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[universcutiallyenthusiastbouquet]

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[moodymisty]

Request: Horus, full-on breeding kink, no teasin' or quickies. Straight up pound town on his wife. The full Lupercal Special. Leave that woman whimperin' and unable to walk. Put a baby in that oven Mister Warmaster 🫡

Author’s note: I know it would largely be a horrid idea but I’d let all the Primarchs knock me up tbh.

Relationships: Horus Lupercal/Fem!Reader

Warnings: NSFW, Breeding kink, Size difference, Slightly rough sex

Horus watches his men work, detailing their upcoming route as they prepare to depart from Terran space.

While the primarch is more than capable of multi-tasking, of listening into multiple different voices all giving out different information with ease, he also finds himself drifting off a bit.

Due to the length of many of these crusades, Horus sometimes elects to leave you on Terra in his personal wing of the palace. You don't like it- he doesn't either - but knowing the danger of these unknown paths he does it for the sake of your safety.

He may not particularly like Dorn, at least his stiff and unfriendly personality, but he knows the man has built the greatest and most impenetrable fortress humanity has yet seen. It's one of the few places he can leave you where he won't worry.

This last evening, his final one with you for what will more than likely be months, he made sure to make it one that would be remembered.

"Horus! M-more, please, more!"

Knees almost by your ears Horus drove his cock into you as deep as he could possibly go and past it, listening to you squeal as the thick base of his cock stretched you almost impossibly wide. You felt so tight, warm and wet; Horus wonders in a sadistic, selfish way if your body has been ruined and reformed to fit only him by his rutting.

With each thrust the bed groaned, creaking and cracking for mercy. Imperium builders struggled to form beds that looked appealing to the eye and the aesthetic of the palace that could also hold the full weight of a primarch, and settled somewhere in the middle. Though that middle ground didn't account for the added force Horus has put onto it, the frame threatening to break if he continued.

"Greedy, greedy girl. I spoil you too much,"

Horus chuckled at you, at the way one of your hands gripped his forearm as he pressed your left thigh against your stomach. The other laid in a similar position, knees by your ears, while your other hand grasped the pillow behind you for some semblance of support against him.

"You want me to cum in you again? Are you going to command a primarch?"

Horus loves to joke that you are his princess; His love that he'll give the very stars to if you only asked. That it's cute when you try and command him with your quiet, gentle voice.

You nodded, squealing and moaning as Horus thrusts into you and his hips slapped against your bruised thighs over and over. He forced his cum out of you each time, what wasn’t shoved out by the size of his cock and leaking out of you was sloshing around inside of you, filled to the brim.

"I want to come back from this crusade and see you with child. I am going to make sure of it."

You incoherently whined as your nails dug into his skin, his balls slapping against your ass with each thrust.

He felt the way you tighten around him as you cum again, tears pricking in the corner of your eyes as his movements overstimulated you to almost pain. He could hear the dryness in your voice, from your whining and moaning, and you'll surely lose your voice tomorrow.

He had told you that you could be as loud as you wanted, but he wonders if you know that with astartes hearing, it's quite possible the guards outside could hear you. You would surely perish of embarrassment, but Horus is a boaster- and would love nothing more than for the entire palace and everyone inside of it hear how much you love when he fucks you.

“One more, Horus please one more,”

Horus chuckled. He wanted to give you one more; To fill you up one more time. He refuses to believe the Primarchs are sterile. You will get pregnant- he refuses to give in.

“Are you sure you have room? I don’t want you wasting it.”

He could feel how sticky you were, how much of his cum he had fucked out of you.

But he did give you one more despite his teasing, and one more after that, and only then did he finally pull out of you and listen to you whine in pain as the head of his cock popped past your entrance out of your abused cunt. More cum leaked from you without his cock to bully it inside, though he was sure it was only a fraction.

You fell asleep not long after.

He rose from his bed before the sun had risen, waking you up. The sleepy look on your face was so endearing as he kissed you goodbye, and you indeed had a sore voice. He had warned his men stationed as guard for his quarters that you were feeling a bit tired, woman’s troubles, and needed needed a few days of rest- they wouldn’t see much of you those few days. They didn’t pry or have any context and blindly accepted Horus’ orders, before he left some of his men on Terra and boarded The Vengeful Spirit satisfied.

"Will Lady Lupercal be alright on Terra?"

Tarik is the only member of the Mournival currently at the holotable, looking at his primarch with a typical astartes neutral expression. Horus' attachment to you has seemed to spread to them in some odd way, as if his geneseed did more than just alter their appearance; That they share a little bit of his emotions as well.

"I made sure she has everything she needs, she'll be fine."

Tarik gives an unimpressed hum. Horus raises his eyebrows and looks at the man curiously.

"You don't agree with my choice?" Tarik shakes his head, adjusting his jaw with a soft crack.

“The choice was not mine to make.”

Horus laughs. He can hear the discontent in his son's voice quite easily.

“She will be fine. I am sure we’ll have a letter from her soon enough.”

Returning back to the topic at hand Horus slots the memory of the previous night firmly in the back of his mind, where he could return to it later. These crusades always try his patience, so it'll be something to keep with him in those frustrating moments. To keep in mind what he has waiting for him.

He eagerly awaits for that letter; Hoping for it's content to show if all of his hopes and effort finally paid off.

[free-boundsoul]

Imp! Vega and Pet NSFW drabbles

minors please DNI

The moan that left Vega's lips was positively sinful, his Pet's lips wrapped around his length as they hummed. Those supplicant eyes looked up at him, even as tears welled in the corners from the lack of air; he really couldn’t have asked for a better pet. If the Sadism demon hadn’t known better, he would have thought that they had been made specifically for him, their body solely for his touch alone. His to debase, to defile, to punish and then to soothe and to hold. He hadn’t lied when he said they were like treasure.

A buzz of panic danced across his pet’s threads, drawing his attention away from his pleasure. A low, weak whine sounded from their throat before the sound died with the last of the air in their lungs. Vega smirked down at them, his eyes glowing in the dim of the room.

“Stay where you are, darling. I know you’re not at your limit yet.” He projected his thoughts into their mind. He ran a soothing hand through their hair, before the digits tightened and his pet’s throat spasmed around his shaft as he slid just a little deeper.

It was a game they often played, testing their limits just shy of breaking. It was a simple matter to monitor their emotions, that was a demonic trademark after all, but it allowed him to recognize that fine line between ‘just enough’ and ‘too much’. A very useful tool that he used to make sure he didn’t break his little toy in a way they didn’t truly want. Especially when his little pet had gone completely nonverbal, knowing that they didn’t need any words with him, he could understand them perfectly through this bond of theirs.

The arousal coursing along their threads warred with the panic, that fear only feeding the desire that dripped from them. It was only when the panic overtook the pleasure that he released the grip on their hair and pulled out of their throat. The sharp intake of breath when he was free sent them coughing, and his fingers wound through their hair again. They didn’t shy away from the sharp points of his nails, instead leaning into the touch as they took in large, shuddering breaths.

“That’s it, Pet. Breathe in….hold….and out. Again.” Vega gently scratched their scalp, right at the spot that sent a tingling sort of tickle down their neck that had their eyelids fluttering. They still kept their eyes on his, ever his obedient little toy. “Very good. Let’s really test your endurance this time, hmmm?”

*:–☆–:*:–☆–:*:–☆–:*:–☆–:*:–☆–:*:–☆–:*

Vega traced the tips of his nails along his pet’s throat, barely touching but it still made his little plaything shiver. He hummed as he admired the bruises the adorned their neck. They were faded from their last session days ago, the Imperium stooges were much more acquiescing in letting them visit him when it was for carnal desire instead of actually feeding him. Still, the bruises could have been healed with a bit of magic, or even concealed with make up. But his Pet always wore them proudly, never trying to hide the marks he left on their skin. The Sadism demon found himself pleased by that, this little human must face ostracization or ridicule for their devotion to a demon, a race that was oh so looked down upon on this plane. But he never sensed regret in them.

“Come up, Pet. Straddle me.” The command was quick to be obeyed, his pet’s thighs straining to frame his own. He could alter his form of course, make it easier for them, but he knew how much they like the size difference between them. They liked how he dwarfed them, how easily he could manhandle them, how small and delicate they were in comparison. “Arch your head back, bare that pretty throat to me.”

Another order eagerly obeyed, their eyes dilatating as their breath caught in their throat. He tilted their head a little further back with a finger under their chin before he pressed his lips against theirs. Their mouth opened easily to his, inviting in his dominating tongue and sharp teeth. He couldn’t stop himself from nipping at their soft lip, just shy from drawing blood but it drew a gasp from them. Vega chuckled softly as he ducked his head to press his lips against their throat, gifting them a kiss there before biting down on one of their fading bruises.

Their thighs clenched against his but they kept still otherwise, he hadn’t given them permission to move, after all. His teeth sank into their delicate skin until copper bloomed on his tongue and his pet let out a shaky mewl. “Such an obedient little thing. So eager for me to mark your skin and claim you as my own. So proud to wear the proof of my ownership.”

Vega’s tongue swiped the drops of their blood from his lips, noting that the punctures from his canines were already clotting. Their chest rose in a heaving breath as they blinked up at him, “I-I am…proud to be yours.” Their voice was little more than a rasping whisper, so unused during their time together.

He hummed as he cradled their jaw in his hand, his thumb tracing along their cheek. “You’re such a good pet…I think that calls for a reward, don’t you?”

*:–☆–:*:–☆–:*:–☆–:*:–☆–:*:–☆–:*:–☆–:*

Vega had never considered the positives of taking on a physical form. It was something he was required to do when he joined Dahlia’s haven, they didn’t want demons to go undetected after all. But their hatred for his kind was a wonderful meal for him, so he stayed, even with the stipulation. He just never thought about how euphoric this form could feel.

His hips slapped against his Pet’s as he thrust inside them, their inner walls clenching oh so deliciously around his length. His nails bit into their hip as he angled them in a way that had him going deeper, their cries muffled by the sheets as his other hand pressed in between their shoulder blades, keeping their chest pressed into the bed. Vega could understand why humans fell so easily under a concubus’ charms, if they could gift the pleasure that coursed through his body as he pounded his little plaything into the bed.

He slid his hand up their spine, along their neck until he fisted his fingers in their hair and pulled their head back. Pet gasped in a breath, before their voice dissolved into breathless moans. “That’s right…let me hear all those noises you can’t keep contained. Show me how much you enjoy being a mindless little thing for me. All you can think about is my cock, stretching this tight hole of yours. My hands, squeezing your body. My voice reverberating in your mind.”

Red hot desire pulsed along their threads, echoing his own. They were such a good match for him, his little masochist. Ready and willing to accept the bite from his teeth, the slap of his hand or the harsh thrust of his hips. So eager to kneel at his feet and give themselves over to him and his desires. Their mortal frame was coated in sweat, twitching and trembling as he thrust his cock into them, again and again until their mind was a muddled and incoherent mess. Their moans growing in volume as their breathing quickened. They squeezed down around him like a vice as they started to edge closer to that peak.

A growl rumbled passed his lips, not just in his mind as his pace quickened, nearing his own climax. He might not be an incubus, but he could still feel the sparks of their pleasure that fanned his own into an inferno. “You’re so close…haa…the way you tighten down around me…fuck.. you can cum, Pet, but you’ll do it with me. Cum on my cock…cum with me!”

The order was lost as their orgasm tore through them, their moans reaching a crescendo that was music to the demon’s ears as he joined them. Vega came down from the high slowly, breathing heavily as he pulled out of his Pet’s exhausted body. It took a snap of his fingers to have them both clean, fresh sheets on the bed. His charge collapsed with a groan, turning enough to look up at him with an unasked question in his eyes. Vega chuckled lowly in his throat before he lowered himself beside them on the bed, his arms wrapping around their limp body to press them against him. They fit snugly against him, a content smile curling their lips as they nestled their head against his chest. He could only imagine that they would be purring, as if they were truly a pet that he called them.

“Sweet dreams, little one. You deserve it.”

[ms--lobotomy]

@liar-anubiass-blog hi! Tumblr has a habit of deleting the very ask I want to write for when it is its turn. Here's your Emps being a bit of a silly billy.

---

summary: you are a poor unfortunate immortal who the emperor happened to take an interest in before the whole imperium of man thing. have fun with that

word count: 1353

content warnings: a bit of gore, a bit of longing for death, a very yandere man (god?) thing, also this shit is TOXIC toxic so beware, also he uses female words so if youre not a girl just pretend he used masculine pronouns i guess

---

It all started when you were minding your own business, crossing the street sometime in the 3rd millenium. It was late at night, and you were walking alone to your car, parked a little ways away from your workplace. You started to cross the street. A car barrelled towards you, moving haphazardly through the street. You barely had time to turn your head before it collided with you, flattening your frail body. Bones cracked open, flesh fell apart and blood poured from every opening.

After the offending car had frantically drove away, you felt your bones moving back to where they should go and fresh blood oozing back into your form. Soon you were standing up right where you had been before you were struck, work uniform and all. You raised a hand to your cheek. The blood was inside, where it was supposed to be.

You never told a soul about the event. After all, who would believe you? But this was not the only thing you found strange. As you grew older, you never aged. It was a little strange around your 30s or 40s, but you knew something was up once you hit 50. Faking your death was challenging, but you somehow made it work, ready to start life in a new city.

And city to city you roamed, never staying in one place for too long. You began to hate, loathe this curse that had been put upon you. One part of humanity that everyone else had shared was no longer yours. You wanted to die, you wanted it to end when your time was up. But time marched on, and so did you.

You'd moved onto your next city, ready and resigned to this process you had carved out for yourself. Get some crummy job serving slop to people who sometimes yelled obscenities at you, find a place to rent for a little while, and hunker down and hope your secret would be safe.

But something was different about this city, you felt a pair of eyes on you no matter where you went. You weren't sure where they came from, but you now walked a little brisker and you certainly now slept a little less soundly. You requested, you begged to work at the back of the seedy restaurant you worked at, a request which was never granted. So you toiled away at the front, ever cautious to remain inconspicuous.

But all of that would be for naught in the end. You were once again walking home from work, complete with a disheveled uniform. He was a taller man who hadn't had to do much to keep up with your brisk place. He was adorned with long black hair, honey-brown eyes and golden skin. His voice was deep and commanding.

"I know what you are." He put a hand around the back of your neck, his index finger tapping it lightly.

You froze. He stopped walking next to you, looking down on you. "Hell of an opener," you said after a few moments of silence. "Ever introduce yourself?"

"You'll know who I am soon enough," he replied. He tightened his hand around the back of your neck. How tall was he? Maybe around seven or eight feet? "Keep quiet and follow me or I'll snap it."

You felt a lump form in your throat. You'd been very careful to keep your secret from the outside world. If your neck was snapped in broad daylight and you somehow came back from it, there would be no more secrets to keep.

"Ready to go?" he asked.

You walked through the busy streets, never meeting the gazes of the city folk. Some of them looked at their feet when you stared back at them, some of them kept looking. "What a lovely couple!" exclaimed an older lady before meandering past the two of you. You thought your feet were going to fall off before the strange man turned into a more suburban area of town. "Not too far left to go," he said, the corner of his mouth turned up in a smirk.

As soon as you felt you couldn't do it anymore, he led you up the steps of a beaten-down two-story house. His grip was tight enough that you couldn't even consider running away. With his free hand, he pulled a key out of his pocket and inserted it into the door. As he turned it, his hand trailed town towards your waist, grip tight as ever.

"Welcome to your new home," he smirked.

"My rent is due tomorrow," you remarked.

"You're not going to need it ever again," he said, pushing you into the house. This strange man had a maximalist aesthetic, little decorations were crammed into every corner of the place. He closed the door and led you through the halls, going slow to let you take in every little bit of it.

"So you're kidnapping me," you said flatly.

"That's a bit of an unkind way to put it, don't you think?" he asked. He pulled you close to him. You felt your heart beating in your chest. Not now, you thought.

"Think about it this way. You have a secret. A secret that I have as well. Don't you want to hide? Don't you want to slip under the radar?" he asked again. His hand slipped off of your waist and he knelt towards you, taking your hand in his.

"Do I know you?" you asked. You tried to pull away, but his grip was so tight it was bound to leave a nasty bruise.

"You may not know me, but I know you to your heart," he replied. "I've seen all that I need to see. You working long hours at that dead end job all but broke my heart. Those customers didn't see what I saw. I saw a beautiful individual stuck in a terrible existence. I saw you before me, living in fear. Don't you think you deserve to be freed from that existence?"

Your mouth hung slightly open. "You were the one following me," you said softly. "How did you have the time for that?" You pulled your hand away from his, and this time he relented.

"You can't explain the day you died and came back, can you?" he asked. "It's a little bit like that, don't you understand? I'm like you. I can help you. I can save you."

Your expression softened. "How?" you asked.

He stood up. He towered over you still, casting a shadow over you. "How about we head upstairs," he suggested, grabbing your arm and tugging you up the wooden stairs.

His bedroom was just as cluttered as his house was, if not more. There may have been around a dozen pillows on his bed, partially obscured by silky curtains. Light filtered through a window on the side of the room, illuminating books and statues and other little pieces of art.

"Where did you get all of this?" you asked. His hand trailed down your arm to meet your hand, engulfing it.

"I've lived a long time," he replied, leading you to the bed. He sat on it, pulling you onto his lap. "Longer than you have. Longer than you could comprehend." You could hear your heart beating in your chest again as he wrapped his arms around you. He buried his head in the crook of your neck, and you sat there for a moment, still. The curtains to the window fluttered slightly, the light made its way onto the both of you.

You weren't supposed to feel safe. You'd never seen this man before today, he all but kidnapped you. But you thought of your old life, hiding in nooks and crannies that the world couldn't find. Even if you would have to leave this area one day, you knew you weren't the only person afflicted with this curse.

You leaned back into his touch. You relaxed, going limp in his arms. He turned and planted a kiss on your exposed neck, just above where your collar ended.

"Good girl," he said.

[khazadspoon]

adoribull + kiss no. 33

33, a kiss through tears. I love these two it hurrrtttsss

———

Most people looked at The Iron Bull and saw what he wanted them to see - a brute, scarred, armed and dangerous. And he was, to an extent. When people saw his exterior they were less likely to look at the interior. He was often misunderstood, his intelligence and sharp wit underestimated. It gave him the upper hand in many situations.

But not with Dorian. After everything they had been through, the Breach and the Venatori, the Qun and the lack of the Qun… After everything it would be a betrayal to not give his whole self to Dorian.

So when it was time for them to part ways again he didn’t hold back the tears. They had until sundown, a few hours at least, and the sweat was only just starting to cool on their skin. Dorian was glorious, radiant as sunlight hit his bronze skin. The Iron Bull wanted to to bottle that radiance and take it with him.

“Bull? Maker, Bull, what’s wrong?” Dorian cupped his cheeks in warm hands and gazed at him with such love and worry it made his chest tighten.

“I’m gonna miss you,” he breathed. His breath hitched as he spoke and he watched the worry on Dorian’s face melt into fondness. When they had first started this that expression had been carefully contained, hidden away out of fear. Now Dorian showed him everything. It made him cry harder, really.

“Oh Bull,” Dorian climbed on top of him, straddling one thigh and pressing their lips together.

It was slow, calming, not the frantic kisses of their reunions. Those kisses were enough to make the Bull want to tear the mage’s expensive robes off. This kiss, with its gentle caressing of tongues and soft moans, made him want to wrap Dorian in silk and hold him until time ended.

He hummed as Dorian’s hands held his face, drank the love and affection that oozed from Dorian’s being like nectar.

“Amatus,” Dorian purred against his lips, “my Bull… just one more time.”

Whether he meant sex or hiding away, The Iron Bull didn’t know. He hoped it was the latter. The Imperium was somehow settling with Maevaris’ direction and Dorian’s quiet scheming. Soon, with a little luck and a whole lot of help from whatever deity had kept them alive so far, Dorian had said they could be together permanently. A dream, perhaps, but one he believed in.

They made love, and neither shied away from the term now, Dorian holding him and guiding him. The Bull wanted it to last forever. But then he always did with Dorian.

When it came to parting again, Dorian cried too. His tears were more constrained than the Bull’s. He cried with beauty and dignity when he had to be somewhere. It didn’t stop his eyes from getting red and puffy, didn’t stop the Bull from kissing the tears away and laughing as Dorian called him a buffoon for crying too.

“Write to me?” Dorian asked as though it wasn’t a given.

“Always.”

They kissed again, long and slow, desperation and fear creeping in as a coach disturbed the gravel outside.

“Promise me you’ll be careful.” This wasn’t a question. Dorian always asked-didn’t-ask him to be careful. The Bull always gave the same reply.

“Never.”

Dorian laughed again, his laugh so bright and glorious. Another thing he wanted to bottle and keep.

Dorian left with a wave. He was gone again, for a few months at least, and he took The Iron Bull’s heart with him.

[concealeddarkness13]

OC Kiss Week Prompt 6: Reach

This one is Luneth and Cress, from Luneth's perspective, from Concealed Darkness! However, this one does have heavy spoilers for Concealed Darkness and the direction it will be going, so read at your own risk! Tagging: @ratracechronicler, @maple-writes, @pen-of-roses, @drabbleitout, and @grailfish!

Cassian was there, standing over me with his sword pointed at me and his wings blocking any exit. Tears blurred my vision as I stared at him. I couldn’t…couldn’t fight him.

Someone chuckled and walked up behind Cassian, who looked over at him with such trust in his eyes, a similar expression to how he had looked at his parents. And…it was Aston. He smirked down at me as he walked up, clicking his tongue. “You’re the last of that vile Celestial bloodline left on this world. The last filthy remnant of the creatures who dared to control us.” He looked over at Cassian and placed a hand on his shoulder. “You know what to do to save your friend. The Celestial blood has corrupted them.”

Cassian turned back to me, raising his sword, but I kept glaring at Aston. I bared my fangs, my tail lashing in anger. “You fucking liar. If anyone here is corrupted, it’s you.”

He just smirked more as Cassian swung his sword so that it sliced my cheek. He was glaring at me with tears in his eyes. “Aston is the only person I have left! You will…you will give Luneth back!” His voice cracked, and tears spilled down his cheeks.

I stared at him. “Cass, it’s me! I promise!”

“You motherfucker!” He lunged to ram me through the heart with his sword, but I scrambled back. He…he didn’t believe me, wouldn’t believe me. And I couldn’t convince him.

But I was so tired. I wouldn’t be able to run, not really. I wouldn’t be able to even use magic. Cassian…he was going to kill me. I flinched and squeezed my eyes shut, but the blow never came.

I looked up at Aston and Cassian’s screams. They were covered in darkness and incapacitated. Who…Cress?

“Stardust, reach!” I looked up, and he was leaning as far out of a vent as he could. I stood up on shaky legs and stumbled closer, grabbing his hand as darkness erupted on his skin, and he used the strength his magic gave him to pull me up into the vent with him.

I almost collapsed, but he nudged me in front of him, helping push me along. “My darkness won’t distract them for long. They’ll be after us soon enough. We have to find a place to hide.”

“I…I don’t have enough strength to turn invisible.”

“That’s fine. We’ll find a place. Promise.” He sounded so damn confident, even as his voice was getting ragged from strain himself. And he was panting. He wasn’t much better off than I was. “I know a secret passage.”

I glanced back at him. “Did…did anyone else escape?” Just because I hated Imperium and especially Xander, didn’t mean that I hated the members who were just trying to fight against the empire, who didn’t know the other goals.

He didn’t speak for a bit. “Yes. Not everyone, but I was able to get a lot of them out in the confusion. You, unfortunately, were a good distraction.”

I huffed out a laugh. “At least I was good for something.”

He paused, placing a hand on my leg so I stopped too. “Luneth, no one would expect you to fight against Cassian. He’s your best friend.”

I couldn’t look at him. “And before that, I let that bastard keep hold of him and feed him lies. I ran away when I should have stayed and helped him.”

“Aston tried to kill you. He would have if you had stayed.”

“But it’s my fault.” My voice shook as the dam broke. I collapsed against the wall of the vent in pointless sobs. It was all falling apart, everything I worked for, everyone I cared about. I had no idea where Tamra was, Cassian was under Aston’s control, and there was no safe place left from Aston. I…I couldn’t do this anymore.

“Luneth, Stardust, look at me.” I tried to look up as my chest tightened and everything seemed so damn far away. His hands wrapped in mine, and I held onto them tightly. “I won’t leave you. No matter what happens, I’ll protect you. You’re not alone. This is why I joined Imperium. To protect you. Imperium turned out to be shit, but that doesn’t change what I want to do.”

I stared at him, and before I could think twice, I pulled him close by the shirt and kissed him. I…I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t tell him how much I loved him. But I could show him. I poured all my emotions into the kiss, and as he relaxed and tangled his hands in my hair, I knew my message was getting through. I…I loved him, and even though he said that he would protect me, I would also protect him. He was the only friend—no, lover—I had right now.

[frostedlemonwriter]

WIP Wednesday

I was tagged by the awesome @winterandwords to share a snippet from one of my WIPs.

As she ventured deeper into the dense woods, the distant whispers of rustling leaves grew louder, weaved through the towering trees. The air carried a faint scent of damp earth and the tang of pine. Goosebumps prickled along Eithne’s skin as an eerie chill enveloped her. She tightened her grip on her sword’s hilt, and the cold wood sent a shiver up her spin. Flickering shadows danced on the forest floor, their movements quick and elusive, like fleeting ghosts. With a swift motion, Eithne drew her sword; the metallic rasp cut through the silence. She turned, her heart pounded, to face the source of the mysterious sounds. Yet, as she scanned her surroundings, nothing stood out to her—no twitching branch, no visible presence. Only the enigmatic murmurs of the unseen, which lingered between the realms of her mind and the tangible world.

I will tag @foyle-writes-things @veradragonjedi @cljordan-imperium and an open tag for whomever! Thanks!

[gingerbreadmonsters]

stranglehold

or: no air? no problem.

gn!reader, standard imperium weirdness, president lasko can absolutely get it. no mentions of choking, although freelancer is told to “hold it”, so take that as you will. freelancer's body is not described in any detail, so please feel free to imagine them however you like! as usual, all my love to the inhabitants of the incubi channel on discord, for whom this was written very quickly, with great love and even greater... urgency, shall we say - as such, please excuse its brevity. lasko entertaining a very special guest in 800 words or less.

please be aware that there is an inherent power imbalance between lasko and freelancer in this fic (academy president and student), and as such the events of this fic may be interpreted as non-consensual. you are very welcome to skip this fic if that isn't your cup of tea, and i encourage you to please stop reading at any point if you feel uncomfortable.

this fic contains explicit content. 18+ only. minors please do not interact. thank you. reader discretion is heavily advised.

Considering how big this office is, there’s not actually a huge amount of room under this desk.

“Catch your breath for a second, my dear. Now, that’s - mmm, that’s it, down you go…”

(Although, to be honest, you’re a little preoccupied with something else right now.)

You’ll admit it - whenever you come in here, your focus tends to be drawn immediately to President Moore. It’s only natural, after all. He’s powerful, charismatic, intelligent, handsome, a tad eccentric when the mood takes him, and everything he does is meticulously designed to make you remember that. Everyone’s the same, regardless of need or station, when it comes to President Moore and his strange, inescapable gravity.

In this room, you’re always focused on President Moore. Right now, you’re extremely focused on the way his cock feels in your mouth as you flick your tongue and swallow around the shaft.

His hand is heavy on the back of your head, the other tapping away at his keyboard while he adjusts some document or another, and if it weren’t for the way you can feel his hips jerking ever so slightly whenever you moan around him, you could almost believe that there was nothing going on at all. To the rest of the world it’s a secret, but you know better. Monday afternoons are always fun in Lasko Moore’s office.

“Deeper, darling. You remember what we said last time, don’t you, hmm? About th- ohh…”

Your jaw aches as he pulls you closer, cock pressing even further down your throat until you’re practically face-first in his lap, thick saliva soaking into the fabric of his dress slacks. You’ve been at this for a while, coming straight here from your last lecture and dropping your bag by the door when he let you in, letting him lead you under his desk and onto your knees in a matter of minutes. What can you say? He likes to take his time with you.

(You’re technically supposed to be in class right now, but a few strings had been pulled and you were mysteriously moved to the other seminar group that runs tomorrow instead. It’s not your fault that President Moore wanted to set some time aside to personally tutor you, and it’s not something you’re going to complain about. After all, he does exactly what he promises. You’d say that his tutoring is very personal, indeed.)

“Just a little more, just- hold it, hold it!”

Above your head, you hear the clatter of his glasses as he pulls them off his face and drops them on the desk, head falling back just a touch and Adam’s apple shifting under the skin as his eyes flutter closed for a moment. His foot tips upwards, leather pressing more insistently between your legs, and you moan your gratitude into his lap as the laces of his dress shoe rub just right against you. The hand on your head tightens, and he hinges forward slightly over your head as he moans, filling your mouth with the familiar taste of his cum. You don��t move, just letting him use your mouth while he comes back down, and you’re rewarded by his pleased smile when his eyes finally open. Gently, he guides your head away, thumbing over your bottom lip in satisfaction.

“Swallow,” he commands, breath a bit faster than usual, so you do, sticking out your tongue with a proud smile when he taps your cheek. He likes to make sure that you do what he asks. “Very good.” One perfect eyebrow raises, gaze trailing casually down your body, and it’s so difficult not to squirm under the burning spotlight of his attention. He doesn’t look at you like a toy, or an object, or a plaything. He doesn’t need to. You know as well as he does that it’s true. You’re his, in this room most of all, his most treasured little darling that prefers the taste of his kiss to any wine he gives you, that craves the glow of his adoration as much as the sting of his disapproval, that knows every curve and line and swirl in the wood of his desk where he bends you over it. In Lasko’s eyes, you are no mere toy. In Lasko’s eyes, you have always been his prize.

“You know what to do, my dear.”

“Yes, sir.” He’s right. You do know.

The sound of rustling fabric, elastic snapping against the skin as you hurry to slide your underwear down your legs, and President Moore finally turns his attention to the other side of the desk.

“Now then, Huxley. What was it that you wanted to speak to me about, exactly?”

masterlist

this is an original work by @gingerbreadmonsters - please do not repost or misattribute

[cljordan-imperium]

FLASH FRIDAY FICTION

Prompt posted by @flashfictionfridayofficial​

THE IMPERIUM CHRONICLES TAG LIST - @ceph-the-ghost-writer @kjscottwrites @writingpotato07 @saltysupercomputer @careful-pyromancer @late-to-the-fandom @autumnalwalker @perasperaadastrawriting @fearofahumanplanet @jessica-writes22 @dogmomwrites @mjjune @verba-writing

Let me know if you'd like +/-

Now…to see who from Imperium is having fun in the sun….hint...you've met him, but she hasn't come in yet...can you guess before you look??

The sun glinted off of the water, diamonds glittering across the small waves that were lapping at the white sand.  There was hardly a sound other than the soft whoosh of the water and the birds overhead.  It was a far cry from the demands of court, the battles against the Princes, and even the seeming constant commotion within the Palace with all the newest residents.  The breeze coming off of the water was soft, caressing the skin of the couple lounging in the hammock and bringing the scent of the fresh salty air to them under the shade of the palms.  The sight of the scene as a whole would have shocked, yet amused, most who knew the powerful male and thought him never to relax.

“Do you want to go for a swim?”  The heavily accented voice of Katrya was low and soft, barely raising above the ambient sounds of the beach they were just off of.  

“No, I’m enjoying relaxing here in the shade with you.  Why do you want to go in the water?”  His lips caressed the curved shell of her ear as he spoke low next to her ear, his deep voice making her feel like her skin was vibrating.  At the same time, his arm tightened around her waist where he was holding her against him.  She couldn’t deny that she was enjoying being in the arms of the large male as they just relaxed and looked out at the sea.  

“When was the last time you took a vacation?”  There was tease in her voice, a lightness that caused his heart to skip.  

“Middle Ages?  Early Renaissance?” There was humor in his deep voice and she let out a light laugh.  Would anyone believe her normally stoic love could be humorous?  She doubted it.  When in the Palace he could almost be a statue, at least when around others…

She rolled over in his arms, her body awakening at the feel of his hard and muscled body rubbing against hers.  Looking up into his sky blue eyes that were slightly creased with amusement, she let her fingers run through his jet black hair.  “Well, Cruz, we are going to have fix that more often, aren’t we?”  There was a mischievous smirk on her lips.  While she would not try to change him one lick in front of others, she did want him to learn to relax and realize he deserved to be happy.  The weight he carried for an almost two millennia old mistake was foolish.

“Is that so, little queen?  Are you going to try to make a decree on me?”  One brow rose as humor still continued to dance in his eyes, grabbing the light glinting off of the water and putting it to shame in the process.

“I have been dethroned, remember?  Unless…” she let her nose rub against his as her lips just barely ghosted over his, “you are planning to dethrone your sister.  I prefer being the King’s Consort.  All of the benefits, none of the responsibility.” She kissed him lightly, the taste of him only making her desire him more. “Except making sure the King is well taken care of, of course.”  Her deep brown eyes swirled with seduction and it dripped from her voice like honey.

“Oh, I think he is very, very well taken care of…”  Now he claimed her mouth possessively, his fingers fisting in her hair as his fingers of other hand deftly undid the strings on the side of her suit. “But he can always use more care…”

[universcutiallyenthusiastbouquet]

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[moodymisty]

Tumblr most likely ate it. It’s always doing stuff like that 🙄 But the request was a gender neutral reader where reader was captured and Guilliman had to choose between them and the imperium and it turns out fluffy.

Author's Note: Hey! Sorry for tumblr eating your request and taking so long, I hope this is at least somewhat worth it. I feel like given circumstances him choosing to abandon the Imperium isn't an realistic option for him, but I did what i thought would make a good compromise.

Relationships: Roboute Guilliman/Gn!Reader

Warning: Nothing really

Every astartes in the room can hear the metal of the Guilliman’s Armour Of Fate tighten and groan as he squeezes his fists; Even such meticulously designed armor is unable to stay completely unyielding against the full strength of a primarch.

“And what,” Guilliman turns to his men with a fierce gaze, one that can falter all but a few of them. “You just expect me to leave them behind?”

Sicarius looks at him stoic, as always. It makes Guilliman angrier, to not even see a hint of emotion on the man’s face. As if he has no understanding or no care as to what he just implied Guilliman do.

"The Macgragge’s Honour is needed in defense as a Tyranid hive fleet moves towards Imperium space, we can stay here no longer. Not for one person.”

One person. That one person had been the only guiding light in his life for months now, your smile is the only thing that makes him believe that perhaps his endless, tiring, tortuous work means something. He has a thing to work for; His life with you.

Guilliman keeps his face and lips tight, and only parts them to hiss out:

“Your Imperium can wait for a moment longer.”

Sicarius straightens up, even more than the rigid posture he had previous.

“Are you suggesting you would ignore a call for aid from the imperium if your consort was in danger? You would abandon all that your father has made to xenos?”

Guilliman opens his mouth. The rage he wants to spew- about his insult to you, the implication that the Emperor is his father, it is all only quelled when his vox device crackles to life.

“Lord Primarch! We found them! We’re returning to the dropship now.”

Guilliman swears he nearly feels his heart explode from hearing those words. That you’ll be safe and with him soon.

He turns to Sicarius, who is still hot in the face from Guilliman’s implications of abandoning the broader Imperium. Guilliman can see the red heat underneath his tan, olive skin.

“You best remember the words you’ve said here. I will the next time you find yourself calling for aid.”

Guilliman would never consider himself petty. But he would find it difficult to not remember this conversation if Sicarius or his men were ever in need of similar treatment as you. Perhaps he would never act upon it, but he will always remember.

With haste he struggles to remember a time he used last he makes his way to where you've been brought aboard the Macragge's honour; Bruised and cut but not much worse for wear. They've already brought this planet and it's denizens to heel, but if they had more time he would consider far worse for what they've done to you. Your wrists are still clearly raw from being chained, something that makes him grind his teeth when he notices.

But Sicarius was at least partly correct; They are needed to protect against a tyranid hive fleet, and can stay no longer.

Guilliman quickly gestures for his men to leave you both alone, and they do without pause, leaving you and him alone in the hanger in which you both stand.

Once they're gone the primarch falls to his knee with ease, and his armoured hands rise to cup your face.

"You have no idea how happy I am that you are unharmed."

His hands hold your face tightly, covering your jaw with how large they are compared to you. You smile weakly. You must be tired, but your eyes are still so bright, and your smile feels like it warms his cold, old heart.

"I'm so glad to be back with you. And I imagine you'll be better company than my captors," His face stiffens up, but he's still soft.

"You shouldn't be joking about this, you could've been killed."

You raise a hand to hold against his own gauntlet- a gesture he can feel a ghost of despite having no skin on skin contact - before reaching forward to tuck a piece of limp blonde hair behind his ear. He needs a bath, his hair is messy and limp from being in his helmet so often, but now isn't the time to say.

"You do enough of the seriousness for me. I need to balance it out; For both our sake." Guilliman shakes his head and lets out a defeated laugh.

"They wanted to leave you behind. I was considering saying damn it all to this worthless Imperium just to go get you myself." You can't contain your surprise. The Imperium is all you've ever known, how could anyone just leave it all behind?

"You're the Lord Regent, you would abandon the Imperium for-"

"I would, yes." He says with no hesitation, looking right at you. "I have no interest in saving an Imperium without you in it." He ends the conversation with that, and moves to pick you up.

"Lets go. I want to make sure you are well."

You can't make a fuss; He's made up his mind and you have no choice but to go along, holding on and relaxing in his arms as he walks off.

[ilisteria]

Quick Erebus x GN Reader piece (709 words)

I don't actually like him but there's a surge in fans of him and I don't feel confident about dipping my toes into writing for a Primarch yet, so I may as well debut with Kharn's our not-so-friendly neighborhood punching bag douchebag.

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

Summary: You are a serf on one of the Sons of Horus ships and you've caught Erebus' eye. He has you trapped in a dark room to sell some Chaos propaganda to you. Set before the Heresy.

Warnings- Slightly suggestive towards the end but not really; manipulation through religion. It's Erebus, what can I say?

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

Impenetrable dark and the hum of ventilation shafts, chilled air that lightly bites at the skin leaving trails of raised hairs - your eyes did not adjust to the false-night of the lightless chamber, as though your sight had been stolen away by some blind daemon.

You shake your head upon this thought, the brush of your hair against your neck only sending more shivers down your spine, each strand feeling too similar to the soft raking of nails on your neck. “Dogma,” You whisper beneath your breath. “There are no such things as daemons.”

“Is that so?”

You freeze upon those words, their velvety syllables ringing hollowly in your ears like false promises in the wind. Your heart drums loudly in your chest, each beat against your rib cage feeling as though they are being wrung from your body through some mysterious force, and the intruder only chuckles, barely audible over the ambient noise of the ship.

“Your heart does not believe your own words. Your soul, too, knows better than to parrot the drivel of the so-called Imperial Truth.” 

Large hands that dwarfed your shoulders would come down to rest atop them, cold ceramite heavy on your fragile form like a thick sheet of ice over water. You could almost see the sly grin upon his face, the eyes of your soul piercing through the veil where your mortal ones were found lacking. 

He continues, his voice remaining ever steady as a preacher of the Imperial Truth did, yet in the rumbling of his chest and the slight tightening of his grip were the traces of a mad fanaticism, almost a perversion that hinted at an abyss beneath the placid exterior. 

“You see it as well, do you not? The eyes in the dark, the whispers that scream in a thousand voices - but only when you dream.”

“N-no, I know nothing, I see nothing-”

“You lie,” He hisses, but it is more in amused mocking than festering rage. “I can smell the fear in you, little one. But that is no matter, for your fear speaks more truthfully than your tongue. That is good, for I know now that you may yet be saved.”

It feels as though the room has become several degrees colder, your plain serf’s uniform doing little to stave off a chill that could be felt in the soul. There were eyes on you, more eyes than simply those of the intruder, and they raked over your body and soul as they tittered restlessly within the void between the known and unknown.

There were daemons out there, watching and waiting for their prey or perhaps their lord, which possibility it was indiscernible to you over your fear.

The intruder chuckles again, the swell of each vowel of his laugh becoming more disjointed as though a second voice shares his throat and pulls the sounds from his body in a way that seems to elicit sensations of religious ecstasy. 

"You are destined for things much greater than a mere cupbearer of the Warmaster, little one. There are plans for you, promises of status greater than mere serf or concubine, more power and wealth than you could’ve dreamed of, sensations that will dwarf the finest drug or drink in the Imperium…but He has blinded you to your true purpose.”

His grip tightens again, your body jerking forwards in response, but he does not loosen his grip nor utter apologies, and you could not break the grip of an Astartes. There is a silent order in the way the eyes surrounding you bore into you - to remain in place, to remain silent, and to open your heart to a force far greater than you could ever hope to fathom - in your current state. 

Erebus was its prophet, and you a disillusioned disciple of the Anathema’s sect.

“His truth is little more than shackles to bind the inherent human desire for gods. He denies us of our glory, our eternity, our evolution, and our pleasures.

“I can teach you to free yourself, to claim your birthright and see for yourself the ways of the true gods. You need only to have a little...faith in my methods. 

“Tell me then, little one, are you prepared to be enlightened?”

[starlitangels]

Latent Fire Elemental

Blame the wonderful Anon who requested this! To quote a brief piece of the request: “Would it be okay if I requested a Davey and Angel oneshot where something scary happens that activates angels fire elemental powers, like lovely? I think it would be so cool!” We’re throwing out canon, y’all. Let’s do this! It got way too long because I had way too many ideas! Normally I say that Erik can pry Angel and Damien being childhood friends in the canon universe and not just the Imperium AU out of my cold dead hands but not this time. It made more sense for it to be this way for this story. 3.2k words CW: fantasy violence

—

I struggled against the ropes holding me to the chair. I clenched my jaw and scrunched my nose in concentration. Broken pieces of swears escaped my mouth as I jerked. What the hell did this nut job think he was doing? Vampire or not, there was no way Davey wouldn’t find me and rip this guy to shreds.

If I didn’t get to it first.

A powerful hand grabbed my wrist where I was twisting it. “Ah-ah-ah,” the voice in the darkness purred. “Don’t even think about trying to escape. It would do you no good.” The other hand loomed from the shadows, the backs of pale, scarred fingers running down my face. “A weak, pathetic, unempowered human like you... tsk, tsk, tsk. You couldn’t get two steps away from that chair before you found yourself back in it.” I whipped my head away from his touch, a low growl in my throat. Nowhere near as animalistic and threatening as Davey’s but a vent for my anger.

The vampire chuckled. “Such spirit. I see why that wolf likes you.” A gleaming, white, fanged grin leered at me. “But that doesn’t change the facts. You’re powerless here, human. Which means I get to play with you all I want until that brute finally figures out where you are.” The vampire leaned closer to me. I shut my eyes. Tanker had told me never to look in a vampire’s eyes. “He’ll find your body broken on the floor,” he whispered.

I yanked at the ropes again, ignoring the burns and how the vampire’s fingers tightened around both my wrists.

His fingernails jabbed into the skin of my shoulder. I squeezed my eyes shut tighter and turned away from where his breath still brushed my face. “Disgusting leech!” I spat. I’d heard Tank call Quinn that once in passing. I assumed it was an insult, given Tank had never had anything kind to say about Quinn.

The vampire laughed. “Oh, my dear. A leech I may be, but I’m still the one with all the power here.” I felt his face press into my neck. “And there are plenty of ways to make you look me in the eye.” Sharp points teased at the artery in my neck.

Adrenaline flooded my system. My breaths grew short and rapid. If I clenched my jaw much harder, I’d start cracking my teeth. My body flushed, suffused with heat. Blood roared in my ears, drowning out the vampire’s chuckles.

And a voice. Calling to me. Not my voice. And not my name.

“Angel. Angel!”

Davey.

I knew I was imagining it. There was no way he could have found me yet. He, Milo, and Tank were probably the best trackers in the pack, but this vampire had taken pains to bury my scent. But I still heard him. Using that little pet name he’d given me. The one he only used when we were alone—or he was too damn tired to care if someone else heard.

Sweat beaded on my forehead. A drop ran down my neck.

I felt the vampire tear himself away from me. “What the hell—?!”

Something burned in my chest, a light igniting within me that I’d never felt before. But once it was there, it felt like it was meant to be.

The light and heat revved up with my pounding heart. A swell of something was building. The roar of it deafening me.

I screamed.

Release. Light flickered over my closed eyelids. The vampire screeched. A wash of blazing heat crashed over me like an ocean wave—but it didn’t burn me. It didn’t hurt. It felt... comforting. Like home. Like cuddling Davey in bed at the end of a long day.

“This is impossible! You don’t have magic!” the vampire shrieked.

I peeked one eye open.

A tornado of fire surged relentlessly around me, spinning fast and shining gold in the darkness. The ropes on my wrists ignited. But the flames didn’t singe my skin.

The fire was mine. It was from within me.

Sort of. I could feel my body drawing it from somewhere. I was more like, rerouting it.

The ropes fell away, nothing more than cinders. I stood up. “What was it you said about me being weak?” I asked.

Mouthy to the end, you little snot, Davey’s voice chimed in my head.

I don’t know how I knew what to do, but I pulled the flame tornado to me, gathering it into a large ball. I could feel the vampire, now. A presence.

I hurled the fire in the direction of that presence.

He screamed. I churned it around him, surrounding him in heat and light. His skin charred before my eyes. Fingers first. Then hands. On and on up until his torso was turning to ash.

“David! In here!” a familiar voice called. Familiar, but not terribly. Tank’s? No...

When nothing remained but bones that crumpled to the ground in a pile, I pulled on the flames again, out of pure instinct. They dissipated.

I sagged, falling to the ground.

Strong arms grabbed me before I could hit concrete. “It’s okay, kid. I gotcha.” That voice again.

“S... Sam?” I rasped.

“Yeah, kid.”

“‘M not a kid,” I mumbled.

“Old habits, sorry.”

I heard a skidding of shoes on concrete. “Angel!” Davey’s relief was palpable. Another set of arms grabbed me. I could smell Davey as he crushed me to his chest.

“David...” I could barely speak.

“Shh. Just rest, angel,” Davey said gently, brushing sweat off my forehead.

“David, the aura,” Sam said softly.

“I know. Not now, Sam,” David replied.

“What—what happened to me?” I asked.

“You’re... a latent too,” Sam’s voice put in.

“‘Too’?” Davey and I quoted at the same time.

“You remember Vincent, right, David?”

“Of course.”

“His partner was a latent Electro Energetic before the turnin’.” I heard Sam’s leather jacket creak as he shrugged. “Never woulda expected to meet two latents in my life, even as long as it’s gonna be.”

I leaned heavily into David’s chest. “I’m tired,” I said.

“That level of magic use for your first time must be exhausting. You never could do things halfway, could you?” David asked. I could hear both tears and laughter in his tone. His arm left my torso and scooped up my knees. “Come on. Let’s get you home.” His voice seemed to get distant. “Thank you, Sam. I wouldn’t have found this place without you.”

“Vamp,” Sam replied simply. “Shifters are damn good trackers, but not like vamps.”

“I owe you one,” David said.

“We’ll see.” I heard the zip of Sam taking off.

David started walking. He was crying. I could see him now. “I was so worried about you angel. I love you so much.”

“I love you too, Davey,” I said, snuggling against his chest.

“Let’s get you home, angel.”

—

“Davey—I—I can’t! Davey, it—it’s hot.”

“I know, angel. I’m sorry.” He held my face in both his hands. “Just look at me. Deep breaths. In... out... in... out...” He breathed with his words, eyes boring into me. I copied him. “That’s it... your aura’s cooling off a little. I know this is a big adjustment, but I’m here for you. No matter what.”

I took a deep breath, closing my eyes. “Even though I’m SunBound?”

I could hear him snicker. “Angel, I told you, it’s not a lifestyle. It’s two days a year. That’s all.”

“But you said you’d find it hard to see your mate riding Cloud Nine while you feel like hell on the SunBound solstice,” I said.

“Two obligatory emotionally challenging days a year is not enough to ever shake my love for you. So what that you’re a Fire Elemental and I’m a shifter? It doesn’t matter. You’re my mate. I love you. And maybe you’ll have to skip out on the solstice party now, but the pack more than understands. You’re their family. It’s not like they’ll think you’re snubbing them.”

“I know you’re the alpha and you always put your pack first, but can you shut up about them for five seconds and think about yourself?” I retorted. “I love the pack like family too, but you’re my boyfriend. And I know you’re not much of a socializer. You need me on the solstice. And now it’s gonna be hard on me. I’ve seen you on the SunBound solstice. I know what it’ll be like for me now. I need you to look me in the eye and say it’s not enough to make you not want me anymore.”

David grabbed both of my hands in his. His skin was cool against mine. Cooler even than it used to be. “Never,” he said. “You being SunBound as a Fire Elemental will never be enough to make me not want you. I will always want you. You are my mate. I chose you. God only knows why—but being Bound opposite means nothing to me compared to how much you mean to me.” He smiled. “Is that enough to reassure you, you codependent mess?” There was no bite to his jab. No attitude. Not like when we first started dating.

I let the tear that had been welling up in my eye slip out. David wiped it from my cheek with a gentle thumb. “Yeah,” I said. “Thanks, Davey.”

He leaned forward and kissed my forehead. “Of course, angel.” He squeezed my hands. “Now, do you want to try again or are you done playing with fire for the eve—”

Knock-knock-knock-knock-knock!

David and I both turned to look at our front door. “The hell?” David whispered. “Were we expecting visitors?”

“No...” I replied.

The muscles in David’s back tightened where he had turned away from me. “Vamps,” he said. “Two of them. Neither of them Sam.”

“Mr. Shaw? It’s Vincent Solaire,” a voice called through the door.

David glanced at me before getting up from the sofa, offering me a hand to help me up. I took it and let him haul me to my feet. We crossed to the front door and opened it up.

Vincent Solaire was a tall, slim, pale young man dressed in dark clothing. David was probably barely an inch taller than him. A second figure stood behind him, almost as though trying to hide in the darkness. Smaller and fidgeting a bit. I couldn’t make out any features in the shadows.

“Mr. Solaire. To what do we owe the visit?” David asked stiffly. Almost sounding suspicious. He wrapped an arm around me, holding me to his side.

“Sam told me about what happened to your mate,” Vincent replied. He turned a startlingly silver gaze on me. “Hello, by the way. My name is Vincent.”

“Hi.” I gave him my name in return.

“Nice to meet you,” he said. His eyes looked back to David. “I’m not here on my own idea. I’m here because my partner wanted to stop by.” He turned and looked over his shoulder. “It’s okay, lovely.”

The second figure stepped out from behind him. Ducked their head at David in greeting. “Mr. Shaw.”

“Nice to see you again. I’m glad you’re alright. I’m sorry for what happened with the shades.”

The vampire shrugged. “Just because you closed the ward doesn’t mean it’s your fault,” they said quietly. “It was the only sound decision to make.” They cleared their throat. “That’s not why we’re here.” They looked at me. “I was a latent too. Electro Energetic.” They stopped fidgeting, still staring me dead in the eye. “The Department offers a support group for latents in the city. But... even for people like us, who are already somewhat connected to the magical world beforehand, it’s not enough. I didn’t think so, anyway.”

They took a shallow breath and shook their head.

“There’s a club at the academy. Meets once a week on Tuesdays at six in the evening. It’s called the Humanborn Catch-Up Club. They give people like us—humanborns, latents, what have you—a crash course in magical subculture, and help us with understanding our magic, and the whole magical world outside the scope of what we already know. I went a couple times. It’s run by a humanborn Freelancer and a magic-born Fire Elemental. The concept is humanborns are paired up with magic-born mentors who know culture and magic more intimately, so we know what to expect. And what behavior isn’t okay.”

“Like what?” I asked curiously.

“One-sided bridging,” Vincent’s partner replied.

“I don’t know what that means,” I said.

“I can explain later,” David put in. “Or, if you want, you can learn at that club.”

“I’d rather you tell me first.”

David nodded.

I looked at Vincent and his partner. “Thank you. Both of you.”

“Of course,” Vincent said. “We’ve been through what you both are going through. If either of you ever need to talk, we’re pretty much free during the daytime.” He chuckled in good humor and smiled. A dazzlingly white smile that made me want to look away for fear of being blinded.

His partner kept holding my gaze. “Seriously. I’ve been where you are,” they said. “Therapy, the support group, the club down at D.A.M.N., Vincent—I needed all of it to adjust. If you ever need someone who understands: I’m here for you.”

“Thank you. That’s very sweet of you,” I said with a smile. They returned it.

“We should probably get going,” Vincent said. “We just wanted to stop by. Let you know what we know. Lend our support, if you want it.”

“Thank you, Vincent,” David said. “We appreciate it. And give William my regards when you see him next.”

“Of course.” Vincent held out a hand for his partner. “C’mon, lovely.”

His partner took his hand and the two of them zipped off. David shut the door, holding me against him and swaying back and forth thoughtfully. “What do you think?” he asked quietly.

I shrugged. “I’ll give it a try, I guess,” I said. “Might as well. I could use a hand getting a handle on this.”

“Okay. Do you want me to come with you?”

I took a deep breath. “I think I’d rather go by myself. At least at first. Don’t want my big, tough, scary mate scaring people off.”

David scoffed. “Only you could keep being mouthy through an adjustment like this,” he grumbled.

“You love me.”

“I do. God help me.”

I smiled and tilted up on my tiptoes to kiss him. He kissed me back. “I love you too, Davey. A lot.”

—

“Hi there! Are you here for the club meeting?” a jovial voice asked. I jolted and turned to see someone standing with a clipboard, wearing a purple Dahlia Academy for Magical Novices hoodie. I could feel their aura, the way Davey had been helping me learn. Absolutely chaotic. Unfiltered, raw magic lashing at the air. Nothing like Davey’s—which I could swear actually had teeth—and not like mine either, which felt like a bonfire in my chest.

“I am,” I said.

“Great! I’m the club president. Nice to meet you.” We exchanged names and shook hands. “So, are you humanborn or magic-born?”

I cleared my throat. “H-human,” I said. “Aaand... I’m a latent.”

The club president stared for a moment, looking surprised. “O-oh. Okay. What a wonderful experience you have ahead of you, then. And you’re a... Fire Elemental, right? I recognize your aura.”

I nodded. “Yeah. Recently.”

The attempt at humor earned me a small smile. “Well. Then I have the most qualified mentor for you.” The club president turned to shout over their shoulder. “Damien! Get over here!”

“One sec, Freelancer!” another voice called, originating from a fold-out plastic table being lifted by a tall white-blond young man who seemed to have longer limbs than he knew how to handle, and a wavy-black-haired young man about the same height.

The Freelancer smiled at me. “So, that’s Damien. Our vice president. He’s a magic-born Fire Elemental. The blond in the sweater helping him with the table is Lasko, our staff supervisor. He and I are both humanborn. Lasko’s an Air Ele—”

“I’ve met him,” I said, realizing I had as I caught a better look at his face. “At the stadium. Outside the ward. Told me his family was inside.”

The Freelancer’s face turned red. “Oh. Well, that’s great!” They smiled again. “You’re already one step ahead of most of the other humanborns here. What were you doing at the stadium, if I might ask?”

“The shifter pack who ran security—uh—the alpha is my mate—boyfriend. Whatever.”

The Freelancer’s jaw dropped. They snapped it shut. “Oh, you’re David Shaw’s mate. Nice to meet you.”

At that moment, the black-haired young man jogged over. His aura felt just like mine. A bonfire. “What’s up?” he asked, glancing between me and the club president.

“Damien, this is our newest member. A humanborn, latent Fire Elemental,” the Freelancer said. “I was thinking you could finally be a mentor.”

Damien regarded me curiously. “Not a bad idea,” he replied.

The Freelancer tugged on Damien’s jacket sleeve. “Hey, remember that shifter you told Hux to get to safety during the Games that you told me about?” They nodded to me. “His mate.”

Damien nodded. “Yeah. I’ll definitely mentor you,” he said to me. “And we’ll have to introduce you to Hux when he gets here.” He glanced at the president. “Where is Huxley, anyway? Usually he comes early to help with setup.”

The Freelancer bit their lower lip. “He got a call from Xavier’s parents,” they said quietly, like they didn’t want me to hear.

“Oh,” Damien replied, just as quiet.

The Freelancer clapped a hand against their clipboard. “Anyway! Once a few more people show up, we’re gonna go ahead and get started, and then we’ll break into groups for mentoring.” They handed the clipboard to Damien. “Hold this. I’m gonna go help Lasko. Looks like he’s struggling with the leg lock on the table.” They marched off.

Damien drummed his fingers on the clipboard. “So, a latent, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m not gonna ask what happened to make your powers manifest. But as your mentor now, let me be the first to officially welcome you to the Fire Elemental club.”

“I thought this was a humanborn catch-up club,” I joked.

Damien clenched his jaw. Oh. Oh! He was like David! Oh, he’s gonna be fun, I thought. I couldn’t help the smile that formed on my face.

“Yep. It is,” Damien said tightly.

I started laughing. Then I sobered up. “Well, thank you. I appreciate it.”

“Come sit down. We’ll get a headstart before everyone else gets here.”

—

“How was the club meeting, angel?” David asked as I slipped inside.

“It was nice. I think I made some friends. People you met inside the ward at the stadium.”

David went rigid where he’d been standing next to the pot on the stove. “Oh?”

“A Fire and Earth Elemental. The Earth Elemental helped get you to safety.”

“Oh. Yeah,” he said softly.

I twitched. I’d said the wrong thing. “The Fire Elemental—Damien—he’s gonna be my mentor. Help me learn how to control my powers.”

David seemed to shake off the shadows in his mind. “That’s good.” He nodded. “He’ll do a helluva lot better than I could.”

I held out my arms, asking for a hug. He pushed off the counter and came over, wrapping me up and burying his nose in my hair. “I missed you, Davey,” I said quietly.

“I missed you too.”

“I know this is a lot. But we’re gonna get through it. Together,” I promised.

“Together,” he agreed.

[beewithknee]

pretty toy

imperium spoilers below

(also im so sorry I post so much I got a lot of writing saved up lmao)

imperium lasko x freelancer angst

t.w - abuse, abusive relationships, power imbalance

A snap was heard and you were by his side instantly. It was humiliating and degrading, but you had to survive, had to obey. Had to find a way out, a way to get you and Vindemiator out, away from the ‘sanctuary’. Your ‘home’ had become one long torture session. Each day was hell and you were slowly giving up, the torture was a lot for anyone, but you thought you’d be safe at DAMN and to have that ripped out from underneath you was... You wondered how Vin was doing, what he had to put up with. You imagined it was nothing good.

A tap to your cheek brought you out of your thoughts.

“Off in the clouds again pet?” The poisonous voice smirked. You nodded, gaze locked to the ground. Harsh fingers gripped your jaw, the hold was sure to leave bruises but you didn't care anymore. Your face was yanked up, eyes meeting the cold blues you’d quickly learnt to hate. “I think an apology is in order. You’ve been so disrespectful to our guest pet.” Lasko spat, fingers tightening around your chin. It wasn’t a suggestion. Meeting the other business man’s eyes, you bowed your head for a moment. “Please forgive me Sir. I was extremely rude.” The other man hummed and jerked his head up, finally the unrelenting hold on your face loosened. Your eyes immediately met the ground again. Your face burnt with shame. For a man who loved freelancers, you sure didn’t feel the love. “That one’s cute. What’s your price?” Your stomach dropped. Oh god, please no. You couldn't be sold. You weren't some little plaything to be passed around to all the rich assholes in Dalia looking for a blood bag or a slave.

Before you could utter a word in defence, the white haired man stepped in. His arm wrapped around your waist, pulling you into a punishing grip. You shivered, and not in a good way. “This one isn’t for sale.” He hissed, fingers pinching at your side. You sucked in a breath, breathing slowly through the pain. Fucking hell. The older man sighed. “What a shame. Mine’s getting slow. For an empathy daemon, he sure doesn’t know how to relieve my stress, if you know what I mean.” The two laughed like it was the funniest thing in the world and you had never wished to punch someone more. Taking a breath in, Lasko sighed, finally releasing you. Your ribs ached and you had a sharp pain in your torso. Silently, you brought your eyes up to look at the man that sat before you. In his mind, you were a thing.

Not a person.

A toy to be used and abused until he got bored of you and found another freelancer to fawn over. But to you, he was merely a pawn. A piece in your game. A, sadly, necessary, means to an end. Since you had become a glorified butler/punching bag for the headmaster, you had been saving up your power, practicing silently in your room and growing stronger everyday. You just needed to buy your time and figure out a way to get out, preferably without getting killed. “Go fetch us some drinks, my dear.” he instructed, waving his ringed hand towards the drink’s rack. You went to move, but a grasp in your hair stopped you. Your whole body jerked back and onto the floor. Letting out a cry, your hands fisted around the one attached to your scalp. Your head throbbed something fierce and you could feel the anger that radiated from Lasko. “That wasn't very nice pet. What do we say after someone gives you an order, hmm?” Calm. That’s the only way you could describe his voice. He was deadly calm and you knew what would happen if you didn't get the answer in the next 5 seconds. Hands still trying to give your scalp a break, you struggled to breathe.

“Yes Sir. I’m sorry Sir.” You rasped, voice breaking slightly. God, the pain that radiated through you brought tears to your eyes. Your mind was a jungle and you were desperately trying to save your skin. Literally. “Good. Drinks, now.” He snapped his fingers, the personality shift scared the fuck out of you. The way he could go from calm, to terrifyingly protective, to angry in mere seconds was awful. You never knew what might set him off. Walking on eggshells was a normality at that point and you hated every second of it. You scrambled up, brushing off your clothes. “What drink would you like Sir?” You asked the newcomer, already familiar with Lasko’s drink order. “Whiskey.” He grunted, head jerking again, but this time towards the bottle. You poured them both drinks, placing them delicately between each. Bending over, you leant down to stabilize yourself. A hand went to your back and you tensed.

Oh god.

You could feel your anger bubbling up. You could handle Lasko manhandling you, but this stranger, no. Lasko’s groping was necessary, but this. This you wouldn’t stand for.

Your heart thunderted in your chest and you were moving before you could stop yourself. Being a freelancer on the streets meant you had to learn how to protect yourself or you were left for dead. Your right hand snuck up, grabbing the hand that still stroked your back. Twisting it, you moved behind the old man and pressed his chest to the table. You leant down, leaning into his ear. “I may be Lasko’s plaything, but I am not yours. You do not touch me and if you ever do again I promise you will not want to know what hell I can rain down on you.” You hissed, anger pulsing through you. “O-okay. Jesus, let me go.” He moaned in pain. You released him and he rubbed at his tender shoulder. Moving away from him, you smirked to yourself. “Pet. Here, now.” Lasko smiled.

Oh fuck.

You had forgotten he was there. You were screwed. You walked slowly, trying to prolong the punishment. Your heart slammed against your ribs at a bruising pace and you had all the curse words imaginable running through your mind. “Here. Now.” He demanded, patience wearing thin. His polish shoes tapped against the ground gently and you could see his fingers clenching and unclenching. Glancing back quickly, you could see the man you harassed looking curiously between the two of you. You stopped in front of Lasko’s feet, head down.

“Look at me.” He sighed, sick of your bullshit. You raised your eyes slowly, already regretting your action, no that's a lie. You only regretted it a little, it felt fucking great to put that asshole in his place. As soon as your eyes met, the familiar pain radiated through your face. Your head snapped to the side painfully and you could feel the blood building up in your mouth. “Ow.” You whispered, eyes glistening with unshed tears. Another slap hit your cheek and your neck cracked with the force, it was burning, hot and sharp as your blood dripped down your chin. Fuck that hurt. A harsh hand fell to your shoulder and you obediently hit the floor. Your knees were already aching against the cold tile and you had to fight hard to not let the tears drip down your cheeks, to be fair, it’d probably soothe the agony.

Lasko had a heavy hand and when you fucked up, he didn’t hold back. Leaning over, elbows resting against his knees, he sighed. “You know I don’t like hurting your pet, but sometimes you force my hand. What you did to Mr. [quinns last name] here is inexcusable. We treat our guests with respect.” This time you couldn't help yourself, you muttered the words so quietly, but by the inhale he held, you knew he heard. “Oh yeah? Like how you treated me and Vin, right?” Oops, you thought. You couldn't help yourself. You knew you had to play ‘pretty, helpless pet’ but sometimes a little disobedience was worth it.

“I treated you and your companion kindly and fairly and you should do well to remember that.” It was both a threat and a promise. “Bullshit.” You whispered. The older man chuckled, breaking some of the tension in the room. Sneering at you, he glared angrily. “Y’know. You really do look better with your pretty mouth shut. Maybe you should’ve trained your pet better, Lasko.” He chuckled, and… the tension was back. It was thick and it fogged up your head. “Mmm, I thought I had. But I guess not. Well you know what they say, bad dogs get punished.” His grip on your shoulder was unrelenting as you glared right back at him. Out of the corner of your eye, you could see a small whirl of wind slowly getting bigger and more aggressive. You knew what was coming, knew you couldn't avoid it.

What was the point?

If you tried, Lasko would just find a new way to torture you. Like the crack of a whip, the atmosphere broke. The air propelled at you, hitting you squarely in the chest. Knocking the breath from you, you flew into the wall. Your head hit the brick with a sickening crack and the older man cringed. “Lasko, was that needed? I mean, I do enjoy the sight of blood, but y’know.” He laughed, teasing the wind elemental. Your consciousness was quickly fading and you fought to stay awake. The click of shoes filled your mind as he entered your vision. You felt his hot breath against your ear, tongue sliding up to lick a stripe across it. “Sleep well my dear, I’ll wake you up in your favourite way.” He smirked, the smile villainous and terrifying. You were completely fucked. You only hoped that Vindemiator wasn't being subjected to the same fate.

[kentuckywrites]

Imperium 2: Chapter 3

Sic faciet nives. (It will snow.)

Tatsu wasn’t a fan of the food jokes Lin made, but he was most certainly a fan of joining the Cocytios expedition. In fact, he quickly took Lin’s place as the most excited to venture into unknown territory, and the entire time at the dinner table was filled with Tatsu’s grand stories of the legendary Heropon who lived there. She didn’t quite get to ask how he knew of Cocytios before they did, and yet Elma couldn’t help but be amused at some of the stories he recited. His enthusiasm was contagious! It was almost as if Pongo being in trouble was an afterthought.

But after dinner, that was all Elma could think about. She went to sleep thinking about him, she woke up thinking about him, she even thought of him as the MMC workers helped set her consciousness up in her old mim. Pongo, the boy she’d recruited onto her team, the boy who didn’t know how to speak until Vandham described the Interceptors’ role during his BLADE training. The boy who went on to become a powerful protector, who built a Free Hug Stand in the Commercial District, who would put himself in harm’s way to keep his friends safe without question. He was once a shy and awkward rookie who talked too much and thought every human being was beautiful. But nowadays, Pongo was confident, he knew himself and the world around him - quite literally. He could handle himself out there.

Yet Nessa’s mere existence proved he was in far more trouble than he’d ever been in before. And that scared Elma far more than she wanted to admit. 

She walked out of the MMC and immediately took a deep, cleansing breath. It wasn’t exactly weird, being back in her old mimeosome. In the beginning, returning to her original body felt like going back home after years of being away. Returning to her mimeosome now was like going back on vacation, a change of pace she didn’t know she needed after all this time. Mimeosomes didn’t need to worry about the same necessities that real bodies did. This would be important for Cocytios, and important for rescuing Pongo.

Elma quickly met up with Lin, Nessa and Tatsu outside of their barracks. Though they knew they wouldn’t be able to bring their Skells to Cocytios, it was decided they’d spare themselves the trouble of walking all the way to Primordia’s southern coast and opt to drive there instead. Lin had even managed to hook up their little yacht to her Skell and was fine tuning the hitch connecting the two when Elma approached. Nessa and Tatsu both watched, but didn’t make any move to help. Elma could only assume that at the very least, Nessa wasn’t as familiar with the technology. It was curious, how both of them looked on with the same sparkle in their eyes, the same childish wonder. She recalled Pongo having that same sparkle when he was first discovering the world and all its mysteries. 

Nessa was the first to spot Elma approaching, and she whistled softly. She was wearing new armor, too. The brogs matched Elma’s own, though Nessa’s pair were blue, and the rest of her armor was mismatched from various other apparel lines and arms manufacturers. What made Elma smirk was the fact that it was...okay, it wasn’t leaving much to the imagination. At least Nessa could dish out her interest in such things while accepting the style herself.

“All ready to go?” Nessa asked her.

Elma nodded once. “I believe so. Lin, how about you?”

“Just making some last minute adjustments, then I’ll be good!” Lin kept working, and the squeak of a bolt tightening under a wrench accompanied her response. “Our Skells are full of fuel, so that won’t be an issue for the drive. We’ll be parking near one of the bases, and I’ve already called ahead to let them know we’re coming soon. They’ve promised to keep watch over our Skells and make sure nothing bad happens to them!”

“And what about me?” Nessa prompted, “Will I have to ride with someone, or am I getting my own little plaything?”

Lin paused. “Do you...do you know how to drive a Skell?”

“Absolutely not. But there’s a first time for everything, right?”

“I don’t trust that for a second. You’re not hurting any of my - any of Pongo’s babies. He paid a lot of credits for these, y’know.”

“Oh come on, if there’s anything I remember of him, it’s that he’s loaded,” Nessa said, crossing her arms and pouting in dramatic fashion, “Shame Mira couldn’t create me with a couple thousand credits in my pockets, though.”

“If Nessa not have credits before, how did Nessa get credits for new armor?” Tatsu asked innocently.

Nessa winked. “I raided Pongo’s stash. You won’t believe how much armor he’s got stored away. It’s like he’s got a piece of armor for every monster he’s killed.”

Lin finally finished making adjustments to the hitch, and she bounced straight up, turning to face the others while wiping the sweat off her brow. “Alrighty, that does it! I’m ready to go when you are!”

“Tatsu excited!!” Tatsu cheered, “Winterland home of legendary Heropon! Tatsu can’t wait to meet him and ask about dadapon!!”

“Right, your father is also a...Heropon,” Elma recalled, “We’ll have to wait and see. For now, Nessa, you can ride with me if you want. I may not have an extra seat like Lin has for Tatsu, but there should be plenty of room for us both.”

“How could I say no to such a generous offer?” Nessa beamed, “Let’s head out, Team Elma! To Cocytios!”

Elma didn’t say anything when Nessa initially walked up to the wrong Skell - the Amdusias Hades belonged to Lin, a stronger hitting Skell that was well equipped and well handled under the Outfitter’s care. At first glance, it was the most powerful between the two Skells parked, and Nessa patted its leg with a confident smile.

“Um…” Lin was the one to break the illusion, “You know that’s my Skell, right? Elma’s is the red Verus Cain over there.”

A flash of confusion, quick glances between the two Skell models, and finally, Nessa’s apologetic smile landed on Elma. 

“Right, of course. Should’ve guessed by the unusually thematic coloring. Let’s get a move on, then!”

~

It was an uneventful drive to the coast, and the BLADEs maintaining the base camp were more than happy to keep watch over their Skells. Lin unhooked their yacht with ease, and with the help of the other BLADEs, they all managed to drag it into the ocean. From there, it was smooth sailing, and beautiful weather for it too. Lin handled the boat’s controls while Elma supervised and Nessa provided directions, but it wasn’t hard to get lost in the salty sea breeze, the warm sun that kissed Elma’s skin. She knew this bliss was temporary, as most things were, because Cocytios was supposed to be bitter and unrelenting. She was excited, of course, and she kept a keen eye out for any signs of land.

Yet it took them hours on the open sea before Nessa called out to them, pointing ahead. “I see it! We’re close!”

Lin squinted at that, trying to identify Cocytios’s coast. Lin and Elma both squinted, trying to make out the continent, and soon enough Elma saw distant shadows on the horizon. It was still a far ways off, but the shadows were tall and ominous, easy to spot once she put some effort into it. Mountains, she harbored a guess, and fairly tall ones at that. The closer the yacht got, the more Elma realized she was right. They were tall, snow-capped mountains that only seemed to grow taller and taller the closer they became. The tallest ones were even obscured by a layer of clouds, which were brimming with infant snowfall. But, to Elma’s surprise, she saw a familiar silhouette past the mountains. Were those…rings? 

“Nessa,” Elma called to Nessa, leaving Lin’s side to approach the edge of the deck, “The ring structures embedded into the mountains...they appear similar to those that we found in Oblivia. Do you know their purpose?”

“Oh, the Perceptis Automata?” Nessa spoke the name as if it were common knowledge, “Those were weapons used in an ancient war. It mainly took place in Oblivia, Sylvalum and Cauldros, but some fighting occurred here, too. Not enough to damage the ecosystem, mind you, but enough to leave behind evidence.”

“I see,” Elma pondered for a moment. She remembered something about this war, something that Pongo had mentioned during the explanation of his origin. But the details escaped her. She supposed she could learn more after the mission’s completion, after they’d rescued Pongo from whatever fate he’d befallen.

“Was war between legendary winterland Heropon and Miran gods?” Tatsu waddled up to Nessa, and Elma could practically see the stars in his eyes despite his glasses covering them up, “Like in Tale of Two Gods?”

Nessa raised a curious eyebrow. “That’s the story you were going on about yesterday, right? I ah...no, that’s not the one. This war was a really long time ago - longer than the Nopon have existed, I reckon.”

“Hmph!” He pouted, “Tatsu still want to find Heropon here. Tatsu has so many questions!”

“Maybe we’ll find a Nopon caravan here,” Elma said, “After all, there seems to be one caravan inhabiting every continent thus far. Perhaps we’ll get lucky and find one that would be willing to house us and provide some extra knowledge about the land.” When Tatsu opened his mouth to say something, she quickly added on, “But we shouldn’t depend entirely on that possibility. We need to be able to fend for ourselves and we can’t become reliant on ‘what ifs’.”

“If Tatsu know anything about legendary Heropon here, it’s that he always comes to help!” He kept up his enthusiasm, “Tatsu not lose hope that Heropon will help us if we find him!”

They continued to sail ever closer to the shore, and eventually, Lin turned off the engine and let the yacht come up close to where the sea kissed the land. All it took was a hop and a couple steps for Elma to officially be standing in Cocytios. She inhaled, the crisp winter air stinging her lungs. She’d made a good call, Elma concluded, coming in her mimeosome rather than her true form. Even now, she could feel the chill of the air pushing underneath her clothes and teasing all her goose bumps out of hiding. 

Nessa, Lin and Tatsu soon joined her, and the group stared into the vast expanse of fallen snow, of mountainous terrain and foreign land. When Nessa finally spoke, she didn’t break the silence. How could a silence be broken, when the wind promised so willingly to create sound at all times?

“Welcome to Cocytios,” Nessa extended her arms, smiling warmly in the cold, “I’d love to give the grand tour, but we’ve got ground to cover before dark.”

“Right,” Elma agreed, “Lead the way, Nessa.”

For a moment, Nessa looked honored that Elma had relinquished leadership to her, but she took the news in stride. Nessa soon walked ahead of the others, maintaining a steady pace. For now, the snow was light and feathery, and it didn’t have time to properly accumulate on the ground. Elma looked up at the mountains, at the path they now trekked along, at the cloudy sky and her team around her. Tatsu, having dressed warmly, stuck to Lin’s side like glue. Elma told herself to keep an eye on the little Nopon; he’d tire easily in these conditions, and she’d carry him if he started to fall behind.

Little conversation was had for a vast stretch of time. The wind was consistent and brutal against them, trying so desperately to push them back to the shore from whence they came. Elma observed halfway through their journey that there was a surprising lack of indigen activity. It was unsettling, especially since the snow hindered her vision considerably, so she couldn’t quite tell if there were actually indigens around. Perhaps some were camouflaged, perhaps some were in plain sight and stalking their every movement through the terrain. Elma kept her guard up either way, keeping a vigilant eye out for any surprises. 

“So where exactly is Pongo?” Lin asked at one point, her voice raised to triumph over the wind, “Can Mira remember where he went?”

Nessa didn’t respond. She stopped walking, seemingly frozen in place for an unnatural second. Elma almost thought she was frozen before she finally moved again, turning to face Lin. Her eyes had gone white, the same white as the snow collecting around them, and her voice now harbored an echo, as if she was no longer the only person speaking from her body.

“I do not remember myself, but I do feel a strange presence to the southwest. I believe there may be a Ganglion fortress there, and since the Ganglion attacked Pongo before I lost connection to him, I would harbor he is down there.”

“Meh meh? Nessa sound funny,” Tatsu scowled.

“Oh, that would be correct. Tatsu, my name is Mira. I created both Pongo and Nessa. She allowed me to speak through her body for a short time to relay this information to you.”

“Mira? As in planet Mira?”

“Yes.”

“Tatsu thought Mira was planet! Planets can’t talk!”

“Well, this planet can, thank you very much.”

“Does planet usually have funny accent?”

Nessa - or rather, Mira - stared at Tatsu for a very, very long time. Elma wasn’t sure which was colder: the Cocytios weather or the sheer amount of annoyance radiating off of Mira’s body.

“Nessa usually has a funny accent. Mira, the planet, can sound like anything. I cannot change Nessa’s voice, however.”

Tatsu kept scowling, clearly confused or unconvinced or some mixture of the two. But Lin butted in before Tatsu could raise another question. “So how close are we to that possible fortress?”

“Oh, sweetie, that’s on the other side of the continent,” Mira shrugged, “It’ll take a while.”

“Is there anywhere we can camp nearby, then?” Elma asked, “It would be wise to set up shelter before the sun sets, if what Nessa told is true.”

“Yep, Cocytios’s most dangerous indigens like to emerge in the night hours.” Mira stopped for a moment, looking up as if it were trying to calculate something. “There is a cave nearby that should provide adequate shelter for the night. It is not far, but we should keep up the pace if we want to make it there before nightfall.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Elma confirmed, “Let’s move out.”

And so they continued through the monotonous scenery, with Elma keeping that ever vigilant eye just in case anything popped up. Mira had confirmed that most of the dangerous indigens would emerge at night, and the sun was only just beginning to lower in the sky, but Elma wasn’t about to take any chances. Somewhere along the way, she even asked Mira about possible indigen activity during the day, but Nessa had regained control at that point and could only pass along a cryptic message.

“Mira said we’ll be fine,” Nessa said, “That we shouldn’t worry our little heads about it.”

“Patronizing,” Lin muttered.

The sun was threatening to disappear past the horizon by the time Nessa found the cave Mira had told them about. The entrance was rather small, and the interior didn’t stretch too far into the mountainside it was carved into. But it was a decent enough spot to rest for the night, and Elma located some shrubs that they could use to form a fire. Eventually they’d all settled down, with Elma offering to take watch first, and soon night had fallen and the others had fallen into a peaceful sleep. It gave Elma more time alone with her thoughts, trying to process how quickly things had come to pass, what was going to greet them the next day. She could hear rustling outside, the echoes of indigens calling to each other. One caught her ear the most: a melodic wolf’s howl, multiple, creating a haunting symphony. It was hard to place how close they were, but something told Elma that she didn’t need to worry.

But then, something else caught her ear. Stone cracking, breaking somewhere. Elma looked up and noticed the stalactites hanging from the cave’s ceiling, and she mistakenly thought nothing of it. 

And then, in glorious fashion, one by one, the stalactites fell. Elma couldn’t call out to the others before a rock hit her head and all went dark and quiet once more.

[lesetoilesfous]

DADWC prompt: Kanders, Needing to kiss to hide from bad guys

Ah thank you so much for the prompt!!! 

(If you’d like me to write you a dragon age fic, send me a prompt from here!)

@dadrunkwriting

Pairing: Karl/Anders

Characters: Anders, Karl Thekla

Tags: pre-canon AU, Karl and Anders escape from Kinloch to Tevinter except Tevinter Is Awful so now they’re on the run there too, mention of slavery and general tevinter awfulness

Rating: Mature

“Oh shit they’re coming this way!” Anders yelps in a whisper, words tripping over themselves as they trip from his lips and his large hands grab the front of Karl’s robe, dragging him into the closest alley. Karl lets himself be pulled, though he trips on Anders’ feet and finds himself scrambling to avoid headbutting his lover’s chin as they step out of the searing Minrathous sun and into the shelter of the shade. “Kiss me.” 

Anders doesn’t wait for Karl’s response. His hands move up to cradle Karl’s head as he stoops forward, tall body bending like a willow in the wind. Karl catches his breath, feeling the soft, warm give of Anders’ lips against his. Unthinking, his hands fall to Anders’ still-too-narrow hips, gently pushing him back against the rough sandstone wall of the building behind him. Distantly, there’s the sound of people going about their days.

It’s still something of a wonder to Karl, that he can kiss the man he loves like this in public without fear of their being broken apart.

Anders pulls back, and Karl blinks his eyes open in a daze, adjusting to the spots of sunlight that dance across his vision in time to see Anders’ yellow, cat-like eyes slipping sideways, watching the richly dressed magister and his cohort of apprentices and slaves make their ponderous way past them. Anders’ jaw works. Karl’s chin stings from the burn of his stubble. He doesn’t particularly care.

Almost absently, Anders’ thumb traces over Karl’s cheek. In the shadow, his hair is dark, but as the sun slips higher in the bright blue sky it catches in strands of red and gold as burnished and bright as the sandstone behind them. 

At last, the magister passes. Anders steps forward, hands smoothing over Karl’s shoulders even as he shoots a glance back over his shoulder at the retreating party. One of them: a tall elf with strange white tattoos and silver hair, glances back. Anders freezes. Karl’s hands tighten around the thin cotton over his hips. For a long moment, the elf stares at Anders. 

Then the magister says something, and the elf snaps back to attention, leaving them behind in the dust of the Minrathous market district. 

Released, Anders tilts forward, and Karl barely manages to catch his lover’s long limbs, gently stroking the curve of his bent back as he catches his breath, pressing his forehead into Karl’s shoulder. “We need to leave. That -” Anders stops, and his chest shudders as he tries to breathe. Karl rubs slow circles over his back, gently kissing his temple. “That was too close.” 

Karl hums, pressing his nose into Anders’ hair and breathing in the cinnamon and honey smell of the soap he’d been using since Teraevyn. He waits for the shivers racking Anders’ body to ease, somewhat. Above them, there’s the screeching squawk of a buzzard circling the meat market a few streets away.

When Anders is breathing easily again, Karl kisses the side of his head, and moves his hands up to squeeze his broad shoulders. “Then we leave.” 

Anders straightens, and looks at him with light brown eyes tattooed with shadows as black as bruises. Every mage in the Circle had had nightmares, but Karl had never seen nightmares like Anders’ before. He wishes he could do more to stop them. Anders chews his lip, “What if -” He swallows, stubble lined throat working over his anxiety. Karl waits. “What if he catches me? Karl, what if they take you away - I can’t - I’ve seen what he’s done I -”

“Shhh, shhh, Anders, look at me.” Gingerly, Karl strokes a firm hand over Anders’ hair, holding him by the shoulder with his other hand. Anders looks up at him and his lips are parted, breath coming fast and unsteady. Karl doesn’t let that fear shake him. He breathes deep. He has always been steady enough for both of them. “The Circle could not take me from you, or you from me. Maker rest her glorious soul but I would fight Andraste herself before I let us be separated.”

Anders’ lips twitch, “That’s heresy.”

Karl rolls his eyes. “Here? I think they should set the bar at infanticide and go from there.” Carefully, he tucks a strand of hair back behind Anders’ ear. Every day the Tevinter sun seems to leave new freckles on Anders’ skin, like shells on a sea shore, brushing his skin with dusted copper. Karl moves his hand to cup the back of Anders’ head, using it to pull him down and press a kiss to his forehead before pushing their foreheads together. “No one is going to take you from me. Least of all Magister fucking Danarius.”

Anders laughs softly against his lips, an almost silent tickle of breath Karl had come to know and love in the Circle. Slowly, Anders’ arms fall to his belly, and he pulls him close, resting his cheek against Karl’s head. He sighs. “What would I do without you?”

Karl shrugs, feeling the easy, warm weight of his lover, and squeezing him tightly. “Oh, start a revolution probably.”

Anders’ chest shudders as he laughs again. “Are you saying you wouldn’t?”

Karl hums. “We both know I’d start with a strongly worded letter.”

Anders snorts. “Right. Remind me of that one next time. I’m sure it’ll be great against a templar’s broadsword.”

Karl grins, and turns his cheek against Anders’ chest, listening to the slow, heavy thud of his heartbeat. “Yes, well, it’s a work in progress.”

For a moment, Anders is quiet. The wind drifts in slow, warm eddies around their heads, carrying the scent of spice and blood and wine from the market. Eventually, as he always does, Anders breaks the quiet. “I really love you, you know.”

Karl stops breathing. 

It’s been eleven years since he’d met the tiny, quiet boy they’d dragged to Kinloch all the way from the Anderfels. It’s been five years since they fell in love. It’s been six months, two weeks, three days and seven hours since they’ve been free. 

Neither of them has ever said the words I love you.

Anders speaks again, audibly nervous now as he pulls back a little, “Karl? Um - sorry - that was stupid -”

He starts to back away, and Karl catches him before he can, seized suddenly by the stupid, terrifying notion that Anders is a bird that will leave him for new horizons to which he cannot follow. 

Karl opens his mouth, and the words catch in his throat. So he does the one thing that has always made him brave. He kisses him. 

Anders makes a soft sound of surprise, and the force of Karl’s kiss backs them both into the far wall of the alley. Anders huffs a laugh, lips sliding warm and soft against Karl’s, tongue slipping hotly into his mouth after a moment as he dips his head and deepens the kiss. Karl feels his chest fill with heat as bright and unbearable as a sunrise. With a feeling like lifting the weight of the world, he pulls back, and looks into Anders’ eyes.

In the shadows of the alley, Anders’ eyes are brown, and his hair is dark and dirty blonde. His face is freckled and a little sunburned. His nose is long and crooked with breaking. His stubble is thick and uneven. His lips are pink and chapped. He is just a man. 

“I love you.” The words fall from Karl’s tongue like lead weights, taking with them the weight of fear they’d held for so long: the fear that had pressed down on his tongue every time he had so desperately wanted to say them before, in every stolen glance and muffled laugh, every late night and hurried embrace. Suddenly, Karl feels like he could take on even the blighted Tevinter Imperium. He grins, and his cheeks ache with the force of it. Wide-eyed and delighted, Anders grins back. 

Karl says it again. “I love you.” He feels tears begin to fall down his cheeks. “I love you, I love you, I love you.”

Anders laughs, and the sound catches, and Karl notices that he’s crying too, tears falling into the thick blonde stubble grazing his jaw as he leans forward and peppers kisses over Karl’s face, long fingers pushing through his hair. 

For a moment, the pair of them relish the sheer, giddy fact that they’re alive, and they’re in love, and they’re free. Then Anders’ hand falls to Karl’s, and he squeezes his fingers tightly. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

Karl follows.