#and maybe two smaller stones on the side?

[violentbirds]

So I added a side category to the Pinterest board I share with my partner. It’s got specifics on the type of engagement ring I want & examples. Do you think they’ll take the hint 😬👀

[luveline]

kisses before dinner — steve comes home to his girls after a long day. 2k, mom!reader

Steve has a back ache twinging between his shoulders that takes his breath away as he treks the last step up to the front door. The door gets caught on the latch when he pushes it open, which is awesome, Steve’s so glad you’re being safe late at night, but deplorable in that he has wood grain etched into his jaw and no way inside. 

“Girls?” He knocks the glass pane. “Anybody home?” 

Everyone should be home. Your car is in the driveway, the girls’ shoes are by the wall. He pushes the door open as far as he can (not far) and weasels his face into the gap to look for you. It’s dark besides the upstairs bathroom light. 

Steve calls your name a few times, but eventually comes to the realisation that you’re all asleep and he’s locked out. He closes the door and heads back to his car to scrounge the spare back door key from under his seat. 

He fights through the garden gate covered in brambles to the backyard. It hasn’t been touched since summer, forgotten things left to the elements. Avery’s bike flakes with copper coloured rust against the wall. The trampoline net is tangled and fallen off of one side. There are plastic cups in the stinging nettles growing back beneath it and gummy bears swollen with water along the paving stones like some poor retelling of Hansel and Gretel. He unlocks the back door and promptly knocks over the trash can he’d left in front of it. His back whines as he cleans it away, but at least it’s warm inside. 

It’s good to be home. 

He shoves the toppled garbage back into the can, washes tomato sauce off of his hands in the sink, and lets himself bask in his own poorly lit company for a moment, rubbing his tired eyes. He was hoping for a welcome party. It took longer to help Robin move than they’d anticipated. 

“I won’t be back for a while,” he’d said apologetically down the phone. 

“Okie dokie,” you’d crooned. He didn’t need to see you to know there was a baby in your lap. “Just come home when you can, babe. And lift with your knees! I’ll put your plate in the fridge, yes? Love you.” Your voice turned to sugar. “Love you, love you, love you, honey.” You definitely weren’t talking to him at that point. Mother of my kids, he’d thought reverently, the strength of a thousand men restored for an hour or two before the fatigue truly set in and he and Robin considered leaving the rest of her furniture on her new front lawn.

He scratches his hair from his eyes with both hands. Mother of my kids, he thinks again. You’ve actually managed to keep the kitchen tidy, the only evidence of a day of play being the grape juice rings on the dining table placemats. How the fuck you’ve done it is a miracle worth marvelling. Three children, one (admittedly smaller) baby bump, and a full eighteen hours by yourself. You’re very impressive. 

He decides to tell you emphatically with his face in your neck. He should shower, and he will apologise to you for subjecting you to his sweaty hair in the morning. You’ll shrug off his apology, say something sweet about for better or worse or maybe wrinkle your nose and kiss him anyways. 

Steve honestly can’t find any shame about how much he likes you. Like and love can begin to diverge in a marriage, especially after kids when your duty as parents is more important than it is as partners, but you’ve yet to let him pull away, and he won’t give you a reason to. He’ll keep trying as hard as possible to be a husband you can adore. And you don’t have to do much, really. Realistically you give the majority of yourself every day to Steve and your kids, but he would cling to you if you got sick of it. He knows he would. You could turn hermit and live under the bed, and Steve would spend half his life on his stomach just looking at you.

Half trying to pull you out again. The other half getting the girls ready for school. He’s so tired he doesn’t realise that this is too many halves. 

When he gets to the top of the stairs he feels like a lifetime has passed since he left that morning, bright and early at 5AM. There’d been driving, car swaps, booing at people from behind the wheel, a hundred boxes, a million trips up and down the stairs, and a suspicious washing machine recalibration. This was without the cold coke drinking, peanuts, popcorn, mistimed movie references, and the obligatory insulting of Robin’s girlfriend’s mauve chaise, of which Robin refused to participate. 

Between all that, there’d been worrying, and a want for more phone calls. Promise me you’ll call me if you need anything at all, he’d said that morning, giving your face a fond caress. There’s a confidence that comes with this much love. Steve can pour every inch of his affection for you into one touch and knows you’ll soak it up like a sponge. Really. Any problems, any stress, any tantrums. Just call me. I’m ten minutes away. 

You were grateful if amused, telling him he didn’t need to worry so much, and then offering him another slice of toast. 

Is it weird how much I love my wife? he wonders, pushing open the bedroom door gently. 

You’re actually awake! He’s shocked and a little betrayed to find you looking at him, but the betrayal fades when he notices the swelling around your eyes and your trembling arm as you hoist yourself up under Avery’s weight. He’s woken you up coming in. 

“Sorry,” he mouths, frowning at your shakiness. 

You manage a smile and beckon him forward. The problem is the little ladies strewn about in the way. Avery drools on your chest while Dove takes up the entirety of Steve’s side, spread into a star shape, and Bethie snores loudly by your knees. An especially aggressive one makes him laugh as he rounds the bed to your side. 

“Hello,” he whispers, taking your face into a loving hand, “sorry I’m back so late.” 

You smile into his palm but don’t say anything. 

“You okay? Had a good day?” he asks.

You hum something nonsensical. He wipes at your cheek in the rough way you enjoy, your face bumped with every stroke of his thumb.

“Did you…”  Your eyelashes flutter closed. “Did you eat?” 

“Loads. Sorry. I’ll eat my dinner tomorrow.”

You wrinkle your nose. He’s been dying to see it. “Don’t bother, it wasn’t my best.”

“All dinners are your best.” 

You cover his hand with yours, and then you steal it away from your cheek and kiss it all over. Steve bends down to hug you.

“Missed you,” you say at the same time. Steve laughs. “Was it a long day?” you ask. 

“I could ask you the same thing.” 

“It was aeons,” you say. “The girls were good, mostly. Baby not so much.” 

“Aw, no,” he croons softly, “what’s she been doing?” 

“She won’t let me eat.” 

Steve rubs the top of your arm. “I’m sorry, honey. You should’ve called me.” 

“What are you gonna do, H?”

He breathes out into the side of your face. “You’re right, like always. What can I do?” 

He can’t do a thing to ease your morning sickness, so… Steve ends up taking a knee on the bed beside you to hold you for a while, no rush to lay down even though he aches in strings and shouts. “I’m glad I can’t get pregnant. I’d have hundreds of your babies if I could and it would be torture.” 

You laugh at his absurdity in the giggly startled way he’d been hoping for. 

“Did you throw up?” he asks, pulling away enough to see your face while his hand starts the soft journey down your front to your bump. You’re about three months along and the bump came quickly. It’s cute and Steve loves it and he tries not to be weird about it but he’s weird about you. 

“No, just kept churning. I made eggs for breakfast and we can’t eat them anymore.” 

Steve kisses your cheek, the corner of your eye, knowing it’ll make you happy. Your smile follows swiftly after, and he kisses that with gusto. “I don’t even like eggs,” he mumbles.

“You love eggs.” 

“What was it like being the stay at home mom today?” he asks. 

“Hard. But fun. Avery was being really nice to me all day, did you have something to do with that?” 

“Avery’s always nice.” 

Your smile widens impossibly, “Yeah, but she was asking me if I wanted to sit down and if I needed a glass of water all day.” 

Steve shrugs. “Doesn’t sound like something I’d do.” 

“Well don’t do it again, H. She’s just a baby. She doesn’t need to worry about me.” 

Steve strokes your forehead, totally in your orbit. “She’s not worrying. Are you worrying about her when you take care of her? And sometimes you need a reminder.” 

You chew it over. “Okay… you’re right. You win that one, Harrington. Mostly ‘cos I’m too tired.”

Steve always wins when he gets to slide into bed next to you. You push yourself over and bunch the kids up tighter. There’s not quite enough room for him. He feels as though he’s one little legged kick from falling back out, but he doesn’t mind, wrapping an arm around you and Avery where she’s sliding off of you and onto the mattress between you both. The poor girl is in a deep sleep, dribbling from the corner of her mouth. Steve wipes it away. 

“You comfortable enough?” he asks. 

“I’m fine. Thank you for asking.” 

He rests his head against yours on the pillows. “Missed you.” 

“But you had fun, right?” 

“It was great. I feel like I ran a marathon.” 

“Exhausted?” you ask. 

“And accomplished… You sure you’re okay? It was a long day by yourself. That stunt you pulled in the kitchen? Incredible.” 

“I thought you’d like that. I told the girls you’d buy them a pony.” 

“You did not.” 

You laugh into his cheek. “No, I didn't, you caught me… I’m fine, really. I did miss you. It’s not nice, not seeing you. I’m used to a couple of hours, but it started feeling wrong when it was dark out, I… it’s silly but I was thinking about how horrible it would be if you never came back–”

Your pitch lifts up as Steve gasps and slaps a hand over your mouth (doesn’t slap, but covers, big hand on your lips and pressing them shut without sympathy). 

“Don’t be ridiculous.” He meets your eyes, smiling hard despite the fatigue clinging to you both, and doesn’t buckle, even as you kiss his palm again. “Pregnancy brain is a scary thing.” 

Your eyes turn to melting. He’s putty immediately, pulling your hand away to caress your cheek. 

“Wanna be crazy in love in the morning?” he asks gently. You put your arm behind Avery’s back and smile as she snuggles into your ribs. Steve kisses your nose. “Go to sleep, honey. I can feel how tired you are. Back to normal in the morning.” 

“Love you, Steve.” 

“Love you, too.”

[nightynightghoul]

I have so many thoughts about the ghouls and the ministry.

So this is my take on what the abbey/ministry looks like + a lot of my own worldbuilding. (I made this in Inkarnate, which is meant for dnd maps and stuff.)

Be warned that this is like 2000+ words of what my head has come up with. So under the cut it goes.

I based it on actual abbeys. I've been to like two monk ones and a few convents where I live and abroad and this is what I came up with. I also attended a catholic nun school for a good while, so many of the things here are actually from my memories...

From what I've seen, abbeys are usually isolated and at least partially self-sufficient. Even when they happen to be in the middle of cities. The smaller ones are like a square corridor surrounding a courtyard and the bigger ones have many buildings with that pattern.

I'm not sure where this would be located, maybe Sweden, maybe the US. But since I Imagine the ministry being so old, it wouldn't fit in the US, since there aren't buildings this old or with this architecture.

I also read up on how abbeys work to bulk up the lore in this map and what goes on in the buildings.

So strap in because this will be long.

The biggest building in the abbey is the Grand Church (Ghurch), I headcannon that they have this very big beautiful sorta gothic style cathedral in the abbey grounds, since religious live does kinda go around services and all that. Them having this pretty church would also mean that there's no need for a chapel?

I also think ghouls are not summoned in the church proper but rather from a permanent circle/well. So there's the Summoning Well beside the church. They probably made it that way because it would be dangerous to have any sibling walking in there.

To the other side, there's a sacristy and a Papal Office. The sacristy is where Papa would have his ceremonial robes with his mitre and stuff. I also think it works as storage for service supplies. Things like incense, books, all the plates, cups, and things they would use.

Then the papal office would be the actual workplace for the current papa. Big ol wooden desk with lots of bookshelves, a sofa, probably one of those fancy liquor carts?

There's also a mausoleum close to the church. I mean, I needed a place to keep Nihil's corpse… But it'd be pretty useful to keep the memory of siblings that pass away in the abbey.

Under that are the Clerical buildings. I imagine that when people say “the ministry” it's the Clergy Offices they're talking about. Since most siblings/clergy spend their time within the abbey, it only seems logical to separate living spaces from working spaces to keep people moving and changing environments.

Since I also believe these buildings are super old then the most sought after and fancy offices and quarters would be on the ground floor (no elevator and all that). Which means Imperator probably has her office on the ground floor here along the past Papas and older clergy members.

The living quarters would be much the same in that Imperator, the Papas and now Copia have their rooms here. This building probably has a common room but most have their own kitchenette. Since it's such an old building, the interiors of the rooms have probably been remodelled many times. But it being built out of stone also means it's cold inside all the time.

Both buildings are inside a walled garden. I head cannon that way back, like a couple hundred years back the ministry didn't have a very good grasp of ghoul summoning, and they were sometimes more aggressive or feral than what they are now. (It's probably more of a case that in the olden times, clergy treated ghouls like shit, so they had more reasons to lash out and or kill someone) So they kept some of the abbey's buildings behind tall rock walls and wrought iron gates to add a little more protection. Since it's hardly necessary today, the gates stay open, but the walls are still there.

Then down the path there's the chapter house. What is a chapter house I hear you ask. It's the place where the people that live in the abbey talk and manage non religious things related to abbey life. So this would probably be where poor Aether get's relocated to do taxes and where other mundane office tasks are done. So accounting, admin work, grounds keeping and “housekeeping” are all located here.

Across from it is the Seminary. A seminary proper is like priest school, they go and study for a few years I think, and then they come out priests. But I imagine that in this case it's like a college/university thing, where siblings have Latin classes, horticulture, demonology etc... There's probably some teachers offices here and several classrooms raging in size from auditorium to 3 chairs and a letter sized whiteboard. It for sure has a pretty foyer thing. Imagine groups of siblings sitting around before or after classes, complaining how they thought Terzo's basic Latin class would be a breeze, but it's actual hell. This building has one of those pretty inner courtyards, fountain and all. I'd like to think some classes can be held there, like outside but not outside, you know?

Beside the Seminary, there's a school/nursery. I think couples that have children within the ministry can have the option to move into a bigger space together within the siblings quarters and their children will have a regular secular education until they are old enough to choose satanism or something else. The nursery part takes care of the babies and ghoul kits during the day or while the parents are busy.

I think joining the ministry and becoming a sibling is not something that happens easily or quickly. The same way, nuns spend a few years being novices before actually dressing and having the same responsibilities as their elders. Hence, the Novices Quarters. They are still part of the abbey's daily life, but they have to attend more classes at the seminary and are just a bit more separated from ghouls than regular siblings. Since they probably want to make sure they are really devout and prepared before seeing and interacting with an actual demon. Out of all the siblings and clergy, Novices would probably be closer to being actually “recluse” since in my head there's no way they can freely explore the abbey without accidentally running into a ghoul or walking in to a ritual or seeing things that shouldn't just yet.

In front of it are the workshops. I've seen some people headcannon that the ghouls not only have “jobs” in their downtime and retirement but also hobbies. Like fire, ghouls probably frequent the forge in the workshops or blow glass. Earth ghouls can maybe take the prettiest wood here to be turned into furniture. Ghouls and siblings would work together here to repair and maintain the abbey's physical structure.

Down the path there's the main storehouse. Pretty central in relation to the other buldings. It has 2 floors and a basement. That way they can keep everything, from ageing cheeses and wines to office supplies and staples.

Across the path there's the sibling's Infirmary. I definitely wanted to keep the ghouls and siblings apart in this case. Mainly, because if the building are so old, and they were protected by walls and gates, ghouls would most likely not be trusted to be left in the same building as sick and defenseless siblings. But I think that nowadays ghoul medical staff like Omega, Aether and Phantom work in between the “sibling” infirmary and the “ghoul” infirmary with no trouble. But ghouls do prefer to stay in their own infirmary, since it's closer to the dens.

The siblings quarters surround “Mother's garden” or “Lilith's garden”, both wings share a common room but since the buildings are so old they were built to segregate women from men. Hence, the two quarters wings, two office building and two distinct baths. This separation is ignored nowadays. One, people can have other genders. Two, the “sisters” side has been remodelled to accommodate families.

Like I mentioned when describing the siblings infirmary, there's also a ghoul infirmary. Much smaller and closer to the dens, this infirmary does not have much regarding sophisticated equipment. But it's rather used for minor injuries and easy to fix things. Although the second floor does have Omega's office and private rooms for ghouls. Like Dew (not me making a whole building to be able to imagine @littlemoon-beam fics and headcannons about Dewdrop) who's a frequent flyer of the infirmary.

Of course there has to be an outdoor space of recreation, so I made a “central” plaza with benches and a fountain in the middle (Is this where a high, zooted of his ass Rain has been seen naked? naaaah. Surely not). I called it “All hedonist's fountain” because I can and because it's a nice mirror to things called “All saints whatever”.

Behind the ghoul's infirmary, there's a huge stone wall and gate. That would be the dens. Since I headcannon that there are more ghouls than just the band ghouls, they also need a place to live. Hence, the “General quarters” of the dens, there's also the “band quarters” separated from it. They both share a common room, but they're not directly connected to it, and both buildings have their own little common room. I think the band quarters was the first building made to house ghouls and that's why it has it's own kitchen.

There's also the ghouls workrooms. I think this is where they would have a rehearsal room and other offices.

“Father's gardens”, “Lucifer's gardens” or more recently “Primo's gardens” are within the den's stone walls. (I like to think Primo keeps them all pretty for the ghouls). It has a little pond in it too, no fish though. Blame hungry water ghouls for that.

Across the dens there's the Library. When I was in school, that was the biggest, grandest, most secular place there was and I loved it. So I made this library huge. I separated it into two wings connected by a hall. The only difference between both wings is that the east wing houses all the older books, and it probably has a “restricted” section that only higher clergy members have access to. Maybe for the better, since they wouldn't want a curious sibling trying to summon lord Leviathan and pissing him off.

In the middle of the wings there's the scribes hall. I'd like to think that when people write ghouls working in the library this would be the place. They would probably have book binding equipment, scribes tables, the whole thing. All to maintain the old books in a usable state and register new information the clergy learns from hell.

By the library's east wing, there's "The observatory". Again included because my head needed a scenario and location for the quints to watch the stars. I'd say its a fairly tall tower with a glass dome, some furniture, some books, maybe a desk and telescopes.

There is of course a mess hall. I imagne a big kitchen on one side and a cafeteria like thing where most have their meals, or at least they can go get them to take to another place in the abbey.

Beside it there's a pretty herb garden, animal pastures, some crops, a barn, granary , mill and the greenhouses. I think it was @mac-and-thefox who came up with the idea of there being a farm like think within the abbey and my mind just ran with it. (Do correct me if I'm worng there).

Now there's only one more man made bulding in the map and that would be "Mountain's greenhouse". A true staple for ghost fanfics. It probably was a run down space abandoned by groundskeeping but Mountain wanted privacy + plants and everyone agreed he could do whatever with the little building. Not that Imperator needs to know that Mountain grows weed and hellish plants inside...

The whole eastern side of the abbey is flaked by a forest (ghouls need to have hunting grounds people.) In it there's Mountain's greenhouse, a small rocky hill "Starry hill" and under it a small grotto. More like a hole the water made within the stone, so it's now a tiny cave.

Of course I had to have "The Lake", or else this map would not fit any fanfic involving Rain and Dew. There's a small stream that crosses the abbey and ends up at the lake. Most siblings know to stay away.

The "Southern Clearing". A little clearing full of clover and flowers, a nice place for siblings to celebrate the solstices and equinoxes.

Finally, just beside the Summoning well there's a rocky hill with an old wrought iron door closing it off. I headcannon there are indeed tunnels and crypts running under the abbey but they're closed off now since they're dangerous. Doesn't mean the ghouls don't have a way to go in and out but it's still dangerous for humans. I think the more elusive ghouls, like Special and Cowbell stay here because they want the isolation. There absolutely are old abbandoned torture and sacrifice rooms down here. But modern siblings don't need to know that. (Also, I very much think old ghouls before Nihil and way back were not only not treated nicely or fairly but straight up chained or tortured sometimes. (I'm still in the air on the fact that Imperator knows this and threatens misbehaving ghouls with that along with banishment.)

[eupheme]

— clean slate [into the fire, part v]

part i | part ii | part iii | part iv | masterlist

cooper howard / the ghoul x f!reader

rated e - 4k

tags: dubcon, power dynamics, vault dweller!reader, bounty hunting, sex for favors, sub/dom elements, canon-typical descriptive violence and death, references to blood/gore, anti-ghoul sentiments, physical violence against reader, hurt/comfort, kissing

a/n: please mind the tags! this chapter got twice as long as the others (maybe I didn't want it to end, haha!) and there was a good break, so to keep things consistent, I am splitting it in half! both are being posted today though, so you don't have to wait 💖

Always said he did this shit for the love of the game. But this time - he thinks - it might just be personal.

(or - they took something from the Ghoul, and he’s here to collect)

The afternoon edges into night, and he tells himself each hour is the last one he'll think about you.

The Ghoul had waited for you to look back. Stock-still in the swirling dust that bit at his skin. A white-knuckled grip around the thick coil of rope. 

You hadn’t. 

His hand still reaches to scrubs at his neck, his jaw. To wipe you away or rub you in, he’s not sure. 

It doesn't fucking matter. 

He's stuck around a long time. Enough to see generations of families grow old and then die. The last few weeks are no more than a blip, in his far too-long life.

Hell - he's spent more time underground, than with you. 

But something prickles at him. Lingering like a bad trip, leaving his teeth clenching and jaw aching as he finishes out the bounty.

It's messy. 

It shouldn't have been. Should have been easy - but he's aching for a fight, something to take his mind off things. He's antagonistic. 

Could've finished everything up from afar, but he ends up in close range. Another scar marring his chest, new splatters streaked across his dark coat. 

It aches, a deep bruise as it heals. 

Still only slightly dulling the itch of irritation.

I haven't lied about anything.  

Didn’t last night mean anything to you?

It's sometime the next morning, after a night of a starless sky closing in around him, that he gives in. 

Heading the way you went without thought, and when he does notice, he tells himself it's only because he needs more chems. That it’d be a shame to lose a supplier as good as you. 

That it's easier, for both of you to stick together. 

Maybe that's why he was careless. Knowing deep down, it would be easier to find a corpse later than to haul around a bounty, kicking and screaming.

The small sliver left of another man, from  another life, knows he was cruel. That anger had turned him into a viper. Had always been good at striking first. Self-preservation beaten into him after two-hundred years - an old, festering wound. 

He doesn’t know how to apologize anymore, but he can already think of a few ways to distract you. 

Maybe you’ll forget completely, if he's thorough. 

The Ghoul is faster than you are. Needs less rest, less food. Has already plotted just how far you can get in a day. Your footprints faded as packed earth leads to woods, but you’re not the type to wander, and there's only a few settlements in the miles ahead. 

Halfway to his destination, when his eyes snag on a patch of rocks. A broken bits of branches on the trees just before it. There's something smeared across the stone - tasting like iron, when the tip of a finger brings it to his tongue.

Something ancient twists in his stomach, awakening from a slumber. 

Backing up, he's able to piece together the struggle. Seeing the flattened grass, the heavy boot prints, melding with the smaller ones. 

Finding a body, fallen off to the side - angling off the rock with the stain. Something familiar about the look of him.

A boot sinks into their side, rolling them over. A curl of a lip - he recognizes them. One of the two bounty hunters they’d fun into. 

He had hated their eyes on you when they blew through that town.

Something had prickled at him then, but he had ignored it. A grit of his jaw - should’ve dealt with both of them. 

There’s a hole in their head - red spilling down their neck, still tacky to the touch. A clean, close shot. His finger sinks in the wound, the same size as your 10mm. 

"Good girl." The Ghoul murmurs. 

The slightest ease of the knot in his chest.

A crunch of glass beneath his feet, the glint of the sun catching the needle. Another shape he knows well - a syringe. Probably a tranquilizer.

Three meeting one, with three leaving. The dead weight of you weighing down their steps, the footprints pressing heavily into the earth.

Easy enough for him to follow, as he slings his gun free. 

Always said he did this shit for the love of the game.

But this time - he thinks - it might just be personal.

Despite being back among faces you knew, fear had been your only companion since the meeting in the forest. 

Hazy memories flicker through your mind. Being dragged, snippets of light and the heat of a fire. The bright sear of dawn, and the dry embrace of the desert again. 

Waking to the feeling of your arms being wrenched above your head. Coming to, hissing and spitting. Nails catching the face of one of them - Baine, you think - his fist cracking down hard against your cheek in retaliation.

Leaving you dazed, as your wrists were caught again - bound in place. A cruel curl of a lip, as they examined you like a brahmin.

“You look like a Wastelander”. It’s spit out, a wet mark against the floor, “We’ll get you back where you belong soon enough.”

You’re not sure how much time has passed. A day, maybe. Hunger gnaws at you - only a small sliver of comfort in the dried meat and fruit tossed your way. 

Axton, the head of the Reclaimers - those who were tasked with bringing people back - had grown up with you. At one time, was perhaps even more than that. A distant relation of the current Overseers, his blood too thinned out to be of use - but even he won’t look you in the eye. 

You both know how this will go, when you get back home. 

Hope drains from you, with each hour. Eating away at the little flicker of hope in your chest, wrapped tightly around your heart. 

Maybe he’d show. 

But despair clouded your thoughts, soon after. 

“You get hurt doing some stupid shit, and I’m leavin’ you behind.”

“You're a goddamn fool if you think I hadn’t been planning on turnin' you in the first chance I get."

Maybe he’d been truthful all along, and you hadn’t listened. Read into all those small moments, weaving them together until they had made something tangible.

The looks, stolen breaths and almost-careful touches. All fleeting, but you had caught them. Holding them close to your heart. 

But life isn’t like the holotapes you grew up, back when everything felt safe.

There aren’t cowboys anymore. No heroes on horses - with their silver spurs and a shining, golden badge. 

No one was coming for you. 

The footprints die out, as the bleached trees grow thin. 

Tall grass to packed dirt, dried by the sun. Rolling hills and then mountains, scraping against the horizon. The dipping sun casts him in a red light that bleeds to black at his ankles, his shadow stretching back long and lean behind him.

But these roads aren't wholly unknown to him. 

Spent time blowing through Junktown and The Hub, a couple dozen miles away. The memory hazy, but there weren't too many places folk could stay, once the sun went down and everything wild and unruly came crawling out.

A feeling in his gut has him stopping two miles down the road. A half-dug quarry, long abandoned even before the world went to hell. Threadbare railings and platforms held together with spit and a prayer, framing the rusted building that cuts into the stone walls. 

The tip of his boot taps a loose rock, sending it off the edge. Head cocked as he thinks, until he hears the faintest clatter a hundred feet below. 

Two-hundred years ago, he had stood on a ledge much like this. Valley of the Gun. The final shootout had his guns lost in the dust. Fist-fighting with the leader of the gang, until they both near tumbled off the edge together.

Honorable, in the way he had caught the man's hand. Tried to haul him up, but had to let go when a knife was pulled - keeping him the hero. A satisfying death that wasn't his fault, a way to keep his conscience. 

All movie tricks. Angles and the implication of falling, as the camera focused on his face that swam with regret. 

Comin' after a girl then, too. 

Thinks that's why the old memory has loosened in his mind. 

Funny how things can change, but the bones remain. How he's still drawn back to life he's left far behind. Even if his conscience was buried, a long time ago. 

Some things linger. He could go down. Take one of those ladders, work his way through the tunnels that are sure to wind through the limestone, and up through the back. 

But he's never much liked being underground. 

Another second of considering, before he's heading for the front door.

He used to like a script, but that was back in the day when the worst thing that could happen was a box-office bomb, not the hell he's been dragged through. 

A half-cocked plan already forming. Twisting that connection between them, his own abandoned contract. Get him through the front door and to the man in charge at least, and that might be all he needs. Let years of instinct take over, after that. 

Had already gotten a good look at a couple of them, when he first picked up the bounty. It had made him curious - why there was so much fuss, over so small a thing. Easy caps, he decided, when he had gotten a look at you. 

Picking up that their brutality had been learned from sharpening their teeth against a silver spoon. Hardy - compared to some Wastelanders - with their filling meals and their pristine weapons. 

But they sure as hell don't have the same grit as one.

Not much of anything, really, when compared to him.

The door opens with the push of his shoulder. Hand beneath the swirl of his coat, finger already fixed on the trigger. Not far in until he’s running into one of them - another Vaultie.

The man startles, wide-eyed when he sees him. Green, in his shades of blue and yellow. 

“Here ‘bout a job.” The Ghoul keeps his voice light, in spite of everything.

Knows they’re keeping you alive for someone else, as much as that makes his jaw clench. No need to go rushing in just yet. 

A flicker of recognition, as the man frowns, “How’d you find us?”

His head tilts, that smooth drawl slipping in, “Wouldn’t be much of a Bounty Hunter if I couldn’t, now, would I?”

The Vault Dweller’s eyes are fixed on his face, that familiar look of fear and disgust - dipping down to the pocket of his nose, the curling smile of yellowed teeth. 

It’s strange how foreign it feels, after the hours spent with you looking at him so differently. 

Maybe he’d been a fool, after all. 

Maybe it’s more than your tight cunt that he wants to bury himself in, to claim. Something soft, bitten back behind his teeth. Something he doesn’t even know if he has a name for, anymore.

Something he didn’t know he needed , until he had chased both it and you away. 

“We’ve already got her.” The man manages, after thinking it over, “Don’t think we need your services anymore.”

There’s another flash of teeth at the confirmation. 

“Agreement was to find her. And who do you think rustled her up?” His brow lifts, “Would’ve been half-way to New Reno by now, if I hadn’t herded her your way.”

That sharp edge creeping in, “Think my time’s worth a little somethin ’. Don’t you?”

It’s easy for the guard to leave that decision to someone else. Standing aside, to let him pass.

“Thank you kindly.” The Ghoul tips his hat, a swirl of his coat as he passes. 

Taking just enough steps past them, waiting until the man’s back turns. Spinning on his heel, after. 

The knife glints between his fingers as he twirls it. A hand pressing over the Vault Dweller’s mouth, before the blade sinks into their neck. 

Muffling the dying gurgle. A grunt as the Ghoul yanks the blade free - leaving the body crumpled in the shadows, as he winds deeper.

One down. 

Hold on , he thinks.

I’m coming.  

His whistle echoes in the chamber. 

Half old-world - a long-forgotten leitmotif that fuses with new notes of his own. A part to play until he doesn't, letting the Ghoul guide him. 

Down the half-lit hallway, the lights flickering overhead from the ancient generator. Everything picked clean like he figured it would be - every last piece of scrap ferreted away, leaving only dusty crates behind.

Still playing the part, as the low murmur of voices grows louder. Ears pricking up, listening for hers. Picking out at least three or four others from the layered hum.

A sneer, at the number. He’s faced worse odds. It’s in his favor really - take out as many fuckers as he can. Send bits and pieces of them back.

His intentions masked, an old habit, by the time he enters the warehouse. A wide steel grate floor, opening up to a second level below, scattered with old machinery. 

There’s a table. Cards littering the top - a luxury brought from the Vault, as they bet using caps. Couple Vault Dwellers and that Wasteland son of a bitch from the town. Four total, one lounging on a sleeping pack as if it’s just another night, and they weren’t bringing you to your death. 

It rankles him, teeth set on edge. 

A scrape of chair legs on the floor, at the drawling condescension of his voice. 

“Ain’t y’all a little old for a sleepover?”

Hands rest on holsters, but they don’t draw. The Ghoul focuses on one - a face he recognizes, the one who had sought him out.

The man’s legs spread, as if he’s got something worthwhile between them. The leader of this whole operation. Axton , or some shit like that - it hadn’t been worth his time to remember. 

“Believe you fellas got somethin’ of mine.” The Ghoul drawls, “I’m here to collect.”

There’s a pause at that. 

One of them, a right-hand man by the look of their padded leather armor - not a scratch on it - scowls. A face that tells another story. Pink marks start at their cheek, jagged lines that end at a thick neck. 

His eyes narrow at that, lip curling. A flicker of unease in his belly - fingers clenching where they rest against his hips, close enough to draw.

“You’re too late for payment, ghoul. Heard you were dragging your feet.” His head tilts, towards the Wastelander who had gone still, “We went and got her ourselves.”

The Ghoul grins - a fierce thing, with a flash of teeth. A lilt, in his voice. 

“Now, what makes you think I’m here for caps?”

It gives them pause. His question - the prospect of a ghoul showing up, unannounced.

“What else you here for?” Another grunts - eyes already back on his cards, a comfort in their numbers. 

“Think you know.”

“The girl?” Atmos laughs, and the sound is cruel, “Heard she split from you. Caught her after.”

A tilt of his head towards the armored man and the Wastelander. Taunting then, “Must not be that good, if you let her slip away. What, she get tired of looking at your ugly mug?”

If they only knew the kind of things he’d done to you. What you had done to him, right back. 

The Ghoul is only half-paying attention. Sticks and stones, all their insults falling on deaf ears. Too busy with eyes that flick over the top floor. Then down to the ground below.

Something flipping inside his guts, when he sees it. Cast in shadow near the base of the stairs, but his eyesight is keener than it’s ever been. 

Arms bound, the knot looped around the hook of an overturned crane. A raw, split mark - swollen and bruised flesh - on the curve of a smooth cheek. Just above where your teeth cut into a piece of cloth, tied tightly around to gag you. 

A tilt of your head, and then your eyes are meeting his. Round and blank with fear. Widening, when you see him. 

His girl.

Muscles string tight, eyes narrowed as his teeth clench. You’d paid for what you did, and he’d be there to return the favor. 

His gaze snaps back, and focuses. Whatever plan he had been working up burns, turning to ash. 

“Always heard that beauty was in the eye of the beholder.” The Ghoul’s tone is conversational - although his blood boils, scalding hot, “But if you wanna see an ugly fucker , well… you best look right there.”

There’s a nod of his head, towards the man in charge. As if on cue, their heads twist to look - just as he draws, and then fires. 

The Vault Dweller’s head caves in. Gore splattering against the blue of his suit. Barely a breath before his finger is tugging again, a bullet going through the chest of a second. 

Always too goddamn slow.  

Hesitant to take a life, even with their bravado. 

Something that molted from his skin with the rest of him, over a century ago. He’s already reaching for the gun holstered at his shoulder before return shots are fired. 

He can feel the flicker of something miss him, before he’s charging. Ducking under the swing of a knife, the muzzle pressed against ribs.

A hoarse shout that is drawn out by the ringing blast. The knife caught and sent spinning into the back of the Wastelander, heading towards the door. 

Flinching, as something slams into his shoulder, just shy of his collarbone, and out the other side. The turn of a head - an eye fixed on the last man standing.

Padded armor won’t do much to stop him. 

“That your handiwork?” The Ghoul growls, as his head tips towards you.

The man's finger twitches but he’s faster - a shot going into the meat of their thigh. Downing them as they scream, as the Ghoul saunters over to tug the hilt from where he’s buried it in the Wastlander’s back. 

It glints a gleaming red in the light, as he adjusts his grip. Eyeing the scripted tattoos that cross over the man’s knuckles - as they grip at their thigh, near-tenderized from the blast. 

Ones that had struck you. Could send them back, spelling out something obscene. A rough laugh at the thought. 

He’s got someone waiting for him. But, he knows from experience…

That this won’t take too long. 

In the hours since you parted, it’s only now that you can breathe.

For a long moment, you hadn’t dared believe. Eyes drawn to the noise above - the loud pitch of voices. 

One of them - rough and low - draws your attention. Everything dark from your angle, an ache as you had tried to see.

Knowing that shadow. The brim of his hat. 

The burn of his eyes, when they fixed on you. You could feel the fury in them, even from here. A muted sound of desperation from behind your gag, as you watched. 

The Ghoul shoots first - the second his eyes pull away, and it’s all over in a matter of moments. 

Your eyes closing at the sound of gunfire, of screaming - until it finally cuts short. Leaving the warehouse eerily silent, except for the clicking of spurs against metal. 

He crouches in front of you, now - and you can’t help the whine. So much trapped behind the thick binding of cloth. All you could do is tug at your bound wrists - neck craning as you tried to watch from below.

A force of nature. Bared teeth a quick draw. Again you’re forced to admit to yourself how lucky you were to still be standing, after your first meeting. 

He had blown through them like it was nothing. 

“Hold on a minute, honey.” That low tone is familiar, calming you as his fingers hook around the cloth. Leaving a smear of red against your jaw as he tugs the gag free - shucking his gloves after.

“Are you hurt?” It comes out ragged. Tongue heavy in your mouth, throat dry. Eyes scanning the dark leather of his coat - all that red , smeared across it, “Thought you got hit.”

He barks out a laugh, your chin trapped between thumb and forefinger, “That’s what you’re worried about?”

Something dark swirling across his features, as he tilts your head towards the light. His thumb pressing at the edge of your bruise, denting skin.

“They got you good, didn’t they?” He murmurs, and you smile through a wince, at the dull ache of pain.

“You got them.”

“Sure did,” It’s distracted, as he cuts at the binds, next. The rope fraying and then splitting, an ache in your shoulders when your arms finally lower. 

“Fuckin’ amateurs.” He mutters again, watching as you wince at the rubbed-raw skin at your wrists. The corners of his lips tipped down, lost in thought.

“Thought you would’ve liked seeing me all tied up.” It’s a weak thing. An attempt at humor, the ache in your heart at seeing him cut by the acidity of your last meeting.

He blinks. Comes back to himself, a hoarse hum of amusement. 

“Only when I’m doing it, sweetheart.” The Ghoul’s eyes meet yours then, a hint of a smirk with the tilt of his head. 

“Can think of a much better way of gagging you, too.”

There’s almost a softness to his tone. Just barely there, tinting the rough edges. Something like hope flutters - delicate, behind your ribs. 

“You… you came, for me.” You need the clarification. To hear him say it. That this isn’t some ruse, a way to take you directly to the source, “You’re not-”

There’s a sigh, as he fixes you with a long look. His head tipping towards the platform above, a lazy flick of his finger towards an arm that dangles from the ledge.

“Well that there man’s the one I got your contract from,” The Ghoul drawls, “Said I was to return what belonged to somebody else.”

Those eyes fixing on you again, “Seein’ as you’re not , and seein’ as that man is now indisposed…”

His words trail off - and you can’t help the small smile, as he finishes.

“I’m thinkin we’re square.”

The look you give him is soft. Admiring. You don’t know how he tracked you down, but he did. 

“You saved me.” It’s hushed, and at your tone his eyes pull from you. 

Fixing somewhere low, off to the side, as he crouches. Uncomfortable with the way you look at him. How you see him. Not used to it, not after so many years. 

You’re not able to resist. 

Muscles stringing stiff when you lean forward. Lips pressed against the leather of his cheek, fingers ghosting against his jaw. 

A huff then, teeth biting into his tongue with the shake of a head. His eyes dark, as you pull back, hovering. 

“Darlin’ if you’re going to be stealin’ a kiss, you best be doin’ it properly.” The Ghoul rasps, eyes flicking down to your mouth.

His head tips towards yours, but it’s your that meets his first. A little sound in your throat as your lips slot against his. Warm and insistent as his knees drop to press into the cement floor.

Tugging at you, as your fingers grasp at his collar. A hungry lick of his tongue against the seam of your lips as you whine, crushing your chest to his.

His fingers at your neck, your jaw. Angling your head, a rough groan as you part for him. Turning ravenous - wandering hands as your tongue slips against his. Panting breaths and a grinding of hips when he yanks you closer. 

“How many were there?” He hums, as you try to sneak a ragged breath.

The curve of a smile when you try to ignore him, a click of his tongue.

“I dunno,” Your mind is too foggy. Too focused on the hands that trace against your waist, “Four? No… maybe five?”

“You don’t seem too sure, sweetheart.” He does smile then, at the little mark between your eyebrows. Untangling himself - a hand reaching down to adjust himself, as he stands. 

“As much as I’d like to take you right here,” He husks, eyes dragging over you, “The last thing I need is a bullet in the ass.”

A tilt of his head, towards the open floor.

“Come on, cowpoke. Let’s do a sweep.”

the last (final, for real this time) part will be up in just a little bit! 💖 thank you so much for reading - this series has become so much to me, and every ask or comment or tag or reblog has absolutely meant the world 💕

[galamalion]

꒰১໒꒱. 𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑

summary. you take zoro on a camping trip to relax; zoro finds other activities to partake in.

⤷ contents. afab!reader, fluff + smut, pet names (baby, babe, sweetheart, good girl), outdoor sex, light strength kink, light degradation, cunnilingus, hair pulling, light slapping (zoro slaps your ass/thighs) // wc. 1.5k

⤷ notes. request by @isapirata for camping and stargazing with zoro + a little bit of smut. hope you enjoy! hoping to pump out some works before my semester starts up <3

"I'm telling you right now, you're gonna enjoy it!"

"And I'm telling you, as long as I can shut my eyes without you pestering me, I'll love this trip."

"Oh, believe me, princess," you teased, hammering the stake into the ground, "you'll get all the beauty rest you need and more."

"Who you callin' princess, princess?" Zoro sneered, giving you a dirty look.

You stood, looking at the tent you single handedly pitched, "You're the one lazing about while I do all the work."

"It's called napping, sweetheart," Zoro rolled his eyes, "you want my help, just holler and your big strong boyfriend will be there."

"My hero," you scoffed, unpacking your gear in the tent.

You couldn't be too mad at Zoro for not helping. After all, he carried you up this gorgeous mountain so that you could go camping. If he wanted to sleep while you set everything up, he was more than welcome to. You would, however, be forcing him to roast marshmallows later. That was non negotiable.

“Would you mind getting some firewood at least, Zoro?” you peaked over your shoulder at the dozing swordsman. “It'd be good exercise.”

With a deep, displeased grumble, Zoro arose from beneath his shady tree, stomping away from your camping setup and into the nearby woods.

“Stay safe!” you called, giving him a small wave.

Zoro being gone allowed you to focus on other necessities, like digging out a spot for a small fire pit. You definitely weren’t as skilled as Franky, but that didn’t mean you couldn’t try your hand at crafting something. With the rudimentary skills of a novice craftsman, you laid a couple of sizable stones around your dug out hole, creating a misshapen circle that would make any child envious of your talents.

Occasional loud thumps in the distance kept you on your toes, clearly originating from Zoro taking your request a little too far. Part of you was scared to see how many tree trunks Zoro would return with, while the other part of you was excited to put him to work. Maybe you could fashion one into some kind of bench for the two of you? Of course, that was assuming that the tree trunk could withstand Zoro’s hulking frame. It’d be terribly unfortunate if it collapsed on the spot.

Moments later your boyfriend emerged from the woods with five massive trunks slung over his shoulder, balanced perfectly with the help of his huge bicep.

“Welcome back, handsome!” you cooed, skipping over to his side.

“Go back to your arts and crafts,” he grunted, continuing his stride towards your camp.

You gasped, “I came over here to help! How ungrateful!”

“What are you gonna do, help me carry these?” he gestured above his shoulder.

“I came to be a cheerleader, for your information. There’s no way in hell I can lift those over my shoulder like you can.”

“You couldn’t lift one, period.”

“I’m not fighting you on that.”

Upon your instruction, Zoro laid a single log near your amateur fire pit, setting the others aside. After removing his shirt, he began slicing them into smaller pieces, ripping the fragments in half to fit inside the pit. You thought about assisting him, but after considering the danger of splinters, decided against it.

“Hurry up, babe! It’s getting cold!” you shouted, searching for any available tinder to use in your fire.

“Quit yer’ bitchin’! I got your wood right here.” He stomped over beside you, tossing the wood into the fire pit.

“Thank you,” you emphasized, standing up to give him a hug. A grunt was all you got in response, but it was all you needed.

“C’mere, sweetheart,” Zoro whistled from his spot under the tree, arms folded behind his head.

“What? What do you mean ‘come here’?” you stared at him befuddled, “I just finished setting all this stuff up, and you just wanna sit on—”

“No complaints, ya brat,” he barked, moving a hand to pat his bare chest, signaling for you to come lay against it.

Annoyed, you stomped towards your boyfriend, sitting just a couple inches away from him in defiance.

“You really wanna play this game?” Zoro muttered, raising an eyebrow at your actions.

“What game?” you said, batting your eyelashes and flashing him a smile.

“Alright, fine,” Zoro whispered to himself, standing up from beneath the tree.

You just closed your eyes and rested your chin on your hand, quietly humming to yourself. It was somewhat of a surprise that Zoro gave up so easily, knowing that your boyfriend was stubborn to a fault. He stood up; was he really just gonna—

“Up we go,” Zoro huffed, easily slinging you over his shoulder and walking towards a clearer area.

“Hey, hold on!” you shrieked, flailing as he laid you down in the grass.

“Oh come on, baby,” he grinned, pulling your hips plush against his, “I think I’ve earned a little something for all my hard work tonight, and all you’ve done was whine.”

“Excuse me! I also worked hard tonight,” you scoffed, pushing your thighs close together, denying Zoro access to what he wanted most.

“Don’t be a tease,” he growled, sliding a calloused hand between your thighs. Zoro could effortlessly spread your legs faster than even you could open them, and both of you were aware of this. But what was the fun in just giving him what he wanted?

“Me? A tease? I think you’re just being a little unfair. You want a treat, so why can’t I also have one?”

“You’re really pushing my buttons here, babe.”

“I think you’ll get over it.”

“Fine,” he said, “you want a little reward, huh? Somethin’ sweet?”

Your legs were quickly pulled apart, Zoro’s hands quickly moving to cup your ass.

“Might as well get a little treat myself,” he hissed, yanking your panties down to your ankles.

“Wait!” you yelped, “take it slow!”

The pleas that left your lips fell on deaf ears as Zoro dove straight into his midnight snack, snaking his tongue across your folds and plunging it into your wet cunt. Your initial surprise wore off as soon as his tongue entered you, replaced with feelings of reluctant bliss and overpowering your other senses.

“So now the princess doesn’t want her reward?” he gasped, popping his mouth off your clit.

“S-Someone might hear us,” you sputtered, trying to not look at his mouth that was covered with your juices. 

“Oh, come on. You’ve been a real brat today, ya know?” he groaned, giving your ass a hard slap. “Don’t go soft on me now, I know you can take it.”

He went back to his mission, between your legs in order to devour your sweet pussy. Every lick he made caused you to yank your pelvis away, but his tight hold on your hips kept you from escaping grasp, leaving you a pathetic, squirming mess.

“Right there, baby,” you moaned, gripping his hair and yanking him closer, “don’t stop!” 

His hands moved in response to your request for more, sliding his rough hands up to your thighs and throwing them over his shoulders to delve deeper into your poor cunt.

It was overbearing, and you couldn’t decide which was worse—or in this case, better. The way he tongue-fucked you relentlessly, swirling around inside your walls, or the way he’d switch to sucking on your, now swollen, clit. All you could do was curl your toes and grasp at the sleeping bag beneath you, gasping for air as pleasure racked your body.

“Gonna cum, Zo!” you cried, crossing your legs tight around his head.

Zoro squeezed your thighs, lapping at your clit with his tongue as he sucked it for all it was worth, watching eagerly from below as you felt apart.

“Knew you could handle it, sweetheart,” he panted, giving your cunt one last lick before he easily escaped your weakened hold.

“W-What about yo-u!” you yelped as Zoro slapped your cunt, rising from his place beneath you.

“Believe me, I'll get my fill later," he grunted, bringing you up to lay against his chest, “we still have all of tomorrow, right?”

“I guess,” you mumbled, nuzzling into him and readjusting your clothes.

You looked up into the shimmering night sky, beholding the glittering stars above, scattered about their blackened canvas like grains of sand on a beach. 

"You know anything about stars, Zo?" you asked.

"Not a damn thing."

“Well, that one,” you pointed, “is Ursa Major.”

“Hm?” Zoro questioned, looking up in the direction you pointed. “I don’t see anything.”

“Right there! Those are the feet, and that’s the tail, and that little sticky-outy-bit is the head!”

“I guess I kinda see it.”

“And that one is Ursa Minor, with the big long tail.”

“The hell? Are constellations having babies now? Didn’t know stars could fuck.”

“Be more romantic, Zoro,” you begged.

“The sky is Nami’s thing,” he frowned, “I’m not interested unless there’s one that I can fight. Or one shaped like a sword.”

You crossed your arms and pouted, leaning further into his chest.

 “Well, aren’t the stars pretty, at least?”

“I guess,” he muttered, a grin rising to his face.zoro romance

“But I got the prettiest star of all, right?”

[babamiasworld]

Are you sick of me yet?

Hyrule!Link x GN!Reader ✭

Synopsis: Link refuses to leave you alone after you lose to him

Content Warnings: cocky link, possessiveness if you squint, light cussing, a lil kithy kith, and uhhhh jealous zelda if that’s how u wanna see it 🧍

A/N: jesus link brain rot is getting to me rn, and i got the new loz themed nintendo switch cause i’m OBSESSED- pls it’s so pretty🥰

Word count 1 .4k

To everybody, Link was a man of few words, and to most, he was intense. Never speaking much, and when he did, his words were blunt, curt, and devoid of vulnerability. He didn’t care what others thought of him, only that he got paid fairly for his work. Though there was a side of him that he didn’t show all that much, a side of him that only reared it’s head depending on the situation. He wasn’t secretly a softie or anything, no no, he was worse.

“That was a tough loss.” Link said while inhaling through his teeth, mocking something close to sympathy. You had just finished a racing competition, which wasn’t something you usually engaged in, simply because you were one to get really competitive and you were a sore loser, but you’d never show it, nor ever confirm it out loud, but you were. it was a fact you couldn’t deny. So you ignored Link’s comment, simply ignoring him as you made your way to your steed, walking a bit faster in hopes Link wouldn’t catch up, because if you were being honest, if you had to look at the grin on his face…you’d probably punch it. Though Link wasn’t having it, taking your silence as a challenge.

You sharply turned a corner in hopes he’d just give up his attempts to get you to lash out at him. Moments from the race replaying in your mind, pissing you off more.  The reason he was so amused by your loss is because you’re known to be one of the most talented racers in the kingdom, and you had come second, and Link of course, was in first. He wasn’t going to let you live this down that much is for sure, not unless you were able to rub his ego into the mud…and then stomp on it multiple times…then maybe setting it on fire. If it was possible, you’d consider traveling across Hyrule to throw it into a volcano.

Lost in your thoughts, with your eyes fixated on the cobblestone path beneath you, you didn’t see the encroaching obstacle in front of you until you collided with it. Looking up at a very unpleasant face. Link didn’t say a word, just staring down at you with that stupid smug face, as if you were smaller than him. Physically yes. But in every other aspect absolutely not, but as much as you hated it, you couldn’t help but feel heat rising to your cheeks at the proximity between the two of you. You stepped to the side to leave him behind yet again, though he mirrored your actions holding his expression.

“Can I help you, asshole?” You spat, sounding like more of a demand rather than a question. But much to your displeasure, your comment only inflated his ego as he tilts his head playfully at you.

“Aw don’t be like that.” He teases, causing your scowl to intensify.

“Shut up. Don’t act like you’re not enjoying this.” You retort. Pushing past him.

“You know me well~” He chuckles. The sound making your stomach flutter.

“Piss off.” Eyes focused on the stable that your Loftwing resides in, sleeping peacefully.

“No. I don’t think I will~” He taunts. Unbeknownst to you, he picks up his pace, inching his face closer to yours, whispering into your ear. “I know you like it when I tease you.” Emitting a sharp gasp from you, whipping your head at him with a look of disbelief, holing a hand over your ear.

“No I don’t!” You retort, a little more enthusiastically than you intended, mentally cursing yourself as you see Link puffing out his chest; and by your red cheeks, it only confirms his statement.

“Yeah?” His tone was quiet, as if you’d both get in trouble if he was heard. But as he starts moving towards you, absent-mindedly stepping back as he did, until your back hits the cold stone wall, only then do you realize it’s just you that’s in trouble. “Then why are you so flustered then?” Asking a question he already knows the answer to.

“I’m not.” You stare at him through your eyelashes, trying to intimidate him, though you know it won’t work. This causes Link to tilt his head once more, but his expression is different this time. He’s looking at you like he wants something…needs something. You immediately pick up on this; his hungry gaze, half-lidded eyes analyzing every inch of your face causing your heart to beat rapidly.

You turn your head away from him to hide your red face. But Link wasn’t having it. He wanted you to squirm under him his gaze, lifting a hand to your chin and tilting it up so you’d look at him. He was surprisingly gentle with his movements, slowly pulling your chin upwards towards him but stopping before your lips could touch. The proximity of your faces causing your eyes to flicker to his lips, only for a moment before meeting his eyes again. Though this didn’t go unnoticed by the man in front of you, causing him to look down at you with a seductive glint in his eyes.

“See something you like?” Link teases, adoring how red you’ve gotten. He moves closer, lips ghosting over each other for a few seconds before you can’t take it anymore and finally kiss him, a hand snaking up his neck; fingers lacing between his soft blonde locks while your other hand lays against his ribcage for support. Your boldness causing Link to chuckle into the kiss, sending heat through your body like shockwaves which only intensifies when his hands find their place on your hips, using them as an anchor to push his body against yours, chests pressed against each other.

He pushes his tongue into your mouth, his hand dragging up your body as it settles on your jaw, pulling you even closer. His kiss is heated, rough, and possessive, as if this was his way of claiming you as his, and deep down, you didn’t mind as much as you said you did, indulging yourself in him. Both of you were growing desperate, frantic even, as if you’ll die if you separate, but sadly breathing is a necessity.

You break the kiss to breathe, but before you can even take a full breath, Links lips find yours again, groaning into your mouth.

“Ahem!” A distant voice echoed. Causing you both to freeze, Link pulling away from your lips to turn his head towards the voice, a trail of saliva connecting the two of you. As Link moved his head, you were mortified to see Zelda standing a few meters away with her arms crossed over her chest, looking at you two clearly unimpressed with what she walked in on. “Link, my father wants to speak with you. He insists you meet with him as soon as…” She trails off, eyes flickering to you for a moment, then back to link. “…you’re done with your little rendezvous.” Zelda finished, turning on her heel and taking her leave.

Link looks back at you with a that same stupid smirk, and your just absolutely traumatized that the princess caught you making out with her knight, but Link has a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“Wanna keep goin?” Link said with optimism. Which pissed you off considering you’re probably not the princess’ favorite person after that; the thought far from pleasant as you pushed him away and stormed off.

“Argh- you’re so stupid! Don’t ever pull that again.” A frustrated hand running through your hair, trying to find something to help you forget about the whole ordeal.

This causes Link to let out a low chuckle, watching the way your hips sway as you fade into the distance.

“That’s what you said last time.”

[wandasfifthwife]

all I want is for you to be safe

korra x fem!reader

tw: established relationship, hurt/comfort, mentions of an argument, action/fighting discussion, kissing, angst w/ happy ending, discussions of death, minor injury (korra), R isn’t a bender, not proofread lmao

a/n: though this says fem!reader, I don’t beleive any gender is mentioned (I just imagined fem!reader when writing)

As an avatar Korra’s familiar with injuries, both emotional and physical. She understands the weight that actions have, seen the results around her and on herself. She’s seen people loose a family member and have come across how one’s selfish actions affect others. So she should’ve been better with the one she cared for.

It was a valid concern. You had come to her, whispered words on how lately you’ve become scared. Witnessing the danger she was in often made you fear her saftey, but she shoved you off.

It was a joke at first, stating that she was the avatar and everything happening was destined. Then something had come over her; she got defense and hurtful words were thrown. You had left in silence. Korra’s guilt eating away at her as she watched you leave.

She had come back to her room, relieved to see your body in her bed. The room was completely silent when she got ready for bed and finally crawled under the sheets. Your back faced hers and still didn’t turn even after you felt her body dip in on her side of the bed.

She too rolled over with a purposeful huff, the sound annoying and irritating. The two of you laid close enough to know each other was there, but far enough to tell the other that you’re still hurt. You were half asleep, listening to Korra deep breaths when the room shook. Her eyes snapped open, body already slipping from bed to look out the door.

A fleet of earth benders were at the far corner of the city, pushing houses to completely collapse in on themselves. You were reaching her, calling out her name when a flurry of dust and small rocks filled the room. It was suffocating. Her hand met yours, pushing through the smoke with you in toll.

“Go,” she yells, reaching behind her to knock one of them onto a railing below you two.

“I—“

She curses and grabs a hold of you, grip tighter this time. Air rushes around you, the city looking smaller and smaller as you reached higher altitude. You shout when a stone barrels at you. It crumbled a second later, dust inside adding to the already growing cloud.

“Do you have to be so stubborn?”

Her complain turns into a rant, pushing you into a house on the other side of the city.

“Sorry,” she doesn’t catch how you close in on yourself at her words, hands shaking at your chest.

Her eyebrow twitches in annoyance, “I can’t do this right now. Just stay here.”

Then in a split second she’s gone, door shutting behind her. It left you in a dark room, same worries from before drowning you. You understand where she came from, thinking you didn’t she was strong enough. She already has worries of her own about being the avatar, feeling she needs to prove it at every opportunity.

It still didn’t take away your point, and now was a great example. The universe seemed to be playing you, bringing up the same situation that caused a ripple in your relationship just hours earlier. Time seemed to slow down while you sat in the dark room, hearing and occasionally feeling the walls shake from the extent of their attacks.

They got closer, making your throat clog with panic. You couldn’t match their aggression, you had nothing to fight with; something Korra liked to mention a few times during your fight. You know that she has it all, every fighting chance while you didn’t.

You don’t doubt her abilities, that wasn’t why you sought her out earlier.

You were worried someone could catch her off guard, trap her, use her weaknesses against her. You were worried you couldn’t do anything, and it was so unfair that she used that against you.

Fifteen maybe twenty minutes passed. The city grew quiet once again, residents slowly emerging from their hiding spots. The door to the building you were in bursts open, Korra entering with a brush of her hands.

“They barely put up a fight, too eas—“

Your figure rested on the ground, hands brushing away the tears that continued to trail down your cheeks. The sight slowed her words down, remembering her previous actions and realizing this is the result of them.

She moves with ease, footsteps making no noise as she comes to sit beside you. The sound of your hushed cry hurt to listen to and it was all she could hear at the moment, coming from beside her. She was grateful enough you haven’t shrugged her off or yelled at her.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“You can be so mean Korra,” you choke out, delivery shaky instead of stern.

“I’m sorry.”

“Why do you need to be so brash? I was only trying to express my concern and you had to make it about yourself. I know you can handle yourself, but you didn’t have to tell me—“

At the notion that you’re working yourself up again, she’s moving herself in front of you and taking one of your hands in hers.

“I’m really sorry. Everything I’ve said lately was completely out of line and mean. I take full responsibility. Nothing of what I said was true, you are capable and—“

“Are you okay,” you reach to brush the cuts on her forehead. A hiss spills from her when you touch the open wound, hands reaching to quickly pull yours away.

“It’ll heal. Are you okay?”

“Will be after you kiss me.”

“Woah,” she arches an eyebrow, “already? Now?”

You initiate, pulling her closer by where your hand was intertwined with hers on your leg. She relaxes into the kiss, slotting herself further between your legs. Her thumb brushes away the tear stains, pulling back with a solemn expression.

“I’m so sorry,” she says softly and so close to your lips, attention staying on your eyes and how they looked comparatively dimmer as compared to yesterday.

“I forgive you,” you rub her face in the same manner as her, small sniffles coming from you, “if you promise to not speak to me like that ever again.” She agrees, a soft smile growing on her face when you bring her back to kiss you again. When she makes it back to bed, she’s pulling you into her, resting her head on yours.

taglist

@t-wylia

[slashmagpie]

Look, he’s no idiot. He’s no cheater, either. He knows that it’s extraordinarily unwise to be sneaking around the dungeon of Decked Out when you’re not playing the game itself. But the thing is—the thing is, is that Bdubs dreams. And when Bdubs dreams, he can’t always control where he goes, and sometimes—sometimes that’s right into the heart of the dungeon.

Here’s the other thing: Bdubs sleeps a lot. More than most. Sunset to sunrise, he’s curled up under the covers of his bed, fast asleep and dreaming. Others—other people, they stay up all night, attract all the phantoms. Not Bdubs! He’s the only sane, rational person on this server. He sleeps. But the others—they stay up all night.

Recently, they’ve been staying up all night playing Decked Out. 

Bdubs doesn’t know if Tango sleeps anymore. He certainly hopes Tango sleeps, but the man is too engrossed in his redstone for his own good sometimes. Maybe now that the game is done, is launched, is actively being played, he’ll take a nap or two. But right now, Bdubs is dreaming, and Tango is in the dungeon, and Bdubs, against his will, is here too.

Tango is not-quite-solid, ephemeral, and Bdubs gets the sense that if he were awake and standing where he is, he wouldn’t be able to see Tango at all. Tango doesn’t seem to see him, either, back turned as he approaches a ravager on the bank of the River of Souls. 

Ghostlike, Tango presses his forehead against the (unknowing, unseeing) ravager’s, a smile on his face. The ravager slips through Tango’s form, leaving Tango pressed against its side, but he seems unfazed, patting affectionately at its flank with a hand. “Good job, Pumpkin,” he says, and Bdubs can hear the pride in his voice, the hint of a laugh. “Good job. You listened. I appreciate the effort.”

In his dreams, Bdubs can’t feel the chill of the dungeon; he’s toasty and warm under the blankets of the waiting room bed. (Okay, look, he may also be spending the night at Decked Out, but at least he’s sleeping—if he pays attention, he can hear the faint, unintelligible babble of voices in the waiting room, see the soft golden light through his eyelids. He flinches away from it, back into the dungeon, back into his sleep. The others may be content to spend the entire night waiting and dying to ravagers, but Bdubs needs his beauty sleep.) And—hey, what was he thinking about again?

Oh, right.

Bdubs can’t feel the chill of the dungeon, but a chill runs down his spine nonetheless as Tango looks at the ravager with cub’s blood on its teeth with affection and pride. And—okay, the whole point of the game is getting killed (or, preferably, not killed) by ravagers, they’d all signed up for this, they knew what they were in for—but did Tango have to look so… happy about it? So fond of the murderous beasts he’d wrangled for their entertainment? Did he have to look so—

Hm. Now that Bdubs is looking—

Tango’s ghostlike form doesn’t have a shadow, but it trails off towards the end, less him and more ghost, an echo of some sort, and the ghost tendrils stretch into the snow and the water and the stone of the walls. It’s almost like a spider’s web, Tango’s consciousness at the centre of it, flickering and ephemeral. Tango lets out a contented sigh, and Bdubs swears he hears the dungeon sigh too, and out of the water where Cub died the blood starts to drain, though Bdubs can’t tell where it’s draining to. It’s just—there, and then smaller, and then gone, and Tango swipes his tongue across his pointed canines, and Bdubs feels cold. Colder. The tendrils stretch long, and the more Bdubs looks, the more he sees, and he can’t quite tell anymore where the dungeon ends, and Tango begins, and hang on, is Tango a spider on his web or are those tightening more like puppet strings as Tango turns—

His eyes land on Bdubs, and he frowns, the smile slipping from his face. The dungeon feels darker than it did a second ago. Bdubs flinches back, because Tango shouldn’t be able to see him, even if he’s also not in his body right now—

“You shouldn’t be here,” Tango says. “Cheater.”

Bdubs opens his mouth to defend himself, but he doesn’t even get the chance before he’s gasping awake in bed, covered in a cold sweat, shooting straight upwards. The movement draws Scar’s attention, and he looks over, one eyebrow raised.

“You’re up late, Bdubs,” he comments, teasing.

It takes Bdubs a moment to find his words. “Hard to sleep with all this racket!” he grumbles, scowling as he pulls the covers back.

“Oh.” Scar blinks. “Do you want us to be quiet?”

“Yeah, we can quiet down for you man, if you need us to,” Jevin offers.

Bdubs shakes his head. “No, no, I’m up now.” In truth, he doesn’t think he could sleep again after that even if he wanted to.

And now that he’s thinking about that, he’s thinking about—

“Hello there,” Tango greets, dipping past Scar and into the room. He glances at Bdubs, and then just past him, not a hint of what just transpired on his face. He’s back in his body, solid and whole again, and he looks—fine. Frosty and blue, like he’s been all season, basically, at this point, but—fine. Tired, maybe, but they’re all tired. It’s the lack of sleep.

(Does Tango even need to sleep, anymore? Dungeons don’t need to sleep, after all. Ravagers don’t sleep. Do spiders sleep? Do—?)

Tango turns away from greeting Jevin to look at Bdubs, a grin on his face. “Bubbles, how you doing?”

Bdubs jumps, startled from his thoughts, and doesn’t get an answer in before Tango is distracted by Jevin once again. The two of them talk game mechanics, and Bdubs stares at Tango, trying to find any hint on his face, in his body language, of what exactly he is, but—

He’s too awake, darn it. If he’d still been sleeping, maybe he could have seen something, but it’s late, and he’s awake, and Tango looks as ordinary as ever. 

“I saw you petting a ravager down there,” he says at last, and Scar gives Bdubs a weird look, but Tango doesn’t seem surprised. He just laughs, shaking his head.

“No, no, no, no. I was reprimanding them.”

“Yes, you were!”

“—for their vicious attacks—”

“You’re rooting against us!”

“—on my… friends, here.” 

There’s a weird pause, a solid second or two where Tango seems to struggle to get the word friends out of his mouth, and when he does the tone is flat, insincere. Scar is still frowning at Bdubs. He doesn’t notice the way Tango’s expression flickers. Bdubs notices. Bdubs can’t tear his eyes away.

Hey, is it cold in here?

“I’m starting to learn something dark about you, with all the laughing and smiling you’ve been doing while we’re strugglin’!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Tango says, then smiles, turning away to Scar, changing the topic of the conversation. They move on, teasing Grian for being AFK, and Bdubs—

God, Bdubs needs more sleep. 

[veintrry]

I could make you more than a drink.

bartender!scaramouche x gn!reader, flirting, teasing.

an: I saw a bartender do cool tricks and I was like, "fuck, that's hot." so here i am.

@/AraAraImpact on twt

After a painfully exhausting day of working at a place that does nothing to satisfy you emotionally, you go to a bar on your way home, contrary to your usual self. However, this change brings a catalyst of difference into your life in the form of the violet-eyed bartender that serves you.

The sun was just setting down as you departed from your work and you found yourself exhausted as always. You didn't really have a job you loved, to you a job was just that, a job. It didn't have to be something you liked as long as it paid the bills, but you'd be lying if you had said it wasn't tiresome.

You weren't a common customer at pubs or bars around your town, you weren't much of a drinker, it wasn't really up your alley. Though, you couldn't deny that sometimes you wanted something that would hit you so strong you'd forget about anything prior to that moment. And that's why you were here, taking a seat on the black cushioned high chair, letting out a worn out sigh.

"No need to sigh so loud."

A somewhat annoyed voice pipes up, and when you meet the owner of the voice he rolls his eyes at you. "Oh, my apologies, did I bother you?" Sarcasm laces your voice as you rest your head on the back of your hand. "You did." He wore a stone faced look, his facial muscles never budging except for his eyes that narrowed onto you the more you spoke. "So sorry." You smiled, and he could tell how cheap you were being. Whatever, he'll move on. "What do you want?"

"Dark and Stormy." You answer, and watch his brow rise in question at your request, "Who ruined your day?" It could've merely been that you werent well acquainted with drinks and merely chose whatever sounded the coolest or bitter, but he found it oddly aligned with your disheveled self. It's not like he didn't notice how overworked you appeared when you entered, but it's not like he cared to think much of it. "Wouldn't you like to know." A hum leaves you, amused as you are. He didn't continue prying.

You wonder if your personality is more teasing whenever you are feeling worse. Though you don't really care enough to focus on that when you have the man before you picking up a smaller shaker and flicking a larger one off the bar side, flipping it in the air to catch it upright with his free hand. You always forget how easily entertained you are by these tricks. He takes a peek at you, taking note of your amusement. You were so simple, but he'd indulge you.

He sets the shakers down, instead pulling out three bottles with a spin before tossing each one into the air, and beginning to juggle them. How he has the confidence to do so you don't know, but he must be extremely qualified to be behind that bar or at least had been here for a long time. You could hear some 'ooh's and 'ah's by some other customers whilst others seemed used to it. Maybe you'll try it when you go home, although you really shouldn't.

Catching the bottles, the tip inbetween his fingers he sets two down, picking up the jiggler by his side and twirling it before pouring the liquid into it and then dumping that into the shaker. He repeats the act a couple of times till he starts squeezing fresh orange juice to pour in as well. He puts the lid on and starts shaking it up near the side of his head, giving you time to admire him and get a proper look at him.

His chest rose with each breath he took, you saw how his mouth would open in to take a deep inhale at times. He wss a great bartender but he wasn't the biggest fan of crowds. You now strangely notice how the sleeves of his black tight shirt are rolled up, the lines of his triceps now becoming apparent and you don't miss how well built his lower arm is.

He sets the shakers down, breaking you out of your thoughts. And he smirks at you almost mischievously. He knew.

He begins pouring the drink, and somehow it only dawns on you now that this isn't what you ordered as he sets it down. "What's the big idea?"

"You shouldn't be having something so bitter."

"Oh? And you're dictating that?"

"I am." It's best for you.

You shot him a glare, but he merely shrugged seemingly unbothered and went back to serving other customers.

_

Time passed yet you paid no regard to it, too caught up on gazing blankly at your drink, swirling the glass from time to time and watching the liquid ripple in reaction. Taking miniscule sips as the evening sky delved into an azure shade of darkness. As people left, as some came and as some merely spent their time there having forgotten the concept of time just as you had, he kept his eye on you, observing you. Despite you coming in so gloomy, it seemed that even a drink wasn't going to curb your worries.

"Hey."

You hear the sound of a towel being hit against something slightly hard, a pat sound occuring. You look up to see the bartender from before, a cloth over his shoulder. "Yeah?" You responded nonchalantly. Your tone seemed to make him frustrated as his eyes narrowed down onto your slumped figure. "You're scaring people away with that depressing face." Turning to your left and right, you notice that there is in fact no one sitting beside you.

You bite the inside of your mouth before making eye contact with him again, taunting your head to the side. "So?" It didn't matter what face you were making, it's not like it would change the taste of their drinks so why blame it on you.

"So," He pulls on his black latex gloves, securing them around his wrist prior to fetching an item from underneath the under bar. He pulls out an ice pick as his other hand reaches into a container picking out a cube of ice. "I'm going to be carving these for a while." Indigo orbs separate their focus from the icy block in his hands, and momentarily glance at you through lidded eyes, "Entertain me." You almost miss the slight quirk of his lip.

Why he had taken an interest in you, or well, bothered to even offer you an ear to listen to your ramblings, you didn't know. But you wouldn't deny the offer for a release.

With an exhausted exhale, – that he rolled his eyes at, again – you began speaking about your day, which evolved to you talking about the recent weeks, then it turned to you telling him about the past few months and then all that came before. It wasn't intentional, it's just that the line blurred the more you went on about your job. What did you ever wanna do when you were younger? Isn't it naive to have dreams? Isn't money what's most valuable, after all how can you even start to fantasise without having the materials to do so?

Laying yourself bare to a stranger wasn't on your to-do list today, but you found the sound of him breaking the ice with a pick and cutting it with a serrated knife to make an oddly beautiful shape, appearing clean like a marble, to be satisfying. It's not like you were going on without stopping, sometimes you'd glance up to him, he wouldn't meet your eyes but he'd tell you to go on, humming in acknowledgement as you continued to speak.

You really didn't get if this qualified as entertainment but he didn't seem to mind. Still, you didn't want to be acting all sad when he asked for you to amuse him, so you threw in some stories of some stupid occasions in your life, though once you told him these things he looked at you like you were the biggest moron he's ever seen in his life.

_

"When I turned around it was on fire."

You hear a well sculpted ice fall into the container with a loud clunk and when you raise your eyes to perceive his expression he wears the most judgmental look you had ever seen. His eyes were practically glaring at you and his mouth was agape. It was like you had told him the most disgusting irksome information ever.

It took a moment before he spoke again, "You fucking burned spaghetti? You. Burned. Spaghetti." It certainly didn't sound like a question but it was more so the shock that made it seem that way.

"Holy shit, you're a fucking idiot. Oh my god."

"It wasn't my fault! The fire was stronger, I didn't know that we had the gas tank changed into a different brand!"

"...How many times."

"...What?"

"How many times did it happen?"

"..."

Neither one of you blinks and your expression didn't budge once, but that told him everything he wished he never knew. You witnessed the realisation seep into his eyes and somehow he seemed to think less of you, but you had to defend yourself.

"It was only twice!"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT WAS ONLY TWICE??"

_

Least be said, you think you two got along well.

By now the bar had emptied out and you couldn't believe that you actually spent that much time here. Your glass was empty and the bartender didn't waste time swiping it away and wiping the wet imprint left on the darkly wooden counter, it allowed you a closer look at his hand, having taken off the gloves after he had finished tending to all that carving. You didn't make any efforts to hide how focused you were on them.

You must admit you didn't think he'd have his nails so well taken care of, they were almond shaped, not long, not short, just an average amount. He had his cuticles well taken care of and his fingers were pretty slender, his skin outlining his bones.

A cough interrupts you, but you don't look up.

His knuckles were defined, you could see that the one at the centre was slightly different, you had your own guess as to why thinking he must've gotten a fight a long time ago to have done that, or maybe he boxes?

"You have no shame you know that?"

The hand you were looking at is seemingly gone from your field of vision as you follow the holder of the easing voice yet judgmental voice you've become acustomed to. "You don't seem to mind all that much." Putting the cloth back over his shoulder you see him smug as he rolls his eyes, his words drowning in sarcasm, "Oh, not at all. Believe me, you're the very first to be so bold with me. Really." You didn't doubt there were others who have flirted with him so directly, and with good reason, who wouldn't? Yes, he was appealing to the eye, but he also was very skilled as a bartender, had a rather soothing voice, and his personality was.. bearable, actually pretty likeable. Somewhat.

"Right, but do you always give them this much attention?"

That appeared to have shut him up. For someone who tended to express his emotions towards someone's words so openly he didn't seem to always embrace this fact. The way he glares at you was less of anger and more of embarrassment as though he had been caught doing what he himself hadn't noticed. This only made you smirk at him, and you were glad to say that you got to get a hand over him at least once this night. "Shut up"

"I totally got you."

"You're just a customer, it's formal courtesy."

"You're interested in me."

"Ha, says the one who's been ogling me like a lunatic!"

"Because I like you."

Silence. Complete and utter silence. That is, between you two only. Life around you was still bustling, however it felt muffled, as if your ears were turning all that you deemed irrelevant deaf. "What.."

To say he was stunned was a bit of an understatement. Okay, maybe to say you liked him so directly came off head strong, but you thought why not make a lasting impression. "I said, I like you." Your smirk now widening into a grin.

"You barely know me!"

"Love at first sight is such a miracle!" Words sappy accompanied with overdramatic gestures. Oh, you were fucking with him. To think he'd let himself be teased by someone like this, no way. No, he can't allow that.

The man before you was leaned over the counter, his face relatively close to yours. He had his arms crossed on the wooden decor of the front bar, his torso resting on his forearms. "Want to act that way? Fine by me."

You had to admit it was kind of intimidating in a way having him so up close, not that you were going to tell him that and have him move though. This allowed you to make really direct eye contact with him and though you somewhat wanted to pull away you knew this was a challenge from him and you must admit, you found the hue of his orbs quite tantalising. You don't think you had ever seen such a colour in someone's eyes, it was fitting of the night yet still gleaming. "But if you're going to do this, then can you not get so easily distracted?" He snapped his fingers near your ear and this time he's the one to sigh.

"I may be a bartender, but I could do more than be eye candy and make you drinks. I could give you more than you have ever wanted."

"Can't help it. All I want is riiight here."

That was cheesy and you would've cringed at yourself if that hadn't been the intent. He raised a brow at you, "Are you implying that you can't take your eyes off me?" And he seemed to sound rather amused by this knowledge. "Maybe." The bartender hums in response and returns to his normal position, standing straight behind the counter, a hand on his hip.

"Alright, I'll let you admire me." God, he really is likeable. "However, each hour you spend you have to pay for." You take it back.

A muffled laugh catches your interest as you see how sniffles his voice with the back of his hand. "I didn't think you had your hopes up so high." He thought seeing the way your face morphed into disappointment was definitely a worthy sight. "I pity you and I'm an oh-so generous soul, so, if you keep coming here I'll let you talk to me. And if I feel extra nice I'll tell you my name."

"Your name? It says it on your tag, it's Scaramouche, right? Then I'll call you Scara."

"Hmm, you can find out for yourself if that's true."

You hadn't expected a rather mild boring and tiring day to turn into this, but you were kinda glad it did now for you had something that intrigued you on your hands.

[dontfearrr]

ask and you shall receive! @elia-the-bibliophile

i have a few warnings, i’m coming out of fan fiction retirement so bare with me. i didn’t proofread that well so don’t mind any spelling mistakes, i used some shitty sindarin translator on google so i do apologize if it’s incorrect, and. i think that’s all! :)

In my arms

gif not mine!

Summary: Thranduil isn’t very fond of you and legolas’s relationship but nonetheless he bares it.

Pairing: Thranduil x reader

Warnings: small hint toward sex (nothing specific)

Word count: idk tbh i forgot to check

Category: hurt/comfort(?)

—————————

“final count, forty-two.” Legolas spoke matter-a-factly across from you as he ran his fingers over his perfectly crafted, elvish bow. You gave him a raised eyebrow and drew your sword in a blink of an eye, plunging it into an orc that had its axe raised behind Legolas’s back.

“forty four”

—————————

It was midday in middle earth, you and Legolas had volunteered to clear the rogue orcs that ravaged near by villages, burning and spilling blood mercilessly. It wasn’t often you got to spend time with him due to your other duties in Mirkwood.

The Woodland Realm had been your home for many ages, you were an elf but a fool in their eyes. Woodland elves aren’t the wisest of the bunch but nonetheless, they’re your home. Legolas was the closest you’d ever get to a brother, he cared for you as family.

However that could never sit right with Thranduil.

He was a stubborn man, possessive some may say, which is why you and Legolas’s little adventure wasn’t mentioned to the elven king. Maybe it wasn’t the smartest choice considering he will find out eventually, he had men everywhere you look. At the end of the day, you’re accompanied by one of the most skilled princlings you’ve ever came across, so what could justify Thranduils brooding this time?

You and Legolas were on your way back to your residence, small talk was made but you both enjoyed simply just each others company, even if it was in silence.

“and what do you suppose daddy dearest will have to say once we return?” you inquired, not looking up from the ground as the both of them walked walked. “something along the lines of ‘no one leaves here without my knowledge, i’ve told you many times legolas’ then send me off as if i’m some child” He mocked his father, which earned a small smile in amusement from you.

As you entered the throne room, you and Legolas stood near the doors for a moment, exchanging farewells for the day. He embraces you in a warm comforting hug as he always did before he let you be, smoothing down the back of your hair and nodding his head before exiting to mind his duties. You took a deep breath to prepare yourself for what was to come as you walked down the long stone walk way to the throne, which sat the most beautiful man you’ve ever laid eyes upon. He sat nearly diagonal, legs crossed with his arms on either side of the throne. Glittery gems littered his fingers and crown that complimented his usual flawless elven apparel.

His long white hair shifted with his gaze as he spotted the smaller elf before him. He gave her no expression which was expected. He stared, waiting for you to speak, you could feel his mood from where you stood, it reeked of attitude.

Thranduil had spotted the interaction between you and legolas, it burned a fire of rage inside of him, only he was allowed to lay even a finger upon the elf. She belonged to him. His mind raced with thought but never cracked even a sliver of visible emotion.

“my lord” you began to bow before him until he raised a hand, putting a halt to your actions. You stood back up straight in confusion and shifted on your feet, Thranduils eyes staggering into you.

He finally spoke. “i don’t think i remember warranting your leave.”

You stood your ground, after all, the king would do anything for this she-elf.

“orcs were bringing treachery over near by villages, surely you saw the fires, my lord.”

You dipped your toe into the water, testing him.

His eyes narrowed at you, his thick dark eyebrows coming together, he was unimpressed. “and what does that have to do with me?”

“nothing, my lord. Me and Legolas simply volunteered.” you took no more than five steps closer toward the tall man. “we both had a free morning, i see not the problem.” Thranduil uncrossed his legs slowly, rising from his seat. His garments fell into place, the long white, detailed over coat trailed behind him as he made his way down the wooden steps. You were eyeing him like the finest piece of treasure, his grace and royalty always intimidated you.

“very well. however, i see no reason why my son had to accompany you.” he challenged, standing only a few feet from you, hands intertwined at his front.

“i mean not to disrespect you, my lord, but i don’t see a problem with the company of your son. would you have had me go alone? perhaps getting killed?” you know he would react to that, and he did. A long sigh drew from his nostrils, getting quite impatient despite having lived for more than 8,000 years.

“Thranduil, it is to you.” he steps even closer to you and peers down at you like an animal hunting prey. “you two seem.. close.” he followed up, taking the knuckle of his index finger to push a strand of misplaced hair behind your ear. “yes. he’s the only one who will even speak to me in this realm, other than you.” you finally raised your head up to meet his piercing blue eyes. “he is the only one who treats me like family. a brother.” you continued to further solidify your point.

This wasn’t the first time you’ve had a conversation like this with Thranduil. He’s a curious yet jealous mess, whether he likes to admit it or not. This conversation was slowly taking a toll on his heart, nasty remarks threatened his throat and boiling tears threatened his eyes. He remained calm, the elf in front of him reminding him of his purpose.

“he touched you.” Thranduil simply said while tilting his head to the side a bit. If this was his attempt at intimidating you, it sure as hell was working. He made something in your heart weak, yearning for him. “surely you aren’t jealous of your very own son, right?” your tone changed, attempting to take the upper hand in this situation, and based on his expression, it was working. your crossed your arms behind your back and gave him your best doe eyes.

“i mean not to make you feel this way, you know Legolas doesn’t think of me that way, and nor do i.”

Thranduils hand fell from your cheek down to your waist, gripping fairly tight as if you were going to disappear. “i know my son shall never dare to try my woman, but you are special and you know that. it wouldn’t take a lot for him to change his mind.” At this point you were bored of the conversation, you only ever had eyes for Thranduil, but that is hard for him to understand. He’s not used to this kind of love and anything that happens under his nose makes him rethink every single thing that has ever come to him. you were his star.

“oh meleth nin” Your heart ached for the king in front of you. He has seen many a heartbreak. He couldn’t bare to handle another. You were much younger than the elven king, but you knew when his heart was hurting, and you were going to fix that. Both of your hands raised to his face, his skin was like porcelain, flawless and pale. Your thumbs ran over his cheekbones, he instinctively leaned into your touch, his eyes fluttering shut. He may seem intimidating, but sometimes even the most wretched need comfort and reassurance.

“Legolas is no more than a brother to me. you need not worry. I pledged my heart to you a long time ago Thranduil and that is how it will stay.” you got as close as you could to him to where you could still reach him. Your hands never left his face and his arms came to wrap around your waist completely. “Im nifred i er aur im lothron ú- n- farn an cin.”(i fear that one day i may not be enough for you) He whispered just loud enough for you to hear. Your heart shattered at the broken man. You wished you could take all of his trouble for yourself so he’d never have to bare them again. His head fell to your shoulder, nuzzling his face into your neck. You’d never seen him so vulnerable before. You held the back of his head, gently smoothing over his hair and scratching his scalp.

“meleth nin, my heart and soul belongs to you. there’s nothing in this earth that could give me the love you do.” You whispered into his ear, kissing the pointy tips and they flushed red. You felt his body shudder at the action and held him closer. “don’t let a simple adventure spoil your mind.”

you lifted his head to face you and leaned yours against his. “im mel cin”(i love you).

Thranduil sighed in content and took your small hand in his, holding it to his cheek as his eyes fell shut once again. He kisses your wrist and opens his eyes. “i apologize for my behavior. it was unnecessary” he drops your hand and pulls you into his large figure, engulfing you in a warm embrace. You returned the embrace by holding him tight, breathing in his woodsy scent as you did so. your head just barely reached his chest, you felt like a princess in his arms. “your apology is accepted. you never have to question my devotion to you. Ask for reassurance and i will give it to you, sweet king.”

He released you and captured your lips in a soft but passionate kiss, he tasted of pine and elvish wine. you savored the kiss as your hands cupped his face, using your thumb to draw gentle circles over the points of his ears. You always loved his body language especially since you’re the only one who ever sees him express emotion besides Legolas. As the kiss ended, you smiled up at him, to which he returned but quickly was replaced with a huff of defeat, his eyes dared to close and his legs nearly trembling.

“you witch” he feigned the insult, merely joking as you gave his ears attention. Causing him to sweep you off your feet into his arms and head toward his chambers.

[honeybubblebeeeeee]

Siren Song || Toji x fem!reader

Arranged marriage AU, hurt/comfort, fluff, reader is linked w a curse, mild mentions of abuse between readerxfamily

idk if this is even good it was a random thought haha

Toji doesn't want to marry you. It's nothing against you really. It's your family and his of course. You had both known each other growing up. Not really interacting too much but you knew of each other.

Together you were sat in a room while your futures were discussed without your presence. Typical. Toji tapped his finger along the armrest of his chair.

"You don't really want this either do you?" His voice pulled you out of the disassociation you had come to engage in frequently. Slowly you turned your head to him. You only shrugged at him and he scoffed. "Come on seriously? Why not fight back against these pricks huh?" You didn't say a word. Your family had been clear on what would happen to you if you were to argue or object, just as they had your entire life.

"I am doing as I am told. To continue to strengthen the bloodline. Both of our bloodlines." Your voice was soft. Toji was loud and argumentative. You had seen the fights he got into with the head of the clans.

He let out a sarcastic laugh. "Little dove always doing as she's told. Do you not have dreams or ambitions? and don't spout that shit to me about 'strengthening' the bloodline." He scoffed. "I've got no cursed energy and as far as I have seen, you don't have any either." Toji leaned toward you. Eyeing you as if he was trying to see what lurked under your skin.

He would never find out what lurked under there. You kept it quiet. Your family made sure it did not come out but Toji did not have to know. No one had to know.

You could hear people shuffling out of the room next door. They would be coming to the two of you soon with an answer.

Toji sensed the same and looked to you with something close to pleading. "Don't let them do this to us. I don't want this. Neither do you." You felt bad for him. He didn't deserve to be paired with a monster. He didn't know he was and that was maybe the worst part.

Before you could respond to him the door slid open. Your father and the head of your clan looked to you with their stone cold faces. "Come."

Slowly you stood and followed, glancing to Toji over your shoulder as you left the room. You tried to convey the things you couldn't say but you knew he wouldn't understand.

You entered the smaller room, kneeling before the two men as they muttered to each other before finally looking to you. "You know what is expected of you, yes?"

Keeping your head down you nodded. "Do you have any objections?" You almost laughed. Objections in this family? HA. It was a taunt, just for them to smack you down if you spoke but you felt like you had an obligation to get Toji out of it. You knew you weren't to actually be together, to produce heirs. You were a ploy to kill Toji and then due to the transgression you would be executed. The two outsiders, the two stains on the family names would be wiped from the world.

Their problems would be solved.

"I.. um-" The two males snapped to look at you. You took a deep breath, keeping your eyes to the floor. "I don't think it's fair to Toji. He doesn't deserve this, it's not his fault h-" You sentence was cut short by a swift hand flying through the air and striking you. You toppled to the side, you stopped yourself from trying to soothe the pain, it would only bring more if you did. A soft scuffling sounded in the hallway but no one seemed to notice.

"You stupid girl. How dare you speak on matters of which you have no knowledge. You bring shame upon us." The head of your clan tsked at you. Moving slowly back into your previous position.

Finally your father spoke. "You two will wed. The ceremony is tomorrow. It is not up for discussion. You both are sins of nature and our families will not pay the price."

"Yes father." They left the room without another word. Tears brimmed and fell quietly from your eyes. You did not sob. You watched as they fell. If they heard you cry they would only be back to finish what they started.

Taking a moment to collect yourself, wiping the tears away as you slowly moved back to the room Toji still sat in. You avoided his gaze as you sat back down in your previous seat. "What did they say?" He eyed you intently.

You took a breath, trying to keep the tears at bay. "They said we are to wed. Tomorrow." Keeping your gaze on your hands.

He huffed and leaned back in his chair. "So there really is no getting out of it huh. You know what? Fuck them. We can escape them once we are wed. We will get out of this."

You wanted to scream and cry at him. There was no getting out of it. He would not live past tomorrow night. You knew why they were in a hurry. Tomorrow night was that of the blood moon. You would have no control over yourself. Lost to the beast under your skin.

You could feel your body vibrating, from fear or anger you didn't know. Toji sighed and crouched in front of you. Taking your hands in his large rough ones.

"Look doll, I get you might not want to be stuck with me but I'm not going to hurt you." A quiet sob broke free from you. He might not hurt you, but you would have no choice but to hurt him. "Y/N, I'm sorry, really I am but we can leave once this is over alright?"

You took a breath and looked up at him through teary eyes. "Toji, you have to listen to me, you-" His face was sincere. Both of the clans heads entered the room stopping your confession.

"You two are to be separated until the ceremony tomorrow evening."

Toji stood, blocking your fragile form from their view. "I think I'd like to spend time with my future wife."

"We weren't asking boy. Leave." Guards advanced, you could see Toji's body tense, he was going to fight them just to not be separated from you. Did he know already? Or was he only acting out due to the tears that fell?

You couldn't let him suffer more than he was already going to. You stood and gripped his wrist. Toji turned and looked down at you. His features softening. "It's alright Toji." He was trying his best to see through the facade you were putting up. Reluctantly he nodded and moved to the side. Guards ushered you away from him and out of the room. The next time you saw him you would be sealing his fate without him knowing.

~ ~ ~ ~

You were confined to your room for the rest of that evening. Today was the day that you would kill an innocent man after swearing to love and protect him. You had always been fond of Toji. He was attractive of course but it was his strength you admired the most. He never rolled over. He always put up a fight. He didn't sit there an take it. While there were limits to how far he could push, he still pushed. He just needed an out and he thought you were it.

But you were only his damnation, not his salvation.

You were kept in your room for most of the day. Servants entered and left. Bringing your dress, doing your hair, packing your room. It had to look like you truly were going to live past this evening. To keep up the appearance of normality.

It was time for the ceremony. You were dressed and done up. A nightmare in a pretty package.

Both clans were present. Even those who were not part of either were present. This was the wedding of the century. It was a shame for it to end in bloodshed.

Everyone looked to you as you entered the venue. Toji's expression was hard to read. You would almost say he looked happy, hopeful even. It took everything in you to not turn and run away and hope they put you down before you made it past the doors.

Your father handed you off to Toji. Toji pulled you close and whispered in your ear. "It's okay little dove. We are free after this. Trust me."

You trusted him but he could not trust you.

"Do you Zenin Toji take this woman as your lawfully wedded wife? To love and protect above all else? To carry on the bloodline?"

You wished he would say no. "I do."

Your heart broke with every passing second. "Do you Fushiguro Y/N take this man as your lawfully wedded husband? To love and protect above all else? To carry on the bloodline?"

He looked at you with such hopeful eyes. You hesitated but he winked at you. Your father advanced a step. "I do."

"You may now kiss your bride. May the bloodlines prosper."

Toji cupped your face and slowly pulled you in. His lips were soft and tentative. It was welcoming and reassuring. Tears pricked as you kissed him back. You hated how in only a few hours you would ruin all of this. Something that could have been good.

People cheered as the kiss broke apart. He wiped his thumb under your eye. "It's okay doll. I got you."

The two of you walked back down the aisle as the rest of the guests followed for the rest of the entertainment for the evening.

Toji and you were sat at a large table at the front of the room. Your father and the clan head sat next to you while the other clan head sat next to Toji. You thought this would have been a moment to talk to him, to tell him to run as far away from you as quickly as possible.

As the clock ticked you only got more nervous. "I need to excuse myself a moment." Your father eyed you and Toji smiled at you as you got up. This would be it. Maybe you could get out now.

You quickly left the ceremony and escaped into the quiet of the hall. The blood rushing through your veins thumped loudly in your ears.

The doors you had just left squeaked open, the noise flooding the hallway before going quiet again as Toji came towards you. "Are you okay? I know it's overwhelming but it's almost over. I'm here." He cradled your hands, tears started to fall again. "What's wrong? Why are you crying? Look if it's because of m-"

"NO! No it's not because of you, well it is but not for the reason you think, Toji you have to listen to me you have to get far away from me tonight you can't be near me I can't control it please~" You rambled on, tears streaming down your face, sobs wracked your body as you tried to explain as quickly as you could.

Toji shook his head and cupped your face. "Wh-What are you talking about? I won't leave you behind with them. I... I saw how your father treated you. I would never hurt you."

A painful sob broke from you as you gripped his wrists. "Toji please I'm trying to save you, the moon will rise soon I won't-"

The door slammed open as your father and both clan heads emerged. They all held fake smiles. "You are missing your celebration."

Toji's eyebrows furrowed, he pulled you into him. “We were just spending a moment alone. Isn’t that what newly weds do?” You tried to hide under his arms in hopes that if they just couldn’t really see you maybe they would leave.

“You should retire for the evening.” Your father stepped closer, flanked by the clans heads.

Toji nodded. “Yes, I think we’ll go.” He went to turn with you but you were stolen from his grip.

“We need to have a word with her. Not to worry. She will meet you at home.” Toji scanned your face looking for any indication of what to do but you nodded. This was good. This would keep him away from you.

Toji reluctantly took slow steps backwards before you were dragged away.

Hallways became unfamiliar the faster you were pulled through. “We keep her here until the last moment then we unleash her.” You pulled on their grip, tried to dig in your heels to stop their advancement but nothing worked.

You were thrown into a room with a large metal door.

“Please father! I don’t want to hurt anyone!” You cried out as the door locked. You father stood emotionless on the other side of the bars. “You were a curse on this family. A sin. Today will be the end of that. The end of you.” He left without another word.

You paced the expanse of the small room. You could feel the beast lurking under your skin. Clawing at the insides of your mind. It wanted out. With every hour the moon rose you could feel your control slipping.

Guards slid the door open after some time, you cowered away from them, crying out as a needle pierced your skin. A sedative. Your body fell limp.

No.

Your control was slipping faster, you knew you wouldn't be able to fight back. They dragged you quickly through the compound under the red moon. Your eyed lulled, your head rolling. Your home came quickly into view. No, no, no. You hoped Toji had left, had ran.

They slid the door open and threw you to the floor before disappearing into the night. You gripped the floor, nails growing long and violent as your fingers elongated, leaving large scratch marks into the wood. Breath laboring.

"Doll? Is that you?" Toji's voice echoed from somewhere in the house.

You tried to talk but you felt your throat constricting. A voice that was not your own trying to force it's way out.

"Toji, come ~no, run-" The voice luring him. You could feel your limbs elongating, your hair grew longer, a wetness seeping like you had just been dumped in water.

Toji came flying down the stairs, he stopped dead and the sight of you, water pooled around you, you could feel the deadly smile forming on your face, putting rows of sharp teeth on display.

"Shit doll, a siren under your skin isn't what I was expecting to see tonight." He tried to joke but you could feel your mind slipping.

"I'm ssssorry..." The snake tongue having formed, your control over your mind was gone. You mourned the life you could have had and the bloodshed you would cause.

~ ~ ~ ~

Toji POV

Shit. shit. shit. shit.

Your body snapped and popped as bones changed and adjusted. Your teeth grew to razor sharp points, eyes turned into a black abyss.

His pretty girl hidden underneath whatever had been lurking under your skin.

He understood now. Why you had been acting so odd, why you begged for him to leave you behind. Had you been able to get him alone and tell him he would have found a way to help you.

It was all making sense now. The wedding between you two. For the hopes of the clan heads you would kill him, not on purpose of course but they would arrive the next morning to his destroyed body and you would be executed for treason even though they were planning this. He scoffed almost impressed at the plannning.

The body that wasn't your own rose, towering even his height.

"Toji.." The demonic voice hummed, only a hint of your sweet one underneath.

He wasn't familiar with sirens but he knew how they came about. A bastard child born, words whispered of the woman seducing the married man, eventually turned the child into what they cursed the mother for. A siren luring men with sinful thoughts to their demise.

However, Toji never had a thought such as that. Even if he had not wanted to marry you forcefully, it didn't mean he didn't care for you, or that he would abandon you even if he did not love you.

But, he had some feelings for you. Growing up with you he had come to know you, you weren't like all the stuck up assholes in the clans. He had saw you try to defend him to your father, he had seen the beating you had taken. You tried to protect him. Now it was his turn to protect you.

"Doll, I know you're in there. You gotta fight it." Toji backed away slowly. The house was a decent size, a forest in the back. He could lure the monster, maybe trap it until morning. You would change back.

The siren hissed before lunging for him, long talons swiping for his head. Lucky he was quick even without cursed energy.

He ran, the siren slammed into walls and furniture as it tried to keep up.

"Toji..."

He tried his best not to listen. The lack of sin made it easier but there was a small pull regardless, more due to the feelings he harbored for you.

He called for the curse he had a pact with as he broke out the back door. Sirens saw best in the dark which is why you turned at night. A nocturnal predator.

Toji pulled out a small ball and twisted it, clicking sounded in an increasing tone. He stopped short, the siren lunged and he threw the small orb.

"I'm sorry darling, this might hurt."

The ball exploded in a blazing fire.

The siren screamed as it fell to the ground, its snake like tail writhing to put out the fire that had engulfed it.

He took it as an opportunity to take off, there was a place he knew of deep in the forest. With enough time he could trap the siren there until you turned back.

Toji's speed gave him a much needed head start, he knew of a broken down temple deep in the forest with a vault like basement. Most likely used as a experimentation room on curses he was sure.

He threw himself into the dilapidated building and down the broken stairs. Quickly he pulled out more fire bombs, setting a longer timer so they would blow when he was safely away from here. He hated the fact that you might get hurt but there was nothing else he could think of. Toji couldn't lure you anywhere else, considering this was your death sentence and no one would hesitate to kill you.

"My love.." The demonic tone echoed in the area as Toji crouched in the dark corner on the opposite wall of the entrance. He would try to lunge past and slide the large door as quickly as he could. This way hurt you the least, he wasn't sure if the injuries inflicted on the siren also hurt you and he didn't want to hurt you at all. He didn't care if he really had to sacrifice himself if it meant he could save you and let you get away.

The siren flew down the stairs and into the room just as he intended. It closed in on him in the corner, the need to kill overpowering any critical thinking, he lunged past as the siren charged, the talons barely cutting his shoulder. A flesh wound at most.

He slid out the door just as the bombs exploded. The scream of the siren almost exploded his ears, the way your voice broke through made his heart ache.

Quickly Toji shut the heavy vault door, and locked it in place. You screamed and screamed, he wanted nothing more than to open the door but he knew the manipulations of the siren.

Heaving he sat down and leaned against the cool metal. The sounds of fire sizzling just barely audible, the screaming continued as the siren banged around in the room, hitting the door a few times before an eerie silence engulfed the area.

Toji eventually stood before slowly making his way back to the house to retrieve his phone. A call needed to be made. One that would save you. The red moon caressed his skin as he made the trek back. He hoped you would be safe by the time he returned.

~ ~ ~ ~

Your eyes fluttered open, trying to focus on the dimly lit space around you. You couldn't help but curl into the warmth that surrounded you.

"Hi my pretty girl." Toji's deep voice jarred you as you shot upright.

"Toji?!" You looked around at the concrete room you were in. Small lit torches lined the room. Long claw marks dug into the walls and the floor.

You.... you hadn't killed him. You looked down at your body in disbelief. A small jade pendant hung from your neck now.

"You think I'd go down that easy? You have no faith in me doll." Toji smirked down at you where you sat in his lap.

"But... what happened? I'm not dead... you're not dead.." You remembered collapsing at the front door, Toji's shocked face as your body snapped and transformed.

"That little snake under your skin put up quite a fight but clearly didn’t know who she was dealing with.” He tucked your sodden hair behind your ear.

You looked away in embarrassment. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I tried, really I did-" He held up a hand to stop you. "I know, I was quick to figure out what had been going on. None of this is your fault. I'm just glad you're okay." A soft smile crossed his face as you caressed the jade pendant you wore. "Now that, is something I got for you. It's a talisman. It should help keep the siren at bay. We will figure out a way to help you. Whether we get rid of it completely, or you can control it. I'll be there every step of the way regardless."

You hadn't felt such care and concern in all your years of living. In a quick movement you grabbed his face and pulled his lips to yours. He didn't move at first but quickly pulled you even further into him. Teeth clashed as the kiss got more heated. He nipped your lip causing you to gasp. In the opening his tongue slipped past continuing his assault.

You pulled away out of breath, both of your faces red, skin hot.

"It's me and you from now on doll." He kissed your forehead, then pulling you against him as you both cherished the calm before the storm you were about to unleash.

(also send requests! i appreciate them they help smmmm with writers block <3)

[small-sinclair]

Breaking Walls

Vampire!Brahms Heelshire x preg.fem!reader

welcomed reader: @hao-ming-8

Tw: biting, blood, killing/murder, bone breaking, angry Brahms, reader being used as a shield, gun, proofread twice but might have grammar mistakes

You woke up to the sound of the backdoor glass shattering.

Your head jerked up from the pillows, sleep still in your eyes. You didn't want to move because Brahms had you in a cuddle, his face pressed in your stomach, his wild brown curls covering his burn, and he looked so beautiful in your arms. At first, you thought it was nothing but part of a dream, but you heard shoes crunching over broken glass.

You placed a kiss in Brahms's hair before getting up. Maybe it's nothing, but it doesn't hurt to look, right? Maybe Malcolm forgot his keys again? No, he forgets a lot of things but not the keys. Also, it's the middle of the night! He's at home with his two dogs. He can't be here at this hour.

If your mind is playing tricks on you, however, it's worth the trip; you needed a glass of water anyways. Yeah, you can get water from the bathroom sink, but the water didn't taste right? Ever since you got pregnant, you would only drink water from the kitchen sink and nowhere else. If you tired to drink from the bathroom sinks, you would throw-up. Two months in and you're still learning new things. You're tired and sleepy, but water and a mysterious noises called you.

You put on Brahms's jacket and slipped on your bunny slippers, still getting the sleep out of your eyes. You really hoped it was mice breaking something or some very angry racoon throwing rocks like last week. Brahms fought the little guy and killed it with his teeth, his fangs ripping it apart like a dog on a chew toy. You held a funeral for the little guy and had Malcolm get a racoon statue as a grave stone marker. You had Brahms read aloud a written apology to the dead racoon before you lowered the critter into the earth.

R.I.P. Ted the Racoon, who's buried in the backyard, you thought as you sneaked down the steps. Maybe Ted's family has come for revenge. You couldn't help but give a silly smile at the thought of Brahms fighting another racoon. He's so hot cute when his fangs are out. His eyes would shine brighter and his smile looked so breath taking. What a king, my man. He's the Racoon Slayer.

When you got closer to the backdoor, you froze.

Standing by the good china, a taller, stronger man had his back turned as he hurriedly took the good silver from the drawer. Standing next to him, a smaller man in a ski mask held the bag.

Out of reaction, you turned on the lights, making the men freeze.

"What in the hell do you think you're doing?" You snapped confused, sleep finally starting to leave. When you saw the handgun in the back pocket of the smaller man, your eyes grew wide. You did not think this through. "Oh... shit."

The smaller one was the first to jump to run after you as soon as you started towards the staircase again. "Brahms! Brahms, help--!"

His hand covered your mouth as he pulled you backwards, the taller man starting to hurry to get things packed. "Come on, Dylan! We got enough!"

"The bitch screamed for help!" The smaller one shouted. "There's another here!"

The taller man turned, his eyes glowing from under the ski mask. "Then let's get out of here! We got enough silver-!"

Within the walls, the sound of wood breaking and paint chipping echoed. The lights above you flickered and broke, it sounded like a freight train inside the walls. You struggled to get out of his grasp, but he squeezed harder around your skin. If he leaves bruises on you, all type of mercy will go out the window. Your eyes darted around the room as the smaller man took out his gun, taking it off safety.

Suddenly, silence.

You closed your eyes and started to cry silently, a whimper escaping from the back of your throat.

And that's all Brahms needs to hear.

From the right side of the taller man, Brahms burst through the wall roughly, taking down the taller man. The man didn't have time to react as Brahms took a piece of wood and stabbed him in his lower chest, burying it in deep. Brahms threw him to the side, his back snapping as soon as it hit the broken door, and sunk to the floor.

When his eyes flashed to you, his soft puppy eyes turned to a blood red, maskless. He hissed at the man, his fangs bared and bright, his body tense with danger and murder. He looked at you then at the man, hate burning his lungs. How dare he have a gun against your skin. Your his. You're not supposed to feel fear while you're in his house, your home. He promised you that since he married you in the spring.

And the baby--

The gun pressed against your throat as the shorter man said, "Move and she dies, I swear--!"

He didn't finish that statement. In a blink, he was thrown back into the wall, his back going through it. Brahms pushed you away, and you fell on back and scurried away as Brahms entered the wall.

Close your eyes and count to 100, y/n. This is going to be ugly.

The man looked up at horror of Brahms and tried to shot, but Brahms broke his hand. "How dare you," he hissed through his teeth. "How dare you come into my house," his grip tighten, "try to steal my wife away from me," his grip tightened until his bones stated to shatter all over again. The man screamed but Brahms didn't let up. "You threatened her, my darling, with a gun! My y/n with a gun! My child, that she carries, with a bullet!" Brahms twisted his arm back violently, snapping his shoulder in two.

"Please," the man whimpers pathetically. "Mercy--"

"Fuck your mercy," his accent was heavy. "Fuck your begs. It left as soon as you thought it was a good idea," he yanked the man to his feet until he was dangling in the air, "to put my wife and child in harms way!" The more he thought about you almost getting hurt, the more he hated the men. The more he hated the fact that they were in his house. Near you. Touching and bruising you. Scaring you. He hated them. He ate himself. He loves you. "Never again," he growled, his fangs growing longer and sharper. "Never. Again."

With a terrible noise leaving the attacker, the sound of the man's neck being torn from his body made you want to throw-up.

You slowly sat up as you watched Brahms come out of the broken wall, his mouth covered in rich blood from his kill, chest heaving heavily. His eyes scanned the room and saw the other man, who laid across from you, taking shallow breaths. You looked at your husband then back at the man. He didn't do anything wrong to you; he wanted to leave and call it a night! Truth to be told, you felt bad for him. He was just looking for a score, not to be killed by a ragging vampire husband. You looked between him and Brahms as you watched him breath heavily.

"Let me take care of him, doll," Brahms said in his real voice, deep and low, the corner of his lip twitching in anger. "You'll never see him again-"

"Brahms, wait," you were shaky as you stood between him and the dying man. Your hands went up and cupped his cheeks. "Honey, he's almost dead. He didn't hurt me or wanted to harm me; he wanted to leave."

"He came into our house, y/n," Brahms's voice was heavy in anger as he looked at the man gasping. "I can take care of the rat."

"Then make it fast?" You asked. "I don't want him to suffer more than he already has, okay?" You thumbed away some of the blood on the corner of his mouth. "He's done nothing wrong towards me." His eyes fell back on you, and his soft brown and blue eyes returned. He leaned into your hands and took deep breaths, but your hands left him, lowering them to your side.

He looked at you confused as you were careful to step away and over the broken glass. You crouched next to the dying man and held his hand. Your grandmother said that it's bad to die alone, and it's the worst feeling in the world. You frowned as you listened to his broken apologies, and you offered a sad smile.

"Thank you for not hurting me," you whispered. "I'm sorry that it has to be this way."

You felt Brahms standing over you, and you looked up, letting him know that you were ready, that it was okay for him to do the kill. You know it's in his nature, but he always made sure you're not in the room. He helps you stand and ushered you out of the room to the front hallway.

He kisses your hands, whispering in his voice, "Be right back, y/n."

"Please, Brahms," you said again, taking his hand. "Please be good? Make it fast?" He doesn't answer you, but he squeezed your hand and left you alone.

You stand and wait alone in the dark. You held your stomach as you waited, nervous and scared. The moments later, the light turned off and Brahms emerged from the darkness. He lowered his head on your shoulder and left a blood stain kiss on your neck, his fangs brushing your skin.

Your hands raked through his curls as you leaned into his chest, closing your eyes, allowing yourself to cry again.

"Never again," Brahms murmurs in his childish voice. "Never face scary noises by yourself again." His hand grip your arms gently before scooping you up and carried you back to bed.

You leaned into his chest a he carried you up the steps. "Did he suffer?"

"No," he answers childishly. "I was good. I listened. I promise." You looked up at him and touched his scared face. He leaned into it and kissed your palm. "Brahms was good."

You couldn't help but smile as you lean against him. "Good boy," you whispered, tears slowing down. "Good boy, Brahms."

He takes you back into the bedroom and lays you down. He leaves and washes up in the bathroom. When he comes back, he wasn't wearing a shirt as he came back into bed. He kisses your lips twice, one to say 'I love you' and one for 'goodnight', and wrapped his arms around your side, burying his face to be close to his child once more. Your hands went through his curls, again, then closed your eyes. After a few shaky breaths, you were back to sleep.

[sweater-daddiesdumbdork]

On The Hunt: You Broke and I Shattered

Summary- 3.9k Alpha Steve x Little One. You and Steve find where Ulysses is storing his stolen goods; vibranium from Wakanda. Scouting the building, you and Steve separate and Steve struggles with this lone wolf mentality.

Warnings- Steve being upset and lashing out about your relationship with Pan. Reader goes into her heat finally and confronts Steve during it.

A/N- Okay I know it's been a while, LONG WHILE since I have posted these two. Part of me is still apprehensive about your Steve feelings. Be mad and hate him if that is the vibe! I get it, honestly, I do. I can't help but love him as strongly as I always have because I love a broken character that I created. Thank you so much @yenzys-lucky-charm for walking through this and holding my hand with them. For always giving me reassurance to continue this story. You, my dear friend, are a saint for all you do behind the scenes. Dividers made by @firefly-graphics Enjoy, and if you did, please share and reblog. I also love hearing your thoughts and rants about them.

Chapter Seven / Masterlist

It smelled bad. 

The Little Wolf’s nose wrinkled as she scouted the side of the large warehouse. You lost track of Steve after he shifted, the Alpha whisking his muzzle against the Little Wolf’s and then leapt away along the edge of the warehouse. As large as the Alpha was, he was easily able to meld into nothing when he didn’t want to be seen. A skill from many years of hunting. 

The Little Wolf weaved through the large piles of garbage and pallets, using them to keep her hidden from the multitude of cameras outside of the building. The installers had attempted to keep them hidden, but your time working with T’Challa had taught you where to look. 

The Little Wolf was also good at getting by unnoticed, the smaller stature and slinking nature could make her easily pass for a street dog that ran wild. 

The scents assaulting her were so foul and strong. The heavy acidic scent of fear permeates the stone and steel walls, making the Little Wolf’s ears lay flat against her skull, her nose wrinkling in discomfort. 

A scuffle of footsteps caught her attention, sending her into hiding with her radar-sharp ears swiveling towards the footsteps scuttling down the alleyway towards where you were hiding. 

“The shipment’s ready, just need the boss's sign-off.” You heard the man say into a phone and the Little Wolf pricked her ears to catch the last of the conversation. “Yeah, Klaue is expected in a couple days.”

He is not here yet. You mentally sighed, frustrated that there would be a period of waiting around for you and Steve.

<But he will be here soon for us. The Alpha should be coming around any moment, maybe we can get inside.> She was quiet in her movements, easing away from the rambling man whose conversation turned elsewhere, giving them no more vital information. Catching sight of the unlatched door, the Little Wolf paused, glancing around to see that no one was nearby. <Should we wait?> 

We could lose our chance. You urged her, unwilling to wait now that the opportunity of getting inside was just so available to you. 

<The Alpha…> The Little Wolf hesitated, glancing back at the direction Steve should be coming around. 

Will catch up. He can follow our trail and we might lose this entrance if that man comes back to lock this door. This is our chance to see the inside and be prepared for Ulysses. 

She finally relented, using her muzzle to ease the door open further and sneak into the dark interior of the warehouse, a sliver of light the only source into the belly of the beast. 

It was easy remaining out of sight on the main floor, various containers of weapons that all smelled tinged with vibranium littered haphazardly around and in the center of the building were cages, all emptied but you could see that they had been recently used. All providing cover even as a silent snarl flirted across Little One’s muzzle, anger simmering in your chest as well as sadness that you had been too late to save those souls from whomever they were sold too. 

Flashes of your old life, the sales floor clouding your memories while you wandered between them. The fear and pain at being dragged in front of buyers, their hands running all over your naked body and the false promises of giving you a better life if you just bonded with them. 

The vileness of it made the Little Wolf shiver and a soft barely there whine escape. <Never again.> She assured you, the fur along her back bristling in agitation. 

Never again. You agreed with her, calming once more. You escaped, you had known love and safety with your pack and with Steve. Even now with you two separated, you knew Steve still wouldn’t ever allow anyone to use you like that again. 

The Little Wolf eased closer, edging along the last line of containers holding vibranium and weapons, trying to map the building. 

There was a huff nearby and you caught sight of silver fur rows back. Steve found us. The Little Wolf stopped, the tip of her tail wagging in a greeting but the Alpha stalked nearby, his eyes blazing furiously at the Little Wolf. 

She lowered further, feeling the anger roll from him while he slid up next to her, pressing in against her for a moment just to feel her before he silently let his nose wander along the edge of the containers. 

Loud shouts just out of sight called out directions to load pallets onto the truck, making you and the Alpha both freeze for a second. The Alpha turned away and returned to the Little Wolf’s side, rumbling enough so you felt the vibrations rising off him. Not an order from the Alpha but a suggestion that it was time to go. 

You pulled back, leading the way out, and once back outside, no one the wiser, you both bolted away from the warehouse. 

It had been a while since you had returned to the apartment, Steve had been silent most of the time, both of you sketching out the warehouse's interior and tensley comparing notes with one another. But you could feel the tension crackling between you and Steve. All his responses clipped in a tone that you were just not used to from him. 

It was making your Little Wolf uneasy in your mind, pacing back and forth in a skittish way, making you feel like you were about to snap. 

You finally pushed away the notes and sketches of the warehouse, making Steve’s gaze snap to you curiously. “What’s wrong Steve?” 

His brows furrowed together and his mouth thinned with whatever he wanted to say being held back. “Nothing is wrong Y/N. We should contact T’Challa to let him know what we found.” He pulled away, going to grab his phone when you grabbed his forearm to keep him from avoiding the question. Steve stiffened, a shiver going through him and you saw his nostrils flare a bit, dragging in a breath of you. 

“Stop the bullshit Steve, you’re pissed and I don’t know why.” Your Little Wolf yipped anxiously, making you tense up all that much more. 

Clear blue eyes snapped, flaring slightly in a glowing color as the Alpha in him rose to challenge him before he turned to you with a slight bare of his teeth. “You didn’t wait for me Y/N. You charged into that warehouse alone.” 

Your hand dropped from his arm and you immediately snapped back, if you had hackles, they would be raised at the tension finally breaking. “This is what you are pissed about Steve? I was doing the mission. I don’t need your permission to do that.” A snarl emitted from you, daring Steve to bite back. “Not anymore.” 

He rose to the challenge, rounding onto you, his size a sheer force but you held tight, refusing to step back from him. “That’s right Little One, I gave you up and set you free from me.” 

A warning growl escaped you as a bit of tears threatening to well up hearing him. “That you did.”

“You have no regard for your safety, we are supposed to be hunting together and you just go into that building without me and that wasn’t the plan, I don’t care that you went in, but I didn’t know where you were, I just happened to catch your scent in the open door. What if they found you and caught you, what if I couldn’t follow you in?” He pulled away with a yank of his hand through his hair. 

You squared your shoulders, anger making your tone bite in your words. “It’s not your fucking job Steven to keep me safe. Why are you always trying to shield me?” 

“Cause Little One! It still feels like you’re fucking mine, even now while we are unbonded all I feel…” His hand slapped against his chest, where you knew his heart pounded its rhythm. 

“Well that sounds like your problem that you need to figure out. I’m not your Little One.” You tossed out, the pain searing into anger at the Alpha in front of you. “You ‘set me free’ which is utter bullshit, you don’t get to dictate how I work now.” 

It was like whiplash, his brow wrinkling as his sadness seeped through before anger masked his features once again. “Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten. You remind me, you had moved on right… to him?” 

You knew exactly who he was talking about and that made those tears finally fall, your hand lifting and slapping sharply across Steve’s face hard, enough that his head turned with the impact. 

“How dare you, Steve, Pan was my friend when I was broken. My friend Steve, he was exactly who I needed when I was alone. You did this to us. You and that fucking drive to keep me safe. Newsflash Steve, my whole life I fought and I’m never going to stop. Now I’m doing it alone without you. You just thought of how you hurt me while being collared, it was NOTHING compared to what you did in that hospital room. I lost you that day and had to learn how to live without my mate because he didn’t want me anymore.” 

“Fuck Y/N, I never said I didn’t want you.” Steve’s jaw clenched tightly, but the anger from his features was gone, disbelief crowning his features now. His hand reached out to draw you in, but you stepped away, unable to handle the contact.

“You broke me that day Steve and now you don’t like this version I turned into? You have no right to be mad about that.” Your voice cracked, a shiver wracking up your body while the Little Wolf started singing in the back of your mind, her own pain breaking in the song. “I survived being used, I survived beatings in attempts to make me submissive, I survived other Alpha’s scarring me with their bites, I survived all the times they tried purposely to break me into bowing for them and being this meek little pup. But you, Steve I barely survived you.”  

You let out a breath, feeling your chest lighten as Steve stood before you like he was at a loss for words for a moment. Before you would let him say anything, you turned away to your room and let the door shut him out. Exhaustion hit you like a ton of bricks and as you crawled into your bed to sink into that dark place you yet again were hovering in, your Little Wolf crooning to you, you curled into a ball in your bed and let yourself go. 

Steve sat on the edge of the uncomfortable bed in the apartment. It had been hours since you just dropped it all on him, which he knew but hearing it come from you, how your voice became so vulnerable like you were laid open and left to pick up the pieces. To top it off, he knew he was an utter asshole for what he said to you, wishing he could take it back. But it was out there now and he knew he couldn’t take back what he said in a moment of frustration. 

There was no way to take any of the last year back, he knew he acted on instinct back then and he was wrong. All of it was wrong, but he had to live with his actions. Actions had consequences and all he could do now was live with those choices, and give you that freedom. You were right, he couldn’t be mad at what you turned into because he was a part of it all. Something in him shattered that day, hard broken shards that fed all his fears and he was still struggling to not give in to them.

It still didn’t make it easier for him, or the Alpha. The Alpha was furious with him once more. A snarling beast who lashed out to make Steve wince at the rage. But he felt he deserved it, he took each one without a snap back. 

To top the whole fuck up of a day there was a soft wail through the wall of disbelief and it hit every one of Steve’s senses.

Your heat finally arrived and right now you two were stuck together, with no way to give one another space during this vulnerable intimate time. 

And it was almost torture to Steve as his muscles cramped with restraint, resisting the urge to go to you. 

The Wolf simmered somewhere, Steve sensed him close, but he was still staying away from the conscious side. Your scent was heavy with need and that made a ping of guilt well up in him that your heat was going to be worse for you because he was there. 

If you were back in Wakanda he would slip away, leave you in peace to choose the partner you would want to help you through this. But not in the middle of a mission like this.  

<Coward> The Wolf snarled at him, his ears laid flat against his skull and showing his fangs with a snap of his jaw, jolting Steve back to his awareness of his beast. <You would run away instead of staying to take care of her.> 

His head hung from his shoulders, gritting his eyes and clenching his jaw as his own beast tried to take over, howling your song to call for you. His rut was going to be rough, more of his wolfish side coming through, the overbearing need to fuck and take care of his mate would be a whole other torture. 

“Fuck off.” He snarled loudly, aiming at the Alpha but your soft voice cut through his snarl, making his head snap up, his hair disheveled and eyes flashing a brighter color as his nose tilted up to catch your warm honeysuckle scent. 

“Steve.” Your voice was soft in tone and loud in every other way as it broke his inner battle, your hands clutching at a blanket around you, miserable looking. “She won’t stop…” 

Steve guessed, as much as his wolf was trying to take over, the Little Wolf would be too. You were so distressed-looking, shaking in the blanket even though it wasn’t cold. He straightened up, holding out a hand to you. “Come here Y/N.” He growled, unable to contain more of the Wolf coming through. 

It was all it took, the blanket fell from around you, your body to sensitive for anything on you, as you streaked to Steve, his arms circling around your waist and made you straddle his lap. Getting as close as you could be without pinning you underneath him in the bed. His clothes felt so constricting as you settled in close, tears starting to race down your cheeks while your hands slid up his chest, pulling his shirt over his head so you could get skin to skin, which he was thankful for. “I tried Alpha, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” You leaned into him, your breasts pressing against his chest as your face tucked into his neck, hiding away. 

“For what Y/N?” he let his nose press against the back of your neck, inhaling deeply. That alone made the wolf ease back, and let him regain control. Heavy calloused hands went up and down your back as you started sobbing in his neck, your thighs squeezing against him as you rocked your hips slightly to rub against him. 

“For being here with you.” You pushed against him and stared at him with sorrow and pain that Steve couldn’t stop the kisses he flushed over your eyes as more of your tears escaped, tears that he caused. Salty on his lips as they escaped into his beard. His gentleness at the moment, although both of your bodies were screaming to mate with one another, seemed to break you. 

“I’m so mad at you for doing this to me.” You dug your nails into his shoulders, rocking again as he matched your movement, pushing up to give you some relief in your grinding. “I did what you said, I left you alone and you followed me here. I couldn’t escape you with the pack and I still can’t Steve. Why do you make this impossible for me?” You hissed as your mouth sought his, while his kiss stayed gentle, you bit at him, gasping against him as your nails clawed into the muscles of his back. “You left me Steve and it broke me more than anything else that has happened.” If this was your punishment, Steve would take it. Every sharp claw and hissing bite you lashed at him. 

Steve clenched his jaw, unwilling to defend himself and his choices. He did this to you and it was the least he could do was listen. Instead, he pressed you in closer to him, touching you in all the ways he knew made you feel safe and cared for, his lips pressing against yours while you broke because of him. Your pain you lashed onto his back with your nails sharply dragging up to grasp his shoulder and rock yourself in against him once again, he welcomed the pain as he would any of your touches. 

You shook in his hold, pushing away from him enough to look at him, your anger melding into sheer pain. “Was I too weak to be an Alpha’s mate, your mate? Do you regret taking a broken and used Omega? I need to know Steve.”

This he couldn’t stand, not from you of all people. With a sweep of his hold, he twisted you to the bed, on your back while he hovered over you with a bare of his teeth at you, all the long hair falling forward around his face, making Steve look wild above you. Your hands went to cup his face, studying the man you and your little wolf still fiercely loved, your fingers pushing up to weave into his hair. “Is that what you actually believe Little One?” Steve’s tone was graveled, a mix of his voice and the Alpha growling at the same time. “Do you?” He said sharper, making you roll your body up into his solid one, giving a nod when you couldn't say anything. 

His hands caught your wrists and let his nose trace the inside on each one, you went pliant against him finally and he let his whirlwind of emotions settle. He had you and wasn’t planning on letting you go till you knew in your soul that he never would have left you because of those reasons. 

Your hands were pinned swiftly, slamming them into the pillows scattered around his bed. “Little One.” He growled when his lips descended to the soft warmth of your neck column. Kissing behind your ear with much more gentleness than how his hand caged yours over your head. “You really don’t know do you, how much power you have.” His growls were edging on violent, wracking through your body while his touch remained loving, each glide of his hand tracing your side passionate while the other encircled your wrists above your head with controlled strength, the flick of his tongue gliding on your skin and light pressure of sharpened fangs all affection in worshipping you. “How I would do anything for you. You think me walking away didn’t destroy my sanity, made the beast try to claw from his cage?” 

You whined under Steve, your heat simmering on unbearable but his words were making you want to scream. All this time he felt this way and he still managed to walk away, leaving you shattered, your fingers curled, digging into his palm keeping you pinned down. He hissed at the pain but never loosened or pulled away from you. “You still did it, you claim to protect me from you.” 

Steve rose above you, his touch on your waist going to your face, turning your head till you couldn't look away from him. So much filled his gaze locking with yours and your unshed tears of anger, frustration, and pain were mirrored in his. “Because I am weak, scared, and broken. All I could see in that moment was you dead at my feet, that I had destroyed my mate, half of my soul. Alpha’s might seem powerful, but actually, we are empty without our other halves, made to serve our packs but never finding anything beyond that. That day I almost killed mine and I was powerless to stop it." His throat bobbed, swallowing past the emotion that almost seemed to overtake him. "I made a mistake and I see that now Little One, I let fear control me, and look what it did to us. I can’t take it back and will always live with what I did. You are right, I can’t be mad about who you are now because of it, you became stronger. You don’t need me, not really. You, my mate, you have all the power. Fuck, that day I was breaking down thinking I was powerless to control myself...”  His shoulders sagged like admitting this out loud to you took everything out of him. “I should have talked to you about what I was going through instead of running.” 

You eased up the grasp of your fingers digging into his palm, allowing yourself to soften slightly under him. Pulling a hand from his hold, your touch drifted up, sliding around the curve of his neck while you silently counted every little ragged scar circling his throat. Every little barb that dug into him and controlled him. This shattered your Alpha and he was struggling to be better. "I see you Steve." You whispered up at him while letting your thumb wipe under his eyes, clearing away the moisture welling up in those sharp blue eyes.

He reached up to take your palm, curling it against his jaw while he tilted into it, pressing his lips to the center. "I see you too Y/N, I'm so sorry I pushed you away."

Your Little Wolf called out his song again while his eyes scanned over your face, feeling the change in you. Your legs wrapped around his waist, holding him closer. “I could throttle you.” You chirped with a crack in your voice and Steve gave a soft sad chuckle as his head dropped to lean his forehead against yours, giving a little sniffle.

“I know I deserve it.” 

“And what do you want now Steve?” You asked softly, almost a whisper between you two. 

The Alpha was silent, his inhales drawing you in to smother all his other senses, if he could drown in you, he would so happily. “A chance for us, to be the Alpha and your mate you deserve from me.” He pulled away to catch your eyes, such a sharp blue with tinges of yellow melding to give hints of green, the Alpha bleeding through, showing while Steve gave you the answers you sought. “To give you all of me, even the broken parts that need fixing Little One.” 

“If I said I need you to talk to me Steve, you need to let me in instead of just trying to keep me safe from the world.” Your hand twisted in his hold, sliding your fingers through his above your head. “That you won’t shut me out because you are trying to keep me safe.” 

“I will spend my life showing you I can be your partner.” This next kiss was gentle, a brush of his lips to yours as you pulled him back into your hold, his heavy weight on you making you finally feel like you were where you belonged. “And I will wait, as long as you need to be ready for us again, if that is what you want.” 

Ready to be us again… You repeated to yourself, letting his words really take hold. The Little Wolf was a calming presence now, the heat sated enough in just this rebonding moment for you two. You pushed up your hips enough to push against Steve and he instinctively released his hold on you to fall back and take you with him, letting you straddle him while he laid underneath you now, his hands caressing down till they settled on your waist, content to let you decide what you wanted from him next. “I missed you, Steve, we missed you.” 

Your touch slipped up his chest while you moved to settle in against him, ease relaxing through you as his arms slipped around you, hugging you to lay against him and nothing more in the moment. You let your cheek lay against his chest, your head tucked under his bristled chin. You could feel his words as he spoke them out loud. “We were wanderers without our home Little One, we missed you too.” 

[flowersandbigteeth]

Meeting your changeling BF: pt 8

General Plot: You arrive in Darkbell and meet the king

Word Count: 3.5K

Changeling (Clark) x f nymph reader

TW: yandere behavior, sfw fluff, magic

Previous parts and more nsfw monsters here

The troubling thoughts were scrubbed from your mind when you reached the gates of Darkbell. They were massive, rising up several stories and made of some gleaming white metal. 

“Amazing, hm? The gates of Darkbell have never been breached. The citizens have lived safely inside for centuries.” Clark said, pulling your horse to the side where there was a smaller entrance with a night elf guard. 

“State your business,” he barked, not at all friendly. 

Clark opened his jacket and pulled out some document. 

“I’ve been sent by the Mage’s Chamber to answer your request,” he said. 

The night elf examined the document carefully, then looked at you, his glowing violet eyes skeptical. 

“What about her? Doesn’t say anything in here about a nymph,” he said. 

Clark sighed and rolled his eyes. 

“For Goddess’s sake,” he grumbled. “No one is trying to break into your bloody cave. She’s my wife! Why else do you think I’m carrying around a nymph?” 

He pulled out the two little booklets the administrator had given you to mark your marriage and showed them to the elf. The guard didn’t seem the least bit moved by Clark’s tirade, but handed his documents back and waved you through. 

“Proceed straight to the castle,” he said as you passed. 

Clark mocked him in silence when you were out of his view. 

“Be nice,” you said, smacking him lightly on his arm. 

“You are too sweet, my love,” he said, nuzzling your ear. 

You gasped at your first vision of Darkbell. Clark’s description did not do it justice. The city was stunning. The homes and businesses were cut directly into a shimmering blue stone, flecked with sparkles that looked like stars. Gravity defying aquaducts wound around the buildings delivering water in sparkling waterfalls to various ponds and wells tucked in walled gardens. The paths were lined with blocks of the same gleaming white metal as the gates. There weren’t just glowing mushrooms, there were bioluminescent vines and flowers climbing every vertical surface and clusters of gently pulsing fungus crowded the corners. 

Night elves moved elegantly through the neighborhoods, their skin a similar blue to the buildings but their eyes glowing a rainbow of colors– blue, green, pink, and violet. The cave was relatively dim, but you could still see quite well with tall illuminated fungus growing along the avenue like street lamps. 

At the far end of the massive expanse that was the city, a lovely sparkling castle sat at the top of hundreds of stairs. It appeared to be carved from blue and purple crystals that were hundreds of feet tall. Even more crystals arranged almost like stonehenge circled the main building. As you approached, your eyes followed two of the aquaducts emptying into a wide river that bisected the city. It was clear and still as glass with massive white fish with no eyes gracefully swirling their long fins below the smooth surface. 

“How pretty,” you breathed, your eyes eating it up like candy. 

“It is a little pretty,” he agreed, guiding your horse along the widest road towards the castle. 

You had to dismount in front of another surly guard at the base of the castle. 

“King Khelvan is expecting you,” he said, carefully examining all of our documents again. “Proceed.” 

“The king,” you whispered as Clark took your hand to lead you up the staircase. “I’ve never met a king before! What do I do?” 

He chuckled. 

“Just let me talk with him,” he assured you. “Be polite and bow when you approach, that’s all. Don’t be hurt if he’s a little rude, all these elves are cold to outsiders.” 

You were expecting an old King with lots of wrinkles and maybe a long beard, but that wasn’t who was sitting on the throne. The night elf was incredibly handsome and appeared to be close your your age with oddly familiar glowing green eyes. A sweep of long blue hair fell over wide, strong shoulders. He was dressed in a robe that looked to be woven from silver thread only accentuated his graceful features. A single silver circlet rested on his head. 

To either side of you, what must have been his court, peered at the two of you, whispering amongst themselves. 

“Greetings your Magesty,” Clark said with a practiced flourish as he bowed. 

The king’s eyes met yours for a moment and while Clark was looking down, he winked at you! The edge of his lip lifted just slightly as he looked you up and down. Your cheeks burned and since you were standing there staring, Clark grabbed your wrist and pulled you down with him. 

“Rise Mage and state your business,” the king said, his tone neutral though his voice was very smooth and deep. 

“I’m Clark Septos and this is my lovely wife (Y/N). We arrived to answer your request for an investigation,” Clark said. “You wrote there was a wraith haunting your halls, causing trouble. The Mage’s Chamber humbly offers my services to hopefully find some solution.” 

The king rose from his seat and glided down the set of stairs that separated the two of you from the throne. He circled the both of you, taking your measure. 

“A changeling and a nymph,” he hummed. “What an interesting match.” 

“I’m very fortunate,” Clark said, smiling at you warmly. “The goddess blessed me with a wife as sweet as she is beautiful.” 

“Hm,” he said, then turned and walked down a side hall. “Let’s discuss the matter in my library.” 

You stuck close to Clark as you followed him. The inside of the castle was just as beautiful as the outside. Everything from the chairs to the shelves was carved from faceted crystal. 

He led you into a smaller room with a massive, sparkling desk and took his seat behind it, gesturing for the two of you to take the ones on the opposite side. 

“As my request explained,” he started as soon as you were settled. “There’s a wraith on the loose. I’m not sure who conjured it or why, but it seems to have some vindictive mission. Things and people have gone missing, relics destroyed, and no matter what spells we cast they simply aren’t strong enough to excorcise the creature. I assure you, we would not have summoned you had we been able to handle the situation ourselves.” 

Clark pulled out a small notebook to write notes. 

“Does it speak or communicate?” he asked. 

King  Khelvan nodded. 

“It goes on about some betrayal that occurred,” he said. “I have no idea what injustice they refer to. I’ve searched the library and asked the elders, but no one can come up with anything.” 

“When and where does it tend to appear?” 

Khelvan thought for a moment. 

“It seems to like hanging around the Queen’s chambers. I, of course, have yet to choose a Queen so they are unoccupied, but maids and guards maintain the rooms. There are also many artifacts and heirlooms there that will become the property of the Queen when she is crowned,” he explained. “It’s her items that disappear. It took a scrying mirror, a painting, and a fan that has been passed through generations. There may have been other things I have yet to notice.” 

“What was the painting of?” Clark asked. 

“A princess,” he said. 

“What princess?” 

“No one of note.” 

“Hmm,” Clark hummed. “I’ll have to investigate the area to find out more.” 

“Yes, of course,” Khelvan responded with a tip of his head, then his glowing eyes flicked to you. “I can keep your wife company while you work. This wraith is much too dangerous for a fair nymph. My guards will escort you to the Queen’s halls.” 

Clark frowned deeply and seemed to be wrestling with the idea in his head, but finally caution won out. 

“Yes,” he admitted. “It would be unwise to risk (Y/N)’s safety with a wraith I’ve yet to see.” 

“But-” you started and he shook his head, shushing you. 

“You’ll be safe here,” he said. “I won’t be long.” 

You were nervous about him leaving, but he gave you a comforting kiss on the forehead before he joined the guards standing outside. 

“Would you like a glass of wine to ease your nerves?” Khelvan asked. 

You didn’t really drink, but you didn’t want to be rude, either so you nodded. 

He poured you some rich, red liquid from a decanter and placed the silver goblet in your hand. 

“How did you come to be the wife of a changeling mage?” he asked as he retook his seat. “Most nymphs stay in the old wood. I’ve only met one other that busied herself with our affairs.” 

“It’s kind of a complicated story,” you admitted. “But I adore Clark. He’s been my anchor and my protector through a very confusing time.” 

“I’m sure he would guard such a treasure fiercely,” he mused, smiling at you. 

You found yourself getting lost in his eyes. They were an intense chartreuse, like sun filtering through the leaves of summer trees. 

“Have we met before, you majesty?” you asked. 

You knew it was a silly question, you’d only been in this world a few days, but he seemed so familiar. 

He didn’t answer, likely because it was obviously foolish, taking a sip of his drink. 

“Does he treat you well, provide for you?” he asked, instead. 

“Oh yes, we have a pretty house in Leotolas and a garden. He’s given me some gold to buy what I need,” you said. “He’s an excellent provider.” 

“Leotolas is lovely,” he hummed. “But it can’t compare to Darkbell, can it?” 

You blushed. Darkbell was beautiful, but you wouldn’t compare the two. Of course, you’d never admit that as he was the king. 

“Darkbell is amazing,” you said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.” 

He smiled, revealing straight, white teeth framed by pointy canines. 

“I’m glad you think so,” he said. 

He stood, crossing the room and lifting your hand. 

“Has your mage taught you any magic?” he asked and you weren’t sure how to answer. 

“Well not him exactly,” you admitted, “but his boss taught me how to access my own magic.” 

He nodded, the corners of his eyes wrinkling with a smile. 

“Can I teach you a spell?” he asked. “It’s not that difficult.” 

“Oh yes! That’d be wonderful!” you gasped. “What kind of spell?” 

“This spell is very special. It let’s you glimpse a memory of the person you touch,” he explained. 

Suddenly you were standing in your old bedroom looking in the mirror. You were putting on earrings, singing some song, and dancing around as you dressed. You looked at your phone and there was a picture of a guy you used to know with the message. 

“Is this good for a date? I have no idea how to dress! Help!” 

“Looks good!” you typed. “You look handsome in anything you wear!”

You remembered this moment. It was right before you went on a date with your first boyfriend. Looking around, you found Khelvan standing next you. 

“Ah, so you are a traveler. Pretty outfit,” he said winking, then glanced around your room. “What an interesting world you lived in.” 

He looked at the phone in your hand. 

“What fascinating magic,” he hummed. 

You felt something like a rush of wind and you were back in his library. 

“How did you do that?” you gasped and he chuckled. 

“I’m going to teach you,” he said. “First you have to reach out to the goddess of time and ask for a trade. One memory of their’s for one of your own. That’s the reason you can’t use the spell too often, you’d lose lots of memories. It doesn’t have to be a special memory, just one you have a very clear vision of.

The goddess’s name is Edenta. Focus on her name and try to draw the memory you are willing to trade to your mind. Once you have them in your thoughts, touch your subject and ask for the memory you’d like to see. You have to be relatively specific or she will show you whatever is closest to what you asked for. You can experiment on me.” 

You blinked at him.

“You’re sure you’re okay with me digging around in your memories?” you asked and he laughed. 

“I can help you choose one if you like,” he offered. 

“Yes, I don’t want to see anything too private,” you admitted and he gave you a soft look. 

“So considerate and kind,” he murmured. “What about…? My first date, since I saw yours?”

Your eyes widened. 

“Kings date?” you asked, making him laugh harder. 

“It was arranged by my father, but yes,” he said. “Come on now, quit stalling. Close your eyes.” 

You took a deep breath and did as Khelvan had asked. The moment your mind formed the goddess’s name, it felt like the air got cooler and the glowing shape of a woman appeared in your mind’s eye. It was impossible to focus on her directly, she seemed to be shifting between forms before your eyes.

“Greetings nymph, why have you summoned me?” she asked, her voice many different voices all at once. 

“I wish to trade a memory for a memory,” you said, your words echoing in the space inside your head. 

“What have you to offer me?” she asked and you focused your thoughts on an unpleasant memory you’d rather forget. 

It was when that boyfriend dumped you for your friend. You felt Edenta’s derision. 

“You offer such a miserable memory,” she huffed, “but it will pay the price. What do you wish to see?” 

“Khelvan’s first date,” you said and the moment the words were expressed she disappeared. 

Khelvan had never put down your hand, so you didn’t have to do anything else. You were suddenly in the very court where you’d been introduced. Khelvan was much younger and an older man, who looked very similar was standing with his hand on his shoulder. 

“I don’t want to do this, father,” he grumbled, but his dad smacked the back of his head, causing him to stumble forward. 

“Don’t be rude to Tria, her family has traveled far to organize this match,” he snapped. 

You looked behind you to find the girl he was rejecting. She was a beautiful night elf, dressed in an elaborate gold gown. She looked no more pleased to be standing before him. 

“Fine,” he grumbled, taking a few steps forward to give Tria a stiff bow. “Greetings Tria of Anore.” 

She returned one just as stiff. 

“I’m in your hands, Khelvan of Darkbell,” she muttered. 

The moment was so awkward you wished to be anywhere else and blinked, finding yourself in the library again. You looked up at Khelvan, amazed it had worked. 

“Did I do it?” you asked and he nodded. 

“Yes, you completed the spell perfectly. Apologies my first date was not as pleasant as yours,” he said and you shook your head. 

“Things are very different for you, you’re a king,” you said, pulling your hand away. 

“They were,” he said, leaning against his desk. “But now that I am king, I can make my own choices as to who I make my Queen.” 

“Why haven’t you found one yet?” you asked, then your ears burned at your stupidity. “Oh…ah…I’m sorry, you’re majesty, that was rude of me. I shouldn’t question your decisions.” 

He shrugged and smiled at you. 

“Perhaps I have found her,” he said. “I only need to woo her. Hopefully, more successfully than Tria.” 

You offered him a genuine smile, at that. 

“That’s wonderful,” you said. “I wish for your happiness.”

“Come,” he said, rising and holding out his arm for you. “Let me show you the garden. There’s no reason to stay cooped up in this dusty library while your changeling does his work.” 

You were sure Clark wouldn’t like you hanging on another man’s elbow, but Khelvan was the king and you didn’t want to offend him. So, you looped your arm around his and followed him through the castle. 

The garden was stunning. There were crystal fountains with sculptures that looked like they were made from ice. Flowers and fruit trees filled the space with color and sang to you a sweet song. 

“It’s amazing flowers bloom in the darkness like this,” you commented, your hand hovering over a bloom. 

“You can touch it,” he said, but you shook your head, standing. 

“Trust me,” you laughed. “I’m still getting used to my magic. You don’t want to have to hack back the vines I create when I touch plants.” 

He chuckled, tipping his head in thanks for your honesty. 

“I’m very curious about your old world,” he said, waving you to a bench in front of a fountain shaped the like white fish you’d seen spitting water. 

You shrugged. 

“It was noisy, dirty, and generally…unpleasant,” you said. “There was not magic like here. There was science that made our conveniences, but every convenience had a cost.” 

He nodded, thoughtfully. 

“All magic has a cost, as well,” he commented.

You thought about this for a moment. 

“Yes,” you agreed. “Channeling the whisperer can be…painful, but I’m working on it.” 

While you sat in the garden, Khelvan spoke to you about the history of Darkbell and a few humorous stories about his childhood. 

An hour later, Clark returned with his escorts. When he saw you sitting together he frowned, tugging you away from Khelvan and giving you a kiss. 

“I missed you love, did you miss me?” he asked, trying to sound easy but you could tell he was annoyed. 

“Of course I missed you. I always miss you when you are away,” you beamed, “His majesty has been telling me about the history of Darkbell. It’s very interesting.” 

He made a noise in the back of his throat and glared at Khelvan. 

“What are your impressions?” Khelvan asked, unmoved by Clark’s hostility. “Did you find the wraith?” 

“Yes,” he said tightly. “From what I could garner your wraith is royalty. I tried to speak with it, using my methods to draw out its story. It has some vendetta, perhaps about the girl in the portrait. It’s bitter and vicious! Its presence is very concerning as I believe it will continue its activities as its goal is retribution for what it lost.” 

Khelvan frowned. 

“Can it be excorcised?” he asked. 

Clark frowned. 

“Possibly,” he said. “There is a method that we use for such creatures, but though it is well practiced it’s never a guarantee. Wraiths fueled by hate and revenge tend to be tricky. These feelings are strong and fuel dangerous magic.” 

“What materials would you require to try?” Khelvan asked. 

“A bottle imbued with magic,” he replied. “Wraiths like these cannot be killed, only contained. I will need to trap it and then the Mage’s Chamber will insist I return with it, as it can become a powerful weapon to the owner of the bottle.” 

The King frowned, but Clark continued. 

“You will have to trust the the Mage’s Chamber doesn’t use these creatures as weapons. They merely join our collection where they can be monitored. We don’t hoard weapons for nefarious purposes, as a practice we attempt to avoid political conflicts. We do a service to Ilirion, keeping them out of dangerous hands.” 

“Hm,” he hummed. “Would you be able to go through with the exorcism in the coming days?” 

Clark nodded. 

“Of course,” he said. “There is some preparation but it won’t take much time.” 

Khelvan nodded. 

“Then my guards will escort you…and your lovely wife to guest chambers,” he said. “Please ask them for anything you may need and they will procure it for you.” 

His eyes flicked to you. 

“Don’t forget what I taught you,” he said, his gaze intense. “You may find it useful.” 

Clark grimaced and pulled you under his arm as the guards led you to another part of the castle.

[aw-shizz-here-we-go-again]

•|| Cuddle Pile ||• (Mermay 2024)

Prompt 1: Cuddle Pile

Featuring: Nightmare, Dream, Killer, Dust, Horror, and Cross!

Ships: Subjective. (Can be seen as either Nightmare X Killer X Dust X Horror and Dream X Cross, or it can be seen as platonic cuddles.)

Summary: Nightmare and Dream had a fight, so the Murder Time Trio convince Nightmare to cuddle with them to help him calm down. Dream also gets comforted by Cross.

Warnings: Angy octopus, sadge goldfish.

Credits: Leviathantale and the Mermay Bingo I'm using are both by @skumhuu!

Read tags for notes.

A low rumbling growl echoed throughout the deep trench caverns as the great kraken residing inside grumbled curses under his breath. His tentacles curled around the stone pillars all around him, cracking them under the pressure as he tightened his hold on them in anger.

As much as he loved his brother, Dream of course, he hated how annoying the other leviathan could be. They had recently had a 'conversation' that hadn't gone so well, and that was to blame for his wrath.

...He also had a massive headache, which wasn't helping in the slightest.

He flinched slightly as he heard the sounds of tails swishing through the water, and he opened his eyesocket to see that he was suddenly surrounded by three certain circling sharks. "...What do you want?"

"Awh c'mon, who managed to piss in your clamshells already?" Killer asked with a playful tone, swimming up closer to Nightmare's much larger face. He squeaked and tucked into a roll and Nightmare blew him away with bubbles, but he wasn't that upset.

"Yeah... what happened?" Horror asked next, tilting his head as he gazed up at the giant leviathan. Dust didn't say anything, but instead nuzzled one of Nightmare's many giant tentacles.

"None of your concern." Nightmare snarled, but his angry facade was quickly cracking open like an oyster, showing a softer side. He struggled not to smile at Dust's insistent nuzzles, Killer's smile, and Horror's worrying. Damnit, why couldn't he just be emo and brooding in peace?!

"Nighty! Nighty! Nighty, can you change into your smaller form, pleaaase???" Killer was abruptly right back up in Nightmare's face, swishing his tail excitedly as he begged.

"And why in the seven seas would I do that?" Nightmare cocked a bonebrow up as he questioned Killer, squinting his eyesocket in suspicion.

"Pleaaase? Just for us~?" Killer whined, nuzzling and rubbing himself against Nightmare's cheek.

Nightmare made the grave mistake of looking down at the other two sharks, seeing that Horror was giving him puppy eyes while Dust hugged one of his tentacles.

By the True Leviathans, he was getting far too soft.

Nightmare sighed, choosing to relent as he shrunk down. His bones turned snowy white once more, and his eyelights turned purple. All three shark boys cheered as they saw the little octopus, and they swarmed around him once more.

Then Horror suddenly dived down as Killer wrapped his arms around Nightmare, the small current made from Horror's movement catching them both and dragging them down too. Dust trailed behind, as if making sure Nightmare couldn't escape.

Nightmare already knew it; his fate was sealed now, and he didn't even try fighting back.

As soon as they reached a large flat ledge in the trench, the sharks 'released' Nightmare, only to immediately press as close to him as possible. They all sort of swam around in a tight ball for a second to find their places and get comfortable, then they all settled down as successfully caught the leviathan in the center of their cuddle pile.

Nightmare huffed, but he couldn't stop a small smile that grew on his face. His now much smaller tentacles gently wrapped around each of his shark boys, further entwining him into the cuddles.

As he fell asleep to Killer, Horror, and Dust's soft purrs, he thought that maybe cuddles weren't so bad after all.

. . .

In a different section of the trench, Dream was sitting alone while trying not to cry. He hadn't meant to apparently provoke another argument with his brother, but he somehow managed to anyways.

His fins gently swayed in the slight currant as he curled up in a ball, feeling utterly miserable. Maybe he was the problem. Maybe he shouldn't keep bothering Nightmare. Maybe he should just leave...

Dream flinched as someone brushed up against his back, and their arms wrapped around him. Someone else's tail curled up against his, and the other mer purred quietly as they carefully groomed his frills. "What happened, angelfish?"

Dream relaxed as he heard Cross's voice, but he didn't respond. Instead, he wiggled around to hug Cross as he let out a small whimper, tears pricking his eyesockets.

Cross understood immediately, and he pulled Dream closer to him as they both snuggled up together. The water turned serene and quiet as they laid there, their souls mending a little more as they relaxed in peace.

It was okay if Dream didn't want to talk about it, words were overrated anyways. Besides, cuddles were just better.

______________________________________________________________

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Masterlist

[yandere-sins]

The Orcas’ Tale - Chapter V

Gosh... we're almost at the end. Can you guys do it? Or will I get you with these choices? >:3 One of them actually leads to my personal favorite bad end, so I am lowkey hoping for that, but I am excited to see what you guys will choose ♥

Fandom: Original Content   Pairings: Yandere!Orca Mermen x GN!Reader   Warnings: Yandere, Monsters, Self-harm on the outer side of the forearm to help, Blood mention, Gun mention, Dub-con touches/kisses, Wound healing through licking, Animalistic behavior, Mention of claws/sharp teeth, Hinting at death, Long post

"Think!" you hissed to yourself, looking around you in panic, trying to come up with something to help Nerrocan. 

Time was mercilessly passing you by, not allowing you even a moment to try something you weren't sure of. If you didn't believe that it could work, you couldn't risk your or Nerrocan's life with it. There was nothing for you to use on this small, deserted island, and you wouldn't be able to dive into the ocean and try to find something there, risking your life in more than one way. The situation was despairing, frustration shaking through you as you fumbled, trying to do at least something. 

But there was nothing. Just the island, the ocean, the moonlight. Sand, stars, stones…

Stones!

Falling over your own two feet, you never felt more like a useless human than in that moment, but you pushed these embarrassing thoughts away as you sifted your hands through the sand, trying to find the stone you clutched onto before. It was the most basic fact and overrated stereotype—sharks can smell blood and will react to it. Even if you only managed to distract them briefly, maybe Nerrocan would have a window to take them down. 

No one but these creatures themselves would be able to tell you if your assumption was correct. This plan had no guarantee, but your gut told you it was the best thing you could do. Finally feeling the cold surface of the stone, you grabbed it and sprang up. Stumbling over to the opposite side of the island from where they were fighting, you rolled up your sleeve as far as you could and placed the stone on the outer side of your forearm. Inhaling deeply, you breathed out before dragging the sharp side of the rock down from your hand to your elbow. You had no idea how much blood you'd need to distract them when the mermen were caught in a bloody fight, and you bit your lips so hard you tasted the iron as the pain flooded your nerves, alarming you about the wound being etched into your body. 

This was not supposed to be easy, but you groaned as you discarded the bloody stone, readying yourself for the beastly sting of saltwater in an open wound. Your head was already dizzy, and you found it hard to breathe, but muffling your scream, you plunged your arm into the ocean, keeping it there no matter how much the water burned. Tears shot in your eyes, but you repeated your goal over and over in your mind—survive.

Survive, survive, survive.

A cold hand wrapping around your wrist tore you from your mantra, a terrified squeal ripping from your throat as the unfamiliar face of one of the grey mermen emerged from the water, tightly holding on to your arm. Something about him seemed juvenile. Maybe it was the overly confident, cocky grin or the fact that he was so much smaller than what you were used to from these creatures by now. Smaller than even Lyr or the other shark merman that attacked you before.

But bigger than you either way.

"Couldn't wait for us to finish with the orca, huh?" he chuckled, a grin full of sharp rows of teeth stretching from ear to ear. "We'd have come for you soon, tasty human. But it seems you had other plans."

"N-No," you stammered, pushing your free hand down your arm and intending to pry his off. Behind you, the splashing never stilled, meaning Nerrocan had no idea what was happening on your side. He wouldn't come to save you this time, too busy fighting for his own survival. Your plan had worked a little too well, it seemed. And now you were all on your own. 

"Get off me!" you screamed at the merman, shaking your arm and scratching him as hard as you could. He merely chuckled, only pulling you closer. 

"Why would I? I never let my catch get away. I wonder where I should start… I heard that those special things you use to stand are especially delicious~"

Licking his lips, you felt panic overtake you as you tried to tear your arm from his grip. Blood was dripping from your wound over his fingers, and the merman leaned down, basking in your horror as he licked it up. 

"Fucking delicious, humans are the best," he moaned ecstatically, moving his tongue up higher, directly to your arm for a better taste. Pulling back his lips, he revealed all those terrifying sharp teeth you feared, ready to chomp down, and you tried to stumble away, the sand giving way and making you fall on your ass. All you could do was look up at the merman, knowing what was going to happen, and there was nothing you could do.

He was about to sink his teeth into you when his pupils widened, an expression of shock washing over him. Without letting go of you, he looked over his shoulder, only to suddenly jerk away, hands flailing to grab you, trying to find hold on the island. You screamed in surprise but pulled your legs out of his reach in time, yanking your arm in the opposite direction as he was dragged back, his body disappearing into the depths. Breathing heavily, you jerked around, seeing only the calm ocean behind you. It was quiet.

Snapping your head back forward, the water had calmed on this side as well. You feared approaching it, feared to learn who might be lurking below if it wasn't Nerrocan. But scooting over on your butt, you dipped your foot into the water, only for you to notice the murkiness of it. "Blood…" you whispered, knowing the difference in looks from your studies. Even in the pure moonlight, the ocean's depth could not fool you. The water was turning red. It must have been a lot of blood. 

But nothing happened. 

It was mere seconds that passed, but it felt like an eternity of anxiety rushing through you. As if you had to relive all the fear and panic from the moment you found yourself stuck on the boat out on the ocean alone until now, in just these few seconds. You were alone again. Hopeless. Who could ever find you out here? So far away from the last place you had been seen, days later? Maybe they had already ceased their efforts to find you, and without Nerrocan to take you back to land, you were truly doomed this time. You didn't think Krill or Lyr would come for you, either. No one. This time, you'd not be granted a magical encounter to survive. 

"Nerro…" you whimpered, the panic forcing it out louder as you tried again. "Nerrocan!"

Calling out his name did nothing to free you of this fear. Of the knowledge of your possible demise. Ultimately, the thing that would kill you was what all the orcas had complained about for so long: your humanness. 

"Please… Please!" you sobbed, crawling over to the water's edge, the pain in your arm forgotten now that everything started to hurt. Desperation was raking its claws through you, tears spilling from your eyes as you stared down into the water, unable to see anything. See him. "Don't leave me," you cried, your vision growing blurry while your chest tightened, making it hard to breathe. 

"You promised!"

"I promised."

Hearing the tired but familiar and soothing rumble of Nerrocan's voice was like an angel choir singing down at you from above. He rose from the water as you couldn't contain your emotions, breaking out into more ugly sobs. Nerrocan wrapped an arm around your waist as you reached out your hands—clinging to his neck like the monkey you were—and not saying anything as he lifted you against his chest, pulling you up on the island with him. Not even his tail was left inside the water as he collapsed on the beach with you, holding you tightly against him. 

"You're wounded," you hiccuped into his chest, and he let out an exhausted sigh. 

"Give it some time. It'll heal."

Nodding into his skin, you didn't dare question him. You'd not be surprised if the mermaids had some kind of inhuman wound healing as well, and after all he did for you, who were you to disagree? Instead, more hot tears dripped from your eyes, Nerrocan's hand spreading over your back as he stroked his thumb up and down your spine. 

"It's okay, you're safe," he murmured, sounding like he was about to fall asleep. "I'm here."

Wrapping his other arm around your body as well, he turned both of you to the side, curling his tail upwards and around your back, shielding you even when you were out of the water. You ignored the tightness of his embrace, his strong, scratched and bitten arms holding on to you as if he felt the same desperation as you did. Crying out all of the anxiety and fear you had kept inside you, your body shook against him; you only noticed long after he fell asleep that his breathing calmed down, chest heaving only ever so slightly. The adrenaline that had pumped through your body had also worn you down, but you couldn't close your eyes, even when your vision was too blurry to see. Nerrocan needed this. He needed some rest. As long as you two could, at least. You were going to give him that. He fought for your damn lives and returned to you, protecting you even now. 

Sitting up, it was a struggle to get out of his embrace, Nerrocan's expression tensing when you moved away from him. You left his arms hanging around your hips as you against him, staring out onto the ocean, deciding to watch for more attackers while he rested. And Nerrocan adjusted his hold, curling his head forward until his face was buried in your side. You let him. Anything that would make him feel safe enough to rest. This time you'd protect him while he slept, even if you felt like passing out from all the stress you went through. 

The ocean was magnificent at night. Even with all the horror you experienced, it simply washed all the blood and violence away with a wave, moving on from it. You had no idea how you would ever move on from any of this. No amount of therapy would help to get over what happened to you, and you'd be forced to live with the knowledge of this journey for the rest of your life, unable to share it with anyone. No one would believe you. And suppose you ever managed to get out on the water again and overcome the traumatic experience. In that case, you'd never look at it the same, knowing what actually awaited you in the depths. Creatures that wanted to kill you. 

All except Nerrocan, it seemed.

Slipping your legs from under you, you curled into his arm, admiring his beautiful face. You scowled at the cut on his lip, furrowing your brows as you noticed it had already stopped bleeding and developed a scab. Leaning forward slightly, you observed intently as you realized you could watch it heal, the wound closing right before your eyes, turning into a small, light-colored scar. Amazed, you reached out, carefully tracing your fingertip over it, wondering how useful this could be for humanity if you could extract the healing properties from the mermaids.

But… what would that mean for them? 

It was a moral dilemma to think about the harsh treatments these creatures would undergo to be harvested for properties that might benefit humanity. How cruel it would be to catch and exploit them, even if it would be an amazing progress in medicine. 

But all these thoughts were forgotten as Nerrocan's eyes fluttered open, finding your hand on his lips, conveniently allowing him to nuzzle his face into your palm. "How are you feeling?" you giggled as he rubbed his face all over your hand and blew air into it playfully. 

"I'm good. A little stiff."

Uncurling his tail after his power nap, Nerrocan let it swing back into the water, immediately relieving tension. But instead of dunking his whole body into the soothing wet, he instead situated you close to him with a little space between you two as he rolled over, belly first into the sand, stretching that enormous body of his. His tail fin splashed in the water, and some of it landed on you, the mood turning relaxed and leisurely all of a sudden, making you laugh as you rubbed the water from your face. 

"Want me to massage you?" you joked, placing your way too small hands on his back and pressing down with all the weight of your body. To your surprise, Nerrocan groaned, breathing in deeply as you worked all your strength into his muscles. Who knew he'd enjoy massages? But with Nerrocan twisting his upper body towards you so you could reach every part of him, it truly seemed to be to his liking. 

However, with all the water splashing from his tail on top of him, it wasn't long until your palm accidentally slipped, the wound you had almost forgotten about grating against his body. You let out a pained hiss, pulling that limb against your chest as you tried to counter the sudden burn with deep breaths, but Nerrocan was up the second the sound left your mouth, reaching for your shoulders as you had hunched over.

"What's wrong?!" 

He sounded panicked, very different from how you usually knew him. You put on a brave smile, shaking your head. "It's alright! Just a little scratch, that's all!"

"A… scratch?" 

Suddenly, his voice changed from surprised to a growl, and you looked up to see only darkness coating his face. It was the same expression he had when he fought the other merman. The moment you unfurled, he slipped his hand down to the arm you were holding, prying it from you. Your wound was crusted from the salt, but the blood had stopped. It probably was never very deep to begin with, but it felt hot and agitated. 

"Did they do it?" Nerrocan asked, a threat not directed at you swinging from his growl.

"N-No," you quickly replied, suddenly feeling all the tension ticking in his muscles also spreading to you. "I did. I wanted to help you. I thought I could distract them…"

Nerrocan's arms wrapped around you faster than you could register them. He pulled you up on top of him as he sat on the island, and you stared at him wide-eyed in surprise. 

"Never," he hissed sternly. "Never do that again. For no one. I don't allow you to hurt yourself again, do you understand?"

"Y-Yes?" you replied, and he huffed out air before his eyes dropped back to your arm. Unwrapping one of his limbs from you, he gently picked up your hand in his, positioning you to lift the arm into the air and in front of his face. Completely unbothered by the salt, sweat, tears, blood, and sand, his tongue slipped out as his lips partially enveloped your wound, licking at it like an animal would to groom another. 

"Nerrocan!" you gasped, trying to pull your arm away, but he only needed to close his fingers around yours to keep it in place. 

"Let me…" he mumbled, kissing the spot he licked a few more times before moving on to the next one. "Let me take care of you."

Something about the way he said it made your cheeks heat up. Or maybe it was the kissing and licking, the gentle way he held you, or the fact he had saved you and was trying to help you in the best way he knew how. The way he seemed so devoted to a mere human annoyance like you, weak and only knowing how to hurt yourself to help him. But there was something strange about the way Nerrocan's care made you feel. Maybe it was the animal in him, or perhaps the way he purred gently, keeping you close to his chest so you'd feel it, too, soothing your whirlwind of emotions and making you lean into his embrace with no questions. 

"We can't stay here," Nerrocan mumbled as he lowered your arm to your lap. "We have to keep moving."

"Do we?" you sighed, suddenly overcome with all the exhaustion. As if his purr had tickled out your need to rest. "Can't we stay a little bit longer on land? I'm so tired…"

As if to emphasize your point, you yawned, ready to be dragged to your land of dreams. Nerrocan's purr intensified as he lifted his hand to brush over your head, gently caressing you as he scooped you up in his arms. "That's okay, sweet human. You can rest while we move. I'll hold you; make sure you stay afloat, I promise. But we can't stay. Others could notice the carnage and come for us again. You understand that, right?"

Heaving a long sigh, you nodded, resting your heavy head on Nerrocan's chest as he slipped into the water again, belly up and holding you in his arms. The water wasn't cold as long in his embrace, and you felt his lips press against your head, making you feel even calmer despite being enveloped by the ocean on all sides. There was no more pain in you anywhere, the water peaceful as Nerrocan drifted through it. No matter how inconvenient this position was for him, he made sure to bring you far away from this dreadful place and the danger lurking there before you'd wake up.

After that fiasco, you had little to no breaks on the rest of your journey. 

Nerrocan never rested, swimming day and night, only letting you out of his grasp when he needed to feed you or you needed to relieve yourself. By the time you woke up after the night's horror, the wound on your arm was gone completely. You didn't even have a scar left where it once was to remind you. Once again, Nerrocan had taken care of you, making you realize how lucky you were that he was there with you. 

Still, traveling through the water almost constantly was quite the challenge as you had expected. More than once, you had gotten seasick on his back, and even though you tried to hide your tears of exhaustion, you knew Nerrocan noticed, making you feel even more guilty. The only good thing was that, now that he was also swimming through the night, two days of travel was cut short into one and a half, and you were thankful for every minute you saved.

"Holy shit," you mumbled, gazing at the dark grey structure rising into the cliffside of a mountain. Part of you was overjoyed, seeing some actual land and human architecture after what felt like weeks away. But at the same time, you couldn't help but hesitate.

"Are you sure you want to come with me?" you asked Nerrocan, probably for the third time since you began this journey. "I don't… What if… You might be in danger if…"

Your stuttering anxiety didn't do much to persuade Nerrocan. "It's fine," he assured you, like all the times before. "I promised I'd get you there."

His amber eyes swayed over to you, his tense expression not lost on you. This is where they were tracked long ago, a place they fled from. If not for you, he would have never returned here, risked his life, and now his freedom. If anyone saw him, who knew what they'd try to do to him. 

"Nerrocan?" you asked, sinking to your knees on the small stone ledge he had sat you on. Reaching out, you touched his arm, Nerrocan turning all of his body towards you, fixing you with his eyes. "Thank you," you whispered, tears shooting back to your eyes. You always hoped to return 'home,' but the possibility had been so small at every moment of this journey. And still, he defied it all to get you to where you wanted. There were no words to describe your thankfulness to him, so you merely leaned down, bumping your forehead against his, Nerrocan pushing himself higher so you two could rub your faces against each other. It was his way of showing your feelings, and you hoped they'd translate well to him. 

There were mere inches between you two, your lips barely separated by a breath when you thought about if this would be inappropriate. But the moment you retreated from him, Nerrocan was there to catch the kiss, having gotten so much better at it after doing it so many times with you for underwater travel. You didn't feel like you were kissing a lover as much as a really good friend. A friend who you didn't know how to thank in a way he'd understand other than allowing this. But the kiss was fierce, breathtaking, hungry. Nerrocan nibbled on your lips, asking for entry, hot breaths mixing as he pushed himself up and further into you, his tongue rubbing over your blunt teeth before mingling with yours eagerly. Just as the kiss was getting way out of hand for mere friends, he jerked away, eyelids fluttering as he gathered his composure.

"Let's go," he rasped as he tore from the kiss, and you nodded, waiting for him to hold out his hands for you to sink into, knowing he'd carry you to safety now. You were breathing heavily, but you dove into his waiting embrace, back into the ocean that you had come to love and fear more over the last few days. There was no more time to lose to get you back on land, and you couldn't wait to get some proper food and drinks into you, and a good full-night sleep in a bed.

It was quiet, surprisingly so, the whole way to the facility. The open gates revealed private docks, but only one boat was stored there, seemingly empty as well. Nerrocan kept you in his arms, ready to get you out of harm's way. He still didn't harbor much trust in humans or perhaps just this place. You had expected some hustle and bustle inside such a large structure, but it seemed almost deserted, worry knotting your stomach. Looking to your right, you spotted a ladder leading out of the docking pool, and you pointed Nerrocan toward it. He was hesitant at first but carried you over despite growing tenser with every stroke of his tail. You stretched out your hand in anticipation towards the ladder, already flooded with feelings of freedom and peace.   

"Stop right there!"

A loud, commanding voice made you jolt. Nerrocan's arms reflexively wrapped around you as he squeezed you against his chest, creating a large distance from the docks with one huge stroke. You squirmed in his hold, unable to see what was going on as Nerrocan clasped his hand over your head protectively. Still, you could hear many footsteps suddenly trampling into the room and over the metal flooring. 

"Wai–! Wait!" you yelled, directed at everyone. "Wait, I'm human, and he's friendly!"

"Friendly?" someone scoffed, and you put your hypothetical foot down, slamming your hands into Nerrocan's chest and pushing him away, forcing him to let go. When force didn't help, you took a deep breath, slipping underwater and turning immediately, his hands finding you and dragging you back against him. Still, at least you were facing whoever it was you were talking to. 

Almost wishing you didn't.

You faced a row of guns, their barrels alternating between fixating on you and Nerrocan. If the merman knew what a gun was, it made sense he had shielded your head before. Still, all you could do was gulp, scanning over the people in full-black protection gear and masks, unable to say anything.

"Who do you work for?" someone from behind the guards asked, and you looked up at him, an older gentleman wearing a white lab coat, his expression grim. 

"What do you mean? I worked with a small research team studying currents but got forgotten at sea. You must have heard of me; it was probably all over the news! I just want to go home, I–"

"That's not a very original excuse. Who do you work for? Who told you to come here?"

Confused, you tried wrapping your head around the strange accusations of the man, not sure what he wanted to hear from you. "Please, I just want to go home! You have to believe me…"

Behind you, you felt Nerrocan tense as the clicking of guns resounded through the open space, the safety being taken off of them. "This is a private institution. No one is allowed to come here and leave. I'm afraid this also goes for you."

"What…?" you mumbled, watching as the guards aimed their guns anew. Instinctively, you drew back, feeling Nerrocan's chest against your body as he wrapped his arms around you. You felt the rumble of a growl build in Nerrocan's chest, and you didn't need to look to know he was baring his teeth while forcing you against him to take you out of the danger at any second if he had to. There was no way this was happening. You couldn't possibly be denied access to leave. Why wouldn't they help you?

"This must be a misunderstanding! I've traveled for three days to come here! Please just let me get through, so I can return home!"

Searching for help, you caught the gentleman's eye, pleading with him, and he squinted suddenly, slightly turning to another man standing by his side, whispering something to him. "Is he…?" the man asked, nodding his chin at Nerrocan. 

"He's…" you said, only to stop yourself, unsure what to say. He's a mermaid? He's an orca?

"He's special," you explained instead, twisting slightly to place your hand on his chest. "But he's not a bad guy, just a little protective. We've been through a lot. He won't hurt you if you don't hurt him, and he can understand you. We are not a threat."

A long silence, then more whispers. 

"Bonded," the other man at the side of the gentleman in a coat asked. "Are you bonded with him?"

There was even more confusion about the specificness of this question, which must have shown on your face as all the eyes turned upwards to Nerrocan, whose growl turned louder with the attention on him. 

"Well, tell us," the gentleman demanded, directing his questions at Nerrocan now. Compared to how afraid you had been when meeting the orcas, he seemed completely calm and collected despite Nerrocan's presence. Someone shimmied through the crowd of gathered people, handing the gentleman a tablet that he briefly glanced at, nodding. 

"What?" you mumbled. "Wait, what is going on?"

"What's going on is that now that you have come here, we cannot allow you to leave alive. This is not a place that you can pass through. People who come here, die here." There was a loud sound, and both you and Nerrocan jolted, twisting around to see the open space you had come through suddenly get closed off by a gate.

"Your survival depends on how useful you are to this facility. We have a use for the big guy, but we aren't sure if you have a place in all of this."

"Nerrocan," you whispered, staring at the closing gate and ignoring the guy who was talking. "You have to leave. Now. Go!"

You tried pushing him away, signaling to him to swim out. There was still a lot you didn't understand, but closing off the escape could lead to what you had feared might happen if the merman got discovered. 

"No…" he growled his body tense, but for some reason, he didn't panic. "I'll handle this," he added, turning around to face the people before you.

"No! No, you have to go! They'll do bad things to you, please! Nerrocan, listen to me!"

Instead of listening, Nerrocan pushed forward, bringing you both closer to them, gun barrels aligning perfectly with his head. 

"No! No, no, no!"

Panicked, you twisted around as well, holding your breath as you thought about what to do. You knew you couldn't leave this up to Nerrocan; he might get himself killed if his instincts told him to fight! Eying the ladder to your right, it was almost close enough to grab now. If you dived under and swam to it, you could run for it, distracting them and finding a way out of this false haven. You were good on your feet, you could probably keep them at bay, and Nerrocan could escape in time for the gate to close completely. He was strong and fast without you as extra baggage to carry around.

But maybe this was all just a big understanding. Perhaps you should have just explained it better. This couldn't be all there was to it.

You needed to do something. Quickly.