#;none of you are any different! one wrong step and you'd be the one standing here! (interactions - leon)

[meazalykov]

beneath the surface

sydney lohmann x reader

summary: you wanted support from anyone, even if it had to come from the girl who hated you.

warnings: enemies to lovers, homophobic family mention, angst, comfort

authors note: this might be my favorite one I've written in a while, enjoy ❤️

from the moment you first stepped onto the pitch at bayern munich, you thought that something about sydney rubbed you the wrong way.

maybe it was the way she seemed to effortlessly glide through training sessions, always a step ahead of you, or perhaps it was her sharp tongue that cut through any conversation you attempted.

whatever it was, it didn't take long for you to realize that the two of you would never be friends.

it wasn’t just that you were different. you were both incredibly passionate, fiercely competitive, and determined to make your mark on the team. but where you saw passion, sydney saw arrogance.

where you tried to assert yourself, she saw an opportunity to knock you down a peg. the rivalry was born out of mutual frustration, each of you unwilling to back down, refusing to show any sign of weakness.

the tension only grew with each passing game, every comment dripping with sarcasm, every interaction tinged with disdain.

you kept telling yourself it was because you were both just too similar, both too stubborn to ever really get along.

but deep down, there was a part of you that wondered if maybe, just maybe, there was something more to it. something you were too scared to acknowledge.

when the international break rolled around, you were looking forward to the time away from sydney. the space would do you good, give you a chance to clear your head and focus on your game without the constant friction.

you got along with your national teammates well, and a few of them are aware about your "problem" with the german midfielder-- the problem being your denial about your feelings towards her.

they figured it was something that you'd have to figure out on your own.

but that plan was shattered the moment you received the ball from your central midfielders in the second-half of a friendly.

when you went to shoot the ball into the goal, you felt the sharp pain in your knee, the one that knocked you to the ground and sent your world spiraling.

the ball flew into the audience and people were shocked about your miss, until they saw you clench your knee while laying on the grass.

you had a torn acl. the words told from the doctor felt like a death sentence.

nine months out, maybe more. no soccer, no team, no escape from the thoughts that were beginning to suffocate you.

and now, here you were, back in munich lying in a hospital bed after the surgery, staring at the sterile white walls, wondering how everything had gone so wrong.

your club teammates were all away, scattered across the globe representing their countries.

you’d never felt more alone. the pain in your knee was nothing compared to the ache in your chest, the overwhelming fear that you’d never be the same player again, that you’d be forgotten, left behind as the world moved on without you.

none of your family could be here in munich with you.

correction, they didn't want to be here with you.

ever since you've came out as lesbian to your parents years back, they've wanted nothing to do with you or your football career. this is a main reason why you moved overseas away from them-- you can't be yourself if they're near you again.

you try to push those thoughts away, but they keep creeping back in, filling your mind with doubt and dread.

you’re so lost in your own misery that you don’t hear the door open.

it’s not until you hear a soft cough that you glance up, startled to see sydney standing there, a hesitant look on her face.

for a moment, you just stare at her, unable to process why she’s here, in your room, of all places.

your first instinct is to snap at her, to tell her to leave, but the words die in your throat when you notice the slight tremble in her hands, the uncertainty in her eyes.

she doesn’t look like the confident, sharp-tongued girl who’s been your nemesis for months. she looks…nervous.

"hey." she smiles lightly. she crosses her arms together as she looks at you, before moving her eyes down to your knee in the cast.

you didn't speak, nervous that she might use this opportunity to weaken you more.

“i’m here to support you,” she says, her voice quiet, almost unsure. it’s the last thing you expected to hear, and you feel a pang of confusion mixed with something else—something you don’t want to name.

why would she be here? what does she get out of this? you want to ask, but the loneliness is too overwhelming, and the idea of someone, anyone, being there for you is too tempting to resist.

instead of pushing her away, you nod, your voice coming out shaky as you say, “thanks.”

the silence stretches on, heavy with things unsaid. you’ve always hated the silence with sydney, always felt like it was another battle you needed to win.

but now, in this tiny hospital room, it feels different. it feels like a truce.

sydney lingers by the door for a moment before she finally takes a step closer, her eyes searching yours. again, you can’t help but flinch, nervous about what she might do or say, half-expecting her to use your vulnerability against you.

but she doesn’t. instead, she just stands there, waiting, as if she's giving you time to come to terms with her presence.

“i don’t get it,” you murmur, your voice betraying your confusion.

“why are you here? i thought you… i thought you hated me.”

sydney’s expression softens, and for the first time, you see something other than anger or annoyance in her gaze.

“i never hated you,” she says, the words so soft you almost miss them.

“I am sorry. i just didn’t know how to deal with how i felt.” sydney continues.

your heart skips a beat, and you feel your stomach twist into knots. there’s a part of you that’s known all along—known that the tension between you two was more than just rivalry, more than just competitiveness.

but you’ve been too scared to admit it, too scared to acknowledge that what you felt for sydney wasn’t hate at all.

“i like you, sydney. more than i should have. and i know you didn’t feel the same, so i tried to bury it, to forget about it. but it never worked.” you say, without really thinking, the words tumble out of your mouth before you can stop them.

you expect sydney to recoil, to look at you with disgust or pity, but she doesn’t. instead, she moves closer, her eyes never leaving yours.

“you think i didn’t feel the same?” she asks, her voice tinged with disbelief.

“why do you think i pushed you so hard at bayern ? i didn’t know how to handle it either.” she lightly smiles, awkwardly.

you don’t know what to say. your mind is racing, trying to piece together what’s happening, trying to make sense of this sudden shift in your reality.

but before you can respond, sydney is reaching out, her hand hovering over yours for a moment before she finally takes it, her touch sending a jolt of warmth through you.

“i brought you flowers and pastries,” she says, her voice a little stronger now, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her lips.

“i figured you could use some cheering up.” the taller girl says.

for a moment, you forgot about your injury-- and why you were laying down in the hospital bed in the first place.

you were aware about sydney's leg injury, and why she is here in munich and not in iceland with the rest of her german national team.

what sydney did is a simple gesture, but it feels monumental, like a bridge being built between the two of you.

“thank you.” you say, for the first time in what feels like forever, you let yourself smile, just a little.

sydney smiles back, and the tension in the room seems to melt away. it’s not gone entirely, but it’s different now—softer, more manageable.

when she hands you the large bouquet of flowers and pastries, you set them aside and gesture toward the bed.

“do you… want to watch something? there’s a really bad reality show on that might be fun to laugh at.” you comment.

it’s an invitation, a tentative step toward something new.

sydney hesitates for only a moment before she nods and climbs onto the bed beside you. the two of you settle in, the awkwardness slowly fading as you share a blanket, the closeness feeling surprisingly natural.

as the show plays in the background, you feel sydney’s arm brush against yours, and before you know it, you’re leaning into her, resting your head on her shoulder.

it’s the first time you’ve ever let yourself be this close to her, and it feels… right.

sydney doesn’t pull away. instead, she shifts slightly, wrapping an arm around you, holding you close. and for the first time in weeks, you feel a sense of peace wash over you, the fear and loneliness ebbing away as you allow yourself to just be, here in this moment, with her.

maybe things will be different now. maybe this is the start of something new, something better. but for now, you’re content to just be here, wrapped up in sydney’s warmth, letting yourself believe that, for once, everything might just be okay.

hope you love this as much as I did <3

my master list is here if you want to read more fics <3

[daegall]

☆ late night company.

➷ in which the Gods give you a shit day, and Aphrodite makes up for it.

pairing: son of poseidon!jeno x daughter of ares!reader

genre: hurt comfort, fluff, slight angst, bff2l!AU

warnings: anxiety, injuries, reader is implied to be female!!

word count: 4k words

a/n: sorry if any opla readers get this i just suddenly got the urge to write for mr lee jeno bc <3 jeno tee hee !! also wtf this work has been sitting in my drafts for a whole 8 days i wanted to post it SO bad but i went out of country and didnt have my laptop </33

anw!!! bros the sunflower of 3 years is now jeno biased,,,, sorry hyuck i still love you

You feel your heart continuously spiraling in your chest. It's growing wild, crashing heartbeats uneven and quick. With every breath you breathe, you feel a dark, nervous pit in your stomach grow. 

Anxiety. 

One place you never fail to find yourself at when you're feeling especially weak, is none other than by the river. Oftentimes you spend your time skipping rocks or staring at the water, the tranquility bringing some kind of peace to you. 

However, none of those things seem to help tonight. 

You sit on the dock, playing and fiddling nervously with your fingers as your mind runs too fast for your liking. 

"You're on my property,"

A sudden voice to your right startles you, more than you'd like, yelping in surprise. 

And at your reaction, the person next to you instantly knows something is wrong.

It's Lee Jeno, son of Poseidon, heartthrob of all of Camp Half Blood. 

Someone who's stolen your heart.

Jeno stands there with a boyish smile on his face, a glint in his eyes shows no harm, though shines with charm. His hair is messy, which is normal for this late hour, but he seems as awake as ever. 

He's a big reason why you're in this state, and it seems to get worse and better at the same time as you observe his expressions. His eyebrows crease, in worry, lips that were previously smiling quickly transforming into a worried frown.

"Sorry," You mumble, frantically standing up. "I didn't realize,"

How did it even slip your mind? You're by the lake, he's the son of the God of the Seas, of course you're in his area. 

Before you can take a step forward, Jeno halts you, "No!" he reaches out with a hurry laced in his voice. "No, please stay,"

He could never forgive himself if he were to leave you alone in such a state. It's clear you're vulnerable. And for you to be just the slightest bit disturbed is a bad sign.

You've always been calm, composed, even in the heat of a battle, you were always so sure of yourself. Seeing you here, so oblivious about everything, your mind drifted somewhere far? Jeno can't help but worry.

"O-oh, okay," You nod, before awkwardly retracting your foot, taking it back right next to your other one. 

It's silent a moment after, with neither of you knowing what to say. All that can be heard is the quiet waves rippling through the lake, and the soft bristling of the trees brushing against each other. 

God, Jeno looks really cute tonight. 

It's rare to find him outside of his armor, paired with his sword, gifted from his father, and shield, looking fit for the title of a demi-god, and yet tonight you see him so human. He sports a bomber jacket, a random band t-shirt underneath, and a pair of basketball shorts. 

To put it simply, Lee Jeno looks very boyfriend material right now. 

To him as well, you look different from what you're usually looking like on a daily basis. Just like him, you look human. But in a different way. Once again, you look vulnerable. There's an obvious nervous glint in your eyes, unfocused and darting everywhere, and your form shrinks with every moment that passes, arms hugging to yourself. 

"Are you okay?" 

Jeno's voice is comforting, gentle, and yet it still manages to startle you. 

Why are you so uneasy tonight?

You don't respond. Your mouth opens, but nothing comes out. A moment passes, then another, but you can't seem to find your words. 

"No," You breathe out. In an instant, you feel your body relax when the truth finally comes out, relaxing further when Jeno seems to be unbothered by the fact, reaching out to you. 

You accept his offer, stepping closer to him, your fast heartbeat finally slowing when his hands gently search for comfort in yours, his thumbs rubbing gently at your skin. 

"I'm not okay,"

"I know,"

And when Jeno looks into your eyes, he doesn't think anything could hurt him more than this. He's been in countless battles, earned multiple injuries and scars, but there's a different kind of hurt when he sees the tears forming at your waterline. 

"Can you explain?" You find solace in his warm touch, following as he tugs at your arm. A silent invitation to his cabin. You don't pull away. Jeno glances at you for an answer, smiling softly when you nod simply. 

You can't explain it, but there's a feeling you have whenever you're around Lee Jeno. It's comforting, gentle, and you feel that you can be genuinely vulnerable around him. 

You think it's love. 

You date it back to last summer, when you had defeated him in a small spar together. Despite you winning, he was the one smiling brighter. It confused you at first. You thought maybe he was making fun of you, maybe he let you win, but a moment later, you realized it was admiration. 

The way his smile caused your own had your heart lifting, filling your head with thoughts you never thought you'd have for anyone.

When you went to Jaemin, son of Aphrodite, he thought you were dumb at first. How could you not see it? Lee Jeno had been harboring feelings for you for weeks, and finally, you felt the same. 

And just 2 weeks ago—13 days and 12 hours ago, to be exact, Jeno confessed his feelings. 

Feeling terrified and confused about what to do, you asked for time, time in which he gave you generously. 

You don't know why he's still nice to you, when you've been taking so damn long to answer him. 

You suppose he really does love you, you conclude it when he's taken you to sit with him on a couch. 

The cabin is quiet, so very quiet, it's a nice change from your cabin, full of life and busy people running left and right, with crafting tables in every corner, you like how quiet it is. 

Jeno sits patiently next to you, his hands still in yours. "How are you feeling now?"

You peer up at him, attempting to blink your tears away. "Better," You sigh, smiling lightly. It's natural, and unlike your usual bold smile, but Jeno feels absolutely lucky to be able to see it. 

"Will you tell me what's wrong?"

He means no harm, simply wanting to help you, but it still confuses you. How could he be so caring towards you?

You answer him, despite your mixed emotions, quietly mumbling, "I've just had a really shit day." Your head turns away from him, almost embarrassingly, pursing your lips.  

Jeno's hand releases from yours, and although you instantly miss its warmth, his fingers find itself caressing at your jaw lovingly, before he turns your head back to him. He looks at you with care, so lovingly that it almost overwhelms you, as he speaks, "Tell me about it,"

Something about Lee Jeno just makes you want to melt, to depend fully on him and be loved, to love him. It scares the shit out of you. 

"I lost a sparring," You mumble. Jeno can't help but chuckle a little. To others, losing a practice battle is routine, everyday, but it means so much to you it makes him feel proud of how passionate you are. 

However, there's something you're not telling him. He can feel it. 

"And then?"

"And then my siblings were constantly at my neck because of it."

Truth be told, it's not just today's battle. You've been off for 2 whole weeks, and for good reason. 

But feeling this way... it feels so foreign to you. You hate that Jeno has such a hold on you, such an effect on you, plaguing your mind and constantly being reminded of him from the smallest things, it's new. 

But another part of you longs for more, for more change, to explore this new thing, to be happy with Jeno. 

"I feel weak," You tell him. You feel even weaker when he hums in understanding, feeling the warmth of his fingers caress your skin. His hand is still on your jaw, now wiping away the stray tears you didn't even realize you had let slip, oh so gently and carefully. 

"I'm supposed to be strong, like my siblings, like my father. But I can barely control my emotions and actions and sometimes I just feel so... useless? I'm Ares’ daughter, for fucks sake. The God of war. I-I should be able to fight with no problem, win every fight. Isn't that what I was made for?" 

You can sense Jeno's growing concern, you can feel it with each hush he lets out when you cry a little harder, you can feel it now that he's let both of your hands go to cup dearly at your cheeks, and you hate that you yearn for more. 

Why must you appear so weak in front of Lee Jeno? 

"I know it's just my emotions and whatnot, but... god, I don't want to disappoint people anymore,"

Jeno shakes his head, squeezing gently at your cheeks. "Don't say that. You don't disappoint anyone,"

"I disappoint my father—I disappoint myself." You say instantly, and it's clear it's a thought you've had for a long time. "I disappoint you..."

Jeno's eyes desperately search for yours, his face leaning in close to yours. "Hey, hey, look at me,"

His voice lulls you to a calmer state, as he shakes his head lightly, and despite all that you've said, how much of a burden you've been to him, he smiles at you. How can he smile at you? When you've been nothing but so frustrating tonight? 

"You could never disappoint anyone," Jeno mumbles firmly, stroking at your cheek. "not me, at least,"

For months on end, Jeno has watched you beat yourself up for the smallest things you do wrong. A small mistake during a spar, tactics failing in a game of capture the flag, even when you get the date wrong you never cease to criticize yourself.

You've got high expectations. Expectations even you yourself can't reach. 

"Don't you see? I'm disappointing you right now," You breathe out. It's full of anguish, distress, as if to prove a point. A point that Jeno can never see. "I'm being such a burden, you shouldn't even have to take care of me—"

"—I want to take care of you." Jeno interjects immediately. "I need to know you're safe. I don't care if you think you're a burden, because I know you will never be one."

Through your sniffling, and wobbly lips, a smile is somehow curling on your lips, as your hands creep up to circle around Jeno's wrists. 

"There's that smile," He whispers, with the brightest grin you might ever see, a smile even Apollo, the God of sun and light could never beat. 

Jeno leans in close, before he presses his lips gently to your cheek, cleaning you of your tears. Each kiss he leaves on your skin spreads warmth within you, like a fire growing bigger and bigger, until it consumes your whole soul.

This time, you welcome the fire, finally feeling secure within Jeno's arms. 

What have you been so worried about? Lee Jeno may be oblivious at times, but he's not dumb. He's genuine, he's caring and loving and he's the same person who confessed his love for you 13 days ago, the same heart, the same mind, the same Jeno. 

So, you fall into him. You don't care if it's terrifying, or if you have a few bumps on the way, because Jeno is your safetynet. He always has been, and will always continue to be your safetynet. 

You just hope Jeno feels the same for you. 

You're brought back to reality when Jeno pecks lightly at your nose, his laugh resonating through the room right after he sees your shocked face. 

"You know I like you, right?"

You've known for 13 days and 12 hours. Even with all that time to process his confession, it's like he's saying it for the first time, as he holds your face dearly, as he stares into your eyes with so much emotion, it almost overwhelms you. He says it as if he means it. 

And he does. 

"I know," You know with all your heart. You melt when he smiles sweetly down at you, your throat burning with the urge to tell him that you like him too, hell you might even love him. Your fingers tingle, yearning for his touch, your heart burning for him. But he doesn't deserve it. Not after how long you made him wait for a response. 

You don’t understand how Jeno could ever look at you the way he is right now, his eyes shining with such a dear look in them, his lips curling lightly. You know you look like a mess, with your puffy eyes and wet cheeks, how could anyone see the worst side of you and still love you?

You suppose it’s the pressure you get from all your tough siblings, standards way too high for you to reach, but you know you would feel the same if Jeno was crying in your arms as well. 

“Good.” He mumbles. “It won’t change.”

A sensation hits you. Your heart jumps and you feel all of a sudden breathless. No amount of tears could take this much air from your lungs, and it’s not anxiety filling them. This time… it’s a warm feeling, it swirls and spreads all through you as Jeno continues. 

“I know what you’re thinking, Y/N, that I would stop liking you just because you didn’t answer me. But that’s not true,” He shakes his head, stroking at your cheeks as he scoots closer to you. His voice grows softer, but with the distance between you two, he’s never been clearer before. “I’ll wait for you. Forever, if I have to.”

Lee Jeno has you hypnotized, and you wonder if this is what sirens are like, because he’s all that you want suddenly, you feel so dizzy and hazed with… love. You love him, goddamn it, and he loves you too. 

“Just… take your time, okay? I want your answer to come from you, your heart. Not from your siblings, or father, or even me. I want your truth,”

And your truth is him. It stupid to think, but you truly do think that you were made to be with Lee Jeno. 

When he pulls away, and finally gives you some (very unwanted) space, you decide to tell him. 

“Jeno,” You breathe out. You’re sure the sounds of waves outside his window can easily beat your volume, but you’re more sure Jeno hears you, as his eyebrows shoot up instantly, and he hums, leaning in close. He’s always so tentative to you, you’ve always loved this trait about him. 

“It’s been two weeks–”

“–I said you don’t need to–”

“–I want to,”

This time, it’s him who goes speechless, and you can almost see the pink in his cheeks growing under the dark light of his cabin. “Go on,” He finally says. 

“Thank you,” You reply. “As I was saying, it’s been two weeks, and I’m ready to give you my answer.”

Jeno’s shocked when you reach over, fingers brushing over his, as you take his hands in yours. “I’ve… always been held under some sort of expectation, always being watched, waiting for some victory, and I hated it. I still do,”

Jeno’s heart softens, as does his eyes as he listens, knowing very well what you are talking about. You’ve isolated yourself countless times when you are unable to reach the expectations, afraid to show anyone emotion. 

“and god, did I want to give up. I’m sick of my siblings always picking at my every flaw, judging every step I take. I felt trapped. But you… you’re the opposite. I feel so free around you, it scares the shit out of me. I think about you constantly, day and night, when I’m training or just reading a book, every tiny thing reminds me of you and it’s honestly scary. And you have no expectations for me, it was confusing at first, but I understand now. I don’t have any for you, either. I love how competitive you are, and how you’re still so humble despite being a child of one of the big three’s, and how you take care of everyone, even people you don’t know, and hell–I find your lame jokes funny. I never minded when you’d watch over me, if anything, I loved it. And I was confused what it was at first,”

You suck in a deep breath, shutting your eyes, Your heart beats loud in all your senses, you feel it rising at your throat, tingling at your fingers that Jeno caresses, but it’s okay. It’s Jeno, he could never hurt you.

“But I know now.” Your eyes flutter open, and in a second, your nerves fly away. Jeno’s looking at you with so much love, patiently waiting for you to finish, so you do. 

“I like you, Jeno. I might even love you,”

You both grow silent after that. 

Once again, you grow anxious. 

Holy shit, did he lose feelings in the span of your 2 minutes spent ranting to him?

And when you’re about to lose all hope of an acceptance, Jeno’s fingers tighten around yours the moment they attempt to slip away. 

Alarmed, your eyes slowly trail back up to his face, unable to read his expressions. 

Jeno sighs. “Say it again?”

“The… the whole thing? I mean, I could,” You mumble. You’re serious. You could recite the whole thing if he wanted word-by-word, you’d do anything for Lee Jeno right now. 

When he doesn’t say a word, you suspect it’s what he’s genuinely asking for, clearing your throat to start over once again. “right, okay, uh… how did I start?”

Suddenly, you realize that you are not capable of reciting the whole thing word-by-word. It had all come out with its own flow, you had absolutely no control of your mind, nor did you even think you’d have to say the whole thing again. 

Despite that, you still try. “Um–I was always told I had expectations… is that what I said? I don’t know, I don’t really remember. Just something about um, feeling trapped, or something… and feeling free around you? Is that… I think that’s what I said.”

Stupidly, you keep going, knowing fully well that you can’t repeat the deep and touching moment. Jeno finds it so very endearing that you try, however, unable to find it in himself to actually stop you, when you look so cute holding onto his hands and trying to remember your words. 

“Whatever, it doesn’t matter, but after that I said something about, uh, you being a child of Poseidon? God, I can barely remember. Anyway, you’re cool, Jeno, you really are–”

Suddenly, your mouth clamps shut. A warmth envelops your chin, lips, to your cheeks, before you realize Lee Jeno has his hand covering your mouth, shutting you up. You’re surprised to see a grin on his lips, even more so when he starts chuckling, taking his hand off to ruffle it gently on the top of your head. “Not that part,” He finally says. 

“Then… which part?” The way you look at him, Jeno almost thinks you’re doing it all on purpose. Your eyes shining just for him, your confused scrunch on your eyebrows, how could he ever fall more in love with you?

“You love me?”

Oh. That part. 

“...yeah,” You breathe out, growing shy. It takes you a moment, before you remember his words. 

Say it again.

“I think I’m in love with you, Jeno,”

At your words, he seems to grow tense, but it’s different from all the sparring matches you’ve had with him. He has a huge smile on his face, his eyes creasing into little moons, moons in which you love, the smile that you long to see everyday. How did it take you so long to decide you love him?

“I think I’m in love with you too, Y/N.”

“Okay, cool,” You nod, attempting to act cool. The Gods know how you really feel, your heart beating as fast as ever, shit eating grin growing on your face as his hands slip in yours once more, as you lean into him. “that’s super cool,”

“mhm, yeah, really epic,” Jeno mirrors your attitude, you can tell he’s growing shy. You know from the way his voice dies down a little, growing small with mumbles, you know from the way he curls his body slightly, but he’s still as confident as ever, bumping his forehead with yours. 

You chuckle at the action, shutting your eyes to savor the moment. 

At that moment, you both silently thank Aphrodite, for guiding the both of you here, right now. 

Your eyes open once again, and you find Jeno already staring at you. You offer him a smile, one that he welcomes, and returns with his own bright grin. His mouth opens slightly for a moment, but nothing comes out. Jeno blinks, thinking hard to himself. 

You wonder what he could be thinking about, but before you could wonder more, or even ask what’s on his mind, he speaks. 

“Can I… kiss you?”

You chuckle lightly at his words, bringing your forehead away from his as your head throws back in soft laughter. Albeit confused, Jeno still watches, his heart burning with every laugh you let out. 

“You know you don’t have to ask, right?” You finally say as you stop laughing. “Go ahead,”

Jeno smiles, and his face is so close to yours that he could smile against your own. Your noses brush, eyes slowly shutting, and his warm lips envelop yours. It feels tender, soft, gentle, and loving, his hands wrapping slowly around your waist. Kissing Jeno is different from what you’ve always thought kissing him would be like. It’s comforting, not rushed. It’s welcoming, it feels like home, where you’ve always belonged. 

Jeno feels the exact same thing, his lips curling and shifting between yours as your hands hold dearly at his jaw, caressing at his skin. 

When you pull away, all that resonates through the Poseidon cabin is your shallow breathing, and sounds of the soft waves hitting shore, and it couldn’t be more perfect. In Jeno’s arms, worrying about nothing, thinking about nothing but him. 

“Stay the night?”

“What?”

Jeno’s eyes widen as he realizes his abrupt words, his mouth gaping. “N-no! Not like that!”

You both know it’s not like that. You find it cute that he still says it, anyway. 

“I-I mean, your siblings upset you, right? You don’t want to go back to your cabin–unless you want to! Of course, it’s your choice, completely,”

And they say chivalry is dead. 

All you can do is continue to stare at him as he goes on and on, admiring the way his cheeks grow red, and his rushed words, you wonder if this is how Jeno felt when you ranted before. 

“I, personally, don’t want you going somewhere you don’t feel safe in, you know? With people who have hurt you. We could just hang out, talk, or something. I can show you a bunch of stuff my dad left for m–”

This time, Jeno’s shocked, blinking at you as your hand envelops his lips to halt his ranting.

“I’d love to stay over,” You mumble, dropping your hand from his face. “you’re the only one I feel safe with right now,” 

Jeno finally grins, feeling love resonate through his body, reaching out to place his palm on your cheek. The love spreads and multiplies as you lean into his palm, like a disease, but you know if that was the case you would have been infected for a long time already. 

“...so can I check out Poseidon’s trident?”

“Oh, for sure. That thing’s huge.”

[youunravelme]

slowly, then all at once

author's note: i'm going through some shit and needed to alleviate it with fluff and also it's mat's birthday (or at least it was when i started this)! EDIT: this takes place in an alternative TATGYLB universe bc went an ENTIRELY different direction with this series (because i don't plan well lolol). (stole the title from the fault in our stars because that book had me in a CHOKEHOLD at 14)

pairing: mat barzal x reader

warnings: none? cursing?

summary: the stages of mat falling in love with you

mat saw how you were with ella, the way you'd smile and talk to her like she could hold a conversation. or the way you never chided him or condescended to him when he did something completely stupid.

which is more than what he could say about his teammates.

so when he heard your piece of shit boyfriend screaming at you over the phone? or when he showed up unannounced and trying to "win you back?"

mat was livid.

he was sure jason had never hit you, because if there was any indication of that, mat would be all over it.

so while he's sure jason never inflicted physical harm, he saw the way you kept to yourself and even the way you looked surprised at his invitation to lunch or the game.

it broke his heart a little, to think that you'd never once considered yourself now a part of his life. when, in fact, the second you agreed to watch ella, it was like he'd pulled you into the fold.

he was on a mission to prove it to you.

inviting you to his game was the first step in his original plan.

well.

it was the first non intimidating step. (tito mentioned that maybe meeting his mom and sister after only knowing him for like a week was not the smartest move he'd ever made.)

you still looked out of your element when he asked, but he's positive that it was his own enthusiasm that convinced you to say yes.

and he thought it was a great idea! he got you and jason tickets, thinking that maybe you'd be more comfortable with having him around. and perhaps that was true at some point, but when he saw you, standing with only ella and sydney with water lining your eyes, something in his chest twisted.

you looked shaken, like someone had stuck you in a blender.

"where's jason?" was apparently the wrong thing to ask because sydney changed the subject almost immediately.

you wouldn't even look at him.

and when you told him about your piece of shit boyfriend leaving you?

mat wasn't prepared for the burning in his chest. no one got away with treating a friend of his that way, but seeing as you just avoided the topic altogether, he dropped it.

until you went upstairs to your apartment and didn't text him. tito would say he has a habit of hovering at times and maybe he never really agreed until five minutes passed without a word from you.

if you asked, he would've denied the intense concern growing in his chest. but how else was he supposed to react when you seemed so dissociated the rest of the night?

thankfully, you picked up almost immediately.

"hello?"

mat cleared his throat. "hey, you never texted me to say you got in alright. you okay?”

now it could've only been a few seconds, but it felt like a lifetime before he heard your voice.

“keep the car running, i’ll be down in a few minutes.”

mat was ready to grab ella and head upstairs, car be damned.

he couldn't hear what else really happened on the phone, he only knew that you came downstairs, empty handed, and frazzled. the sight alone had him contemplating going into your apartment to figure out exactly what was going on, but he knew the best decision was take you back to his place.

he'd figured it out when jason showed up with his daughter's car seat screaming at you for wearing his clothes. screaming at you like you were somehow in the wrong, like he wasn't the one who cheated on you.

you.

who had to be the most selfless person he knew (don't tell his mom).

you.

who had readily agreed to take care of his daughter on a whim because he was insanely scared.

you.

who was one of the only topic of conversation his mother wanted to discuss. it used to just be hockey and how he was doing. now the thirty minute phone calls turned into hour and a half long facetimes where ella and you are regular topics for discussion.

mat couldn't comprehend how someone could look at you and want to tear you down, but after you officially broke up with jason? he was determined to show you how much you deserved.

exhibit a

"it's five sugars, right?" mat called over his shoulder once he heard your footsteps coming into the kitchen.

you paused in the doorway. "what?"

mat turned around, two mugs of coffee in his hands. "you like five sugars, right?"

ella sat on your hip but didn't seem to give a flying fuck that he was in front of her.

"you--you remembered?" you tilted your head. "you only made me coffee like once?"

mat's face heated up at the implication but smirked anyway. "i have a great memory!"

"could've surprised me from the amount of times you get hit."

mat shrugged, still not completely used to the idea of you watching his games, even if they were just highlights. he held the mug out to you in exchange for ella.

"you wanna come to a game again?" he offered.

you looked at him before breaking eye contact and sipping your coffee. "i don't know if that's the best idea after last time. i don't want to embarrass you again--"

"woah woah woah," mat sat his coffee mug on the island before holding a hand up at you. it didn't sit right with him to see you so ashamed of something someone else did. "what happened at the game was not your fault. it was his, okay? you weren't to blame."

"you weren't even there to see it--"

"and i don't need to, okay? i know you." he meant it. but seeing as the conversation was getting a little too heavy, he changed the subject. "just think about it! and let me know what game you want to go to."

you didn't say anything, but just gave him a small smile and nodded.

he'd count it as a win.

exhibit b

it'd been about four months since you'd started working with mat, three months since you moved in.

not that he was counting.

there were things that were harder with having you around. mainly remembering to wear a shirt when he wakes up in the morning, or to not adjust his junk until he was in the bathroom or his bedroom.

but--

there were many more things that were significantly easier (and better) with you in his life (and apartment).

sleep training ella was easy as hell

keeping an eye on ella who was walking now

the apartment actually smelled nice? not that it smelled bad before, but now it smelled like a home.

and who knew decorative pillows made a difference?

but his favorite thing recently?

grocery shopping.

he was currently pushing ella around in a shopping cart while you scrolled on your phone through the list.

"so what do we need next?" he asked.

"if you'd give me a second, i'd have the answer for you," you snipped.

by now, mat was used to your snide comments, knowing that you were just a bit quippy when you were focused.

"ella, is your nanny being a little cranky?" he joked, ignoring the glare you were shooting his way.

you rolled your eyes and tossed a bag of bread at his head that would've hit its mark had he not had the reflexes that gave him a professional hockey career.

"excuse me?" an older woman spoke up from behind him. "as cute as your little family is, can you move out of the way? you're clogging up the aisle."

mat blinked. time froze. he'd never fully considered the implications of the three of you out in public together. but being the comment of you, him, and ella being a "little family" had his heart stopping in his chest.

"oh of course!" you spoke up and grabbed mat by the arm. the feel of your touch alone had him directing his attention to the physical contact.

he looked at you instead of the woman, watched as you mumbled to ella as you pulled all three of you out of the way. his brain went on overdrive.

god he never wanted you to let go of him ever again. he would give anything to just be able to hold onto you a little longer.

and he must've been thinking for too long because you were snapping your fingers in front of his face?

"mat? you okay? did i lose you there?" you had a cute pinch between your brows and a small frown on your face.

that wouldn't do.

so he smiled and nodded. "sorry, just thinking about something."

you.

exhibit c

you went out for the night with sydney while he hung out with tito and anders. initially, you said you'd look for a sitter to cover you, but mat laughed that suggestion off.

he didn't say it, but you were no longer a nanny to him anymore. and you deserved a night off without the stress of finding a replacement. anders and marty suggested a babysitter that he hired for the night immediately.

"are you sure you don't want me to wait until she gets here? i can help explain ella's routine!" you said.

mat rolled his eyes as he herded you towards the door. "i'll be fine, go have fun!"

you let him gently push you out of the door but turned around and looked at him. "if you need me, text me."

mat smiled. "if you need me, call me."

the babysitter arrived five minutes early which meant mat could spend that time kissing ella's cheeks and reiterating her schedule to the sitter.

he was the last person at the bar, anders and tito were already sitting in a booth, each with a beer in their hands, an extra one on the table for him (he assumed).

"didn't wanna leave ella?" anders asked.

tito scoffed. "more like he didn't wanna leave mama bear." mat rolled his eyes while anders cackled in response.

"shut up, beau."

"ah! but you didn't deny it!"

mat shook his head and took a seat in the leather booth. "what's there to deny? we're roommates and she watches ella all the time. we're friends."

tito made a noise in the back of his throat. "you and i are friends, barzy. you make goo goo eyes at her when you think no one is looking."

"no i don't."

anders piped in. "you nearly ran into me on the ice because you were staring at her wearing your jersey."

"no," he defended. "ella was making a really cute face!"

anders blinked at him before rolling his eyes. "sure, barzy."

mat grumbled under his breath and chugged half his beer.

two hours or so had passed with the three of them talking shit about other teams. anders had hinted at leaving, checking his phone just to make sure grace didn't text him. mat found himself doing the same thing to make sure the babysitter hadn't said anything, or maybe to see if you had.

tito didn't seem to give two shits about his phone. and why would he? he was the only one without kids.

they were in the middle of a conversation about the upcoming devils game when mat's phone started buzzing.

sydney martin.

mat picked up the phone, albeit a bit confused. "hello?"

"mat! hey!" sydney greeted. "are you busy?"

mat glanced at tito and anders whose brows were furrowed. "no, why what's up?" his swore his heart stopped in his chest when she said your name. "is she okay? what's wrong?"

"she's a little drunk and crying and asking for you. i don't know if you're sober enough--"

"i'm sober," he said. "only had one beer." he was already reaching for his keys in his pocket. "what's she crying about?"

sydney sighed through the phone. "we saw jason and her old roommate out at the bar tonight. he made a few comments."

mat's jaw clenched. he forced words out through his teeth. "what did he say?"

"mat--"

"no, if he said some shit, sydney, i need to know."

"no," she corrected. "what you need to do is get over here and take her home."

mat was already standing. "i'm on my way."

sydney hung up.

"everything okay?" anders asked.

"probably something to do with mama bear," tito commented.

mat sighed. "she ran into her piece of shit ex and is now inconsolable. i have to go pick her up."

anders snorted. "right. 'have to.'"

mat ignored the comment and said goodbye, already rushing out of the bar to get to you.

it was another ten minutes before he saw you, standing outside a bar with sydney. he could see your tears from the car.

mat jumped out and hurried towards you. sydney all but pushed you into his arms.

and it felt like the world made sense again. you fit perfectly in his arms, against his chest, head tucked into his neck.

"mat--" you sobbed. "i--i can't--"

he kissed the top of your head. "let's get you home, okay?"

exhibit d

ella was saying actual words now like most babies her age. mat used to look at anders, marty, and other parents a little judgmentally, he'll admit, because while babies learning to do things was incredibly cool, he didn't fully understand the hype.

until she said dada for the first time.

it damn near made him cry.

and like for all of her other milestones, you were there beside him with your phone recording the moment. you almost missed it, but you had a sixth sense for those things, figuring out when ella was going to do something incredible.

that was two weeks ago and it still never got old to hear her say his name when he came home or rounded the corner.

he'd been known as mathew, mat, barzy, barzal, gary, and a slew of other names, but dada had to be his favorite. to belong to someone who needed you so wholly was the best feeling in the world.

that and seeing you smile at him.

he'd accepted it now, there was no denying it, not after half the team was on his case about his feelings for you. and how could he not fall in love with you? you were gentle and kind and handled the shittiest situations with so much grace (he wasn't joking, he'd wanted to fight jason the second you came out of your old apartment looking like you'd seen a ghost).

you handled his friends with ease, never letting tito's teasing affect you. you handled the "mama bear" nickname with ease, even laughing at it at times.

you just made his world so much better just by existing in it.

which is why he gave you the day off while he and tito took ella around the city.

ella was fine for most of the day, though she kept glancing around.

"probably looking for mama bear," tito guessed. "i would be too if you were the one looking after me."

mat flipped him off behind ella's back. "i'm not an idiot."

"before you met mama bear, you kinda were."

he rolled his eyes. "sorry for not knowing how to take care of a baby as soon as i find out i have one. most people have nine months to prepare for the arrival of a child. ella literally showed up on my doorstep."

truth be told, he was parroting the words you'd said to him a week ago when the guilt settled in about how much of a shitty father he was. you were quick to correct him, saying the exact things he told tito, that for a man who found out he had a child only a few months ago, he was doing a great job, and he was even better than some other fathers who left the parenting to their partner.

"i'd never leave you hanging like that," he'd said to you.

but you shrugged off his comment. "it's a little different when it's my job to take care of your kid, mat."

"you've done a great job, barzy," beau said, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "there's no doubt about it. you can tell because she loves you."

ella smiled at mat and pushed his cheeks together.

"what do you say we get back to mama bear, huh?" he asked his daughter who only seemed to smile wider at the mention your nickname.

it was another fifteen minutes before they were home, rowdy and disturbing the peace and quiet you'd created for yourself.

"we're back!" mat called as tito shut the front door behind him.

they were setting things down on the floor by the door when you walked out in sweats.

"mama bear!” tito cheered.

you smiled and mat couldn't breathe. "how was my baby?"

mat was embarrassed to say he almost answered for himself. "she was great," was what he said instead. "isn't that right, ella bean?"

ella was reaching for you, making grabby hands in your general direction babbling something he couldn't quite make out.

"what'd you say, baby?" you asked.

"mama," she said.

and the room went silent.

mat's eyes kept darting from ella to you like he was watching a game of olympic table tennis. ella kept reaching for you until you finally gave in and held her. it was then he saw the tears streaming down your cheeks.

mat immediately went into defense mode.

"i'm sorry, i promise i didn't teach her intentionally, she probably picked it up from us calling you mama bear all the time and--"

you shut him up by placing a small kiss on his cheek and squeezing his forearm before turning on your heel.

"let's take a nap, ella bean."

mat couldn't speak, not even when you left the room. tito clapped him on the shoulder before heading towards the kitchen.

"you're so gone for her."

exhibit e

"are you sure about this?" you called from the other room. mat was in the living room adjusting his tie in the mirror on the wall while the babysitter was playing with ella on the floor.

to be honest, when he was complaining to beau about not having a date to some charity event the islanders were hosting, he wasn't expecting beau to suggest you. though, given how beau kept winking and nudging him after every time you and mat so much as made eye contact, it shouldn't have been surprising.

it wasn't that he didn't think of asking you, it was more like he didn't think you'd actually say yes.

"sure about what?" he called back.

"bringing me."

"i've never been more sure about something in awhile."

"you're so dramatic," you laughed.

mat would give anything to bottle up the sound.

"does this look okay?' mat turned when your voice sounded closer than it was a second ago.

he couldn't breathe.

god you looked beautiful.

"oh," you said softly. "your tie matches my dress."

if he could've he would've looked down to confirm your observation, but he couldn't take his eyes off you. your hair was perfectly styled, your makeup, flawless. the navy of your dress was perfectly matched to his tie and pocket square, something that shouldn't matter as much to him as it did.

but it was you.

so it meant the world.

you looked like you were his.

"yeah," was all he could say.

"you never answered my question," you said. "do i look okay? because if it's too much--"

"perfect," he said. "you look perfect."

you smiled. "sydney picked it out." thank you sydney. "you look handsome too mat, though, your tie..." you gestured to his neck so he turned around to see it crooked still. "do you need help?"

"yes please," he sighed. "i've looked up videos, but tito usually helps me do it."

"aw," you cooed. "you looked it up? that's so cute!" your deft fingers began undoing the knot and redoing it way better than he could've.

"how are you so good at this?"

you shrugged. "when i was fourteen, i read a book where a girl tied her husband's tie and i wanted to be able to do the same for the love of my life one day. so i asked my dad to teach me. i'm a bit of a hopeless romantic."

the love of your life.

god he'd give anything to be loved by you.

and it would be so easy just to lean forward a couple of inches and kiss you.

right there.

give in to what he'd been feeling for months.

but the babysitter rounded the corner with ella who was chanting mama and dada which somehow ruined the mood and made him want to kiss you even more.

"be good, sweet girl. we'll see you tomorrow." you made your way to the front door while he kissed his daughter on the head.

"i'm not sure how long we'll be out, but i'll keep you updated," he told the babysitter.

the babysitter nodded, which to be honest, he barely noticed because his attention was back on you and how your dress, while it had sleeves, had a dip in the back. he didn't know that skin could be so alluring, but maybe it was the fact that it was you.

mat cleared his throat and bid the babysitter and ella goodbye before ushering the both of you out of the door.

the drive lasted longer than he wanted it to, mainly because he couldn't wait to get to the event just to show you off.

was this how he was supposed to feel with all of his other exes? the desire to show the world you were his?

"you okay? you're quiet, it's unlike you," you said.

mat shrugged, mainly so he didn't immediately profess his feelings. "just a lot on my mind."

"uh oh. that can't be good," you joked. you leaned over the console and placed your chin in your hand. "you wanna talk about it?"

mat's hands on the wheel tensed, mainly to keep himself from leaning over and kissing you immediately.

"i'm good, maybe we can discuss it later."

you shrugged. "if you say so."

the both of you arrived at the event shortly thereafter with mat passing his keys off to the valet. "stay seated," he told you before getting out and rounding the car to open your door.

"you didn't have to--"

"i know," he smiled. "i wanted to." mat offered you his arm and you took it, wrapping your hand around his bicep like it belonged there.

the two of you spotted marty and sydney first; the latter all but shrieked when she saw you.

"you look amazing!" she said before tugging you out of mat's arm and into her own. "i told you this dress was the one."

"you didn't say i would've matched mat," you mumbled, though he still heard it over the buzz in the room. he was always listening to you.

marty nudged him. "you seem pleased with yourself."

mat smiled. "i am."

you were laughing at something sydney said when tito came up and clapped him and marty on the shoulders. "let's get you a drink, barzy. you look thirsty." he leaned in. "in more than one way."

mat shoved him off and leaned towards you, gently touching your arm. "i'm going with beau and marty to get a drink, but i'll be back."

you smiled and nodded. "okay, don't worry about me, mat. i'll be fine in your absence."

he let himself be whisked away from you and towards the bar where a drink was placed in his hand pretty quickly.

"so," tito started. "you two match."

"it was syd's doing," marty explained. "she orchestrated the whole thing. picked out the dress based on the tie mat wears every year. it was her new project."

mat flushed but did his best to brush it off.

"i don't know how you did it barzy," tito continued. "she looks good. if i were you i would've--"

"watch it, beauvillier."

"i was gonna say--"

"i don't care what you were gonna say, i probably wouldn't have liked it."

"well then, maybe you should take a chance and ask her out finally. the pining was cute at first, now it's bordering on pathetic."

mat rolled his eyes while marty laughed into his drink.

"look, you have a good thing going, you brought her here as your date, ella calls her mama, you two are as good as locked in and committed. you just have to do the hard work of officially asking her out!"

his gaze travelled to the other side of the room where you were laughing along with sydney and grace. you looked like you belonged in his world.

effortlessly.

mat made a move to go over to you, but marty caught his arm. "this is not the place to ask her out," he said. "as much as you want to, you don't want her thinking it took a pretty dress to get you to take her out."

"that's not the case here--"

"does she know that?"

mat rolled his eyes and took a sip of his drink.

it was another thirty minutes before he made his way back to you. he found you standing alone on the balcony with a glass of champagne in your hand.

"you okay?" he asked. "no one's bothering you or anything, right?"

you looked over your shoulder and snorted. "i'm not important enough to be bothered by the donors, mat."

"don't say that. you're important."

you rolled your eyes. "not what i meant, mathew."

god he loved it when you said his name.

"i just meant that the donors don't really pay attention to me, so i've just been hanging out with the wives all night since my date ditched me," you teased.

"okay to be fair, tito pulled me away, i would've stayed with you all night if i could've."

you blinked. "really?" you asked in a small voice.

he nodded until he found the words to speak. "i love spending time with you. you're one of my favorite people."

within a split second you were closing the distance between the two of you and wrapping your arms around his waist. your arms snuck under his coat so that the only thing separating your skin from his was the thin material of his dress shirt.

it only took him a split second to react to the hug and wrap you in his arms.

you mumbled against his chest. "you're one of my favorite people, too."

in conclusion:

in the end, there was nothing special about that day. it was a saturday in the middle of july back in coquitlam. by the grace of god, he'd convinced you to come to canada for him, not that you could really refuse as he was the one signing your paychecks, you'd joked (though he made it clear he'd continue paying you even if you didn't go).

and maybe he regretted it a little bit, seeing you bond with his family was another nail in his coffin of falling deeper in love with you. there was no way out now, not that he'd ever want one.

it was one particularly hot day in the summer that mat dragged you and the rest of his family to the beach. and maybe that was a mistake (seeing you in a red bikini in public should be illegal).

you sat in the sand with ella building castles, or at least attempting to, while he tried to drown liana in the water. it wasn't until liana finally dunked him, that he trudged back to shore, bent out of shape and irritated.

"you can dish it out but can't take it?" you teased as he plopped onto the sand next to you.

mat glared instead of saying anything mainly because ella was starting to pick up more and more words and she'd say "fuck" too many times thanks to his mouth.

speaking of, when she saw her dad, ella immediately called him before throwing herself into his lap, completely forgetting about you. it was funny to see mainly because it was a new trend of ella's, ditching you for him. it was even funnier because how put out you'd be about it.

just like now with your lip poked out and your eyes rolling.

"oh don't be a sore loser," mat said. "she used to love you more than me."

"well that makes sense, i'm way more likable than you are."

"i can't argue that."

liana came running into their direct line of sight with a polaroid camera in her hand. "i wanna get a picture of the happy family," she said as her explanation. "say cheese!"

mat froze but you didn't bat an eyelash at the idea of being called family. sure, he'd considered you a part of his ever since you agreed to watch his child, but he didn't know you felt the same.

"smile, mathew," you nudged him in the ribs.

he turned his head towards you, ignoring his sister's groans and chirps. he ignored the sound of a camera clicking and the subsequent flash that followed.

his focus was on you.

"mat, what're you looking at?" you asked. he could vaguely register liana walking away as your eyes searched his face for any hint of what could be going on, but all he could think about was you.

you wearing his jersey and holding ella at the stanley cup finals.

you in a few years with a ring on your left hand that he put there.

you with a newborn baby that was the perfect mix of the both of you.

you, old and crinkly, holding his hand on the couch as you told your grandkids stories.

you.

you.

you.

before he could even stop himself, he leaned forward and captured your lips with his.

you responded not a beat later.

and maybe it was embarrassing, how eager he was or how his hand felt like the perfect fit against your cheek. but he couldn't give a shit.

not when he'd waited so long for something like this. for someone like this.

and when you both pulled away, much too soon in his opinion, your eyes were wide.

"why'd you do that?" you whispered.

he shrugged and adjusted ella in his arms. "because my life is better with you in it. because i love you." he cleared his throat. "why'd you kiss me back?"

you smiled and leaned into kiss him again. this time though, instead of pulling fully away, you stayed close so that your lips brushed his. "because i love you too."

[moodymisty]

𝕽𝖊𝖒𝖊𝖒𝖇𝖊𝖗 𝕺𝖓𝖑𝖞 𝕸𝖊

[ 𝕸𝖔𝖔𝖉𝖞𝕸𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖞'𝖘 𝕸𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙| 𝕬𝖔3 ]

Part 1 of 5 - Part 2

Author's Note: It's here! The first chapter of the Yandere Salamander/Fem!Reader/Yandere Night Lord love triangle(corner) fic! It's going to be 4 chapters (5 actually you'll see tehe) and I drafted a good portion of it in advance so it should be smooth posting? We'll see. Enjoy!

Summary: A Night Lord becomes interested in you while you stand under the eyes of your Salamander guardian, and you find yourself stuck between two titans.

Relationship: Yandere!Salamander/Fem!Reader/Yandere!Night Lord

Warnings: Hints of nsfw at points, Yandere, Size differences, Very toxic suffocating relationship(s), Some knight/princess dynamics, Demeaning language, Both these guys have hero complexes, Violence blood and bruises and possibly death to say without spoilers

Word Count: 2068

Word travels fast aboard even the largest of ships, you had learned quite quickly.

Space marine legions are not fond of working with one another, was what you had learned first. Many times even different squads within this same Legion can butt heads, as different styles of commanding and battle conflict with one other. Salamanders often try and remain cordial when problems within them arise, but friction was and is inevitable.

The second, was Vulkan was apparently quite firm with his legion that they were to welcome their temporary allies with respect. At least that is what you’ve heard from any Salamander that you’ve heard mumbling as you pass by, or any that have given you a moment of their time. That’s all you know, and these tidbits of knowledge fail to put together a full picture that you can understand. Their lips have been quite tight other than the bare minimum they believe you need to know.

Or what you can get from them if you ask very nicely; Much like the Commissars and Lords you've dealt with over the years, it seems Salamanders aren't immune to a bit of flattery also. You just need to make sure he doesn't find out, as you know how displeased he gets whenever he finds out you went wandering around chattering with his brothers.

Speaking of...

You can ask him about it; You just need to wait for him.

He always visits you in the librarium, once his second round of training is concluded. He then goes for his five hours of rest, and the cycle restarts. Though even if it isn't that time, you know he still keeps a keen eye on you.

You don’t wish to bother him with an issue as seemingly meaningless as gossip, but none of your fellows have been able to piece together what's happening, as none of the Salamanders have loosened their lips about it in the slightest.

It's made you more than a bit unnerved; Knowing that something is wrong but no one will tell you what it is. The tenseness in your neck is worse, and sirens and calls once normal now make you jolt when they sound off.

The large piece of parchment in front of you remains nearly empty, apart from the crude outline. Commander Artellus's face is fresh in your mind, but you for some reason can't put it to parchment.

You hear the sound of harsh, heavy boots on the ground, and turn to see who you've been waiting for coming towards you. You shift in your seat and turn to see him coming.

“Ralkan; You’re back,”

You smile wide at him, a put down the pen you'd been fruitlessly trying to use. The way his eyes look down at you is warm, his helmet hanging on the side of his hip. He stands close to where you sit alone at the massive table, covered in a mess of materials. The ink in your well shakes with waves, when he steps closer.

“You should have been there this time. I feel like I'm missing something now without your curious looks.”

You smile even wider and laugh, remembering the time. He had outpreformed Salamanders his senior, and you wondered if he was overdue for an ascension in rank, or if he was simply showing off.

“I'll come next time. As long as your battle brothers don’t mind me seeing your training again.”

He places a massive gauntlet on your shoulderblades, thumb against the side of your neck.

"They won't, I am sure of it. Though I hope you'll reserve your cheering only for me again."

His hand brushes along the upper half of your back before it slides away, his chainsword hanging neatly on his back. He looks out the massive window to the vast reaches of space directly in front of your makeshift desk for a moment, before pulling his bolter off his thigh and checking it.

He’s always meticulous. He’s been trained into flawless discipline, and it shows in every aspect of his existence. From the way he keeps his thoughts closed to the way each piece of armor and each weapon must be meticulously maintained.

You can hear the mechanics of his armor shift as he moves, but you can only tolerate few more beats of the near silence before you can’t help it anymore. Your pen twirls in your hand as a soothing gesture before you speak up.

“Ralkan?”

You look up to him, sniffling from the disturbed dust in your nose. He turns to look at you as you abandon your parchment, and finally put pen down and place your ink stained hands in your lap.

You hesitate for a moment, pursing your lips and looking away from his hard gaze as he turns back to you.

“What is happening?”

He is genuinely confused by your question for a moment, before he realizes what it is you're asking about, and his face stiffens. But still he doesn't answer. It irks you; Thinking that he’s trying to keep this all from you. You add on to your earlier question.

“I know that you are going to be fighting alongside another legion, but why are all of you acting like it's something you're all dreading?”

Perhaps you might simply be a guest aboard this ship, gifted from Terra to a legion eager to put their deeds to written memory, but you wish to know more than the servitors do. You pull your hands from your lap and lightly slap the table with them, gripping the edge.

“Ralkan, Who are the Night Lords?”

It is so instantly apparent that you struck something in him, as his body visibly tenses and his face briefly flashes with anger as a legion's name other than his own leaves your tongue.

He makes eye contact with you, the burning red of his eyes making your curiosity waver. But you still want to know- need to know. He takes a step closer, and his left hand rests against the surface of the table. He lets out a tense breath.

“The Night Lords are the 8th legion. They," Ralkan tries to find the words, pausing for a moment. "The way they wage battle is in near direct opposition to us Salamanders."

He speaks the name with a stern, cold demeanor. It fills you with a hesitant sort of interest.

These legions; Have they really developed cultures so unique that they find themselves unrecognizable to each other?

“They have no respect. They will cull entire cities for the slightest infraction.” He looks to you, and he catches that your curiosity it still taking hold; You lack the fear that he's trying to instill in you.

He takes a step forward, and you can hear his armor hiss and grind as he lowers to a knee, now only a head taller than you as you sit. He puts his hand on your shoulder again, but it lacks the gentleness it had the last time, as he grabs tight and forces you to face him. You wouldn’t be able to pull away even if you wanted to; And while he is still trying to be gentle, his gauntlet still yearns to bruise your skin underneath your clothing. The seams of his armor dig into your flesh even through the fabric.

“They are going to be crawling over the ship soon. Do not let them even see you. You cannot run from them and they will know it.” His hand makes sure you can’t look even the tiniest bit away from him. “They will take advantage of your weakness. You must stay here, in your quarters, or close to me. I was charged with protecting you, and I will see it through.”

There’s not many places on this ship you go, at least without him. He is your guard, or perhaps more accurately your handler. He is in charge of making sure you don’t wander where you don’t belong, as even if the Salamanders have been welcoming to a remembrancer on their ship, they have their limits. For your safely and their privacy.

This ship- A world for giants, it isn't meant for someone like you either. Ralkan makes it a bit easier to navigate.

Though out of all the titles he's been given, he seems to enjoy calling himself your knight first and foremost. You assume it’s simply a part of their culture, you’ve heard other Salamanders call themselves knights as well. The tone is different, but you assume it’s simply Ralkan’s own brand of oddity. Perhaps he isn't fully cognizant of the intimate undertone behind saying such a thing to you.

Stuck in his grip, your nose wrinkles as you try to say something in defiance, to learn a bit more, but you know this it all you'll get from him. Even if you ask sweetly.

“I just wanted to know what was happening. I'll," You turn your face away from him and blow air from between your tight lips. "I'll stop the questions about it."

There isn’t much you can say otherwise in the matter anyhow. You want to trust him, and to listen to him, but perhaps it’s simply curiosity that makes you hesitate on the matter. Or naivety he probably assumes, as much as that irritates you.

He lets out an audible sigh of relief, and loosens the hand on your shoulder, it drifting up your neck before it cups your jaw. The other joins it on the opposite side, holding your face in his gauntlets. They're so gentle, even with cold ceramite between your skin and his.

“You know I do this to protect you, yes?” He continues, his eyes soft as they gaze over you. “I only want for you to be safe here. With me. I have seen these astartes before; I know what they are capable of.”

His eyes are warm, brow softened. You always enjoy when he looks at you this way, even if you might fear of what lays between you being far beyond the supposed title of knight and his charge. 

He leans forward, and his forehead touches your own. You feel like he wishes to do more, but is forcing it back. Your bare hand lays overtop of his gauntlet, and you smile at him.

But after a moment, he leans back away from you.

“I must leave now. My brothers and I are part of the battalion that is due to greet our temporary allies.” 

You so desperately don’t want him to leave, but at the same time, you wonder if the weight on your chest will finally dissipate if he does.

He rises, and in doing so also removes his hands from your jaw. His cape shifts behind him just barely brushing against the floor, and you swear you can hear the crackling of a vox channel in his helmet. His battalion must be calling for him.

“I will return soon. Please, do not forget what I have said.” You nod in understanding, and pick up your pen. He smiles at you after you do, and turns to leave. You turn to watch for a moment, until he's out of your sight. You turn back to face the table and let out a sigh, rubbing your jaw.

You didn’t want him to leave, but at times Ralkan can be so, suffocating. His very energy is that way, many of the astartes are, but Ralkan seems to have his grip around you particularly tight.

You sum it up to him being dedicated to the safely of their brand new remembrancer. The sheen of a new toy that hasn't worn off yet. Or perhaps him simply wishing to make sure you don't deviate from the path, and tread where you aren't welcome.

You assume the ladder, though the way he looks at you fills you with doubt.

You aren't opposed to him being fond, but he is so overwhelming. You might consider yourself lucky you think you feel the same way, as you don't know if you'd be able to get free of his grip if you didn't.

You don’t forget his words, but as you write word after word, and the drawing of Commander Artellus's face slowly forms, your mind begins to fall into the paper, and his voice becomes little more than a tickle in the back of your mind.

[5iyoomi]

Okay, could I make a request for Dimitri, Felix, Ashe, and Sylvain with a male reader?

Basically having them react to meeting the reader again after the 5 year timeskip and becoming shocked by how handsome he had become.

Hope this is good, thank you!

When They See How You’ve Changed

characters: Dimitri, Felix, Ashe, Sylvain warnings: none! tried to keep it as spoiler free as possible A/N: Hii I went with a situation where they aren't dating but like each other in some capacity (though I did use their s support images but shh) so hopefully it's what you were looking for! sorry if these are kinda short... I think it's obvious who my fav is tho LOL wc: 1,780

‎

Dimitri

The first time he sees you again, he really can't believe it

It takes him a moment to realize he isn't hallucinating, that you really are standing right in front of him, in the flesh

Once he does, he starts to notice just how different you look. Time's been kind to you, from the sharp jut of your jawline to the firmness of your body when you hold your hand out for him, your muscles more defined since the last time he'd seen you

He thinks you're even more handsome than you were back then, but he stumbles over himself trying to get the words out

He's changed a lot in the past few years too, he's sure, but with you it's like he can't take his eye off of you for even a second

He gets shy if you point out his staring, though he makes sure to let you know why he is in his typical fashion

"What's wrong, is there something on my face?" You ask teasingly, knowing that's not at all why he's been gazing at you as if he was bewitched.

Long, blonde hair nearly obscures his one good eye, and he shakes his head, besting you in height now even though he was the shorter one all those years ago.

"No- it's just..." Dimitri starts, slowly stepping closer to you. He reaches a gloved hand out towards you almost hesitantly, jumping when you gently clasp it between your own.

If you didn't know any better, you'd say his feelings for you hadn't changed. Yours hadn't either. They'd only grown stronger, brought back to the surface with the shy smile that lights up his somber expression. "You've really grown, haven't you? It's a little hard to take in."

You haven't seen a smile as sincere as that one in a long while, his fair skin dusted lightly with pink, and it makes your heart race, knowing that he's this nervous because of you. It feels like no time's passed at all, honestly not when his touch reminds you of the countless battles you've fought by his side.

A shout from across the lands to watch your back, or a comforting squeeze of your shoulder when he noticed you were upset or stressed out. "You have too, you know. Remember when we used to spend our nights in the garden together? I wonder how that place is now."

"Maybe so," he says, taking the opportunity to interlock your fingers together. He softens when you don't untangle from him, something unspoken lingering in the air between you that threatens to break the longer you both stand there. "And how could I ever forget?"

Felix

5 years after everything went down, you and Felix find each other in the most unexpected of places. He hadn't changed much, still sporting that same neutral expression with his hair being slightly shorter than it was

He realizes you have, though. A lot, actually. You'd gotten a fair bit taller, any lingering baby fat now gone and making way for the face of a man he's always been quite fond of

He isn't as straightforward with what he wants to say most of the time, so it comes off as him avoiding eye contact with you if you try to keep it

You might have to prod him a little bit to get him to say what he's thinking, you might not. It all depends on his mood

But the one thing you know for sure is that he keeps eyeing you when he thinks you aren't looking. You know him well enough to notice little things like that

You were one of the few consistents in his life, after all, somebody that was on par with his skills and put up with him where others had a piece to say about his personality

It's why you're not surprised when he instead says:

"You know, you still owe me that rematch."

You raise an eyebrow, crossing your arms over your chest with a small smirk. "Oh? I would've thought you'd forgotten," you ask, thinking about the last time you'd trained with him.

You'd narrowly won, deciding then to devote extra time to nip your weaknesses in the bud. It wouldn't be a fair fight if you didn't try. "It has been a while since our last match."

Felix chuckles, readjusting the sword in his holster and shrugging his shoulders. "I mentioned before how you were a worthy opponent, back when you agreed to continue to train with me." He says, reflecting on that promise you made to him. It's not something you could forget that easily, and you know he wouldn't, either. "That much hasn't changed."

You hum, "Alright then, I'll spar with you, but if I win you have to tell me what's been on your mind."

He must be able to catch what you really mean when you say that, but if he has any objections, then he doesn't voice them. He simply nods, gracing you with one of his rare smiles that you would die 20 times over to see again.

"Deal. And if I win, then you have to treat me to dinner."

Ashe

He is SUCH a sweetheart I was just rewatching his supports but anyways....

When he sees you, it's needless to say that he becomes a blushing mess. There standing the one that swept him off his feet was you in all your glory, bright and even more mature looking than he remembers you being

He's quick to tell you that you're handsome, even if it takes everything in him to say it without stuttering

His words are always so sincere, nothing hiding behind them like a lot of the people you've met and gotten to know over the years

So when you gently cut him off before he starts to ramble too much, he looks at you sheepishly, calmly asking if you were busy after this

He'll insist on treating you to some tea and sweets even if you say he doesn't need to. He won't call it a date, per se, he's mostly just eager to finally be able to catch up with you, but if you do, he gets super flustered

"A d-date? I m-mean- if you see it that way, then...." Ashe trails off, nervously tucking a loose strand of gray hair behind his ear. He walks side by side with you down the busy, crowded streets, tensing up when your hand brushes his. "I guess I can't complain, can I?"

"Do you?" You grin, eyes more focused on him than the scenery around you. Different tenders trying to get people to buy their wares while others chat about this and that fill your ears, whispers of wind sending a shiver up your spine.

He whistles some old tune to himself, quiet enough that you would've missed it if you weren't so close. He glances from you back down to the gravel on the ground that crunches beneath his feet, and then mutters. "Only if... only if you don't think that's weird."

"I don't." You give him a playful nudge with your elbow, leaving it at that.

It doesn't take very long for you to make it to the cafe he had picked out. He said that it was a nice place he'd found by accident one time, that the prices weren't too bad (mainly so that you didn't feel bad) and they'd definitely have something you'd like. It was sweet, how he tended to think of others like that, especially you.

Thousands of years could pass, the sun and moon turning into nothing but distant memories and Fódlan something of the past, and yet nothing would ever get rid of how you felt for him.

The two of you find a nice seat in the back, near an open window with a fair amount of sunlight and away from a group of friends in the front. You wait until he's scanning his menu to peek up from yours, smiling when his eyes quickly find yours anyway. "You sure have a knack for finding hidden treasures. This place is nice."

"I suppose so, but it's nicer with you here."

Sylvain

This man is already a flirt but even though it's toned down a bit later on, he doesn't cut any corners

If he thought you were attractive back then, then he thinks you must be on par with a prince now, your frame well-maintained and becoming of such a title

The first time he sees you again, he's nearly starstruck, blown away by just how much you've changed since the last time you'd talked. He won't hold back in saying that, either

"Well look at you, I'm surprised you aren't surrounded by ladies yet" while he thinks about how to get you to see his words aren't empty

You might think it's just his usual antics, waving them off with a roll of your eyes and taking another bite of the food on your plate

But then he looks at you. Really looks at you, brown eyes gazing into yours, and you have to admit it makes you feel some sort of way

"Come on, now you're just buttering me up." You say, stabbing your fork and knife into your steak and cutting a small slice. You bring it to your lips, feeling more than seeing his foot kick yours underneath the table. Whether it's an accident or on purpose, you can't say, but you wouldn't put the latter past him.

"Not at all, really." He ignores his own, more untouched plate while you talk in between bites, a mischievous smile playing on his lips as he twirls a strand of red hair between his fingers. "Can't you just trust me on this one?"

You chew the piece in your mouth and swallow, pointing your fork at him accusatively, but he doesn't seem offended in the slightest. "Uh-uh, you're the same as ever, Sylvain."

"But I'm serious! I've always thought you were handsome." He exclaims, pouting when you laugh at his clear desperation. "I don't only think of girls, y'know."

You squint in doubt, but you decide to humor him just this once. If he meant what he said, then he'd have no trouble saying it again or proving it to you. You'd take either, truth be told. "Really?"

He nods fast enough that you think his head might fall off his shoulders, a determined glint in his eyes that tells you you're in for a ride. "Let me show you what I mean after we eat, then, I'll take you anywhere you wanna go, just say the word. It's all on me today."

[imaginefan]

Be Better

Tyler Lockwood X Fem!Reader

Word Count: 820

Requested: Anon

Request: Can you write a story about reader asking Tyler out on a date but he is a jerk to her cause he can't help himself and tries to get reader to figure him? But she isn't sure if she can trust him? (You know cause in season 1 Tyler was a bit of a jerk), or however you'd like to do it. So this is way before when he isn't a werewolf. Thank you advance !

Why did you think that it would be any different? People had warned you about Tyler the first time that you met him but up until this point he had proved them all wrong, he was nice to you, always checked in with you and honestly you had fallen for him hard. You decided that you were going to ask him on a date and that went better than you thought. What had gone wrong was the date itself, you had run into a couple of his friends who commented that you weren’t his usual pick and he decided to play along with them instead of sticking up for you. You pushed through the rest of the date not that it was anything like you thought it would be and then you went home.

Now you were standing in front of your mirror getting ready for bed, you trying to decide what it was that you wanted to do, whether it was worth giving him another chance if he asked for one. At this point it didn’t matter to you so you instead got into bed placing your phone face down on your bedside table and going to sleep. The rest of the weekend was spent with you trying to forget what had happened on Friday night but it was all worthless when you went back to school, with no texts from Tyler you assumed that he was done with you and you’d just have to deal with it.

The first time that you saw him you were walking to you locker, he was standing with Matt, he did look at you and waved but you didn’t acknowledge him instead you grabbed everything that you needed before heading to your homeroom. Only 10 minutes later did you get a text message from him.

I messed up didn’t I?

Again you ignored him, you didn’t actually have any classes together except for the one before lunch, you packed everything up and got ready to leave but as you turned to the corner to head back to your locker, someone grabbed you pulling you into an empty classroom. “You're avoiding me.” Tyler said. “Not very well apparently.” You muttered as you stepped away from him which he allowed. “What happened? I thought that everything went well.” He frowned. “Yeah, if teasing me with all of your friends was the goal, it feels more like a joke than a date.” You decided on honesty if you were going to be angry at him then he would know why. “I didn’t mean that.” He said. “I know that.” You frowned. “Then what’s going on?” He asked. “Tyler I’m not going to date you if I have to hide from your friends to save you image, I’m not going to be teased everytime that they catch us together. It doesn’t matter how much I like you, I won’t suffer that… Would you?” You asked. “No.” He answered. “I didn’t think so.” You turned and left the room after that, he didn’t stop you, he had things to make up for after all.

“So what are you going to do about (Y/N)?” Matt asked. “What?” Tyler looked at him. “How are you going to fix it?” He asked. “None of your business.” Tyler answered. “Alright dude, I'm just saying that she’s probably the best person that you’ve been interested in so I'll be mad at you if you let her slip away.” Matt shrugged as he watched you talk to one of your friends before disappearing out of sight. “I messed up pretty bad.” Tyler admitted. “Yeah you can be a jerk sometimes.” Matt teased. “Thanks man.” He rolled his eyes. “Look, all I’m saying is maybe if you just admitted it and showed her that you are serious about being better, it might work.” Matt suggested. “Yeah whatever man.” Tyler waved him off.

After school you started your walk home when Tyler pulled up beside you “can I drop you home, I want to talk to you about something.” He said, you thought about it for a second and finally walked over to the passenger side opening the door and getting in. “What do you want to talk about?” You asked. “I’m going to prove to you that it’s going to be different, I know what I did wasn’t… I’m a jerk and I am going to make it up to you, I don't expect you to believe me now but give me a chance to prove it to you.” He pleaded. “How?” You asked. “Well first we’re going to redo the first date and then you can decide whether you want a second one.” He answered as he pulled up to your house. “When?” You asked. “Friday?” He suggested. “Friday.” You nodded. “Really?” He asked. “Don't mess this up.” You warned him before getting out of the car and going into your house.

Requests and general question!

[braveclementine]

Carlisle Vs. Lord

Warnings: None

Copyright: I do not own any Twilight characters or locations. I do own Davina Mikelson and Marcel. I also own the backstory for my OC. I do not condone any copying of this.

Davina P.O.V.

I was in Emily's kitchen when Jacob's motorcycle pulled up, carrying Bella on the back of it. I was slightly surprised as Edward never let Bella come down here, despite the fact that I was here all of the time.

The boys- realizing Bella was here- got up from the table, going out the doors to greet her and I followed slightly behind. Leah glared after them.

"Hey look who's back!" Embry called.

"What's up Bella?" Quil asked.

"Quil? You, too?" Bella asked in surprise.

"Yep." Quil said. "Finally made the pack."

He was built slightly different than the others who all had short, straight, cropped hair. His was just slightly longer, and curly.

"I'm glad you're here Bella." Embry said sincerely. "Maybe we can get a break from Jake's obsessive inner monologue."

"I wish Bella would call." Paul teased.

"I wish Bella wouldn't call." Jared said, eating a chicken leg.

"Maybe I should call Bella." Embry teased.

"Maybe I should call Bella and hang up." Quil added.

They all cackled like. . . well. . . wolves.

I snickered.

"All right, you can shut up now." Jacob said.

That's when Leah stepped out of the house, standing on the other side of Quil, giving Bella an unfriendly look. I shot her a warning one which she completely ignored.

Bella, upon seeing her, spoke to her first with sympathy, "Hey. I'm really sorry about your father."

I licked my lips uncertainly, moving past the boys and then past Jacob and Bella.

"If you're here to torture Jacob some more, feel free to leave." Leah said in a harsh voice.

I looked off to the side, tucking my bottom lip under, trying not to breathe in to deeply because that made my rib hurt.

Leah stormed past Jacob and Bella too.

I sighed, moving to follow her.

I heard Emily's voice behind me as I moved closer to Leah, "Lea-"

"Don't care, don't want to hear it." Leah said.

"I was just going to say you can leave if you don't want to stay." I murmured.

Leah stood there for a moment. "Why you?"

"What?" I questioned.

Leah gritted her jaw upon hearing Sam's voice. Both Leah and I looked over our shoulders and saw Sam was looking directly at Leah.

Leah huffed, turning back around and turned into a wolf.

"Leah." I whispered and then she was gone, bounding away.

I thought about letting her go, but I knew if this was Jared or Embry or Seth, I would go after my son. So I started to run after her. I couldn't keep up, of course, but I could follow her prints deep into the forest until I found her, sitting naked on one of the logs.

She looked up, "Didn't think you'd follow me."

"I always come after my kids." I whispered, shrugging off my oversized jacket, holding it out to her. "Whether or not they want me to. Especially when they're upset."

"Is that why you haven't changed?" Leah murmured, taking the jacket from me.

I looked patiently at her, sitting next to her, but leaving her some room too.

Leah sighed, shrugging on the jacket. "It's just. . . what's wrong with me?"

I was surprised, "What do you mean? There's nothing wrong with you."

Leah snorted, "I'm the only girl out of a group of boys who changes into wolves. You have the gene, and you even have one of the more powerful genes and you haven't turned! Which means there is something wrong with me! Is it because. . . because you're more feminine than me?"

I snorted, "Leah, I grew up a military brat with men around me constantly. I doubt I'm more feminine than you."

"But they look to you as a mom. You are their mom. They don't even look to Emily like that."

"Well, mostly because they see Sam as a brother which makes Emily a sister. You're their sister too, you know." I said, nudging her shoulder slightly.

"Do you think I can even imprint? Or is my gene a dead one?"

I shook my head. "Does it matter?"

"Yes. I want to have kids. I don't want to be a genetic dead end." Leah whispered.

Oh.

"I know what you mean." I whispered.

"Do you?" Leah asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow.

I was silent for a moment. "In a way, though not to the full extent. It's just that. . . my mate is a vampire. Which means whether I stay human or not, I will never be able to have children with him. I suppose I could surrogate or something, but I don't know. There's always adopting I suppose but neither option feels the same. I feel like it should be mine and Carlisle's child. . . and we can't. It's just not possible. And I can't love someone else Leah. It's like. . . werewolves have their imprinting and vampires have their soulmates. When Carlisle left, trying to protect me, I fell ill. I couldn't. . . I guess what I'm trying to say is I can understand your pain."

"You want to have kids?" Leah asked quietly.

I laughed a little, "Don't get me wrong. I love you and I love my wolf boys and my vampire boys and daughters. But having a child of my own. . . having a child of my flesh and blood. . .that would be nice. And I always wanted a large family, the way that I feel with you guys or with the Cullens. . . large families are nice. Four kids, maybe even six. . . but it won't happen. Not without adopting and. . . well I don't want my kids to have to be subjugated to the vampire life if they don't want to be. And if they grow up vampires, the Volturi will find out and they'll be forced to. Like Bella and I. But even so. . . when the bombs went off, there was a lot of damage to my body. I was told I couldn't get pregnant anyways. And, well, if I do get pregnant, it'll apparently be very difficult and my body might not make it."

"Bella wants to be." Leah scoffed.

I nodded, "I do too. . . but not until I turned thirty. I wanted to be close to Carlisle's age."

"When will they make you?"

"Till I'm twenty-five of a few years after that."

Leah inhaled, "That's very. . . you're what? Twenty-one now?"

I nodded. "Yes. I turn twenty-two come this April 7th which is next week."

"You don't have long left." Leah pointed out sadly.

"Yeah, I know." I murmured.

"What do you think you'll miss most?" Leah asked.

"The Rez. You guys." I answered immediately. "I won't be able to see you guys for a long, long time. And even then. . . it'll be as acquaintances. I would never hurt any of you if the treaty was broken, if we had to fight. But it'll be your duty to kill me. And I would let you guys."

I stared deeply into her eyes with sincerity. "Though, I would try and get you guys to spare Carlisle and my other children. And my sister. But we'll leave. I think we're going to Alaska. Hunt Polar bears and penguins."

Leah snorted, "Penguins."

I chuckled, "Maybe I'll just stick with the polar bears."

"We'll miss you." Leah whispered and I was surprised to hear her say that and I looked at her with a small smile. Leah stared back at me and added, "Mom."

I full out grinned and then stood up, "I have to get home. I have a huge anatomy test I'm supposed to take and it's due tonight." I laughed lightly. "But I'll come back tomorrow and we can hang out."

Leah nodded, "Yeah, that sounds nice."

I smiled and then waved good-bye. Upon getting home, I did the anatomy test and then crawled into bed, collapsing with exhaustion.

Carlisle P.O.V.

Our family met in the living room of the house. Emmett and Jasper had just come in. "Who is it? Someone we know?" I asked quickly.

Edward had brought Bella to our house, alerting us that someone had broken into her house. It was a vampire, according to the scent. Rosalie and Esme sat to the side near the fireplace we never lit. I was standing in front of the couch. Edward stood across from me, Alice and Bella sitting next to each other on the couch. I certainly wished Davina was here so I could hold her.

"This stranger, I didn't recognize his scent." Edward said.

"A nomad passing through?" Esme asked curiously.

"A passerby wouldn't have left Bella's dad alive." Rosalie pointed out and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Bella shudder delicately.

"The scent disappeared about 5 miles south of Bella's house." Jasper said as he walked into the room.

"Someone's orchestrating this." I said with a sigh, my hands deep in my pockets.

"Victoria?" Bella asked.

Alice shook her head and said, "I would have seen her decide."

"Has to be the Volturi." Edward said.

"I don't think it's the Volturi either." Alice argued. "I've been watching Aro's decisions too."

"So we keep looking." I said. "We'll also take shifts guarding Bella's house."

"Another protection detail?" Rosalie asked in disgust.

"You'd do it for Mama's house." Jasper pointed out.

Edward stiffened, "Where is Mom?"

"Oh she was at La Push today." Bella said. "She was hanging out with Leah when I left with Jake to go back to his house."

I pulled out my phone, dialing Sam which I was only supposed to be dialing for emergencies.

"Dr. Cullen?" Sam asked in icy politeness.

"Is Davina there?" I asked.

Sam paused for a moment and then said, "No. She left hours ago. Said she had an anatomy test she need-"

I hung up on him, dashing from the house, full out sprinting towards Davina's house. As I got closer, I could smell the vampires' scent and I sped up. I leapt up towards the window to her bedroom, slipping through, and landing in the small, circular room.

The vampires' scent was heavy in here, and definitely male. It made Lord rage in a fit of anger. I sped to Davina's side, yanking the covers back. There were no bite marks, her heart rate was normal, her breathing was normal, everything was normal. Except for the overwhelming scent around her that wasn't mine.

As the cold air hit her skin, she muttered, rolling over, sending a fresh wave of the scent towards me. I couldn't smell her, I couldn't smell the werewolves, I couldn't even smell me and it made me angry to say the least.

Davina blinked open her eyes, jumping back slightly at my close appearance, and then tilted her head, "Lord?"

Davina P.O.V.

I stared up into the pitch black eyes of Lord. I sat up slowly, trying to figure out if I'm awake or sleeping. I wasn't entirely sure. "Lord? Are you. . . alright?"

"No." Lord growled, reaching out and taking my face in his cold hands. He was seething angry and I racked my brain, trying to figure out what I had done.

"Umm, I'm sorry? I don't-"

Lord pressed his lips hard against mine, wrapping his arms around me tightly. "You're mine."

The words, in that tone, with these heightened emotions, made my blood light on fire.

"Oh!" I gasped softly as he pushed me back harshly- yet carefully- into my bed. I suddenly wished, as he climbed over me, that the bed was larger.

He pressed his lips to my jaw, kissing and sucking at my skin, sure to leave bruises. I clenched his hair tightly in my hands, keeping him close. He moved his mouth down my neck, sucking, biting, and licking and when he found my sweet spot I moaned out loud and then flushed in embarrassment. We hadn't even gotten to the good part yet and I was already moaning.

I felt Lord's mouth curve into a smirk against the warmth of my neck. He then continued to lick, bite, and abuse the particular spot, making me a moaning, writhing mess on the bed. Also an embarrassed one. My sexual romantic occurrences were very limited to kisses- that was it. I had no idea you could feel this aroused just by someone biting and sucking your neck.

"L-Lord th-"

Lord brought his mouth back up to mine, cutting off my words before pulling away, his fingers trailing down my body to the hem of my shirt, "May I?"

I looked up at him, dazed, "Um- C-Carlisle wanted to w-wait."

Lord rolled his eyes, "Carlisle always wants to wait. I don't. Do you?"

I hesitated, thinking about what Carlisle wanted, what I wanted, and what Lord wanted.

"Maybe a little further." I admitted, pulling Lord back down for a kiss.

Lord lifted the shirt over my head, eyeing the bra like it was his enemy. And then, the bedroom door slammed open.

Lord jumped from the bed, looking like he was flying through the air while I sat up quickly, blood rushing to my head, wrapping the comforter around me.

"S-Sam?" I choked out in surprise, "What are you doing here?"

"There's an intruder vampire scent all around your house Davina." Sam gasped, "It's heavily condensed in this room, although. . ." He looked at Lord whose eyes were flickering quickly between black and gold. He was fighting without himself. ". . . Carlisle's scent has become a little more prominent. You don't smell like yourself anymore though."

"Wait! The intruder vampire touched me!" I freaked, looking between Carlisle and Sam. Carlisle groaned, having completely recovered from Lord's take over.

"Yes." He groaned, rubbing his temples. I wondered if Vampires could get headaches. "That's why Lord-"

"Whose Lord?" Sam asked.

"Carlisle's alter ego." I said, reaching over the side of the bed to grab my T-shirt, putting it back on and getting out of bed, stretching. "When he gets possessive or jealous or protective Lord usually comes out."

Sam raised an eyebrow, looking around the room. "I see."

"Where did this intruder vampire come from?" I questioned, hugging my arms around my body tightly.

Carlisle shook his head, leaning against the windowsill, trying to give Sam room. "We aren't sure. Edward thinks maybe the Volturi sent someone to see if you and Bella were still human. Emmett thinks Victoria sent someone. Alice says its' neither because she didn't see Aro or Victoria in any of her visions."

I sighed, rubbing my own temples before a headache could form. "Wonderful. Alright then. I'm going to lean more towards Victoria. I blatantly told Aro I wasn't turning until I was twenty-five and unless they think four years has passed since the last time I saw them- then they know I'm not one yet."

"Yet." Sam scoffed angrily.

I sighed. "Although, if it was Victoria, I don't know why they didn't just take me to wherever she is. It's not like there was anyone in the house to stop them and I was fast asleep."

"I don't know and I don't like it." Carlisle muttered, "Whoever this was marked their scent all over you which means they could come back for you."

"You could move in to Harry's house again." Sam said. "Sue, Leah, and Seth all know about the vampires now so it would be much easier to tell them the truth about it this time."

"Or you could just move in with us." Carlisle said, shooting daggers at Sam, his eyes flickering from gold to black and then back to gold again.

I sighed, running a hand through my messy curls. "I- I'll think about it."

My phone rang and I saw that it was Marcel. "I need to take this in private. Both of you- scat."

They both grumbled. Carlisle exited out the window, Sam went out through the front door. I waited a moment or two before I picked up the phone. "Marcel- did you get what I needed?"

[korgbelmont]

Male MC (Nick Taylor) x Stacy Green

An Easter Special

Nick is still in a weird place, unsure of how he wants to move forward in his life as a Night Hunter, but when something turns up on his doorstep, things start to become clearer.

Written in the present tense

Tagging: @choicesficwriterscreations, @jerzwriter

Warnings: None

Words Count: 1303

Notes:  I don’t own these characters, they are the property of Pixelberry Studios.

The Egg created on cooltext.com

With a day with no work for either Nick or Stacy, they follow a recipe for making their own Easter Eggs with Stacy going for a minty chocolate flavour while Nick works on a white and milk mix. However things don't go as Nick planned as the chocolate doesn't spread as it should.

Nick - Spread please! Very pretty please!

Stacy - Pass it here.

He hands her the tray and she spreads it without any issue.

Stacy - There we go.

She hands it back to him and he tries it as she did, but still doesn't have any luck. Not wanting to get angry, Nick sets it down, taking a deep breath. Stacy lays a hand on top of his, turning his head to face her.

Stacy - What's wrong? And don't say it's the chocolate.

She sits Nick down, keeping one hand in her ambrace.

Nick - I feel... lost.

Stacy - You don't know you if you want the life of a Night Hunter. Am I close?

He manages a smile and nods.

Nick - It's who I've been for so long now, I don't know who I'd be without it.

Stacy - You'd still be the man who proposed to me a month ago. And I told you, no matter what, I'd back you. We're a team, remember?

Nick - Yeah.

Stacy - Come here.

She brings him in closer, wrapping her arms around him. He brings his arms up around her. They remain like that for a moment before Stacy stands.

Stacy - Now come on. Let's get these finished.

Nick - Okay.

In the early hours of the morning, the couple are woken by the doorbell ringing.

Stacy - What?

Nick - It's 3AM!

Stacy unwraps herself from Nick and they get out of bed, heading over to the door. Opening the door, Nick kneels down to find an egg on the floor. He picks the egg up, caught off guard by the weight.

Nick - Whoa!

He kicks the door closed, showing the egg to Stacy.

Stacy - What is it?

Nick sniffs it, unsure of what the scent is, for a moment, he considers a different way to try and figure it out, which Stacy instantly picks up on.

Stacy - Do not lick it.

He sets the egg down and they both look it over.

Nick - Never seen anything like it.

Stacy places a hand on it.

Stacy - It's warm.

Now feeling wide awake from curiosity, Nick and Stacy begin going through Nick's lore books, looking for anything resembling the egg, but as the time passes and the sun begins to rise, they find nothing.

Nick - Damn.

Looking at the time, Stacy takes a photo and sends it to one person she has a feeling can give an answer.

Stacy (T) - Any idea on this? It was left on our doorstep earlier. We checked all the books and found nothing.

Ava (T) - Give me a bit of time.

As morning turns into afternoon, Nick sketches the egg in his book when a portal opens and Ava steps through, book in hand.

Nick - Hey, Ava.

Ava - Got something for you. How the hell did you get it?

Stacy - We heard the doorbell at about 3 and just found it there. Nobody around.

Ava looks the egg over, glancing down at her book.

Ava - Oh yeah. Definitely.

Nick - What exactly have we been left?

Ava shoves the book into Nick's hands and he reads the pages, his eyes widening.

Nick - You're kidding.

Ava - 'Fraid not. You two have got yourselves a Dragon egg.

Stacy - Okay, why have we been left a Dragon egg?

Ava - No idea. But...

She places her hand on it, feeling the warmth.

Ava - Yeah, this baby's ready to hatch very soon

Stacy - Uh, very soon?

Ava - They get warmer when they're nearing hatching.

Nick - Okay, as much as I would like to see a Dragon. I'd rather it not be in my home.

Ava - Best thing I can suggest is we get it to the woods.

Nick goes to pick it up, however has to let it go as the egg has only become warmer.

Nick - Okay.

Stacy - I'll grab a couple of towels.

Nick - I am gonna call Lucas to try and get things closed off so this can happen without an audience. That being said, I may call Dan, Andy, and Lily. They might want to see this.

Stacy - You know Connor will want to see this as well.

Ava - I'll tell my dad, get him to help Lucas

A few hours later, Nick, Stacy, Ava, Andy, Lucas, Lily, and Dan all gather in a clearing in the woods. Flashing lights in the distance from the Westchester police keeping the woods closed off. Lucas kneels down examining the egg.

Lucas - This is so weird.

He falls back as the egg cracks, and goes to join the others at the edge of the clearing. Nick lays his hand over the hilt of his sword as the egg begins to hatch.

Nick - This is it.

Pieces of the egg fall and soon a baby white Dragon looks around at them. Nick releases his blade and carefully approaches the creature.

Andy - You're seriously going to try and pet it?

Nick - I want it to know we're not a danger.

As he nears the Dragon, he gets onto his knees, holding his hand out. The Dragon sniffs, cautiously approaching Nick.

Nick - It's okay. I won't hurt you.

The Dragon spreads it's wings, screeching and Nick backs up a bit.

Nick - Okay!

The Dragon does a series of screeches.

Dan - What do you think it's doing?

Lucas - Calling out to another maybe?

Winds pick up as their answer is soon given. A much larger white Dragon lands in the clearing, glaring at Nick.

Nick - Everyone keep back.

Lily - That must be the mother.

Dragon - Why did you take my child?!

Nick - I didn't! The egg was left with my Fiancée and I this morning! I promise.

The Dragon lowers her head to look into Nick's eyes. Nick looks back into the ice blue eyes.

Dragon - You speak the truth.

Nick - Yeah.

Dragon - There are many who wish to use Dragon's for their own gain by stealing our eggs. I do not sense that with you. Instead I sense you are at war with yourself.

Nick swallows. Still feeling a bit of fear.

Dragon - Let things happen, and you will find your answer.

The Dragon looks to it's baby before looking back at Nick.

Dragon - I thank you for your care. We will return to Lamrian.

The baby Dragon tries to take off, but with no success. The mother lowers her wing, letting the baby climb onto her back. They soon take off and Jason can only smile at the sight. Once they are gone, Stacy joins him, holding him.

Dan - Wow...

Andy - That was amazing...

Lucas - At least we don't have to explain it to the media since the Vampires revealed themselves.

That night, Nick stares up at the ceiling. Stacy kisses his shoulder to get his attention.

Stacy - What's going on in that head of yours?

Nick - I think I know where I'm going. I've been seeing things in the darkness for so long, that I forgot about the light.

Stacy - You want to keep going?

Nick - Maybe.

Smiling, Stacy captures his lips in a soft kiss.

Stacy - Glad you're figuring things out.

They settle to get more comfortable and let sleep take them.

[winters-mistress]

a study of trust and heartache

"What's wrong?" Geralt asks Ciri as Yennefer disappears into the bushes and shrubbery to go find berries to eat. Geralt watches how Ciri stares after Yennefer, unblinking and tense, and he frowns when she finally looks to him. "You reek or irritation, it's a wonder Yen can't tell. So, what's on your mind?"

"Already calling her Yen, then?" Ciri seems to answer a different question than the one he asked. And Geralt frowns once again. "What's it been since we left? Three, maybe four weeks? And you're already referring to her by nickname." She chuckled bitterly to herself, wrapping her arms around her waist.

"What are you talking about, Cirilla?" The witcher asks.

"Do you really have to ask? Geralt, when we left Kaer Morhen, you told me you would not trust her. That you'd keep the walls high and protect me from my would-be assasin. But all she has to do is wear a low cut dress, swing her hips and flutter her lashes and you're drooling like a mutt scenting heat." Ciri's voice is bitter and unhappy as she stands up and walks a few steps away from him. "Do you have any idea how it feels, watching you fall under her spell again? Knowing that the moment she gets you under the thumb, she's going to turn on me and you'll be none the wiser? You can't tell me that she's remorseful, she's changed, because she'll always be the same to me. That manipulating, conniving bitch who lied to me and played me and used you as the tool."

"It's not like that, Cirilla." Geralt says, getting up ti face her, spinning her around. "I have to let her close so she can teach you magic, help you figure out how to balance chaos. I haven't forgotten what she did, pup. Nor will I, but I can't hold a grudge if it would be at your detriment." His voice is low, he's fully aware of Yennefer close by, listening in, but he feels this should be between them.

"Detriment? You think trusting her will be to by detriment? She tried to kill me! I didn't even do anything to her, she saw me as a means to an and, knew what I was to you, knew the bond we share, and still went through with it! And she would have succeeded if I hadn't figured out what was going on and stopped it, stopped her. She didn't have a miraculous change of heart, I stopped her. She was still going to go through with it, and you think it's its a good idea to have her with us. She's in with the brotherhood, you know that and I know that. How do you know she's not feeding them information about me and us to them right now? What if they're somehow watching us now, waiting for the moment you fall into her arms and then I get taken away and probably killed or raped or used? You used to think about these things, but the moment she flutters her lashes, you're as pliant as anything!"

"Are you done?" Geralt asks, after he's sure she's finished talking. "Ciri, you're being far too presumptuous in all this. Yes, I admit that she did betray us. She tried to kill you, she used me to get to you and she manipulated you. I know that, and I will never forgive her for it. Just as I will never forgive myself for letting it happen, not seeing what she was doing. Now, however, things are different. I'm not defending her actions, but Yennefer is awake at night, racked with guilt about what happened. She tried to kill herself to make up for what she did, and she beats herself up every day for it. I'm not asking for you to forgive her or trust her, and in many ways, I haven't forgiven or trust. But, I need to let her get to a certain distance to benefit you. She can't teach you if she can't get close, and we both know that you need to be taught more than anything, in ways I cannot teach you. I'm always going to have one eye on her, but I can't let her go with her tethers. I won't let anything happen to you, Cirilla. I promised you that when we first overcame Nivillen and Vereena, and I'll promise it now. You're safe with me, with or without Yennefer."

[often-obsessed]

Yandere!Cyrusxgn!reader chapter 8

"What have you told Giovanni so far?"

You sighed, gripping the sheets closer to your body. You buried your face in the the sheets, you couldn't stand to look at him.

The interrogation begins.

"Nothing, other than what a complete psycho you are."

Cyrus shuffled around doing who knows what. Hopefully staying away from you.

"Well despite your input an agreement has been met, I offer Giovanni protection with Palkia and Dialga and he provides information on new discoveries regarding pokemon. As well as housing for you."

"Well yeah I didn't expect Giovanni to agree with me compared to you- Housing? I don't need housing here, I want to go home! You have what you want just leave me out of this!"

You ripped the sheets away from your head, ready to verbally beat Cyrus. But your voice died in your throat, standing not a foot away was Cyrus towering over you. His ice blue eyes piercing you in place.

Crap had you spoken too harsh? Had he finally had enough of your attitude? He had never been personally violent with you. Psychological warfare was more his style.

What was he waiting for, to watch you beg for your life? He leaned down while you tried to melt into the sheets. What was he doing? What the hell?

"It should be very obvious why I can't allow you to leave. To put it bluntly for you, you know too much I will not risk you running loose without my permission."

"I already told you I didn't say anything why can't you just let me go? I swear I won't tell a soul!" You choked out.

"With how fragile the human spirit is I highly doubt it. With everything that has happened, you'll backstab me the first chance you get."

"I don't care about you enough to do that Cyrus I would rather go home. Forget this ever happened. Like I've said a million times! I miss my family and friends! I miss my old life!"

Cyrus blinked.

"If what Giovanni told me is to be believed, we are not in our universe this is an entirely different one. From what I've gathered this theory is most likely the truth. Your old life is gone for good."

Your stomach dropped that couldn't be true, was it a possibility? No this was Cyrus you were talking about, lying wouldn't be above him. You grit your teeth, like you could trust a word that came out of this ekans' mouth.

"When I think you can't get any lower Cyrus, you still manage to surprise me."

The man in turn stared for what felt like an eternity before righting himself.

"The grunts have already been told to keep an eye on you, you have free reign of most places here, don't abuse this privilege."

"Whatever."

"We'll discuss this more when you've rested and come back to rational thought."

Cyrus rose, heading for the door.

Taking one last glance at you before leaving for his room.

You let go of the breath you held, gulping in air as you tried to hold your shaking hands. You couldn't do this, you couldn't stay here. The stress alone was gonna end you. No you were going to leave, you had to.

Eh, but how? You had only been to a few places in the vast building and none of them had shown exits. Heck you didn't even know where you were! You'd have to push your boundaries, just a little. Cyrus was paranoid enough as it is.

You groaned into your hands.

You needed to stop making this more complicated, you had permission to explore so use it.

But what if something went wrong?

No snap out of it you were going to get out of here! First step find out where you were!

You slowly stepped out of bed, pausing to stare at the door, as if Cyrus would bust down the door the second you touched the floor.

You shook off the feeling making a beeline for the door. Your socks muffling the sound of your pattering. You opened the door, just enough to peek out. No sign of the blue haired maniac. The hallway the same as before. You opened the door more before slipping out, shutting it behind you.

You picked a random direction and just walked. It didn't take long before you heard someone walking toward your direction. You tensed, crap Cyrus back already? These footsteps didn't sound like Cyrus'. You felt a piece of yourself die at the fact that you knew what his footsteps sounded like.

"Ahem."

Wha?

You stared at the black suit in front of you. Orange red trim stared back.

You slowly dragged your head up staring at the man? Giant? How was it possible for someone to be this tall?

Blue eyes stared at you expectantly.

What was he waiting for, an introduction?

Oh. Oh! Right!

"Um h-hello my name is uhhhh."

Really nailed that one.

The man's eyes crinkled.

"Hello there my name is Lysandre, I did not mean to disturb your walk but I've seemed have lost my way around here. Do you happen to know what floor this is?"

Tall.

Eh? Right.

"Sorry can't help you there I'm just as lost as you. We'll more exploring than lost, depending on how you look at it."

You played with your fingers just noticing your attire, simple grey pajamas.

You felt so underdressed.

"I see, would you mind if I joined you? We can be lost together."

" I guess we could try to find some grunts to help us."

"Very well, I'm assuming no came down this hallway?"

Lysandre looked behind you.

"Not a soul."

"We can go back the way I came, there was a turn I haven't checked yet."

"Okay."

You both walked side by side, he shortened his stride for you. Even then you had to speed walk to keep up.

He looked so familiar, where had you seen him before? You'd think it be easy to remember someone like him but nothing came up.

"May I ask why you are here? You don't seem like someone who would be in a place like this."

You looked at the man as he smiled down at you.

"Ah well I came with someone else, just a tag along really. I don't really know what I'm doing here."

"With whom?"

"Eh Cyrus."

"Cyrus, yes I've met him very quiet, only speaks when spoken to. Quite gaunt, the man needs to take better care of himself.

He does not strike me as a man who easily makes friends. How did you come to meet him?"

"You're lucky Cyrus took pity on you, anyone else would have been disposed of. Remember that."

Commander Saturn as he had called himself, sneered at you from behind the bars.

You sighed.

"It's a long story, I really don't want to get into it."

"I understand."

You blinked, that was it? No pushing you to find out? You felt warmth in your chest, finally someone who was respecting your boundaries.

"Well who exactly are you? If you don't mind me asking."

Lysandre looked taken aback.

"You don't know who I am? My name doesn't ring any bells? Lysandre labs? I invented the holocaster. Surely some version of me exists here?"

Lysandre frowned.

Some version?

"I haven't really been able to keep up with recent events. Sorry."

"Hmm well it is a bit refreshing not being bombarded by paparazzi. Here this way."

Gosh the hallways never ended, did dialga slow down time or something?

"So, what are you doing here? Are you helping Giovanni as well?"

"In a way, I'm looking for the grunts that were guarding my office. I need some equipment moved in. I'm assuming they are on break."

"Oh renovating?"

"Lysandre sir!"

The both of your heads snapped toward the new voice, a grunt walked toward you. Well more toward Lysandre.

"Oh good we finally found some help. I need a few more grunts to help move some things in my office."

"Of course, but Giovanni requests your presence."

"I see, well after then lead the way."

You cleared your throat.

"Oh! My good friend here needs help as well." Lysandre gave you a quick pat on the shoulder nudging you a bit towards the grunt.

The grunt turned to you, as if he just noticed you standing there. You rubbed your arms. Then again it would be hard to notice anyone else, when you had someone like Lysandre standing right next to you.

"Right I can help you after I escort Mr. Lysandre."

"That's fine."

Just keep your eyes on the prize, you would get out of here.

[ultimatecutenesspeaks]

Bunny so come on tell us where is it leon oh wait you can because you head right to open the bathroom door and kill sayaka you damn bastard I’m going to kill you before you get punished

*Soon, everyone casts their votes, and Leon is the correct answer.*

Leon: I-I had no choice... It was kill or be killed... I had to kill her first... None of you are any different! One wrong step, and you'd be the one standing here! It was complete chance that I wound up like this! I was just... Unlucky. That's all.

[triggercmplx]

“Ah, man! It’s my big day, huh? I mean... Not like I wanna do anything special or anything.... But how could I call myself a future rockstar if I don’t go all out when it matters? Soooo.... Aha.... wink wink?”

[damagecompiilation-a]

tag dump - leon kuwata (danganronpa)

[ficmachine]

HEYYYY

I'm new to Your page but I'm already in love-

Maybe a flirty reader (gn ofc unu) Teasing moony while the lights off and his reactions to it?

I'm so in love with how you write moony it's just perfect!

Thank you! I have such a very specific characterisation of Moondrop in my head and it's just. *chef kiss* 10/10 very fun to write. I'm happy you like my version of him though!!

Anyway have a bit in which you tease the shit out of Moondrop while keeping it PG (until he nearly doesn't)

-

Moondrop (FNAF) x Flirty Reader

Warnings: None? Low key innuendos though.

-

When Moondrop first creeped up to you and informed you that it's past closing time and you shouldn't be here you quickly flashed him your badge with a laugh, quickly thanking him for informing you anyway. That probably should've been his first tell that you're different than the other night security guard. You were... Nice? Perhaps nice isn't the right word-- Odd? Yeah, that fits better. You're odd.

The second thing he chalked up to being off is when the next night you greeted him like any other animatronic (because you seem to greet every S.T.A.F.F. Bot you run into), and even went as far as asked how his night's been so far. More often than not he responded courtly, with short answers, then moved on.

He very quickly grew fond of having someone who he runs into every now and then during the night shift. It was... Alright. Something new, but nothing too big – something that very quickly became the routine.

However you, of course, had to break the said routine one night by asking him whether or not you can keep him company for the shift. His eyes narrow at you suspiciously at that moment, optics scanning your body up and down before finally locking his eyes with yours.

“Hm...” He seems to ponder over it for a second, rolling his eyes when he noticed a slight bit of hope appear in your eyes. “No.”

In that moment you felt your lips tug down into a frown near instantly. “Oh, come on... Why not?”

“I do not need company.” He simply states, turning away to continue walking where he was supposed to be at this point during the night – you're keeping him busy and delaying his schedule.

Boy is he not happy about that.

“I'm sure I could make your night go by quicker!”

He nearly does a double-take at that, head snapping 180 degrees behind him to look at you before he scoffs at you. You? Keep him company? Puh-lease. You'd just slow him down. “No. Return to your work immediately.”

He squints at you as you take a step closer, your arms folded together in a pleading motion.

“Oh come on, Moony. Not even for 5 mins?” You ask, now standing directly in front of him as his body twists around in a terrible manner in order for the upper side of his body to face you. “Sundrop told me you enjoyed hanging out with me for the last two weeks.”

The innocent smile you have on your lips makes him doubt your words, chalking it up to yet another way for you to hang around with him. Why have you been so insistent to spend time with him specifically is beyond him – you must be broken or.. Something. Whatever is wrong with you, he won't even try to get involved much less indulge you.

Moondrop straightens his back slightly, eyes narrowing once more as he folds his hands behind his back; he towers over you, staring down, face close enough so that the red glare reflects on your skin in the dark.

“And how, pray tell,” He grunts, the dispeasure in his voice beyond obvious. “-would he know?”

“Oh,” You grin. “You leave post-it notes for him, right?”

Oh he's going to strangle Sundrop.

“... I do not like you.” He scoffs.

You smile. “Aw, I like you too.”

Oh. No, he's going to strangle you before he strangles his counterpart.

“That's not what-- Forget it.” He steps back, his usual grin pulled down into a deep frown. “I-” He jabs a finger to his chest, doing the fucked up turn he does (at least his knees are pointed in the right direction this time). “- am going to check that everything is running in order.” He waves you off in a dismissive manner, no longer paying attention to you. “You should--”

He halts.

“What are you doing?”

Grinning up at him you stop by him, nudging your head in the direction you were going to get him moving. “Walking with my favourite co-worker. Come on, we have a lot to do.”

Moondrop doesn't budge. “What-- Your-- No!” He stomps his foot angrily, just like his daytime counterpart would. It's kinda cute, if you're honest. “No. Go find someone elseto keep you company if you're lonely.”

“I have.” You respond, looking back at him as he takes a few deep breaths – rising his arms up as he inhales, down when he exhales. It takes him a few seconds but after a short while his red optics snap towards you.

The way you blink at him with worry makes him feel things and he's not sure if he wants to actually strangle you on the spot or if his heart just skipped a beat. He's not sure when you closed the distance between you but he... Thinks he appreciates the way you made the motion of patting his arm instead of actually touching him.

“I mean it,” You continue, brows furrowed. “I don't feel lonely around you.”

“Ugh.” He lost count how many times he rolled his eyes around you today. “I will get you decommissioned one day.”

You nearly snort at his empty threat. “No you won't, you're too fond of me.”

“I--” He splutters; he thinks you very much pinpointed the feeling. “How would-- I am nothing of the sort.”

“Mm-hm...” Humming in agreement you nod your head, your grin returning as you watch the red glow seep from his eyes to his cheeks. “You know you glow when you're embarrassed, right?”

It's a genuine question, but it irks him nonetheless.

“And how would you--” He lifts his hand to his cheek, pausing when the red glare reflects much stronger than it normally does. “Oh.”

There's a moment of pause as he lets it sink in and you patiently wait for his blush to die down before falling into step with him when he starts walking off.

“Does that mean I'm your favourite?” You pry. “Aw, Moon--”

Again, he stops.

Turns towards you.

His hands hold your shoulders in place; face way too close to you for comfort.

Oh, he's close.

Very close.

“No. You're nobody's favourite. Not mine, not anyone's.” He wants to take back his words the moment he sees your brows furrow. But he won't. “Now-you are staying Right. Here. I am leaving.” He gives your shoulders a hesitant, kind of hard squeeze before taking a massive step away from you.

Ignoring the way your lips tug into a frown you cross your arms over your chest. “Oh come on, I'm just joking!”

Once more, the moon rolls his eyes at you as he yet again attempts to leave the hallway.

“Follow me and I'll have Montgomery biteyour arm off. Oh, wait, that's right.” His head turns to face you as he keeps walking, the familiar grin back on his face. “You have to walk. Woe you, (Name). Such a shame!” His grin drops; he talks in his step. What in the world are you so giddy about? “... What now?”

“Oh, nothing.” You muse, shrugging your shoulders. “You just know my name, is all.”

“I-- You're lucky I'm too far to pounce on you, oth--”

“Oh wow.” You cut it with a wolf whistle. “You want to pounce on me? Wow, Moondrop, that's a VERY bold confession to make.”

Oh that's it. He's going to throttle you on the spot.

“Oh you-- Agh!” There he goes with that cute angry stomp of his again before he power-walks away. “GoodBYE, human.”

He can feel your eyes locked on him as he walks out of the door and boy he hopes you didn't realise just how bright he's lighting the way with his burning face.

[buckybarnesdiaries]

a piece of cake

© @jamesbrnes

bucky barnes x reader. ⎢ masterlist.

Something happens at Shuri's birthday party that leads to a heated fight.

word count: 3k words. (fuck, it worth every damn word)

warnings/tags: nsfw, +18!!! angry jealous sex, let's start there. unprotected sex, oral sex (face fucking and ridding), fingering, brief daddy!kink, brief praise!kink, language, cursing, handcuffing, mention of bodily fluids, and probably i'm forgetting something else, i just lost my mind. bucky being the cutest and loving man on earth at the end.

author notes: none of my stories contain reader’s body descriptions to be inclusive.

join the tag list here.

You had never been so quiet, but you knew that opening your mouth only could cause a storm inside the car, on your way back home. Believing you could have a pinch of luck, Bucky wouldn't notice that something was raving you mad since the moment you watched him letting another woman give him a spoon of cake. Straight to his mouth. You almost choked on your drink, talking to Shuri about how excited she was to celebrate her birthday in New York, when you witnessed the scene hearing their laughs and watching how they dared to touch his metal arm constantly. Your boyfriend was talking with some of his old friends from Wakanda, not even knowing he made friends there. He never said a word about it. Even so, they didn't have the right to flirt with him. Unless he didn't say anything about you.

But Bucky wasn't stupid. Or at least, not like you thought. Gazing you by the corners of his blue eyes, he was conscious that something was going wrong. He licked his upper lip briefly, slowly. He tasted the waters putting a hand on your thigh, which was your favorite gesture while he was driving, deriving with your fingers laced and him placing kisses on the back of your hand. But you didn't move an inch, still staring through the copilot's window with your elbow nailed there and your chin resting on your knuckles.

“What's wrong?”

“Nothing”.

Your passive tone and the lie as a response caused him to frown, pulling over the car to focus on you. He turned on his seat and placed a hand behind the headrest of yours.

“Spit it”.

You couldn't help but raise an eyebrow ironically, looking at him for a second. If he had to ask it was because he wasn't really seeing the dilemma there.

“I'm just tired and I wanna go home, James. That's all”.

James. James. You did it unconsciously, but he didn't take it as an innocent manner of calling him. Unexpressive, the soldier joined the highway driving faster than he used to. You had pissed him off, but it wasn't your problem. He had hurt your feelings with something he didn't give any importance to. The only thing you wanted was to take a shower, put on your comfier pajamas and go to sleep, probably you'd see tomorrow that situation differently than today and you could move on from your insecurities and the jealousy running through your veins.

You arrived at your apartment in record time, keeping the car inside the parking under the building. You removed the seat belt to wear your leather jacket and grab your purse on your feet, stepping out when you were ready. But Bucky stayed inside, just turning off the engine. He didn't have any intention of leaving it, maintaining his hands tightly gripped around the wheel. You ignored him as soon as you couldn't pretend you were just tired anymore. It was the first time something like that happened and you were having a strong desire to throw your guts up.

Three minutes later you were under the warm water with your forehead resting against the cold wall and your eyes closed. Maybe you were overreacting and the rational, mature behavior would be to go to talk with him, tell your boyfriend what made you feel upset. Sighing as you nodded two times, determined to put the cards on the table, you shut off the faucet and walked out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel.

“Oh, fucking hell!” You growled because of the scare of your life when you found Bucky already in your shared room.

He had his back supported on the wall, a leg flexed, and his hands behind himself. No expression on his face, but expecting an explanation from you. You were hoping for something from him too, maybe I don't know what I've done to make you feel like that, can you give me a clue? He just stared at you in silence, drying the pearls of water decorating your body before wearing a pair of black panties and your forgotten pajamas instead of one of his t-shirts impregnated on his scent.

“Com'ere”. Bucky whispered, stretching his flesh hand on air when you were about to go to sleep.

“No”.

Well, that wasn't the proper way to talk like grown adults. You crossed both arms on your chest, standing next to your side of the bed.

“What'd you say?” He squinted incredulous, slowly standing from the wall, pretending you hadn't uttered that word.

“I said no, you fucking punk”.

“The hell d'you think you're talking to, darling?”

“To the cretin who let other women flirt and touch him”. You replied with evident annoyance. “Why don't you go to show them your daddy's skills, uh? Sure I can find someone who respects me in the meantime”.

Suddenly, a grimace you hadn't seen before on him appeared like a thunderbolt. You weren't sure if you just made him feel more furious or if you just broke his heart. But before you could figure it out, Bucky shorted the distance between both in two fast strides and his hands gripped your throat and the back of your neck respectively, pinning you to the closest wall and tossing the lamp on your nightstand to the floor. You complained slightly —with his tongue wildly invading your mouth— because of the strength he used to put you against the wall.

You tried to push him away, to not fall into his charmings, but he made your mind blank when his fingers were firmly nailed in your ass and his body was accommodated between your legs. Your fiery provoked a bulge under his pants so painful that in every rock against your core he wasn't sure if it hurt or if it was some kind of pleasure he couldn't handle. Out of breath, Bucky attacked your neck, digging his teeth in your neck with so much passion that you screamed delighted his full name while pulling his hair. That gesture drove him insane, losing the less sanity he had at that point. With just a push, your boyfriend ripped off your shirt to strip you, in anticipation of your panties suffering the same fate.

Bucky threw you to the mattress on your abdomen, perfectly positioned to what was about to happen. He was so eager, so desperate for showing you what he was feeling that he didn't lose time taking off his clothes, just undoing his belt and unzipping his jeans to pull them down to his ankles along his boxers. You heard him spitting in his hand to use it as lube, although you were sufficiently soaked and ready for your Buck that neither of you needed his saliva. He rammed his dolorous erection into your cunt, crashing his pelvis and pressing it against your ass with all his strength, causing you to drown a loud cry in the sheets.

Tangling his fingers with yours and lacing your arms around your neck, putting all his weight onto your back, Bucky pounded you with an insanely quick rhythm, not giving you any chance to mold your throbbing walls around his length. Your pleased vocals echoed inside your room in total sync with the hits to your g-spot. Your body received with every one of them soft cramps mixed with pain and pleasure, making you roll your eyes and tear your throat.

“'S that wh— what you wanted, uh?” Bucky snarled against the back of your neck, totally gone, not giving you a break or showing any mercy.

“Fuck, no…” You replied, challenging him.

He swallowed a rough moan, wrapping his cold fingers around your throat while using the other to pull back your hair and arch your body. “Don' fucking… lie to me, doll… You wan— wanted your daddy to make you… feel desired over tho— those women”.

And yes, he was right. More or less. But you didn't expect him to react like that. Bucky was rabidly fucking you, moving the bed from its position with every angry thrust into your pussy. You knew you weren't going to last for too long if he continued impaling you against the mattress, just like that. But you both had to recognize that it was the best session of sex of your life.

“You were… fucking mad watch— watching 'em touch my arm… your arm, right?”

You whined at the brutality he used to push his hard cock beyond your limits, holding it there as he tilted your head to crash his lips on yours. Bucky devoured them until they were shiny, swollen, slightly ached because of the bit he left on your bottom one.

“If you don't tell me… the truth… I swear I'm not gonna let you come”. The whisper fell into your ear with such a raspy tone of voice, conscious of him being very capable.

“It was… your fucking fault, James. Not… Not mine”. You grunted, feeling him going a little deeper. “I di— didn't let anybody flirt with me… as if you didn't exist”.

That was the truth, but the wrong answer for him. Suddenly, Bucky pulled out his dick covered in your arousal, freeing you from any grip. A pause that only lasted the time he took to grab the handcuffs from your nightstand to place them in your wrists and secure them around the headboard. Now you were under his total control, defying him by strongly closing your legs and frowning at him, panting and sweating.

“Lemme tell you something”. Your boyfriend said, dangerously crawling over the bed till reaching your knees and forcing them to be separated, wide spread for him. “If you think I was flirting, but you didn't see… how uncomfortable I was… This situation is not my fault”.

The tables were turned as he finished his sentence, settling himself between your legs yet kneeling to raise your ass above his lap. “Not so mouthy now, are you, doll?”

You wanted to speak back, to say something after having a second to reconsider the reason why you were so angrier at him when Bucky pushed you down and rammed his dick back to the place it belonged. You forced unconsciously your hands gripped, wanting to put them on him —wherever—. As soon as he handcuffed you, your desire for touching him used to be suffocating. But you were the one who played from the start, instead of telling him how you were feeling about that situation at Shuri's party.

Bucky didn't even let you kiss him, stabilizing you on top with an arm around your waist and his cold hand holding the back of your head. His hips rocked straight to your g-spot once and once, making you lose any kind of control over your body as your boyfriend didn't have any compassion, needing to find relief to his sorrowful erection by cumming inside your clenching walls. You were driving him crazy, maintaining your eye contact at all moments and almost drinking your delighted, obscene crying, aware that only him could cause you to be so dirty.

“Feels good, uh…? You like it?” Your boyfriend brushed your lips with his, depriving you of his kisses or any other touch. “Bec— 'cause you take your daddy... so damn good, baby girl… So tight… so tight you could kill me”.

“Yes, da— daddy”. You whimpered nodding your head. “Only you… can fuck me li— like that… Only you”.

“That's it… that's it, oh, fuck… fuck, doll”.

You saw him roll that pair of beautiful blue eyes to the back of his head, feeling Bucky's thighs tensing under your legs. You didn't want anything else than making him cum, after overthinking about how he felt, and not about what you witnessed. He was right, more or less. He was still being so innocent in those kinds of situations that he used to feel like a scared kid.

You suddenly fell back to reality when the emptiness sensation invaded you. Bucky pulled out his length from you again, causing you to beg in silence for not denying you the orgasm you were about to reach. But he warned you. Bucky asked you to tell him the truth and you chose to challenge him. Letting you sit on the mattress, he flexed a leg to guide his twitching cock to your mouth, not needing to tell you what he wanted you to do. You just parted your lips, receiving him without protesting, curling your fingers when he forced your limits, and positioned both hands on your head. Twirling your tongue around his base as you could, with your cavity completely invaded, Bucky provoked you a strong gag. A gesture that led to his warm seed being spilled down your throat.

“Fuck my life, baby girl!” He couldn't help but howl driven by the pleasure as you coughed and made vibrate his sensitive skin.

Just holding his dick trapped by your lips for a second, he freed your mouth, taking his time to admire you swallowing his cum and showing afterward your tongue. God, you looked so beautiful disheveled, with teary eyes and swollen lips because of the effort.

“Want me to tell you something else?” Bucky asked while cleaning the sweat in his forehead with the back of his arm, taking the small key to liberating you with his free hand.

You didn't reply, not needing to, as he rubbed your wrists to comfort your skin before lying by your side.

“Com'ere”. He whispered, yet trying to recover your breathings. Bucky wrapped you with his flesh arm, rubbing his iron fingers up and down your tense belly, creating a contrast that caused you goosebumps. “'M so sorry for making you feel like that”.

He kissed you. Slowly, passionate, tasting his own juices mixed with your saliva. Caressing your tongue with the tip of his, and no rush. You felt his digits touring down your skin, till finding your throbbing and needed clit. You weren't able to hold back a sweet moan when he circled his fingertip over your sensible pearl, gladly drinking your vocals.

“When I wanted to react… she was putting that damn spoon into my mouth. It felt horrible, doll, I promise”. He murmured, venturing his long cold finger to part your folds and sink it inside you —moaning at the fulfill sensation—. “You always save me from those awkward situations… but you were having fun with Shuri and I didn't want to interrupt you”.

You were feeling like shit, looking at him through your eyelids as he curved a second finger into your cunt and increased the pace of the pounds with his hand made of vibranium. Bucky spread some gentle kisses all around your face, ending with a tender bite to your lips.

“When you told me you wanted to go home, I felt a huge relief… 'Cause that was everything I wanted. Go home with you. Maybe watch a movie… cuddle… fall asleep on the sofa”.

“Oh, God, Bucky”. You wept onto his mouth, as soon as a third finger filled you, nailing his hand in the perfect position to be moved up and down. “I'm so— sorry, Buck… I'm sorry”.

“Fuck, no”. He let out, thrusting you harder, faster, creating a melody of filthy sloppy sounds while your moans were louder and louder. “I should stop 'em, I didn't… I didn't. But I respect you more than anything, doll… I love you with all my heart. I care 'bout you, 'bout your feelings… Can you forgive me? Can you… Can you cum for me?”

You nodded your head running out of words, seeing your boyfriend snaking his body down the bed to between your shaky legs, yet having his fingers knuckles deep inside you. “Keep 'em open for your man”.

The blow to your abused cunt provoked you a lash up to your backbone, landing your hands on his head as Bucky sank his face straight to your center. His digits fucked you savagely, while his tongue took control of your swollen pearl —sucking, licking, kissing, pulling it back—. He wasn't going to deny that pleasure to you, quite the opposite. You pressed unconsciously his face a little closer to your pussy, swinging your hips and riding his mouth when his caresses and his pushes became too much for you.

Bucky made you cum harder than ever, crying his name till you didn't have any strength and you were just a sack of bones under his expert mouth, devouring you and drinking your juices as if it was the elixir of life. And when he was satiated, you glanced at him using the tip of his tongue to trail a path up crossing your abdomen, the gap between your breasts, your throat, until kissing you again getting comfortable on top of you. It was a kiss full of love, and guiltiness, and necessity, and pure devotion for you.

“Did I hurt you with what I said?” You murmured, still enraptured by the fireworks fluttering within your belly.

“This isn't 'bout me”. Bucky clicked his tongue, hiding his face into your sweaty neck. “This is 'bout what I let happen”.

“That doesn't answer my question, Buck… I'm sorry about what I said. I was just… I feel insecure". You confessed stroking his scalp and back with your hands, lacing your legs together. “I didn't mean it. I would never try to… find someone who respects me more than you do. That's impossible. And not talking about how much you love me”.

“I love you with every inch of myself”. He swore, he promised, raising his face to look straight at your eyes. “I can't imagine a life without you”.

“Me either… Your love makes me feel alive”.

Bucky left one last tender kiss on your lips before suddenly standing up and holding you onto his arms to carry you to the bathroom and take a shower together —wash your hair, worship your body again as if it was the last thing he was going to do—.

feedback is appreciated, please, leave a comment to let me know if you liked it.

and REBLOG!!!

support the writers 🤍

tag list: @whatrambles @phoenixhalliwell @homesicam @marvel-diaries @amelia-song-pond @heartbeats-wildly @met4no1a @weenersoldierr @petlaufeyson @sillygamingartghost @wildflowergubler @isnt-it-loverly @zealouspursecowboydeputy @rvgrsbrns @artisancowbells @plagooey @tinylumpiaa @hemsbucky @bxmaaa @quxxnxfhxll @soldierstucky @knowyourworth-sellyoursoul @hateinthemorning @asemistablehundredyearoldman @purpleelfwizard @twinerd14 @nikkixostan @stolenxkissess @wintersfilm @whoreforsamwilson @thatcrackheadsadbitchtm @baconmuffins1216 @28cnn @hxlyhoax @lieswithoutfairytales @angrybirdxx @clownerlyluv @kait-is-always-late @marvel-ousnesss @natashadeservedbetter @ebxny27 @fanofalltheficsx @spider-man-lover @masterlists101 @lewd-alien @warm-sensations @stealapizzamyheart @talk-on-the-street @theresnoplatypus

[the-modern-typewriter]

Hello, I hope you are having an astounding day! I’ve been wondering if you could write a snippet about a sapiosexual villain and their smart, methodical henchman/ scientist. If you don’t want or can’t do that, I understand. Thank you for the gorgeous writing! 💕

People often assumed that the work of a henchman was simple, purely physical. All you had to do was look tough and intimidating.

They were wrong.

At a professional level, every gun shot required quick mathematical calculation, every blow an equation of angles and force. At any given time the villain could turn to their henchman and be presented with solutions. The most effective way into a building, the quickest way out in a pinch. Their henchman was a map of entries and exits; the whole city was sitting pretty and 3D somewhere in his brain.

It was intoxicating.

Most of the time.

(All the time).

Even when their - especially when their - dangerously smart and actually quite tough and intimidating looking too, henchman had them plastered up against the front door of their apartment. With a deadly look in his eyes.

"Um," the villain said, raising a brow.

"Are you deliberately placing yourself in danger so you can watch me get you out of it?"

The villain's face heated, because, um. It wasn't exactly deliberately, they were not a complete idiot. But they were also aware that they had been pushing their luck more than often recently, precisely so they could watch the way their henchman shifted gears so exquisitely.

Their henchman's grip tightened.

"Don't pretend you don't love the thrill of the puzzle!" The villain wet their dry lips. "I know you do. You'd be terribly bored if all I ever did was have you stand in a corner looking menacing. I'm simply being a good employer, you know? I'm offering you enrichment."

"At the risk of your life."

"Gambling for pennies is no fun."

"You're a dumbass."

"It's what I keep you around for." The villain tried for a winning smile.

Their henchman's grip didn't budge. His gaze raked down the villain's face, their body, and he had that -

Oh no. He had the calculating face on.

The villain squirmed, clearing their throat, turning their head away. It was one thing adoringly staring at their employee when the henchman wasn't looking back. It was another for him to know the way that the villain gazed at him, know the reaction the villain had every time they started doing-

"Look, it all turned out fine," the villain did their best to sound stern and commanding, despite the stupid twist of heat and panic mixing in their stomach. "So get off me. I'm your boss, you can't - manhandle me like this."

"You're right," their henchman said. He still didn't let go. "I do love puzzles. I love figuring out how to make your madcap ideas work, because you're always onto something. I love solving problems for you because every day is something different. What I don't love is the thought of you dying because you have a crush on me, and can't seem to find a safer puzzle to get off to."

The villain's face burned. "I-"

"I'm talking now. You're listening."

The villain's mouth snapped shut.

"So, that leaves us with a problem, doesn't it? Look at me."

The villain met the henchman's gaze, wide-eyed. Their henchman still had that mile-a-minute expression, and the villain stared at it almost helplessly. They wished they could read thoughts, they wished they could display all of their henchman's internal maths on a canvass and hang it on a wall in the bedroom.

"Luckily for you," the henchman's voice dipped lower, "as covered, I'm very good at solving problems." His grip eased, finally, but he didn't step away, palms sliding down the slightly torn front of the villain's coat, undoing the buttons and shoving it off the villain's shoulders.

The villain's brain whirled.

"I'm not a problem." They didn't - they'd imagined the henchman returning their feelings in a fantasy. None of that was meant to be some calculated thing, however much they enjoyed their henchman's cold logic. They didn't want the henchman to do anything with them just because they thought the villain would be reckless otherwise. This had backfired. This had backfired so badly. "I won't do it again, I promise! I know I was stupid and-"

The henchman kissed them. Short, sweet, nothing cold about it.

The villain's breath stuttered.

"You most certainly are a problem." The henchman's lips trailed up the villain's jaw. "My favourite problem, in fact. Have been for a while. Nearly losing you today made me realise that."

Oh.

The villain gripped the front of the henchman's t-shirt, heart pounding.

"That's not to say you should do it again," the henchman added, biting down, drawing a groan from the villain's lips as their head tipped back. "That's me saying, if you want to watch me solve a puzzle, I can think of no shortage of puzzles we can play together. Would that work as an alternative solution?"

"Uhuh. Yup."

"Excellent." Their henchman drew back, eyes dark, and full of plans. "I think we'll start with 'how quickly can I unravel you, what do you think?"

"I think," the villain said, very serious, "you should figure out how to get your clothes off in the next thirty seconds before I rip them off you. If you want to keep them, that is."

The henchman laughed, and shoved them in the direction of the bedroom.

Near death experience was rarely a problem after that.