#cure flora + reader

[baileypie-writes]

Okay here’s an idea.

Male reader is a hacker that realizes that precure MOTW have code that can be hacked so when one of the go princess precure villains makes a zetzuborg out of them, he just casually pulls out his laptop and shuts it down, at least until the precure show up to defeat it.

A/N ~ Sure! Looking back, I guess the hacking part wasn’t as “casual” as I thought haha. Sorry about that. Hope you enjoy!

~Z3tsub0rg~

Go! Princess Pretty Cure + Male!Hacker!Reader

Fandom: Go! Princess Pretty Cure

Fanfic Type: Oneshot

Reader: Male

Relationship: Platonic

Genre: Action?

Word Count: 1,220

Synopsis: While waiting for the Pretty Cure to arrive and save the day, you decided to try and use your hacking skills to take down the Zetsuborg.

Warnings: Mentions of Reader possibly dying

~Masterlists~

~Go! Princess Pretty Cure Masterlist~

“Where are they?”

You asked that question to yourself as you were huddled under a picnic table.

The giant laptop monster stomped around; the ground quaking under its feet. It pulled up whole trees, roots and all, and tossed them anywhere it saw lacked destruction. You jumped as one landed dangerously close to where you hid.

This had been going on for over twenty minutes at that point. And you grew more concerned by the second. Every time something like this had happened, it didn’t last very long.

The thing was: there were these princess-like superheroes that would sweep in, and defeat the monsters. It would usually happen rather quickly too. But there seemed to be a hold up this time. And while you didn’t know what, you just prayed to live long enough to see them save you.

The thought of using your own laptop to message someone for help crossed your mind. So you released it from around your protective arms, and opened it. But just as you were about to start typing, a different thought occurred.

Why not use your own skills to try and stop the monster?

Sure, you’re no superhero, or a magical girl in a sparkly dress. But you do know how to hack. And it just so happens that the monster had code.

While scolding yourself for not thinking of this earlier, you clicked open your secret hacking tool. After cracking your knuckles, you hovered your fingers over the keys, ready to type up a storm. But there was an issue. The target wasn’t close enough to you to get a decent connection.

Figuring you’d probably die anyway, you decided to take the risk. You shot out of your hiding spot, standing out in the open. With your laptop in one arm, you used your other to call over the creature.

“Hey!”

“Zetsuborg?” It growled out in confusion, turning to see what the source of the sound was.

A man with a top hat levitated close by. He also seemed puzzled by your actions. “What is that guy doing? Oh well. Zetsuborg, you’ll just have to get him!” He commanded.

“Zetsu!” Without hesitation, the monster began charging towards you.

Your feet stayed planted on the ground. Though you wanted badly to turn around and run, you wanted to see if your plan would turn out. So you watched and waited as the giant laptop got closer and closer.

Just a few more steps until it was close enough. Four, three, two, one… now!

With speedy fingers, you typed feverishly onto your keyboard. You were glad you’d spend so much time honing your skills, because you’d never smashed the keys so quickly in your life.

Just a few more characters away from completion… crud. You made a typo. You hit the backspace button faster than you ever had before, and wasted no time correcting your mistake. And just like that, the code was complete. With sweaty fingers, you pressed “enter”; nearly shattering the button from the sheer amount of force used.

“What is he doing?” The man questioned. You realized then that while it felt like forever in your head, it was only a few seconds in actuality. So neither him nor the monster had the time to comprehend what you had just done. Well, not until the next moment.

Just as you planned, the screen of the giant laptop flashed an array of numbers. “Z-z3tsu-b-b-b0rg!” It cried out, its voice glitchy and distorted.

“What? What’s going on?” The man began to panic. The monster then went completely frozen; the screen going dark. “What did you do?!”

You simply smirked. You would’ve loved to make a smart, quick witted response, but you weren’t given the chance to. Because just then, four girls swooped in, kicking the monster. The force slammed it shut, just like closing a normal laptop. There was no resistance from it, due to it being powered down.

“Finally.” You sighed to yourself.

~~~~

The girls defeated the monster with no issues. Their finishing move was like nothing you’ve ever seen. It was a perfect combination of graceful and cool. During the first few moments that followed, your environment faded into its original state. It was as if nothing had happened at all.

“Gah! It was going so well!” The blonde man growled angrily. He gripped the black rose he was holding tightly, the thorns most likely piercing his fingers. With a swift whip, he pointed it at you accusingly. “This is all your fault!”

The moment those words left his black colored lips, the four girls were already positioned in front of you; guarding you from any harm. While you couldn’t see, you assumed they wore threatening expressions, as the man’s stature became less confident. His limbs scrunched inwards ever so slightly, though he tried keeping a brave face.

“F-fine! I’ll just have to get you next time!” Without another word, he turned his back towards you and the group. With a snap of his fingers, he disappeared into a keyhole shaped portal.

“Are you alright?” The blonde girl inquired, turning around to face you with the rest of them.

“Yeah, I’m good.” You shrugged. Though, you were a bit shaken. But you kept it to yourself, figuring the girls had better things to worry about.

“The Zetsuborg stopping… that was you, wasn’t it?” The blue one assumed.

“Hehe, yeah. I know a lot when it comes to computers. So I know how to hack and stuff.” You raised your laptop up slightly to prove it.

“Wow, so you really froze it all on your own?” Asked the yellow one. You simply nodded.

“That was very brave of you. You have our gratitude.” The red one bowed a bit, lifting her dress in a mini curtsy. The others did the same.

“Oh, it was nothing. No need for all that.” You chuckled, embarrassed by their overly-formal gestures.

“I don’t suppose…” The pink one pulled out a laptop from under her arm; the same one she and her group had just purified. “You could trace the owner of this? I’d hate to ask any more of you, but you seem to be an expert.”

“Sure, I can do that!” After closing your own laptop, you took the other out of her gloved hands.

“Thank you. Now, if you’ll excuse us…” She eyed the others, almost as if she were speaking to them telepathically.

“Good day to you!” They all said in unison, curtsying once again, before leaping high into the air.

And just like that, they were gone.

You finally let out a huge sigh of relief. Never in a million years would you have expected that to happen. Not only did you single-handedly hack into a giant laptop monster, but you actually talked to those mysterious princesses.

You’d be lying if you said you didn’t feel at least a bit proud of yourself. It was only because you were so skilled that this was possible. Who knows what would’ve happened to you if you weren’t a nerd when it comes to hacking.

But instead of letting your mind wander to those scenarios, you focused on tracing the laptop’s owner. So you sat down at the picnic table you were previously hiding under, and went back to doing what you do best.

Dividers by @adornedwithlight

~~baileypie-writes

[inseobts]

Heyy! Love your work! I have an idea for law and ace (my goattss dont playy lol), but it can be for anyone else in one piece too! I was thinking reader thats similar to Maomao(apothecary diaries) and her obsession with poisons, eating it etc. As for plot, really up to you but I have an idea, maybe they dock at a new island with lots of herbs and their caught trying to eat the most textbook poison looking plant, no doubt thats not poisonous type of plant. Idk it can be like their secret or something. A lil basic cause I have the creativity of a stick, so if u think of something better then plss do it no hesitation fr!! If you do write this thank youuuu!! 🫶🫶

Poison Queen

a/n: I don't know the anime/character but I hope I got the intention of it right after a small google research T.T

characters: law (wc 2.6k), ace (wc 3.6k)

tags: poison enthusiast reader, slow burn, humor, fluff (eventually)

masterlist || ao3 || ko-fi

── .✦ Trafalgar D. Law:

The island is lush. Dense, dripping green stretches as far as the eye can see, humid air thick with the scent of earth and herbs. From the deck of the Polar Tang, you practically bounce on your heels.

“Is that… purple nightshade?” you whisper, eyes gleaming unnaturally.

“Don’t eat it.” Law says without looking up from the chart he’s examining, standing nearby. His voice is as flat as the sea on a windless day.

“I wasn’t going to…” you lie.

He turns his head a fraction, golden eyes narrowing “Yes, you were.”

You hum innocently, stuffing your medical satchel with your vials and note scrolls “I’m just here to observe, Captain.”

Shachi leans over the railing besides you “This place gives me the creeps. Everything looks like it wants to kill you.”

“Or cure you” you murmur, a little too enthusiastically.

Penguin eyes you warily “Why do you sound excited about that?”

You flash them a polite smile “Because it’s fun.”

Law sighs, sharp and tired “No wandering alone. You stick close to the group. Got it?”

You nod obediently “Of course.”

He doesn’t buy it. No one does.

The island is a botanical goldmine. You’re taking notes faster than your ink can dry. Moss that numbs the tongue, vines that smell like overripe peaches but rot skin on contact, and…oh. You spot it.

A crimson-stemmed flower, petals a sickly sweet yellowish pink, growing under the shade of a tree.

You gasp.

Law, who had started sketching a tree trunk for identification, stiffens “Don’t.”

“But it’s not poisonous!” you defend, already crouching, eyes wild “It looks like it, but this is Miracle’s Folly. It only mimics toxic flora to keep herbivores away. You can eat it, and it has incredible stimulant properties.”

“You just said it looks poisonous.”

“Exactly!” You pluck one with clinical precision “I’ve never seen one in the wild before. This is amazi—”

Law snatches it from your hand, holding it between two fingers like it’s radioactive.

“You’re obsessed” he accuses.

You blink “I prefer the term enthusiastic professional.”

“You tried to eat a known neurotoxin last week.”

“I suspected it was a neurotoxin. And I was right, wasn’t I?”

“You lost motor control for six hours.”

“It was valuable data.”

He stares. You stare back, unbothered.

There’s a beat of silence before Shachi and Penguin burst out laughing behind you.

“She’s gonna kill herself one day” Shachi cackles.

“Captain’s gonna lose his mind before then” Penguin adds.

Law exhales through his nose. He pockets the flower, out of your reach “You’re banned from going anywhere without supervision.”

Your eye twitches “Captain, please. This is a scientific expedition—”

He turns “Touch another cursed-looking plant and I’ll have Bepo chain you to the ship.”

You pout “Kinky.”

His ears turn red. You catch it.

Later that night, while the others are prepping camp, you quietly flip open your hidden pouch. Inside: one perfectly preserved Miracle’s Folly bloom.

You smirk “I am a professional.”

You glance at the campfire where Law is sipping his tea, glancing up only when your giggles reach him.

His eyes narrow again.

You chew the petal. Slowly. Carefully.

It’s bitter. Burns the tip of your tongue. But beneath that… Electricity.

The world tingles. Not in a hallucinatory way but in a sharpened, humming, this-might-kill-me-or-make-me-a-god sort of way.

You lean back on your heels, staring up at the canopy as the flower’s effects trickle through your veins “Oh, I have to isolate what’s responsible for this…”

“What are you muttering now?”

Law’s voice cuts through your thoughts like a scalpel.

You jolt and whip your head around. He’s standing there, arms crossed, dark brows drawn low.

You swallow quickly “Nothing.”

His eyes narrow “You’re sweating.”

“It’s humid.”

“Your pupils are dilated.”

“I’m excited to be alive.”

He steps closer. You instinctively step back, hiding your pouch under your coat. He notices.

“Show me what’s in your bag.”

“No.”

“Y/N.”

You sigh, dramatic “You know, trust is the foundation of any good captain-crew relationship.”

“You ate that flower, didn’t you?”

“No! Just a piece of it.”

“Unbelievable,” he mutters, stepping forward “Tongue out.”

“What?”

“Tongue. Out.”

You blink at him.

He’s completely serious.

“…Always so kinky.”

He closes his eyes like he’s mentally ejecting himself from the conversation “Just do it.”

You stick out your tongue, smug “Ahhh~”

He leans in, inspecting “Slight discoloration… mild irritation… your body’s resisting the stimulant effects.”

You raise a brow “You’ve memorized what this flower does?”

“I know every entry in that ridiculous notebook you leave lying around. Including the one titled ‘Things I Definitely Shouldn’t Eat But Might Anyway��.”

Your stomach flips.

“Oh” you say, quieter.

He straightens, expression unreadable “You think I haven’t noticed? The stash in the med bay. The coded labels. You catalog poisons more lovingly than most people talk about their pets.”

You look away “It’s just… interesting. The line between medicine and poison. It’s so thin. One drop too much and—”

“You die.”

“Or you cure something incurable.”

There’s a beat of silence.

Law studies you, tone dropping low “Is that what you want? To be the one who finds what no one else has the guts to touch?”

You meet his gaze “Wouldn’t you?”

His jaw ticks.

“…You should be more careful.”

You grin “But then you’d have no one to lecture.”

Law huffs, walking past you “Bepo’s watching you tomorrow. Don’t test him.”

“Bepo lets me eat weird berries if I tell him they’re for science!”

“Exactly.”

Later that night, as the rest of the crew sleeps, Law leans over the log where you were sitting earlier.

He finds a scrap of petal.

Miracle’s Folly.

He twirls it between his fingers, thoughtful.

“You’re not letting me touch anything…” you whine.

“Correct” Law replies, not even sparing you a glance as he adjusts his gloves.

You’re trudging behind him, Bepo flanking your other side like a very fluffy prison guard. The island is buzzing with life but all you’ve gotten to do so far is stare longingly at roots and flowers like a kid with her nose pressed to a candy store window.

“I’m an herbalist,” you mutter “This is discrimination.”

“It’s self-preservation” Law deadpans.

Bepo pats your shoulder gently “You did try to lick a hallucinogenic frog yesterday.”

“It looked juicy.”

“You said you saw the celestial dragons dancing salsa.”

“…I mean, I did.”

Law shoots you a look over his shoulder.

You grin at him.

By midday, you’re sulking on a log while the others finish whatever they were doing.

You pull out your notebook and begin scribbling, sketches of the strange bulbous blue fruits you passed earlier, notes on the slightly vibrating moss near the creek, and, of course, the effects of Miracle’s Folly.

You don’t notice Law watching you.

He clears his throat “Give me your hand.”

You blink up “Why, so you can handcuff me to Bepo?”

“No,” he says, kneeling in front of you with a small vial “I want to run a test.”

You hesitate, then slowly offer your hand.

He drops a single, translucent drop of something onto your skin. It tingles.

“New tincture?” you ask, curiously sniffing it.

“Neutralized extract of Miracle’s Folly. I isolated it this morning.”

Your eyes light up “You tested it?”

He mutters “Voluntarily. With supervision.”

You snort “So boring.”

“But now I need to observe secondary exposure. You’re uniquely qualified.”

Your heart does a little somersault “You mean I’m special.”

He rolls his eyes “You’re reckless. And resilient.”

“And a little cute?”

“Don’t push it.”

You grin.

Minutes pass. He keeps his fingers on your wrist, counting your pulse with the pad of his thumb.

You try not to think about that.

“It’s steady” he murmurs.

“Disappointed?”

He ignores the question “You’re reacting differently than I expected.”

“How so?”

“Your nervous system is adapting.”

“Like immunity?”

“Like something else” he says, voice quieter now “You’ve been exposing yourself in microdoses, haven’t you?”

You pause.

“…maybe.”

He looks up at you, eyes unreadable “Why?”

You drop your gaze, suddenly unsure.

“It’s not just for fun.” you say “I mean, partly, yes. But it’s more than that. I want to understand them. The poisons. The lines. Everything people fear. I want to know it. Control it. Be stronger than it.”

He’s silent.

You add, softer, “I was sick once. Really sick. No one could help. All the doctors, all the books… nothing. But the old apothecary in my town? She mixed me something that should’ve killed me.”

You glance at him, eyes bright “But it didn’t. It saved me.”

Law doesn’t speak for a long time. When he does, his voice is gentler than before.

“You and I aren’t that different.”

You blink.

He rises to his feet, brushing off his coat “But if you ever eat another unknown fungus without telling me, I’m performing surgery with no anesthesia.”

You beam “That’s fair.”

That night, Law catches you adding a drop of something green and shimmering into your tea.

He stares.

You pause “It’s just moss extract.”

He raises a brow.

You sigh “…Okay, mildly hallucinogenic moss.”

He snatches the cup.

“Captain!”

“You can have it back after I test it.”

Your eyes widen.

“…Wait. Are you going to drink it?”

He gives you a rare smirk “For science.”

Your jaw drops. And suddenly, you think you might be falling a little bit in love.

Now you’re staring.

Not at the moss sample.

At him.

Trafalgar D. Water Law, Surgeon of Death, Warlord-turned-revolutionary, terrifyingly brilliant man of mystery… just drank the tea you spiked with a moss known to mildly bend reality.

He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand like it’s nothing.

You blink “That was an experimental dosage.”

“I adjusted for body weight.”

“Oh my god.”

Bepo’s ears twitch “Captain… are you sure that was smart?”

Law gives a slow blink “I’m fine.”

You and Bepo exchange a look.

Fifteen minutes later, he’s very much not fine.

“What… the hell is that?”

You follow Law’s dazed line of sight “That’s… the campfire, Captain.”

He squints.

“It’s breathing.”

You purse your lips “Okay, slightly more than mild hallucinations.”

“Why is it breathing, Y/N.”

“Symbolic warmth?”

He stares at you. His pupils are so dilated.

You pull out a notepad “How many fingers am I holding up?”

“I see seven.”

“…I’m holding up two.”

He sways.

You sigh and grab his arm “Alright, that’s enough science for tonight.”

He lets you guide him with surprising ease, mumbling under his breath.

You make it back to the tent just as the hallucinations seem to peak.

“I need to sit” he mutters.

You lower him down gently, watching as he pinches the bridge of his nose “Throbbing temple. Flashing visuals. You’re not vomiting, though… interesting.”

He opens one eye “You’re enjoying this.”

“A little,” you admit, handing him water “You’re cute when your grip on reality is slipping.”

“Y/N.”

“Mm?”

“There are tiny doctors running in circles around me.”

You blink. Then look around the tent.

“…Well. You’re not wrong.”

You sit next to him. Close, but not touching. It’s oddly quiet for a jungle night.

“Headache?” you ask softly.

He nods once.

You reach up and, very carefully, press your fingers against his temples. Slow circles. He doesn’t flinch.

“Pressure can help the tension pass” you say.

He closes his eyes. Exhales.

You pause “Tell me what else you see.”

“…You.”

You snort “No kidding.”

“No, I mean…” he trails off, brows twitching “You look… soft.”

Your hands freeze “I—what?”

“You’re glowing.”

You’re absolutely not glowing, but...

“Oh” you whisper.

“You’re always buzzing,” he murmurs “Like something dangerous in a pretty bottle.”

You stop breathing for a second.

“Law…” you say, too quietly.

But he’s not done.

“I always thought I hated that. The unpredictability. But now it feels like… I don’t know.”

He leans his head forward, forehead bumping gently against yours.

“You scare the hell out of me,” he breathes “And I think I’m starting to even like it.”

You think your heart just stopped.

“Definitely a side effect…” you whisper, but your fingers are still on his skin, still gently pressing against his temples.

He exhales “I’ll regret saying all of that, won’t I.”

You smile, a little shaken “Only if you pretend it wasn’t true later.”

Silence. He doesn’t move.

Then he mutters “I’m keeping the tea recipe."

You laugh.

Outside the tent, Bepo lowers his paw from the tent flap and whispers to Shachi and Penguin “They’re in love. Told you it wasn’t poison.”

After that, Law pretends nothing happened.

You give him three days.

Three days of ignoring the fact he hallucinated tiny doctors and confessed to liking the chaos you bring to his life. Three days of sidelong glances, awkward silences, and you very purposefully reminding him of the tea incident every time he gets too comfortable.

“Captain,” you say sweetly as you walk by him, “you’re not seeing glowing versions of me today, are you?”

He glares “No.”

“Shame. I looked great in your hallucination.”

He drops his pen. Hard.

But he doesn’t say anything else.

Coward.

Later on - You don’t mean to get sick.

Not really.

It’s just that the vines didn’t look that threatening, and you were pretty sure it was just a paralytic contact toxin, and well… maybe you’d misjudged the concentration.

The world tilts sideways.

You feel your legs give out before your brain registers it.

And then darkness.

You wake to voices.

“…found her by the river. Unresponsive.”

“I told her to stop touching unknown plants. Why can’t she just—”

“She didn’t do it on purpose.”

A long silence.

Then Law’s voice again. Quiet. Cracked.

“She always makes it look like she’s in control. But she’s not.”

You open your eyes.

The ceiling of the Polar Tang greets you. So does a pounding ache in your chest. You shift and wince.

Law’s at your side in an instant.

“Stay down.” he says, low and sharp.

Your voice is hoarse “Didn’t think I’d go out like that. No drama. No romantic poisoning. Just a stupid plant.”

His eyes flicker “It was… dramatic. You stopped breathing.”

“Oh…” you say, blinking.

“I didn’t know what it was. For once, you knew more than me. And I couldn’t—” He swallows the words.

You offer a small smile “So… scared the hell out of you, huh?”

He doesn’t answer.

Just sits back down beside you. Shoulders tense. Jaw clenched.

You watch him, softly “Law.”

“Don’t say it.” he mutters.

“Say what?”

“That I was right. That you should’ve listened. That this was inevitable. That I knew you’d get hurt eventually.”

You tilt your head “Wasn’t gonna say any of that.”

He looks up, surprised.

“I was gonna say,” you murmur, “that I’m sorry I made you worry.”

You reach out weakly, stupidly, and your hand grazes his.

“I forget sometimes,” you whisper “That people care.”

Something breaks in his expression.

“Y/N,” he says tightly, “you can’t keep doing this. You can’t keep flirting with death like it’s a hobby.”

“I wasn’t flirting with death.” you tease “That was basically a date. I only flirt with you, Captain.”

He glares.

You smile, and it fades slowly as your fingers curl around his.

“I didn’t want to die. Not really. Not before I figured out what this thing is.”

He blinks “What thing?”

“This,” you whisper “Whatever this is between us. The hallucinations. The confessions. The weird tension where you want to kill me and kiss me at the same time.”

“You’re wrong.” he says.

Your chest tightens “Oh.”

“I don’t want to kill you, you already do that to yourself alone.”

Pause.

“I just want to kiss you.”

You stop breathing.

He leans forward. Slow. Intentional. One hand brushing your jaw, tilting your face toward him like you’re something fragile and fleeting.

“Captain” you whisper.

“Y/N” he breathes.

And then he kisses you.

It’s gentle, for all of three seconds, then desperate, frustrated, furious about the fact that he was almost losing you.

When he pulls back, you’re both breathless.

“You’re the most dangerous thing I’ve ever studied” he mutters, forehead against yours.

You grin.

“And you’re my favorite side effect.”

── .✦ Portgas D. Ace:

The sun is brutal on the upper deck, but you don’t notice. You’re too busy holding a tiny, glittering vial up to the light with the reverence of someone holding an engagement ring or, in your case, an exciting new potential toxin.

It’s pink. Slightly viscous. Smells faintly like fermented fruit and regret.

Perfect.

“Please tell me you’re not going to drink that.” Marco says behind you, half-exasperated, half-terrified.

“I’m going to sip it,” you say, rolling your eyes “For science.”

“For science?” he repeats.

“For science,” you nod solemnly, uncorking the bottle “And also morbid curiosity.”

He groans “Y/N…”

Too late. You down it in one go.

There’s a moment of silence as you smack your lips thoughtfully.

“…Taste?”

“Like someone dissolved candy in cheap rum and lies.”

“Oh good,” Marco mutters “You’ve poisoned yourself again.”

You wave him off “If I die, I’ll write it down first.”

He opens his mouth to argue but a loud whistle cuts him off.

“Oi!” Ace calls, walking over shirtless, sun-drenched, grinning that smug grin that says I’ve definitely started three fires before breakfast “You experimenting again?”

You nod, blinking a bit “Just something I found in a locked crate under Izo’s bunk.”

Ace raises a brow “You… drank random liquid you found in Izo’s stash?”

“Yes,” you say matter-of-factly “And also, your laugh makes my spine feel weird.”

He stares.

You stare back.

Marco sucks in a sharp breath “Oh no.”

You tilt your head thoughtfully “And your shoulders are distracting. I’ve catalogued seventy-eight poisons but can’t remember what you said this morning because you yawned mid-sentence and I lost focus.”

“…You what?” Ace coughs.

You continue, voice perfectly even “Also, I sometimes fake headaches to watch you carry me to the infirmary. You’re very warm.”

You slam your hands on your mouth to stop it from saying more, while the crew begins to gather like sharks to blood.

Thatch appears holding popcorn. Someone is calling for Izo. There’s actual cheering.

“You’re glowing,” Marco says quietly, inspecting your skin “Shimmering. That’s one of Izo’s truth serums. A prototype he was working on some time ago.”

“Oh.”

“Oh?” Ace echoes weakly.

You turn to him “Also, I ranked your freckles once. The ones on your jaw are my favorite.”

Ace turns so red you think he might combust without using his powers.

“You… I… how long is this stuff supposed to last?!” he splutters.

You shrug “Few hours, probably. Don’t worry. I’ll be asleep before I get to the part about your hands.”

“What about my hands?!”

“Nothing!” you say, far too quickly “They’re just… statistically… dangerous looking.”

He’s speechless. Marco is already reaching for his notebook.

You’ve become the Moby Dick’s favorite form of entertainment.

You’re still sitting cross-legged on the deck, glittering faintly in the sun like a cursed disco ball, while the Whitebeard Pirates form a loose circle around you.

“Truth serum,” Thatch hums, rubbing his hands together “This is the best day I’ve had in weeks.”

“It’s unethical...” Marco mutters beside him.

“It’s hilarious,” Izo corrects, snapping open a fan and leaning in “Y/N, darling, be honest... who took the last chocolate muffin last week? It was you, am I wrong?”

You open your mouth immediately “Not me. It was Ace.”

“Traitor!” Ace sputters from somewhere behind you.

You shrug “You left crumbs in the storage room. Also, your heartbeat spiked when someone mentioned it at breakfast.”

Everyone turns to Ace. He throws his hands up “It was one time!”

“You licked the wrapper, too.” you add calmly “Twice.”

Someone howls.

“Alright, my turn!” Thatch grins “Y/N, have you ever sabotaged anyone’s food?”

You nod serenely “I put mild laxatives in Namur’s tea once because he wouldn’t stop stealing my ginger cookies.”

Namur gasps “You monster!”

“You deserved it,” you reply without a trace of guilt “You called my medicinal brownies ‘dirt bars.’”

“Next question,” Izo purrs, leaning forward “Have you ever kissed someone on this ship?”

The crew leans in.

You blink “No.”

“Have you thought about it?” Marco asks, suddenly very interested.

“Yes.”

“Who?”

“Ace.”

The sound Ace makes is somewhere between a squeak and a small, internal detonation.

The crew loses it.

“YES!”

“I KNEW IT!”

“PAY UP, IZO!”

“I had money on Marco, damn it!”

You sigh as if this is all deeply inconvenient, like the truth is just leaking out of you against your will, which, of course, it is.

You say casually “He smells good. Like firewood and something sweet. Maybe toasted sugar. I haven’t narrowed it down yet.”

Ace is covering his face with his hands now, bright red from the neck up.

“Can I go lie down?” you mumble “Or roll into the sea?”

Marco snorts “Not until the glitter wears off.”

Thatch throws an arm around your shoulder “C’mon, Y/N, one more... if you had to kiss anyone else on this ship—”

“I’d rather drink from the mildew jar in my lab.”

“…Fair.”

You blink slowly, tone still deadly calm “Thatch, you once tried to trim your chest hair with surgical scissors. Drunk.”

Thatch chokes “That was off the record!”

“No such thing,” Marco laughs “She’s the serum’s hostage now.”

“I regret nothing,” you reply “Except licking the blue mushroom last month. That hallucination lasted eight hours. I tried to dissect the air.”

Ace groans “Can someone drag her below deck before she tells everyone what I look like shirtless in creepy detail?”

You look straight at him “You’re built like a statue someone made while going through something personal.”

He explodes.

The next morning you’re back to your usual self.

The strange, glittering effects of the truth serum have worn off, leaving you feeling… normal again. You’re busy carefully grinding some herbs into powder, a mixture for your next experiment, when a familiar voice rings out behind you.

“Morning, poison queen.”

You freeze.

“Don’t call me that” you mutter without turning around, but there’s an unmistakable edge of dread in your tone.

Ace slides onto the bench next to you, uninvited, a grin spreading across his face as he leans toward you, looking like he’s about to launch into a full assault.

“Oh, I think I will...” he says, practically purring “You’re the one who told the entire crew how much you love my shoulders, remember?”

You tense “I did not—”

“And those freckles?” Ace raises an eyebrow, already loving the flush spreading across your face “Did you know that Marco bet I’d get at least five different comments on my jawline today? Maybe next time you should be more specific.”

Your eyes snap to his, and you open your mouth to argue but then he continues.

“You really should have warned me before you started cataloging all my features. Or how about when you admitted you fake headaches just so you can get me to carry you to the infirmary?”

The teasing tone in his voice is getting under your skin, and you try to focus on grinding your herbs, but his words are still ringing in your ears.

“You do know that it’s not even the ‘headaches’ you fake that’s the problem, right? It’s that you actually like it when I carry you. Which I can totally tell from the way you always sigh in my arms.”

You bite your lip, cheeks burning, desperate to look anywhere but at him.

“Or how about when you—” Ace’s voice drops low, “—admitted that I smell good? Like firewood and… What was that you said? Oh, right! Toasted sugar!”

You inhale sharply “I never said that.”

“Oh, yes you did, and you know.” he says, leaning in closer, the amusement in his eyes dangerously obvious “And you also said I’m built like a statue. Do you really think I wouldn’t remember that?”

“Shut up.” You finally look up, but your voice is strained as you meet his teasing gaze.

“I mean, I’m just curious,” Ace continues, a little too happily, “how much more stuff you’ve been hiding from me. How long have you been analyzing my muscles, exactly? Do you think they’re… aesthetically pleasing?” He pauses to let the words sink in “Hmm, maybe I should flex for you to get a clearer answer.”

The crew, who had been quietly watching from a distance (but clearly listening), suddenly bursts into laughter, but you just want to curl into a ball and disappear.

“Oh, this is good,” Thatch says, clearly enjoying the show “I never thought Ace would get revenge like this, but here we are.”

“You should see her when she’s trying to make that poison tea thing,” Marco says, shaking his head “She’s way too serious about it, but now we know she’s been obsessed with Ace’s shoulders the whole time.”

“You guys are awful.” you mutter, sinking into your chair, arms crossed tightly across your chest in an attempt to hold yourself together.

Ace, however, is not letting up. He knows the soft spots, and he’s making sure to press every single one of them.

“So, how’s it feel?” Ace grins, tapping your shoulder playfully “Being soooo open about how much you like me? You definitely don’t look uncomfortable at all.”

You shoot him a glare, but it’s hard to stay mad when he’s looking so damn smug about it.

“I don’t know, Ace. It must be so hard for you to carry the weight of being so perfect that I couldn’t stop talking about how handsome you are, huh?” you bite back.

Ace stares at you for a moment, clearly thrown off by your unexpected response. Then he laughs “Oh, that’s rich. You think you can out-tease me?”

“You’re the one who’s been doing it all day.” you shoot back, finally turning to face him fully “Seems like you loved me pointing out all the things I like about you.”

The crew laughs even harder, and Ace’s grin only grows.

“I won.” he says, smug as ever “It’s not my fault you’re so obsessed with me. Honestly, I’m kinda flattered.”

“Yeah, I’ll bet you are.” You roll your eyes, not willing to give him the satisfaction of seeing you break.

But Ace doesn’t relent “Admit it, Y/N. You’re in love with me.”

You pause.

“And if I am?” you ask coolly, holding his gaze.

The teasing gleam in his eyes flickers, then vanishes. Ace looks just a little taken aback by the way you’re holding your ground.

“Well…” He scratches the back of his head, clearly flustered now “You’ve already said it once. So I’m just making sure you’re still on the same page.”

And just like that, it’s his turn to feel the heat in his cheeks.

“Well, maybe you should stop teasing me, then.” you say with a sly smile.

Ace grins, shaking his head “Nah, this is fun. You’ll get used to it.”

Now it’s your turn to mess with Ace.

After days of relentless teasing, you’ve decided that it’s time to use his own game against him. He’s made it clear that he loves to toy with you and now, it’s time for him to spill the truth, whether he wants to or not.

The deck is quiet, the crew all doing their own thing, but you know Ace will find you soon. He always does. And, sure enough, as you’re mixing something into a flask in the corner of the kitchen, his voice floats over the rim of the doorway.

“Hey, poison queen,” he says with a grin, clearly thinking of another thing to tease you about “Are you planning to poison the whole crew with whatever concoction you’re making today? Or is it just my poor, unsuspecting self?”

You don’t answer right away, focusing on your work. You’re careful with every motion. Just one drop of this ingredient, and you’ll have him talking like a parrot for hours.

“Alright, alright, what’s in the flask today?” he presses, inching closer “Am I going to shit myself?”

You glance over your shoulder, smiling sweetly “Oh, nothing dangerous, I promise.”

“Then why do you look so… suspicious?” Ace narrows his eyes playfully, still not suspecting a thing.

You flash him a mischievous smile, taking the flask with one hand and adding a few drops of your carefully prepared herbal mix into his mug “Just a little something to make sure your day is… interesting.”

Ace raises an eyebrow, but at this point, he’s practically inviting the teasing. He’s completely unaware of the slight adjustment you made. After all, you’ve poisoned your own drinks with far worse. The concoction in his mug isn’t lethal, but it’ll get the job done.

You hand it over with a flourish “Here you go, fire boy. Drink up.”

Ace takes the mug, his smirk growing wider. He’s used to your antics, but he doesn’t know you’ve just pulled the wool over his eyes. He takes a swig, and just as the liquid slides down his throat, you watch him carefully.

But then, a few seconds later, Ace’s expression shifts, his eyes flickering with confusion as he sets the mug down.

“You okay?” you ask casually, keeping your voice neutral.

Ace blinks, a frown tugging at his features “Yeah, just… feel a little weird. Like, light-headed… You didn’t actually put something in here, did you?”

“Oh, it’s just a little herbal remedy,” you say with a shrug, your grin widening “You know, to make you feel better.”

“Well, I do feel better, but I also feel...” he admits with a nervous laugh “Weird.”

That’s your cue. You pull out a chair and sit down, raising an eyebrow “I think we can have some fun with that.”

His eyes flick to yours, unsure “What do you mean?”

“You see, I didn't drink all that bottle the other day. And, well… the thing is,” you continue, now holding his gaze, “you’ve been teasing me for days, Ace. And I’m really curious about how much of what you said was… well, the truth.”

Ace stares at you, confusion melting into realization as the drug starts to kick in, the subtle influence of your concoction making him more vulnerable to his own thoughts.

“Wait, what…?” He shakes his head, trying to focus “This is… a trick, right? Did you really—”

“So, Ace...” you say in a soothing tone, leaning in slightly “Admit it, you like me.”

Ace laughs awkwardly, his eyes unfocused as his lips move to speak without hesitation “Well, uh, yeah. I’ve liked you for a while now… I just thought it’d be funny to make you squirm about it.”

You narrow your eyes, pretending to act surprised “You like me? You’ve been teasing me because you like me?”

He stumbles over his words, but it’s too late to stop himself “Yeah, you’re like… fun. I don’t know how to act around you, okay? Every time I try to be normal, you just—ugh, you get under my skin. And I can’t stop teasing you.”

You smile wickedly, feeling the rush of victory surge in your veins.

“Is that so?” you ask sweetly, letting his confession sink in “And here I thought you were just being a brat.”

"That's just my love language ok? I don't know how to act normal around someone I like, so I just tease and tease and tease."

"Love language?" you ask actually a bit shocked "So you really do like me?? Couldn't you just confess back when I got exposed with that truth telling thing?"

"It's too complicated. I just... didn't know now." he says trying to avoind your eyes.

"You just did it."

"Well, not in a fair way, though."

"I've put nothing in that drink, you idiot..."

Ace freezes “Wait a sec… Are you messing with me right now?” he asks, his voice suddenly more wary “This isn’t real?”

“Oh, it’s very real,” you reply, letting a mischievous grin slip into your expression “The truth serum is working, wihtout even the need to actually use it. You’re just… a little more vulnerable than you think.”

His eyes widen “Wait… wait, what did you do to me?”

You chuckle, leaning back in your chair “Just a little something to get you to spill your guts. But what’s even better is that you’re admitting things you didn’t even realize you were feeling.”

Ace’s face twists as the realization hits him “I—I thought I was poisoned? You… you tricked me into confessing everything?!”

The crew, who has been silently observing the entire exchange, erupts into laughter from all corners of the room. Marco, Izo, and Thatch are barely holding it together, while the rest of the crew seems equally entertained by the spectacle.

“That’s right, fire boy,” you say, leaning closer “You weren’t poisoned at all. You were just brainwashed into thinking you were.”

Ace stares at you, his face redder than ever, looking like he’s ready to combust.

“Yeah, well, now I’m gonna make you regret it” he mutters, his earlier smugness replaced by genuine frustration and something else you can’t quite place.

But for now, you’ve won. And you’ll savor this small victory for as long as you can.

The crew is still chuckling from the aftermath of your little “truth serum” game. You can practically feel the heat radiating from Ace’s flushed face, the sheer embarrassment of his earlier confessions hanging in the air like a cloud.

“Well, Ace,” you say, leaning back in your chair with a smug grin, “I gotta say, you made it pretty easy for me to get all your secrets out.”

Ace grumbles, clearly trying to salvage what’s left of his dignity “I can’t believe I fell for that.” He crosses his arms, glaring at you but clearly not all that mad, more like… flustered.

You lean in a little closer, a teasing smirk tugging at your lips “You did admit a lot, though. Like how much you actually like me.”

That catches him off guard. He stumbles for a moment, as if he wants to deny it, but there’s no escaping the truth now “Well, what can I say, you did say a lot of embarrassing things, too, when you drank that ‘serum’.”

You raise an eyebrow, the teasing still simmering beneath your words “Like what, exactly?”

“Oh, you know, I still think about you counting my freckles…” He flashes you a grin, almost too proud of himself for turning the tables.

You smirk, taking a deep breath “Well, now that I know you like me back…” You pause for effect, leaning even closer, “I can finally say it all again without the need for any truth drink.”

The realization hits him like a punch to the gut. Ace’s eyes widen slightly, and for a moment, he’s speechless “Wait, what?”

You grin, thoroughly enjoying his discomfort “Yep. So now, I’m free to repeat everything. Your teasing? It’s actually kind of cute. And maybe I even find you hot… especially with that devil fruit power of yours.” You’re clearly enjoying this far too much “Might even be into that.”

Ace is completely flustered now, cheeks burning red, and he stammers, “You… you really are messing with me, huh?”

Before you can answer, he suddenly leans forward, a spark of determination lighting up his eyes “Alright, then, I’ll just prove to you how much I like you.”

You blink, confused “What are you talking about?”

He leans in, his usual cocky grin back on his face “You wanna tell me what you like about me? Then I’ll tell you what I like about you... Like a competition since you like it.”

You tilt your head, intrigued “A competition, huh? Alright. But what’s the catch?”

Ace leans in even closer, voice dropping to a low, teasing tone “No backing out. You have to admit everything you like about me, truthfully, no holds barred.”

Your eyes glint with mischief “Alright, fine. But be warned. You might not like what you hear.”

Ace’s grin only grows wider “I’m all ears, Y/N. Let’s hear it.”

“First off,” you begin, your tone as playful as ever, “I might like how your hair looks like you just rolled out of bed. It’s… charming in a ‘I just woke up and I’m not trying’ kind of way.”

Ace scoffs, looking both proud and a little defensive “Well, you know, some people can’t pull it off, but I do.”

You roll your eyes “And I might find it kind of adorable that you get so riled up when I call you out. Your pride’s kind of cute… in a completely frustrating way.”

Ace stares at you for a second, then grins, almost cocky “I’ll take that as a compliment… for now.”

But before you can continue, someone shouts from the back of the room.

“Get a room, you two!”

The words echo across the deck, and everyone bursts into laughter. Ace’s face turns redder than ever, and for a moment, it looks like he’s about to explode.

“Shut up!” he snaps, but the crew’s laughter is uncontrollable.

But the comment gives Ace an idea. He stands up suddenly, grabbing your wrist and tugging you toward the stairs leading below deck.

“Alright, fine. We’ll take it to my room,” he says, his voice a little breathless but determined “Let’s see how much you really like me.”

You blink, surprised at his boldness, but you can’t hide the grin forming on your face “Ace… you think you can just drag me to your room and get away with it?”

“Maybe,” he says with a sly wink “But you’ll never know unless you come with me.”

You chuckle, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline you get when Ace is being this unpredictable “Alright then, hothead. Lead the way.”

The crew, of course, continues to shout playful remarks as you both head toward his room. Marco just shakes his head with a knowing smile.

Ace’s room door slams shut behind you both, and whatever happens next is anyone’s guess. But one thing is certain, this game of teasing is far from over. And in the end, neither of you is going to back down from it anytime soon.

[fyxestroll]

Please can you write something with Magnus the Red? Doesn't matter what

pairing: magnus the red x reader (gn.)

warnings: DEAD DOVE: DO NOT EAT, descriptions of body horror, angst

notes: tried to make this as gender neutral as possible. please tell me if I missed any feminine terms. first time writing for magnus hope I did him right.

There’s an old saying that “there’s a fine line between genius and insanity.” 

Magnus begged to differ. Genius is insanity, as it is what society labels it so; to break preconceived notions is viewed as insanity.

And then he met you.

You, the brightest pharmacist in all of Tizca with nearly enough accolades to match his.

You, the most insane scholar to ever roam Prospero’s medical institutions.

Prospero was most known for its sorcerers but at the end of the day, it was the land of scholars meaning any and all avenues of knowledge were pursued, including medicine. You, specifically, specialised in concocting medicine from the planet’s flora and fauna to assist in a patient’s physical recovery from psychic maladies.

That was how your paths crossed.

See, the thing with contracting psychic illnesses is that those afflicted have either gone mad or are days away from passing on. Ignoring ethical concerns—but you always cared about those, the latter were too unpredictable and the former would rather spend their final days with their loved ones which left you without any test subjects.

So you decided you would become the test subject. 

And you had proudly proclaimed so when proposing your research to him. He had baulked at the proposition. It was suicidal, and while Magnus is the last person to preach about caution, he wasn’t the one running around asking for money to consume poison.

He rejected it the second you finished your presentation.

In response, you continued to push, hounding him like a dog. You were practically there at every turn approaching him with passionate—— near manic eyes. He continued to reject you for years, hoping you would eventually wear yourself out, but that never happened.

Instead, he became your research partner.

Somehow, you had managed to convince him, and somehow he had let himself be convinced.

Maybe that was a sign of what was to come, a sign that that partnership would grow into something more.

Or maybe he was just as insane as you.

No, that’s not right, isn’t it? You always made far better decisions than him. Always.

Either way, the endeavour was a success, and together, you discovered several treatments in quick succession. You went on to open a clinic; it was a humble place compared to the towering pyramids that overshadowed it, and on the day of its grand opening, you asked him to marry you. 

Right. In. Front. Of. Everybody.

And he wouldn’t have had it any other way.

You became his, his partner in study and in life. Magnus was never one to believe in blessings, but you were his, and he couldn’t imagine a world where he didn’t meet you. It was a good marriage, all things considered. Propsero prospered under your care; you and he were at your happiest, and that didn’t change when his Father, his progenitor, finally came for him. You simply became a parent to his legion, to his Thousand Sonds.

Sadly, by his fault, it was short-lived.

He sought to resolve the issue of the Flesh Change that plagued his legion and paid a far heavier price than he thought.

In the beginning, you had joined him in looking for a cure. 

But his legion, his sons, continued to die. 

Bit by bit, he watched as your hope for a cure dwindled. It broke you; you, the brightest star in Prospero, the doctor who cured the incurable.

“We’ve know that this illness is connected to the Great Ocean,” you had said, looking over the cadaver of a legionnaire, an apothecary who had ended his life as soon as the symptoms of the Change worsened, “But its cause is unknown and those affected are not limited to the physchically gifted of your gene-line.” 

You looked to him, forlorn, “I’m starting to believe there is no cure. We simply do not have enough knowledge about the Great Ocean to find one.”

He should have left it at that, grieved those lost and shifted his focus to palliative care. 

But he didn’t.

Giving up did not mean you would abandon the pursuit—not even the Emperor Himself could stop you from attempting to save a life, and the research would simply be put on the back burner. He knew you had hoped that if you did not find a cure yourself in the present, you would in the future, if not, years down the line, someone would. 

You had the patience to wait.

Magnus did not.

You were always his better half.

He delved into the Depths of the Great Ocean against his better judgment and his Father’s warnings. Then It came along and It offered a deal—a cure in exchange for a piece of his soul and a piece of his flesh.

He took it, and you paid the price.

You see, when he married you, he tied his soul to yours. It was a vow of loyalty in that he would have no other but you. However, to those who looked into the Warp, they would see the two of you as one, entwined forevermore.

When he Resurfaced he had found you screaming as you attempted to claw your eyes out. Only, you had no eyes, just smooth skin where they should have been. 

The same happened to your mouth, days later. 

Next week, your ears.

By the end of the month, you were nothing but a sack of conscious flesh with a hole for a nose.

The rest of your body was in similar condition. Limbs multiplied or disappeared, and bones rearranged themselves under your skin. His best apothecaries could find no source for this unknown affliction, but Magnus knew.

He was paying his dues.

A piece of your flesh. A piece of your soul.

You suffered for months, physically screaming out in pain, begging him to put you out of your misery. He couldn’t, he couldn’t bear to let you go. You were his better half and he could not accept that he had done this to you.

He promised you a cure. 

That was for naught.

One night, you fell silent, your soul disappeared. 

To where?

Magnus does not know.

Ten millennia later, your soul still eludes him.

Perhaps, it is better this way.

Prospero, your beloved Prospero was razed and now it was being rebuilt. However, gone were the beautiful gardens, sprawling plazas and towering pyramids of Tizca instead, there was only a great war forge. 

Every bit of his homeworld will play its part in the great game.

And you would hate that.

Your clinic, your research would no longer be used for cures but to create the ailments. Some would say such an act would be more befitting for the followers of the Plaguefather but the Changer of Ways appreciated such twists of fate.

In this way, you, his beloved,  would be remembered.

You would hate this.

You would hate him.

[ro-is-struggling]

The Princess and The Wolf || PART 1 || Geralt of Rivia x Reader

Summary: A look inside the complicated love story between the runaway princess and the lone wolf that saved her.

Warnings: fluff, angst, mutual pining, really bittersweet, heavy narration and not much dialogue, female reader (use of she/her pronouns//reader is a princess), mentions of blood and injuries (reader heals Geralt’s wounds), my shitty titles (I’m so bad at it, I’m so sorry)

English is not my first language

Word count: 5000

Notes: Look,  I was in the mood for writing something cute and fluffy and magical (but also it's Geralt so it as to be angsty). I know those are probably not the words that come to your mind when you think of Geralt, but let me change your mind! Also I love writing healers/nature witches. Can you tell my fav character as a kid was Flora from Winx Club? 

This is my first time writing something like this (as in this style of narrative and for this character in particular) so be gentle!

PART 2 || PART 3

Geralt was not used to feeling that way. In his many years of living on this earth, he had never missed anyone the way he missed her. He was a lone wolf who, despite having his pack, enjoyed traveling from town to town with his horse as his only companion. He enjoyed the silence and tranquility, and did not tend to miss home too much —finding that his annual visits in the winter were more than enough to catch up with his brothers while healing his wounds. 

However, he did miss her when he was traveling. He missed feeling the warm touch of her skilled hands on his wounds as she healed him. He missed waking up to the sound of her laughter, talking to her cat as she prepared breakfast. He even missed her scolding and the look of concern she gave him every time he arrived at the door of her cabin hidden in the forest, injured. She made him feel special, often occupying his thoughts and dreams. He knew what it was, but refused to call it by name —if he did, it became real and he didn't know if he was ready for that.

Such was his longing to see her that he was almost happy to be wounded in battle, finding the perfect excuse to show up at her door once again. His wounds were deep, the beast's venom slowly spreading through his system. Were it not for the fact that he was close to her home, Geralt was fairly certain he would not have reached her in time. His healing skills were limited and only served to make his journey to the hut more bearable. Yet, the closer he got to her, the less his body ached. The promise of her company alone was enough to cure his afflictions.

Geralt was weak when he arrived at her door. From the way her natural cheerful expression turned into a worried grimace when she saw him on the other side of the wood, it was safe to assume he was not looking good. She rushed him to bed, asking him a thousand questions as she paced back and forth, gathering the necessary herbs and potions to treat his wounds. He answered no more than necessary, giving her just enough information to treat him and sparing her the details of his journey. 

He was distracted, his mind clouded by the lack of blood and the poison spreading through his body, but also by the sweet floral scent that surrounded him. It was a perfume he could only describe as the very essence of her, a mixture of jasmine, roses and a hint of vanilla that followed her everywhere, leaving a special scent in the air that assaulted the witcher's nostrils, rendering him powerless. 

"Drink this," she told him as she offered him a vial of a pale green liquid. It was a potion that would help with the poison, she explained, though he needed no reason to obey her. Geralt trusted her completely and would have drank anything she offered without question. 

"Try to hold still, this might sting a little." She warned him, pushing his clothes aside so she could treat the deep gash in his chest. She smeared her fingers with a paste that had a peculiar odor, rubbing it over her hands to warm it before directing them to the wound. Geralt was met with a burning sensation that spread from his wound to the rest of his chest as soon as her fingers made contact with his skin. He let out a grunt, fighting the spasms of his muscles to allow her to work comfortably. However, the burning was soon replaced by a sensation of pleasant warmth as she uttered an incantation in the ancient tongue. 

He concentrated on the harmonious sound of her voice, letting the words transport him back to that first time they had found themselves in a similar situation. He had been hired by the king to assassinate the beast that had killed the princess. It was said that it prowled the forest after sunset, it was there that the young girl had met her fatal fate. Her love for nature and the long walks under the moonlight was what had ultimately made her an easy prey for that monster. Geralt did not retain the specific details of that story, only what was useful to analyze his enemy. Had he done so, he might have realized that there were strange things in the story that would make any Witcher suspicious. And perhaps then he would not have been so surprised when he found the princess very much alive and well, wandering through the forest alone.

"Please, don't make me go back there." She had begged him after explaining that she had taken advantage of the beast's convenient appearance to escape from her home. "There's nothing waiting for me back there, only a future of unhappiness and subjugation to a man that doesn't respect me."

"I was hired to kill a beast and that's all I intend to do." Was his reply. He was more than ready to continue on his way, to leave her behind to sort out her fate while he dealt with what he had been hired to do, but the princess did not give him the opportunity. She begged for his help to escape from there, she didn't care where he took her as long as he got her as far away from her kingdom as possible. Her escape had not been planned, but a last minute decision that had not allowed her to pack supplies or even steal a horse from the stable. Still, she had been able to travel a fairly long way on foot, but it was evident that she could not continue like this much longer.

"I can't pay you in coin," she told him. "But I can make sure you survive your battle."

Geralt felt sorry for the young woman and was going to help her without asking for anything in return. He really doubted that she had anything valuable to offer him. He was a Witcher, an assassin highly trained in both combat and the arts of magic, tools he used to keep himself alive in the high-risk situations he lived in on a regular basis. However, his mercy proved useful after the battle, when the young princess demonstrated her healing abilities.

His wounds were deep, he was tired and his skin was painted with the reddish sticky liquid that ran through the beast's veins. But still, he was able to crawl to safety where she waited for him with his horse Roach. When she saw him approaching on the horizon she jumped to her feet, hands full of herbs she had gathered in preparation for that moment. Geralt could see nothing but a halo of light in the distance, a figure of hope running towards him with hair flying in the wind as it called his name.

He collapsed against a tree trunk, his breath hitching as the world around him became blurry and dark. He was not unconscious, but neither was he able to process what was happening around him. His memories of that moment were blurry, like a dream slipping from his mind upon awakening. The only thing he remembered clearly was a sweet female voice calling him back to life as soft hands caressed his skin, spreading their comforting warmth inside him.

Geralt had felt peace for the first time in a long while as her hands worked their magic on him, just as he felt at this very moment as her fingers caressed his skin once again. It always happened, her touch alone flooded his insides with peace and tranquility. Maybe that was why he missed her so much, maybe that was why he found himself visiting her for the simplest injuries that even he could heal. Unlike other healers, she was the only one who could calm his tormented soul, the only one who could quiet his thoughts and remove all traces of bitter negativity from his heart. 

"Rest." He heard her whisper in his ear and as much as he wanted to, he didn't have the strength to open his eyes and look at her one more time. Geralt knew he was tired, but only now, in the quiet of her company and wrapped in the warmth of her body, did he realize just how much. 

When he opened his eyes again it was morning. The rays of sunlight streaming through the window touched his face in a warm caress. His pupils were forced to adjust to the light as he opened his eyes, narrowing to almost two slits identical to those of the black cat resting beside him. The animal meowed contentedly as he shifted between the sheets —letting out a grunt of pain at the heaviness of his muscles. He stroked the cat as it purred at him, scratching its head and behind its ears as he knew it liked, before making an effort to get out of bed. His body ached and he still felt tired, but given what he had been through, he was lucky to be alive. 

Geralt heard the sweet sound of the young woman's voice echoing down the hallway like a melodious murmur that filled his heart with joy. It came from the garden, so that was where he went. He found her having a conversation with Roach, brushing the horse's mane while complaining about him to the animal as if it could talk back. They were harmless comments that he knew she didn't mean, though he'd heard them in the past —complaints about his recklessness and lack of responsibility as a horse owner were never lacking. She was especially fond of animals, so she loved to talk to his horse as if he were a human being. She did it with her cat as well, and with any animal that crossed her path. Geralt found it entertaining, though a bit excessive —especially when they traveled together and she made him stop every so often to pet and chat with every rabbit and squirrel in their path.

"What are you doing out of bed? You need to rest!" She scolded him as soon as her eyes landed on him. As firm as her gaze was, he could see concern rather than anger or annoyance reflected in them.

"I would have stayed in bed if I hadn't felt the need to come out and defend my good name." He played along, the corner of his mouth curving ever so slightly upward in an almost imperceptible movement. "I can't have you filling Roach's head with lies about me."

"They are not lies!" She grumbled, folding her arms in exaggerated annoyance. "You are reckless and you don't give poor Roach enough attention." At her words, the animal thumped its front left paw against the ground as if it understood what she had said and agreed. Geralt huffed, shaking his head slightly in disbelief.

"You already turned her against me." She laughed and it was like music to his ears, a melodious tone that awakened happiness within him. 

"I don't have to, she is a smart creature." She fired back, giving the horse a couple of gentle pets before setting aside what she was doing to focus her attention on him. "But seriously, you need to get back in bed."

"I'm fine." It wasn't a complete lie, but it wasn't the truth either. She looked at him steadily and Geralt knew she thought she looked intimidating, but with the way the light of the rising sun framed her figure and the gentle breeze moving her hair, he saw nothing more than a forest fairy. The most beautiful and innocent fairy he had ever seen. He was tempted to challenge her just to tease her and make her grumble. She looked adorable when she pointed an accusatory finger at him believing that something she did or said could intimidate the Witcher. In the end he decided not to do so and instead accompanied her back into the house, though he did not lie down again, but sat with her at the kitchen table. 

She insisted on preparing breakfast on her own, arguing that he was her guest and that he was badly injured, so Geralt had the opportunity to admire her as she moved about the room, humming under her breath melodies he did not recognize. It made him genuinely happy to see her acting so freely around him, thinking about how far their relationship had come. When he had first met her, she was far from the confident, free spirit she was now. She was quiet and reserved, barely asking him questions from time to time to fill the void of silence and always apologizing for everything.

It was more than mere distrust of a stranger, Geralt could see in her eyes that she was trapped inside herself, a cocoon of fears and insecurities that trapped in its intricate net the beautiful butterfly that lurked within. She would show her true colors from time to time, like when he would catch her talking to Roach when she thought he was sleeping, or when she would make them stop to help a wounded animal. But she always apologized immediately afterwards, as if she realized too late that she had done something wrong, something she wasn't supposed to do. It made Geralt wonder what kind of life she had left behind when she ran away from home. 

He was not a man of many words and was used to traveling alone and in silence, accompanied only by the chirping of birds and the crunching of dry leaves under Roach's hooves, but when it came to her he felt a strange need to hear her speak. Perhaps it was the harmonious tone of her voice, or maybe the fact that he could tell she needed to express herself, but he didn't mind when she rambled absentmindedly as they traveled, putting into words every thought that crossed her mind. 

"I was never meant to be a princess, no matter what my blood says." She had confessed to him one afternoon as they walked through the forest. "The traditions, the politics, the expectations... I was never good at any of that."

"Is that why you ran away?" His question took her by surprise. He barely spoke to her so she assumed he wasn't listening to her most of the time. When she turned to look at him she found his yellow eyes fixed on her, making her feel small under his intense gaze.

"I wanted to be free." She answered honestly. "I refused to live trapped inside a castle for another day, pretending to be someone I'm not, pleasing everybody but myself... I want to forge my own path, build my own destiny. I have no idea what I'm doing or if it will even work, but I owe it to myself to try."

Geralt admired her for that. She wasn't sure what she wanted, but she knew what she didn't want and had had the courage to do something about it. That was why he was so glad things were going well for her. She deserved her freedom, she deserved to have the space to find herself and live her life on her terms. Her bravery had been rewarded.

"How are you feeling?" She asked him as she set a plate of food in front of him, her voice bringing him out of his thoughts. 

"I'm fine."

"Are you? Or are you doing that thing you do all the time when you pretend not to need anyone's help?" She looked at him with a raised eyebrow, proud of herself for knowing him so well. 

Geralt sighed. "I'm a bit sore and tired, but I'll live." He finally confessed.

"That's normal, you were really hurt. I'm amazed that you got here in one piece." 

"You should have seen the other guy." He joked sarcastically and she rolled her eyes.

"I'm being serious, Geralt. The poison could have killed you."

"It didn't."

"Only because of your slow heartbeat, but what if next time you don't get so lucky?" The tone of the conversation suddenly changed as they looked into each other's eyes. The familiar heavy tension in the air, making it hard to breathe. 

It was her greatest fear. She feared there would come a day when Geralt's wounds would be so bad that even she wouldn't be able to heal them. She feared it almost as much as never opening the door again and finding him on the other side. The thought of him dying, at home or out on the battlefield, terrified her. She knew it was stupid since he was a Witcher, a being genetically modified to face the greatest dangers, whose purpose in life was to kill monsters. She knew the smart thing to do would have been to get away from him in time, before his absence hurt her as much as it did. She knew there was no point in worrying about someone who had made peace with the idea of dying in battle, but she did it anyway. She couldn't help but fear for his safety the moment he set foot outside her home, worrying until he would eventually show up there again.

"Just... be careful." She muttered after a few seconds of silence, swallowing her emotions as a lump formed in her throat.

Geralt could see the pain in her eyes, the fear and worry shining in them clearly. He felt the need to assure her that he would be all right, but they both knew that was a lie. In his line of work one could never be sure of anything. Things could change very quickly and even he could be surprised with the cold caress of death sooner than expected. The best he could do was to assure her that he would do everything in his power to get back to her.

"I will be." 

That wasn't enough to dissipate the young woman's fears, but it was enough to calm her worries for the moment. Instead of concentrating on things she couldn't control, she chose to turn her attention to the things she could. After breakfast she inspected Geralt's wounds once more to make sure they were healing properly. With the help of her magic and the speed with which the Witcher's body regenerated, the deep gash that adorned his chest was now no more than a scratch. The skin was still red and irritated, but it was in better condition than just a few hours ago. The same with the rest of the cuts and scratches that graced the rest of his body, some of which had already disappeared completely, leaving behind a slightly discolored line on the skin.

She sat beside him as she worked, rubbing a healing paste of her own creation over what was left of his wounds. She focused her energy on him, eyes glued to the skin of his chest as she let her fingers work their magic. She knew it probably wasn't necessary, given the rapid evolution of his cuts they would most likely be practically healed in a couple more hours. But she wanted to do it. She didn't like to see him hurt, even if it was something that happened regularly. He always came to her bruised and bloody, but even then she never got used to seeing him like that. She hated to see him suffer, so when he was with her she would go out of her way to heal all the wounds on his body no matter how small or insignificant. She wanted to make her home a sanctuary for him, a place free of pain and danger where they were safe to be together.

Geralt could feel her energy enveloping him, the warmth her body radiated caressing his skin delicately. The scent of her hair flooded his nostrils, filling his lungs with that sweet floral perfume that was so distinctive to him. It was intoxicating, a drug he couldn't quit. He allowed himself to get lost in the moment, enjoying the soft touch of her hands on his chest and shoulders as he admired her work. She was beautiful, like a flower full of color and life that only grew stronger with each of his visits. Her smile, a ray of sunshine that lit up the gray, cloudy sky that was his life. And her eyes... oh her eyes. Geralt could get lost in them for hours, reading in her reflection every little thought that went through her head. To him she was an open book, the most fascinating he had read in a long time.

She became slightly nervous when she looked up and met Geralt's intense gaze fixed on her. They were close, too close to each other for her not to feel intimidated under the watchful admiration of his amber orbs. And yet, she couldn't look away from him. She couldn't help but marvel at the sharp angles of his features, counting the small scars that adorned his skin as her eyes traveled down his face. Those were two traits that people normally found intimidating about him. He had the face of a reckless warrior, a lone wolf with no feelings that augured trouble. But she knew him better than that, she knew the man behind the rumors and knew there was much more to his story and his character. When she looked at him she saw more than the dangerous Witcher. She saw the man who had saved her from her terrible fate, the one she missed and longed for when he was far away, the only man who occupied her thoughts. 

Geralt's eyes strayed to her lips as she caressed them with her tongue. It was an innocent act but he felt it as a temptation, a challenge he had every intention of accepting. He leaned forward, feeling her warm, slightly quickened breath colliding and mingling with his own. He held still for a moment, waiting for her to pull back and move away. When she didn't, Geralt moved a little closer to her until he felt the tip of her nose brush against his. When he looked up one last time, he noticed that she was looking at him with half lidded eyes, completely at his mercy. She was in a trance, lost in the deep amber of his eyes, with no thought in her mind but him. It was the moment they had both been waiting for, the culmination of all the tension that had built up.

But before they could join their lips in the long-awaited kiss, the sound of the cat jumping on top of the table interrupted them. The animal's meow broke the trance and she realized what was about to happen. Embarrassed, she pulled away from Geralt immediately, mumbling something about feeding the cat as she disappeared from his vision. He would be lying if he said he wasn't disappointed, still longing to feel her lips on his, but perhaps it was for the best. If he kissed her he would never want to stop or leave again, and he knew that wasn't possible. His place was out there on the road with his horse as his only companion. He was not meant to stay in one place for long, his profession had taken that privilege away from him long ago.

“Your wounds are almost healed.” She stated as she returned to the room, picking up the cat and setting it down off the table. It was an excuse so she wouldn't have to look him in the eye when talking, something to occupy herself so she wouldn't think about what had just happened.

"Guess I'll be leaving tonight then." He was in no hurry to leave, he would gladly stay another week there with her if he could, but he knew that wasn't wise. He could never stay too long with her since he always feared the effects it might have. The more time he spent with her, sharing moments of domestic intimacy, the harder it was for him to get back on the road. The last time he had been there he had ended up running away in the middle of the night, knowing he couldn't leave if he had to look her in the eye and say goodbye. And now he feared that nothing had changed, so he had to get out of there before it was too late.

"I would rather you stay one more night and rest here." She said in a soft tone, trying to hide the true meaning behind her words. She didn't want him to leave, not yet. "Your physical wounds might be healing fast but don't forget that you were poisoned and you almost died. Witcher or not, that's a lot." 

"I'll be fine."

"Maybe, but would it kill you to stay here one more night for my own sake? Because if you walk through that door now, I will spend the rest of my days worrying about you until I see you again." She finally worked up the courage to look at him, pleading with her eyes for him to listen to her. She knew that if he wanted to leave there was nothing she could do to stop him, so she hoped he would have mercy on her. "I just want to make sure that you're alright."

Geralt couldn't refuse her even if he wanted to, not when she was looking at him with big, bright eyes full of love. Not when her voice was almost a whisper, as if she was afraid he would hear her. He understood the feeling, the fear of admitting what he really felt. But it was easier that way. It was the best thing for both of them. Their lives were incompatible as were their personalities. 

She was a nice sunny summer afternoon and he was a harsh winter night. She was a ray of sunshine that with her warm touch awakened life in everything around her and he was the cold, cruel snow that buried everything under a layer of ice. Maybe that was why he felt this inexplicable attraction to her, as if they were connected by an invisible thread that pulled him to her every time he tried to walk away. Her warmth melted the ice around him, allowing new things to blossom in the fertile soil. Only he didn't know if there was anything left under the ice that could bloom. If so, he had to be careful because her warmth, though pleasant and comforting, could lead to his doom.

Still, he ignored his brain's warnings, giving in to her pleas. They spent the day together and Geralt allowed himself to lose himself in the intimacy and domestic bliss of the moment. He indulged in the fantasy of a life by her side as he admired her dancing around the kitchen while cooking or moving among the plants as she tended to her garden, talking to the squirrels and birds that wandered by. He delighted in the sound of her voice as she called his name and enjoyed her melodious laughter. 

When the sun went down, she lay beside him on the bed, talking nonsense until her eyelids began to feel heavy. She denied being sleepy several times, assuring him that she was just resting her eyes. Geralt snorted, but said nothing, listening intently to the story she was telling him about a deer she had saved from death between masked yawns. She didn't get to finish the story, not consciously at least. She mumbled a couple of almost inaudible gibberish before falling asleep, fighting her last battle against her body's need for rest.

Geralt watched her sleep for a good while, his eyes admiring the peace on her face in the dim candlelight. She had never looked so ethereal, with her hair spread out on the pillow like a halo around her head, and her chest rising and falling slowly with her calm breathing. Her skin was soft under his touch, a stark contrast to the roughness of his fingers bruised from all the fighting and constant use of the sword. She was the most beautiful piece of art, a sculpture carved by the gods themselves. He almost felt unworthy to be by her side, the softness of her features reminding him once again how different they were, how wrong his feelings were. 

He got out of bed with a heavy heart, searching for his things while being very careful not to make a sound so as not to alert her. He couldn't stay there one more night, if he woke up in the morning with her by his side he would never want to leave and he knew very well that it wouldn't end well. So, he placed a soft kiss on her forehead, just a brush of his lips against her skin as a farewell.

Geralt disappeared into the darkness of the night without leaving any trace of his presence. When she opened her eyes the next morning she was disappointed to find herself alone in bed. She didn't have to leave the room to know he was gone, she could feel his absence in the air. She felt lonely and cold again, already missing the warmth that filled her whenever he was around. Letting out a tired sigh, she dropped into a chair near the door. Her eyes were glued to the wood, her mind filled with thoughts of Geralt. She wondered if he was alright and if he was missing her as much as she was missing him. 

And just like that, the cycle continued, his departure leading the way to the stage of uncertainty and worry that grew in her with each passing day as she awaited his return. Her eyes remained glued to the door at all times, her ears attentive to the sounds waiting to hear Roach's footsteps approaching in the distance. She hated this moment. She hated not hearing from Geralt. She hated not being able to hear his low, raspy voice or feel the warmth of his body against hers. She hated the amount of energy she wasted worrying about him. But most of all, she hated knowing that all her suffering would be worth it the moment he came knocking on her door again.

I have more ideas for these two so if you guys like it let me know!

PART 2 HERE

[odditycircus-2002]

Mortal Kombat 1 Intros with Medusa!Reader

Spoilers for Story mode: Proceed with caution

Yourself (Mirror Match)

Y/N: How could you possibly willingly marry that snake?!?

Y/N 2: My dear snake gave me the fruits of knowledge you could never imagine. /

Y/N 1: Ugh, let me guess, you’re also married to Shang Tsung? Y/N 2: No, I am happily married to Syzoth. /

Y/N 2: Such a disappointment looking at my carbon copy. Y/N 1: It isss more disappointing that you are as insanely depraved as you are!

/

Y/N 2: Have you considered the benefits of Kytinn royal jelly for your cure?

Y/N 1: Ha! As I- Mmmhhh, You may be on to something. /

Y/N 1: I thought Lord Lui Kang turned you to dust! Y/N 2: Do you really think my husband and I would not have any contingencies? /

Y/N 1: You made Empress Sindel do WHAT? Y/N 2 gives a malicious chuckle: Pulling her strings was some of the most fun I had in a long time.

/

Y/N 1: You have some rather questionable taste in bedfellows.

Y/N 2: At least I can hold mine without fear of being stabbed instantly.

/ Shang Tsung

Shang Tsung: Across all timelines, we were meant to be.

Y/N: Never in this one or the next will I ever belong to you!

/

Shang Tsung: You have to understand what you saw in my lab is what true progress looks like.

Y/N: To think, I ever marveled at watching you work with your magic.

/

Shang Tsung: I know you would love the rare flora that can be found on my island-

Y/N: I rather see a carnivorous plant digest you slowly.

/

Y/N: I regret not ending you when I had the chance.

Shang Tsung: Don’t blame yourself too much, my sweet. I know you still hold a torch for me.

/

Y/N: You will NOT lay a hand on Baraka!

Shang Tsung: I will not let a filthy beast get in between us!

/

Y/N angrily: Every day, I wake up to find a stranger in the mirror.

Shang Tsung softly: And yet, you're the same clever woman as always.

/

Shang Tsung angrily: It wasn't enough to steal my birthright, but you also had to take away my soul mate?

Lui Kang: I did nothing of the sort, YOU drove her away.

Baraka

Y/N coquettishly: Do not go easy on me, Baraka.

Baraka: I know how you like it rough.

/

Y/N: So we are in agreement?

Baraka: Only IF you win, I'll stomach any greens you want me to eat for the next 3 moons.

/

Y/N: Sometimes, I wish we could-

Baraka: So do I, Y/N

/

Y/N: I heard from Ashrah that you asked her to end your life if you were to lose your mind.

Baraka: I did not want to burden your soul by having you take my life.

/

Baraka: How close are you to finding a cure?

Y/N: As much as I loathed to admit it, Shang Tsung's research has put me even closer to finding a permanent one.

/

Baraka: If you want to enter the Kytinn Hive, you’ll need to fight harder than ever before.

Y/N: I know I can trust you to watch my back, my friend.

/

Baraka: Stay away from Y/N, Sorcerer!

Shang Tsung: You cannot stop destiny, savage!

Syzoth

Y/N: I have so much to thank you for, Syzoth.

Syzoth: It's the least I can do for all I've been complicit in.

/

Syzoth: Does your skin still burn, Y/N?

Y/N: Not really, but my skin has been itching and flaking like mad.

/

Y/N: If I had known what Shang was doing to you, Syzoth-

Syzoth: Then you probably would been given a worse fate.

/

Syzoth: Zikandar barely survived the Kytinn's attack, and you want to follow them to their hive???

Y/N: If my theory about Kytinn royal jelly is correct, I could finally cure Tarkat!

/

Y/N gives a smug grin: Think you can slip out of my constricting hold?

Syzoth grins in return: If I can slip past Shao's forces, I'll have no trouble doing the same with you.

/

Syzoth teasingly: I believe you and Baraka would make a tremendous mated pair.

Y/N: Th-th-that'sss very kind of you to say, Syzoth.

/

Syzoth: I know what you did to her wasn't an accident.

Shang Tsung: I am not as heartless as to do that to my precious flower.

Mileena

Mileena: Why did you not tell me or Mother sooner about what happened?

Y/N: By then, your mother would not hear anything I had to say.

/

Mileena: Don't you regret being unable to save Mother?!

Y/N: My regret haunts me no matter the hour.

/

Mileena with desperate hope: Are you really close to a cure???

Y/N: I'm close to a breakthrough, but I will need a legion of soldiers to collect the most important ingredient.

/

Y/N: You did not happen to skip your required meditative exercises to sparr with Tanya again, did you?

Mileena: And what if I did? Skipping one session won't kill me.

/

Y/N: If I had found a way to treat your symptoms sooner, your mother would never have welcomed Shang Tsung into her court.

Mileena: One way or another, that Snake would have found some way to slither into the court.

/

Y/N: For what you did for the Tarkatans, you are already proving to be a fine Empress.

Mileena: It warms my heart to hear such praise from you.

/

Y/N: We are both trapped in bodies not our own.

Mileena: I pray to the gods that we may one day find a cure for you as well.

Shao

Shao: I almost regret not inviting you to join my cause.

Y/N: Your father should have let you die as a child!

/

Y/N: Your so-called "Patriotism" is nothing but a ruse to hide your lust for power.

Shao: And here I thought you were clever as your reputation says.

/

Y/N: I was tempted to leave you to die of your wounds, countless times.

Shao: Hah! For a Healer you are rather callous.

/

Y/N: I have to say, Reiko makes a far better statue than he ever did as a soldier.

Shao: Reverse your curse, witch!

/

Y/N: In hindsight, it is not so ssssurprising that your pride would have you betray the Empire.

Shao: I fight against the Royal Family for the sake of Outworld!

/

Shao: What in the Netherrealm did you do to my troops?!?

Y/N: I simply had the wildlife you hunt around your camp eat some special shrooms.

/

Shao: What do you truly know of War, Little Healer?

Y/N: Enough to know every possible way the mightiest can break.

Sindel

Y/N: I cannot fathom you as some vile harpy.

Sindel: Nor I with you as a heartless mad woman.

/

Y/N: I have deeply missed your hanging gardens.

Sindel: Perhaps later we may visit them together for old times sake.

/

Y/N: I am happy to report that Mileena is improving in mind and spirit

Sindel: I hope the same could be said for her body.

/

Sindel hurt: Why did you not come to me after what Shang Tsung did to you?

Y/N: I feared you would turn me away like you did with Lei Mei once you saw my visage.

/

Sindel: Care to explain the statue that strongly resembles Reiko in the middle of my garden?

Y/N: He had it coming to him.

/

Sindel: I am sorry, Y/N, the answer is still no. As Empress, I can not risk catching Tarkat.

Y/N hissing: If you only ssssaw what disgraceful conditions you forced the afflicted to live with!

/

Sindel: I am happy you found joy as I did with Jerrod, even with his disease.

Y/N surprised: What has Mileena been telling you now?

Johnny Cage

Johnny: Seriously, what did you see in Shang Tsung?!?

Y/N, with an exasperated sigh: Only what he wanted me to see.

/

Johnny: You will NOT believe how much my fans ship you and Baraka.

Y/N: Ship? Do they plan on building a boat for us?

/

Johnny: I totally have a chance with Katana... Don't I?

Y/N: *Hisses in amusement before responding* Ahhh, you are amusing Earthrealmer but no.

/

Y/N: Dammit Earthrealmer! I'm a healer, not an actress!

Johnny: But you already have the part down to a T!

/

Y/N: I too am something of a jokester.

Johnny: Ehhh no offense beautiful, but I'm not one for your brand of dark comedy.

/

Y/N: Why would you show me such a film???

Johnny: I swear, I forgot that's what happened to Medusa in that scene!

/

Baraka: Care to explain why Y/N seemed so frightened when she returned from your abode?

Johnny: Wait, wait, wait! I can explain!

/

Ashrah

Y/N almost smugly: So I resemble a demon?

Ashrah: That’s not exactly a good thing, Y/N.

/

Y/N: Baraka asked you to do what now?!

Ashrah: I pray you can find a cure for his condition before it comes down to that.

/

Y/N bashfully: Wh-what has Syzoth been telling you?

Ashrah: So are you and Baraka not a couple?

/

Y/N: I will gladly help you put down Quan-chi, as long as you do the same with Shang Tsung.

Ashrah: Together, we will put a permanent stop to both our tormentors.

/

Ashrah: My kris appears rather split with you.

Y/N: Considering some of things I’ve done, that doesn’t surprise me.

/

Ashrah: I am grateful you support Syzoth and I.

Y/N in a happy tone: Just be aware that if you hurt him any way, you’ll be begging for death. /

Ashrah: For a healer, you’re rather…

Y/N: Violent? That's always just been me.

A/N: Don't forget to like, reblog, and comment as I love hearing from y'all! Stay weird, my fellow humans.

[shepherds-of-haven]

Based on the post you reblogged, could you tell us how the characters rank in knowing colors/color names and flowers? :3c

Sure! Credit goes to @kris-mage-fics for the idea! :)

Rankings based on how many color names they know:

Lavinet - Riel - Tallys (pretty self-explanatory; Lavinet is big into fashion, style, and art; Riel has to know subtle differences between different colors for his work, is a big reader with a large vocabulary, and is an enjoyer of the arts; Tallys is like 300 years old and the Elves take arts and color palettes extremely seriously, arguably more so than any other culture, so it would be surprising if there was a color she hadn't heard of or encountered at some point. In fact, the Elvish language has more words for different colors than the Common tongue does!)

Shery (pretty much all of the above, pretty much everything she enjoys (baking, knitting, crafts, decorating) is very color-based, so she has a wide knowledge in this area)

Red (he knows most of them, but isn't interested enough to really explore them in a granular way; things like cyan, mauve, salmon, vermillion, or viridian are in his common vernacular but not, like, jacinthe or glaucous)

Chase (he's fashionable and into style, but given that he spent most of his life illiterate or around people who didn't exactly talk about the nuances of colors in their common parlance, he can identify the subtle differences between colors, but doesn't know the precise names of the more obscure ones all the time) - Briony (also like Chase; inherently knows the difference, but might not always know the exact term for that shade of purple and will compare it to her nearest frame of reference, like "larkon purple" or "queenly purple" when she's referring to something like aubergine

Halek - exactly so-so, he knows things like indigo or cerulean but anything more obscure will earn a blank look

Blade - Trouble - Ayla (those are just. those are just red. they're all just reddish. why would you need to complicate it any further than that)

Rankings based on how many flowers do they know:

Tallys (this is part of her professional work, too; she's often considered to be the group herbalist. But also, Elves are culturally really really really into flowers and herbs and plants)

Shery - Lavinet (Shery out of interest, Lavinet out of necessity; courtiers talk to each other with flowers a lot, so she inherently knows a lot about them)

Riel (he knows most of them by sight and scientific genus and often the properties or linguistic connotations of each, but his knowledge base isn't as extensive as the others', and he also doesn't care about them as much lol)

Briony - Red (Briony loves flowers, flower-arranging, and flower language, so she's delighted to work on rapidly expanding her knowledge in this arena; she actively reads books all about them. Red is extremely good at identifying flowers that can be used as potion ingredients and knows all of the common ones, but he doesn't know every flower growing along the road, especially if he hasn't seen it in a spellbook before lol. Like take him to a flower shop and he'll be able to correctly identify most of them. Point at a random flower growing in a field somewhere in the wild and he's not so sure. Unless it was on a final exam or midterm.)

Blade - Halek - Ayla (they know more about flowers than the average person in some areas, but all out of varying practical necessity. Blade because he both had to learn about poisons, their cures, and other medicinal uses of local flora and plants; Ayla because, as a survivalist, she had to learn what was edible, fruit-bearing, medicinal, etc.; Halek for the same reasons, and also culinary uses, what's edible and what can be a decorative garnish, etc. However, they're all oddly out of touch when it comes to common flowers. Like they know what a rose or a lily is, but anything beyond the most obvious and recognizable in the common vernacular is hopeless... Blade even refers to them by shape and color only. Like if he's talking about a daisy he'll call it "the small white flower" or just point at it LOL. Not realizing the daisies often come in different colors! And if pressed on what the difference between being given one or the other is for all three of them, it's just like 🤷🏻‍♀️)

Chase (he ONLY knows the most common ones that could be sent in bouquets. because the last time he assumed they didn't mean anything and that the flower type didn't matter, he landed himself in hot water by sending potential paramours some very mixed messages...)

Trouble (he's on the level of Blade - Ayla - Halek when it comes to common flowers--AKA no knowledge of them whatsoever--but without the added bonus of their esoteric field expertise, lol)

[nullicaput]

devil and eve. I

Pairing: Tom Marvolo Riddle x Reader, Voldemort x Reader

Tags: Fantasy AU, Nobility AU, Christian Themes, Supernatural and Paranormal Themes, Fairytale References, Horror, Sexism, Unnamed Minor Original Characters, Dark, Obsessive Behavior, Possessive Behavior, Slow Development, No Smut

Summary: When your father suddenly fell ill after attending a banquet, you fell into despair. Desperate to cure him, you signed a contract with a particular wizard.

Word Count: 2680

"God created the heaven and the earth. The light and the darkness. The firmament. He separateth the water from the earth. He createth the sun, the moon, and the stars. He createth the fish, birds, beasts. He createth man, and giveth him rule over all creatures. And provideth nurture for man and beast."

There used to be a time when you would be gazing at roses with wonder. Your eyes would be gleaming with amazement at their bloom that never seemed to turn dull. The thorns might be prickly like needles, but it could never deter your presence. Red as the crimson blood that dripped from your hands and soft as the velvet that you lie on whenever the night falls, roses were the only thing that inhabited your mother's greenhouse.

She loved them dearly although she never had the talent to grow them herself, being a noble's daughter and all. 

Based on your familial history, your mother came from a lower noble background unlike your father. The main reason that your father married your mother was because he became enamored by her appearance and the way she carried herself. You could still remember your father saying that she was never the sharpest blade that a man could ever wield, yet her beauty was never to be denied. 

Her hair was darker than the night, and her lips are as pink as the ripest peach. Her skin was the fairest of them all, and her eyes were comparable to the green that only a rose's leaves could create—deep yet full of life, glowing like emeralds when hit with the gentlest rays of the golden sun. Even when she passed, she looked the most alive as though she was just sleeping, waiting her only bud to tap her shoulders and wake her up from her slumber. 

Her allure was one of a kind, and despite her being your mother, you have never inherited the qualities that made her be considered as "The Upper Society's Flora". You have always heard snide comments from other nobles, claiming they were disappointed to learn that you resemble your father a lot. Seeing your hair color that was simply like his and your eyes were being merely a deeper shade of his irises', you were indeed his spitting image. 

You mind it not, for it shields you from the stares of the widows who were even older than your own father.

Rotting, senile, old men, who only wish to spread their self-proclaimed legacy, also wished to spread the legs of innocent younglings whose ages are a mere fraction of theirs. From their lingering gazes looking at the necks of female nobles who had not even reached their coming-of-age to their words asking their fathers if they had been betrothed already, some might think that not having your mother's grace as a curse, but for you, it was a gift.

For you, it was the highest blessing that the God above could ever give you.

Well, it used to be. 

The moment you have turned your sixteenth, countless letters from men of varying ages have begun flooding the parlor room. Each paper contained intricate penmanship. Each paper contained their immeasurable, irrestrainable desire for a still fresh petal. Each paper contained flowery words complimenting your youthful beauty, attempting to coax you by telling you how much you looked like your mother.

However, their trickery would get them nowhere. 

In contrast to your mother, who used to be even softer than the softest flowers, you were and still are the thorns that decorated her stem. Your etiquette might be of a noble's, yet the mind inside you was that of a common fellow. You were full of rage and disgust as you were full of ideas that a daughter like you should not have. You were too brilliant for your own good, and it keeps them from being able to reach you. Their foolish attempts for flattery will always remind you that in this society, a recently bloomed flower will be the most desirable, but when the petals start to wilt, her value would be diminished to that of a servant's.

And your thoughts were soon proven. 

Each year you turned older, the fewer and fewer the letters have arrived, until there were none.

Before you knew it, you have already turned twenty-five, the last chance for you to find a husband.

"God resteth the seventh day, and sanctifieth it. He setteth man in the garden. He createth the woman. Marriage is ordained."

The floor where you have been kneeling for an hour was cold against your knees, even colder than the wind that has managed to enter the prayer room. In front of you was an altar where a wooden statue of His son stood tall, His right hand forming the sign of benediction. In your clenched palm stayed a rosary, its amethyst beads swinging as you shook. You kissed it before signing the cross, hoping that the Lord would finally hear your never-ending prayers this time. 

"Father in heaven, I beg you," you wept. "I beg for your mercy."

You have no idea what it was that your father was suffering from. His heart was still beating, and yet, his flesh appears to be decaying. Like living corpse, he inhaled fresh air yet release an exhale of death. He exude the gagging scent of rot that could never be ridden by perfume, but when you open his lids to take a glance at his irises, his eyes still appear to be of those who are still alive.

Watching him succumb to his condition was gnawing you inside out.

He was just laughing with a companion at the most recent banquet held by the king as they talked about matters only men of the household are allowed to know and converse about, but the second he stepped foot out of the carriage, he fell onto the pavement, lifeless. There had not been any blood, and there had not been any signs of him experiencing any pain. So your father...your father could not have been dead.

But he looked dead. Even when he was breathing and his heart was still functioning, he still felt dead.

"Give me a sign, God. God, please, give me a sign not to end it. A sign for me not to euthanise him." You sighed, your breathing ragged. "I cannot go on like this." 

You felt angry. You felt tired. You felt disappointed. You felt betrayed. You felt everything all at once. Your sanity was hanging onto a thin thread, and you were not sure when will everything snap. You were not patient. Oh, for God's sake, you have never been patient. So why? Why must He make you feel this? 

"If it is Your will for him to die, take him already."

You held your rosary by both ends, gripping it so hard that the string was starting to stretch. However, before you could pull it apart and send the beads flying, a knock rang and bounced onto the walls of the room.

"Lady [Name], the sorcerer is here, your grace," the butler, who was standing opposite side of the door, said. 

You swallowed thickly and tried to bury that heaviness settling in your throat somewhere it would not reemerge from. You rose from your position and put the rosary onto the table. You looked up and blinked several times before closing your eyes entirely, steeling yourself to survive this interaction without breaking down. 

"Guide him to the parlor room and bring out tea and sweets," you ordered him. 

Hearing the soles of his shoes clacking, you dusted your skirt. You immediately made your way to your room and checked your appearance at the vanity mirror. The bags under your eyes were prominent, and your lips are unhealthily pale. Your hair, although styled, gave off the impression that you were, in fact, not taking care of yourself. Inwardly, that is. 

"It is a lady's duty to keep herself beautiful," you recalled your etiquette instructor remind you. "Even when grieving, you must look more than presentable."

You laughed at the brief memory, knowing that old hag turned to be the type of woman she hated the most. Ugly and wrinkly, as she would call the commoners, she looked no different from the women who never had the wealth to take care of themselves. If anything, those women still undoubtedly appeared better than her.

Deciding against dolling up, you went to the parlor room. There, you saw a young man wearing a black robe with green and silver accents. His hair was neatly divided and swept away from his sculpturesque face. As you let your eyes stay, you note the symmetry of his features. Similar to the prince of that particular fairytale that your mother loved reading for you before you retire for the night, he can only be described as ethereal.

Yet, his eyes haunted you. 

"I suppose that you are the sorcerer."

"I am." 

The richness of his voice startled you.

"I am glad that you have accepted my request." You momentarily averted your eyes from him and wordlessly commanded the maid to pour him a cup of tea. "I heard that you lived far from this kingdom."

"I do," he confirmed, his tone neutral. "I live in a place only my kind can perceive."

Picking up your teacup and the saucer below it, you sipped the liquid and nodded. A mystery, he was.

"Your name is Tom Marvolo Riddle, correct?"

How fitting for a puzzling man like him. 

"That is indeed the name I use when I interact with the likes of you." 

His eyes met yours, as if they were nudging your curiosity and waiting for you to pry about the details that should not concern you. You, however, did not question him. You kept your mouth shut.

In his eyes, you care not about who and what he was. Your gaze told him that you only interest yourself with what he could do to cure your father once and for all.

"Then, Sir Riddle, you see, we have tried seeking the help of many physicians," you began. 

"But none of them were able to heal your father," he ended the sentence for you. "So you have decided to send a letter to me, a wizard."

"Yes." 

"The procedures to address a letter to me can never be done by pure accident," he explained, his voice liquid smooth. "It requires the sender their whole certainty, because even the slightest amount of hesitation will nullify the call."

The pendulum swung back and forth, filling the silence while you searched for the right words to say. You put the cup down and breathed out through your nose. His face, which was previously devoid of any expression, morphed into amused confusion.

He chuckled softly, mirth evident in his words when he asked, "You are a Christian devout, are you not?"

"I am," you confirmed. "But the duchy is desperate."

Oh, who were you trying to fool?

It was not the duchy who was terrified of the future. It was never them. It was you.

"I am desperate."

If your father were to die, you would be forced to marry whoever it is the church assigns you to. Your father's riches would be transfered to him, and you would need to consummate with him the night of the wedding day to produce a child. If the babe turned to be a girl, you would need to spend another night with your spouse the moment the physician states that your womb has rested, which would undoubtedly be no longer a month after the birth. You would accept him inside of you in and out repeatedly, again and again, until you were able to give him an heir. The only reason you did not have a brother was because your father loved your mother dearly and wished to preserve her loveliness longer. Your husband would never be that considerate enough for him to stop. No man is.

"I care not anymore if you are a physician or a wizard as you claim yourself to be." You bit the flesh of your inner cheek and tasted the metal from your blood while it coated your tongue. "I need your rumored healing abilities."

You squeezed your eyes shut and pursed your lips. You pressed your palms together, resembling the hands of a praying person. 

"I could have been fooling you." The words that was unhurriedly coming out of his lips made you snap your eyes open. "I could have been merely lying to you, and when I receive the payment, I could tell the church you have been contacting a man of who has been devil's work."

You bitterly smiled in a way that only a fatigued woman could do. You did not want to be vulnerable in front of the man who was sitting across from you, yet the growing enervation inside your heart has increasily turning you emptier and emptier every day that your father stayed ill. 

"Trust and faith are the only remaining things I have," you muttered. 

"Trust and faith?" 

"Trust for you that you are not here to deceive me for my father's properties, and faith for the Lord that he did not send me another predicament."

Your answer pleased him. Due to what reason, you did not know. The way he has presented himself to you gave you no way of predicting him. In comparison to the other men you have met before, he was cavernous, and his demeanor held no cracks. He was unnerving to gaze upon, as though he was no human being. 

Perhaps, he really was not.

"You do not seem to be concerned that I would tell the church about your existence," you pointed out, attempting to use his words against him. 

"Even if you do," he trailed off. "No one would believe you."

His reply stunned you. The confidence in his answer was almost sickening, and yet, you have expected it. 

"Of course." 

Why would the church believe a woman? They would likely just accuse you of having hysteria.

Still, hearing it being spoken—spelled out for you—by a non-noble individual...you would be lying if you would say that you were not disappointed. 

"What are your terms?" you shifted the topic back. "How much would your like your payment to be?"

He provided you no answer, which caused you to feel more anxious.

Does he wish to attain something else?

"What would you like your payment to be?" you pressed. "A mansion? A land property? A noble title?"

He shook his head slightly. 

"None of them."

"Are you telling me that you'd work for my father's betterment without any promised payment?" 

He let out an airy chuckle, smooth and almost lulling. He leaned into your direction and reached for your teacup with his right hand. Your tea, which shared the temperature of the room, released steam. The liquid even bubbled, boiling.

However, as quick as his smile showed, it vanished. 

He sat straight, and the blankness of his face returned. He inserted his right hand back inside his cloak, his left arm moving. He pulled out a small vial of clear liquid, its flange sealed with a wax-coated cork. When you extended your hand to take it, your eyes moved to the mark that occupied his left forearm. 

A serpent slithering through the holes of a skull.

"Pour it into his throat. If his condition improves, which I am confident that it will, I want you to provide me an experimental laboratory where I can do my work without anyone disturbing me," he said. "I want it to be separated from the manor." 

You cleared your throat in a futile attempt to ignore the image. 

"How large?" 

"As large as your men could possibly build."

"The woman seduced by the serpent, enticeth her husband to sin. They both flee from God. They three are punished. Christ is promised. Man is dust. Man is cast out of Paradise."

next chapter.

Author here. I apologize for the typographical errors and the excessive use of em dash. I just love the gal.

[sapphicstone]

Soul's flower garden | broZone x Reader.

‎ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ꒰🌱꒱ ♡ ‎ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ‎ㅤ𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚣𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚡 𝚐𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚛!𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛

summary: you're a gardener, so you have extensive knowledge of all the local flora.

pairings: John Dory x Reader, Spruce/Bruce x Reader, Clay x Reader, Floyd x Reader.

‎ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ‎ㅤ‎ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ‎ㅤ‎ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ‎ㅤhope you enjoy it!

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ꒰🌱꒱ ♡

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ. . . . . john dory

JD drove frantically to Mount Rageous. The place where his younger brother Floyd was supposedly being held. You only knew him from the stories and photos John Dory had, you never saw him in person.

You saw when he read the letter that strangely reached Rhonda and you saw how worried he was.

Mount Rageous looked like an unhealthy place, although it seemed to be partly made of plastic or something similar.

"Wait here." John asked as he got up from the driver's seat.

"I'll go with you." You put down the book you were reading about the local flora and got up, intending to accompany him.

"No way."

And off he goes.

You've spent minutes waiting, after reading the whole book from start to finish, JD arrives with a slightly melancholy expression. He said nothing, just sat back down on the bench and turned around with Rhonda.

You didn't question him about anything in order to maintain respect. John would say an hour, in his own time.

The next day, Rhonda didn't want to walk. John Dory was explicitly worried when he turned the car around and realized that the armadillo simply refused to move. She didn't have the strength.

You both left. You were startled when you noticed the greenish tinge on the poor creature's face. As you approached her, you noticed the sickly look on her face.

"She looks terrible! She must have eaten something she shouldn't have on Mount Rageous."

"What are we going to do?" John looked even more worried.

You knew exactly what to do. Nearby there were some boldo leaves, you picked them and offered them to Rhonda, who frowned as soon as she smelled the plant.

"Come on, Rhonda! I know it looks bitter, but you have to chew it."

She obeyed. Rhonda got better a few hours later and John Dory showered you both with kisses and hugs.

You help John to stay away from plants that can cause allergies, since he loves walking through the woods and acts unconsciously most of the time.

Once he almost ate poisonous berries if you hadn't been around…

"Can I eat that?"

"If you want to swell up and explode into glitter, yes!'' One day, John was bitten by a carnivorous plant and didn't leave Rhonda for a few days. You laughed at him and he got upset.

A complete disaster when it comes to laughing plants, he hardly ever recognizes them. Lucky you know a cure for them.

He loves your knowledge of flora and constantly presents you with flowers he finds in his favorite book.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ. . . . . Spruce/Bruce

He seasons the food with plants that you take to Vacay Island.

Because it's an island, the plantation is somewhat limited, so you have to go out and explore a bit more.

Bruce goes along, he doesn't want you to get hurt while trying to pick plants to season the food sold in the restaurant.

"Do you think this would go well in soup?"

He thinks it's funny when you bring the plants close to your face and smell them to simulate a possible combination.

"No, dear. Try this one!"

"Incredibly delicious."

The best fruit salad on Vacay Island. The best drinks and juices too!

Bruce also gives you flowers and some special seedlings.

One day you told him about a flower that grows in all possible environments, even tropical ones.

Guess what? He found a way to get this flower and helped you plant it in a pot at the back of the restaurant.

Every day that flower grew more colorful and beautiful.

"My little flower" as he calls it.

"My little ones." As he calls his children if they have any.

Your house is all decorated. Flowers in pots, flowers on the ceiling, flower arrangements and the pantry is full of grains and vegetables that you grow yourself in pots for your own consumption.

He waters the plants every day when he remembers.

They all remind him of you, so Bruce doesn't feel lonely when he's away from you.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ. . . . . Clay

Clay's office has never been as colorful as it used to be.

You work in a location a little further away from all the centralization of the putt-putt village.

Because she has a vast knowledge of plants, Viva has appointed her as a "healer". Always serving teas and medicines to trolls who end up injured or sick.

Clay admires you from afar. He gives you some books that he finds interesting, even though you have a collection of them and don't need new ones.

But you think it's cute and keep it anyway.

Afternoon tea almost every day! Clay gave up his coffee addiction for a while just to enjoy his delicious herbal tea.

Clay doesn't like sweets very much, he hardly eats milkshakes and French fries. So salads with fresh vegetables are always welcome!

You stock up on fruit and fresh salad for him in a little jar, always knocking on his office door to deliver it to him.

"Lovely pumpkin." That's what he usually calls you.

"Thanks for helping to look after us!" You say with a smile.

"You do it better than me."

One day you asked him to look at your farm. He liked it so much that, thanks to this tranquillity, he began to relax a little from his work as an accountant. Of course, he was still very professional, but with a little moderation.

You taught him how to pick moon fruit. They have the shape of the star and are naturally illuminated and he keeps one of them as a lamp in his office.

That way, he always remembers how special your relationship is.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ. . . . . Floyd

Skincare!

You definitely know the best plants that can take care of trolls' delicate skin. Almost every night before going to sleep, you rub some creamy plant on their faces and talk while you wait a few minutes for it to take effect.

Floyd has some trouble sleeping. Sometimes his body aches and his mind is agitated, so you prepare some herbal tea with calming properties so that he can relax and sleep.

Your cocoon is in the most flowery tree in the countryside.

Floyd would like to learn more about the flora. He wants to talk to you about his interests and loves it when you teach him something you've recently learned.

flower crown!

But Floyd ends up sneezing from the pollen.

Special fruit pies are always on the table. He loves his homemade sweets.

Floyd puts the flowers in a vase with water. There's always room for more vases inside the cocoon.

He has learned to eat some edible flowers and now always asks you to make some refreshing salad with them.

"Please?" He begs with piteous eyes.

"Okay, Daisy." You call him that and then give him an Eskimo kiss.

The shape of Floyd's hair resembles a tulip, however.

Floyd now smells of roses. And he loves it.

౨ৎ ˖⑅ ࣪⊹ ୨୧ ˖⑅ ࣪⊹ 𝜗𝜚˖⑅ ࣪⊹ ୭ৎ ˖⑅ ࣪⊹ ୨ৎ ˖⑅ ࣪⊹ ೀ౨ৎ ˖⑅ ࣪⊹ ୨୧ ˖⑅ ࣪⊹ 𝜗𝜚˖⑅ ࣪⊹ ୭ৎ

I hope you enjoyed it and sorry for any mistakes! :') masterlist

[honey-minded-hivemind]

How do the angels react when their kids come back (and Morph)?

Morph:

Okay! So, here's what happens:

After the apocalypse, Death appoints the adult mutants to be guardians, Angels/Protectors, to the Horsemen, as both a blessing and curse. They'll never be able to harm them or think of harming them again amd will be reminded of their crime, which akso getting to help care for them and nurse them back to health and protect them forevermore...

Sabretooth, as the Angel of Death, has the ability to bring the kids back to life. He starts with Remy, and is nuzzling him and wiping away the grave dirt... He's gentle, holding him close, wrapping a blanket or cloak around Remy, as they trek back to the temple... from there, Xavier and Hank are able to keep Remy sedated, using medicine made from Lethe to cleanse his blood and wash away the past... and when Remh wakes up, he's being cuddled, fed, and kept close at all times... (his head feels soft, like someone wrapped wool around it... but he feels calm when Victor and Logan and Hank are there, like they're guardians or parents...)

Xavier, as the Angel of War, is helped by Sabretooth and Remy to bring Scott back. Xavier has to calm his mind before sedating Scott, then taking him back to have his wounds closed and tended to... Scott is kept unconscious for awhile so he can heal (and so he doesn't fight back before the medicine takes effect)... but when he wakes up, groggy and tired, he's pulled into Xavier's lap, his hair is stroked, and Logan is there, too, rubbing his back and asking if he needs anything... he doesn't know why, but being near them feels warm... and then another is brought in, and he feels even better... (his sibling! It's Death! He's there, he waited for him!)

Wolverine, as the Angel of Famine, is quick to scoop Reader's body up, and is careful to not jostle them as they go back home... Reader is kept sedated for a very long time, as their body has to be cleansed and mended and fed, and they'd fight them if awake... Logan keeps them company, and Sabretooth stalks in with Remy, promising lots of food and sacrifice when they're better, and how they'll get to sleep in their large nest... Reader, upon waking up on accident one day, leaves... (the Angels and Horsemen are anxious, where are they, where did they go, they need to find them, NOW-!!!)

Magneto, as the Angel of Plague, doesn't leave Pietro alone for a minute. He and Hank amd Xavier work around the clock to cleanse his body of the lingering poison, they make sure his mind is healing, amd take extra care he can't leave them (not like Famine, they must be so hungry, they have to keep Pietro safe for them-)... He missed his son, and reads to him... he speaks of happy endings and daring adventures, hoping his son is feeling better, cared for, at peace...

(Beast is an Angel of Plague and Death, and helped heal the kids and turn the Lethe juice and essence into medicine and salves... he also made sure to discover new medicines and cures and plants, and has a whole library built to contain the knowledge of diseases and cures and flora and fauna...) (Storm is an Angel of Famine amd War, who keeps waters clean and sends rain to help crops grow and sends lightning lightning help burn undergrowth that choke the trees... she is there for the kids, reads to them, and makes sure to find them warm sheets and blankets so they aren't cold...) (Mystique is an Angel of Death and War, who keeps the people at ease, and the children as well... she's careful in what she says, and helps Hank or Erik when needed...)

The adults are so happy to see Morph alive and well, and Morph is quick to fight them- and after the fight, says they're glad to see them again! Wow, a whole decade gone! And they caused the end times!? Well, talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy! They make sure their kinda kids/kinda siblings are alright, they let the others snuggle them and offer free food and sacrifice, and they make sure that the Horsemen can't leave and don't want to leave... even if it means being sneaky and making sure they drink their juice... (Logan is crying when he sees Morph, and hugs the snot out of them) (Ororo also cries, and is pushing food their way) (Hank is giving them a check-up and saying how glad he is they're back) (Victor claps them on the back and says he can't wait to spar with them again) (Raven smiles, and they share some wine later) (Charles and Erik are quick to apologize, and they also make sure they have Lethe given to them)

[knoepfl]

Can you please do a palladium x reader so palladium doesn't know that the reader is a precure he thinks that the reader is a normal human but the reader is a precure known as cure galaxy and he only find this out when the trix attack and the reader tells everyone to run but when the reader thinks that no one is there she transformers into her precure form but she doesn't know that her husband and the winx where there and she absolutely scared the trix because of how powerful the reader is (so of course the reader is an adult the reader is a legendary precure she knows about everything it's OK if you don't do this not everyone knows about precure)

Secrets of the Stars

Characters:

• (Y/N) / Cure Galaxy – A legendary Precure with immense cosmic power. She has kept her identity a secret, living as a normal human at Alfea and as Palladium’s wife. Brave, kind, and protective, she fights for others but fears how her loved ones will see her if they knew the truth.

• Palladium – A gentle, intelligent professor at Alfea and (Y/N)’s loving husband. He is calm, wise, and deeply caring, though initially unaware of (Y/N)’s true identity.

• Bloom – The leader of the Winx, a Fire Fairy with a strong sense of justice. She admires (Y/N)’s power and respects her deeply.

• Stella – The Fairy of the Sun and Moon, known for her dramatic personality and love for fashion. Finds (Y/N)’s reveal both adorable and awe-inspiring.

• Flora – The Fairy of Nature, kind and empathetic. She accepts (Y/N) immediately.

• Musa – The Fairy of Music, known for her tough but caring nature. She is impressed and slightly intimidated by (Y/N)’s strength.

• Tecna – The Fairy of Technology, logical and analytical. She is fascinated by (Y/N)’s abilities.

• Aisha (Layla) – The Fairy of Waves, strong-willed and courageous. Respects (Y/N)’s strength.

• The Trix (Icy, Darcy, Stormy) – The main antagonists of the story, a trio of powerful witches who attack Alfea. They are completely caught off guard by (Y/N)’s true power.

Trigger Warnings:

• Mild Violence/Fighting – (Y/N) battles the Trix using powerful magic, though nothing graphic is described.

• Secrecy and Fear of Rejection – (Y/N) struggles with revealing her identity, fearing Palladium and her friends will see her differently.

• Mild Emotional Angst – (Y/N) has an emotional moment when confronted about her secret, but it leads to a loving and reassuring resolution.

Masterlist

Words: 874

--- Professor Palladium had always prided himself on his knowledge. As one of Alfea’s most respected teachers, he had studied magic, ancient spells, and mystical creatures for years. But there was one mystery he had never been able to solve—you, his wife.

You were human… or so he thought. Unlike the fairies at Alfea, you had no wings, no magic that he could sense, yet there was something different about you. You had an aura of quiet strength, a presence that demanded attention even in silence.

He never questioned it. After all, love wasn’t about understanding everything—it was about trust.

But that trust would soon be tested in ways he never imagined.

---

Alfea was under siege.

Stormy, Icy, and Darcy stood at the entrance of the school, their dark magic crackling like a storm ready to consume everything in its path. Fairies screamed, running for cover as spells exploded against the castle walls.

You had been walking through the courtyard when the attack began. Instinct kicked in immediately. You knew the Trix weren’t just here to cause trouble—they were looking for something.

Or someone.

You turned to Palladium, whose protective stance made your heart ache. He had no idea what you were capable of, but he was still ready to fight for you.

“Run,” you said firmly, gripping his wrist. “Take the students and the Winx and go.”

He hesitated. “But—”

“No time to argue,” you interrupted, eyes burning with intensity. “Please, just go.”

The Winx, hovering nearby, exchanged glances before reluctantly retreating with the students.

You let out a slow breath, waiting until you were certain they were gone. Then, you turned back to the Trix.

“You should leave,” you warned, voice calm but firm. “Now.”

Icy sneered. “And what, let you run off like a scared little human?” She raised a hand, ice forming at her fingertips. “I don’t think so.”

They had no idea who they were dealing with.

You closed your eyes, drawing in the cosmic energy that had slept within you for so long.

“Precure… Metamorphose!”

Light burst from your body, a brilliant swirl of stars and galaxies engulfing you. Your casual clothes faded, replaced by a dazzling suit of celestial armor. The ground trembled beneath you as your transformation completed.

When the light faded, you stood before them—not as a simple human, but as the legendary warrior Cure Galaxy.

The Trix froze.

“…What the—?” Stormy stammered, eyes wide.

Darcy took a cautious step back. “This… this magic isn’t normal fairy magic.”

Icy’s confidence wavered, but she quickly masked it. “Tch. Doesn’t matter who you are. You’re alone.”

You smirked. “Am I?”

From the shadows, Palladium and the Winx stood, completely frozen in shock.

“Th-that’s (Y/N)?” Bloom whispered, eyes wide.

“She’s… a Precure?” Stella gasped.

Palladium’s breath caught in his throat. His wife—his human wife—was glowing with the energy of the cosmos itself, radiating a power that rivaled even the strongest fairies.

But you didn’t know they were there.

Instead, you turned back to the Trix, power radiating from your very soul.

“I warned you,” you said softly, before raising your hands. “Galactic Starburst!”

A cascade of celestial energy erupted from your palms, crashing into the Trix like a meteor shower. The sheer force sent them flying, their screams echoing through the courtyard before they vanished in an explosion of stardust.

Silence.

You exhaled, lowering your hands as the glow around you faded. With a flicker of light, your transformation disappeared, leaving you once again in your human form.

You turned to leave, but then—

“(Y/N)?”

You froze.

Slowly, you turned, and your stomach dropped.

Palladium stood there, his usually calm eyes filled with something between awe and shock. The Winx hovered behind him, equally stunned.

“…You saw.”

It wasn’t a question.

Palladium stepped forward, studying you as if seeing you for the first time. “All this time… You’ve been…?”

You swallowed hard. “I wanted to tell you,” you admitted softly. “But… I didn’t know how.”

His eyes softened. “Why?”

You hesitated. “Because I didn’t want you to see me differently.” You looked away. “I didn’t want to be a warrior to you. I just wanted to be… me.”

For a moment, there was silence. Then—warm hands cupped your face, tilting your gaze back to his.

“You’ve always been you,” Palladium murmured, his voice gentle. “And I have always loved you.”

Your breath hitched. “Even now?”

His lips curved into a small, loving smile. “Especially now.”

Emotion swelled in your chest. You had fought countless battles, faced enemies more terrifying than the Trix, but nothing had ever made your heart race like this moment.

A soft laugh escaped you, teary but warm. “I guess I don’t need to hide anymore.”

He kissed your forehead, holding you close. “Never again.”

Behind you, Stella wiped a tear dramatically. “Okay, that was adorable.”

Musa smirked. “And a little terrifying.”

Bloom shook her head with a smile. “You really are amazing, (Y/N).”

You chuckled. “You guys aren’t scared?”

Flora beamed. “Of you? Never.”

A newfound warmth filled your chest. You had always fought alone, but now… now you didn’t have to.

You weren’t just a warrior. You were a wife, a friend. And for the first time in a long time—

You were home. ---

[worriedvision]

Flowery tea - Wriothesley

Gender neutral reader, hanahaki fic because I'm a sucker for those. Readers basically from Liyue, but has started working alongside Wriothesley in terms of monitoring finances. Unhappy ending here.

--

"Sir, would you like some tea?" You ask him, knowing full well he will respond positively.

"Of course. Any time is a good time for tea." Wriothesley chuckles, sending your heart racing.

Truth be told, you had been visiting Liyue more often to get the latest types of tea, in the hopes of gifting them to your boss. As embarrassing as it was, you gushed to Zhongli - someone you got to be friends with - about Wriothesley. How he talked, how he treated those around him, the general attraction you felt for him. Zhongli teased you about travelling to Liyue to treat Wriothesley, but understanding Wriothesley was important to you.

"Wow, this tea has an...interesting taste." Wriothesley hums, taking another sip before continuing. "The aftertaste is nice, but the initial taste is strong."

"A friend of mine in Liyue recommended it." You explain, rubbing the back of your head.

Before Wriothesley responds, Chlorinde walks in.

"Oh, Chlorinde! Perfect timing, you have got to try this!" Wriothesley suddenly has a burst of energy, resembling a husky when talking to her. "C'mon, try it for me!"

"... I'm here for work." Chlorinde sighs. "...but I'll do it for you."

"Aww, thank you! I love you!" Wriothesley teases, Chlorinde wincing at his responses.

You, however, feel poorly after hearing that. Specifically, you feel like something is growing in your lungs. You go to excuse yourself, only to see the full in front of you animatedly talking. Not wanting to inconvenience them, you head to the head nurse for a check up.

"I can sense an anomaly in your chest, dear one! Unfortunately, this is a foreign item, and I don't understand how it's gotten there." Sigewinne states. "I'm sorry, but I haven't seen anything like this."

"It's alright, thank you for checking this for me." You smile, the feeling in your chest feeling worse by the second. Hunching over in pain, you startle Sigewinne before passing out.

--

You were not waking up.

That worried Wriothesley, so he decides to contact your friend to request he comes to see you before you, possibly, die.

Surprisingly, Zhongli showed up a few days later with the invitation letter in hand. Upon arrival, he was escorted to where you were, the head nurse explaining your condition.

"A foreign item, you say?" Zhongli hums out. "And there was a sign of growth? Did you perhaps sense some sort of...flora energy?"

"Yes! How did you know?" Sigewinne gasps, Zhongli closing his eyes in thought.

"This is a case of Hanahaki disease. My friend has feelings for someone, and they must have realised they do not return the sentiment."

"Oh...that is such a cruel condition."

"There is a cure. At this point, there is only one form of treatment that will help." Zhongli explains. "This will lead to the love in question being not only forgotten, but the chance of love being formed with them as well."

"Well what are we waiting for? Let's do it!" Sigewinne jumps, Zhongli opting to do this.

He would have a word with Wriothesley once the surgery is complete. For now, his top priority was removing the foreign item in your lungs. Your life was more important than your boss's opinion in his eyes.

--

"Come again?" Wriothesley tilts his head, taken back by Zhonglis words. What did he mean, '_ will not remember you'.

"The condition was caused by you. I know feelings cannot be helped, and you cannot be forced to reciprocate, however this surgery will lead to them forgetting everything about you." Zhongli explains calmly. "In addition to this, they will no longer be able to form a romantic bond with you."

"But they'll be alive and well?" Wriothesley asks, Zhongli nodding. "Then that is fine. It is unfortunate that I don't think of them that way."

"Thank you for understanding." Zhongli smiles, before getting up to leave.

"Hold on." Wriothesley stops Zhongli, getting up. "would you like a cup of tea?"

--

In the months of working with Wriothesley after the surgery, you couldn't help but feel out of place.

Wriothesley seemed disappointed that you forgot everything about him - including the fact he was your boss. Even after the clearing up of misinformation, you still didn't act friendly with him. You no longer had a personal relationship with him, keeping things professional.

During an argument you initiated after Wriothesley had yet again asked you to relax around him, he said something he regretted after you left his office.

"If I knew I was going to lose you because of feelings, I would have pretended to love you." Wriothesley grunts, your eyes widening in shock at the statement.

"So I was just a form of tea collection for you, huh? Fine, I quit." You storm out, Wriothesley calling for you to come back so you could get past the past. Unfortunately, he was the one who needed to move on.

You already had.

[baileypie-writes]

Okay so male reader helping the go princess precure team fight a monster of the week

Male reader is a blue wearing motorcycling idol and he runs the dang thing over with his motorcycle.

A/N ~ Sure! Hope you enjoy!

~Hero on Two Wheels~

Go! Princess Pretty Cure + Male!Motorcycling Idol!Reader

~~~👑~~~👑~~~👑~~~

Fandom: Go! Princess Pretty Cure

Fanfic Type: Oneshot

Reader: Male, motorcycling idol

Relationship: Platonic

Genre: Fluff, comedy

Word Count: 1,306

Synopsis: When the Pretty Cure were being beaten in a battle, they were unexpectedly saved by a man on a motorcycle.

Warnings: Very strange and unrealistic conversation between Reader and the Pretty Cure

~Masterlists~

~Go! Princess Pretty Cure Masterlist~

~~~👑~~~👑~~~👑~~~

The Pretty Cure had only recently reformed Towa Akagi, the princess of the Hope Kingdom. And since then, she’s become a part of their team as Cure Scarlet. So, as her teammates, they began teaching her about being a Pretty Cure. They taught her things like fighting in sync with one another and what to expect with the bad guys.

But no matter how much they prepared her, something unexpected is always bound to happen every once in a while. And even then, nobody expected what would happen when a certain motorcyclist got caught up in a battle.

~~~~

All four girls’ transformations were complete, leaving the Pretty Cure ready to fight. The Zetsuborg, which was in the form of a sandbox, wreaked havoc and destruction in the center of town. So they got to work quick.

“So we’ll want to attack from different angles all at once.” Cure Mermaid communicated to Cure Scarlet. “So you go there, and I’ll go there. Flora, Twinkle, you know where to go.”

“Right.” The rest of the girls confirmed in perfect unison; proof at how in sync they already were.

With all four Pretty Cure at evenly spaced points, they bent their knees, preparing to attack. “Now!” Flora shouted. Putting all pressure at their toes, they all launched themselves at the Zetsuborg.

But it seemed that the Zetsuborg knew of their plan. Using its arms, it blocked their attack, and sent them flying.

~(Meanwhile)~

It all happened so fast. Just a moment ago, a crowd of people gathered around you, admiring you and your motorcycle. You were enjoying the attention, but all of a sudden, loud crashes were heard from a distance. Following that, people from the direction of the sounds came running and screaming.

It didn’t take long to find what the source of the commotion was. It was some sort of sandbox monster. Stuff like that had been happening lately, so you weren’t too surprised. But still, it interrupted your moment of glory, so you weren’t happy.

After revving the engine a few times, you sped to the direction of the monster. It was difficult, since you had to dodge the many people running the opposite way.

As you got closer, you saw four younger girls trying to hit the creature. They weren’t being successful at all. It was dodging and blocking all of their attacks. And as time went on, the girls were getting more and more tired and scratched up. That’s how you knew it was a good time to ride in.

You took a shortcut through an alleyway, stopping halfway through to get a good look. You had a clear view of the monster, as well as a clear path. Nearby, there was a pile of debris. Immediately, you knew it would make for a pretty good ramp.

Lifting the front wheel of your motorcycle into the air, you revved the engine, and let the wheel speed up. After it was going fast, you dropped the wheel back onto the ground, and you sped forward.

You went for the makeshift ramp, speeding up as you got closer. After riding up, it launched you high up into the air. This caught the attention of the Pretty Cure, who were now lying on the ground, seemingly defeated.

“Woah…” Flora admired, watching you and your motorcycle block out the sun. Its rays shone brightly behind you, giving your ride a cool, almost angelic glow. “Who is that?”

“I’m not sure. But I’m concerned about what he’s doing.” Mermaid said.

After reaching the highest point, you started descending towards the monster. Luckily, it didn’t seem to notice until you were falling so quickly, that it was too late.

The wheels of your motorcycle landed right on the surface of the sand. You revved the engine a few more times, and the quick spinning of the wheel spewed sand behind you. You rode straight ahead, leaving a trail of deep tire marks.

The monster cried out, and began losing its balance. But you managed to stay steady until you successfully rode all the way across the sandbox, and landed safely back on the ground. Just moments after, the monster fell, spilling sand everywhere.

All four Pretty Cure were in complete shock at what just happened. Their eyes kept flickering between you and the Zetsuborg, almost as if to make sure that it was in fact you who had done this.

“Now’s our chance!” Flora said, regaining her focus.

You watched from your motorcycle as the girls did a final power move, defeating the enemy. You weren’t even that surprised at that point, considering what had just occurred.

Afterwards, Cure Flora went over to a woman in a cage, who you had only just noticed. Using her Dress-Up Key, she unlocked it, setting her free. You watched as she ran away, holding the woman in her arms. At that point, the other three girls had made their way over to you.

Mermaid cleared her throat awkwardly. “We just wanted to express our gratitude.”

“Yes.” Scarlet chimed in. “We were having quite a bit of trouble before you came in.”

Just then, Flora has returned without the woman. You assumed she had gotten her to safety. She gave you a kind smile, letting you know that she was also grateful.

“Um, excuse me. But do you happen to be (full name)?” Cure Twinkle asked.

“Yes.” You replied, happy to find that one of the princess super heroes knew who you were.

“Wait, you know him?” Flora asked, shocked.

“Yes. He’s a pretty famous motorcyclist. I’ve seen him in some magazines” She explained.

“Hold on,” Cure Mermaid interrupted. “we’re getting off topic here.” She turned back to you, a serious expression on her face. “What you did was very reckless and dangerous. So while we thank you for your help, we ask that you don’t do something like that again.”

You chuckled. “‘Mermaid’ was it?” You asked, clarifying her name. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m always doing dangerous stunts like these. It’s kinda my thing.”

An idea struck you at that moment. Reaching into your bag, you pulled out four tickets. “Here. These are tickets to a motorcycling show I’m gonna be in. You can see more of what I do there. These are extras that I give to cool people. And you guys seem pretty cool. So feel free to stop by.”

“Oh! Uh, thanks!” Cure Flora said, taking the tickets.

“No problem. Later.” And with that, you sped off.

“Well. He was certainly something.” Said Twinkle.

“Yeah. He gave us these despite not knowing a thing about us. He didn’t even question who we were.” Mermaid evaluated.

“I’m curious as to what that show is like. I had no idea what a ‘motorcycle’ was until just now. And that man was certainly impressive with his. So I think I’d like to see more.” Scarlet said.

“Oh, really? Well I don’t see why we can’t go to the show. Just as long as we get permission.” Twinkle said.

“Motorcycles, huh? It’s not really a princess thing. But it’s kind of like riding a horse, right?” Flora mentioned.

“Uh no, not really.” Twinkle chuckled. “But anyways, I think it’ll be interesting!”

“Yes. After all, it would be the polite thing to do. He did save us.” Mermaid added.

“Yeah.” The others agreed.

So the Princess Pretty Cure decided to go to your show. None of them would’ve expected to do that. But they also didn’t expect to be saved by a man on a motorcycle. So they figured that trying something different wouldn’t hurt them.

And while Towa didn’t learn anything about being a Pretty Cure that day, she did learn about a cool vehicle. Definitely not super useful information, but it helped her understand the world a little better.

~~~👑~~~👑~~~👑~~~

~~baileypie-writes

[lorre-verie]

₊˚ʚ ᗢ. ᴛʀᴜᴛʜ ᴏʀ ᴅᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴛ. ꜰɪᴠᴇ ₊˚✧ ﾟ.

aka, my favourite chapter (may Eywa bless these two pour souls)

the unfortunate pair: ao’nung x fem! sully! reader

chapter summary: going on your first date with a pompous ass-frog! aren’t you excited? absolutely nothing wrong could happen today. 

warnings: sudden thoughts of death (giving barbie), two idiots realising they’re in love

word count: 2.9k

part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6 | part 7 | masterlist

You screwed up big time.

“Did you take drugs or something?” Kiri looked at you incredulously as you sat there sheepishly on the hammock of the marui, echoing your thoughts and putting them out for the world to hear.

You paused before answering, “No, but thank you." to which Kiri rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. 

It was the day after the sleepover, which meant…your date was today. It was seriously happening. You chose to confide in your one and only sister (that wouldn’t tattletale to your parents) about the events that conspired while you and Ao’nung were out of the tent last night.

“You kissed Ao’nung? Seriously? Him?” Kiri bent her body forwards, as if expecting you to tell her she heard wrong. “You must’ve hit your head.”

“...I don’t feel very comfortable right now, guys.” Norm half-whispered from right beside you with tweezers in his hands, about to take your DNA for processing in the lab.

“It’s all good Norm, just, keep on doing your thing- OW! Shit! What was that??” you jumped, feeling a sharp stab on your finger.

“What? You told me to do my thing.” Norm shrugged, placing a vial of your blood into a neat tray by his feet. 

“I thought you were going to take hair, or something, with the tweezers???”

Apparently, Norm and Max were trying out remedies using the flora of Pandora. They suspected that if there was going to be a cure for anything, it would have to come from the Great Mother herself. 

“Anyways, Norm, buddy,” Kiri smiled a little too widely, making him slow his movements. “We appreciate you keeping our little talk a secret.”

“Little talk? You mean..all that about…” he lowered his voice to a hushed tone, “the kiss?”

You both nodded at the same time. 

“Mhm, I really appreciate you not telling our parents anything about that,” you smiled, tilting your head to the side. It was a perfectly genuine smile, but your tone? His lips were sealed.

“Attaboy!” Tonowari slapped Ao’nung on the back harshly, making him choke on his food. 

Tsireya had spilled the beans to their parents about Ao’nung’s date with you that was happening within the next hour, despite his insistence to keep her mouth shut. 

Luckily for Ao’nung, Ronal wasn’t present, as she had more pressing matters to attend to. 

“But remember, I do not permit you kissing her on the first date. It’s much too early for that, son.” Tonowari said while preoccupied with his food, unnoticing how Ao’nung nearly spewed his drink all over the floor at his words. 

Tsireya narrowed her eyes at her brother’s reaction, slapping her hand over her now agape mouth as she realised what was going on. 

Slowly, she looked up at Ao’nung, who was looking back at his little sister with an equally horrified expression. 

“I..have something urgent I need to take care of, please excuse me-” she stood up, scurrying away and out of the marui, turning into a full sprint into the direction of the Sully’s marui.

“Sorry dad, I also have something to do- which I completely forgot about, but as long as I get to it now I’ll be fine, so sorry again dad have a great rest of your day!” Ao’nung quickly followed Tsireya in fear of what she was going to do and who she was going to tell, leaving their father in the marui alone.

He sighed and shook his head, taking their food and dumping it into his own bowl. 

“Kids these days..”

Ao’nung raced to the seashore, looking for any sign of his little sister gone rogue, feet kicking the sand wildly into the air. In the far distance of the sea, he only saw various other metkayina going on about their day, and Neteyam and Lo’ak on their ilus. 

They were talking to someone who wasn’t on an ilu, it seemed. 

His heart skipped a beat as he wondered if it was you, and he craned his head upwards, shielding his eyes from the light to take a look at the na’vi submerged in the water. 

Curly hair….definitely a girl…teal skin???

Hold on. 

That wasn’t you, that was Tsireya. 

He was about to go swim towards them, taking a few steps into the warm water. 

…But that was before he saw Neteyam racing towards the shore on his ilu, eyes wide but he was scowling like Ao’nung had just cut all his hair off.

If looks could kill, Ao’nung would’ve dropped dead at that moment, and there would be none of him left to mourn. 

Now, he was sprinting as fast as he could in the opposite direction, Neteyam and Lo’ak hot on his tail. 

“I’M GOING TO INVERT YOUR RIBCAGE!” were the last words Ao’nung heard before his world went black. (jk he’s fine) 

“Hey ugly frogboy!” you smirked, waving the frogboy in question over to the rock you sat on. 

You watched as he swam through the surface of the water, rolling his eyes to signify his clear irritation. You couldn’t help but look at the small droplets of water still retained in his curls from being in the water all day. Then your mind slowly turned to focus on his…everything. 

Then it wandered off into entirely different places, like how humans covered themselves up entirely with cloth. Why did they do that? Perhaps it was a thing of religion. But did they not feel hot during the summers they talked about so much in the novels you read?

“You are aware I don’t know what that word means, right?” he said gruffly, hoisting himself onto the rock, water pooling by his feet with each step he took towards you. 

You were half expecting him to sit down next to you, but of course he wouldn’t. His pride was too great for that. His shadow was cast over you, protecting you from the shining daylight that was making your face flush. 

“Yeah, I just don’t really care,” you pushed yourself up, not willing to have him look down on you any longer. It didn’t really help though, as you still had to look up at him because of the painful height difference. 

But this time was different. Instead of his looking down on you like you were the bane of his existence, eyes squinting and lips pushed up into a scowl, he let his head hang down low to meet the angle of yours. He usually looked up and past you, acting as if you weren’t there. 

But this time, this time his irises were fixed on yours, combined with a smile you never usually saw on his face before made your stomach pit. It wasn’t in a bad way, though. 

Why was he looking at you like that? What’s up with that smile? Why is his body language so..open, now? What changed? You weren't sentimental, but there was something about the way he looked at you that made a spongy tenderness push down on your chest, knocking the air out of it. 

No.

You didn’t entirely understand it at the time, but that was the only word your mind came up with. You didn’t want this. You can’t get attached. He’s just here to help you complete your silly little bucket list before you die. Not another person to be sad about when you’re crying on your deathbed.

You ripped your eyes away from his, walking past him and into the cold ocean, getting ready to swim whenever. 

“Where do you think you’re going?” he voiced out from behind you. Involuntarily, you froze. The bastard probably wasn’t aware of the shivers sent down your spine as he said those words, shivers which you desperately tried to ignore. 

Perhaps this whole date thing was a big mistake. You could’ve asked Rotxo out in front of everyone instead of him, couldn’t you? The horrified look on Ao’nung’s face would be equally as satisfying to see as the look on his face when you asked him, would it not? 

“You can’t be swimming anywhere. I won’t allow you to. We can’t have you passing out on me again like last time, princess.” 

The words spilled out of him like he’d said it to dozens of other girls in the past. 

Princess.

You turned around when he said that, eyes wide, staring straight at him, but he made no move. 

“I’m not weak.” 

He shrugged. “I know. But you wouldn’t want anything getting in the way of our lovely date that you so desperately begged me for, right?”

You deadpanned, turning your head back around and attempting to walk deeper into the water, ignoring the goosebumps spread throughout your body as the cold engulfed your thighs. Dammit, why’d it have to be windy? 

Your eyes rolled on their own out of pure reflex hearing him walk towards you, his footsteps emphasised by the sound of splashing water. 

“There’s nothing you can do to stop m–” 

His arms were wrapped around your abdomen, right below your chest. He bent down and laid his head sideways on the spot on your back between the shoulders, as if he were begging you not to leave. His body wasn’t pressing up against yours, rather a quite a bit of space was placed between you two.

(haha u thought i was gonna continue that scene? in ur dreams)

“So all you have to do is try and get three of those symbols in a row, and the first one to do that wins,” you gestured towards the grid you marked out in the sand, sitting cross legged in front of a confused Ao’nung.

“..Seems easy enough.” he squinted as he peered at the grid, no doubt in his mind he was wondering how sky people invented these sorts of games.

You drew your first circle.

Then he crossed out an X.

The pattern repeated, until you trapped him skillfully, leaving him no choice but to let you win.

“What the- How’d you do that?” he frowned, much to your pleasure.

“Well, a master tic-tac-toer doesn’t share their secrets!” you grinned, secretly uncertain how this buffoon was the next chief of the Metkayina. 

To you, this was child’s play. To him, it’s like he’d started learning new war tactics from a space alien (not entirely false).

“I demand a rematch!” he huffed, redrawing the grid on the sand with his finger.

“Fine, but don’t get all sulky when I keep winning.”

You’ve probably played tic-tac-toe like, 50 times in a row by now. It was getting boring, but the look on his face after you managed to win again and again and again was so worth it.

He groaned after he saw he’d been defeated for the umpteenth time, covering his face in absolute shame. “I’m a disappointment to my family.” he muttered between his hands.

“Pff–” you slapped your hand over your mouth to prevent yourself from plundering his ego further, but it was too late, he was now glaring at your expression. 

“I demand a rema–”

“Oh my goodness, just stop it!” you complained, but your playful smirk never left your face. “You lost like a hundred times, get over it! Why do you keep insisting on replaying even though you know you’re gonna keep losing?”

He shut his mouth, looking sideways downcast at the sand. Because I like seeing your smile whenever you win.

But over his dead body would he tell you that. Or admit to himself he just thought that.

Tell her something, anything! Just stop looking so depressed! She’s gonna think you’re lame! A sore loser! Shit, shit come up with something you stupid idiot!

You stared at him with your eyebrows furrowed. He was fidgeting with his fingers, still staring at that particular patch of sand. The gentle breeze was blowing to your left, towards the village, and you kind of considered taking him there to his mother’s tent in case they had treatment for the crisis he looked like he was having.

Had you not been staring at other things during the awkward moment of silence that fell over you two, you would’ve noticed the slight blush of purple tingeing the tips of his ears as he looked down at your fingers absentmindedly tracing over the sand.

How would your fingers feel tracing the stripes on his back?

Wait, what?

WHAT? 

No because that’s like the most embarrassing and weird and totally nasty thing he’s ever thought of. WHAT.

You- He- You both- what- WHAT-

AAAAAAAAKJNDCBAKDNVKCANKJDBNKCNABQIEHBFJHQABHJSBCUGWEGUIAUDHSNCDJEQWB4GIWUUDHACKBJVWFGYEIHUDAJSCKBWDHVJFBEDJSIALNCDKBFEHWOJQIDSACLKNJDBKEVWHGRIHUFEDCAJLSKNDJVKBWRGHUI ok but how would your hands feel in his VDJLNKBEWGHIEUVADKSBJEHGVADJNSDVBEHGDJANBVKEFHGRYIWEHUFAJOIQHUKGRWUOVADFHKBRGJWFBOIUWKSKWBJSDHKSHUIDOEULSJNVBKSBDJVLGHAKERBDHJSCVAGERUYADHJSVBKVGRIYUHWVKDJSNAHWRUIGVSDJKNAHWRUGIWKABEGIAUKJFSZDBV

He took a deep breath in to steady himself, silently praying to Eywa so that you wouldn’t notice how purple he was in the face. 

He liked you.

He liked you a lot.

I mean, that was obvious. He kissed you. But like, kissing someone doesn’t mean you AUTOMATICALLY like them right. 

As he made up a million excuses for his behaviour inside his mind, you were having thoughts the total opposite to his.

You wondered how he’d react to the news of your death. 

Tsireya knew, Lo’ak told her while he was being all emo (rightfully though).

Ronal knew.

Tonowari was to know..maybe today? You didn’t bother about the details; whatever was to happen would happen.

But the problem is, you were having second thoughts about…this whole situation.

You got your date. That’s the only thing you wanted right?

Could this count as…manipulation???

Okay, it totally does. Kissing some guy and then taking him out on a date when your life is in great peril and not letting him know that your life is in great peril totally counts as manipulation.

Oh my god. What if he actually catches feelings for you??

Oh my god. What if YOU catch feelings for HIM??

You looked at him again as he stared deeply into nothing, his eyes looking past you. Or rather, perhaps they were looking at you before, but he looked away once you looked at him.

“...cute.” you whispered absent-mindedly.

“What?” he responded, making your eyes go half an inch wider.

“I said you look like a sack of shit.” 

“Oh.” he huffed, looking down at the sand.

You looked at him incredulously. What? No comeback? No insult? No ‘screw you’?

Suddenly, you felt something weigh down on your chest. 

Everything around you felt so much more real.

The millions of grains of sand beneath your legs, some caught in between your toes, and the crisp breeze blowing softly around your neck like a wisp. 

You, sitting here with him. 

The countdown on your life.

You clenched your right hand as you reached out your left, drawing a new tic-tac-toe board on the dry, soft particles of sand. 

As the two of you resumed playing, you struggled to actually accept the reality of it all. 

You were going to die. (if Norm and Max didn’t find a cure).

How would it feel?

How would your family do without you?

You were in some sort of state of denial before this moment. 

And now you had the unsuppressable urge you supposed your human ancestors did.

To forget.

As the morning light spilled into the marui of the olo’eyktan’s family, one boy in particular hadn’t been able to sleep peacefully.

His mind raced with the flashes of the memories of the date you two had, his face and ears shade of deep periwinkle.

He turned on his side to face the woven walls of his home, one hand clasped over the other as he laid deep in thought.

The look on your face when you two danced in tandem.

The creases of your smile when you played truth or dare.

The tenderness in your voice when you had conversations with your family.

You.

Forget a ‘crush’.

The man was, undeniably, irrevocably, undoubtedly, indubitably, 

in love with you.

And he struggled to figure out why.

“Brother! Get up!” Tsireya’s voice suddenly connected through his brain, causing him to fall off his hammock with a large thud.

“Eywa, recently you’ve been so much harder to wake up.” she sighed to herself, crossing her arms as she looked down at the amusing sight of her older brother on the floor.

To her surprise, he didn’t respond, instead slowly rising from the floor, subtly trying to hide the blush on his face from his sister (who can read him like a children’s book).

She gasped dramatically, causing him to take a few groggy steps back in fright. “You looooveee her, don’t you!” she teased, her eyes, usually big and sweet, now narrowed into those of a mischievous cat.

He looked at her in horror. HOW DID SHE KNOW. (bro the whole village knows atp its not like ur trying 2 hide it)

“You must be delusional.” he said after taking a few seconds to compose himself. He put on this air of.. “superiority.”

“There’s no way I’d like someone like her.” he sneered, trying to convince himself that you were super ugly and totally not his type and totally doesn’t make him kick his feet giggling silently in the middle of the night whenever he thinks about you and the banter you share.

She rolled her eyes, seeing straight through his…can you even call those ‘lies’? “Right…well she definitely likes you, you know. You should be more considerate,” her voice dropped into a soft whisper, “...with her situation.”

At that, he blinked away his morning sleepiness. “What? What situation?” he asked genuinely, looking into Tsireya’s now widened eyes.

She froze, realising what she just said. 

The marui was empty, just them two. In that moment, it felt like the winds stopped moving, everything remaining static except for the two siblings.

The slightly horrified look on her face made his heart drop.

He stepped towards her, putting his hands on her shoulders.

“Tsireya.”

“What situation?”

part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6 | part 7 | masterlist

omfg, feels so good to be back writing, idk why it took so long since my announcement probs just because things have been really busy in my life lately, but i hope u guys enjoy <3 sorry if the story seems a little disconnected, its just been a while since i’ve written this whole thing haha

as always, (i love writing this part), I appreciate you all so muchh, tysm for the support on the series both on this account and my wattpad account. Please stay tuned for the rest 💗

much loved, lorre.

Taglist: @eywas-heir @elegantkidfansoul @yeosxxx @whoreforpomegranates @fanboyluvr @thecrazyswamp @shkudss @stvrligghtt @ratchetprime211 @dearstell @littlecrisisworld @itssomeonereading @goodiesinthecloset21 @ilovejakesullysdick @larkkyoris @opalescentblog @lovedbychoi @plzfeedmebread @holysaladapricothero @arminsgfloll @lovekeeh @evans-bitch @seashelldom @quest-for-pluto @bananasplits-world @ken-zah @anxietydrogz @inluvwithneteyam @www-interludeshadow-com @anonmously-anonomous @ancientbeing10 @aonungmyaddiction @ahsatan785 @fangzy @writinganything @mistyheart @mushy-mushroom04 @aaonungslover @scentedstrawberryenemy

note: names in red are the ones i've added to the taglist but i couldn’t tag!

[that-student-that-has-homework]

You WILL Have my Herbs 01

Diluc / Reader

Previous Chapters: Chp 1 | Chp 2 | Chp 3 | Chp 4 | Chp 5 | Chp 6

Read the Full Story on Ao3 | Tumblr MasterList Here (Maybe even leave me a comment please? :3< )

Summary: Listen you just wanted to pick some plants, do some experiments, find some cures, and report back to your mentor. Unfortunately a handsome vigilante puts you in his debt and now you have to fight him to let you make it up to him.

Chapter 1: A Fierce Shade of Red

When you’d first left your homeland to travel the land to further your knowledge as an apothecary, your family had warned you to be careful. Your mother had been vocally concerned, listing out many demands: write home regularly, do not stay out after dark for long, do not stray into uninhabited areas, among other things as well as a reluctance to even let you go.

Your father had been less vocal: a simple take care and watch out, but his demeanour gave away his concern that was typical for a parent.

Yes, they had warned you; and like many a child you had waved away their concerns as the ramblings of loving parents. Hence you’d heeded few of the suggestions and ignored many, as many of the herbs and flora you were interested in were in uninhabited forests. Which was how you found yourself in your current predicament.

You were on the outskirts of Mondstadt, which was absolutely an inhabited area, however you were outside the city walls. You’d been foraging some of the local flora, flitting from one clump of dandelions to another, and had been pushing off heading back into the city. Just let me grab this last thing, was what you’d thought to yourself for the last potentially hundred things you’d picked.

However there were not many people and you were well outside the knights’ view cone, which was probably why you were running into this fuzzy and ominous creature. Had it not had the air of something that could definitely kill you, you’d have found the creature rather cute: a beak-like mask, two bunny ears, a cute cloak, not to mention its fluffy… mane? hood? head-covering?

It let out an amused chuckle with its shrill voice and you were certain that your blood going cold was not because of the shield of ice it had summoned, but rather a physiological mechanism kicking in to redirect all your energies towards fleeing.

However you remained rooted, staring at this foreign specimen, wondering if you could potentially communicate with it. In your time in Mondstadt, you had heard rumors of a researcher who attempted negotiation with hilichurls after all. Perhaps you could take a page out of their book.

“H-hello!” Was your shaky start. “How do you do?”

The creature seemed to regard you from behind its shield, floating in a lackadaisical manner - that sure seemed fun and dandy. It was silent a while: either it didn’t understand you or this was the calm before the storm.

When it let out another ominous giggle that seemed to reverb and echo on its own, you feared it was the latter. Now would be a good time to run for your life you figured. And when that bunny eared menace waved its staff about you bolted.

You somehow managed to dodge the ice chunks that went flying your way. They were sharp and you feared a hit from one would be lethal. You could hear your things jostle around in your pack-damn that creature! All your precious herbs would likely be damaged from this! Caught up in your concern over the time you could potentially be losing thanks to your negligence you barely noticed the frost twinkling in the moonlight before the menace appeared before you, knocking you clean off your feet and, thankfully, onto your side (which meant less damage for your herbs).

Though you might not even live to use them. Given the absolutely unadorable creature seemed delighted to end you. 

You know what? You would live to use them! 

Somehow.

You’d barely stood up when the shield in front of you shattered, the monster at its yolk faceplanting into the grass. You’d barely blinked before flames consumed the creature whole, disintegrating it into black ashes that fluttered in the wind. A glint of metal caught your eye then, your brain vaguely registered a large sword before it also seemed to disintegrate.

You had no more than a moment to make out the overall shape of your savior: and all you really made out was a fierce shade of red so brilliant it seemed to blaze through the shadows of the night, before they were bolting away from you.

Ah! Say thank you! Before they’re out of earshot! “THANK YOU!” You felt your face heat up with embarrassment at both your volume and the way your voice cracked trying to achieve it.

You had no idea if they’d heard you, but hey you’d tried at least right? Plus points for effort and all that? You took a deep breath before noting some ley sprouts on the ground where the vanquished monster had fallen. You let out a huff of contempt before picking up the white twigs. That creature owed you as much with what it had put you through.

You didn’t bother putting them into your pack as you hurried into the city from the side entrance. You would not risk another one of those attacks.

Upon entering the city you kept your eyes peeled for any traces of your savior, but all you could make out were the off-key songs of drunks bumbling through the streets. You rolled your eyes at the inebriated fools as you hurried past a tavern.

-_-

Listen, you want to pretend that life continued on all good and dandy, however…

Well…the reality was that you’d been in a situation that put your life at risk, and that was a first for you. Had it not been for that person with bright hair, you’d likely be in a much more dire situation. Or dead.

Or dead.

Should you write your will?

You ought to rejoice that you hadn’t died, rather than panic about what would-have or could-have happened. It wasn’t as if you hadn’t come across monsters before, however that specific creature-you could still hear it’s ominous chuckles. You shivered violently at the memory, pulling the inn bedding tightly around you.

Sadly the attack had messed with you more than you wanted it to, thus you spent your day indoors. You tried to find solace by sorting through the herbs you’d nearly died over. You were pleased to find they were mostly okay, despite all your jostling last night.

Eventually you did have to leave the room to get food. Oh, if only you could photosynthesize as these herbs did, you would not have to venture into the dangerous city. Woe is you.

Jokes aside, the reality was a good meal would likely help stabilize you. Also some friendly company. Yes, company, another human or learned creature, that would not attack you, to help draw you out of your mental cave and into the light.

That was how you came into the company of Sir Kaeya. 

You headed to the local eatery, a humble establishment by the name of Good Hunter. You’d only just arrived when the strong scents of cooking made your stomach churn, your appetite immediately clamping up. It wasn’t that it smelled bad , no! Not at all! However your appetite had barely existed as the imposing anxiety worked your stomach into knots, and now faced with food, well…safe to say you were very tightly wound.

But!

You knew you needed to eat. Besides, the key to unlocking your appetite was a single bite right? So you just had to get through that first bite... 

…Somehow…

The chef there, Sara was her name-very sweet lady bless her, was very patient with you not knowing what to order. You’d sheepishly apologized for simply standing there reading the menu very slowly and considering your options, and she’d smiled and said to take your time as there was no rush.

However when you detected the presence of another customer behind you, you first flinched, reactively turned around to observe the sudden threat, before finally stepping to the side to allow them to order. That reaction was… suspicious to say the least. Most likely an observable effect of what had transpired last night. 

You heaved a heavy sigh, you’d be better off remaining in the city until you recalibrated yourself. You were in no state to immediately set out into the wilderness currently. But did you have enough funds to continue staying in the city?

“Need help making up your mind?” You jumped at the smooth voice that slashed through your thoughts.

You had a hand over your chest as you scrambled to regain your mental footing and maintain your breathing. You stiffened entirely when you heard a chuckle, “jumpy aren’t you? You wouldn’t be up to no good now, would you?”

That was when you managed to turn to look at the owner of the voice.

You instantly regret it. Or no you didn’t? But you did. You’re not sure. You know what? You should have just stayed at that inn and starved.

Standing before you was a man, a handsome man, a gorgeous man, a man intricately sculpted by a- focus

You hadn’t even had time to properly appreciate the complex texture of his lovely voice, however taking in his beauty? You were frozen under the avalanche of garbled half-thoughts.

He’sspicious of you. An eyepatch? Could he stop sneaking up on people? Isn’t he too close-no you’re imagining, You still haven’t ordered, You want to go home-no you don’t there’s still much to d- are you staring?

You took a deep breath. It’s fine. You were fine. You were perfectly innocent. You had nothing to hide.

Clearing your throat you answered in as calm a manner as you could, “w-why would you assume the worst of a person?” 

Bad response.

“One could say that your assumption reflects that you’re the one who is ‘up to no good.’”

Okay that response was better.

You could barely keep your eyes on his person, so you almost missed the way his visible eye crinkled in amusement. “Well why else would a young lady-a foreigner might I add-such as yourself, be so jumpy while trying to order from the gentle Sara of Good Hunter?”

You had to give it to him, it was a fair point. “Perhaps…perhaps I have a form of social anxiety!” You tried before continuing. “Or…or uhm as-as you said, these lands and this city are foreign to me, hence…I have a heightened alertness to my surroundings.”

“Oho?” His smirk deepened, his eyes narrowing in amusement. “Seems we have a clever one on our hands.”

You were displeased with that statement, and it showed on your face. You could feel it. That, and the obviously handsome man before you’s heightened amusement confirmed that your disapproval was clearly written on your face.

“Sir Kaeya stop intimidating the tourists in front of my restaurant! You’ll drive away business!” The cook scolded from behind the counter. 

The man laughed then, and it was an unfortunately pretty sound, “why nothing could ever possibly ruin the flavor of your cooking dear Sara.”

Wait… Sir Kaeya?

“You’re a knight?” Your expression neutralized into innocent curiosity.

“Ah yes, my apologies, allow me to introduce myself,” he turned back to you, standing at attention, “Kaeya, Knight of Favonius, on behalf of all the Knights, I wish you a pleasant stay here in Mondstadt.”

That was when you introduced yourself in return, giving your name and, “I’m an apothecary here to expand and further my knowledge, please let me know if I can be of assistance, I’d be happy to help.”

“Pray tell if that’s all you’re here for then why are you so jittery?”

He was a knight, so it would probably be wise to inform him of the creature that attacked you, so you did.

“I was attacked by a strange creature last night and only barely made it out alive,” You began.

That seemed to intrigue the man as his amused expression fell off his face, “strange creature you say?”

“Yes,” you huffed, “at first I thought it rather cute, what with its bunny ears and beaked mask and small stature and fuzzy mane,” you frowned, “however it was absolutely unadorable! Nothing cute about it! A malicious beast!”

“Say, did this creature happen to have an elemental shield around it?”

“Yes, one infused with cryo, in fact,” you confirmed, “is this creature familiar to you?”

“Where did you run into this creature?” 

“A little ways away from the,” you paused, turning your head in the general direction of the gate you remember re-entering from, then to the main gate, ”eastern? side? entrance to the city.”

That answer seemed to displease him, his pretty features pinching further, before his suspicious gaze fell on you again. 

When were you going to be free of his suspicion?

“How did you escape it?”

“I was rescued.”

“By whom?”

“I wish I knew, they ran off as soon as the creature perished.”

The knight paused humming in contemplation. Before he turned to look at you with an amusement that had chills clambering up your spine.

“You wouldn’t happen to remember anything about this savior of yours?”

“They used pyro?” You answered dumbly.

“Oh?” He raised an eyebrow at you, thoroughly entertained. “A pyro vision, most interesting.”

“Do you know them?” You asked eagerly.

“Fell in love, did you?”

You furrowed your brow, “ no ,” was your immediate response, “but I owe them proper thanks.”

“That all?”

“You still haven’t answered my question Sir Kaeya,” you eyed the man suspiciously. Hah-ha! It was your turn to be suspicious!

He let out a laugh then shrugged, “Mondstadt has quite the population, with multiple pyro users, it could be any one of them.”

He, once again, had a point. However there was something…

Your stomach grumbled before you could fully process that thought. His smirk was a lazy grin then, as he turned to Sara and added a vegetable soup to his order. 

“Won’t you dine with me?” He gave you a jovial smile.

He was handsome enough to fluster you, but you managed “But I haven’t ordered yet?”

“Well I’ve ordered you a vegetable soup for starters,” he gestured towards an empty table, “it’s gentle on the stomach and ought to ease you into eating a proper meal.”

“Oh,” you stared at your former interrogator, “thank you,” you paused, “I appreciate the gesture, however I cannot accept it, I’ll buy it myself.”

He let out a little chuckle at that, and flashed you his teeth, “very astute,” he nodded at you, seemingly pleased.

You paused and watched him for a moment - was he? Your nostrils flared with the air you puffed out of them. Thisy was a knight? “Well as you said, you have a clever one on your hands,” you rolled your eyes as you plopped yourself down in your seat unceremoniously.

Your disgruntlement seemed to amuse the knight further, as he gracefully took his seat. You tried to ignore the obvious way in which he was observing you. You had nothing to hide, but being observed with such intensity was still unnerving. It didn’t help that you hadn’t ever really been in a situation like this before. Most of the time your meals were had either alone, or in groups, or with men related to you. Never, never had a man invited you to dine with him.

Especially not one that looked like or spoke like Sir Kaeya.

Okay, so, you might know a few people who spoke like Sir Kaeya. But they didn’t possess nearly as much charm nor charisma nor…hmm…cunning? Perhaps? They didn’t seem as sharp as he did. And they definitely didn’t look as good.

You turned to stare blankly at the fountain to your right, your brain momentarily noting the man standing in it curiously, before your thoughts returned their previous train. Hadn’t Sir Kaeya invited you to dine with him as a pretense to continue his interrogation? Why hadn’t he asked you anything else?

You made the poor decision of glancing in his direction, making eye contact with the midnight haired man. You immediately looked away. Naturally.

Well if he didn’t have any questions, you sure did. You swallowed and turned back to face him, “Sir Kaeya, may I ask a question?”

He raised an eyebrow, and tilted his head, “go ahead.”

“That creature I ran into, are you familiar with it?” You suppressed a shudder at the memory - he noticed, probably, you didn’t do a good job of that if you were honest.

His expression was neutral as he regarded you, “yes,” he nodded, “that monster is known as an Abyss Mage.”

“I see.”

“There are different types that can use different elements,” he voluntarily supplied, to your surprise, “so you ought to be careful if you are adventuring.”

“Is there no way to negotiate with them?” You pressed.

“Perhaps there is,” Kaeya gestured languidly with an upturned palm leaning back in his seat, “they understand our language after all.”

“I see,” you thought back to the experience, “it just tried to kill me though, without talking to me.”

He laughed and sat up then, amusement twinkling in his eyes, “you attempted to negotiate with it?”

You started, indignated by his seeming-mockery. “I heard there’s a scholar in Mondstadt that is attempting to communicate with hilichurls, I thought perhaps I could attempt communication with that Abyss Mage!”

He laughed some more, obviously being entertained by you, much to your displeasure. However you weren’t sure how to voice your displeasure and settled for disengaged silence. It wasn't long after that when Sara placed your meals in front of you.

“The Fisherman’s Toast is on the house,” she smiled at you, “I couldn’t help but overhear what happened, and I don’t want you to feel unsafe every time you remember Mondstadt.”

You stared at the kind chef, who in the setting sunlight seemed to glow in an ethereal manner (or perhaps you were delirious after your nerves had been fried and not eating for the whole day). You opened and closed you mouth before your brain came back to you, “oh no I couldn’t possibly-”

“It’s fine, all I ask for in return is that you become a customer of mine!” She beamed at you.

“No but-” you tried, however…

“No buts! Once you’ve got an appetite, order something proper!” The cook grinned as she walked back to her stall.

You just stared after her, trying to figure out how to overcome this, you’d just denied Kaeya after all so you ought to-

“Why not just accept Sara’s hospitality?” The knight said as he took a bite of one of the skewers on his plate.

“No. But! Payment! Payment is due for services so that the business can continue,” you stammered out, “isn’t it because she provides such a kind service that I ought to pay her more?”

“Oh? Then why not just provide a generous tip to show your appreciation?”

You smiled at that, genuinely, “that’s a good idea, thank you!”

He chuckled as you slowly began to consume the soup, taking your time as you carefully listened to-well it was more like observed-the signals your stomach would send you. You’d had to sit back after forcing yourself through the first few spoonfuls.

Kaeya had raised an inquisitive brow when he observed you lean back in your seat, rather continue to eat. Out of habit-a bad habit, your mother would say-you preemptively provided him with an explanation: “I’m waiting for my stomach-appetite-uh…yeah.”

He nodded in understanding. You found waiting boring however, and you decided it was your turn to blatantly observe the man and see how much he liked being dissected. That didn’t last too long however; aside from being totally relaxed, a flicker of recognition passed over his face. That was curious, so you turned in your seat to look in the same direction as he was, your eyes flickered to the main gates, but didn’t see anything of note. What was he looking at?

When you turned back around he had a wry smile on his face. You heaved a sigh and slowly sipped a spoonful of soup. Of course, he’d used your observing him to his advantage. 

You found you could handle eating at a normal pace, and began to consistently go through your soup, pausing to nibble on the Fisherman’s Toast every once in a while.

“Sir Kaeya,” at the sound of his name he turned to you, at this point he’d finished eating his skewers and was simply keeping you company-which you appreciated if you were being honest, “I am looking into studying local herbs, and by extension herbal remedies, among other things to see if I can advance my knowledge.”

He regarded you as you tried to string your words together into a coherent inquiry, “so I was wondering if there were any resources here? Books? Medical professionals?”

He leaned back, gesturing behind him vaguely, “we have a library at the Knights of Favonius Headquarters,” his lip quirked up when you perked up noticeably, “I could escort you there.”

“I’d appreciate that greatly!” You smiled. “Thank you!”

“Of course,” he smiled easily, “you could also have a chat with Deaconess Barbara at the church as well. She’d be more than happy to discuss herbal remedies with you.”

You thanked the man again.

There was little drama when it came to paying for your meals. Little, because Kaeya did attempt to place you in his debt, however he failed. What he didn’t fail to do though was ruffle your feathers. The tall man looked plenty pleased with himself as he finally backed down. Sara also looked rather amused as well, and was absolutely beaming when you mentioned you’d be coming back to pick up food from her once you were done with the library. She was less amused when she realized how large your tip was though, but you’d made sure to put enough distance between you and her that she couldn’t return it.

With Sir Kaeya as your guide, you felt more at ease, taking in the sights of Mondstadt proper. It was a rather lovely city, with ivy growing on some of the buildings and- was that a crafting table?! Oh and it looked like there was an alchemist there too! You’d definitely be talking to him when you got the chance!

-_-

“This here is Miss Lisa, our librarian, feel free to ask her for help in the library,” Kaeya spoke as he placed a hand on your back and pushed you towards a lady dressed in rich purple garb.

“Kaeya, it’s past working hours,” said librarian complained as she looked up from the book she’d been reading. Upon spotting you, her eyes twinkled with something that resembled amusement, “oh? Who’s this cutie you’ve brought me?”

“A foreign apothecary looking to do some research on Mondstadt herbal remedies and medicine,” Kaeya grinned.

“Oh is that so?” She carefully closed her book and moved to stand up. “Right this way then.”

“Oh no! I wouldn’t want to be a bother, if you’re already closed-”

“We’re closed for Kaeya , the library is still open for you,” she chuckled, eyes crinkling, “you’re just going to have to be quick about it though cutie.”

The blue haired knight dismissed himself then, leaving with a huff and a, “make sure you return your books on time Miss Apothecary.”

With Kaeya’s familiar presence gone, you found your nerves renewed themselves. Especially in the presence of someone as regal and elegant as the librarian before you, and with a non-specific time limit. Nevertheless, Miss Lisa was really friendly, and very helpful. You quickly grabbed any books that seemed useful and hurried out so as to not keep her too long. 

It was completely dark now in Mondstadt, with the way the city was lit up, you’d think it was pretty. Y’know…if you hadn’t been attacked just outside it the other day. Either way, you hurried to Sara, talked to her a bit about what you felt like having, her giving you recommendations, and then you leaving with dinner and dessert.

-_-

You spent the next few weeks within the safe, homey walls of Mondstat proper. You’d slowly worked yourself outside of your room in the inn, and had become a relatively common sight in the Knights of Favonius library. When you weren’t in the library you could often be found at the Church of Favonius trying to talk to sister Barbara. Trying, because she was very popular. You’d considered leaving her be, you didn’t want to be a bother; however according to another sister there - Victoria was it?- Barbara seemed to be very happy to talk to you, which was why you persisted.

Barbara was too sweet for her own good, and very pleasantly odd. Her Chili drink was interesting, to say the least. The bright red of the drink reminded you of your savior, however you’d barely begin to formulate your inquiry when some member of her extensive fanclub would pop up, which usually led to a train of fans following. You’d tried waiting at a distance the first time, but realized it was a jolly waste of time and from then on made yourself scarce when her fanclub popped up.

Unless it was Albert. He was overly enthusiastic to the point of uncomfortable clinginess. You ought to brew up a laxative or something so that he’d be kept busy on his toilet at home, away from Barbara.

You were becoming increasingly acquainted with many different residents as a result of your stay. You talked to Sara about different ways to get the flavor out of different herbs and spices, as well as the commonly used local herbs-oh and if she knew about any of their benefits as well. She also gave you a couple of recipes after you and she would experiment with ideas together.

You were also becoming a regular for Miss Lisa’s tea time. It started with you picking up some snacks for her from Good Hunter and her offering you a cup of tea in return, and had progressed-actually no, it was still very much the same. If you were in the library during her tea time she’d send you out to get her snacks and then have tea with you. The only real difference was that you two talked more now. Well that and sometimes Lisa would manage to successfully rope the Acting Grandmaster into attending, which was how you met the fair Jean.

After meeting Jean, you started venturing out of Mondstadt a little, so as to collect some herbs to help brew something for the tired lady. Teas to help improve the quality of her sleep, others to boost her immune system, others to energize her or neutralize headaches.

You spent as little time as possible with the lady though. You didn’t want to get in the way of her work. Of course in doing so, you often forgot to ask her if she knew of a red-haired Pyro user. 

Oh you’d managed to ask Miss Lisa! Kind of. Not really… she had immediately become a bit of a gossip wondering if perhaps these could be the beginnings of a love story. You decided then not to ask her and leave it be.

Your constant presence in the knight’s headquarters (in the library) resulted in you also becoming more acquainted with Sir Kaeya. Turns out he was the cavalry captain . That explained why he seemed much more reliable than all the other knights you’d seen. It also explained his unnerving ability to draw information out of people.

He also had a penchant for drinking alcohol. Jean often commended him, and in the hopes of helping reduce her stress, you began digging through your research and books in hopes of finding ways to reduce or neutralize the damage the man did to his liver.

Most, if not all, the research generally suggested quitting and allowing your body to heal. These results were less than ideal to the blue haired captain.

You also had the pleasure of meeting the young “Spark Knight” Klee. Talking to her was hilariously more enlightening than talking to Timaeus the local alchemist. The little girl produced bombs that were highly effective against cryo. 

She was a generous little soul and when you promised not to use any of her bombs for evil she gave you a few, well, twelve if you’re to be exact. She made you promise to never ever ever hurt anyone with them or Jean would be mad. So you promised to never ever ever use them for anything that would hurt people. Armed with these deceptively cute little bombs, you felt much safer indeed. 

Of course she only gave them to you after you’d spent a whole week or so running around with her. You had wasted no time in providing her with a little notebook about helpful medical wildlife and how to use it. In fact that’s how the two of you kept busy. Of course you also went fish blasting in the lake, but you spent a lot of time foraging and at some point she explained a bit about how her bombs worked. It was fun overall, especially given that during the course of your time  together you’d added more notes as you learned more about Monstadt’s native flora. 

Anyway with these bombs you’d be ready to face those darned Abyss Mages if they ever showed their beaky faces-er masks? ever again! Or so you thought…

Or so you thought…

Yes. After finally overcoming your fears, and venturing out into the wilderness of Mondstadt to begin your field research: foraging and testing different combinations of herbs, you found yourself in yet another dangerous situation.

Isn’t that just lovely

Sir Kaeya had mentioned that different Abyss Mages used different elements. But he neglected to mention which elements. As it turns out, Pyro Abyss Mages existed. 

Isn’t that just great ? 

Perhaps that was just a given that Pyro Abyss Mages existed? After all, if a Cryo Mage exists it stands to reason that a Hydro Mage exists, or an Electro Mage, or even: a Pyro Mage. 

Yeah…

Yepp. It was totally a given that Pyro Abyss Mages existed. Just- urgh

Yet again, your attempt at negotiations had failed. They’d broken down before you’d even managed to start them.

All you wanted was to forage some weeds, make some medicine, and test them out. You didn’t pose a threat to these things-in fact you made sure to steer clear of them! You always made sure to avoid them. You still hadn’t used a single bomb that Klee had given you!

Yet here you were running for your life, again , and jostling your herbs in your pack again . To make matters even better , you had gotten knocked off your feet by a wild boar. A boar ! Of all things! And now, here you were, on your bum trying to figure out how to escape this mage that could set this whole woodland aflame and you with it.

“I’m clearly running away from you,” you mustered all your frustration to turn it into some kind of courage, “I ob-obviously mean you n-no harm!”

Sir Kaeya said they understood your language. That meant you could convince it to spare you peacefully right? When it let out a gleeful laugh and started dancing around behind its pyro shield you weren’t so sure anymore. Maybe they didn’t really understand you. Maybe that was just a theory.

Your lips pulled into a sardonic smile despite yourself.

Gosh wouldn’t it be so convenient if you had the ability to defend yourself in this situation?

In the moment you looked away to plan your escape you heard a blood curdling shriek. Turning back to the Abyss Mage you saw a thick, thorny, vine had torn through its shield, and then through the mage itself. You watched the creature disintegrate, dropping ley branches yet again.

You looked around, trying to spot who or what had killed the menace. All you saw were trees though. Just trees and bushes and more trees. You let out a quiet exhale, fearful another threat was nearby. When you inhaled again you learned how much the boar hurtling into you had affected you. 

It hurt to breathe.

Ah an injury to your chest. Excellent. Just what you needed while this far out from Mondstadt.

At least you were alive, you supposed. You pushed yourself up into a sitting position slowly, and that was when something seemingly slipped down your chest into your lap. Hold on-

Could it be?

You picked up the little green orb, pulling it up to your face to observe it. It had a dendro mark, and it was placed within a metallic frame resembling the one you often saw encasing visions back in your homeland.

Was that what this was? You turned it over in disbelief, brows furrowing. Was this yours

Wow…You had a vision now. You had… a vision…

You blinked twice. 

You had a vision? 

Again, you blinked at the sphere in confusion. Or was it disbelief? Truthfully you should have probably have been more excited. After all, you had a friend back home who made it very clear just how visionless you were before. Real insensitive sometimes, that guy.Anyway! This was a momentous event and not that many people got to experience it. However with all that had happened to you that day, you had to say your nerves were likely fried. All you really could think about was how tired you were beginning to feel, and how essential it was for you to find shelter as quickly as possible.

So you stood up and waded your way through the wood. Not too long after though, the clouds decided that now would be a perfectly good time to irrigate the land. Reminding you that finding shelter as quickly as possible would be an excellent idea. 

Yes, yes, find shelter as quickly as possible. What a nice goal to have. It was made easier by the sudden downpour. You would have preferred this downpour to have been present earlier when you were at the mercy of that Pyro Mage, but no matter. It was thanks to the harrowing ordeal that you now had a vision in your possession. 

You were thankful for the abundance of trees in your vicinity, and wasted little time running under one. You didn’t want your pack to get soaked after all. It was mostly water resistant, being leather and all, but still better safe than sorry?

Oh yeah, and it would be really inconvenient to get a cold now.

With that thought in mind, you dug through the pack in search of your umbrella. You’d read in some adventurer’s handbook that umbrellas were absolutely essential, and had purchased one for your travels. You didn’t find it inside your pack. That made sense! You usually had it attached to one of the straps on the sides-

Oh. 

There it was!

All burnt…

and charred…

But hey maybe it was still useful!

You forced it open. It had been severely, let’s say dent , during your, uh scuffle with that Abyss Mage. There were also massive gaping holes in the canopy.

You hadn’t even gotten your mora’s worth out of it yet!

You swallowed thickly, all the moisture in your throat evaporating with the heat of your emotions. Your next swallow was even more laborious, and breathing? Near excruciatingly painful. Thick, hot, salty blobs mixed in with the rain on your face as your emotions caught up with you. It was truly frustrating.

You hated that Abyss Mage. Your frustration possessed your arm,  aggressively slamming the umbrella into the ground. Wasn’t it great that you’d been the one to end that thing’s miserable existence?

You shuddered at the thought, bile rising up your throat. You were quick to force it back down. Your waterskin was unaffected from earlier, thankfully, and you guzzled your emotions down. Looking into the distance you saw a rather large building, its windows alight. Seems like that would have to be your shelter until the rain let up.

Well it was a rather large building, so perhaps it was an inn? It had a really nice garden surrounding it-no wait, just in front of it-as well. Though its location was rather strange: situated in what seemed to be the middle of the forest, with no other buildings nearby. 

Maybe it wasn’t an inn.

Maybe, maybe you should steer clear of this building. For all you knew, you were safer out here, under this tree. A cold gust swept through the forest, blowing some of the rain onto you.

Or perhaps you should take a risk and see if the residents don’t murder you.

Realistically speaking, if you did get sick, there was a chance of surviving and continuing to live. However, if you were to be murdered by the residents of that building over there, well…safe to say you would not continue to live.

Another gust of wind blew over the land, taking with it your already dwindling body heat. You shook away your thoughts. It wouldn’t do to assume the worst of people. Besides, you still had your Klee-bombs! Luckily they were waterproof! That’s what Klee had told you. Meaning even if they did get wet from you walking around in this rain, they’d still be useful.

Factoring that into your decision, it would be wisest to try your luck with that perhaps-inn. That way you could avoid getting sick at least. You were prepared for the worst…in a sense. You were just paranoid at this point. Risking death twice would do that to a person, you supposed.  

You picked up your destroyed umbrella from the ground - you knew better than to litter! Then taking a deep, albeit painful breath you sprinted (kind of) from under the cover of your tree to another one nearby.

Thus you continued your trek towards the maybe-inn, moving from tree to tree, to limit your exposure to the rain. Though in the last leg of your trek you were left without cover. You stood under the eave of the building, hesitating only a moment before you steeled your nerves and knocked on the door.

You waited a bit, but received no response. You chewed on your tongue a bit as another gust of wind blew against you. Your teeth were starting to chatter, and with a little more desperation you knocked on the door again.

This time the door swung open revealing a rather gentle looking young brunette. You blinked awkwardly at her - you hadn’t thought about what you were going to say.

“Uhm..” you started, your smile nothing short of sheepish.

“Oh dear, you must be freezing,” she spoke, reaching out and pulling you into the warm building, “here sit by the fire and I’ll fetch you some tea.”

“Oh, um, thank you,” you blinked, as she pushed you into a seat by the hearth.

You could hear her call for a towel and blanket before she zipped over to what you assumed was the kitchen. You simply sat in silence enjoying the warmth of the hearth. Well, as much as you could enjoy it. You fidgeted with your feet, bouncing your legs a bit, both from the cold and from the awkwardness. 

You made sure to properly thank the lady that brought you the towel and blanket and apologize for the inconvenience. She quickly dismissed your concerns and walked away to continue with whatever she’d been busy with prior to your arrival. That was when you noticed the uniform: a maid.

So perhaps this was an inn?

Thankfully the lady that let you in returned with a steaming mug of tea just in time for you to inquire after the nature of the place you were in, after you made sure to thank her for her hospitality, you had manners after all.

“Is this an inn?” You asked her as you hugged the mug she’d offered you close to your chest. The warmth seeped through your clothes and eased some of the soreness you felt after being run over earlier.

“Not at all,” she had an amused look on her face as she answered, “you’re currently at the Dawn Winery.”

“Oh,” you felt your eyes widen in surprise, “uhm, I’ll be going as soon as the rain lets up, I hope that won’t cause too much of an inconvenience,” your brain started working again, when you inhaled you tried not to let the pain show on your face, “or if I could purchase an umbrella from you all, I could get going right this instant.”

“Oh no no you’re no inconvenience at all,” the lady’s smile brightened, “I couldn’t possibly let you go back out into that storm in good conscience.”

“O-okay,” you shrunk on yourself, “I-I’m an apothecary, please let me know if you have any ailments and I’ll gladly help!”

She huffed a little laugh then, eyes twinkling with something borderline mischievous, “hmm, I’ll think I’ll take you up on that offer. Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you need anything while you’re here.”

“T-thank you! Uhm Miss-”

“Adelinde.”

“Thank you Miss Adelinde,” you smiled, hoping your nerves didn’t show too clearly, before giving her your name in return.

She nodded at you in acknowledgement before walking away to continue with her own tasks. Left to your own devices, you slipped your shoes off to curl into the blanket. You wafted some of the steam from the tea, and upon confirming nothing smelled off, you took a sip.

Well, poison could be neutralized, all you could hope was that it wasn’t laced with something that would cause you to lose consciousness.

Could you stop with the negative thoughts?

You shifted the blanket around to re-expose the parts of your outfit that were wet from the rain to the fire. You bit down on your lip. Moving around still hurt - you absolutely would be returning to Mondstadt proper the moment this rain lets up. Though you needed your clothes to be dry for when you went back out into the wild. You took another sip of the tea, enjoying the way it warmed you up and continued to stare blankly at the fire.

Speaking of fire, with some difficulty you reached into your pack and pulled out your new treasure. Holding it in your palm you simply stared at it blankly. You would need to learn how to use it. Perhaps when you head back to Mondstadt you could ask Miss Lisa. She was rather knowledgeable after all.

You were deep in your head when the sound of the door busting open had you jumping. Whipping your head towards the source of the noise a rather fierce, rather familiar shade of red blazed at you.

The same red that had rescued you from your first encounter with an Abyss Mage all those weeks ago.

[ndisalover]

FORBIDDEN FOREVER

synopsis: some things aren’t meant to last forever, especially anything that Ada Wong loves (written with black reader in mind).

major angst, blood/////

A pale hand swiped across the empty space. It was late at night and Ada was yet again relying on her senses to make sure you were there.

Normally she’d feel your hand wrapped around her waist, or she could tell by the clashes of coconut, aloe and flora that she breathed as if it was oxygen to her lungs. Even just the touch of silk from your bonnet, or your small barely audible breaths would make her feel relaxed.

But Ada had been stupid. Somehow she’d missed your departure.

With her eyes barely open, she pushed herself up and off the bed, legs going into autopilot to find you.

It was stupid how clingy she was, embarrassing really.

You’d been the nurse who forced her to stay in the neo umbrella hospital ward, curing her of her infection. When Ada woke up in that busy ward, to you sitting on a chair next to her, her cheeks were on fire.

You were beautiful, your hair was in these mid length braids, and Ada adored your brown eyes, even though yours were as dark as hers, they looked different on you, prettier.

When you noticed her waking up, you called another nurse, and stared at her giddy and waved.

Then nights went by, and sometimes, you’d pop into her section just to say hi, or ask a random question.

Ada didn’t mind though.

Then things progressed and little interactions turned into long conversations, and you trying to entertain Ada to the best you could.

Ada felt like her heart was being thrown around whenever you were just you. There was no one she’d ever felt like this way towards before, and that scared her. The way you looked at her with admiration made her feel like she was a hero, which was Ada's opposite in true nature.

One night, you were about to leave but Ada wasn’t done with you, she wanted to hear you obsess over your silly tv shows and drag on about how much you thought Ada was the coolest person ever.

So as you stood up, Ada grabbed your hand with all the strength she had and pulled you back towards her.

Which ended just as well as she wanted it to.

One of your hands was still in Ada’s firm grip while the other rested on her thigh, burning a hole.

The look that you gave Ada wasn’t a look like the amused one you gave when you caught her staring or the unimpressed look you’d given her multiple times after she’d tested her corny pick up lines on you.

You looked at Ada vulnerably, lips soft looking, lashed fluttering and your eyes seemed to dart between Ada’s and her own lips.

Ada already knew you liked girls after hearing you joke about how Leon Kennedy didn’t deserve Ashley Graham and how you could ‘treat her better’.

Which honestly made Ada feel hurt slightly, and jealous, but it was a win nevertheless.

“Stay” Ada commanded, in a desperate but quiet voice.

Ada felt extra bold and pulled you in suddenly, pecking your lips for one second.

They were so fucking soft and Ada missed them as soon as they left.

You however were freaked out and immediately left the room, which worried Ada but she hoped you would respond positively.

A few days passed and you hadn’t visited, Ada slightly regretted her choice, she’d thought she’d lost you forever, although it was kind of worth it.

But one day she woke up to you biting your cheek and staring at the girl, your scent intoxicating Ada instantly.

“I like you a lot Ada, but..”

Ada’s heart felt like it was in her throat, she wished she was a mind reader so these torturous seconds could be over with.

“I don’t want you to only like me because of a Stockholm syndrome type of thing, but because you like me. And also I could have seriously been in trouble because of that kiss!!”

You became pouty towards the end of your explanation, although you showed sincerity and worry for Ada still.

That alone made Ada more desperate for you, the affection and worry that no one had ever shown for her was delivered by you.

So after Ada begged and begged you ,to allow her to take you out after she gets sent home, you accepted.

Though you gave her a piece of your mind on how risky she was through some soft hits and a long long speech on professionalism.

So Ada bagged herself a gorgeous loving nurse as a girlfriend , and she’d never felt happier.

Oh how she wished those days could come back.

Ada walked through the eerily quiet apartment, shouting out your name with an expectancy of a response.

Nothing.

She searched every room, carefully scanning, while her gut dropped bit by bit at every empty room.

She called your phone, hand shaking.

Ada had become attached to you, and you barely ever left her alone.

Maybe you had gone for a drive…..or for a walk??

Her favourite song blasted from the kitchen suddenly, it was your ringtone.

Ada knew something was wrong.

She sped into the kitchen, only to see your phone vibrating on the island table top. Ada rushed towards it, glaring at the phone in confusion, but there was a white reflection on the oven on the other side of the island.

Ada took slow steps, feeling her heart pick up.

There you were.

On the floor, throat cut open for the world to see.

The bloody knife shone, taunting Ada with merciless spite. Blood pooled all over the floor, it was enough to know someone was dead.

But it couldn’t be true.

You couldn’t be dead?? There just wasn’t..

Ada stepped through your precious ichor, her tears dripping into it, linking you to her even in death.

“What the fuck. What-what the fuck. Y/n? This can’t be happening-it can’t be”

She pulled your lifeless body into her lap, Ada had seen blood and guts before too many times. Yet as she saw, the blood gush out of her lovers throat, bile threatened to rise. It was an abnormal site for Ada.

Ada held you up, shaking hand stroking your lifeless skin. Your brown skin was pale and fading. Slender fingers caressed your blood soaked cheek.

She couldn’t breathe. Oxygen was being vacuumed out of her lungs. Hyperventilation wasn’t familiar to Ada Wong. But the mix of pain and shock, desperation too made her sob, salty tears hit your face.

“Y/n what’s happened, baby please I can’t do this-don’t do this to me”

Ada knew her dangerous life would catch up to her, but I guess she was delusional to think it couldn’t harm you.

It was confirmed that someone broke in that night, someone that Ada didn't even know, but they knew everything about her, and despised who she was as well as the work she did.

So they did the logical thing and took away the life of her lover, like she had harmed others.

The cold night offered nothing to Ada Wong, as Neo Umbrella workers spoke to her, blood covered.

It was a belated tragedy, bound to happen.

The Chinese girl would most likely never fully recover.

There she was again sitting blood soaked, medication pumping to her arm to calm her, back to where she started. The hospital ward where Ada recovered and you two met, fell for one another.

Instead this time, there was no cure for the broken heart of Ada Wong. It would eat her, break her down and swallow her til she became a shell.

Ada Wong became as lonely as she was. Life resented Ada Wong, and she also resented herself for allowing you to become a victim of that hate.

[odditycircus-2002]

Medusa! Reader and Shang Tsung in MK 1 (Part 1)

NEXT

SPOILER ALERT FOR MK 1 STORYMODE

A/N: I hope y'all like this as I've been hyped for this game since I heard its release!!! I was so excited for the possibilities that I watched the full storymode cut as soon as it came out to take notes! Be aware, given this is a new timeline, there ARE gonna be some changes from the other hc/s you've known, but rest assured that doesn't mean I have forgotten. Please enjoy!

You were born around the same northern canton as Shang Tsung, yet you would come to know him in adulthood. You were born as the second eldest to your village's apothecary during your childhood. You never knew your eldest sister, who was taken at infancy to become Umgadi; despite this, your mother always spoke highly of the daughter she never got to know. To the point of being grating to everyone around you, including yourself. On the other hand, your father had high hopes for you to someday take over the apothecary of your village, having seen your innate talent and intrigue for medicine from an early age.

You reveled in the pride your father expressed for you. Although, your mother gave you a different time of day despite your best efforts. Because of your frustrations, you would come across to others as prickly and shrewish. Although deep down, you just wanted a chance to make BOTH your parents proud.

That day came, but not in the way you truly hoped, when a plague struck your village from another nearby canton. Thankfully, it wasn't Tarkat, but that didn't make the one that came any less deadly.

You and your father worked day and night to help treat your village, giving them depleting medicine to ease their symptoms. However, that doesn't mean you didn't have your fair share of corpses you had to help burn to stifle the plague from spreading.

When your father became ill from overworking, you took it upon yourself to search for a cure. It took weeks of secretly digging corpses out of the burn puts and cutting them open (something that wasn't so hard for you to stomach, oddly) to find which combinations of elixirs were the most effective before you found a cure. Even then, it took weeks of trials and tribulations before you finally succeeded. However, to others, you seemed to have cured your village overnight by some miracle, making both your parents proud.

From then on, through the grapevine, it wasn't hard for the newly crowned rulers of Outworld, Sindel and Jerrod, to hear the word of an upcoming healer making a name for herself around the northern cantons by healing most ailments and diseases. Eventually, they would invite you to study at the palace to further your knowledge of medicine.

You were already stunned to hear of Outworld's rulers inviting YOU, of all people, to study at their palace. Imagine your amazement when you first saw the luscious and lively city of Sun Do. Yet the city seemed pale compared to the crown jewel of Sun Do Palace.

When you were escorted into the palace, instead of immediately heading into the throne room as instructed, you slipped away from Li Mei's watch to head toward the legendary Hanging Gardens. While exploring the garden's flora, you took the time to sketch out the plant life you've never seen to look up later. In fact, you were so caught up in what you were doing you didn't immediately acknowledge Empress Sindel when she entered. When she invited you inside for tea, did you finally look up from what you were doing and realize who you had spoken to the entire time.

You quickly bowed as you started to ramble out apologies for not properly greeting your Empress, stating how you meant no offense or disrespect. Sindel only gave a small chuckle and brushed it off, stating it was a relief to know the healer they invited to study here had so much potential. From there, after getting berated by Li Mei about how there won't be a next time for you to slip from her, you meet Jerrod.

Jerrod and Sindel watched you flourish into a benevolent and dedicated healer, eventually the Head Healer for the Palace, often treating the royal family, Imperial Guard, or Umgadi. While there, you were also trained by Li Mei herself to defend yourself, to prove that every member of the Imperial House is capable of defending Outworld.

You and Sindel grew to have a close friendship. In fact, you treated Sindel the most when she was pregnant with twins and watched as both came into the world. You, too, helped with the upbringing of Mileena and Kitana after Jerrod's death. Sindel found she could confide in you, knowing any secret with you is safe, assured in your loyalty to her and the royal house.

However, that's not to say your friendship with Sindel didn't get into trouble occasionally, specifically in matters concerning Tarkat and those afflicted with it, as your role as a Healer conflicts with Sindel's policies.

You took it upon yourself to become one of the lead researchers into Tarkat, including going to the colony of those afflicted in the Wastes. What you saw appalled you and sickened every part of you that is a Healer.

Yet, as Sindel continues to ignore your suggestions on improving Tarkatan's life, a wedge forms between you. That doesn't stop you from advocating giving Tarkatans better treatment than what they currently have. You and Sindel's skirmish reaches a crescendo when Mileena, infected with Tarkart, one day approaches you.

You tried everything you could to treat her in secret from Sindel, fearing the Empress would banish her own daughter. Yet neither of your efforts would be successful as Sindel and Kitana eventually learned about Mileena's affliction. You and Sindel argued about how Mileena's illness should be dealt with, with you calling Sindel a hypocrite for protecting Mileena when she doesn't do the same for the rest of her sick subjects.

Thanks to the new sorcerer, Shang Tsung, that Mileena found, she was temporarily cured before she could go on a bloody rampage. Immediately, you asked Shang how he figured out how to treat Mileena's symptoms. To which he answered by offering a partnership, stating that together, you both had a real chance to cure the princess and all of Outworld. An invitation you were not going to turn down, much to the Sorcerer's delight.

Thanks to Shang Tsung backing your argument, Sindel had a laboratory built near the Tarkatan camp so you could further your studies for a cure. Although, secretly, it may have also been a way for you to put some distance between you and Sindel since you felt you needed time away from her and the city.

Shang Tsung introduced you to Syzoth, who he claimed would work as an assistant. You were unaware of his enslavement to Shang. Although more at ease in your presence, you couldn't help but notice how twitchy Syzoth can be, especially whenever Shang is in the room.

You recognize Shang's mannerisms, dialect, and choice of clothing to be from the same area you're from. Despite the familiarity you two connected with, you were wary of Shang when he refused to indulge in what he used to be. While he finds your caution understandable, that would not stop him from trying to woo you.

At first, he wasn't quite successful in using honeyed words and shiny trinkets since you were too caught up in your work to care for them. Frustratingly for him, you struck a faster friendship with Syzoth over your interests in each other's cultures. Yet, it didn't escape Shang's notice that Syzoth would cringe at your dark humor and be unable to fully understand the theories you would share with him.

Shang Tsung changed his approach to you after taking note of you and Syzoth's interactions (and punishing Syzoth in private). He got this chance when you let slip a dark joke that some would say is in bad humor. You slap a hand over your mouth when you realize what you said. Yet, to your surprise, the sorcerer you saw as pretentious and full of himself let out a genuine laugh to the point he had to step back from his worktable to reorient himself.

Shang Tsung didn't fake finding you humorous especially when it meant seeing you direct your smile toward him. One small but genuine one he scarcely ever saw directed at him. He found himself wanting more.

Such a small moment led to a friendship that intertwined with your partnership. Shang got you talking about your work and what you hope to accomplish with it, occasionally encouraging you. You would find him sometimes jotting down notes when you share with him theories you developed about Tarkat, including how its mutative properties cause an excessive amount of bone to grow from a person and could probably strengthen a person if used right.

"Yet, I would never actually see if that's true. Not only would it be incredibly painful, but it would be an act against nature.

"Of course, yet shouldn't progress be something healers should strive for?

"Indeed we do, but not at the cost of lives."

Syzoth watched as your relationship with Shang Tsung flourished, thus leading you to share a few apothecary secrets your father taught you. The Zatteran wishes he could've told you about the man you looked fondly at, yet he kept his mouth shut.

Unbeknownst to you, Shang Tsung would take some of your ideas and theories with Tarkat and then make them into a horrid reality, all right under your nose. For all you knew, the basement level of the lab would eventually be used to treat patients.

Yet, you didn't think Shang Tsung could ever be so depraved. Not from the charming and intelligent man you came to know through long discussions and walks near the lab. However, you started to grow suspicious since you saw Syzoth often head downstairs, but Shang Tsung discouraged you from looking around below. This eventually spiraled into a confrontation between the two of you.

You argued that both of you are partners and thus are equals. Just, what was he hiding down there? However, when you confronted the Sorcercer and gave him a piece of your mind, that's when disaster struck.

Fed up with Shang Tsung dancing around the answer and his secretiveness, you marched right to the door leading to the lower levels of the Laboratory. Out of desperation, Shang Tsung then ran to your side to push you away from the door.

He only meant to push you hard enough to get you away from the door, but it was enough to push you directly into a shelf containing a glass jar containing proto-type Anti-Tarkat serum that fell directly on your head, followed by more unknown serums. You screamed at the searing pain of glass and the liquids entering your eyes.

Your skin started to peel away, leaving your entire body in patches of red rashes, and your hair fell out in clumps. Your screams filled the entire laboratory as you collapsed to the ground. You didn't see the panicked look on Shang's face as he instructed Syzoth (who saw the whole thing) to carry you.

A/N: Sorry, that's all for now, folks. I reached the word count limit.😅 Don't worry, part 2 is coming out real soon!