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mothwingwritings · 3 years ago

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Three’s A Crowd

Retsu X F! Reader X Katsumi

I finally got around and writing a fic for my two fav Baki boys!!! Woo!

There’s some angsty, pining, one-sided affection, love triangle bullshit in this one, so if that isn’t your thing I apologize. Sometimes I just gotta get the slightly dramatic, weeb wubby stuff out of my system. :) I am a major slut for jealousy stories so that’s a reason for this whole story as well looool. I changed the name to Three’s A Company which is like, the least original name for this kind of story, but I liked it better than what I picked previously so it is what it is. :P

And Katsumi darling, I am so sorry I made you the third wheel in this. :( I promise there is a story for you where you are the star coming soonish, ILU, mwah <3

This took me forever to read over and post for whatever reason (it has been written for weeks at this point YIKES), and I still feel like parts of it are pretty wonky. Sorry if it reads kinda weird. :< Nevertheless, I hope you all enjoy, and thank you so much for reading! <3

This is NSFW so 18+ only please!!!!

WARNINGS: one sided pining, some angst, jealousy, possessiveness, sex, eavesdropping on said sex, and one clueless/dense reader :)

“You are not going out in this.”

The soundless night was disrupted by your voice, a hint of worry betraying its otherwise stern tone. Staring out into the icy abyss it was no mystery as to why you were concerned, heading out right now was just asking for trouble. He could barely see two feet in front of him, let alone down the street. The news liked to over exaggerate every winter storm as if it were the white death coming to blanket the earth, trapping people for long periods of time under thick blankets of snow and slush. Who knew the weather forecasters would actually be right this time around?

“Katsu are you listening to me?” You spoke again, this time sounding more on edge. He could tell your patience with him was growing thin. You had always hated it when he took too long to respond to you, seeing through his silence to the churning gears of his brain that were working hard to come up with an excuse you would not be fond of.

Katsumi sighed in response.

“It’s just a little snow, (name). You think that’s enough to stop me?”

He heard you huff, “Can the tough guy act, I mean it! I am NOT letting you go out in this. How lame would it be if the great Katsumi Orochi got taken out by a snow storm, of all things?”

Katsumi laughed, “You have a point there, but still I think I’ll manage. The train may still be running, as long as I can make it to the station I will be fine.”

He took a step forward, his foot crunching into the densely packed snow. He frowned as it engulfed his shoe, the bitter wet stinging his freezing ankle. This definitely wouldn’t be a fun trek, but it was one he needed to try and make for his own sanity’s sake.

He went for another step, but before his foot could meet the snow your hand latched itself to his arm, effectively halting him. Though your grip was firm and unyielding, your voice came out achingly gentle.

“Katsumi please,” you gave his arm a small squeeze, “I really don’t want you going out in weather like this and I doubt the trains are still running with how bad its coming down. You don’t live close enough to walk and I’d be really upset if you got stranded out there in the artic abyss, so would you please come back inside?”

The chill in the air was biting, ice and snow raining down on and around him, clinging to his coat and hair. His arm vibrated from your shivers as he remained in your grasp, a sense of guilt creeping over him for being the reason you were still outside to begin with. The freeze didn’t seem to affect him the same as it did you, but then again, being in your presence made him full of such warmth that he barely noticed its icy grip at all.

He turned to you, his gaze falling on your clear (color) eyes. The thick lashes that framed them were dotted with tiny snowflakes which sparkled like gems in the streetlights, reminding him of a heroine in a shoujo manga. Your brows were cinched together in concern, slightly chapped lips downturned in a pout to match. Your cheeks had turned rosy from the cold, the snowflakes that hit them melting instantly, causing the droplets that ran down your face to give the illusion you were crying.

Seeing you this way gave him the strong urge to embrace you. The desperate desire of wanting your body nestled close to his gripped his heart and wouldn’t let go. He’d shield you from the elements as you clung to him, basking in the comfort of his hold, snuggling your way closer to suck up his body heat. He could think of no better way to fight off this freeze.

If he tried it, would you let him?

He felt somewhat silly over losing himself in the mundane fantasy of giving you a hug, but what could he do? You just had that sort of effect on him, that even the smallest gestures would grant him the greatest happiness.

“(Name) is right. You really should just stay the night Katsumi.”

Katsumi’s pleasant daydream collapsed around him, getting lost in the the steadily falling snow when Retsu appeared in the doorway.

The man’s deep voice forcibly pulled Katsumi back to reality, and he internally winced as he watched your face light up at his appearance. The fierce cold finally became known to him as you drifted away, parking yourself beside Retsu. You wasted no time linking your fingers with the Kaioh, smashing your body against him to mock the dreams Katsumi had seconds prior.

“See, we both want you to stay,” You were addressing Katsumi, but all your attentions were focused on Retsu, “so can you stop being so stubborn for just tonight, please?”

His eyes honed in on your entwined hands a moment longer before he forced a smile on his lips.

“Alright, for you I’ll give.”

You had been in Katsumi’s life one way or another for a long time.

You had met when you were just kids, shortly after Doppo had taken him in as his son. At the time the Shinshinkai dojo offered a karate course for kids, and you just happened to be enrolled in the same class that Katsumi was a part of. Varying levels of talent were in the children’s class, with Katsumi unequivocally sitting at the top. And while he was quickly climbing the ranks, dominating kids much older than himself with ease, you were stuck dwelling in the bottom tier. You were uncoordinated, clumsy, and just generally had a hard time keeping up with the rest of the class. While everyone was moving on, you were still stuck struggling with the basics, doing them over and over with very little success.

Though you weren’t very good at it, the gusto with which you approached learning martial arts was second to none. No matter how many times you got knocked down or scolded for doing something incorrectly, you bounced right back up to try it again. Even when it was recommended by a few of the instructors that maybe martial arts just weren’t for you, you wouldn’t hear it, and pushed yourself even harder in hopes of getting even the tiniest bit better. It was like you had something to prove, that even a tiny little girl could transform into a beast.

Katsumi found it endearing.

It had been so long ago that Katsumi forgot how you two even began talking, whether he was assigned to you for some extra practice or you approached him first for some pointers. What he does remember vividly is the look of absolute wonder you gave him when he mentioned he used to work for the circus, eyes becoming the size of saucers as you vibrated with excitement, shooting him questions at break neck speeds.

“How high in the air were you when you did shows? Was it scary? Did you ever throw up on stage? Did you get to ride the elephants? What do clowns look like without makeup?”

Before long, Katsumi had grown quite fond of the energetic little girl who hung on every word he said. He found himself looking forward to the days you would train with him, having fun teaching you and playing around afterwards while you waited for your parents to pick you up. He missed you when you were gone, feeling a sort of emptiness when you were absent from class. Once you were even gone for an entire week after you had gotten sick, and though you weren’t there physically, your father would stop by each day on his way home from work to deliver hand written notes from you giving Katsumi updates and saying you missed him. It had embarrassed him at the time, but to this day he has held on to each one.

After you came back from your absences, you would always seem a little more rambunctious than usual. It was as if you were trying to make up for the lost time that had occurred between the two of you, upset that you fell a day or two behind and missed any sage advice the older boy had to offer you. Seeing you barrel into the Dojo, bee lining to Katsumi, grilling him on any new stuff he may have to teach you, all before even getting prepared for class… it never ceased to make him laugh and get him pumped up. There truly was never a dull moment with you around.

You only stayed with the dojo for about a year before your attentions switched focus, your child mind latching on to other interests and hobbies of more importance. Your mother was the one who came in to say you wouldn’t be coming back. He could still remember clear as day when she had asked to speak to him directly, thanking him for taking such good care of you. He blushed a bit when your mom said that you talked about him constantly, always eager to come home from practice and tell them what cool stuff you had learned from Katsumi. She even relayed the reason you had not come yourself was that you keep crying so hard over ‘leaving Katsu-chan’ that she decided to come alone, as to not upset her daughter further.

Katsumi missed you more than he thought he would. He had grown so used to having you tag along behind him, wide eyes taking in everything he did as if it were the coolest thing you had ever seen. Without you near things didn’t seem right. You lingered in his brain for years, a distant yet pleasant memory he’d think back to time and again when he’d be overcome with bouts of nostalgia. What was that little girl up to these days, he wondered?

Turns out he didn’t have to muse on that thought for too long.

On a certain day many months ago, upon exiting the dojo Katsumi noticed two young women loitering near the entryway. This in and of itself was not surprising, many peoples friends and significant others usually waited outside or in the dojo lobby for their respective partner to show up. But there was something different about you that made him take special notice, a certain familiar aura you exuded that grabbed his attention.

From the moment his eyes landed on you he found himself drawn in. He couldn’t help but stare, the lure of your beauty too strong to not let his eyes linger. He scanned you, trying to commit every curve of your shapely form to visual memory. If you were one of his boy’s girlfriends, they sure were one lucky bastard to have you.

A huge smile engulfed your face as you animatedly explained something to the person beside you, pointing at the dojo. The sun beamed down around you, and as it shone through your hair it gave you an angelic like quality. Your eyes sparkled, crinkling at the corners as you laughed. Your voice was just as lovely as you were, albeit a little loud in your excitement over what you were explaining to your companion.

“I don’t know, seems a little farfetched to me.”

Now that he was getting closer, he listened in as your friend spoke to you. Her face was scrunched as she looked at you with an air of incredulity, “I mean… you? Taking lessons in a world renowned karate dojo?”

You didn’t let her skepticism damper your mood, “Shocking as it may be, these were my old stomping grounds.”

Katsumi’s interest was piqued. Old stomping grounds? This particular branch of the ShinshinKai didn’t offer any classes for women that he could ever recall, and any classes for youth had long since discontinued. The only time they were ever offered was when Katsumi himself was a child.

You took a deep breath, stretching a bit as you closed your eyes.

“I loved coming here to train,” your voice sounded dreamy as you immersed yourself in memories, “I was never very good at it, but I always had loads of fun.” You opened your eyes, once again focusing them on the dojo, “I had a really good friend here, too. I had to have been annoying as hell, always pestering him with all kinds of questions. But he was always so nice, never once treating me like the bother I know I was.”

He stopped dead in his tracks.

It couldn’t be…

“I hope Katsu-chan is doing well. He was so talented at such a young age. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ran this place now.”

It was you. His little shadow from the dojo was now an adult, and a stunning one at that. Not only that, but in all those years apart it seems like he could never quite escape your thoughts, just as you had always inhabited his.

He stepped towards you, wanting to make himself known.

“I more or less do.” He couldn’t help but smile as you turned his way, your attention completely captured by his intrusion. “I’d like to say it was from all the hard work, but being the son of Doppo Orochi sure didn’t hurt my chances, either.”

You face shifted through a myriad of emotions, from hesitant and confused, to growing realization, before finally gasping in elation.

“Katsumi?!”

He beamed, “The one and only.”

You skipped over to him, and with no hesitation, flung your arms around his neck. After the initial shock of feeling you pressed up to him, Katsumi melted into the embrace. He pulled you in closer, lifting your feet off the ground to playfully sway you side to side. You laughed as he buried his face in the crook of your neck, a sense of glee overcoming him as he breathed you in. You felt so good in his arms. The softness of your curves dipped into him, becoming the perfect offset to his hard body.

He set you down, your arms detaching as soon as your feet hit the ground. You looked up at him with shimmering eyes and he wondered if their shine could have been brought on by tears, a byproduct of seeing him after all this time, or if that was just his ego talking.

Conversation came quickly and freely. It turned out you had moved back to the neighborhood recently, and decided to bring the friend who helped you with the move around with you to revisit all your old haunts. You had made it a point to come back to Shinshinkai, as even after all these years it still had a special place in your heart.

And apparently, so did Katsumi.

You ended up not being able to stay too long, but you jotted down your phone number for Katsumi if he ever ‘felt like’ shooting you a message to catch up. You had barely left the premises before your phone beeped with the arrival of a message, Katsumi’s number illuminating your phone’s screen.

In no time your bond was back to what it once was, your friendship deepening with every message sent, phone call made, and hang-out had. Not long after you had started talking again, Katsumi invited you back into the dojo to show you around and see what had changed. He explained he was the one officially leading the place now (and tried not to let your delighted gasp and showers of praise go to his head in the process), and as acting head of the Shinshinkai he invited you to swing by whenever, assuring you their doors would always be open to you.

He was thrilled when you actually took him up on the offer, showing up every few days on your downtime to come watch him in action. You’d often stop in with a homemade lunch in tow to share, this small gesture never failing to push Katsumi’s domestic fantasies over the edge. Seeing you shoot him a little wave from the back door, holding up two expertly wrapped lunch parcels, your lips turned up at the corners in a demure grin… it made his stomach somersault. You looked so sweet waiting for him patiently in the back, and if no one knew any better you could have easily have been mistaken for his wife.

And that, he decided, was what he was ultimately aiming for.

You were making yourself such a staple that eventually Doppo offered you a job opportunity, laying it on thick by telling you everyone would be more motivated to have a pretty secretary greeting them each morning at the front desk, particularly Katsumi himself. His father wasn’t a dumb man. Doppo could tell Katsumi’s feelings for you as soon as he told him about your reemergence into his life. And who was he to step in the way of young, blossoming love? When Doppo got around to meeting you, he wasn’t shy in making innuendos that you would make a great addition to not just the dojo, but the Orochi family itself. Your face had blossomed into a vibrant red at his words, but nonetheless, you happily accepted the job offer.

To no one’s surprise, you excelled at your job, and everyone who stepped foot through the Dojo seemed more upbeat after speaking with you. You fit in so naturally it was as if you had always belonged with them in the first place, and it soon came to be that patrons couldn’t imagine the Shinshinkai lobby without you, their charming young secretary, greeting and assisting them in it.

Katsumi was a respected and well liked man already, considering himself lucky to have more than his share of close friends and companions to journey through life with. But you were something different, something new. Being around you was like a breath of fresh air, the burdens of leading a dojo of thousands melting away with every word you spoke, every smile you gave. Katsumi loved spending time with you, talking with you, going out with you. He just loved YOU period, and he knew you loved him back.

He just wished the love you felt mirrored his own.

At the time, introducing Retsu to you put up no red flags. You knew most of the people close to Katsumi at this point, they in turn becoming close to you as well. He never felt concern or jealousy over the relationships that were fostered through these meetings, in fact he was quite happy you got on so great with his family and friends. In the future, it would make officially bringing you into the family even easier.

Retsu was the last close friend of his you had to meet, as you had begun your employment around a time Retsu was otherwise occupied. Katsumi was eager for his friend to make your acquaintance, being quite interested in what the man would think of his (hopeful) future bride.

When that day finally arrived however, he could tell he was in trouble. From the moment the two of you first laid eyes on each other, there was palpable electricity in the air that was hard to ignore. A barely noticeable blush had bloomed on your cheeks when your name left Retsu’s lips for the first time, and your replies to his questions were stuttered, even though you normally spoke so confidently. You nibbled incessantly at your bottom lip, constantly shifting your weight under his heady stare, and Katsumi was quick to realize these abnormal mannerisms were all indicative of a fast forming crush. Based on how keen an interest Retsu took in you at that initial meeting as well (Katsumi felt like he was intruding just by standing next to you), it was safe to say that crush was being reciprocated.

It would take a fool not to see where this was headed.

So now here he sat, sunken deep into your worn, yet comfortable couch in the living room of the town house you shared with Retsu. Katsumi knew it was technically just your home, after all it was him and his father who did the majority of the heavy lifting when you first moved in. At the time only your furniture was being hauled from moving van to new abode, but more recently quite a few new pieces had sprung up to overcrowd your space and remind Katsumi that the place he once considered a sanctuary was now a living quarter’s for two.

When you had first made the move from your smaller apartment a few blocks away to your current location, Katsumi was overjoyed that you picked a place so close to the dojo, thinking the choice had to have been influenced by him. You were within walking distance to visit on breaks, right around the corner if he just wanted to stop by and chat on your day off. It was definitely a nice perk, one that he often cashed in on when he could spare the time.

Eventually however, Retsu caught on to where Katsumi snuck off to during breaks. He asked if he himself could tag along to visit their mutual friend, seeming just a bit too pleased to discover you lived so close by. Katsumi tried not to let it hurt him too bad when you appeared more excited to see Retsu at your door than you ever had when it was just him.

Weeks passed in this fashion, until eventually Katsumi no longer had to make the walk with Retsu to your place, knowing he would already be with you once he arrived.

The man was becoming unavoidable, traces of his presence scattered through your home and on your person. His clothes hung next to yours in the closet (when they weren’t draped on your body). His dishes were stacked with yours in the kitchen (when they weren’t in your hands, a fresh meal he had whipped up piled on top, awaiting your consumption). The key copy you had made for him nestled in with yours in a knick-knack bowl by the door (when you were both home together, doing things Katsumi didn’t want to think about). He had successfully moved in, even going so far as to split the rent and utilities.

Katsumi’s only consolation in all this was how often he knew Retsu moved around and trained, which meant you weren’t ALWAYS with him. He hated that he had to think of the two if you in this manner, knowing that if anything he should be happy such a great man ended up with you. Retsu would never hurt you and would protect you with all that he is, with a man like him by your side you would never be left wanting for anything. Everyone else seemed thrilled by the matchup, constantly talking about what a good pair you and Retsu were, how nicely you complimented each other.

But he just couldn’t be happy about it, no matter how hard he tried. Every time he saw the two of you laugh or embrace, tendrils of jealously would coil themselves around him, constricting him in a horrid death grip. You were supposed to be his. It didn’t matter that it was Retsu who stole you away, theft was still theft, and the fact that the thief in question was like a brother to him only made it that much worse.

Needless to say, anytime Retsu wasn’t hogging your company and attention was the only time Katsumi felt like he could breathe.

“I’m glad you decided to stick around,” your voice called out behind him, a gentle hand placing a steaming mug of fresh tea on the table before him, “I would have been a complete wreck worrying if you made it home or not.”

You slipped past him to take the seat opposite his, placing yourself directly next to Retsu. Your hand slid easily into his as you snuggled up beside him, and Retsu reciprocated by pulling you in closer.

Katsumi took a sip of the piping tea to hide his frown.

“Don’t have much faith in me I see,” Katsumi teased as he put his mug down, “But I guess there are worse places I could be stuck right now, other than with you two troublemakers.” Katsumi bowed his head slightly towards you, “Thank you for letting me stay the night, the warm bed and nice company is much appreciated.”

You smiled at him pleasantly, “Please Katsu, you know you are always welcome here. Our home is your home.”

He did his best not to cringe at the ‘our’.

“Got it, when I’m too bushed to make it home I’ll just come crash here,” he shot you a mischievous look, “but if I can’t make it past the door make sure to catch me in your arms before I hit the ground, OK?”

You snorted, waiving your hand dismissively. “I’ll have Retsu do that, if it came down to it.”

Retsu chuckled, “I think that would defeat the purpose. You would be a much warmer embrace to fall into, I would imagine.”

Katsumi couldn’t tell if his friend was taking a dig at him or merely joking around. It was hard to ascertain from Retsu the exact extent that he knew of Katsumi’s feelings for you. Of course he was aware you were close, Katsumi talked about you often with the man by your side before the two of you had met. Katsumi always figured it was fairly obvious he had feelings for you that went deeper than friendship, hoping that that assumed bond would keep anyone from trying to stake their claim on you.

But he ended up being too slow, and whether you were dense, avoiding it, or just saw him as too good of a friend to potentially mess it up with a romance, you never once reciprocated his heavy-handed flirting with anything more than polite banter. He cursed himself daily for never straight up confessing. Even if you didn’t reciprocate, at least his feelings would have been known.

But regardless of how you felt about Katsumi, it didn’t change the rampant, amorous emotions that coursed through him at the mere thought of you. His intense love for you had become like an unruly caged animal, burying its claws deep into his heart, burrowing in so far that at this point removal would be sure to leave a gaping, unhealable wound. It was unrelenting, becoming nearly unbearable when Retsu came to him to explain his feelings and intentions towards you, asking if it would be OK with Katsumi for him to make a move. How could he say no? Just because his friend had the balls to strike while the iron was hot while he sat back and watched didn’t mean he had to be shitty about it. No matter how much it upset him, Retsu was a good friend and you were the apple of his eye. Retsu made you happy, and you made Retsu happy. Katsumi just needed some time to get over it and move on.

…At least if he told himself that over and over maybe it would make the overbearing bitterness he felt less of a bitch.

The three of you stayed up to talk a few hours longer, joking and reminiscing about life and happenings around the dojo. It was easy to get lost in the steady flow of your voice, the sweet cadence of your giggles whenever he made a stupid joke. What a sappy fool he resorted to being around you, hanging on every word you said, living to hear your laugh.

And with each witty remark that left your lips, every funny anecdote or suspenseful story, Retsu listened just as intently with his arm draped around your waist, holding you protectively. He’d gently sweep loose hairs out of your eyes that came free when you got too animated, leave a lingering kiss on your temple when you’d mention something involving the two of you. It was bad enough watching it being done to you, but when he witnessed you try to stand only to have Retsu tug you back into his lap, the playful look you shot him before planting a kiss on his lips was enough to send Katsumi over the edge.

“It’s getting late,” Katsumi interjected, standing up with a stretch, “Am I taking the couch or…?”

You peeled yourself from Retsu, resuming the task you set out to do previously, “Of course not! You know we have a guest room. And you, sir, are a most esteemed guest.” You bumped your hip against his as you carried the empty mugs to the kitchen.

“Follow Retsu, he’ll show you.”

Katsumi had just finished getting into some borrowed nightwear when he was interrupted by a soft knock on the door behind him.

“Hey Katsu,” your muffled voice called out, “You decent?”

“Depends on who you ask,” he responded, smiling at your snort that followed.

“Ha ha, very funny,” he could hear the smile in your voice, “Is it OK if I come in? These extra blankets and pillow are deceptively heavy.”

After giving his consent, you whisked your way into the guest room. Katsumi had to briefly turn away when he saw what you had entered in, embarrassed that witnessing you in such a casual state had such an intense effect on him.

Your hair clung to your flushed cheeks and neck, still damp from the shower you had taken moments prior. For nightclothes you had donned an old shirt that hung loosely off your body, swaying teasingly against your bare thighs with each step you took. It was so large it doubled as a nightgown, and he couldn’t help but grin when he saw the faded Shinshinkai dojo logo across your chest. If he wasn’t mistaken, that was an old shirt of his he had given to you the day you had spilled coffee all over yourself at work. He had encountered you in the hall on his way to a training session, a small puddle of dark liquid pooled at your feet, the rest splattered across your chest. You were flustered as all hell as you adamantly dabbed away at the huge stain there was no hope in removing, and you looked so endearingly abashed he couldn’t help but supply you with the shirt off his back right then and there as a form of assistance.

With a grunt, you placed an extra blanket and pillow beside the futon of the guest room. For a moment Katsumi mused on how this used to be Retsu’s room before he had relocated himself into your room. He withheld a grimace at the memory of overhearing you talking with Natsue at the dojo, practically gushing over how comfortable your large new bed was. You explained that it was a bed Retsu had purchased for your home, the most recent in a string of home appliance gifts that further cemented his long-term presence within your living quarters. Katsumi realized how asinine it was to be angry at an inanimate object, but the large, plush eyesore’s existence incensed him knowing it was probably utilized for plenty of things other than just sleep.

“If you need anything at all, please don’t hesitate to let me know OK?” Your voice broke his previous thoughts. “You should have enough bedding, but if you get cold at all there are some more blankets and things in the closet in the hall. Retsu and I will be right next door, so you can knock if you need help with anything else.”

“Alright mom geez,” Katsumi teased, shooting you a devious look, “If I wet the bed or something and need help cleaning up, you’ll be the first to know.”

A pillow was lobbed at his face. He could easily knock it aside, but enjoyed the little smirk of victory you’d get when you landed a hit on him. “You don’t have to be gross, Katsu.”

“Come on now, if I didn’t tease you wouldn’t you be worried something was horribly wrong with me?”

You hummed in contemplation, “Hmm, maybe. But I think I would appreciate a break from it, too.”

“Oh yeah, you want a break from my antics, huh?”

He grinned, stalking his way towards you. All too familiar with his rough housing, you took a defensive stance, eyes darting to the exit in an attempt to plot your escape route. He wasn’t going to have it. In a blink he darted towards you, scooping you up in his arms as soon as he was close enough, locking them in place around you. You giggled as he whirled you around a few times, reveling in the feeling of your skin pressed against his own. He chuckled too after a few twirls, eventually flinging the two of you on top of the firm futon. Your laughter bounced off the walls as you landed on his chest, your whole body rocking against his in your merriment, both of you savoring the moment.

Comforting and soft, the gentle reassurance of your weight pressing into him felt so perfect, so right. He took a deep breath, the scent of your florally shampoo heavy with your closeness. Placing his rough palm on your head, he mussed your hair affectionately, to which you smiled up at him lazily. Briefly concerned you would feel the increase in his heart rate as you pushed into him further, he took a deep breath to try and to quell his excitement, his hand stroking your head when your check rested against his heaving chest. A shiver ran through him his as you nuzzled into his touch.

The affection he had for you was eating him alive.

It took everything he had not to give in. The urge to flip you beneath him and crash his lips against yours while he peeled the clothing from your body, taking you as his and only his, was consuming his better judgement. The more he focused on you the more he became aware of every inch of your body that was in contact with him. The feel of your plush chest smothered against his, the way your legs were tangled around his so securely, keeping him in constant contact. It was all too much. He suppressed a groan when you repositioned yourself, your thigh grazing him just close enough that it caused his body to stir.

Wiggling from his hold, you plopped your body beside him. After the laughing died down, you both took a moment to catch your breath, staring up at the ceiling in a comfortable silence. You eventually pulled yourself up to a seated position, smacking his arm lightly with the back of your hand.

“Well even if you are gross and mean, I still want you to have a good night’s sleep in my home.” Your smile was so brilliant it almost hurt to look at it. “Again, we’re right next door if you need anything.”

“Gotcha,” Katsumi returned your smile, “Sleep well.”

“Likewise.”

With that, you were out the door, closing it with your departure.

Katsumi glanced at the clock, noting that it had grown quite late. With a sigh, he gathered the miscellaneous bedding around the futon to prepare for sleep, hoping his mind would calm enough to give him some reprieve.

He didn’t end up being so lucky.

He tossed and turned for the better part of an hour, doing his best to get you and the way you felt out of his head. He tried counting sheep, doing some stretches, even pulling up a white noise video on his phone in hopes it would help him drift away. But with his perpetually half hard cock and the knowledge that you were on the other side of the wall, half clothed and vulnerable, all his efforts were fruitless.

“Hey you...”

Your sleepy voice startled him, sounding surprisingly close through the dividing wall. As he recalled, the headboard of your bed rested against the wall his futon was scooted next to, so it made sense that he would hear you, but so clearly? Maybe he was just hyper aware of the sound of your voice, especially when it called out so innocently.

“I’m sorry, did I wake you tián xīn?” Retsu’s whispered voice followed. His was harder to hear, whether it was from him trying to be mindful, or how far away he was, Katsumi was uncertain.

“It’s ok,” you sleepily mumbled in reply, “I was just dozing off, not quite asleep yet.”

There was a soft padding of footprints, followed by the slight creak of Retsu getting into bed. It went quiet after that, and Katsumi decided it was time to take another stab at sleeping. He stared out the window opposite the futon, watching the fat snowflakes continually cascading to the earth. A decent pile up of snow had gathered on the edge of the outside windowsill, and he wondered how much longer it would fall and how it would end up impeding his travel back home. As much as he appreciated you both opening your home to him, hearing Retsu crawl into bed beside you solidified just how uncomfortable he felt knowing his best friend and the woman he loved were so smitten with each other. He was ready to leave as soon as possible.

Katsumi was beginning to feel his eyes grow heavy, sleep finally presenting itself as an option to him. As his eyes fluttered, he heard motion on the other side of the wall. He thought nothing of it at first, thinking it was just you or Retsu repositioning to get comfortable.

However, the noise didn’t stop. In fact, it grew in intensity as sheets were moved around and bodies were shifted. After several minutes of this, the unmistakable sound of kissing entered the mix.

Katsumi froze, his sleepy eyes shooting open at the realization. A heavy frown settled on his face as the smacking of lips grew louder, more feverish. Every so often it was accentuated by either a small whimper from you, or a muffled moan from Retsu.

“Retsu,” Katsumi heard you speak in between pants, “The walls are thin, Katsumi’ll hear us.”

“He’s asleep.” Retsu responded hurriedly, the statement said as something to appease you over actual fact. It pissed Katsumi off, but he couldn’t blame his friend. He’d be just as eager if he were in Retsu’s shoes.

His heart leapt when he heard you giggle, a breathy sigh following immediately after. “Retsu, I really don’t think…” your voice trailed off, lost between sounds of kisses and the rustle of fabric. Another sharp intake of breath shuddered through you, and with it Katsumi felt a jolt within himself.

He shouldn’t be hearing this. He knew there was something terribly fucked up about listening in on your friends making love. The two of you weren’t even being overly loud, but with the mix of your close proximity, the shitty thin apartment walls, and his hypersensitivity to every pleasurable sound that was withdrawn from your lips… he may as well have been front in center at a live show with how encompassing it all sounded.

It would be so easy to scoot the futon to the other side of the room, put in some earbuds and drown it all out. And Katsumi planned to move, truly he did. He wasn’t a creep. He would award you your privacy and do his best to forget what was happening next door, eventually falling asleep.

However the more he listened, the more he was pulled into his fantasies. What if it wasn’t Retsu in there with you, but himself? What if he were the one indulging in your body, basking in your love, coaxing those sweet little noises out of you?

When he closed his eyes, it was far too easy to imagine it.

Your face flushed, expression contorted in pleasure as he kissed and caressed you. Though he could never understand it, you were always a bit shy when it came to showing off your body. Would you try and hide yourself from him? There was a thrill he couldn’t deny in seeing you so vulnerable and embarrassed, doing your best to hold tight to your last remaining bits of composure and dignity as he grew more desperate in his assault.

At this point, the tent that had formed in Katsumi’s boxers made him abandon the thought of sleep entirely, everything transpiring beside him far too enticing to focus on anything else. He struggled to reel himself in, the decent side of him knowing this was wrong. He should be disgusted with himself, eavesdropping on you during such an intimate moment, getting worked up over it as if he were some pervert off the street watching couples in their homes through the bushes.

A moan fell from your lips, this one louder than the others. “P-please,” he heard you whimper, the desperation in your voice palpable, “n-need you!”

Katsumi’s hand was on his cock in an instant, your wanton pleas overpowering his other impulses. His heart beat furiously as his hand languidly traveled his length, eyes falling closed as he envisioned you beneath him in his bed. He clawed at his sweat soaked shirt with his free hand, the once chilly room feeling now more like a sauna.

“Tell me what you need,” he heard Retsu throatily respond, “I’ll give you everything you want Bǎobèi** you just need to tell me.”

Hearing him toy with you, Katsumi had never been so resentful of the man in his life. You were no doubt looking up at him through thick lashes, tears threatening to spill over your ruddy cheeks, soft lips parted slightly, red and plump from the previous kissing that took place. Where you hanging on to him, or clutching the blankets for dear life? How much longer until you succumbed completely? If it were Katsumi, he’d drag this moment out as long as he possibly could.

“I w-want you,” your voice strained through labored breathing. Katsumi picked up his pace, fantasizing that your words were meant for him alone. “I need you… Please, I need you to fuck me!”

No further words were spoken, the lewd sound of flesh hitting flesh becoming the only conversation. Katsumi pictured his thighs snapping against you, his girth penetrating you deeper than you had ever been before. He envisioned his hands roving your body, stopping to focus on the bud between your legs, eliciting new moans of pleasure, lustful coos of his name. His lips would be on your mouth, neck, tits, anywhere he could reach, sucking and biting marks onto you that wouldn’t fade for days. You would lose yourself in him just as much as he lost himself in you, your mind completely enthralled by how good he was making you feel, how perfect he was for you.

Katsumi‘s control was quickly waning, his hips jerking faster as his obscene dreams ran rampant. His dick twitched in his grasp, alerting him of the impending final high. He snatched the pillow from behind his head, biting down on it to quiet any noises he may make.

Your voice cried out from the other room shamelessly as you peaked, so lost in ecstasy you no longer cared if Katsumi could hear you next door. It served as the perfect soundtrack for Katsumi’s release, and he took extra pleasure in the fact that you both came at the same time.

Katsumi panted, basking in the pleasant afterglow in the moments that followed. He had never felt so satisfied from masturbation, the soundtrack you provided taking him to new heights. It left him trembling in pleasure, his body pulsating in the afterglow.

Unfortunately, his high ended up being criminally short lived. He continued listening in as the clamor next door carried on. He knew you had come, but it turned out Retsu wasn’t quite finished, the man’s labored grunts and murmurs of praise intermingling with your overstimulated cries and heavy panting.

And through it all what he could hear most clearly was your voice, heavy with lust as it reverently chanted a name.

“Retsu… Retsu… RETSU!”

Katsumi’s inevitable plummet back to earth followed your desperate call, the reality of the situation ready and waiting to bite him on the ass on his way down.

He stared up at the ceiling, disgusted by it all. His actions, the unescapable racket of your love making, the sticky feeling that coated his hand and borrowed sleepwear… the weight it posed on him was stifling. Even as the sound next door eventually gave way to silence, all he was left feeling was a hollow pit that had settled in his stomach, brought on by the unavoidable truth that your heart would never be his.

His fantasies would remain just that.

Where everything seemed too loud before, now it was all eerily quiet, the darkness and solitude of the night becoming suffocating as he remained unmoving. He pushed himself off the futon, using what little light crept in from outside to navigate his way to a desk that sat in the corner. A tissue box laid upon its surface, nestled in an elaborate, doily covered holder. Katsumi used to chuckle all the time over you choosing such a ‘grandma decoration’ to spruce up your desk, but things didn’t seem so funny now that he had yanked out a majority of its insides, dosing the tissues with water from a bottle you had stashed for him by the bed. He did his best to clean himself, holding back curses each time the flimsy material dissipated in his hands.

He had never felt like more of a loser.

In a rare turn of events, you were the first in the house to awaken.

You had never been much of an early riser, the siren song of your bed far more appealing than whatever the world had waiting to throw at you for the day. At least, that was how you used to feel, but ever since Retsu moved in you ended up having a change of heart. It turned out with a little coaxing, deliveries of breakfast in bed, and some gently placed good morning kisses, you quickly found that you no longer hated waking up, but instead quite looked forward it.

Though, try as you might to adjust your internal clock, Retsu always managed to beat you to the punch when it came to getting up in the morning. Whether it was early training or he was just ready to start his day, he’d always be the first out of bed and waste no time in getting things prepared not only for him, but you as well. The gesture was greatly appreciated, but left you feeling guilty. It was nice being pampered by the man you love, but sometimes you wanted to be the one doing the pampering.

So when you arose this morning, the sun having yet to begin its slow crawl into the blackened sky, and Retsu was still heavily asleep beside you, you knew you had to move fast. You slithered your way out of bed, tip-toeing into the hall like a cat on the prowl, praying he didn’t realize the shift in the mattress or the lack of your warmth beside him. It was lucky that he hadn’t scooped you up in his arms, snuggling you firmly against his chest in his slumber. It was an endearing habit of his, but one that would have effectively trapped you, ruining the mission.

Retsu must have been tired from all the work he put in yesterday. You figured his body needed all the extra rest it could get otherwise you didn’t think your escape would have gone so smoothly. He gave it his all at the dojo during the day and still managed to come at you with such unbridled intensity last night. It was no wonder his body would require a bit more sleep than usual.

You felt heat radiate from your cheeks as your mind wandered to last night, your body still throbbing with pleasant aches as the memory of Retsu claiming you invaded your thoughts. He was usually one to take his time in the bedroom, savoring you like you were a delicate treasure to cherish. But something came over him last night that turned him borderline bestial, the calm and sweet demeanor he usually sported turning wicked. He took you like a man possessed, his pacing, thrusts, and strokes far more potent than what he normally ravished you with.

Not that you didn’t like it, he was just aware of how overwhelming it could all be when he really let loose. Retsu was always mindful of how he handled you, and he was well versed in what your body could and could not handle. No matter the amount of reassurance you provided, he always felt bad after these rougher sessions, worried that one day he’ll go too far and cause you real damage.

You’d do your best to not limp in front of him today, or flinch if he touched a bruise or mark he had created. You could already see the hurt reflecting in his eyes over causing you any pain, causing you to frown. You hated having him feel guilty over this, especially when what he had done made you feel so satisfied.

You patted yourself on the back when you made it to the kitchen without being detected, feeling even more accomplished when you managed to get out all the cooking supplies and ingredients without causing a cacophony of noise. Humming slightly while starting to work, you took a moment to enjoy the peace of the morning. The slight sizzle of the pan and tiny chops of your knife were nice accompaniment to the birds chirping outside. It was still too early for cars to be rushing by or people to be out mingling and conversing, so at this time of day all you were surrounded by was a comforting solitude, left to your own devices to take all the time you needed to commence the day.

And though preparing a meal on random day of the week was nothing special or out of the ordinary, you always felt a sense of satisfaction over accomplishing the little things. Besides, today was more important than any other run of the mill morning. With Katsumi as your special guest you felt more energized than normal, a pep in your step as you floated through the kitchen prepping for both men’s imminent awakening.

Happiness settled in your chest as Katsumi flooded your thoughts. You were an only child, and having Katsumi in your life felt like the closest thing you would ever get to an actual sibling. Even his parents accepted you with open arms, inviting you to any and all family events, leaving a space for you at their dinner table. It warmed your heart knowing that someone outside of you own flesh and blood could care for you so much and was one of the many reasons you treasured the Orochi family. Now that you were no longer living near your own family, you held them that much closer.

Since the moment you had met Katsumi he had treated you with nothing but kindness and unending patience. It was known fact that he could be a show off, you had experienced his cocky and brusque side more times than you could count. But none of that negated the multifaceted and compassionate person he truly was. In your time as his friend you had seen all sides of Katsumi, and loved each one just the same.

The kind boy who took you under his wing when you were kids, even when to everyone else you were a lost cause, had become the man who welcomed you into his life without batting an eye, even after years had passed.Yes he was a stubborn, headstrong, individual, but he was always working so hard to better not just himself, but the people around him. A fierce warrior and a dear companion, those were all the true colors of Katsumi Orochi.

A man doesn’t earn the respect and love of a dojo of thousands by being nothing but a pig headed, show-off asshole, and you didn’t care what any naysayers had to say about him. You loved Katsumi, and were honored that he even acknowledged you, let alone cared for you.

You scoffed, shaking your head. You weren’t sure what you did in life to arrive at this point. Surrounded by the love of your life on one side, and the best friend anyone could ask for on the other… as cheesy as it sounded, you honestly felt like sometimes you had stumbled into a dream.

“It smells good in here.”

You were nearly done cooking when you heard a voice behind you. Thrown off guard by the sudden interjection, you whipped around to see Katsumi leaning against the kitchen doorway.

He stood fully clothed in the work out gear he had come over in yesterday. He must have fished it out of your dryer sometime this morning, and you tutted over not being more on the ball and making him go through the hassle. You noted that his face was reddened and slightly glossy from sweat, and mixed with the unsteady rhythm of his breathing you realized that he had just finished some manner of physical activity.

“You’re up early!” You responded blithely, cocking your head to invite him further into the kitchen.

He gave you a half smile, stepping fully into the room. The sun had finally begun to shine it’s brilliant rays, and as the light filter in it splayed across Katsumi’s face, giving you a clear view of just how worn out he appeared. Heavy, dark bags hung beneath his dull eyes, his skin looking slightly sunken and pallid in the vivid light. He tried to conceal a yawn behind his hand, his body stretching before reverting back to the slumped, sleepy state it started in.

You frowned, “You alright Katsu? You look beat.” The concern was heavy in your voice as you hovered near him. You didn’t want to seem overbearing, but at the same time couldn’t help but fret. Did the cold get to him last night and he was getting sick because of it? You knew you should have left another blanket, that guest room is far too drafty.

“I’m fine,” he assured, waving a hand your way, “Just had a hard time sleeping, is all.”

You paused at his comment, the events of late last night springing to your mind. A horrible feeling clenched your stomach at the realization that Katsumi very well may have heard you. The walls of your home were ungodly thin, and the futon he slept on was pressed right against where your bed met the wall. You TRIED to be quiet, but Retsu had been so relentless in working your body that at some moments you weren’t able to hold yourself back.

Had Katsumi become an unwilling third party to the chorus of noises Retsu and yourself had made in the heat of passion? Picturing Katsumi in bed, irritated beyond belief to be stuck in your home and subjugated to that while he struggled to sleep made you feel horribly ashamed.

Your body began to grow hot and you found it increasingly hard to keep eye contact with Katsumi. How incredibly embarrassing, to invite someone to spend the night and then keep them awake all night with the loud fucking you were partaking in with their best friend. Rude didn’t begin to cover it.

“Ah, um… Well, I’m sorry if there was uh… A noise issue…” You could barely get the words out, the hand you were using to beat eggs flicking the whisk with a little too much vigor.

He studied you a moment, a serious look flashing through his eyes before he shook his head.

“A noise issue, you guys have loud neighbors or something?”

Your body instantly eased at Katsumi’s words, spoken so earnestly you knew he was speaking them seriously.

Katsumi shrugged apathetically. ”I just have a hard time trying to get comfortable in a bed that isn’t my own sometimes. After tossing and turning all night I finally just decided to drag myself outside for a jog. I mean, mine as well do something if I can’t get shut eye, right? ”

You laughed nervously, relieved to have dodged that awkward bullet. “Oh yeah? Well that stinks, but it’s a relief to hear my rowdy neighbors weren’t the cause of this,” your expression turned thoughtful, “But you should get some more rest, you don’t have to be at the dojo until later, right? I can come bring you breakfast when it’s done.”

His eyes wavered with deep emotion, the crooked smile on his lips driving home just how exhausted he was.

“I really appreciate that, but honestly I should get out of your hair soon. The snow is a lot better now, and I have some other stuff I need to get done before I head in for the day.”

You nodded, turning your full attention back to the food you were preparing with a sigh. “I guess if you insist, but please take a seat at the table and at least try to relax for me, alright?

He did as he was told, parking himself at the small table that sat along the back wall. Time seemed to slow as he watched you carry on in silence, only the sound of simmers and clinks of kitchenware to disrupt the calm. Every few minutes you would subconsciously hum and he found the sound of it so soothing that if he listened to it long enough, he was sure it would lull him to sleep. The rising sun fell in around you, making you appear to glow. As his eyes stayed glued to your form, he was enchanted by placidity of the scene before him. As he took you in radiant was the first word that came to his mind to describe you, gorgeous following closely in suit.

When you swept the hair from your neck, the spell your visage had cast on him instantly shattered. The dark purple and blue marks littering your skin glared mockingly back at him, remnants of last night’s rendezvous. Any moment now the man who left those marks would wake up and join you. He’d meander into the kitchen, greet Katsumi with a smile, and then make his way over to you. He’d hold you from behind, lean down to gently kiss the bruises he created, sheepishly apologizing when you’d flinch at the sensation.

Katsumi wasn’t typically a jealous person, his own life and successes enough to keep those feelings at bay. But when you were involved everything was different, and he had to make peace with the fact that it would always be that way.

You broke away from cooking to pour him a cup of coffee, grinning at him affectionately as you placed the steaming mug before him. When you bent over you placed your free hand on his arm, giving a gentle rub before getting back to work. His eyes stayed trained on you as he took a sip of the freshly brewed beverage, warmth spreading through him as it hit his tongue.

You had prepared it just the way he liked.

For now, in the serenity of this early morning, he could make do with pretending that it was just the two of you here. He could be content with imagining that the two of you were a happy couple starting the day together with a home cooked meal, and would be ending the day the same way.

At least in his dreams, you could be his.

*I know next to nothing about the Chinese language and I apologize for this if you do and are like wtf this is all wrong. This allegedly means ‘sweetheart’. The thought of Retsu using him native language to call you cute pet names destroys me, hence why this was added.

** This one means darling/treasure

#baki x reader #baki the grappler #retsu kaioh x reader #katsumi orochi x reader #baki reader insert #reader insert #baki the grappler x reader #baki the grappler reader insert #reader x katsumi #reader x retsu #mothwingswritings #I really dont know why I struggled so goddamn much with this one #I love my boys and parts of the flowed out and other parts were like pulling teeth #lul #anyway i am sure it has nothing to do with the hell state of the world rn #and the fact that my free time has been consumed by ff14 #:)))#anyway thank you for reading #I hope you all enjoy!

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awkwardgtace · 2 years ago

Text

In The Crystarium

Ok here is my ff14 fanfic. There is a nonzero chance I write more of this one day I just lost myself to endwalker pretty much after I finished this. Honestly I did have more ideas for ff14 gt fanfic after this soo who knows.

Do Not Read This If You Have Not Completed Shadowbringer and intend to play the game

Taglist: @giant-tinygoodtimes

In The Crystarium

I don’t remember when I fell asleep or how, but I woke up and the big beings were gone. I was able to get to my tunnels without a problem, so much of the design in this weird tower helped me. I started off looking for home, it was exactly how I left it. Something about that felt strange, the only thing gone were my food stores. I gripped the strap of my bag and heaved a sigh.

I started looking for the beings that were always here working. It was quiet, I never liked the quiet. That was how I wound up here, following the noisy beings. I couldn’t hear a single sound. There wasn’t even the hum of technology. I went straight to the center of the tower.

I poked my head out by their weird image display. The room was mostly empty except for a new statue. It was sitting in the corner with an arm made of crystal. I made my way close to the statue. It seemed too alive, parts of it were modeled to look eerily close to skin. As I neared the feet of it I realized it was wearing clothing. It wasn’t part of the model. I grabbed a bit of the fabric in awe.

“This is softer than they usually wear,” I murmured. I reached into my bag and pulled out the only sharp tool I owned. I started to cut some free from below the visible portion. “They won’t notice this is gone.”

I finished cutting out the portions I knew wouldn’t be noticed. I had grown used to talking to myself living here. The beings were always noisy enough that I could. I stuffed the soft cloth in my bag and started towards the strange crystal hand. It looked too real, like something those beings would have made me make if they found me. I shuddered at the thought, a number of my friends had been found by them.

I touched one of the crystal fingers, it felt warm. I looked up at the face that had a hood covering it. It had a bunch of golden decorations on the hood, it was tempting to climb up and grab some. The warmth left me reluctant. I closed my eyes and leaned on the hand, it was nice. I hadn’t been near anyone else since I started living here.

I knew I shouldn’t, but I climbed onto the palm. It was warm and reminded me of people I would never see again. I closed my eyes. It was the safest I’d felt in a long time. The silence made sure I’d hear if any of those beings came into the room. My eyes felt heavier than I expected after just waking up. I started to fall asleep in the palm of the statue.

A loud noise made me wake up. I heard footsteps clacking on the floor nearby. I rushed out of the palm, shivering once away from the heat. As the door opened I made my way into the walls. A person with bunny ears ran in, I’d never seen someone like that before.

“My lord?” the bunny person asked. I ran through my tunnels to get away. It’s better not to stick around when those beings are around. “There you are.”

It was a few weeks before I made my way back to that central room. There were more strange beings that had shown up. Ones with more features of tigers than just cats. I heard a voice a few times, people calling them my lord, but never saw a single person. The strange statue was still there, a bit of a relief. I made my way to it again.

“Guess those new beings don’t care enough to move you,” I smiled. I patted the hand I was near. The weird warmth was still there. I climbed in the palm and relaxed. “Hope you don’t mind. I’m just going to rest here for a bit.”

I pressed my back against the curled up fingers. I thought I felt them tense, but I knew this was a statue. It felt nice though, like a hug. I had snuck out of the building one day, but the world was filled with a bright light I didn’t recognize. I wasn’t sure there was anyone else like me around. A few tears started to slip out. I didn’t catch them before they landed on the crystal palm. I froze when I thought I heard a gasp.

After a few hours I climbed off the palm. I didn’t hear anything similar to a giant again. It was nice to feel like someone was close to me again. I ran my hands over the fingers near me. I never got to see the fingers of giants closely and safely. It was similar to mine in so many ways, just made out of crystal. It was pretty amazing how real the parts that weren’t crystal felt.

“Hope you don’t mind if I grab some more fabric, it was really useful the last time,” I whispered. I made some new pillows out of it. I just needed some for clothes now. I hadn’t made any in a long time. I cut some free, the spots from last time were still there. I shoved more in my bag than the last time. “Thanks for all of this.”

I ran off once I was done cutting fabric. Over the next few weeks I would slip back in once people were gone to visit the statue. It was always in the same spot and pose, I knew it wasn’t alive. A part of me almost wanted it to be. I heard them talking sometimes now, about the ancient people who made this tower. The Crystal Tower they called it. It seemed like I was asleep for a long time somehow.

One night I had nightmares of those old giants. They were hunting me down, breaking through the walls. I needed to get away, to be safe. Suddenly one of those hands was around me and I woke up screaming. I ran through the tunnels, desperate for a feeling of safety. The statue was where it always was. I tripped over my own feet as I ran.

I was panting as I reached the warm crystal hand. Tears streamed down my face, the fear of being found brought too far forward. I kept thinking of the times I’d lost people. The times I was almost captured from one wrong choice. I ran to the edge of the clothes, laughing when I found the same missing sections. I fell to my knees.

“You’re just a statue, I don’t have to be scared,” I said. I climbed to my feet shakily and made my way to the palm I’d been visiting. I climbed up, curling into a ball in the shadow of the massive fingers. “I thought the giants found me. The creatures from when I was living here before. They were awful… I don’t know why I keep talking to you, you aren’t even real. They made you, I shouldn’t trust you. It’s just… Your hand is so warm it feels like you’re alive.”

I curled up as much as I could. Pressing my back against those still fingers my body shook as I breathed in and out. I started sobbing again. I hadn’t felt this scared when there was noise all the time. It was probably because I was able to pretend back then. I could act like I was safe and if I was found I knew what was in store for me. I don’t know how long I cried until I finally started to feel tired again.

“It was easier when I knew what would happen, but these giants are different. I haven’t even found that lord they keep talking about. Crystal Exarch or something,” I sobbed.

A part of me wanted the fingers to curl over me. A bit of comfort in this new place. I knew I wouldn’t ever have that. If a giant’s fingers found me I would be dead or used like the others. I let my heavy eyes close with those thoughts plaguing my mind. After some rest I wouldn’t think like this anymore. I would be able to go back to the life I usually live.

I woke up when something behind me moved. My eyes snapped open once I remembered where I had fallen asleep. All my fears were realized as those crystal fingers curled over me. I was trapped in darkness as they clinked on the palm in front of me. I started to push against them, but nothing was working. A new wave of tears burned in my eyes.

“No, no, no,” I whispered. The hand holding me began to move. It was all some trap this whole time. A statue to grab my kind and it finally triggered. I was shaking as I banged against the fingers.

“Quiet, my friend,” a voice said. I froze, it sounded familiar. It almost seemed like the Exarch person.

“My lord,” the rabbit person said. I was almost positive her name was Lyna. “I’ve asked you before to use your bed. If anyone in the Crystarium saw you like this they would worry.”

“Pray forgive me Lyna. I had been distracted watching how events were unfolding elsewhere. I will avoid the floor next time.”

The laugh and voice were too close to me. My mind blanked when the statue holding me moved again. I felt my stomach drop as I was lifted with the statue as it stood. I was begging for a malfunction before it handed me over. Instead I was moved lower, the fingers tightened slightly. I could just barely see the floor through a little bit of space in between the crystal fingers.

“Of course my lord. The guard took out a few sin eaters nearby again, but nothing to worry about yet. There were a few more arrivals from Ahm Aerang today,” Lyna said. The hand holding me loosened a bit, I almost screamed as the space increased.

“Very good, help them get settled then. I’m sure they’ll be helpful with crafters. They were miners, yes?” the lord asked. It had to be the Crystal Exarch. The statue had to stay silent until both of them left.

“Yes, I’ll make sure they check there.”

I heard the clacking of footsteps on the crystal floor. I waited for another set to follow, but they didn’t. Instead the hand holding me tightened its grip again. It moved as my stomach dropped and brought itself to a stop. I started to shake again as the palm flattened beneath me. Slowly the fingers around me uncurled until I was looking up to the hooded face I’d started to feel solace around. I couldn’t stop shaking.

“I apologize for the deception my friend, I assumed you wouldn’t like Lyna to find you. I admit I had hoped you’d stay asleep until I’d returned to my usual spot,” the statue said. The statue wasn’t a statue, it was the Exarch. The title he lived with made sense now as I sat in his warm crystal hand. I was captured and it was my own fault. So many years and I’m finally in a giant’s palm.

I knew the giant was playing with me. I wasn’t going to talk anymore, or offer anything else about myself. I had made my mistakes and this was enough. I wanted to go back to when I first saw this giant and assumed he was a statue. The crystal fingers around me curled over, but I wouldn’t give him the pleasure of my reactions. He started to move his hand again, I hated it. He brought me right up to his face.

“Pray tell me how you arrived here. I don’t believe I’ve met anyone else like you in the Crystarium,” he said.

I heard wonder in his voice and it made me shiver. Slowly I climbed to my feet, the crystal made it easy to stand. I stared up at the hooded giant’s face, I couldn’t see his eyes. I took a deep breath and dashed to the side, jumping from his hand. I wouldn’t be used like the others had been. I wouldn’t become some part of an experiment or tool. I closed my eyes as I accepted my fate.

My body froze in the air. I snapped my eyes open and stared at the ground that was so close to me. Slowly turning my head, I saw the light from the staff I hadn’t realized was on the Exarch’s back. He wasn’t just a giant, he was a mage of some kind. I struggled in the invisible hold, I had to get away. I hadn’t met mages myself, but I’d been told they were some of the most dangerous. Too studious to truly consider us equal. I had to shake away the images of their experiments.

I heard the shifting of fabric before I saw the giant move. I stared in fear as the massive being kneeled next to me. He brought the hand that wasn’t crystal below me. I saw bits of my tears hit the fingers as they approached. He froze, but it didn’t matter. I knew he could find me. The hand started to move again and wrapped his fingers around me. I didn’t bother fighting this time.

“Be at peace friend, you’re in no danger from me. Usually I wouldn’t permit someone to live within the tower walls, but I won’t force you from your home,” he murmured. I closed my eyes and curled up in a ball.

“I’m no fool. You’ll just let someone else use me. All of you giants are like that, even back when the tower hummed,” I spat the words. The normal fingers around me tensed before I was brought up to the man’s chest. I struggled for a moment before going limp again.

I listened as his footsteps clicked against the floor. I heard the sound of a door unlocking and the creak of it opening. I moved my hands to cover my eyes, I didn’t want to let him see me like this. A part of me still wanted that kindness I dreamt up when I spent my days with the statue. That hand was always so warm, maybe this was better. If he hadn’t seen anyone like me there may not be anyone left.

The door creaked as it closed. I flinched when it slammed. I felt a finger rub my back, it was probably meant to be calming. I just pulled away as best I could. There was less clicking of footsteps in this room. When he finally stopped I wasn’t sure what to expect. The hand started to move again, it was slower this time. It came to a stop and I sighed. I opened my own eyes slowly.

I watched curled fingers pull away. I was left on a flat palm in the open air. I didn’t expect that much trust again, but he could stop me. I didn’t get to try and stand, his hand tilted sliding me off. I fell onto a table that seemed to be up to his chest. He crouched so I was staring directly into the darkness of his hood.

“My friend… Perhaps I shouldn’t be calling you that. It seems I am the only one who feels that way. Were you alive during the time of Allag?” he asked. Honestly I had no idea, I shrugged my shoulders. His mouth thinned to a line and I tensed again. “Pray tell me how you arrived at the tower.”

“I…” I sighed, hiding didn’t matter anymore. “I was running, someone had almost found me. The merchant I hid with came here. It was loud with tons of people, I had the easiest time to hide… until now.”

“You were here while the tower was active?” I watched as he raised his hands up. I knew it, I was just going to become a living tool now. I looked away, but the hands passed by me. He grabbed the edges of his hood. Slowly he pulled it back until I saw ruby eyes staring at me. I remembered the ones with those eyes, the leaders that ordered for them to hunt us.

I screamed and backed away. He was going to keep me, he was going to do the worst things. The twitch of ears on his head, cat ears that the others didn’t have, didn’t help. I scrambled to my feet and tried to run. His hands surrounded me before I made much progress. I just wanted to live my life, I never should have stayed here after I woke up.

His hands covered me, but I reached in my bag for my knife. The only thing I could use to escape. I veered towards the hand with skin and slashed with all my might. He hissed just like a cat, it sent my heart racing. He didn’t move his hand though, he still blocked me. I fell to my knees all the fight leaving me. His crystal hand closed in and I waited for the pain. Instead I just felt one of those fingers on my back.

“Calm my friend, you’re safe here. I am a descendant of Allag yes, but I mean you no harm. I won’t be keeping you here. My name is G’raha Tia. I am afraid we’re both very far from home, a world away really. Come to me if there’s anything you need, but outside of this room I implore you to refer to me as Exarch. I pray you will see me as a friend one day,” he smiled.

The way he spoke sounded sad. I looked at him a bit differently. His hands were pulled away from me and I was left on my own. He stood back to his full height and started to walk away. I saw now the clicking of footsteps stopped because of a rug in the room. He stopped near the door and pulled his hood back up. He stopped with a hand on it, the crystal one holding his staff.

“Before I forget, I am the only one allowed in this room. Use it as you will,” he smiled and left.

I watched him leave. I was sitting alone, he didn’t even complain about my stealing some fabric from his clothes. I grabbed my knife and set it back in my bag before running to the edge of the table. I found a way down just as he came back in.

“My friend,” his voice was quiet. “I realized I left you rather high, can you get down on your own safely?”

I was out of sight, I knew I was. A part of me knew I should keep going. I didn’t need to do this, I didn’t need to let him know about me. I heard the door shut and poked my head around the thing hiding me. He stood in the room, I couldn’t tell if he was searching for me. I knew about those cat people, but not enough. I barely knew the names of any of the giant races.

I stepped out in the open. The hood made it hard to know if he found me. I heard a small gasp and saw a bit of shock on what I could see of his face. He switched to a soft smile and walked towards me. He left his hood up, but I couldn’t blame him. There was no reason to take it off around me. He stopped more than one of his arm’s lengths away and reached up to his hood. He pulled it off and crouched a bit.

“I suppose I hadn’t thought my leaving through all the way, shall I help you?” he asked. There was that strange sound of hope in his voice again.

“I… I can normally get down on my own, but I didn’t take more than my bag when I ran out earlier… Safest would be getting help,” I said. It wasn’t entirely a lie. I would be safer having someone help me down. His face lit up and my heart raced. I didn’t expect him to look so excited at me accepting help. He came close quickly and started to wrap his fingers around me. I closed my eyes and tensed, but the feeling of warmth around me disappeared. I opened my eyes to the crystal palm set at the edge of the table.

“I don’t suppose you enjoy being grabbed. I apologize for that. Pray climb on my palm and I’ll help you down.”

I nodded and started a stiff walk forward. I just had to think of his palm as a statue still. The red eyes, moving red ears, and red hair that ended in white were not important. I was a bit curious about his tail, they always had one with those ears. I set one foot on the palm, it was still hard like crystal and warm. I took a few steps and then stood staring up at those eyes. I nodded to signal I was ready, his face lit up again. Slowly he lowered his hand, just slow enough I could stay standing.

Almost at the ground I hopped off and bolted. He didn’t reach out for me, didn’t even call out. Once I was hidden I turned back to watch him. He continued to move slowly, standing up and pulling his hood over his head again. He walked out and the door slammed again. I knew he didn’t make it slam, all the doors here did. I made my way home and just collapsed.

I stayed hidden for a few days, but there was a commotion. Someone snuck in and there was some kind of an attack. The wall with my home suffered damage, things I’d had were lost. I was lost once I saw the aftermath. If I hadn’t gone to see where the Exarch was I would have been there. He was the only one to survey the damages. I didn’t stay to watch him wave it all away. I had seen him fix other things, my home was gone for good. I found a secluded area and started working on a new one.

I heard the clacking of footsteps back and forth while working. I had to stop each time they came through. It was getting annoying. I was almost tempted to go to that chamber the Exarch showed me. I knew I couldn’t do that, if he found out my home was gone I’d be trapped. He’d keep me trapped for my ‘safety’.

“My friend,” the Exarch called. I shivered, there was no way he knew I was here. “Are you here? Pray give me a sign.”

I set my things down and snuck down to an opening on the floor. The building was smooth in most places, but the larger beings rarely checked this low. I saw the Exarch without his hood looking around frantically. I stepped out to watch him, he looked worn out. His gaze flew past me, but he quickly realized I was there. His ruby eyes locked on me and made me shiver.

I watched the flick of his ears as he realized I wasn’t running. He stepped forward, knocking me off my feet. He frowned, but stepped closer again. He kneeled down in front of me. I hadn’t been on the ground this close to one of the giants before. It felt like he’d become my entire world. He brought his hands down to surround me. He stopped just before his fingers touched me.

“My friend, I am filled with relief to see you again,” he whispered. I started shaking, the way he looked at me felt wrong. It felt like he was relieved to find a possession. He didn’t move his hands any closer, but did hang his head. I jumped at the tears that fell from him. “I apologize, this is quite unbecoming of me. I had feared you died when I found what I assume to be your home destroyed. We had yet to truly become acquainted, but I had hoped to be able to protect you while myself and the tower remain.”

“Why…” I mumbled. I couldn’t even understand the idea behind his words. Protecting me didn’t matter. He sighed, the gust of wind reminding me of our differences.

“Pray accompany me to the Umbilicus where we can talk more freely.” I stared at his hands, the way to accompany him would be in those. I had spent so much time in the crystal one. He’d never bothered to hurt me, there wasn’t anyone I was protecting by hiding anymore.

“...I will.” His ears perked up once I answered. He set his crystal hand down beside me. I knew I was still shaking, but the fact he decided against grabbing me gave me a little hope.

“Pray, take your time. I have no trouble waiting for you to accompany me comfortably. Would you rather make your way on your own? I assume you have a way to traverse the Crystal Tower.”

“You trust I’d show up?” I knew how stupid it was to ask that question. It opened his mind to the fact I might not. The red ears on his head drooped.

“I… am aware that you have little reason to trust me. I did deceive you for quite some time. I merely hope to give you aid however I can. The things you would most likely wish to hear I unfortunately must say in a place of complete privacy. Should you choose not to return with me then I shall only hope to protect you as I am able while you remain out of sight.”

I nodded, I wished I believed him. I took a deep breath before climbing into the crystal palm. It had felt so comforting, now it was foreboding. I just wanted to survive this. Nothing was how I knew it to be. There were races that didn’t make sense and words I’d never heard. At least this would be normal, a giant keeping me captive because I made a mistake.

I sat on the palm just waiting for it to move. Slowly I curled up into a ball. The crystal fingers I once wished would cover me slowly did just that. I thought he mumbled something, but I didn’t care. One day I’d come to accept all of this. My life how this giant would make it. Some of them sounded nice, maybe it would just be that I'm a pet. I heard from others that it was a better option out of the ones available. Especially with mages.

“Don’t cry my friend, I promise you will remain free as long as I am in this tower,” he whispered. I listened to the footsteps clacking on the floor. I wished I could believe him. I heard another one running somewhere nearby. I started to shake, it had probably been a trick that he was searching alone.

“My lord, this is where you’ve been,” Lyna said. I panicked as the crystal hand moved. This is where the lies fell apart. “Did you find something concerning the attacker? I can alert the guard.”

“Do not worry Lyna. I didn’t find anything worth worrying over. Merely a piece of the tower I must take care of. Was there something you needed?” I heard her sigh, stiffening at the suspicion in her voice.

“I know better than to question your secrets. I had come to report no one had seen the intruder around the Crystarium. It was as if they appeared from thin air.”

“I see. Thank you for the report Lyna. I will continue looking into this. Please ensure everyone that I’m fine as is the tower. There is nothing to fret over.”

“Understood, my lord.”

The footsteps ran off before the hand moved again. The crystal fingers continued to hold me firmly. When the hand stopped I wasn’t sure what to expect. Tilting and holding me against soft fabric certainly wasn’t it. The warmth below the fabric mixed with the warmth of the hand felt nice. I almost wanted to accept this, if I’d get this nice feeling. At least he kept me hidden.

I didn’t know how long I was left in his hold. It felt like hours, but I wasn’t particularly bothered. Now and then he’d stop and I felt something strange come over me. I heard giants talking when he did this, but they didn’t stop to speak with him. When I heard a door open I was a little upset, the daydream that I was safe was about to end. The doors closed, but nothing else changed.

“My friend, are you awake?” Exarch asked. I fidgeted, the idea of falling asleep in this hand while I knew it was alive sounded insane. I felt him chuckle around me. “I fear I had hoped for too much then. I believe we have much to discuss, if you would do me the honor of trusting me.”

“I’m here,” I murmured.

Exarch made a noise of agreement. His hand was pulled from against the soft cloth at his chest. I was kept wrapped in crystal fingers, unable to see the world around me. I resigned myself to the cage I’d be dropped in. Slowly the hand lowered until my feet reached a solid surface. The fingers around me uncurled letting me see my surroundings. The giant hand was pulled away, but I couldn’t stop from looking around.

“This isn’t a cage,” I said. The exarch made a shocked noise that drew my attention to him. He had his hands up to pull down his hood, but the part of his face I could see looked pained.

“My small friend, I would never trap you. Had I known that was a fear of yours I would have tried to assuage that the best I am able,” he said. I looked up at him, he slowly pulled his hood off. I couldn’t remember the last time someone looked at me like that.

“What did you want me here for?” I couldn’t just trust him blindly, even with eyes that seemed to see me like an equal. He looked older than I first thought as he settled into a chair in front of me. He pulled some things from somewhere I hadn’t noticed, food that he was sharing with me.

“I wanted to tell you how we’ve come to this world. One far from home for both of us, and the tragedy that befell our world.”

I sat down, grabbing a bit of food and motioned for him to talk. He went into a long story about wars and death. His role to try and save the world we came from. He called our world the source and the one we were in the first. He told me about the flood, a horrible event of destruction. He told me about black rose and the disarray of the world. It was horrifying.

“I am here to prevent that. I can not guarantee you will stay here once I have changed the past. I do know I have no intent to leave the tower behind. Would you allow me to aid you in finding a new home?” he finished. I just sat there and tried to take it all in. Our world was a mess, we were in the past, and good chance I’d disappear once we saved this place. He didn’t push me, just let me think.

“Can I help?” I asked. The giant face above me went from shock to awe to excitement. The glimmer in the ruby eyes made me blush.

“I would welcome any aid you would provide. It has been admittedly lonely on this journey. You are the only one who I have been able to reveal my goals to since I arrived.” I stood up and held out a hand, his ears twitched before a giant hand came forward. He pinched my hand between two fingers and moved it up and down. I smiled at him, maybe this giant wasn’t so bad.

I spent the next few years helping him. I would make my way into parts of the tower that seemed locked, finding secret ways to open it. I learned I had some skill with magicks as well. It seemed the tower knew me, my kind at least. It was amazing to experience not having to hide. He continued to protect me, never once mentioning my existence to the other giants. He told me the names of each kind too, although he said they were different in the first.

It wasn’t long before the Exarch said it was time to summon the hero. It was what we’d been preparing for, finding all the solutions possible. I wasn’t quite ready to lose my freedom here, but I had agreed to this. I started to remove my things from the Umbilicus, most of my things stayed there while we worked on preparing for the warrior of light. The Exarch had been busy recently, I would miss the time we spent together. I didn’t want to bother him as I returned to the walls. It was best to stay hidden when more people would start wandering the tower.

I was in the middle of moving my things from a shelf the Exarch had cleared out for me when the doors opened. I dove behind some books stacked on the desk. I heard a sigh that I had grown used to, the Exarch was back. I nodded to myself as I started back out in the open. He was probably just checking a book, one to make sure he grabs the hero from the right time.

“Oh no…” he whispered. I tensed, that couldn’t be good. I felt his steps through the desk as he rushed over to me. I had almost forgotten the way he could feel to me when he didn’t care. I heard the crash of things, the proximity meant it was my things. I covered my mouth to hide a yelp when the heavy things were moved with ease. “My friend, pray reveal yourself. Were you hurt? Did something happen?”

I didn’t move, I was terrified to see what he’d do if he found me. He sounded almost angry. It was years where I proved how useful I was here. He could easily have decided to keep me now. I jumped as a new tremor came through the desk. I snuck forward, looking out from my hiding place. If he wanted to find me he could look.

“I suppose I deserve this, I’ve been too distracted. I pray you have gone to safety my friend, I’d hoped to see this through with you,” he mumbled. I watched as a single tear fell from him. I felt foolish, rushing out to see the Exarch as he turned away. His hood had fallen off as he moved, his ears were pressed against his head.

“I was moving my things!” I called out. His ears perked up before he turned. The glimmer in his eyes gave me that feeling of being seen again. He was in front of me, crouching so I was even with his eyes. I almost felt guilty for hiding. “I… I thought it best I had my things gone before you summoned the hero. So you wouldn’t have to keep them from this room.”

His hands came around me, a silent question. I nodded and they surrounded me until I fell into his palm. He always kept me in his crystal palm. He stared at me in a way I almost wanted to run from. He brought me close to his face, pressing his nose into me. The ruby eyes went cross to stare at me. I laughed, the strange face managed to make me laugh each time.

“My friend, I had hoped we could see this through. We have wandered the Crystarium together, the summoning should be no different. The warrior of light will not be entering here unless I have failed in my duties. At that point I hope you would aid them where I failed.” He pulled me away to smile down at me.

“How could I help one of you giants? Besides, trusting you is hard enough.”

“Then at least trust me my friend. This is your home, as long as I’m alive you shall be free. Your home here in the Umbilicus or the walls shall remain your own. You shall be free.”

“How long until you summon them…”

“A few days.”

“We’ll see once you’re prepared to start then…”

He nodded, it was a solemn movement. Over the next few days I went back and forth a lot still. I stayed out of sight, focusing on my own work. I would leave my mark if this went south. I fixed all my tunnels that had gone out of use. I worked on leaving warnings and notes for others of my kind. If I truly joined him in this, I would have no choice. I wouldn’t be returning to a quiet life and I wouldn’t be able to remove the tower like he planned.

It was finally time, he’d been staring at that weird portal for hours. I slipped out of the walls and started towards him. I haven’t been on the ground near him since that day he told me of the past I didn’t know. The Exarch sighed and started to turn. I expected to stay undetected. He saw me, he always seemed to be looking for me. Without a pause he crouched offering a hand to me. I ran up climbing on it, it was the crystal palm like always.

He curled those fingers up around me. The motion was always stiff on this palm. One day I’d see what his other hand felt like, but I wasn’t ready for that. Even after years with him. He held me up to his face, a smile played on his lips. One of hope. I saw the question he wanted to ask. I held up a hand to stop him. I stood on the palm and pointed towards his shoulder. The smile grew.

He moved his hand to his shoulder. I jumped off and climbed under the hood. He’d let me add a spot to hide in a long time ago. I climbed in, making sure I could still see out. I could feel him relax with me there. I was happy he felt calm with me.

“Are you ready my friend?” he asked. I ran down my mental checklist. I’d done everything, there was no one waiting for me other than Exarch. I was happy to be here, to be part of something important.

“As I’ll ever be,” I answered.

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