#Lucien’s reaction showing up in the Night Court will never not be funny to me | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

kingandfireheart · 3 years

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"My money would be on you."

Summary: Nesta and Azriel discussing the necklace debacle, with some nezriel Brotp moments and Azriel processing his feelings toward Elain.

Words: ~2K

Prequel to: What is it that you want, Elain?

Here's a snippet:

Azriel had forgiven his brother, but kept replaying the events of the night in his head. Did he misinterpret Elain's scent? Did Rhys not realize she was a willing participant? Did his brother really think so little of him? Did Elain hate him now? Why did she return the necklace? He knew he wasn't worthy of Elain, but then again, no one was. She was... something else. She nearly took his breath away as a human, and now as high fae, she was devastatingly gorgeous. But what was inside defied all expectations - yes, she was sweet, and kind, and full of light, but under the surface: she was fierce, brave, clever, and funny. She never once balked from him. A thing of secret, lovely beauty.

“You haven’t been sleeping” Nesta observed from her chair in the family library.

Azriel looked up from the reports he was scouring through. Usually, Azriel worked in his room, allowing Nesta and Cassian the space they needed to explore their new bond. With Cassian gone with Mor to deal with the Illyrians and reinforce the wards around Emerie's shop, he had learned to enjoy Nesta’s quiet company after dinner.

“I haven’t” Azriel admitted, running a scarred hand through his hair, while schooling his expression of surprise into his usually mask of indifference. She had a way of reading him that he wasn’t used to. Most people feared him or dismissed him entirely. Only Mor had seemed to be able to get him to talk, but that had grown increasingly infrequent, with Mor's visits to the continent and the distance she had put between them since the war.

“Nightmares?” Nesta asked more quietly, as she set down her book: A romance about an Illyrian and a river nymph, she had told him when they sat down in the library.

He studied her. Maybe it was the exhaustion, maybe it was the way that Nesta observed him and seemed to see things others missed, maybe it was the fact that he knew she wouldn’t judge him that made him say: “I used to have night terrors, they are a product of my childhood. I’ve had them on and off throughout the centuries. I thought I had kicked the habit, but about fifty years ago, they came back. Have been worse lately.”

He knew Nesta understood his meaning, Feyre and Cassian had told her enough. Since Rhys went Under the Mountain, the entire Court had lost something of themselves. For Azriel, it was his ability to sleep.

“You don’t take anything to help you sleep?” Nesta asked carefully. He knew she was being careful, Nesta knew that if she asked too much, he wouldn’t answer, find an excuse to disturb the peace they had found in working together.

“I have tried, but I'm either out for days, or barely functioning to the point where my senses are numb, it doesn’t help with spying.”

“Is that why you’ve been training in the middle of the night? Gwyn said she caught you up there at 2am on solstice.”

Azriel made himself chuckle. He knew Gwyn would tell Nesta, but didn’t expect her to hold onto it for so long. The priestess was his friend now and she was persistent, curious, and stronger than most people gave her credit for. “Did you ask Gwyn why she was there at 2am?”

Nesta made a face at him and said nothing. He knew Nesta had likely guessed what had him in a mood on Solstice. She had shown him as much that day. Nesta also knew about how Gwyn had taken to late night training. The same way Nesta still climbed the stairs, Cassian took to the skies, Feyre stayed up painting, and Elain strolled through her garden after a long day. They all had their ways of coping.

“Gwyn showed me a necklace someone gifted her. She asked if it was me. She said “a friend” had left it with Clotho, but no one else had come to the House that week.”

Azriel kept his face indifferent and willed his shadows to stay calm. Any reaction would be an admission, one he wasn't sure he should make. He knew where she was going with this. She knew he had left the necklace for Gwyn, and probably guessed how much he had spent on it - the necklace was worth more than most of the presents he gave on Solstice, certainly not fitting for a casual gift for a friend. He prayed Nesta wouldn't read into it. Azriel wasn't fully comfortable with the amount of female attention he received every morning. He was distant and aloof during training, but his shadows often informed him how closely the priestesses watched him. He ignored them, had been ignoring them since Cassian had asked him to help with training.

He didn't need to be thinking about any females, he reminded himself, especially after the talk with Rhys on Solstice: You will leave Elain alone. If you need to fuck someone, go to a pleasure hall and pay for it, but stay away from her. He had snarled in response. Rhys rarely resorted to personal attacks. Or threats, which he had also made: If I see you panting after her again, I'll make you regret it.

Azriel had forgiven his brother, but kept replaying the events of that night in his head. Did he misinterpret Elain's scent? Did Rhys not realize she was a willing participant? Did his brother really think so little of him? Did Elain hate him now? Why did she return the necklace?

He knew he wasn't worthy of Elain, but then again, no one was. She was... something else. She nearly took his breath away as a human, and now as high fae, she was devastatingly gorgeous. But what was inside defied all expectations - yes, she was sweet, and kind, and full of light, but under the surface: she was fierce, brave, clever, and funny. She never once balked from him. A thing of secret, lovely beauty.

Nesta's voice roused him from his quickly spiraling thoughts; he needed to get a grip before he revealed too much. “It had a rose on it - exactly like something I would get for Elain.”

Azriel realized that he was trapped. If he made an excuse to leave, she would know, if he brushed it off, she would know. If he hid in the shadows, she would know. If he said nothing, she would know. If he told her too much - she would know. But...Nesta was his friend - she had made that clear a week ago, when she took him down to see the heart of the house. "Just because Rhys said the House is ours, I don't want you to feel any less welcome. This is your home, and you're our family, but you're also my friend. If you would like to be," She had said. Azriel was so touched by the tender offer, he couldn’t say anything. He just wrapped his arms around Nesta and hugged her. In the days since, the two had joked about their alliance against Cassian's insanity.

Azriel decided to come clean. He knew Nesta wouldn’t interfere. Things with Elain were still tentative, and even if she was cordial with Lucien, she wouldn’t ruin her new relationships in the court. Maybe he could use a friend, especially around Elain and Gwyn. After five centuries of using Cassian as a buffer with Mor, of course his brother's mate would take up the role. In 550 years, he never thought jewelry would be the source of his problems.

He sighed, steeling himself for what was to come. Then it all came tumbling out: “I bought it for her. Gave it to her on Solstice. We... had a moment, but nothing happened. Rhys interrupted. I winnowed away. Found Gwyn in the training ring. Elain gave the necklace back. I didn't want to hold on to it, so I left it with Clotho.” He covered his face with his hands as his shadows gathered around him, shielding him from Nesta's gaze. “I fucked up. ”

After a long moment, Azriel willed himself to look up. Nesta’s expression yielded nothing - no judgement., no surprise. He wondered if Elain had already told her what had happened. Out of nowhere, she laughed. “You two would look amazing together. I don't know why I didn't consider it until now, Prythians most beautiful couple," she mused.

Azriel frowned at her, feeling the color blooming on his cheeks. He could deal with her judgement, but the teasing was too much.

Nesta collected herself, as if considering everything Azriel had just admitted to - what it meant for her friend and her sister. "So that’s why both of you were brooding after Solstice? What did Rhysand say?”

Both of you. He knew had hurt Elain. He shouldn't have let things go so far. Azriel knew his High Lord wouldn’t have told anyone what happened, so he could lie. He could say Rhys called him away to spy or something, but he couldn’t let Nesta think it was intentional to leave Elain in the hall, hurt and confused. She was fiercely protective of her sisters. “I’ve been ordered to stay away from Elain," he finally said, unable to keep the weariness out of his voice.

“Because of Lucien?” Nesta asked. “She’s not his property.” Nesta’s anger was clear - whatever kernel of power she had left shone in her eyes. Even after accepting the bond, Nesta held on to her reservations against pressures of the mating bond, claiming I chose you, Cass. Elain hasn't chosen anyone, no matter how many presents the fireling brings, when Cassian had brought it up at dinner. The subject didn't come up again.

“No, she isn’t. But keeping Lucien happy is essential to half of our alliances. The Court can't risk losing Autumn, Spring, and Jurian and Vassa. It would only isolate us in the war that's coming.” Azriel forced his voice to remain level. A war was coming, it was stupid to pretend otherwise. As much as he hated that Elain was a pawn in all of this, it made sense to play things safe, to keep her safe.

Nesta looked like she was considering the risks and said, “Last I checked, Rhysand said there was always a choice here. It doesn't make sense to take Elain's away. This is bullshit." Her brows furrowed, and then she added, a bit of mischief in her tone, "You could always just glamour your scents - it's not like you haven't done that before.”

He shadows stretched toward her, dancing in the space between their chairs, amused that she seemed to know about his past lovers. Azriel just blinked at her, the only show of surprise he allowed. Nesta's reactions were always so unpredictable, even knowing the stories Cassian had likely told her. He couldn't acknowledge that comment - Azriel had been doing it for centuries to keep Cassian from hounding him about his whereabouts and details about his companions. Even if a glamour could work, he had already decided.

He would not disobey a direct order from his High Lord, especially after Rhys had mentioned the consequences. This was different than spying - he could count on one hand that amount of times Rhys had threatened him for disobeying. “I have my orders. I won’t go against them,” Azriel said.

He would stay away from her, if only for Rhys's sake. He would never repay the debt he owed his brother. For saving him. For sacrificing himself. For giving him this life. He would kill and torture and spy to keep him and his family safe, to let his brother have this happiness after years of pain, of shouldering a burden too big for any one to carry themselves.

Nesta looked at him, as if she saw each of the thoughts going through his head. “You deserve happiness too, Az.”

Azriel gave her a small smile, one he knew she would see through. He turned back to the reports in front of him, hoping this would end the conversation. A few minutes passed, and he could still feel Nesta watching him his shadows confirmed as much.

He met her gaze as she said. “I won’t say anything, even to Cassian. Thank you for trusting me.”

He nodded to her - he did trust Nesta. He trusted that Nesta had shown him the house’s heart was to show her own - to show how similar they were. Darkness that they could acknowledge, but keep in check. They both settled back into their reading in silence.

The clock struck 9: about time for Cassian's return. Mor would winnow him back to the house soon enough. Nesta rose, closing her book, and smoothing out her dress. As she walked toward the door, she gave him a conspirator's smile and half-whispered, “If I was still a betting woman, my money would be on you. I’ve never seen her look at anyone the way she looks at you. Not even that lordling”

Azriel couldn’t help but smile at the confidence in her tone. He didn't let himself wondering whether the lordling was Elain's mate or her former fiance. He was still in awe at how Nesta had gone from an angry and miserable person who lashed out any anyone who tried talking to her to this strong warrior who understood him, who would give everything for her family. If Nesta could come back from that dark place, maybe he could let himself hope.

Hours later, when Azriel had finally resigned to sleep and he settled into bed, he saw the medicine bottle and earbuds on his night stand. He had tucked both away into a drawer after Solstice, but the House must have decided to take matters into its own hands. The faelights blinked twice as if to say good night.

Nesta was right, the House was a gossip and a busybody. Azriel chuckled to himself, saying "Good Night House."

For the first time in months, Azriel finally slept.

#nesta archeron #nezriel brotp #elriel #azriel #post acosf #elriel fanfic #elain archeron week #i don't usually write fics #but I love DIALOGUE so here ya go #kp writes #elriel fic #mtp

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aelin-and-feyre · 7 years

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Preferences: First Meeting/Mate Bond

I got part of this idea from @stherix for when the mating bond snaps, thank you darling. First meeting is for the non-Fae in this preference, which was requested by @fiery-feyre @embracethenight138 and some nonnies

THANK YOU @highladyyfeyre @my-boyo-fenrys and @autumn03 for being my beta team on this, you guys helped so much because I honestly didn’t think this was any good so thank you!

Preference Tag List: @runesandfaes @autumn03 @fiery-feyre @januarystears @caitlyn-blackwell @starzablaze @writergash @illyriangoddess @wyrdtoyourmother (let me know if you want to be added to this tag list!)

Rowan:

It snaps right away for him. He smells your intoxicating scent and he meets your eyes and just. Boom. Somehow, in a split second, he is across the room in front of you, his pine green eyes boring into your own with fierce intensity and he purrs, ‘Hello, mate,’ with just the stupidest half smile on his face that you fall in love with immediately. He offers you his hand and bends down low, without taking his eyes off you, to place a kiss on your knuckle. It is a reverent and completely loving touch that sends shivers down your spine and then it clicks for you as well. Rowan’s smile widens because he sees realization dawn in your eyes as he straightens. You take in his tall, strong frame, corded muscles, long white hair, and you murmur, ‘well hello to you too’.

Rhysand:

It seems like all the air is taken from his lungs when it first snaps. His heart is pounding rapidly in his chest and Rhys feels as if it might explode. His usual smug expression disappears until unrelenting determination and love shine through. He doesn’t even believe - can’t believe - that the Cauldron would grace him with such an exquisite creature as a mate. ‘Mine’ he whispers, more to himself than anyone else. You’re across the room so you don’t hear him and Rhys is pretty sure that you don’t know yet, so he decides to not tell you for a little while. However, that doesn’t stop him from murmuring quietly practically every time he sees you - a smile playing on his face - ‘mine.’

Aelin:

She is completely and utterly shocked when the mate bond snaps. Being half-Fae, she was never completely sure that she would get a mate, much less you, her best friend since she was a child. She frets for days about how to tell you, and ends up showing up at your bedroom door one night, in nothing but an extremely scandalous nightgown. You sputter a few times at the sight, trying not to stare at her though you desperately want to. Aelin mutters, ‘Huh, I thought my mate would be happy to see me with so few clothes’. Your eyes widen because you can’t believe that you might have just actually heard her say that. She has a sly smirk on her face as you take a second to process. Finally, you drag your eyes back to her frame and take your time raking them up and down her scantily clad body. ‘Well if by mate, you mean me, then you would be correct’, Aelin’s smile grows and she pushes her way passed you and onto the bed. Slightly opened mouth but not reluctant in the least, you follow her right away.

Dorian:

You first catch Dorian’s eye from across the ballroom. He is so infatuated with your lithe figure as you dance, your bright smile that stretches across your face, and the clever eyes that gleam in the light of the chandeliers, he completely disregards the woman he is talking to and marches straight over to you. Always the charming prince, he bows to your partner and then takes his place, his hand fitting comfortably on your hip. You are shocked that the prince has decided to dance with you, and blush when you notice how intently he searches your face. Dorian finds that he absolutely loves your blush. He dances with you for the entire night, thoroughly confounding your senses. The two of you talk and laugh well past midnight, and Dorian discovers that from that moment on, he really has no desire to dance with anyone else.

Cassian:

He just. Stares. The bond snaps and suddenly there is no where else that Cassian is able to look. He is frozen to his spot and his gaze is glued to you, trying to memorize every part of you down to your soul. You feel his stare on the side of your face and when you meet his eyes, you can’t help but blush. ‘So, I’m guessing you know?’ You ask, walking up to him nervously. He nods, silent. ‘You’re not... mad, are you?’ That shakes him from his daze. He grabs you to him and wraps his wings securely around you, his lips descending to your own instantly. Loving pecks spread across your face and between each one, he speaks. ‘I’ kiss ‘have never’ kiss ‘ever’ kiss ‘been happier’ kiss ‘in my’ kiss ‘entire’ kiss ‘life’. You giggle and relax against him after weeks of worrying over his reaction. Cassian rests his chin on top of your head and closes his eyes. He breathes in your scent and sighs happily. ‘My mate.’

Chaol:

When he first sees you, he is skeptical. He never does really trust beautiful women, especially ones that flit around the castle in big dresses. You’re new, he notices quickly, and briefly wonders why he didn’t know you were coming. But the second time he sees you, and the first time he actually talks to you, its on the running track at 6am. No longer in your finery, he is unable to take his eyes off of your form as you somehow are able to pass him. He catches up with a little more effort and as soon as you smile at him, Chaol is a goner. The two of you go on morning runs together for weeks, and the Captain soon finds himself entering court gatherings even when he’s not needed just to talk to you more when neither of you are sweating and out of breath. So sure, you’re a beautiful woman of the court, but he quickly learns that you are much, much more.

Azriel:

The two of you feel it snap at the exact same time. You’ve known each other forever and have been tiptoeing around the other for years, but now that he knows, Azriel is quick to take action. His arms encircle your waist in a second, his face buried in the crook of your neck, breathing you in and pulling you tighter and tighter to him with each passing second. You respond immediately, though you are still shocked, your hands scraping through his hair as you pull him closer as well. ‘I-I always hoped that maybe -’ he murmurs against your skin, his voice hoarse. ‘I know, me too, but I never even thought to dream that -’ you cut off, unable to express your emotion accurately. His hands squeezing your waist slightly is his wordless response, letting you know he understands. The two of you sink to the floor slowly, holding, caressing, admiring each other, murmuring words of adoration and disbelief. Azriel simply cannot stop smiling.

Manon:

Meeting Manon for the first time is always the most important interaction with the witch. First impressions are very important to her. Luckily, she doesn’t find you annoying, weird, or insufferable so you’re already on the right track. Once, you even manage to get her to smile! Abraxos also takes a quick liking to you, which helps a lot where the witch is concerned. She can tell you’re nervous and likes that she has that affect on you. When she’s about to leave, you quickly call her back because you just can’t help yourself, ‘do you think I’ll ever see you again?’ She smirks and you feel a thrill go through you at the gesture. ‘I definitely would not mind crossing your path again, human.’

Lorcan:

He tries really hard not to react when he feels that string pull taught between the two of you. He really does try. It doesn’t work very well though. First of all, he’s surprised because he didn’t think you were possible, and then he’s mad because you are so perfect and would never accept such a monster as him. He almost walks away right there, telling himself that he will leave you to your life without being tied to a murderer. But you call him back and Lorcan cannot believe his ears. Hope blooms across his face and from then on, he is putty in your palms. The sound of your name on his lips make the decision for him; he will work for the rest of his life to be worthy of being your mate.

Lucien:

‘Cauldron’ he murmurs. It happens while the two of you are in bed together. Lucien has absolutely no filter and suddenly he is just telling you. ‘You’re my mate.’ You have just come down from a huge climax and you’re kind of smug as you say, ‘oh that’s why that felt so good’. Lucien roars with laughter, burying his face in your hair and breathing you in. Your hands rake down his hair lovingly. ‘I love you.’ he says, and you can’t help but smile. ‘Two declarations in one night.’ and then, ‘I love you too’.

Aedion:

You meet Aedion for the first time because of mutual friends. Ever the smooth bastard, he is charming and funny and charismatic. It doesn’t take long until you are head over heels, and Aedion soon follows. Many drinks and lots of flirting later, you’re truly not sure how you are going to go home tonight without him. Turns out you can’t. ‘Invite me in?’ He asks after he drops you off that night. You smile and pull him through the door. The two of you don’t end up tumbling in the sheets that night though. Instead, you stay up all night talking about anything and everything. Years later, Aedion likes to joke that he went home with you the night he met you, and he’ll look at you fondly as he says it and wink, because it makes a good story, but you both know the truth.

Mor:

She’s already hopelessly in love with you when the bond finally clicks. In fact, the two of you are getting married when you both feel it. She’s about to finish her vows when her eyes widen and you see the wheels turning in her mind. Mor completely disregards the planned words and starts to speak. ‘I am the Morrigan and my gift is Truth. Thus, when I say I will love you forever, you must believe me. Forever and always, my mate.’ Tears come to your eyes because she felt it too and neither of you hear the gasps through the crowd as she brings you in for the first kiss of the rest of your lives.

Helion:

He realizes it the first time he sees you, and tries his usual flirting techniques, attempting to get you to notice him. Of course, you’re stubborn and refuse to be swayed by a classic womanizer like him, so Helion begins to devote every waking second to getting you to like him. He brings you flowers, bakes your favorite desserts (he is an excellent baker), flatters you constantly, is always trying to ask you to dinner - dinner, not bed - and somehow finds a way to make you blush at all times. Finally, after weeks of him struggling, you agree and Helion rejoices quite publicly. At the end of an extravagant night, you allow him to kiss you and he thinks that he might just die from happiness. It takes many more dates before you allow him to take you to bed though.

Gavriel:

Time slows down when he finally feels the bond. You’re walking away from him, and he is being pulled in the opposite direction, and then suddenly he rips his arm out of his captor’s hold and rushes to you. Gavriel grabs your hand and you meet his eyes. Understanding floods through you as he pulls you far away from those that wish to separate you. He refuses to let you go once you are in private. He memorizes everything about you down to the minute detail. ‘I promise,’ he says, ‘I promise that no matter what happens, I will never leave you’. Because he’s made that mistake once, and he will not do it to his mate. Never.

Kallias:

You’ve served in his court for years, always knowing him as the icy, stoic High Lord of Winter. However, when you unthinkingly serve him some food one day, the bond snaps and Kallias turns into the fluffiest male ever. It takes a little while for both of you to get used to each other and the bond but soon the becomes loving and affectionate. There are smiles that are reserved just for you and little crinkles in the corners of his eyes when he is super happy. He loves to wrap you both up in a blanket and proceed to kiss you senseless. Any prior iciness completely melts when you are around, and you love that you have that affect on him.

Fenrys:

The two of you have been friends for years, and when he realizes that you are his mate, he just blurts it out. ‘You’re my mate.’ Fenrys notices that you don’t look very surprised, and quickly figures out that you already knew. ‘Gods, why didn’t you tell me?’ he asks, scooping you up in his arms and twirling you around. His forehead rests on your own, his large hands cupping your cheeks as he stares into your eyes. ‘You’re my mate’ he murmurs again, like he can’t even believe it. ‘You’re my mate’ Fenrys repeats, loving the smile that lights up your face when he says it. A small peck quickly leads to a passionate kiss which progresses into him picking you up and carrying you to bed. ‘You’re my mate’ shortens to him whispering ‘mate’ all across your body over and over again as he worships you throughout the night.

Tarquin:

About a week after meeting you, it all clicks, and Tarquin’s efforts to woo you double in intensity. Innocent friendly touches become much more meaningful and much less innocent now that he knows. His smiles never fail to knock the air out of your lungs, even though you don’t know why. He takes extra care at pushing a strand behind your hair and before you know it, he’s kissing you, because Tarquin literally cannot help himself. Needless to say, you’re surprised, but not against the feeling of his lips on yours. When he finally pulls away, his eyes still closed, he whispers, ‘that was better than I ever imagined it would be’. And the smile that grows on your face is so big that it hurts. ‘You’ve imagined that?’ Tarquin just nods, still drunk on happiness. ‘Ever since I found out you were my mate.’ You sputter a few times and the High Lord seems to realize what he said. Always the cool guy, he just shrugs and silences your questions with another sweet kiss.

Tamlin:

He never finds his mate because no one deserves that kind of fate.

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