coaxing her a bit closer before tenderly kissing her neon fringe of hair. “You’re the most important thing in the whole universe to me. I know I’ve said it before, and I’ll probably say it again, many more times…but it’s just something I really don’t want you to forget.”

“Sometimes I just don’t know how you can mean it—”

Cutting her off with an unexpected, spine tingling smooch, he settled his arms around her waist, joining his hands above the small of her back. “You’ll just have to take my word for it.”

She flushed and struggled to fish out enough words for a suitable reply. “From a silver-tongued snake like you? That’s asking a lot.”

He chuckled, amused by her embarrassed, overly defensive response. “Don’t worry, I promise I won’t ask for much more than that.”

[clairekatswritingcorner]

One Up

Word Count: 1,273

Summary: It’s D’s turn to turn the tables on Rhys and his perpetually cheeky, flirtatious attitude. Much to her surprise, having the tactic turned around on him has a much more potent affect than she expected.

For @robotarmjokes!

If you enjoyed reading this piece, please consider leaving a tip or commissioning me!

*****

“You’re a genius.”

The words slid off her tongue like butter, catching him off guard as they haphazardly drifted through the air. Wow. It was the type of phrase he least expected to hear from her, even on the days when they couldn’t seem to stop showering one another in boundless gestures of affection. Rhys crossed his arms and observed his wife with cautious curiosity, leaning against the wall behind him as casually as he could. She’d failed to stop the words from escaping, barely overcoming the urge to slap her hand over her mouth immediately following her impulsive outburst. His eyes were laser focused on her now, which wasn’t always a bad thing, but in the moment it just made her want to curl up in a ball and roll away. If things were going to turn out this way, why had she bothered provoking this kind of situation at all? To be honest, even she didn’t really have all the answers to that mystery…that’s how things practically always were when it came to anything involving him.

“How so?” If she was going to open this particular can of worms, he figured she may as well go all out. What had inspired her to offer him such rare praise; why had she chosen to voice her opinion in the first place? She didn’t have to have a definitive reason, he supposed, but the question of whether or not she did wouldn’t stop nagging him until he’d satisfied his hunch. Had he done something especially noteworthy or admirable lately that he just wasn’t aware of? He knew he had a certain propensity for being dense, as much as he outwardly denied it. Her cheeks had turned cherry red and her eyes darted about the room, trying to pinpoint anything that could serve as a reasonable distraction and give her an excuse not to look at him. It appeared that she’d spent all of her nerve on that one verbal bid of courage, and now she was back to panicking at the very thought of confronting him while he still had that smug look plastered on his stupid pretty face.

If she revealed the source of her motivation, she knew she’d regret it even more than she already lamented her vague confession. Part of her had started this conversation for the sole purpose of communicating a risky second half, one that was far more embarrassing and flamboyant than its predecessor. Struggling to reinvigorate herself just enough to accomplish the goal she’d originally set out to achieve, she took one of his hands in both of hers and examined it with surprising intensity. He didn’t mind what she was doing—on the contrary, he greatly enjoyed any opportunity he was presented to hold her or be close to her in any way—but she wasn’t going to divert his focus that easily. Opening his mouth to pose his question in a slightly different way, her interruption indicated she wasn’t going to make him waste his words a second time.  

Taking a deep breath, she unleashed the collective force of the anxiety and hesitation that’d been swelling up inside her with the words she knew were better left unsaid. She almost wished she could physically reach out and grasp them, that she could cram them back in before he had a chance to register their cursed existence. But she’d made her choice, and now that they were free, any kind of damage control she’d hoped to fall back on was rendered woefully obsolete. “No one else seems to have figured out how to be so hot and cute at the same time.”

Now it was his turn to blush. Unable to disguise the eruption of scarlet that seized his features the moment he processed her words, he did cover his mouth slightly in an attempt to obscure the flush that’d abruptly overwhelmed him. Such admissions were so infrequent on her part that he’d never really had a chance to learn the proper way to respond. In the wake of her strike the strength and sincerity of both her words and their fervent delivery simultaneously pierced and stirred his heart. He was overcome with a wealth of the same love he felt every time he looked at her, touched her, heard her voice…even just hearing her name was enough to rouse such powerful emotions in him.

Her stomach twisted and heart ached as she scrambled to determine the best way to apologize, to fabricate some excuse for her unacceptable misconduct. But she also sensed she needed to stand her ground, and maybe even wanted to, as bizarre as that particular passing thought was. When was the last time she’d actually considered doing something radical like standing by her words; how had she dealt with the guilt in the aftermath? Because it almost always came, and it was almost always too devastating to bear. An invisible threat that she couldn’t seem to avoid no matter how hard she tried. Suffering under the crushing weight of mandatory remorse for so many years had had an unfortunate effect on the state of her mind and heart, but she was lucky to have people by her side now that wanted to help her dismantle that unsightly burden.

Laughter. Uninhibited laughter shattered the silence as D watched her husband fall to pieces right before her eyes. Not in any bad way, thankfully, but his reaction was still far from sensible to her. Clutching his sides as the blush expanded to his ears and neck, for a moment she thought she’d like to kiss that blush, just once. What an unsightly though to have, and perhaps she was just interpreting things all wrong. Surely he’d responded this way because he thought she was joking, or kidding, come to the conclusion that her words were absurd. This wouldn’t be the first time she’d had someone laugh in her face about something like this, although she tried to disguise the fact that when it came from someone like him, it hurt worse than she could have ever imagined.

“Hey, what’s with that look?” He regained enough composure and breath to notice her melancholy, promptly confronting it.

“It’s alright, I understand,” she replied in a voice so low it snagged him like an anchor. “I’m sorry for saying something so silly, so foolish—”

“What? That’s not what I meant by that at all,” he frantically explained, cradling her face and guiding her eyes to his. “It’s just that…you’re so amazing. You still do so many things to surprise me, to take my breath away, to knock me off my feet—”

“Hey, don’t turn this back around on me,” D retorted, his proximity and bluntness apparently restoring some of her resolve. “I’m the one who was trying to be flirty with you. You can’t steal my thunder!”

“Then how about I steal one of these instead?”

She didn’t have a chance to reply as he leaned in and captured her lips in a kiss, his skin still warm from the blush and fingers gentle as he continued holding her like she was a rare and precious treasure. As much as she wished she could one up him sometimes, at the end of the day she was fine with him being able to influence her like this. She was more than happy to be on the receiving end of any and all of his wonderful gestures and advances. Little did she know that for every time she willingly played along with his charades, she was the true mastermind that was manipulating his heart the entire time. 

[clairekatswritingcorner]

Don’t Go

Word Count: 1,303

Summary: D starts having some second thoughts about the alleged unfinished business she left back on Europa. But Rhys is more confident than anyone that there’s nothing she needs to make up for, and he’s going to do everything in his power to make sure she knows that, too.

*Author’s Note*: The first of another small backlog of comms I’ve been meaning to share, many of which happen to be for the always lovely to work with @robotarmjokes, including this one! Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy!

If you enjoyed reading this piece, please consider leaving a tip or commissioning me!

*****

He’d been concerned for a while, and he knew he probably needed to lighten up a bit. It wasn’t like D was some kid that couldn’t make her own decisions--she was his spouse for crying out loud. The love of his life, the most precious person to him in the entire universe…and that’s why it meant so much to him. That’s why he bothered worrying about her wellbeing, or what decisions she was making, and the kind of consequences they may have for her. Besides, she was always looking out for him…it would just be rude not to repay the favor, right?

But this wasn’t about something as simple as favors, and he knew it. This was about caring, compassion, watching out for the people you treasure most. The one person you cherish above anyone and anything else. He’d heard her murmuring things to herself over the past few days and cast passing glances at the plans she was so carefully attempting to conceal, but he’d yet to find the heart to confront her directly. He didn’t want to upset her, or make her think he didn’t trust her; nothing could be further from the truth. It was because he trusted her that he wanted to help her make the right decision. Sometimes things could get muddled, and she could get led astray, and in those instances he made it his responsibility to reel her back in.

She’d even asked him to, on occasion. Confessing her worries, her deepest fears, seeking his guidance about what her next move should be. He consulted her about his own similar matters just as often…in a way, that was kind of her job. But caring about each other wasn’t a job or chore for either of them. It was a kindness they were happy to offer, a form of love they were intent to ensure they always expressed wholeheartedly. Even when things seemed quiet, uneventful, they still did their best to pay attention to the little things. There was no telling when something big, something troublesome, would rear its ugly head in the calm of the storm.

“What’re you up to?”

His voice startled her, and whatever she’d been holding clattered to the ground. She cursed her clumsiness and peeked over her shoulder, gaze falling upon none other than the man that always made her heart want to burst from her chest casually leaning in the doorway. “Nothing much. How about you?”

“Really? Because it looks like you’re packing for something,” Rhys pointed out, walking over to get a closer look. “I don’t recall us making any plans to take a trip somewhere. Is there something you want to tell me?”

D bit her lip and turned away, getting back to straightening up the scattered items she was simultaneously attempting to conceal. “No, nothing in particular. Actually, didn’t you have some important business meeting today?”

“It got cancelled,” he explained shortly. “You know most of the other company heads are pretty unreliable…but enough about me. I’m much more interested in talking about you right now.”

Backing her into a corner, was he? Well, she wasn’t going to budge this time. No way, no how. “That’s going to be a fairly short conversation, then. I don’t have anything to talk about, and I already told you--”

“Babe, just stop.”

The agitation she interpreted in his tone shook her to the core. No, he couldn’t be mad at her, not now. She didn’t have the strength, the willpower to confront him and still manage to hold her ground. Especially not if he was going to be upset with her. She’d been keeping it together so far, at least she’d thought she was doing a pretty decent job, but what if all of this turned out to be for nothing? What if she’d just been deluding herself, coming up with excuses to make everything okay so she wouldn’t have to face the unpleasant truth?

“You can talk to me…I thought you knew that. I just want to know what’s going on. Because…I guess I should just be blunt. If it has to do with going back to Europa, then--”

“I’ll be fine.” It was a reflex response. She knew it wouldn’t go over well, but it was out before she could even think about putting the breaks on it. “Look, this is just something I need to do--”

“No, you don’t.” His words were firm, arms crossed tight as his eyes clouded with sympathy and distress. “We’ve talked about this, and I’m fine with talking about it again. I’ll talk about it as many times as I need to…because you did that for me. You always do. Do you remember how you felt, what you said, when you warned me not to go and do the thing you’re getting ready to do right now?”

“That was different,” D weakly defended. “And it really didn’t--doesn’t--have anything to do with you. But what I’ve left behind there…I know I need to go and deal with it. I need to go and make amends, I need to--”

Suddenly, she was engulfed. Trapped in one of the most familiar and comforting embraces she’d ever known. She could feel the stiff metal of his arm, and hear the brush of his sleeves against her back as he pulled her close. She released her grip again, letting the contents for her journey scatter lifelessly across the ground. She supposed she felt a little bit like that now…lifeless. She was always messing up, making mistakes, causing him trouble. This was just another part of it, and all she wanted to do was apologize and make things up to him. But when it came to him, it never felt like anything she did was enough. Not because of him, but because of her. Because she knew even when he excused her, gave her a pass, told her everything was alright…he had to be lying.

“I have to fix things…I have to make up for what I did…”

“You know what I think you really need to fix?” He asked, cheek gently resting on top of her puffy pink fringe. “You just need to fix how you feel about all of this. Because the truth is that you aren’t in the wrong, and you never were. And even if you can’t understand that, D…please just listen to what I’m saying. Don’t go, you can’t go, please…because I’m worried about you. And if you really went, especially without me, I would go crazy wondering if you were alright. But here, when you’re with me, I can make sure everything’s okay. I can hold you, and console you, and remind you just how wonderful you really are. And I want to do all of those things, okay? Even if you don’t believe me, just…let me hold you a little longer.”

What could she possibly say to all of that? How could she possibly argue, or keep trying to make a case for an empty debt she still felt obligated to pay? Even if she still felt that way, nothing mattered more to her than how it affected him. If it made him happy, if it really eased his mind, then she would stay. She would heed his warning, even if she wasn’t entirely sure it was justified. She knew if the situation was truly important, there was no way he’d be trying so hard to stop her. If she let him keep holding her like this, and let him keep telling her all these things she wanted to hear, maybe, just maybe, it would be enough to satisfy her conflicted thoughts. If not, she supposed she could live with the conflict if it meant she could remain here, cradled in his arms, the safest and most treasured place in the universe.

[clairekatswritingcorner]

(art source)

Writing commissions are currently my only source of income due to some extenuating circumstances, so I’ve decided to promo them again for the holidays! Most of this information is available in my other commission posts, but since I made and posted them a while ago I figured a fresh post might be a little more fitting.

As per the point of this post, my writing commissions are open! I keep the current status of my commissions updated in my blog description and on my main commission info page.

$2 per every 100 words (min of 300, max of 5100)

Payment is taken through my ko-fi (so any discounts and such that are applied, I have to round them to make it work for the payment method. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but I’m doing the best I can with what I have to work with.)

I’ll write for practically any fandom or character, even OCs and other original stuff if you want!

I’ll work with almost any genre, minus things that make me personally uncomfortable. I’m especially fond of working with self inserts or x reader type pieces! Angst and romance are my strong suits.

I can write in 3rd person perspective, reader inserts, 1st person perspective, whatever you’d like!

Special Addition for the holidays: every commission, regardless of returning customer or if you’re purchasing multiple pieces, will receive an automatic 15% off! I can’t compound this with the other discounts (such as returning customer or multiple pieces), or make an exception for my 300 word full price standard, but until I close them again sometime in late December essentially every commission is 15% off the total. Again, total will be rounded depending on where it falls within the $3 increments, I apologize for the inconvenience.

My detailed commission info can be found here, including my terms of service and comprehensive guidelines on the commission process and what I will/won’t write. 

You can contact me by DM on this blog (it’s more reliable than sending an ask), DM me on my twitter, or send a message to my professional email, which is listed here.

If you can’t commission, please consider reblogging this post or leaving me a little tip if you like my work, it would really help me out!

[clairekatswritingcorner]

Gonna be queuing a backlog of comms I’ve had for awhile throughout the week, just fyi!

If you’re interested in getting a commission from me before I close them later this month, please check out this post!

[clairekatswritingcorner]

(art source)

Writing commissions are currently my only source of income due to some extenuating circumstances, so I’ve decided to promo them again for the holidays! Most of this information is available in my other commission posts, but since I made and posted them a while ago I figured a fresh post might be a little more fitting.

As per the point of this post, my writing commissions are open! I keep the current status of my commissions updated in my blog description and on my main commission info page.

$2 per every 100 words (min of 300, max of 5100)

Payment is taken through my ko-fi (so any discounts and such that are applied, I have to round them to make it work for the payment method. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but I’m doing the best I can with what I have to work with.)

I’ll write for practically any fandom or character, even OCs and other original stuff if you want!

I’ll work with almost any genre, minus things that make me personally uncomfortable. I’m especially fond of working with self inserts or x reader type pieces! Angst and romance are my strong suits.

I can write in 3rd person perspective, reader inserts, 1st person perspective, whatever you’d like!

Special Addition for the holidays: every commission, regardless of returning customer or if you’re purchasing multiple pieces, will receive an automatic 15% off! I can’t compound this with the other discounts (such as returning customer or multiple pieces), or make an exception for my 300 word full price standard, but until I close them again sometime in late December essentially every commission is 15% off the total. Again, total will be rounded depending on where it falls within the $3 increments, I apologize for the inconvenience.

My detailed commission info can be found here, including my terms of service and comprehensive guidelines on the commission process and what I will/won’t write. 

You can contact me by DM on this blog (it’s more reliable than sending an ask), DM me on my twitter, or send a message to my professional email, which is listed here.

If you can’t commission, please consider reblogging this post or leaving me a little tip if you like my work, it would really help me out!

[clairekatswritingcorner]

(art source)

Writing commissions are currently my only source of income due to some extenuating circumstances, so I’ve decided to promo them again for the holidays! Most of this information is available in my other commission posts, but since I made and posted them a while ago I figured a fresh post might be a little more fitting.

As per the point of this post, my writing commissions are open! I keep the current status of my commissions updated in my blog description and on my main commission info page.

$2 per every 100 words (min of 300, max of 5100)

Payment is taken through my ko-fi (so any discounts and such that are applied, I have to round them to make it work for the payment method. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but I’m doing the best I can with what I have to work with.)

I’ll write for practically any fandom or character, even OCs and other original stuff if you want!

I’ll work with almost any genre, minus things that make me personally uncomfortable. I’m especially fond of working with self inserts or x reader type pieces! Angst and romance are my strong suits.

I can write in 3rd person perspective, reader inserts, 1st person perspective, whatever you’d like!

Special Addition for the holidays: every commission, regardless of returning customer or if you’re purchasing multiple pieces, will receive an automatic 15% off! I can’t compound this with the other discounts (such as returning customer or multiple pieces), or make an exception for my 300 word full price standard, but until I close them again sometime in late December essentially every commission is 15% off the total. Again, total will be rounded depending on where it falls within the $3 increments, I apologize for the inconvenience.

My detailed commission info can be found here, including my terms of service and comprehensive guidelines on the commission process and what I will/won’t write. 

You can contact me by DM on this blog (it’s more reliable than sending an ask), DM me on my twitter, or send a message to my professional email, which is listed here.

If you can’t commission, please consider reblogging this post or leaving me a little tip if you like my work, it would really help me out!

[clairekatswritingcorner]

(art source)

Writing commissions are currently my only source of income due to some extenuating circumstances, so I’ve decided to promo them again for the holidays! Most of this information is available in my other commission posts, but since I made and posted them a while ago I figured a fresh post might be a little more fitting.

As per the point of this post, my writing commissions are open! I keep the current status of my commissions updated in my blog description and on my main commission info page.

$2 per every 100 words (min of 300, max of 5100)

Payment is taken through my ko-fi (so any discounts and such that are applied, I have to round them to make it work for the payment method. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but I’m doing the best I can with what I have to work with.)

I’ll write for practically any fandom or character, even OCs and other original stuff if you want!

I’ll work with almost any genre, minus things that make me personally uncomfortable. I’m especially fond of working with self inserts or x reader type pieces! Angst and romance are my strong suits.

I can write in 3rd person perspective, reader inserts, 1st person perspective, whatever you’d like!

Special Addition for the holidays: every commission, regardless of returning customer or if you’re purchasing multiple pieces, will receive an automatic 15% off! I can’t compound this with the other discounts (such as returning customer or multiple pieces), or make an exception for my 300 word full price standard, but until I close them again sometime in late December essentially every commission is 15% off the total. Again, total will be rounded depending on where it falls within the $3 increments, I apologize for the inconvenience.

My detailed commission info can be found here, including my terms of service and comprehensive guidelines on the commission process and what I will/won’t write. 

You can contact me by DM on this blog (it’s more reliable than sending an ask), DM me on my twitter, or send a message to my professional email, which is listed here.

If you can’t commission, please consider reblogging this post or leaving me a little tip if you like my work, it would really help me out!

[clairekatswritingcorner]

(art source)

Writing commissions are currently my only source of income due to some extenuating circumstances, so I’ve decided to promo them again for the holidays! Most of this information is available in my other commission posts, but since I made and posted them a while ago I figured a fresh post might be a little more fitting.

As per the point of this post, my writing commissions are open! I keep the current status of my commissions updated in my blog description and on my main commission info page.

$2 per every 100 words (min of 300, max of 5100)

Payment is taken through my ko-fi (so any discounts and such that are applied, I have to round them to make it work for the payment method. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but I’m doing the best I can with what I have to work with.)

I’ll write for practically any fandom or character, even OCs and other original stuff if you want!

I’ll work with almost any genre, minus things that make me personally uncomfortable. I’m especially fond of working with self inserts or x reader type pieces! Angst and romance are my strong suits.

I can write in 3rd person perspective, reader inserts, 1st person perspective, whatever you’d like!

Special Addition for the holidays: every commission, regardless of returning customer or if you’re purchasing multiple pieces, will receive an automatic 15% off! I can’t compound this with the other discounts (such as returning customer or multiple pieces), or make an exception for my 300 word full price standard, but until I close them again sometime in late December essentially every commission is 15% off the total. Again, total will be rounded depending on where it falls within the $3 increments, I apologize for the inconvenience.

My detailed commission info can be found here, including my terms of service and comprehensive guidelines on the commission process and what I will/won’t write. 

You can contact me by DM on this blog (it’s more reliable than sending an ask), DM me on my twitter, or send a message to my professional email, which is listed here.

If you can’t commission, please consider reblogging this post or leaving me a little tip if you like my work, it would really help me out!