#(( that she's not the perfect prize that the princess in the tower should be

[royalreef]

       Meanwhile, she is still waiting for some dashing knight to come by, her true love, to sweep her off her feet and take her away and save her!! To go someplace far, far away where she can live happily forevermore! Someone has to still be holding out for a hero, and Miranda is all too happy to fit that bill.

[sorcerous-caress]

I’m a lesbian (tho gender is a bit Complicated so idk if I should call myself that) but I do love the idea of Minthara x male drow reader because the Forgotten Realms wiki describes a “functional” romantic relationship between a female and male drow as “a spoiled brat and her well trained, obedient dog” and this is fiction so 😌

Also the idea of him leaving the Underdark with practically an army at his back to find her, he’s scary and ruthless and commanding, but the second he finds her he’s just like “yes ma’am, whatever you need ma’am”

Anon we should trade braincells because this idea is fucking gold.

Drow Male Reader, who was just for her during her days in the underdark. Like any other servant Male in the Baerne house, battle runs through his blood, he was shaped by war.

Who Minthara claimed you as her prize from her first ever successful surface raid. Her red eyes landed on your figure between all of the other males and announcing to the matron of the house that she wanted ownership over you.

She was ruthless, never allowing you to show even a hint of weakness. Breaking and reforging you into the strong capable warrior that you are today. You were hers fully in body and mind, even after a full day of brutal training, she'd still expects you to be laying ready for her on her bed each night.

You've known her body more than she has, given her pleasure more than she thought was possible. You've made it your sole purpose to memorise and trace every curve and mole on her painting of a body.

Part of the reason she kept around for so long was because she could see clearly how determined and willing you were to serve her. While other princess switched males every other month like toys, Minthara has always made it clear that you were off limit. That you belonged to her.

You've never betrayed her, even with the pathetic attempt of the uprising happened you still stood by her side. Watching the other males be cursed into driders without even a hint of sympathy for them, to you they deserved a worse fate for even thinking they could lay a finger on your mistress.

So imagine when in one of her raids, a one she refused to take you on, saying how it would be a matter of a couple days at most before her return, she never comes back.

You're restless, barely even acknowledging your own statues as you march into the matron hall and voice your concerns for Minthara. Ready for whatever punishment your disrespect will ensure if it meant you get your lover back.

Somehow, through various methods of blackmail, backstabbing and even begging or seducing, you accumulate a big enough army to march it into moonrise towers. Having sniffed information from some half-orcs your intel kidnapped and tortured.

Not even the shadowcurse deters you from moving forward, even when half of your army dies or flees in cowardness.

Fate has it that you manage to infiltrate the tower and be at the perfect spot to be able to view her argument with Ketheric. That fucking male faerie who dared to sit down on a throne whole your Mistress stood. That sorry excuse of a walking corpse that dared to threaten her life and make her argue for it.

Immediately after it ends, you signal for your remaining army to march into the tower. Hundreds of drow warriors emerging from the Shadows as they clash with the absolute followers.

You don't care for them or their lives, your main objective is to get to your Mistress and get her to safety.

In the aftermath, when it ends, when it's just the two of you in a far away camp safe from the shadowcurse. You kneel against her legs as you offer your apologies for taking so long, she pats your head, spreading her legs to make space for you.

And like any loyal dog you immediately obey and sit on the floor between them, your head on her thigh as she holds your face with her hand.

An unspoken trust between the two of you.

[gerudosage]

loud & deafening silence.

company.  silently  sit  with  my  muse  to  comfort  them. @uneasedregrets.

it was hard to believe that it was truly over.

her fingertips still tingled, remnants of the power which had lashed out of her like lightning, & the clarity with which she was able to see all before her was almost frightening in its crispness, but with her senses her own once more, the truth shone like the morning sun. she, alongside the other sages, walked through the rubble of what had once been an obsidian tower, picking carefully past jagged chunks of rock & the bones of the damned, all working towards the pair standing in the heart of destruction, until suddenly, the princess broke.

impa was waiting, arms open to receive her as she scrambled over the ruins, & slammed into her for a hug, & nabooru averted her eyes, not wishing to intrude on what should have been a private reunion, emotional as it seemed to be. three other sages swept past her, darunia’s booming voice commending link for all he had done, underscored with the polished trills of the zora princess, & the high pitched adoration of the forest sage, but, as with impa & zelda, to join them would have felt too much like an intrusion. she could feel a pair of eyes upon her back, the sage of light ever – watchful, but her taste for the man was entirely underdeveloped, & she had no desire to endure his company. he seemed like the sort of man who liked to moralize, & she would rather be back in the iron knucle armour than listen to the congratulations of the golden goddesses’ servant.

she had no desire to listen to anyone at all, actually.

pushing ahead & around, she bypassed the boy & his cluster of sages, until she came to the edge of the floating plateau, & settled herself on a relatively debris – free patch of ground, legs swinging over the edge of what was now a yawning chasm, & breathed. her fingers flexed, still electrified ; the wind blew gently through the ruins of her hair ; & all feeling seemed to fall away, as what had been done slowly began to sink in.

it had been necessary ; she knew it then as she had known it seven years before, sneaking in to the temple behind everyone’s backs in the hopes of being able to put a stop to her king’s heinous plan. she had seen the prize she had sought, glinting in the growing light, a perfect fit on the boy they all called hero now, the kid who had approached her with sand in his hair & that same fairy perched on his shoulder. it would have led her to crack a smile, once, to ruminate on the strange turns fate often took, but she hadn’t anything left to give, then, even in the service of a joke.

her eyes dulled ; her shoulders drooped ; she couldn’t begin to estimate how long she sat there, gazing out into nothing, waiting for the others to finish with their reunions, determinedly avoiding thinking about what any of her own might look like when she returned to the fortress again, what might have changed in her absence. she would face up to it … eventually. she would have no choice. unseeing eyes kept watch over the ruins, until she realized that she was no longer alone, & another had settled in the dirt beside her ; when she turned her head, there he was, the kid who had saved them all.

the other sages were still speaking, their chatter faintly audible as they consulted with the princess, with each other, & she was afraid that he, too, would try to talk, to question her, but it seemed he was as content with silence as she was, & relief flooded through her as the minutes passed, & the quiet remained unbroken. after a moment, she straightened up & raised a hand, bringing it down as a clap on link’s back, a grateful good job, kid, before letting it fall to her side again. something told her he hadn’t asked for any of this, either.

the clouds moved overhead. somewhere in the distance, a bird began to sing. at the edge of the future, the sage sat with the hero, & tried not to think of what would come after, when their soundless moment ended, & reality rushed back in.

[meret118]

The Valkyrie — Kate Heartfield (Harper Voyager) Brynhild is a Valkyrie: shieldmaiden of the Allfather, chooser of the slain. But now she too has fallen, flightless in her exile. Gudrun is a princess of Burgundy, a daughter of the Rhine, a prize for an invading king—a king whose brother Attila has other plans, and a dragon to call upon. And in the songs to be sung, there is another hero: Sigurd, a warrior with a sword sharper than the new moon. As the legends tell, these names are destined to be lovers, fated as enemies. But here on Midgard, legends can be lies… For not all heroes are heroic, nor all monsters monstrous. And a shieldmaiden may yet find that love is the greatest weapon of all.

Sleep No More (October Daye #17) — Seanan McGuire (DAW). October is very happy with her life as the second daughter of her pureblood parents, Amandine and Simon Torquill. Born to be the changeling handmaid to her beloved sister August, she spends her days working in her family’s tower, serving as August’s companion, and waiting for the day when her sister sets up a household of her own. Everything is right in October’s Faerie. Everything is perfect. Everything is a lie. October has been pulled from her own reality and thrown into a twisted reinterpretation of Faerie where nothing is as it should be and everything has been distorted to support Titania’s ideals. Bound by the Summer Queen’s magic and thrust into a world turned upside down, October has no way of knowing who she can trust, where she can turn, or even who she really is. As strangers who claim to know her begin to appear and the edges of Titania’s paradise begin to unravel, Toby will have to decide whether she can risk everything she knows based on only their stories of another world. But first she’ll have to survive this one, as Titania demonstrates why she needed to be banished in the first place—and this time, much more than Toby’s own life is at stake.

My Brother’s Keeper — Tim Powers (Baen) When young Emily Brontë helps a wounded man she finds at the foot of an ancient pagan shrine in the remote Yorkshire moors, her life becomes contentiously entwined with his. He is Alcuin Curzon, embittered member of a sect working to eradicate the resurgent plague of lycanthropy in Europe and northern England. But Emily’s father, curate of the Haworth village church, is responsible for having unwittingly brought a demonic werewolf god to Yorkshire forty years ago—and it is taking possession of Emily’s beloved but foolish and dissolute brother. Curzon must regard Emily’s family as a dire threat. In spite of being at deadly odds, Emily and Curzon find themselves thrown together in fighting werewolves, confronting pagan gods, even saving each other from the lures of moorland demons. And in a final battle that sweeps from the haunted village of Haworth to a monstrous shrine far out on the moors, the two of them must be reluctant allies against an ancient power that seems likely to take their souls as well as their lives.

Many more at the link.

[mikeysbabygirl]

OH

MY

GOD

Just finish reading the Rindou request u made and is just 😙🤌🏻 *chef kiss* perfect, I really like the way you write cuz you actuality do a really good story before the smut and it's not too much and not too little, the perfect amount not to make it tiring to read.

So, I was wandering if I can request a Bonten! Sanzu or Ran with a reader who is a killer, like, she is trained to kill and someone hired her to kill someone from bonten or even some of the boys.

Fell free to change my request as you pleased 🥰

  Lover, Hunter or enemy ?

Warning : 18+, Minors DNI. There's smut, dirty talk, high fucking sexual tension, mention of blood, murder.

Synopsis : the nemesis, him and you have always been like cat and mouse, always at each other's throats. Until he had enough...

Wc : around 8k

The place was beautifully breathtaking. Tiered crystal chandeliers glittering in the soft light, lightening the large ballroom. Crown molding on the high walls, as well as invisible crowns on many of the rich guests heads, the room reeked of aristocracy and hypocrisy.

Standing on one of the curved observation balconies, towering over the dancing men in expensive suits and women in ravishing dresses, the three Bonten executives complained about being there, a ball thrown by one of the dirtiest men Japan had known, who happened to be a Bonten partner. Yet Ran's attention was not exactly focused on what Kakucho and Rindou were saying, instead they were eyeing...

The one true spark of honesty in that entire ballroom...

Honesty never was tied to innocence, through your honest gaze burnt the true, honest intent of murdering him, it had nothing innocent.

At least you were not trying to hide it... and that drew a sadistic grin on Ran Haitani's face.

-" Seriously you two get a room. " Rindou's voice snapped him out of his thoughts, and out of his contemplation as well. He smirked at the weary expression of his brother, and the deadpan of Kakucho.

-" I wouldn't mind having her on my bed, unfortunately the only thing that seems to get her hot is seeing my blood flow. "

-" that is kinky even by my standards" Rindou retorted, Ran's eyes drifted back toward you, as they always did.

Truly impressive, was the amount of hostility a woman's body could contain, what was even more surprising was the way you made it reach him, three meters below him.

-" I'm surprised she's still breathing, honestly. By the amount of time she tried to kill you. " Kakucho admitted, earning the attention of Ran who didn't stopped looking at you nevertheless.

-" She's just... Young and dumb. My pretty lamb doesn't truly hate me".

A look of disbelief was shared between Rindou and Kakucho, it was denial itself that drew his blissful smile as he looked at you, leaning against a pillar near the dance floor.

-" She's an assassin, and is hell bent on killing you, do you understand?"

He scoffed at Rindou's sentence, as if he didn't knew.

-" I think the seven times where she nearly killed me did indeed made me understand ".

However, it was not as if you were an everyday enemy...

There, in the middle of the crowd stood you. What they called the bloody princess. For they had known the king, your father, a Yakuza godfather and even worked together, before that one had been mysteriously killed. When you should have grown up and bloomed as a flower, surrounded by all the beautiful things a Yakuza princess should have, well let’s say it was not exactly what happened when your uncle became the new godfather... 

Animals, Ran cursed under his breath. through moments like this, when his demons would start anger-roaring, he could not stay still. Quickly excusing himself to a frustrated Rindou and a confused Kakucho, before starting to come down the great staircase, eyes on the prize. 

To his great fortune, the dancing crowd seemed to part ways for him, as he slowly made his way to the wild flower, the one watered by blood, a deadly poisoned belladonna. 

What a sight for sore eyes, neverthless... 

Though you were everything he despised in a woman, violent, heartless, roses were undoubtedly enchanting, especially red ones. Approaching you would always give the “ falling in the spell, in the witch’s lures “ energy, deadly flowers were meant to be the prettiest after all . He could feel how strong your tide was with every step he made, every glance diving deeper, you in that bloody red ball gown. 

- “ May I tell you how hideous you look tonight ?” 

Your guts stirred just like everytime you heard that voice, the most hypocritical smile one could give stretched your lips as Ran Haitani's shoulder brushed yours, he leaned against the same pillar as you. 

-" No, tell me. "

-"...I can't. " He admitted flirtatiously, turning his head fully to look at you. God, does your patience really need to be tested like this? Everytime he smiled, invisible needles were embedded in your skin.

From that close, he could only admire. Light make-up, big eyes, angry gaze and plump lips, he drank in your face before his gaze drifted toward your V-neck, smirking even more as an angry gasp left your lips.

-" My eyes are up here, bastard. "

-" Don't speak" he faced you suddenly, forefinger pressed to your lips earning a frown from you. " You're much prettier that way. "

-" Forgot how charming you can be" after responding, took his finger between your teeth, biting, which only made his smirk widen.

Psycho.

-" No lies, you haven't forgotten an ounce of my grace. "

Ran pulled his finger from your mouth, too busy burning in the fierce of your eyes to even care for his finger. Enough was enough, his proximity was something disturbing, going for that you tried to walk around him to get away, if not for his knee suddenly pressing between your legs, forcing you to stick against the pillar again.

Inhaling sharply, your legs went pressing against each other yet he was faster to part them open again, leaning closer until you could feel his breath hitting your face.

-" Tell me, princess. "

Ran's lips grazed your ear, spreading a smothering wave through your body. How dare he touch you that way, the princess, in front of everyone, he was officially a dead man.

The nickname on his tongue tasted of contempt and reeked of mockery, knee boldly tracing its path up your thigh.

-" did you ever danced with an enemy ?"

A blaze, that's what he encountered when he glanced at your face. Who was he to resist looking at your lips, when they turned reddish from how you pressed them together ?

-" they never live long enough for that. "

Pure scorn, was the laughter leaving his mouth, reducing you to a ball of hatred yearning for his destruction, if only those people were not around...

You knew they had not noticed anything, from afar, it looked nothing more than a man whispering sweet nothings to his woman's ear, you two and the devil were the only witnesses of God knows where his knee was going.

-" The honor is all mine".

-" Don't you d-"

A ragdoll. That is how you looked the minute his hand pulled you by the waist turning your body as if you weighted nothing and engaging in a slow dance. Regaining your composure, your hands flew to his neck, his to your waist. What looked from outside as a man and a woman dancing against each other, was in fact your nails digging deep in his neck's skin, and him gripping your waist so tightly until both of you would leave marks on each other.

- " Once this song's over, you better run. " You'd warned him, lifting your gaze to meet his. Now it was true that he loathed all that you became,raised with guns and bathed in blood, however hell has never been as tempting as the eyes of a young woman scratching the back of his neck.

-" Go 'head, give me more reasons to eat you alive."

Suddenly, your body has been spun around by him, one, two, then three times, eliciting admirative gasps from the crowd around you. He knew you hated attention, you glared at him through your slightly blurry vision when he pulled you back to him, even closer than the first time so your chests were almost crashed against each other.

-" You're stepping on my damn shoe ! Give me space-"

-" You know what they say; keep your friends close and you enemies closer" His hands tightened around your waist even more along with a stretch of his smirk. Ran's eyes drifted toward one of the balconies where he caught his co-workers disapproving eyes on him, making him only smile more.

-" Swear to heaven, I'm gonna rip your skin off your bones inch by inch, Ran fucking Haitani. "

A reserved, masculine laugh left his lips at the same time as he made you spin again, waltzing slowly into the center of the room, retrieving your body once more.

-" You can't keep my name outta your mouth, can you ? How 'bout we find what else of me you can keep in this pretty mouth ?"

-" and catch whatever illness you carry ? Thank you next. "

-" Shhh, what a dirty filthy mouth you've got yourself here, princess. " You loathed nothing more than how that nickname sounded in his mouth, all of a sudden the orchestra took the symphony to its spike, a rhythm more frenzied and Ran let go of your waist but it was shortly cut off.

-" spin me one more time and I'm going to vomit all over your pretty suit. "

Something in your glare must have convinced him you were not joking, which made him take you waist again, ever so harshly.

-" So you think it's pretty ? I was hoping I guessed your favorite color " your nails dug deeper in his neck's skin taking out a breathed chuckle of him against your ear.

-" Pointless, I see red everytime I see you. "

-" Damn " he pulled his head slightly back so both the tips of your noses were grazing each other. " Is that bloodlust or just the last of the latter ?"

No matter what he had already seen from you, seeing you laughing, even sarcastically said, stretched his smile more. His gaze dropped to your lips a few millimeters from his and he had to squeeze your skin even more under his fingers to keep himself grounded.

-" Get over yourself already." Taking the lead, the wildflower's scent invaded his nostrils, your hair against his face while your lips grazed his ear.

Intoxicating, reaching the top of madness in what was a cursed dance in the middle of an oblivious crowd. Unhealthy would be an euphemism, yet every bruise he would leave on your skin, every scratch you would make his neck suffer seeped as sugar coated venom through him.

-" Far be it from me to hurt your ego, Haitani. But you're only one more name on the list. You, your brother, your boss... "

Thanks to years of training and a good anticipation, otherwise you'd probably let out a gasp of surprise and pain, when his nails suddenly digged in your sides. That had nothing to do with a slow dance now, the way he was holding you was even too painful to breath, you scratched his neck even harder, nuzzling your head in his chest while his chin pressed on top of your head.

-" Fix your attitude before I fix it for you. "

Sword words, bruising hold, his usual smile was now water under the bridge. Peering up at him, he was not even looking at you, clenched jaw made you know you found that man's weak spot, his brother, his gang.

A devilish smile curled your lips, the upper hand was yours now. Pressing your body tighter to his, Ran had to grip his anger and loathe as if his life depended on it to ignore your chest's feeling against his torso.

-" is this a threat? "

- " No. " Piece by piece, the alternative universe both of you were into shattered with every last note of the music, until the crowd of dancers began to leave the center of the room. Only there, a fleshy soft texture brushed your cheek, Ran Haitani's lips with every word he said kissed your face, a kiss of death.

No butterflies, just swords of Damocles embedded in your skin. Morbidly romantic.

-" It's a promise. "

•••

The evening was stretching way too far long. Mikey and Kokonoi still were busy discussing business with some partners, Sanzu wouldn't leave his king's side, and no matter how many years they have been practicing, Rindou and Kakucho always found a way to make the conversation drift toward weight lifting.

He needed a break, the only way to smoke a cigarette at events like this was in the restroom, which he did, entering the men's room.

Then it hit him, like his cigarette, his breath been stole from his mouth while a wave of pain stirred his stomach, the impact of a foot making him fall backwards. On the ground, helpless, he could only watch your face blur behind the smoke of his previous cigarette, before reappearing in all its majesty, a smile on your lips as the smoke dissipates.

-" missed daddy already ? " He chuckled, leaning on his elbows behind him and starting to get up, only for you to surprise him with a kick straight to his face, aching through his nerves along with anger waves crashing on him.

Watching you squatting in front of him, throwing the cigarette aside and stepping on it, the only thing he was seeing was red. Clenched jaw and fists, he coveted for your blood, your head.

-" Stand up and keep your promise, man. " You pierced his face with sword-sharp hues. " Fix me. "

Just like that you got up, he did so, quickly wiping the blood out of his nose.

-" Thought I fight the weak ? I don't hit women. "

-" Guess that's not gon' be funny for you " you shrugged, too much for a gentleman, it was another kick that he received in exchange, grunting from pain and holding his neck, leaning forward.

Now you hated, loathed Ran Haitani with the fire of a thousand suns, however that fire seemed to burn passionately when he turned into this, the beast advancing toward you currently, no smile, no tease, a promise of carnage.

Taking you aback, his kick on your stomach seemed even stronger than one of the wooden doors of the toilets, which nearly dislocated as you crashed against it. Pained in the back and abdomen, you hardly steadied yourself, fists in front of you, unfortunately not as fast as to dodge his next punch, knocking you out on the floor.

He was strong, that was not the first time you fought him or tried to kill him, yet his strength never failed to amaze you.

Anger and hatred competed in your eyes, leaning on your hands and knees you looked up at a Ran who was rolling up his sleeves.

Sky would fall on the ground the day he would understand the urges in his body that your sight, bloody, on your knees in front of him, gave. May God forgive him for the way his pants tightened as he leaned and grabbed your hair, pulling a soft grunt from your bloody irresistible lips.

-" Y'know ? You always look so much better when I mark you up. "

Bold from someone who, right after saying how pretty you were got your face pressed to the floor, almost sitting on your back as he pinned you to the ground. You moved as a possessed woman under him, grunting your rage and shame for him to silence.

-" Did'ya forget ? Bitches on the bottom. "

Calm down, only fools rush in. You refused to let him have the best of you, turning your head as best as you could to look at him, straddling you from behind, there you figured out you could actually use the way his lips parted at the sight of your face.

For it was just excruciating to not stare, the bloody princess all submitted under him, her hate-filled eyes only looking at him. Even in your poorest states he still found you deathly attractive.

His calloused fingers glided slowly on your neck's exposed skin, making you inhale louder than what you would've wanted, pushing your hair to the side, mesmerized by your hair locks sliding on your bare shoulder. Perfect timing, you decided. Putting all your bloody strength to switch the positions, now straddling him with each leg on his sides.

-" Who's the bitch now ?"

Drinking in his taken aback expression only a second before a shower of punches fell on him.

- " Who's on the bottom now, huh ?" It was your dignity, flowing out of his face with every punch, staining your knuckles. They hurt, but it didn't matter, it was your father's dead body you saw everytime you looked at him.

-" Give it up already" Two strong hands stopped both of your fists in the air, Ran straightened, now sitting and caging you on his lap, face only inches away from yours.

Damned be the one who opened that restroom's door first, switching from a perfect fancy picture to the God's wrath, the doomed bathed in each other's blood, lips merely brushing against each other with every raging breath they took.

-" I studied your moves " pulling you closer in his lap, he smirked. You adjusted your knees just the right way, and smirked too.

-" Yeah ?" Either was it your out of breath voice, or how you rubbed your hips against his as you tried freeing yourself , one of the them pulled a grunt from his mouth. " Fucking study this. "

Angling your body to the side, your knee hit his chin roughly sending him few inches back. You quickly pulled away from him hearing his growl of pain, a breathed " bitch".

That was the last straw, the one which made all the bridges burn down. The blood he spat contained his last drops of sanity and self control. A demon rised in front of you, making you stiffen in defense, in no time an agonizingly painful stretch coursed through your neck, the impact sending you straight to the ground. With the aching sounds you made, came to hit you the realization that he just kicked your neck, a swift almost acrobatic move. The same foot that was now, getting pressed to your windpipe.

Your eyes widened already struggling to take an air puff, Ran Haitani towered above you , choking you with a foot, lazy eyes boring through your lying shape.

-" I should kill you... I really should... ".

Yet something, about putting an end to that wicked game that has been going for years between the two of you was disturbing. Not seeing your smirk nor those bright eyes whenever he would fail dodging a blow, no more of your sweet perfume invading his nostrils everytime you would try choking him, hearing your jerky breathes the few times your fighting position became more than... A fighting position.

One move away from spilling your poison on that floor, one move away from picking up the venomous flower. A shoe to your throat, all he had to do was pressing his foot. He had you, powerless and surrendering, half-lidded eyes and parted open lips under him, what a thief you were, stealing his attention.

-" Do it. Kill me. " You uttered difficulty, refusing to even touch his ankle to try and beg for your life. Through that colored ring around dilated pupils he searched for fear, submission, only found handfuls and handfuls of challenge, courage and fire.

-" Go... Ahead " you tried again in front of his silence, he frowned. That was not what he had in mind, turned out you were more screwed than what he thought you were, not even caring an ounce for your life.

-" I've got better plans for you. " That was your turn to frown, as he squatted above you, legs on each sides of your body. You took a deep breath finally after he released your throat but that joy was short lived since soon his hand replaced his foot around it, forefinger lifting your chin.

-" Why you so hell bent on killin' me, us ?"

Is he fucking serious ? A scoff left your lips at the thought. Ran saw your face flinching, though he hadn't moved an inch, those pretty eyes lightened by the lamps above your heads closed for meer seconds where he wondered truly, was it possible that inside that wreck they turned you in, some life still existed ? Shortly cut off when you opened them again, since those were no eyes facing him but an iceberg.

-" after years of loyal service to Bonten, your father wouldn't have been happy-"

-" Do not talk about my father. " Hurricane-like voice warned him. " Nor about what he would've liked. "

Purple empty gaze bored into your features, something was off and it only clicked inside his head now. He could not exactly put his finger on it yet he smelled a rat.

-" Let's get something straight, yeah ?" Squeezing, he deprived you of oxygen slightly, eliciting a pained gasp from you. "Tell me what to do once again and I'll make you see, Love, death is the softest thing I can do with you. "

Sucking on your teeth, your fists flew to his sides before he pinned them in a swift gesture on top of your head, thus having you at his complete mercy. If a look could kill, he would probably be lying down lifeless on the ground now from the hostility in your gaze.

-" Your father was a friend of Bonten-"

-" oh, do you kill all your friends ?"

What was it ? That void disappearing from his face, the usual smile faltering ? Why were you seeing a multitude of things flickering in those usually cruelly empty eyes ?

And it clicked, hit him like the sky fell on him so suddenly that he swore he saw flashes of all your fights in front of him. All those years,forging you like a steel weapon, making you throw the crown to hold a sword, all of this so...

A ticking bomb, they made you. Filled you with lies until the day they wanted you to explode.

-" Fuck, this shit's insane ". Slipping into an uncontrolled laughter, you looked at him in disbelief as his state of humor triggered your wrath.

-" I'm gonna fucking kill y-"

-" So that's what they reduced you to? " he cut you off, you frowned. " A heartless machine of killing, this I knew. But I had no idea you were so silly, princess. "

-" What the hell you're talking about ?" Your voice climbed those decibels rather rapidly, Ran drank in your frowning face, still pinning your wrists above your head and holding your throat, then slowly, almost carefully, sat as slightly as he could on your lower half.

Something told you, what was about to come was not going to be funny. It was so out of character, the way his fingers around your throat loosened slightly, the sudden softness in his smile contrasting with the Brighting cruelty in his eyes.

-" we did not kill your father. Surprise !" He faked a chuckle, watching your face turning redder and redder. " Man, you're telling me all these years of cat and mouse were because of a lie your family told you ? I'm almost offended. "

-" I don't believe you. "

No room in you were left to even listening to him, there was not even a second thought in you about it. Why would you consider thinking about the possibility that he might be saying the truth ? He was not, your uncle was pretty sure it was them, who poisoned the godfather, your uncle never made such mistakes.

Your uncle never made such mistakes, a voice inside you bitterly uttered in front of Ran's unimpressed face. Goddamn, he kept that composure almost as if-

No, it couldn't be.

-" As you like " he shrugged. " Whether you believe me or not, that's not gonna change the fact you've been dumb enough to swallow your uncle's lies-"

-" My uncle is not a liar watch your fucking mouth. " Still climbing decibels, that voice was. Ran's smirk stretched, behind that frown of yours, your eyes were droopy, sliding from time to time to the side, distracted, you began letting him inside your head.

-" Oh sweet little thing" sympathy coated face leaned over yours, pressing his weight more on top of you. " Why would Bonten kill your father, if not to take your family business after that ?"

Have you ever wondered how it felt to fall from a cloud ? Painful. Whether you wondered or not, you would never be prepared for the fall, how painful meeting the ground was.

-" Tell me, princess. Who inherited the throne, the mafia, and everything your father left behind after his death? "

Your uncle, he did.

-" Why hasn't a war been declared to Bonten, after they killed his dear brother ?"

'cause Bonten is strong. They told you.

-" Bonten is too strong to be... Taken down by men... "

How you uttered those words as a learned text almost pained him, lost puppy eyes wandering around the room and getting back to him with a frown.

His heart squeezed strangely in his chest.

-" But not by a woman, right ?"

Last straw, before you dived deep into an ocean of memories. Flashes of your teenage self sitting next to your uncle , telling you tales of how the cruel Bonten poisoned your father with Arsenic.

Now that the colors started fading, poison was not one of Bonten's ways...

Pictures of the young girl training all day and until late night, when other girls would be sleeping after a full day of having fun outside.

Blood on your sixteen years old hands, first murder, when his sons were learning how to manage a business.

-" Truth is, all this time you thought you held the gun, while they slowly turned you into a pretty gun in their pockets. "

Yes, falling from a cloud hurts.

Your face expressed so much more than usual, so much that it was hard for him to catch one emotion at once. Wheels were turning at incredible speed inside your head, overheating emanating from you. Oh when all those years he fought you with bullets, when his mouth was the only weapon needed...

-" I... I trust them... My uncle, my cousins."

Why did it sound as a question ? Why were your eyes so pleading ? Why were his eyes softening ? He leaned down, placing another deadly kiss on your forehead.

-" Sweet, naive little girl. Trust if for children, and dogs. You, dear, are a soldier. "

Were. You were a soldier. Now you were no more than the ghost of yourself, lying helplessly under him, not even trying to free yourself anymore. And he watched, Ran watched the life slowly leaving your eyes, color draining away from your stoic face. How intoxicating, that he couldn't keep his hands to himself nor his thoughts on a leash, with you lying still looking pretty under him...

Too lost, too numb. You started feeling dizzy, every thought sounding too incoherent for your brain,not even fighting the man who was brushing away hair strands from your face. You simply bored your eyes into his amethyst hues, judging wether you should give it a chance or not.

No, too late, you already let him inside your head. Now he was messing with every belief you've ever had, Ran Haitani knocked down all foundation your life has been built on,making sure he was the only solid thing around you.

To break, to forge.

-" Now, I could kill you... You uncle has been throwing dirt on our name, after all. "

Numb, you wished he would just stick a dagger in your heart, open it from the inside for it kept contracting too painfully, yet something in his trailing tone made you think that was far from happening...

Pushing his knee between your thighs, thanks to the bold slit of your red dress, his leg went up until it brushed against your crotch, making your breath hitch all of a sudden. He smirked, lips placing the ghost of a kiss on your neck, just above your pulsing point, as if whispering to your skin.

-" On the other hand, these walls are pretty thick. Probably no soul would hear if I took you, here on this floor. "

Mimicking his words, his knee began rubbing against the fabric of your underwear just as your body stiffened. You tried your best not to make a single sound, keeping your eyes on his while his lips kissed your skin down until reaching your plunge cleavage, resting on your heart.

God, what was it that was wrong with you ? What in hell was that heat building in your lower half ? Why haven't you ever noticed how eye-catching he looked ?

Some of those pulled back hair strands were falling on his eyes now, a smile adorning those pretty lips. And even though that face was blood-stained, it was painful to try keeping your gaze off of him.

-" I could just, fuck you dumb right here. Yeah ?"

Not a sound, you promised. He wanted and chased your fear, what a shame if he knew there was only yearning inside you. Keeping your composure, you stared emptily into his eyes, before a particular thrust of his knee right against your clit, made you arche your back on that floor.

The floor of a men restroom, in the middle of a ball, both stained with each other's blood, his lips sucking on your chest's skin marking you as he pleased.

Talk about lust, how destructive and refreshing was it for him to see you throw you head back, exposed neck and throat and parted lips as he felt the fabric of your underwear dampening against his knee. His pants were suddenly tighter, desire coursing through his veins, urges long kept tied were now unleashed, free to act.

-" Looks so fuckin' pretty with my hand 'round your throat... "

And it felt good, damn how you hated that it felt good, you despised yourself for feeling this when your entire life has been shaken upside down, must be the trauma or something, but you could not focus on anything else than Ran's hands holding your throat and his leg between your thighs.

Until it crashed down on you, when he stopped every friction he was so willingly giving you and released your neck. The cold air suddenly wrapped around you while he stood up, pulling his sleeves down and smiling toward your lost face as you leaned on your elbows.

-" But I'm not taking advantage of this, your poor state. "

It eventually took the best of him, but he convinced himself not to ruin everything. Yes, ruin, years of yearning and fantasies for you, his nemesis. And though he hated you from the very bottom of his rotten heart, you still were there, in his heart, no matter the type, hate or not, you still had a place.

That was not the best place, nor the best timing for this. Ran always wanted your fierce, not only on his sword, or on his hit list, but next to him. He always felt like what you had was what he was missing, and he knew the best things in life take time.

-" This doesn't mean anything" you started standing up the moment he turned his back to you, thus missing his smirk. " I still don't trust you. "

- " Remember, pretty? Trust is not for soldiers " he scoffed grabbing the door handle, you narrowed your eyes and tightened your fists, what was preventing you from killing him right there ?

-" if I find out that you lied, I'll chase you down. "

Not the least intimidated or impressed by your relentless tone that would shake thousand of men, he peered at you over his shoulder, cold and smirking, as always, as you hated him, as you preferred him.

-" You can pretend all you want, Love. We both know I'm the first one to actually care for you. The first one who got that rotten heart thumping. "

Opening the door was like stepping into another version of reality, where everything was fine, as if paradise and hell did not just collided in a secluded room.

-" You know it's always gonna be me. You can deny it, run from it... We're bounded by bloodlust. "

Bloodlust, or just the last of the latter?

-" You and I are fated to be together. "

•••

Fated, yes, he believed every word of him. He was so sure that one day, you would eventually come back to him. Only, who could have anticipated that this day would come so soon?

The night was cold, numb. His chest empty and insignificant, just as the girl he drove with him home that night. She kept clinging on him as her lifeline and teasing him until he took her home, task completed for her.

The night was dull, grey.

Until it turned red, like your bloodshot eyes.

His keys fell to the floor the minute he spotted you, standing next to the floor to ceiling window of his apartment. Tokyo's night lightening your impassive face, hands on your pants pockets, staring right through his eyes.

A multitude of questions assaulted him, and the first was not even how did you got there, since he knew no door resisted you.

But as he was about to ask, now standing in the middle of the living room thus only few steps from you, his fling of the night interrupted him.

-" Don't tell me... You're married ?"

You would've scoffed, laughed even, if your head was not caving down. Instead, you watched him ignoring his plaything, eyes solely focused on your shape.

-" Leave. "

That was you, the assassin. You had commanded the woman, taller than you as you approached both her and Ran. To be honest it would not surprise you if she was some model, tall, slim, and she had that thing, the look screaming « I'm better bitch».

Except that, on the verge of uttering a scathing retort, raising her manicured hand towards you, your reddened eyes or your murderous gaze made her immediately get off her high horse. She felt it, the madness emanating from you, and Ran felt it too. There has been only few days since he made you realize everything, and you haven't been more than the shell of rage since then.

-" You heard her. Leave. "

An offended gasp left the " model's " mouth, seconds were spent while she incredulously looked at Ran for any sign of joke, yet she was forced to give it up when his gaze didn't even left you to meet her once, and left both of you alone.

Immediately, Ran got closer to you, always so drawn to his wildflower. He studied your face, bloodshot eyes highlighting your eye color, pink swollen lips, reddened tip of nose.

You had cried.

You were bewitching.

And drunk.

-" princess... " He started, his meer voice plunged you back into that night, where you wished for him to kill you when he only ripped your heart open.

-" Why didn't you killed me when you had the chance to ?"

Seriously ? From all the questions you could've asked, that was the one going through your mind ? Straight to the point, he must admit.

-" Why letting me alive ?"

-" You know why. "

No you didn't know.

Or maybe did you ?

Was " why " the way he looked at you now ? Was " why" the way he truly had your heart thumping?

It was too overwhelming, from the alcohol on your blood to the thoughts running wild in your head for days, Through the gentleness his hand rested on your cheek with.

You needed to understand, explanations, and he seemed to be the only one who could give them to you.

Then it hit hard, he was the only one who never lied to you.

Expectantly, your eyes urgently bored into his which to be honest could have startled him, so much emotion...

-" I... I don't understand. After everything I did for him, I did everything he asked me to do, I protected him, I cared about him. I shared dad's money and power with him, and yet... I did everything he asked me Ran, I promise-"

-" Shhhh, it's okay. "

Which strength you talked about which hatred which enemy, when a simple break in your voice and a glisten in your eyes urged him to pull you flat against his chest, arms wrapping around you so tightly that he could have crashed you.

God you hated him, hated how strong and comfortable his arms were, how safe you felt, collapsing against him.

So safe...

-" He ordered you to kill. To destroy, create chaos. " Your head nuzzled in his neck, his words being a painful stab that you needed,his arms being an armor to help you take it.

-" he manipulated and twisted your will, turned you into a weapon. Wanted to use you to fight his fights for him. "

How twisted, his heart ached in his chest feeling your wet tears against his neck, however a smile stretched his lips, how cursed.

-" He slashed his road toward power, and then, when he'd have everything he wanted and even more, he'd toss you aside like a puppet that outdated its usefulness. Nothing more, nothing less. "

Hurting, his words were creating holes in your chest, but as you went to pull away from him, his arms held you tighter, as if to crash every bone of you and him together.

-" Is that... what i was to him ? A pawn on his game the whole time ?" As you voice turned huskier, you tried hiding it with a sarcastic laughter, but he knew better.

-" What have I been doing with my life... "

For the first time it hurt, usually the only thing that would make him feel that way was anything related to Rindou. And there he was, holding his enemy, taking you to his couch so he could sit and pulling you on his lap, watching as you fell there as a limp doll.

Only there Ran figured out, he hated your family. Not for making you nearly kill him, not for pushing you into a war against Bonten, but for trying to extinguish that flame in your eyes. And he would never admit it, maybe not even to himself, but an oath bloomed in him, a promise of bringing down whoever did this to you.

The only one allowed to hurt you, was him.

His enemy, you were. Enemy, or not, whatever, you were his.

-" Now now, don't waste your tears on these motherfuckers, c'mon, I've known you stronger than this. " Calloused fingers flew to your cheek, wiping away those tears and giving you his lazy smile.

Why was it that you didn't wanted to wipe that smile away anymore ?

-" not everything is lost. Me, on the other hand can help you without expecting anything in return. Well only one thing I want from you, you ".

Slightly pulling your head back, you frowned. You ? Did it meant...

-" All of you, what's under the blood and the kicks. "

-" how do I know you won't backstab me once I'm no longer useful ?"

His smile widened, Ran pressed his forehead against yours, gaze falling on your lips.

-" Easy. Did I ever went as far as to actually kill you ?"

Hesitantly, you shook your head.

-" And... " Slowly, as grazing, his hands left your cheeks to rub your sides over your shirt, then caressing your skin under that one. " they've been feeding you of lies for years. Daddy's the only one stabbing you with the truth. On the front, quick, painless. "

You could feel it, feel him seeping through your pores as poison. Yet he felt the same with your lips so close to his and your soft skin under his fingertips, taking you in like psalms at the church.

-" Now tell me, gonna let daddy make you feel good ? "

Gulping down, you looked through his eyes and saw you,with no etiquette, no judgment, no expectation. Just you, raw and desire, and though he, what you two had was the most twisted thing God had ever cursed the earth with, the way he saw you was the purest thing ever.

It only took a nod for you to have his lips on yours.

Ran Haitani tasted as Gin and juice, hard, rough, with the right amount of softness for your poor state. Your soft lips against his felt like grasping the moon, a yearning of years and now, he could not just get enough.

As your tongues met each other in a frenzied dance, your hands found his shoulders to grip onto, accidentally grinding your hips against his, he lost it.

The next thing you knew, he was in top of you while you were lying under him on that couch, clothes all discarded except for your panties.

And there she was, his life's main problem, laying raw, naked for him to take.

-" What ?" You inquired in a scoff. " Never seen a naked woman ?"

-" Shit, just can't believe I almost killed this, you. "

You chuckled. He pinned your hands above your head, began sucking on your tits, driving both of you crazy. He adored how soft your breast was on his mouth, how you claimed to hate him when you were now grinding your hips against him, so much that soon enough, both your panties and his clothes have been tossed down.

Needless to say, naked Ran Haitani had nothing vulnerable without his expensive suits. Just as imposing, almighty, every muscle, scar played on his team to make him one of the most handsome men to ever graze your eyes.

Parting your legs, his tongue licked a stripe along your folds, only for you to shake your head and close your thighs making him frown.

-" want you inside already, Ran, can't wait... "

-" Yeah ? Then you better take it, princess. Gonna carve my fucking name inside this pretty pussy. "

-" Just do it already !"

Ran chuckled, breathing a " needy, indeed".

A breath that, nevertheless, has been stolen from his throat the moment he slided inside you.

There.

-" Fuck, you feel perfect-"

He stretched you to not point, the burn being quite pleasurable for you.

Where one plus one made one, a raw poem in the middle of discarded clothes and cursed pasts, Ran's broad shoulders towered above you, placing kisses along your neck. Intoxicated, heat waves crashing against his core, lost in your presence, just in your existence he dived deep.

And he knew how venomous you were, once again a flower watered by blood and lies, but God, he has been taking sips of that poison since years, smiling to each death threat you made, thus it felt like home, you felt like home, warm, comfortable.

-" So good, Ran... Just so good... " You cried out when his thumb reached out for your clit to draw circles over the nerve bund, with each movement clenching harder around him and sending him to cloud nine.

-" Right, love ? Such a pretty slut for daddy's cock, aren't ya ?"

Your eyes rolled back as he leaned against you, taking you lips in his just for the sake of it.

Well, maybe has it been for your glossy eyes and wet lashes, maybe for your chest brushing against his while you arched your back, all he knew was that looking at you was as sweet as torture, as a drug, with each sip even more infatuated though he saw no other way to possibly have more.

More, he was obsessed by more of you.

-" Look how good you take it... You're a goddamn t... A goddamn trap, know this ?"

What you were saying could not even be considered as words, you were so close to your high that everything you could utter were uncontrollable moans, your hands tried grabbing anything, but his hand around your fists only tightened, no way you would keep yourself grounded by anything, he wanted you dumb for him by the end of this.

-" my pretty girl's only gotta remember my name by the end 'f this... Daddy's gon' make the pain better. I, shit, I promise. "

And finally, your abdomen contracted while reaching your high, though he knew his words would fall to deaf ears, he still went for your ear to whisper them, his other hand pressed to the visible bulge on your lower belly.

-" feel this ? Told ya, you and I are bounded-" he stopped in his tracks, feeling a knot in his balls tightening, the sight of your soft breasts bouncing with each thrust, your fucked up face and breathed moans did not help, really.

-" From now on, what hurts you, hurts me... "

Was he really about to go through a war for the woman he has been fighting since years? Only because she had given him her true self ?

Was Ran Haitani about to turn that whole mafia upside down just because of those pretty eyes staring at him ?

-" For you, I'd take their lives. "

Apparently, yes.

If they asked you what was Ran Haitani to you ?

Lover, hunter, or enemy?

Note : sorry love, I really really didn't liked this one, kinda felt like I screwed it up so I'm not at all confident with this...

[angelamajiki]

[ peace treaty - kiribaku ]

AN: this is a fantasy au piece, enjoy! :)

CW: yandere, dubcon, arranged marriage, stalking, coercion, dragon/animal anatomy, fantasy au, afab terms, predator/prey dynamics, size difference, facesitting

“A mate, huh?” Katsuki chuckled as he stroked his companion’s horns, looking into the horizon thoughtfully.

“Think about it! We need hatchlings to lead the future generations of the Bakugo clan.” Eijirou pleaded with his mate. “Don't you ever miss the company of a woman? I know I do.”

Adding a woman to their pack would certainly bring its advantages. It would undoubtedly strengthen their positions as clan rulers if they were to have a wife and children to carry on both men’s legacy.

“Fine,” Katsuki conceded. “Let’s go find a mate then.”

The pair returned to their respective forms, wolf and dragon, as they began their hunt through the wild countryside for their new mate. Days of running down the mountainous forests away from their clan, they settled on resting at the edge of the woods, looking at a clearing just over a shimmering river that separated the two territories. Beyond the meadow was a small fortress surrounded by the community that they presumably controlled—a perfect place to start their search after some well-needed sleep.

Katsuki was the first to awaken from his slumber at the sound of a woman’s voice. And a heavenly voice it was, signing an alluring melody. Peaking his head over the bushes, the young prince saw the enchanting woman bathing alone in the stream. The other man had awoken as well, just as equally entranced by the naked dancing woman.

“A vixen...” Katsuki murmured, twisting to look at his mate. It was clear to both men that she was the mate they were looking for. Independent, vexing, sweet. She was perfect.

“Let’s snatch her up now while she’s distracted, ” Eijirou grumbled impatiently, eager to take her back to their den at once.

“Patience, Ei. I want her too, but now is not the moment to strike. Let's watch her a bit more; she needs to be more than a pretty face, you know that.”

Katsuki did not doubt that she wasn’t their perfect match, but he is a predator to her before he’s a man to her at this moment.

The blissfully unaware maiden that you were, you went on with bathing peacefully in the warm, summer day. Your attendants had followed you from the castle, watching from afar as they knew you valued your time alone in the stream. After some time, one of them called for you back to the castle for supper. Dried and dressed, the group of you departed from the meadow by horse as the sunset.

“So, she’s a princess, Katsuki.” Eijirou’s tail trashed with excitement. “If we marry her, we’ll get this territory too! Oh, I wonder if she likes to travel..” The red-haired man went off on a tangent about his many fantasies for you while the blonde thought deeply. This was almost too perfect; he had just the plan to corner and ensnare their lovely little prey.

The men stayed at the edge of their territory, for the time being, glad to notice that you had returned to the riverbank almost daily. Sometimes you took your handmaidens; sometimes, you came alone while they trailed back.

They learned that you liked to flip through many a book while basking in the sunlight. A library would be a perfect wedding present for you-they intended to spoil you thoroughly with the dragon’s hoard.

Five days had proven to be enough time for the men to watch you and returned to their clan to make the necessary preparations for your place as their lovely spoiled mate.

---

A fortnight later, a letter from the young prince arrived at your doorstep, addressed to your father, the king.

“An alliance? With the barbarian tribe, that’s unheard of, father. Are you sure it’s not some trick?” You doubted, finding it difficult to understand his request. The barbarian clan was...mysterious, to say the least. Living up in the mountains beyond the river, they were a solitary bunch who were ruthless and never exhibited mercy towards their foes. Not much was know about them because they simply never made alliances or held diplomacy with other clans or kingdoms.

“Perhaps they wish to make allies with the next closest kingdom, my dear.” Your father spoke quietly, his voice wavering as he avoided your eyes. “You’ll go up the mountains to discuss the terms with young Bakugo. An older gentleman like me is not suited for those kinds of traveling conditions.”

Nodding solemnly, preparations were made for your immediate departure. All of your belongings were brought to your carriage, something that struck you as rather odd. Although father did say something about the uncertainty of the amount of time you would spend with the barbarians for the sake of discussion.

With that in mind, you set off into the forest just as the sunset.

---

The journey had taken nearly five days through the rain and snow, your small carriage trudging up the mountainside to the den of the barbarians. As your carriage came to a stop, two men helped you out and down, both possessing a tenderness that didn’t seem possible for them. The blond was bare-chested, even in the snow! He stood at about six feet and had a body that seemed the gods themselves sculpted it.

“Welcome to my clan, your majesty.”

His smirk was wolf-like, eyes bearing down on you like a predator who has caught his unwitting prey. “Come, let’s get you inside to warmth and comfort. I'm sure you’ve had a long journey. Eijirou here will help with your belongings and join us after you rest.”

The prince held out his arm for you to take as the red-head beside you gave a toothy grin before setting off to work. He...he was something more than a man, he had to be! Standing at well over six and a half feet, he was much more muscular than the blonde; Eijirou airs about him more than human. It was inexplicable.

Katsuki gave a gentle tug to your arm before ushering you to the massive tent that stood in the middle of the community of barbarians who looked onto you with glowing pride. What an odd bunch of people, but you couldn't very well judge them now, could you? They simply had a different culture, another way of life.

The tent seemed larger than life on the inside and was impossibly warm. It had had a large bed adorned with piles of pelts and furs near a roaring fireplace. Many bookshelves lined the walls, as well as prized kills and weaponry were displayed. Katsuki led you to a table near the warmth of the fire. How-

“Magic, princess. I am fortunate enough to possess it, as well as many of my clansmen.” Katsuki boasted, clearly prideful of his abilities. He could only hope it impressed you, which it certainly did. “It keeps us warm up here in the dead of winter, which is soon approaching. It protects us, provides for us, all of which it will do for you too.”

Your smile could hardly be contained as you gazed upon the handsome man with wonder. For you, too? Would this he be so kind as to lend you its strength while you struck a deal with them? The barbarians were indeed nothing like the fairytales you had heard about them.

“I thank you for your hospitality, Sir Bakugo. I am truly humbled to be here with you.”

“Call me Katsuki, little one. We should grow familiar with each other before our wedding.”

His wolfish smirk grew wider as he saw the look on your face. Ah, he so loved that look of feeble innocence and confusion on your expression.

“Oh, did your father not tell you?” he chuckled, taking a sip from his cup. “This is an alliance through our union. Suppose you’ll have us, of course. Otherwise, we might have to resort to other means down the mountain.”

Us? Oh, he means-

“Ei, don’t be shy and stand in the doorway. Come greet your bride properly.”

Thundering footsteps came from behind your seated form as Eijirou towered over your much smaller frame.

“Please, tell me you agree to us, my love. We've waited so long for your arrival, won't you let us have you?” A scarred but gentle hand enveloped yours as the dragon shifter kissed it tenderly. “There’s no need to be frightened; we intend to treat you like our queen and spoil you rotten with all the world’s riches. Grant us your blessing.”

How could you deny them? Your kingdom was in danger, yet these men, they lulled you into such a state of comfort and safety. Perhaps it was the magic at work?

“Please, may I think on it?” Your heart battered against your ribcage with fear and excitement. Two men, both for husbands. What a strange culture indeed.

“Only if you let us have you tonight. Give us a chance to prove our worth as not only husbands but as men to you.”

Blood rushed to your face, heating your cheeks as you felt aflame with shame, and to your horror, arousal. They are seasoned men. Indeed they’ll treat you as gently as they have been the whole time?

“O-Only if you are gentle with me. I am...inexperienced.”

That was all the approval they needed. Eijirou, still behind you, swept you up in his arms and onto the bed. Wanting to show some display of his true strength, he ripped your gown clean off your body. Whimpering, your hand flew to grip his forearm fearfully. “Gentle, please, gentle.”

Eijirou shushed you softly, placing a sweet kiss on your trembling lips, hands beginning to wander to down your sides and to your sex. Stroking your clit in small circles, the men relished in your little whines and moans.

“I think I should give you a taste, huh? I haven't eaten all day.” He purred as he dipped down to press kisses to your lips before diving in with his hot tongue, lapping your clit.

Katsuki’s searing kiss swallowed wanton moans and cries. Eijriou’s hands kept your squirming hips firmly in place, positioning you to sit on his face while the blond continued to lay passionate kisses on your lips, neck, and chest.

Teeth sunk into your neck as the prince wasted no time in marking up his newfound territory. Your cries heightened in pitch as you gripped red hair, calling out Eijirou’s name as you came from his overwhelming sucking and slurping of your juices.

“N-no more! Please, that's enough!” Whining, you began to shake when his tongue barely came to half after your cries. Panting and writhing, you peeled off his tongue and laid on the furs next to Katsuki.

“I think that’s enough for this evening; poor thing is already exhausted.” Katsuki chuckled as he dabbed the sweat off your brow and cleaned in between your legs.

“We’ll build up your stamina and be sure to stretch you gently daily.” Eijirou quipped as he took his place next to your side. Up close, you could see how different he really was. Red iridescent scales trailed on his sideburns and h

shoulders. Absentmindedly, you stroke them and wondered if there were more.

“After all, it’s customary to lose your virginity on the wedding night, so need to rush you in right now. Have you made your decision, given Ei’s stellar performance?”

Letting sleep overtake you, your head nodded gently as he rested on Eijirou’s shoulder. The hunt was over and the men could not be more happy with their choice.

[falcor-thee-luck-dragon]

Of Monsters and Men

Chapter 5- Be Wary Of Old Friends

Summary: Your boys may annoy you at times but you’ll protect them with your life, especially when an unexpected acquaintance makes themselves know.

Warning: monster hunting ensues, reader goes a little feral, a bard in danger

Masterlist

"Hey songbird!" You shout from across the small campsite to where Jaskier is, "You helping pack or are you going to finger that lute all day?" You add with an amused laugh as he throws you a half-hearted glare while you start to snicker at his almost grossed out face.

"Y/N, you are hilarious." Mutters the bard unenthusiastically as he places his prized lute in her travel case, suddenly you hear a stick snap to your left near the woods. Raising to your feet at the sudden noise, you sigh in relief once Geralt emerges from the forest.

"Ah, yes, there you are." Announces Jaskier as he gains Geralt's attention, "Your lady here has been harassing me for the past ten minutes that you've been out and about." He complains, Geralt turns to you with a raised eyebrow.

Scoffing you roll your eyes, "Oh please, I've been the only one doing anything helpful since you've miraculously disappeared, and Jask can't stop from fondling his lute in the meantime." Geralt's lips pull at the corners of his mouth as Jaskier lets out a gasp at your nonchalant explanation.

"I was not fondling anything Y/N! Maybe if I shoved a wooden stake through your chest you'd stop...uh, you'd stop....being mean to me...yeah." Exclaims Jaskier with a hand on his hip, lute strapped to his shoulder as Geralt looks from you to the bard. Oh, you are seriously enjoying this.

A smirk makes its way onto your face at his words, "I'd like to see you try, you pampered little princess." You sass with a raise of your eyebrow as he purses his lips together at your admittedly bland insult, you're just trying to rile him up for the fun of it.

"Maybe I can....be violent, you have yet to see what I can do with these hands." He boasts while Geralt packs a last bag onto Roach's back, doing his best to ignore yourself and Jaskier's back and forth comments.

"Oh right, besides gettin' it on with the ladies of the high court with those sneaky paws of yours...so we have to save your stupid ass when things go south." You chuckle while pulling on your cloak, Jaskier simply shakes his head at you as Geralt leads Roach over to where you're standing.

He gently nudges your arm affectionately, "Come on you two, time to go elsewhere before the sun goes down." Implores Geralt as he looks at your amused face, Roach letting out a snort of agreement.

Jaskier turns his head up towards the cloudy sky, "But it's not even seven in the morning yet." Protests the bard as you walk past him with a mischievous wink.

"You wanted to come remember. Get inspiration for your ballots and all the good shit." He shakes his head as a humored grin comes to his face, you got him there.

"Right. Right. You enjoy my company I know it." Calls after the bard while you continue up the woodland trail, trees and bushes to either side while he turns his attention back to Geralt, "I know it, she's fond of me I can just tell. Underneath all that mystery, satirical annoyance, unprecedented violent tendencies and whatnot. She thinks I'm interesting. Right?" Wonders Jaskier as Geralt leads Roach around him.

He glances at Jaskier for a moment to answer with a bit of wisdom, "Give it some time bard." He mutters, Jaskier jogs over to his side with a puzzled look upon his face implying that Geralt should continue, "It took me a while to gain her full trust and respect, she's just testing you Jask...it's in her nature or something of the like. It's how she shows her love, in her own way." The bard gives a thoughtful nod as he watches you walk down the trail.

"What do I have to do?" Wonders Jaskier with a shrug, "Kill a man with my bare hands...or..or perhaps I must tame a bear to juggle wild rabbit heads?" Inquirers Jaskier as he turns to look at you once again, his eyes going wide as he suddenly realizes you're nowhere to be found.

Jaskier nudges your Witcher who looks at him rather bored like, "Uh, Geralt...uh..wh-where has she gone. I don't happen to see Y/N anymore, I mean we haven't been walking that slow now have we?" He rambles nervously as his head turns from right to left and back down the trail again, "Geralt seriously, where the fuck did Y/N go....I'd really rather not have her scare me, again."

"Now watching you tame a bear..." Jaskier jumps while letting out a small yelp in surprise at the unexpected sound of your sly voice from behind him, "That would be interesting and very entertaining...but no, I just enjoy pushing your buttons cause let me be honest here, its too goddamn easy." Jaskier sends you a glare as you walk to his side while he tries to keep pace with you and Geralt.

"My gods Y/N you're such a...uh well...never mind it, I'm going to have to remind myself that you can hear incredibly well...and do," He points his fingers to your humored form, "That. Even traveling with you two for a whole year and all."

You slowly nod, a thoughtful expression on your face, "If I showed you what else I'm capable of, you'd probably shit yourself so don't fret, I'll save your eyes the horror." Jaskier glances at you with a wary doubtful look in his eyes as he hugs his lute closer in the cool morning breeze. Feeling his suspicious gaze upon you, a low chuckle escapes from your lips that sends mist into the crisp air like a dragon about to spit fire.

"Oh thanks I feel so much better now." Replies Jaskier, sarcasm dripping off of every word.

——

After a solid week of traveling through woodland trails, over bridges, and past rows of plowed fields. Your band of merry adventurers has made it to a small lakeside village overlooking magnificent mountains that tower high into the sky, ones that reflect beautifully off of the shimmering crystal blue lake below.

When you make it to the stables, the sky has turned into an exquisite mix of fiery oranges, reds, and purples that paint the sky and some of her wispy clouds overhead. A cool but refreshing breeze blows in your faces as it makes your cloaks flap in the wind with every new gust.

Once Roach has been fed and watered in her comfortable new temporary stall for the night, you and Geralt make your way to the only tavern in the village where Jaskier can be heard singing loudly his newest ballot. Something about how you and Geralt fought bravely back a pack of fierce shapeshifters on one hunt. The songs almost truthful, the exception being that the shapeshifters were actually old friends of Jaskier's who were pissed off cause he owed them money. In the end, they didn't get any money, mostly because they're not currently alive anymore to need it.

"I was hoping for a quiet evening, we could just drink our fill and then sleep in an actual bed for once....no one to bother us." Admits Geralt as he opens up the wooden door for you to walk inside the warm welcoming tavern.

Turning your face to look up at him you let out a yawn hidden behind your arm, "No one to bother us sounds very enticing." You muse while turning your attention back to the bustling tavern life.

The place is lit up with candles positioned at each table, a roaring fire casts shadows over the room from its prison in the hearth as you find an empty corner just perfect for yourself and Geralt. Taking the lead you walk past a couple drunken tavern goers on your way to the quiet corner of the place. Almost hidden from Jaskier's very loud singing that's taking place by the fire where a significant amount of women are sat, listening intently as they practically undress him with their eyes.

Sliding into the corner first, you lean yourself against the wall as Geralt sits down next to you, your legs touching even though there's enough room that you wouldn't have to be so close. You can tell how much he's been holding back since Jaskier has been around to ruin most of the fun.

Letting out a satisfied sigh as you close your eyes, your ears listen to the sounds of a woman's footsteps approaching your table, "Welcome travelers I'm Misha, what'll it be this even'n?" Announces a peppy teenager through a peculiar accent as she looks between the two of you with big curious brown eyes.

"Two ale's and whatever's on the menu for tonight." Mutters Geralt as you open your scarlet irises while holding your tired head up with the palm of your hand, a lazy smile painted onto your face. Her own eyes widen for a brief moment before she regains her bearings once again, flashing a nervous smile a she abruptly turns on her heel for the kitchens.

Looking over to the lively sight of the singing bard you smile, "Wonder who's going to keep Jask warm tonight, huh?" You chuckle as Geralt turns an amused smirk towards you while you shift your eyes back to the singing bard.

Geralt nudges his shoulder against yours, "Could be that blonde one in green or maybe the redhead to his left?" You find the ladies that he's referring to and watch as Jaskier gives the she-fox a charming wink.

Turning your attention back to Geralt, he looks down at you with a raise of his brow, "Oh it's definitely the redhead, she's already caught his eye so we needn't concern ourselves with him till morning, if all goes well for him that is." You muse as the tavern maid sets two ale's in front of you, a shy smile gracing her young face as she leaves.

Grasping your mug you take a hearty much needed chug before slamming it onto the table and wiping off your mouth, "Oh fuck yeah I've missed what real ale tastes like." You breath out happily as Geralt lightly sets his half empty mug onto the wooden table while you take another sip.

"It's not half bad." He admits with a shrug as you lean into his side.

You're about to comment on how lackluster his review was when your crimson eyes light up at the large single plate of trout and various steaming greens coming your way, "Ah yes our foods here."

After eating your meal and finishing off your glasses while forcing yourselves to listen to Jaskier's ballots that you've heard over a hundred times. You and Geralt get up and head to the bar for a key to a room upstairs. You watch as Jaskier disappears into a room with the redhead from earlier as you turn to face the young woman at the bar.

"Room for two....please." She gives you a quick nod before searching a drawer for the key to a room. Once she finds them you're able to take the rusted old key and walk over to the stairway as Geralt silently follows. The climb up is a short one, your quest taking you both to the end of the dimly lit hallway until you finally reach your room.

Stepping inside you look around the place and notice a small window, a decently large bed, and a fireplace next to it. The room isn't terrible if you're being honest and the bed looks incredibly inviting after sleeping on the ground for almost a month. Your face shifting into a pleasant grin as you drop your belongings and weapon onto the ground.

"Nice place." You add while turning around to give Geralt a knowing smirk, his face breaking out into a grin at your silent implications, "Guess we better test out the bed.." His golden eyes trail up your body as you continue, "make sure it's soft enough and..." You don't have time to finish as Geralt's soft lips have entrapped you into a heated embrace, his calloused hands snaking around you as yours does the same.

He gently leads you backwards until your legs hit the edge of the bed, your lips still locked with one another the whole time, even while he tenderly lays you onto your back. The mattress is soft and inviting as Geralt climbs over you, never once breaking the kiss to your great satisfaction.

——

Walking over to a table, three drinks in one hand and a plate of fresh bread and butter in the other. You watch in amusement at the morning faces of your Witcher and bard who look like they desperately need something to wake them up with.

"So Jask how was the redhead last night, was she all you'd dreamed of...did she fulfill every last perverted wish of yours?" You jest with a smirk as you set the drinks and plate of food onto the table, setting yourself down next to Geralt.

Jaskier shakes his head as a bashful smile appears onto his lips, "It was...very pleasant and uh...that's all the information I'll let you have." He retorts while taking a sip from one of the provided cups in an attempt at hiding behind the glass. Honestly you're kinda glad he has decided against spilling any private details, something he usually does much to yours and Geralt's disgust.

Geralt hums before adding in his two cents, "No one can quite resist your charms no matter where we seem to go." He deadpans while breaking off a warm piece of bread that he kindly hands to you before reaching over to break off a new chunk for himself.

Jaskier looks down with an almost shy smile before taking another sip, "Well, I try not to pride myself or anything, it's just a talent you see...which of course my voice and handiwork with my lute helps, also having you two as friends seems to peak some interest in the ladies now since I think of it." He replies as he stuffs a fluffy piece of bread into his mouth.

"Glad we could help then." You add with a cheerful raise of your mug before downing the rest of the liquid. The three of you taking a couple blissful minutes of peace to eat and wake up.

Glancing around the room you watch for any new tavern goers who may spark your interest as you suddenly decide to get on with your morning, "I'm going to pay, you two want anything while I'm up?"

"Um yeah, Valdo Marx's head on a shiny platter...that's all." Quips Jaskier with a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders.

"I'll see what I can do." You reply before turning around and walking over to the bar where the young brown eyed woman is tending to a customer.

Leaning your arms against the shiny wood of the counter you nod to the old man next to you who gives a cautious glare as you turn your head to the bartender, "Misha, right? Here's the coin for the room and the food. We'll be off soon enough."

She turns to you with a frown, "Just one night? That's too bad, we've actually been havin' some troubles 'round here recently and it would be wonderful if you and that Witcher could possibly help..."

"Will you shut it girl, we don't need no outsiders knowing of our business," Snaps the man from earlier as he sneers at her, "We got men handling it just fine." He adds with a gruff nod, his cold steely eyes intimidating to the innocent tavern maid.

Her once happy face goes sad as unshed tears form in her shimmering doe eyes while she ignores the grump, "Twenty are already dead miss, my poor brother included..."

"Shut your fucking mou.."

"If you interrupt her again I'll cut off your tongue and shove it up your ass." You threaten as your eyes glow bright red, the old greying man abruptly goes silent at your heated warning as you turn your cooler demeanor back to the young girl, "Tell me more about this...whatever the fuck that's slaughtering your village's men."

Her brows furrow in troubled thought as she looks back up to you, "Uh, they come back looking, well...mutilated, their throats practically torn out, their chests ripped open and their eyes gone, bodies pale as ghosts." A frightful expression flashes across her terrified face, "But it's not just the men.." She whispers while leaning her head in closer to yours, "The village women have gone missing, snatched from their beds in the middle of the night...never seen from again...no one knows who takes them but..."

"How long has this been going on for?" You quickly interrupt, wanting to find out if your growing suspicions are possibly correct.

"About five months now, it happens around the same time every month in fact, oh god...this night is when the beast usually strikes...", A single tear runs down the side of her face as she tries to control her trembling, "I don't want to be taken miss, but I must tell you....some have said that the creature walks like a man, is too swift to be truly seen, and can magically get into your house...no matter if its locked or not." Your eyebrows furrow in concern for the girl and this alarming news that's slowly starting to fit into place.

"You said tonight yes...hm alright, where have these bodies been found, I mean isn't there any tracks in the mud or sand, on trails?" Misha quickly shakes her head as the old man listens intently, thankfully minding his own.

Smirking at a new and appealing thought you find her wary eyes once again, "I've gotten an idea, would your village happen to have a carriage for long traveling, I think we may be able to lure the beast away from the village with the thing during the time that you claim it comes into town." She gives a hopeful smile as you return one just the same.

"Miss I can get that arranged for you in no time. Meet me by the stables, an hour before sunset and my father will have the carriage waiting....oh bless you, he'll be ever so grateful." She affirms happily with a beaming smile, though behind it all you can tell how truly terrified she really is. She hopes whatever plan you have works, you're hoping it will too.

Setting down your coin, she quickly takes it before tending to another tavern goer, but as you turn to leave the old man grasps your arm, "Do you really think its possible, that the man-beast can be killed?" He wonders in a hushed tone as he looks up with pleading eyes, they soon turn skeptical once again, "I don't believe a word anyone says until I see it with me own two eyes."

Removing his arm from your own you nod to him, "I'll gut the fucker and put its head on a spike, then you'll know for yourself." His face morphs into a troubled expression as you leave him doubting by the bar, your mind now set on how to handle the new problem hiding like a coward in the woods.

—-

Walking to the stables with Geralt by your side and Jaskier on your tail, you casually touch the side of your hip, making certain that your silver dagger is still in its place.

"So what...or I guess whom do you presume this monster is again Y/N?" Questions the bard as he falls in step with you.

"I'll be one hundred percent certain once I actually see it, Jask. So until then, no more questions or I'll shove that pretty jacket of yours down your throat." You muse as he gives a curt nod.

"Yes alright, noted Y/N. Noted." Mutters Jaskier as Geralt holds back a laugh.

Once the three of you make it to the stables, you're pleasantly surprised to find a black two horsed carriage awaiting you along with Misha and her father who appears to be rather glad that someone is finally here to put an end to the deaths and mystery. She instructs you three to trek on the northern trail, where the pine forest is located, same area that the man-beast has made its hunting grounds, or so its claimed.

With that in mind you direct Geralt to take the reigns and for Jaskier to hold a silver sword as he keeps himself in the actual carriage, while you keep close by in the woods for a better view of the beast and where it may be coming from. Then just like that you're off and into the crisp night air as a full moon graces you all with its brightness upon the land, you fly through the great pine trees as you follow Geralt who's leading the horses down the wide woodland trail. Luckily the woods seem mostly vacant of bushes and greenery of the like, only tall bristly pines tower over the ground as they leave the woods shadowed from the rising moon.

"Geralt. Heyyyyyy Geeeeraltttt." Whines Jaskier from within the small carriage as Geralt holds tightly onto the leather reigns, a soft cool breeze blowing his silver hair back.

"What?" Grumbles the Witcher with a sigh, eyes set to the path ahead.

Jaskier leans back into the velvety cushions as he crosses his arms over his chest, "You think I could have a peek, you know...sit up there with you? I mean come on, I'm not seeing shit back here and I think.."

"No."

Letting out a huff in annoyance, the bard knocks onto the back of the wall where Geralt is leaned against on the other side, "Y/N doesn't have to know. I'll be as still as a statue and quieter then a dormouse...she'll never even know." Exclaims Jaskier has he pauses for a second to see if Geralt gives a shit, not getting anything he continues, "Come on, this man-beast or whoever the fuck can't be that horrendous now can it right? Those villagers could have been pulling her leg for all we know, what if its just a werewolf, I mean seriously it is a full moon after all. Perfect scenario, the stars are quit literally aligning....hellooooo its gotta be a werewolf."

"It left bodies and has taken multiple women, this is something else. So I advise you to shut the fuck up." Growls Geralt over the clip clopping of the horses hooves against the hardened ground. Jaskier wisely decides to keep silent and instead look out the tiny window as a way to distract himself. He watches as a sea of trees pass by, the occasional fern cluster rising from the roots, and a reddish brown blur that goes from tree to tree.

Squinting he realizes that this mystery blur is most definitely not just a figment of his imagination and quit possibly hunting them from the tree tops. He stares on in confused bewilderment as the man like thing jumps from one branch to the next in rapid succession, although he's only able to catch a prominent glimpse of it as the moonlight catches it when it jumps. The creature looks black in the white light of the full moon, a large healthy mane of reddish brown hair flying as it lunges from tree to tree. Still too fast to fully make out.

He blinks and a second later the creature is gone, Jaskier lets out a whispered "oh shit" as he shuts the tiny window and grasps the hilt of his silver sword while hastily knocking on the carriage wall, "Geralt I saw it, I fucking saw it...Y/N wasn't lying this thing is most definitely not a werewolf."

Geralt's brows furrow in confusion as he listens to what Jaskier is rambling on about, "What did it look like?"

"Like a fucking pale monkey man wearing black with red hair or something. I don't know it happened so fast...sorry I was too busy getting my prized jewels fondled by the lovely elven lady in this carriage to notice anything else." He sasses from the back as Geralt rolls his eyes, suddenly the carriage jostles from the rear like something has angrily rammed into it.

"That wasn't me." Squeaks out Jaskier with wide eyes as he firmly clutches his sword with both hands. A moment later something fast with sharp talons whips past Geralt's head from the right as it leaves a clean slice on his cheek, and then its gone again like it never even happened. He snaps his head in the direction of the creature, too late to catch a glimpse.

Eyeing up the area around him, he braces for another unexpected assault, "Where are you?" Whispers Geralt to no one in particular as he holds onto the reigns with one hand and a sword in his other as he waits for the beast to make itself known. He can sense the nervousness radiating off of the galloping horses as he watches ahead of him, the pine trees swaying in the wind, making it increasingly more difficult to tell where the beast is coming from. On the inside of the carriage Jaskier braces for more trouble as a moment later, without warning the carriage lifts off of the ground before slamming into the dirt trail with a loud crack. The back wheels snapping off with the abrupt impact, he falls forward into the nearby cushions as the carriage skids in the dirt.

"Fuck." Mutters Geralt through clenched teeth as the horses race onward, then to his great astonishment, one of them lets out a horrific scream as a river of blood pours forth from its muscular neck by an unseen force that he must have missed when he was trying to regain his bearings after the back wheels collapsed.

He watches in confusion and slight fear as the bleeding horse clashes into the other, the both of them abruptly tripping over themselves in a screeching heap as they fall to the earth. Bringing the carriage down with them, the Witcher jumps for the safety of the ground as the vessel tips onto its side, the only live horse whining in pain as one of the broken wooden pieces lodges itself into the poor animals stomach.

Jumping to his feet, Geralt races over to the bent in door where he quickly pulls it open to reveal a bruised bard, Jaskier's sword stuck into the back wall. He smiles up to Geralt as a trail of blood seeps out of his nose, "I'm gonna be honest here, but that was not something I'd rather ever do again." He confesses as the Witcher pulls him out and onto his feet as they stand back and assess their woodland surroundings.

Suddenly they hear a branch snap from up above near the tree line where the edge of the trail begins, before a dreamy chuckle snaps their attention over to a stunning pale faced man approaching them from out of the woods. He looks at them curiously through fiery ember eyes, his long tousled reddish-brown hair hanging all about as it cascades down his muscular shoulders all the way to his lower back. On his lean slender body does he adorn himself with black attire under an equally as dark long-coat that just barely touches the frosting ground below. He's rather quite attractive all things considered, as he swaggers through the moonlight with not a weapon in sight, or anything for that matter in his gloveless hands, only but a few golden rings clinging to their master that shine in the moonlight.

He hands Geralt and Jaskier a sly grin, revealing sharp pearly white fangs as he stops a good couple yards away from them, "So you're the infamous White Wolf...and of course...his loyal bard." Inquires the mysterious vampire as he speaks in an entrancing velvety voice, his glowing irises watching their every move as he tilts his head to the side, "But alas, you lack one which I would love to grace my aged eyes upon once again." Reveals the enticing man as he looks dismally to the ground before he raises his head to smile again, his beautiful reddish hair parting perfectly onto either side of his sculpted marble face.

"Are you the one who's been killing men and taking the women?" Snaps Geralt as he points an accusing sword towards the smirking vampire.

The man merely shrugs, a single hair falling seductively over his eye as he peers through it at your Witcher, "The men are simply human cattle, barely worth the air they breath. The women on the other hand, came willingly into my open arms from their beds and rather dreary mundane lives. My compliant acquisitive lovers if you will." Assures the ember eyed vampire as he takes a step closer, Jaskier taking one back as he stands behind Geralt, the vampire smirking at him as Jaskier tries to hide.

"Don't touch the bard." Growls Geralt while holding up his silver sword defensively, "He's not worth your energy."

The vampires face changes to that of a fake pout, "Oh my dear Witcher, I admire your bravery and valor...but I'm hungry and I will get what I desire one way or another." The vampires fiery eyes darken as he races towards the two of them in a black and orange blur, Geralt and Jaskier falling helplessly onto the crunchy leaves just mere feet from one another as the vampire paces in front of them like a lion in a cage. The bloodsucker suddenly stops and watches in amusement as the two groan in pain while trying to sit up again. He tilts his head to the side like a curious wolf observing their prey, before deciding to take another step.

"Velkyn."

He halts all movement as his body goes tense for a split second before his otherworldly charming aurora surrounds him once more, with a fangy smile upon his dashing features he turns around to the low growl emitting from deep in your throat.

His orbs of hellfire trail you up and down as you glare at him, "Why don't you look stunning, my dear Y/N. How longs it been...ninety, one-hundred, two-hundred years my love?"

Your face turns into a pissed off scowl at his words, "You. Don't get to call me that, you fucking cocksucker." He unpretentiously lets out a mock gasp at your bold sharpness, amused that you're still as out-spoken and feisty as ever.

Setting a hand on his slender hip, Velkyn smiles an incredibly punchable grin, "Ouch. You haven't seen me in almost two-hundred years and the second those beautiful scarlet eyes of yours grace my body..."

"What are you doing away from Alkatraz?" You interrupt as your fists clench in agitation, "What, did they finally see how much of a piece of shit you actually are?" You snap as he sends you a nasty glare, the side of his nose scrunching up in displeasure.

"I chose to leave the coven, the Queen gave her blessing an..."

"Right. You mean she threatened you, giving yourself one chance to flee before her death-hounds tore you to shreds. Sounds more plausible." You impede as he squints at you menacingly.

Jutting out a hip, he eyes you up once again, "Very clever, princess. No matter....you will leave me alone and I will continue on my marry way as things have gone on, before you decided to ruin everything."

Letting out an amused chuckle, you slowly unsheathe your silver dagger, "You're nothing but a cantankerous infant, murdering innocents....seducing the women while having your fun and sucking them of their life force." He tilts his head up as his flaming irises never once leave your face, "I know they didn't go willingly you fucking diseased little cunt....I'm rather going to enjoy as I watch the lights go out, leaving you as nothing more then food for maggots." Velkyn hums in irritation before swiftly turning around and bolting for Geralt and Jaskier.

But before he's able to reach them you're at his side, throwing him into a tree as he smacks into the tough wood with a clash of bark and limbs. Once he's onto his two feet again, he looks up just as you violently grab his shoulders and in one fluid motion, throw him across the forest floor. Geralt and Jaskier watching on with wide eyes the whole time.

"Fuck me, you still have it." Sputters Velkyn as a single red streak of blood trails down the side of his mouth. You smirk at this pathetic excuse of a vampire as you race towards him in a blur, he tries to retreat but before he can even get up off of the ground you've already cracked your boot against his skull. He tumbles in the dirt with a pained grunt, suddenly flying up to his feet in an instant as he growls at you. Within seconds he's thrust you into the trunk of a tree as your dagger falls from your hand at the sudden impact, he tightly grasps onto your arms as he throws you harshly upon the trail, leaving you dazed and more furious then ever.

"Not as clever as you'd like to think you are Y/N, I drink human blood. You don't." He brashly affirms as he watches you pick yourself up from the ground, dirt and blood smeared against your face. Licking the bloody cut now adorning your bottom lip, you mockingly chuckle at him, earning a puzzled expression across his pale features while the slice in your skin heals.

"You can't kill me." The whites of your eyes begin shifting to an obsidian black as your skin turns a greyish blue color, "I am Y/N of Alkatraz, the Vampire Queens only daughter....do that again and I'll rip out your entrails while you scream for death."

Velkyn hisses before turning himself into a half man half bat-like creature, face a contortion of bat and human man, his skin a milky pale as a large pair of webbed wings emit from his back. He suddenly screeches at you before spreading out his wings, readying himself to take flight. Doing what you know must be done to prevent his escape you shift yourself into a similar form, a pair of greyish blue wings stretching out from your back muscles as you thrust yourself into the air, just as Velkyn reaches the tops of the tree branches.

Gaining on him in no time, you grasp his pale human sized bat leg, he snaps his grotesque bat-like face down to you while you growl at him from below, "Fuck do you think you're going?" You snap before pulling him down to the harsh forest floor, he lands roughly onto his back as your legs fall to either side of him.

Growling in fury he quickly shoots up his talons in an attempt at clawing at your chest and face, but before he's able to commit anymore damage. You've ripped open his exposed stomach with a single slash of your claws, a second later he lets out a blood curdling shriek as a hot river of red pours out of him, his insides beginning to seep out just the same.

In a desperate last attempt to injure you, his eyes go wide in raging madness as his free arm lunges for your neck, you see it coming a mile away. So in retaliation you quickly pin his arms to the ground as you sink your fangs deep into his pale neck as he cries out in agony at your vicious assault. You feed on him until he's gone limp, your more primal hunger taking over your vessel until you abruptly catch the familiar scent of your Witcher and fearful bard.

Releasing Velkyn's mutilated throat, you shift back into your normal self as blood drips down from your chin and neck, tiny red droplets plopping onto the frosty hardened earth below like warm raindrops on a spring afternoon. Breathing heavily you avoid their suffocating gazes that you're sure are terrified from what you've just done.

"Uh, Y/N. You alright?" Wonders Jaskier as you slowly trail your crimson eyes upon his concerned face. You're confident that you look like a wild animal right now, with your hair a mess, clothes dirty, and half your face covered in blood. But nonetheless they look at you kindly, their brows furrowing in worry for your well-being.

Geralt suddenly makes eye contact with you before reaching down to pick up your forgotten silver dagger, he takes a step forward as he reaches out the dagger in your direction.

On instinct you glide backwards, setting your boots upon the ground once more as your Witcher frowns, "Y/N I wouldn't dare lay a hand upon you.." He assures with sincere pleading eyes as you look down to the grass below. Slowly lifting your blood covered hands into your line of sight, you stare at them with wide saddened eyes as tiny beads of ruby falls to the ground.

"My hands, they're covered in..."

"I know," Your eyes trail up to find his golden irises, "come on there's a stream down the trail, we'll get you cleaned up. Then we can go to the tavern and sleep until the next evening if that's what you'd like" Assures Geralt with a gentle smile upon his handsome face, he understands how much of a monster you truly feel right now, so he's willing to do whatever he can to bring you a bit of comfort in this overwhelming moment.

You let out a tired huff of air as he slowly approaches you, his face so close to yours you could almost touch him, but you don't considering you're covered in blood, "I think I'll take you on that offer, but could you stop looking at me with those pretty eyes of yours before I lose my self control. You're doing it again." You muse with a small smile upon your blood stained face.

"And what would you do then?" He challenges in that lowly voice of his, those big amber eyes taking you all in no matter how grisly your state of being is.

Smiling up at him through your pearly white fangs you lean in close, "Then I would mark you as all mine, in my own way of course. You'd love it without a doubt in my mind." He blinks, a lovestruck expression crossing over his features with a brief flash of lust hidden in his golden eyes while he leans in a tad closer. Your faces so close that you can see every little beautiful blemish and scar adorning his skin as his eyes swallow you whole.

"Uh guys? Can we...you know....leave. I don't know if you've noticed but we have two dead horses and a bloody monster corpse within smelling distance. And wheew, it is not a pleasant scent." Interrupts Jaskier, breaking the intimate moment between you and Geralt as you take a step back to laugh. Geralt's loving gaze following you the whole time before he turns around to glare at the oblivious bard.

—-

Laying your tired head against the soft pillows of the warm tavern's bed, you look up to the wooden beamed ceiling as Geralt holds you close by his side, a protective muscly arm pinning you to the mattress. Not that you'd mind or anything, in fact it feels rather pleasant after your taxing encounter with an old acquaintance of yours just last night.

You sleepily close your eyelids as you listen to the soft snores emitting from your dreaming Witcher, a blissful smile forming onto your lips as he pulls you closer in his sleep. Maybe life in this mystery box of a Continent isn't so bad when you have someone like Geralt to take care of you when things get a bit out of hand.

And with you, that seems to happen a lot.

-

Tagged:  @notahappytree​ @ashleyforeverareject​ @sokkasdarling​ @kmuir1​​@haleypearce @diegos-butt​​ (@auds24 sorry idk why ur name won’t work)

[mommybard]

I-I would love it if you would transform me when I go into my new world Mommy🙈🙈🙈💗 -nastyprincessrosie

Warning right off the bat: This one is going to dive into cnc and watersports. If that isn’t your thing, I’d recommend skipping over this story. I understand that these kinks aren’t for everyone, and can be triggering, so I wanted to let you know ahead of time. These kinks were previously discussed between me and the asker to put into the story.

Oh I’ve been waiting for this one. And I’ve thought long and hard about just what to do with you~ I’ll be sending you to a fantasy world. Full of magic and wonder. Sounds nice, right~? And, just because you’re so adorable, I’m going to alter your body a bit before you go. You see, I’m planning on having you reincarnate into a royal family of elves. Long lived rulers of the land. And to do so, we’re just going to have to give you some cute, pointed ears. Hmm? Why does it feel like the magic affected other parts of your body? Must’ve just been your imagination...Awww, I’m too excited to keep it a secret. I’ll tell you now, and then take your memory so you won’t have any idea of what’s to come. You see, I’m going to give you a nice, cushy life for the first hundred years. Letting you grow up in the seat of luxury, a respected and educated princess. The perfect representation of the ideal of your kingdom. Their pride and joy, the realm’s greatest treasure~! Always kept at a safe distance though. A work of art to view from afar, not for the commoners to touch. The court won’t know why, of course, but they’ll just know it’s what’s best for you. Eventually though...mmm it’ll get too much. You’ll want to explore, to get to know the world, to see more of it than just what you read about in books. And that desire for more will be your downfall, Princess~ They’ll let you go on a trip to visit the great cities of the kingdom, to try to handle your wanderlust. Escorted heavily, of course. Have to keep the Princess safe. But...it won’t be enough. Your guards will be overwhelmed by a sudden invading army. A coalition of species sick of the way the elves look down on everyone, tired of getting pushed around and made to serve. They’ll want justice, they’ll want revenge. You’ll be brought before their leader as a prize~ A towering Amazonian orc paladin, one of my devoted~! Tossed into her tent, her followers laughing at how you stumble. That’s when it’ll hit you. That scent overwhelming your senses. Your mouth watering suddenly, your eyes becoming unfocused. You’ll find it harder to think, harder to process what’s going on. Just imagine what its like; her entire tent reeking of her sweat and cum~ You see, my magic~? What you felt all over your body~? You’ll be susceptible to dominating women. Ones who want to take you and break you. You can try to resist, of course, and I encourage you to try. Should make it more fun for her. But in the end, it’ll be useless. No matter how much you cry, how much you scream and shout, she will take you and make you hers, to send a message to your kingdom. And part of you...will like it. It’ll be easy to resist, at first at least. But the more she uses you, the more she forces you to degrade yourself for her and her army, the more she covers you inside and out with her cum, you’ll find your willpower being chipped away until it’s nonexistent. Until you start to give in, start to eagerly await her at the end of the day, start to try to drain her churning balls of all that pent up cum in the middle of the war meetings. Till you beg her to mark you as her own, pissing all over you so everyone will know who you belong to. Your body will warp with your mind as well. You’ll eventually be able to live off her cum and piss, reduced to the fucktoy you are. Your hips will swell to be the perfect breeding bitch for her. Your tits will grow fat with milk, enhancing her strength and drive whenever she drinks from you. You’ll be her perfect treasure~! And the crowning jewel of her rebellion~? Will be when she rides through the gates of the capital with you in her lap, fucking yourself on her thick girlcock, letting everyone see what’s become of their prized princess. Let them see that underneath it all, she’s nothing more than a broken slut begging to get used~! Can’t have you knowing that though, so I’ll just lock that memory away and...there we go~! You’re good to go sweetie. I hope you enjoy your new life as a royal. I’ll be watching you very closely~

[so-i-dont-forget-again]

So I Don’t Forget Again: A Breath of The Wild fanfiction

Entry 103: Gerudo Tower

 After a lot of climbing I found the tower that Kass had pointed out to be back at the Wasteland tower. It stands in what appears to be a bottomless pit. At least it’s surrounded by cliffs of varying sizes so I can glide onto it from up high.

As I climbed, I heard that marvelous instrument, so I knew my favorite minstrel was nearby. He stood at the top, by the edge. After collecting the map of the area, I stood by his side and simply enjoyed the music. After finishing his current song, he said that the next song he was about to play is about this tower. “As light shines from the northwest skies, From the tower’s shadow an arrow flies. Pierce heaven’s light to reveal the prize.” We looked around and spotted a pedestal just like the one we got the deer too. The tower’s shadow was already on it, so we quickly glided to it. The sun appeared to be standing right on the tower’s highest point so I shot an arrow at it. Moments later the ground shook and a shrine unborrowed itself from the ground next to us.

The deer I can understand, but how could the pedestal know I shot an arrow? Did the ancient Sheikah place a target where the arrow landed, but how would they be able to account for the wind?

Kass asked if I was alright seeing I kept rubbing at my eyes. As much as I like it in the Gerudo’s territory, everything is unbearably bright here. Even the sun itself somehow seems brighter here!

Once I was finished with the shrine Kass was sitting at the edge of the cliff playing away. He told me that as soon as the sandstorms had calmed, he came here as quickly as he could. Wandering around and hearing anecdotes about Urbosa greatly inspired him. He wrote another glorious song. It was about the almost mother-daughter relationship Lady Urbosa and the Princess had. It even told a tale of Urbosa effortlessly saving the princess from a Yiga attack.

Kass asked if I was headed for Rito Village next, where the last Divine Beast is. I’m not sure. I still need to find the Master Sword but the only thing I know about it is that it was hidden in some forest.

I told Kass of my confusion about how the pedestal could tell I shot an arrow, about how even if there was a target the wind could easily have changed the arrow’s trajectory even if shot in the right direction. Kass found that odd too, but these thoughts of the wind reminded him of another hero long past. Like the one who traversed time this one also had and instrument… of sorts. A conductor’s baton which controlled the wind. He’d used it to sail the seas, battled countless beasts, even found his way to an undersea palace, all to save his sister.

My only memories before writing in this journal are the brief moments of the Princess or the Champions… nothing else. Surely, I had a family, right? Did I love them? Did I hate them? The Champions are important but why can I remember nothing of myself? Why can I not remember my family, if I had one. Did I have a mother? A Father? Siblings, grand parents? Maybe even a cousin? Or… did I have no one? Is that why I became a knight? Because I had no one to protect so I opted to protect the kingdom? Or did I want to protect the kingdom for their sake?

Even with Kass by my side I feel so alone. I feel as if I’m trudging through the desert’s sandstorm every day. So lost with no escape, no sign of anyone else around.

My mind keeps returning to Friend. It reels from her, to my unknown past, to the champions, and the constant isolation I feel suffocating my every waking breath. Why am I like this? Why does this happen? Even with others I still feel this way. I love exploring this land even with the isolation. I love getting to rest in a town for days on end even when the deepest, smallest kernel in me desires for nothing more than to be trudging through those fields and climbing those mountains once more. Yet it seems that my heart purposely searches for this prickling pain… or perhaps it’s not searching… There’s so much, but how am I supposed to handle all this? I think…

I think I may be less hurt and more so afraid of something? I don’t know. Or perhaps I just can’t take any more of this death, and Friend’s passing was too much for me to take? The more I think about it and read back… I keep noticing her absence.

I asked Kass if he has a family. Notts, Kotts, Genli, Cree, Kheel, the loves of his life, his daughters, and his ever patient, kind, and amazing wife Amali. He regaled me with tales of their romance, of his daughters singing in perfect harmony with his songs, of Amali’s marvelous voice, how she was so understanding of Kass needing to journey to fulfill his late teacher’s last wishes, of the last day he saw them. He loved travel, of being able to go wherever he wanted, but his heart has always remained with them this whole time. I ended up crying hearing just how passionately, lovingly and tenderly he spoke of them.

Kass asked me if I had anywhere to go after this, my journey. He sounded apprehensive, as if fearing my answer. I at first told him about my house in Hateno and the people there, then the Sheikah village where I made fast friends with everyone, then Goron City where the Gorons call me brother, and then Gerudo town where everyone is just so friendly, especially their Chief! Kass then asked if there was anyone I held dear to my heart. Anyone I wanted to be with. The first person to come to mind was Sidon, but the more I thought about it, I realized that it wasn’t just him but Yunobo, Chief Riju, Calisa, and Kass too. I’d like to be with all of them. There’s still so much of Hyrule left to see, perhaps I’ll find other people as well.

I asked Kass if he would like to accompany me for a while. I told him about finding the eighth statue, and how with him around it’d probably be much easier to find. He was surprised, but said he’d be glad to do so. Though since we’re going to the Highlands he said that we should go in the day given how my fingers would freeze off at night.

We made a campfire at the tower. Though we’re waiting for day due to the cold, the desert is freezing at night, even in the lands surrounding it. Even clutching the fire rod close to me only made me a little warmer. In the end Kass wrapped a wing around me and held me close. He’s so warm! I hadn’t noticed till then, but his feathers are fluffy. Rito Village is located right next to the Hebra Mountains. Over time they learned many tricks to keeping warm and even adapted to it themselves. Kass told me that in his village there’s a shop where I could buy clothing which would keep me warm even in a snowstorm. He hadn’t tried it out for himself, but he heard as such.

I wonder if I’ll meet his family when I get there.

First Page , Previous Page , Next Page 

[misslisterkeepsajournal]

1831 Thursday 6 October

8 3/4 10 20/..

Ready at 9 5/.. at which hour Fahrenheit 64°. and small rainy morning as it has been since 6 a.m. - rather unlucky - an end I fear to all my walking schemes - breakfast at 9 1/4 to 10 5/.. - saw and spoke to the man the waiter recommended as guide to walk with me - much more like postboy than guide - would not do at all - went to a bookseller's shop close by - Bought Brannon's guide and miniature map of the island and saw a 4to. [quarto] volume of views of his (50 views) at 40/. with text - not dear - ordered a one horse car -

Cameron and George inside with me, and off from West Cowes at 11 20/.. - still raining - a hopeless day - yet better as we proceeded and not rain to wet us tho' our has only a square top over our heads, and all the side curtains undrawn - west and East Cowes with the castle of the latter (Mr. Nash) peeping out from the trees, very pretty - losing sight of these no beauty to Newport about a mile before the town (right) pass the barracks, like a square village of one story brick houses - the 14th. regiment there - a little farther (left) the neat large good looking brick house of industry or, as we in Yorkshire should call it, workhouse for the whole island -

Newport a tolerably good looking town - neat Ionic porticoed town hall with market and shops on the ground floor - goodish looking old gothic church - Charles the 1st's. 2nd daughter Elizabeth who died at Carisbrook castle was buried here - her lead coffin found about 30 years ago - Carisbrook Castle about a mile beyond Newport - drove up the hill to the castle gate or heavy wooden door of the time of Edward 3 and therefore said to be about 500 years old - 3/4 hour there - mount 40 steps up to the Keep tower said to have been built by the Romans - a well at the top said to be 300 feet deep, covered over for fear of accident - very fine view - Carisbrook (Cary's brook) a picturesque little town at one part Newport and its river medina (medeena) the town-like barracks, looking very well - could have seen portsmouth and Spithead -, and the tower of Xst.chch. [Christchurch] church but too hazy and very windy - the inside of the tower grown round with the most magnificent tree-like ivy I ever saw - Lord Bolton the late governor laid out a great deal of money on the castle planted the trees, and shut it up - it was open to the public before who did much damage - Lord B- [Bolton] had thought of making a gallery from one of the house windows (he lived in it) to the Keep Tower - would have spoilt the look - Lord Malmesbury present governor £1200 a year and a lieutenant governor at 20/. a day - the tilting ground taken in by queen Elizabeth and converted into a bowling green for Charles 1st. when prisoner here is now turned to an archery ground and the archers dine in the great dining room now only used for this purpose - the duchess of Kent and princess Victoria at the last meeting - Miss Ward whose father had so much property in the island and whose brother is M.P. for the city of London won the last prize - the best lady archer here as at Southampton (at Southampton ladies bows 30lb. [pound] for 50 yards gents. [gentlemens] 50lbs [pounds] for 80 yards) -

Carisbrooke Castle [Image Source]

A farm of 300 or 400 acres belonging to the castle and some forest land - have planted some of the latter with firs - say oaks will not grow - the castle yard small and rather choked up with building - saw lamp let down to the water's surface of the fine old Roman well 300 feet deep - cut thro' solid rock at about ten or 12 yards from the surface of the castle yard - 90 feet deep of water - saw the poor ass turn the wheel - this one 3 or 4 yards [sic] old - much trouble to teach it - the last about above 40 years old - the window from which Charles tried to escape is stone mullioned in 3 divisions above and 3 below each division having 3 iron stauncheons - this suite of rooms quite gone - saw the little white wainscotted room in which the princess Elizabeth Stuart died - the 2 little round towers in advance of the great entrance gate the most perfect part of the remain -

Old looking gothic church at Carisbrook - from the hill above the town (on our road to Freshwater gate Inn) very fine view of the castle - narrow good downy road - at least, down for the most part and 1 or 2 farm houses left right and fields and very thinly scattered farmhouses and cottages were on the right - not much wood to be seen save once or twice round gentlemens seats - distant views of Newtown and Yarmouth and the sea (right) -

The village of Freshwater merely a few scattered cottages and farm houses - the neat little picturesque Inn 1 1/2 mile off close on the sea at Freshwater bay - a bold high perpendicular chalk recess in the cliffs - from here to the needles a very fine bold range of chalk cliffs - went into the 2 caverns close by here which can be entered at low water a fine arch in the cliff, but caverns of no great extent -

Then took George and off at 4 and in an hour walked over the down (3 miles) to the Lighthouse -  a circular 2 story high round tower - 10 fixed reflecting lights - burn 500 gallons oil a year - the people man and his wife and 6 children have 20/. a week and coals and house found them - much sitting up at night - lamps must be trimmed every 3 hours in winter -

Lighthouse at Freshwater [Image Source]

The woman went down with me to the needles point (3 needles) - the little bay (left i.e. south) that looked like a fantenil from Hengistbury or Xst.chch. [Christchurch] head is Scratsell Scratchell's bay at the bottom of which the cavern not so large, the woman said, as the cavern at Freshwater gate in Freshwater bay and she had been in both - was in the former in August last - could only be entered in a boat when the water was very smooth - It is in this bay that the sea gulls build in such numbers and the men are let down by ropes to get the eggs - the Eider duck too comes here, and the men seek the down - the bay on the right north is alum bay - very pretty little bay - the western half precipitous white chalk the Eastern half streaked all colours with coal, clay, pink sand, etc. etc.

The Needles at Freshwater [Image Source]

35 mins. [minutes] at lighthouse and looking about and back again at the Inn in 8 mins. [minutes] under the hour at 6 27/.. - tea at 7 - settled accounts - wrote the above of today till 9 1/2 -

[Margin] Rainy day till about 1 1/4 afterwards pretty fine - very high wind on the down this evening - Fahrenheit 66°. now at 9 1/2 p.m. at which hour went to my room -  

Reference: SH:7/ML/E/14/0128

[hopelesslygazingthestars]

One blisteringly hot afternoon, Elia and Ashara lounged in the princess’ solar. Her friend sat across from her, atop her Dornish rug – that old filthy rug Ashara gifted her on arrival to Sunspear, all those years ago. It had seen more dances than the palace feast hall. It was where they twirled, Ashara with Elia, the music trapped by closed windows and doors. Once the colour of blood oranges, now it told an earthy tale of love and laughter, of more good times than anyone could ever be promised.
It was this perfectly normal day that Ashara came to a sobering realisation. Elia was oh so beautiful.
Ashara was supposedly composing a new melody on her handpan. Instead, whilst Elia was concentrating on her book, Ashara concentrated on her. She watched the way her dainty fingertips tapped idly on the frayed edges of the rug, the waves of her hair, her eyelashes fluttering when she blinked in shock at whatever she was reading. Ashara was enamoured. 
She met her dark orbs; the most beautiful in all of Dorne, she was certain. They were so dark they seemed almost black until the sunlight caught them, setting them molten hues of the very richest of browns, bright with life and laughter. 
Her skin – and Ashara had the good fortune of being able to feast her eyes on a great deal of it in the sticky heat. Usually she was covered in a shawl, lest she catch a chill and see her in bedridden for days, but today’s humidity called for minimal layers – her skin glowed a deep bronze that turned rosy at her cheeks and pink at her lips. And what lips they were; full and tempting as they twisted up into a smile. 
“Fuck,” Ashara breathed, dizzy from desire. She could not remember when she had felt the like of it. Perhaps never at all. Though she took pleasure in men, women always did seem to have a way of making her heart flutter quicker. 
Her thoughts drifted, to somewhere different, to a train of thought she knew she should not entertain. She should not have been imagining how soft her lips were, or how warm her tongue would feel against her own. 
More and more, every time they were together, she felt something stirring, until her heart ached to be rid of it, but yearned even harder to hold on to it simultaneously. 
Ashara wondered if this was another passing fancy. For that was always her problem—she fell in lust too easily. With a snorted laugh, a crooked smile, the movement of hands when they spoke; a unique intonation in a voice, and she would be infatuated. Ashara spent her short young years entangled in a mad love affair with the very concept of people. Nonetheless, her feelings were as changing as the waves of the Summer Sea. 
She snapped out of her reverie. Elia seemed startled, the rhythmic hum of her fingernails on the surface of the rug lost. They both stayed silent. 
The tension in the air was suffocating. It felt as if Ashara’s thoughts were so loud that Elia could hear them. 
“What dark cloud troubles your mind today?” Elia asked because she knew her too well. And simultaneously, not nearly well enough. 
“None at all.” Ashara responded far too quickly. 
“Tell your brows that. You’re frowning my dearest.” Elia teased. 
When Ashara felt her forehead, she was surprised to find the tell-tale signs of a deep frown. 
“Oh.” 
Elia’s black eyes studied her, though not quite as intensely as Ashara previously observed her. 
“Lady Ashara, do you miss your brother?” 
She did, of course she did, but not enough to call him back. He was finally doing something for himself, she could not begrudge him that. 
She shrugged. 
“You know he is with family, uncle Lewyn will care for him like his own son.” 
“I’m not worried about him.” 
Ashara answered, although her eyes again drifted to Elia’s taunting lips. 
Elia regarded her, eyes roaming from head to toe, and for a moment Ashara feared she might have been caught. Elia had always been able to read her as easily as the book in her hands, as if the words of Ashara’s thoughts were written across her forehead. 
“Do you wish to have gone with the Red Viper after all?” 
Not more than a few moons after they returned from the Scorched Rock, Oberyn bedded Lord Edgar Yronwood’s paramour, then challenged him to a duel. The young prince had won the duel. However, the whispers of Yronwood’s death, days later, spoke of Oberyn wielding a poisoned blade. Princess Furiosa had all but exiled the Red Viper, sending him on “duty” to Oldtown and then Lys. 
Before Oberyn’s departure he had begged Ashara to leave with him, to seek out adventures across the world together. He attempted to persuade her with vows of giving her heart’s desire. She would be free to dance, and sing, and indulge. Everything she had ever dreamed of, yet she refused when she realised it would mean leaving home… leaving Elia. 
“No, my place is with you, princess.” She answered honestly. 
Elia smiled. 
“You are good to stay with me, Asha. I couldn’t bear to lose you.” 
Now, Ashara smiled. 
“I will always stay with you, Elia. I have yet to meet a man I prefer to you. I fear that is my curse.” 
The words caught in her throat as puzzling sadness washed through her. 
“Don’t listen to your mother’s urgings, we are still prized maidens, and the time for husbands remains in the distance.” Elia deduced. 
Since Prince Doran’s wedding to the beautiful Lady Mellario of Norvos, Lady Dayne had put increasing pressure on both herself and Aethan to look towards marriage, much to Ashara’s chagrin. The mere idea of being tied down to a husband, locked up in his castle for the rest of her days, made her want to fling herself from a very high tower. She still vividly remembered the fiasco that was her parents’ marriage and had no desire for anything similar. 
“You must not have heard her endless nagging at the wedding.” 
Elia laughed then. It would have been difficult for anyone within earshot to not hear the grumblings of Lady Dayne. 
“You must look to the future, Ashara…will you grow old alone-” Ashara said, impersonating Lady Dayne’s incessant fussing. 
“No, no… ‘will you grow old with no family, Ashara… the boys already complain you only have eyes for Elia, Ashara…’” Elia teased, fingertips poking at Ashara with every sentence. 
“…If you are to be married soon, you need to at least pretend to find them half interesting, Ashara.” 
Elia mercilessly tickled at her sides, sending her into fits of giggles. 
“Princess.” Ashara reprimanded when she was all but gasping for breath. 
Elia smiled at her with feigned innocence and Ashara immediately sought revenge. 
It was only then she realised they may have gotten carried away. As her own laughter died down, she wound up pinning Elia down, wrists above her head, straddling her. 
She gazed long and hard at the dark eyes beneath, and Elia looked at her in a kittenish way, head tilted and eyes sparkling. Ashara felt as though her entire body became magnetised. Her thoughts raced, confused and sporadic, like a lightning storm inside her mind. For the life of her, Ashara could not comprehend why she suddenly felt this way. She decided her mind was malfunctioning when she thought she saw Elia visibly gulp, blink, and lock her gaze onto Ashara’s eyes. 
“I…” Ashara coerced herself to say, feigning normalcy in her voice. Although, for reasons beyond comprehension, not letting Elia’s wrists free, nor shifting so she no longer straddled her. 
And apparently, that was entirely acceptable with Elia, because she looked, then, like they were having the most ordinary conversation, in the most ordinary way. 
“I – I, simply, uh.” 
Her words were failing her miserably. Elia’s body was wriggling underneath her own, and her dress too thin, and seven hells, she was a disaster. Her eyes dropped down to Elia’s lips, and she cursed herself for being so obvious. 
Ashara cleared her throat and finally found her voice.
“I dare you to dance for me.” She spoke the first thing that came to her mind. 
Elia laughed musically at Ashara’s odd behaviour. 
“Why would I do that?” 
Her eyes were soft, yet hypnotizing like she was peering directly into the sun. In that moment, Ashara dropped her hands, moving to hold Elia’s face. 
“I shall bestow you a kiss if you do.” 
Ashara was pushing the boundaries of their relationship, was intrigued to see if this was simply lust or something else altogether. 
“And what makes you think I want to kiss you.” 
“Don’t you?” 
She knew she was not supposed to feel this way. Elia was her closest friend, a sister almost. 
Ashara gingerly caressed over her darkened cheeks and nose… and lips. When Elia shut her eyes, she stroked the tips of her thumbs over her eyelids ever so gently, feeling her lashes flutter against her skin. It was new territory for them, but Elia seemed to enjoy it, arching up into her touch and smiling. Then, Ashara kissed her; her eyelids, her cheeks, her nose…
Her hands shook slightly, her mind repeating the same sentence over and over, ‘do not do this…’ 
But the sound of her heart was beating so thunderously she could not concentrate. 
Their lips touched, and the world fell away. 
Elia’s mouth was firm against hers, but the kiss remained gentle, slow, and yet passionate, comforting in ways that words would never be.
They held it, before their lips began to move in perfect sync, slowly, cautiously. It was a few moments before it registered that Elia was kissing her back. She adjusted her hand from an impossibly soft cheek to the back of her head, fingers tangling in long, dark hair, lightly pulling Elia closer, adding greater pressure and deepening the kiss. 
When it came to an end, Ashara exhaled through her nose, not wanting to let go. Her entire body had been taken over by the overwhelming feeling of relief, combined with eccentric panic and lust. 
Onyx eyes opened and they stared at each other in a strange way. Ashara sat frozen as she deciphered exactly what the touching of their lips made her feel. 
“What was that for?” Elia asked, observing her as if calculating a complex cyvasse play. 
Unable to take the pressure of Elia’s scrutinizing gaze, she looked away when she answered. 
“I was curious, I suppose.” 
Ashara half expected Elia to laugh, instead of the words which came. 
“And have I sated your curiosity?” There was a playful lilt to her voice that washed Ashara’s anxieties away. 
“I’m not certain, let me steal another and we shall find out.” Ashara half jested. 
Elia halted Ashara in her descent with a hand to her chest. When she met her gaze, there was no longer amusement in her eyes. 
“I might allow you another, if you vow not leave me another heartbroken maiden, running from the gardens in the wake of your fancy.” She said gravely.
Something akin to guilt swirled in the pit of Ashara’s stomach. 
Ashara was in no hurry to give this newly discovered sensation up. It was a tingling that stirred low in her stomach, and she wanted it to consume her.
With another kiss, Ashara promised on soft lips.
“I would try my hardest for you.” 
They kissed, again, and again, and again. Until they were breathless, until they could not speak, until their giggles became hoarse and squeaky. 
At night, they fell into bed together. And because it was late, and only because of that, they helped each other with their undergarments rather than wake the servants. Though they had dressed and undressed in front of one another a million times, something was different between them. Disrobing transformed into something of a shy dance. 
Their hands were much less practiced than handmaidens, but they laughed and fumbled their way through it all the same. Ashara learned the way to twist her wrist so that the stays of Elia’s intricately woven vermilion silk dress loosened easily; and she also learned to ignore the way that her heart hammered at the softness of Elia’s skin against her fingertips. She attempted not to notice the way the straps had left marks against her back, angry and red, that she craved to smooth out with her palms, and if she was to be honest, with her mouth. 
She forced herself from staring when Elia stepped out of her drawers, naked and giggling. Instead, she passed over a nightgown as if the sight of her was nothing important. In a feigned cough, Ashara disguised the way her breath caught at a glimpse of Elia’s bronze body in the moonlight. As she observed her final preparations for sleep, Ashara desperately attempted to distract herself from ungodly musings about the shape of the princess, the swell of her breasts under her nightdress, and the dark softness at the apex of her thighs that she was not supposed to be hungry for. 
In the end, they laid side by side, silent, and not touching; other than the way their hands pressed together. 
Eventually, in the stillness of the moments before dawn, Ashara unveiled the full scope of her earlier realisation. 
‘So, this must be love,’ she thought. 
Ashara never intended to grow attached this way, yet in hindsight, she understood this was inevitable; only she had been blind to it from the very first greeting. How could she not love Elia? How could she not love those understanding onyx eyes, the pristine waves of her cocoa hair, the way her delicate hands fit in Ashara’s palms, her kisses, the scent of blood-oranges and honey emanating off her. 
‘Surely, this was love?’ 
There would never be another to show her fierce protection, attentive care and unwavering support, in the way Elia did. 
If this was love, oh seven hells, Ashara was royally fucked. 
However, when dawn gave light to day, Ashara concluded her feelings were wrong and she could not allow for feelings of love. Not with Elia, for in the dark she had come to think of every reason she could not pursue such feelings.
‘I would ruin you.’ Ashara thought admiring her sleeping princess. It was not pondered with malicious intent, only she knew, with time, she would certainly sully everything. Elia was too pure and sweet and good for Ashara. 
In the rear of her mind, Lady Dayne’s cursed words from long ago played like a Dornish mockingbird tormenting her to heel. 
‘You will be like me, selfish, melancholic down to your innermost core… incapable of love.’ 
Ashara knew what was likely to happen, and for the love she had, she refused to allow her feelings to consume them both. It would only result in a broken heart and a boat with a single destination to Starfall.
Ashara believed a little pain now, would spare them greater strife in future. Thus, she decided to run from love. 
Ashara was positive her quick change in mind would hurt the princess, yet she continued to vow into the dark that Elia would never need to fear anything; that Ashara would fight whatever life had to throw at her with her, and dance until her feet bled to keep that smile on her face, because Ashara had little to offer the world but she could offer that. She could do that. In the foggy depths of a confused mind maybe that was enough. 
When morning arrived, Ashara fell into a long perfected act, like nothing at all had occurred the day previous, ad if she noticed disappointment in dark eyes, she ignored it. 
This would not be the first time she broke a heart, nor the last, yet it would be the first her own broke alongside the one she returned battered. Elia would recover from it and Ashara would stumble into the next doomed love affair to split the earth beneath her, until there was nothing whole left in her to break.
Ashara thought to a conversation they once had. They debated the definition of humanness. To Elia, humanness was the capacity to be hurt. Though Elia was brilliant, knew things about the histories of Dorne and Westeros that might put a king to shame, knew about love and caring for children; Ashara knew humanness was the ability to hurt, to harm, to ruin. Why else did temples and empires tumble down if not for the efforts of humankind? Why else were little girls violated before they even understood what the word meant? Ashara knew it was inherently human to cause ruin. That is why she was just like the rug they cleaned over and over. No matter how much cleansing she did, she could never truly wash away her chaotic contaminating darkness.

[spiderwho]

The Gala

Warnings: swear words, a gun, and a bullet hitting a perfectly good wall.

Summary: Y/n enjoys the gala for a whole 5 minutes and Tom has a crush.

Word count: 3.7k AWYEAH

The car ride to the gala was long and relaxing, the evening sunset shone brilliant hues of orange, pink and blue past the tinted window and between the city’s skyscrapers.

You felt confident, with your hair and make up done to the nines and black statement gown sitting perfectly over your figure. Plus, Rick wasn’t watching you, you always felt better when you knew he wasn’t around and telling you your every move like a pawn in his game of chess.

“Alright, don’t have too much fun without me,” Adrian told you, once you arrived.

You gave him a smirk as a man dressed in a black two piece tux opened the door for you and welcomed you to the Gala. High class couples, men and women were all making their way in, slowly climbing up the lit concrete stair case.

You stood a little taller, with your shoulders back and chin up. Regret slightly dawned on you as Adrian drove away. What are you supposed to do all night at a fancy gathering with no date or friends to meet with? Determined to have a good time nonetheless, you proceeded indoors.

“What makes you think she’ll be here? She’s probably just a common thief that grabbed the nearest thing that caught her eye,” Harrison argued to Tom as they stood together on the side lines, eyeing every guest cautiously,

“She knew what she was doing, and she knew damn well what she took. It was no accident,” Tom said, taking a sip of his fizzy beverage.

He wasn’t hosting the party, but he knew it’d be a good chance to capture whomever broke in to his office the other morning. He’s been furious and on edge ever since. No one has ever stolen or even attempted to steal from him before, until you sauntered in with your innocent eyes and shy attitude,

“I’ll be outside mate,” Toms friend told him as he headed off into the crowd.

Tom set his glass down, looked up from the table and saw you walk in. Heat rushed up to his face and he failed to tell if it was from anger or the way you looked in that fancy black number. You looked more relaxed and self-assured than you did that morning in his office building, this made him feel more drawn to you. Fixing his posture, he suddenly felt conscious of how he looked now that you’re in the room.

It was like stepping into a ball room out of a princess movie. The walls were white, marble, tapestry here and there and almost everyone was dancing along to the soft acoustic tunes of the live band. A waiter stepped in front of you, tray of champagne filled flutes resting on top of his hand, held out in an offering. You smiled and gladly took one, walking along the edge of the dance floor, absorbing the scene.

Tom couldn’t take his eyes off you; it was like he had tunnel vision and you were the light at the end of it. It wasn’t until you sat down that he was able to move from his spot.

Slowly he walked to you, not thinking of what he’d say or do, just focused on the destination.

You saw Tom coming and froze in fear. How did you not stop and think that he’d be here? This is his crowd. Now, there wasn’t any place for you to run where he couldn’t find you, so you sat and anxiously watched.

He stood before you, with a soft smile toying at his lips that you were not at all expecting,

“Care to dance?” he offered softy, holding his hand out to you, his palm facing down.

Glimpsing in to his eyes, you searched for any glimmer that may give you a reason to turn him down and go home. You tilted your head and returned a smile, gliding your hand over his.

He led you to the middle of the floor, not paying attention to where he was stepping, only keeping his eyes on you, before placing his other hand just above your waist. For a brief moment, you believed that he’d forgotten what you looked like and right now you were a complete stranger to him. You quickly set that wishful thinking off to the side because there’s no way he’d forget who took his prized possession.

Together you stepped smoothly to the moderate beat of the music,

“It’s nice to finally dance with a man that doesn’t step on my toes,” you admitted, breaking the unsettling comfortable silence between the two of you,

“Practice makes the perfect gentleman,” he retorted, and spun you before him, dress skimming his shins.

His hand that was previously on your waist then moved to catch the small of your back, pulling you a bit closer to him. A whiff of his musky cologne hit your nose making you want to rest your head on his shoulder just to breath it in each time,

“I haven’t caught your name yet dear,” Tom said,

You hesitated, wondering if you should give him your real name or not,

“Y/n,” You simply told him, leaving out your last name. This way you weren’t exactly lying, just with holding small information,

“Y/n,” he tasted, “It suits you quite nicely. I’ll wager, that you already know who I am,”

Keeping silent, you held your breath, panicking a little, unable to make eye contact. He knew it was you who broke in and now he’s got you right where he wanted you. Toms eyes shone with mischief and determination, your reaction was what he was looking for, he wanted to make you twitch,

“You took something of mine darling, I’d like it back,” He whispered delicately against your ear,

“Or what?” you challenged bravely.

His chuckle sent a wave down your spine that almost made you smirk, you wanted to feel it again. Grasping his hand a little tighter, the tension kept building as you waited for his next remark,

“You seem like a smart woman, I’ll let you take a guess,”

You looked past his broad shoulder, zoning out over the swaying bodies. This was a power full man standing in font of you, leading your feet, but you’ve dealt with intimidating, domineering men before, he was just another standing in your way.

Loosening your grip, he halted his movements and eyed you carefully as you slipped further from him. Looking into his chestnut eyes, you spoke a soft lie for only him to hear,

“I don’t have it,” 

With that you traipsed away from him, heels clicking on the polished marble floor.

Tom froze, unable to think of the next action to take as his eyes followed you weave between the elegantly dressed crowd. He let out a huff of disbelief before quickly stalking after you, like a predator with it’s prey.

You made your way through the darkened halls to one of the side exits where a vehicle was waiting for you. All you wanted was one night where you could pretend your life was perfectly normal. But no, Tom Holland had to show up with different plans. Part of this was your fault, you weren’t quick enough and got caught red handed in his tower.

A fired bullet suddenly pierced the wall to the left of you, sending your ears ringing. You whipped around in shock, your dress flowing with you,

“Are you insane?” you shouted to Tom who was standing at the end of the hall, a ready stance and gun held at eye-level, pointed right to you,

“Next time, I wont miss,” he promised,

“What do you want from me?” 

“The book, tell me where it is,”

Glancing between Tom and the door, you weighed out your options. If you ran now, you may never have to see Tom again but may also get shot. If you stuck around you might not get shot, but it wouldn’t be good if Rick had to come look for you.

The sound of the door creaking behind you made you turn around, a vaguely familiar man dressed in a suit as well, walked in with purpose,

“Grab her!” Tom barked to Harrison.

The man, not wasting a second, sauntered over to you. Not able to reach you, he bent over clutching his face from a hard fist you threw at his jaw. Satisfied with the dull throb you felt in your knuckles, you took off out the exit.

The cool night air nipped at your bare shoulders, catching you off guard for a moment. Gripping your dress to keep from tripping on it down the steps, you cursed yourself and Adrian, for thinking tonight was a good idea.

Tom burst outside, eyes searching frantically for your fleeing figure at the bottom of the staircase, heading towards a black SUV.

He skipped every other step to make it to the vehicle in time so he slipped in behind you, before you could shut the door on him,

“Holland Manor,” he panted to the chauffeur,

“No, I need to go to Bristol,” you protested,

“Whats in Bristol? My book?”

“I don’t have your book anymore, Holland,” 

“Well you’ll have time to tell me where it is on the way to my Manor,”

You cross your arms over your chest and scooted to the other side of the vehicle, as far away from Tom as you could get, blowing a piece of fallen hair out of your face.

He watched you carefully, scowl falling from his face. He desperately needed his book back, couldn’t imagine being the one to cause you any harm to get answers. He’d never hurt a woman intentionally, especially one that looked as innocent and lovely as you.

Resting his head back and sighing, he accepted that he wouldn’t be getting his book back for a while yet.

Toms Manor resided in a private, gated neighborhood. Those who lived there were rich members of his Mob, and access in was not handed out freely.

He waited for you to make your way out of the car and lead you up to his towering front door,

“This is stupid,” you murmured behind him,

“You brought this on yourself,” Tom quipped, holding the door open for you,

“You didn’t have to kidnap me,”

“You walked in freely!”

“Or else I would’ve been shot down!”

“Getting along nicely I see,” voiced a man with striking blue eyes, walking in from from one of the first rooms in the lavish mansion.

It was all open spaced, your echoes dancing down the halls. Everything was well polished, not a spec of dirt or dust settled on any part of the furniture. A hefty chandelier dangled over the main marble stair case leading upstairs, illuminating the threshold.

“Harrison,” Tom nodded to the man, “Since the two of you have already met, I don’t think there’s any real need for further pleasantries,”

You glanced back over to the man and noticed a dark bruise forming along his left jaw line,

“That was a dirty right hook by the way,” Harrison told you, causing a smirk to creep over your lips,

“The journal, I need it back,” Tom interrupted,

“I thought you said it was a book?”

“Just, tell me where it is so that I can go to bed and have it back by morning,”

“You know, a good nights sleep does sound good. I’d probably remember where I put it in the morning,”

Tom clenched his jaw and ran his rough hands over his face and through his well groomed hair, causing a piece to fall on his forehead.

Harrison on the other hand was amused by your guys’ back and forth, and began ascending the staircase, quiet chuckles mixing in with the clicks of his shoes.

Tom turned away from you and marched past the stairwell, deeper into his home, leaving you alone and puzzled.

He was fuming, outraged at you, and himself. Partially you for thinking this was all a game and that you could call the shots in his house. But mostly mad that he was letting you get away with it. He couldn’t trust you to willingly tell him the where-a-bouts of his journal, but the thought of having to inflict harm on you didn’t settle easily in his gut. Although you weren’t exactly innocent and had a smart mouth, he wanted to give you a chance.

Walking back with a change of clothes in his hand, you were still there, heels dangling in your grasp. You looked from the painting on the wall you were admiring to Tom’s returning figure. Your soft eyes caught his, and he felt some of his anger dissipate,

“Follow me,” he ordered.

Silently you both trudged up the large staircase and twisted through a couple halls, stopping before a closed door,

“You’ll be staying here,”

Tom opened it to show a neglected, empty room with a twin bed in the corner under a small window, with a small nightstand holding an unlit lamp,

“Really? This is the best you have for me?” you raised an eyebrow at him,

“The best I have for a thief,” he quipped. 

The accusation stung. You knew that’s what you’ve been doing, but no ones ever actually called you that before. Yanking the clothes from his hands, you didn’t bother looking up at him,

“Tom!” Harrison shouted shortly at the end of the hall, out of breath and phone in his hand, “Emergency,” he simply added.

Tom began jogging towards his friend, but stopped and quickly turned to you,

“You try and leave, you won’t make it to the front gate alive, and i’ll sick my dog on you,” he pointed to you, not waiting for a response, he continued to the end of the hall.

“Like you have a dog,” you muttered to yourself. 

The sorry excuse for a bedroom felt cold and unwelcoming, but you’d take it for tonight, knowing it could be worse. You didn’t think too long about what Tom’s emergency could be, it wasn’t your problem to fret over.

Resting your head on the stiff pillow, your body grew heavy as you waited for morning to come.

 The bright morning sun woke you up, shining down on your closed eyelids. The stiffness in your neck from the different pillow, sucked any last remnants of sleep you may have had. You were hoping that you could close your eyes one more time and when you woke you’d be back in your apartment, leaving last night to be just a dream. To keep yourself on dwelling what you wish could be, you lifted yourself from the bed and dragged your feet through the manor.

Remembering the way back through the halls wasn’t difficult, but you didn’t run in to Tom along the way. This made you think you could sneak out without him noticing, and you were going to follow through until you got to the front door.

There, lying at the foot of the entry way, was what looked like a blue Pitbull. The dog didn’t scare you, as it didn’t look to be intimidating, but it seemed very unsure of your presence,

“Hi,” you cooed to the cutie.

The sound of your voice excited her, as she strode over to you, tail wagging and ears forward. She happily greeted you with kisses and leaned her weight on to your legs. You scoffed thinking that this may be the dog that Tom threatened you with last night if you tried to leave. This was no big bad hell hound,

“Hey, do you know where Tommy is?” you asked her with the same sweet tone you used to greet her.

The dog looked up at you at the familiar ring of his name, 

“Can you take me to Tommy? Go find Tom,”

The Pitbull trotted away to the back of the house, down the wide hallway, out of sight.

You stayed planted in place and glanced over your shoulder longingly at the door. Hope for freedom seemed so close, but your life beyond those doors would only be worse from here on out. 

Footsteps echoed slowly behind you, and came to a stop, not getting too close,

“Kitchens the other way if you want a bite,” Harrison called to you.

He had on a pair of formal grey checkered pants, matched with a simple white tee. You furrowed your eyebrows at the mysterious man,

“What, do you emerge out of thin air every time somethings about to go down?” you jeered. 

He kept a straight face while arching an eyebrow at the notion,

“Yes,” Harrison deadpanned, before making his way back down the corridor where he came.

Glaring intensely at the back of his head, you started forward, letting him lead you on silently.

The kitchen was at the back of manor, so you passed by many rooms with closed wooden doors, French doors and a few with none at all. The walls were all a suffocating off white, that made every art piece, photo frame and furniture stand out significantly.

 Once you made it to the end, the size and design of the kitchen nearly took your breath away. Windows from the ceiling to the floor lined the back wall, perfectly illuminating the luxurious black cabinets with white accents, paired with marble counter tops. To the left was the dinning room that merged with the kitchen. A long table sat in front of the windows, offering a peaceful view of the immaculate backyard, framed with a garden that could’ve come straight out of Alice in Wonderland.

Tom sat relaxed in the corner of his dinning table, with the morning paper in hand. His appearance was less formal than the last time you saw him, unruly hair falling in different directions, and the top several buttons of his white shirt left un-bothered, showing off his sternum.

Out from behind his chair strolled the sweet Pitbull you had just met moments earlier,

“Hello again,” you said down to her, as you scratched gently behind her ear,

“That’s Tessa,” Tom spoke up, setting down his cup of tea that he just took a sip from, “some might argue that she calls the shots around the house,” he gave a pointed look to Harrison, who simply shrugged his shoulders.

His eyes shifted to you, watching the tender interaction between you and his loving companion.

You caught him staring, and grew defensive, “What?” you groaned at him.

Tom cocked his head, “You don’t strike me as a professional criminal,” he observed,

“That’s what makes me so good at it,”

Your empty stomach became very apparent as you glanced from Tom, to his full plate of food. Slowly, you walked over and took a seat in a cold chair furthest from him at the table. Wanting nothing more than peace between you and Tom, along with a meal in your belly, the only way you thought that could happen, was through a negotiation,

“Can we make a deal?” Your heart rate picked up from nervousness of what could come next. You knew you had little to no power under his roof, but if you played the journal card, persuasion may be easier.

But his humorless chuckle brought an uneasy, almost sick feeling to your gut, 

“A deal? No no, you’re in no position to be making deals, love. I’m dropping you off at the police station when my journal is back in my hands in one piece,”

Your chest dropped to the bottom of your stomach at his words. Rick always ensured that for as long as you’re working for him that he’d keep you from the hands of police. You were an asset to him, plus you know far too much of his illegal businesses to be turned in,

“You, you can’t do that,” you squeaked quietly in a sad attempt to argue his pledge. 

This was the first time Tom felt sorry for you. The way your sleepy features fell, crossed arms hugging your crouched torso, it all made you look so small in that moment. He no longer saw a woman to make a foe of, he saw someone who carried a lot of weight on their shoulders, and wasn’t as confident and unmovable as they wanted people to believe.

Tom sighed, and played with the food left on his plate, before looking back up at you, “You hungry?”

  You dug into the assorted platter as soon as it was placed in front of you. It had a croissant, eggs, bacon, toast, and more. It made you feel like royalty.

Tom waited patiently on his side of the table for you to finish. He felt your eyes on him every time he wasn’t looking, but you’d always shy away when he’d catch you.

Once you were satisfied with the amount of food now sitting in your belly, you sat back, placing both hands on your lap. There was hardly any tension between the both of you, but you could tell Tom was waiting for you to say something,

“Your book is hidden, in my flat,” you caved.

Toms face subtly lit up, and did well to keep himself composed, even though he wanted to ask so many questions and run out the door to find it,

“I’ll return it to you, under one condition,” you paused to see if he’d object to the idea doing you a favour. He sat quietly for a moment, letting you continue.

You weren’t sure how he’d keep you from ever running in to Rick again. But you knew damn well that if one of Ricks men comes knocking at your apartment today for the journal and you’re there without it, you’re as good as dead,

“After the book is in your hands, you keep me safe from Rick Bennett, and the law,”

As if Tom wasn’t already lost on what to do about you, now you were tearing him apart even more with the pleading look behind your eyes. He had to look away, and unable to give you a straight answer, he compromised,

“We’ll talk after we get-”

“That’s not good enough,” you quickly interjected him. Not wanting to settle for anything less than what you asked.

Tom sighed, bringing his attention back to you, “I can promise now to keep you away from the officials. But we’ll need to talk further about this Rick Bennett,” he put out there.

“Let’s fetch your book then,”

[coeurdastronaute]

Essays in Existentialism: Atlantis 4

Previously on Atlantis

The morning came, steady and through flickering lights against the window, unstill and blinding like a disco ball and lava lamp worked together to form a hybrid. Even behind her eyelids, the patient could see the light dancing through the waters and window before trying to make her join the land of the living yet again. 

The oil she was given to rub on her bruises smelled like sweet mint, and it stiffened slightly in the night on her rib, while the kelp compress left nothing more than a pale cut on her forehead and bruising around her eyes. With a small grunt, Clarke gave up to the whims of the underwater world, and opened her eyes as she pressed a hand against the soreness that slept still, sound and happy, in her muscles and bones. 

Slowly, still fuzzy around the edges from the concussion, the world came into focus again, and Clarke found herself staring at the ceiling of the ornate room that had become her own during her stay. Rich blues and whites mingled in the most pristine and perfect marble she’d ever seen, while the rich tapestry that covered one wall burst forth in colors and a story, artfully done and purposeful. 

Two days ago, she’d been on a research vessel in the middle of the ocean working with her mentor to discover a way to stunt evolutionary tendencies in viruses. Two days ago, she was a girl who didn’t fully believe in the myth of Atlantis, or that Aquaman was a king who ruled more people who could breathe under water. 

But she woke up again in a bed that smelled like oranges and sunlight, wrapped in a blanket that was soft and stiff, like clothes dried on a clothesline. She’d eaten a dinner that consisted of her third grade favorite lunchbox lunch, with a reigning monarch in said potentially imaginary underwater country. And nothing made sense. 

With no small showing of effort, Clarke propped herself up and sat on the edge of the bed, testing her body all over again, learning how it worked today, and being slightly amazed by how well it felt. The lingering soreness felt like she’d worked out too hard for a whole week straight, but was by no means as terrible as she’d felt less than ten hours ago. She sat there for a few moments and caught her breath, afraid to test her body, but knowing that she must. Clarke pushed herself from the bed and stood, balancing like a baby deer on its new legs. 

Everything seemed to work well enough, and she was afraid of the potential pain, but true to the words she couldn't understand, the body began to heal and she found herself wincing for nothing at all. 

“I guess I just put more on,” Clarke wondered aloud as she looked at the table across the room that held the ointments and bottles. “But what… how did she combine them?” 

Making it across the room, she picked up an intricate bottle and tugged at the stopped, sniffing the inside as a black liquid sloshed about, seen through the pure blue of the bottle. The door cracked and began to open, and the new sound made Clarke drop the bottle so it shattered on the ground, covering the pristine floor with a rather stale smelling liquid. 

“I’m sorry-- I didn’t-- I wasn’t sure anyone would come in, and I wanted to--”

“Ti káneis na-eme?” the same old woman asked, hurrying as much as her old bones and bent back would allow. “Tha dilitiriásete ton eaftó sas.”

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean--”

“Kínisi!”

The nurse pushed Clarke slightly as she began cleaning up the dropped liquid, careful to avoid touching it as best she could. Somewhere between shooting her a look and muttering something Clarke was certain was a curse, the nurse humphed and began cleaning up the shattered glass, her displeasure clearly apparent. 

A knock  tapped softly for a moment as Clarke proceeded to apologize again and get pushed away from trying to help. And if she couldn’t get more mortified of her current predicament, the embodiment of earthly perfection entered the room with a worried furrow. 

“I just came to see if you would like breakfast,” Lexa offered, staring at the mess and offering her forearm to Clarke to help move her away from the clean up. “But it looks like you might be busy. Eínai óla kalá?”

“Peismatáris kai adéxia. Léte óti eínai meletitís?”

The princess chuckled and tried to swallow it when Clarke gave her a pointed look. 

“That’s a very concentrated combination of venoms and plants, used as a slight numbing agent in the healing process,” she explained, translating very loosely. “More than a few drops would paralyze or potentially kill you.” 

“How was I supposed to know?” 

“You weren’t. She just finds it very difficult to believe you are someone who studies medicine.” 

In an instant, Clarke snapped her eyes away from Lexa’s pretty green ones, and turned them on the old woman who put the discarded vial in her basket before setting up for another treatment. 

“She should teach me instead of letting me nearly kill myself.”

“Althea is our best healer. She helped deliver me, and my mother, and my mother’s mother and father. Her knowledge would take you years to even start to understand.” 

“Are you calling me dumb, too?” 

“No, no,” Lexa hurried as Clarke crossed her arms. “Just that she knows enough to fill an entire library. She wrote the books on our modern methods. Books is plural.” 

“I’m pretty sure she’s called me dumb a few times,” Clarke sighed as those elderly hands tugged on her shirt once again. 

“She has,” the princess smiled and nodded. “I was--”

In an instant, her shirt was tugged up again, and Clarke realized that she was now showing off her stomach and ribs and much too much underboob to the future ruler of a futuristic underwater country that no one was ever allowed to visit. But she was stuck, and the princess was staring. Clarke knew that because she tried to maintain eye contact to pretend nothing bad was happening to her. 

“Um, I was…,” Lexa furrowed again before quickly turning around when she met Clarke’s eyes. “I’m sorry. She’s much more intent on getting you better than we might have previously realized.” 

“Whatever she’s doing is working. I feel better than I could have imagined.” 

“Léei óti aisthánetai kalýtera,” Lexa explained. 

Clarke watched as the old woman moved with her eyes nearly shut, the wrinkles covering every part of her face, wearing deep the long lines of living into her very fabric. All she did was hum slightly and press another compress to Clarke’s ribs. 

“How do I… I want to thank her, for everything.” 

The nurse tugged on Clarke’s jaw, pulling at her shoulders so that she could get a good reach on the wound on her head, repeating her process, though slightly more gently than the ribs. 

“Efcharistó,” Lexa explained, peaking over her shoulder, thankful to find the stranger more clothed than before. 

“Ef--ef--,” Clarke tasted the word, attempting her best to get over the hump of saying it. “Efcharistó?” 

For a second, the woman paused and nodded slightly. Clarke smiled and looked down at her side before holding her hand against the fresh press while Lexa spoke with the healer, bowing deeply to her before earning a kiss on her forehead and a tap of a hand against her cheek. 

Freshly ready to heal, Clarke felt full in the room with Lexa, and wasn’t sure what else there was to say or do. It took Lexa a moment to find the protocol. 

“I came to see if you would like to eat, and… I can’t show you much, but you’ll be here for a few days while we prepare the Spindrift, and I could show you some things.” 

“You don’t have to supervise. I’m sure you have other… princess things to do?” 

“My mother is busy with her embassy, and my father is busy saving the planet. I currently have nothing planned,” Lexa explained, clasping her hands and letting them hang in front of her. 

The crest on her shoulder was proud and ancient. The soft fall of her braids against the deep green and cream color of her frock was picture perfect, and all before breakfast was even served. The princess held an entire world together, and she was going to be the link between words, born of both. 

And she was gracious enough to save Clarke’s life in her spare time. 

“And I had a few questions about Land… if that’s okay?” 

“Breakfast first,” Clarke decided, her smile warming as Lexa returned it at the offer. 

“I can do that.” 

XXXXXXXXX

“So this is just one of your gardens?” Clarke asked as she walked out onto the balcony that was so large she forgot it was suspended partly above the city. 

Stacked, the buildings seemed dripping in greenery and elaborately inlaid, as if every story was intricately planned and prepared. There were bits that reminded Clarke of old textbooks or picture books from when she was a child and went through Egyptian and Greek Gods phases of learning. Giant statues, with limited features but strong poses, warriors and thinkers alike, stood guard throughout the city from the view. Towering figures held up buildings, while greenery and trees filled every inch, weaving together a lattice roof over the shops and buildings below. Sleek lines dictated the skyline. 

Standing on the private balcony garden, Clarke surveyed much of the city she’d missed from her window view of the palaces back patios and gates. Now, she saw the dome that sat around the city, saw the architecture, felt the breathing, pulsating thrum of the entire place. 

“It is. We have a few royal gardens. Some of the most prized and ancient plants are here, and are often open to the public.” 

“But not today?” 

“Only during the high holidays.” 

It was lush and alive, the entire city was a steady noise and hum, but the gardens were quietly removed from it, shadowed in giant trees and overgrown shrubs she couldn’t quite place. Every way Clarke looked, she found something mesmerizing, something that brought up more questions, something she knew she’d never see again. 

“How do you… How did you get all of this here?” 

“Atlantis has always existed, even before the shift,” Lexa explained, her hands careful linked behind her back. 

She walked perfectly straight, her gait natural and fixed, her body fluid. Clarke caught herself watching the princess as much as she watched the entire world around her that no other person who walked on land had ever seen. Chestnut hair in intricate braids, her strong brow, the green of her eyes, the soft slope of her chin and smile-- it was distracting, even in a palace. 

“And you can breathe… underwater?” 

The princess ducked her head and chuckled. 

“Yes, all Atlanteans can breathe both. Evolution was as kind to us as the gods were.” 

“I have so many questions, I can’t decide where to start.” 

The pair wandered along the path as Clarke  wracked her brain and overheated with the information. Lexa saw to it that they were left alone and undisturbed, the palace gates shut tightly and all entrances to the garden monitored by the guards she trusted the most. For just a few moments, she allowed herself to enjoy the company of the girl she saved, who had a peculiar way of looking at things, who blushed sometimes, right on the edge of cheeks. 

“Maybe don’t ask any questions,” Lexa offered after a moment of quiet as they came to the edge. She took a seat on a planter wall under a flowering tree with big blue and purple petals. “Just live this moment.” 

“Is that what you do here?” 

“I do tend to enjoy my time in my home, yes.” 

Clarke took a seat beside the princess, careful to hold her ribs as she readjusted. 

“I want to know everything. It’s a curse, I’m afraid.” 

“I suppose I’d be the same way on land,” Lexa acquiesced. “I wouldn’t know where to even begin, but something about sitting here, feeling, touching, tasting, hearing-- it’ll help you understand Atlantis more than any question.” 

“I would actually imagine that the few questions I have about the field surrounding the city, or the evolutionary tactic of breathing underwater might be illuminating.” 

Again, Lexa caught herself smiling, but she swallowed it and looked up at the light filtering through the branches and petals. She closed her eye and took a deep breath, willing the visitor to do the same. 

Neither spoke, but rather took the time to enjoy each other’s company and the quiet moment that neither world would ever know about. Clarke listened, catching a far away laugh of a child playing something. She heard a hum and a rushing of water, she heard the long, drawn out caws of some kind of bird that existed within the microcosm. After a few minutes, she reached up and plucked a petal from the tree, careful not to disturb the rest of the large flower on the branch. It took up her entire hand, and she rubbed her fingers along it, feeling the thick, velvet touch it had, smelling the sweet, musky hint it hid. 

Lexa watched as the stranger felt her world, and she wasn’t sure what she expected from Clarke, but she hadn’t expected her words to be taken quite to heart. For an instant, she almost believed she could see when Clarke began to understand and feel it, the ease and peace that came in the gardens. 

“When I was young, maybe only five or six, my father took me on land,” Lexa explained. “He introduced me to his father. We went to a building, shaped like a long tube that had a light on top. He said it was where he grew up, and he showed me all of his things, and my grandfather showed me his world. I remember the taste of the salt in the air and the smell of the fishermen coming home. I remember the feeling of the net in my hand as I played with it. I remember my father sitting on top of this light with me, and he pointed to the entire world. I could see for miles and miles. He told me it was my job to protect my people from those on land, and it was my job to protect the land from all else. That was how we united the two. But I didn’t listen, not fully. I had an ice cream cone.” 

Clarke watched as Lexa spoke, as she confessed and said more words than she imagined the princess ever normally said. It was not the story of a princess though, but rather that of a stranger, offering something innate, something of themselves. 

“Are you not allowed on land?” 

“No,” she shook her head curtly. 

“You should come. See what you’re destine to defend.” 

“I’m destined to complete much more training here,” Lexa sighed. “Once the world turned its back on my father, once they condemned Atlantis, he was forced to choose. He chose us.” 

“But he still helps?” 

“He’s not a heartless man.” 

“It just seems incredibly selfless.” 

“Being a good ruler is about seeing what others don’t, doing what others won’t, and being what others can’t,” Lexa recited. 

 “You’re a good person.” 

“I try very hard.” 

Clarke smiled at the honestly and looked at her own hands as her fingers knot themselves together. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Her shoulder felt warm as Lexa somehow moved close enough so that they were now touching. 

“If you ever change your mind, you could come on land. I’d show you around.” 

“You would?” 

“Fair is fair. I’m not sure we have anything this beautiful though,” Clarke confessed. 

There was a grin. She saw it as Lexa’s eyes went dreamy. Clarke found herself leaning closer, her body moving on its own. Lexa searched Clarke’s face and shook her head. 

“I don’t know. You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” 

For a second, Clarke was swept up in green eyes and the lips that disappeared for an instant behind the peak of a tongue. It was entirely unfair that someone like Lexa, who saved her life, who cared, who gawked and awkwardly wasn’t sure how to move when her shirt slipped up a little, was also so entirely too delicious looking. 

Instead of doing it, instead of leaning forward, Clarke looked toward the city below the palace, and she smiled slightly as a blush snuck up her neck. 

“Are all Atlanteans so charming?”

“No, not too many.” 

“Good to know.” 

“Should I take you back so you can rest?” 

“Don’t trust me to make it back alone?” Clarke teased. 

“I do, but the rest of the guards might have a bit of doubt.”

Lexa stood up and held out her hand for the stranger to take. With no hesitation at all, Clarke took it and let herself be lead back into the palace. 

XXXXXXXXX

Word reached the control room quickly that the King was on his way back, the crisis from outside officially dealt with, his aid offered and accepted for another victory. No news covered if there had been losses on the side of the Justice League, and the Queen wasn’t sure what mood he would return in, but was grateful he was at all. 

Quietly, she surveyed the reports on her screen and grew more and more excited to see him, finally allowing herself the moment to reflect on the past few days and how hectic they’d been coupled with the constant nagging about his return. 

But her husband was stubborn, and would always come home. 

“I’m going to my chambers for the evening,” Meera announced as she stood, the rest of her entourage doing the same. “Monitor the fleets to the south and the shifting and quake potential off the coast of South America.” 

“Yes ma’am,” the commander nodded. 

“If my husband makes it home, please let the morning rotation know to push the meetings until the afternoon.” 

“Of course.” 

“I’ll take an update about the Spindrift as soon as possible.” 

“I”ll get in touch now, your highness.” 

“Goodnight, friends,” the queen paused at the door. “Today was a success.” 

With her notes tucked under her arm, the queen made her way out into the hallway, her guard trailing slightly behind her, as she was known to prefer. It took a lot to run a nation, and it took a lot to unify two who didn’t want it. But she knew it was for the best, and she believed in it so much, she obsessed. 

Slowly, the queen made her way down the hall, eager for things to return to normal. 

As if on time, she heard an unfamiliar sound of what she thought to be her daughter laughing, though it died away quickly. Her pace slowed considerably as she approached the corner of the hall and she waved her guard to slow, taking their time before reaching sight of the two girls. 

Looking decidedly much healthier, the girl from the land stood, her arm wrapped around Lexa’s for support though she walked much better, and looked to have more color in her cheeks than the last time Meera saw her. She was pretty, beautiful even. Shorter than her daughter, though not by much. Her hair was much lighter than she originally thought, and her eyes a bit lighter as well. She watched Lexa when she spoke, hanging on every word, her smile constant, while the princess spoke passionately before catching her earnestness and pulling back slightly. 

The queen was barely moving as they paused at Clarke’s door. Lexa moved and dropped something in her hand, quick to try to pick it up, a blush on her cheeks as she opened Clarke’s door for her. The queen smiled to herself at her daughter’s antics, at how she struggled to say goodbye, at the fact that as soon as Clarke’s door closed, the princess leaned against the wall and sighed, collapsing under her own head. 

It was only then that the queen picked up her pace, as if she hadn’t seen anything at all. 

“Are you ready to take our guest back to land?” 

“Yes, of course,” Lexa answered as she stood up straighter, losing the human in her movements. She was rigid with responsibilities. 

“Your father is returning.” 

“Good news,” she smiled, perking up slightly. 

The mother and daughter gave each other a look, a knowing look, a certain look that they deciphered and danced around. 

“We should walk and discuss a few things,” Meera decided. 

As much as Lexa wanted to protest, to go back to her room, to sleep and forget, she knew that the suggestion wasn’t optional, and with a heavy head, she nodded. 

next

[treatian]

The Chronicles of the Dark One:  The Dark Curse

Chapter 208:  Two Mothers, Two Children, Two Worlds

It had been a dull two months. Work, work, work…he'd taken to seeing some people again and dealing just to quell some of his boredom. The truth was that at the moment, there was really nothing that he could do except to keep himself busy and watch. Regina was working diligently on the Curse, with a passion for the magic he'd given her as he'd never seen before in the girl. That was good. She was depending upon it; she had faith and a heart in what it was and what it would bring to her. That was very good for him. Since acquiring it, she'd barely been back to her castle, just a few stops inside to gather a couple of dresses and ingredients from her stores, but she soon discovered that the Curse, while simple to create, was not simple to assemble. That was how she'd been spending her time, analyzing the ingredients and gathering them together so that she could create the Curse that would allow her to destroy the happiness of Snow White.

But while Regina was fretting about trying to end that happiness, he had the very distinct feeling that the Queen's happiness was only growing. He hoped that soon enough, something else would be growing too, if not already. Snow and David had enjoyed a very extended honeymoon. With the dwarves placed in charge of the Kingdom in their absence, they stayed at the Summer Palace for the last two months, on their own, usually wearing very comfortable clothes and sometimes wearing none at all. When he caught them in those moments, he was always sure to look away, but the sight of it was enough to give him a small thrill as he wondered if that was the time that they might conceive the Swan. 

The end of their honeymoon finally arrived, brought on by the need to attend an extraordinary event he too had been waiting for. When a carriage finally arrived for them at the Summer Palace, the pair were dressed regally again and set off for another Kingdom.

Just as his vision predicted, there were fireworks over Prince Thomas's castle on the night that they arrived, but this time the fireworks were for a ball of a different kind. This was a celebration! A wedding! Snow and David had finally wed and now so had Cinderella and Thomas. The couple had attended the wedding earlier in the day before putting on gowns and finer clothes for the wedding banquet that evening. In a day or so, Snow White and David would leave the castle with everyone else, return to their Kingdom, and their honeymoon would be over. But for now, they were dancing the night away with Cinderella and Thomas, and, much to his own surprise…him.

The Seer was telling him to go. She was urging him to leave his tower and claim his prize for what he'd done for Cinderella now that she was wed, and there was no turning back. His prize…

He'd been purposefully vague the first time he'd met the girl telling himself he didn't want to settle on anything in particular, but if he was honest, he always knew what he was going to ask for.

"A favor"…it had to be carefully chosen, something that would seem impossible for dear Ella to give and yet something that made an exchange with the Savior seem small by comparison. He knew exactly what it had to be, whether because of his own dealing instincts or because the Seer had told him he didn't know, and he didn't care. He was ready to get this underway.

At the ball, he watched from the shadows in his own golden clothes, as Thomas and Cinderella were announced and descended in their finest white clothes to the ball that had been planned for them, the one that Snow and David had chosen to attend as a cap to their honeymoon. Tonight the pair were dancing and smiling at the wedding. Tomorrow they'd be back in their own palace, Snow would probably be dressed in pants as she almost always was these days, and they'd oversee the affairs of their Kingdom as Regina continued to collect the ingredients she needed to complete the Curse that would destroy them and everyone here. He couldn't wait.

But he did wait, for now, watched and waited for the right time to get the princess alone. The time came, of all times during a dance. Dances at balls wouldn't have seemed the obvious choice; they were usually so well planned, the steps were memorized partners exchanged in perfect harmony…until the lovely Snow White undid it all. At a moment when Cinderella should have been dancing with her husband and Snow was paired with an older gentleman, she abandoned him. She disrupted the flow and the steps as the two princesses had a conversation and danced with each other leaving their gentlemen standing there unattended. It was a perfect way for him to get to speak with her and leave without being noticed.

"All I did was get married," he heard the girl explain to the princess as he sauntered closer to get into position.

"All you did was show that anyone can change her life," Snow corrected. "I'm proud of you."

And just like that, Snow fell away, went back to dancing with the gentleman that should be paired with Cinderella, but because Snow had missed the chance to move on and her own husband was now dancing with the next woman in line. He was all too happy to fill the void the small hiccup had left for him.

"I'm proud of you, too," he smiled as she stopped turning. It was perfect. Though she stopped moving and looked at him as though he'd just stolen all the happiness out of the room, he grinned ear to ear and didn't miss a beat of the dance that one of the Dark Ones had fortunately learned in their time.

"You. What are you doing here?"

He grabbed her waist, forcing her to dance along to the music so that it wouldn't look so conspicuous to onlookers, and as he did, he got a whiff of her skin and nearly let a laugh loose. In the months leading up to their wedding, she and Prince Thomas, it seemed, hadn't been nearly as restrained as Snow and David had.

"I just wanted to make sure you were happy with your end of the bargain. You know–true love, riches, happy endings. Did you get everything you desired?"

"Yes. Yes, I did. Now, what do you want?" she questioned coldly, going along with the dance. "What's your price? My jewels? The ring?"

Oh, if only it were that simple. "No, no dear. Keep your baubles. What I want is something you don't yet possess, but something I know is coming…your firstborn," he proclaimed, giving her a spin so that he could step away. He didn't leave her time to beg or time to swallow the pill he'd given her, just left her there to digest what she'd heard. It was better that way. He always had to be what they wanted him to be, and to her, he was a dark and terrifying menace. Getting in and out without notice was sure to leave her just as unsettled as the news that he'd delivered to her.

When he returned to his castle and was able to watch her in his mirror, the look on her face said it all, and he beamed with pride at the work that had been done and the plan that had been laid. That night she'd gone from someone happy and carefree as a lark to carrying a dreadful secret.

She didn't know that she was pregnant yet, or at least she hadn't, but now it was all there in the open. Apparently, her dear step-mother never did tell her what came of late-night dalliances with princes. It was new. He couldn't blame her for not yet knowing. The smell was faint, but it was there. Pregnancy was magical all on his own, and he could always smell it on a woman. Several women in that room were pregnant, he was hoping that Snow was one of them after two months of honeymooning, but he dared not get close enough to her to confirm. Why bother, he trusted the Seer, and now that trap was set-

Nine months

No…more than nine months…decades.

Oh, he nearly dropped the crystal ball in his hand when the Seer began talking to him, warning him that his timeline was wrong. Cinderella wouldn't have her child in nine months; instead, it would take decades because the child…the child wouldn't be born in this world. It would be of this world, how could it not with two parents like Cinderella and Prince Thomas?! But the child, a girl named Alexandra…she wouldn't be born in this world because she was destined to be born in that world; A World Without Magic, which meant that in less than a year, he'd be in the World Without Magic. If the child was to be born in that world, but he knew that the Swan was to be born in this world, that she would outrun the Curse that was coming from him, then that meant…Snow White was pregnant too!

Oh, he'd seen nothing to confirm this yet, he hadn't been able to get a good smell of the woman tonight, and after two months, it was entirely possible that she was only on the brink of knowing! The two women might only be days apart, but it would only take a moment to save one child and freeze the other in time until the curse broke. Snow White was pregnant. He knew it was true, and it was the most beautiful truth he'd ever heard. He had less than a year before he was in the same realm as Baelfire once again.

It was time to make final preparations.

[caps-lockdown]

Poll Winner...Hotel Horrors!

Hotel Horrors

Hey everyone so so sorry that this took forever and a day to get out. The short version is I quit my new job because it was leading me down a dark path of anxiety and depression so I’ve been struggling with all of that nonsense and quite frankly lost the motivation to write anything at all. I want everyone to know that your mental health matters and no job (no matter the money or benefits) is worth putting that at risk.

Anyway, here’s the winner of my 200 follower poll! I do plan on writing the other choices eventually, but again I’ve been struggling HARD with writer’s block.

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Fem!Reader

Words: 5,586

Warnings: Mentions of booze, a few swear words. A crude joke. Pretty much all fluff with some panicked!Steve and switching of names.

Summary: Steve Rogers lost something extremely important at your hotel during an undercover mission. What will you do when you find out your celebrity crush was staying under your roof?!

It’s in Y/N Y/L/N format, and I own no characters save for the reader and her coworkers/family. No beta, so mistakes are mine, ALL MINE I tell you!

ENJOY!

“Y/N my happy little orange blossom!”

You looked up from your mug, hot tea sloshing in your mouth until you could force it down. It was eight-thirty am on a brisk Monday in New York City, the hustle and bustle of morning traffic mixed with the grogginess of another too short weekend over. The hotel lobby had been quiet a whole half hour before your uncle had made his presence known. The Wilson hotel, named after your grandfather’s first dog had been in your family for just shy of sixty years, your father and uncle taking over when your grandfather decided to retire five years ago. It was a quaint but lovely little building, boasting just fifty six rooms and four luxury suites. Your grandfather had bought the building on a splurge, wanting to create his own income and become his own boss, much to the encouragement of your grandmother. It was an instant success, the small homely atmosphere mixed with the most affordable prices in the city kept you busy as a receptionist.

Things had slowed down just a touch now that the new year was here and the holidays were gone, people not traveling as much to make up for the money they had spent on presents for whatever they were celebrating. You were usually never caught dead at work on Mondays, never one to really enjoy the swarms of grumpy travelers in the early hours. Sundays and Mondays, until this week unfortunately, were your prized days off. That all changed the minute Mandy the other receptionist who usually worked days where you worked nights decided to bring her third hell spawn into the world a week early. A New Year’s baby. How lovely. Now because of the aptly named “Kia”, you were forced to pull double duty until her replacement started next week. So much for your Christmas wish of working less. You took it in stride though, after all Mandy was your soon to be cousin, your cousin Brent popping the question Christmas morning surrounded by all of your family. The very same family who was quick to point out that you were now the last of six children to be engaged. Or the last of six to have children. Or the last of six to be in a remotely serious relationship. And no, your crush on Captain America most certainly did not count. The only one who hadn’t spoken a word against you was Uncle Todd. He had always been your favorite, and you his. He never married, nor had kids of his own, so he was always quick to jump down your family’s throats. After all, he owned sixty percent of the Wilson and he turned out just fine thank you very much.

His only downfall was that he was simply too happy in the mornings.

His deep chuckle brought you back to the present, an annoyed expression passing over you as he lovingly patted you on the top of your head. He’d been doing it since you were a child. You had hated it since you were a child too. “Oh come now Y/N, surely you aren’t that hung over from the New Year’s celebration? It was a week ago after all. Put some spring in your step!”

“First of all, it’s too early for you. Now I know why I don’t work mornings.” You muttered the last bit into your oversized mug before draining the rest of your English breakfast tea. “Secondly,” you cleared your throat, picking up your electric kettle that sat at your desk and started on brewing your second cup, “You know damn well I don’t get hangovers Uncle. Fortunately I have your alcohol tolerance instead of my hopeless father’s.” The tea bag fell into your now full mug with an uninterested plop. “And thirdly, I’m only here because Mandy is out and Rachel doesn’t start for another week. Last I checked you don’t pay me enough to care about “peppiness” this early on a Monday.”

The shaking of his head normally would have you fearing for a spiel about being more carefree and positive, but the grin he was sporting brought a small one to your features. “We’ll make a morning person out of you yet Y/N. Carson here yet?”

“Nope, I’d wager dad’s stuck in traffic,” you pulled a face before adding “Again”.

“I swear that man will be late to his own funeral. I expect we’ll get a phone call any moment now, be sure to rip him a new one for me eh? Oh my new year’s resolution is to leave the house earlier so I can be on time my left foot.” You giggled, stirring honey into your beverage as he continued to rant and rave all the way to his office, the loud creak of his large chair announcing his defeat on the subject of your father’s constantly late arrivals.

As if on cue the main lobby’s terribly outdated phone rang loudly, a surprised yelp leaving your lips as you set the cup down and picked up the receiver.

“Good morning and thank you for calling the Wilson,” Your customer service voice was a common shock to your family and friends, the usual snark and sarcasm replaced with a sweet and patient tone. You quickly added, “Dad if this is you calling to say you’re running late, it’s been like this for five years. You don’t need to give us a heads up. We know you’ll show up, but you should know uncle Todd prefers it be before the next turn of the century.”

“Well Mandy your uncle seems like a reasonable man although I can assure you I’m extremely punctual.” The voice was certainly not your father’s, and for second you were extremely embarrassed and looking for quick way to end it. It wasn’t normal to get phone calls this early. But before you could do anything rash the person on the other line let out a short laugh. “I needed that laugh today, thank you. It’s been a stressful morning.”

“I’m sorry about that! I’m afraid Mandy is out, my name is Y/N.”Your face burned with the intensity of the sun as you quickly moved on, “How can I help you today mister….”

“Rogers. I’m sorry I assumed you were Mandy.”

“It’s alright mister Rogers.”

“Great.” He continued, taking a breath “Mandy alright?”

“Yep the baby just came early and she went into labor during our charity event last week.”

“How beautiful. I recall her saying something about contractions now that you mention it. Listen Y/N I was wondering if you could help me out on something urgent?”

“Sure mister Rogers, anything for my favorite neighbor.” You blurted out and then inwardly cringed at your own terrible joke, but again it was met by the stranger’s rough laughter. It almost sounded familiar. Like maybe you had heard it in person. Or on the television.

“Cute. I’m sure he…I mean I’ve never heard that one before.” The man recovered and you raised an eyebrow although he couldn’t see it. “So the long story short is that a friend and I checked in last week for your New Year’s charity Gala. It was stunning, had a wonderful time.”

“We had Pepper Potts as a consultant for the event, she’s incredible with event planning. Tony Stark donated some of the art work we auctioned off that night if you recall. Many were saddened to hear he wasn’t able to attend, but miss Potts looked lovely and did a great job.”

“That she did, and I’m sure he was there…in spirit I suppose.” The man got out hastily before recomposing himself. “Anyway I’m afraid my colleague and I were so partied out when we checked out the next day I realized I forgot a very important flash drive somewhere in my suite.”

“Not a problem mister Rogers, our suites are extremely private and we haven’t had any guests in them since last week so I have no problem calling housekeeping and seeing if they found anything. Just a thumb drive you said?”

“Yes a small black thumb drive. I’m super boring and predictable. And please, call me Tony.”

“Alright mister-“You stopped yourself, “Tony. What suite were you in? And we can check your friend’s suite too if you want to give me his name.”

“Oh of course suite number two. He was staying under the name Steve Stark.”

You held in a laugh. It was normal for high-caliber people and celebrities to check in under false names, sometimes even using the names of other celebrities. Kim Kardashian-West checked in as Princess Jasmine once somewhere.

“And you’re Tony Rogers. Funny, I’m sure Mandy didn’t catch that one. She isn’t the brightest crayon in the box I’m afraid.”

“I can agree with you there. “ The man laughed again, and you realized you were finding yourself in a good mood talking to this man. Why was that?

“Well I’ll do some digging and see what I can find. Is this a good number to reach you at Tony?”

“Yes this number is the right one to snag me at.”

“Perfect, I’ll get housekeeping on it right away as no one has been in there since your stay. I’ll call you in a couple days with our results. Hopefully we find it for you. Have a great day!”

“You too Y/N, talk to you soon.”

You hung up the phone and promptly dropped your head on the desk. Where did you know that  voice from?

~~Earlier at the Tower~~

“For the last time Steve I haven’t seen your thumb drive!” Sam waved Steve away from blocking the game on the television in the common area. “Now you make a better mountain sized door instead of a window.” Steve huffed angrily out of the room.

“Haven’t seen it Cap, might I suggest checking your shoes?” Tony got out in between bites of his cereal, Bucky laughing with him at the Captain’s deadpanned expression. “What? Worth a shot.”

He stomped out of that room too.

Even Nat had jumped on the skeptical side, narrowing her eyes as he dug through his luggage again for the seventh time in the past two days, “Are you sure you didn’t pack it?”

This was it. This was how Steve Rogers was going to lose his mind. The sleep deprived and stress-ridden super solider pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to take deep breaths. It proved fruitless and he smashed his phone into the wall a day later at the suggestion from Tony to just call the Wilson. The same hotel Tony and him had stayed at the previous week for an undercover mission.

The team had accepted the circumstances, Strange and Nat running communications while Tony and Steve underwent massive amounts of makeup to change their appearance. Tony of course went the craziest. Bald cap, clean shaved face and a suit that made him look even more buff than he already was. Nat kept calling him “Daddy Warbucks”. Steve however had kept it simple. Changed his hair color, grew his beard out a little longer, contacts, and wore a slightly ill fitting suit.

Truth be told he didn’t understand why they needed to be there at first. “Catching art thieves” wasn’t something that usually required action from The Avengers. NYPD were more than capable most of the time, so it came as a shock when one of the owners of the Wilson reached out to them via email. The message didn’t say too much, other than a time, date, and small description of the group of men needing apprehended. Todd and his partner didn’t want these men getting to the very expensive masterpieces they were auctioning off for charity, and just wanted some extra security. Apparently the thieves had been snatching works of art for nearly a decade and hadn’t been caught. Tony loved a challenge and accepted. Todd suggested setting a trap and sending a couple of them undercover so as to not draw unwanted attention. As an added bonus Tony donated some of the art to be auctioned off at the Gala held in his hotel on New Year’s Eve. He even offered to put them up in two of their nicer suites for no charge.  

Tony was in the minute he mentioned undercover. He even took to making some secret compartments in their attire, you know just in case.

“You too Y/N, talk to you soon.”

Speaking of the billionaire, he was now putting his phone back in his pocket, a smug expression on his face.

“Y/N the receptionist said she’d look into it and call back in a couple days. Now will you calm down?”

“I can’t calm down Tony, that thumb drive had all the evidence to put the art thieves away.”

“Wet Bandits” Tony corrected, Steve rolling his eyes. “The trial isn’t for another week and worrying is only going to force you into an earlier grave. So cool it.”

The blonde man ran a hand through his hair. He truly hated it when his friend was right. Though he’d never tell him of course, his ego was big enough as is. He let out a sigh, “Fine.”

“Great. Now make a list of places you were in the hotel during the Gala, we can go retrace your steps if they don’t find anything. I think your ancient brain is finally catching up to you Cap.”

Steve slammed the door to his room with that remark, seething with embarrassment and anger. It’s not like he had meant to lose it. He’d never lost intel like this before. Actually now that he thought about it he couldn’t think of a time he had ever lost something this important. Falling into his desk chair with an ungraceful thud, he began writing the places he had been during New Year’s Eve.

~~Flashback, Night of the Gala~~

“We’ll get right back to the Auction after the ball drops!” A jolly looking man, who the team learned to be Todd interrupted the evening, encouraging everyone to mingle and enjoy themselves. Tony didn’t need to be told a second time, making his way to the open bar while Strange noted his obvious distaste in their ear pieces.

People nearly trampled Steve as he got up from his seat, emptying out of the large conference room and into the beautifully decorated grand ballroom just outside. He couldn’t say he blamed anyone, being squished like sardines for the last two hours was starting to even get on his nerves. And he lived in a compound of superheroes with no real sense of boundaries. He was enjoying his solitude, no one recognizing him for the first time in years. It felt liberating, only having a select few know his true identity. He almost didn’t miss it.

He felt a slight shove into his shoulder, turning his body to glance down at the elegant figure draped in simple green velvet, your wide eyes burning into his in embarrassment.

“I’m…I’m such a klutz my apologies!” You stuttered out, giving him the smallest hint of a shy smile.

“No harm no foul. Tony.” He stuck out a hand, giving himself points for not messing up his alias.

You placed your small hand in his and immediately Steve was struck by how soft your hand felt.  But before you could give your name your heads swiveled at the shouting coming from the far side of the room. He noted how your eyes shown slight disappointment as you broke from the greeting.

“Forgive me. My relatives and booze never makes for a good outcome.” With a defeated sigh you turned on your heel, clicking away towards Todd, muttering to yourself. “Way to go Y/L/N, always running into gorgeous people and then running away.”

Ok, he missed it a little. You were the sort of someone he would have liked to ask to dance. If under different circumstances of course. Maybe. But silver lining, at least he had been able to catch your last name. He watched you run off with a dreamy look on his face.  

“Heads up lover boy, we got company.” Nat jolted Steve from his thoughts, four men entering the large room and nonchalantly casing the place. How these men had gotten away with stealing art for close to a decade was beyond him. Hiding within plain sight he moved to a vantage point high up on a stairwell.

“Tony you got them?”

“You mean Steve. I’m Steve, you’re Tony. Geesh that dime wasn’t in your orbit for more than two minutes and you’re this scrambled?” Tony teased, Steve groaning into his ear piece and earning a smirk in response. “Yea I got them, shall I go ahead and set the plan in motion?” He caught Steve’s nod and reaffirmed it with his own, making his way towards the group. “Then the game is afoot!”

Steve made a mental note to ask Thor for some meade after all of this was over.

The rest of the night went easy enough. The “Wet Bandits” fell for the trap, they were caught red handed and arrested on the spot. Steve managed to swipe a USB drive from the ring leader of the group before the police carted off the criminals, the crowd clapping and cheering for them. They looked like normal, non-super people, just doing the right thing at the right time. It gave the team a sense of pride, knowing even without their suits or names they still got the job done.

“Where should I put this?” He fiddled with the small storage device. Nat had mentioned it would most likely have very incriminating evidence on it. She also put extra emphasis on keeping it safe.

“I don’t know, somewhere close to your soul?”

“That makes no sense Tony.”Steve muttered from the punch bowl, watching his partner walk towards him, empty glass in tow. Typical.

Tony joined him while everyone began to count down the minutes til the new year, gloating about how he couldn’t wait to kiss Pepper.

“That’s rich considering you look like mister clean right now. Think of the headlines.” Strange muttered into the comms and Tony laughed, forgetting temporarily what he looked like in his present state. “Hey there’s that girl you were making eyes at Rogers.”

The contacts he wore were starting to itch from dryness, and Steve found himself exceptionally happy that the night would soon be ending. He couldn’t help but gravitate toward you, your smile and light laughter ringing over the small group of people around you.

“Hello again.” Steve tried to think of what Tony would do in this situation, and then decided the cocky approach probably wouldn’t go over well. Your eyes twinkled in the glow of the gentle lighting, the room dimming as it got closer to a new year.

“Hi again.” Sixty seconds to go.

“I didn’t get to tell you earlier but you look stunning.” You were happy your blush was hidden in the near darkness of the room. The people were getting louder in their chanting of the time, Steve swallowing hard as your smile grew wider with the passing second. As so did his confidence.

“Thank you, that suit is an…interesting color.” Steve remembered his current attire and internally grimaced. What a claude you must think him, showing up in an ill fitting suit, beard barely groomed, his slightly red eyes. Of course he gets the gumption to make small talk and introduce himself and what happens? He looks like a homeless vacuum salesman.

“Ten…Nine…Eight…” He watched as you looked around the room, loudly calling out the numbers, unaware of how smitten he must have been looking at you. You seemed so genuine in your happiness, your smile beaming and lighting up the whole room.

“Five….Four..” He had no idea what was making him inch closer to you, but he couldn’t stop himself. It was like he needed to be near that sort of energy. He hadn’t met anyone that put him so much at ease so quickly before. Why was that?

“HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!” The crowd erupted in cheers and shouts, guests pulling on party popper strings and Todd and Carson popping bottles of champagne open with sabers. He laughed at you while you shook your head at your obvious relatives. Of course it had to be sabers. Perhaps it was the atmosphere. Maybe it was the loud music. He blamed a large portion of it on the alcohol, although it did nothing for him. Whatever it was spread throughout his entire nervous system and pushed him to place a small kiss on your blush tapped cheek.

“Happy New Year.” He managed to get out, taken aback by his own actions. You didn’t seem to mind, only beamed a smile that seemingly blinded him. Which wasn’t difficult to accomplish thanks to the stupid contacts.

“Yappy Hew Near.” Your alarmed expression at your jumbled words caused Steve to let out a deep laugh, you joining in shortly after. The night concluded with the art being bought back by Tony, not truly wanting to see them go in the first place. He could already hear the argument he and Pepper would be having later. If the look she gave him was any indication, he fully expected Stark to be in sofa city for the better part of the new year. He headed back to his suite with a bounce in his step, happy with the overall outcome.

Steve’s happiness was gone the minute they got back to the Tower and he noticed the flash drive was nowhere in sight.

~~Present~~

Which lead him to this moment of staring at Sam while he went over his paper. There weren’t that many places on it which made for a short list. The lobby, ballroom, conference room, and of course his suite were the only places he went after swiping the drive. Sam took note of all of the sighs leaving the tall man’s lips as he perused the list, growing slightly annoyed.

“Steve, man you gotta get laid. Or go fishing. Somethin’. Anything that will make you less mopey.” His friend grinned, it sinking into a frown when Steve gave him murderous side eye.

“Sam I appreciate you inserting yourself into my personal life again but I still haven’t found that drive. It means everything to the trial and without it –“

”The Wet Bandits won’t be convicted and you will have failed this city…yadda yadda…” Bucky finished, putting his hands on his hips as he stood alongside Sam. “Seriously pal, we know. But worrying about it ain’t gonna make it appear out of thin air. Stop making it worse.”

“Easy for you to say Buck,” Steve scoffed. “You weren’t the one that lost it.”

“Well Cap, I guarantee it will be in the last place you left it!” Tony said, smiling cheerfully at him while he snatched the list from Sam, nodding once he had finished going over it. “We’ll find it, stop getting your old man undies in a bunch and go do something productive.”

Steve went running for three hours, the entire time thinking of ways to get away with murder.

~~~Meanwhile at the Wilson~~~

“I’m telling you Uncle I have torn these rooms apart and I haven’t found anything!!!”

You were laying on the floor of the suite Tony Rogers, or whatever his real name was had stayed in the week prior, your uncle staring down at you from the doorway that lead out into the hall.

“I can see that.” You uncle stated matter of fact, astonished at the sight. “Orange blossom it’s been two days and you haven’t found anything, I think you should give the nice man a call.”

“Ughmnpf” Was your response, your voice muffled from your face in the carpet. Housecleaning hadn’t found anything when they had cleaned both rooms, and you had spent the better part of forty eight hours digging through everything. Todd had rounded up a crew to search the rooms the Gala had been at just in case, and had turned up nothing. Well they did find your uncle’s most prized bottle opener that was shaped like a large great white shark he had gotten from the Caribbean three years ago, but that wasn’t doing anyone any favors. “He’s gonna be so upset Todd. I don’t know if I can to talk to him again.” You complained weakly, rolling onto your back to stare at the ceiling.

“Nonsense, if I remember him well enough I know he’d be very impressed with how you managed to tear these rooms apart looking for something he lost in the first place. Give yourself more credit.”

You dragged yourself off the plush floor and made your way to the phone located in the room, taking out a small slip of paper out from the pocket of your dark gray slacks and punching it into the phone. It rang four times before you were sent to voicemail.

“Hey you’ve reached the personal voicemail of Tony Stark, obviously I’m too wrapped up right now to take your call, so leave a message and I’ll call back when I feel like it.”

You stared into the phone in shock, the loud tone making you jump and sputter into the receiver.

“Ssss…sorry to call this number, I was told I could reach Tony Rogers here. This is Y/N from the Wilson, if you’re free to stop by at three this afternoon I’d greatly appreciate it. Thh..thank you.” You hung up the phone. Now you were certain you had been played. What was this mystery man playing at? First he gives you an obviously fake name and then gives you the phone number of THE Tony Stark?

“What’s wrong Y/N? You look like you just discovered spit in your cheerios. Which might I add hasn’t happened in years.”

“Um, who stayed in this suite Uncle? Tell me the truth.” You narrowed your eyes, attempting to look menacing in your bright mustard sweater and messy bun.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you, but it sounds like you’ll meet him soon enough. Which lucky for me, I’ll be here to record it.” Your face paled as your heart started to race.

Who the hell was coming to the hotel?!

~~~Three p.m~~~

“I don’t know about this Tony,” Steve muttered into his new phone, trudging up the slightly slick steps of the hotel. It was snowing, wet globs falling from the sky and sticking to the warm pavement creating a walking hazard for most people. He wasn’t most people though. “You called her. You should be here.”

“And you lost the drive, so you have retrieve it. Now get that stick out of your ass and maybe after ask her out afterwards. ” Steve rolled his eyes, the sass evident in the brunette’s tone. Everyone had gotten fed up with him over the last few days, although he was certain that was a massive understatement. “Let me know how it goes, I’ve got a meeting so I’ll talk to you afterwards.” Steve ended the call with a firm click, taking extra care at putting his phone into his pocket upon entering the lobby. Would hate to have to purchase a second phone within a week.

He was delighted to see you behind the counter, recognizing you from the gala. Granted your eyes were as big as dinner plates and you were choking on whatever was in your mug but you still managed to look lovely. He had it bad and he didn’t have the faintest idea why or how. But he did know that your smile had plagued his nights and swept through his days the entire time he had been looking for this drive. He would definitely be asking you out today.

“Hello I’m looking for Y/N?” Steve said politely, knowing good and well he was staring at her. He noticed Todd off to the side, clearly recording the whole ordeal on his phone. He had mentioned at the Gala that Y/N had harbored an intense school girl crush on the captain most of her life, and had been slightly looking forward to meeting him. Granted this was technically the third time they had met, but she didn’t know that yet.

“She’s right here!” Todd said brightly, your brain attempting to pick itself off the floor and reinsert itself back into your skull. You shook your head out of your shock and smiled, trying hard to calm your nerves. You could probably beat a hummingbird with how fast your heart was racing.

“He’s right I’m Y/N. You must be mister Rogers.” You mentally smacked yourself. Of course he was. His small grin at your expense made the humiliation twenty times worse.

“That I am. Any luck finding my drive?” He was trying to be direct. Right. He had no business here otherwise. You lowered your head, both out of disappointment and guilt.

“I’m afraid not. I personally searched both suites myself for hours and couldn’t find a single black flash drive. I’m so sorry but I was hoping maybe if you revisited the room that it would jog your memory?”

“Good luck with that,” Todd chimed in, your gaze ripping from Steve’s blue eyes to look at your uncle sharply, “It looks like a bomb went off up there.”

“I think it’s a decent idea, sure.” Steve admonished, finding himself at wits end over the matter.

You nodded and lead the way to the elevators, your uncle electing to stay behind much to your behest. Perhaps you would have a heart attack on the way up and that would be the end of it. No, that was being too optimistic. You took the space closest to the far wall, keeping your distance and blush ridden skin as far away from the super solider as possible.

“Ya know this isn’t the first time we’ve met.” Steve said simply, giving you a heartbreaking smile. “You quite literally bumped into me during the gala. And I was with you during the countdown later on that night.”

“I surely would have remembered running into you mister Rogers.” You retorted back just as simply, attempting to study the buttons on the elevator in great detail.

“Not if I was undercover. I had a long beard, terribly fitting suit. Black hair. I’m afraid the contacts made my eyes a little red from the dryness. You were looking absolutely breathtaking, wearing a beautiful green velvet dress. I’ll admit I was pulled to you from the very first moment I laid eyes on you. What were your exact words at midnight?” Your breath caught in your throat when you met his eyes, the recognition hitting you like a freight truck.

“Yappy Hew Near.” You both said it in union, your face going from tinted pink to full on tomato red when you realized Captain America had kissed you on the cheek that night.

“I am SUCH an idiot I am so sorry!” You stammered out, hoping for the first time in your life that the elevator would NOT break down with you stuck in it with Steve Rogers.

“Hey doll it’s alright, really. I wouldn’t have done what I did if I didn’t want to. Your smile is something else.” That caused you to blush harder, if that was possible. “Now let’s go see about that suite huh?”

You really hated how cool he was about the whole thing.

Deciding it would be in your best interest to get this over with as soon as possible you practically tore  down the suite door, the inside looking like a tornado went through it. After a band of criminals ransacked it. You tensed up when you heard Steve let out a slow and low whistle.

“You’ve uh…you’ve been busy.” He tried, not easing your nerves and surveying the area. “I believe you when you say you didn’t find anything.”

A nervous chuckle escaped you, “Can you walk me through what happened when you got back here? It might help talking through it.” Steve nodded at you although he wasn’t looking in your direction, his tall stature breezing around the large room with ease.

“I went to the bathroom after taking off my jacket,” He looked in the closet. Nothing. “I took out the awful contacts and shaved.” You giggled as he mimed running a razor over his face in the bathroom. He placed the invisible facial tool down on the counter and walked back out, looking slightly behind you at the nightstand. “I placed my watch there and went to take off my sh…”

The sentence died in his throat, you becoming slightly concerned as he proceeded to stand ramrod still. “Steve? Did you remember something?”

He took off his right shoe, staring into it with a slack jaw.

“You’ve got to be shitting me.”

“Steve? You’re making me nervous, talking into your shoe and all.” You had begun to back away when a slightly hysterical laugh escaped the man’s throat, the timber wavering as he ripped the insole out of the piece of footwear. You were starting to rethink being alone in a hotel room with him.

It was only when he took out the small thumb drive from a hidden compartment in his sole that you began laughing too. But yours was partially due to extreme anger.

“It…was in…your…shoe….the WHOLE time…?” You managed to get out, heaving breaths and attempting to catch them while the good Captain continued to lean onto the nightstand for support, his own breath ragged.

“Tony….made a joke…about putting it…close to…my soul.” He stood up straight, slowly regaining composure which you were not finding helpful. “I must have been so tired that I thought putting it in there was a good idea.”

“Well clearly it was a good place, you couldn’t even find it. But who uses a shoe? Honestly.”

Steve had the good sense to look embarrassed, running a hand through his hair and offering an apologetic smile. “I am so embarrassed. You tore this hotel apart looking for this and I had it the whole time. The team will never let me live it down once they find out.”

“Who says they have to know?” Came your reply, already heading to the suite door and pulling it open with a bit of effort. “I won’t tell anyone. It’ll be our secret.”

“What’s the catch doll?” He held the door for you and you gave a mumbled thanks.

“Drinks. Right now.” You said confidently, looking into his eyes, his real blue eyes with ease.

“Can’t I’m afraid.” Steve grinned at your sad expression. “We have dinner plans first.”

“Pizza?”

“You read my mind Y/N.”

You couldn’t stop yourself, beaming another mega-watt smile.

“Maybe we’re SOLE-mates mister Rogers. Shall we?”

You both laughed the entire way to the restaurant down the street.

The end.

Tags: @kaytizzle @pies-wands-and-more @cuffski @giggleberts 

[atopearth]

The Legend of Dragoon Part 4 - Moon and Fate

It's the final chapter!! It's definitely going to be a blast like the others, I'm kinda sad it's going to end😭 Woww, I can't believe Miranda hit Rose, that was so rude. She didn't need to take what Rose said so personally honestly, because it's obvious that Rose is heartbroken, confused and doesn't know what to do right now. I'm sure she's the one that wants to lash out the most yet she's holding it in! What right does Miranda have to hit her? Anyway, Death Frontier is such a nice place to train! I don't even need to run around for monsters because they jump on you instead! Now I can take everyone to Dragoon level 5~🥰 Death Frontier is a pretty annoying place though, I'm glad I just used a map online lol. Anyway, so the Ulara Wingly Forest are the ones who made a choker for Rose that made her time stand still for all these years in order to fulfill her mission.. Honestly though, I think if the Black Monster was someone Dart didn't know, I'm not sure if he would be able to come to terms with it so fast, but I guess it's a good thing that it was Rose because it made him understand her burdens better and how much it hurt her to have to do it for so many years just to protect this world. Ohh, so Charle Frahma who made the choker for Rose is the older sister of Melbu who was the leader of the Winglies. Zieg killed Melbu during the Dragon Campaign, but apparently there is another person named Faust who led the Winglies too. This name was mentioned somewhere else for a side quest I think? Hmm, even though Faust was Melbu's right hand man, he was wary of him due to his enormous magical power and how he was able to make an apparition of himself that had similar powers, so he somehow made(?) a Vanishing Stone that could make the apparition disappear just in case he ever needed it. Faust controlled the Tower of Flanvel that killed other species hmm, but it was shot down by a human contraption, the Spear Shooter, so now it's under the glacier huh? And I assume if they think he was dead after that, it probably either means he's still alive hiding there or his apparition still remains there to this day... So, even though there used to be five towers of Signet Spheres to be broken, now there are only three and that's why Zieg needed three Divine Moon Objects to break them and get access to the Moon That Never Sets. Ohhh, so that weird place in the Crystal Palace at Deningrad was actually a Signet Sphere! It was broken by the Divine Dragon! Guess it was meant to be... But I guess the Divine Moon Objects really are as simple as they are, they really are just items with enough amount of magical power to break the Signets. I see, Melbu and Charle both wanted different things, he wanted to rule and dominate whereas Charle wanted everyone to be free and at peace. She made the Signet Spheres to restrain the power of the Crystal Sphere, but Melbu realised her plan and so made the Divine Moon Objects to counteract them. So, Rose and Dart did resolve their "differences" with a fight at Death Frontier before coming to Ulara. She accepted death, but Dart told her that the Black Monster was dead, and that they were only left with a companion that was going on the same road as them. That was really kind of him to say tbh. I'm happy he told her that she's no longer alone and has companions now. Rose can rely on others now without carrying the weight of everything by herself🥺 I think it's kinda interesting how for a city that makes anything and anyone inside it immortal, there are so less...facilities, but there is a bar. They understand how immortality brings unhappiness and so they have a bar for Winglies to drink away the pain of immortality and yet no one chooses to step outside of this place to live a limited but possibly happier life. It's just... interesting to think about tbh. It was nice to stay the night in Ulara and look for our party. It's been a long time since we got to really interact with them considering how most of it has just been plot stuff, so it was nice to be reminded of all their respective reasons for going on this journey and for continuing it to the end.

After treading through the Home of Gigantos back to the Twin Castle of Fletz, it was nice to just be able to ride the ship to Rouge (Haschel's hometown) haha. On another note, we finally get to know who Princess Lisa has been admiring with her telescope all this time!! I should have known I guess, because just like Princess Lisa, Nello was the first one I talked to and I was so happy for him because he's finally succeeded in growing greens on barren land, so he hopes to be able to make the whole Barrens into a place of green. It's still hilarious that Princess Lisa was stalking Nello with a telescope this whole time though hahaha. It was also nice to take Albert to Princess Emille so he can have a proper farewell with her. I think it was really sweet how he shared his fears with her and she accepted it wholeheartedly and wished for his safety. It was sad that she couldn't find it within her to send him off because she knew she would plead for him to stay if she did, so it's understandable. I hope they get a happy ending later on. Wow, there were so many Wingly cities and they were so organised about everything?! They had the birth city where they only allowed selected babies with strong magical power to live, they had the death city for where all the "deaths" went, the magical city to research magic and the law city to like govern and rule with their justice system in a sense. Lmao at the Mayor of Rouge's description of a random stick in the water, I honestly thought it was a stick but it's literally a tower hahahaha. It's definitely one of the cities with a Signet hahaha. On another note, I see, Martel was gathering stardust to save her daughter and to wish for happiness for her after her coma. I think it was really sweet how the stardust we gathered for her made her daughter wake up, but the daughter told her that having her mum and baby brother with her was happiness already, so she didn't understand why some lady told her she would be granted happiness in her dream hahaha. She's a wonderful daughter. Omg though, to think that the last prize of the stardust would be the Vanishing Stone! Isn't that the thing that will make Faust's apparition disappear? I guess this is important for a side quest then... Ohh wow, it was so cool when the sea split and a path was made to the Magical City of Aglis! I guess someone has been there all these years?? It's kinda amazing how Savan has been here by himself for thousands of years just waiting for Rose. Initially, he researched magic hoping to revive a world where Winglies ruled, but after watching over the world through his mirror, he realised that wasn't needed. But, when Rose appeared, he found a new meaning to his research in saving the world etc by seeing her courage and endurance, he then made the Psychedelic Bomb and Moot, where the former has lots of magical power and the latter can probably seal the Moon That Never Sets? I like the individual challenges of courage each character had to go through in order to activate the Psychedelic Bomb and make it more powerful. Seeing Kongol face head on with Emperor Doel and believe in his friends now was really nice, he isn't estranged by his past where he was alone fighting for the dream of every species being equal through violence, he is now fighting for it with his friends and the people that helped them come here to save the world. I think Albert's one was really fitting. Like, it was obvious that he needed to stay here and prioritise his duties as a Dragoon before a king, but I think it was something hard for him to choose, because as a king, he has to carry the responsibility that he is on this journey and not protecting Serdio. I think it was nice to see how much Bardel's little sister's death actually weighed on Meru, but also how she needed to overcome that to have the courage to continue on this journey to save the world. I also liked Haschel's one where he needed to accept the past that he wasn't able to stop Claire from leaving. It's hard to face, but it's true. I think Rose not needing a choice was perfect for her. She has already come to terms with what she must do to continue her journey and will not waver, so it was unnecessary for her to even hesitate, and I really liked that. And, as expected, Dart's one was related to choosing to save Shana no matter what. Courage to love but also to save the world, from the moment he went on his journey, he already possessed such courage (as expected of the protagonist haha). It's kinda cool how the Psychedelic Bomb is actually an item you can use in battle! It's also repeatable, nice! As expected, Zieg was able to manipulate the Last Kraken (guardian of the Moot) and I guess now our hope of sealing the Moon That Never Sets is gone... I feel so bad that Savan ended up dying alongside the Signet Sphere and Moot... I didn't think the Dragoons could create such a reaction against the Signet Sphere... It was nice that the magical creatures and Savan prepared for Dart and them to be teleported to Zenebatos before they died. They may have perished but at least they did their best for the future they believed in... Anyway, now that we have Coolon, the wings that Savan provided for us to fly back to previous cities, it's a bit easier to access side quests! Still have to run through annoying places midway zzzz but I guess it's a tiny bit more convenient lol.

Time for side quests! It's kinda silly but it took me until we got to Vellweb to realise that Shirley was the White Silver Dragoon from the Dragon Campaign that we saw in Rose's memories. To be fair, Shirley as a ghost doesn't look as radiant as before so it took me a while okay?! Haha, anyway, I'm glad that even though Shirley isn't able to take the other four Dragoons to rest, she at least had the time to ask Rose to help them. I see, the reason why Syuveil (Jade Dragoon) can't rest is because after researching life and death his whole life, he realised the darkness of the world where death lies and fears going there... I guess ignorance really is bliss... Rose's words giving Syuveil hope that life is just a great wheel where you cycle through life and death may give him the hope that he can experience the warmth of life again, and I hope he does. But whatever is awaiting him, he may be able to face it better now. Omgg, Damia (Sea Dragoon) was only 15 when she died!! That's so terrible... I mean, sure she had special powers due to being half human and half mermaid, but in the end, the fact that she stayed here all this time because she didn't want to go to the after world alone really shows how much of a kid she still was and how scared she must have been... I guess it's nice that at least the other Dragoons will join her... Ooh yeah, Belzac (Golden Dragoon) was the one who was trying his best to protect Shirley but they both ended up dying... It's pretty sad though, it's kinda like how Zieg did his best to protect Rose, and at least he succeeded... It was kind of unexpected that Kanzas (Violet Dragoon) was a man that killed many and kinda had memento dolls for every kill, yet somehow Shirley's nobleness was what attracted him into joining the Dragon Campaign and hoping to find a "brighter place" by fighting with them instead of just killing without any other meaning to his life. I guess Shirley really must have been a beautiful soul to attract so many people haha. It's rather saddening to see Rose's memories when she goes to Fort Magrad, because the Zieg there says that even if one of them dies, their affection will last forever. For Rose, it really did, but for Zieg, is that really true? Otherwise, it's nice to see the place where Diaz rallied up the humans and the the Dragoons to win back their freedom from the Winglies. The Polter Armour was much easier than the Dragoons though! You just need a Talisman to keep things less annoying and then just heal as needed lol. The Dragoons did much crazier damage and their skill animations took so long haha. As for the Magician Faust, I'm pretty glad I got the Legend Casque (I spent a lot of time farming those robots for money with Miranda loll) for my team because his magic counters and his amount of turns are pretty dangerous lol, he would have done so much damage if I didn't have them! I would have had to heal every turn I think lol. Otherwise, it's kinda crazy that he's been plotting world domination in this hole for 10,000 years, like, does it take that long to try and mobilise his Flanvel Tower again? 

Anyway, Zenebatos is an interesting place. I found it funny how you can change the law! And lol, I checked out getting arrested and being sent to the prison for fun, and lolll, Kongol saves Dart and them because he was too heavy for them to teleport him straight to the prison hahaha. It was annoying how you had to do the whole process again to go to the Death City Mayfil though😭 The Wingly battle music gets so repetitive btw lolll. Anyway, Mayfil is a very interesting place, because it keeps a lot of the dead and those who haven't "completely died" because of their respective reasons for wanting to stay in this world. It was interesting to see the Dragon Spirits like the Divine Dragon who couldn't die properly because it was so prideful and couldn't accept its death, but at the same time, it was sad to see Lavitz. I didn't expect to see Lavitz, and I didn't expect to see him manipulated in his death, so I'm glad we freed him, because it seems that he wasn't able to die properly because he was so worried about Dart and his journey.. Why is he such a bro?! T_T So, I'm really glad that even if it was in death, he was able to see Dart and Albert one last time and be able to show them where the Signet Sphere was. It was really heartwarming to see them all together again even if it was brief. Dart's right though, Lavitz lives on in their hearts. Anyway, as expected, the last Signet Sphere is broken as well, but nothing deters Dart since he's not going to give up until it's really the end! The Divine Tree is kinda creepy, like just thinking about how species came from these fruits and how if the God of Destruction were to be born, it would be through one of these fruits too. Soa really is playing with them by dictating everything as if all the species are his pawns. 

Omgg the individual battles! I know they're not too hard, but I still remember being so surprised with them as a kid that it's made me paranoid into levelling every character at least a bit now in every game I play lmao. Anyway, it was nice to finally see a bit more background to Miranda's story. As a child, she was so hurt and broken over her mother leaving her, it changed her into becoming a strong and independent person, but as she became strong, she couldn't shake off the loneliness of the abandonment and the lack of love. She always focused on the fact that she was abandoned and never wanted to understand why it was such a difficult decision for her mother to leave her (since the father was terrible and always took her money to drink etc). I'm glad that even if it took a long time, Miranda has finally come to terms with the pain of her childhood and can maybe believe in love and friendship more now. Haschel facing the Claire that couldn't bear the burden of his strict discipline from a young age was quite disheartening to see, but I'm glad that after going on this journey with everyone and having time to think about it himself, he was able to realise that what was important wasn't his ancestral art or the amazing latent potential of Claire, but instead Claire herself. It’s just sad that he’ll never really get to see her again... It was really nice to see Kongol's first meeting with Doel. No wonder why Kongol admired Doel so much, he met him when he was a child after all his clan had perished. He found a new reason to live with Doel. It was cool to see a more wholesome battle this time around. Kongol has always been a good guy, so it was nice that he just needed to overcome his admiration for his brother's strength in order to feel that he's really strong enough to help Dart. It was sad to see that not only did Rose have to kill the Darkness Dragon to get the Dragoon Spirit to fight in the war against the Winglies, but she also ended up having to kill the baby Darkness Dragon she raised because it got out of control. She's killed so many people and creatures because she always prioritised the people and world above all else, and it honestly hurts to see her be hurt by all that. I'm glad that Doel killing Albert's father was addressed again, it was somewhat brief though since you're not really sure whether to believe in Doel or Albert's memories, but Albert is right, even if it was true that Carlo wasn't a great king, Doel didn't have to kill him like that and then reign in the way he did after. His reign was consumed with the idea that power dominates and it definitely killed and hurt a lot of people just as it saved some. But I also think that if Albert didn't go on this journey with Dart, he might not have necessarily been a great king either, so I think this was a good experience for him to learn through Doel that power isn't everything, and that he needs to rely on others and not just himself like Doel did. I really liked Meru's ordeal. Although Meru isn't exactly prideful as a Wingly, I'm sure she was at least a little worried about going to the outside world herself when she's never met humans before, so I think it's nice that she met Dart and them and understood that there wasn't any need at all for Winglies and humans to segregate each other, because everyone is equal and should be the same. Btw I love the wacky room with the static and then the moon showing up, it's such a cool room!

Melbu Frahma possessing Zieg by transmigrating his soul to Zieg's body was something I kinda remembered along the way, but it's kinda saddening to see Rose and Dart have to face this. They solidified their resolve to defeat one of the most important people in their lives and it turns out that he was being controlled all this time... I knew it was about time for Lloyd to appear again, just because he needed to give the Divine Dragoon Spirit to Dart, but I'm so annoyed that he appeared just to be killed for that, it makes me so sad because even though he killed lots of people, he dreamed of a utopia for this world. I hate that he just died like that... Otherwise, I love that Meru never really expected anything from this journey when she first followed Dart, but now that she's experienced how awesome this world is, she wants to protect it and I think that's really cool. I have to admit, after farming the 00parts for my Legend Casque and Armour of Legend, it really makes the last boss battles really easy lol. Not complaining though since the last battle still took so long lmao. The Divine Dragoon Cannon was a pretty cool skill, but yeah wow, Dart looked pretty cool and monstrous as the Divine Dragoon haha. Anyway, I guess it was to be expected, but Rose and Zieg killing Melbu Frahma and sacrificing themselves to make sure of that was understandable, I mean that's where everything started so killing him again should be where everything ends. It's sad that Zieg never got to properly talk to Dart, I mean I had questions too, but seeing Rose and Zieg finally get to be together forever made me happy for them even if it's in death. I guess they can reunite with all their friends now. As for the rest of party, Haschel and Kongol staying in Rouge to teach children was really cute. I'm also really glad to see Princess Lisa get to finally talk with Nello lmao. Meru and Guaraha going around Lohan and just enjoying themselves was hilarious but wholesome. Miranda staying with her sisters and the Queen was expected, but it's nice to see her have a brighter disposition. Albert marrying Princess Emille was a great moment, since he's finally back to being king and taking care of his people haha. Dart and Shana rebuilding their home in Seles was such a heartwarming moment though, he's finally able to prioritise what's most important to him as Lavitz told him to, and is making a happy family. It was so nice to see.

Overall, I really enjoyed the game! I think the last disc was a bit rushed compared to the rest and was a bit too “scripted” for me in some parts, but I still really liked it all. Like, even though it felt really scripted, I really enjoyed how each character had to get past their mental barriers to further strengthen their resolve, it's kinda corny but I really like those haha. I loved the variety of Additions, I feel like Rose could have had more but oh well, I spent the whole game levelling up everyone's Additions at my own pace and only really finished them all when I got to the Moon, which I'm glad of, because once I finished it, I got bored of them hahaha. Anyway, back to the story, I really enjoyed Dart and everyone as characters. I absolutely loved how well Haschel and Meru got along since they were both such big kids, but I also really loved how Dart and Shana developed their relationship. Lavitz was such a bro that I could never forget even though he only appeared in the first disc, but I think his existence really makes you realise how important it is to cherish the people next to you when you can. However, I think what I loved the most was Rose's story. You only get glimpses of it until near the end, but I think Rose as a character really grows on you, and makes you really feel for her circumstances once you realise that she was fighting alone for 10,000 years. So, I'm really glad that she got to be with the real Zieg in the end. Kongol is the wholesome and kind giant that I never knew I needed. He was such a cinnamon roll that I couldn't help but like him. I'm sorry young me called you ugly and never used you!! Young Lily was such a fickle girl lmao. But yeah, I really loved the whole journey because it was really fun to get to know about each character and their motivations alongside the plot, I still kinda wish we got to see more of Lloyd but oh well, I'm okay with it I guess haha. The Divine Dragoon was pretty monstrous looking btw haha, but otherwise 9/10! I loved the game! I'm glad that my childhood memory of loving this game still persists through adult me! Definitely one of my favourite classic JRPGs. Now, I really want to play Thousand Arms again lol.