#I said “in depth” but the only one I really did that with was Sea Fairy | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

imagines--galore · 11 months

Note

Since you're asking for prompts,I was envisioning Will confessing to the reader in the same way George confessed to Charlotte in Queen Charlotte (the "my heart calls your name" confession) and thought it would suit Will really well!! Like maybe reader puts herself in danger by trying to save Will or something idk

Pairing: Will Turner x Reader Rating || Genres || Warnings: T. Romance. None. A/N: I just ADORE Will Turner so much :3 and I love Charlotte the series as well so this was the PERFECT blend! Sorry for any mistakes folks! Also If you read this please please tell me what you think!!!

Your head was pounding. And not from drinking too much ale. You were sure of it.

Blinking your eyes, you were met with an unfamiliar ceiling. Normally you would wake in a hammock onboard the Black Pearl, with the gentle sway of the ship welcoming you to another day.

But everything was steady and there was no creaking or moaning of the ship as it sailed.

Your eyes blinked once more, to clear them from any remaining sleep. Slowly your brain began to recall the last thing you remembered.

Davy Jone's crew.

A fight on an island.

Fleeing to the Black Pearl.

The Kraken attacking the ship.

The entire crew fighting valiantly to save themselves and their ship.

Huge tentacles rising from the mysterious depths of the waters you had traveled for so long.

Ready to kill.

To drag someone to a watery grave.

To drag Will to his doom.

Will!

You sat up with a loud gasp, eyes frantically darting from one end of the unfamiliar room to the other before finally landing on a familiar figure that had only just stepped into the room.

Will Turner stood at the threshold, holding a bowl of what could only be food. The scent of it wafted through the air and your stomach grumbled in protest at being denied nourishment.

Yet you could not move. Could only stare at the man as he stood before you.

"I see I managed to save you then." You finally said, feeling a little uncomfortable under his gaze. He was looking at you as if you were the very moon that hung in the sky. Which was utterly ridiculous because that was how he saw Elizabeth.

"And that we managed to escape in one piece." You raised a hand to your head, only to be greeted by a bandage wrapped around the entirety of it. A slight twinge of pain against your left temple made you aware of where exactly your injury was. "So, what did I miss? After I passed out?"

Whatever emotional turmoil Will had been battling he pushed it aside in favor of walking forward and handing the bowl to you. As you began to spoon the watery broth to your mouth, he pulled up a chair to sit beside your bed.

"After you passed out, we all piled into the lifeboats. I managed to haul you in as well." He paused almost looking at you expectantly. You raised an eyebrow at him. "And you expect me to thank you for saving me?" You asked in a dry tone, to which he rolled his eyes before continuing.

"Elizabeth was the last of us to get on. But Jack.........Jack stayed. To act as diversion for the kraken."

Your eyes widened and you dropped your spoon into your nearly empty bowl. "He...what?" You whispered, sounding just as in disbelief as you felt. Sorrow passed over Will's feature as he nodded gravely. "Jack's dead, Y/n." He confirmed, to which you took a shuddering breath and closed your eyes, before slowly falling back against the wall behind you.

The both of you sat in silence, with Will reaching out to gently and almost hesitantly placing a hand on top of yours as a sign of comfort. "I'm sorry, y/n. I knew you were close." Tears pricked your eyes but you didn't let them fall. Though you did give a small nod. "As close as a person can be with someone who took them under their protection."

That had been the extent of your relationship with Jack. Your families were old friends, and even related by blood somewhere down the line. And when you had decided to travel the seas as a pirate, Jack had been the one who agreed to let you sail with him. Not many pirates were happy having a female presence onboard, but you had proved yourself enough times that it no longer bothered them.

You had been with Jack through thick and thin. Through fire and water. You had been the only one on his side, along with Gibbs, when Barbossa had mutinied against him.

If it weren't for Jack, you wouldn't have realized your dream of becoming a pirate. And if it hadn't been for Jack, you would never have met Will Turner.

When you had first met Will, him and Jack had just arrived at Tortuga to look for a ship to go after Will's beloved Elizabeth. You had been slightly mistrustful towards him at first, and also a little jealous since Jack seemed to be spending all his time with him. But given how easily Will had befriended the rest of the crew, despite his own mistrust of pirates, you had taken to forming an unlikely acquaintanceship.

You were the best swords woman of your age, and it showed when you would take to the deck and practice every single day.

————————–

Then one day, your sword clashed with Will's.

Your eyes met over the joined blades, gauging the silent question in his. A smirk was your response before you stepped to the side and raised your sword in response.

And so a battle of wits and skill began.

Your swords clashed, your feet danced, your gazes never wavered and neither did your determination.

The entire deck was your practice ground, and the rest of the crew had gotten well out of the way when they had seen the both of you begin to duel. The both of you used every prop to gain the upper hand. But never once did either of you try a dirty trick. And while there had been a sense of pride behind each fell of your swords, slowly they began to grow playful. As did your words.

Back and forth, back and forth. With your swords and with your teasing insults and quips. Smiled full of passion and energy playing about your lips as you both danced to a tune only you could here.

It finally stopped when Jack called out to you. Neither of you yielded, or allowed the other to gain the upper hand. So, with sweat lining your brows and barely able to get a word out with how you both panted for breath, you were only able to smile at one another and say.

"To be continued good sir?" You had said in a slightly mocking yet playful tone to which he had grinned and given you a little bow before speaking.

"As the lady wishes."

But you never did pick back up on the match.

Instead the both of you would simply find each other and talk. He spoke of his life growing up as an orphan, with no money and no family. You had spoken of your own struggles, and slowly, without you realizing, in the weeks that it took you to finally catch up to the Black Pearl, you were made aware of your true feelings for Will.

You would watch him as he interacted with the rest of the crew, and on more then one occasion Jack had caught you simply smiling at him. He had tried to discourage you, telling you of who Will really loved and how nothing could be done about it.

Especially not when he was in love with Elizabeth.

You knew of the consequences, but you simply enjoyed his company too much to just stop spending time with him. And while you knew you were setting yourself up for a lot of heartache, it didn't stop you from forming a companionship with Will.

Although that too came to an abrupt and almost cruel end.

To cut a long story short, Elizabeth was rescued and Barbossa was defeated. Jack had his ship and his crew.

And Will returned home to marry Elizabeth.

Whatever friendship had been blossoming between the both of you had fizzled out the moment Elizabeth had been rescued. And though you knew you were setting yourself up for heartbreak, you did not comprehend just how much it would hurt. How his lack of presence would effect you. He hadn't even offered a proper goodbye when he had left. You had thought that perhaps as a friend he would do you the courtesy, but it was not so.

He never looked back at you.

Not once.

————————–

And so you decided to put him out of your mind. But never your heart. You couldn't put him out of your heart and it only made you miss him more.

So when he returned, this time for the purpose of saving Elizabeth once more, you were cold towards him. Cold and distant, even when he had approached you to speak with you. Your heart had cursed you for not speaking with him, but you were still too hurt over his dismissal of you the last time that you had no desire to forgive him.

All that vanished though, when Davy Jones appeared and agreed to take Will aboard the Flying Dutchman. You knew it was Jack's doing, that he had a plan in place, but that didn't stop you from stepping forward and volunteering to go along with him.

Out of love? Out of desperation? Out of your compulsion to protect the people you cared about? You did not know.

Jack had tried to protest, but Davy Jones accepted.

And so you found yourself standing beside Will, watching as the Black Pearl sailed away, leaving you onboard a ship of dangerous pirates, and a man who did not know how much you loved him.

At every turn, you tried your best to help him. You had learned long ago when to keep your head down and simply follow orders. Will was not a pirate. He picked up every chance he could to fight back. And when he discovered his father was one of the crew members, you had comforted him. And when he had been punished for his mistake with lashings, you had been the one to tend to him, cleaning his wounds and wiping away the blood. You had held his hand as he twitched from the pain, had stroked his hair when he needed a comforting touch.

Your mind screamed at you, at how you were setting yourself for heartbreak once more. But your heart rejoiced. You knew he was doing whatever he was to help Elizabeth, to save her, but you couldn't help it. All those feelings you had buried came rushing back to the top.

Your escape from the Flying Dutchman as well as the Kraken was pure luck. However, by your second encounter with the Kraken, when it came after Jack, your luck had run out.

You had been trying your best to avoid the lashing tentacles, as they grabbed man after man and threw them into the sea. You had successfully avoided capture, but only barely. Your eyes had frantically searched the deck, looking for a way to avoid yet another tentacle when you had spotted Will.

With a tentacle gliding his way to swipe him off his feet and into the water below.

You had screamed his name, had felt yourself leap into action. You ran, throwing yourself forward to push him out of the way. And you succeeded. Only for the tentacle, meant for Will, to hit your body with a force that had your teeth rattling and for you to go flying.

A flash of pain was all you felt at the side of your head. A voice calling out your name in utter alarm and despair was all you remembered.

And then darkness.

————————–

Presently, you blinked away your tears as you set aside the bowl and looked around. It was the first time that you noticed you were in some sort of bed built into the wooden walls. The air smelled heavy and musty. Familiar even.

"Are we at Tia Delma's hideout?" You asked, to which you received a nod in response. "How many of us survived?" Will pursed his lips at her question, and you knew the answer could not be good. "Only a few. Gibbs made it. As did the both of us. And Elizabeth." Of course she did, you thought to yourself.

Wanting to change the subject you raised a hand to your head to press your fingers tenderly against your covered temple. "How long have I been asleep?" The thinning of Will's lips told you just how displeased he was with the answer he gave. "Three days. You were barely alive when we reached Tia Delma. She took one look at you and took you to this room. Working on you for hours before finally letting me in to see you." He admitted, sounding almost angry at the woman.

"Remind me to thank her later." You said with a small smile, as you leaned your head back against the wall and sighed. Your hand came up to fiddle with the skull and cross gold necklace that rested at your throat. "I can't believe he's gone." You whispered, feeling the loss of your friend deeply.

"Elizabeth is in pieces because of it."

You blinked. "Why would she be in pieces over Jack's death?" You asked. You had suspicions that the girl never really liked Jack. There was always some sort tension between the both of them.

"Because she loved him."

Will's words had you blinking in utter surprise.

"What?"

He frowned at the confusion on your face. "I thought you knew?" You rolled your eyes. "Oh yes Will, Elizabeth and I sit together for tea and gossip about our love lives." The statement did make him crack a little smile before he continued.

"Well now you know. Elizabeth loved Jack."

"But I thought you loved her. Weren't you going to marry her?" You asked, allowing your curiosity to show. With all that had happened, neither of you had been able to properly sit and speak. Not when your lives had been in constant danger by either cannibals, or mad pirates or mythical creatures or the Company.

So many people were out to kill all of you.

"I was. I thought I loved her. But I realized, when we got back home, that it was nothing but infatuation. She was the one who rescued me when I was found adrift. And we grew up together. So, I allowed my boyhood feelings to grow into something that was never meant to be." He paused for a moment. "Those feelings are all gone now. And I was glad she found someone to love. For a little while." He added sadly, glancing in the direction the door where Elizabeth was probably sitting beyond. You did too, almost expecting Jack to come swaggering in with his usual land-legs and a bottle of ale in his hand.

"I never expected Jack of all people to die. He seemed almost immortal." You admitted.

"Well he proved he was a mortal man and met his doom. And you would've followed him too, if Tia Delma hadn't been here." You glanced at him curiously, not understanding the tone of his voice. He was glaring at you, his eyes almost stormy. "How could you be so reckless? What you did was extremely dangerous, even for you Y/n."

"You mean saving your life?" A frown creased your brow. "I did what I did to save you Will. And if that is a crime then take me to the brig." You snapped with a roll of your eyes. "And aren't people usually grateful to those who save them?"

He glared at you. "Not at the expense of their own life. The Company is taking over the seas, we need every good pirate we can get."

Anger coursed through your veins. "Oh so thats why you were worried about me? Because you didn't want to loose a good pirate. Its all about strategy with you isn't it?" All your past hurt and heartache was beginning to simmer under the surface, and if you weren't careful you would probably say something you would regret. But you didn't care.

His nostrils flared. "How could you think its simply because of that? Do you truly believe I am that shallow?" He spoke angrily to which you gave a mocking nod. "Of course I do. I mean why else would you ignore me once you gained my friendship?"

"I never-"

But you cut him off. "I thought we were friends Will. But the moment you rescued Elizabeth you ignored me as if you never knew me. As if we didn't spend weeks in each other's company. And then you came back, and I was there with you on the Dutchman, but as soon as you saw Elizabeth, once more you pushed me aside. I am not something you can use whenever you desire before putting it aside to gather dust. And even when I save your life, when I rescue you, you say such things to me?" Your voice had slowly started to rise in octave with each passing word. It was a good thing no one was within earshot to hear you.

Will looked angry with every word that came out of your mouth. "You put yourself in grave danger, Y/n. You always have no regard for your own life or your own safety and it worries me."

"And why should that bother you? Or even worry you for that matter. What am I to you?"

"I only wish to help you Y/n. To protect you-" He reached out with his hand almost as if he were about to touch you but stopped.

You turned your head away. "I did not ask for your protection Will, I do not need it. Why would you wish to protect me?"

"Because-" But you didn't allow him to finish.

"Is it because you think of me as some damsel in distress?" He shook his head.

"No Y/n-" Once again he was interrupted from saying his piece.

"Or you do not believe me to be capable of doing anything."

His voice was almost pleading, imploring you to listen to him. "Y/n-"

But you barely heard him, allowing your hurt and pain to blind you as you spoke. "Why? Why do you wish to protect me so?"

"Because I love you!"

His deceleration came out in a shout. One that echoed in your ears and had your mouth parting in utter surprise, while you stared at him in utter disbelief.

For his part, Will had stood from his chair, hands buried in his hair as he began to pace the length of the small room, still speaking in an almost frenzied and desperate manner.

"From the mo-" His voice broke as he met your gaze. "From the moment I saw you." Suddenly he was sitting in front of you on the bed, clutching at your hand in an almost desperate manner as he continued. "I have loved you from the very second I saw you." His words washed over you like a warm ocean breeze.

"I love you desperately Y/n." His voice was trembling, every word sounding almost broken as he spoke. "My heart calls your name. And I cannot loose you. I cannot." With each word his hands raised to cup your face, only to bring you forward and press your lips to his in a desperate kiss.

And you returned it.

You felt your heart heal and break at the same time as he brushed a hand against your bandages. Pulling back from the kiss, he rested his forehead against your own. "I cannot do this without you, Y/n." He admitted to which you wrapped your arms around his shoulders and embraced him with all your strength, hoping to pour all of your love for him in that one simple gesture. "I suppose it is a good thing I love you as well then." You whispered against his neck, to which he let out a small slightly tearful laugh. "I am aware of that. Given how you whispered it to me when you were slipping in and out of consciousness."

You pulled back, staring at wide eyed at his grinning face. "What?!"

“Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.” He gently brushed his knuckles against your cheek, a gesture that made you blush. Your hand lifted to trace along the side of his face, enjoying how he closed his eyes, as if to savour your touch.

“I will never leave you Will. Just as long as you promise to never leave me.” You said, still stroking his face.

He nodded in response. “I promise.” His hand found the back of your head, urging you forward to close the remaining distance between the both of you.

This time the kiss lasted longer then just a few seconds.

#will turner x reader #will turner x oc #will turner x y/n #pirates of the carribean: dead men tell no tales #pirates of the carribean at worlds end #pirates of the carribean x reader #pirates of the caribbean #jack sparrow #will turner #legolas x reader #orlando bloom x reader #legolas x y/n

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m1ckeyb3rry · 3 months

Text

── THE GLASS PRINCESS // FIVE

Series Synopsis: You wake up in a strange room with no memories, broken glass at your bedside, and a prince named Zuko as your only chance at figuring out who you really are.

Chapter Synopsis: You visit Ember Island with Jia-Li and grow closer with her and her brother. Everything comes to a head, though, when a party on the island goes wrong.

Series Masterlist

Pairing: Zuko x Reader

Chapter Word Count: 7.4k

Content Warnings: complicated relationships (strangers to friends to lovers to enemies to strangers to lovers to enemies to lovers), amnesia, alternate universe, lots of secrets and lying and mystery

A/N: would you guys believe if i said i thought we’d already know reader’s real identity this many words into the fic?? anyways enjoy the fun times while they last folks because trust it will be getting angsty at some point probably

Dear Zuko,

I’m sorry for whatever I did that made you angry with me. Please forgive me. I don’t want you to be upset.

Sincerely, Ursa

P.S. Destroying Chan’s house was wrong, but since it was him, I won’t chide you. Jia-Li and I also participated a bit, so it would be hypocritical, anyways.

P.P.S. I’m not friends with Ruon-Jian anymore.

Though you had been at sea for quite a bit of time now, you still had not grown bored of staring at the ocean. Jia-Li had sat back down under the shade of the silk canopy a while ago, eating a bowl full of ice cream and watching you in amusement as you stood at the prow and peered down into the water.

“It’s so beautiful,” you said.

“You’ve said that like a hundred times,” Jia-Li teased you.

“I know, I just…I just can't get over it. I’ve never seen anything quite so blue,” you said, though this was somewhat a lie. That blue from your memories, it resembled this water in depth, though not in texture — the water was clear and lucid, whereas the blue you remembered was harsh and matte.

“I guess I should be glad that you’re enjoying yourself already! Just think about it — you haven’t even gotten to Ember Island yet, and you’re having so much fun. Imagine how much better it’ll be once you’re there!” Jia-Li said.

“I can’t wait,” you said dreamily. “As long as we can go swimming, I’ll be happy.”

“Of course,” she said. “We’ll swim every day! My brother wrote to me, he said that the tides have been forgiving this season. Maybe I can convince him to teach you how to ride the flying dolphin fish. He always shoos me away whenever I ask, but it’s impossible to hate you, Ursa, so he’ll definitely say yes.”

You had been growing accustomed to that name. It still felt like an alias at times, but it was a familiar one, said around you so often that you barely even hesitated before responding to it.

“It’s fine if he doesn’t,” you said. “Though it would be nice to learn something like that…”

“Maybe you should ask him!” Jia-Li said. “There’s no way he can refuse then!”

“I wouldn’t want to be imposing,” you said immediately, shaking your head. “He shouldn’t have to do something just because he’s too guilty to say no.”

“No, I was more thinking along the lines of ‘you’re pretty and he doesn’t say no to pretty girls’, actually,” she said. “He’ll be happy to oblige you, but if it’s a request from his little sister, he’s likely to say no just to be contrary.”

“We’ll see,” you said after ruminating on it for a second. “Also, thank you for the compliment.”

“It’s just the truth,” Jia-Li said. “But since we’re on the subject — I know you don’t have memories, so you can’t answer about your past life, but what about recently? Have you had a crush on someone before?”

“A crush?” you said.

“Yeah! I mean, have you ever liked anyone?” she said.

“I like a lot of people,” you said. “For example, you and Ty Lee.”

“No, silly, not in that way. I mean liking someone romantically,” Jia-Li elaborated. “I know a few of the boys in the Royal Fire Academy for Boys have been talking about you, so I was just curious.”

“Oh!” you said, covering your face with your hands so that she could not see the embarrassment blooming on it. “I didn’t know that they were.”

“Sure, of course they are! They talk about a lot of us, so it makes sense, and anyways I wasn’t lying when I said you’re pretty. They’re all too scared to actually talk to you, but I’m sure that if you went to the market alone and met one of them, they’d propose on the spot,” she said.

The academies for girls and boys had separate campuses, but they were run conjointly, so that your breaks aligned and your events were held in tandem. Though you tended to avoid attending sporting matches, you had gone to one or two in your time as a student, so you supposed that must’ve been when you had become a viable prospect for whatever nonsense Jia-Li was spouting.

“I don’t talk to any boys,” you pointed out. “Even if any of them like me, I don’t know them, so I can’t say I like them back.”

“You talk to the prince a lot,” she said.

“What?” you said.

“Did you really think I didn’t notice how often you send letters to him via Bian?” she chided. You coughed uncomfortably.

“Um, well, he is my benefactor, so I have to keep him updated with my day-to-day activities,” you said. “It’s, er, part of my scholarship, you know.”

It was not, but Jia-Li seemed to buy the lie readily enough, nodding sagely, though not without a dramatic pout.

“That does check out, but it’s not nearly as exciting as a secret love affair or letters written out of pining and sent with longing, stamped with your heart’s greatest desire for a man that can never be your own!” she said.

“Sorry?” you said. “I don’t think any of that fits the situation, though.”

She sighed. “It’s okay.”

“What about you? Do you have any crushes?” you said, recognizing that this was the logical next step in the conversation. Jia-Li blushed and looked at the wooden paneling of the deck, using her fingers to twirl the hair which escaped her ponytail to frame her face.

“Yes,” she said. “Kind of. But it’s someone who I shouldn’t like, and who would never like me back, so I’ve never said anything.”

“Who?” you said. “Your family is pretty influential, isn’t it? I can’t imagine most anyone rejecting you. Unless you like Prince Zuko and are projecting your ‘heart’s greatest desire for a man that can never be your own’ onto me?”

“No way!” Jia-Li said. “It’s more complicated than him being of a higher ranking than me.”

“Then what is it?” you said.

“He’s my brother’s best friend!” she said, all in a rush, her entire face in flames at the confession.

“Oh,” you said, cringing in empathy. “I see. He would not approve?”

“Definitely not,” she said. “But there’s something worse than him not approving: marrying this boy would mean having Kaho as a sister-in-law!”

“Oh, Agni,” you said, slapping your palm against your forehead. How had you forgotten? It was the only reason Jia-Li was somewhat exempt from Kaho’s reign of terror, despite her association with you: her brother and Kaho’s were best friends. But if she liked Kaho’s brother, then what would that mean?

“That’s the scenario,” she said. “And to top it all off, he’s notoriously popular with girls. He probably wouldn’t even look at me twice. I’ll always just be Ruon-Jian’s annoying little sister to him.”

“I doubt that that’s true,” you said as you approached the docks. “Really, Jia-Li, I don’t think that's the case. You said his family will be on Ember Island at the same time as us?”

“Yeah,” she said quietly. “Although Kaho mentioned not being able to come — something about volunteering as a scribe for some official meeting that the Fire Lord will be hosting over the weekend.”

“Perfect! That’ll be our goal, then,” you said.

“Huh?” she said.

“We’re going to get you noticed by your crush! Who cares about the consequences? Kaho and your brother can just deal with it, and if they have something to say, then they can talk to me,” you said.

“That’s nice of you to offer, but what would you even do?” Jia-Li said.

“I don’t know,” you said. “Talk to them, I guess. Kaho already doesn’t like me, so it’s not a tragedy if she hates me more, and I don’t know your brother that well, so if he and I don’t get along after that kind of conversation, it won’t be a great loss.”

“Do you really think we can do something like that?” she said.

“We have to try,” you said. “You deserve it, Jia-Li.”

“Thank you,” she said, swallowing. “You’re a really good friend, Ursa. If you ever change your mind and decide you do like Prince Zuko after all, just let me know—”

“Jia-Li!” you warned her, though the threat fell flat, as she only laughed in return.

Jia-Li’s home on Ember Island was close to the docks, and it was right on the water. She told you as you walked up the seashell-lined path that that stretch of sand was actually a private beach that belonged to her family, so you wouldn’t have to worry about anyone bothering you while you were there.

“Sometimes my brother goes to the bigger beach a little ways away, though,” she said. “They like seeing other people our age and hanging out with them and whatnot.”

“Maybe when I’m a little more confident, we can try it,” you said. “For now, I’m just glad we have our own space where I don’t have to be worried about embarrassing myself in case I drown or something.”

“I wouldn’t let you drown,” Jia-Li said. “But I’m fine with that plan. It’s not like I have some huge desire to be on a massively crowded beach with the others, so it’s not heartbreaking for me if we just stay here the whole time.”

“Now, now, not the whole time,” you said. “We have to leave the house at some point so we can meet this guy you like!”

“I’m still not so sure about that,” she said, pulling out a key from her pocket and using it to unlock the front door. “Now hush, I don’t need my brother overhearing us. We can talk more later tonight or something.”

“On it,” you said, pretending to seal your lips shut. She rolled her eyes before motioning you after her. Carefully, you stepped into the grand foyer, scuffing your shoes on the welcome mat to rid them of the sand. Jia-Li smiled in approval, presumably at your politeness, and you smiled back at her.

“Mother, father!” Jia-Li shouted. “Ruon-Jian! Ursa and I are here!”

Jia-Li’s mother peeked her head around the corner, nodding demurely at the two of you, though it was deeper and more reverent when it came to you. She looked exactly like Jia-Li, only a little older, her features aged, the cut of her face sharper.

“It is good to meet you,” she said. Her voice was musical and quiet, carefully controlled — it was the culmination of years of training as the wife of a high-ranking Fire Nation official. It was what you and Jia-Li and Kaho and Ty Lee would one day sound like, once you had graduated from the academy and were ready to enter society properly.

“And you as well, madam,” you said, clasping your hands, bowing your head slightly. “Thank you for welcoming me into your home. It is greatly appreciated.”

“You are so polite,” Jia-Li’s mother said, the slightest traces of happiness flickering over her face. “I am glad Jia-Li has such an exemplary friend to look up to.”

“Nice to see you, too, mother,” Jia-Li said. Her mother laughed, opening her arms.

“Come here, then,” she said. Jia-Li brightened, racing into her mother’s arms and hugging her. You looked away, feeling like you were intruding on the moment and wishing you had your own mother to embrace like that.

“Where’s father?” Jia-Li said. Her mother sighed.

“He and Admiral Chan were called back to the palace for some important meeting, so they’re not on the island for the moment,” she said.

“It must be the meeting Kaho is scribing for,” you said.

“Most likely,” Jia-Li said. “Do you think he’ll be able to come back before I leave for the academy again? I haven’t seen him in so long.”

“I’m not sure, darling,” her mother said. “If he is still in the capital by the time your boat leaves the docks, I will send him a message to stay in the capital and receive you before he returns.”

“Thank you,” she said. “What about Ruon-Jian? Where is he?”

“Oh, that boy, he’s being as troublesome as ever. I believe he’s locked in his room at the moment. Ruon-Jian! Please come downstairs and say hello to your sister and her friend!” her mother said. It was strange — even yelling, she sounded soft and polite, which should not have made sense but somehow did.

“Why?” a deep, grumbling voice said. There were heavy footsteps on the stairs, evidence that Jia-Li’s brother was on his way but wasn’t exactly happy about it. “I don’t wanna meet Jia-Li and her stupid friend — woah.”

Her brother was tall and willowy, with shaggy brown hair that fell into his face, giving him an effortlessly cool appearance. His eyes were the same color as Jia-Li’s, but that was about where their similarities ended. If you had seen him outside, without introduction, you wouldn’t have been able to guess that they were siblings in the first place.

“This is Ruon-Jian,” Jia-Li said when it became obvious that her brother wasn’t going to introduce himself. He was far too busy staring at something, his jaw dropped and his eyebrows raised, though when Jia-Li spoke, he was able to pull himself together, running his hand through his hair and then smirking.

“That’s right,” he said. “The name’s Ruon-Jian.”

“That’s what I just said,” Jia-Li said.

“What about you?” he said. You looked from side to side, wondering who he was talking to, and then you realized it was you, which meant that the thing he had been staring at was also…

“Ursa,” you said. “I’m Ursa.”

You weren’t sure how you felt about the attention. Maybe you liked it, or maybe you didn’t. It was strange and fluttering and unfamiliar in the pit of your stomach, and behind your back, you wrung your hands nervously.

“Ursa,” he said. “Great name. It’s as pretty as you are.”

“Um, I guess if I knew who my parents were, I’d pass along the compliment,” you said.

“Wicked,” he said. “So, what are you doing on Ember Island?”

“She’s my friend, idiot. My roommate from the academy,” Jia-Li said.

“Shh, Jia-Li, I’m trying to get to know her better! Stop talking and interrupting her,” Ruon-Jian said. You exchanged bewildered looks with Jia-Li’s mother, while at your side, Jia-Li fumed, the air shimmering from the heat she gave off as a Firebender.

“She’s right,” you said. “I’m her roommate back at school. She’s one of my greatest friends.”

“Sick,” he said.

“I don’t think I am,” you said, puzzled.

“It’s slang,” Jia-Li said.

“I understand,” you said, although you didn’t, not fully. This way of speaking was entirely foreign to you, but you figured that if you had Jia-Li with you to translate, you’d probably be alright.

“Who’s your family, Ursa?” Ruon-Jian said.

“I don’t have one,” you said.

“Word?” he said.

“He’s asking if that’s the truth,” Jia-Li whispered. “It’s like saying ‘really?’”

“It is the truth,” you said. “I have no memories. I am the girl that the royal family sponsored to study at the academy after I was rescued from the Earth Kingdom.”

“No way!” Ruon-Jian said. “That’s so cool!”

“Not really,” Jia-Li said. “She doesn’t remember anything. Including her family. Idiot.”

“If I could forget you, I’d do so in a heartbeat,” Ruon-Jian said.

“Well, I’d do the same!” Jia-Li snapped. You cleared your throat.

“I’m just grateful to Prince Zuko for saving me and ensuring my future,” you said. “He, and the rest of the royal family, are likely the reason I’m still alive and standing before you today.”

“Word,” Ruon-Jian said.

“I am not lying this time, either,” you affirmed.

“No, that was more of an expression of agreement,” Jia-Li said.

“I am a little confused,” you said. “But I shall trust you on this one, Jia-Li.”

“Do you have plans for the week?” Ruon-Jian said.

“Jia-Li is going to teach me to swim,” you said, beaming at Jia-Li, who gave you a high-five in return. “Beyond that, no, not really.”

“We were going to ask you if you could teach her to ride the flying dolphin fish,” Jia-Li said. “I know you’d never teach me, but—”

“Definitely!” Ruon-Jian said, cutting Jia-Li off. “I’ll teach you anything you want, Ursa.”

Heat rushed into your face, and you bit your lower lip, shifting from foot to foot nervously. Glancing at Jia-Li, who shrugged, you trained your attention on the ground instead of looking at Ruon-Jian when you responded.

“I think that that would be fun,” you said.

“We’ll get started tomorrow,” he said.

“Ruon-Jian, usually I’m joking when I say it, but you really are an idiot! How can you teach her to ride flying dolphin fish if she doesn’t even know how to swim?” Jia-Li said.

“The day after tomorrow, then!” Ruon-Jian declared. “See you around, Ursa!”

With that, he bounded back upstairs, taking the steps two at a time, leaving you, Jia-Li, and her mother standing in the foyer, somehow even more confused than before.

The next day was somehow sunnier and brighter than the previous, which was a relief, as it was the day you were supposed to learn to swim. At present, you were wearing one of Jia-Li’s sets of swimming clothes, your towel spread out on the sand as you looked at the ocean with furrowed brows.

“You ready?” Jia-Li said.

“I think so,” you said.

“Let’s go!” she said. Without waiting for you, she charged into the water, flopping onto her stomach once it was deep enough for her to do so. Not even taking a second to think, you sprinted in after her, and when the water rose to the level of your thighs, you didn’t second-guess yourself. Using your legs to push off, you dove into the water, jetting through it, forcing your eyes open and laughing soundlessly as you wove amongst the flowing bubbles and colorful fish that decorated the ocean.

It was many seconds later that you pushed your way to the surface, taking a deep breath, your legs churning the water so that you stayed afloat. Some ways away, Jia-Li had done the same, though she was busily scanning the shore for where you might be.

“Jia-Li!” you called out. “Over here!”

“Ursa!” she said, clapping her hands in delight. “I guess you do know how to swim!”

“I guess so!” you said, overcome with a rush of euphoria at the weightless feeling the water afforded you. Jia-Li paddled over to where you were treading, doing the same beside you so that you two could talk.

“That means you can learn to ride the flying dolphin fish sooner rather than later,” she said slyly. You lowered your eyes.

“Maybe,” you said.

“I knew it!” she squealed. “You have a crush on my brother!”

“No!” you said, far too quickly to sound convincing. “I mean. No.”

“You do!” Jia-Li said. “I can’t understand why you’d ever have a crush on him, but I guess there’s really someone out there for everyone.”

“I don’t even know him,” you said. “Sure, he’s cool and all, but I don’t know the first thing about who he is as a person. How can I say for certain that I have a crush or anything?”

“That’s why you have to get to know him,” Jia-Li said, poking you in the forehead. “Right?”

“True,” you said. “Then I can tell you for certain how I feel. What about you, though?”

“What about me?” she said innocently.

“When will I get to meet this mysterious crush of yours? You can hardly expect to pursue him if you never even go to see him!” you said. She splashed you with water.

“I’m not about to just go visit his house for no reason! It would be weird,” she said.

“Maybe a little bit,” you said. “But there has to be a way for you to accidentally run into him! And when I say accidentally, of course it won’t be an accident at all, but it’ll appear to be one.”

“Just forget about it,” Jia-Li said. “It’s not a big deal. If it’s meant to be, something will come up.”

“If that’s what you want,” you said. “But you have to promise me that if something comes up, as you say it will, you’ll really try your hardest.”

“Okay,” Jia-Li said in determination. “If there is some opportunity for me to talk to him, I’ll do it.”

“That’s the way!” you said. “Now, let’s race. I want to see how fast I am, too.”

“First one to that bit of driftwood wins?” Jia-Li said, pointing at a smoothed-over log floating in the distance.

“You’re on,” you said. “Three, two — hey, I didn’t say go yet! Jia-Li!”

You could not remember ever having as much fun as you did during that time on Ember Island. You and Jia-Li spent hours lazing around on the beach or swimming in the water, eating whatever her family’s chef prepared for you, drinking fruit juice that was sometimes sweet, sometimes sour, oftentimes both. At night, you would stay up until the moon was high in the sky, giggling and exchanging secrets and stories, making fun of your classmates and the boys in the Royal Academy for Boys.

“You know, one of them has a shrine dedicated to Kaho,” Jia-Li told you one night. You howled with laughter.

“No!” you said.

“Yes, he really does! He found a portrait of her and leaves money and food in front of it every week,” she said.

“You’re making that up,” you said.

“Nope, I found out during one of the sporting matches,” she said. “I was a little disgusted, but now that I see the humor in it, I confess I’m entirely amused by the entire thing.”

You would sleep late into the day, sometimes missing the morning entirely and only waking up for the afternoons. Jia-Li’s mother never scolded you two for it, saying that she was happy you were catching up on your rest, since dark circles were not comely on a woman or something along those lines.

Sometimes, Ruon-Jian would spend a few minutes with you both, but for the most part, he was off with Chan, his best friend and Kaho’s older brother. When he was with you, he was usually sitting at your side, making fun of his sister and complimenting you all at once. And even though you barely knew him, you had to admit that it was nice to have someone paying such close attention to you for once, treating you as if you were worthy of his time and entirely normal, the way he was, instead of tiptoeing around you and your lost memories.

“You ready, Ursa?” Ruon-Jian said, plopping down on the bench beside you as you and Jia-Li ate breakfast — or was it lunch, at this point?

“For what, Ruon-Jian?” you said, batting your eyelashes at him. From across the table, Jia-Li pretended to gag.

He elbowed you in the side. “To learn to ride flying dolphin fish, of course!”

“Yes!” you said, shooting to your feet. “I thought you’d forgotten!”

“How could I forget about you?” he said. “The currents just haven’t been right for a beginner recently. You should’ve seen how badly Chan wiped out the other day!”

You glanced at Jia-Li. She mimed falling over, and you gave her a discreet thumbs up.

“You didn’t fall, though, did you?” you said. Ruon-Jian beamed and flexed his arms.

“’Course not. I’m way better than Chan,” he bragged.

“Very impressive. Then there must be no one in the Fire Nation more equipped to teach me,” you said.

“Not a single person,” he agreed.

“I can’t bear to watch any more of this,” Jia-Li muttered to no one in particular. “You guys have fun. I’m going to collect our clothes so that they can get washed, Ursa.”

She left without another word, though as she walked away, you thought you caught her saying something about how you could do better. Ignoring it, you followed after Ruon-Jian towards the beach behind his house, struggling to keep up with his brisk stride.

“There’s a pod of flying dolphin fish that visits our beach pretty regularly,” he said. “We should be able to catch a ride there.”

“Okay,” you said. “Is it safe?”

“We’ll ride the same one, so I can look after you, but on the whole, flying dolphin fish are very docile, so as long as the waves are gentle, it’s fine,” he said. “That’s why I’ve been waiting to take you out.”

“That sounds good,” you said. He whistled.

“That’s how we call them. Now, we just have to wait until they come,” he said, pulling you forward to stand beside him.

“Then what?” you said.

“It’s a surprise,” he said. “Just kidding! Then we swim out and find the friendliest one and get on.”

It took a few minutes, but eventually, in the distance, there were splashes. Ruon-Jian whooped in delight, grabbing your hand and dragging you after him before you could protest.

“They were fast today!” he said. “Let’s go before they decide to leave again!”

Ruon-Jian was a little faster than you at swimming, though you had been faster than Jia-Li. You didn’t feel insulted, though; he spent much of his time in the ocean, so it was to be expected that he was better than both you and his sister alike. The end result was that he reached the flying dolphin fish before you, and had already mounted one by the time you swam up to its side.

“How do I get on?” you said.

“You don’t,” he said, using his legs to hold onto the body of the flying dolphin fish and then bending over to pull you out of the water and set you in front of him.

“Thanks,” you said, suddenly very aware of how close he was to you, how he held onto your waist and rested his chin on your shoulder.

“Just rest your hands on its head,” he said. “Like that. Good job! I’ll do all the steering and stuff with my legs, so don’t worry about that for now. All you have to do is focus on your balance.”

“Got it,” you said.

“Then let’s get going!” he said, clicking at the flying dolphin fish, which took off with a push of its powerful tail, propelling itself through the water. Its speed was breathtaking, and as the wind rushed against your face, tears gathered in your eyes, tears of joy and freedom and also of regret. When was the last time you had felt like this? When was the last time you had been so happy? Why didn’t you endeavor to be so more often?

Suddenly, the flying dolphin fish took off into the air, and then you were soaring. Everything faded away, the rest of the world and Ruon-Jian and the flying dolphin fish and even you. It was all nothing. You were all nothing. There was only the sky and the sea and the smell of salt on the wind, blue taking over your vision and almost, for a second, reminding you of something else.

Then you were slamming back into the water, the flying dolphin fish not even slowing its pace as it went from air to ocean. The spray that hit your face from the impact was enough to wake you up from the daze, and you were reminded of where you were and who you were and what you were doing.

“That was so fun,” you said as you and Ruon-Jian re-entered the house, still dripping with saltwater despite the towels wrapped around you both.

“It’s sick, right? I knew you’d like it,” Ruon-Jian said. “Speaking of things you might like…my friend Chan is holding a party later tonight. You wanna come?”

You perked up at the name Chan, knowing he was none other than the object of Jia-Li’s affections.

“Yes, but only if Jia-Li can come, too,” you said.

“Aw, no way! Chan never leaves her alone, and I don’t want my best friend bothering my little sister. It’s so odd!” he said.

“It’ll be really lonely for me to be at a party where I don’t even know anyone,” you said with a small frown.

“That’s fair,” he said.

“And she’s my friend, so it’ll be more fun for me if she’s there,” you continued. “That’s why I’ll only go if she can, too.”

“Okay, okay,” Ruon-Jian said. “Fine. She can come, too.”

“Yay! Thank you so much!” you said, clapping. “It’s going to be so much fun.”

“Sure will be,” he said. “You should go get ready, though. There’ll be a lot of influential people there, so you should try to look your best.”

“Of course,” you said. “See you soon!”

Luckily, Jia-Li had been right in assuming that you and her would be the same size. You had been wearing her clothes for the entire vacation, and tonight was no different, as she picked out something nice for you to put on for the party.

“Ursa, I’m convinced you’re a miracle worker,” Jia-Li said, shaking her head. “Seriously! How is it that you managed to get us invited to one of Chan’s parties? They’re super selective.”

“Simple. Your brother invited me, and I told him I’d only go if you could, too. He was initially a bit reluctant, since he seemed to think Chan wouldn’t leave you alone, but he came around,” you said.

“You’re the best,” she said.

“I honestly might’ve just said no from the get go, but I heard that Chan was hosting, and I knew we had to attend. This is literally the sign you were waiting for!” you said. “What are the odds that your brother would invite me to a party hosted by the man of your dreams?”

“Pretty high, considering he thinks you’re really attractive and the so-called man of my dreams is his best friend,” Jia-Li said. “But I know what you’re saying, and I agree. Enough about that, though. The only thing left is for us to do our best to look amazing!”

Because Ruon-Jian and Chan were best friends, you arrived at the party before anyone else so that you could help Chan set up. His house was enormous, according to Ruon-Jian, and he had said it would be greatly appreciated if you all could lend a hand. With a meaningful look at Jia-Li, you had accepted.

“I made sure that Chan knew what food you like, Ursa, so that he could serve it,” Ruon-Jian said, his arm tossed around your shoulders. “I want you to have the best time!”

“Aren’t you so romantic, brother?” Jia-Li said dryly.

“Thank you, Ruon-Jian,” you said.

“Anytime,” he said with a smirk.

“Ruon-Jian!” a tall, muscular boy said as he opened the door to the mansion. “I thought you’d never get here.”

“Jia-Li took forever getting ready, dude,” Ruon-Jian said. “By the way, Chan, this is Ursa. And Ursa, this is Chan.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” you said.

“Pleasure’s all mine,” Chan said. “Did you say Jia-Li? Is she here?”

“I am,” Jia-Li from where she was hiding behind you and Ruon-Jian. “Hi, Chan.”

“Jia-Li! It’s been ages since I saw you last. How have you been?” Chan said, yanking her by the arm and into the house.

“Quit flirting with my sister!” Ruon-Jian shouted, though he went ignored by both Chan and Jia-Li. You patted him on the arm.

“It’s okay,” you said. “She doesn’t seem upset about it, so you shouldn’t be, either.”

“It’s just so freaky,” he said with a shudder. “Jia-Li’s my baby sister. She shouldn’t have guys interested in her, let alone guys that have been my best friend since I could count.”

“She’s grown up now,” you said. “She can make her own decisions. You should just support her.”

“If you think that’s what’s best,” he said reluctantly. “You’re pretty mature, you know.”

“It’s funny, I feel like I’ve heard that before, though I don’t quite recall who might’ve said such a thing,” you said. “It doesn’t matter; either way, thank you.”

Jia-Li and Chan were too busy talking with each other, and Ruon-Jian was too busy fixing his hair in the mirror, so the brunt of the party set up fell to you. You didn’t mind, though, liking the act of working, and you were so efficient that everything was ready right around dusk.

“The place looks great, Ursa,” Ruon-Jian said when you rejoined him in front of the mirror.

“Your hair does, too, so you can stop fiddling with it,” you said. He pulled you in by the waist, flashing a peace sign in the mirror.

“Don’t we look so good together?” he said. “It’s like…like you were meant to stand beside me.”

“I suppose so,” you said, though you weren’t sure if you would go so far as to say all that. Still, it was nice to know that someone thought you belonged with them, so when he began to lean in, you did not move away.

Right when his lips were about to brush against yours, there was a knock on the door. He drew back in irritation.

“Who is here this early?” he said. “Whatever. Where were we again?”

The moment was ruined, though, so you pretended to be preoccupied with straightening your clothes, your head tilted downwards so that he could not even catch your eye.

“These are some really punctual party guests,” you said. “No one else is here yet.”

“Yeah, punctual’s one word for it,” Ruon-Jian said, clearly taking the hint you had given him and hopefully not being too miffed about it. “Wait, it’s that group we invited when we were on the beach earlier! Should’ve known they’d be the type.”

“On the — Ty Lee?” you said.

The first one to enter, Ty Lee turned in search of whoever had said her name. When she noticed you standing beside Ruon-Jian, one of his arms still around your waist, your posture clearly still set towards him, her jaw dropped.

“Ursa?” she said. “What are you doing here?”

“I feel like that’s a question I should be asking you,” you said as she cartwheeled over to drag you away from Ruon-Jian and into a hug so tight you temporarily stopped breathing.

“We were just hanging out on the beach when we got invited to come by Chan and Ruon-Jian!” she said. “I can’t believe you’re here, too.”

“Ruon-Jian is Jia-Li’s older brother, and he’s best friends with Chan, so I think that my presence is a little more explicable than yours,” you said. “When you say we, though, who do you mean?”

“Me, Mai, Azula, and Zuko!” Ty Lee said, pointing at each of them in turn. Mai was sitting by a painting, glaring whenever someone tried to approach her, and the girl who must’ve been the infamous Princess Azula was talking to Chan while Jia-Li stood behind her, ostensibly shoved out of the way so that the princess could have her turn talking to the host.

As for Zuko, he was still awkwardly standing by the doorframe, though when he glanced over at you, his eyes widened. At first, relief filled them, but when he noticed your proximity to Ruon-Jian, a strange sort of malcontent settled over his expression.

“Zuko!” you said as he stormed over to you. Ty Lee looked at him and then back at you before promptly dashing over to Mai’s side, the only one who didn’t get glared at for daring to go near her. “What are you—?”

“Who is he?” he said.

“The name’s Ruon-Jian, dude,” Ruon-Jian said, holding out his hand for Zuko to shake. Zuko looked at it disdainfully before scoffing and then returning his gaze to you.

“He’s Jia-Li’s older brother,” you said.

“Right,” Zuko said sardonically. “That’s why the two of you are so close.”

“I’ve been staying at his house the whole time I’ve been on Ember Island, so yeah, it’s probably a contributing factor,” you said.

“I’m gonna go get some food, Ursa. There are some freaky vibes here right now that I don’t really approve of,” Ruon-Jian said, inching away.

“Do you like him?” Zuko said. You blinked, taken aback by the direct question. In his letters, he was so kind and tactful, so you had come to associate him with that sort of language. The elegance with which he wrote, the careful concern he always showed for whatever you said — all of it had caused a fondness for him to grow in you.

“He’s just my friend’s older brother,” you said. The way he was speaking now was as if he was accusing you and you had to defend yourself or face judgment, but what crime had you even committed in the first place? “He taught me to ride flying dolphin fish and invited me to the party. That’s all.”

“Of course,” he said. “He’s so cool, with his dumb hair and clothes and flying dolphin fish, so of course you like him. No surprise there.”

“Are you angry?” you said. “Why?”

“Am I angry?” he said. “No!”

“You sound a little angry,” you said meekly. “I just wanted to make sure.”

“Why would it even matter to you?” he said.

“I don’t know?” you said. “I was only asking.”

“Don’t ask questions for no reason, especially when you don’t care about the answer in the first place,” he said.

“But that’s not the case. I did care about the answer, or else I wouldn’t have asked,” you said.

“Well, next time, just ask that boyfriend of yours,” he said.

“Ruon-Jian?” you said.

“Yes?” Ruon-Jian said, appearing out of nowhere. “Here, this is for you.”

“You have such horrible timing,” you said under your breath, accepting the plate he handed you. “Zuko, have you eaten anything yet? There’s a lot of really good food out. I’m sure you’ll like it.”

“It’s all Ursa’s favorites!” Ruon-Jian said. “I made sure of it myself.”

“Oh, yeah?” Zuko said with a sneer. “What the hell do you know about her, anyways?”

“Yo, chill, dude,” Ruon-Jian said, holding his hands in the air. “Who even are you? I probably know more than you! Her and I are really close, you see.”

It was probably the worst thing he could’ve said. Zuko’s face darkened, and then, before any of you knew it, he was grabbing Ruon-Jian by the collar and throwing him into a nearby vase. You jumped at the noise before rushing over to help Ruon-Jian stand.

“I’m fine,” Ruon-Jian said, waving you off as he staggered to his feet. “What is your problem, dude?”

“Stay away from her,” Zuko said.

“Who are you to say that?” you said. “My benefactor? That doesn’t mean you get to control my life, Zuko! Why does it matter to you who I’m hanging out with? He’s from a perfectly respectable family, so it’s not like it’ll reflect badly on you. I don’t get what the big deal is!”

“Seriously?” Zuko said. “You think I care what family he’s from? Do what you want! It doesn’t matter to me. It’s what you’ll do anyways, so why should I try to stop you?”

“What happened?” you said. “Why has your opinion of me lowered so thoroughly? What have I done to offend you so greatly? I know that you are angry, and I know it is because of me, but I cannot understand why!”

“There’s a lot of things you can’t understand,” he said.

“I heard a crash, is everyone — who broke my nana’s vase?” Chan shrieked as he came back into the main room. Ruon-Jian pointed at Zuko. “You! I’ve had enough of you, alright? Get out of my party!”

“I was just leaving,” Zuko said, though not without one last glare at all of you.

“See you around, loser!” Ruon-Jian said.

“Jia-Li’s right,” you said as Mai, Ty Lee, and Princess Azula excused themselves as well. “You really are an idiot. Do you know who that was?”

“Some jealous loser?” Ruon-Jian said. You opened your mouth to argue before deflating, knowing that there was no point.

“Just forget about it. Let’s try to enjoy ourselves for the rest of the party,” you said.

Some time later, there was a knock on the door. Chan opened it, and then his face fell.

“Hello, Chan,” a voice that could only be Princess Azula’s said. “Thanks for inviting us earlier, but I have some unfortunate news to share.”

“The party’s over,” Zuko said, and then all four of them were in the room, sending bursts of fire everywhere, kicking the tables in half, swinging from the chandeliers and slicing up the paintings.

“What is going on?” Jia-Li shouted, covering her head with her hands.

“I have no idea,” you said. “Hey, what are you guys doing?”

Chan screamed as Mai threw a set of knives into a pair of antique paintings on the walls and the chandelier came crashing to the ground under Ty Lee’s weight. Jia-Li pulled you out of the way of a stray lick of blue fire from Azula, and you buried your face in your hands.

“This was a pretty terrible party,” Ty Lee said, dropping lightly to her feet in front of you. “You could say we’re showing our appreciation as guests!”

“By destroying his house?” you said as Zuko kicked an entire pillar in half.

“Yep! Wanna join?” Ty Lee said.

“No!” you and Jia-Li said in unison.

“To each their own!” Ty Lee said before springing away.

“Well…” Jia-Li said. “It would feel nice.”

“What? Why?” you said.

“I thought Chan was confessing to me on the balcony earlier, but it turns out that even though he does like me, he wants to live a free and unburdened life, without the commitment of having a girlfriend. He told me that the best he could offer me is a long-term arrangement in which he does what he wants and then spends some time with me whenever I’m on the island,” Jia-Li said.

“That’s horrible,” you said.

“And while I was out there, he told me that Ruon-Jian invited Mai and Ty Lee because he thought they were hot and he wanted a chance with them,” she continued. “So there’s that.”

You scowled, and even though you hadn’t been betrayed, it felt as if you had been. Naturally, you held no claim on Ruon-Jian, but the entire reason you had grown close to him in the first place was because you liked being someone’s priority. If you weren’t even that, then what was the point?

“Jia-Li,” you said. “Since it’s the prince and princess in charge of the destruction, you could consider it a royal order.”

“You could,” Jia-Li said, a grin creeping onto her face.

“And as students of the Royal Fire Academy for Girls, we are duty-bound to follow all royal orders,” you said.

“That we are,” she said.

“I think that means we have to participate,” you said.

“I think you’re right, Ursa,” she said.

“Of course, it’s not because we’re angry at Ruon-Jian or Chan or anything,” you said.

“Definitely not,” she agreed. “We’re just following in the prince and princess’s example.”

“That’s exactly correct,” you said. “After all, what are we but their humble and obedient servants?”

“Nothing, indeed!” Jia-Li said brightly. “All hail the royal family!”

With that, she ignited her hands and placed them right on a portrait of Chan as a child. You cheered before taking a steak knife and using it to cut up the curtains, tossing them into the fire she had started as kindling.

“I’m glad we’re friends, Ursa,” Jia-Li said.

“Yeah, I’m glad we’re friends, too.”

Ursa,

It wasn’t anything you did. I’m sorry; I was upset about something unrelated and took it out on you. You have no need to ask for my forgiveness — if anyone should be doing that, it’s me. Please, please forgive me for being so angry. I promise that I will make it up to you the next time we meet.

Yours, Zuko

P.S. I did not think that you and Jia-Li would join in, but I can’t say that I’m disappointed.

P.P.S. Ruon-Jian is ugly and his hair is terrible. You don’t need to be friends with him, anyways.

#zuko x reader #zuko x y/n #zuko x you #zuko #avatar the last airbender #atla #reader insert #canon au #the glass princess #m1ckeyb3rry writes

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daltonsluvr · 10 months

Text

THREE TIMES , ONE MOMENT

pairing : jj maybank x female reader

warnings : underage drinking , swearing basically just a lot of fluff .

summary : three times where everyone can see how much you and jj like each other , and the moment where you finally confess .

note : this fic is set both before & during the events of season 1 , it’ll make slightly more sense when you read on . there are some plot inconsistencies , but let’s just ignore them for the purpose of this imagine .

ONE. BEACH DAY

To say you loved the ocean was an understatement. It seemed often that you spent more time in the sea than on land, whether it be surfing, swimming or simply paddling in the shallow depths of the water. As a pogue, you’d grown up near the beach, wading into the cool water often as a child, longing to feel the waves against the ankles. And you were no different even now, years later.

All of the pogues knew of your love for the ocean, though perhaps none more than JJ Maybank. It was where you first met, after all, both of you surfing amongst the waves, unaware you were about to meet the person you’d call one of your best friends.

You were all by the ocean for a weekly beach day - a tradition which you had founded, naturally. Kiara was helping you make a rather elaborate looking sandcastle, while the boys were running out of the sea, hair dripping wet & holding their surfboards.

You looked down to focus on your sandcastle, but the feel of water dripping on your head made you look up, only to see a certain blonde smiling down on you.

“Come to the water with me?” JJ grinned at you, offering you a hand to help you get up.

Nodding, you accepted his hand, and he pulled you up. Hands still interlocked, you both ran to the water together, laughing as he tugged you along towards it.

The feel of the waves crashing over your feet relieved any stresses you had almost immediately, as did the feel of JJ’s hand still gripping yours. The two of you ran out further into the ocean, laughing with every step you took.

You eventually waded out far enough where the water just reached your waist. The sight mesmerised you: the waves gently washing over each other, the sun setting in the distance. It was all so beautiful.

And it just so happened that JJ thought the exact same thing, only about you. He had liked you for quite a while, though unlike his true JJ nature, he was scared to tell you. Perhaps he was scared of what you’d say in response, or maybe he just didn’t know how to express his emotions properly. Either why, he hadn’t told you about his feelings for you yet.

Though you were the only one who seemed to not notice. All of the other pogues - Kie, Pope & even the otherwise oblivious John B - knew of JJ’s liking for you, and they were ever so sure that you reciprocated his feelings.

“Just look at them!” Kie awed from her place on the towel, watching the two of you in the ocean as you splashed each other and tumbled into each other’s arms. “Aren’t they cute?”

“Has JJ really not told her yet?” Pope said, shaking his head as he leaned closer to see the two of you better.

“Put it this way. JJ’s not scared of shit, but he’s scared of telling her, and that says something.” John B shrugged, taking a swig from the bottle which he’d brought with him to the beach.

“Whatever, he’ll tell her soon, I’m telling you,” Kie shrugged her shoulders casually, still looking on at the two of you, rather like a proud mother. “I’d be willing to bet on it.”

“Wanna bet, then?” said John B with a smirk, extending his hand for Kiara to shake. “I say he won’t confess for a year, you say he will. Winner gets $20.”

“You’re on.” smiled Kiara, taking his hand as all three of the pogues looked back at the sea at you both, just in time to notice the grins playing on your faces as you ran back to land, your arms tightly around JJ’s neck as he carried you, the two of you looking as happy as could be.

TWO. CLEAN UP

“Stay still, it’ll sting more if you move.” you said quietly, holding a wet rag to the side of JJ’s head, which had a cut along it. Presumably from his father, though you knew better than to talk to him about his dad. You were sitting on the couch arm while JJ sat on the cushioned part, the two of you sitting close together while you helped clean his wound.

“It hurts like shit,” JJ whinged, though you paid him no attention. You both knew that the only way he’d recover is if you continued cleaning up the cut before it got infected, no matter how small it could be considered to be.

“It’ll take a minute longer, and then it’s done,” you hummed, removing the cloth to examine the cut closer. You reached for a bandage to put on the cut, and you watched as JJ winced as it was put on. “There, finished.”

JJ stood up to take a look at the cut in the mirror, only to see it bandaged up. He smiled at his reflection, before turning to you. “Thanks, really. You’re a lifesaver.”

“Not really,” you shot him a smile back, getting up to put the rag away. “I just helped-”

You were cut off by a JJ shaped figure wrapping his arms around you and lifting you up, your feet leaving the floor.

“JJ!” you said, grinning as he twirled you around humorously, the pair of you laughing as the room became dizzier around you, and as your cheeks flushed pink ( both from the adrenaline and being in each other’s arms ), you realised just how much you liked JJ, genuinely.

And it seemed someone else was realising as well. Sarah Cameron was sat outside, shades perched on the top of her head, watching through the window with the rest of the pogues at the two of you, the grins on your face visible even through the distorted view.

“So are they-?” she asked, looking at the people around her. It was her first time meeting the pogues, and though they didn’t exactly meet eye to eye, they had at least one thing in common: they were all far too invested in the story that was yours and JJ’s love lives.

“Not yet,” Pope said, joining her to look at you both. “But we think pretty soon they will be.”

“They aren’t?” Sarah raised her eyebrows, turning to look at the pogues, who all nodded exasperatedly. She turned back, shaking her head. “Dear lord, you pogues are clearly as oblivious as you look.”

THREE. MIDSUMMERS

The only reason you were all dressed up that evening was because Kiara insisted that you had to come, or she would not attend. And so her parents ( rather unwillingly ) allowed their daughter to let her best friend come with her to the highly anticipated Midsummer’s Ball.

Kie had let you borrow one of her gowns, because you owned only one dress, and your cat had ripped the hem of it. It was light green and looked almost identical to her own, but you wore a simple green headband with yours as opposed to a flower crown.

You knew that JJ and Pope would also be at the ball, in a secret mission that the rest of you pogues had crafted out. Which is why you kept a look at the door no matter who you were talking to, perhaps hoping that you would see him walk through at any moment.

Kiara had left you alone to go and talk to her parents, and so you were by yourself, stuck on the outskirts of the dance floor with no one to talk to. You didn’t mind too much; you certainly didn’t want to talk to any fascist kooks, anyway.

“How the fuck are you here?” you heard a voice from behind you, and you turned around to see Rafe Cameron, kook royalty, standing beside you, drink in hand as he looked sceptically at you. “You’re no kook.”

“Guest of the Carreras,” you shrugged nonchalantly, turning you attention away from and back to the dance floor, not bothered to see his reaction.

“Yeah, well where’s your boyfriend at? You know, the one you’re never seen without?”

“Who- JJ?” you turned back around to look at him. Rafe was smirking: he’d clearly said it to get a reaction out of you. You mentally kicked yourself for letting him get to you. “He’s not my boyfriend.”

“Well, it’s you who made that assumption, not me,” Rafe raised his hands up in surrender, and winked at you, before walking away. You simply rolled your eyes. It was just Rafe being Rafe, right?

No more than ten minutes later, you spotted JJ with Rafe and his cronies. So that’s why Rafe had made that comment. Go figure.

You saw JJ run out, and you watched as he looked at you, indicating for you to join him. You looked at Kie, who nodded at you, before the two of you ran out after them. Kiara ran to Pope and you ran to JJ, his arms lifting you up as you reached him, laughing along with you.

“You look beau- nice. Really nice,” JJ said, almost as a throwaway comment, though you took it as something more.

“Thank you,” you smiled, trying to shrug off the heat that started to climb up your cheeks. “You do as well, the waistcoat suits you.”

“Oh really? You like my waiter disguise?” And just like that anything Rafe had said before was forgotten, the two of you were back to joking together as you normally would. But when you turned around to see Rafe mouthing ‘Told you’, you couldn’t help but wonder if he was right about your feelings for each other.

CONFESSIONS

The bonfire light flickered on both of your skins as the two of you sat by the fire, close together, but not touching each other just yet.

You both kept sending looks at each other: little glances that could easily be misinterpreted as friendly looks, though you both knew now it was something more. You were ever so sure.

“Why’d you keep looking at me like that?” you asked him suddenly, breaking the silence between the two of you. If you didn’t have alcohol in your system, you may never have had the courage to ask him, but you were fed up of unanswered questions.

“What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean,” you were being bolder than usual, more abrasive, but you had to know if it was reciprocated.

“Well that’s where you’re wrong, because I don’t,” he said. He was being annoying, you were sure of it, having known him for so long.

“Quit playing, Maybank. What’s going on between us? Are we friends or are we more?”

Silence. No response. Your worst fears true, you looked in his eyes for an answer, but you got nothing. Then, you felt the space between you close. His lips on yours, you feel your breath hitch in your throat.

It was unexpected, but a good surprise, nonetheless. His lips felt soft; warm in comparison to your rather cold ones, and it felt nice. You had kissed boys before, though those kisses never mattered. This one did, this one felt right.

When you parted, you couldn’t help but laugh with him, at both of your obliviousnesses and at the fact that your first kiss was unexpected for at least one of you.

“More. Definitely more,” he laughed again, a warmth in his voice. His arm was now wrapped around your shoulder, and the two of you huddled closer together, as if the warmth exuded from the fire wouldn’t reach the both of you unless you were together. And as you looked around you, at the beach and more importantly at him, you were happy.

And if you had thought to look further into the distance behind the two of you, you would’ve seen a rather smug looking Kiara being handed $20 by John B, who couldn’t seem to care less about losing the money.

#jj maybank #jj maybank x reader #jj maybank imagine #jj maybank imagines #outer banks #obx #outer banks imagine #jj maybank x fem!reader #multifandom imagines #imagine #x reader #multifandom #writing #daltonsluvr

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nyxyxx · 5 months

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Godly Desires - Part 5

Disappeared for a while for holidays and stuff. Happy New Year folks. This chapter is quite short but the good parts come next so that's exciting. (Also with a little bit of lore hehe). I. II. III. IV. V. Warning: This series will contain yandere content and religious themes.

"The City of Wind"

In the woods, stirring from its ancient slumber was a darkness so wicked and vicious, the very life that surrounded it began to wither and decay, rotting away from its presence alone. This darkness, it had a mind of its own, yet had no name to accompany it. Perhaps it once had a name, but said name has been long lost in the archaic oceans of time. Sunk deep within the waters of the world, lived a name so egregious, that uttering it would only bring about misfortune.

There was a prophecy to be told about this darkness. An ancient prophecy, one that was older than the gods themself. A legend told from within the land, an old story that was soon to be unearthed. Though this story would very soon present itself, discovered in the depths of the sea, now is not the time.

"It is the calm before the storm, my love."

"Stop right there!" A young girl emerged from the trees and promptly ran towards you. Dressed in red, white and brown, alongside the pyro vision at her hip, it was the ever-so recognizable Outrider Amber. She stood in front of you, with an air of justice and gentleness. "May the anemo God protect you, stranger!" She announced, suspiciously gazing over your strangely dressed self. "I am Outrider Amber, of the knights of favonius, and who are you?"

"Oh uh...I'm [___]"

Amber simply stared at you in silence, looking a lot different than her typical self. Almost like she was thinking really hard about something, but also staring at you. Noticing how weird she was being, she kinda just turned away from you, her ears tinted a little pinkish.

...

There was somewhat of an awkward silence following. You gave her a fake name, as Diluc had mentioned it may be a good idea to do so, though you found it to be quite strange. Still, this was just way too awkward. Why wasn't she responding? Did you already do something wrong?

"Oh um...right. Where was I..." Amber snapped back into her usual persona, and thus you carefully explained your situation to her, keeping a few things hidden, but otherwise being truthful. She seemed to relax after a while of talking to her, even opening up a little bit.

"If you'd like, I can take you to the city, there have been lots of monsters in the area recently." She said, a little bit shy. It was uncalled for, but since she was offering you her company, you accepted happily.

Reaching the gates of the city, you glanced up at the sky. Though you had seen Mondstadt many times it looked so much more beautiful in person. Maybe your dream just had such great detail to it. Amber hastily showed you around, though it was mostly unneeded, as the entire city felt so familiar, to you. She quickly mentioned that she had to get back to work, and hoped that you had a good time while you remained in Mondstadt.

You couldn't help but shake the feeling that there was something that you were missing. Some important reason that you had to come here. Like you had been sent here for some purpose that you can't quite remember. You tried really hard to think of what that could've been, but attempting to do only led to your head hurting.

Well, you were here anyways. You might as well try and find something fun to do. So, swallowing those strange feelings, you decided to try someplace that might be interesting. The local tavern, perhaps.

Taglist: @justyoureader; @mmeatt; @iamapotatoe; @clavichordcleffa; @yu-ulda; @c3rtifiedsimp; @eravariety; @vianitry; @dulcedelechenginamo; @reveihehe; @liansh3ng; @angelofdarkness2; @yarabutterfly;

#genshin impact sagau #genshin sagau #sagau cult au #genshin cult au #genshin impact x reader #sagau x reader #cw yandere #sagau #yandere genshin #yandere genshin impact

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fontainescape · 10 months

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Speculation on Childe's "Guilty" Verdict

So my headcanon on Childe's presence in Fontaine to safeguard the traveller from being convicted to a crime is immediately thrown out the window. The situation is actually reversed! Beautiful. Sounds way better, story-wise.

The Oratrice has concluded that Childe is guilty of being involved in the serial disappearances case. I have read many posts and comments stating how it's impossible because Childe is only 21 while the case had been around for 20 years. However, it is possible.

When we met Childe in Fontaine, it is no coincidence that they now bring up Skirk and what Childe saw when he fell into the abyss. We knew that for some time now but it's only mentioned in the archon quests in this 4.0 update.

Let's break down what Childe said.

"I'm not sure... It's as if I suddenly lost control of my Hydro powers when I needed them. Maybe there's something wrong with my Vision?"

"But recently, there seems to be some sort of restless power stirring inside of me... And I don't know why, but every now and then I feel like I'm in a terrible mood."

Here, I assume Childe means he has been feeling this terrible mood upon arriving Fontaine. On top of that, he's losing control of his Vision. Possibly, it's because of the power he felt inside him. Paimon and Traveller thinks so.

I also believe this is the "it" Skirk mentioned. Childe awakened something and its traces remained on him, which is why she accepted him as her apprentice.

"Because I had awakened "it," and traces of "it" remained on me. She said that all my combat training would be useful in the future."

Should also probably take note that Skirk taught him the Foul Legacy, apparently. But I don't think that has anything to do with this case. Just feel like I have to add it because she said this would be useful for him, regarding "it" in the future.

Childe/Tartaglia's Namecard Description: ... Yet, his "Foul Legacy" was not originally his. Rather, it was taught to him by that solitary girl who dwelt in the darkest corners of the universe.

Childe believes this is related to the dream he saw when he fell into the unknown abyss.

"In my dream, I was in the deepest depths of the sea, and the boundless seabed was all around me. But in front of me appeared a whale that was so massive I felt like I couldn't breathe."

I think Childe did not see a dream, but that it actually happened. And maybe it wasn't a whale, but an Oceanid.

I have yet to explore the entire Fontaine region yet, but there was a preview in Genshin 4.0 Livestream of a dormant Oceanid underwater, hugging a huge building. During Act I and Act II, I waited for the appearance of this Oceanid but it didn't really go there.

It doesn't have to be this Oceanid, I'm just comparing its size to how Childe envisioned the whale he saw, but I think Childe accidentally got involved somehow and at least saw something but refused or couldn't help, or even caused it but didn't really understand what happened hence why he remembers it as a dream. Boi probably got traumatized, fr. He might have been in Fontaine during this. And then it made him fled to a snowy forest, where he would then fall to the abyss.

Excerpt from Tartaglia Character Story 4: That 14-year-old boy got lost in the snowy forest. Pursued by bears and wolf packs, he lost his footing and fell into a bottomless crack in the earth's surface. There, he witnessed the endless possibilities of another ancient world. There, he would meet a mysterious swordswoman... Or perhaps one should say that this dark realm had sensed the burning ambition in this boy's heart. This darkness was something that the Harbinger Childe could never again delve into. In those three months, the swordswoman taught Tartaglia how to pass through the Abyss unhindered, and more importantly, nurtured the ability to stir up endless havoc from within Ajax's trouble-mongering nature. No one knew what happened within that darkness during those three months, nor would Ajax ever speak of this to anyone.

Childe was running from "wolves and bears" it said and then abyss sensed a burning ambition. It doesn't sound like just wolves and bears that sparked this ambition, I'd say. What if Childe dreamed to be more "brave" or "confident." And yet, running away from home in itself seems brave enough to me. Something must have happened before he fell to the abyss.

Or was it actually referring to the traces of "it" that is now inside of Childe? It's probably what made him change personality drastically, and not just simply because of his training with Skirk.

It's also interesting that we don't know how he got his Hydro Vision in the first place. Traveller now is safekeeping it, so I wonder if they will find out something through this Hydro Vision.

And I wonder, how did Childe awaken "it"?

Finally, the Oratrice decided Childe is guilty. This was what Neuvillette said in his own judgment of the case:

"Through evidence presented in the public trial that was just held, it has been established that Mr. Tartaglia has no direct connection to the serial disappearances case."

"The guilty party has been identified, and thus, it is logical to suppose Mr. Tartaglia is innocent of the charges."

I really like how Neuvillette says "logical to suppose", cause as Chief Justice, he cannot be firmly sure if one is innocent or guilty unless proven or disproven with evidence. Childe simply didn't have an alibi nor even was mentioned in Vacher's confession.

But Oratrice really said, "no bruh, this dude did something. I ain't letting him get away with it even if he is unaware."

Additional Notes

Now, I did mention about the Foul Legacy before, and that I don't think it has anything to do with what's currently happening in the archon quest. But, as of writing this, I remember that Neuvillette only stopped Childe when he transformed into his Foul Legacy. Some people wondered why?

Foul Legacy looks similar to Abyss Heralds and Abyss Lectors. Additionally, the cape looks like it's of abyss. If you don't know, Foul Legacy has nothing to do with his Delusion.

So I suspect that Neuvillette was either just slow to react, or he only felt it was unsafe for everyone in the court when he saw this form. Because surely, the Gardemeks wouldn't be able to handle that.

And that is all for my speculations regarding Childe's case.

Toodle-oo~

#didnt post yesterday i was playing genshin tehee #genshin impact #fontaine #childe #tartaglia #neuvillette #oceanid #skirk #abyss

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lokisgoodgirl · 1 year

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Captain's Orders: New Depths [Avenger!Loki x Fem.Reader]

Part of the Hostile F*cks Collection A Link to my Masterlist is HERE Summary: (12) Fantasies and secrets are exposed at the helm of 'Captain' Loki's yacht. Warnings: 18+ Minors DNI. Language. Smut. "Friends" w/ benefits. Butt-stuff (like,really) Daddy kink. (W/C 3.8k)

The slow descent of your skirt's zipper was the only sound over the hum of the engine. Loki rested against the ship’s wheel, running his appreciative gaze down your legs and back again. They lingered on the run of your suspenders as the flimsy uniform pooled around your ankles. You stepped out, kicking the black fabric under the control panel. “You wish for answers?" he purred innocently, unfurling long fingers with a flourish to inspect his nails. "Tell me, Agent. Where shall we start?”

“Who was in your room this morning?” you snipped, with the air of someone who couldn’t care less. And who wasn't only dressed in a stained shirt, suspender belt, stockings and heels. Loki tsk’d slowly. “Come, now. Of all the curious instances these past few months...that inanity is the burning query on your mind?" he drawled, bored. "Agent, I’m disappointed.”

Your stomach dropped, a swallow rising in your throat before you sucked it back down. So that's how he wants to play. “What did you whisper to Thor during training, then?” you said, chiding yourself for the annoyance so clearly etched in your voice. Loki laughed softly, reaching out whip-quick and grabbing your hand. He pulled you to him, spinning you around to face the open sea through the glass. “Clever girl." he whispered. "You noticed.” The stiff white cotton of his uniform grazed your legs as he shifted his thighs tight to the back of your own. His hands ran possessively over the dips of your waist, grasping at the suspender belt with a feral grunt between gritted teeth. The digits ascended, cupping the sides of your jaw, gently coaxing to the side. There was a noise to your right, his starched captain’s hat hitting the floor and rolling in a semi-circle. Loki’s warm breath flooded your ear canal, making your eyelids flutter shut as you melted back into him, the hard wall of chest keeping you upright. “I invoked an ancient clause, one which ensured his...submission in our little feud.” he said coyly, pausing to lick a trail over your jugular, planting a kiss on the wet slick. “Calling in an IOU as you might say.” This was not the answer you had expected. You ground your ass back against his crotch, the tone of your voice feigning disinterest. “For a stupid sword fight? Seems like a waste.” you quipped, trying to quell the thunder of your heart beneath your ribcage. “Even you know better than that, Agent.” Loki smarmed, sucking your earlobe between his teeth and releasing it with a messy moan. “I never waste anything...or anyone. The Binding Oath of Most Assured Recompense is not to be taken lightly.” You snorted, rolling your eyes. Loki’s lips had enunciated every soft syllable of the arcane pronunciation. Ash-ure-red. “And what about the colours, and the first seed thing?” you countered, wrinkling your nose. “The Ordinance of the Colours and Covenant of the First Seed are indeed serious affairs on Asgard. In your realm, my brother and I differ on their respective relevance. But the Binding Oath of Most Ass-ure-red Recompense is unbreakable.”

Loki seemed to sense your confusion, leaning closer. His scent invaded your nostrils, the deep undertones of musk tangled in autumnal spice like his long legs within your bedsheets. The cartilage of his Adam’s apple rested on your shoulder as he educated you, sighing in the haughty tone that only he could accomplish as his fingers slipped beneath your suspenders. “Tis a binding warrant that declares we must repay the other a debt; no matter the cost, no matter the inconvenience to the other. Even my cretinous brother would not dare disregard it, lest he face the consequences. A marker of restitution. A reckoning.” A violent shiver trembled up your spine as Loki's lips grazed the pulse point of your neck.

“That serious huh? Is that why you jammed three synonyms in the name?” you goaded, feeling Loki’s fingers begin to roam a descent down the curves of your throat. “You know my brother, Agent.” Loki growled, embers of past jealousy sparking the air between you. He rocked his hips against your ass, nudging you forward against the control panel. You bit your lip, feeling his mighty cock harden against you in real time. “Sometimes it is necessary to drive the point home with less finesse than one may be accustomed to.” You stumbled against the buttons, automatically steadying with your palms clasped to Loki’s thighs behind. You tilted your face, meeting his penetrating stare. The blues of his irises were alight with the glow of the setting sun through the panoramic window, veins of green and gold weaving in rippling waves. “What debt did you call in?” you said cautiously, feeling your chest heave as he slid his hands over your shoulders. “The origin of the encumbrance in question is not your concern.” Loki growled in your ear, a deep primordial power in the roll of his shoulders which inched you forwards before he pulled you flush to his stomach. “To him, I declared that you were to be mine. And mine alone.” You frowned, gasping as Loki bit into the curve of your neck. He sucked ravenously, his fingers toying down the front of your panties. Your back arched against him, pinned between that tank of a uniformed body and the ship’s helm. “Loki…” you squirmed, lost in a confusion of bliss. “Yes, Agent?” he asked with a smirk. You could hear it in his voice, that thick sanctimony that made you want to scream into the wind. And yet, as his fingertips drew through the sticky arousal your body offered so freely; you realised how deep the water you were in really was. “What does that mean...declared I was-?- But I’m not yours...-” you stammered, feeling your resolve waver. Loki let out an infuriating hush into your ear, rubbing a hard cheekbone along your jaw as he circled your clit. “Enough questions.” he rumbled, “I have neither the time or inclination to answer them.” You scoffed, silently willing him to make good on his statement. A hand rested on the small of your back, pushing you down. It ran over the curve of your ass, tugging at the panties before they evaporated from your body. Only the suspender belt remained, clinging around your hips holding up teasing lines and straps. Loki let out a dirty sigh, low and ragged. “I am more concerned about ensuring your filthy fantasies breath life, Agent. Wouldn’t you say that is a better use of my time than this inane prattle?” Your head lolled back against his shoulder, a thrill fluttering in your stomach. “No.” you snapped, pulling his hands from the front of your underwear. You spun, fisting the collar of his tunic with a yank. “Tell me who was in your room this morning.” you said, spitting every syllable. Loki’s brows twitched, slanting upwards in impressed surprise. He hadn’t been expecting that.

“I...-” he started confidently, before trailing off with a scowl. He looks so innocent, you thought; before remembering the guttural moan of pleasure you’d heard behind the door. Loki’s features hardened again, closing the tiny gap and sandwiching you tightly between his wide hips and the control panel. He began to undo the buttons of his tunic with aching precision; each muted pop of metal making your pussy gape. “Who is your other lover, Agent?” he muttered slowly, pursing his lips. They flickered, his amusement at the game's turn palpable. “Tell me that, and I shall answer your question.” You frowned, cursing the proud set of his chiselled features glowing in the sunset rays. The tunic rested open, the widening gap of uniformed cotton making you want to drag your fingernails down the sliver of naked chest. “Really?” you mumbled, seeing Loki give a regal nod. “On my honour.” he purred, dragging his rigid manhood against your body through the ridiculously tight trousers. He’s made them tighter, you realised, sliding your hands over his ass, whimpering softly as you squeezed the solid muscle. Fucking tighter. The material was screaming, bursting against the seams; hard thin lines flattening beneath your fingertips. You suddenly wondered if the gusset was reinforced. “Honour? I’m not sure if you have any of that to spare.” you muttered seductively, hands falling back over the control panel behind for purchase, trying to avoid the switches.

“Agent." Loki warned, running a long finger down your cheek, skimming gently over your bottom lip. You rolled your eyes, accepting the futility. Taking a deep breath, you felt the words form behind your teeth. They stung. “No one.” you spat. “Are you happy?” Loki chuckled darkly, carding the hand cupping your jaw through your hair to the base of your skull. “How satisfying it is to hear you say that, Agent. The truth...at last.” You stared to the side, feeling your face heat. “What, so you can lord it over me? Taunt me?” “Perhaps.” he purred innocently, sliding his hands over your ass. “One must add to one’s exponentially growing multitude of ways to irritate you somehow.” You gasped as he spun you around to face the window again, the deflation of knowing your secret was out making you feel weak in his hold. “As for my part, and for what you heard through my door - I have a daily routine.” he hummed in your ear. “I summon a duplicate of myself who provides me with a morning massage.” You released a snort of laughter, feeling Loki bristle behind you. “You can’t be serious.” you choked, turning your face to look directly up at his. His furrowed brow and look of offended indignation told you he was deadly serious. You stared, waiting for the punchline. You’d never heard anything more ridiculous in your life. “Why should I believe you?” Loki sighed wistfully. “Being part of this realm in a benevolent capacity brings its trials. It’s own...tension. I tried to outsource to one of Stark’s minions, but none of them could rub hard enough.” You felt a smile tug at the side of your mouth, despite your best efforts. After a pause, Loki’s did the same. He thrust gently against your hips. “Or deep enough.” he continued knowingly, tilting his head. “I can understand how your mind would automatically be drawn to the more carnal connotations of what you heard, Agent.” he murmured, slotting his jawline into the crook of your neck. “I am very good.”

“But you said to...come back to the bed?” you stuttered disbelievingly. Loki chuckled. “He took it upon himself to leave his station and attempt to answer the door. Even my illusions are wilful creatures.” The deepness of his voice made your knees buckle as Loki continued. “Just like their...daddy.” There’s that word again, you thought with a jolt. Had you ever told him you had an aching, overpowering, embarrassingly strong urge to call him that over and over as he fucked you senseless on every surface of his rooms? You didn’t think you had. So why does he keep saying it- “-but you said you were sleeping with other people…” you gasped, as he circled his hips. The pull was magnetic, feeling his hardness through the cotton press against your naked flesh. “Did I?” he cooed. “I don’t believe I did, actually.”

Loki sucked your earlobe between his teeth, nipping before release. His fingers reached down front between your legs, drawing back a sticky slick of arousal. “You assumed." he chided. "Your prejudice towards me is showing again, Agent. Amongst other things…” “You’re filth.” you sneered with theatrical coldness, watching a smirk stretch across Loki’s lips. “You love it, Agent.” he growled menacingly, returning his hand to the small of your back before pushing you down; spread on the buttons. “Now that we’ve dispersed with the pleasantries...” he rumbled, rubbing his palms down the sides of your horizontal waist. They slid over your ass, a sequential thump of his knees on the floor accompanying a groan of anticipation as he spread your cheeks. Your hips gyrated, urging him to sail you over the edge of decency. “Loki…” you gasped, as his warm tongue found the forbidden entrance nestled between your curved cheeks. He buried his face, muffled groans of pleasure filling the cabin as you rocked against him. Your fingers curled to fists, the excruciating pleasure of his enthusiastic attentions eliciting rabid pants from deep in your throat. You clasped your fingers around an important looking lever, not caring what the hell it was for. Flickering your eyes down, you saw the thick meat of thigh muscle stretched against tight white cotton. It was spread to the side of your ankle; belonging to the god splayed on his knees as he serviced you. Pleasuring you. In that ridiculous captain’s uniform, you silently screamed. “F-fuuuuck...Loki.” His flattened tongue moved in time with the digits he had covertly slipped inside you. They curled, massaging the sizzling pressure building deep between your thighs. You felt yourself clench against the waves of novel bliss, the tip of his nose pressing your cheeks apart at their height. Loki's tongue folded and caressed against your delicate entrance, every spasm of bliss making you sink further into new depths of ruin. “Lo-Loki...f-fuck...yes.” you slurred, knuckles turning white as you gripped the panel edge. A flood of climax overtook you suddenly, liberally coating Loki's gently thrusting fingers. You mind howled, a rage of lust and animalism ripping through your veins like wildfire. Fuck me. Fuck me. Fuck me. Your knees began to tremble against the unrelentingly blissful rhythm, letting yourself fall further back on the open mouth of the god kneeling on the floor. The wet, filthy pleasure was endless as he smothered himself. Deeper. Suddenly his teeth sank into the curve of your ass, a deep growl sounding against slippery skin as a free hand snaked up your thigh. “Swear to me I am your only lover, Agent.” he rasped, withdrawing his fingers from your cum-soaked pussy with aching slowness. He stood, looming behind you as you tried to gather your thoughts. “I wish to hear the words from those devilish lips of yours.”

You heard the low hum of a zipper before Loki’s familiar wide tip ran teasingly through the crease of your ass, slick with his saliva. Tendrils of his hair grazed your back, falling loose from where it had been tied. You arched at the sensation, his hot breath and sultry words making your hairs stand on end. “Why do you care?” you gasped, clenching your cheeks around his thick cock. You rocked up on your tiptoes, tugging his foreskin upward before sinking down. “Why did you lie?” he countered, cupping the curve of your bottom with one huge hand. You whimpered as Loki drew his furiously hard shaft in gentle circles over your back entrance. Anticipation fizzled beneath your skin, every graze of his heavy sex setting your senses alight. He spoke slowly, velvet words melting like bath foam. “Swear to me that I am your only lover…” he whispered, “and I will grant you what you desire.” “You...are- are my only l-lover.” you panted breathlessly, tightening your grip on a well-placed lever. The walls of your pussy fluttered as his manhood nudged your asshole. “Swear it.” he snarled, gripping the nape of your neck with an ominous squeeze. "I s-swear...Loki, I swear." you panted, before his hand slipped away. You heard a muted glug, casting a glance behind you to see him empty a phial of oil into his palm.

He slathered his cock, before sliding an open palm through your cheeks. “You have no idea how I have longed for this, Agent.” he growled, matching your moan of arousal as he slipped a finger inside. Another joined the first, stretching gently in a scissoring motion. “As, I know, have you.” Your mouth hung open, eyes squeezed shut as his balled knuckles pressed against your delicate entrance. The utter filth, the possibility of being caught with Loki buried deep in your ass against the helm of the yacht. You felt a hot dribble of arousal begin a descent down your inner thigh. “You have done this before?” he purred knowingly, a low chuckle vibrating through his tight uniform as you meekly shook your head. You could see his dim reflection in the pane of glass; the smouldering smirk and flashing cheekbones as he ran his hand down the flat of your spine more beautiful than the spread of the ocean. He leant over further, the snug tunic hanging open whoreishly; his carved abdomen pressing flush against your back. “A virgin then.” he hummed. “Don’t worry darling…daddy will take care of you.” Your breathing slowed as he straightened, lining himself up. The wet head of his length nudged against your slick hole, nudging the first vestige of resistance. “Relax, darling.” he cooed, mirroring the gentle tone he had used while he healed you. Slowly, the tip breached. A gasp fluttered from your lips, as Loki stilled. “Good girl.” he grunted quietly. Large hands massaged your hips, before tilting forward an inch more. Loki’s guttural moan was like a dying breath. You couldn’t take your eyes from his reflection in the glass, concentration knitting his brow as he watched his cock sink into your ass. Shameless mewls fell from your lips as you squirmed in place, the desire to have him rut into you to the hilt overwhelming. "Patience..." he whispered breathlessly, holding your hips still in his iron grip. The feeling was indescribable, a hard pressure of completeness as he inched further inside. The two of you let out a synchronised groan as his pubic bone finally pressed flush against you. Loki stilled again.

“You’re doing so well, darling. I'm so proud.” he cooed condescendingly. At any other time, you might have rolled your eyes; but the words sent a roar of pride rolling in your belly, clamping around the thick mass conquering every millimetre of space your body could offer. “When you’re ready, darling...move for me." he murmured. "Feel what it is to have me sheathed inside this precious passageway. You are in control, Agent.” he said, cautiously. “So use me.” Slowly you began to circle your hips, lips parting in a silent cry of pleasure as his girth shifted and stretched the virgin space. “That’s it. Does that feel good my pretty thing?” Loki choked, trying to maintain an air of haughty indifference and failing miserably. “Uh-huh…” you grunted, deliriously fighting the urge to slam backwards. “Don’t fight it.” Loki murmured, guiding your hips gently as you found a comfortable rhythm. “Fuck me, Agent. F-fuck me with that perfect a-arse of yours and – oh, oh.g-gods.” Loki inhaled sharply, hips juddering upward as you began to slide back and forth with ease. The muscles of your entrance were fastened to the solid length of him; every drag against his foreskin making his fingertips dig deeper into their hold of your hips. There was no pain, only freedom. Power. The god stuttered nonsensically, knees almost giving way before he straightened. Looking down, you could see the golden embroidery of his naval cuffs, svelte fingers squirming against your skin. You glanced backwards at the sight of the god with his head thrown back; drowning in the forbidden pleasure you were giving him. His hair fell in loose strands around his chin, black streaking the fair, tight skin of his jawline as messy groans infusing the air. The muscle in his jaw was pulsing. Clenching. “Does daddy like that?” you probed shyly, as you slid along his perfect cock. You felt him spasm as the verboten word dripped from your tongue for the first time.

Loki's head snapped up, brow creased before his eyes rolled back with a guttural moan at another well-timed clench. “Yes...f-fuck yes, darling.” he growled, a whine strangling from his throat as you dragged his foreskin forwards. The tip slid out the tight entrance. You bit your bottom lip, the exquisite feeling of dominance tingling on your skin. He sighed, face painted with a devastatingly haughty smoulder. You nudged backwards, catching the head of his manhood within the slick of oil gathered at your entrance. The desperate god groaned, rubbing his palms over the curve. “Sink back on daddy’s cock, Agent…” he breathed slowly, sliding his hands down the front of your hips. They found your clit, leisurely drawing his fingers through soaking, slippery folds. “Uhhh...god, Loki..” you groaned, feeling every vein tug past the tight ring of muscle. A gravelled whimper built behind your teeth as Loki’s chest pressed to your back, gentle thrusts beginning to slap as he leant into your enthusiasm. The stiff fabric of his naval uniform scraped against your skin, every collision of crisp cotton sending you closer to the edge as his fingers pulsed your sex upwards. So raw. And powerful. And fucking filthy. You began to whimper with every breath.

“Mmmm...you know only I can..uhhh...f-fuck, make you f-feel this way, Agent. Only daddy makes you feel this...g-gods...this fucking w-way.” “Daddy…” you moaned shamelessly, lifting your head. Even the word finally dripping from your tongue was enough to send a blossom of climax soar in your loins. Loki’s forearm slid across your chest, holding you upright as he began to pulse. “Louder.” he growled in baritone, begging as his hips began to slap lightly against the back of your thighs. He was holding back. Just. His fingers massaged your swollen bud as his thrusts became messy; staggering in his attempts to quell the rampant flood of lust that was taking hold. “Fuck me, d-daddy...yes...f-fuck, Loki.” Your lover snarled in response, a flash of bared teeth visible out the corner of your eye. The sensation of him filling you. The knowledge that he was completely undone. That he was being tender, despite his unrelenting need for satisfaction. That he was being real. "Loki..." you lilted softly, feeling the hum of his response vibrate against your skin. Your hand slid up his cheekbone, tugging his hair in a tight fist. You tilted your head, catching his slanted lips with yours. His tongue hovered against yours, his rasping pants thick and fast together. “Cum in my ass, daddy.” you whined sluttishly into his mouth, feeling an involuntary judder of his wide hips in response. “Agent…-” he gasped, as your breaths became short. Loki's fingers pulsed against your clit, thighs clenching as orgasm rose in devastating ripples. “Loki...oh...m-my.god-” You felt his balls tighten against your skin. The slide of his cock slowing as he eased himself over the brink through ragged breaths. Every ridge of his length dragging to the last. Savouring you. He bottomed out a final time, stalling as his weight pressed against your back. The buttons of his tunic were cool against flushed skin, messy curls grazing down your spine as he rocked with his release in time with yours. The low roar of your name in his throat was sexual napalm, sending you spiralling in an incoherent splutter of ecstasy. With a final shallow heave, he pulled you flat against his chest; the angle of his manhood making you twitch in his arms. You knew it would be hot. But not this fucking hot, you thought; trying to compose yourself through the orgasmic daze. "I must unburden myself to you…” Loki whispered through ragged breaths, combing a damp strand of hair behind your ear before placing a kiss on your temple. You dreamily hummed a response, inhaling sharply as he guided himself out. You could feel his cum following, slathering between your cheeks. The god's hand grazed the curve gently, making it evaporate in a warm glow of magic. He knelt to the floor, picking up your skirt and handing it over gingerly. There was something wrong about the silence. Something heavy. You slipped the skirt on, pulling the zipper up in time with his own. “These last few months have been...interesting.” he began, once you had arranged yourself. You cocked an eyebrow. “That’s one word for it.” you said, a coy smile pressing at your cheeks as butterflies fluttered in your stomach. What do you want him to say right now? you thought, pushing a strand of hair coquettishly behind your ear. “-But I have a confession to make.” he continued, avoiding your gaze. Your smile fell as Loki inhaled deeply. Holding it.

“I can somewhat...see into your thoughts, Agent.” he said cautiously through the exhale, lifting his stare and gauging your reaction. “-Just a little. It's really rather interesting-” he added quickly with an innocent widening of his eyes.

You froze, stunned. “-You can read my mind?” you said quietly, suddenly feeling more naked than you ever had with him before. White noise hummed in your ears, blood thundering with horror. “You can fucking read my mind?" you shrieked. "How...how could you not tell me?! How is this possible?!” Loki’s white captain's uniform melted in strips of magic, fizzling and reforming to uncover his standard leather combat suit. He grasped your biceps, sensing the change as his eyes searched your face. You had the overwhelming feeling that his confession had not been received in the manner he anticipated. “It is not as you suppose. Listen to me-” You let out a shrill, mirthless gasp of laughter. “All this time? I can't...you are-” you spluttered, pressing your hands to your eyes. Mortified. There was silence. “You insufferable wanker. I fucking hate you.” you spat, splicing the intimacy between your bodies as anger bubbled like tar beneath your skin. You could feel your jaw locking, curling your fingernails sharply into the soft skin of your palm. “You think you’re so clever. You're nothing but a smug, self-righteous dickhead.” you hissed, seeing red. “How long?" you yelled. "Does Steve know about this, too?!” Loki threw his hands to the ceiling with an exasperated sigh. “Norns, woman. Do you ever quiet? You'll wake the gentleman in the cupboard.” Shit. You'd forgotten about the actual captain, resting amongst the cleaning supplies. With a grimace, you snarled, buttoning up your shirt unevenly. “Is it just me? Am I the chosen one to entertain you with your sick games?” Despite the rage, your voice wavered. Loki stepped forwards, his hands raised in surrender. “As far as I can surmise... it is associated to flashes of strong emotion; an image caught in time. Like your photo-graphs. Pain, desire, certain...phrases that-” “Phrases like ‘daddy’?” you spat, folding your arms. A smirk twitched at Loki’s lips. He really can’t help himself, you thought furiously; watching him smooth the front of his leather tunic like a politician stalling for time. Your eye twitched. “In answer to your query...yes, it is only you I’m afraid. I should have told you sooner but it was-” “-fun?” you finished bluntly. Loki shrugged, resigning himself to your petty anger with a roll of his eyes. “Captain Rogers is unaware." he huffed casually. "However, as I was saying before you became so predictably dramatic; the reason for this little phenomenon is rather interesting if you’ll permit me to-” “No.” you hissed, circling your forefinger back and forth through the space between you. “This, is over.” Loki rocked on his heels, casting his eyes to the window as he pondered what to say next. Something snarky. Something he thinks is fucking funny, you thought, tears of frustration stinging. With a growl, you nudged him aside; striding towards the door. The rise of the land line was visible, creeping closer as Loki stepped forward and pushed several buttons with theatrical flourish. “I think not, Agent.” he purred, clasping his hands behind his back as he stared over the ocean. “You like me far too much for that.” “I never want to speak to you again, Loki.” you said resolutely, head held high. “I hate you. Loathe you. I mean it. More than ever, you sanctimonious, devious, perverted, lying prick.” Loki flinched as the door slammed, hearing the click of your heels storming down the hallway. “No you don’t, Agent.” he whispered with a quiet smile, flexing his grip around the ship’s wheel. The leather of his tunic creaked against his hips as he widened his stance, glinting eyes fixed on the approaching shore. “No you don’t.”

Continued in Hot & Bothered Part of the Hostile F*cks Collection

A/N: Thank you to the ever incredible @gigglingtigger for helping me brainstorm The Oath of Most Assured Recompense and highlighting how Loki would most definitely say it 😊♥️You're amazing.

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#loki x reader #loki smut #loki laufeyson #lokismut #loki x you #loki x yn #loki x fem!reader #loki x female reader #loki x yn smut #loki x female reader smut #loki x you smut #loki imagine #loki x reader smut #hostile f*cks collection #avenger!loki #loki fanfiction #loki fanfic #loki laufesyon x reader #loki laufeyson smut

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lobstermobster-95 · 11 months

Text

Down in the Wicked Depths Below

Woe to the man

The dark-eyed sailor

Ship’s adrift

And the sea’s his jailor

Drag him down

Down, down, down

Down in the wicked depths below

Woe to the man

The dark-eyed sailor

Ship’s adrift

And the sea’s his jailor

Drag him down

Down, down, down

Down in the wicked depths below

Lost at sea, the sailor cried

I will not die

The sea shall bow to me

“That was quite a display,” Finnegrin said as he rummaged through the piles of assorted junk on his desk. His gruff voice drowning out the singing voices of the crew on deck. “All that talk about how love makes you stronger, but the second you see that elf girl in pain, you completely lost yourself.”

Callum looked away.

The tidebound captain wasn’t wrong. Seeing Rayla like that – writhing and screaming in pain, skin turning blue as if she were already dead – it did something to him. Just like it always did something to him when he thought he’d lost her.

That spell had simultaneously caused a pain in Callum that was so deep that he couldn’t think or see straight. He’d forgotten any spells or tricks that could have helped him and instead did the only thing he could think of.

It had at least been a solid hit – something his younger self would be in awe of for several reasons. A lot of good it had done him though.

At that moment, Callum caught sight of Bait’s empty cage and for a terrible, brief second, thought perhaps the little guy had already been cast into the depths. However, Finnegrin stepped aside and revealed the glow toad had been crammed into another smaller cage.

“What are you doing?” Callum asked, feeling confident he already knew the answer.

“Oh, don’t worry. The cage is for his protection,” the captain replied with a smug smile. “This way, he lures us a leviathan but doesn’t get eaten.”

He crossed the room and stood before Callum, looking down at him with the black-hearted confidence of a man who had spilled more than his fair share of blood. “The one getting thrown into the sea serpent’s hungry mouth is your elf girl.”

He may as well have been strapped to an anchor and dropped into the sea for how quickly Callum became submerged in the crushing weight of dread and panic. He struggled against the chains that bound him to the post, but there was no give.

He couldn’t lose Rayla. Not again. Not ever again.

“No, no wait!” The words leapt from his tongue without his consent. “A dying breath, blood filled with hatred, and a unicorn horn. That’s the dark magic you want. Just…just let her go.”

They could deal with the ramifications. They would find a way to protect Domina Profundis, but Callum had to protect Rayla first.

A beat passed as Finnegrin paused in the doorway before he began to click his tongue in disappointment like a parent about to scold their child. “Oh, my poor lad,” he said. “That deal was no longer on the table.” He chuckled, pulling the door open and quickly disappearing through it, leaving Callum alone as he sunk even deeper into despair.

“No!” He called out to no avail. “No!”

Again he struggled and again the chains around his wrists did not budge.

Hot tears began cutting their way down his cheeks. This was really it. Rayla would die and a piece of him would die right alongside her. They had only just begun to truly mend their relationship. The last few weeks began replaying in Callum’s mind

Staying in his and Ez’s old, adjoining rooms had been his idea. After Umber Tor, he’d shed the last piece of the already-cracked and crumbling armor he’d built around his heart over the last two years. He’d opened himself back up to her, and it was wonderful. They’d often stayed up late during those nights, fretting over Ezran and the others or just talking like they used to.

Then they’d traveled to Lux Aurea, retracing the steps they’d taken together on that first world-changing journey. The route had been easier this time. There was no dragon egg to hide and protect, no duplicitous aid from Soren and Claudia, and no race to outrun an impending battle with Viren’s corrupted army.

And with the border open, the route itself had become more traveled, leading to amenities like the inn they’d stayed at. Seeing Rayla happy and at peace that night had filled Callum’s heart in a way it hadn’t been in two years. He’d wanted to kiss her again, to hold her and tell her he loved her.

Now he desperately wished he had.

He could hear shouts and thuds from above him and his heart began to pound. He didn’t have much time.

Looking around for something, anything he could use to free himself, Callum spotted it. The slug Finnegrin had offered as a dark magic conduit.

No. No he couldn’t. He wouldn’t.

He’d sworn to himself that he would never do dark magic again. It wasn’t him. It wasn’t who he wanted to be. He’d vowed to write his own destiny.

…But what would that destiny look like without Rayla?

The question seared his heart like a brand because he knew the answer immediately. Without Rayla, he had no destiny. If he allowed her to die when there was something, anything , he could have done to save her, the anguish would fester in his body like a blight and consume him from the inside out.

He would do anything for her.

Anything.

Pulling against the chains one last time, Callum reached out and grabbed the slug.

The sunrise was beautiful, almost mockingly so after all that had happened the night before.

Callum sat at the base of the mast, feeling no modicum of triumph or elation at their victory. He felt like a liar, a sham. He was the first human mage to do primal magic and still he’d resorted to dark magic.

He thought he was better than this. But was he? Was he any better than Viren or Claudia if he would dirty his hands with the lives of innocent creatures if pushed far enough?

“So…” Came a voice through the fog. “Two primal sources? Now you’re just getting greedy, mister mage.”

Callum saw Rayla as she sat down next to him, felt the warmth of her living, breathing body, but he didn’t feel any less ashamed. If she knew what he’d done to save her, she’d be disgusted and furious, as she should be.

“Callum, are you okay?”

Was he? He let the question sink deep before nodding his head and letting his eyes finally unfocus from the abyss he’d been staring into.

“Yeah,” he said, pulling a smile up along with him. “Yeah, I’m okay. I am.”

He looked at Rayla as she smiled back at him, his heart feeling full and complete as she brought a hand up to his cheek.

“I’m glad,” she said softly.

She pulled him into a hug and Callum felt guilt wrap itself around him along with her arms. Below them, somewhere in the guts of the hull, two dark magic snakes now slithered and slunk because he’d brought them to life.

He’d broken his oath, and as Rayla sighed contentedly, holding Callum like she had when they’d first fallen in love, he knew that he would do it again in a heartbeat to save her.

And that’s what scared him more than anything.

#tdp #the dragon prince #tdp spoilers #tdp season 5 #rayllum #angst #i wasnt ready #stayed up all night #ahhhh

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axelsagewrites · 1 year

Note

Hey Sage! If you're taking requests, could i get a Dom! Daemon x poc wife reader, where they have a great relationship, but for some reason (maybe she just wants to tease him) reader is acting like a brat (maybe..she answers him rudely in front of Viserys or Otto) and Daem punishes her. With some spanking, shocking, degradation, marking, aftercare and whatever else you want, please?

Daemon Targaryen*In Charge

Pairing: Daemon x f!reader

Summary: reader decides to act out and Daemon reminds her who's really in charge (kinky sex occurs)

Word count: 3164

Warnings: Teasing, under table stuff, m receiving oral, hair pulling, p in v sex, nipple play, spanking, degradation, marking/hickeys, bratting, begging etc very kink sex smut 18+ (i think thats all)

A/N at end

Masterlist Here

High Valyrian translations Avy jorrāelan - I love you ñuha qēlos – my star Riñītsos – little girl

When you first arrived in Westeros the court was wary of you to say the least. It was rare enough for them to have the Dornish visit but you had travelled by ship with some of your family and allies from the far depths of Essos. It was all in aid to start trade relations with the silver hair dragon riders across the sea. When you’d first heard of these violet eyed silver haired people holding the dragon’s captive you had imagined them as sickly monsters lurching in the background. Daemon Targaryen was anything but a slimy beast.

Otto Hightower however was another story. To say you weren’t fond of him was an understatement. But during your supposedly temporary stay you managed to bite your tongue. Somehow. It helped that you were able to stare across the great table at Daemon. His long silver hair flowed down his back like the water falls back home. You had expected the lilac eyes to be unsettling but instead their violet hues just drew you in.

Unlike your companions you did not conceal your stares. While others cleared their throats and turned their eyes when Daemon looked lazily at them you stared back, the corners of your lips twitching. It was a silent flirtation, a competition even.

It was one of Daemons favourite things about you. There was a challenge in your eye, the same look caraxes used to give him. “Would you like to see my dragon?” he whispered in your ear, his chest pressed into your back as you both waited to exist the bustling council meeting.

“Only if I get to ride it,” you whispered back, the smirk evident in your voice. This was going to be fun he thought.

When the trade deals were almost over another question arose. What’s to stop one of you from backing out? What was the collateral? How could we trust these foreign friends? “Might I suggest,” Daemon drawled, his voice instantly hushing the bickering between the sides. “a marriage pact? It’s how we usually do these things after all,” he said, eyes flickering over to you.

The Westeros men were all content with the idea however your uncle had other thoughts, “We do not sell our women,” he spat across the table.

“Let’s hear him out uncle,” you whispered to the man, “After all if it’s how the Targaryen’s do it who knows? It might be a halfway decent idea,” you said, eyes glued on Daemon.

It didn’t take long for the decision to be made or for the match to be suggested. When your family rode east you stood to wave them off by Daemons side. It was the first any of them had seen of you both the last three days since you entered your new chambers after your wedding night.

While Daemon made for an excellent husband, showering you with gifts, passionate in the chambers, praising each of your features and keeping up with your wit, the other Westeros men left little to be desired. You knew it would take time to adjust to the new ways, but you hadn’t expected the rules to be so mind numbing.

Daemon was supposedly a rebel among these men but yet even he abodes by rules. Do this do that say this like this not this then otherwise you might as well have tried to eat his baby. Honestly none of the protocol made any sense. You had been in Westeros for a year now and everything with Daemon was perfect; apart from one little thing. You had the audacity to view yourself as an equal. Daemon insisted he valued your opinion and took it deeply to heart, but the other lords were beginning to take issue with your bold opinions.

Despite not wanting to hear your opinions you were still required to attend all council meetings as an ambassador. During one particularly long drawn out one where all the lords did was rattle off their idiotic ideas you began to zone out. Your mind wandered till it landed on the idea of your husband bending you over this table right now. The way his hands would feel as they-

“Are you alright my lady?” Otto Hightower interrupted right before the good part of your fantasy. You looked up, head tilted before nodding and assuring him everything was fine, “I know our talks can be a little bit…out of your area my lady,” he apologised with that stupid fucking grin.

Daemon shot him a deadly glare, “Thank you my lord,” you said with a sicky sweet smile as you placed your hand on Daemons leg. “Perhaps you could explain it for me,” your hand began to move up his thigh beneath the table as you spoke.

“Of course, my lady,” The Hightower smirked as he over explained a simple known fact, all while your hand crept further up Daemons leg. He was used to you trying to push your luck so was doing his best not to react but when your hand suddenly squeezed his crotch he swallowed thickly as his hand shot out to hold your wrist under the table.

Luckily for you no one had noticed. Yet. You squeezed his balls lightly over the fabric of his trousers as Otto drowned on now in deep discussions with Viserys. Daemon tried to move your hand, but it only made your grip tighten. If you hadn’t felt him harden in your hand you might’ve felt bad.

“What say you brother?” Viserys turned to a wordless Daemon who did his best to stutter out his objections. It was the first time Viserys had ever seen him at a lost for a words. You removed your hand silently, placing it back in your lap with a slight smirk as Daemon was finally able to speak properly.

Viserys had the lords vote on the issue. Daemon of course rejected the idea; Otto insisted it was the right choice. It wasn’t. however, 2 of the lords sided with him for some idiotic reason but the other two with Daemon. “You haven’t voted sweet sister,” Viserys said, causing all eyes to turn on you. during your marriage your new brother tried to be sweet and kind though it often came off as clunky and bumbling.

You glanced at Daemon who was glaring down at you when he saw the way your lips dragged up into a slight smirk, “Lord Hightower did make a very interesting proposal,”

“An idiotic proposal,” he cut you off, glaring at the smirking lord across the table, “We both know it will backfire,”

“Do we?” you asked, eyes only on Daemon who glowered down at you.

“We do,”

Your eyes stayed locked, his filled with the fire of a dragon while yours glinted with excitement. The rest of the room was tense as you drew out the moment before turning to Viserys, “I agree with Daemon,” you finally said.

Viserys let out a sigh of relief and nodded, “Okay good well the matter is settled…” he began to drone on when you suddenly felt Daemons fingertips digging into the flesh of your thigh. This was not going to be a short night.

“Care to explain what that little display was all about?” Daemon all but yelled after slamming the door to your chamber shut.

You ignored his yells as you sauntered over to sit at your vanity to remove your jewellery, “What display?” you asked, smirk lingering in your voice as you took out your earrings.

Daemon looked up, letting out a brief dark chuckle before marching over to you, “You know exactly what I mean riñītsos,” his hand shot out to grab your jaw harshly, forcing you to look up at him with a glare, “Are you that much of a whore you wanted me to fuck you in front of those old cunts?”

You took a moment to pause and stare into those rage filled lilac eyes, “Yes,” you finally replied, a smirk still etched on your lips, “It’s all I could think about,” you said, your hands going to his hips, pulling him to stand between your legs, “Fucking me dumb while they all watched,” your fingertips began to run along the edge of his trousers waist line, “I think I’d quite like that,”

“You think so?” Daemon asked, gripping your jaw tighter, “Wanna know what I think?”

“Not really,” you said, trying to pull his arm away but with no success.

Daemon grabbed your wrist, pulling your hand off his arm and pulling you to your feet, “I think I need to teach you are not such a brat,” He said, letting go of your wrist, pushing your head back before releasing you making you stumble back into the table, “Get on the bed,” he said but you didn’t move. Daemons eyes narrowed, “Now,”

“Or what?” you asked, unfazed by the wild stare in his eyes.

He all but growled as he paced over to you, grabbing your hair and forcing you to your knees, “Who said you were in charge?” he asked, and you couldn’t help but wince as his fingers tangled in your locks.

“I did,” you said with a grimace as your knees finally hit the floor, Daemons hand forcing you to look up at him.

Daemon laughed quietly to himself, “You really are a silly little whore then, aren’t you? A little whore who needs to learn” he said as his hands worked his laces, “Remember the word?” he asked as he was almost freed from his trousers, you nodded repeating the safe word you had decided on early into marriage.

When his cock sprang free of his trousers it was already hard and its tip an angry red, precum already coating the tip, “Open,” he said but you refused. That was till Daemon slapped your face causing you to gasp and your mouth to open. He quickly grabbed your face, shoving his thumb in your mouth to keep it open. “Im going to ruin this pretty little mouth of yours,” he said as he began to try pull your mouth open.

Finally, you caved, opening your mouth fully for him, your tongue waiting for his cock, “Look at you,” he said in a tone that made you think all was finally forgiven, for a moment. You gagged lightly when he thrust his cock into your mouth, the salty taste of his precum on your tongue, “Such a pretty little whore,” he said as he began to fuck your face.

You looked up at Daemon through watery lashes as you tried not to gag from his persistent pace. His face had contorted from anger to pleasure as his eyes scrunched shut and groans fell from his lips. His thrusts continued until you tapped his thigh, your throat unable to keep up with his pace any longer.

Daemon pulled out, a trail of saliva and precum dripping from his cock and around your mouth, “Not such a brat now is you,” he said as he moved his hand from your hair to your jaw, cupping it lightly as you regained your breath. “Still think you’re in charge?” he asked and all you could do was shake your head not as you gazed up at him. “Good,” he smirked, “Now strip,” Daemon said stepping back.

You shakily climbed to your feet, your knees aching from the hard floors. Your hands slowly began to work on the laces of your dress. Daemon was tapping his foot quicker the longer it took. Once the dress was lost you pushed it of your shoulders allowing it to pool around your feet, your shift coming off with it. your nipples hardened as the cold chamber air washed over them.

Daemon stepped closer, his hands trailing up your thighs to your hips, squeezing your waist before caressing your breasts, “What are you?” he asked as his fingers trailed gently over your nipples.

“A whore,” you said, gasping when he suddenly squeezed your sensitive buds, “Your whore,” you half moaned as he began to roll the buds between his fingers.

“That’s right,” Daemon said, his hands falling away making you whine, “Now be a good whore and get on the bed, like I told you too,” he said as he began to pull his own clothes off.

You nodded, quickly crossing the room to lay on the soft furs of your bed when you heard Daemon began to tut. You watched his slender frame as he sauntered across the room, his abs toned from his adventures, he truly looked like a dragon as he circled his prey. “I never said lay down,” he corrected. Your eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and you went to ask him what he meant but Daemon cut you off, “Hands and knees. Now,”

“But my knees hurt- “

“Im sorry,” Daemon said as he stood at the edge of the bed staring down at where you sat naked on the bed, “Did I fucking ask?”

You whined dramatically as you moved to your hands and knees, Daemon remaining quiet as you did. “Happy?” you asked sarcastically as you lay your cheek against the furs, your ass on display.

Daemon didn’t reply as he moved to kneel behind you, his hands rubbing your ass. His fingers squeezed your hips as Daemon took in the sight. you figured you had gotten off lightly so far but a harsh slap to your left cheek made you gasp. “That’s for not paying attention in council today,” he said, his hand rubbing the area to sooth the red mark.

Another slap rang across the room, “That’s for under the table,” another, “for your little display,” Daemon continued to list off your sins, leaving another slap with each crime he read off. Your ass was stinging by the end of his list, a bright red mark on your cheek.

Daemons hands moved from your ass to your hips, gripping them tightly before one of his hands moved to your shoulder to pull your back against his chest, “Have you learned your lesson?” he whispered, his breath fanning your ear.

“Yes,” you said quietly. One of his hands moved back to one of your sensitive buds while the other went between your legs. “I’ll be good,” You moaned as his fingers began to circle your clit.

“I don’t believe you,” Daemon purred as you felt his hard cock pressing into your ass, “I’m not done with you yet sweet riñītsos,”

Your soft pleads fell on deaf ears as Daemon let go of your sweet spots to shove you into the furs. Within seconds he had grabbed you by your hips to flip you on your back, his fingertips digging into your flesh. Daemons eyes roamed your body, and you took the opportunity to scan his; how his toned chest heaved, the wildness in his eyes, and how his painfully hard his cock looked.

Daemon crawled over your frame, your legs instantly wrapping around his hips as he lined his tip up with your entrance, “You want me to fuck you?” he asked, his voice just above a whisper. He chuckled when all you did was nod, “If you want me to fuck that pretty little hole of yours, you’re going to have to beg better than that,”

“Please,” you whined, your hands moving to hold onto his muscular shoulders, “I need you please just fuck me already I’ll be good I promise,” your whining intensifying as he began to rub his tip up and down your folds, “I’m sorry okay please just fu-fuck,” your begging was interrupted by Daemons sudden thrust, his cock hitting deep inside.

“You’ll be sorry alright,” he grunted between thrusts as he set a relentless pace. His lips feel against the skin of your neck, sucking dark spots into your sensitive skin, “Who do you belong to?” he asked as he moved to your collarbone.

“You,” you moaned as the headboard began to bang against the stone wall, loud creaks sounding through the room, “I’m yours,”

Daemon lent up to look at the series of dark purple marks on your skin, “Mine,” he growled, his hand moving to hold your throat, “My fucking whore,” he said as his hand slipped between your body to rub circles onto your clit which only made your moans increase as a knot began to build in your stomach, “Such a needy little thing,” he grunted, “so desperate for my cock,”

The knot in your stomach tightened as Daemon sped up his pace till his thrust began to hit a certain spot that made shivers go down your spine, your body tightening around his cock. “Please,” you whined as your orgasm threatened to spill over you.

“What’s that?” Daemon asked, “You wanna cum? You think you deserve to cum around my cock?”

“Yes,” your whine echoed through the room, “Please,”

Daemon lent down, placing a harsh kiss to your lips, “Do it then,” he whispered, his forehead pressed to yours.

His words sent tingles down your skin and soon the familiar feeling washed over your body. “Fuck,” he whispered as he felt you tighten around him. Daemon lent up and moved both his hands to your hips, lifting them up and holding them tightly before he lost control and fucked you mercilessly, chasing his own release. It didn’t take him long to spill inside you, squeezing his eyes shut as he came before almost collapsing beside you.

A few moments of silence past as you both regained your breaths, “Are you okay?” Daemon asked, panting as he turned to look at you. his eyes were soft, and a timid smile painted his lips.

“Uh huh,” you nodded yes, still staring at the ceiling seeing stars from crashing so hard.

Daemon rolled onto his side, brushing the hair out of your face, “You’re perfect, you know that right?” he asked, placing a gentle kiss on your forehead, “Let me clean you up,”

“Wait,” you stopped him, holding his wrist gently, “Just lay with me, for a moment,”

“Of course, ñuha qēlos,” My star, he whispered, placing another kiss to your skin, “Whatever you want. Shall I call someone to draw you a bath?”

You nodded lightly as you shuffled into his arms, “Only if you join me,”

“Of course, I will,” Daemon said as his fingers gently stroked your cheek, “Whatever you want,”

You both allowed yourself to get lost in the silence as Daemon continued to press gentle kisses and light strokes to your cheeks. After a few moments you turned to him, “Are you okay?”

“Never better riñītsos,” he whispered back, “I’ll be back in one moment, let me up and I’ll organise that bath,” You allowed him to stand but then suddenly grabbed his wrist, “Are you okay?” Daemon asked, crouching beside you and stroking your hair.

“Avy jorrāelan,” you whispered.

Daemon lent over, pressing a sweet kiss to your lips before standing again, “I love you too sweet girl,”

taglist: @clairacassidy @fan-goddess

A/N: okay so i dissapeared for a lot longer than intended lol. i got really bad writers block but im gonna try push thro it bc i do enjoy doing this stuff so this is a reminder to check in with yourself occasionally to try avoid burning out or doing too much at one time

#daemon targaryen smut #daemon targeryan #hotd daemon #daemon targeryen x reader #daemon targaryen #daemon targaryen x you #house of the dragon headcannons #house of the dragon imagine #house of the dragon #house of the dragon x reader #house of the dragon smut #hotd #hotd smut #hotd imagine #hotd x reader #game of thrones smut #game of thrones #game of thrones imagine #game of thrones x reader

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homestuckreplay · 1 month

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when your friends don't invite you to the matching username party :(

Now that we've seen all of John's friends talk at least a little bit, I wanted to deep dive into their usernames, and see what they might be able to tell us about the characters we don't know yet. For sure I've seen some weird usernames in my time on sites like MSN Messenger, but these seem especially weird, and not like words most kids would use.

There's also a weird pattern - all three of John's friends only use words beginning with T and G in their screen names. We have TT, TG and GG, so if they were doing a bit together we'd expect John to be GT, but instead he's EB - not even close. Could this be a sign that he feels disconnected from the friend group, not fully part of things, doubting that they want him around? Is it possible that the other three are all each other's 'real life' friends while John only talks to them online? Did John not want to be GT, or did nobody ever tell him there was a theme? Was he GT before, but then got mad at his friends one day and change it to spite them? Or is there another GT we have yet to meet?

Discussion of all four known chumhandles under the cut - only ~1k words :)

ectoBiologist - As discussed in my in depth John thoughts, the strict definition of this is 'someone who studies outside/external biology', which could relate to a huge variety of very niche fields - but, knowing John, almost certainly refers to the biology of ectoplasm, slime, and ghosts, a field which doesn't exist in reality but which John might consider himself a pioneer of.

As a sidenote, if John was GT, he might go in a different direction with his username. We know from TT that John regularly wears disguises while talking to her / interacting with his dad / just in daily life, and that he's into comedy and pranks (NOT clowns). Reflecting those, I came up with guisecladTrouper as a chumhandle that would fit the modifierTypeofguy pattern, as well as the letters. If anyone has any other GT ideas for John, I'd love to hear them!

turntechGodhead - TurnTech is a Chinese company founded in 2001 that makes scientific and educational software. This probably isn't the reference, but you never know; this kid could be really into science, happen to own a piece of software from this company, and have liked the word. I also think it could be short for 'turntable technology', which can be a few different hobbies - records/DJing, railroads, or sculpture/ceramics/metalwork. DJing fits his vibe but I think it'd be so cool if he was a train guy. 'Turn' relates to shaping or forming as well as changing direction, so he could be someone who develops his own technology.

This also fits really well with 'godhead', which is the true or essential nature of God in several major world religions. So this could be a suggestion of a guy with delusions of grandeur and a massively inflated ego, or, it could be someone who takes on the role of a god himself - some kind of creator. I really think this kid is going to be into invention, metalworking, and engineering. Built his own computer from scratch type of guy. I bet he owns a soldering iron and uses it for fun.

tentacleTherapist - Lots of living things have tentacles, including snails, squid, jellyfish, coral, moss animals, caecilians, the star-nosed mole, some carnivorous plants, Squidward, and mind flayers. Tentacles are generally associated with sea creatures, horror media, or both. Therapist, meanwhile, is a person who helps to heal someone's physical or psychological problems. The words sound really good when said together, but don't have an obvious link.

One idea is that she's someone who either lives near water or owns weird pets - a tank of snails or jellyfish seems reasonable - perhaps caring for or rehabilitating them from the wild. But the idea of her being into cosmic horror creates a fascinating parallel between her username and John's. John is a biologist; he studies, analyzes and understands academically, while TT is a therapist; she rehabilitates and understands emotionally. John works with ghosts and slime, while TT works with aliens and deep sea horror. It's delightful to me that they might have bonded by nerding out over paranormal lore, an interest probably neither of them shares with many people around them.

gardenGnostic - I keep reading this as a shortening of 'common or garden gnostic' as in 'your average, everyday gnostic' which, out of all the four usernames, might be the wildest one for a 13 year old to be. Much like 'godhead', 'gnostic' carries a very strong religious theme, especially with the capital letter - I know it's the syntax, but the words could be this way round for a reason. I'm definitely going to do some background reading on Gnosticism as we get to know this character to see how well it fits.

The first word could also be referencing the Garden of Eden, the original sin and the tree of knowledge; the combination indicating a character with a drive for spiritual knowledge and self-understanding above all else. In a more literal sense, I'm imagining someone who spends a lot of time outdoors and who would think nothing of a few injuries from the Slimer pogo ride in the yard. This chumhandle is also only a few letters away from 'garden gnome', which makes me think of someone who enjoys the ornamental, decorative, and whimsical.

Just as John and TT's usernames are a pair with similar themes, TG and GG's handles also match up. (Sidenote: does this mean these are the pairs of 'best friends'? Feels weird considering TT is the only one of the three who didn't wish John a happy birthday). Both TG and GG have chumhandles strongly related to religion, creation, and origins, with TG representing the mechanical and technical side of things, and GG representing the natural and environmental side.

So, that's our four chums! The most interesting thing to me is how well these pairs of usernames work together, despite John being outside of the letter pattern. Both these things feel very intentional and not like I'm reaching; they definitely mean Something in the themes, but it's too soon to say what. I'm so impatient to see more of these characters and learn anything concrete about them at all.

If you've made it this far, here's a quick poll!

#homestuck #analysis #i got a longer essay in the works but i spent a lot of today watching star wars with my roommate so didnt finish it lol #may the fourth be with yall

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it-happened-one-fic · 1 year

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Late Night Swimming - Jade

Author Notes: Happy Mermay Twst fandom! I actually didn't know if I was going to get this fic done but I managed to get it written. I wasn't able to right octopus Azul though, despite my best efforts. Reader is gender-neutral in this one and, since its mermay, Jade and Floyd both make an appearance in their merform. I hope you enjoy!

Type: Fluff/ gender-neutral reader/ features Floyd

Word Count: 1703

You didn’t know why you’d agreed to come to Octavinelle in the middle of the night at Floyd’s request.

Simply put, his reasoning for having you come here after dark couldn’t be anything good. And yet you strolled through the darkened hallways, following the directions that Floyd had sent you via text, up some stairs, and over to a dimly lit area that led to the opening of a massive fish tank.

You supposed it did make sense for a dorm inspired by a sea witch to have an aquarium. It was just odd that Floyd wanted you to look into said tank from the very top. But as you peered into the watery depths, you saw something that made your breath catch in your throat.

It was large and faintly glowing as it coiled through the water in a distinctly unfishlike manner. As soon as you inhaled slightly, taken aback by the sight of it slipping through the water like there was nothing there to impede its motions, the creature froze.

You twitched, your fingers curling on the edge of the tank as you watched it slowly twist around until a single glowing yellow eye was latched onto your form.

The creature was motionless for that brief moment, staring up at you as you stared back down at it. Half-mesmerized by the foreign entity and half-apprehensive as to what it might be.

But you didn’t get to ponder what it might be for long, though, since it shot up towards you. Speeding through the water so fast that you barely even had a chance to fall backwards in surprise.

It surfaced, sending water spraying into the air and splattering you where you sat on the ground, having fallen back and away from the tank's edge.

But you recognized it—or rather, him—now.

"Jade," You exhaled his name more than said it as you stared up at the merman who was now staring down at you, his eyes wide in surprise that you seldom saw on his face.

"You... you startled me," You at last managed as you continued to gaze at the faintly glowing marks on his arms and face.

"My apologies," Jade blinked, at last seeming to recover from having discovered your presence here as a smooth smile flickered onto his face.

“I do have to say you surprised me as well, though. What are you doing here, Prefect?” He relaxed with a smile, letting himself sink back into the water and lean against the tank's edge as you sat up.

“Floyd told me to come and sent some directions to this tank.… He wouldn’t really say why he wanted me to come, though. He only said to bring a towel.” You looked down at the cloth in your hands, pondering why Floyd had wanted you to come here while his brother was swimming.

It couldn’t be that he’d wanted you to see Jade in his mer-form. You’d already seen that back during the Ramshackle ordeal when you were trying to swipe that photo from the museum. Though you admittedly hadn’t exactly studied him in detail, but you doubted that was what Floyd wanted either.

Jade was silent, staring at you with an unreadable expression before he pulled himself up a little bit more against the edge of the tank, his eyes flicking from the towel and then back to you.

“Would you like to swim then? I imagine that’s why Floyd directed you to come here with a towel,” He tilted his head as he spoke, and you felt yourself going still.

Swimming… With Jade… In the middle of the night.

“I don’t know… Maybe he just wanted me to bring you a towel. It’s not like he told me to dress for swimming after all,” You shifted awkwardly as you gently deflected away from Jade’s suggestion, which only made the young merman smile with poorly concealed amusement.

But then, knowing Jade, if it was poorly concealed, he wasn’t really trying to hide his amusement, and your excuse had been rather…lacking.

“But you don’t have a swimsuit, do you? After all, the school doesn’t provide one, and you said that you came into this world with only the clothes on your back.”

You didn’t know if you were relieved that he hadn’t bothered questioning your excuse or if you wished he’d done that instead of pointing out one of the many holes that it had. Either way, you had no words to reply to him with. He was right, and his reasoning did provide a good explanation for Floyd’s strange request.

So you just continued to stare at him silently as his smile grew more and more amused the longer the silence lingered until he at last held out his hand, “Come, I assure you that everything will be fine. After all, Floyd will probably join us before long since he invited you.”

Jade gave a slight chuckle before continuing, “I imagine he’ll make you get into the water when he comes, so you may as well enjoy yourself till then.”

Your gaze flickered between him, his hand, the water, and then back to his hand before you at last reached your decision.

Because Jade was, yet again, right. You could get into the water now, while you had the choice, or you could wait until Floyd got here and made you get in.

You sat the towel aside and shrugged out of your jacket, pausing only to glance Jade’s way, “Will I, uh, be able to borrow some clothes from someone to go home in?”

His eyes glimmered with amusement in the dim lighting, his yellow eye still glowing slightly as he nodded, “Certainly. I imagine Azul’s clothes will fit well enough for you to be able to make it home.”

You nodded, swallowing as you hesitated before slipping your hand into his far larger, wet one.

You didn’t know how you’d forgotten how much the Leech twins grew when they switched forms, but even just the difference in your hand size was the perfect reminder as you stood and he helped you carefully start to slip into the water.

“Have you considered installing steps?” You wobbled slightly on the tank's slippery edge before letting out a tiny shriek as you lost your balance and tumbled over into the aquarium.

You splashed down into the cold water, but Jade caught you easily. Letting out a chuckle as he wrapped his cold, wet, and slightly slimy arm around you.

You stopped splashing around like a panicked bird and slowly began adjusting to the water, trembling slightly from the change in temperature.

“No, it isn’t really a problem for us since we usually just jump in and transform all at once,” He was smiling down at you as you clung to his shoulders for a brief moment before realizing what you were doing.

You hastily let go of him and swam backwards, placing distance between yourself and the merman, who still wore that infuriatingly amused expression.

“Do let me know if you start to tire. We can’t have you getting worn out before Floyd gets here. He’d be so disappointed,” Jade’s hand rested against his chin in his signature pose as he finally let himself grin fully. Apparently comfortable enough to drop his butler facade and show off his incredibly sharp teeth.

But then you supposed you were fully in his territory right now.

Perhaps it was decisions such as these that made your companions worry about you and fuss about your occasionally risky decisions. But, in truth, you really didn’t feel like you were in any danger at the moment.

In fact, you felt perfectly safe. While Jade was a complete and total fart, you also didn’t really think he would do anything to harm you. At most he’d tease you like he was doing now, swimming lazy circles around you.

“Do you swim here often?” Your eyes followed his motions, half amused by his actions and half fascinated by how easily he cut through the water.

“No. Our status as mermen is largely a secret after all,” He came to a slow stop, straightening as he glided to a halt in front of you. “Only a few people know about our aquatic nature.”

You blinked, half-surprised by this revelation, before you tilted your head, continuing to question the young man as you treaded water, “So swimming like this is sort of a nicety?”

Jade nodded, drifting closer with a mere twitch of his tail, “Yes, that’s why I hadn’t expected to see anyone here. Much less you, considering you don’t usually visit Octavinelle at this time of evening.”

As he spoke, his eyes flicked over to something behind you, and you heard a rather large splash that had you paddling rapidly in his direction and not turning until you were close enough to Jade that you deemed you were reasonably safe.

“Oh dear, I believed you startled them, Floyd,” Jade chuckled slightly as he glanced down at you before looking towards where his twin now surfaced in his eel form, a wide grin on his face.

“My bad~” You frowned at Floyd’s sing-songy tone, almost positive that he didn’t feel the slightest bit guilty as you watched him swim over.

“So are you two done flirting yet?” Floyd grinned widely as his gaze flickered between you and his brother, his words causing you to falter as you searched for a response.

“You could have given us more time, Floyd. They’ve hardly been in the water any time at all,” Jade feigned a pout, his hand reaching up to rest lightly on your shoulder and causing you to look up at him feeling incredibly betrayed.

“We weren’t flirting. And you know it!” Your words made both of them laugh before Floyd shook his head, his eyes alight with purpose to tease.

“Sure, and you didn’t get in the water willingly.” The young man reached out, ruffling your hair with ease as he grinned, his gaze continuing to dart between his twin, who still had an arm wrapped around you, and your frowning face. “Don’t worry, Shrimpy. Your secret’s safe with us. I won’t tell a soul that you like my bro.”

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mingisdoll · 12 days

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Thar he goes

Back on my OUAT bullshit lol

Trope: siren!Wooyoung x sailor!reader

Includes: gn!reader, mainly crack with mentions of almost drowning

@newworldnet

@blossomnet

"BRING BACK THE MERMAID!"

"AND WHAT?! YOU'LL WIN HER OVER WITH YOUR RAINBOW KISSES AND UNICORN STICKERS?!"

"MAYBE THAT'S WHAT WE KIND OF FUCKING NEED RIGHT NOW!"

"SHUT UP, YOU USELESS SAILOR!"

Ooh. You had enough of Regina's bullshit. You let go of the rigging and tackled the Evil Queen. Surprised by this, she tried to blast you away with her magic yet you were quicker and smarter. You placed a black leather cuff on her wrist and when she tried to flick her hand, no magic came out.

"HA! MAYBE NOW YOU'LL LEARN THAT ALL MAGIC IS USELESS SO FIGHT ME LIKE A WOMAN, BITCH!"

"WHY YOU - "

Regina tackled you but you sidestepped just in time for the Queen to actually tackle Mary Margaret (Snow White) instead. You cackled at the two women throwing hands at each other until you felt something sharp being pointed at your back. You turned around to see David (Charming) angrily pointing a sword at you.

"YOU DID THAT ON PURPOSE! ARE YOU ON REGINA'S SIDE OR OURS?!"

"I'M ON THE SIDE OF LIVING, YOU BASTARD! DON'T POINT THAT THING AT ME!"

"BREAK UP THE FIGHT BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM NOW!"

"LET THE SLAGS HASH IT OUT, YOU WHINY PRINCE! GOD YOU WERE SO MUCH BETTER WHEN YOU WERE ABOUT TO FILLET THAT BITCH!"

"DON'T CALL MY WIFE A SLAG!"

David charged at you and you sidestepped quickly once more, regretting it slightly when he ran into your captain by accident.

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL, Y/N?!"

"SORRY, HOOK! WELL... NOT REALLY! YOU DESERVE IT!"

"FOR WHAT?!"

"FOR MAKING ME GO THROUGH THIS CRAP!"

Hook was now charging at you with his sword in his hand. Realizing the 'oh shit i fucked up' moment, you grabbed a rope and swung over to where Emma was trying to keep the Jolly Roger steady.

"EMMA, YOU'RE THE ONLY TOLERABLE ONE AT THE MOMENT SO I'MMA WARN YOU RIGHT NOW! WE'RE HEADING INTO DANGEROUS TERRITORY!"

"WHAT COULD BE MORE DANGEROUS THAN THIS STORM?!"

As if on cue, singing voices could be heard from the depths of the sea. The rest of the group stopped fighting and stood still as the singing voices grew louder and louder. Only you and Emma could resist the singing, which would explain the apprehension on her face as eight men appeared on the boat after a brief flash of lightening passed by.

"SHIT!"

You quickly ran down to the group and your eyes widened when you saw one of them reach out to caress Mary's face with webbed hands.

"HANDS OFF, SCALY MOTHERFUCKERS!"

You shoved him to the side and felt his catlike eyes pierce your soul.

"I'M SORRY! YOU'LL THANK ME LATER!"

You slapped her, then Regina, then David, and finally, your captain. Emma grew shocked as they tried to snap out of it.

"WHY THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT?!"

"IT WAS EITHER THAT OR THEY ALL DIE FROM EITHER DROWING OR A SINGLE BITE!"

"THEY'RE STILL HERE! WHAT SHOULD WE DO?!"

"PROTECT THEM AS THEY SNAP BACK TO REALITY! I'M GOING WITH THEM!"

"I'M NOT LETTING YOU GO WITH A BUNCH OF SIRENS!"

"JUST TRUST ME!"

With that, you dove off the ship and the sirens followed you in after, almost drowning you in the process when they dove in. The last thing you could recall was a mop of dark hair hovering over your sinking body.

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

"Unicorn stickers? Seriously?"

"Yeah. That's exactly what Regina said to Snow."

A high-pitched laugh, followed by other laughs, filled the hollow siren grove while you retold the story of how that mermaid basically caused chaos aboard the ship.

You didn't necessarily drown. You only pretended to drown so you could escape the chaos of those enchanted forest crackheads and your equally stupid captain. You felt scaly arms wrap around you and a chin land on your shoulder and you looked down to see your favorite siren with the witch cackle he emitted earlier.

"Yes, Wooyoung?"

"I want attention."

"But you already have it."

"Well I want more~"

His whines and pout made the other seven sirens groan in annoyance and you hushed them. The siren with the cat eyes then asked something.

"So what will happen once they stop Peter Pan? Will you help them escape Neverland?"

"Perhaps. But they seriously need to work together if the Savior wants to save that son of hers."

"Speaking of which, how did she not know that Neal's real name was Baelfire?"

"San, be for real. Imagine you're on a date in that Land without Magic and a man introduces themself with the name Baelfire. Besides, after going through that portal, he's gotta blend in somehow."

"Ok ok. Lemme follow up with this. How did August, or Pinocchio I should say, know that Neal is Baelfire?"

You thought about that for a moment before shrugging.

"Meh. Don't know, don't care. Anyways, lemme know if that ghastly crew of adult misfits find their way off Neverland so I can help my captain man the Jolly Roger once more. Maybe I'll find a way to get your siren asses to Storybrooke. That Ariel chick did. Might as well give you guys a place to live, right?"

The seven of them cheered while Wooyoung hugged you tightly.

"Thanks, doll." He said affectionately and kissed your cheek.

"No problem, Woo. All within a day's work I suppose."

#newworldnet #blossomnet #ateez #ateez imagines #ateez fanfic #ateez x reader

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midnighttheroies · 1 year

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Helluva Boss “He Can Get Hurt” Explained and In Defense Of The Newest Episode

so i was browsing on twitter after the new release of the newest episode, and alot of people where confused about blitz’s reaction to stolas being in the hospital, alot of people kept pointing out how stupid the line was, how it and how episode 4 sucks, ect, i even saw one comment about how helluva boss lost it’s charm?!!, and i’m here to show you exactly why none of that is true at all

1: “He Can Get Hurt” explanation

alot of people where confused by this line because in season 1 ep 5, blitz saved stolas by stopping striker when he was about to kill him, and in seas 1 ep 2, when he was stolas and octavia bodyguard, so the idea of stolas getting hurt shouldn’t be surprised and it was a stupid line

here’s why that’s wrong

blitz isn’t dumb, he is aware at the fact that yes demon royalty are targets for assassination and killings and such, but it’s not something that happens to often, also stolas is someone who always puts up a persona and front, he refused to break in-front of striker, and barely flinched when he was being stabbed with a holy weapons, blitz always viewed stolas an indestructible force, he’s seen was he’s capable of, and how powerful he is, stolas is an all powerful being, and because of how he always dismisses blitz’s rude taunts and remarks, blitz built an image in his head that stolas is someone who is incapable of truly getting hurt

until he did

when millie told him about how stolas got hurt badly, you can see the shock and almost denial on his face, and the “He Can Get Hurt” really sticks to you, because in that moment, when blitz found out stolas got hurt, it humanized stolas for him, it made him realize that stolas can be vulnerable, that he can get hurt, he’s not indestructible and he can die, and the possibility was higher then he thought, he could lose stolas, and that terrifies him, also the shock of something happening to someone you know, like the possibility of them getting hurt in such a way is always shocking, no matter what

2: “The R-word scene”

if you guys remember when blitz was speaking with the drugged out goat lady, blitzo was stretching out the word and said “can’t say that anymore” some people had some issues with this, i however thought it was pretty funny, some people though were upset because the show is supposed to be offensive and they didn’t say the word so their for the show is doubling down on itself, first off the show is offensive, just because they censor or don’t say the word fully doesn’t mean it’s doubling down on itself!!, second, it was supposed to be a funny moment, to me it was supposed to be “breaking the fourth wall” kinda moment, like blitzo knows if he says that word he’s gonna get alot of hate, kinda like how brandon in real life doesn’t say the word in his most recent videos anymore like he used to, i also think it’s a little bit of a reference to that, and i think people took it way to much outta context, i think people are taking it way more seriously then it needs to honestly

3: “The show lost it’s charm, it’s like it doesn’t know the plot anymore ect”

first off, the show JUST started season 2, second, helluva boss is a slow pace, slow burn show, their isn’t supposed to be anything big major character/story development just yet, if you ask me, the show is only getting better and better, like ep 3 is by far their best episode, that episode alone changed my whole view on moxxie in the best way possible and puts season 1 ep 1 in a whole new different light

also another thing, helluva boss is a show where it goes into more depth and you have to look at things more then what your shown, the show is showing subtle hints here and their and you have to make it out, and i love that, it makes everything so much more interesting

also you can’t just judge a show when it just basically started and doesn’t even have an ending yet

2: “Blitz Defense”

alot, and i mean ALOT of people where quick to point out how much of an asshole blitz was to stolas within those text messages and just him in general, but people forget that blitz is like this as a way to protect himself, we’ve seen stolas at his most vulnerable moments, we know stolas loves blitz, but blitz himself doesn’t know that, to him, he’s stolas plaything, a sex toy, nothing more, he’s scared of loving people, he’s scared of intimacy because he’s afraid of getting hurt, so he pushes people away before they can hurt him, which is what he’s doing with stolas, because he doesn’t think stolas truly cares about him, and even though he tries to pretend he doesn’t, blitz does feel something for stolas, he cares about him, if he didn’t he wouldn’t have been worried about him over the phone and he sure as hell wouldn’t have sent a text message, i don’t know if i would say blitz loves stolas just yet, but i do think he at least likes him, i personally see this as a “stolas fell first but blitz fell harder” kinda thing

#helluva boss blitz #Helluva Boss #helluva boss season 2 #helluva boss season 2 episode 4 #stolas #stolas goeita #stolas x blitzo #blitzo #blitzø #stolitz #stolas x blitz #stolas x blitzø #helluvaboss #ya'll need to chill out #twitter is full of hates geez

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hottpinkpenguin · 2 months

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Reasons, Ch.6 - Cassian Andor series

Female reader insert Summary: You're a droidsmith on Ferrix when a handsome stranger walks in one day with a hopelessly damaged droid. You agree to take on the repairs for the stranger, a decision that will change the direction of your lives forever. Word Count: 2,260 Content Warnings for: canon-divergence; cursing Taglist: @mithicakurogo @nonniecannie @freerangesweets @zbeez-outlet @chicken-fifi @queerponcho @theatergirlmgm @oh-yeah-i-exist @shakespeareanlead @idontevenknow1359

The sound of waves licking the sandy beach below had become a steady soundtrack that pounded around your head all hours of the day and night. You’d at first been mesmerized by the planet Niamos - to think, its inhabitants lived within full eyesight of an ocean at all times - but now, almost three and a half months after your frenetic arrival, boredom mixed with fear had gotten inextricably mixed with the sounds and smells of the ocean and you realized that you hated it here. Especially without Cassian.

He hadn’t stayed long, maybe two days. He’d dumped you in this beautiful, empty house and left with barely a word…

“I need to see my contact on Coruscant.” His dark eyes were red-rimmed from lack of sleep and cold. “Need to sort out safe passage for you. Get forged papers, new documents. It’ll take a while.”

You’d breathed in a heavy, long breath. Exhaustion had settled deep in the center of your bones, but what choice did you have? You were a fugitive now.

You nodded numbly, looking longing out through the perpetually-open wall of glass at the ocean stretched out to the horizon line.

“I’ll go pack,” you replied, sliding out of the chair you were in and heading towards the bedroom you were staying in. “Won’t take long.”

Cassian caught your hand as you turned away. His touch sent electricity ricocheting up your arm, stealing your breath. You turned back to him, wondering if you looked as hopeful as you felt.

“I’m going alone,” he clarified. His voice sounded sad and far away, but those dark, bottomless eyes revealed nothing.

You didn’t know what to say. What to ask. Where would you stay? Here, you supposed, only because there was nowhere else to go. You’d realized very quickly that the Galaxy was massive, and you’d never left Ferrix before. The only person that you knew out here was Cassian, and laying claim to ‘knowing’ him felt like a lie. You felt that now more than ever. You didn’t really know him at all.

You felt yourself give a shrug. Half resignation, half confusion. Cassian watched you quietly as you slid back into the chair, your eyes returning to the waves. Each time a new wave boiled up from the ocean depths, crested, and then crashed in a spray of foam on the seashore, you felt a new emotion rise up and crash open inside you. Grief. Rage. Despair. Terror.

You don’t know how long you’d sat there, staring at the sea. After a long while of sitting still and thinking, you said the only thing that really mattered to you anymore. “Don’t forget to come back for me.”

Cassian hadn’t said a word after that. He’d simply slipped out the door without so much as a backwards glance. Leaving you to the empty house that looked out over the empty ocean…

The realization that Cassian wasn’t coming back for you had hit you somewhere around week seven. He hadn’t left a way for you to contact him, or vice versa. He hadn’t sent anyone to check on you. He hadn’t squirreled away a secret note or some small token of his remembrance. It was like he’d never been here at all. And that was by design. He was covering his tracks. Sure, you were on the run. But so was he.

You wondered where in the escape things had gone sideways. He’d seemed so deliriously guilty about getting you tied up with the Empire when he’d broken into your home on Ferrix. He’d been tender in taking care of you after hyperdrive sickness, and then he’d brought you here. To safety. Because he cared… right?

There was one moment that everything had pivoted. You could barely bring yourself to think of it. Your cheeks burned with embarrassment (and desire, if you were completely truthful) each time you relived that kiss. It had to be the kiss. You’d crossed a line, you told yourself. Cassian was just trying to save your skin, and you’d gone and made it some sort of tragedy-romance mashup of bad luck and bad decisions when you’d slapped your lips on his. I’ve always been a good actor. You’d never forget those words. He’d been acting as the good guy, trying to make up for his wrongs by pulling you out of Ferrix. But that’s where it had ended. You’d fallen for his show, and you’d ruined everything. And now, you were alone. Just you and the ocean.

Three and a half months was a long time to be by yourself. You’d managed to get by on the credits you’d had the sense to pack before fleeing your home, but that supply was dwindling. Pretty soon you’d have to make a choice: go home, or set up shop here. You’d have to fix droids. It was all you knew. But setting up shop somewhere new was bound to be fraught with challenges. You didn’t know the market, didn’t have a customer base. There were bound to be other droidsmiths on Niamos, so you’d be making enemies while you were bowing and scraping, taking whatever anyone would throw at you, all in the name of buying trust and goodwill and maybe, hopefully, a repeat customer.

But worst of all, setting up shop here felt final. Setting up shop here meant that you wouldn’t be leaving. That this was home now. And, at the end of the day, that meant that Cassian wasn’t coming back.

You hated him for leaving you, but not enough to give up all hope. Not yet. You counted the credits you had left. One more week, you thought to yourself. If he’s not back by then, I’ll start looking for shop space.

An empty promise, you knew. You’d made the same one for the last four weeks.

* * * * * * * * *

Cassian felt fire burning in his veins as he held Senator Mothma’s gaze, her last words hanging heavy in the darkness between them.

“I cannot afford to wait another week,” Cassian growled through gritted teeth, his hands trembling at his side. “It’s been almost four months already, Senator.”

Senator Mothma fidgeted uncomfortably with the large hood that obscured her face from the ambient light of a Coruscant night. They were quite alone in the rancid-smelling alley that Cassian had chosen for their meet-up, but the hum of the city-planet rang in their ears. A reminder to be quick, and be on their way.

“I’m sorry, Cassian, I truly am, but I simply canno-”

“Senator, with respect, I am tired of your apologies.” Cassian was pacing now, his voice breaking free of the constraints of whispering. His temper was fracturing with impatience. “My contact on Niamos is in constant danger, and you’ve kept us waiting for four months for papers!”

“Cassian, please.” The Senator cast a shifty glance around. No one was listening, but the last thing either of them needed was to make a spectacle of the exchange. A Senator caught in a clandestine midnight meeting with a known Rebellion agitator would do neither of them any good. To say nothing of the warrant for Cassian’s arrest and the bounty price of half a million credits on his head. Or the Senator’s deeply scrutinized allegiances and alleged ties to the Aldhani incident.

Cassian tried to calm himself, but he was beyond reason. All he could see was your eyes, the way you’d crumpled when he’d told you he was coming to Coruscant alone. It had nearly broken him to leave you there, but the brutal calculus of life as a wanted criminal demanded the utmost adherence to scruples. Cassian couldn’t risk your life just to keep you near him. It would have been easy - too easy - to delude himself into thinking that the safest place for you was by his side. Right where he wanted you. But he’d already proven himself near-fatal to you, almost getting you good and shot on Ferrix just by trying to pay off his massive debt with some traced credits. And all that had been before that goddamned kiss. After that, he was sunk. Totally enraptured. He knew it from the instant he felt your lips on his. No, he was in far too deep. If it was the last thing he did, Cassian Andor meant to make good on his promise to you: he needed to get you set up somewhere safe and then make it so that you never saw him again. It was the best way - the only way - he could see to keep you safe. And as badly as he wanted you, he wanted you alive. More than anything, that was what mattered.

He reminded himself of all of this, one painstaking bitter pill at a time. Slowly, incrementally, he felt the fire begin to burn off as his mind cleared to reason. When he finally felt calm enough to speak, he rounded on Senator Mothma.

“Senator, it gives me no pleasure to do this, but I simply cannot wait any longer. If I don’t have the papers I’ve requested - and paid for, mind you - by tomorrow, I’ll have to take matters in my own hands.”

Senator Mothma inhaled, her chin jutting out proudly as her eyes simmered. “And just what does that mean, Cassian?” Puffed up and haughty, but Cassian saw a flicker of fear in the back of her eyes. She knew a threat when she heard one. And Cassian had been honest about one thing: it really didn’t give him any pleasure to play this hand with the Senator. She was a noble woman, strong in her beliefs and an astoundingly deft political operative. Smart and confident. Cassian respected her immensely. But, when all was said and done, she was proving to be a hindrance. Cassian had promises to fulfill. Or rather, promise. Singular. Your safety. He was determined that nothing - not the Senator’s delicate political situation, not an outstanding warrant for his arrest, not an entire garrison of Imperial Storm Troopers - would stand in his way.

“Let’s hope you don’t have to find out, Senator.”

For a few tense seconds, the two of them sized each other up in the hazy darkness. Cassian’s gaze was steely, his resolve never stronger. Three months, three weeks, two days. His internal clock screeched like a tea kettle. Too long.

After a few breaths, Senator Mothma deflated slightly, her head sagging on her proud neck. The way she crumpled, like a kite that’s lost its breeze, reminded Cassian of the way you’d looked as he’d left you alone by the seashore on Niamos. The memory brought the threat of tears to his eyes.

“I’ll get them to you,” the Senator agreed. Her voice sounded stretched and thin. Cassian felt a pang of guilt for having to push her to this. He knew what she was risking - her career in the Senate, her daughter’s and husband’s safety, her own life - to get these forged identichips. Ever since the Empire had assumed power, identichips had become mandatory for Imperial citizens to carry at all times. Forged chips had quickly flourished as one of the most lucrative corners of the black market, but the Empire had expended considerable effort on quashing that enterprise in its infancy. Those willing to alter identichips were few and far between now; those willing to forge entirely new ones, even fewer. Only the very wealthy had enough credits to realistically purchase such a service, but forgers made themselves extremely scarce in efforts to avoid Imperial imprisonment. Not that Cassian blamed them - wasn’t that the fate he was trying to save you from, after all? - but their secretiveness had proven an unexpected time suck on his plans. Months had dragged by before Senator Mothma had even made contact with one, and now her order hadn’t been delivered on schedule. Cassian wasn’t sure what it would cost her to extort the identichips tonight, but he couldn’t allow himself to backtrack now.

“Thank you.” He exhaled heavily, unsure if he felt relieved or more terrified than before. He’d been focusing for so long on getting the identichips that he hadn’t let himself think too hard on what would come after. Were you still on Niamos? Would you still want his help? Had the Empire found you? Were you still alive at all?

Unwilling to follow those thoughts any further, Cassian simply handed Senator Mothma a small strip of paper with a ship’s name and docking location scribbled on it. “I’m leaving at midday tomorrow,” he told her as she crumpled the paper and slipped it into the pocket of her robe. “Make sure my chips are on board by then.”

She nodded again - a sad, completely exhausted acquiescence - and turned on her heels, vanishing into the foggy street. Cassian watched as she left, listening to the sound of her retreating footsteps. She was walking away with the power to make or break him, Cassian realized. If she didn’t deliver those chips, and Cassian couldn’t get back to you…

He wasn’t sure what that would mean for him, except that his heart turned to ash in his chest whenever he thought of that possibility. Steeling himself against the mix of dread, relief, and adrenaline sitting on his shoulders, he turned the collar up on his coat and turned in the opposite direction from the Senator. He threw up a silent thought for you - all alone by the seaside in a beautiful, empty house - hundreds of thousands of miles away, but somehow still the closest thing he had to home.

*more chapters coming soon! please let me know if you'd like to be tagged for future chapters

#cassian andor fanfiction #cassian andor angst #cassian andor imagine #cassian andor #cassian andor x reader #andor imagine #andor #diego luna x you #diego luna x reader #diego luna fanfiction #diego luna imagine #diego luna

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