#Because I keep thinking and then just. Landing here like

[heavenlyhischier]

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫

word count: 12k words

summary: One night changes your relationship with Nico, and just when you think it was exactly what you wished for, you go back home feeling even more confused than you ever had before.

warnings: poorly translated german, cursing, drinking, kissing in a storage closet, angst (of course), Minors DNI 18+ themes below the cut; smut, unprotected sex, also nico is a major major idiot at the end

note: thank you everyone for your patience. i know it's taken me forever to get this out but it's here! this is slightly unedited (i tried) so please excuse any mistakes ahaha

series masterlist | prev part

When you woke up the next morning, memories of what had occurred merely a few hours ago instantly flooded your mind nearly making you dizzy. The feeling of his fingertips pressed into your hips, of his lips on yours, on your neck, singed your skin like it was happening all over again. You were entirely expecting to wake up to find out that it was really a dream, but not even you could make up the feeling of electricity that shocked your body when he kissed you. There was no imagining that.

Charlie had her leg thrown over your own, making slipping out undetected a challenge, but you deemed yourself successful when your feet were planted on the ground and all she did was tightly wrap herself up in the blanket. You carefully tiptoed out of the guest room, making sure to stay quiet in case the others were still sleeping, as you went in the correct direction to the bathroom. However, when you’re outside the door, Luca walks out and nearly sends you toppling onto the floor when you collide with him.

He quickly grabs onto your elbows, keeping your body upright as a quiet chuckle passes through his lips. Your body heats up in embarrassment, your eyes staying trained on his chest as you step away from him once you’re steady on your feet. You awkwardly shuffle on your feet, waiting for Luca to move away from the door so you can step inside to brush your teeth, but you can feel his eyes linger on you for a moment longer than you thought necessary.

“All yours,” Luca finally says, an amused hint to his voice, before he walks around you, “Nice hickey, by the way.”

Your head snaps towards him, eyes wide and mortified as he disappears back into his room without another word or another glance in your direction. You quickly rush into the bathroom, flipping the light switch on and leaning towards the mirror as your eyes explore the expanse of your neck. Sure enough, there was a decent-sized bruise slapped on the skin just above your collarbone. You covered it with your hand, panic filling your veins as you tried to figure out just exactly how you were going to hide that from his entire family.

The three of you hadn’t initially planned on staying overnight, and the only clothing you had brought with you was the dress you had shown up in. Your entire clavicle was exposed in said dress, and Charlie’s shirt was just as, if not more, revealing, so switching with her would be useless. The idea of someone else seeing the mark on your neck made you want to vomit in sheer humiliation, so you quickly brushed your teeth and filtered out of the bathroom before anyone else could see you.

Instead of walking back to the guest room, you stand outside the door of the person responsible and quickly rap your knuckles against the wood. You can hear his faint voice, and you hope that he said come in because that’s exactly what you did. You rushed into his room, closing the door behind you as you stood in the doorway, your shoulders heaving as you tried to calm your uneven breathing. Nico’s gaze lands on you, eyebrows furrowing in confusion when he takes in your disheveled appearance, but then he sees it. 

He can’t help but let out a laugh as you walk towards him, your voice worried and strained as you speak, “It isn’t funny, Nico! I can’t go out in front of your family like this.”

He can see the genuine panic in your eyes, and a part of him feels bad for accidentally bruising your neck. He knows his family is likely to see it, but he also knows they wouldn’t say anything to make you uncomfortable. They wouldn’t think any differently of you either, and he knows that’s going through your mind. He can see the distress written in the way your brows are furrowed and the way your shoulders are nearly to your ears, and he knows he needs to find a solution to ease your blooming anxiety.

“I know, I’m sorry,” He says, his voice soft and careful as his fingers twitch towards you, “You can borrow one of my shirts and ask Charlie if you can borrow the pants she brought. She can wear your dress.”

“Yeah, because that won’t be suspicious,” You groaned, letting your head fall backward in frustration as your hands ball into fists at your side.

“It won’t be,” He chuckles as he steps towards you, his eyes soft as he hesitantly takes your hands in his own. He carefully separates your fingers from your palm, his thumb delicately rubbing the skin as he continues,  “Just tell them you didn’t want to wear the dress back because it was uncomfortable. Problem solved.”

The air around the two of you was thick with a mixture of emotions that slightly overwhelmed you. You knew what happened last night was going to shift things with Nico, but now that the adrenaline rush from then had come and gone, you were back to being nervous around him. His touch made the hair on the back of your neck stand up, your eyes wide and impressionable as your mind drifted towards the same insecurities from only hours ago.

“Okay,” You eventually breathe out, forcing yourself to step away and pull your arms back to your body before your doubts become too overbearing, “If you think it’ll work.”

His face twisted in confliction as he watched you retreat into yourself the same way you had done last night. He could tell that you were slightly pulling away from him in fear. Of what? Nico wasn’t entirely sure, but he knew he needed to find out before you managed to convince yourself that whatever you were thinking was rooted in truth. However, he knew that, unfortunately, now wasn’t the best time for that and he was going to have to wait until the two of you were alone again. 

You went back to the guest room shortly after, Nico’s old hockey shirt in hand, to see Charlie now wide awake and sitting on the edge of the bed. Her eyes instantly darted towards the fabric between your fingers before landing on your neck. She harshly slapped the spot next to her with a slight smirk on her face even though she had already put the pieces together. After you had recounted the events from last night, and she relentlessly teased you for the mark near your neck, you slipped her jeans and Nico’s t-shirt on before going downstairs for breakfast.

Only his parents and sister were in the kitchen, and they all three gently pushed you away when you asked if you could do anything to help. Nina only gave your new outfit a passing glance before she went back to finish helping her parents prepare breakfast, leaving you to sit in the living room as you waited. Luca was the second one to come down, the two of you sharing brief eye contact before you bashfully snapped your gaze away from him.

“Nice shirt,” He teases, his voice thick with amusement as he sits in the chair.

“Aufhören, Luca,” You heard Nico call out from behind you, his tone holding a slight sense of warning towards his older brother as he reached the bottom of the stairs. (Stop)

You glanced towards him to see a reassuring smile on his face as he fell into the spot next to you, the cushion dipping with his weight. He could still see a slight sense of apprehension on your face, but he wanted you to know he meant everything he had said last night without saying it so openly in front of his family. Although, if he knew that would have been something you would want, he would do it, but he knew you better than that. Having that much attention on you was only going to cause more harm than good.

For now, he was going to do his best to drop the most subtle, yet not subtle at all, hints he can. He throws his arm over the cushion behind you before shifting in his spot, his thigh pressing against your own with only the most minimal amount of space between your sides. A wave of nerves wash over you as you divert your eyes to your hands that were clasped in your lap, your heart thudding in your chest as the two of them continue.

“I’m only joking,”  He brushes off, slightly shaking his head, “Maybe now I won’t have to listen to you complain about ho–”

“Okay,” Nico’s voice smothering Luca’s as his face flushed and he nervously cleared his throat, steering the conversation to a different topic, “Why don’t you go help in the kitchen?”

“Tried earlier,” He chuckles, “Mom said I’m still forbidden from cooking after last time.”

It wasn’t long after that Finn and Charlie joined the three of you in the main room, the conversation flowing naturally without any mention of the random change in clothing. Although, they both took notice to the closeness of you and Nico and passed you teasing, knowing smiles that you paid no mind to as you focused on the others. Eventually, Katja called for her sons to set the table once they were finishing up with the food, but all five of you stood to help with the small task.

Breakfast went by quickly, almost too quickly, and you already began to miss his family. While it had only been less than a day in their presence, they were nothing short of welcoming, kind, and caring. They were everything you already knew Nico to be, everything you had always admired about him, and you wished there were more people like them in the world. They never once made you feel like an outsider or like you didn’t belong, only ever treating you like you were family despite having just met. Though, if you were to ask, they would tell you it felt like they had known you for years with how often Nico spoke about you.

When it was time for the three of you to head back to the train station, his mom hugged you tightly and mumbled something you didn’t quite understand in your ear. Judging by the way Nico’s face got redder and Nina had to stifle her own laugh, you could form an idea as to what was said. You chose not to focus on it too much, moving to bid goodbye to the rest of the Hischier family, Finn included, minus Luca who was driving you back to the station.

“You will have to come back soon,” Katja called out as the four of you gathered by the door, a gentle smile on her face, “You will always have a room here.”

“Nächstes mal braucht sie ihre eigene nicht,” Finn teased as he playfully raises his eyebrows at both you and Nico. (Next time she won’t need her own.)

Your eyes flicked towards Nico, your eyebrows knitting together in confusion because you didn’t recognize any of the words he had said. He let out a soft chuckle and shook his head, mumbling something along the lines of ‘not important’ before he ushered you and Charlie out of the house. Luca follows suit, a mixture of voices calling out final goodbyes right up until the door is shut behind you.

The entire ride back to the train station was full of all four of you discussing plans for your last day in Switzerland. Luca had suggested that the four of you, Nina, and Finn plus a few others go out to a club in Bern, but Nico was quick to suggest that you do that the night before because you had a nine-hour flight the next day and doing that trip hungover wasn’t the best idea. By the time everyone was in agreement, though it didn’t take much effort to get there, Luca was pulling into the parking lot. 

Your goodbye with him, while still meaningful, was more playful and mischievous in a way that made you realize you missed Jack more than you had initially thought. Nico had already bought your tickets online, rebuffing any idea of you paying him back for them as he led you through the crowd of people. You heard Charlie’s quiet whisper of an idea for repayment, but you paid her no mind and did your best to keep the blush from crawling onto your cheeks as you walked slightly behind Nico.

On the train, it was you who had made the decision to sit across from Charlie rather than beside her, which did not go unnoticed by either her nor Nico. He couldn’t stop the small smile from forming on his face as he gracefully took the seat next to you, both of you ignoring the teasing gaze of the girl across from you. You were so focused on staring out the window, trying to conceal your flushed cheeks, that you missed the way Nico’s eyes lingered on you far longer than what would be considered normal, but Charlie didn’t. She never did.

By the time the three of you were finally back at Nico’s apartment, he had to leave almost as soon as you walked through the door. He had nearly forgotten about the training session he was scheduled to attend until he received a text from one of the guys he was going with. Before he left, he had mentioned something about going out for dinner this evening if you and Charlie were okay with that, but otherwise, he had nothing else in mind.

You and Charlie had decided to stay at the apartment and lounge around for the day since you hadn’t really taken any time to relax during the entire duration of your trip. You sat on the couch, flipping through Nico’s Netflix account before deciding on some random romantic comedy you had both seen a dozen times. Though neither of you made it through half of the movie before you were sound asleep.

The sound of someone down the hall from the apartment slamming their door startled you awake, your body jolting upwards as you tried to rid yourself of the fog clouding your head. There was now a random movie playing on the screen and Charlie was still sprawled on the other end with her mouth slightly dropped open and soft snores passing through her lips. You carefully reached for the remote that was tucked underneath her side to turn the TV off before you picked up your phone to check the time.

You had two missed texts from Nico letting you know that his session was running a bit longer than usual, but he would be back before six in the evening and that he had made the reservation for seven. You also had a string of texts from Jack who was updating you on the antics you were missing at the lake house, telling you that everyone missed you, and how he was waiting for you to get there so he could finally win at beer pong. A small, amused smile formed on your face as you shook your head, texting him and asking if he would be busy in an hour so you could Facetime and tell him about how the trip was going.

His response was almost instant, and you couldn’t stop the guilt from creeping on you as Charlie’s words from the night before echoed in your mind. You hadn’t meant to make Jack feel like you were mad at him, but you truly didn’t think he would think much of the way you had slightly backed off. You knew how he felt about Charlie, and her about him, and you assumed that he would want to primarily talk to her and not hear repeats of the same adventures. A small part of you was also worried that maybe he wouldn’t be interested in talking to you at all anymore.

While Jack had always made it known with all of his girlfriends in the past that you were a permanent fixture in his life, the underlying feeling that you would be tossed to the side was always there. Of course, you knew Charlie would never be that kind of girl, especially given the fact that she valued her friendship with you over anything, the feeling still lingered. You never voiced it out loud because you knew it sounded stupid, and that is exactly what both of them would say to you if you did.

The decision to shower came easy once you glanced at the time and also realized you hadn’t showered since before you had left yesterday. You made a point to take your time and focus on getting everything done just in case there was a potential repeat of what happened last night. By the time you finished, the entire bathroom was full of steam and the walls were damp with condensation from how hot the water was.

Slipping out of the bathroom and into your temporary room, you made quick work to change into more comfortable clothes before blow-drying your hair. Once you were finished, you went back into the living room to wake Charlie up so she had plenty of time to shower and get ready before you left. She tried to brush you off, mumbling incoherent words as she buried her face in the cushions, but you didn’t let her. You knew she would sleep the rest of the day if she could.

After some gentle coaxing, you managed to get her off the couch and into the bathroom with her leaving a passing comment about how foggy the mirror still was. You retreated back into the room down the hall, making a spot in front of the mirror to finish styling your hair before you texted Jack and asked if now was a good time to Facetime, and not even ten seconds later your phone was ringing.

“You’re alive,” Jack cheerfully greets, a blinding grin on his face as he shuts the door to what you assume is his room, “Swiss life treating you well?”

You could hear the faint sound of the front door shutting followed by a quiet voice and footsteps down the hallway. The click of Nico’s door closing reaches your ears as you turn all your focus back on Jack, who is now lying on his bed with a smug look on his face. You ignore his look as you try to balance your phone on the makeshift stand you put together so you can talk while you get ready.

“Hey,” Jack suddenly yells, making your eyes widen in confusion as your arms retreat back to your sides, “That’s a hickey! Whose dirty mouth did you have on your neck?”

Your entire body stilled, embarrassment crawling against every inch of your skin as you stared at Jack, your jaw slack like you had been caught doing something unimaginable. His outward appearance was that of someone who was pretending to be disturbed with his narrowed eyes and scrunched nose, but his eyes were swimming with amusement as he awaited whatever excuse you managed to come up with.

“What are you talking about,” You chose to feign confusion, looking away from him as you looked into the mirror and tried to angle your body away from him, “I think it’s just a shadow.”

“No, I know what hickeys look like,” He draws your name out, sitting up as he brings his phone closer to his face, “I’ve given my fair share, and that, my friend, is a hickey. Who’s the lucky guy? You and Nico finally stop pretending like you don’t want to jump each other's bones and just get it on?”

Jack was mostly joking when he said that, mostly because he didn’t think either of you was going to be brave enough to make a move, especially not when Charlie was there. However, when you nearly choked on nothing but the air passing through your lips and he watched your face turn an entirely different shade, he knew what he said had some truth to it. 

“Oh, you so did,” His voice was strained as he spoke through his laughter, “You two boned!”

“No,” You rushed out, aggressively shaking your head as you scrambled to turn the volume down in case Nico could hear it, “We didn’t bone, Jack.”

“Not yet,” He sang, an even bigger grin on his face, “I’d put money on you two hooking up before you come back.”

“Oh my god! You’re so annoying,” You groaned, throwing your head back in slight humiliation, “You couldn’t have just pretended not to notice?”

He says nothing, instead meeting your gaze as he quirks his brow before both of you double over in laughter. Expecting Jack to not say something about something as obvious as a hickey was like expecting them to let Luke drive the boat; it was simply impossible. Once the two of you were able to catch your breath, to finally have a normal conversation, it felt like a weight had been lifted off your shoulders. A weight that only a conversation with your closest friend could make disappear.

The next few days were full of adventure and excitement as Nico, along with Luca who was now back in Bern, took you and Charlie on hikes or to various different places around the city. While some hikes were more difficult than others, they allowed you to see some of the most beautiful creations of nature that you would never get back home. The busy schedule also allowed you to nearly forget the lurking insecurities that would gnaw at your heart anytime you were alone with Nico for even a second, but the way he kept subtly trying to bring it up didn’t.

When the evening before your last day in Switzerland came, Nico left his apartment to you, Charlie, and his sister to get ready while he and Finn left for his brothers. Music softly played in the background as the three of you told stories that incited laughter and comments that would make anyone who heard them blush. Nina gave helpful tips as to what one would typically wear to the kind of club you were going to, going as far as to bring extra clothes in case you didn’t feel like anything you had packed was suitable enough. 

Nina was helping fix your hair when she quietly says, “I was surprised there are no more hickeys to cover.”

Charlie’s laughter immediately fills the room as you let out a surprised gasp, looking up to glare at her in the mirror. Nina doesn’t meet your gaze, putting her focus on finishing what she was doing, but she has a coy smile on her face as she continues her work. Charlie, though, manages to catch your eye as walks towards the two of you, her laughter dying down.

“That’s because they haven’t been alone for longer than two minutes,” Charlie playfully teases, “Not for lack of trying on my part.”

“Oh, I’m sure that will change once he sees you tonight,” She snickers, “You look like, what you guys would call, a smokeshow.”

Nico and Luca arrived back at the apartment just as the three of you were finishing up, their loud voices echoing down the hall. You couldn’t help but let your eyes drift towards the mirror, dragging your gaze from the top of your head all the way down to your toes. Doubts and scrutinizing thoughts slowly crept their way in, your hands anxiously running across the thin fabric of your shirt as you began contemplating changing into something that you were more used to. Something that wasn’t so form-fitting. 

“Hey,” Charlie peaks her head back in the room, quickly taking notice of a look she had seen on your face far too often, “You okay?”

“Yeah,” You give her a tight-lipped smile before dropping your gaze to the floor.

You hear her footsteps approaching you, her arms wrapping around your shoulders as she says, “You look absolutely beautiful, okay? I mean that. You’re going to be the hottest girl in that club no matter what, but if you want to change, we can wait. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable the whole time.”

You meet her stare in the mirror, a soft, sincere smile on her face as she gently squeezes you in reassurance. You bring your hand up to grasp her forearm, tears lining your eyes as you let out a deep breath and rub your thumb against her skin. Small moments like these were times you appreciated Charlie more than anything. She was always your personal hypeman, but she was also always quick to remind you that you had a choice rather than talking you into doing something you didn't necessarily want to do.

“I’ll be okay,” You murmur, clearing your throat when your voice threatens to break.

“Are you absolutely sure,” She presses, subtly gesturing to your glassy eyes.

“I promise,” You nod, “I just appreciate you and it makes me emotional, okay? Give a girl a break!”

You and Charlie stay in the room a few minutes longer, allowing you to recollect yourself before going out in front of the others. With your shoes in hand, you follow her out and finally make your way into the main room to see the four of them seated at the table. Luca and Finn were the first ones to see you, Nico and Nina sitting with their backs facing you, and a small smirk was quick to form on their faces before looking towards the younger Swiss in front of them.

When Nico turned around, it felt like everything else, everyone else, had stilled and it was only the two of you in the room. Only you with your flushed cheeks and downcast eyes, and him with his slack jaw and captivated gaze. Your heart rams into your ribs as he drinks in every dip and curve of your body, almost like he was trying to commit the moment to memory, as you walked in front of him. He visibly swallows as you take the chair next to him and you give him a shy, passing smile; one he hastily returns with an unwavering, unblinking look.

“Does he do that when you guys go out at home,” Luca whispers, slightly leaning towards Charlie as she sits next to him.

“Every time,” Charlie hums, chuckling to herself, “He thinks no one notices, but everyone does. He is not very good at hiding it, but neither is she. They’ve just both been so oblivious it’s actually painful.”

“You look amazing,” Nico says, blissfully unaware of the teasing going on across from him.

“Thank you,” You bashfully mumble, turning your gaze to look at the wooden table in front of you. 

Luca mentioned that he had called a taxi a few moments prior, saying that they would call him when they had arrived, so the six of you spent the time waiting simply talking about whatever came to mind. The minutes were full of teasing and laughter so loud that the call from the taxi nearly went missed if it hadn’t been for Nina’s careful ears picking up on the sound. 

The taxi service had sent a van in order to accommodate the six of you, with you squishing in between Nico and Charlie in the back row, Nina and Finn in the two middle seats, and Luca riding as the passenger to the older driver. Charlie was taking as much space as she possibly could, forcing you into Nico’s side so harshly that he had to throw his arm around your shoulders to remain comfortable, which you knew to be her goal, anyway.

“Will there be a lot of people you know,” You ask, lightly gasping as Nico’s fingertips brushed against the exposed skin along your collarbone. Just above where he had left his mark a few days prior.

“A few,” He hums to himself as he thinks, slightly adjusting himself so you’re better slotted under his arm, “Timo, Jonas, and Nola will be there, so you’ll see a few familiar faces.”

“Yeah, Timo texted me earlier and told me he’d be there,” You lightly laughed, wringing your hands together as a way to help ease some of the nerves flowing through you.

You were so focused on staring out of the windshield that you missed the way Nico’s jaw slightly hardened at the mention of his friend and teammate texting you. While he knew that neither you nor Timo had any sort of romantic feelings for another, he couldn't help but let a slight sense of envy creep its way up his throat, rendering him mute as he set his narrowed eyes on the headrest in front of him.

When you arrived at the club, you still felt a little on edge as you stepped out of the van, especially given Nico’s random bout of silence, but you did your best to swallow the anxiety bubbling in your throat. The outside of the club looked just like any other you had visited before, and that helped slightly relax you as you gathered in the back of the queue to get inside. There were a few people in the line who gave Nico passing glances, which he returned with a kind smile if he noticed, but it was the girls who stared at him a little longer than you thought necessary that made a scowl form on your face.

The second you were inside, the music was pumping so loudly that you could feel it in your bones. People were pressed together as they danced, worryless and carefree looks on all of their faces as they enjoyed the moment. You could feel the subtle stickiness on the floor as you followed the others through the crowd, Charlie’s hand grasping your own as a precaution, but it was nothing compared to the tacky club tile back home. However, the section on a slightly raised platform with a couch and several chairs was not something you were used to.

“Do you want a drink,” Nico asked after he had introduced the two of you to everyone. He was leaning into you, his mouth near your ear as he talked over the music, his hand protectively placed on your lower back.

A wave of deja vu washed over you, the memory of Nico asking you almost the same exact question a few days prior quickly replaying in your mind. You shake your head, pushing the thoughts far away, as you look up at him, meeting his warm stare as you say, “I think I’m okay right now, but thank you.”

“I’ll be right back then,” He nods, his hand flexing against you as his gaze slightly shifts behind you, “Charlie, you want the usual?”

“Sure! Thank you,” She shouts.

Just as you were about to say something to her, you heard the sound of your name being called behind you. With wide, curious eyes you turn around to see Nola approaching with a bright smile on her face, her boyfriend trailing behind her. She instantly pulls you into a hug as soon as you’re within reach, comments about how good you looked spilling from her lips before she thought about letting you go. As she turned to Charlie, Jonas embraced you in a polite side hug before you fell into conversation about your trip so far.

“Are you going home when you leave,” Nola asks as Jonas wraps his arm around her.

“We’re going to Michigan actually,” You revealed, “I haven’t gone to the lake house this summer yet because I’ve been trying to prepare for the internship next semester, and Jack said if I didn’t go the second we get back, he was going to cut me off.”

“Of course he did,” She throws her head back in laughter, “Ever so dramatic, he is.”

“Are we talking about Jack,” Nico’s voice interrupts, diverting your gaze to him as he walks towards you with a drink in one hand, and two in the other, “I know you said you didn’t want a drink yet, but I got one for you anyways since the wait was long.”

“Oh, thank you,” You take the drink from him, warmth spreading from your cheeks down to your neck as you force yourself to look away from him. Though, you were instantly met with the same teasing look you had endured by everyone else you had seen slapped on the faces of the couple in front of you.

It wasn’t long until Charlie dragged you into the middle of the dance floor as soon as she heard the beginning of her favorite song blaring through the speakers. Bodies were crammed against yours as you moved your hips to the beat of the music, your arms thrown over her shoulders as she moved her own. The alcohol in your system allows you to have confidence you otherwise wouldn’t have, encouraging your salacious movements that Nico couldn’t look away from.

The lights above were illuminating you in a way that made you look otherworldly as you tilted your head backward, your hair cascading down your back in waves. You let your eyes wander amongst the sea of people around you, but you nearly freeze in your spot when you catch Nico’s stare. He doesn’t falter when he realizes you’re looking back at him, only bringing his drink up to his lips before you swiftly avert your gaze.

The two of you stay out there for nearly half of the second song, but filter off when Charlie yells something about getting another drink. Nico wasn't exaggerating when he said the wait was long, but neither of you minded as you familiarized yourself with the strangers next to you. They were also visiting from America, one of them making an amused comment about how Americans always managed to find one another, and they had asked if you had any recommendations for them while they were there.

With a new drink in hand, you bid your new friends goodbye before turning to rejoin the group you arrived with. Charlie sees him before you do, her eyes squinting as she looks through the veil of smoke decorating the dance floor. She sees the way Nico is leaning into one of the girls whose name she had forgotten, his lips turned upward as she speaks directly into his ear. Charlie quickly looks to you in hopes that she could distract you before you took notice, but the solemn look that had fallen on your face told her she was a second too late.

To say you were confused as you looked upon the scene in front of you, would be an understatement. Ever since that night at Nico’s parents, he had been more upfront and clear with his intentions, or as clear as he could be without downright saying it out loud, and they led you to believe all that had been said and done. Now, you weren’t sure what to believe. However, your confusion was quick to shift towards insecurity that you drunkenly masked with jealousy.

“Hey,” Charlie’s voice filters through the cracks of your thoughts, “Want to go back to the floor?”

You moved your eyes to her, and you could see her own confusion written on her face, but you choose to act as if nothing had happened. Instead, you give her a tight-lipped smile and shake your head before grasping her free hand in your own and tugging her through the multitude of people standing about. If it weren’t so loud in the club, you would have heard her deep sigh as she lets you guide her, but you can feel her sympathy in the way she tightly squeezes your hand.

When you reach the others, you take the empty spot on the couch next to Timo while Charlie beelines towards Nina. You can feel Nico’s stare piercing the side of your head as you greet his teammate, letting him pull you into his side as he wraps his arm around your shoulders, but you don’t dare to look in his direction. You knew all he had to do was look at you a certain way and you would fall right back into the same trap he seemingly set before. 

You can see Charlie engaged in a rushed conversation with Nico in the corner of your eye, and you can’t stop yourself from tossing curious glances their way. Timo is trying to hold a conversation with you, but he takes quick note of the way your focus lies with his team captain, much like it always had before, and he chuckles to himself. When he sees Nico walking towards you, he quietly excuses himself, but not before sparing you a teasing drop of the left eye.

“Can we talk,” Nico asks as he’s standing before you, extending his hand for you to take,  “Please.”

His gaze was soft and pleading as he looked down at you, your bottom lip pulled between your teeth as you breathed deeply. The few seconds that passed felt like an eternity to Nico as he waited, but the moment he felt your soft palm slide into his own, nothing else mattered. He helped you to your feet, not letting your hand fall from his as he carefully guided you away from everyone and down a hallway littered with people.

He twisted the doorknobs of the various doors you passed until one finally opens, and he was gently pulling you in behind him. The room is dimly lit by the bulbs above, the walls lined with shelves that were home to what appeared to be cleaning supplies. A tense silence fills the room as you wait for Nico to say something, for him to at least tell you why he has you in a storage closet.

“What’s wrong,” He slowly asks, taking a step forward so that he’s only a few inches away from you.

“Nothing is wrong,” You deflect, looking at the wall behind him, “I’m fine.”

“I don’t believe you,” He shakes his head, “Everything seemed to be going good until you came back from the bar. You didn’t even look at me.”

“Didn’t think you’d notice,” You mumbled, silently cursing the tipsy state of mind you were in that gave you the confidence to say something you otherwise would keep to yourself. Mostly because you knew you were being over dramatic, but also because you were scared that there was weight behind your reasoning. 

You had hoped Nico didn’t pick up on the words that fell from your lips, but he did. He always did. His face twists in confusion as he tries to put together just what you had meant, but he was at a loss. He had been paying attention to you, and only you, the entire night, his eyes never leaving you for long. Not until you had disappeared behind a crowd of people at the bar and he began talking to– Oh.

“You were jealous,” He announces, his voice lighter and lined with a hint of amusement, “Weren’t you?”

“What,” You scoff, only meeting his stare for a fleeting moment, “Of course not. What would I be jealous of?” You visibly cringe at how unconvincing you sound, the octave of your voice higher than you intended it to be.

“Well, I promise there’s nothing to be jealous of,” He lowly chuckled as he hesitantly takes your hand, “Not that you were of course, but if you were, you should know that she’s married to a friend of mine. She was also asking about you, and that’s what we were talking about.”

This time you do meet his eye, blood pounding in your ears as his touch sends a shock from your hand all the way to your shoulder. He peers down at you, watching the way your shoulders relax and the storm of emotions swirling in your eyes calms and clears. He can tell that you’re searching for the right words to say but are coming up short, so he continues. 

“The other night,” He pauses when you drop your gaze, reaching his hand up so he can cradle your jaw in his palm and tilt your head to look at him, “The other night, I meant it when I said I wanted everything to do with you. I don’t just want to kiss you. I don’t just want small touches when I can steal them. I want it all, if you’re willing to give that to me.”

Your mouth is slightly parted as you take quick and shallow breaths, trying to will yourself to say something, to do anything other than stand there in silence. Nico is looking at you in anticipation, his thumb running along the curve of your cheek as his eyes dance across your face. The tension filling the room was slowly suffocating you, and you knew the only way to breathe again was to speak. 

“I would give you anything you wanted,” You exhale, not caring how pathetically desperate it sounded, “You’ve had all of me from the moment I heard your voice.”

Nico carefully leans down, his lips hovering over your own as he teases, “Only after you heard my voice, huh?”

“I’m a sucker for an accent,” You bashfully giggle, letting your eyes flutter closed as you shudder underneath him.

With a subtle tilt of your chin, he connects his lips with your own in what starts as a soft, slow kiss between two people who need a gentle reminder of what they mean to each other. However, the second your hands lazily drag up Nico’s shirt to loop behind his neck, it turns into something much more. Something more driven with passion and desperation. He grips your hip with his free hand, the other sliding to cup the back of your head as he deepens the kiss.

You cautiously step backward until your body comes in contact with the wall behind you, your fingers tangling in his hair as you stand on your toes to meet him with just as much fervor as he was giving. It was a clash of teeth and tongue, ardent desire pouring out of both of you so urgently that it left you weak in the knees. It was the kind of kiss you only ever heard about in books, and Nico effortlessly brought it to life. 

He explores the curve of your body with his hand, the thin material covering you granting you access to feel it like there was nothing separating him from you. Your head falls back as Nico begins to kiss down your jaw until he’s placing open-mouthed kisses to the column of your neck. Breathless moans tumble from your lips as you tug on the ends of his hair, eliciting a few quiet groans from his mouth.

“Nico,” You call out as his teeth carefully nip at the skin, “If you leave another hickey, I’ll kill you.” 

His laughter rumbles against your neck before he’s pulling away to look at you, “I wasn’t intending on it, schatzi. Not in a storage closet at a club.”

Warmth spreads from your stomach at the implication that the only thing stopping him from marking you again was simply the less than ideal location. Images of what could be, of Nico discovering parts of you he had only dreamed of seeing before, flooded your mind, leaving you dizzy and even more flushed than you already were. He maintains your stare, his eyes full of nothing but want and something else you were too fearful to recognize.

“We– I think we should go back out there,” You whisper as your chest rapidly rises and falls, “Just in case they come looking for us.”

“I really don’t think they will,” He chuckles, “But, yeah. We probably should.”

Nico laces his fingers with your own before he’s guiding you back through the maze of bodies and back to his friends. When you finally join them, every single one of them is looking from your faces to your intertwined hands as smug smirks toy at their lips. Your face heats up at their attention, mentally preparing yourself for the teasing that is undoubtedly going to occur for the rest of the night, as you follow Nico to the couch.

The rest of the night flew by with only very minimal teasing, most of which came from the mouths of Luca and Timo, and by the time you were back at Nico’s apartment, you were ready to sleep for the next 12 hours. He offered to make you and Charlie breakfast the following morning, but you both declined because there was no way you would be awake before noon. You laid in bed replaying the moment at the club over and over, your hesitance to accept his feelings for you were true slowly melting away until you were fast asleep.

The next day, the reality that your trip was coming to an end hit you when you were in the middle of lunch with Nico and a few others. You had experienced so much in the last week, both culturally and emotionally, and the idea of having to go back home wasn’t all that appealing to you. Of course you would be going straight to Michigan to continue your summer adventures, but Michigan didn’t have the one thing you really wanted; Nico.

You spent the rest of the day following the others around wherever they managed to drag you, which was primarily shops of different variety. The slightly hectic schedule forced you to swallow your sadness and focus on the present rather than the events of tomorrow. As the day was winding down and dinner ideas were being thrown around, Charlie insisted that the two of you buy ‘I love Switzerland’ shirts at one of the souvenir shops before retiring because ‘Did you even go if you didn’t buy the cliche shirt?’.

At dinner, Nico was always touching you in some way. Whether that be his arm slung over the back of your chair, his knee pushed against your own, or his hand on the exposed skin of your thigh. His displays of affection slightly caught you off guard, but you welcomed them with a shy smile you would pass him any time he looked at you. You even found an ounce of confidence to place your hand over his own, curling your fingers around his index finger as you willed yourself to focus on the conversation around you.

“I’m going to miss you,” Nina said as she hugged you tightly, “You really must come back sometime, and I’ll call you next time I’m in the city so we can go out!”

“I’ll miss you,” You smile, pulling away from her but keeping your hands on her biceps, “And I would love that. I’ll come back, I promise. Even if Nico isn’t here.”

“Ouch,” His voice sounds from behind you, forcing your gaze to him as he nears, “Replacing me with my sister are you?”

“She is infinitely cooler than you,” You playfully rolls your eyes.

“She’s right, I am.”

When the three of you arrived back at Nico’s, you and Charlie had gone straight to what had been your room for the last seven days. You had yet to start packing and you had a twelve o’clock flight, which meant you needed to be on the road to the airport no later than 8:00, and that left you no time to pack anything in the morning. While the two of you finished squeezing all of your clothes back into your suitcases, Nico was busy trying to busy himself with anything he could find rather than focus on the fact that you were going to be leaving tomorrow and his relationship with you was now much more complicated than before. 

“So,” Charlie draws out, “Did any results come from your sneaky little make out sessions?”

“What do you mean,” You furrow your brows, zipping the flap inside of your suitcase.

“Are you guys going to be like official or just two people who run off into the nearest empty room and get it on every chance they get,” She snickers as she throws you the dress you had worn when you went to visit Nico’s family. 

With a small, reminiscent smile on your face as you look down at the material, “We’re not– I don’t really know, to be honest. We haven’t talked about that.”

“Do you want to talk about it? With him,” She quirks her brow. She watches as your movements falter before you settle on a simple shrug. “Well, I think you should at least try or I think you’ll both regret it. At the very least I think you two should get it on before we go. I brought earplugs.”

“Charlotte,” You gasp, your eyes widening as she fails to bite back her smile, “Seriously? ‘Get it on’? You’ve been talking to Jack too much.”

“Yeah,” Her face reddens at the mention of your best friend, “I’m just saying it wouldn’t hurt anything! Show him how you feel, you know?”

While you shift the conversation to a different topic, the idea she had shamelessly proposed was ringing in your ears. While the proposition that you, in her words, get it on with him seemed a little far-fetched, telling him how you felt about everything would likely be a good idea. Especially given the fact you wouldn’t see him for another month and a half after you left for Michigan, and you would find a way to talk yourself out of anything if you let yourself wait that long.

Charlie didn’t ask any questions when you suddenly rose to your feet and stepped into the hall, but she did toss a quiet ‘Use protection’ before you were gone from her sight. Your feet carefully padded across the wood floor of the hallway, your hands nervously wringing at the fabric of your shorts until you were stood right outside of Nico’s bedroom. The soft light was slipping through the crack at the bottom of the door, illuminating your feet as you stared at them and mulled over your sudden actions.

Intaking a sharp breath, you brought your knuckles up to his door and lightly knocked a few times. Nerves were pricking at your skin as you waited for him, the pit in your stomach growing with each passing second and your hands were shaking at your side. When Nico finally pulls the door open, your come face to face with his naked chest and every sentence you had pre-planned in your head flew out of the window.

You have to force your eyes up to his own, your heart pounds in your chest as you try to get your mouth to cooperate with your brain. He’s looking at you with a slight sense of worry swirling in his eyes as he holds the door open and gently calls out your name, your silence making him uneasy. Through a surge of confidence you didn’t know you had, you were rushing forward and slamming your lips on his own. After all, you had always preferred to show people how you felt anyway.  

Nico’s reaction is instantaneous as you loop your arms around his neck and stand on your toes, pressing your mouth against him so desperately that he stumbles backwards. His own arms wrap around your waist and pull you into his chest, keeping you steady against him as the door clicks shut behind you. He turns you, his movements calculated and careful to keep his mouth on yours, and drags his hands down to grasp at the back of your thighs so he can lift you onto his dresser.

Your legs hook around his hips, your fingertips pressing into the muscle above his shoulder blade as his palms explore the curve of your body. Your head becomes dizzy as your mouths move together, neither of you wanting to pull away from the start of a moment you had both thought of far too many times. Nico was the one to pull away, his breathless pants meshing with your own as he slowly trails his fingers up until your chin is between his thumb and forefinger.

His thumb brushes your soft lips, his dark eyes boring into your own as goosebumps rise all over you. The skin underneath his touch was hot, burning with the desire to feel it across every surface of your body. You let out a shaky breath as your eyes flit across his face, learning every scar, every imperfection that made him undeniably the most attractive man you had ever seen. 

“Nico,” You whisper before taking a deep breath, bringing your eyes back to meet his burning gaze, “I want to– I want you.”

The pad of his thumb slightly tugs at your bottom lip as he says, “Are you sure?”

A smirk tugs at your lips as you think back to the moment a few nights ago, “Is this the part where I say I’ve never been more sure of anything?”

“Only if you mean it,” His voice was serious, yet gentle at the same time. 

“I do,” You swallow, “I mean it.”

Nico drew you closer, holding you against his chest as he reconnected your mouths. Your lips molded to his own like you had been made for each other, and it made him ache to see how well all of you fit against him. You clung to his body as he kissed you, gentle yet demanding with a fervent desire that matched your own. He was quick to move you over to his perfectly made bed, delicately laying you on the soft material of his comforter as he hovers over you.

You keep your legs wrapped around his waist, keeping him close enough that you can feel his bulge pressing into the flesh of your thigh. The stubble that had grown out during your stay with him rubbed against your soft skin, but you welcomed the slight sting with eager arms as his hands slipped underneath your shirt. You reach between your bodies to grasp at the hem, and Nico is pulling away from you to help lift it over your head. 

You move to undo your bra, but Nico was faster than you, his fingers fumbling as he undid the clasps. His fingers trail down your arm as he drags the straps off your shoulders, your entire body shuddering underneath him as you keep your eyes on him. You watch as he straightens his back and he unabashedly lets his gaze wander across your exposed chest, and, for the first time, you don’t feel the desire to cover yourself because no one has ever looked at the way Nico is. Like you were carved and sculpted by the Gods themselves. 

“Take a picture, it’ll last longer,” You tease, propping yourself up on your elbows.

“Tempting,” He deeply chuckles.

Slowly, he leans over and briefly meets your lips, your head falling back onto the mattress before he begins to kiss down your jaw. His fingers drag across your skin, over the curve of your breast, and down your stomach. His touch sets the skin under it on fire, his lips cooling it down as he moves down your body until he’s slotted between your thighs. His gaze flicked up to you, but you were too entranced in the way his mouth felt against you to meet his stare. 

His fingers loop in the waistband of your shorts, steadily sliding them down your legs until they’re in a pool on the floor. As the cool air hits your warm center, you finally lift your head to see Nico stepping out of his shorts and you can’t help but admire him. His stiff cock springs free from his shorts, a subtle gasp tumbling from your lips that you hoped he missed, but of course he didn’t. He quirks his brow at you, a coy smile on his face as he steps forward.

“Move further up,” He warmly orders, but his eyes are shimmering with unwavering devotion.

You do as he asks, shifting your body so that your head was placed on the plush pillows, eyes wide in anticipation as Nico positions his body just over your own. He uses his forearms to support his weight, gaze flickering between your eyes and your lips as you begin to drag the tips of your fingers over his sides and onto his back. He shivers under your touch, his tongue darting to wet his lips as he closes the gap between you.

When Nico kisses you, you feel weightless, as if you were floating above the clouds and into the heavens. The way his mouth moves with your own, fluidly and effortlessly left you wondering why you had ever bothered to kiss anyone else before because nothing would ever compare to this. You feel his hand drop between you, his hand diving between your legs and pushing them further apart before his fingers are lingering over your heat.

“No, want you,” You groan against his lips, a chill running up your spine as he draws his finger between the slickness of your folds.

“I know, schhatz,” He mumbles, your head falling deep into the pillow when he presses his thumb to your clit, “Need to get you ready, yeah?”

Your response was stifled by the breathless whimper that slips through your lips as he slips a finger into your entrance. His movements are slow and prudent, working his finger inside of you as you languish underneath him. As Nico feels you rock your hips against his hand, he uses a second finger to further ready you before he were to let himself fall all the way into the bliss that is you.

“Nico, please,” You plead, your fingernails digging into the plane of his shoulder, “Need you now.”

“Are you sure,” Nico reiterates, wanting to give you the opportunity to say no should you wish to.

“Yes.”

Nico pulls his fingers out of you, immediately grasping his length in his hand before his eyes are on your face. He takes in the way your eyelashes flutter as you grasp onto him, breathing shaky as you peer up at him, and he can’t help but surge forward and encase your lips in a small, yet passion fueled kiss. He readies himself at your entrance as he kisses you, teasing and prodding at the hole until you’re nails harshly scrape against his skin. 

The weight of his body as he pushes himself into you dizzies you, your eyes squeezing shut as you drop your head away from his and a slew of broken moans fill the room. Nico goes until he’s entirely bottomed out inside of you and he feels your walls stretch around him. He heard a quiet wince as you shift underneath him, but the moment he goes to say something, you beat him to it.

“I’m sorry,” You murmur, “It’s just been a while, but I’m okay. You can move, and yes, I’m sure.”

His gaze doesn’t falter from your face as he begins to slowly rock his hips against yours, making sure to keep his movements short and shallow until you were more relaxed. You’re biting your lip to muffle your moans, to keep them contained in the small bubble the two of you had created for yourselves. It wasn’t until Nico felt the sharp point of your heel dig into his lower back that his thrusts became deeper and rhythmic.

“Fuck,” He groans as he buries his head in the crook of your neck, your walls clenching around him.

A mixture of whines and curse words filter into Nico’s ears as he hits into you at a pace that is winding the coil in your stomach almost painfully tight. The way he was able to read your body like he had a map of it imprinted his mind drove you crazy as you tangle your hands in his hair. Quiet grunts vibrate against your skin before his right hand is hooking behind your knee and bringing it over his shoulder.

“Nico,” You mewl, the new angle allowing him to reach a part of you that you didn’t know existed, “Oh my god.”

“Huere schön,” He rumbles as his motion becomes quicker, more fervent and desperate. (Fucking beautiful.)

“I’m cl–”

Your sentence is cut short as your orgasm washes over you like a wave of scalding water, your entire body lighting on fire as Nico has to smother your mouth with his hand to keep your moans quiet. He continues to drive himself into you, his own ecstasy filled climax nearing a head as your walls flutter around him and your legs shake under him. Your hold on him tightens as he fucks you through your blinding orgasm, and not even his hand is enough to stifle your wanton moans.

With a few more lazy stutters of his hips, Nico is pulling himself all the way out of you before pumping himself in his hand, releasing his load all across your stomach. Your eyes were still screwed shut as you descended the blissful feeling of euphoria coursing through your veins, and that acted as an extra push for him to finish before he leans down to briefly capture your lips as he comes down from his own high.

Your eyes flutter open as he pulls away, meeting his gaze to give him a lazy smile as you say, “Can you clean me up?”

“Shit, yeah. Of course,” He rushes out, scrambling off his bed to find something to wipe your stomach.

He grabs two of the nearest clean shirts he can find, not having a towel in sight, and he makes quick work of the warm, sticky liquid spread across your skin. He makes sure he’s gotten everything before he tosses it in the direction of his dirty clothes, his gaze faltering over your naked, flushed body. He hesitantly hands you the other shirt he had grabbed, apprehension now cracking through his features. 

“Thank you,” You sheepishly mumble, despite the man before having now seen every part of you.

You pushed yourself up into a sitting position, slipping the shirt over your head as he stepped into his shorts. Nico could see the worry etching onto your face, and he’s quick to take the spot next to you and pulls you into his chest. He stays quiet, waiting for you to make the first move because while he knew he was ready for the talk that undoubtedly came after what the two of you had just done, he wasn’t sure if you were yet.

“What does this mean,” You whisper after the lapse of silence, nerves pricking your eyes, “For us?”

“What do you want it to mean,” He asks, equally as anxious as you were as he holds you close to him.

“I want to be with you,” You earnestly speak, though your voice still cracks, “But I don’t know if you want to be with me. I have my internship coming up and I’ll be busy, and you’re already busy enough, so I could understand if that wasn’t what you wanted. But I’m willing to make it work, for you. I meant it when I said I would give you anything you wanted.”

Nico’s breath catches in his throat as your words ring in his ears, and, with the mention of his job and your internship, suddenly he was slapped in the face with reality. He had let himself relish in the fantasy of summer the past week so deeply he had forgotten what he told himself, but now he was reminded of all of the harsh possibilities that could be, and he remembered why he had pulled away from you all those times before. It wasn’t always because of wrong timing for him, but you never knew that. You never knew that some things were on purpose, calculated and planned, to keep you at arms length from him.

His silence made your heart fall to your feet, and the unreadable expression on his face made you want to throw up. The expression he had on his face reminded you of the one you had sported yourself on more than one occasion, and you were silently begging him to say something, even if it was a rejection. Because at least then you would know how he truly felt.

“We can talk more later,” He finally says, his hand timidly flexing on your back, “This can wait, but you need to sleep before your flight.”

You don’t put up a fight as Nico lets go of you for a fleeting second to lean over and click the lamp on his table off. Neither of you say anything as you crawl underneath his blanket, letting him mold his chest to your back as he lazily wraps an arm around your waist. Your breathing was uneven as your mind wandered to the worst of possibilities, but you kept them to yourself. Partly because you were too afraid to ruin the already crumbling moment, but also because you didn’t know what you would do if you had found out everything he had said and done was a lie. 

When you wake up the following morning, it was to Charlie’s incessant knocking, and to an empty bed. You abruptly sit up, eyes darting around the room in search of any sign of Nico, and also your clothes. The only evidence you had of Nico leaving was the half-made bed, causing your lips to turn downward into a disappointed frown. Had he even tried to wake you up, or did he slip out undetected on purpose?

Once you had dressed yourself in the clothes you had originally entered the room in, you pulled the door open to see Charlie sporting a smug smile. Though, the second she registered your dejected face and the empty bedroom behind you, her look morphed into one of anger fueled sympathy. You didn’t say anything as you stepped around her to go back into the guest room in search of your phone. Maybe he had texted you, not wanting to wake you so you could get as much sleep as possible, but your messages from him were empty.

You ignore Charlie’s quiet, careful voice as she calls out your name, your feet moving quickly to lock yourself in the bathroom to get ready and finish packing your things. As you brushed your teeth, you felt like the air from your lungs was being sucked out of you, making them burn in your chest. You wanted to believe that Nico had a good reason for disappearing without a trace, but the logical part of your brain was snuffing out the last remaining shred of hope by the second.

“I’m fine, Charlie,” You say as you walk back into the room, your voice flat and clipped.

“Well, I’m not,” She scoffed, “What the fuck did he do? Where is he? I didn’t even hear him leave.”

“Don’t know,” You shrug as you shove the last remaining items into your bags, “Didn’t say anything to me, but it’s fine. I’m sure he has a good reason. Maybe he had to do some media stuff.”

“He better have a good reason,” She snapped, but you knew it wasn’t directed at you. Charlie had always been a fiercely protective person when it came to the people she loves, and she could cleary see through every excuse you made for him. Though, even with the ball of rage in her chest, she was almost as confused as you were, and she hated that she didn’t know how to help you.

The sound of the front door distracts the both of you, and you’re quickly running into the hall to see if Nico had returned, but instead, your eyes settle on the body of his sister. She had her phone up to her ear, her words harsh and angry as she spoke to whoever was on the other end. Once she noticed your presence looming in the hallway, desolate and defeated, she snapped one more comment toward the victim of her anger before hanging up and focusing on you.

“Hey,” She softly greeted, but you can see the sympathy swimming in her eyes.

“Nina, I love you, but I’m going to kick your brother's ass,” Charlie called out as she dragged both her and your suitcase into the living room.

“Trust me, I will help,” She sighed before walking towards you, delicately placing her hands on your shoulders, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” You lie, blinking away the tears burning your eyes, “I’ll be fine.”

Both of you knew your lie was far from convincing, but she didn’t say anything about it as she pulled you into her embrace. It was taking every ounce of willpower you had to keep yourself from crying as you hugged her, not wanting to make a big deal out of something that never really started anyway. After all, maybe there was a reason the two of you never seemed to find the right time back home and you had just always been too enchanted by the potential that you couldn’t see things clearly.

Nina helps you and Charlie do a final walkthrough of the apartment to make sure nothing was going to be left behind. Neither of them attempted to bring up Nico or what had happened before you were finally ready to leave. With the handle of your suitcase in hand, you walk out of his apartment door for the last time and you realize that maybe believing Nico’s words and actions to be meaningful was just wishful thinking all along, and you should’ve known that wishes rarely came true.

[almightygremlinblob]

In Every Life (AMAB Ver.)

In which Sukuna falls in love with the Reader without realizing it.

Word Count: 5, 466 of slow burn. ⚠️Content Warnings⚠️: True Form Sukuna, Heian Era, Sukuna fluff, soft Sukuna, mentioned cannibalism, slight angst, Sunshine AMAB!Reader but gender neutral expressions used, Reader is not a sorcerer and is implied to be the only non-sorcerer of her village. THIS IS NOT BETA'D and I am very tired while editing this. SO! If you spot any mistakes, esp. around the parts lmao, since I made two ver. of this, pls tell me! Minors and ppl not okay with anything sexual pls DNI and have a nice day 👍🏽 AFAB!Reader (with gender-neutral pronouns) here

⚠️Further Content Warnings⚠️: Virgin!Sukuna, Sub!Sukuna, Reader and Sukuna both switch from gentle doms to subs, size difference, soft & fluffy sex, very messy sex, Reader makes out with the tummy mouth, anal, cock worship, Reader makes out with tummy mouth, lots of fluids in general, lots of mouths, consensual blood drinking, this is getting worse the more I write lmao.

You were happy you managed to catch the attention of the King of Curses.

Sure, you didn't exactly know how you did it. You weren't strong, or exceptionally beautiful like the sons and daughters offered to him. You weren't even that smart!

You were clueless, as a matter of fact!

So clueless that, nearly two weeks ago, you gave the strange looking man with four arms a warm meal and a place to stay for the night - since it didn't seem like the storm would let up any time soon. He was pretty much shunned by the rest of the village upon his arrival…probably due to the overwhelming energy that sent people into fight or flight…but he was just born different!

Probably.

"What's your name, Mister?"

"…"

You quickly learned that he didn't speak much, and he does not like to be looked at. Only watching as you go about your day - trying your best to navigate through the judgement and, frankly, abuse of the other villagers; ever as judgemental about you as they were likely to talk down on you, spread rumors and try to take advantage of your endless kindness. Not that it worked, though - and for that, everyone pretty much hated you. Despite his silence, your visitor was the only one that seemed to regard you without any ounce of hatred.

Then, one day…

"Why do you entertain them?"

"Ah!" You visibly jumped at that moment - up until now you were certain he couldn't speak. His voice was lovely baritone, but held a quiet authority - much like him…and a very clear evil but you wouldn't dwell too much on that. "M-me? Oh…of course, me…"

"U-um…I'm not entirely sure, actually. I don't like them, b-but…" Those sharp, piercing eyes are distant, scanning the forest as you tried to think of a reason. "I-I guess they're my neighbors. Friends? No. But it wouldn't be right to just outright ignore them."

"Hmph, of course…" He scoffs, and rolls his eyes. "You people and your morals…"

"Do you not have friends?"

"No."

"Oh…" Your shoulders slump slightly. "Then, consider me your first friend!"

"No."

"Oh…"

When you visibly deflate, he laughs lightly, shaking his head as if he's heard something utterly ridiculous. "Why does that bother you? You hardly know me. I could be a mass murderer for all you know."

"Because you…you're…" You think for a while, before finding the right words. "One of the most unique people I've ever had the blessing of meeting."

His eyes finally land on you. "Blessing, huh?"

------

Eventually, the villagers turned violent towards you and your guest, but you did your best to keep him safe - urging him to leave, quickly. It was that day, when you were nearly beaten to death, that you learned the strange man's name.

"Die, you peasant!" There was something in the way these villagers attacked. A strange energy that made it hurt all the more. You were bloodied, bruised and beaten to the point you couldn't even find the strength to scream. A blade was pointed to your throat. "Any last words?"

Despite yourself, you manage to spit at him.

"I didn't think you had it in you." That familiar low voice, low and uninterested, sounds from behind you both. Then, before your very eyes, everyone was somehow cut to pieces. No screams, or cries…just the sounds of flesh and bone being cut apart. You were probably hallucinating...

You see your guest walk beside you - the gore, guts and limbs not affecting him in the slightest.

"Ah, you're okay…" His eyes land on you again. "B-be careful…t-there's an invisible…invisible something that's cutting people up…"

He scoffs. "And if I told you that was me?"

"What."

"Tsk." He promptly grabs you and, without you even realizing, your wounds begin healing, closing up, and suddenly you're more aware than you were a while ago. Then, with the flick of his wrist, the bodies get further chopped apart. The gears in your head start to turn and your eyes widen. "O-oh…"

"Go on, then. Go ahead." He grabs your face, forcing you to look at the disembodied people and the growing river of blood. "Run."

"No. No…" Your breathing steadies, and you relax into his hold. He must sense it with the way his whole body tenses for a moment. "Not from you."

In the silence, you can practically hear him thinking as he gets up. And when he made no move, you realized he was waiting for you. So you got up too, wordlessly, and began to follow him. After a while of silence, he graces you with his voice again - quiet, almost…soft.

"My name is irrelevant…but people call me Sukuna Ryomen, the King of Curses."

------

And that was the start of your new life, as a servant of the King of Curses.

It…wasn't so bad! Sure, you could be killed any day, like a few of the other servants and many of the courtesans, but you also didn't do much! And, best of all, no more of those abusive neighbors! Your days were mainly spent helping the head servant - the attractive one with white hair and a pink splotch - do things for the king, for only up to four hours. Four hours! Then you'd spend the rest of the day doing whatever!

This was not one of those days, however.

Today, you were cleaning the Lord's study, in his chambers, along with the attractive head servant. There were...a strangely high number of Dokudami paintings...

"The Lord seems to have an obsession with this herb. Does he like it?"

"That's an interesting observation. Though you're mistaken. It's more the symbolism of this plant."

"And…that would be?"

"Its flowers are delicate, pure. The plant itself is medicinal against many illnesses - it's endlessly helpful. Kind. But it grows everywhere, even in the places not many grow. A surprising resilience despite it's 'delicate' nature." The head servant explains, and you can hear the tinge of amusement in their voice. "Remind you of anyone?"

"Uh…no? No one comes to mind…"

They simply snort at that.

------

The first time you were called to his chambers, you thought you were going to die. Actually, everyone thought you were going to die. They were all giddy at the thought. You didn't expect to just sit there in silence while he practiced his calligraphy.

"I can hear you thinking. Speak."

You fidget around a little, before getting the words out. "I've always been meaning to ask…why…why me, my Lord?"

He clicks his tongue. "You dare question my choices?"

"N-no! Only…I'm curious."

Sukuna is silent for a while, hand perfectly still as he thinks, before eventually speaking.

"You calm me." He sighs as his brush continues to move. "Somehow, every time, you calm me."

------

The courtesans could see you from outside, and you could practically feel them glaring daggers at you - endlessly furious and envious that you could be that close to the Lord.

"My Lord, you…never seem to show interest in your courtesans. Have they, I mean…" You weren't sure how to word it without coming off as too brash.

"Of course they try to bed me. They always do. Don't even try to hide that they're doing it to gain a semblance of power in my estate. The last two were just…" He waves his hand dismissively, tone making it abundantly clear he wasn't happy with the memory. "Had her head cut off and the second had his limbs strewn on the floor."

You feel his gaze on you, scowl evident in even his voice. "Why do you ask me about this?"

"It's just…you have so many, I thought, well..."

"Tsk. They only want something from me, and they think they can take it freely. From me. Me!"

"Surely not ALL of them…" You fidget a little. "Why would you keep them around if that was? There's…there's so many…"

You can practically hear his smirk. "Because their organs taste GREAT sautéed."

"A-ah…"

He snorts, seeing your discomfort. "Are you afraid of becoming like them?"

"I…hm…" You look up in thought. "Perhaps…"

He lets out a soft laugh. "Then you truly are a fool."

"But…I think, it would be a good sacrifice." You finish the last area, as he goes awfully quiet. "Like an offering to a god. I think…I think I wouldn't mind that."

His presence is more than clear behind you, strong and foreboding. "Do you mean it?"

"Yes."

"Do you trust me?"

"Of course."

"Liar. Everyone says that…" He scoffs. "…but, nobody means it. If given the chance…"

You hear a sound, sharp and strong, much like a blade. A pain blooms from your wrist, and you realize you're bleeding lightly - only a few drops of blood at a time. "They all run."

"No. I wish to stay by your side, my Lord. I have nowhere I'd rather be." When you relax and make no move to run, a big and warm hand engulfs yours.

"You…weren't lying." You feel lips against the wound on your outer wrist, and the swipe of a tongue against it before the wound starts to close. "You fool…"

------

Many in the estate didn't like you, jealous of how close you were to the Lord - but it wasn't everyone. Now, it was everyone. Rumors fueling jealousy and malice for the very obvious favoritism.

Taking little nibbles, you didn't want to take more than your share.

The food was beyond AMAZING. However, Sukuna simply scowls as you shyly keep your head bowed and you must feel his gaze harden by the way you flinch under it.

"I apologize. I just…don't want to take more than my share…"

"Do you mean to insult me? This entire meal is yours." He scoffs, grabbing your bowl. He grabs one of the sushi rolls and puts it against your mouth, which is still closed due to your surprise. "Eat. I won't accept this…whatever it is you're doing."

"O-oh, I-…thank you, my Lord." You open your mouth and allow him to feed you. Light blush forming from how good the food is. Yes, that was definitely why. "My compliments to the chef. This is beyond delicious, my Lord…"

And it was true, the sushi, the miso soup, selection of meats, everything tasted DIVINE.

"Compliments taken."

WAIT-

You nearly choke on your food. "I-I apologize…my Lord. I, you…for me???"

"Use your words."

"I mean, ah…" You shake your head, trying to recover from your mind going into overdrive. "You…made this for me?"

"Yes." He says it so plainly.

"What…what for?"

He doesn't answer and, for once, looks unsure. "I…I don't know."

------

When you came out of his chambers unscathed the second time, everyone - except for Lord Sukuna himself and his servant - went into a frenzy. The servants were appalled, the courtesans were fuming, and you made sure to steer clear of everyone who now seemed to loathe you. And, soon enough, all your duties were either with the head servant, with Lord Sukuna, or by yourself. Still, you didn't feel safe in the estate anymore.

Then, one night, the head servant came to your quarters, stating that "Lord Sukuna has requested I take you to his chambers."

If you weren't going to die physically, you would die of embarrassment.

Still, you followed the white haired servant to his chambers, entire form trembling as you nearly stumbled over yourself. Sukuna glances you once over, and can't help the snort that escapes his lips. You looked like a newly born fawn with how shaky your legs were.

"My sincerest apologies. I just…nervous…"

"That much is clear. Sit." Something is off and you can tell he's tense. "This probably isn't going to go how you're expecting."

You do as he says, sitting seiza in front of him. Something sharp is pointed to your throat, right where the artery is. Your eyes go wide, but after a little bit, you allow your entire body to relax. If you should die by anyone's hand, it would be his.

"Look at me." He commands and you look up, seeing him holding a spear of sorts. For the first time, you see him - truly see him. His form beautiful, terrifying and divine all at once. Your eyes and body must show your adoration, because he looks away - as if uncomfortable.

He shuts his eyes, and the spear is repeatedly pushed against your neck, as if trying. However, it never follows through. This was so easy for him, and yet…

"My Lord, if I should die today, it would be the greatest honor for it to be by your hand." Your body relaxes, eyes close and you lean into the blade of the spear. Sukuna tenses, and you feel it in his hold. "If it's by your hand, my Lord, I can only die happy."

"Yes. That much you've made clear." You hear him sigh, tired and defeated, as the spear drops to the floor. "To think this is how I'd lose…how pathetic…"

"M…my Lord?"

"Leave."

You see him, frustrated and defeated, and it makes your heart ache to see him like this. Without even realizing it, your hand reaches out and stops just before touching him. "Might I stay for you? Please, I only want…"

His glare nearly has you frozen. "THIS is how you want to celebrate a victory over me?"

"No, my Lord. I only wish to stay by your side and help how I can."

He's quiet, clearly upset. "Do what you will with me. I might as well be worthless like this anyway."

"Never to me, Lord Sukuna." You take his hand in both of yours, and bring your lips to his knuckles but he quickly pulls his hand away.

"What?!" He snarls. "What use is your loyalty to someone like me now?"

"You are my Lord, Sukuna. I serve you…" Your eyes meet his, full of longing and concern. "Anything I can do to help you, please let me…"

His eyes briefly glance at your quivering lips, leaning in without realizing before he turns away with a click of his tongue.

"Leave."

And you do as you are told.

------

"How is Lord Sukuna?"

Was one of the most frequent questions you'd pester the head servant's ears with. They roll their eyes. "He's not frail, you know. You don't need to worry about him like a mother hen."

"I just…it's been a week since I've seen him! If he doesn't want to see me, that's fine, but…I-I'd at least like to know if he's okay…" You sigh. "And what I did wrong…so I can avoid doing it again!"

"Just give him time to process." The head servant states nonchalantly. "This is new territory for him."

------

The silence was…

Awkward, to say the least.

Not a word uttered as he continued to paint those stupid edible weeds in the candle-light. It was already late…

"A-ahem." Your voice breaks slightly when you clear your throat, and you feel his gaze on you. "M-my Lord, if there's nothing else, I shall retire for the night."

"Stay."

What.

"Don't make me repeat myself." Clearly your reaction was evident in your body, and you choke on your words before they even get out.

"That night was my first defeat." He says, as if sensing your question, yet you hear a tired and heavy sigh. "As of now, it's been my only one."

"But…have you been okay, my Lord?"

"Always about me, hm?" He scoffs, and there's tension as his footsteps grow closer. Your eyes meet his, beautiful and terrifying, when his fingers gently tug your chin up - guiding you to look at him. Guiding your body to the mattress as he cages you underneath him. "And why not just claim your victory? I have no right to complain. Isn't that what you meant to do the night you defeated me?"

"What? No! My, Lord, no! I-I'm sorry. It wasn't-I didn't mean-It's not what you think! I could never-" Your hands cover your mouth - shocked at the implication. "Oh Lord Sukuna, I bow to you! Only you! I-I will never, could never, force something like that on you! Not then. Not now…"

"Good. This was getting overwhelming." He sighs and then promptly rolls off you, plopping down to your side. Though your skins were still touching and, for once, Sukuna didn't mind someone this close to him in this way. He was relaxed, as if his worries melted away. You couldn't help the smile that grew. This was the Lord you know - a walking death and calamity, now pacified. You both face each other and he can't help but look away, cracking under the weight of your loving gaze - full of adoration, concern and awe.

Weak.

He was weak.

"Lord Sukuna, may I?" Your hand reaches out to him, stopping just before reaching the wooden part of his face. He was so terribly beautiful.

"Do as you wish." He mumbles, and you gently hold him - even though he doesn't show it, you can feel him tense.

"My Lord, what's wrong?" There it is again, the weight that makes him feel like he's breaking without being broken. "I know you don't need it, but I only wish to help in any way I can…"

His mouth opens and closes several times before he's able to finally find the worse. "You've broken me. Made me weak…and I can't even curse you, or wish we'd never met because I'd be lying."

You chuckle. "My Lord is far from weak."

"Yet I am powerless against you." His four eyes bore into you, in them a mix of desperation and longing, as you gently stroke the wooden part of his face. Finally, he closes his eyes, relaxing against you. "And I never thought defeat could feel like this…"

"Is it pleasant, my Lord?"

"It is…" You feel his fingers tracing along your collarbone, up to your jawline and you feel something wet licking your skin as his hand rests on your throat. A mouth on his hand, gently licking and suckling on the sensitive parts of your neck. "…but only if it's you."

"Lord Sukuna…" Despite everything, you feel he's still tense. "You're tense. Would you like me to…?"

"Yes. I meant to bed you tonight, but this…it's…" He sighs. "Overwhelming. I'm not clueless, but something about you makes it all…too much…"

"Then let me lead, my Lord." You gently push him down, and he lets you - following you as you guide him. His hand takes hold of your chin, pulling you in so your lips meet his. His kiss was tentative and unsure, or perhaps more accurately, scared. Scared of every feeling that threatened to overthrow him. You eagerly massaged your lips against his nonetheless. "Please…allow me to worship you tonight, Lord Sukuna."

His breaths become heavier when you straddle him, gently undoing his kimono while he easily rips your clothes to shreds with a flick of a wrist. Your lips mark his skin gently. Moving down to worship his mouth, jaw, his shoulders, both chests and finally to the mouth on his stomach - who was breathing just as heavy. Sukuna tenses when you take his tongue into your mouth, sucking on it and explore the much bigger one with your smaller tongue.

When you pull away, there's a small pool of saliva where the stomach mouth lay open and plenty on you where the mouth-hands had left their marks on your skin. Both his cocks, beautiful, heavy and fat, sat on his stomach where they were already leaking with arousal. Sukuna's breathing turned heavy, and as your hands move to his waist, stopping just before doing anything, you look up at him. "My Lord, if at any time you wish for me to stop, please say so. I will stop without hesitation or question."

"Always about me…" He chuckles and, in a sudden movement, easily manhandles you so your ass is on his stomach-mouth. "No, I do not wish to stop. But if you truly ask for nothing in return, then let me be gracious."

"M-my Lord, ah-" Your eyes roll back when you feel that giant tongue lapping at the rim of your hole, the both of you moaning as he did so.

"Delicious…" A hand finds its way to your length, giving it lazy strokes before a mouth opens up and begins licking you - before taking you in. The heat of his mouth felt absolutely divine. The mouths on his other hands suck hickeys and bite the skin of your neck, while they find the sensitive nubs on your chest and harshly tug at them with teeth and lips, too. You hear a noise that's half-way between a whimper and a moan. "…everything about you…so delicious…"

"That's it, my Lord. I'm yours tonight…" You sigh, mind in bliss as your hands find his cocks. He bucks his hips when you begin to stroke him - slowly, before building to a steady pace. His cocks were thick and fat, heavy and veiny and monstrously beautiful in all the ways that had you nervous to take him. They throbbed eagerly, dare you say even aching for your touch. Bowing down, you take one of his tips into your mouth, careful not to let your teeth get in the way. The way his tip had pulsed and the amount of arousal you had to swallow down, had you moaning and whining happily as you swallowed his cock. Amidst the low growling of his stomach mouth, you hear a noise that's halfway between a whimper and a moan, and feel him buck his hips into your mouth as you lick and suck on him eagerly - tongue, lips and hands feverishly worshipping Sukuna's heavy, monstrous lengths.

The tongue begins to enter you, and you nearly cum on the spot - choking on his cock. Slowly, it reaches deep, deep enough to hit that spot that has you seeing stars. When you continue to moan, Sukuna's hips move on their own - tip fucking your mouth while you drool and stroke him.

You both get lost in pleasure. His large tongue tastes and moves eagerly inside you, practically assaulting that sweet spot as the stomach mouth continues to growl and whine and drool. While you eagerly suck on and stroke his twitching and throbbing lengths and he returns the favor, albeit a little more sloppy.

A guttural moan escapes Sukuna's throat when he releases into your greedy mouth, and you do your best to swallow everything he has to offer while his other cock paints you in white. Drool, precum and his seed still leak out your mouth, though - and you quickly find it's too much. Before you can stop yourself, you release into the mouth sucking you off - ass clamping down on the large tongue inside you as it continues to move inside of you, well past your high. You cum heavy into one of your Lord's many mouths, and it gags on your cock - the sensation making you spurt more into the mouth that greedily tries to swallow everything.

His tip leaves your mouth with a sloppy and wet pop and with a groan, both tongues take one final lick before retracting back. You both are breathing heavy, shaking a little as he repositions you to face him. His hand caresses your face, eyes completely dilated as he makes a noise somewhere between a moan and a sigh.

"Oh, gods, look at you…"

"My Lord, I-" Your eyes widen a little as you struggle a little in his grasp. "Wait-"

"Have you forgotten who you answer to?" He clicks his tongue. "You are in no position to make demands of me."

"I…answer to you, my Lord." You still, realizing what he was asking you. "I'm sorry."

There's a small silence as you look away bashfully. However, when you glance back at him and are met with a frown - there was the sudden realization of an unsaid question waiting to be answered. He hasn't moved at all. Immediately, you explain yourself, not wanting him to get the wrong idea. "I-I'm still a bit sensitive, is all…but I-I still want this! Truly, my Lord! I-I want…I want you, still."

Your voice comes out a little higher than you would have liked, but it seemed to quell him nonetheless.

"As am I, but…" He sighs and before he looks away, you capture his lips in a chaste but wet kiss.

"I know." You bite your lip bashfully and your voice comes out soft and sweet in all the ways that make his cocks twitch. "But, I did promise to worship my Lord tonight. I shouldn't make a promise I can't keep."

When your hands begin to stroke him again, slow and gentle, Sukuna practically throws his head back, biting back a low whimper while his stomach mouth shamelessly groaned and panted. He cursed as his hips began to move on their own, muscles tensing as his cocks grew hard again. Yet when your eyes lock he only sees adoration and longing in them as your hands worshipped him diligently. Not the empty lust he saw in everyone else who wanted him this way but could never get close.

"You look incredible like this, my Lord." Your voice comes out raspy and full of longing, and it tears a near animalistic sound from him.

"Enough." He growls, and you immediately stop. "Let me inside you."

"Anything for you." A mix of arousal, anxiousness and excitement overwhelms you as you climb on top of him, positioning yourself so his bottom cockhead kisses the entrance to your ass - readying you as it spurts those large trickles of precum. The both of you share a guttural groan as you sink down on one of his cocks, the free one throbbing delightfully in front of your own length. Sukuna was massive, to say the least, and despite how dripping wet he was your legs were still shaking from the wonderful strain. Although, your gummy insides took him in eagerly while being stretched to their limit.

The initial pain of the stretch was nearly drowned out by how wonderful he felt inside of you - fat and veiny cock completely filling you, dragging deliciously along the inside of your ass. You could feel him his arousal leak inside you, lubricating you plenty, and his length pulsing like a second heartbeat. And when you fully sheathed him inside of you, you both almost lost the ability to think properly.

"S-Sukuna, my Lord…" You'd be embarassed by how shameless you sounded with your Lord now fully inside you, his fat mushroom head leaking on and throbbing against that sweet spot. His hands rested on your hips, keeping your bodies joined with a messy puddle of arousal underneath you both. Sukuna's eyes were rolled back and fluttering slightly while his stomach mouth was open with his massive tongue lolled out, making a noise somewhere between a low growl and a whimper. Seeing him like this nearly sent you off the edge.

"O-ooh, gods…" He groans when he feels you clamp down on him, and a hand pulls your head into a clumsy kiss. You feel his breath turn into full on panting when he tasted himself on you, the hands on your hips now painfully digging into your skin as he begins to thrust up into you - sloppy, slow and languid, as if trying to get even deeper and split you apart. Your free hands, once caressing the wooden part of his face, now move down to stroke his free cock - earning you a low growling from the stomach mouth as it started panting.

"Oh, you feel heavenly, Lord Sukuna…" As if encouraged by your words, his thrusts start to get faster, harder - a steady rhythm beginning to build. "That's it. You're doing so well, my Lord."

"Ngh, ah…" Your Lord made such sweet sounds.

Neither of you were going to last long, it was all too much.

"A-ah, it's so good my Lord…" The pain had long subsided, replaced only with ecstacy. Sukuna's fat and heavy cock dragged along every part of your insides, and the feeling of the warm arousal dripping from his tip and the throbbing of his veiny length had you near screaming into his mouth. Your Lord was completely filling you and leaving no part of you unloved. While your ass, already sloppy and wet with Sukuna's arousal, desperately sucked him in every time you and him moved, only to be rewarded as he thrusted back in and you bounced back down on him, wet velvety insides squeezing him tightly as if never wanting him to leave. Without you even realizing it, your body was unconsciously and sweetly worshipping and loving your god. "I love you, Lord Sukuna!"

Something in Sukuna snaps upon hearing those words, which were otherwise empty - had it come from someone else.

"I want to taste you." He practically whimpers into your mouth as you both pant and continue to knot tongues. The kiss is clumsy, inexperienced, but you were far too lost in love to care - exploring your Lord's mouth eagerly while you struggle to ride his beautiful, monstrous form. The tongues on his mouths sucking, biting and tasting your skin; marking every bit of your body they could. This would hurt, but you didn't care. You only wanted to show your god how much you loved him. "Let me taste you…"

"Yes, my Lord. Anything-" This would hurt, but you didn't care - only wanting to show your god how much you loved him. "Anything you wish of me…"

With the flick of his wrist, there's a sharp pain on your tongue and a metallic taste floods both of your mouths - there's not enough damage to fully cut off your tongue, however, only a cut.

"Swallow me." Sukuna's breath hitches as he continues to kiss you, letting out a noise between a growl and a whimper, and you realize that it wasn't only your blood in both of your mouths. An offering of a devotee to their god, and a god to their devotee. You eagerly swallow each other's blood, moaning into your mouths as you share the messy, bloody kiss.

"Y-yes, keep going my Lord…" You continue to encourage him, as one of his hands moves to take both of your lengths and stroke them together. You and Sukuna both throw your heads back and nearly yell as the mouth on his hand opens up and swallows the both of you - tongue working eagerly on both your tips while your hands work on the shafts. "Cum for me, my Lord. Please…"

His thrusts get faster and harder, and you bounce on him just as fervently. What was once a steady rhythm has now turned sloppy as you both rode each other into your high. Sukuna reaches his orgasm with a choked yell, and you reach yours with a scream - bodies tensing as you both get lost in each other and neither of you stop moving. His warm and thick seed floods your insides, far too copious and spilling over. Your ass spasms and clamps down on him, almost painfully milking and sucking him in, desperately trying and failing to keep his overflowing love inside. The mouth that held both of your cocks greedily tries and fails to swallow all of the overflowing love as you and Sukuna both cum heavy into it.

It feels like forever, but you eventually collapse on top of him - both of you too tired to pull out of either hole. Though the mouth that held both of your cocks still lazily licked up at all the overflow. Minds completely muddled neither of you could think, bodies shaky with the high and tranquility of post-orgasm. There was nothing but the sound of your breathing for a while, before he silently cups your face and you feel the sting on your tongue disappear. With shaky hands, you touch your tongue and find the cut was healed.

"Thank you for sharing your blood with me, my Lord." You bury your face in the crook of his neck. "If I may, might I stay the night?"

"You'll be staying here every night, from now on." Without realizing it, his lips reach your forehead. "And for the rest of eternity, you will never leave my side."

"Yes, my Lord. I swear it." It was one simple, powerful vow that had you staying by his side for the rest of your life…

And made you return to him, in every life after.

-----

My GAAAHD was this difficult to write. Not the writing part itself, NO. But finding the time for writing. YEEESH. Anyways, have a great day!

[taurasiluvr]

how you can help palestine

★ thinking about diana taurasi putting you in your place... kinda inspired by sen's strap headcanons @taurasiluv

 ⠀ ── ⠀warnings ;; nsfw under the cut, mdni. brat taming (my fav!!!), slapping, degradation, mommy kink (it's a dee smut, what do you expect?)

 ⠀ ── ⠀word count ;; 1.1k

 ⠀ ── ⠀rylin's notes ;; requests are open for those who want to send them in :p

"didn't i tell you to cut the fucking attitude?" diana's voice rang out the kitchen, causing you to let out an irritated sigh. you paused, gripping the edge of the counter as you tried to steady your nerves.

"dee, 'm not a kid. you can't talk to me like that," you shot back, trying to keep your voice even. diana walked into the living room, her tall frame filling the doorway. she was still in her practice gear, her face glistening with sweat.

"yeah, i know you're not. you're acting a brat, and i don't like it." she replied, her tone assertive. she opened a water bottle, chugging it slowly. you took the moment to take in your girlfriend; all of her.

you rolled your eyes and turned around, going back to cutting up some fruit. "maybe i wouldn't act like a brat if you actually paid attention to me," you muttered under your breath, knowing full well she'd hear.

diana raised an eyebrow, setting the water bottle down. "what was that, baby?" she crossed her arms, watching you intently.

"nothing," you grumbled, deciding to really test her patience right now.

"no, you wanna act all big and and tough, let's hear it," diana said, stepping closer.

"i told you, nothing,"

you ignored the calls of your name as you walked toward your shared bedroom, letting the annoyance take over. diana walked in the bedroom behind you, her expression now pissed.

"don't walk away from me when we're talking," she said, her voice low and controlled, but you could feel the anger simmering beneath.

you spun around to face her, your own frustration boiling over. "what's there to talk about, dee? you're never here! i'm tired of feeling like an afterthought."

diana's eyes narrowed. "so that's what this is is about? and this is how you deal with it? by throwing a tantrum like a child?"

"well i-"

"no, i'm still talking." she repeated as your face contorted into irritation. "first of all, fix your fuckin' face. and this whole thing is because you're needy? cause you haven't had a good fuck in a while?"

you clenched your fists, feeling the heat rise to your cheeks. diana's blunt words cut deep, but there was a part of you that couldn't deny the truth in them. you needed her, and the lack of attention had been gnawing at you.

"fine," she sighed as she slammed the door shut. "get on the bed, sweetheart."

you looked stunned as diana just kept glaring at you. "you wanna act all shy now, baby?"

you let out a breathe before obeying her, sitting on the bed as diana walked over toward you. she grabbed your face tightly, forcing you to look upward. her eyes bore into yours, a mix of anger and desire flickering in them at you being so submissive.

"you're not gonna pull that bratty attitude with me anymore, got it?" she said, her voice low and commanding.

you nodded, unable to find your voice. the intensity of her gaze, the way her fingers dug into your cheeks, sent a shiver down your spine. she let go of your face before landing a swift slap to your cheek, a moan coming out of your lips at the sting.

"i asked you something," she demanded, her hand finding your face again, her grip tightening slightly. "do you understand?"

"yes," you managed to whisper, your voice trembling.

"yes, what?" she prompted, leaning closer so her breath fanned across your lips.

"yes, mommy," you replied, your voice barely audible.

"good," she said, releasing your face and stepping back slightly. "now strip. wanna see you naked."

your heart pounded in your chest as you complied, your hands shaking slightly as you undressed. diana watched you intently, her eyes dark with desire. she turned around as well, rummaging through your drawer before finding her strap. she slipped it on quickly before she turned to face you once again.

once you were completely bare, you stood there, feeling vulnerable under her intense gaze. she stepped closer again, her hand trailing down your arm, sending goosebumps in its wake.

without another word, her hand gripped your head before she gestured to her strap. her eyes locking onto yours with an intensity that made your breath catchm as you nodded slowly, opening your mouth, you leaned forward, taking her in.

diana's other hand tangled in your hair, holding you steady as you began to move, your lips and tongue working to please her. she let out a low groan, the sound sending a thrill through you. you looked up at her, meeting her gaze, her expression a mix of dominance and desire.

"that's it, baby," she murmured, her voice rough with arousal. "just like that."

you continued, your movements becoming more confident as you found a rhythm. diana's grip on your hair tightened slightly, guiding you as you took more of her in. the taste and feel of the strap filled your senses, and you felt a rush of heat between your legs, your own arousal building.

after a few moments, diana pulled you back, her eyes dark with need. "on the bed," she commanded, her voice leaving no room for hesitation.

you obeyed, crawling onto the bed and positioning yourself on your hands and knees, your body trembling with anticipation. diana moved behind you, her hands running over your back and down to your hips, her touch somehow both possessive and gentle.

"you're going to take everything i give you," she said, her voice low and commanding. "understand?"

"yes, mommy," you replied, your voice breathless with need.

she positioned herself at your entrance, teasing you for a moment before pushing in slowly, filling you completely. you moaned, your body arching as you adjusted to the sensation. diana held your hips firmly, setting a steady pace that quickly had you gasping for breath.

she landed a couple slaps to your ass, causing a string of curses and moans to leave your mouth.

"fucking brat," she growled, her movements becoming more intense. "say it, say you're mine."

"'m yours," you managed to gasp, your body responding eagerly to her every thrust. "'m yours, dee."

the pleasure built quickly, each thrust driving you closer to the edge. diana's grip on your hips tightened, her own breathing becoming ragged as she drove you toward release.

when you finally came, it was with a cry of pure ecstasy, your body shuddering with the force of your orgasm. she pulled out gently, collapsing beside you on the bed and pulling you into her arms. you lay there together, both of you catching your breath, the intensity of the moment slowly giving way to a feeling of deep contentment.

"did i fuck all that attitude outta you now, baby?" diana managed to say as you let out a breathless laugh.

"mhm, yeah. you did," you replied.

if you enjoyed, any interaction is greatly appreciated!

with love, rylin 𝜗𝜚

[w2soneshots]

Announcement -W2S

Words: 0.6k+

Warnings: pregnancy.

Summary: you and Harry announce your exiting news to the sidemen in an interesting way.

a/n: hello my babies! I haven’t done a dad!bog fic in forever and this brought back all my baby fever🥹. Here’s the request. Enjoy!!🧸💓🫶🏼

Today me and Harry are announcing our pregnancy to the boys. We've been keeping it our little secret for just over four months and it has been difficult but we've loved it. I'm not an official member of the sidemen but I'm always in their videos so morning sickness and the crazy hormones have been hard to hide, along with the fact I now have a bump. I haven't worn anything tight fitting in weeks. We wanted to do something funny and casual with the boys so when we found out that they were filming a photo roulette for more sidemen we knew that was our chance.

"You nervous?" I asked Harry as we drove. "Not really, I'm just excited to finally tell everyone." He replied with a smile. We told our families a few days ago and they were all ecstatic. "I feel the same. Also we're gonna need to tell Faith ASAP because we both know Ethan can't keep any secrets from her." Harry chuckled, knowing I was definitely right.

When we arrived outside of the building and Harry parked we made our way upstairs. "Hey! Feeling better?" Tobi asked as we walked into the studio. Last week I had to leave a side plus shoot early because I started to feel nauseous. The boys were concerned but Harry reassured them that I was fine, since he knew that it was just because I'm pregnant. "Yeah." I smiled with a light nod of my head.

Once we sat down to film we began with a few other videos then finally after around two hours it was time. "Hello and welcome to 'sidemen photo roulette', with y/n!" Simon announced to the camera. "Everyone has sent in a random amount of pictures from their camera rolls and you'll all have to guess who sent it in." He explained. Simon was going to be able to see the pictures so I was just hoping he would stay silent.

We got started and we saw some really funny and random photos. As the game went on my hands were fidgeting as I anticipated what was going to happen. "Ok and the final pic." The picture me and Harry had taken of our dog with the baby's first ultrasound in his mouth popped up on the tv. The room went silent. "Is that? Oh my god!" Ethan jumped from his seat, looking straight at me and Harry. Everyone quickly began to catch on and cheers filled the room.

Once everyone said congratulations we sat back down. "How many months are you?" JJ asked. "Five." I replied. "Twenty weeks?!" Vik exclaimed. Harry chuckled. "Uh yeah. We kept putting off telling everyone. Before last week only me and y/n knew." He explained. "So you-" Ethan pointed down to my stomach, which was covered by one of Harry's oversized hoodies. I nodded then slowly lifted it over my bump. All six of their eyes flickered from my stomach, to me and then to Harry. "So the other week you-" Tobi began. "I smelt something weird and it made me feel nauseous." I laughed.

Later that night I sat between Harry's legs, my back leaning on his chest. He ran his fingers over my bump as we sat in a comfortable silence. "I think they were a bit shocked that we waited so long to tell everyone." I whispered. Harry smiled, even though I couldn't see him. "I like that we kept it a secret. But it feels good to be able to talk to people about it, since it's like the biggest and best thing that's ever happened to me." He replied quietly. I hummed as my hands traveled to land on top of his. "Want me to run you a warm bath?" He asked. "Only if you join me." I smiled. "I was already planning on it."

[bored-trans-orchidsexual]

Ratfish Musings

Absoultely loved this 2-parter finale. Was initially sad to not see the survivor premise be an every finale thing, but how appropriate to the spirit of game changer to make different finales, based on different reality game shows they like. NGL had never even heard of the circle before, binged a few seasons of it while waiting for ratfish pt 2.

The original show is... all right, it's a bit stereotypical, but a nice enough experience. Based on dropout's take, however, I'm trying to organize making a game out of this on discord and it could be fun, this is something we as fans can pretty easily replicate for ourselves on social media, and a pretty good finale for the season.

Like with many others I'm seeing on here, I found the ratfish character to be the weak part of the episode. Dropout on the whole, and that drag show in the first ep of thousandaires, is *really* building up a brand of personality with it's extended cast. Who these people are, how they make each other laugh, and the memories they make together in the experiences these shows provide, really creates a fun, wholesome, and engaging experience that just keeps building on itself. I think this is where the magic of dropout content can be found and when building on it, it just keeps getting better, but this ratfish idea... didn't land. I even saw a post from what I presume to be a fan of this guy, who found how little he was used annoying and that, not seeing the cast's reaction to him at the end, felt like a disappointment, so I have to ask 'why was this guy chosen'? His dry, kind of uninterested vibe didn't really add much to the experience, the amount of power he had over the game felt a little off putting, and even people who do like him, probably felt his minimal presence was a waste of whatever they like about him, it's not like he got a chance to *Shine* here. With this as my only exposure to this guy he seems kinda boring. What was the intent with this? Why did he have so much influence on a game that *heavily* relied on this group of co-workers and friends reading each other through the bits? Also it feels like Rekha got *snubbed* Like not only did she manage to land everyone's identities *before the final round*, without a reward of any kind and in fact, ended up with 2nd place because despite her skill the *ratfish* arbitrarily picked Katie's art (love to katie, not her fault) but also in the talkback portion it never even got brought up. She mentioned it to brennan's face and no reaction. Solving the game entirely *before it's over* should have been a bigger deal.

[cinematic-phosphenes]

HoTD S2x01: A Son for a Son (I have thoughts and I'm keeping them here)

The Stark theme and Cregan doing his best Sean Bean accent have me nostalgic.

If getting conscripted to the Wall is an honour, then why does budget Jon Snow look unhappy about it?

No Sara Snow, okay. I’ll live with it. No Jace/Cregan (b)romance, not okay. Tumblr made me want it, only to be so denied by the showrunners.

Not more Targ colonialism erasure. "We colonised an entire continent to save the world, no really. And look, even the noble Starks agree with it!" is such a shit take, even if it's canon. I like the Targ characters, but let's not erase the original Aegon's colonial crimes.

Jace looks so pretty! Major glow up.

Dragonstone has a dragon hangar! Yay for worldbuilding!

Daemon calling Vhagar a hoary old bitch reminds me of this absolutely amazing Vhagar POV fanfic I read. (Soon the god's hoar by eldritcher on AO3) (The fic is spoiler-y for the rest of the Dance, jsyk.)

Yes, Rhaenys! Put Daemon in his place! Also, her dragon riding outfit!!!

Alyn, I see you doing an Egg by shaving your head.

Why in the hell does no one take Helaena’s visions seriously?! She’s right every time. (Can I blame ‘I had a dragon dream once’ Viserys for this? Because I want to blame Viserys for this. Look at the mess you left your kids in, Viserys! I hope Balerion bites your ass in the afterlife.)

And here we see the 'Our lives are in danger, so let's fuck about it' trope in action. I’ve heard a lot of Alicole hot takes. “Criston Cole is ‘unmanly’ for going down on a woman” is the absolute hottest of hot takes I’ve had the misfortune of encountering.

Otto giving Alicent and Criston Cole that look as they walk in. He knows what they’ve been doing.

Aegon grinning at his son like a fool. Aegon giving Jaehaerys attention and wanting him to learn how to rule even though he’s only six. Aegon trying to do better than deadbeat Viserys did. Aegon talking about pony rides in a way that suggests Jaehaerys often gets pony rides, possibly from Aegon himself. If you told me last season Aegon would somehow turn out to be the best father on this series ….. (Yes, I know that when it comes to being a dad the bar is in hell’s basement here. Yes, I know the way Aegon treats his illegitimate kids is horrific. I think there’s definitely been some retconning here and S2 Aegon is not the same character as S1 Aegon. They should have portrayed him this way from the start.)

Alicent wrote Rhaenyra letters to apologize for Luke's death and she's expecting a response?! Girl ....

My kingdom for a scene of the Greens finding out that Aemond killed Luke. My kingdom for a scene of Aemond deciding to just fully commit to the villain persona and lie to say he killed Luke intentionally. Such a missed opportunity.

Larys being an intimidating creep to Alicent again. He should go fall down some stairs.

Alicent scrubbing her skin raw. She is not okay. (I want to see Alicent cracking. Let Olivia Cooke act!)

Rhaenyra’s grief over Luke is heartbreaking. Emma D’Arcy is acting their heart out. And Syrax crying too, nooo.

Aegon walking in sync with his fratboy squad. You know they practised that entrance during one of their nightly seshes in the throne room.

Are they going to show the throne cutting Aegon?

“On further thought, I have decided ….” Aegon is hilarious.

It’s Hammer time!

Larys already angling for the Hand’s position. I know this guy is ambitious, but damn.

Just Alicent looking ethereal reading letters.

Mysaria’s accent has been toned down! (Why was Mysaria fleeing King’s Landing though? Maybe I’m missing something but I don’t get it?)

“We swore an oath to protect the whole of the royal family. So what were we to do when they turned against one another?” Jaime Lannister echoes.

"I want Aemond Targaryen." Chills. Rhaenyra only says four words all episode and it's these four words.

Jace trying to keep it together and be professional to give his report. Jace looking so much younger and more vulnerable when he’s back with his mother. I’m not crying, you’re crying.

Scenes with Rhaenyra at Luke’s funeral interspersed with scenes of Alicent paying tribute to the dead, including Luke. My heart. That empty space next to Alicent in the sept where Rhaenyra used to pray. They are an absence in each other’s lives.

Rhaena crying for her betrothed, nooo.

Why didn’t they have a dragon light Luke’s funeral pyre?

The return of the Daemon crime hoodie, now upgraded to a war crime hoodie.

Making it unclear if Daemon told B & C to go after another son if they can’t find Aemond or if B & C just went rogue – that’s a cop out by the writers. Unless it comes up again. EDIT: Daemon said 'a son for a son.' He was giving them carte blanche to go after another son if Aemond is MIA.

Daemon reluctantly admitting Aemond is a good fighter. I love to see it.

Why do I get the sense that Aemond also knows about Alicole?

“Rhaenyra is a cunning spider. Long ago she pulled Alicent into her web. Intoxicated her. It is not your mother’s fault.” “Her Grace speaks with two tongues. Alicent holds love for our enemy.” So they’re both obsessed and very much not over Rhaenyra. Do Alicent and Cole both think of Rhaenyra while being unholy together because it kinda seems like it?

Ewan Mitchell as Aemond is so mesmerizing. That man has presence.

Why the fuck has no one tried to map the secret tunnels into the Red Keep and close off the ones that allow randoms to sneak in/royal minors to sneak out?

The entire Kingsguard is in the throne room guarding Aegon? And they don’t stop the ‘rat catchers’ working at night? Even if the rat catchers were supposed to be there, I feel like it would still be protocol to stop and question them. Have none of these writers been pulled over by the cops for no reason/even slightly suspicious behaviour?

I think the build up to B & C should’ve focused on Helaena and her kids instead of B & C creeping around, arguing for no reason and committing gratuitous animal abuse. (That dog kicking scene looked so real, I watched the end credits for a disclaimer that no animals were harmed in the making of.) They could’ve shown Helaena getting the kids ready for bed, reading them a story, etc. They established a connection between Aegon and Jaehaerys pre B & C but none between Helaena and the kids before it happened. Lost opportunity.

B & C was very different than I expected before I was spoiled. I guess I see what the writers were going for with Helaena’s response to B & C. She’s dissociated rather than hysterical. She’s been painted as a character who’s distanced from the world around her in general, so perhaps this is an in-character trauma response for her. Plus you could see the absolute terror in Phia’s eyes. Helaena was terrified and traumatized. She was just quiet about it.

As for her just pointing out Jaehaerys instead of trying to bargain or plead more for his life … I guess it’s because they’re characterizing her as very literalist, straightforward and honest to a fault as part of her ‘strangeness’? So she just took B & C at their word and didn’t try to change their minds because after the necklace offer failed, she assumed they couldn’t be swayed and would definitely kill her and both kids like they threatened to if she didn’t point out Jaehaerys to them. As for not pointing to Jaehaera – that wouldn’t accomplish anything. If they didn’t check that they really had the boy, one of her kids would still be dead. If they checked and discovered she’d lied, they might kill both kids. She was a mother who didn’t want either of her kids to die but perceived she couldn’t do anything to save both of them, so she felt she had no choice but to point out Jaehaerys. And then she grabbed Jaehaera and got her to safety when she saw the chance. At least she could save one of them.

As for Helaena saying they killed ‘the boy’ instead of saying his name Jaehaerys – I don’t see that as her being insensitive and uncaring about her kid. I think she was just repeating B & C’s exact word use in her dissociated state. She was on auto pilot at that point.

I do get what the writers were going for … but it’s not going to translate well to most of the audience I don’t think. I see many people interpreting it as Helaena not caring about Jaehaerys and not trying hard enough to save him. “Why didn’t she offer up her own life like any mother would?” If a large part of the audience misinterprets or misunderstands a scene or a character’s intentions or motivations, then that’s a failure on the part of the writers IMO. I’m not upset they didn’t make B & C more graphic or violent in the physical or psychological sense. (In the book, their twisted mind games were just as horrific and brutal and every bit as violent as the physical violence). But I do think that scene could have been better executed in a different way. And including Maelor probably would have worked better to illustrate the horrific, inescapable situation Helaena found herself in between a rock and a hard place.

Where the fuck are the guards? In the throne room with Aegon? Sent away by Cole to hide the fact that he’s in the queen dowager’s bed? The Greens never considered infiltration or a stealth attack? They really got complacent because they have Vhagar guarding the city.

Alicent and Cole doing it in Rhaenyra’s old room, in Rhaenyra’s bed!! Are they both imagining they’re with Rhaenyra too?! Because this is giving … high levels of dysfunction. They’re both haunted by Rhaenyra

The only thing I’ll say about Alicole is that they really should have shown them getting together for the first time. When, how and why did that happen? Who instigated it? How did they both feel about it? Again the writers don’t show the motivations they had in mind for the characters, resulting in the viewers drawing different conclusions than they’re ‘supposed to’ and it works against the story. The interviews I’ve watched seem to say it’s consensual on both their parts. (I know there’s a power imbalance that makes it problematic, but I don’t think the writers see it that way.) Again, showing the start of their first sexual encounter would have been better writing (IMO) because it could have been used to illustrate consent.

The last thing I’ll say about Alicole (okay, so I wanted to say two things) is that showing it after B & C that way by having Helaena walk in on them cheapens B & C. The true shock and horror here is that a child was murdered in front of his mother. Why add the cheap shock value of someone walking in on their parent in flagarante?

All in all, okay episode, kind of weird. Looking forward to see what they do with the rest of the material.

[violetasteracademic]

Minor Azriel BC Re-Writes

My lovely Elriel's! I have slowed a bit on my in depth posts and fic writing. I'm not sure I'll be able to get back to my usual pace any time soon, but I got hit with a midday burst of swirling thoughts and creative energy. It began by reflecting on how differently everyone is interpreting the bonus chapter, and I realized I could only put it into words by quite literally putting it into words. So if I were to have read Azriel's bonus chapter and unequivocally believe it was foreshadowing that G/wyn and Azriel are actually mates, here is what I would have liked to see, and I'll go into why:

Adjustment:

Azriel landed in the ring a few feet from where G/wyn practiced in the chill night, her sword glimmering like ice in the moonlight. Sweat beaded on her brow, a faint sheen delicately scenting the air around her. Morning mist and the mixture of steel and flames from a forge. A unique combination. Azriel had always thought so. It wasn't until he saw her again in Valkyrie training that he recalled that unique scent.

Why am I making this adjustment? Because scent is one of the earliest, most prominent indicators SJM uses to indicate mate behavior long before a mate reveal. And yes, even just in a bonus chapter. Cassian has a very intense experience with Nesta's scent in their bonus chapter:

Now, one might argue that bringing up G/wyn's scent would have made it too obvious, and maybe SJM wanted to leave a little mystery. However, scent is not always related to mates. Scenting can occur platonically, as Feyre is the first to notice and describe Azriel's scent. It can occur between family. Feyre, again, experiences and describes the scent of both of her sisters first. In fact, before she is even Fae, experiences Tamlin's rain and earthen scent. So one could argue that scent is not explicitly mate related, but it is connected to closeness, trust, and yes, often sexuality and romance even if it isn't endgame. But it is always relevant in endgame couples, no matter what.

There is no indicator that, after knowing her for years, after finding her in Sangravah, and spending every day training with her, G/wyn smells like anything at all to him. The word scent was not included in the G/wyn and Azriel section of the BC, but it was repeated in Elain's portion, both in terms of him experiencing her scent, him worrying she'd be able to scent his feelings and arousal, and his describing the scent of Elain and L/ucien's mating bond being too much:

So for me personally, I would have loved for Az to have noticed or comment on G/wyn's scent. Even if it was done in a way that could have been interpreted as romantic or platonic to make for a really interesting conversation. Especially in a setting where there is sweat and exercise, areas we know SJM loves to make sexy and scent the air.

Moving on to the next alteration I would have liked to see a little more from:

Adjustment:

He nodded, silence falling. For a heartbeat, their gazes met. He blocked out the bloody memory that flashed, so at odds with the G/wyn he saw before him now. He tamped down the rage at that memory. Tried to push back that cold, unrelenting violence that had taken over him when he saw G/wyn lying there. Azriel had been instructed to keep some of the soldiers alive for questioning. He had never broken those orders before. He tried not to linger on the memory, or question why he had lost control that day.

Mostly I see this as an argument from G/wynriel's- that Azriel showed mate behavior when he slaughtered every soldier in the room ready to SA her. While I don't agree, and I think anyone would have done the same, the reality of the situation is that we already have Azriel's POV reflecting on that moment. Right there. And he didn't think much, if anything, of it. Even one single sentence alluding to some sort of emotion regarding what happened to her, or a small note that he was glad he slaughtered all of those men, and would gladly do it again, though perhaps now G/wyn could handle herself and would not need Azriel to save her today (again, touching on G/wynriel ideas here) would have been nice. But nope. No thoughts at all about that day. No rage or anger, no recollection of feelings he had that day. No indicator that he was supposed to keep some soldiers alive but didn't. Nothing at all to suggest he had a unique or out of character experience that day. It would have been very easy to add something small here without making it too much.

Sarah also loves to use terms like "tried not to think about why" or "didn't ask herself/himself why" ect. to indicate there are obvious feelings or thoughts happening, but the MC simply isn't ready to face them yet.

And again, we have this moment with Nesta and Cassian where Cassian goes into a near feral mate rage at the thought of Nesta being harmed by another man in the past in a bonus chapter years before their book came out:

Cassian knows something happened to her because of the shift in her scent. The death that Cassian's eyes promised was so intense, Nesta wouldn't give up Thomas's name, even thought he assaulted her. She thought no one deserved what Cassian would do. As he later clarified, hunt him down and shatter every bone in his body.

Again, we see this repeatedly with mates. If their mate is in danger, if their mate has been harmed, the men cannot contain their rage. Rhys is happy to let Feyre make her own choice to be with Tamlin, until he realizes she is withering away. Until he realizes she is unhappy. And if she were ever taken against her will, he would tear the world apart to find her.

These two small changes would have made a world of difference in terms of me really questioning Elriel and whether or not their book is next.

In general, I find it so interesting what people do and no not see as chemistry. Obviously I think Azriel being ready to beg on his knees for a taste of Elain, his eyes nearly rolling in the back of his head at her scent (both things that happened in Nessian's bonus chapter) is chemistry. Them being so astronomically down bad for each other that they don't care that their horny scents are filling up the whole house when her mate is literally steps away is chemistry. I think them buying secret presents for each other, and their hands shaking as they exchange them in the dead of night when everyone else is asleep is chemistry. I think them wanting to touch each other, even just the once, because they literally cannot stop themselves around each other is chemistry. I think them facing war and blood duels and the loss of allies because they don't understand why they are not mates is chemistry.

I am not going to spend time assessing whether or not G/wyn and Azriel's banter is romantic chemistry or not, because that is clearly personal and up for interpretation. What I will say is it read the exact same to me as Azriel teaching Feyre how to fly, which was also fun, respectful, full of banter and genuine enjoyment of each others company and Azriel's secret snarky sense of humor. So if SJM wanted to differentiate Feyre and Azriel's flying lessons from G/wyn and Azriel's ribbon cutting lessons, those are the minor adjustments I would have liked to see.

As it stands, Azriel and Elain want each other like no ones business, which is why I want them to be together and anticipate they will carry the next story with all of the stakes and established plot surrounding all of the things that could happen if Elain and Azriel tried to be together. If Azriel and G/wyn are going to be revealed to be mates, I'll need SJM to do a lot of explaining as to why Azriel did not experience anything mate like towards her and also understand why their plot is more powerful and interesting than Elriel's, which as of now simply isn't able to be compared because it doesn't exist yet. Why he continued to lose sleep and stare at a gift from another woman every night for a year when he saw his mate every single day. When he saved his mate, and apparently feels nothing about it now, but who still gets flashes of anger and rage in this very same book when he thinks about Elain being kidnapped.

Regardless of how you feel about his shadows hearing G/wyn's silent music and dancing with it (I'll be doing a post on his shadows later, especially after some bombs dropped in HOFAS, though I can't promise when), whether or not you noticed all of the parallels between Nesta and G/wyn and Azriel and G/wyn (the seven pm bell chime for the evening priestess service, the sense of calm around G/wyn, the hearing a silent song that seems to come from her and calling explicitly to them, the glow surrounding G/wyn's imagery, their powers interacting, feeling a desire to caw about her or see her smile for whatever reason) I simply don't see how Azriel could be years into knowing G/wyn, seeing her and training with her every single day, seeing her harmed and in distress, seeing her kidnapped, and still he has no emotions over the things that have happened to her. No feral male rage. No awareness of her scent. No indicator he is acting in a special way towards her that he doesn't do towards other females.

I could go on, but this seems like a good place to wrap up!

I don't cross tag, and would appreciate sticking to pro elriel tags should you reblog, which I highly encourage and always appreciate! As always, my work is for Elriel's and not intended to start a fight on the internet with strangers who think differently than I do! I don't think any minds will be changed until the book announcement. I will certainly respect whatever direction SJM decides to go, but some directions certainly require a LOT more work than others based on how everything has read to me.

[themusingsofacurlyhairednerd]

Datura Pt 15

Author's Note: Darrrrrlllllliiiiinnnngggg guess who's back from jail the debilitating cycle of mental illness?

Seriously tho, thank ya'll for sticking with me I have not been able to write more than a couple paragraphs a day lately. Please enjoy meeting a couple familiar faces, as a treat.

Content Warnings: Canon Typical Violence

Previous Chapter/Masterlist

-----------------

Giving the High Lords’ their powers back is, surprisingly, the easiest part of the next hour. Reaching into your power well, untangling the threads of each of them, swirling together within you is easy compared to getting them to agree on anything. They all stand there, in what’s left of the Throne Room, yelling at each other about what’s to be done about your father. Rhys and Helion want him dead now, the Cauldron returned to its resting place. Beron and Tarquin want to go home and be done with the whole mess. Kallias and Thesan want to try and muster their armies, in case of all out war. 

By this point its all a jumble of nonsense in your ears. You’re so tired. Rhys, with his powers returned, is healing nicely from the wounds you’ve inflicted, and despite all he’s endured, he’s the one holding you upright as you lean into his side. It’s taking all your energy to just keep your eyes open, to not give into the warmth that radiates from his skin, and sink into it. 

“We are wasting time!” Helion agrues.

“What he does in the Human Lands is no business of ours!” Shouts Beron.

You’d snarl at him if you had the energy; every time he opens his mouth you wish you’d had the presence of mind to give his powers to Eris instead, but the headache from holding all that had gotten so bad you’d thought your head might actually burst if you didn’t expel as much of it as you could. As is, Tamlin’s powers still prowl beneath your skin; finding him will be a challenge you’ll have to face later, once this threat is finally over.

Rhys’s hand strokes your side soothingly as he comes to Helion’s defense, his snarl making the room shake. He is a sight to behold at full power, everything about him seems to dim the impressive powers around him. Wisps of shadows twirl around his body, twining around your own in exploration. A welcome darkness. You’d like very much to fall into it and not think about any of this for weeks and weeks.  

“We are getting nowhere with this,” Kallias insists. “Let us return home and send out spies. We are of no help to anyone if we end up dead because we went in blind.”

“We cannot wait that long,” Helion presses. 

“We won’t need to,” Rhys says, flicking a bit of lint off his shoulder. “My spy should be here with news any minute now.”

Even you crane your head up to look at him, surprised. He hasn’t moved from the Throne Room, is only now dressed because he summoned something from a pocket realm, when would he have had the time?

He merely winks at you as he says to the others, “Once he arrives, we will make our decision.”

“And we should trust a word from your spies?” Beron snarls. “As we should trust a story about the Cauldron from her.” He’s been rather pissed that a female had wielded his powers, and has taken every opportunity to take a shot at you since getting them back. As if diminishing your ability cleansed them of whatever womanly germs you may have gotten on them. 

“I gave you those powers of my own free will, I can take them back any time I desire,” you warn. 

He has the good sense to step away from you, at least, even if his disdain is palpable.

“The next time you look at my mate like that,” Rhys snarls so low the lights in the room start to wink out. The stars that usually glitter in his violet eyes shrink, pupil expanding until it’s nearly black. “I’ll separate your head from your shoulders.” His shadows deepen, swirling around him.

Mate. The word clangs through them like a warning bell and there are various reactions of disgust and surprise. Helion claps him on the back in congratulations despite the others’ response.

You brush a mental hand over the thin thread that connects you to Rhys, testing to tell yourself that it is real. The loss of the bargains is visceral, it feels as if there’s a gaping wound in your soul, poking around in there feels like touching an exposed nerve, but beneath it, glittering like a million stars, is that tether. The one you suspect might have been the only reason you’re still alive at all. 

Rhys opens his end of it to you, the door of adamant thrown open far wider than it had ever been before. “Are you all right, Darling?”

You could cry from a thousand different things right now, but the fact that you can hear him, feel him like this makes you close your eyes for a brief moment and relish the fact that Hybern hadn’t robbed you of this too. “I thought…” the memory of that dark power holding you down, tearing the bargain apart, flashes across your shared mental space before you can shut it out. “I wasn’t sure this would still be here.”

Rhys’s anger flares down the bond as the memory plays out before him, the arm around your waist tightening. “It will always be here. Nothing, no exiled king, no Mountain, no damned Cauldron, will ever change that.”

“Even if I did punch you in the face?” You quip, eyes blurring with tears. 

His deep rumble of a laugh flows down the bond, fills it with glittering starlight. It is such a contrast to the dark lord mask he still outwardly shows the other lords. Looking at him, they can only see Darkness Incarnate, a creature of shadows and malevolence that keeps baring his teeth when someone gets out of line. Yet here, between your two souls, he is gentle and kind and bright. 

“Maybe if you’d broken my nose it would be different, I am known for my good looks after all,” he returns. “So I suppose it can be overlooked.”

You’ve almost forgotten the other lords are still bickering until Rhys’s remark makes you snort and Beron turns to glare at you. It’s only because your mate flashes his teeth at him with a growl that he keeps from pointing it out. 

You could have stayed like this, warm in both his physical and mental embrace, had a male with wings not entered the room. Fae came in all shapes, sizes and colors, your travels had shown many of them to you over the years, but you’ve met very few with wings like these. The leathery membrane is reminiscent of a bat’s, with a large apex talon at the tip; when folded behind him, the talons make it look like horns are growing out of his shoulders. He weara]s black fighting leathers, fit tight to his muscled form; a sword sheathed between his great wings, a single, ornate dagger strapped to his thigh. You know him to be with Rhys solely from the shadows that mist over his frame, drifting through his dark hair to shroud his face as he enters, his powers not entirely unlike your mate’s.

The male’s hazel eyes flick immediately to Rhys, his features mostly schooled into cold indifference, but you note the briefest flick of relief as he takes in his High Lord.

“Don’t tell me you only brought the Shadowsinger?” Helion asks with a pout.

The rest of the room finally falls silent as the male steps up to the table you’ve all been arguing around. Rhys claps him on the shoulder in greeting, your mate’s posture relaxing at his presence.

The male returns the gesture, the hand he reaches out scarred beyond any repair. “M’lord.” There’s a bit of teasing underneath the tone, as if he says it in joke, perhaps that is why Rhys flashes him a grin in return.

“Well?” Thesan questions. 

“My spies and I have tracked Hybern back to a temple in Spring,” the male says, turning away from Rhys to face them. “Troops are prepared to move, but no one has yet. I couldn’t get any closer.”

You run your fingers over your damaged throat in thought. He has the Cauldron still, why not use it?

Helion asks as much before you can say it aloud. 

“I couldn’t get inside, his shields are extensive. If we are to engage him, we’ll have to draw him outside.”

“With what army?” Kallias returns.

“We have an Illyrian legion and a squadron of Darkbringers standing by,” he says with a nod to Rhys. 

“Ah, so you did bring Cassian,” Helion says with a grin. “I was hoping I’d see a pretty face after being in this cage for so long.”

Beron snarls softly under his breath in disgust. 

“I can break the shield,” you say. 

“Tore through Amarantha’s like butter,” Helion agrees.

Rhys’s attention is now glued to you, as is the Shadowsinger, hazel eyes assessing the way his lord holds you. 

“I can go in first, take the shield down, and you all can come in behind me.”

“And let you lead us right into a trap?” Beron snarls. 

“Would you prefer to go in first?” Tarquin returns.

“Helion and I will be right behind you,” Rhys says slowly, as if he’s still thinking through the details. 

“I can cleave any surprise spells beyond the shield,” Helion confirms.

“My troops can provide cover, if Hybern’s men move,” Rhys continues. “The rest of you can follow along behind. We’ll distract Hybern while…”

A shiver runs inadvertently down my spine at thought, but I force the words out anyway, “While I drain the Cauldron so he can’t use it.”

Rhys nods, a string of affection trickling down the bond. “Once Hybern and his troops are dead, or captured, we send the Cauldron back to its resting place, and we all go home.”

Kallias rubs a hand wearily over his face. 

“I don’t see why all of us have to risk our necks,” Beron snarls.

“Because we don’t know what else he has up his sleeve,” Thesan returns. “We’ve all been in the dark to the outside world for the last fifty years. He could have anything.”

“He doesn’t have his whole army moved in yet,” the Shadowsinger confirms. “We have to move now.”

Tarquin sighs as he leans his weight against the table. “Let us be done with it then.”

You sigh with relief. It’s almost over. This nightmare is, mercifully, moments away from over. All you have to do is tear down a shield and drain the actual, life giving, Cauldron.

The terrifying, cold, bottomless Cauldron that had swallowed you and spit you out. The very thing that had tied you to Hybern’s will and nearly cost you your mate. And you wanted to, somehow, take that power from it so it couldn’t be wielded?

You are in over your head.

You never should have suggested it.

But how can you not? Even with all their powers restored, none of the High Lords can take power from anyone, or anything else. That is a gift that belongs to you and you alone. It has to be you.

By the time you pull yourself out of your thoughts over the ancient artifact, the other lords have filtered out, leaving you alone with Rhys and his spy. It’s only when they’re gone that Rhys releases you, so he can throw his arms around the other male. It is far more affectionate than you have ever seen him be with someone aside from yourself. 

“Az,” he half sobs into the other male’s shoulder.

“You idiot!” The other snarls, even as those scarred hands grip so tight to the back of Rhys’s shirt it looks like he might tear it. “What were you thinking!?”

Rhys’s response is still more sob than laugh, but there is some humor in it nonetheless. “It worked didn’t it?”

“I’d thought I’d never see you again, you stupid prick!” 

When they finally pull away, Rhys is grinning. “Az, you should meet my mate.”

You’re still standing there awkwardly, and probably looking like you’d been tossed under a wagon, if you’re being totally honest with yourself, and the only thing you can think to do is give a little wave. “Hi.”

He looks back and forth between you two, shadows drifting off his shoulders, slithering around his dark boots like snakes as they come to appraise you, much as Rhys’s own powers had that night on Calanmai. Though these are colder and more methodic in their search than your mate’s had been.

“Y/N, this is my brother, Azriel.”

“Who’s blood is all over your hands?” Azriel asks by way of greeting.

It’s an effort not to tuck them behind your back under his scrutiny. “A little bit of everyone’s really,” you mumble.

Azriel shoots Rhys a look that has your mate grinning, “She killed Amarantha.”

“Well, then, it’s nice to meet you,” Azriel replies, the corners of his mouth quirking up in a grin. 

“You two will get along well, I think,” Rhys says, and judging by the warmth he’s flooding down the bond you know he really means it. This is important to him. 

“You make it a habit of killing dictators, Y/N?” Azriel teases.

“Well we are on our way to kill my father, so I might be,” you return.

The shock on his face is enough to make you grin, even as Rhys slaps Azriel on the back and says, “We should go find Cass.”

Cass turns out to be one of the tallest males you’ve ever seen, bearing the same dark wings as Azriel, long brown hair tied back out of his sun kissed face. While Azriel had remarks on Rhys’s absence to make, this one merely barreled into him as soon as he caught sight of him, nearly taking them both to the ground in his attempt to bear hug him.

Azriel takes up the space beside you, watching them with the same cold indifference he looked at everything. “Careful, he’s a hugger.” Was the only warning you got before the giant of a male released Rhys to sweep you up into a hug of your own.

You awkwardly pat his large back once your feet manage to get back on the ground. “Uh hi.”

“You’re much prettier than he is,” he says when he pulls away, a shit eating grin plastered to his handsome face. “You sure you want this loser?” He jerks his thumb in Rhys’s direction for good measure.

Rhys grabs you by the shoulders and pulls you back against his chest. “Don’t mind Cassian, he was dropped as a baby.”

“I was not!” Cassian returns. “Thrown out into the snow sure, but no one ever dropped me.”

“His head’s so big you wouldn’t have noticed if he had anyway,” Azriel returns.

Rhys chuckles as they turn to square off each other, shouting obscenities. “I know they’re a little much-”

You run your fingers over his arm where it’s braced against your collarbone, the weight of him at your back solid and reassuring. “This is pretty much what I’d expect of anyone related to you, honestly.”

He gives your shoulder a teasing pinch, “Brat.”

“You endured all this for them,” you say in a more serious tone. “You gave all of yourself to make sure they were safe. They’re important to you, so they’re important to me.”

He kisses the top of your head in thanks. “I can’t wait for this to be over, so we can go home and you can meet the rest of them.”

For that, for them, you can do this, you can go up against the Cauldron. You give his hand a squeeze. “Let’s get this done then.”

----

The crunch of every dead piece of grass under your feet sounds like an alarm bell. The rustle of the trees, the quiet of the nearby birds, it all feels as if it’s screaming your location right to your father.

You draw a deep breath as you creep forward, then another as the Temple finally comes into view. Hybern’s shield around the building is a lot less visible than Amarantha’s had been, yet you can feel it. There’s a buzzing beneath your skin that grows the closer you get to it, the air tinged with a hint of overripe fruit.

“Hello, Daughter of the Void, have you come to play another game?”

You freeze, a shiver running down your spine. 

Behind you, Rhys and Helion pause too, watching the area ahead of you warily. Cassian had produced armor and weapons for both of them, their swords still sheathed at their backs. Rhys reaches a hand up to grab his at your movements, but neither mention hearing the Cauldron.

“Darling?” Rhys asks mind to mind to avoid being heard. “Are you all right?”

Your stomach is in your throat, it’s an effort to swallow. “Yeah,” you lie as the phantom touch of that icy water brushes over your skin. Cassian hadn’t found armor for you, just a pair of more practical clothes and boots. Helion had offered to cast a shield for you, but his efforts had been for nothing, your body had swallowed up the shield like it was starving for any bit of new power it could reach. Still, you wish you’d found something, anything to make you feel a little less powerless against what you were up against.

“Just thought I heard something.” In a few more tentative steps, you’re at the edge of the shield.

“Come, come and play, Sweet Nothing.”

You reach out a hand, even though it’s shaking, and let your claws slide into place. They’re still a little distorted from Spring’s powers, you skin a war of fur and scales as the warring powers fight for dominance.

You can do this. Your mate is right behind you. His brothers and their winged armies just above the treeline. You are not alone to fight Hybern this time.

“Once we’re through, let Helion go ahead and check for protection spells,” Rhys cautions.

“I didn’t see any before,” you muse.

“He wasn’t trying to keep you out then,” he reminds. “But he knows that you’re against him now. We have to be ready for anything.”

You square your shoulders. You can do this.

The shield splits under your claws as if you’re shredding paper, your hand tingling with the sensation of a thousand needles as you draw all that power into you. After holding the powers of all the High Lords, this is nothing in comparison, even if it is stronger than Amarantha’s. You don’t stop pulling it into you until you no longer feel the buzzing of it against your skin.

“We’re in,” you say to Helion, who strides past you far more confidently than you felt he should be.

Especially when it’s so… quiet.

You tilt your head, listening. There are still no birds here, but there is no waiting army either. Hybern had plenty of soldiers when you’d seen him last, too many to cram all inside the Temple, even with the ones you’d misted under his orders. It shouldn’t be this quiet.

Helion’s head tilts to the side as he too considers the stillness. 

You can’t smell any spells at work, or see any other types of shields.

“Come, come and play,” the Cauldron beckons. “We have so much more to learn from each other, Little Death.”

Why have no army in sight with something this valuable out in the open?

Why leave something you could hear within reach?

You glance back at Rhys, by the look on his face its clear he too knows something is wrong, but he still can’t hear that it’s wrong. 

“Come.” It starts like a second pulse within your chest. 

“Come.” Then the hair on your arms raises.

“Come.” The ground trembles, but still no one but you notices.

Because you were remade. It knows you and you know it. And that’s the only way you have time to run and push Helion out of the way before Hybern uses the Cauldron to send out a blast of pure energy that hits you right in the chest.

_________________________________

Tag List: @mariahoedt, @lovelydove, @twsssmlmaa, @sleepylunarwolf, @judig92, @willowpains, @daughterofthemoons-stuff, @annnaaaa88, @myheartfollower, @uniquecolorwizard, @eternallyelvish, @waytoomanyteenagefeels, @lovemesomeevesy, @localfangirl09, @isa1b2h3, @starswholistenanddreamsanswered, @slytherintaco, @iluvewmanblog, @thebeautifulmysteriesoflife, @kitsunetori, @lilah-asteria, @dianxiaxie, @msoldier, @amara-moonlight, @darling006, @92494-blog1, @genniecokkie, @nyctophiliiiiaaa

[friendlyneighbourhoodelf]

hello I’m back again and I’d like to know more about ‘fellas is it gay to fistfight’ from the wip game please!!

hello again!! this fic is for the codywan week prompt about subtle/witty banter and is really just self-indulgent, because i like reading flirty fight scenes so wanted to write one. there'll be some kind of plot, but i haven't quite figured it out (its a getting together fic with fighting. that's it really)

here's the section for which the fic is named -

Obi-Wan was stripping off his heavy outer robes, placing them in a neatly folded pile on the opposite side of the mat to Cody’s already abandoned armour. He began wrapping his knuckles and Cody stared, just a little, at the way his pale hands flexed with movement.

“Ready to give them a show, my dear?” Obi-Wan was grinning, challenge dancing in his eyes. Cody noted that most of the men in the room had, with varying degrees of subtly, abandoned their own training to watch as the two men prepared to fight.

Cody pulled his teeth into a slow grin, baring his teeth just a little, “Only if you can keep up.”

Obi-Wan stretched, the upward motion of his arms pulling his body taut. Cody stared. He knew Obi-Wan knew exactly what he was doing, the bastard. What was worse, however, was that it was working.

In answer, Cody moved onto the mat, he made a show of beckoning Obi-Wan forward. “Come on then.”

Obi-wan stepped forward to meet him. His eyes glinting, he said, “Your move, Commander.”

He grinned in answer, dropping into a low stance.

For a moment, they circled each other. By now, they’d fought enough that it was primarily for show, they both knew Cody would make the first move. He drew out the waiting more than he usually would, allowing the chatter from the men around them to crescendo. Then he struck. He swung his leg up to meet Obi-Wan’s face. It sailed over his head, the Jedi ducking back just in time. Cody followed his arching body with his eyes.

When Obi-Wan righted himself, he was grinning. He brought his own fist up to meet Cody’s chest, and he easily slipped out of its way. Neither truly intended these early hits to land, they were warming up, slipping into the rhythm of the fight.

Cody moved, feinting left, then bring his fist up to meet Obi-Wan’s shoulder. A hiss of pain at the contact. A cheer rippled through the surrounding troopers.

“Nice hit, Commander.”

Cody briefly nodded his head in acknowledgement, his eyes following every shift of Obi-Wan’s body. He caught the moment the other man moved, slipping into Cody’s space before he had time to escape backwards. They traded blows for a moment, and Cody felt the telltale sensation of blood on his lip.

A kick from Obi-Wan sent him stumbling backwards, and Obi-Wan took advantage of it, catching Cody’s arm and throwing him to the ground.

He gasped as his back hit the mat, above him Obi-Wan was panting just a little, red just beginning to flush his face. Cody smirked up at him, “Feeling confident?”

Before Obi-Wan could respond, Cody headbutted him, using the forward momentum to push himself up. Obi-Wan staggered back but remained upright as Cody surged forwards. Obi-Wan dodged him, once, twice. The third time Cody caught his jaw and Obi-Wan gasped. The sound sent a thrill through Cody.

Obi-Wan moved backwards, circling him. Cody allowed him a moment to recover.

“My dear, with you I’d never dare.”

“Good.” He moved fast, catching Obi-Wan’s arm and holding it behind his back. “Wouldn’t want you to get caught off guard.”

Obi-Wan dropped, using Cody’s grip to pull them both to the ground. He struggled against Cody, then, when Cody’s grip remained strong, went limp in his arms.

Cody breathed against his neck, “I think I win.”

He felt as a shiver rippled through Obi-Wan.

[voxmortuus]

⇘ PAIRING:⇙ Rafe Cameron x F!Reader ⇘ UNIVERSE:⇙ Outer Banks ⇘ WORD COUNT:⇙ 1K ⇘ SUMMARY:⇙ You just started a new job, but the boss' son thinks he's entitled. Well, Rafe doesn't quite agree, and he ends up giving this guy a piece of his mind, and a piece of his fist. You end up losing your job, but maybe you dodged a bullet? Boy protects girl... girl thanks boy. ⇘ TRIGGER WARNINGS:⇙ Protective Rafe is protective | Rafe beats up new co-worker | Loss of job because of boyfriend beating up boss' son | Angst | Smut Implied| PLEASE TELL ME IF I FORGOT ANYTHING!!! I want to make sure readers are fully aware of what they are getting themselves into when they read this… ⇘ NOTES:⇙ This is my first Rafe fic... so it's not super long, just sticking my feelers out there to test things. I hope you enjoy. ⇘ DIVIDER CREDIT:⇙ @nyxvuxoa ⇘ IMAGE CREDIT:⇙ Found through google. Not my gif nor do I take credit. If this is your gif or you know whose it is, please inbox me so I can credit the creator. Thank you. ⇘ TITLE IMAGE CREDIT:⇙ Myself through cooltext.com ⇘ My Master Masterlist ⇙

Today was the day! You were so excited! You had your outfit for work all chosen, and you couldn't even sleep the night before! You had this feeling that today was going to be the best day of your life, you had been trying to land this job for a while. You're feeling on top of the world, but there's this guy who just keeps staring at you and making you a little uncomfortable. You had no idea who the guy was, but you go about your day ignoring the behavior. He takes you starting a new job well.

The next few weeks are going great, and there were even talks of you moving up in the company, provided you stuck it out. The first biggest day was starting the job, now today, today was the company BBQ. After talking with Rafe he agreed to go, but you had been telling him about the guy who kept trying to make advances, so like fuck he was going to not go. No, he wanted people to know who you belong to, and it sure as fuck isn't this guy.

"Please be on your best behavior." You pout a bit looking down at yourself. Nodding, you approve of your dress.

"I'll behave if he behaves." He stated bluntly.

"I know... I know-- I'm sure things will be just fine. Let's just enjoy the day, okay?" You ask.

Nodding, he wraps his arms around your shoulder and kisses the top of your head. Locking the car, he sticks the keys in his pocket and heads toward the crowd of people. Once you arrive at the location, your boss finds you and fawns over your outfit. Introducing Rafe to your boss, the two have a brief exchange before you tell Rafe you'll be back because you're going to get something to drink and for him to find a place to sit.

Finding the table of drinks, you grab two and grab a seat under some shade because let's face it, these summers it's like the devil is airing out hell and that heat is killer. You lean against him and watch the others, either are gawking at you both, or they're going about their own business. He spots you, and you lean into Rafe. He locks eye contact with you from across the way.

There was this moment in your mind where you felt so... disgusted, sure the boss' son wasn't all that terrible to look at, but at the same time, he wasn't Rafe, and you knew where your loyalty was. You felt this heavy taste in your mouth, whenever he comes near you, but maybe with Rafe here, he won't come near you.

As some time goes on, you feel comfortable enough to wander around without Rafe as he sits there at the table watching your every move. This man adores watching you, while you mingle, he sits there with a drink bringing it to his lips and glancing over that red solo cup. He smiled softly, but there was something that wasn't settling well with him.

"Listen, back off. Okay? I'm not interested." You tell the son.

"Oh, you will be, I will make you mine before the day is out." He drunkenly yet not so drunkenly spoke.

"The fuck you will. Absolutely not. Get your hands off me." You snatch your arm back, and he goes to grab at you again.

"Listen! Stop!" You snarl.

Making his way to you, he looks between you, steps in, and shoves the guy out of the way.

"Hey man, fuck off." the guy snarls.

"No, you back off asshole! The lady said fuckin no!" He growls.

The guy kept running his lips, letting words just spew out, but Rafe had enough. His fist balled up and he went to turn toward you, but instead, he let his fist fly against the other man's face. Hearing the crack against the man's face Rafe, but it didn't stop there. It's like he just couldn't stop beating on this guy.

You don't know whether to stop him or to let him continue. The idea of losing your job over this didn't even cross either mind, what did cross the mind was that this guy wasn't taking no for an answer, and Rafe was there to protect you.

Looking down at the guy, he was bloodied, and Rafe looked like he was painted in the guy's splattered blood. You go to touch his shoulder to pull him back. Standing up he looks down at you, takes your hand. Looking at your boss he shakes his head.

"Maybe you should teach your son that he can't fuck everything he sees... may keep your employees around a little longer." He stated.

Your boss looks between you both and she then looks back at you.

"I won't press charges, if you never come back to work, and stay the fuck away from my son." She snarls.

You look between the two of them, and you let out a soft breath. Nodding, you wrap yourself around him, holding him close as you head back toward the car.

Getting in the car, you look over at him, as he drives off. What was it that made you so... feral about this moment? Was it the fact that he was covered in blood? Or was it that he defended you... or maybe both? Licking your lips, you look down at your lap. Of course, with his speeding, it didn't take you long to get home.

Quickly getting out of the car, you run over to the driver's side, open his door, take his hand, and drag him to the bathroom.

"Don't wash it off yet..." you bite your lip as you strip down and start the shower. The heat of the water steams up the glass and warms up the cold stones as you help him strip down and pull him into the hot shower. "I want you to fill me." You purr against his slightly bloodied lips.

He looks down at you and smirks. "Gladly."

[almightygremlinblob]

In Every Life (AFAB Ver.)

In which Sukuna falls in love with the Reader without realizing it.

Word Count: 5, 283 of slow burn. ⚠️Content Warnings⚠️: Not Beta Read, True Form Sukuna, Heian Era, Sukuna fluff, soft Sukuna, mentioned cannibalism, slight angst, Sunshine AMAB!Reader but gender neutral expressions used, Reader is not a sorcerer and is implied to be the only non-sorcerer of her village. Minors and ppl not okay with anything sexual pls DNI and have a nice day 👍🏽 AMAB!Reader (with gender-neutral pronouns) here

⚠️Further Content Warnings⚠️: Virgin!Sukuna, Sub!Sukuna, Reader and Sukuna both switch from gentle doms to subs, soft & fluffy sex, very messy sex, size difference, Reader makes out with the tummy mouth, squirting, lots of cum, cock worship, lots of fluids in general, belly bulge, lots of mouths, consensual blood drinking, this is getting worse the more I write lmao. THIS IS NOT BETA'D and I am very tired while editing this. SO! If you spot any mistakes, esp. with the body parts of Reader lmao (since I made two of these), pls tell me!

You were happy you managed to catch the attention of the King of Curses.

Sure, you didn't exactly know how you did it. You weren't strong, or exceptionally beautiful like the sons and daughters offered to him. You weren't even that smart!

You were clueless, as a matter of fact!

So clueless that, nearly a month ago, you gave the strange looking man with four arms a warm meal and a place to stay for the night - since it didn't seem like the storm would let up any time soon. He was pretty much shunned by the rest of the village upon his arrival…probably due to the overwhelming energy that sent people into fight or flight…but he was just born different!

Probably.

"What's your name, Mister?"

"…"

You quickly learned that he didn't speak much, and he does not like to be looked at. Only watching as you go about your day - trying your best to navigate through the judgement and, frankly, abuse of the other villagers; ever as judgemental about you as they were likely to talk down on you, spread rumors and try to take advantage of your endless kindness. Not that it worked, though - and for that, everyone pretty much hated you. Despite his silence, your visitor was the only one that seemed to regard you without any ounce of hatred.

Then, one day…

"Why do you entertain them?"

"Ah!" You visibly jumped at that moment - up until now you were certain he couldn't speak. His voice was lovely baritone, but held a quiet authority - much like him…and a very clear evil but you wouldn't dwell too much on that. "M-me? Oh…of course, me…"

"U-um…I'm not entirely sure, actually. I don't like them, b-but…" Those sharp, piercing eyes are distant, scanning the forest as you tried to think of a reason. "I-I guess they're my neighbors. Friends? No. But it wouldn't be right to just outright ignore them."

"Hmph, of course…" He scoffs, and rolls his eyes. "You people and your morals…"

"Do you not have friends?"

"No."

"Oh…" Your shoulders slump slightly. "Then, consider me your first friend!"

"No."

"Oh…"

When you visibly deflate, he laughs lightly, shaking his head as if he's heard something utterly ridiculous. "Why does that bother you? You hardly know me. I could be a mass murderer for all you know."

"Because you…you're…" You think for a while, before finding the right words. "One of the most unique people I've ever had the blessing of meeting."

His eyes finally land on you. "Blessing, huh?"

------

Eventually, the villagers turned violent towards you and your guest, but you did your best to keep him safe - urging him to leave, quickly. It was that day, when you were nearly beaten to death, that you learned the strange man's name.

"Die, you peasant!" There was something in the way these villagers attacked. A strange energy that made it hurt all the more. You were bloodied, bruised and beaten to the point you couldn't even find the strength to scream. A blade was pointed to your throat. "Any last words?"

Despite yourself, you manage to spit at him.

"I didn't think you had it in you." That familiar low voice, low and uninterested, sounds from behind you both. Then, before your very eyes, everyone was somehow cut to pieces. No screams, or cries…just the sounds of flesh and bone being cut apart. You were probably hallucinating...

You see your guest walk beside you - the gore, guts and limbs not affecting him in the slightest.

"Ah, you're okay…" His eyes land on you again. "B-be careful…t-there's an invisible…invisible something that's cutting people up…"

He scoffs. "And if I told you that was me?"

"What."

"Tsk." He promptly grabs you and, without you even realizing, your wounds begin healing, closing up, and suddenly you're more aware than you were a while ago. Then, with the flick of his wrist, the bodies get further chopped apart. The gears in your head start to turn and your eyes widen. "O-oh…"

"Go on, then. Go ahead." He grabs your face, forcing you to look at the disembodied people and the growing river of blood. "Run."

"No. No…" Your breathing steadies, and you relax into his hold. He must sense it with the way his whole body tenses for a moment. "Not from you."

In the silence, you can practically hear him thinking as he gets up. And when he made no move, you realized he was waiting for you. So you got up too, wordlessly, and began to follow him. After a while of silence, he graces you with his voice again - quiet, almost…soft.

"My name is irrelevant…but people call me Sukuna Ryomen, the King of Curses."

------

And that was the start of your new life, as a servant of the King of Curses.

It…wasn't so bad! Sure, you could be killed any day, like a few of the other servants and many of the courtesans, but you also didn't do much! And, best of all, no more of those abusive neighbors! Your days were mainly spent helping the head servant - the attractive one with white hair and a pink splotch - do things for the king, for only up to four hours. Four hours! Then you'd spend the rest of the day doing whatever!

This was not one of those days, however.

Today, you were cleaning the Lord's study, in his chambers, along with the attractive head servant. There were...a strangely high number of Dokudami paintings...

"The Lord seems to have an obsession with this herb. Does he like it?"

"That's an interesting observation. Though you're mistaken. It's more the symbolism of this plant."

"And…that would be?"

"Its flowers are delicate, pure. The plant itself is medicinal against many illnesses - it's endlessly helpful. Kind. But it grows everywhere, even in the places not many grow. A surprising resilience despite it's 'delicate' nature." The head servant explains, and you can hear the tinge of amusement in their voice. "Remind you of anyone?"

"Uh…no? No one comes to mind…"

They simply snort at that.

------

The first time you were called to his chambers, you thought you were going to die. Actually, everyone thought you were going to die. They were all giddy at the thought. You didn't expect to just sit there in silence while he practiced his calligraphy.

"I can hear you thinking. Speak."

You fidget around a little, before getting the words out. "I've always been meaning to ask…why…why me, my Lord?"

He clicks his tongue. "You dare question my choices?"

"N-no! Only…I'm curious."

Sukuna is silent for a while, hand perfectly still as he thinks, before eventually speaking.

"You calm me." He sighs as his brush continues to move. "Somehow, every time, you calm me."

------

The courtesans could see you from outside, and you could practically feel them glaring daggers at you - endlessly furious and envious that you could be that close to the Lord.

"My Lord, you…never seem to show interest in your courtesans. Have they, I mean…" You weren't sure how to word it without coming off as too brash.

"Of course they try to bed me. They always do. Don't even try to hide that they're doing it to gain a semblance of power in my estate. The last two were just…" He waves his hand dismissively, tone making it abundantly clear he wasn't happy with the memory. "Had her head cut off and the second had his limbs strewn on the floor."

You feel his gaze on you, scowl evident in even his voice. "Why do you ask me about this?"

"It's just…you have so many, I thought, well..."

"Tsk. They only want something from me, and they think they can take it freely. From me. Me!"

"Surely not ALL of them…" You fidget a little. "Why would you keep them around if that was? There's…there's so many…"

You can practically hear his smirk. "Because their organs taste GREAT sautéed."

"A-ah…"

He snorts, seeing your discomfort. "Are you afraid of becoming like them?"

"I…hm…" You look up in thought. "Perhaps…"

He lets out a soft laugh. "Then you truly are a fool."

"But…I think, it would be a good sacrifice." You finish the last area, as he goes awfully quiet. "Like an offering to a god. I think…I think I wouldn't mind that."

His presence is more than clear behind you, strong and foreboding. "Do you mean it?"

"Yes."

"Do you trust me?"

"Of course."

"Liar. Everyone says that…" He scoffs. "…but, nobody means it. If given the chance…"

You hear a sound, sharp and strong, much like a blade. A pain blooms from your wrist, and you realize you're bleeding lightly - only a few drops of blood at a time. "They all run."

"No. I wish to stay by your side, my Lord. I have nowhere I'd rather be." When you relax and make no move to run, a big and warm hand engulfs yours.

"You…weren't lying." You feel lips against the wound on your outer wrist, and the swipe of a tongue against it before the wound starts to close. "You fool…"

------

Many in the estate didn't like you, jealous of how close you were to the Lord - but it wasn't everyone. Now, it was everyone. Rumors fueling jealousy and malice for the very obvious favoritism.

Taking little nibbles, you didn't want to take more than your share.

The food was beyond AMAZING. However, Sukuna simply scowls as you shyly keep your head bowed and you must feel his gaze harden by the way you flinch under it.

"I apologize. I just…don't want to take more than my share…"

"Do you mean to insult me? This entire meal is yours." He scoffs, grabbing your bowl. He grabs one of the sushi rolls and puts it against your mouth, which is still closed due to your surprise. "Eat. I won't accept this…whatever it is you're doing."

"O-oh, I-…thank you, my Lord." You open your mouth and allow him to feed you. Light blush forming from how good the food is. Yes, that was definitely why. "My compliments to the chef. This is beyond delicious, my Lord…"

And it was true, the sushi, the miso soup, selection of meats, everything tasted DIVINE.

"Compliments taken."

WAIT-

You nearly choke on your food. "I-I apologize…my Lord. I, you…for me???"

"Use your words."

"I mean, ah…" You shake your head, trying to recover from your mind going into overdrive. "You…made this for me?"

"Yes." He says it so plainly.

"What…what for?"

He doesn't answer and, for once, looks unsure. "I…I don't know."

------

When you came out of his chambers unscathed the second time, everyone - except for Lord Sukuna himself and his servant - went into a frenzy. The servants were appalled, the courtesans were fuming, and you made sure to steer clear of everyone who now seemed to loathe you. And, soon enough, all your duties were either with the head servant, with Lord Sukuna, or by yourself. Still, you didn't feel safe in the estate anymore.

Then, one night, the head servant came to your quarters, stating that "Lord Sukuna has requested I take you to his chambers."

If you weren't going to die physically, you would die of embarrassment.

Still, you followed the white haired servant to his chambers, entire form trembling as you nearly stumbled over yourself. Sukuna glances you once over, and can't help the snort that escapes his lips. You looked like a newly born fawn with how shaky your legs were.

"My sincerest apologies. I just…nervous…"

"That much is clear. Sit." Something is off and you can tell he's tense. "This probably isn't going to go how you're expecting."

You do as he says, sitting seiza in front of him. Something sharp is pointed to your throat, right where the artery is. Your eyes go wide, but after a little bit, you allow your entire body to relax. If you should die by anyone's hand, it would be his.

"Look at me." He commands and you look up, seeing him holding a spear of sorts. For the first time, you see him - truly see him. His form beautiful, terrifying and divine all at once. Your eyes and body must show your adoration, because he looks away - as if uncomfortable.

He shuts his eyes, and the spear is repeatedly pushed against your neck, as if trying. However, it never follows through. This was so easy for him, and yet…

"My Lord, if I should die today, it would be the greatest honor for it to be by your hand." Your body relaxes, eyes close and you lean into the blade of the spear. Sukuna tenses, and you feel it in his hold. "If it's by your hand, my Lord, I can only die happy."

"Yes. That much you've made clear." You hear him sigh, tired and defeated, as the spear drops to the floor. "To think this is how I'd lose…how pathetic…"

"M…my Lord?"

"Leave."

You see him, frustrated and defeated, and it makes your heart ache to see him like this. Without even realizing it, your hand reaches out and stops just before touching him. "Might I stay for you? Please, I only want…"

His glare nearly has you frozen. "THIS is how you want to celebrate a victory over me?"

"No, my Lord. I only wish to stay by your side and help how I can."

He's quiet, clearly upset. "Do what you will with me. I might as well be worthless like this anyway."

"Never to me, Lord Sukuna." You take his hand in both of yours, and bring your lips to his knuckles but he quickly pulls his hand away.

"What?!" He snarls. "What use is your loyalty to someone like me now?"

"You are my Lord, Sukuna. I serve you…" Your eyes meet his, full of longing and concern. "Anything I can do to help you, please let me…"

His eyes briefly glance at your quivering lips, leaning in without realizing before he turns away with a click of his tongue.

"Leave."

And you do as you are told.

------

"How is Lord Sukuna?"

Was one of the most frequent questions you'd pester the head servant's ears with. They roll their eyes. "He's not frail, you know. You don't need to worry about him like a mother hen."

"I just…it's been a week since I've seen him! If he doesn't want to see me, that's fine, but…I-I'd at least like to know if he's okay…" You sigh. "And what I did wrong…so I can avoid doing it again!"

"Just give him time to process." The head servant states nonchalantly. "This is new territory for him."

------

The silence was…

Awkward, to say the least.

Not a word uttered as he continued to paint those stupid edible weeds in the candle-light. It was already late…

"A-ahem." Your voice breaks slightly when you clear your throat, and you feel his gaze on you. "M-my Lord, if there's nothing else, I shall retire for the night."

"Stay."

What.

"Don't make me repeat myself." Clearly your reaction was evident in your body, and you choke on your words before they even get out.

"That night was my first defeat." He says, as if sensing your question, yet you hear a tired and heavy sigh. "As of now, it's been my only one."

"But…have you been okay, my Lord?"

"Always about me, hm?" He scoffs, and there's tension as his footsteps grow closer. Your eyes meet his, beautiful and terrifying, when his fingers gently tug your chin up - guiding you to look at him. Guiding your body to the mattress as he cages you underneath him. "And why not just claim your victory? I have no right to complain. Isn't that what you meant to do the night you defeated me?"

"What? No! My, Lord, no! I-I'm sorry. It wasn't-I didn't mean-It's not what you think! I could never-" Your hands cover your mouth - shocked at the implication. "Oh Lord Sukuna, I bow to you! Only you! I-I will never, could never, force something like that on you! Not then. Not now…"

"Good. This was getting overwhelming." He sighs and then promptly rolls off you, plopping down to your side. Though your skins were still touching and, for once, Sukuna didn't mind someone this close to him in this way. He was relaxed, as if his worries melted away. You couldn't help the smile that grew. This was the Lord you know - a walking death and calamity, now pacified. You both face each other and he can't help but look away, cracking under the weight of your loving gaze - full of adoration, concern and awe.

Weak.

He was weak.

"Lord Sukuna, may I?" Your hand reaches out to him, stopping just before reaching the wooden part of his face. He was so terribly beautiful.

"Do as you wish." He mumbles, and you gently hold him - even though he doesn't show it, you can feel him tense.

"My Lord, what's wrong?" There it is again, the weight that makes him feel like he's breaking without being broken. "I know you don't need it, but I only wish to help in any way I can…"

His mouth opens and closes several times before he's able to finally find the worse. "You've broken me. Made me weak…and I can't even curse you, or wish we'd never met because I'd be lying."

You chuckle. "My Lord is far from weak."

"Yet I am powerless against you." His four eyes bore into you, in them a mix of desperation and longing, as you gently stroke the wooden part of his face. Finally, he closes his eyes, relaxing against you. "And I never thought defeat could feel like this…"

"Is it pleasant, my Lord?"

"It is…" You feel his fingers tracing along your collarbone, up to your jawline and you feel something wet licking your skin as his hand rests on your throat. A mouth on his hand, gently licking and suckling on the sensitive parts of your neck. "…but only if it's you."

"Lord Sukuna…" Despite everything, you feel he's still tense. "You're tense. Would you like me to…?"

"Yes. I meant to bed you tonight, but this…it's…" He sighs. "Overwhelming. I'm not clueless, but something about you makes it all…too much…"

"Then let me lead, my Lord." You gently push him down, and he lets you - following you as you guide him. His hand takes hold of your chin, pulling you in so your lips meet his. His kiss was tentative and unsure, or perhaps more accurately, scared. Scared of every feeling that threatened to overthrow him. You eagerly massaged your lips against his nonetheless. "Please…allow me to worship you tonight, Lord Sukuna."

His breaths become heavier when you straddle him, gently undoing his kimono while he easily rips your clothes to shreds with a flick of a wrist. Your lips mark his skin gently. Moving down to worship his mouth, jaw, his shoulders, both chests and finally to the mouth on his stomach - who was breathing just as heavy. Sukuna tenses when you take his tongue into your mouth, sucking on it and explore the much bigger one with your smaller tongue.

When you pull away, there's a small pool of saliva where the stomach mouth lay open and plenty on you where the mouth-hands had left their marks on your skin. Both his cocks, beautiful, heavy and fat, sat on his stomach where they were already leaking with arousal. Sukuna's breathing turned heavy, and as your hands move to his waist, stopping just before doing anything, you look up at him. "My Lord, if at any time you wish for me to stop, please say so. I will stop without hesitation or question."

"Always about me…" He chuckles and, in a sudden movement, easily manhandles you so your dripping cunt is on his stomach-mouth. "No, I do not wish to stop. But if you truly ask for nothing in return, then let me be gracious."

"M-my Lord, ah-" Your eyes roll back when you feel that giant tongue lapping at your juices, the both of you moaning as he did so.

"Delicious…" Fingers find their way to your clit, rubbing circles as a mouth sucks hickeys on your skin and your chest - finding the sensitive nubs and harshly tugging. You hear a noise that's half way between a whimper and a moan. "…everything about you…so delicious…"

"That's it, my Lord. I'm yours tonight…" You sigh, mind in bliss as your hands find his cocks. He bucks his hips when you begin to stroke him - slowly, before building to a steady pace. His cocks were thick and fat, heavy and veiny and monstrously beautiful in all the ways that had you nervous to take him. They throbbed eagerly, dare you say even aching for your touch. Bowing down, you take one of his tips into your mouth, careful not to let your teeth get in the way. The way his tip had pulsed and the amount of arousal you had to swallow down, had you moaning and whining happily as you swallowed his cock. Amidst the low growling of his stomach mouth, you hear a noise that's halfway between a whimper and a moan, and feel him buck his hips into your mouth as you lick and suck on him eagerly - tongue, lips and hands feverishly worshipping Sukuna's heavy, monstrous lengths.

The tongue begins to enter you, and you nearly cum on the spot - nearly choking on his cock. Slowly, it reaches deep, deep enough to hit that spot that has you seeing stars - forming a light bulge on your stomach with how big it is. When you continue to moan, Sukuna's hips move on their own - tip fucking your mouth while you drool and stroke him.

You both get lost in pleasure. His large tongue tastes and moves eagerly inside you, practically assaulting that sweet spot as the stomach mouth continues to growl and whine and drool; while you eagerly suck on and stroke his twitching and throbbing lengths. A guttural moan escapes Sukuna's throat when he releases into your greedy mouth, and you do your best to swallow everything he has to offer while his other cock paints you in white. Drool, precum and his seed still leak out your mouth, though - and you quickly find it's too much.

Before you can stop yourself, your cunt clamps down on the large tongue inside you and your body goes tense as you reach your own orgasm. Fluids leak out of your greedy cunt as you squirt on his tongue, which continues to move inside of you well past your high.

His tip leaves your mouth with a sloppy and wet pop and with a groan, the large tongue takes one final lick at your overstimulated insides before it retracts back. You both are breathing heavy, shaking a little as he repositions you onto his lap. His hand caresses your face, eyes completely dilated as he makes a noise somewhere between a moan and a sigh. "Oooh, gods, look at you…"

"My Lord, I-" Your eyes widen a little as you struggle a little in his grasp. "Wait-"

"Have you forgotten who you answer to?" He clicks his tongue. "You are in no position to make demands of me."

"I…answer to you, my Lord." You still, realizing what he was asking you. "I'm sorry."

When you look away bashfully, there's a small silence.

There's a small silence as you look away bashfully. However, when you glance back at him and are met with a frown - there was the sudden realization of an unsaid question waiting to be answered. He hasn't moved at all. Immediately, you explain yourself, not wanting him to get the wrong idea. "I-I'm still a bit sensitive, is all…but I-I still want this! Truly, my Lord! I-I want…I want you, still."

Your voice comes out a little higher than you would have liked, but it seemed to quell him nonetheless.

"As am I, but…" He sighs and before he looks away, you capture his lips in a chaste but wet kiss.

"I know." You bite your lip bashfully and your voice comes out soft and sweet in all the ways that make his cocks twitch. "But, I did promise to worship my Lord tonight. I shouldn't make a promise I can't keep."

When your hands begin to stroke him again, slow and gentle, Sukuna practically throws his head back, biting back a low whimper while his stomach mouth shamelessly groaned and panted. He cursed as his hips began to move on their own, muscles tensing as his cocks grew hard again. Yet when your eyes lock he only sees adoration and longing in them as your hands worshipped him diligently. Not the empty lust he saw in everyone else who wanted him this way but could never get close.

"You look incredible like this, my Lord." Your voice comes out raspy and full of longing, and it tears a near animalistic sound from him.

"Enough." He growls, and you immediately stop. "Let me inside you."

"Anything for you." A mix of arousal, anxiousness and excitement overwhelms you as you climb on top of him, positioning yourself so his bottom cockhead kisses the entrance to your cunt. The both of you share a guttural groan as you sink down on one of his cocks, the free one throbbing delightfully in front of your cunt. Sukuna was massive, to say the least, and despite how dripping wet you both were your legs were still shaking from the wonderful strain. Although your sopping, velvety insides took him in eagerly while being stretched to their limit. The initial pain of the stretch was nearly drowned out by how wonderful he felt inside of you - fat and veiny cock completely filling you, dragging deliciously along your insides. You could feel him his arousal leak inside you, and his length pulsing like a second heartbeat. And when you fully sheathed him inside of you, you both almost lose the ability to think properly.

"S-Sukuna, my Lord…" You'd be embarassed by how shameless you sounded with your Lord now fully inside you, his fat mushroom head threatening to breach the entrance to your cervix and spurting his precum on it. His hands rested on your hips, keeping your bodies joined with a messy puddle of arousal underneath you both. Sukuna's eyes were rolled back and fluttering slightly while his stomach mouth was open with his massive tongue lolled out, making a noise somewhere between a low growl and a whimper. Seeing him like this nearly sent you off the edge.

"O-ooh, gods…" He groans when he feels you clamp down on him, and a hand pulls your head into a clumsy kiss. You feel his breath turn into full on panting when he tasted himself on you, the hands on your hips now painfully digging into your skin as he begins to thrust up into you - sloppy, slow and languid, as if trying to get even deeper than he could. Your free hands, once caressing the wooden part of his face, now move down to stroke his free cock - earning you a low growling from the stomach mouth as it started panting.

"Oh, you feel heavenly, Lord Sukuna…" As if encouraged by your words, his thrusts start to get faster, harder - a steady rhythm beginning to build. "That's it. You're doing so well, my Lord."

"Ngh, ah…" Oh, how your Lord made such sweet sounds.

Neither of you were going to last long, it was all too much.

The pain had long subsided, replaced only with ecstacy. Sukuna's fat and heavy cock dragged along every part of your insides, and the feeling of the warm arousal dripping from his tip and the throbbing of his veiny length had you near screaming into his mouth. Your Lord was completely filling you and leaving no part of you unloved. While your wet and sloppy cunt desperately sucked him in every time you and him moved, only to be rewarded as he thrusted back in and you bounced back down on him, wet velvety insides squeezing him tightly as if never wanting him to leave. Without you even realizing it, your body was unconsciously and sweetly worshipping and loving your god. "A-ah, I love you, my Lord!"

Something in Sukuna snaps upon hearing those words, which were otherwise empty - had it come from someone else.

"Let me taste you." He practically whimpers into your mouth as you both pant and continue to knot tongues. The kiss is clumsy, inexperienced, but you were far too lost in love to care - exploring your Lord's mouth eagerly while you struggle to ride his beautiful, monstrous form. The tongues on his mouths sucking, biting and tasting your skin; marking every bit of your body they could. This would hurt, but you didn't care. You only wanted to show your god how much you loved him. "And I want you to accept me, too..."

"Yes, my Lord. Anything-" This would hurt, but you didn't care - only wanting to show your god how much you loved him. "Anything you wish of me…"

With the flick of his wrist, there's a sharp pain on your tongue and a metallic taste floods both of your mouths - there's not enough damage to fully cut off your tongue, however, only a cut.

"Swallow me." Sukuna's breath hitches as he continues to kiss you, letting out a noise between a growl and a whimper, and you realize that it wasn't only your blood in both of your mouths. An offering of a devotee to their god, and a god to their devotee. You eagerly swallow each other's blood, moaning as you share the messy, bloody kiss.

His thrusts get faster and harder, his cock twitching and your cunt spasming. What was once a steady rhythm has now turned sloppy as you both rode each other into your high. Sukuna reaches his orgasm with a choked sob, and you reach yours with a scream - bodies tensing as you both get lost in each other and neither of you stop moving. His warm and thick seed floods your insides, far too copious and spilling over as he paints your womb white. Your cunt spasms and clamps down on him, almost painfully milking and sucking him in, desperately trying and failing to keep his overflowing love inside.

It feels like forever, but you eventually collapse on top of him - both of you too tired to pull out. Your minds were completely muddled, bodies shaky with the high and tranquility of post-orgasm. There was nothing but the sound of your breathing for a while, before he silently cups your face and you feel the sting on your tongue disappear. With shaky hands, you touch your tongue and find the cut was healed.

"Thank you for sharing your blood with me, my Lord." You bury your face in the crook of his neck. "If I may, might I stay the night?"

"You'll be staying here every night, from now on." Without realizing it, his lips reach your forehead. "And for the rest of eternity, you will never leave my side."

"Yes, my Lord. I swear it." It was one simple, powerful vow that had you staying by his side for the rest of your life…

And made you return to him, in every life after.

-----

My GAAAHD was this difficult to write. Not the actual writing part itself, oh NO. But finding the time for writing. YEEESH. Anyways, have a great day!

.

Taglist:

[thelampisaflashlight]

Cryptid Biology Season 2: Something Special

[Previous entry in this series: Here. The ghouls participate in a time honored tradition in celebration of the summer solstice... or Dew has an encounter with Special in the woods.] Below the cut.

Dew can feel his heart beating in his chest as he runs through the darkness, ducking and weaving to avoid branches and thorn bushes that appear just inches away from him before disappearing into the black surrounding him.

He curses, feeling his muscles scream at him to slow down, to stop, but if he does, he'll get caught.

Breathing heavily, Dew stumbles over a root, but manages to keep his footing... only to trip and fall over the next one, landing upon the ground with a heavy thud that would hurt a whole heck of a lot more if not for the bed of decaying leaves on the forest floor.

He groans and attempts to scramble to his feet, but when a boot against his back keeps him from rising right away, he relents, flopping back down with an angry huff.

"First you failed to outrun me during the Imbolc hunt, then you ran into me at the one for Ostara, and don't get me started on that pathetic attempt to hide from me during Beltane... and now here we are again." the ghoul above him chuckles, eyes glowing red, face just barely visible with Dew's lackluster night vision, "I think you're getting in my way on purpose, Tadpole."

"Stop calling me that, Special, you prick..." Dew grits out, "Maybe you're the one chasing after me, huh?"

Special hums and grinds his foot down.

"Mn, no, I don't think so." he says, crouching down, "I'm not much of a hunter, you see, I've always been more of a scavenger; I take what the others leave behind, so normally I'd wait and see who's left..."

He moves to press his knee into Dew's back, applying more pressure as he leans forward to whisper into his ear, "You're too much work, so for me to catch you, either nobody wanted you this time, or you're deliberately making it easy for me, because after our first encounter, you've been aching for more..."

Special brushes the hair from his neck and presses a kiss there, "...Haven't you?"

"Shut-" Dew starts to shout, but can't as Special's jaws lock onto his nape, it stings, both from the act itself, and from the toxin dribbling into his wounds from the ghoul's mouth, "Uh-huunh..."

"There's a good boy." Special coos, licking Dew's blood from his lips, swiping his tongue over his teeth for good measure, "Feels better than when a quint fucks your mind, doesn't it? I know it does... It's such an instant relief."

His hand comes down the massage the wound, grinning as the skin heals over from his touch, while also aiding in spreading the venom faster.

"There we go..." he says, finally lifting himself from Dew's body and flipping him over onto his back, "Well, look at you~"

Dew's whole body feels flush, and his breathing has yet to settle from his mad dash through the forest, so he has to look like a sweaty mess, but Special doesn't seem to agree, reaching down to cup his cheeks with his hands, shaking his head teasingly back and forth.

"Aren't you just the sweetest thing?" he grins, then pats his face lightly, "Hm, guess we should get this show on the road then, huh?"

Dew mumbles something and raises his arms slowly, wiggling his fingers, and Special blinks at him for a moment before snorting, "Oh, poor baby, can't take your shirt off yourself? You need me to do it for you?"

"Feeeel allll... wiggly..." Dew supplies unhelpfully, giggling as Special hooks his fingers under the hem of his shirt, pulling it up and over his head in one fluid movement, "Umph!"

"The venom's making you a little silly, isn't it?" Special squishes Dew's face again as he wads up his shirt and tucks it under his head, "That's good, you always seem so uptight..."

He spreads his fingers over his chest, thumbs poised beneath his nipples, "You know..."

"Most people come to these hunts so they can do nasty, freaky things in the woods without consequence." he says, teasing the small bud, "But you, and pardon the joke, are something special, huh?"

"You just wanna be loved.... adored, taken care of..."

Dew mewls as Special descends to nibble at his neck again, fingers rolling his nipples around in soft, slow motions.

"Are they not treating you right, sweet thing? Hm?" Special asks, "Should I talk to that water ghoul you like so much and tell him he doesn't need to be rough?"

"I like... I like rough..." Dew replies meekly, eyes shutting, "S'okay..."

Special makes a disappointed little noise and pulls back.

"You know I don't like liars, Dewdrop." he chastises, "But if that's what you want-"

Dew's eyes widen as Special's hand begins to wrap around his neck.

"Do you want this?" he asks, applying pressure to his throat, "Or do you want me to treat you like you really want?"

Dew groans and kicks his legs slightly, squirming under his grasp.

"Want-"

"Yes?"

"...Don't wanna say it..."

Special pouts.

"But I want to hear it, c'mon, baby, when you're with me, what's your name, huh? How do I treat you?"

"Pri..."

"Yes~?"

"You're a prick." Dew cackles, and Special sits back, rolling his eyes.

"You may be easy to catch, but you're hard to break, I'll give you that." He sighs, "But I'll be damned again if I don't love picking you apart."

"Hehe~"

The multi-ghoul slides down and begins undoing Dew's pants, but the zipper refuses to open and he gives a frustrated noise.

"Just pull 'em off..." Dew says, struggling to move his legs around from under Special's body.

"I have a better idea-" The ghoul tugs Dew's pants down to about mid thigh and leaves them like that, the dense, folded over fabric restricting his movements, "-that's much better."

Dew wriggles, trying to slide them down further, but he can't get the leverage and gives a defeated hiss.

"I could just..." Special pushes his legs back towards his chest, "Yeah, I can work with this."

"H-Hey now-"

Special cranes his neck at him, "What? Suddenly you're embarr-Oh. Oh-ho-ho-ho~"

Dew's ears have flicked back, the tips almost as red as his face.

"What do you think? Should I take you like this, or perhaps I should lay you on your side? What is my princess thinking now, hm~?"

"Just-"

A stick snaps and Dew goes stone stiff, whereas Special lowers himself over his body, territorial, a growl emanating from his throat, wholly unexpected from such a usually jovial, prankster type like him.

What or whoever was approaching seems to get the hint and approaches no further, but the ghoul above him remains locked in his protective stance, glaring out into the darkness.

After a minute passes, Dew can finally hear the sound of retreating footsteps, and not even a second later, he feels something prodding at his entrance, causing him to tense and squeak.

"How annoying..." Special mutters, hastily working Dew open, not giving him any time to adjust, forcing a series of involuntary chatters and chirps to escape his mouth, "We'll have to rush things a bit now, I'm sorry."

"Who was-" Dew tries to lift himself up to look around, but Special pushes him back down, "Hey-"

Special clicks his tongue.

"Humans."

Dew furrows his brow.

"The siblings-"

"Not them." Special hisses, then tilts his head back, letting out an annoyed groan, "Dammit..."

"Then who? The gardener-"

"Outsiders."

Dew forces himself up onto his elbows, wobbling as Special helps him tug his pants back up.

"Careful now, don't want you falling down again..." Special chides, wrapping his arm around his waist as they stand, "...Fucking, of course, those bastards would sneak around on a night like this... I bet they're running back to the other side of the lake now."

"We should go after them-" Dew starts, but the second he tries to pull away from Special, his head starts swimming, "-Fuck, Phil, how much venom did you give me??"

"I wasn't expecting our little rendezvous to be interrupted by a pack of mortal morons, so I gave you a little more than last time..." he pinches his brow, "We'll have to inform the other-"

A loud cracking sound startles them both, making Dew stumble, but he is quickly captured by Special, who narrows his eyes in the direction of the noise.

"Do you think that was the trespassers or..."

A second, louder crack echoes through the woods followed by a chorus of human screams.

Dew cringes and Special begins to make a clicking sound, a common distress noise among ghouls, neither of them is sure what's going on at this point, and the lack of any other sound once a third crack sounds sounds has them both on edge, until...

"You better run, you fuckin' little shits! I have more where that came from!"

"...Bea, I think they got the point, put the bb gun down-"

...Ah.

Mountain heaves a heavy sigh, taking the gun from the gardener, who looks positively miffed, even in the lowlight cast by the lantern in the earth ghouls other hand.

"Give that back-" the hotheaded woman starts, but instead of giving her back the gun, Mountain scoops her up and jostles her around a bit before tossing her over his shoulder and lumbering back off into the forest, "YOU BITCH!"

Special and Dew watch the retreating pair in silence, looking at each other after the two are gone from sight again.

"...I'm getting too old for this..." They both sigh in unison.

"Still though, how did they get passed the barricades?" Dew wonders aloud and Special shrugs.

"They could have swam to this shore for all we know." he remarks, "It's happened before, so I expect the next budget meeting will involve putting something in place to prevent this from happening again..."

"We can't just magic some shit in place?" Dew questions, "Like with the woods along the main road?"

"People getting turned around in the woods is one thing, because they usually make their way back out, if we turn them around in the water, they could drown..." Special reasons, adjusting his grip on Dew, "...Not that they wouldn't deserve it with all the signs we have posted about these kinds of things. They've probably learned their lesson for now."

Dew hums.

"...So."

"So?"

"...Now that they're gone-"

"Yes?"

"...You know what I'm thinking?"

Special looks him up and down.

"...That we should track them down and eat their bones?"

Dew pinches the bridge of his nose.

"No, I-"

"-want to get railed within an inch of your life to make up for that frankly unnecessary distraction?"

"...You really are a prick."

"And you happen to like them very much, so it's a win-win situation for us all, isn't it?"

[kakusu-shipping]

I have a 💛 reunion kiss/relief Mariocest request in the ask box and I’m going to do it I promise you that but like.

I can’t compete with this

[pettyprocrastination]

broke: eddie munson has handcuffs in his room cause he likes kinky sex 

woke: eddie munson has handcuffs in his room because he was once arrested by officer Callahan for possession of marijuana at a halloween party they busted his junior year, but as soon as Callahan sat him on the pavement and turned around, Eddie jumped up and hauled ass into the forest until he reached the trailer park. His uncle had to pick the lock to get them off his dumbass nephew (making eddie swear to 1. never ask how his uncle knew how to pick locks and 2. never get fucking arrested again) Eddie kept the handcuff’s as a memoir of the night he outran the Hawkins Police Department. 

[puppetmaster13u]

Thinkin' of WOF Au for DC, but like, it's a Gothamite and Fawcett thing. (And Amity Park if crossover)

Like those are the most magical areas in the world, even if Gotham is cursed as fuck. An unspoken secret of sorts that while they present themselves as human to outsiders, they are all Very Much Not.

Which means hilariously in the league, when everyone expects Batman to be suspicious and short with the new guy- even made bets on it- they are then shooketh when both visibly relax and start talking. And half the shared complaints don't make sense!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now Gotham technically has no Queen, nor does Fawcett, but Batman and Captain Marvel are the closest things. Not in the traditional sense of back when they were in separate tribes (& maybe from a different dimension but shh that was millennia ago) but in the sense of, they're the ones patrolling and protecting the cities along with calling the shots in disasters.

Which does sort of change the dynamic they both have in their city. If one of them calls to arms, the city would follow them. They could declare war, and their cities (begrudgingly in Gotham's underbelly's case of strongest is in charge) would follow. And while Billy is oblivious, both Marvel-the-not-hivemind and Batman are. They know they have to be very careful.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm sure we all want Nightwing Bruce but no. Bruce, like both his mother and father and father's father and so on before him, is actually an Icewing. The Waynes however, have a case of melanism running in their bloodline. Thomas Wayne? Only his quills and part of his back were darker, but Bruce? Practically pitch black scales that shadow his eyes.

Now Alfred on the other hand, is a Nightwing. No special powers there, though you would hear many a child protest with how he seems to know everything.

Commissioner Gordon is a Mudwing, big stocky and very tired, which translates to his human disguise as a large trenchcoat. He finds this very amusing. Barbara similarly, is half Mudwing. Her mother was a Hivewing, making her a hybrid between both. Which does ironically mean that Batgirl does in fact have insectoid wings. Though that does ponder the question on if they'd all go by their original vigilante names.

Dick is a Silkwing. Wingless as he watches his parents fall and unable to do anything despite this place supposedly being safe for beings like them. He grows into his own, and his wings, when they come in, are dark Gotham colors through and through, with the deep blue of the sky he's come to crave.

Jason is a hybrid between a Mudwing and a Skywing. He's also an animus- not that he knew that. He doesn't find out until he's dying, telling himself to not die, to get back to Gotham, to his dad, his family- And then he wakes up in his Coffin, alive.

Now Cass, raised to be the perfect killer, is also a hybrid, just one between a Nightwing and a Rainwing, egg set out under the moon. Which succeeds, partially. She can't straight up read minds, but combined with her talent in reading body language on both human and inhuman bodies, it's a near thing.

Tim is a Seawing, borderline abandoned by his parents who seek treasures and more wealth as he's trapped back in a city where the water is dark and poisoned. But he's Gothamite, through and through, and he adapts. Scales darker than the original blues he was born with, and glow shifting to that sickly white of the Gotham's Bats.

Now Steph, is a full-blooded Rainwing, and can in fact change her scales, but can mostly be found in purples and golds. Though for a short time she was in another set of colors, thought dead before she slithered out of the shadows older and wiser than before.

Damian is his father's son, but he's also an Al-Ghul. The not-quite dragonet is half Icewing, and half Sandwing. And struggled to adjust at first, to a place so different from his first home where the only other dragons were blood related. But like any Wayne before him, he adjusts, and he adapts.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Billy wasn't a Beetlewing originally, and perhaps he would have hesitated if he'd known it would change him, would change his body and the last thing he had of his parents. But his friends, his Team and new family help. And he can pass as a Silkwing like their sort-of foster mother. All six of them can do so now, even if the others look more like hybrids themselves thanks to not being the Champion. They might not be, but they're his family. And that's enough.

[fictionadventurer]

The worst part about reading in a genre where you have low expectations (in this case, Christian historical fiction) is that when a book impresses you, you have no idea if it's actually good or if you're just overly impressed because it was a fraction of a degree better than the usual garbage.