#“I embraced who I am and I don’t want to stop” - Visage

[foxydivaxx]

Zosan- Look What You Made Me Do Chapter 3

“AGGGHHHH!!!!” 

Zoro’s head perks up as soon as he hears that scream. For the past couple weeks, Sanji had been having mental breakdowns. Every single day, he screams at times in the middle of the night. Nami and Usopp had gone in there a lot of tears and according to them, Sanji is a little far gone.

The other crew members have picked up the slack for him because there is no way they should subject the guy to do his thing when he is in such a terrible state. Sanji rarely comes out of his room and whenever he does, he is dressed in all black. 

Besides the tragedy at the Baratie, they found out that his siblings were executed by his father. Sure, his brothers were trash unlike the sister who actually tried to help him and showed him empathy and love hence the blonde’s obsession with women, but still they were his family. And the fact that the brothers helped them escape showed that maybe they wanted to change. Maybe make up with their estranged brother. And now it was too late.

No one knows why the old bastard did what he did. But one thing is for sure, Sanji will no longer keep quiet. Nope. Sanji would want to avenge his loved ones. Prior to this, Zoro had been noticing Sanji withdrawing away from women. Instead, he seemed to be more open and accepting of male affection now. 

Does he have a secret male lover? And if so, did that lover abandon him or something?

He knew about Ace. In fact, the entire crew knew about Sanji and Ace’s relationship. That is yet another traumatic experience for him. Watching his lover die in his presence like that. He remembered seeing Sanji cry himself to sleep for weeks. 

Zoro decides to go to Sanji’s room to check on him. The others had already tried with little to no success. He simply barges into the room and was taken aback by what he saw. There was Sanji curled up in the bed, tears flowing down his eyes. There were two devil horns sprouting out of his head. He was also wearing the most skimpiest outfit ever, with the revealing corset and pants. He looked hot in it. But that begs the question. Why is he dressed like that?

He sits on the bed and draws Sanji closer to him and just gives him a hug. At first Sanji was taken aback by this. How did the mosshead get in here? But something about Zoro’s warmth stops him and embraces the hug.

He needed it, especially after what had transpired a couple hours prior. “Z-Zoro….” Zoro just hugs him. “It’s okay. I am here.” 

“I…I have a confession to make…” Sanji then begins to spill the beans to Zoro about everything including what happened hours ago.

FLASHBACK

Sanji arrived at the Palace as per usual. But something did not feel right. The way everyone stared at him was different. Shit…the bastard knows.

“Was wondering when you would show up.” He looks up to see Akuma on his throne. Gone was the pretty Ace-like visage that he had been spotting for months since their relationship started. Instead was his true face, a grotesque hideous monster. Sanji grimaces in disgust. So this was the motherfucker he had been fucking with for months. I knew it.

“What’s the matter Sanji? Don’t you want to play? Or are you hesitant because you know how much weaker you are compared to me?” The other demons surround him. “What makes you think you can destroy me? You that you cannot even kill a woman.” Akuma sneered.

Sure enough, there were some female demons amongst them. Usually, Sanji would falter here. He would let his moral code get the better of him. That is why he kept on getting his ass handed to him. Zoro was right about him. He keeps letting his heart rule him everytime. That shit ends today.

Sanji simply smirks. “Are you sure about that? Because clearly you do not know me that well. All that power that you claim you gave to me has always been a part of me.” Before they knew what was happening, explosions begin to go off across the demon realm.

Unbeknownst to them, Sanji managed to manipulate all of them via his Haki skills. Using them not jut for sexual gratification, he also used them to place bombs in strategic areas of the demon realm. 

These are not just ordinary bombs. These bombs were infused with demon energy, energy he was able to extract from Akuma. 

“WHAT’S HAPPENING?!” Sanji smirks deviously and soon fire engulfs him, blinding the demons around him. Without hesitation, he mawls and destroys everyone in his path. Akuma flies towards Sanji and knocks him down, wrapping his hands aorund Sanji’s neck. “HOW DARE YOU?! HOW DARE YOU TRY TO BETRAY ME?!”

Sanji then lets out an unhinged laugh. “You were threatening me with hurting my friends and also you had thhe audacity to cosplay as my deceased lover. Or and on top of that, it was truly you that destroyed the Baratie. How did I know? Simple, I read your heart and emotions. You are no demon. You are just a fucking pathetic pirate with fake Devil Fruit abilities. Oh and you so happen to be one of Judge’s agents. I shall kill you first just to make an example and then eve”

Before, Akuma could do anything, Sanji teleports out of harm’s way. “All this power I have. You never gave it to me. No. I have always had these powers. I suppressed it out of respect for my teammates. But now, I am breaking my shackles and sending you fake demons to hell where you fucking belong.” 

With that,  a bazooka magically materializes in his hands. “Say hello to my little friend.” He  then releases one powerful fiery blast that destroys everyone in there and teleports back to the ship to be with his crewmates. “DAMN YOU BLACK LEG SANJI!!” Akuma screams as the flames consume him and his crew, disintegrating them and burning them to ashes.

END OF FLASHBACK

“Wow.” was all Zoro could say. Sanji nods.”This outfit is one I deliberately chose to seduce and distract him.” Zoro understood why he was crying. Sanji felt angry that this man weaponized his trauma against him. Plus, the fact that he was working with his dad to kill him.

“I cannot believe you did all this to save us.” says Zoro. “I care for all of you. I want to protect all of you and compared to my old self, I am more than willingly to get my hands dirty to save you all. Also, I no longer fear hurting women anymore. Sure, Zeff would be mad. But who cares anyway? I am tired of being a laughing stock. I am tired of being rejected.”

“So you like men huh?” Sanji nods. “I was hesitant because my brothers, dad and several men treated me like shit. B-but Ace was the rare man that treated me with respect. And I guess you.” Zoro grins and cuddles him. “I never bothered to ask, why do you not call me by my name?” Sanji asked.

Zoro uses his fingers to lift up Sanji’s face. “I was waiting for a special moment to do that. But I guess now it is best to start calling you Sanji.” Hearing him say his name like that did things to him, making the blond eblush.

The rest of the crew were listening to their conversation from outside the door, all with their jaws dropped. “He really did it.” says Luffy with a grin. “Poor Sanji. That Akuma guy took advantage of his emotions and paid for it.” says Robin.

“Big mistake. Still I am amazed that Sanji did that despite his pain.” says Nami. Chopper nods. “He is a lot smarter than we give him credit for at times.” says Brook. “So Zoro has finally confessed huh?” Franky teases. Everyone starts snickering. 

Sanji and Zoro remained in the room in silence. “Ah, let me change out of this.” says Sanji as he gets up and immediately starts stripping. Zoro watches, eyes widen in awe as he stares at Sanji’s body. 

He has seen his body upclose a few times but this is the first time Sanji is actually giving him the view. The cook has an amazing ass and a nice slim waist. Those dangerous legs of his do not help matters either. Sanji notices this and grins. “Like what you see?” he says in teasing tone.

Zoro chuckles. “Of course I do. No wonder a lot of men be giving you funny looks.” Sanji laughs. “Well, I inherited mum’s looks. So I guess I am lucky.” Sanji opts to wear a blue sweater and a pair of jeans with flip flops.

Once he was done, he leaves the room, dragging Zoro with him. Once the others see him, they all give him a group hug.  “We overheard everything. What you did was so brave.” says Nami. Sanji simply chuckles. 

“You guys are like family to me. It is the least I can do.” he says. “But still a bazooka. Where did you even find it?” Chopper asked. Sanji smirks. “The fools left it lying around on their island so I sneakily stole it and made a couple modifications to it without their knowledge.”

“Nice.” says Robin. “Ah yes, back to work with me.” says Sanji as he heads to the kitchen. Things return to normal for the Strawhats thanks to that.

Meanwhile, Judge is enraged when he hears what had happened. “HOW DID THAT BRAT OUTSMART ME?!” He roared, causing the entire court to cower in fear. He had just gotten rid of the other kids since they have outlived their usefulness.

That should have been enough for Akuma to break the kid, given all the experiments he had done on that fool to begin with. He found out that Sanji had a sexual relationship with Monkey D. Luffy’s brother Portgas D. Ace years ago with the latter sacrificing his life for his younger brother. 

That was the essence of using Ace’s face in the first place. Force Sanji into surrendering and forcing the plans of the Strawhats out of the kid. Who would have though that the boy would one up them like that? This was why he murdered his other children. Turns out Sanji was feeding them misleading information to protect his crew. How admirable.

Why did it have to be that weak brat that would surpass them in power and strength? Like why? That brat that could not hurt a fly is the same brat that just sunk one of his ships. He sent his troops to check on Akuma and his Devil Pirates. They said no remains were found. All of them were burned to ashes.

“Curses!!” This is getting out of hand. “I have to destroy that brat and the Strawhats once and for all.”

[cakeniron]

"Don't you want to keep going?" . I'm kind of reluctant. It's cold and I have to take the train back, but I haven't seen @slo_poke in months. I missed her. . We wander back to Cap Hill, grab hotdogs (but we didn't use the maple syrup, peanut butter, chocolate syrup or Fruity Pebbles that was available), grab a drink at Linda's and then head for the train. . Although I wanted to go home, something told me to go with Sharla to Belltown. I don't know why, but I follow her. . Then we stop. Now I know why. Perhaps I am crazy, but those who we love, those who have passed on still speak to us when we didn't have a final conversation. . Marcos, one of my dearest friends, led me here. I stop and Boca and remember my meals here when he was on shift. How I cried when telling him the microphone I started my career with died, but the new one will be for my first movie. How proud he was that I was growing stronger and more beautiful every day. . "Keep going," he said. " I want to see your name in lights." . I asked Sharla if we could stop at Ohana. This was Marcos' place and I wanted to honor him my way. She agreed. The owner and Bartenders held me as we deeply embraced. I bought two tequila shots and we toasted Marcos' life full of gentle wisdom and razor sharp wit. . "Come back." They stated. "If you were friends with Marcos, then you are family. Let me give you the pamphlet for his wake." . I held back tears as I took the photo. The smiling visage of a man with so much love to give. Gone. I return the same smile. I am honored I had the chance to drink with him one last time. Peaceful journey, Marcos. . I was a little late but still on time. . #goodsouls #barculture #Belltown #friends #Seattle #thelastgoodbye #tikibar (at Ohana Belltown) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoOzOEGukSQ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ashymcgee]

"Don't you want to keep goijg?" . I'm kind of reluctant. It's cold and I have to take the train back, but I haven't seen @slo_poke in months. I missed her. . We wander back to Cap Hill, grab hotdogs (but we didn't use the maple syrup, peanut butter, chocolate syrup or Fruity Pebbles that was available), grab a drink at Linda's and then head for the train. . Although I wanted to go home, something told me to go with Sharla to Belltown. I don't know why, but I follow her. . Then we stop. Now I know why. Perhaps I am crazy, but those who we love, those who have passed on still speak to us when we didn't have a final conversation. . Marcos, one of my dearest friends, led me here. I stop and Boca and remember my meals here when he was on shift. How I cried when telling him the microphone I started my career with died, but the new one will be for my first movie. How proud he was that I was growing stronger and more beautiful every day. . "Keep going," he said. " I want to see your name in lights." . I asked Sharla if we could stop at Ohana. This was Marcos' place and I wanted to honor him my way. She agreed. The owner and Bartenders held me as we deeply embraced. I bought two tequila shots and we toasted Marcos' life full of gentle wisdom and razor sharp wit. . "Come back." They stated. "If you were friends with Marcos, then you are family. Let me give you the pamphlet for his wake." . I held back tears as I took the photo. The smiling visage of a man with so much love to give. Gone. I return the same smile. I am honored I had the chance to drink with him one last time. Peaceful journey, Marcos. . I was a little late but still on time. . #goodsouls #barculture #Belltown #friends #Seattle #thelastgoodbye #tikibar (at Ohana Belltown) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoOy8vsO2v2MoiIa6IMgwSZjSSi_pvvr91bTls0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[heart-on-her-sleeve]

kara danvers tag drop!

[strxngerthanyouthink]

Tag Dump! - The Basics

[geminigirl0298]

The Course Of True Love

Relationship: Loki Odinson x Original Female Character

Summary: Loki Odinson never expected to see his mother hurrying down a hall with a smart-mouthed, soot-covered figure who was supposedly the princess of Vanaheim. He never expected her to stay more than a week, much less an entire century, and he surely did not expect their initial animosity to morph into the fluttering, tickling feeling he got in his stomach every time she was near.

Word Count: 4.2 k

Warnings: Smut, 18+, loss of virginity, fingering (female receiving), oral (female receiving), unprotected sex, cursing, inappropriate language

Previous Chapter Masterlist

CHAPTER 17

Silence ensued between the two brothers for what seemed like an eternity. It was an uncomfortable non-verbal period, with neither man knowing how to proceed. The usual route following a long time apart would be an embrace between the two brothers followed by a week straight of mead and merriment. Part of Loki wanted to do just that. The other part, that was filled with shame at his birth heritage, kept him rooted to the spot.

“Well,” said Thor, breaking the awkward tension, “I know my being here is a surprise, but I was expecting some delight.” Loki almost laughed— almost. Instead, he dismounted the horse and helped Sigrid off. She squeezed his hand in comfort before going to Thor. Loki did not complain when she embraced the blond man in a tight hug.

“It’s wonderful to see you, Thor.” Sigrid pulled back, accepting a kiss the older man dropped on her head. “Although, you’re a day late. You missed my birthday, you know?”

A storm entered Thor’s eyes—so quick that Loki would have missed it had he not been so observant—and disappeared in a flash. His brother’s face slipped back into the trademark, brilliant smile he wore most of the time. “I have been busy at home. But,” he reached into his pocket and produced a little white paper bag, “I come bearing gifts.”

Sigrid snatched the bag up and peered in. “Krumkaker!” she squealed, head snapping up to give Loki an excited smile. “Loki, Thor got me Krumkaker!”

“That’s wonderful, love.” He had meant to call her ‘darling’, but the new pet name barraged past his lips before he could stop them. Thor quirked a brow in silence. Loki sighed. His brother had already caught them kissing. Nothing he did now could be more revealing than that.

“Yes, yes.” Thor clapped his hands together. “I would have gotten you something else had my trip not been so last minute.”

Sigrid rolled her eyes. “I’ve told you all that you don’t have to get me anything for my birthday. Yet, year after year, you always manage.”

“Well, I only have one sister.” Loki could not help himself. He scoffed. Sigrid shot him a warning glare. “So,” Thor swung his arms at his sides. His hammer lay on the floor at his feet. “You are both together now. That’s wonderful!”

Sigrid bit her lip. “Thank you.”

“I always knew you two would—”

“Thor, why are you here?” Loki snapped. “I’m sure it’s not to discuss my personal life.” Thor’s visage dropped.

“Loki!” Sigrid’s face was stern. The side of her mouth turned down in disapproval. She had warned him just that day that Thor was not at fault for Odin’s choices, and here Loki was taking his repressed anger out on him.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I did not mean it like that.”

Thor was quick to brush him off. “It’s quite alright. The circumstances of your departure were harrowing and I know the effects will not yet leave you. I just…” Thor paused, seeming to contemplate his words. His large feet brought him right in front of Loki, who looked at him in astonishment when a large hand came down on his shoulder. “I am sorry for all that has happened. I wish there was some way I could have shielded you from it all. You are my little brother and I failed to protect you when you needed it most.”

The sound of a sharp slap echoed in Loki’s mind. Phantom pain bloomed in his left cheek. His lip, which was now healed, filled with the oddest stinging sensation.

Loki had been hurt way worse in battle before. With his long history of broken bones, stabbed intestines and fiery burns, a slap should have been nothing. It was the humiliation that stuck with him. The embarrassment of being struck by the man who had raised him in front of his nearest and dearest. In front of his Sigrid.

“I have to go.” Loki’s voice was strangled. “We’ve been out all day. I need a bath. “

“Loki.” Sigrid’s voice was right next to him. He looked down at her when she slid her hand into his. Loki had not even noticed when she had moved over to him. “Loki?”

“I’m fine.” He turned his back on them then, so they would not see his tears. It was by a stroke of luck that Sigrid had decided to pick some of the golden pears from the tree at the lake. Loki busied himself detaching the bag from the saddle. He hoped that Thor would take the hint and go away.

“Thor, the guards outside will escort you to a room,” he heard Sigrid say. “We planned on skipping dinner, but I can—”

“No no!” Thor was quick to interject. “Don’t let me dissuade your plans. I’ll see you at breakfast tomorrow? Both of you?” His voice lifted with hope on the last three words.

“I will definitely be there.” As he knew she would, Sigrid did not promise his presence. Only her own.

Once Thor’s footsteps receded, he felt warm hands on his back. He turned to see a distressed Sigrid looking up at him. “Are you okay, my dear?”

“No.” Loki engulfed her in a crushing hug. She squeaked in surprise. “No, I am notokay. I don’t want him here. I told you I was not ready to see him.”

“I know.” Sigrid’s hand came up to stroke the hair at the nape of his neck. It was a calming gesture, sending goosebumps throughout his body. “I know. I can’t possibly tell you why he’s here—”

“Something’s wrong on Asgard.”

Sigrid pulled back. Her chocolate eyes were widened in alarm. “Are you certain?” Loki gave a nod.

“I saw his face when you told him he missed your birthday. He’s hiding something.”

Sigrid rubbed her palms over his chest. “Do you want to ask him?”

“No.” Loki’s voice was sharp. “The affairs of Asgard are no longer my responsibility. If Thor wishes to speak to me about a matter he can do so. It’s not my job to pry it out of him. “

“Okay, okay.” Sigrid brought both his hands up to her mouth. “It’s okay. You’re right. You don’t have to pry anything out of him. If the matter is serious enough, he’ll come talk to you.”

“Thank you.” Sigrid tip toed to peck his chin.

“Now come. I do believe there is a tub in my bedroom with both our names on it.”

ooOOoo

One warm bubble bath later found Loki wrapped up with Sigrid in her bed. He was propped on some pillows, and Sigrid lay on his chest. Both his arms were around her waist to hold her close against him. The bath had done wonders for his mood, especially with his new partner, and the tiredness from the day was beginning to settle in. Yet, he could not let himself be pulled under until he asked the question on his mind.

“Darling, would you be upset if I did not join you and Thor at breakfast tomorrow?”

Sigrid rose off his chest. She wore just a nightgown, and the sleeve slipped off her shoulder as she bent her arm at the elbow to prop her head. Loki reached out to fix it back in place. “Of course not. Why would I be?” Her palm flattened against his face, stroking the skin on his cheek.

“No reason.” He was silent again for a few seconds, then asked, “Can I ask you another question?” She nodded. “Do you think I should forgive them?”

“It doesn’t matter what I think.”

Loki clutched her waist tighter. “What you think always matters to me.” It was a rare occurrence for Loki to ask anyone’s advice on a personal decision, even less so for him to care about the answer. There were only a handful of people in his life who he had decided were astute enough to help guide him.

Sigrid bit her cheek in thought. He knew she was thinking along the same lines as he, and how she was one of the few people whose opinion mattered to him. Her fingers stroked through his hair as he awaited her answer. “I think there are things you need to say to them—that you need to get off your chest. Emotions were running high when you found out. You didn’t really have the words to explain what you felt so you lashed out—”

“I think I had the right to do so considering the circumstances.”

“Shh.” Sigrid placed a finger over his lips. “No one blames you for how you reacted. Your entire world was turned upside down, it was warranted.” Loki quieted. “I’m saying don’t write them off before you get a chance to say your piece. I don’t want you to bottle it up and regret not saying it.”

“But what if they react badly? What if Odin just makes more excuses?” The insecurity in his own voice scared him. Then Sigrid’s soft, sweet voice was in his ear again, chasing away his fears.

“Loki, you cannot control how anyone will react. All you can do is say what you have to say. If they react badly so be it.” She brushed some hair away from his face. “Either way, it’s your decision. And I’ll support you in whatever you choose to do.” Loki felt his heart crack wide open.

“You’re so gracious with me.” He kissed the inside of her palm, placing his own over the back of her hand. “What did I ever do to deserve you?”

“Nothing in this life, probably,” she teased. Loki chuckled. “You’re more deserving of good things than you give yourself credit for, Lokes. I wish you would see that.” Sigrid kissed his cheek, then laid her head back in the crook of his neck. Her hand remained running over his face. Loki closed his eyes, inhaling the scent of her hair. It was only a second later that he opened them again.

“Sigrid, did you take the contraceptive I gave you?”

“Yes,” she confirmed.

“Good.” Loki snuggled her closer. “As much as your father wants grandchildren from us, I don’t think he’ll be too keen on that happening before we are wed.” He felt Sigrid smile against his neck. “Plus, there’s the other issue…”

“What other issue?” Loki hesitated. He knew Sigrid would not be pleased with what he was about to say. “Loki?”

“The issue of my parentage, love.” Sigrid gave him a blank stare. “They would also be frost giants.”

“Oh,” said Sigrid. “I know that. It’s fine with me.”

“I—What?” When they had broached the topic of children earlier that day it had been influenced by their pillow talk. Now, hours after and one uninvited brother later, Loki’s sense had caught up to him. “Sigrid, does this really not bother you?”

“No, it doesn’t.” Her face remained steady. “Why would it? Between my Vanir blood and your seidrI’m sure it won’t be an issue to disguise them if need be. I would so love to see a day when we become tolerant of Jotuns but I’m afraid I many sooner see my grave.” Loki’s lips parted. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You’re amazing,” Loki breathed. “Your ability to face anything with the utmost acceptance and optimism is astounding. How do you do it?”

Sigrid shrugged. “Papa says I get it from mama.“If optimism is not your forte, you should have thought about that before begging my father to marry me.”

“I would hardly say it was begging—”

“That’s not what he said,” she sang. A wicked smirk graced her lips, which she pressed against his in a chaste kiss. “Although, I’m glad you did. I just wish mama was here. There are so many Vanir traditions surrounding matrimony but I wish I knew more about the ones on Midgard.” Sigrid yawned. “I wonder how proposals are done. Do they go through parents first or does someone just ask?”

“Either I believe.” Loki tangled his fingers in her hair, parting the curls with precise movements. “There is an old Asgardian one practiced amongst royal families. It hasn’t happened since Odin and mo—Frigga’s wedding, though.”

Sigrid made herself more comfortable on his chest. When she spoke again, her voice was laced with drowsiness. “Tell me about it.”

“It’s simple, really. If the suitor is approved of by both monarchs, the queen gives her son her engagement ring as a favour to bestow on his potential bride. Supposedly it brings the couple good luck.”

“I love Frigga’s engagement ring,” Sigrid murmured. “It’s beautiful. Was that Odin’s mother’s?”

“Yes.” An image of the sparkling ring popped into Loki’s head. “Let’s hope Thor’s bride is favourable.”

“Thor?” Sigrid questioned. “You don’t think it’ll go to you?”

“Well, I’m not really their son, am I?” Sigrid said nothing, although Loki could tell she wanted too. “Besides, Thor needs it more than I. You bring me all the good luck I could ever need.” That drew a smile from the woman on his chest.

“So what if the only heir was a girl? Then what?”

“Then the man has to create the ring himself. The luck comes from how impressed the monarchs are.” Sigrid wrinkled her nose.

“That sounds difficult,” she complained. “What if the person is horrible at craft? Would they not be able to marry should they fail to design a suitable ring?”

Loki pressed a kiss to her head. “I’m not sure. There hasn’t been a female heir in Asgard for millennia. Either way, I’d just use magic.”

“Of course you would.” Sigrid yawned again, longer and deeper than before. “Thank you for the date today. I had a wonderful time.”

“You’re very welcome, sleepyhead.”

“Can we do it again sometime?” she asked.

“I’ll take you on as many dates as you want,” Loki promised. “Now get some sleep.”

“Okay,” she mumbled. “Can I have a kiss first?” Loki obliged. “You’re very good at that, you know. Not at all the bumbling mess Fjor says.”

Loki blinked. “Excuse me? Fjor said what?”

“Don’t be mad.” Sigrid’s plea melted away his defensiveness. “It was a long time ago when you first started dating. You’re much better now.” She patted his face.

Loki hid his face in her shoulder. Fjor would be getting a swift kick in the shin the next time he saw him. “Fjor needs to talk less.” Sigrid made a noise. “Always trying to embarrass me. I should tell his wife how annoying he is.” Loki shook his head. “No, I’m sure she already knows. Norns, I can only imagine how insufferable he’ll be when he finds out about us. He already acted with such innuendo before. And Ingrid! Oh, young Ingrid. How delighted she will be, huh darling?” No answer. “Darling?”

Looking down, Loki found her fast asleep.

ooOOoo

By the time Sigrid joined Thor at breakfast the next morning, he already had a bevy of ladies around him. Many were servants, others hopeful young nobles of the court. All were vying for the attentions of the golden prince and Thor, as he was wont to do, filled their cups in a bountiful manner.

“Sigrid!” He shouted her name as he noticed her enter, waving her over with one large arm like he wasn’t in herrealm in her private breakfast room. Sigrid gave a loose chuckle. It was nice to see him enjoying himself despite the awkwardness of his return. “Come sit! We are having—Ergh, what is it again?”

“Smørrebrød,” supplied Annika, the strawberry-haired servant at his side. She leaned over to pour more of a mulberry-coloured liquid into the prince’s cup.

Thor gave a brilliant grin. “Yes! Smørrebrød! Have you had it?”

“I have.” Sigrid took her seat at the head of the table. It was small—only six seats available— and Thor was one chair over to her right. “Do you like it?”

“Not as much as the suksessterte from back home but very much so!” He looked behind her to the door then, almost as though he were expecting someone else. “Will Loki not be joining us? Does he not wish to see me?”

“It’s not like that,” she assured him. “He was still asleep when I left the room. Now that he’s technically on a holiday, he’s taken to sleeping in.” Sigrid hoped her voice, nor her face betrayed her lie, for Loki was very much awake when she left for breakfast.

Thor’s face fell. “Oh.” Sigrid placed her hand on his.

“Do not be disheartened. Loki has been having a hard time adjusting to the news. This has nothing to do with you.”

The corner of Thor’s mouth lifted in melancholy. “He seemed happy in the moments leading up to him noticing my arrival. Although, I can scarcely remember a moment in his entire life when your presence did not lift his spirits.”

“Ah, yes.” There were many moments of recent when Loki was none too keen on bumping into Sigrid. For the purposes of the conversation, though, she decided to keep that information to herself. “We haven’t yet told anyone about us. It only just happened.”

“I don’t think there is anyone who would be shocked,” Thor told her. “The entire realm has been under the assumption for years that there was something more between you two. I am just glad my brother finally made a move.”

Titters and whispers broke out from the servants against the far wall. They had moved there when Sigrid had arrived, and the noble ladies had bowed with respect and left. Now there seemed to be a commotion amongst them. It was only when Sigrid turned her head over her shoulder did she notice why.

Loki strode in through the parlour in all his glory. He wore no helmet, and a toned-down version of his usual oytfot. Sigrid rolled her eyes at the servant girls’ behaviour, though she could not quite blame them. Where they liked Thor, the women of court were enamoured with Loki. His quick tongue, sharp wit and cold beauty were akin to a rare delicacy, and everyone on Vanaheim seemed to want a bite.

“Princess!” And there was Ingrid, clad in a light purple dress that lit up a wonderful contrast with her hair. She was on Loki’s arm when he entered, but soon let go of him to skip over to Sigrid. “And Prince Thor! How are you?”

“I am well, Lady Ingrid.” He pulled out the chair for her to Sigrid’s immediate right. Ingrid took a seat and turned to Thor.

“How come you’re here, my prince? Is everything well at home? Are the King and Queen alright?” It was the first time for the morning that his parents were mentioned. Sigrid saw then what Loki had seen the day before in Thor’s reaction.

His back straightened, and the easy smile on his face faltered. He dipped his head to take a swig of his drink and answered in a clipped tone, “Yes, everything is fine. I’m just here on a visit.”

If Ingrid noticed the prince’s tone, she did not comment. Instead, she turned her attentions to Sigrid. “Where have you been? I haven’t seen you since the party!”

“Loki and I were out yesterday.” Sigrid was astonished to find herself bursting at the seams to tell the girl about her and Loki’s relationship developments. On a normal day, Ingrid’s incessant needling about the two was an annoyance. Secretly, though, Sigrid had looked forward to the girl’s chattering. It was nice to have such a steadfast supporter of her and Loki’s potential coming together.

“Where did you go?”

“I took her riding. There’s a lake a little way from here that she told me about a long time ago.” Loki’s voice was by her ear, then a kiss was pressed to her temple. “Hello, darling.” He pitched his voice low so Ingrid would not hear, then said louder. “Good morning, brother.”

“M-morning.” Thor recovered from the shock of Loki’s cordial greeting well. “How are you this morning?”

“I’m well, and you?” Sigrid felt a hand on her thigh beneath the table. Without looking down, she slid her own hand in Loki’s for support.

“I’m well, too.”

“Why are you both acting so stiff?” questioned Ingrid. She had already poured herself a large glass of juice and was reaching for a ripe pear. “Shouldn’t you be embracing each other and getting drunk like you usually do when you haven’t seen each other in a while?” Both brothers shifted in discomfort.

“Ingrid, look! Smørrebrød!” Siggred lobbed half of the four mounted slices of bread from her plate onto Ingrid’s. “You love it!”

Ingrid picked up a slice. “I know this is your way of telling me to be quiet but seeing as food is involved, I shall oblige.”

“So, brother,” Thor began, mood noticeably lifted, “I believe congratulations are in order! It’s about time this happened?”

“About time what happened?” asked Ingrid around a bite of bread. Loki and Sigrid shared a look. A silent conversation passed between the two, ending with Loki lifting a shoulder in a careless shrug. The realm would soon know of their union. It would not be detrimental to tell Ingrid before that.

Sigrid brought her and Loki’s intertwined hands onto the table. Ingrid continued chewing her breakfast, still wondering what was going on. It only took a split second for her to figure it out. Her eyes travelled to Sigrid and Loki’s combined hands, then to Sigrid, who gave the girl a slight nod.

“Eeeee!!” Ingrid’s squeal seemed to hit the ceiling and echo through every crevice of the room. Sigrid winced at the high pitched noise. “This is amazing! You two are finally together and—Wait.” Ingrid narrowed her eyes. She wagged one finger at Loki. “You disappeared at the party.”

“How do you know that?” Loki’s voice was incredulous. Ingrid waved a hand.

“Some of the women of the court wanted to dance with you. They came to me asking if I knew your whereabouts. You’re quite the catch around here, you know?”

“So I’ve noticed,” muttered Sigrid.

“Anyways, when I could not find you I went to find the princess, and guess what?”

“What?” asked Thor, who had leaned in during the story. He wore an expression of the utmost interest.

“I was told she left as well! And you were not in your room that night nor the next morning when your father came calling so that can only mean one thing!” Ingrid brought her hands together with a clap.

“Child—” Loki’s tone was a warning.

“You had sex!”

“Ingrid!” Sigrid admonished. Her face had heated to a high degree. Thor, who was just interested in the story, was now leaning back with a grimace. It must be strange for him to hear about his brother’s sex life, especially with someone whom he viewed as a sister. “Would you please—”

Ingrid rose from her seat. “We’re all adults here. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.” She plopped into Sigrid’s lap and gave her a big hug. “This is so exciting! Does your father know? Are you getting married? Will there be children. Can I— Hmmpph!”

A sparkle of green erupted at Ingrid’s lips. They stuck together as though with glue, and the girl’s chatter ceased.

“I ought to leave you like that for the rest of the day,” threatened Loki. “You talk entirely too much.” Ingrid placed her hands on her hips. She turned pleading, hazel eyes on Sigrid, who commanded Loki to release her.

“My dear, do remove your magic.” With a sigh, Loki waved his hand. Ingrid took a huge, purposeful breath.

“I’m just excited, my prince. There was no need to make an attempt on my life.”

Loki’s dark brow rose into his hairline. “An attempt on your life?” The amusement in his voice was palpable. “Ingrid, I do not make attempts when I want someone dead. Just ask Thor.”

Thor came to Loki’s immediate defense. “It’s true. Hardly has there been an enemy my brother swore to vanquish that he has not.”

“Did he do so by putting a frog in their beds?” Ingrid retorted. “Oh no! Maybe he cut their hair!” Thor let out a whoop of laughter. Sigrid tugged on Ingrid’s ear.

“Do not antagonize him.”

Ingrid folded her arms, chin set stubbornly. “He began it.”

“Did I?”

“Yes,” Ingrid said. “You did. You—”. Sigrid was sure she had an earful to give Loki, and she probably would have if her entire body had not jerked so suddenly.

“Ingrid, are you alright?” A bead of blood slid down from Ingrid’s left nostril. Sigrid watched in terror as she brought her hand up to wipe the blood away, only for more to start pouring from her ears. “Ingrid!”

“I—” Ingrid opened her mouth to speak. A mouthful of blood came tumbling out of the orifice. It splashed onto Sigrid’s dress with a sickening splat. She was frozen to the spot as Ingrid’s body jerked once again, then stilled.

It was only when the bloody head fell limp onto her shoulder did Sigrid let out an ear-splitting scream.

Chapter 18

Taglist: @sharris8 @howdidurhammergrowchris @delightfulheartdream @queen-of-mischief @thelittlepoetprincess @cosplayingwitch @itsmeempar @theiamischief @huntress-artemiss @janetsnakehole02 @mischief2sarawr @speedy-object-dream @thedistractedagglomeration @trickster-maiden @immersed-in-mischief

[sirthisisa-wendys]

(okay hol' up, i just followed you recently despite visiting your blog for over a month now, but you followed me back and i'm short-circuiting) Congrats on 1K! Thought I'd send in an idea for the event - something lukewarm for Priest!Toji and a Witch!Reader? I'm thinking 1600s trial vibes but I know whatever you write will be dope <3

You said 1600's trial vibes and I heard the ghost of Victor Hugo go "hey you remember that one book I wrote" and I said "uh wasn't that set in the 1400s, though" and he said "mmmkay, so? you gonna write this shit or not?"

So here I am.

Bewitched: Preist!Toji Fushiguro x Witch!Fem!Reader

wc: 1.1k

tw: NSFW

1K Follower Event Masterlist

"Recite verses from the Holy Book, take the sacrament, and I will let you go."

You turn your head away from the priest, who is holding out the cracker and wine.

"I cannot do that. It is a--"

"Against your religion!" The priest finishes for you, throwing the wine and cracker onto the floor. You flinch, feeling the wine splatter the tips of your bare toes. "And why have you given your soul to the devil? What does he hold over you that cannot be forgiven by God?" The broad-chested man reaches a hand out to touch your chin with his crooked index finger, but you step back, keeping your eyes on the stone floor of the chapel.

"I have not sold my soul to the devil," you reply, gripping your hands by your sides. "I am not a dark witch."

"Please do not tell me you think there good witches or bad witches," he laughs, stepping over the mess he just made and advancing upon you in the robes befit for a holy king. "A witch is a witch. And you will be hung or burned at the stake if I say so."

"Then kill me," you gripe. "But you will suffer the wrath of a thousand others if you do."

"You are ill," he pleads with you, his green eyes searching your face earnestly. "Come, be saved by the power of God and--"

"Your god does not exist," you retort, but you can't seem to catch the hand that strikes out at your face. You stumble against a pew, bringing a hand up to your face.

"Blasphemy! Repent, witch, or you will burn in Hell for eternity!"

I've got one last trick, you think to yourself. One last option. But I would be breaking my own rules to do it. The priest continues to advance on you, and you muster up the last bit of magic you can to cast a final spell. You don't even need to speak, the thought of the old words is enough.

At first, you don't think the spell has taken effect, but when the priest stops and blinks three times, you inhale deeply, hoping the effect of the love spell is strong enough to save you.

The priest stares at you for a long time before exhaling shakily, clasping his hands together. "I would be remiss if I did not permit you to take sanctuary here for the evening," he finally murmurs, mesmerized. "You are welcome to stay in the comfort of my chambers." He swallows hard, and you nod, silently thanking your magic for the quick solution.

_____________________________________________________________

"Shall I call for someone to light the fireplace? I would hate for you to catch a chill."

"I'm fine," you whisper, curling under the sheets in the large four-poster bed. "Thank you." The priest has changed out of his vestments, now clothed in simple pair of pants, and his black hair is visible, laying against his forehead as he settles into the chair beside the bed.

There are only three other women in your situation - witches who have bewitched priests who sought to murder them. You vowed as a young witch to never put yourself in this situation, for the risk of the spell not working was higher than the reward of it actually taking effect in the way you want it to. But it seems this priest already had wavering faith, which strengthened the hold of your magic on him. He looks at you with a lost puppy gaze, the scar on his lips parting as he drinks in your visage in his bed.

"Your scar," you whisper, reaching your hand out to touch it. "Where did you get it from?" The priest kisses your fingers, then murmurs,

"A witch scarred me as a child when she attacked my family." You hum, frowning.

"I am sorry to hear that. Such a malicious act for no reason..." The brutish man leans into your palm, and you stroke his face as he sighs.

"May I join you in the bed? Feel free to say no."

"You may." In the waning light of the sun, the priest climbs into the bed with you, wrapping a strong arm around your figure.

Before he blows the candles out, he whispers, "Goodnight, my love."

And the lights go out.

_____________________________________________________________

Your hips bang against the dresser as Toji rocks into you, his muscled body hovering above yours.

"Excellent... sermon today," you moan, leaning your head back. You don't really think it was an excellent sermon, but his infatuation grows stronger every single time you praise him.

"Enough about that," he whispers, leaning down to kiss you. "I love coming back to your embrace. You're so perfect..."

For the past three months, you've been living in the church and carrying on a relationship with the priest inside. And you have to admit, beyond his staunch and unmoved exterior, Toji is softer than you ever imagined he would be.

"I'm gonna cum..." he whispers, bracing himself for the sensation. "Oh, my--" The hiss Toji lets out is divine, and the feeling of his cock twitching inside of you is just as amazing.

"Toji, that feels so good..." you moan, and he laughs, kissing down your neck.

"You love it when I cum inside of you, huh?" You nod, kissing him again as he carries you to the bed, covering you with the sheets and smoothing your hair away from your face. "I love you."

"I love you, too," you admit, touching his face before curling up and drifting off to sleep.

But you awake in the middle of the night, and upon finding the other side of the bed cold, you sit up and look around the room. "Toji?" You slide out of bed, feeling the stickiness between your legs but ignoring it and wrapping yourself in a shirt discarded on the floor. You open the doors to your shared chambers and walk through the church, peeking around every corner and even daring to look in the confessional box. But there's nothing.

And then you hear a soft whispering, and you creep into the main sanctuary, seeing Toji kneeling at the altar. You hold your breath to hear him better, and you pick up the words,

"Forgive me, Lord, for lying with a witch... I cannot be parted from her, and she believes she has cast a spell upon me... and in essence she has. But I am sure if I remain by her side, she will be converted and--" You turn quickly and rush back to your chambers, sliding back into the bed, shaking.

No, you hadn't truly escaped. Your magic hadn't worked.

Toji had bewitched you, and now, you couldn't leave him.

[ventisehe]

trust and betrayal / genshin impact / gorou

best boi woof woof gets content because i love him. back when the gorou content is still scarce, i stumbled on this post where gorou used to be the lover of electro archon reader. i forgot who made the post but if you're reading this, please message if you want me to take down this post. i got inspired by your post i had to write. i am new to writing d/i/r/t/y stuff so please bear with me and my terrible writing.

requested by: none

warning: unedited, not proofread, angst, and not/s/f/w

               The sun has begun its ascent, taking its rightful place in the morning skies, as the moon bid its farewell with one last withering light from a distance. The sun acknowledges your presence, cascading its warm rays upon your exposed form, prompting you to awake from your peaceful slumber. However, you dismiss its greeting with a quiet murmur of protest, opting to ignore the warmth and instead bury your face on the chest of the man lying down beside you.

      A chuckle blossoms in the silence of the bedroom, and a pair of lean arms capture you in an embrace. This disturbance, however, is welcomed, unlike the sunlight which still has its touch on your nude back. “I know you want to sleep in, my love,” A deep voice grumbles next to your ear, causing you to squirm. “But don’t you believe it’s time to wake up? Your work awaits you.” You can almost hear the amusement in his exhausted voice, and you did not have to incline your sight to meet his to see he is regarding you with a rather entertained expression. You can already imagine how the sunrays perfectly cast the caramel color of his hair and the tuft of white with light, and how his teal eyes appraise you in a heated gaze – you clenched your thighs at the mere thought.

                               The only response you can conjure in your state of fatigue is an inaudible noise of objection to his suggestion. Your fingers reach out and softly curls themselves on his tousled brown and white tresses. Another chuckle falls from his lips. You feel his hand stray to your own hair and tucks a lock behind your ear. “You must be very exhausted. You’re not usually like this.” He whispers. “Did I overdo it last night, dearest?” His voice is small and quiet, like the morning has yet to dawn upon the land of Eternity, and the dark skies littered with stars and moon still looms over.

                  A shiver weaves throughout your body as his fingers dances across your back, from the back of your neck to the dip of your back, and to the space just above your ass.

                              “I’m going to guess I’m right.”

  A squeal brushes past your lips when his digits took a bit of your soft flesh in their hold and pinches lightly. The fatigue that has once clouded your senses is dispelled at his ministration. Your hand abandons his strands and leaves a reprimanding slap on his chest, but your halfhearted action did not deter your lover. He laughs at the pout forming on your face, his tail moving left and right.

                          “Not funny, Gorou.” You chastise – although there is no venom lacing your inflection – with a mild frown.

            A broad and infectious beam is present and apparent on Gorou’s brims, and his laughter slowly came to a cease as he regains his bearings. “Sorry, sorry.” There is a lack of sincerity in his quipped apology. His arm comes to a rest around your waist and with a firm but controlled pull, your physique presses closer to him. His other arm curls around your head and brings your face closer to his own until you can see the imperfections of his features you have grown to adore. Your line of sight embarks in a journey to the softness and warmth in his eyes, to the pink hue dusting across his cheeks, to his lips which beckons you to relive the ecstasy of last night, and then lastly, to the marks and bruises marring his neck.

                                You lick your lips at the sight of them. You can vaguely recall straddling him in the previous evening, head spinning and mouth open in a moan as your hips and pussy worked wonders on his cock. You remember leaning over to his panting stature, breathing down on his neck, hearing him whimper in need as filth of your desires spewed to his ears, before sinking your teeth on his flesh. He cried out your name whenever your walls contract on his length, and his bound wrists above his head struggled against the restraints, desperate to touch you.

                A purr of satisfaction thrums against your chest as his fingers begin to toy with your tresses. The sensation is familiar and comforting, it almost brings you back to the brink of sleep until he spoke. “But it’s not like this is the first time I’ve touched your ass.”

            A stoic mask encapsulates your features, and Gorou takes pleasure in renouncing his fingers from playing with your hand in favor of taking your cheek between his fingers and tugging at it tenderly. You let out a mewl of objection to his antics, but it seems to garner the opposite reaction as he pulls your cheek a little harder the second you expressed your dislike to his innocent deed.

                                     “Gorou, stop,” You groan out as your eyes flutter to a close, but even with making known of your disapproval to his ministration, your body remains contentedly secure against his chest, doing nothing to support your statement. Early in the morning, late in the night, when the sun has risen, or the moon has reigned, you craved his attention – and he knew it too.

         You huff, and even then Gorou did not relent his pinching. “How would you like a taste of your own medicine?”

                                              A smirk appears on Gorou’s lips, and his tail, though wagging, settles in a more languid pace. “I certainly wouldn’t mind.”

            An affirmation is all you need from him. Your hands leave their purchase on his bare chest to caress his ears, and slowly, you curl your digits behind them. The effect you laid on him is instantaneous. His ears twitches at your touch and his head is thrown back, an imperceptible moan of pleasure seeping through his parted lips. His eyes close at the sensation, and scarlet hue over his cheeks became richer in color. Oh, how you wanted to witness the helplessness that you are certain to cross his eyes, to be in awe of the power you hold over this man, but you dare not to disturb this time of tranquility and intimacy between the two of you. For now, you shall spare him from the mortification.

                            This time, it is your turn to showcase your smirk. His reactions never fail to amuse you. You proceed to put your fingers into motion, scratching his dog ears as leisurely. You watch as Gorou bit his lower lip, straining from the temptation to whine at your touch. He opens an eye to look at you, and as you have expected, the vulnerability you have longed to see graces his teal hues. “Stop it, [ Your Name ],” He moans, frustration leaking on his visage. “That’s unfair. You know how sensitive I am with my ears.”

                      “Then stop pinching my cheek.”

                                “How will you make me?”

                                                  Your jeering smirk broadens at his taunting response, but it looks a bit crooked by how he was still refusing to release your cheek. “Fine, be that way.”

                        Before he can question your remark, you have already made your move. Gorou gasps in astonishment as you position yourself on top of him, your breasts pressing firmly against his chest and your forearms confining his head in between. Blood rushes to Gorou’s cheeks as he gazes up at your form, contrasting the color of his skin. You stifle a laugh at his reaction.

                            A gratified smiled appears on your countenance as you cage Gorou beneath you. You catch his left ear twitch. Your triumph is short lived, however. With the playfulness Gorou is exhibiting, the recollections of your erotic endeavors last night dissolve. Your bareness has entirely fled your mind. But everything comes crashing back as his flaccid length brush delicately against your slit. You inhale at the sensation, and a pleasured grunt exudes a delectate grunt.

                    The feeling of your sexes meeting is fleeting but arousal has begun to form in your lower region. It seems you are not alone in your growing arousal for your lover, his slowly hardening cock and steadily accelerating tail testaments to your claim. If this has been a more lighthearted situation, you know Gorou would impishly scold his tail for betraying him. But Gorou knows when to speak, and when to keep his mouth shut, like the obedient boy he is.

 Wordlessly, Gorou keeps his sights on you, eyelids partly cover his hues. You return his gaze with the similar flicker of desire in your own. None to speak a word to the other, afraid even the slightest sound of the outdoors could break the sinful silence surrounding the two of you. The mischief and mirth that once hung in the atmosphere are vanquished, the yearning for the touch of the other taking their place, growing stronger the longer you stare into each other’s eyes.

                                 It catches you by surprise when Gorou moves, circling his arms around your waist to pull you closer. You bite your lip when you feel his muscles flexing in his careful motion, but all attention to them is immediately forgotten as he prods his pelvis against yours. You smother back the shudder that threatens to cascade down your spine, but all efforts are left for naught as a breathless gasp escapes your when he rubs his cock against your soaked pussy. You feel his tip beginning to swell as he continues to play with your nether lips. You swallow as his member travels up and down your slit, tracing your opening, before costively bringing his hips off the mattress.

                      You open your mouth to question his motives, however, nothing protrudes from you but a sharp and soft exhale. Gorou tightens his hold around you and you can see the effort he exerts to keep himself from throwing his head back further against the pillow behind his head. His cock grazes against your other hole. The precum sprouting at his tip smears at your puckered entrance, the warm liquid creating an uncomfortable stickiness between your rear end and his cock.

                                              An idea surfaces in your mind. As he carries on with his gentle actions, you take this opportunity to retaliate to his less than subtle light teasing.

                                    Does he think I still haven’t caught on with his ways by now?

         You push your ass down and up, sliding your puffy pussy lips against his large cock. His reaction is as you would have expected but witnessing it firsthand is always a pleasure to you. His eyes close tightly and his fingernails dig deep and firm on your supple flesh. You can feel shapes of a crescent moon imbedding on to your body.

                 “[ Your Name ],” Gorou breathes out your name, but nothing else follows. Nothing to indicate he dislikes your treatment, and thus, you carry on. You lift and lower your rear at his hard penis, humming as his essence creams your aching holes. You can so easily slide his cock inside you, take him in and grab the upper hand, have him at the mercy of your body. It almost feels natural to have him beneath you. As the Electro Archon, the almighty Raiden Shogun, you are accustomed to power, and being in a relationship does not alter such acclimation. But you deny yourself of the pleasure to do so.

                            Letting him in is a victory for him, and this is intended to be punishment for his misbehavior.

       A forced chuckle breezes pass Gorou’s lips. “This was your plan, huh? Turn me to repeat what happened last night?” He sucks in a deep breath. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m open to the idea. I’ll be more than happy to oblige for my beautiful Archon.”

                         Redness tints your cheeks at his words. You still yourself on top of him and purse your lips.  “That isn’t my intention – ah –  ”

                                         His pelvis thrusts forward before you can finish your sentence. The head of his length slips inside your cunt for a split second, evoking a shocked gasp from you, and pulling out as quickly as he entered. The feeling of his cock poking inside of you still tingles in your hole, and it would be mortifying for you to admit that you wished he had fully sheathed himself inside of you and rail you with abandon.

           It takes you several seconds to gather your bearings at the stunt Gorou pulled. Said male grins wickedly at you, his canines showing and glinting in the soft sunrays. A scowl manifest on your brims. “You bastard,” You growl, glowering at his triumphant smile.

                       “Oh, of course.” Gorou quips. “You tease me, it’s fine. I tease you, I get sworn at.”

                                   You let out a noise of discontentment. “If you have any plans on fucking me today, do it already.”

  “Ah, right, you still have your duties to attend to.” Gorou lets out a laugh, but you can detect the hint of resentment in his tone.

                  You are familiar with Gorou’s feelings about your duties. Although he has not publicly proclaimed it, you have always suspected his disdain to your responsibilities. When you questioned him about this, he simply told you – with a small pout like a child denied of an object of his desire with arms folded over his chest – that your onuses are tearing you away from him. All he wants to do is lay down, forget the world beyond your bedroom, and drown in your presence. This had greatly bothered you for him, of all people, should know what he was getting into when he agreed to be your lover. But that notion was quickly dismissed upon further thought. Gorou never once tried to persuade you to run away from your responsibilities to be with him. He must have already understood that you have a duty you need to fulfill to your people, to your beloved Land of Eternity – but of course, that did not stop him from disliking your callings.

                                                   You can sympathize with him, however. With him being one of the Generals of the Shogunate, you too must constantly fight with yourself and stifle the temptation to use your authority to keep him stationed in your abode for him not to stray far from you.

                                 He breathes out. “But you’re the one who decided to get on top of me. If anything, you should be the one fucking me.”

                   Gorou raises a hand off your waist. You can feel his touch ghosting over your skin, traveling down on your lower back. Your throat tightens as his fingers finds your drenched opening. His touch is light, almost ghostly. You can feel his forefinger tracing your pussy with lazy strokes, but it’s not enough. You gulp – he is making a mess of your arousal, spreading your wetness in your inner thighs and ass.

          You choke back a moan. He is hardly touching you and you are responding to his touches like a whore desperate to be used and filled. Perhaps it is because you are.

                  You know Gorou is aware just how good he is making you feel. His cock has been throbbing in between your ass cheeks as his fingers rub circles on your clit. It is a miracle to you that he has not stuck his cock in yet when he could clearly do so. There is nothing stopping him from taking hold of your waist and ramming into you. It makes you wonder if you should applaud him for his strong self-restraint or curse at him for keeping you in this pathetic state, putty in his hands and trying to save face by trying your hardest not to grind against his manhood.

You opened your mouth to reprimand him, but his lips were upon you before any word can come out of you, and at the same time, his digits penetrated you easily.

            Your mouth opens to protest, but his lips seals over yours, cutting off any words that dare roll out of your tongue. At the same time, his digits pierces through your opening.

                                                A noise vibrates in your vocal tract, but Gorou’s raring lips swallows your noises.

           Your vision becomes crossed at the abrupt intrusion in your pussy. Gorou, without tearing his lips away from you, inserts his long and thick fingers in your hole without any warning. Your body turns limp. He did not give you any time to adjust and he pumps his fingers in your cunt.

                                  He withdraws from you, and you stop yourself from letting out a whimper of discontent. “You’re shaking so much, darling.” As humiliating as it is, he is far from incorrect. His fingers drag in and out of you in a painfully slow pace. Each push reaches deep inside you and every pull has you yearning for more.

        “Faster, please.” You whisper, eyes boring into his mirthful ones. Oh, you did not like that gleam in his eyes.

                              “I’ll think about it.” Gorou replies with a tone that suggest he is going to do anything but surrender to your plea and carries on with his slow movement in your pussy, feigning ignorance to the glare you send his way.

                                      His motive is as clear as day. He wants you to beg or push yourself to meet with his thrusts. His speed never changes. It’s just the right pace to slowly push you to the brink of giving him what he wants.

  You seethe your teeth, and you quietly take his fingers. You have lost count of the times you took Gorou out on a stroll around your residence. With the two of you having your own responsibilities to the people of Inazuma, you can never find enough time to prepare for an extravagant date with delectable cuisines and a luxurious room. Not to mention, those sorts of dates aren’t exactly Gorou’s cup of tea. Walks and picnic dates in your garden are frequent, and your favorite among the small number of other dates you two do. In those walks, your hand always finds Gorou’s. It is in your nature to interlock your fingers with his at that point. You often compare the size of your hand to his own, so you know just how larger his hand is, and how longer his fingers are. But it never really sunk into you until he was using them to pleasure you. It is only at these times did you hate his fingers.

    He watches your expression crumble as he fingerfucks you. A smirk arises to his brims. You wish to wipe the conceited smirk off his face but all you can do is close your eyes and moan. A drool drips from the corner of your mouth, trickling down to your chin. You silently hope for him not to notice it, but alas, he did. He chuckles at the sight of it but does not say anything, which you are thankful for.

                         He leans forward until your faces are once again inches apart. You close your eyes, preparing to feel his lips flutter over yours. Warmth and wetness laps over the corner of your lips, licking the trail of drool that escaped your mouth.

            Any inhibitions that once held you back from entertaining Gorou’s actions was thrown out of the window, and with a shaky breath, you placed your hands on his chest, pushed yourself up and rocked yourself into his fingers. With the unison of your movements, his fingers managed to reach even deeper in your cunt.

                 Any inhibitions that once held you back from entertaining Gorou’s teasing has dissolved. And a portion of self-respect went along with them. A trembling puff of air steadily streams out of your mouth, and a quiver running down your spine subsequently follows. Your hands make purchase over his chest, your fingers gliding up his collarbone – tracing the dips with thoughtful touches – and running down to take his nipples in your hold. You take silent note of how his breathing hitches.

                                  You play the nubs between your fingers. Pulling, twisting, and you listen to the moans he desperately tries to fight off. A frown adorns your countenance, displeased by his silence. You lean your head down to his chest, removing one hand from his nipple for a short moment, to swipe your locks to one side and take his neglected nipple in your wet cavern.

                     “[ Your Name ],” He stutters, but he is unable to make an end of his whisper as a moan of pleasure overrides your name. You give his hardened nub a quick suck, and watch his expression unfold right before your eyes. Your tongue runs over his nipple. His face has always been beautiful, but it is when he’s a whimpering mess with scarlet painted over his face that makes him look ethereal.

         Your tongue creates a circular motion around his nipple, and you pull away from him. His fingers have long lost their rhythm inside you, too enraptured by your ministrations on him. He attempts to glare at you, but it has done nothing to make you regret your actions. In all truthfulness, it is simply adorable how he tries to look tough as nails when he’s breathing heavily with red face, hair tousled, beads of sweat encompassing his frame, and his left nipple hard, sore, and wet from your saliva.

                                           “[ Your Name ].”

                        “Gorou,” You return with the same quietness.

              With a newfound confidence, you take his wet nipple in between your fingers, pinching it, before releasing the other one.

                                  His head lifts from the bed, a scowl carving on his brims. “Stop.” He orders.

     A mirthful smirk graces your face. Because you possess a streak of maliciousness behind the closed doors of your room, you respond, “I’ll think about it.”

              You brought your face closer to his right nipple, fully intending to do the same attention you’ve given to the other. However, Gorou is one step ahead of you. Your lips have barely grazed his digits penetrates deep inside your cunt, stunning you. A choke exudes out of your contracting throat. He did not let you adjust to the abrupt change, and he speeds up his pace, fucking you in a speed you cannot comprehend because your mind went into a haze, ridding you of your consciousness for a short second, as your hips went against you and have begun meeting his fucking by bouncing on his fingers.                        

You couldn’t see how his fingers are thrusting in and out of your drenched pussy, but you can only that they are nothing but a back-and-forth blur. You couldn’t keep your moans to yourself anymore and they come cascading down your drooling mouth.

                              “G-G-G – ah – Gor – ahhh – ou –” You try to say his name, but it comes in part. You recall saying

                                       A satisfied beam graced Gorou’s face as you let yourself get loud. You know your servants outside of your room can hear you, know exactly what is transpiring behind the doors they stood by. But you couldn’t find it in yourself to care.

                You didn’t care if they were thinking inappropriately of you – of their beloved Archon. All that is important is the man underneath you, giving you a sort of service only he can offer.

                                 “So wet early in the morning.” Gorou mumbles. He curls his fingers deliciously inside of you, hitting an area he has always successfully reached with his fingers and with his cock. A broken scream tore from your throat and your head fell on his chest. Your breathing is erratic, intermingling with the lewd sounds Gorou’s fingers was making inside of you. He smiles down at you, chuckling at the mess he had made of you. “How cute. I suppose last night has not left you satisfied yet?”

                   “It’s your fault – oh fuck – ” You whisper, groaning when his finger come to a sudden halt, only to curl in such a manner that had you throwing your head back, and your back arching. Your tongue lolled out of your tongue like a dog would, and you knew Gorou took pleasure in seeing your lewd expression. With the countless of times you have provoked awoke his dog like characteristics,

                                   “My fault?” He hums.  “Tell me again how this is my fault?”

    You knew what he is doing. You are at the edge of delirium as you eagerly ride his fingers, hips going up and down as the tips of his digits brushed against your cervix. He knew you are rendered hopeless in conjuring any coherent response. All he wants is to see you struggling knowing he was the one making you act like this.

                    “Because you . . . you . . . ” Your velvety walls have begun contracting around his fingers. If that is not giving you away from your close climax, the way your shoulders shakes and hips stutter in their momentum, and how your moans altered to desperate whimpers of his name certainly did. Gorou, with his keen eyes takes notice of all these signs.

                                               And because he is a tease, Gorou immediately pulls his fingers out of you, leaving you in the wake of your ruined orgasm. You can feel the slickness dripping out of you stick to your inner thighs, as well as Gorou’s. Your teary eyes focused on the man below you, a glower fixating on your features. However, all Gorou did was smile a self-satisfied smile.

                        He brought his cum covered fingers to his lips and you swallowed as you watched his tongue wrap around them, lapping up your essence like it had been so long since he has tasted you.

                  “You taste good.” The rich shade of red deepens on your cheeks at his remarks, and he can only laugh as you wrap your arms around him and place your head back to the crook of his neck, hiding your flushed face from the Geo Vision Wielder.

           “Shut up.” You whisper.

                                      “My, my, the Raiden Shogun, embarrassed because of a little tease?” He chuckles. “Now that’s something you don’t see every day. Except for me, I suppose.” His fingers, damp from his spit and your cum, descends upon your locks and treaded through them, combing them as though they were fine silk. “I get to see every part of you, and only me.”

                  You lift your head up and smiled down at him. “Does that make you feel special?”

             Gorou looks up in feigned thought, ear twitching. “Let me think. A smart and beautiful woman is in love with me, and she’s Archon of the great land of Inazuma. Yes, that does make me feel special.” A soft smile graces on his features, but it was soon replaced by a teasing smirk, the kind of smirk you’ve only seen on him when he has learned something valuable. “But you know what makes me feel powerful?”

                                            You didn’t think you could get any wetter. “What?”

                                Gorou plants a kiss on your cheek. “That [ Your Name ] [ Last Name ] spreads her legs for me whenever I ask her to.”

  You are suddenly reminded of your situation when you felt his hardened cock run up and down your slit, the head once again teasing your entrance in a way that makes your head spin. Pleasure is knocking on your doors, and you are desperate to answer.

                             “Just put it inside me,” You whine. “Please.”

                       “I can’t hear you, dear. You have to be a little louder.” Gorou hums. He takes his time playing at your clit,  tapping his cock against your hole and smearing his slickness on your own.

              “Oh, why you . . . ” You raised your head from his neck, glaring at him with lust in your eyes. “ . . . just fuck me already, Gorou, please – ”

                  You are rendered useless to continue your statement when you found yourself being flipped around, your right cheek pressing against the mattress, wrists bound behind your back by a string grip, Giroud’s chest against your back, and his length slowly easing inside your pretty hole.

  Your mouth opened in a silent moan, head thrown back as he stuffed you full of his large cock. You can hear Gorou trying to hold back his groans as entered you, the squelching sound louder than it was before. Both of you simultaneously moaned when his hips bucked forward, pelvis meetings yours. It felt like an eternity before he bottomed out. He is balls deep inside you – so full of him – and the tip of his cock rests against a sensitive spot.

                            “So full.” You mumble. “Full, so . . . ”

              Gorou smirks down at you as he used his other than to wipe the drool dripping from the corner of your mouth. “Just the way you like it.”

     He began thrusting inside you. His pace started out slow, but soon, he was slamming into your cunt with abandon, hand forgetting your wrists to take hold of your waist. A series of “ah” spills out of your mouth as he fucked you.

                 He begins thrusting inside you. His pace starts slow and sure, and you feel every inch of his length stretching you out. But it did not take long until he is slamming into you with abandon, his hand forgetting your wrists to take hold of your waist. You secretly wonder if he sees your as his lover or a toy for him to release inside of. Either way, you’ll be happy to be both.

              You feel the veins of his cock dragging deliciously in your walls. Tears wells up in your eyes when the head of his length hit perfectly your most sensitive spot. Your vision crosses.

                                   The bed was creaking underneath your vigorous forms, the legs threatening to give way with how vigorous Gorou is using you. Your fingers digs into the fabric of the bed and tears pricks at the corner of your mouth as you helplessly moaned beneath Gorou’s grunting figure. Every time his cock pistons in you, your body shook and a mewl follows. You have been with Gorou for quite some time now and even until now, his girth still feels like the first time you laid with him.

           Your hole can barely accommodate his size, and it was by your sheer will – like always – to pleasure him that pushed you to take every inch of him. It didn’t matter if it was painful, it felt too good to stop. The pain came with unimaginable pleasure that only he can bring.

       A particularly hard thrust had you screaming and in the process, your walls clamped around his length. A throaty moan escaped Gorou’s lips at the sudden action and his hips stutters before coming to an abrupt halt. You whimper at the loss of movement.

              Gorou place his head, chin resting on your shoulder as he breathed in and out, trying to collect himself. He removes his hands from your hips and place them on either side of you, trapping you without any chance of escape. “Resorting to teasing me, huh?”

                        You shake your head lightly. “N-No, I wasn’t – ” You let out a soft cry when without warning, Gorou resumes pounding your sensitive pussy. Your eyes crosses again and your tongue pokes out of your mouth. You didn’t need a mirror to know you resembled like a panting dog, and you knew Gorou would love to see that kind of fucked out expression on you. But he was too focused on driving his cock as deep as he can inside you hole to make a comment about it.

                                                          You are pressed firmly against the mattress with no space for movement other than erratically grinding against Gorou’s, meeting his thrusts with fervor.

          With your face against the bed, you watch as Gorou propped his weight on his right arm, stifling a grunt as he tries to keep his balance and momentum. You feel his left arm slide down in front of you and to your crotch. His fingers found your clit and he wasted no time furiously rubbing the wet nub.                    With the added pleasure, you were thrown to euphoria. You feel his hot breath brushing against the back of your neck, and his scent was slowly filling your senses.

                  “How are you holding up?” You didn’t know how to answer his question. Your lips move but you cannot make out any coherent sentences other than your muttering of how good he felt. Each drag of his cock and each pump his hips made stole your breath and sanity away, leaving you anything but a shred of your divinity.

                     “Feel so good,” You whimper. Your walls accepted everything he was giving you, to his love and devotion for you, and the overwhelming pleasure he was serving you. No other man can make you feel as loved and as adored like Gorou did. So, you will gladly return the favor, being his hole to fuck and fill with his seed.

               “I-I’m – ”

          Gorou places a kiss to your neck, and buried himself on your warm skin, huffing. His tail swishes behind him, something you came to learn that he was as vulnerable and sensitive as you are despite his dominance. You can feel him twitching inside you, ready to explode. It seems he wasn’t too far from his release as well.

                                             “Just hold on a little longer, dear.”

                                  His pace did not falter, but you can feel his fangs grazing on your skin – a frequent sign that he does not have much long until he lets go. Wanting to be a good lover to him, you craned your neck to give him a larger space. He kissed a patch of your flesh as a sign of gratitude.

                     You close your eyes as you Gorou’s warm seed flood your insides along with the sensation of his fangs puncturing your neck. The pain comes swiftly but it dissipates just as quick as he pumps in you in a languid manner, trying to prolong the euphoria and stuffing you with his seed. The feeling of his load filling your insides forces you to climax. It’s a soft and quiet release, and you cuddle against Gorou as your cum spurts out of your pussy, dribbling down to your inner thighs and mixing with his overflowing cum.

            For a moment, there was just serenity between the two of you, your hushed breaths, and the lewd noises your union were making being the only thing heard in the room.

      After composing himself, Gorou gets off you with a grunt, and you muffle your pathetic whine against your mattress as his cock slowly drags out of you. He paused a bit when the head of his manhood slipped out of your pussy lips. After a moment of contemplations, he reenters you for a quick second, and proceeding to leave you empty completely. You look at his manhood from your periphery and your tongue darts out to lick your lips upon seeing it covered in your mixed essence.

                       A shiver runs down your spine as the cold breeze brushes against your wet nub. With the presence of the breeze, you grow more aware of the thick layer of your combined sweat all over your body. Your mind is brought back to how Gorou was pressed up against you just a few seconds ago, moaning and whispering your name hotly by your ear as he drives his cock in your pussy.

              Your train of thoughts are cut off when you feel the familiar pair of arms which had once caged you underneath him enclose around your figure and pulled you until your chest met Gorou’s. A soft smile is plastered on his face.

  The soft glow the sun cast on his face melted your heart, and you mirror his smile with one of your own. Your hands find his neck and tug him until he leans down to your height. You can hear a steady thumping sound behind Gorou, and you had to stop yourself from bursting to fits of laughter and instead pressed a kiss against Gorou’s.

               When you pull away, your smile broadens and your pride expands as you saw the redness tinting on Gorou’s cheeks went a deeper shade, and yet the stupidly gleeful smile on his face has yet to leave.

                       “I can’t believe we did it so early in the morning.” You titter.

      “This isn’t the first time we’ve done it. Don’t complain now.” Chastise Gorou in a manner that was playful, teasing.

                                      “I wasn’t complaining.” You argue.

            Gorou stifles a laugh as he glances at the closed doors across the room. He nods towards it. “Maybe your staff will.”

                                Your lips tingles at the sensation of his lips upon yours earlier. The feeling is gradually fleeting away. You place your middle and forefinger on his cheek and forced him to look at you. His squished face looked at you, puzzled by your actions but soon melts into your touch when you kiss him once more.

           You try to pull away, but Gorou caught your jaw and pulled you back, kissing you. He opens his eyes as he retracted from you but leaving only an inch of distance from your lips. You can see yourself in the warmth of his eyes.

                                                Your heart flutters. You can never get enough of how Gorou always made you feel.

                            “I want to stay like this for a little longer.” You murmur; eyes half lidded.

                  Gorou smiles. “Then let’s.”

                                 The two of you stays in the embrace, marveling in the presence of the other and the afterglow of your earlier events. The soft chirping of the birds and billowing winds creating a song through the leaves – they all sound distant as your ears focused on Gorou’s heartbeat. It is steady, calm – comforting.

                                                        “I hope we stay like this forever.” You hear Gorou mumble. You look at him, expecting to see that small yet gentle smile on his face but there is apprehension in his eyes. Your mistake was is questioning it.

        “Do not worry, my love.” You say as your hand found his and interlaced your hands together. “Once all Visions are in my hands, and remove all threats to eternity, we’ll have all the time in the world. We can stay like this longer.”

                        You lean in to share a kiss with him, and because of your love for him, you did not feel the reluctance of his reciprocation.

              Gorou exhales and reaches to run the back of his fingers on your cheek. “I’ll miss this.”

                               ***

           The day after the morning you had with Gorou is rather uneventful, yet prosperous. Your endeavor to eternity has been more than fruitful. Everyday a new Vision is seized from the hands of the ones the other Archon found favor on and embezzled on the statue. You grow closer to your goal day by day with the help of your subordinates.

  You can already see, the future you wish your nation to attain gradually falling in your palms.

              Soon. You think. I will succeed. For my people, and for Gorou.

                           You look up at the night sky and breath in the cold air. Of course, you know the consequences of what will happen when one is stripped off their Vision, but that is all but a small sacrifice for what you wish for Inazuma. Your people will hate you – they already do – but they will understand that what cruelty they see in your actions is for the sake of the greater good.

  Your gaze oversees the city from the top of your abode and slowly trails over to the statue which beheld features strikingly similar to your own. As it should. The marble statue is made to glorify you, and the glittering Visions a warning to anyone who dares defies your orders.

                     You look down at your hand and a ball of black and lightning manifests over your palm. “One day they’ll see what I’m doing, and they shall thank me for it.” You close your hands and the object disappears in a puff of spoke.

      A knock on the door disturbed your musings, and with a simple command to the interrupting individual, the door opened and closed swiftly.

                                        Without turning to meet the face of the person, you spoke. “What have you come to inform me this time, Sara?”

              “Your Excellency,” She acknowledges. “I’ve come with terrible news.”

                           With that said, you snap your head to look at her, eyebrows furrowed. “Speak.”

               Sara approaches you with quick and calculated steps. All you have ever seen on Sara’s face is her dedication to you and your vision for Inazuma. Rarely does she let a smile grace her lips. It was always solemnity and firmness gracing her face. But there is something odd in her expression. You just couldn’t quite understand it.

                                                Sara extends a hand towards you. Your sight falls to her open palm, only to find a familiar insignia in her hold. You picked it up with dainty fingers and examined the item. “The Sangonomiya . . . ” You mutter. With a quick work of your fingers, you toss the insignia up in the air and caught it in your hand quickly.

           “We found it stuck on the walls near the encampment along with a note that said to repeal the Vision Hunt Decree.” Answers Sara, frown deepening. “This is a declaration of war, your Excellency.”

                                                         You did not respond to her. You have anticipated this occurrence. You know at some point the people who oppose with your law would try to fight back. But you’ve prepared for such happening. You have calculated all possibilities that could lead to the overturning of eternity, and this is where the expertise of your lover comes to play.

                                     “Find Gorou and bring him here. I have to discuss this with him.” You look back down at the Sangonomiya insignia. “I trust he will give valuable advise as to how to approach this little setback.”

                          The oddity you had early seen on Sara’s face grew more apparent after your last statement. Uncertainty, that’s what it is.

                     “I’m afraid that is not possible.” Sara spouts.

          A frown formed on your face. “What do you mean?”

                                                              Conflict arises to her features, intermingling with the uncertainty but she composed herself and continues. “We found this in along with the Sangonomiya insignia.”

        Your heart dropped as Sara dug in her pocket to reveal a familiar looking collar. Your other hand reach for the object with trembling hands, but you do not have the courage to touch it. The collar is painfully familiar. You’ve never spent a day without admiring it around its owner’s neck. A simple yet delicately made collar meant as a sign of adoration, not possession. It’s why Gorou liked it. You can still remember the day you’ve given it to him and the smile on his face was something you would cherish for eternity.                

                                     “You mean . . . ” You couldn’t bring yourself to say it. You feel as though if you said it out loud, it would become real.

                        Sara nods stiffly. “We have that evidence to believe Gorou is part of the growing rebellion.”

               You close your eyes tightly. Your hands clench, the insignia in your hand digging into your skin. It hurt, but not as much as the betrayal of your lover.

                                           The moments you shared with him earlier soured, and the memories of him shattered, leaving you with an emptiness you knew he would leave.

                      You stare at the collar once more, the tightness in your chest worsening. He left his collar not as an act of betrayal to the Shogun, but to you, as a partner.

           “Your Excellency – ” Sara is cut off when your hand snatches the collar from her grasp. You can feel her eyes on you as your heated gaze burns on the item in your hand.

                                   It feels heavy despite the material being soft and light. With a cry of frustration, you throw the collar against the wall behind Sara. You don’t look back when the sharp and crisp crack of lightning erupting behind you as the collar met the polished walls reaches your ear.

                    “Fine.” You whisper to yourself. You venture out to you the wide terrace of your house and place your hands on the railings. The wind whips at your face harshly that you consider the possibility of the Anemo Archon mocking your pain. In a distance, you can hear a thunder rumble. The lights of the city were suddenly dull, leaving only the victories of your decree shining on your statue.

                                         “Gorou now is an enemy of the Raiden Shogun. Anyone who isn’t for me is against me.” You spit out. “Place a bounty over his head and stop at nothing to take down the rebellion.”

           You heard Sara state her compliance to your order and quickly flees the room to enact your wishes.

                    You did not let your eyes leave the Inazuma City. Everything you were doing are for your people, for the greater good of Inazuma. You’re not going to let Gorou take away the prosperous future you had in store for your nation simply because he wishes to keep his Vision.

                                                             ***

                                         You did not know why you found yourself entering your room. This is the last place you want to be in.

          You stand by the doorframe, unmoving. You scan the room with a look so solemnity and darkness. Every inch of it reeks of his scent, of the memories you shared with him. The laughter, the doting glances, the whispers in the night, the future the two of you constantly talk about, how he holds you when your dreadful thoughts looms over you – and it all ends in nothingness.

                         You take a step inside. The room is cold, too cold. It isn’t always like this. When Gorou in your room, it’s always warm, a complete contrast to the frigid coldness you emit.

  Your bed is neatly made, no trace of the events in the morning left. You did not know if you should rejoice or punish the servants who dare rid you of what possibly is the last salvation you have to becoming the ruler you did not want to be – a distant, and unfeeling Archon.

                You look at the wall opposite of your bed and your chest tightens. An empty display greets you.

                                    Gorou’s bow always rest upon the display when he comes home, to you. It is – was – a comfort to you, seeing his weapon mounted on the display. It reminded you that he’s home, that he’s with you.

                                  And now it stands empty, reminding you that he no longer finds home in you.

                                          You gaze at it, eyes losing their shine.

                              Traitor.

[zhongliologist]

The Persistence of Time | Zhongli

Pairing: Zhongli x Gender Neutral!Reader

Genre: ANGST!! ANGST!!!!

Words: 3.1k

AN: Sorry this took a while!! I was trying to gather enough lore for this to work;;; I hope it was ok >////<!!! 

Now Playing: How Can I Love the Heartbreak, You’re the One I Love - AKMU; Vocalise, Op.34 - Sergei Rachmaninoff; Pavane pour une infante defunte, M.19 - Maurice Ravel

*

“That era has passed. Nothing that belonged to it exists anymore.”

-Wong Kar-Wai, In the Mood for Love

There was no sadness, no pain,

Just a longing for a moment in my life

Where everything seemed right,

Where happiness was due,

And where you and I existed.

I thought it would encompass infinity;

Towards the recesses of the universe

and the end of time.

Yet it passed us without telling;

It had passed without us knowing.

And I am now alone—

Left with a bleak emptiness,

Knowing what and how it felt to be

Complete.

*

“Please forgive me.”

It was there on that day when the gentle sea breeze became harsh gale, when the serene mountains behind him became tall ominous shadows reflecting the darkness cast upon his face. It was when the monotonous world was painted with vivid hurtful tones of silence and heartbreak; gnashing at his heart as it cut the final slivers of happiness left in him.

On that rather peaceful night, when the layers of dust that covered his heart finally blew away, Zhongli finally unearthed the haunting truth he tried to bury. After thousands of years, after monuments turn into ruins, and monoliths turn into sand, and wash away into the shores of time, he finally felt his heart tremble again.

Please forgive me.

“I am truly grateful to be able to receive your love…”

He could see it. Against the dark void of the cloudless sky, he saw it all in your eyes: the pain he had caused, killing you slowly inside like some torturous mechanism devised only by him. It had also cut him open, bleeding bloodless as he tried to force the words out of his lips.

Please…forgive me…

He didn’t want to say it; he didn’t want to hurt you. If only he could pull you to his embrace, wrap you around his arms so tenderly to ease the woes of your heart. If only he had that choice in the first place. He wished he had at that moment. But this was for the best.

“…and I also have come to realize my feelings for you, but—”

Truly, truly, he loves you. More than you can ever imagine; more than what you were thinking of right now as you stood motionless, awaiting his words. He would move mountains, divide the seas for you. He would do everything for you. And the moment you told him how you felt earlier that night was one of the happiest moments in his life, but even then, the tale must end before it could even begin.

He couldn’t risk it. You who had became so precious to him in a span of a few months, he couldn’t risk it. For you to be with a person like him; you deserved better.

“I have already resigned myself to this loneliness.”

Please forgive me.

Heartbreak is momentary. It will soon disappear, and you will soon forget about him. You will move on and find the happiness that he couldn’t give you in the arms of someone else. It felt like thorns around his throat, poison in his chest when he thought about it, yet it has to be done.

This pain will eventually be forgotten.

As he gazed at you, your eyes stunned and holding back tears he wished he could wipe away, Zhongli felt it pierce through him; more painful than any blade or arrow that ever wounded him. But this was for your own good.

“…why…?” you finally asked, eyes too weak to hold any more tears; leaving him more remorseful than ever before. “Don’t I deserve to know why?”

He grit his teeth, cursing silently at the wind. He always admired how you would never give up despite your gentle nature, but right now, it didn’t make things any easier.

“You and I both know what we feel…” you shouted at him, voice trembling. “So why…? Why can’t we be together?”

It was too much. Clenching his hands into fists, he turned away before he could give in to you; his brows furrowing in pain as he heard your sobs being swept by the wind.

“Zhongli!” you screamed, your chest too tight to be able to breathe as your voice diminished into a plea. “…answer me…please…”

His hand was trembling as he tried to hold the hurt in; to keep it suppressed into a tiny pebble inside his chest. But there will always be a point in time when he had to lose strength, when he was at his weakest—and you perfectly hit that mark when you asked him why with so much vulnerability.

“Not now…” he began, his words finally lost to him. “But if you really wish to know, see me tomorrow. At the Guili Ruins.”

*

If only the weather would also stay true to your feelings, it would’ve been a bit better.

Yet the sun was shining brightly, and the sky a deep cobalt blue with tiny whisps of titanium white clouds as it rolled across the expansive visage of the Guili Plains. Life moved on faster than your heart could ever catch up, even if it got broken just the night before.

And the one who broke it was just a few steps ahead.

Zhongli stood waiting for you just beside the main dirt road, mind always wandering farther than his feet could take him. You always wondered where his thoughts took him, or what was in his mind when he told you he had already ‘resigned to loneliness’.

As you approached him with a dread for the truth, you reminded yourself that this was what you asked for. That night, he seemed like he wouldn’t even give you an explanation if you hadn’t pressed him for it, and you wondered what was the reason for that. Now that you have arrived, it wouldn’t take long for you to finally discover what the answer was.

“…Zhongli,” you called out to him softly, stealing him away from his reveries.

He promptly gazed at you, amber eyes lingering for far too long for it to be just a simple glance. But before you could ask him why, he turned away coldly.

“Follow me.”

It stung you—how easily he could shut you off, how easily he could push you away even though you knew what he actually felt. Your eyes widened briefly, unused to this stone cold Zhongli, but you decided not to dwell on it before it could permanently hurt you. Crying when things had barely begun wouldn’t amount to anything.  

Ruins buried halfway on the ground dotted the green landscape; scattered into miniscule pieces that were no longer discernable. If only you could see how shattered your heart was, it would’ve looked similar to these desolate ruins. As you trailed behind him, unable to look at the same back you once embraced, you once leaned on to; your eyes simply gazed down on the ground just to tame these tumultuous tides of emotions.

If only you knew how much Zhongli tried to contain himself—balling his hands into tight fists, his teeth gritting at the way he kept on hurting you. He once was someone who could wear coldness in the face of carnage, yet right now, as you gazed at him with eyes so hopeful, he could feel the mask crumbling, cracking away piece by piece.

But this is for your own good—he reminded himself for the millionth, billionth, nth time.

Eventually he stopped walking, just standing right before a glowing circle on the ground. You could see a cliff behind him, overlooking a sea of long-forgotten stone ruins.

“The Guili Plains were once home to the Guili Assembly,” Zhongli began as he faced you, expression unreadable. “A precursor to the harbor city of Liyue, the Assembly was once ruled over by the God of Dust, Guizhong, and the Geo Archon Rex Lapis.”

You raised a brow at him.

It was already no surprise that Zhongli is Rex Lapis. You were long suspicious and he eventually told you, but you wondered what was the point of all of this; why he specifically asked to meet at this certain place, telling you a tale that has been buried under the sands of time. All you asked him was why he had to reject you.

“Yet the Archon Wars continued to set the lands of Liyue ablaze, and we struggled to protect the people we vowed to protect,” he continued, eyes holding no semblance of emotion, as if he had left everything behind in the distant past. “In the end, we were not strong enough. I was not strong enough to protect even Guizhong.”

You simply stood there, regarding him silently as the cogs in your head turned. For the first time today, you finally heard his stoic expression crack. Did he deeply regret Guizhong’s death that even after thousands of years, he still hasn’t moved on?

“I was too weak, too powerless,” his said his voice trailing off as he finally gave in to the vulnerability. “There was no reason for her to perish. Guizhong was gentle with her people, more compassionate than I could ever be, yet…yet…I—”

He wished he didn’t have to recall that certain moment which was still etched vividly in his memory to this very day, yet you really had to ask him why. You who had been looking at him so lovingly all this time, harboring no hatred in your heart—Zhongli could no longer conceal any more of these emotions which plague him for millennia.  

As you watched him visibly shake as the stone wall he had set up earlier crumbled into dust, you couldn’t help but feel the pain he had gone through over the years. Your heart ached for him, wondering what he must’ve felt when he lost the people he had once considered close to him. It became clear to you that the one thing he needed the least was loneliness.

Taking the first step, you walked towards him and cupped his cheek; forcing him to face you. It felt like a jab as soon as you noticed the hurt in his eyes, even with words unspoken, you immediately knew how much he had suffered.

“She was precious to you, wasn’t she?” you asked, tracing circles on his skin, your voice soft.

“YN…” Zhongli called out your name, his eyes giving a glimpse of how he truly felt as they gazed into yours. “I…I—”

Finally, he collapsed as you pulled him to your embrace. He held on to you tightly; burying his head on your shoulders, hoping that the pain would at least subside if he was in your arms.

“I…I promised her…back then. I promised…I would become the strength to support her and her people. Yet I could not even fulfill that promise…” he continued as he sobbed into your shoulders. “She was always loving to everyone…yet even I, as an Archon…could not…”

For the first time in a long while, Zhongli allowed tears to pour from his eyes as he continued to embrace you. He was enamored with you at first because of how much you reminded him of Guizhong, yet the more time he spent with you, the more he fell for you, he realized that you were different from her. Yet he still couldn’t deny his feelings. He still fell in love with you.

“I am terrified, YN…if I can’t even protect her, then…how can I even keep you safe…?”

You forced your chest to stop clenching tightly when you heard his words. Of course, there was a pang of jealously—of how much he treasured her that he still carried it with him over the years. But at the same time, you felt sorry for him. Even if he did everything he could, he still blames himself for what had happened.

“If you would die as well because of these hands… then I will never be able to forgive myself. That is why I must push you away before any misfortune shall befall you. This is the only way I could protect you.”

He couldn’t stop. He had to say everything. You had to know.

“Even…even if it pains me to see you leave, to see you love someone else, then I must endure. As long as you are happy, as long as you are alive, then I have nothing to regret.”

Brushing your hands through his long hair, you comforted him the best that you could.

“Zhongli…you blockhead…” you whispered as you rubbed his back gently. “I would never be happier if I couldn’t stay by your side. I would never be happy if you’re in pain. Please don’t carry this burden all by yourself. If I am in your arms, then I will always feel safe. You don’t have to shoulder the responsibility of protecting me all alone, I am fully capable of protecting myself, you know.”

Pulling away, Zhongli gazed into your eyes, as you wiped his tear stained face clean with a ghost of a smile. “What happened to Guizhong was a tragedy that came from a war you had already won. Yet you had led her people safely despite your shortcomings and your mistakes.”

“Look at Liyue now,” you continued. “Do you see how beautiful it is? These majestic plains and pools and mountain tops were sculpted by your very hands. Yes, you may have failed to protect her, but her legacy continues on because of you. Liyue Harbor exists because of both of your efforts, and we would have never met if you had never stumbled and fell. No matter how many mistakes you make, she would’ve already forgiven you, knowing how much you worked hard for Liyue even if you say you’re not suited for it. She’ll be proud of you.”

Again, he felt his heart trembled at your very words; the stone which covered it gradually cracking open. He had never told anyone about his regrets before, and it felt so light, knowing that he had you now, knowing that you would understand him. He wouldn’t have to feel so alone.

“YN…” Zhongli whispered, holding your cheeks between his hands as he stared at you with an evocative gaze.

In a moment’s surprise, he captured your lips in a soft yet vulnerable kiss; pouring everything he felt for you at that moment. You could feel it as he swept pass your lips, the intensity of his emotions and the gentleness of his touch. Whatever happened in the past will stay in the past. Right now, he had you.

Gasping for air, the both of you glanced at each other as words unspoken passed between you. He was grateful to have met you in this lifetime. Considering that he is a god who had lived thousands of years, the chances of meeting someone like you was terrifyingly low. But even then, he felt lucky.

“I know you can’t forgive yourself this easily, but I’m sure that you’ll get there,” you told him as you held on to his hand. “I will always be right beside you; to help you get up if you stumble again. I’ll be your support as you come into terms with your own regrets. It will take time, but we have all the time in the world.”

“Thank you,” Zhongli replied, bringing your hand to his lips, kissing it gently with a smile on his face. “

“Come here,” he told you as he slowly turned and walked towards the cliffside. “I have something yet to show you.”

Curious, you followed him to where he sat; leaning against a stone wall that was once part of a greater structure. Sitting next to him at a ledge, you watched as he produced an intricate cube, floating on the air as he held it closely. It seemed to be made of stone yet the streaks around it were glowing golden.

“This is a dumbbell called Memory of Dust,” he prefaced, turning it around gently. “It was something Guizhong gave to me before I lost her, saying that if I can unlock it then perhaps…”

You turned to him curiously. “Perhaps what?”

He gazed at the object with a sighed. “She was never able to finish what she said, and I was never able to unlock it.”

Humming, you leaned your head to inspect it closely. “She didn’t leave any clues?”

“Unfortunately, not.”

“I wonder what it contains—”

“YN!”

As soon as you touched it however, the sides of the object began moving as Zhongli swiftly moved you away from it, shielding you behind him. The cube continued to move as it floated a little further away and began glowing much brighter than ever before.

In a bright flash of light, the object imploded and the next thing Zhongli noticed was familiar voice that seem to be humming just beside his ear. He stood there, feet frozen to the ground, and simply allowed the moment to happen.

“I see. It seems you had finally understood how to become ‘human’…to be able to connect to someone and empathize, to finally understand love, and how to love whole heartedly, to lay down all your burdens and lean on for support. Now it is time for you to experience it. You have done well.”

“…Guizhong…?”

“Here is the Persistence of Time. It is slow changing and persistent. It will continue to flow like tides and ripples in a vast and never-ending fabric of the universe. Everything will be washed away and buried; tucked away until it decimates into grains of sand. Fragments, memory and meaning—all forgotten as those who remember them had long left this world. Yet as time continues to persist, then so too shall love exist past the constraints of time and memory. I shall continue to watch over you, over Liyue, as the new age of mankind dawns. Live well, my Lord.”

He had never expected to hear a voice he hadn’t heard for such a long time. Yet by the time the presence had disappeared and vanished into the air, he could finally feel some sense of peace; closure.

“Oh? You’re smiling.” Zhongli finally heard your voice as you leaned against him; your eyes seemingly knowing yet refusing to tell.

“Am I?” he asked as he offered you his arm. “I am simply grateful of your love, and of your patience with me. If you had given up that night, I would have never understood.”

You hummed. “There was something in that object after all, but then again, I’m happy. Next time, please don’t just jump into plans that aren’t even well thought out. We have each other now, don’t we?”

In a moment’s notice, Zhongli cupped your cheek; giving your lips a small but gentle peck.

“I shall be counting on you then.”

[drakenology]

their s/o has kinky curly hair with Bakugo, Denki, Midoriya and Todoroki

author’s note: hey so i smoked a lot of weed and tried to do my hair afterwards and I quit so now I’m writing about kinky hair because I have a mixture of 3c and 4c hair and detangling is not poggers. Like it takes an hour to detangle my hair... I don’t have the energy for this rn. But even though it’s a fuck ton of work to take care of natural hair it’s still gorgeous and beautiful and strong and all of the fucking above. Shout out to all my kinky haired girlies. And of course shout out to my beautiful black queens. I see you boo! <3

warnings?: fluff, swearing and mentions of sexual activity (yeah, this one aint nasty... that’s the next post. shhh!) ALL CHARACTERS AGED UP 18+

Bakugo

not gonna lie this mf ignorant as fuck 

hates that you take so long to do your hair

but loves watching the process?

“What’s that stuff?” “What does it do?” 

educates himself for your future babies

he likes a challenge so why wouldn’t he figure out how to properly take care of curly hair? 

offers to do your hair sometimes 

sometimes does it better than you do?

thinks you’re a fucking goddess.

i am a firm believer that bakugo LOVES sistas ok??

This morning is particularly stressful. You had already broken a comb or two trying to do your hair last night. So when you went to bed thinking that your hair was gonna turn out amazing you can imagine your shock when it didn’t turn out right. Well, as your taking down your twists, you see that your hair didn’t dry all the way. You try everything you can to salvage your style; you pick it, try and diffuse it but you’re still unsatisfied with the look. You sigh and just tie it up in two afro puffs. You lay your edges carefully and do some light makeup. Suddenly, you hear the bathroom door fly open to reveal your boyfriend Bakugo staring at you. 

“So that’s what’s taking you so damn long.” Katsuki says leaning against the door frame. He was going to come in and yell at you to hurry up but with the way you looked all dressed up he was completely thrown off and blown away. You were wearing a bright yellow sundress that trailed down to your ankles. It hugged your body and flowed out towards the bottom of the dress. The bathroom smelled like your hair products; tropical and fruity smells smothering his nostrils. You were like a goddess standing before him. And he couldn’t take his eyes off of you. 

“Dammit, Katsuki wait a damn minute. I’ll be out in a second.” You said, adding the finishing touches to your face. Katsuki walks over to you and leans up against the kitchen counter to watch you finish your makeup.

“Fuck, you’re beautiful.” he said as he stared at your glistening mahogany skin.  You tried your best not to giggle at his stares as you turn to look at him. 

“You ready to go?” You ask, feeling a little flustered as he ran his hands up and down your hips, stopping at your ass as he cupped it with both hands. Katsuki plants a kiss on your soft, plush lips and shook his head. 

“I’d hate to waste that outfit.. but now I don’t wanna even go out. I wanna fuck you instead.” He says as he kisses your neck. OOOOWEEE

Denki 

my cute little idiot...

you had to remind him a lot to not touch your hair (it fucks up your style!)

had to explain what “shrinkage” was

asked once “WOAH IS THAT ALL YOUR HAIR???” making you get to cussin’

very infatuated with everything about your hair though. poor thing didn’t know no better until now

plays in your hair anyway when you’re cuddling

wants to do your hair for you but every time you let him it turns out a mess. 

loves the way your hair smells when you put your products in it

lowkey wishes he had curly hair too

obsessed with you..

“‘Nari? How do I look?” You ask as you turn away from you vanity to look at your goofy boyfriend who’s playing video games and sitting on the bed in front of you. He paused his game to look at you and immediately turned bright red. 

“Wow..” He said, completely amazed. You had your hair in flexi-rods; after you took them down your natural hair cascaded down to your shoulders in heaps and mounds of thick luxuriousness. He loved that your hair framed your face so well and the lovely smell coming from you intoxicated him. 

“You’re so pretty, Y/N.” Denki smiles.

You giggle and shake your hair in the mirror, loving how your hair turned out. You put on some lip gloss and stood up to walk over to your full body mirror to pose in front of it. Damn, you looked good! You were feeling yourself for sure and Denki just couldn’t help but stare. He watched you pose in the mirror, playfully wiggling your ass and flipping your hair around.  His eyes met your curvaceous body; the jeans you wore hugging your form graciously. The top you wore accentuated your cocoa skin so damn good that it appeared to Denki that you were glowing from within. What a beautiful fucking woman.

He stands up and walks behind you, wrapping his arms around you as he stared at your gorgeous visage in the mirror. 

“How’d I get so lucky?” He asked, enamored by your beauty. He plants a kiss on your shoulder as you giggle and embrace him. 🥺🥺🥺🥺

Todoroki

was kinda ignorant to black culture and hair styles but after your careful explaination he’s fully informed and loves every bit of you

buys you all them expensive natural hair products (trust me.. they aint cheap)

Watches you do your hair

loves when you wear box braids, pulls on them during sex sometimes if you’re too fucked out to care (oop)

smells your hair when you’re sleeping (not in a creepy way I promise)

Doesn’t tolerate racism and will beat the shit out of anyone who tried it with you. Period.

loves your complexion, thinks you look scrumptious in yellow (yellow looks GREAT on black people ok???)

Todoroki’s favorite time of year was the winter. He loved the sweaters, the hot chocolate and more importantly you can finally wear your natural hair out. Since hotter months make your hair sweat out when you straighten it, you usually keep it in braids or locs. But come winter time, you try and wear your natural hair when you can since winter months can be drying to your curls sometimes. You had spend the day (yes it’s a fucking day long process.. for me anyway) taking down your braids while sitting on the couch watching daytime T.V while Shoto was out working. After everything was out, you showered and washed your hair, sighing as the warm water and shampoo soothed and cleansed your scalp carefully. You step out of the shower and comb out your hair while it’s still wet. You do your normal routine and fluff out your curls with an afro pick and smile at your new growth. Unbeknownst to you, Todoroki had been watching the process from start to finish as he was sitting on the bed next to your vanity. You thought he was asleep since he liked sleeping in on Sundays so you were surprised when he got up and kissed you on the cheek, admiring your natural beauty.

“You truly are the most gorgeous person I’ve ever seen, Y/N. I’m so lucky.” He gushed. You giggled and kissed him on his lips, thanking him for the compliment.

“So, what you do want to do today, beautiful?”

Deku

When he met you he wanted to know everything about you

Secretly took notes 👀 has a notebook with your name on it with everything that has to do with you including your hair

Studies you and does your hair exactly like how you do it

Tries to impress you by coming up with new styles to try even though some of them are a bit crazy lookin

Loves you till the death of him

Very very sweet about helping you with your hair when you’re too tired to take care of it sometimes 🥺

You had a long, stressful and exhausting day. You spent all day at the hospital taking care of patien after patient nonstop with damn near no breaks in between. You had resorted to pulling your beautiful curls back and away from your face from all the sweating and running around the hospital, leaving stray curls hanging out. You were always a prim and proper girl almost never seen with your hair unkempt so when you returned home with your hair in a messy low bun, Midoriya knew what was up. He watched as you greeted him weakly and plopped on the couch next to him, laying on his lap and almost falling asleep.

“Rough day?” He ask. You almost burst into tears when you hear your boyfriend ask you about your day. It was rough and frustrating. You were just glad you were finally home so you can relax and try and forget about the taxing day. You sigh as Midoriya rubbed small circles into you back and undid the messy bun you had lazily tied hours before returning home.

“You just relax, princess. I’ll take care of you, ok?” He says lifting you up from his lap and carrying you to the bathroom. He sat you on the sink and put your hair in two braids for you so you could take a shower. He kissed your forehead and hummed sweet I love yous into your ear as you smile and kiss his nose. You loved that he was always so gentle with you, never hesitating to help you when you need it.

“I’ll make us something to eat. Pick out a movie for us to watch, okay? I don’t care if it’s something we’ve seen 100 times. Tonight is all about you.”

🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

[sgrayonderii]

nom de guerre

SSM21 Day 17: a gentle man

In which some titles are more accurate than others. Samurai-esque AU

It is common knowledge that for a noble title and a swath of land, her mother was sold to a warlord.  

Haruno Sakura had the great misfortune of being born as the daughter of a destitute samurai family. Their master had long been vanquished and their lands long sold to make ends meet. And yet still longed for days yonder. 

But her mother also had the great fortune of being born a beauty, so when the opportunity arose; a passing hegemon looking for a bride, Sakura’s parents took a chance. 

They say that the young warlord was so mesmerized by her mother that he immediately accepted the terms of the expensive bride price and took her as his wife. 

On their wedding day, mother was dressed in her finest robes while her father arrived late in a full suit of blood soaked armor. 

The ceremony itself was a soleum affair. Her parents pledged themselves before the gods and swear to their union.

And so Haruno Sakura becomes Lady Uchiha no Sakura, the wife of Lord Uchiha no Madara.

----

Sarada has faint memories of her father; more often than not her father is sent to the battlefield and only returns a few days to weeks at a time between campaigns. 

The Uchiha clan is one of the important noble families of the Konoha and known for its long history of bloodthirsty warriors. Her father is no exception. 

Whenever he returns home, Sarada hides behind her mother’s skirt. Her father is an imposing demon-like man, larger than life, and taller than a mountain. Someone more suited for stories and legends than real life. 

They call him a man more fearsome than Susanoo-no-Mikoto itself. So violent, so blood crazed, it is a wonder that Sakura lived as long as she did when a male heir had yet to be born. 

Thankfully, it seems that as a daughter, her father pays very little attention to her. Whenever he returns from the borderlands between here and Oto, he barely spares her a glance. 

However, whenever his eyes meet her mother’s through his helmet, he beckons her over. 

“Sakura,” he commands, voice deep and low, “bring some tea to my quarters.”

Sarada always remembers her mother looking angry but determined then. Sakura dutifully follows her husband into the inner chambers. She doesn’t emerge until late morning.

Sarada is usually having lessons during this time, but one day she sneaks out of her etiquette classes to find her mother. 

She searches almost the entire unusually empty manor before finding Sakura in the kitchen brewing tea. Her mother’s clothes are covered in blood and her hands are covering her tears. 

Sarada has never seen her mother sob so terribly before.

From then on, she decides that her father must be an especially cruel man. 

---- 

Whenever her father returns from war, her Papa also comes home. 

Today she finds him on the engawa overlooking the gardens. He is sipping some tea while looking over some scrolls. He appears injured, bandages wrapped around his torso, but otherwise in good health. 

If her father is the devil incarnate, then Sarada’s papa is a handsome devil. 

No wonder her Mama is so taken with him. Sometimes when she is supposed to be asleep, she can hear her Mama fuss over Papa. They hold hands when no one is looking and share secrets no other soul knows. 

Despite the cold manor they reside in, Mama is an affectionate woman at her core and her Papa is receptive to all she has to give. 

And Papa must be someone important too; after all he is allowed to leave and enter from the inner quarters that a normal Uchiha foot soldier could not. 

Sarada pads over to him, he looks up and beckons her closer. 

“Have you been a good girl, little peanut?” 

Sarada scoffs. “ I’m not a nut.” But she holds out her hands anyways. 

Her Papa chuckles and pulls out some dried persimmons from his sleeves. “Don’t tell Sakura.” 

Sarada smiles at their little secret before taking a bite. “What are you reading?” Her Papa allows her to climb onto his lap and drapes the scroll over her. Sarada squints, only understanding a fraction of the words on the paper. She points and reads aloud the characters she recognizes.

“Good girl.” He slips her another dried persimmon.

That is when her mother finds them. 

“Sasuke-kun!” her mama enters the scene in a huff, “I told you to stop that, you’ll ruin her dinner.”

Sarada quickly shoves both persimmons into her mouth. Her papa has the decency to look sheepish. 

“You can’t keep spoiling her like that! She is going to get an upset stomach!” Sakura continues.

“Do you want me to spoil you too?” 

Her mama sputters, all red and flustered. Her hands move to cover her flaming cheeks.

Sarada meanwhile uses the distraction to hold out her hands for another treat. Her gentle papa instead leans down and kisses her forehead.

---

For the past year, her father and his retainers had been defending the borders between Oto and Konoha. After the dissenters were finally defeated, a grand celebration is held in her father’s honor. 

She remembers that her father was hailed as the second coming of Madara, the legendary clan head from the distant past. The comparison is uncanny, both bloodthirsty and merciless but dauntless in the face of adversary. Soon it becomes her father’s mantle; Lord Uchiha no Madara, the slayer of the Orochi. 

Sarada hadn't been invited to the banquet due to her age but that night she is much too excited to sleep. She has never seen so many people gathered in one place in her life. And even though her father’s presence makes her nervous, she loves the tales about his exploits. 

The banquet hall is rowdy and the envoy’s drunken singing could be heard from down the halls. The fuzzy silhouettes of her father’s soldiers line the banquet hall, she has a hard time making out who is who. Everything is quite blurry even with the multiple lanterns.

The only one Sarada could identify for sure is her mother. Sakura’s features are distinct, like a lone flower against the night sky. Her mother sits obediently at the head of the table beside the man that is her father. 

He has forsaken armor this time, but there is still a sword at his side. From the distance, her father doesn’t look particularly like he was enjoying the festivities. 

He appears bored. Perhaps his blood is not used to peace, after all a beast belonged in the wild and a warrior to the battlefield. 

Sakura every once and a while would refill her father’s sake cup or serve him more of the feast in front of him. Occasionally, when her mother would lean over and her father would whisper something into her ear. 

Her mama would stiffen and her face would become strained. At first Sarada can’t make out the expression, until a small smile blooms on her mama’s visage. 

Sarada goes to bed soon after, not quite understanding their interactions. 

---

Her earliest memory of Papa is halfway past her fourth year. 

Father had been back for a few days now, not that she had really seen him. And to be perfectly honest, her father is a scary man and she would rather not run into him. 

But Sarada is also curious so she puts on a brave face and finds herself outside her mother’s quarters.

Peering through the crack in the paper screen door, Sarada spots her mother’s figure and a man she doesn’t recognize. 

Her mama is leaning on the man’s shoulder while he serves her sake with his free hand. Back then, Sarada found it a strange role reversal that a man dressed in such luxurious robes was pouring her mama a drink. 

Sarada has seen some men in her father’s army throw a tantrum when a pretty lady wouldn’t attend to them. Even Sakura during official functions knows to serve her father first before anyone else can even eat.

But this man sat with her mama so nonchalantly and closely, breaking tradition as if it was nothing!

Her shock was audible to where her mother and the man turned to see her crouched by the entryway. 

Sarada felt as if she interrupted a private moment, but man’s expression morphed into something soft and Sakura giddily rushes over to pick her up. 

“Sarada! Come, come! Papa is here, see?” Sakura hands her over the stranger’s awaiting arms. She doesn’t want to leave her mama’s embrace but the man’s is just as warm. 

“Hello little peanut, have you been good while I was away?” 

How is she supposed to answer him? She opts for a nod and reaches for the familiarity of her mother.

“Sasuke-kun…” 

“It’s alright, she probably isn’t used to my face.” He leans over regardless and kisses her mother’s forehead. Then he looks Sarada straight in the eye. “I am you papa.” 

Sarada thinks she likes this ‘Sasuke-kun,’ this Papa. Someone so kind to her mother can’t be a bad man. 

----

As she gets older, Sarada becomes privy to the rumors about the current acting head of the Yamanaka clan. How her son looks nothing like her deceased husband but has the same eyes as the court painter. 

And Sarada has her own theories about her mama and the man that is her papa.

She just hopes that her father never finds out. 

---

Even though her mother is essentially the lady of the house, Sarada still hears whispers of her lineage. Even more so now that Sarada begins wearing glasses. 

Before her father leaves for his next campaign, he gives Sakura his inkan. 

As the wife of the lord, Sakura officially acts as his surrogate in any official business even if some of the family retainers aren’t happy about it. 

Fortunately, many would rather swallow their pride that incur her father’s wrath. 

All except one. 

Uchiha no Shin, a rather minor branch clan member, always disapproved of her father and even more so now that he left his wife in charge of the estate in his absence. 

It all comes to a head when Sakura denies him funding for a rather ill thought out building project. 

“You dirty wench! ” 

Sarada can hear the screams from her room. She rushes to the scene. Sakura is still standing her ground when she arrives. 

“I don’t see any benefit in this strategy and I doubt my dear lord husband would either.” 

“What do you know?! You are nothing but a plaything you stupid bitch, I’ll teach you some manners!” Shin chooses that moment to raise his hand at her mother. 

Sarada feels the anger seep into her bones but her mother chooses that moment to retaliate and punch Shin square in the face herself. 

Shin falls back unceremoniously. Sarada is slack jawed. 

“How dare you!” he seethes. Shin tries to get up only for another person to rush to her mother’s aid. 

Shin’s screams are agonizing and it takes Sarada a moment to realize that not only had her father returned, but he had drawn his sword and stabbed it clean through Shin’s arm, effectively pinning it to the tatami. 

“Sasuke-kun!” 

Sarada blinks once. Twice. 

“Are you alright Sakura?” Her father, her papa asks, completely ignoring their screaming relative. 

Sakura nods and he turns to her as well “Are you okay Sarada?” his voice deep and low but the same kind cadence up close as her beloved papa.

Suddenly her father’s mysterious and distant features that were always hazy to her meld with the papa in front of her now.  

Sarada adjusts her glasses. She feels really stupid in that moment. 

---

This time, Sarada is invited to the banquet. 

It’s an annual harvest festival and her father is the guest of honor. The local leaders once again announce him as ‘Lord Uchiha no Madara’ much to his chagrin. 

“I really hate when they call me that.” Sasuke tells them later when the food is being served and drinks are flowing freely. Sakura is on one side while Sarada is on the other. Habitually he is discreetly putting any sweets that make it his way and the tenderest pieces of meat onto their plates. 

“Anata,” with time Sarada notices that her mother only ever uses this term in public when her father needed more placating than usual, “they are just just in awe of how great you are!”

“I wish they had chosen something different, Madara was such a pain in the ass.” 

“Sasuke-kun!” Her mother tries to be scandalized but can’t help but devolve into a fit of giggles. 

As her father continues to look on adoringly at his wife, Sarada can’t help but agree with him. 

A name like that is unfitting of her gentle papa. 

A/N: Happy Sasusaku month 2021! My brain is mush right now so excuse the multitude of grammatical errors. Thank you for reading!

And just to note in historical Japan, men tended to change their names depending on significant life events. For example, Minamoto no Yoshitsune's childhood name was Ushiwakamaru.

@ssskmonth

[grabthemhorns-old]

Body Language, Demon Style - Obey Me!

Just some thoughts about the boys (+Diavolo and Barbatos) when they’re relaxing in their demon form as I think about this way, way too much. Horns and tails and scales are my Absolute Jam. My time has come.

SFW version. For now :3

——–

Lucifer: You notice the more he relaxes around you, the more he touches his horns. Wary, almost. You see the chips, the scratches and dents. A thousand, thousand years that followed their Fall, full of a thousand stories. You wonder just how much blood has painted the ridges.  And the feathers. Feathers that quiver, flutter, spread, when he just sits. Reading. Thinking. Do they speak for him, when he wont?  When you’re at his side, they’re an extension of self, acting on his subconscious will to embrace you with a delicacy that maybe he feels he can’t give you, directly.  They’re surprisingly warm. A dawn’s kiss, painted black.

Mammon: There’s always one wing that he favours, the leathery span twitching back and forth with a restless leg, a tapping finger, a chattering mouth. He’s oddly quite sensitive about people touching them. You ask him why one day. He tells you he sometimes still dreams about Lucifer tearing his own wings off. After that day he takes your hand and slowly draws it along the soft, golden tipped hide, letting you touch every edge, every scar and spike. When you’re alone, he can’t get enough of your touch on his wings now, casually spreading one out across your lap as you binge watch, followed by a cheeky smile.  His horns are pierced at the tip, golden hoops twice on either side. He likes to twist them when stretching out, enjoying the melodic, clack, clack. He enjoys it more when you play with them while he stretches out onto your lap, gentle, so gentle so not to scratch you with the jagged tips.

Leviathan: You think it’s cute when he picks at the bottom tip of his horns when he’s thinking, reading, or concentrating. As a result, that tip is misshapen on that side. But you don’t ever bring it up, knowing how insecure he is. And how much you’d never change a single thing about him.  Usually tightly wound when out, about, when with you, his tail drags comfortably along the floor, relaxed; it curls up to a gentle, swaying O. There’s this thing he does when excited with his tail that you adore. It just sort of, pings up straight behind him, then slithers back down. And if you are beside him, it slithers around you, moulding against your body. A perfect fit. You wonder if it’s conscious. Again. You don’t ask, you just enjoy. Lest he realise and stop. 

Satan: Now you understand why he keeps it wrapped around his body out, about and around others. It’s so expressive. Now just you both, it flicks back, forth; curling to delicate shapes you draw with your eyes; slinking around your limbs as you sit, sprawled across his lap, book in hand. The rough scales are ragged in places you notice at it slides across bare patches of skin. He apologises when you notice. But you just gently touch his tail, piecing together the scars with a kiss. It trembles under your touch.  You also start to notice, when his tail is free, that it mimics his motions. When he moves his arms, how he stands, the way he feels. But it’s always still a favourite of his to wrap the end around something. You ask why. It’s grounding. A fully connected touch, to touch. As you grow closer, that grounding becomes you. He is much more conscious to be near you with his horns, so aware of their size, and pointed tip. Kissing is still sometimes more rigid than you’d like, so aware of the fragility of your human body.  Asmodeus: Several piercings decorate his wings, and he almost chimes as he moves. Sometimes he moves so he will chime, so he will shimmer, the light catching the emeralds, rubies, the gemstones you don’t even know, studded through the thick hide.  It’s rare that he’ll fold his wings, even when relaxing with you. He wants to be seen, and the most important pair of eyes are yours.  But when you do get close, close enough to embrace while relaxing together, he tucks them away, so all that focus is just, you. It’s an odd feeling having such love for someone else in so long. It’s odd, looking up.

Beelzebub: His demon visage is probably the one that you have seen the least. You think maybe he doesn’t feel the need like the others. Running a hand across his muscles, maybe he doesn’t. But when he is in it, there’s barely a change in him.  His wings stay tucked, mostly, the light painting them in a ripple of rainbow every time he breathes, stretches, laughs. They twitch every so often, letting off a soft chirp. Does he blush when they do? You look again when it happens. Yes. Yes he does.  You start to compliment his wings more. Because they are beautiful. A cacophony of colour, that remind you of a chromatic star fall, contained to web that looked delicate enough to snap, beneath your touch. But it’s sturdy, as you find out when you see Beel stretched out on his stomach one morning on bed, eating his breakfast, wings spread wide. And you touch.  Belphegor: He’s in his demon form the most, probably. You’ve yet to ask why. Curled up, knees to chest, head down, he touches his horns a lot. Idly scratching, fingers tapping, twisting hair around the ends until it’s comically awry. You love to watch. And he knows. Some might think that his horns would get in the way of his sleep, but you soon find out that he’s grown attached to sleeping, dozing, relaxing, with them on. You watch how he curls neatly into a pillow, several dented into shape for his curved horns, and it all just, fits. One day you put one of the pillows on your shoulder. A silent encouragement. It slides to your lap.  They feel smoother than you’d thought. It’s soothing as you trace the curve they make. Around, around. Their point ends close, so close, to his face, you feel his lashes brush your fingers. He’s wide awake. His tail is often still. But when sitting together, you notice the fluffy end tap, taps on something. The sofa, his leg, your arm, your leg. It’s gentle and soft; it’s rhythmic and comforting. And soon you can’t do without. When he’s needy, clingy, he wraps his tail around your arm. Not very tightly, but you know how tight it can go. 

——————————————–

Bonus!!! 

Diavolo: You’re not even sure Lucifer can rival his presence when he’s in full demon visage. As bright, as beautiful as his smile and laughter, Diavolo shines. His wings are constantly spread, no matter who he is with or what he is doing. It’s like Lucifer’s pride has rubbed off on him. Or that you forget he’s the king here. And sometimes, he likes to let everyone know.  They echo his every gesture, his every emotion. Wide and welcoming with his arms; clawed and high in anger; rippling with his ridiculous laugh. You’ve always loved how Diavolo has spoken so loudly with more than words.  Occasionally, he’ll tap a claw against a horn. Or slide a finger along a gold trimmed edge. Is it to go - look at me; look at my power, and don’t forget who I am, above, and below. You don’t know. But you just keep looking. You smile.  It worked. Barbatos: Sometimes you used to not even notice he was there when he was. But the more you got to know him, the more you realised that’s what he wanted. Anonymity in a world where he stands beside a king. But when you see his demon visage for the first time, there’s your initial thought. Maybe it pales in comparison to the likes of Diavolo, of Lucifer, of Satan. But that night, all you could see, was Barbatos and the crown of his peculiar bat wings, unusually still and poised, even when he walked, never moving once. Delicate, but prominent. Unique, amongst a slew of power and pomp. You’re both alone, but is he really relaxed? You blink twice when you see the bone bat wings move atop his head. A gentle sway, as if a flap to stay airborne. You watch. His poise, perfect. Legs crossed, back straight, even as you’re on the 10th episode. All that’s different is your held hands.  You squeeze. The wings move again. You smile. As does he, squeezing back. 

[saphirered]

I just found your account recently! I love your style of writing, and you portray the characters so well! Can I please make a request (if it suits you!!) for Dorian, Opal and Dariax with a reader when they take a watch together by the fire and the reader tells them they look pretty in the light? Just some soft feelings, words, maybe a kiss...?

Welcome and thank you! Hope you like this one just as much as the others! 😘

(Dorian)

The sounds of the night are accompanied by the soft strumming of strings and a hummed lullaby just quiet enough as to not wake the fast asleep companions, save for you and the bard himself. Someone had to take first shift and neither of you were opposed so you were put in charge of keeping the fire going and assuring nothing would succeed at brutally murdering you all. The latter seems to have become a serious concern you could do without. But at least it gives you evenings like these. Who wouldn’t appreciate a private concerto from your favourite genasi bard?

There you are, seated comfortably on a log staring over the flames, captivated by the melody, the nimble and practiced fingers plucking at the strings with an airy grace, staring into the night. The firelight hits Dorian just right. He reminds you of the sunset, right before the last light leaves the sky, that mix between the blue fading dark, with hints of reflected orange and gold; an image of true beauty. Were it not for that beautiful song keeping you grounded, you might as well have drifted into the ethereal and forgotten your task entirely. You find yourself humming along.

You’re pulled out of your trance by Dorian himself whispering your name. By the looks of it you had missed the first few times he called for you, the song coming to a close shaking you back to reality. Dorian had been a little louder than he intended to and you watch some of the others’ steer. Both of you share a look and hold your breath until you’re sure they’re still fast asleep. He beckons you over, something to say and not willing to take the risk of speaking just a little too loud again so you step over the sleeping bodies and find your way to Dorian’s side of the fire, sitting down next to him on the makeshift bench of a fallen tree.

“Hey, everything alright? Not to offend but you looked a bit out of it. Copper for your thoughts?” Dorian whispers as he absentmindedly plucks at the strings.

“Just deliberating wether you’re some sort of siren in disguise enchanting those who’s eyes fall upon your dashing looks and hear your angelic melodies or not.” Dorian’s very glad it’s dark but the fire still allows you visual of the lovely shade of purple he’s turning at the cheeks. He stops playing and puts the instrument to the side, wrapping an arm around you and pulling you into his side. His plan to prevent you from seeing him so flustered fails as you only get a clearer view looking up at him with a smug grin.

“Is that your way of saying I’m pretty?” The first words may have been a bit more high pitched than he wanted to. You chuckle and feel Dorian’s knuckles jab playfully into your side. It doesn’t deter you from that smug sense of accomplishment remaining.

“Do I have to spell it out for you or would you prefer it in song?” You lean in, grabbing his chin and angling his face down closer to yours.

“I certainly wouldn’t be opposed-“ That’s all you need to hear before you close the distance, placing your lips on his. Dorian’s very happy you can’t see the blush grow or he might never hear the end of it. Your ability to get him all hot and bothered is something he both enjoys and fears but then there’s moments like these where he’s reminded exactly why he likes your occasional smugness.

(Dariax)

Dariax sits by the fire to preserve as much warmth as he can. The night is colder than expected and he had given you his blanket to stay warm yourself. He doesn’t regret the decision because you’re warm and comfy and that’s all worth suffering the cold but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t wish for some more warmth. Clutching his spear tightly to keep the blood flowing he stands sentry like a valiant guardian. Little does he know you’re still awake, or rather, awake again.

You hear the deep breaths being taken, sounds of movement; pacing. You open your eyes and there you are met with a sight you could wake up to more often. The gentle light of the flames highlight and shadow as they move in the breeze giving Dariax the appearance of a protector watching over you with an air of radiant divinity. There’s even a sense of grace. But you also see him shivering lightly.

Dariax watches you sit up and stretch your arms, blanket still in your grasp. You make eye contact and he offers you a smile. You pat the spot next to you on your bedroll and not one to question, Dariax does as suggested, sitting down next to you. You engulf him in the warm layers and feel Dariax relax just a little at the change of temperature. You lean your head on his shoulder and cuddle up against him as much as you can. He puts the spear aside and wraps one arm around you, the other holding the blankets close against himself. While he continues to keep watch you begin to drift off, not fully asleep, but more daydreaming of the divine sorcerer sitting next to you.

“You know you look real pretty, especially in the light of the fire, right?” You mumble and Dariax has to do a double take if he heard that right. Not that he’s not used to people calling him handsome or any variant of the term but more so you speak so openly and unrestrained.

“You sure you’re not still dreaming?” Dariax pushes back a laugh as he leans his head against yours. You’re cute when you’re sleepy and compliments like this from you are definitely something he could get used.

“If I am, it’s a damn good dream but I don’t think I am. You tell me oh-radiant one.” You smile leaning your chin on his shoulder and kissing his cheek feigning innocence and obliviousness. It’s definitely moments like these that have Dariax completely smitten by you and he’s not ashamed to admit it.

“One way to find out?” Dariax pinches you and you gasp. The audacity. You’re clearly awake now. Game over? Not yet. Dariax looks very proud of himself as you swat his arm but put your ‘dreamy’ face back on.

“Hmm. I don’t think I’ve been convinced.” Dariax does not like the mischievous grin peaking through. It’s a look he’s seen many a time and it’s always an omen for something you’re plotting. He fears for what he might have set in motion if you’re seeking revenge.

“Need me to pinch you again?” Dariax asks somewhat hesitant. Sometimes he’s really oblivious and it’s sweet but you might just have to take the lead here or you won’t get anywhere just yet. While Dariax is a very good flirt, being on the receiving end it may just take him a second longer to process. Don’t worry. You’ll help him out.

“I’ve got something else in mind.” You softly place your lips on his. That’s all the explanation Dariax needs. arm around you finds your back and pulls you just a little closer to deepen the kiss.

(Opal)

Opal is tossing and turning. What does she have to do for a nice and comfortable bed? The life of an adventurer is fun and all but she would really appreciate a soft mattress that doesn’t smell of grass, dirt or whatever other surface she has use as a base. Homegirl’s used to the fineries of societies so the life on the road is not and will never be her comfort zone no matter how many times she’s in the situation. She’s used to it though and she likes this life so she’ll accept and embrace every part of it.

Your attention shifts to the human at the sound of moving covers and groans of discomfort trying to find a more suitable position to fall asleep in as you keep watch. With a huff Opal sits up scrunching and readjusting, more like beating her makeshift backpack pillow in annoyance. She tries it one more time, putting her head down but still she doesn’t deem it right. Another huff and she sits up meeting your eyes. You offer her a nod and she grumbles, gets up and places herself next to you.

Grabbing a stick on her way Opal prods at the fire, the flames responding in a small burst of embers but you’re in safe range. Opal relaxes a little having found company in you and something to focus on rather than wallow in annoyance. She doesn’t say anything but the half smile she offers you is enough to make you feel appreciated for just being there.

Opal returns her focus to the flames staring into them getting caught up in her own wandering mind you watch. You can’t help but notice how the flames enhance the opalescent… everything to her, through a beautiful glow. She looks like a living breathing jewel. Just simply breathtaking. Don’t get this wrong, Opal is pretty no matter what. This is simply another angle you had never seen before, the way the light of the fire hits her features just right and how the flames reflect in her eyes, the sparks of ember changing that flow every so often, she’s a true visage.

“Hey, Opal?” She looks at you. “I just wanted to say you look lovely.” Opal lights up at the compliment with a warmth akin to that of the fire in front of you both. She knows damn well she’s gorgeous and looks aren’t everything but that doesn’t mean she can’t enjoy the compliments you offer her. If anything, she really enjoys it coming from you and makes her feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

“Why thank you. I have to say you look amazing yourself. What can I say, this light does great things for us gorgeous people.” There’s a hint of jest in her voice as she brushes a hand through her hair, pursing her lips with a wink. You hold back a laugh at the joking self-obsessed tone she uses.

“Even the light of a fire dulls in comparison by the shine of the Gem of Byroden.” You hold the back of your hand to your head as if you’re about to swoon. The gesture sends Opal into a muffled giggle fit as you quickly cover her mouth.

“Shhh. Let’s not wake the others.” You whisper. Opal pulls your hands away, checking over the others as she kisses your palms and making sure the others are still asleep. Luckily they are. Unsatisfied with just your hands to kiss she pulls you closer and kisses your lips instead silencing your surprised squeal.

[wickedgamesoyaoya]

The sound of the belt whipping against the laminated floorboard startled Nakamura, who was seconds from hyperventilating. Inviting you was supposed to be a pleasant surprise – not a damn bloodbath. Unfortunately, he did not realize Ichika’s malicious intentions until it was too late. He was merely a pawn in her grand scheme.

“So, we doin’ this the easy way or the hard way?” The inquiry was accompanied by a non-verbal threat one that was conveyed by the stretching of the accessory within your grasp. Though, Ichika’s demeanour did not indicate any sense of fear. It was the contrary – she appeared to be thriving off the threats to her well-being.

“I prefer the hard way, if I’m being honest.” With a goofy grin plastering against her face, she ushered the stray blonde strands cascading along her shoulder to her back in a nonchalant movement. While your stance radiated a sense of authority; hers showcased a blatant lack of concern.

“Y/n…” Osamu who was not afforded a moment to recover from the assault, was battling nausea from his rising stress levels. He intuitively proceeded a step in your direction, desiring now more than ever for you to enter his embrace. He felt filthy, and he needed to know that things would be okay. That you would accept him, even now.

“Don’t worry, baby. I dealt with your crazy fangirls before. I can handle this.” A quick glance was stolen in his direction to supply him with momentary solace – you wanted him to know that the kiss was not his fault, and you were not angry with him.

But your actions created an opportunity for the blonde to find security behind one of the restaurant tables. Planting her palms against the wooden counter, she leaned forward to taunt you.

“That’s cute. Crazy fangirl, is that what you think I am?” An artificial gasp parted her lips, and when you returned your icy stare to her, the sight prompted irritation to tighten your jaw.

Mr. Sakai watched his daughter’s antics in horror. He always knew someday her devilish plotting would result in a threat to her life. Ichika was not a good person, after all. And yet, he found himself caving into the selfish desire to protect her.

“This… this is madness! I am going to call the police.” His quivering fingers reached for the landline on the corner of his office table, but the device was immediately plucked out of his grasp. Hanamaki settled onto the table, stretching out his long legs before returning the handset to the housing post.

“Woops. Sorry ‘bout that, grandpa. Can’t let you do that.”

As bewilderment washed over the elderly male’s visage, Makki lifted his shoulders into a shrug then turned his attention to Matsukawa. The ‘how dare you’ spat towards him was disregarded with a little snicker. “Matsu, did you call Iwa?”

“Superman is on his way now.” His response was accompanied by a low chuckle. He wondered how Iwaizumi would react to his beloved y/n in a state of chaos. Would he stop you? Or would he join you, and direct his attention to the male at the center of it all? Only time would tell.

On the other side of the restaurant, Ichika continued issuing taunting remarks. Although, she would not have been this lively and pointed if there was not a rectangular piece separating you from her.

“Aren’t you even the tiniest bit afraid? Has it never occurred to you that he may have gotten bored of little miss perfect?” The snarl curving her upper lip made her resemble an angry animal, and while she may have intended on insulting you, the nickname brought you amusement.

“If you knew me at all, you would know that I am the furthest thing from perfect.” 

Perfect was overrated anyway.

Exhaling a breath, you launched the belt in her direction in a quick motion, but Ichika thrusted her weight back to avoid the blow. The distance between you two was beginning to become a problem.

“Oh, you’re right. I do remember him talking about how you’re always ditching him.” Remaining a few inches away from the table, she puffed out her cheeks then tilted her head, in an artificial stance of thought. Her distracted state however granted you an opportunity to capitalize on the area.

Placing your freehand onto the counter, you tactfully jumped onto the counter then proceeded closer to her. A toothy simper was presented towards her as you sauntered across the table. “Again. If you knew anything about my relationship, you would know that he’s the one always ditching me. Not the other way around.” You were about to return to the ground when her words compelled you to halt.

“He’s always ditching you… I know that, silly. But did you know that he ditches you to have drinks with me?” A knowing laugh exited her mouth once she saw recognition flash in your eyes. She had only guessed that the cook did not tell you about their evening together, but it was surprising to know neither did the other twin. Atsumu Miya struck her as a loyal friend, and yet he covered for his brother. Fascinating.

“What?” There was only one night she could be referring to. The night he was celebrating with Atsumu. Inside of your chest, your heart thrashed violently – pleading to escape rather than accept the truth behind her words. Falling still, you sunk your teeth into your bottom lip until blood tangled with your tongue inside of your mouth. It couldn’t be true. Could it?

“That night… His twin mentioned something about you being tired after playing with your little friends. Ring a bell?” This was it, Ichika mentally commented. She had caught you in her web.

When the blonde ripped away her gaze from you, your y/c/e irises landed on your hands. When did the colours drain away from your vision? Was everything always this red?

“Y/n. It wasn’t like that.” Osamu attempted to proceed closer to you, he was quite aware of the death glares that were directed at him by your two best friends, but that was the least of his concerns.

A bitter laugh was caught in your throat at his confession as you pinched your eyelids shut, aiming to remove the crimson lens forced onto your vision. But it was no use. The colours had drained away, leaving behind a single hue. One that symbolized violence… anger… danger…. and love.  

“So, you didn’t know. Tisk tisk. Lying to your fiancée, bad pumpkin.” Clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth, Ichika waved a finger in distaste at the cook.

“Shut up for a fucking second, okay.” But the growled response did not phase her, instead she found his ferocity to be quite attractive. “Baby get off the table. She is not worth it. Please. Let’s go and I’ll explain.”

But you were no longer interested in his explanation. Nothing but violence would satisfy you now.

“He was with you? Was Atsumu with you?” Striving to adjust to the lighting of the establishment, your eyelids rose and dropped in longer intervals. It was at this point, Ichika presumed victory was hers. You were seconds from shattering – or so she thought.

“Yes. And now I understand why he warned me about you. What did he call you again? His psychotic sister-in-law?”

Another wave of daggers inserted into your lungs, puncturing wounds that may very well never heal. While you and the older twin often bickered, you presumed that love was mutually shared. You would have done anything for him, and you believed he would have done anything for you.

But what did the Miya Twins know about trust? Loyalty? Love? It turned out they knew nothing at damn all.

This was not a matter a simple apology could address. This was not foolishly tainting the reputation of a schoolgirl. It was breaking that girl’s heart and spirit all in one go.

Let’s do it again, shall we - red 

Masterlist - Previous - Next

A/N: aAAAH. 3rd part will drop tomorrow. writing this hit me with some ~ sad emotions ~ so I must chill for a bit. 

Taglist: @idiot-juice-enthusiast @vicassa @iloveanime691 @bringmelily @newfriendjen @hikarichannn @anime-simp @tsukkismamagucci @laughingismorefun @astronomyturtle @shegrewupwithoutafather @hyskoa1998 @deephumandragonperson @pretty-setter-bois @raenebalgaire @sugawarabby @justanotherfangirl2 @keijisworld @90s-belladonna @momoinot @sempiternal-amour @cherryblosom111 @yqshirov @haikyuufairy @volleybloop @bloody-bella @sadkaashistan @seikamuzu @namyari @toaster-stick @shakiraisawesome @coconut-dreamz @roseestuosity @prcttylittlcthing @uzumakioden @nerdynstoned @kenmasgameboy @unstableye @ouijaeater15 @aquariarose @fandomtrashpandasposts @helloalex80 @stfucanunot @envyusshades @cuddlesslut @seijohiseliterambles

[starswornoaths]

To Know Me

This might turn into an AU someday. idk. have Mermaid, the bonus day for wolmeric week, several days after wolmeric week ended, as is on brand of me

Thirty years ago, Ishgard plummeted into the sea. Everyone thought the inhabitants had died.

And then they sent a dignitary to honor the Eorzean Alliance...who also happens to be Serella’s childhood friend, whom she had not seen in decades.

word count: 2,705

Despite having nary a single memory in her childhood that didn’t have Aymeric in it, it was hard to stand at the princely dignitary’s side, after fifteen years, and not feel as though she beheld a complete stranger. For a surety, Serella could see the selfsame image of the mysterious boy by the river she had played with as a child in the visage of the man that now led her gently through the old roads that once led to Ishgard, half reclaimed by nature by now. And yet, even when pressed to explain what she had known about that very same boy, even at the time, she found all of her answers came up far short of satisfactory. Even to her. 

In many ways, especially to her.

He seemed to sense her inner turmoil; for all his secrecy in all the years she had known him, he had an almost preternatural sense for what was on her mind.

“Something weighs on you.” Aymeric noted softly. 

In spite of herself, Serella winced. “Many things weigh on me these days. Warrior of Light business, and all.”

“I could only begin to fathom. But that is not what I mean.”

Electing to study her over elaborating further, he canted his head to better peer into her eyes when she glanced away.

Agitation sparked in her chest. He used to do this when they were children, for gods’ sakes. When she would be upset for whatever childish thing had upset her during play, he would wait patiently, not looking away from her, until she finally felt like she were about to burst, and told him what was bothering her. It had always worked, back when she had nothing to worry about but why he was always so cold when he would come out to play with her and Uthengentle. 

 And again when she snapped her head back to remind him,“We’re not children anymore, you know.”

He seemed unphased, but nodded as if that had decided something for him. “Of course not,” he agreed, and turned his attention back to the road, as she did. “I only hope, in time, you might come to open up to me about—”

“You haven’t.” Serella cut him off before she could stop herself, adamantly not looking at him again.

The sound of his footfalls was always a little heavy— even as children, it felt like he never fully knew the strength of his own legs— so it was immediately obvious when he stopped walking. She stopped walking to turn toward him, and immediately regretted doing so when she saw the flash of pain that crossed his face.

“I have not been...as forthcoming as I might have—”

Ever the diplomat. Something about the tone his voice had taken; that same, cordial tone he had taken with the Alliance at their first meeting. It had that same cautious edge to it, like he were testing out a verbal minefield trying not to trip something that could blow up in his face. It needled at the newly agitated wound she had thought long healed: that for all she owed this man, for how he had saved her village when they were children, even as her dearest friend growing up, even then, he had been as a ghost. Haunting her, long after he had disappeared into the river by their house.

Through the frustration in the moment, an ugly truth pushed itself passed her teeth before she could bite down on it. 

“I thought you dead!” 

Whatever neutral expression Aymeric had been maintaining was gone— he watched her with wide eyes and parted lips, and though the expression might seem slight on anyone else, he looked downright shocked to her.

“You just— it was so sudden,” Serella said miserably, still focusing on the foliage-hemmed cliffs overlooking the sea. “Those animals would have destroyed my village, and gods know how many of us would have died in the process, but you...you spoke to them so strangely...almost like you were singing, and then they left! But—”

“I said I had wanted you to know me.” He supplied, his eyes clouded over in somber remembrance. “You were bleeding so badly— I—”

Swallowing thickly, she nodded hastily, and when he took a moment to clear his throat, she said, “I know. You just vanished into the river so quickly, and after...it was as if you were never there at all. I can’t fault you for needing to leave that day. I can’t even fault you for staying away for a while, but—but at least a letter, something to tell me you were alright— I mourned you for years—”

They had maintained a professional, respectable distance, from the moment that they had reunited at the Alliance meeting. Even after, her arm looped through his was as close as they had been. But when her voice cracked and her vision blurred, Aymeric forewent any reservation he might have had and pulled her into a tight embrace.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered, squeezing his arms around her. His hand passed over her hair in wide, warm strokes. “I didn’t...I thought I would not be missed—”

We’re not so different in height, Serella distantly realized when she rested her chin on his shoulder, leaned her head into his neck, and held him just as tightly.

“Ma still asks about you, you know. If I see you in my travels.” Overwhelmed with conflicting emotions— elation warring with irritation, joy clashing with sorrow— she squeezed him back. “You sweet fool, of course you were missed. Are missed. Even if I don’t entirely know who it is I’m missing.”

“You know me.” He said, pulling back suddenly. His palms were as wide as she thought they were, she realized, when he gently cupped her face in them. He implored her, “You always knew me. The only thing I ever hid from you was my home—”

“Only.” 

“I...point taken.” The wild, pleading look in his eyes eased into a wincing smile. “Even were I to tell you, I doubt you would believe me, after all this time.”

“I would try to.” She admitted.

The laugh Aymeric gave as he let go of her felt more like a sigh of resignation. She tried not to think on it, instead pondering why he was beginning to wander closer to the cliff’s edge. 

“When we were young, I never told you of my origin for fear of someone finding out through you that could hurt me.” He said, half to her and half to the sea. Committing his focus to her, he admitted, “Even before now, I hesitated for fear of othering. So I have only three questions, if you would indulge me.”

At her assent, his expression eased into relief. “I thank you. Firstly: if I showed you the truth, would you trust what your eyes see?”

“Of course.” Serella replied, still not sure where this conversation was going.

Something like dread, but not quite so heavy, pulled her stomach down slowly toward the floor, the longer she continued to watch the way he had to lean into the wind, now gusting so loudly she had to step closer to hear his next questions.

“Am I still your friend?” He asked, and that reservation had returned in his gaze.

As if that were ever in doubt. “You’ve always been my friend. It’s as I said when we first reunited: of course I want to know you.”

Even when she was close enough to hear him clearly over the wind, Serella continued her advance, drawn in by the way he beamed at her like the sun at the end of a storm.

“Thank you,” he whispered when she had at last came to his side.

“...You had a third question…?” She gently reminded him when she realized she had been staring at the way his hair caught in the breeze and he had still not said anything.

Aymeric seemed to start at that, but when his eyes refocused on her questioning gaze, he gave her a smile so boyish she was reminded of the few times he had ever pranked her when they were young.

“How’s your swimming, after all these years?” He asked.

A question she was not anticipating. Flustered, she blurted out, “As a fish.”

Aymeric snorted. If she didn’t know better, it was almost derisively.

“I’ll be the judge of that, thank you!” He harrumphed—

—before leaping off the sheer cliff.

For having had no running start, Serella was momentarily shocked by the distance he got out of his jump— before the rest of her brain caught up with her and she realized what he had just done. It had only been a second’s delay, all told, but it was just long enough for her to miss when she lunged for his hand.

She’d overshot the effort she put behind that lurch; the sudden shift of her weight forward made her stumble those few crucial steps between her and the cliff face, and momentum promptly vaulted her over the side.

The fall was less a concern for her; she had done deep fishing further south off of this coast before. It was the sheer rock wall and the lack of a pulley team to get them out that worried her most as she flipped in freefall to push herself further away from the cliff face once she’d accepted she’d fallen too far to recover without injury. Climbing with Aymeric on her back, worst case scenario, was hardly a situation to look forward to, but in that moment, all she cared about was getting to Aymeric first, to save him from drowning, if that was what it came to. She could worry about the particulars of why he would jump off of a fucking cliff: she thought she heard him crashing through the sea’s surface. She had to be quick. 

Balance righted, she crossed her arms over her chest tightly to protect herself as best she could from the fall, and cast Sentinel upon herself before taking the deepest breath she could manage. The blur of blue and slate made her nauseated. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to mentally parse how far she had plummeted so far. The fall felt like it took eons, but still, she clenched her muscles as tightly as she could the whole way down. 

The impact of the water’s surface still surprised her, but she was glad to keep most of the air she had taken in— and that the water was deep enough where she landed that she was not promptly dashed into the rocks.

“Trust your eyes, and open them, Ellie.” Aymeric said— 

—Said? 

“Look at me.” He pleaded, almost urgently.

Serella’s eyes opened before she had consciously thought of doing so, and even when she furiously blinked away the blur, she found she could not quite comprehend the sight before her.

For before her, was her friend Aymeric, his eyes glimmering like the babbling brooks near Elmvale now with slitted pupils, watched her keenly from beneath inky hair wisping about his head as though he were painted into the sea itself, nearly the same as she had come to know him as...save for the long, broad tail that flared out from his hip bones. It coiled behind him once, almost coquettishly, almost shy of her, even as he drifted close. 

He was reaching for her— and it drew attention to the claws at his fingertips, dark and edged with the same deep blue scales that adorned his tail. They fringed his ears, now flared out at the tips in fins, and highlighted his cheekbones, coated the entirety of his throat like armor. When his full lips parted again, she saw that his teeth had sharpened to blade-sharp points—

His hands were still soft. Still his.

The realization pierced her thoughts when he held her face in his hands again. For all the scales and claws, they still felt like him. Something in that revelation quieted her racing mind. In a flash, those new features settled over her friend’s features.

At last, she knew him.

“Trust me?” He asked— and at her nod, kissed her deep enough her tongue ran along those sharpened teeth.

Logically, Serella should feel cold. She should worry about that tingling feeling in her chest, effervescent and fizzing it’s way up her throat, into her mind, bubbling like a sparkling champagne. But all she could think of was how his face felt beneath her hands when she mirrored his thumbs stroking her cheekbones. Even with the scales, they were smooth, and a rumble left him when she tested their texture beneath her thumbs, further distracting her.

She should also probably ponder how she was being pressed flush to him, when their hands were still very much on each other’s faces, but then her lungs were burning. Then, she gasped while still being underwater, and she had a whole new list of question that all started with:

“How—?” She sputtered, more baffled still that she could.

The tenderness with which he handled her did not abate, though that boyish smile returned— wide enough that it crinkled the corners of his eyes in an endearing way. His eyes gleamed like the sunset on the sea.

“I’m inclined to agree with you,” Aymeric said.

When she opened her mouth to ask why— and the more she was consciously noticing she was actively breathing underwater, the stranger it felt— that grin widened to flash those pointed teeth again. He lightly squished the pads of his thumbs by the corners of her mouth, once. “‘Tis as you said: a fish.”

When she squirmed and started to sink out of his tender grip, she was lifted back into his chest to be held— ah, that tail of his was loosely curled about her thighs, the tapered end near his fins pressing gently into the space between her shoulder blades to adjust her in the waters.

“I only gave you the blessing of water— it permits you breathe water as though it were air.” He explained gently.

She hadn’t been worried about that, not really. Or rather— she hadn’t necessarily thought to, but it was reassuring all the same.

Still, she couldn’t help a chuckle— underwater! May that never lose its novelty!— as she repeated, “Only,” before closing the distance again.

“Ah—” He gasped against her mouth, after a few more moments of drowning in her. “Much as I have dreamt of this…’tis high time I showed you my home.”

Before she could ask what he truly meant— really, what did she even know of the world anymore, after this, Aymeric rearranged her in the gentle embrace of arms and tail alike to gesture with a sweep of his hand to the depth below them. 

At first, Serella could only follow the aim of his outstretched hand, down to the glowing dome jutting out from the seabed. It glittered as a star among the deep blue undercurrents, unmoving. Letting her eyes adjust, she couldn’t help but gasp when she realized what she was looking at.

When Ishgard first sank into the depths, seemingly vanishing overnight, there had been searches, initially. Cursory as they had been at the time, with the threat of the Garlean empire looming and the Calamity that followed not long after, by the time anyone had thought to check any deeper on Ishgard’s fate beyond what the local populace that hadn’t been in the city when it fell had told them, there was little left in resources to properly search. And so, it had fallen into some level of notoriety, almost legend, even only thirty years after its fall.

As a child, she had only seen the very tips of the tallest towers of Coerthas’ city-state from through the treeline, or artful depictions of a dreamlike castle painted in books. It had always looked impossible to her, even so young; a castle, pristine and glittering as a fairytale, somewhere in the real world? Preposterous. And yet...looking at the towering spires, winding, sprialing walkways, and brilliant stonework of that impossible citadel encased in the shield, she knew it at a glance.

Ishgard.

[levis-hazelnut]

Summary: when you and your best friend, Hanji, were younger, you had made up stories about your dream guys - what they would look like and how you would meet. What happens when the one you had made up appears to be real?

Warning(s): I don’t think there are any in this chapter. But, please do tell me if there are any.

Taglist (closed): @castellandiangelo @fandom-addict19​ @20coldhearts​

Status: completed!

part 8 > part 9 > part 10

series masterlist

"Why in the fucking hell have you been avoiding me?" Levi snapped, but it wasn't too angrily. I fidgeted with my fingers as my gaze stayed on the carpet of the room as if it would talk for me.

"... I don't know," I murmured, feeling awkward like I predicted it to be. "I guess I'm just... scared." I heard a sigh emanate from his lips and he unfolded his arms, taking a step closer to me as he realised he may have been too harsh on me. I caught the action but didn't do anything about it. I mean, what would I do? "Scared of what?" he asked in a more gentle tone, but it was still laced with slight annoyance. "Scared that I would be annoyed with you for no reason whatsoever? Scared that Petra is going to hate you? Scared that I'm going to be like your previous dickhead boyfriend? What are you scared of?"

"All of that, actually," I confessed, looking up at him to see his beautiful face that I was deprived of for nearly three weeks. "After finding out about... everything, I just wasn't certain that everything is going to work out like a fairytale. There was a chance of you being annoyed with me, but that was just idiot me being stupid. Petra assured me many times that she won't hate me for anything. And you... you have proved that you aren't going to be like my jerk of an ex. Now that I really think about it, I have nothing to be afraid of," I said with a soft smile touching my lips. "You're damn right, you idiot." He rolled his eyes, taking another step closer. "I don't know what goes on in that brain of yours, so I don't know where you get these shitty thoughts from. But you better get rid of them, there's no reason for you to be scared of anything. Stop being a coward and do what you want without your thoughts stopping you." My smile widened at his words, but I was still waiting for certain words that I want to come out of his mouth. Not all this sh*t about me being stupid. I mean, it's helpful, but it's not what I want right now. "... Sorry for sounding so harsh, but you needed to hear that so you can change for the future." "It wasn't that harsh. You should hear the scoldings I get from Hanji." "Whatever. I didn't exactly drag you here just to talk about you being dumb..." he pointed out, taking two more steps and he was right in front of me, close enough to touch me. And he did just that - he cupped my face with one hand, a soft and tender expression conquering his visage. I reluctantly leaned into his touch, gazing at his features that just happened to look so much more attractive in this moment as he leaned in closer to my face, both of our eyes lidding.

Then, his lips came in contact with mine. If my heart was beating rapidly before, I have no idea how fast it was going now but it did feel like it was going to jump out of my chest. I just know that it could probably be heard in this empty room, and Levi probably felt it when he snaked an arm around my waist, drawing me closer to him. My fingers nonchalantly reached up to tangle in his ebony locks that were oh so silky. I have always wanted to tangle my fingers in his hair and tug on it to get a reaction. That's what I did, and in return, I got a faint moan. His voice is so soft and the best thing ever? Bitch, please, that sound just now was ethereal and I needed to hear it again. Levi asked for an entrance to my mouth and I decided to tease him (as always), however, he sharply nipped on my lower lip which caused me to gasp softly. He took the chance and his tongue slipped into my wet cavern, where we battled. It's like we can never stop challenging each other, we have to annoy each other for no reason, argue for no reason, and now we have a tongue battle for no reason. He won (as always) the tongue battle and instead of his tongue exploring me, his hand travelled over my figure, making me shiver under his touch. Unfortunately, we needed to pull away from the passionate kiss for that damn thing called oxygen. My eyes were still closed as I lightly panted, taking in what just happened. A smirk edged onto my lips once it sunk in and I unlidded my eyes to find Levi staring at me as our faces were still in close proximity. Why is he so damn sexy? Please, whatever god is up there, I need to ask why you gave this man to me. I seriously don't deserve him, no matter what anyone says. "(Y/N)," he uttered softly after licking his lips, and I hummed to show I was listening. He barely says my name, and in that husky, low and gentle tone he just said it in now was something I never want to forget. "Tomorrow, at six o'clock, you better be ready." "Okay," I grinned, kissing his nose as I've always wanted to do. "Also, I'm pretty sure some people just saw us kiss," he stated, using his head to gesture to behind me where the door was. There was a small window in the door and there were many eyes watching. When I turned around, I noticed Jean, Hanji, Farlan, Isabel, Connie, Sasha, Armin, Historia and Lucius grinning at us (well, not Lucius). There were also some of Levi's fangirls (and maybe my fanboys since Levi claims I'm a celebrity like him).

I giggled softly and shook my head, removing my hands from Levi and taking a small step back as he walked towards the door. I followed after him and got ready to glare at Jean, knowing he was the one who brought everyone here. As soon as the door opened, squeals sounded as they all exclaimed different things we could barely apprehend. "(Y/N)!!!!" Hanji pushed through everyone that had crowded around and brought me into a tight embrace. I groaned and rolled my eyes, hesitantly putting my arms around her. "I'm so happy! You've waited so long for this to happen!" I nervously laughed, not wanting Levi to know that I've liked him since he appeared. He lifted an eyebrow in my direction and I mouthed the words: 'help me' when Hanji still had me in her life-threatening hold. "Oi, Shitty Glasses, you're going to kill her." "Awwww, Shorty!!!" she screeched, pulling him into a hug now. "You're so cute!!" I laughed at his face and he shot me a glare, which seemed to have no effect on me as I continued to chuckle. He was finally able to shove the brunette lunatic off of him and took my hand, deciding to just barge past every idiot. We were able to make it out of there without them chasing after us like some predators. "... So you've waited for a long time for this? How long is a 'long time'?" "Uh, maybe... eight months?" I muttered, refusing to meet his eyes because I knew he would be smirking and he would just want to annoy the hell out of me. "So since we met?" he inquired, and I nodded. "You're telling me all this fucking time when I wondered who you like, it was me?" "Yes." "And is that why you didn't want to date Lucius?" "Yes." "I'm surprised you didn't expose yourself. Apart from that time when you were about to say it but stopped yourself. And you thought it was wrong in a way because I was with Petra?" "Yes." "And I heard from Petra that you helped her to get into a relationship with me even though you liked me at the time. Is that true?" "Yes." He smirked, seeing me act shy, which is something he rarely sees. "You're quiet now that I've found out who you like." "Where are we going, by the way? We're just walking," I said, brushing his statement to the side and regaining my confidence. "I don't know. I just wanted to get away from everyone," he replied, realising that he was still holding my hand, which was sweating. "Hey, why are you nervous? You don't need to be so tense." "I'm not nervous," I retorted. "Explain that to your drenched hand, darlin'," he snorted and I clicked my tongue, yanking my hand from his hold to flick his forehead, which caused him to briefly frown before he got hold of my hand again. "Shut up, prick." "Good. Now, you're back to normal." "Where are we actually going?" "I still don't know. But we're like a minute away from your apartment." "Don't you want to go home?" "You're finally speaking to me after like three weeks, I'm not going anywhere." "Aw, I never knew you would be the kind of person that always wants love and attention." "I'm not." "Whatever you say, Mr Moody. Hm. I'm going to love annoying you even more now." "Why do I even like you?" "Because I'm the best person ever who is very lovable and amazing." "Not one word you just said is true." "Shut it, Ackerman. You're not exactly--" I cut myself off, thinking what Levi wasn't since he's seriously the best fucking person to live. "Are you lost for words because I'm amazing in every way possible?" "No... I just didn't want to hurt your feelings." "Say what you want, darlin'." I rolled my eyes and fished my keys out of my bag to unlock the door. Once it was open, both of us stepped in, slipping our shoes off before I locked the door. We strolled to the living room and Levi sat down on the sofa. I was about to walk away but he grabbed my hand, pulling me onto him and I ended up on his lap, straddling him. He smirked, taking hold of my chin to tilt my head before moulding his lips with mine.

If dating Levi Ackerman meant getting kisses like these every ten minutes, I'm going to be living in heaven. I wonder if he was like this with Petra, or am I special? I sighed in delight when I felt his fingers sneak up my shirt and trace over my bare torso as his other hand travelled up my back to tangle in my tresses. My hands cupped either side of his face with my thumbs resting on his cheekbones. "AWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" My eyes snapped open at the sudden outburst and my lips parted from Levi's as my forehead rested against his. I huffed before getting off of his lap, looking at Hanji, Jean and Eren who decided to walk into the apartment without saying anything. "What the hell are you guys doing?" I snapped at them, meeting all of their eyes. My eyes lingered on Eren's for a bit longer than the other two before I frowned and didn't focus on any of them. "You could've at least said something instead of letting that kettle over there explode," I scolded them, motioning to Hanji, who was the aforementioned kettle. "Sorry, sorry!! Both of you are just so adorable!" Both of us clicked our tongues and I rolled my eyes.  "We came here to get away from people. So get the hell out." "Darlin', calm down," Levi said quietly before smirking. "You have a bedroom, don't you?" My eyes widened and I lifted my hand to slap him. "Hey, hey, hey, I was joking, you idiot. That's taking things too fast." "I bet you didn't say that to the many girls you--" "Oi, don't talk about that," he told me with a scowl. I guess it was a sensitive topic since he was probably annoyed at himself for being like that. Everything was now silent in the room. The three that were standing had no idea about what was going on, the raven next to me seemed to be thinking about his past, and I felt bad for bringing it up. No words were needed since there was nothing to ask about (other than what me and Levi were talking about but it's not like they were going to find out). "... Stop looking at me like that. You don't need to feel pity for me," he spoke in a light tone and tousled my hair, showing that he wasn't annoyed. "What are you guys talking about?" "Nothing, Shitty Glasses. Anyway, I think I'm going to go home," Levi announced as he stood up. "Oh, we can go if you want," Hanji suggested. "No, I didn't plan on staying long. I just wanted to get away from everyone that decided to snoop on us." "Sorry, that was my fault," Jean confessed. "It's fine. I'll see all of you later." Levi left the room and I followed after him, walking him to the door. I opened the door for him and he stepped out, turning around to face me. "You're being rather calm and kind today," I stated, leaning against the door as I held it open. "Well," he began, leaning towards me to peck my lips. "Your lips seem to put me in a good mood." "I doubt that but whatever you say, Ackerman... I'll see you tomorrow." "Six o'clock. Don't forget." "Okay." "You better not give me some shitty excuse about falling asleep." I laughed lightly. "I won't. Now, get your ass out of here." "Bye, darlin'." I smiled at him before he left, closing and locking the door behind him. Once I turned around, I saw three heads poking out from behind a wall. I giggled and ran towards them, jumping into them. "Ahh, I'm so happy!" I squealed as I clung onto Eren, who chuckled softly. "I never knew you liked Levi," Jean said with a frown. "Since when?" "Since we were--" I cut Hanji off since only Eren is allowed to know that we made him up.

"Since he joined our uni, I guess..." I told him, pulling away from Eren. "What?! Why did you never tell me?!" "Because I only trust Eren and Hanji, no matter how much of a big mouth she has." "And you call me your friend..." the teenager shook his head in disappointment and I smiled at him. "Oh, shut up, you know I love you." "(Y/N)! You haven't told me what happened!" Hanji demanded. "All we saw was you two kiss but we couldn't hear what you said." "I don't know if I will," I smirked, walking away from them and entering my bedroom, however, I left the door open so they all followed me. "Tell meeeeee!! Why was Shorty in such a good mood?" "I don't know~" I sang teasingly, enjoying Hanji's reaction. "Also, Eren, you haven't said anything. Are you annoyed?" "No." "Don't tell me you're still suspicious of him." "I'm not. I don't know. I'm happy for you, of course, but I just don't feel right." "Well, you said you don't think Levi was a good person at the start and you were clearly proved wrong. What's wrong now?" "He's jealous~!" Hanji exclaimed, hugging Eren's arm, and he frowned, attempting to shake her off as he felt his face heat up. "N-No, I'm not. Why would I be?" "Hanji, what idiocy are you talking about now?" I spat. "It's not idiocy, it's the truth!" she insisted. "People always point out how you have many fans. So how can the male closest to you not develop feelings for you?" I have to admit, she was making sense. But, this was Eren we were talking about. He wouldn't let himself fall for his best friend... Right? I flitted my eyes to Eren to see he was staring at the carpet in my room. I could see the pink hue on his cheeks and the way he avoided to look at me so I decided to question him. "Eren...?" I spoke, gaining his attention as Hanji led Jean out of my room, giving both of us some privacy. "Was Hanji saying the truth?" "... No..." he muttered before sighing and locking his eyes with mine that expressed disbelief. "... Fine. I did have feelings for you. But that was a few months ago, I don't anymore. I mean, there may have been other times when I think differently of you but I get over it every time. Don't worry, I'm not jealous. I honestly just feel like something's not right." "Well, thank you for being honest with me. And whatever's bothering you, I'm sure it's nothing. Just let me be happy because I'm finally dating my dream guy." "Yeah, I'm not going to ruin that for you. I'm not going to lie, you and Levi are actually cute together. I haven't seen you this happy in so long. And I know Levi will treat you right and I'm glad you met him." I gave him a soft smile and neared him, draping my arms around him and pressing my cheek against his chest as I closed my eyes, feeling his arms reciprocate the hug. "... I love you so much, Eren," I uttered quietly. "Love you, too," he replied, resting his chin at the top of my head. "Am I talking to the Eren that has feelings for me, or the one that's my best friend?" I asked jokingly, parting from the embrace. "Your best friend," he spoke with a small laugh. "Come on. Let's go to Jean and Hanji." I walked out of my room with Eren following me as we entered the living room where the two sat on the sofa, glancing at us. They saw the smile on my face and knew everything was okay.  The rest of the day, we just hung out like we would in secondary school, laughing, talking about shit no one would understand. However, seeing as how we all had lectures tomorrow (in the morning as well *eye roll*), we decided not to stay up too late (they ended up leaving at midnight). That night, I was able to sleep peacefully with a smile and nothing to worry about. ~/~ 17:38 That was the time. Twenty minutes until the time I had to be ready, and I'm guessing Levi, being the punctual asshole he is, will be outside the apartment at exactly six. However, as he predicted, I may or may have not fallen asleep and only had less than half an hour to get ready. I quickly sat up in my bed, chucking the covers off of my form as I ran my fingers through my hair, thinking what to wear. Ugh, why didn't I think about this earlier?

"(Y/N)! Wake-- Oh, you're awake. Isn't Levi coming in like twenty minutes?" Hanji said as she swung my door open. "Yes. I need clothes. Hanji, please help." "Of course! What kind of bestie would I be if I didn't help you get ready for your first date?" "Thank you so much," I sighed, getting out of my bed and opening the doors to my wardrobe. So many clothes to choose from. What outfit is the right one? "What kind of clothes do you want to wear? Girly, casual, comfy, sophisticated, etcetera..." "Um... Casual, I guess." She nodded, looking through my clothes with narrowed eyes and a thoughtful expression. Damn, she was serious about finding me the perfect clothes. After about two minutes, her whole face beamed up as she chucked some clothing at me. I blinked a couple of times, holding it up. It was a simple, white crop top hoodie and a pair of dark grey skinny jeans. I don't know if I felt like it so I stared at it for a moment, thinking if I wanted to wear it. "(Y/N), you have less than twenty minutes. Hurry up." "... Okay," I responded after concluding that this was the outfit I wanted. I shooed Hanji out of my room and changed into the clothes she chose for me. I looked in the mirror, feeling content with it until I glanced at my hair. It was a lost cause. Since I had only woken up about ten minutes ago, my hair looked like a nest and I still looked like I just woke up. I decided to go freshen up and brush my teeth since I'm certain my breath wasn't pleasant after sleeping. I came out of the bathroom and went to my bedroom, seeing I had exactly eight minutes left until six. Now was the time to rush. I did my hair and makeup to my liking, and when I was ready, I stuffed all the things I needed into a small purse. I sprayed myself with perfume and left my room, turning the light off as I padded through the corridor, slipping on my converses. Hanji spotted me in the corridor when she came out of the living room and grinned at me as I stared at my phone, checking the time and seeing Levi's messages, telling me he was outside. 18:02 Only two minutes. I'm proud of myself. "Have fun~!" "I'll tell you about it when I come back," I told her, seeing her grin widen. I left, shutting the door behind me and locking it before going down the stairs. Just before I stepped out of the building, I took a deep breath then stepped out, letting the warm, evening air engulf me as I spotted Levi's car parked in front of me and he leaned on it, scrolling through his phone until he locked it and looked up at me. I gave him a small smile, suddenly feeling nervousness spreading throughout my body. As I stood there, I took in his attire, which was a maroon dress shirt over a black t-shirt that was exposed because of the buttons that weren't done up. With that, he wore black jeans. "... You done staring, darlin'?" I slightly widened my eyes and realised I was gaping for too long. But seriously, the black shirt he wore underneath the dress shirt showed his perfectly, sculptured abs. I playfully rolled my eyes and approached him as he stepped away from the car, opening the passenger's door for me. I thanked him as I sat down and he shut the door before rounding the car and sitting in the driver's seat. I didn't know what to say so I quietly sat there as he began to drive, hoping that the raven would speak up instead. "I'm surprised you weren't asleep." "Haha, I actually was. I woke up about twenty minutes before you came." "I don't get how you can sleep so much even if you had a good amount of sleep." "Well, I didn't get enough sleep last night." "Were you too busy thinking of me?" "Don't flatter yourself," I retorted with a cocked eyebrow. "Jean and Eren stayed until late, so I wasn't able to sleep until they left, which was midnight." "Idiot," he whispered under his breath, and I glared at him. Though, his eyes were on the road.

"Shut up. It's not my fault," I scowled before silence took over again. "... What are we doing, by the way?" "Mini-golf. Grab takeaway. Chill at mine." "Hm. I like that idea," I smiled. "How did you know I would like what you planned?" "You were the one that claimed that I know everything about you. I guess I do." My smile widened. There's so much to remember about me and my life, it's impressive that he remembered small details. I guess he chose mini golf because he knew that I always used to go with my dad when I was younger. Getting takeaway and relaxing at home was something I loved to do, so it was probably obvious that I would like that. "Ackerman?" "Hm?" "Since when did you... like me?" "Why do you want to know?" "You know how long I have." "... To be honest, about two months after we met. But then that was around the time you introduced me to Petra and we started to hang out less. Unlike you, a weirdo, Petra was normal and a kind-hearted person, and I don't know, I just liked being around her. But, after a while, I realised that I didn't want normal, I wanted... you," he muttered the last word, and even though it was dark, I could see the tip of his ears burning. "You're so adorable when you're shy," I blurted out. "Also, 'I wanted you'... Why do you have to be so--?" I cut myself off, not wanting to boost his ego so he could annoy me. There was just something about that sentence that made me fall for him even more (if that was possible). "So...?" "Nothing. Continue.” "Okay... It was my fault for initiating anything, and even though she says she's fine with us, she's obviously still hurt. I don't know how she found out that I like you, but it was about halfway through our relationship when I realised that even though you're a weirdo and perv, it's more fun than someone normal. Don't get me wrong, Petra is a really sweet girl, but she was too normal for me... Feelings and relationships are confusing as hell." "I know," I said as I stared out of the window, taking in everything Levi said. "I don't understand why my two relationships lasted four or five months. I mean, I guess I do get it - I felt like I was forcing things with Jean, and Reiner was a dickhead. But why can't I have a long-lasting relationship?" Levi was silent, thinking about my words. Maybe we'll have a long-lasting relationship. Unlike her two previous relationships, there's nothing wrong with us dating. And unlike mine, I don't have feelings for anyone else. It was another five minutes until we reached the mini-golf site, and those five minutes were spent in a comfortable silence as both of us were drowned in our thoughts. "Hey? Darlin'?" "Sorry?" I spoke, turning my head away from the window to look at the male beside me. "We're here," he told me with a microscopic smile. "Oh, right." I grabbed my purse and opened the door, stepping out of the car before shutting the door. Levi locked his car and approached me with a certain glint in his eyes. I mentally smiled and reluctantly reached for his hand, my small fingers intertwining with his and he tightened the hold on my hand. Without my permission, a full-on grin sprung onto my lips as I mused on the fact that I was going on an actual date with Levi Ackerman. "What are you smiling about?" the short male inquired. "..." "Oi. You look like a creep now," he said when I didn't say anything, and only kept on grinning. "Hey, are you okay?" A frown wandered its way onto his face and he poked my cheek. Well, I always seem to love to just zone out so maybe he shouldn't be too concerned. I blinked twice, not realising I had just zoned out. "... I'm fine." "Are you sure?" "Yep," I assured him with a nod. He raised an eyebrow and I smiled up at him, causing a smile of his own to appear since he found mine adorable as fuck. ~/~ A light chuckle emanated from his lips when I attempted to hit the golf ball, but failed miserably. I may have gotten rusty over the years because years ago, I was remarkable. The raven came behind me, his torso barely brushing my back and I tried to fight back the blush. Since when did I act like a flustered schoolgirl around boys I liked?

His arms looped around me to hold the golf club my fingers were wrapped around. He then spoke, his breath caressing my neck and ear, "I swear, if you miss this, it's going to be hard for me to believe that you used to win tournaments. It's literally a millimetre away from the pocket and I'm helping you, so you better not fuck this up." I scoffed, lightly pushing him away from me but that didn't stop him from invading my personal space. "I do not need help, thank you very much. And that is not a millimetre, idiot, it's like a foot." "Shut up and take the shot; this is the last one." "If I get it in, what do I get in return?" "Another date." "Really? So you had fun?" "... Yes. Just hurry up." "Okay," I grinned. I took the shot and it went in. Obviously. Because I'm amazing. "Well done, darlin'. And before you say anything - yes, we are getting food now." I giggled and walked beside him as we went back to his car, deciding on what to eat. "I honestly don't mind. Pick whatever," I stated. "You better not complain about what I pick." "I won't. You know I'm not fussy with food, I'll literally eat anything." After some additional thinking, Levi asked if I felt like Chinese. Of course, no one could ever say no to that, so we got takeaway from the best Chinese restaurant I've been to before we drove to his apartment. "Isabel and Farlan aren't here, by the way," Levi informed me as he parked a short distance away. Both of us got out of the car and the male with steel orbs held the bag of our food. "Where did they go?" "I have no idea. But they both immediately decided to go out when I told them about our date." I smiled at the gesture. "Aw, they're so cute. I guess I'll need to thank them."

Levi unlocked the door and let me go inside first as he followed me, locking the door before taking his shoes off. I strolled towards the living room and flicked the light switch, illuminating the room. "You better not make a mess, brat." "Clean freak," I mumbled as I sat down next to him on the sofa. "What'd you say?" his inquired, narrowing his eyes. "Nothing, Shorty," I grinned with a wink. "Tch. Do you want to watch anything?" he asked, giving me my food and a fork. He stood up and went to the kitchen before coming back with two glasses and a bottle of soda. "I don't mind." "Are there any other words in your dictionary, other than 'I don't mind'?" "Well, I'll be happy with whatever which is why I say that most of the time." "Why are you so... not fussy?" "Why is that a bad thing?" I laughed. “And you only say that because you haven’t spent a specific day with me.” "What day?" "You'll know when it comes," I smiled, causing him to feel a bit uneasy. "You're making it sound like you become some beast or something." "Haha, you're not wrong." "You're scaring the hell out of me. Just tell me what and when it is." "I'm only going to tell you when it is. It might be next week." "Okay... I'm avoiding you for the next week." "Oi! You're so rude-- Hey, wait, I swear next week is our last week of the year." "Yeah." "So we have holidays. Oh my god. We're going to be in our second year of uni in a few months. Damn, time goes too fast. I don't even have plans." "Well, we have another date to plan. But I'm doing that after next week because I don't want to see you in beast mode." "Oh, yeah, I was meant to be shouting at you for being rude... You're so rude, you prick!" "I know, darlin'." "You know, if you add a 'g' at the end, you'll sound less like an asshole and more like a sweetheart." "Which is exactly why I won't add the 'g'."

"Jerk," I murmured before drinking the cool beverage in my glass.  We continued to eat while conversing about random shit that before we both cleared the coffee table that resided in front of the sofa.

I plopped down next to him on the sofa and rested my head on his shoulder, tucking my legs in on the sofa as an unexpected yawn left my mouth. "Why do I suddenly feel so tired?" I muttered, closing my eyes. "Do you want to go home?" Levi inquired softly. I shook my head, wanting to spend more time with him. "Are you sure?" "Yep. I'm just going to close my eyes for two minutes." Two minutes turned into twenty and I fell asleep without meaning to. "Hey?" Levi whispered, nudging me ever so lightly but I didn't open my eyes. "Darlin'?" he said quietly again, poking my cheek and I didn't awaken. "Two minutes, my ass," he murmured. The short raven found it difficult to move since my whole body was now leaning against his. About ten minutes later, Levi heard the opening of the front door which meant that Isabel and Farlan were home. The blonde male came into sight with the female trailing behind him. They both stared at the view in front of them, grinning and mouthing 'aw's, causing the raven to roll his eyes. "Farlan, can you pick her up without waking her up?" "Yeah. Where should I lay her down?" "... Put her in my bed. I'll sleep here on the sofa." "Are you sure?" Levi nodded as Farlan scooped me up and carried me to Levi's bed. Levi and Farlan shared a room as Isabel had her own, which made Isabel question if Levi was okay with Farlan sleeping in the same room as me. "Farlan won't do anything to anger me, it's fine." "Okay, then. Also, you seem different with (Y/N). Like, you treat her differently to Petra. Not in a bad way, though, you're more... caring and cute!" "Tch. Whatever. I just don't get how she fell asleep when it's only ten o'clock and she had a nap earlier." "Leave her alone. She's a sweetheart and there's nothing wrong with sleeping," Isabel told her friend with a frown, seeming to take a strong liking to me. Farlan came back into the room, sitting down next to Levi. "Anyway, I'm tired because of uni so I'm going to head to bed." "Okay." "Night, Isabel," Farlan smiled and the hyper female left the room. "... You are more caring towards (Y/N)." "I'm not." "Why are you denying it? It's not necessarily a bad thing. I guess you like her a lot more than Petra." "... Yeah, I do. She's not like other girls," Levi admitted as he leaned back against the cushion of the sofa, staring up at the ceiling as his best friend smiled. "I never knew that someone like her would be my type. She's nothing like me." "You two are a kind of similar, she's just more happy and smiley. However, she acts tough, loves to tease and annoy people she values, gets annoyed at things but still isn't as bothered as she seems to be. Both of you are just big softies on the inside." "Tch. We aren't similar. She would never purposefully hurt someone, she does selfless acts even if it will hurt her, and she's just a--..." "What? Why did you pause?" "I sound like an idiot. Thinking about a girl I went on one date with." "But you've known her for longer, it's not anything weird." "I don't like it. I sound cheesy and not like me." Farlan chuckled under his breath, shaking his head. "Soon enough, you'll be all lovey-dovey with her." Levi snorted. "Never." The taller male smiled and stood up. "I'm going to have a shower and go to bed. Night, Levi." "Touch her and you'll be sorry," the raven threatened, half-serious, half-joking. He then sighed, getting up to grab a pillow and blanket before settling back onto the sofa. He turned the TV on, seeing as how he wasn't going to sleep anytime soon.

~/~ Blinking a few times, my vision cleared as my gaze bounced around the room I was in. I then sat up, confused since I remember falling asleep in the living room, beside Levi. I glanced at the bed on the other side of the room and saw Farlan's sleeping face. I tilted my head in question before laying back down, knowing Levi or Farlan must have moved me here. That meant Levi was probably on the sofa. A small huff left my lips as I searched the bed for my phone that must have fallen out of my pocket during my slumber. I soon found it and lifted it to my face, seeing six missed calls from Hanji, along with several messages from her and one from Levi. Of course, Hanji would be worried about me since she wasn't informed that I fell asleep and hadn't heard from me since I left for my date. I decided to respond to her troubled texts and put her mind at ease, telling her what happened. Once I did that, I checked what Levi sent me. 'Did Farlan do anything to you?’ I rolled my eyes at this before responding with a simple 'no'. I soon got out of bed and left the room quietly, so Farlan doesn't wake up. Entering the living room, I saw Levi lying down on the sofa, covered with a blanket as he was on his phone until he heard my small 'hey'. He turned his head to look at me and discarded his phone. "Sorry about falling asleep and making you sleep on the sofa." "I don't care. Go freshen up while I make breakfast." Why does it feel as if this is a normal morning routine? Like I've lived here for a long time. I guess I treated him the same when he stayed over at my apartment. I did as he said and realised how bad my bed hair was so I tugged my fingers through it as an attempt to fix it. But they decided to be stubborn and I gave up, walking out of the bathroom to meet Levi in the kitchen. I peeked over his shoulder to see what he was making and he glanced at me from the side, quickly pecking my temple. "How does everything you make always smell so good?" "Because I'm an amazing cook." I playfully rolled my eyes as he continued to make breakfast. We spoke as he did that before we migrated to the dining table to eat, where we carried on our conversation. Once we finished the food, Levi stood up and took our plates, placing it in the kitchen before coming back to me. "Let's go out. The weather's nice,” he proposed. "But I don't have any clothes to change into." "You can borrow Isabel's." "She's smaller than me." "Tch. Just try something of her's on. She's already awake." "Should I borrow that unicorn shirt?" I smirked, reminding him of the incident that happened months ago. He glared at me before leaving to take me to Isabel's room. He knocked a couple of time before she gave permission for us to come in. "Oh, hi, (Y/N)!" she grinned, shooting up into a sitting position. "Hey," I greeted with a smile. "Isabel, can (Y/N) borrow one of your clothes, something that will fit her?" "Of course! What do you want to wear?" "Maybe a dress?" "Sure. Give me a few minutes." "Thank you so much." Levi and I wandered out of her room and waited for Isabel in the living room. It was quiet until the male opposite me spoke up, "... You can count this as a second date." "Already?" I inquired. "Yeah. Because... you're an adorable shit."