#The stark contrast of the 3 styles is so amusing to me - you can definitely tell they're not all from the same work haha

[chiscribbs]

So here's something a little off the beaten path from my normal uploads -

Last week was my best friend @koilada's birthday and I held a private art stream for her, during which I sketched some of her (our) favorite ships! Because fwenship💕 Ships and the works that they're from listed below, in order of appearance:

Elena and Mateo (Elena of Avalor)

Koen and Ludwika (OCs from one of our collaborative works)

Cass and Varian (Tangled the Series)*

*The Cassarian sketch is specifically in reference to a post-series spin-off that she and I have been writing together for some time now, which I might post more about in the future, we'll see.

It's been so long since I've attempted to draw most of these characters... My favorite thing in this entire set ended up being that Mateo, because I have not drawn him very much and I was fully anticipating him to come out looking so much worse than he did, LOL. (Side note: please forgive the missing hands, these were not meant to be finished pieces, just some relatively "quick" sketches)

[youarejesting]

Quarantine.3

[Masterlist] Pairing: BTS x reader (i don’t know if this will have ships or just friendship or what I am just letting it run its course) Genres: friendship, drama, romance Rating: All Summary: Your brother works with a few BigHit dance teams and whilst having permission to accompany him at work the city shuts down banning anyone from stepping outside for a whole WEEK while they disinfect the streets. If you step outside you might get arrested, shot or poisoned by the chemicals they are emitting through the city. Words: 3.1k Announcement: I have 901 followers this. I can’t thank you guys enough. Stay safe. (this has a tiny inspiration from the movie exit and that is that they can’t go outside that’s about it)

[Part 1]  [Part 2] [Part 4] [Tag Yourself Here]

Again sleep evaded you, leaving you pissed. Ready to destroy your brother's clock because it just kept ticking. Unable to take it any longer you left the room strolling through the hallway like a zombie. You moved through the building to many floors you knew you definitely should not have been on but you were ready to use your foreigner card. The one that allowed you to walk into restricted areas. All you had to do was look at them and say.

‘I am sorry, I don’t speak Korean’ and when they try to translate it to you, ‘I am sorry, I didn’t know I can’t read any signs’. This was a great way to feed your curiosity and get in some snooping. The fifth floor was full of recording studios. It was quiet, the whole building was still. Yet here you were walking in some mang slippers that were way too big for your feet. As you walked passed the doors you heard a faint sound coming from inside a studio.

Finding the studio named ‘Genius Lab’ emitting such a beautifully inviting melody you were met with the stark contrast of the studio door. Trying not to laugh, there was a doorbell, a keypad lock and there was a mat that said ‘go away’ with a cat giving the middle finger. Someone didn’t want people to enter. You kept walking along but ended up at the stairwell heading up another flight. 

The sixth floor looked different. It was like a high-end office; the floors were buffed and it was so open, it made the other floors look like a shed and the basement like a hole in the side of a mountain. You knew it represented the tiers of people in the business so it was probably right that you spent most of your time underground. You didn’t step onto that floor going back down to the fifth. Slowly watching your feet as you retrace your steps along the corridor. Startled you fell back as you received a door to the face. 

“ah joesonghabnida, ah sorry sorry” he couldn’t stop laughing. Feeling so tired you just laid there on the ground staring at the ceiling, but this to him was pure comedy. 

“Are you okay?” He called, you blinked eyes barely open, he stepped over you and walked around until he could crouch by your head. Yoongi looked absolutely stunning above you especially when he was amused. What you didn’t know was he thought you looked equally beautiful below him. “Are you sleep geodgi… Ah, I mean sleepwalking?” 

“I wish I could sleep” your voice was more like a croak from the lack of use, “I haven’t slept in days and it’s making my head hurt”

He straightened you up onto your feet and he walked with you back to where you were supposed to be staying. He wished you good luck and continued on to the BTS meeting room.  You laid there trying to meditate, count sheep, anything but it wasn’t working. The air seemed stale and it was too quiet. His laptop on his desk had a blinking light and you couldn’t sleep. 

The next morning you walked down the stairs slowly gripping the rail not trusting yourself. You had been like this before, usually, able to stay awake for two whole nights but when the third night came you would pass out. Everyone had gathered around on the first floor talking about something. 

Leaning over to a young man, he was short and stocky. His hair looked odd as it fell limp against his face like it had been cut for a specific styling technique but you assumed everyone was living without their hair and face products. “what are they talking about?”

“They got an alert today saying that the Information centre had food supplies. The Yongsan Health centre has our supplies for this area. But they need a volunteer to go collect the supplies for this building, they are just calculating how much they would need and no one wants to go”

The people awkwardly shuffled, they were scared. Whether it was lack of sleep or because you felt like you had been freeloading on their supplies, you found yourself stepping forward to volunteer, “I can get the supplies” The man looked relieved handing you the suit. You looked at them and began putting it on, some people helped you. Looking out over the crowd you saw Jungkook and Hoseok the two looked confused for a second pointing at you before running off.

Assuming they were going to get your brother you quickly asked for a map of how to get there. They drew up a map and handed you a long-range walkie talkie. With a deep breath, you sealed the suit and started the breathing piece. It took a long time to get through the streets and you followed the instructions, it was going good until you came across something that wasn’t on the map. 

“Hello, this is y/n, I seem to have come across a small intersection that wasn’t on the map. There are two parallel streets going diagonal to my right. Is it the first or second street that I am supposed to take when turning right” you waited and there was no response. “Okay, can I ask that you put, mister y/l/n on the walkie talkie or even Kim Namjoon as I am comfortable talking with the two?”

“Hello, this is Kim Namjoon. Your brother is both pissed and restrained at the moment. How can I help?” “Okay the map says turn right but there are two streets to my right, can you tell me exactly which right am I to take the first or the second?”

“Uh… Okay, I will check the map for a second, Jimin, hold this?”

“Hello, friend” Jimin’s voice came through the radio

“Annyong, Jiminie. Eotteohge jinae?”

“Joh-eun”

“That’s good, I am just standing in the middle of the street, I am bored”

A sweet song came through the radio and you listened and felt your body swaying. His voice seemed to fog up your brain but it made you feel special that he was singing for you. Trying to ignore the discussion in the background on what street to take. You decided to just start walking. You were wasting time and the air filter. Trusting your gut you headed down the first and looked at the map if this was the case you would reach the centre on your right.

“That’s a really pretty song Jimin, what is it about?” Grinning as you had found the place, you listened to Jimin speak flustered. You stepped inside the building and handed over the form. They wheeled over a canvas wagon with a long handle, the whole thing was the size of a single bed and up to your hip.

“Uh, it is about my love for you” Your cheeks turned pink, “I can be uh… whatever Jimin you want me to be?”

“I want you to be you Jiminie, that’s the Jimin I like the best. The one that is real. Not filters but natural Jimin.” Turning to the people and asking specifically if they had any extra products that weren’t foodstuff and they looked at you, you did some bargaining and you left with a few extra things. Jimin had become too flustered and handed the walkie talkie to an equally flirty Seokjin.

“Hello, It is I handsome Jin. I am here to cure your loneliness” He said making an exaggerated kissing sound into the walkie talkie. You felt like the lack of sleep and the situation was making you goofier and more giggly. They sent you off, you pulled the wagon along it was heavy and you were getting more and more tired. It was hard to pull the wagon down the street and you were outside the building. 

“My loneliness is killing me, and I, I must confess that I still believe still believe”

“Ya! Spears! Britney Spears?” he laughed into the device as you rounded the corner walking down the main street the building insight.

“Okay hello again, we figured it out it is the first street,” Namjoon’s voice came through the walkie, laughing as you had already gotten back to the building. You pulled the wagon inside and everyone turned excited, some cheered and whistled while others were talking about the bravery of westerners. You pulled off the top of the suit taking in the open air, feeling a little dizzy. 

“Something tells me she already knows that Joonie,” Hoseok laughed patting your back, Namjoon sighed in relief. Almost tackled by your brother, you tried to stay upright while he looked you over for any injuries. He scolded you openly in front of everyone but you were too busy stepping out of the suit. Wrapping your arms around him, “You were scared I get it, but I am fine, relax it’s over”

Eating lunch, you finished quickly heading to the basement for a shower, wheeling a heavy wagon across the streets of Yongsan was tiring and left you sweaty. When you opened the door, however, you saw the glorious figure of Seokjin, he was not wearing a towel but was thankfully facing away from you. Apologising and shutting the door, your mind flooded with images of his shoulders. How could they be so wide you wanted to hug him, hold them in your hands and rest your head against them. 

He stepped out and grinned at your pink cheeks, He thought you looked cute all pink like that. Throwing you a wink as you ducked past him. The shower was perfect, your muscles relaxed and you were feeling cleaner already. Washing your hair, it sounded as if the door to the bathroom had opened but when you peaked your head out there was no one there. You continued showering, hearing the noise again. Again it was no one. 

You tried to ignore the noise, hearing it a few more times. Until Jimin’s voice called out. You only understood Jin’s name the word hurry and shower so you assumed he was complaining about how long Jin was in the shower for. Before you had a chance to respond he spoke again and the shower stall door pushed open. Jimin was staring at you shirtless. Having just enough time to wrap a towel around yourself you knew he had gotten a glimpse of your body. He was frozen staring back and forth between you and the bathroom and with one singular apology, he left the room. You quickly finished up getting dressed and went to the storage room to hang out your clothes. 

Taking the elevator upstairs you were walking back to b/n’s (brothers name) office. As you passed the Bangtan meeting room you heard laughing. You had missed Jimin’s recount of exactly what had transpired memories replayed in his head. He had given details about the way your hips curved and the likeliness of your breast feeling like soft pillows. You only heard him groan in what you thought was in embarrassment “I can’t look at her in the eye again?”

“It’s fine, so you saw her naked, Jin just said she saw him naked” You knocked on the door and Taehyung answered his face splitting into a boxy grin, his imagination working overtime with only what he had heard from Jimin.

“The shower is free, please tell Jimin it’s okay, I am not mad or anything” Sighing you gave a wave which he returned grabbing your hand and giving it a squeeze before walking away you heard laughing.

“She isn’t mad, maybe she likes you and that’s why she doesn’t care if you saw” Taehyung teased his friend. “She looked really tired?” “Yeah she hasn’t been sleeping” Yoongi added “On the plus side we don’t have to practice if there is no tour in the foreseeable future”

“And what if there is a cure tomorrow” You smile at the playful bickering but don’t stay any longer as you aren’t an eavesdropper” 

Stepping into b/n’s office you sat at his desk trying to find your favourite sleep music. Hoping that if you found it you might have a chance at sleeping. You spent hours trying to find it but couldn’t remember the name, only the picture. You gave up heading to dinner. You were dragged over by Taehyung to their table. He sat you across from Jimin trapped between Taehyung himself and Jungkook both amused. Eating together Yoongi asked you if you had managed to get some sleep and you shook your head and almost fell over.

“I guess I am a fussy sleeper, but I like when it is dark and there is like air moving across my face and there is this sleep music I use. It's like one tone and it really helps me sleep” they listened, relaying their sleep habits.

“I like to sleep holding someone” Taehyung frowned “but the others don’t let me”

“If you need a cuddle buddy Tae, I like cuddles” you leaned over resting your head on his arm tired. His heart sped up and a few of them felt almost jealous at this statement. After dinner you walked upstairs going to try and sleep again, hoping that the adventure had tired you out. Reaching the top of the stairs, your head began to spin. Before you could topple over backwards you felt a hand on your back. Jungkook led you away from the stairs sliding his arm under yours and behind your back he watched your head fall forward. 

“Are you okay?” He caught you as your legs gave out and carried you in his arms. 

“I think she might have passed out,” Jungkook said as he stepped into the meeting room.

They walked over to see you asleep ahead resting against Jungkook’s chest. Clearing off the couch he lowered your body onto it. You looked so tiny in Jungkook's arms and when they tucked you in, you curled up even smaller.

“Hmm with the light out the storage room is pitch black and I can see about the sound maybe her brother might know and I can recreate it” Yoongi hummed looking around at Jimin who gestured to the air purifier

“We have this, do you think that could work”

“That might work,” Namjoon said.

“Jungkook and I will carry her to the basement?” Hoseok said collecting some bedding and watching Jungkook carry your body against him to the service elevator.

“Words, I never thought I would hear from you?” Yoongi laughed. They laid out a futon and your sleeping bag and they positioned the air purifier so it would create a small breeze across your face. Your brother remembered the name of the music you listened to and they moved a set of speakers down to the basement and started playing it. The moment it played your body relaxed under the Sleeping bag and you rolled onto your stomach they left you to your peaceful sleep. 

It was refreshing. You were dreaming that you were walking next to someone but every time you looked over their face would change. It was a mix of all the bangtan boys. You woke confused, it was pitch black and you didn’t know where you were, that was until you caught a familiar scent. You moved across the room and turned on the light. Looking back you felt a warm sensation, the boys had done all this for you. Checking the time you had been asleep for several solid hours. 

[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 4] [Tag Yourself Here]

[shprka]

A matter of time (a merthur fic)

Title: A matter of time

Pairing: Merlin/Arthur

Written for: MerlinMemoryMonth May 2019

I chose Path 3: A time to consider / A time to act

Summary:  One of the things Merlin never would have predicted was the legendary King Arthur magically appearing into his living room and confusing him with the sorcerer Merlin.

It’s in Merlin best interest to calmly explain to him that they are in the 21st century and Merlin isn’t the person he’s looking for. All the while trying to not get stabbed with Excalibur and ignoring that the legendary king is hotter than any of those scripts ever described. And an incredible prat!

Read under the cut or on AO3

Listen, it’s sounds mental, absolutely bonkers and Merlin would recommend a good psychiatrist to anyone who’d ever tell him that the legendary King Arthur appeared in their living room out of thin air, but. But.

That’s exactly what happened to him.

And the day started relatively pleasant. Of course after he woke up at the fifth alarm, which was at 6:25, and that 25 minute delay fucked up with his everyday schedule. He had to run around the flat, dress himself with one hand and brush his teeth with the other, but he managed to catch the later bus and he was just few minutes late. His friend Maria covered for him and the kids were still sleepy, so they didn’t even care when Merlin burst into the classroom, flushed and panting, seeing his group already drawing peacefully with Maria.

After that everything went great, as it usually did, with the kids he loved and being as childish as he liked all the while keeping an eyes on those restless bundles of energy. Even a few incidents - like Thomas throwing up on his t-shirt - didn’t sour his mood.

Then he met up with Gwaine and a few other mates, who were kind enough to let Merlin shower first at his place before meeting them at the pub. All that Gwaine was always teasing him he had a lot of sympathy for the things the kids did to him and he shuddered at the mere mention of what those little sociopaths could do and say.

But anyway!

King Arthur, right? King Arthur.

Merlin was pleasantly tipsy - it was Friday, he never drank when he was working the next day - and he stumbled into his apartment, giggling to himself and planted his arse on the sofa, turned on Netflix on his laptop just to make some noise, while he was undressing and making his bed and… And he close his eyes and there was that.

Something woke him up. Some feeling he couldn’t discern. He didn’t drink that much, but maybe it was his upset stomach or he just wanted to piss. Righting himself up on the sofa and opening his jaw in a big yawn, Merlin was just standing up, before he fell right back onto his arse as someone appeared into his small shabby living room, just behind his coffee table.

Is “appeared” a right word? Maybe. Maybe more “materialized” or “pop in”, or not - those were just synonyms and not different words.

But yeah, you get the picture - some man came out like some kind of invisible wall, right foot, left foot, torso, two hands clutching a sword, a full body armour.

The man - because it was definitely a man, a knight of some sort - was crouched slightly like he was hunting or expecting someone to attack him any minute. He hadn’t spotted Merlin at first, in the low light of Merlin’s laptop that stopped playing Merlin’s show and now displayed just his screen-saver - a default picture of a cliff.

“Who the fuck are you?” Merlin shrieked, and maybe it wasn’t that great of an idea, because the stranger actually raised his sword and Merlin had a half of a second to think about his life, before the stranger was on him.

The stranger was on him and actually managed to flip the sofa on the back, Merlin falling back with it and the stranger on his knees on either side of Merlin’s ribs, his sword

dangerously close to Merlin’s Adam’s apple. He gulped and wanted to shudder at the feel of the sharp blade at his throat, but he managed to stay still.

And then the laptop screen went black and the whole room with it.

“What did you do?” snarled a voice above Merlin, sword even closer now.

“The light… let me just reach for my phone and I…”

“Turn on the light.”

“I’m trying… Let me go, so I can do that.”

“Just use a spell.”

“What?”

“Or light a torch. Where do you keep the fire?”

“Um… Like a lighter? I don’t smoke.”

That whole exchange was more that a little weird, but he went along with it, because the stranger didn’t actually seem like he wanted to kill him. Or maybe he wanted to see him as he slit his throat with that incredibly sharp sword.

“Listen,” Merlin started like he would start with a misbehaving child in his group, slow, steady and confident, “Let me reach into my back pocket. Or let me go.”

“What if you’re the enemy?” The weight of the man pressed onto him and Merlin gasped.

“I’m not. I don’t have any enemies. At least ones I’m aware of. I’m a kindergarten teacher. Please,” he added, hoping to elicit some pity at least.

The man grunted and the sword was gone, thought Merlin somehow knew the stranger was ready to pounce any second Merlin did something stupid. Merlin tried with all his might to not do anything stupid.

He reached into his pocket, slowly trying to navigate his hand in the darkness and trying to not touch the man, though he was still kneeling and keeping Merlin from escaping. His hand brushed a thigh, a rough material of trousers meeting that thing that knights were beneath armours, whatever its called. The stranger tensed and Merlin stopped, before he quickly grabbed his mobile from the back of his jeans and flipped it on from memory and chose a lighter.

The first thing that came into view was the man above Merlin. He indeed dressed in some kind of armour, held a real life sword and was dirty and bloody and had a cut on his face that looked awful. He turned his face away against the light and Merlin could see a strong square jaw.

Whatever he was, whatever he looked Merlin had to get away. The man, the knight was reeking something awful - stale sweat, blood, dirt. It made Merlin’s eyes water and he had to breathe through his mouth.

“Can I…?” Merlin started and the man clenched his jaw, but nodded.

Merlin crawled away from the couch, slowly, keeping an eye on the stranger in his house and got to the switch and instantly the room became bright.

The knight stood up, still gripping his sword, and Merlin stared at him in utter shock and confusion.

The man was blond, his dirty fringe falling on his forehead and curling behind his ears. His armour was dented in some places, though besides that he didn’t look injured anywhere. He wore that chainmail thing that Merlin felt for a bit and therefore knew how heavy it was, but the stranger didn’t seem to bow under its weight.

He had a light eyes, which was a stark contrast against all the dirt and blood on his face.

“How did you got here?” Merlin asked at the same time the man said, “Where am I?”

“How can you not know where you are? You came here!” Merlin just couldn’t believe. Maybe he was drunker than he thought. Or it was a very elaborate dream and he’d just wake up on the sofa with an awful headache in the morning.

“It was a spell, I got tricked,” the mad said, more grumbled really, then straightened his back, “Which brought me to you, so you must be a sorcerer, too. I demand you tell me your name, sorcerer.”

Merlin laughed despite himself. Who did that weirdo think he was?

“It was you who broke into my flat so late, so I don’t owe you my name. Though you owe me an explanation.” At the unimpressed stare, Merlin rolled his eyes, “My name’s Merlin and that should be enough. I answered your question, so you answer mine. And the truth this time.”

The knight sighed, a heavy sigh, and sat on the edge of the fallen sofa, his sword resting beside him.

“So the prophecy was true. The dragon said our paths will cross again. I didn’t understand the meaning of his words until now. The past and the future… Tell me, Merlin, are you not the same man that helped me over the years?”

“Pretty sure not,” Merlin crossed his arms. “And you better start talking sense. Tell me who are you and where are you from? And why are you so keen to believe in magic? Maybe you’re from Hogwart? Are wizards real and you just apparated into my flat, harry potter style?”

Now it was the stranger’s turn to frown. “Are you mentally afflicted, Merlin? Talking gibberish and accusing me of using magic...” He shook his head. “I could get you executed.”

Merlin was somewhere between offended and amused. “What? Are you some kind of royal? Wait, you’re a knight, I remember from the history books that only nobles could be knights, right? In medieval times.”

“History books? Is it not the law here? Where exactly are we?”

“Err… In London?”

“I’ve never heard of the Kingdom of London. Is it perhaps over the sea?”

“Depends. Where are you from?”

“Camelot.” Merlin snorted at that, but the man was utterly serious. “And my name is Arthur Pendragon.”

Merlin blinked. The name was kind of familiar, yeah. Though quite unusual. It was like a book of a movie character surname. Though Merlin couldn’t put his finger on that. But he knew like five Arthurs, so…

“Are you, uhm, someone important?”

Arthur spluttered, “I’m the King of Camelot, you absolute bumpkin! How can you not know that? I understand you could not have recognized me. I don’t look my best, I admit, and not everyone had seen me in person, but have famed my name on all of Albion and surely over the sea you had to at least heard of me.” Though, he didn’t look so sure of himself anymore. “No matter. I am tired and hungry. Get the servants to prepare me a bed and some dinner.”

“We don’t have servants here, my lord. And who said you’d be staying here?”

Arthur heaved a deep sigh, “Thank gods, so you have more than one chamber. I wondered how big this house is. And it’s all yours?”

Merlin had to laugh at that. “What? No. A lot of people leave here. And this is my little corner of the world, there’s no other ‘chambers’, sorry.” Merlin stretched his arms above his head and yawned. “But I guess you can stay here for tonight, it’s too late to look for a hotel or something. Besides, let me guess, you don’t have any money, do you? Or ID?”

“We don’t carry coins into battle. But I’ll be in your great debt and as soon as I will make my way home you’ll be rewarded with so much gold as you could carry.” Which, he probably though, would not be much, seeing Merlin’s lanky form. Jokes on him, Merlin could swing four four-year-olds clinging to his arms, which was no mean fit. Besides, running around fifteen kids all day kept him in shape.

Anyway, why would he even care what Arthur thought of him?

It was nearing two am and Merlin had an awful headache, all he wanted was to go to sleep. He didn’t think Arthur would steal anything, but Merlin genuinely did not have anything that valuable to steal. Besides, everything pricy he kept near himself in his bedroom and that room was off limits for Arthur.

But he guessed he had to let him use his bathroom, while Merlin had a time to make some sandwiches and think about what evil he’d done in the past that this was his punishment.

“First you must get rid of that thing you have on you. I’ll find you some towels and spare clothes and you can take a shower. You smell so bad.” The king looked so offended it was hilarious, but then he furrowed his brows at the word shower. DId Merlin want to explain what a shower was and how it worked and not being accused of sorcery? Nope. “Or I’ll prepare you a bath.”

“You would make a good servant, Merlin.”

Merlin rolled his eyes and went to the bathroom. He found a spare towel in a cupboard, turned on the faucet and on a whim added some lavender bath salt. God knows Arthur needed anything he could get to get rid of that awful smell. Merlin would have to open a window or something in the living room not to die. He checked if the water wasn’t to hot and went to the bedroom to find some clothes, before he reached it there was a thud from a living room and Merlin flinched before running to check if Arthur didn’t do anything to himself or more furniture.

He was sat on his arse on the floor, pouting. It was kind of adorable. As much as a dirty and bloody knight could be at least. When he spotted Merlin in the doorway he stood up quickly and gestured to his arm covered in armour.

Merlin saw him struggling for a bit longer, grumbling to himself, before he marched to him and batted his hands away. “Stop, stop, let me. You haven’t ever took off your armour before?”

“We have squires for that. It’s not that easy to do it alone,” Arthur said quietly, and Merlin heard him perfectly and unfortunately also smelled his breath. Maybe he would be more away of their proximity if it wasn’t for that. The smell was truly horrendous. He thought he had a spare toothbrush somewhere, too.

He got the hang of the buckles, while Arthur stood still as a statue, while somehow still managing to look relaxed. He had to be used to it. Being king and having a lot of servants.

“You don’t have to scrunch your nose, Merlin. I’m aware of how I smell. I just grown used to it. When on war you don’t have many occasions to take a piss, and baths… are a luxury.” He took a deep breath and as the armour came of realised that he was smelling Merlin. “Which doesn’t seem to be the case with you Londoners. Are you always as fresh as daisies or I came just after your weekly bath time?”

Weekly… Okay, that was too weird even for Merlin. Though to be honest he didn’t smell his best - sweat and alcohol and all, but maybe in medieval times that was considered fresh as a daisy. Shit, maybe they should stop with it altogether.

“Alright, this part came off, will be alright with the… the rest?” Merlin made a motion with his hand at the… chainmail thingy, but Arthur gave him a wry smile.

“Yes, I can take my own trousers off, Merlin, thank you.”

“Then come on,” Merlin grumbled and lead him to the bathroom, trying to hide how warm his cheeks have become.

The water was now reaching about two thirds of the bath and the smell of lavender was prominent in the air. He turned off the faucet and made a tactical retreat when the heavy chainmail made a heavy thud as it fell off on the tiles, hopefully not breaking anything.

“Will you be alright by yourself? Great. I’ll make some sandwiches. You know where to find me. The towels are on the toilet bowl!” And then he closed the door shut and leaned his forehead on it with a sigh.

“Merlin?” Merlin jumped away from the door. “Don’t touch Excalibur, you might hurt yourself. And if you even think of stealing it, I will chop your head off with or without it.”

Then, without waiting for a response, Arthur sunk into a bath with a groan. Merlin covered his ears and run to the kitchen.

Excalibur as in… the sword? And Arthur as in… King Arthur? From the legends? Was he also named Pendragon or… Merlin quickly checked his phone and yep, everything fit, King Arthur Pendragon, Camelot, Excalibur.

Merlin sat on his plastic chair by the small square table and banged his head on it. It was just getting weirder and weirder. Could it be true? But even so, how? And why? And why Merlin? He was nothing special. He had a name of the famous sorcerer and people teased him about it all his life, but that’s it. He wasn’t… He didn’t have any magic in his life, as much as he dreamed about it, since he first read Harry Potter.

On the other hand sometimes… It was absolutely crazy, but sometimes a thing would happen - a perfect parking spot, the last one of his favourite scones in the bakery… It was just plain luck, but sometimes Merlin fancied himself more magic than lucky, because of his name. He thought he was crazy, but he had seen Arthur appearing into his living room. He’d seen it with his own two eyes.

He started to take out cheese and ham and he even found a tomato in the fridge. He took out some slices of bread.

He hoped it was a dream, you know. He would just go to sleep, wake up tomorrow and everything will be the same as it was that afternoon, the same as it was everyday. Merlin’s life was mostly consisted of routines, not much excitement to be had. Even the blokes he’s been with weren’t very good-looking or fit or exciting.

Then he almost sliced his finger off when he heard the bathroom door opening and a footsteps coming closer. “Hi, Arthur, sit here. Probably not what you’re used to, but... Why are you naked?”

And the thing was now that Arthur washed away all the grime and dirt and blood he was… The most beautiful man Merlin had ever seen. That square jaw and straight nose, and light eyes… And it was so unfair that Merlin couldn’t touch him it was like a physical blow. The breath of his shoulders was also unfair, and his bulging muscles. His hair was even lighter than he thought - it was a golden shade, the same colour was also on a sparse hair on his chest and legs and around his soft cock. There were so many scars on him, some faded and old and some new and angry red.

Merlin swallowed and looked up only to flush an ugly red colour, when those eyes met his and stayed there, looking perplexed.

“You said you will find me clothes, but I did not see any fitting ones in the basket. Why are you so red, Merlin? Do men in London shy away from each other’s bodies?”

And that was not something he was willing to get into, but Arthur had a commanding tone and Merlin found himself stumbling over his words, “It’s just very… intimate, to see the other person naked. Reserved for an, uhm, people that are close.”

Arthur looked genuinely interested. He planted his naked arse on the stool and started to eat. At least he had the decency to swallow before speaking again, “You said you don’t have servants in London. So who washes you, then? Or the royal wash themselves?”

“Everyone washes themselves here. There are no servants and everyone are equal. I mean we have a queen and whatnot, but they are also normal people, albeit a bit more reach than us simple peasants.”

Arthur nodded, eating his sandwich, while looking around the flat. It wasn’t anything impressive. Merlin was not the person to hoard things and he was relatively tidy. There was the fallen sofa, Excalibur leaning on it as Arthur left it, the pieces of armour strewn along the floor. Maybe he should’ve tidy up some before Arthur came out, but he was just too bloody tired.

Still, he made his way to his bedroom and found some gray sweatpants from his old boyfriend and a Nirvana t-shirt Gwaine left there ages ago and they both forgotten about it. He brought the clothes to Arthur, who was finished with all his sandwiches and even stole one of Merlin’s, the thief and was now standing in front of Merlin’s bookshelf. It was filled to the brim, and Arthur chose a book at random. Merlin knew very cover by heart and knew it was some old edition of Alice in Wonderland.

When he looked at Merlin, he was impressed. “So you can read.”

“What?” Merlin managed, didn’t know if to get offended or not by King Arthur thinking he was so stupid he was surprised when he learned Merlin actually could read and the books were there not only for display. “Of course I can read!”

Arthur put on the sweat pants quickly and frowned a bit at them for some reason. They rode really low on his hips, indecently low and Merlin tried not to let his eyes wander much.

“I just... “ Arthur seemed to be at a loss for words. “It’s just that not many peasants from where I come from are literate. Even some of the royal servants weren’t taught to do that. To be honest, some of the knights display a lack of ability to do so and aren’t interested in things like books.”

“Peasant?”

“Is that… a correct term?” Arthur wondered, looking at Merlin like he was a peculiar sort of creature. “How do you call incredibly poor people in your land?”

“I’m not that poor! How did you even…?”

Merlin didn’t come from a particularly wealthy family, but he managed to make something of himself, leave Ealdor and take a job as a kindergarten teacher at a public school, which allowed him to afford to live in a decent but small flat in the centre of London.

“Your clothes.”

“What?”

“Aren’t you cold in winter? You even don’t have any sleeves and your trousers are too tight.”

Merlin even forgot he wore those, but they weren’t that tight.

“Those are called skinny jeans. People wear them all the time!”

“Oh. Why? Aren’t you uncomfortable?”

“A bit, yeah. But that’s not the point! They flatter the shape of your legs.”

“So is anyone attracted to those spindly legs of yours, then?”

“Yes, and every bloke I’ve been with said my arse looks great!”

Arthur’s eyes widened. “So you’re a sodomite, then.”

Shit! Merlin just blurted out that… Did people get killed or whatever for liking it up the arse in medieval times? Or was it after? Shit, buggering fuck, and he thought they were starting to get along, even if the king was such a prat, he didn’t mean him any harm.

“You look scared. Don’t be. We do not speak of a congress between men, but it’s not uncommon to indulge oneself with other men, especially when there are no women or whores around and, that is to say… Is it forbidden in London?”

Merlin accepted it as a mean to cheer him up and he smiled, relieved. The last time he felt like that was when he came out to his friends only to learn they knew or suspected long before and accepted him for who he was.

But the last bit caught his attention and hope bloomed in his chest. He wondered if Arthur ever… At last he said, “No, no. We’re pretty liberal here… Well, not enough sometimes, but we’re getting there. I could even marry you if I wanted.”

Which was, evidently, not the right thing to say. Arthur gradually started becoming red in the face and the blush spread on his chest, which was still uncovered. He clutched a t-shirt in his hands.

“As in two men who love each other can marry, not me and you obviously. We should go to sleep.” Then he stopped and frowned.

He had only one bed.

[hobbitsnapes]

The heart of the Scout Regiment part 4

A mini Levi Ackerman story

Summary: Since the beginning of the survey corps, not one member has changed the group like she did, if only they knew, what one persons heart, could change them all.

A mini Levi Ackerman story

The sound of his pen scribbling against paper filled his ears as he wrote, his mind repeating each event from the previous day's events.

His eyes dried slightly, his fist raising to rub any exhaustion he felt, wishing for this day to just be over. Only a few short hours until the day passed and he could forget this day was ever a thing, until the coming year.

He dreaded this day each year, for as long as he could remember, a cold reminder that he’s growing older. He hardly thought about it for years, just thinking of it as just another day of the year, only to be reminded due to the holiday being celebrated the same day. But there was an upside to sharing the same birthday as Christ, he could easily evade any and all good wishes and happy birthdays due to everyone celebrating the joyous holiday.

Footsteps padded along the floor before the soft but firm sound of knocking broke his attention from the almost completed reports, his head lifting as the door opens.

“Levi?” Hange asked, her head peeking into his office. “Hm” he mumbled back, head leaning down again to continue his papers. She was one of the only people who remembered his birthday, always managing to wish the stoic man a happy birthday. “Come on down stairs,there’s something I gotta show you!”

With some persuasion from her part, one that took a good 5 minutes to convince him, he walked aside her as they walked down the eerily quiet halls and staircases.

“What exactly is it that you’re showing me?” He asked, eyes narrow as he looked at his mad friend. “You’ll see.”

“Hange, I swear if I walk in and see another tied up tit-“ before he could finish his words, his breath caught in his throat. His heart nearly beating out his chest as his eyes bulged out his skull, as the yell of the entire team erupted in the large room.

His eyes roamed around the room, his heart thumping wildly in his chest the longer he looked.

A large fire lit the usually chill and bleak room, creating a warm atmosphere that kissed each corner. A large table set filled with foods he hadn’t ever even seen before, different meats decorated with various vegetables and fruits that he had only thought the royals would have. And as if the room wasn’t filled enough, a large tree was placed at the end of the table, boxes that had been wrapped in dyed cloth and tied, completes it all.

With all the lavish gifts and people around him, all looking at him, only one thing rendered the soldier speechless.

It was as if she has fallen gracefully from the heavens, a mere dream to his eyes as she walked to him. It was as if she was from a vision, his eyes waiting to see her disappear from this vision into a great painting of how the angels looked as they sang around God.

But she never did, in fact, his heart nearly stopped beating as their arms wrapped around one another.

Her usually let down hair had been woven into a beautiful plat, stray curls falling out of the elegant style that framed her face beautifully. Her always bare but breathtaking face, lightly painted with a hint of rouge on her cheeks and lips, giving her face a soft flush that flowed under the fires, warm orange light.

And her usually, always uniform or soft linen attire, replaced with a beautiful soft white dress, the material soft under his weathered hands, feeling the heat from her body as he held her to him.

Her eyes looked into his, a soft smile adorning her face as she marveled at his still awestruck features. He watched as she broke her vision to look around the room, eyes back into his just as fast. “What do you think?” She asks, a soft chuckle leaving his lips. “I knew you were up to something brat, but this, you really outdid yourself”

Laughter boomed around the room as everyone enjoyed themselves, the warm atmosphere heightened with the delicious food they all helped make, but also with the help of the drinks that were in a small crate beside the table. Nobody but a few drank often, a rare occurrence for the usually stoic and somber team. But everyone, including the young cadets, partook in this one night of fun.

Levi laughed as he remembered the frightened look on the young teens face as they looked at the drinking adults, the always cautious Armin asking both Levi and Y/N if it would be alright, as none of them ever had a drop. “You guys lay your lives down to save humanity everytime you leave this castle,have a drink for once.” He laughed, his usually serious tone replaced with amusement and laughter.

Nearly everyone had more to drink than they thought, any care of the outside world far from their minds as they finally enjoyed one day of joy. It’s moments like these when even the ever vigilant captain let’s loose of their duties, and partakes in a celebration that he hadn’t done in years.

He had definitely drank more than he had first thought, telling himself to only have one as to not fully lose himself. While he wasn’t completely sloshed, he definitely was intoxicated enough.

He couldn’t help but laugh to himself, watching everyone losing themselves to the alcohol running through their systems.

Everyone who usually were distant, long empty looks in their eyes, filled with utmost joy as they played music. Some even danced, not a care in their minds about how they looked. Some looked as if they knew what they were doing, while others resembled the large beasts they fought daily as they laughed till their sides hurt.

While he definitely wasn’t as bad off as them, he could feel how different he was as well. Cracking jokes that he would only think of inside his mind, laughing at his comrades as they made fools out of themselves, he even couldn’t help but partake in their party antics.

It was a sight that one could only think of in their minds before him. Their always stoic commander Erwin, up with the makeshift band that consisted of some of the younger soldiers, belting out songs that he’d heard over his life.

Not many knew of his naturally God given voice, only a select few who listened closely could hear the quiet but strong man humming a tune by himself. But now, everyone was joined together dancing to his strong, baritone voice as it carried waves throughout the entire room, bouncing off of walls along with the joyous laughter and yells of everyone.

His heart skipped in his chest as he felt her hand on his, the warmth from her presence enclosing around him as they danced around the floors. Laughter kisses their faces due to the close proximity of them as they held one another close. Their feet uncoordinated but fluid danced together, laughing when one foot stepped on the others. But neither cared, not a care about anyone around them as the bubble they formed together.

“Having any regrets with your decision of having me dance?” As he was stepping on her foot for the utmost time. “Never.” She chuckled, as she brought her hand higher up his arm.

Laughter erupted from their mouths as they fell to the ground, hard pants replacing their usually calm breaths as they looked into one another’s eyes.

They couldn’t even think of how long both had danced for, only knowing the end when they went to spin, and crashed into one another, tumbling to the hard floor in a fit of laughter. Not a care for anyone who might be looking, as they still remained in the little world they created.

A looming sense of dread and despair blanketed the room as they readied themselves, a stark contrast to the night they had just 3 nights prior.

It was as if they knew something was to happen, before they even stepped foot outside the large castle they had grown to know as home. A large presence of uneasy filled each soldiers very being.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t be the only one who’s feeling like this is a bad idea.” Said Jean, the boy who was always known to speak his mind. “You’re not alone in that.” All eyes fell onto her, watching her hook her gear to herself as her eyes traveled the room. “I think I can speak for everyone when I say that we all feel that way dear, but it doesn’t matter. We all knew going into this job that the chance of us dying out there was going to happen each time we went out there. Hell, we’ve known it since we were young. But despite that, we all still go out there, each time we put our lives out to a cause. To save what’s left of humanity, to be able to live without fear, to be able to explore beyond the walls. It’s my mission to make sure everyone in this room gets to experience that to the best of my abilities.”

Hell, absolute hell they were experiencing. So many screams of pure heart wrenching terror and pain as many fell dead to the violent beasts as they ripped many to shreds.

It was as if they were actually hungry, not just killing for their joy. No, it was as if a deep, ravenous hunger lay inside them as they tore through so many.

Tears clouded her eyes as she flew through the air, screams of her heart shattering as she tried with all her might to save many, only to watch as the soldiers she grew to call family, be ripped apart as blood soaked the snow and others around them. Her heart had never felt the white hot, searing pain, only matched with when she found her family had fallen to the harsh being, known as death. Death surrounded her along with the horror as she tried saving many. Only managing to save a select few.

The roar of Eren kept her afloat, reminding her where she was and what her job was as she watched the boy she revered to as her son, tear through each titan in his way. She watched as his large green eyes that held a deep feral rage, look around the large trees in search of the much smaller beasts. Even at his enormous height, he was still able to watch out with pinpoint precision for others, a skill that even in his titan form could master overtime.

But now wasn’t the time to watch on proudly as the strides the young boy has made. No, now was the time she used her strength and speed to save others, a promise she still held high.

The harsh wind flew back her hair as she soared through the air, eyes locked on the 2 soldiers in front of her.

One was in the hands of a titan, screams of terror ripping from him, as his comrade fell to the ground.

A yell that battles the very beasts they were fighting ripped from her as she sliced through the beast's fingers, the scolding heat of its blood a stark contrast to the harsh winter air. A yell of pain ripped from the monster, not before another scout came from behind, slicing its nape as it fell to the ground.

Both her arms held the men as she brought them back up, her head hiding in acknowledgment as she flew through the air again, narrowly missing the thank you from both men.

A scream ripped out from a distance, a scream so distinct, it tore through her very being as it rang through her mind.

Levi was known as humanity’s greatest, known by many as the one perfect soldier. But even he wasn’t perfect, sometimes making mistakes that could cost him his life.

It was a scream of pain, not the same as the screams of tearing limbs that clouded her mind, but a deep pain that made all noises both around her and inside her mind come to a stop.

She knew, if she ever heard it, it was a situation that even scared him.

Her mind raced as she looked in front of her, many soldiers needing her help, but her heart called for her to help him.

Her eyes fell to one man, one man that she had been looking for.

“JEAN!” She screamed out, watching as his eyes fell onto her, watching as he flew himself over to her. “Jean, I need you to do this for me.” She panted. “What is it?” He asked, eyes locked onto her in worry. “I need you to take my place for now. Don’t focus on the Titans, focus only on saving the others. I need to go save Levi ” A look of worry flashed over the young boy's face, until he felt her cold to touch hand fall on his shoulder. “You can do it, I know you can, dear.”

And with that, he nodded to her as he watched her fly past him.

White hot pain shot through Levi’s leg, the blood soaking his pants as he held his hand over the gushing wound. The pain so intense it clouded him as he waited for death, knowing at any second, he would fall fate to the very beasts he had fought for a decade. Was this what hell was like? This searing pain along with a heavy feeling of dread and horror taking over your very soul as you wait for it all to go away?

His eyes shot from his leg to in front of him, as he felt the ground shake. Tears well up in his eyes as he locks eyes with the beast, all humanity gone from it as it’s cold eyes set on him.

It was as if it was only a second, but he felt a sense of hope, a spark inside him as he saw her fly in front of him, only to feel his heart rip from his chest as a scream tore its way out of him as the beast grabbed her, forcing her into its mouth.

Tears streamed down his cheeks, screams that hurt his throat. But neither his leg nor his throat came close to the world, bending pain in his heart as he watched as the one person he loved with his entire being, died right in front of him. Never had he felt the pain of watching the one person who lit his entire world, be gone so fast.

Time stopped, all that was around him left as he watched her emerge. A scream that only matched Erens ripped through her as she sliced through the beast's stomach, blood soaking her in entirety as she flew up its arm.

Never had he watched her in such a rage as she sliced through every inch of its body, until she reached its head, as she ripped through its nape as a war cry to defend those around her.

His eyes watched her as she flew to him, eyes locked on him as she grabbed him, slamming herself onto him as they narrowly were crushed by the fallen titan. Arms wrapped around one another as they panted, hearts pounding out their chests as they held one another. Again, all the horror around them was gone, as their arms enclosed around them.

Whenever there was a storm, it’s as if time is in a whirlwind of chaos that surrounds each person that’s on it. But when it’s ended, when the horror of that storm is over, time stops.

That’s the only way he could describe it, as he looks out the balcony into the dark night, snow now falling slowly as opposed to the bullets they felt that day. The horrors gone from their surroundings as they bask in the warmth of each other.

It was as if the love they shared was so strong, it reverberated out from inside as the warmth from both of them, distracted them from the cold winter air. Hearts feeling like they had wings inside them.

He couldn’t help but look at her, taking note of the new scars she wore from today. But even with the dried blood from cuts, the bruises that littered her skin, he couldn’t deny the glow of her skin, the sheer beauty that shone past all the horrors she’s faced, as the love from inside her glowed greater than a thousand suns.

Time slowed to a stop as her eyes looked into his, a small smile gracing both their faces. “I can’t believe you saved me today.” He mumbled, his breath hitting her face as they grew closer to one another. Whether it was intentional or the almost magnetic pull from both of them, they stand chest to chest as they looked into one another’s eyes. “Well, I’m glad I did, I can’t imagine the world without you Levi.” She whispered, his heart growing inside him. “And I can’t imagine what it’d be like without you.”

It was as if they could hear each other's thoughts, that their love evolved past the heart but to the soul as their lips enclosed around each other, tears pricking their eyes as the magnetic pull they felt doubled. Their arms wrapped around each other as their lips danced together, their very souls merging together as their hearts nearly stop from the force of their love, all memories of the past, every pain they felt in their time wiped clean as they basked in their own little world.

“Hey, mind passing me the pepper?” He let out a small chuckle as he grabbed it for her, only his laughter cut short as he felt her hand enclose around his, the warmth from her very being traveling up his arm and throughout his entire body, as he wrapped his hand around hers.

Yells of joy rose up around the room as everyone felt the utmost happiness they’ve felt in years, some even shedding tears as they watched the two people who loved each other beyond what was ever seen, held hands as their eyes look into one another’s, small smiles on their faces as they were again, in their own world.