#he just calls her beautiful now; something far more shallow | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

strong-with-the-sarcasm · 5 months

Text

Part 13- goddamn when you're young

"My heart plays the songs of my lost years. My scars are a church for my old fears. My body's a wreck, but I don't care, I swear. So say a prayer, gotta lift me up, goddamn when you're young in America." -Young In America by Barns Courtney

Masterlist Part 12

Jazz felt the shockwave of the bomb seconds before the sound reached them. Concussive, lethal, far too close as Jazz pushed Jason to the ground, trying to shield him with her body. It was instinct to protect her loved ones, her body was near indestructible after all.

Chunks of wall and metal rained down on them, striking Jazz in the back but not forcing her down just yet, making sure to keep Jason tucked as far under her as possible and cradling his head. The debris hurt but ultimately couldn’t harm her, but they were stuck under until it was safe to move.

“Jason?” Jazz murmured, hearing still sensitive from the shockwave. He was still under her, shallow breaths against her sternum proof he was alive, but Jazz needed to hear his voice.

“Jason, talk to me.” She tried again, this time shuffling a bit to get some debris off her spine that was uncomfortable.

She felt him speak against her, “Jazz.” His speech was slurred so her name came out more like ‘ass’, funny it would be in any other moment, but not now that she felt like one for not being able to protect her boyfriend from what killed him previously. He wasn’t alone this time, Jazz was here and she wasn’t going to let go until she absolutely had to.

“It’s ok, Jay, I got you.” She promised, “We have to move.” Time was running out, just like her faith in this shitty apartment to hold itself together after such a blast. She had to get them both out of here, but-

Her train of thought was interrupted by something warm on her thigh. Jazz didn’t need to guess what it was from the smell alone.

Blood.

It wasn’t hers, no it had the tinge of corrupted ecto to it and held Jason’s scent just on the surface.

Fuck, he’d been hurt.

Jazz cursed out loud and shifted again, forcing debris away from the two of them so she could summon her sword. It was dangerous to rip open a portal from below, but she had no other choice. Thankfully, she was skilled enough to create a directional difference on the other side, so no debris would fall on them and they themselves wouldn’t have to plummet from above.

Channeling her energy towards her hand, Jazz released her hold on Jason’s head as she felt the cool metal of her sword handle settle into her palm, vibrating slightly from being called forth.

Envisioning the Far Frozen, her sword vibrated more strongly in acceptance before she imagined where she wanted the portal and with far more effort that she should have expended, Jazz thrusted her sword into the floor beneath them.

Her beautiful sword, her Faithkeeper, hummed as the fabric of reality was torn asunder and allowed for the Infinite Realms to bleed through, Jazz held her breath as Jason’s muffled scream echoed in her chest as they sunk through her portal to be embraced by winter frost.

It wasn’t easy to let Jason be taken from her grasp, even if it was Frostbite himself who cradled her lover to his soft fur. The Yeti had come bounding across the snow to her side, ready to fight an army but only to be greeted by Jazz’s teary face as she cradled the love of her life to her chest.

Frostbite didn’t say anything as he brought them both back to the tribe.

Jazz refused to leave Jason’s side even as he was stitched up, gently carding a shaking hand through his dark hair, wanting nothing more than to wrap him up in a blanket and hide him from the world. He had been hurt in her apartment, on her watch, in her haunt. It was unacceptable.

Danny would no doubt be investigating the explosion that had occurred in his haunt, even if Jazz’s tear in reality hadn’t alerted him to the fact that something was very wrong. She hadn’t tasted any corrupted ectoplasm in the air, which the GIW unknowingly used in their weapons post-Fenton death and lack of access to the Realms, but still didn’t eliminate them as suspects.

The question was- Why? If Jazz could answer that then she’d eventually find the culprit and properly deal with them.

(Eviscerate them.)

But not right now, Jason was more important than murder getting on the trail of whoever was idiotic enough to hurt the man she loved.

By the time Jason woke up, Jazz had zero doubts she would have to come clean about everything spooky going on.

His blue eyes were narrowed In contemplation as he digested her words, her explanation of where they were, what happened, why they were there and so on.

He didn’t seem angry, which she took as a good sign.

“So I’m a Revenant.” The word sounded wrong in the air between them, bitter with the memory of death, his death.

“You were, but now-“

He cut her off, “I’m a Liminal.”

Jazz nodded, softly rubbing her thumb over his hand she held in her own, comforted by the rhythm of his pulse against her fingers.

“And you’re like me?” It was a question, one of hope that Jason wasn’t alone, that someone would understand.

“Yes, I’m a liminal too.” They had time to get into the finer details of their respective liminality, Proto-Cores and all. For right now, the basics were enough.

Jason fixed his gaze back on her, searching her features for something, something he clearly found much to her bewilderment, “You’re Regent.”

It was spoken with awe and sadness. Jason knew what she had done to the Fentons, to her proginators, but he still wasn’t angry.

She didn’t answer him with words, only lifting his hand to her lips to leave a kiss on his palm. Many things would need to be discussed later, but for now they had this moment to rest.

Frostbite allowed them to stay in the healing tent for a day cycle, content with Jason’s vitals and ecto-levels left the room, but not before sparing Jazz a knowing look as she held fast to her boyfriend. Yes, the old Yeti knew the answers to several questions of hers and it only served to further tie the two liminals together.

Jason, for his part, was calm and resting peacefully despite how his temperature began to fluctuate every so often, not as bad as when he’d first been brought to the Realms though. Further proof that he was settling in well as a Proto-core liminal, but Jasmine still worried every time a shiver ran through him. She didn’t want to invade his space without his consent, especially now that it wasn’t life threatening enough that she had to use her own Proto-core heat, but she still wanted nothing more than to curl into his chest and block out the world.

“Jazz….” Jason mumbled, drawing the Regent back to her love. He was somewhat conscious again, but still ready to be dragged back under.

“Yeah, Jay?” Jasmine responded, hand squeezing his own lightly where she had yet to let go.

Her love didn’t answer, lifting up his opposite arm from the one she held captive and Jazz took the initiative embarrassingly quick to climb over and settle against his side in a familiar fashion as they would on her bed.

(Jazz loved the smell of him on her sheets.)

(Gunpowder, petrichor and something uniquely Jason.)

“‘M sorry, Jay.” The red head mumbled, head resting against his chest right above the steady beat of his heart. There were many things she had to apologize for in this lifetime (and never would), but for Jason she felt they were necessary. He’d been nothing but good to her, watching over her as she walked home late at night, softly reading to her by lamplight, cooking her favorite food… he was her perfect match.

Her soulmate.

Despite how bad she wanted to mock the overused cliche, Jazz could not dispute its validity at any angle other than sheer audacity of it happening to her of all people.

(The one lost in the dark.)

Perhaps it was meant to be, she mused, with her proclivity towards the darkness of mind and soul that her other half would possess a proto-core of shadows. The same ones that hid him, aided him and now gave him life in a completely ironic sense.

(Not dead.)

(One foot in the grave.)

(Cat in a box.)

(What are we today?)

“No.” Jason rumbled underneath her ear in the same baritone she loved to hear. He didn’t say anything more, so Jazz left him to fall back asleep. They would talk more later anyways.

For now, Jazz was left to her thoughts.

Danny’d been about to take a sip of his milkshake when the ripple of sheer terror came over him, body and core. One that he’d only felt when Amity was pulled into the Realms, when his people were hurt and terrified.

Jazz.

He didn’t even bother to say goodbye to Signal, the Sunshine child startled by Danny’s sudden departure- no he literally started sprinting in the direction of his haunt, where Jazz should be, not even dropping his milkshake as he ran. The meta was probably going to follow him but he wasn’t all that concerned, hell he’d take Sunshine over Stabby any day… but Jazz!

Jazz was in trouble!

The ripple was her effect on his core, a side effect of a portal being opened within the bounds of his haunt. Usually he didn’t really pay attention to it, other than a passing thought that she was back home safe, but terror at the same time? No. Jazz was in trouble and he needed to be there now.

(And he fucking forgot he could fly. )

Tossing his milkshake over his shoulder to where the meta was almost about to grab him by the arm, Danny ducked out of sight and transformed into his ghostly alter, rings of light barely making a complete pass before he was off in the air.

He left a very baffled daylight hero, covered in boo-berry delight, watching him go.

Duke, not for the first time, had the thought of- Add that to the list of ‘must never let B find out’.

Prime adoption bait Danny Nightingale was prime bat bait because he was a vigilante already.

He’d seen the strange shadow shapes around the teenager ever since they’d first met on a random Gotham rooftop, with Danny lounging on a lawn chair with coffee and a look that screamed he wished for the sweet release of death, but he’d put it down to ‘meta-in-hiding’ and closed the case.

(Not before getting the background on the kid thanks to Oracle.)

It wasn’t the first time his ghost sight had outed a meta and Duke was positive it wouldn’t be the last, but Danny had been the first to have an overlay rather than an aura. Others, metas included, had silhouettes of themselves of colors associated with them as a being. Batman was charcoal grey, Jason was red, Tim was brown and Duke was yellow. Rarely had he’d seen an overlay of something else, something other and familiar to the hero.

Standing over Danny’s shoulder, ever still and watchful with its green, green gaze fixed unflinching forwards was a King.

(A Phantom King.)

Skin tinted light blue as if suffering hypothermia, stark white hair braided across one shoulder with several glass beads tied into the strands that clinked with every shift Danny made in an echo of wind chimes, sharp features set in a neutral expression as if frozen in place. Snowflakes dusted the light blue collar of a black cloak fastened at the collarbone with a shard of ice entrapping a green flame and galaxies lazily floating across the span of the cloak, though with every movement it parted to reveal a white shirt tucked haphazardly into black jeans.

The being wore a crown of green ice on its head that reflected the sunlight.

Duke felt in his bones that should he dare try anything against Danny that he would come face to face with the otherworldly being.

(Why did the being look like a victim of hypothermia?)

(Why was it attached to Danny?)

(And why did he just see a variation of it fly away?)

It wasn’t until Duke was about to fall asleep some hours later that the realization struck him about what he’d seen standing behind Danny.

He’d seen the future Phantom.

Phantom frosted over the smoldering embers of what had been his sister’s apartment building, the remnants clinging to a broken frame like a shambling corpse. He’d not been able to hear anyone in need, most importantly he couldn’t hear Jazz though. Her apartment was on the top floor with roof access, but it was empty of life forms much to his relief. Jazz had probably gotten out using a portal.

Phantom lingered for a few moments in the debris of his sister’s home, carefully sorting through for anything salvageable that couldn’t wait. Most of the shelves were furthest from the blast zone so Jazz’s books were going to be fine, though singed and ash coated alongside the contents of her closet, which included a hidden safe Phantom phased a hand through.

His hand touched something glass, thrumming with power underneath his fingers and familiar.

(Pure ecto.)

(What Jazz needs to remain alive.)

Phantom hurriedly retrieved the vials, shoving them into his chest for safekeeping before moving on towards where he suspects the bomb was placed.

It was odd.

He’d been expecting corroded remains of a cannablized Fenton explosive, the ones he’d been familiar with down in the lab, but this was plainly human for even a goopy ghouly ghosty like him to see.

Not a trace of corrupted ectoplasm either, a sure sign of GIW presence due to the nature of their technology. The GIW wouldn’t plant something like this for the hell of it right? It’s not ‘anti-ghost’ in the slightest!

Who else would target Jazz, the most ecto-contaminated being on Earth?

(Unless she wasn’t the target.)

Definitely human oriented explosive, timed and locked firmly into place with what looks to be a steel plate bolted into the floorboards, clearly meant to be left unattended for a long period of time. Delayed detonation.

(Explosives were never his strong suit.)

(But he’d learnt at the knee of Jack Fenton.)

(And so he knew many things he wished he didn’t.)

(What his beating heart looks like.)

(“-molecule by molecule!”)

This wasn’t meant for a liminal being, but for humans.

Either someone targeted Jazz without that bit of extra knowledge or she wasn’t the target.

(Sure looked like it though.)

(Right in the middle of the empty apartment next door.)

“I’m telling you, his tracker stopped working right there!”

Tim didn’t like going outside most days. The sun hurt his eyes and he hated being swarmed by people.

(Ugh, people.)

Yet, here he was, in the outernet with only sunglasses and a ball cap to ward off pesky reporters on his way to the last location of his most murderous sibling at the edge of said sibling’s territory.

(Tim hated Crime Alley with a vengeance.)

The Ridge wasn’t where he’d ever expect to find Jason, the older man preferring to remain in the Alley if he wasn’t wandering Gotham proper. The Ridge was neglected and crime ridden up to a few months previously, the vigilantes Phantom and Regent claimed the territory as their own to protect. It was kind of awe-inspiring to study the real-time data plummet with their presence, though the big Bat himself wasn’t pleased with openly active ‘Metas’ in his city despite their obvious positive influence.

Phantom was once a vigilante from Amity Park, Illinois, the town that claimed itself to be the most haunted place on Earth. It’s population was halved on its opinion of the ghost, almost split perfectly between generations on whether or not the teenager was a hero or the one controlling the attacking ghosts. With what Tim knew now thanks to the Ghost Files, he was of the firm belief that the vigilante was only defending his haunt from both ghost hunters and ghosts. Major Justice League level threats had been handled by Phantom almost single-handedly, though Batman had been livid to discover that someone had classified the distress calls from the small town as pranks.

(He’d listened to every single one.)

(There was nothing about them that screamed prank.)

(And no, they still hadn’t found who had committed such a fuck up.)

It was fortunate that Phantom was a Protector spirit with all the powers available to him, not to mention the grit and resilience he displayed in every major fight he threw himself into. Mad respect to the ghost boy, couldn’t have been easy.

(Though Tim could never unsee the death and rebirth of that same hero.)

(The scream echoes in his ears when he thinks too hard about it.)

Unfortunately for him, his thoughts screeched to a halt when he found the location he’d been sent to.

A burnt shell of an apartment building held together by Phantom’s ice, firefighters carefully searching for anyone left trapped inside, civilians loitering around like ants at a picnic. No one spared him more than a passing glance, but Tim still noted the weary gazes and tried to get information. No one could say anything more than an explosion happened, with Phantom following close behind to form Ice on the building in an effort to keep it intact, before the ghost kid entered himself and Phantom had yet to leave.

Jason was in the building when the explosion happened, but without a time to match the tracker read out to they wouldn’t know if he’d been killed in the blast, tracker affected by the shockwave or pinned down by debris.

“Hey babs, did Jason have a safe house here?” Tim asked, soft spoken into his phone so as to not be overheard.

Barbara didn’t answer, but Tim had a feeling he wasn’t going to like whatever she said next.

“…in a way?”

“You just answered a question with a question.” He accused, a bit of shock coloring his words. Barbara definitely knew something she wasn’t sharing.

“Jason might have… a girlfriend…”

“What.”

It came pouring out, “Its so cute, they’re so cute. He just adores her and she’s so sweet to him, I’ve never seen him smile so much and he’s so calm-“

“Woah, woah, slow down, Jason has a girlfriend?” If it wasn’t so concerning from his angle, the explosion wracked building in front of him, he would be cackling at the juicy blackmail as only a younger sibling can.

“Mhm, Jasmine Nightingale, twenty years old and applicant for Gotham University currently pending. Younger brother is Danny Nightingale who often talks to Signal whenever Duke crosses his path, obsessed with Space and science, currently attending Gotham Academy. Jasmine has a trust fund allowance from the estate of her presumed dead godfather, but that’s the only thing that stands out.”

(Jasmine and Jason.)

(Tim felt happy for his older brother despite their history.)

“This is her apartment, isn’t it.”

Tim didn’t need Barbara to answer that either, the silence spoke for itself.

“Well, shit.”

A/N: 3k words for you! @meditating-cat had suggested making the last section more dramatic, but I want to save that for the next part where I want Bruce to react. And now Jason finally knows the truth! I can't wait to write more about him as Hood with Regent out in Gotham.

Yes, beta read by @meditating-cat who also gave me some song suggestions. If you have any of your own please don't hesitate to message me! I love music and often use it for inspiration in my works.

In fact the very last part of this series was written first as a draft before I even made Regent!Jazz or Vigilante!Jazz, because of a Katy Perry song.

It has always been a Hardcover pairing though.

Thanks for reading!

#dp x dc #dp x dc au #dpxdc #jazz fenton #dc x dp crossover #regent!jazz #jason todd #anger management ship #hardcover ship #jazz x jason #Tim: He has a girlfriend?#Barbara: THEY ARE SO CUTE TOGETHER #Of course Oracle knows about Jazz #But Jason made her swear not to tell anyone until he was ready for Jazz to meet the Batfam #but now Jason is in the know about Jazz and Danny!#Yes beta read we live like Jason Todd!#Jazz is gonna have the Batgirls give her a shovel talk #Danny loves his milkshakes #I couldn't resist the pun

161 notes · View notes

agustdiv1ne · 10 months

Note

hii congrats on 3k you deserve it!!! i love your works so much you're one of my favorite writers here <3 can i request for the event yeonjun + howl's moving castle + fluff and smut ? love you <3

NOW SHOWING...

pairing: choi yeonjun x fem!reader

genre: fantasy, fluff, smսt

wc: 3.2k

details + warnings: minors + blank/ageless blogs dni or you will be blocked, yeonjun as howl (take these two pics for reference,, phew), mc as sophie (but no defining physical features are described besides silver hair), this takes place after the events of the movie aka flying castle era, light dom/sub dynamics, vv soft sex, oral (f receiving), they are so in love it's sickening honestly

notes: starting this event off strong with one of my ults paired with one of my favorite movies...*visibly quaking* and ilyt nonnie <3 you're the sweetest

humming to yourself, you amble down the cobblestone path of a town far from the one that you once considered home. your dress brushes against your legs as you continue forward, the soft fabric rustled by a cool, gentle breeze characteristic of spring. above, clouds drift about the cerulean sky, the sun's rays gentle and warm where they kiss your skin. you soon spot the door that you had first emerged from when you had set out to complete a handful of errands earlier in the afternoon.

your focus on the door falters at the mouth watering scent wafting from a nearby stall, something saccharine and warm. perhaps one more stop is in order, you find yourself thinking as you part from your original path. your feet lead you over to the older woman overseeing the small stand surrounded by other passersby nibbling at the sweets she sells. the crow's feet around her eyes appear when she smiles at you, her chin-length hair a similar silver hue to your own.

“hello, my dear,” she greets, her voice soft and worn with time. as she continues, her hands work in tandem to package some of the treats that had lured you over. “how may i help you?”

you offer her a polite smile while you request four of the small, half-moon pastries filled with molasses-rich sugar and chopped nuts. steam rises from the ones that have just finished cooking, ready to be packaged for awaiting customers. she nods at you, smiling, as she quickly wraps up and hands the fresh ones off to a woman and her two young children to your left. the youngest hums in delight once he takes a bite, and the three of them head off down the road.

“your hair is quite beautiful, dear,” she says, the twinkle in her eyes signifying the truthfulness of her words as you place the correct amount of coins into her awaiting palm. “i’ve never seen someone so young with such a shade. it suits you well.”

“oh, thank you! that is very kind of you to say,” you reply, your soft voice imbued with surprise. while most do not comment, you have witnessed firsthand the gawking and stares of judgement that your hair has garnered in your travels. the hue is a reminder of the curse you once endured, but the fond memories it brings forth far outweigh any negative reactions you have received thus far. warmth fills your chest at the compliment.

she wraps and hands you your own pastries seconds later. bowing your head slightly, you voice your gratitude before you realize she has given you one extra. you attempt to hand one back to her, the others tucked into the basket hanging off of your arm. “ma’am, i believe you may have given me one too many—”

“nonsense,” she winks, pushing your hand back towards you. “consider it a gift.”

guilt swirling in your stomach, you try to hand her another coin. however, she refuses, shooing you away from her stand with well-wishes of safe travels. with a final shallow bow and kind words in return, you depart from the stall, your steps light and springy.

embarrassingly giddy after the sweet interaction, you scurry down the street much quicker now, eager to return home. home — it is what you used to call your family's hat shop, but now...now, home is what you call yeonjun, his youthful apprentice, kai, calicfer, heen, even the witch of the waste. they are your home, and nothing could ever exceed the joy that that truth brings you.

you remove one of the pastries from your basket, unwrapping it to take a bite, eyes widening at the sweet, syrupy taste that coats your tongue. delicious is the sole word that comes to mind. the warm delicacy only serves to heighten your mood, and it is long gone before you even reach your destination. you are tempted to reach for another, but decide against it. a hand wraps around the knob and twists, and suddenly, you are no longer in the town, but soaring high above in yeonjun's — and now, too, your own — flying castle.

“i’m home!” you call as you enter, using the heel of your boot to swing the wooden door closed behind you. though he is no longer confined to the hearth, calcifer sits there anyway; it has become habit after his years bound to yeonjun.

“oh, look who’s decided to come back!” he exclaims, flames growing brighter at the sight of you. “yeonjun’s been sulkin’ in his room since ya left — i’ve been dyin’ of boredom out here!”

you breathe a laugh at calcifer’s dramatics, looking for the young boy who is usually around when you return. “where is kai?”

“out. more magical apprentice-y tasks to do, i guess,” he replies, inspecting you as you set the basket down with pursed lips. “why the long face?”

“i got him a sweet from a stall, and it’s still hot,” you hum, beginning to place the produce and other items that you purchased onto the table. “i suppose you will have to warm it up for him later.”

“do i look like some kinda servant?” he asks, indignant. he continues to ramble about his now free status and how he doesn’t need to listen to you while you continue to remove items from your basket, placing the four remaining pastries to the side.

huffing, you finally wave the firewood you had bought for him. “how about now?”

calcifer gasps at the sight, his small arms appearing to beckon you over. he scoffs, “alright, c’mon, i’ll do it. should’ve just said you had that first.”

you swiftly gather a decent amount of wood in your arms and head over to him, handing him one after another to greedily chomp down. with each one, he grows a bit larger, brighter, his glowing yellow center expanding.

“at this rate, i’ll start likin’ ya better than yeonjun,” the fire demon claims through a mouthful of lumber, snatching another piece from the now dwindling pile that you hold.

“you already do, just admit it,” you quip, grinning down at him.

“admit what?” an inimitably deeper voice asks. head whipping around, you find yeonjun leaning against the doorway, lips quirked up in a smirk with his arms folded across his broad chest. a loose, white blouse envelopes his torso and is tucked into primly tailored trousers.

“oh, nothing for you to fret over,” you tease, well aware that he likely heard the vast majority of the conversation. he tuts, striding over to wrap his arms around your waist from behind, his chin coming to rest upon your shoulder as you present calcifer with the final piece of wood from your makeshift heap. the ends of his hair tickle your skin. he hums something low and quiet, pressing his soft, plump lips against your neck. calcifer, in turn, emits a nauseated heave.

“if ya gonna act all lovey dovey around me, i’ll just leave,” the ball of flame huffs, beginning to float in the air.

yeonjun chuckles, his arms pulling you tighter against him. “no need. i was meaning to steal this one away from you, anyway.”

“oh, great! just wonderful!” he sneers, sinking back down to the stone hearth and glowering at the man who leads you back towards the doorway. “spare my ears while ya at it!”

once you are alone, yeonjun wastes no time in pressing you against his silken bedsheets. he balances himself above you with a single forearm, his hips tucked between your parted thighs and hiked up dress. his lips waste no time in enveloping your own. slow, languid — he takes great care in savoring you, ensuring that you are as close as possible with his free hand cupping your cheek. his cheeky tongue slips into your mouth to curl against yours, causing you to exhale a muffled whine.

before you are able to slide your hands up his shoulders and around the back of his neck, he pulls away. staring up at him, you find chestnut eyes brimming with adoration. the sight of his disheveled hair and shiny, kiss-bruised lips sends flurries of butterflies through your stomach.

"“you taste so sweet, love,” he murmurs as he brushes his thumb against your cheekbone. his words dissipate the heady fog creeping into your mind, and you reach up to grab his hand.

“the pastries!” you exclaim with wide eyes. attempting to sit up, you gently push him back onto his knees. you catch the furrow of his brow, the pout forming on his lips, and you move to explain. “i purchased pastries for us to try while i was out — the stall owner even gave me one more for free! isn’t that delightful?”

yeonjun blinks. hard. how you are whining into his mouth one moment and growing distracted by sweets the next is quite beyond him, but it nonetheless causes an endeared smile to pull at the corners of his lips.

“you should try it while they’re still hot! i’ll go fetch one for you,” you continue, mistakenly taking his grin for excitement. swinging your legs over the edge of the bed, you stand and begin to scurry over to his bedroom door, him rising from the bed going unnoticed.

despite your newfound goal, your lover does not allow you to stray too far, catching you by the waist and pulling you back against him. his fingers weave together against your stomach, locking you in his embrace, unable to wriggle away.

“don’t leave me,” he pleads, and though you are unable to see it from your position, his tone betrays the pout that he sports. “i feel as if we haven’t seen each other in ages.”

“i’ve only been away for a few hours. you have survived much longer,” you giggle, reaching up to run your fingers through his onyx hair while he kisses up your neck, nipping the skin where you are most sensitive. you allow a quiet moan to escape, a shuddered breath following soon after when he does not halt his ministrations. attempting to pry his hands off, you say, “i’ll be just a minute, if you would let me go.”

whining in protest with his nose nuzzled against your jaw, his grip grows ironclad, the space between your bodies diminishing — and that is when you feel it: the hardness that presses snugly against your rear. heat floods your cheeks at the realization, and your struggle to escape comes to an abrupt end. “love, the pastry—”

“i’ll try it later. i’d much rather taste you at the moment,” he interrupts, voice low and breathy against your ear. the sheer desperation in his voice causes heat to pulse in your center.

he pulls you back to bed with ease, aiding you in your descent to the sheets. his hands bunching the skirt of your dress up reveals your stocking-clad legs, the fabric squeezing the meat of your thighs in a way that causes him to gulp. he slips his body between your legs, a position reminiscent of mere minutes ago, taking his time in running his hands up and down sensitive skin of your inner thighs, traveling dangerously close to your covered center. goosebumps raise beneath his fingers as a shiver slinks down your spine.

while his actions are drenched in admiration mixed with a soft sense of desire, it is too much for you to bear. overwhelmed with bashfulness, you hide your face in your hands. above you, your lover tuts, as if dissapointed with your choice. prying your hands away, he gathers your wrists and presses them into the bed above your head.

“keep your hands there,” he orders, eyes half-lidded and glazed over with need. “or else i will stop.”

your heart skips a beat in your chest at his order, but you nod nevertheless. he simpers at your obedience.

“that’s my girl.”

and suddenly the desire to melt into a puddle washes over you. the words bring you back to the first day that you had encountered him; when he had saved you from two sleazy soldiers, flew you over the town square and helped you to a balcony before disappearing. that day, you had no inkling of just how drastically your life would change. how fate has landed you here, below that very man, in love with him...you have expressed your gratitude to whatever it is above countless times.

truly, you never thought of yourself to be one for praise, but your time with yeonjun thus far has unlocked a myriad of preferences you had never given a second thought to before. as the words echo in your head, you bite your lip to muffle a tiny whine.

chuckling, he lowers himself onto his stomach so that he is eye level with your center. a finger skates over the seam of your panties, sliding up your slit to press against your awaiting bud. all the while, his plump kiss and suckle their way up your thigh until he's nosing at the crease of your thigh, dangerously close to your folds. pulling away, he helps you slip the thin, soaked fabric from you with teasing touches until you are bare from the waist down, sans your stockings.

at the sight of your glistening core, he licks his lips, taking in the way you clench around nothing. you feel terribly exposed, like a sculpture in the center of a gallery, unable to hide. he coos at your trembling state. ever so sensitive, his little doe, even after so long. holding you open, his gaze travels back up past your heaving chest to your flustered face.

“eyes on me, sweetheart. want you to watch me.” he locks his gaze with yours as he dips down to trace your folds with tongue, reveling in the way your brow furrows and your lips part, teeth grazing your bottom lip for a moment. yeonjun is nothing if not a tease, however; he continues to repeat the same movements until you are battling with the urge to snap your eyes shut and burrow your head into the sheets, until you are pleading with him for more. conceding, he dips down to your entrance only to moan at your taste. yes, this is what he has been craving all day. his tongue dips inside for a moment before he licks a bold stripe up to your clit, his eyes fluttering closed while he takes his time in working you up. you cry out as the tip of his tongue slides under the hood, toying with the tiny bundle of nerves with practiced confidence. his lips do not stray far behind, wrapping around and sucking hard, basking in the choked moan you emit in response.

but it's not enough.

he pulls away for a moment, hands squeezing your thighs. when you finally meet his gaze, he finds tears lining your bottom lashes, little dewdrops that cause your eyes to shine brighter.

“sing for me, sweetheart,” he says, his voice soft and hypnotizing. “as loud as you desire. when we’re in this room, no one can hear you but me.”

then, without waiting for your foggy brain to register his words, he dives back in with increased vigor, his lone goal being to make you fall apart, to cause you to let go those silly inhibitions that keep you as quiet as a mouse. he is more than pleased at the cries that follow.

while he loses himself in tasting you, you are falling apart. white-hot pleasure burns in the center of your stomach, a fire that grows hotter and brighter and causes you to grip the sheets harder with paled knuckles. it winds around you and spreads across the entirety of your being. with a mist-shrouded mind, all you can do is take what he provides, grinding against his lips. despite his warning from earlier, you reach down to thread your fingers through his hair and tug. this, evidently, sets him off; more beast than human, he devours you whole. he wants — no, needs your release. cum for me, darling, please cum for me — an unspoken plea, conveyed by his zealous tongue and lips, his grip on your thighs nearly bruising. and you listen, you listen so well despite his silence, the pleasure building and building and building and—

you shatter.

wailing, a supernova of pleasure overwhelms your body and soul, hot tears rolling streaming down your cheeks. your body no longer has a beginning nor an end — you feel as though you are floating above the bed rather than laying upon it, looking down at yourself, at the man betwixt your thighs, the care with which he extracts every drop of pleasure from your center, the patience he exudes while he delivers you back down to your true existence, back to him.

slowly, so very slowly, you return back to yourself, weary eyes fluttering open to find him hovering above you. his pupils hold profound concern, the rhythmic circling of his thumb against your cheek soothing to your mind. he's frowning, and you can see the gears spinning inside his head, wondering if he had finally gone too far.

“jjunie,” you whisper with an exhausted yet lovesick grin, pulling him close so that your foreheads press together — and with the melodic sound of your endearing nickname for him, the doubt, the guilt, festering deep in his chest vanishes. you spend a few moments gazing at each other, and you use the edge of your nail to trace his beauty marks while you bask in the presence of one another; just you and him, him and you.

leaning up, you capture his lips, something soft and sweet and unhurried that causes your heart to pound against your ribcage. the heart — it can be such a fickle thing, always changing, always setting its sights on shiny, new things. yes, it can be quite fickle, but nothing can dispute the undeniable truth of your eternal, immutable love for yeonjun, and his for you. you may change your routines and what you eat and the tunes you sing, but your love is forever frozen in time. “find me in the future,” is what you once exclaimed to him, and he had done just that — and so, so much more.

despite your exhausted mind, you find yourself craving more. the hardness of his cock presses into your thigh, and you grind slightly into him. he stares down at you, lips parted, silently inquiring if you are okay: are you sure you would like to continue? it's a wordless exchange, the way you reach down to stroke him over his trousers, the cheeky bite of your lip. with that, the mischievous grin he wore previously returns.

“you’re absolutely insatiable,” he laughs, returning his lips to your neck.

“oh, please. you were the one who wanted this in the first place,” you tease back before you’re squealing at the sound of ripping fabric. “yeonjun!”

“i shall mend it later,” he shrugs, eyes darkening as he greedily takes in your now bare bosom. “right now, however, there are much more pressing matters.”

perhaps the pastries can wait a wee bit a longer.

3k event masterlist | main masterlist

#txt smut #yeonjun smut #txt x reader #yeonjun x reader #txt imagines #yeonjun imagines #txt fluff #yeonjun fluff #agust.nsfw #3k milestone celebration #💌 — jjun

272 notes · View notes

zorosimpclub · 3 months

Text

online friends? part 2 – Zoro SFW

part 1 here

characters: zoro roronoa x fem!reader

fluff | SFW

word count: 2.2k

As their big date night approached, she found herself deep in the struggle of picking the perfect outfit. Clothes scattered all over her bed, she was stuck in a whirlwind of indecision. And just when the pressure was hitting its peak, a text popped up on her phone—none other than Zoro.

'Wear something sexy 😏'

A sudden blush warmed her cheeks, caught off guard by Zoro's straightforward message. What was he thinking? Ignoring the flutter in her stomach, she fired back a quick response, her fingers sliding over the keyboard.

'In your dreams! 😤'

The banter did nothing to calm her nerves; if anything, it merely added to them. What's if she wasn't good enough for him? Or what's if he thought she was unattractive in person? While she continued to dig through her wardrobe, Zoro's text lingered in her thoughts. Soon enough, she picked a dress that was the right balance of sexy and herself, the last thing she wanted to be is uncomfortable.

Zoro was more than slightly amused by the whole exchange so far. He didn't expect much of it considering he was half-joking when he sent the message but he wasn’t going to complain if she did decide to take his teasing seriously. He couldn’t lie, as confident as he normally was, a large part of him was extremely nervous to see her for the first time in person. He wasn’t worried about his look – in fact, he knew he was hot. That wasn’t his issue - no. He was more worried about not being able to smooth talk her like he did over video call, after all, he did so behind the comfort of his screen.

A deep exhale left her lips as she neared the City Centre station, her stomach doing a little backflip and cartwheel. Her erratic heartbeat echoed in her ears, a reminder that this moment was more than just a simple meet-up – this was possibly the start of something romantic, maybe. She grimaced at how close she was now...

Zoro on the other hand, had already arrived at the station a few minutes before - he wanted to make sure she could find him with no issues and no excuses.

The second he saw her arrive, the tension in his body started to rise, his heart beat faster and his breaths shallower. She was just as beautiful, if not more, in person as she was over video call. For a moment he was dumbstruck, but he snapped out of his trance as he noticed her face was flushed. Wanting to ease her obvious anxiousness, he shot her his million dollar smirk.

Her heart hammered on as their eyes met for the first time. Just as she had expected, he was extremely handsome – chiseled in all the right places and facial features absolutely beautiful. She felt her breath hitch at the way he smirked at her, in this moment, she wanted nothing more than to turn around and run back home but it was too late.

With a smirk still spread across his mouth, Zoro slowly got up and started approaching her. She couldn’t help but notice how tall he was, he had a lot of height on her. Zoro looked her in the eyes and gave her the same charming smirk that had her falling apart just a moment ago. His voice was a bit deeper than over video call, but not in an intimidating way. He was still the same confident and charming Zoro, it was just that he spoke in an even louder and more captivating way in person.

"Hey."

A flush of warmth spread across her cheeks, and she found herself stealing glances in every direction but his, unable to meet his eyes for some reason. "H-Hi..."

Zoro made a point to stand a little closer, he wanted his presence to be known and felt. He wasn’t trying to overwhelm her or rush her, he just wanted to make sure she was completely comfortable right next to him. Zoro looked away at the floor for a moment and then looked back. His voice was still smooth and calm.

"So... we have a reservation…”

He looked away feeling a little embarrassed, blushing a little and scratching the back of his head. Zoro wasn’t really one to do the whole fancy date thing, usually his idea of a date involved coming to his and boning but he wanted to make an effort with her because he actually liked her a lot. Like a lot. More than he’d like to admit.

She chuckled, feeling a little less tense after seeing Zoro blush, clearly feeling shy or embarrassed for a second.

"Are you blushing?"

Zoro felt like a complete idiot and he wasn’t sure what to say as a response to her chuckle. He felt that rush of heat creeping up his cheeks as he felt his nerves shoot up a bit. He laughed off her question.

"Maybe. What if I am? It’s hot here, I mean look at you."

Aaaaand he was back. His signature smirk was back as he eyed her up and down cheekily, she was wearing a jacket so it’s not like he could see much but he wanted to let her know with just his eyes that he liked what he was seeing so far. She blushed and followed him to the restaurant, keeping a good distance between them.

He opened the door for her and held her gaze for a moment, smirk still on his face. She thanked him meekly as the waiter ushered them to their table, it was in the back corner… away from most of the other diners. Zoro pulled out her chair and she thanked him again, taking her jacket off in the process. She was wearing a green, lowcut knee length dress along with a simple necklace that elevated her whole look.

Zoro couldn’t help but notice how perfectly the dress fit the shape of her body, emphasising her curves in the right way. The necklace was delicate and yet beautiful against her neck, highlighting her natural beauty.

It was hard for him to divert his attention elsewhere, he found himself wanting to stare a little. He snapped himself out of it though and sat down, making himself comfortable, but not before letting out a low whistle in process.

"You look hot."

She blushed, giving him a soft smile and scanned his outfit – truth be told, he was the one who looked hot. He was wearing a black tight fitting long sleeve muscle shirt, which showed off his muscular physique.

"You're one to talk."

She was too adorable, the way she blushed just made him want to eat her up. Zoro gave her a playful smile as he looked her up and down, making sure she knew he meant every word. He raised an eyebrow and smirked, leaning back in his seat as he stretched and let out another a low sound of approval.

"How are you hotter in person?”

"S-shut up, stop teasing me now." She spluttered, not knowing how to take his compliments. Knowing Zoro, he was just playing it up to get a reaction out of her.

Zoro laughed again, she was too easy to get a rise out of. But, to be fair, he was only teasing because he thought she was adorable. He leaned across the table towards her.

"You're so cute when you're all flustered, you know?"

She pouted, her blush still very much on her face. They chatted and laughed as they ate their food, causing her to ease up a bit and be her cheeky self around him.

–

As the bill came, Zoro insisted that he was paying for the whole bill when she pulled out her card to pay for her food. Something about how he wanted to do this right and how someone as beautiful of her shouldn’t have to trouble herself with things like this.

She chuckled a little and held her hands out in front of her, "Fine, fine.”

"Are we grabbing dessert too?"

He shot her a smirk, his mind in the gutter. "Yeah if you're on the menu?”

She heard a gasp coming from the waiter, feeling shy and somewhat embarrassed, she quickly pulled her jacket on and stood up from the table.

Zoro couldn’t help but laugh. He knew he should probably tone it down, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t help himself. He got up as well, wrapping his arm around her waist as they walked out into the night. “You’re not going anywhere.”

She squealed and continued to blush deeper, feeling his touch against her properly for the first time.

He smirked again, he couldn’t help but like the fact that she was so easy to tease and get flustered. Her reactions were so cute, he couldn’t stop himself from teasing her. He chuckled to himself and looked out to his car, her waist still in his grasp.

“What are you looking for?”

“My car.”

“Huh you drove here?”

“Yeah.”

“So why were you waiting by the station?”

“Cos’ it’s easy to find – you ask too many damn questions.” He poked her forehead gently and grinned as he got in his car. “C’mon.”

“Where are we going? You know that I shared my location with my friends right?” she joked, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she got in the passenger side.

He let out a hearty laugh and put his seatbelt on before talking, “I wanna show you something.”

–

He turned his engine off and went to her side to open the door for her, “Here.”

She stood up and smiled at him, taking his hand. She couldn’t deny the fact that his warmness was comforting and made her feel safe, even though they had just met in person. His grip wasn’t tight but it was firm, she could feel the strength in his fingers.

“What did you want to show me?”

Zoro smiled knowingly at her as he pulled her closer to him. “Close your eyes and don’t say a word until I tell you otherwise.”

"Okay... but I will scream if you try anything funny." She warned jokingly, closing her eyes and smiling.

“Yeah, yeah.” He laughed and took a few steps, placing his hand around her waist and started to lead her somewhere else. All she felt was the warmth of his hands on all of the right places and a little bit of the cool air as it hit her face.

They walked for quite a bit but Zoro finally stopped, “You can open your eyes now."

"Woah..." Before her was the view of the whole city, she had never seen such a breathtaking view before. The sky was dark enough to see stars up in the sky but was also illuminated by the lights from the skyscrapers.

Her reaction was everything he hoped it would be. Zoro couldn’t help but smile, she looked as beautiful as the whole city. He let go of her waist and pulled her in close, wrapping his arms around her in a way that she could feel his warm breath against her neck. He whispered a few words in her ear.

"Do you want to know a secret?"

She blushed a little at how close he was to her now and nodded, "Y-yeah...?”

"I fell for you before I even knew what you looked like.”

His voice went all husky and hoarse as it trailed near, all she could feel was the heat from his breath on her skin.

She felt her breath hitch and her heart hammer once again in her chest as she heard him confess to her, she had felt the same way after all.

"I...It's the same for me too." She whispered sheepishly, she wasn't one to confess her feelings but here she was, telling him exactly how she felt.

Zoro's lips parted slightly, he was not expecting this at all. He didn't expect it to be this easy or for her to reciprocate so fast. A grin broke out on his face as he cupped her face with his hand. She looked up at him and smiled softly, it's crazy to think that they were here, all because of an online game that they decided to play at the same time one day.

He lowered his head and pressed his lips gently against hers, as if to test the waters a bit. When she didn’t pull away, he deepened the kiss, giving her all of his passion. The kiss felt right and natural, as if it was meant to happen.

When they pulled apart, they remained locked in each others eyes, both of them looking at each other and basking in the moment, Zoro’s hand was still cupping her face, he didn’t want to let her go.

“You’re fucking beautiful. I’m really glad I decided to play that stupid online game.”

They stayed like this for a little while, just taking in the moment. When Zoro finally decided to let go of her face, he pulled her in close against his chest and wrapped his arms around her waist.

“I’m really glad too…”

-----

hope you enjoyed part 2! special thanks to those who commented asking for a part 2 c: (p.s. i didn't proofread this OTL so pls ignore any mistakes!)

#roronoa zoro x reader #roronoa zoro #zoro roronoa x reader #zoro x reader #zoro x y/n #zoro imagine #one piece x reader #one piece fanfiction #zoro fanfic #zoro fanfiction #zoro x you #roronoa zoro x you #op fanfic

121 notes · View notes

acourtofthought · 4 days

Note

I like the potential of elucien but they currently have no chemistry. How do you think Sarah will go about their story?

For Elucien it's really as simple as forced proximity. Put them in a situation where they're forced to spend "two weeks alone" together (quote from ACOMAF) and I'm 100% certain that we're going to see exactly why SJM mated them. Heck, give me a day with them alone together, no sisters hovering near by, Elain having no choice but to speak directly to him without the heavy shadow of recent loss hovering over her and we'll see it.

I think some in the fandom are confusing Elain's physical attraction to Az as proof that she has chemistry with him but when physical attraction is used to build romantic chemistry between characters it will always result in a shallow love story. Lucien did find Elain to be the most beautiful female he'd ever seen so I'm not saying attraction can't be there but when you have characters giving into that attraction before something deeper has been established, true chemistry is going to fall flat. Having Az tell us he's avoided Elain for a year while she's still recovering from trauma doesn't call to mind that he's someone she was able to lean on, it doesn't make me believe that he feels anything for her because she could have used his friendship during that time (since she wasn't asking for distance) but he chose to stay away.

It calls to mind desperately crushing on someone in high school, where you watch them from afar, hoping for the day you can be together, and then finally you get your wish but you realize you actually don't know this person at all. You're infatuated with the idea of them rather than the real them.

I'm not saying Elain and Lucien have any sort of wild on page chemistry right now but it was kind of difficult for there to be any while she was mourning the loss of her humanity and Graysen. And though there was a little bit of hope that she was ready to move past that by the end of ACOWAR, she regressed in the novella Likewise there was zero chemistry on page between Nesta and Cassian in ACOFAS, when she chose to push him away after the war.

Characters can't have chemistry when they are ignoring their possible love interest, you actually have to see them talking.

As far as how Sarah will go about their story, I think there are a few options.

Right now we have already had Elain volunteering to help with the Trove, Rhys saying that Elain is capable of more than they've given her credit for, that gardening results in something pretty but involves one getting their hands dirty along the way, and Elain saying she'll do whatever is needed.

The options are limitless because of the above.

The issues they currently face are:

Beron allying with Koschei and setting his sights on Spring.

The NC reminding us that they need Springs army as an ally but that Tamlin is even worse after the announcement of Feyre's pregnancy.

Koschei preparing to call Vassa back.

Koschei trying to get his hands on the Trove to free himself so he might rule their world.

The NC could decide they need to utilize Elain's Seer powers and send her to Day Court to help her train. They don't seem very knowledgeable on Seers so Helion's library's might be the best place for her to learn about them.

The could decide a marriage alliance between themselves and other courts might benefit them and Elain could volunteer to marry Lucien because she's so over the concept of love and men after Graysen and Az's rejection that she's decided she'll simply focus on helping the courts rather than marrying for love (the concept was introduced in SF after all and SJM carried it out an arranged marriage trope in HOFAS).

They could send Elain as an emissary "spy" to the Spring Court. Not in the shadows or anything, just acting as their courtier, where she would gather information on the situation there, to be sure Lucien's reporting has been unbiased.

Elain could end up dreaming of the drums of Calanmai and find herself pulled to Spring on her own.

They could send Elain to the continent to retrieve Mor since Feysands daemati range does not work that far and have Lucien accompany her.

Or something SJM imagines up! I don't think any of us guessed how Nessian would end up being forced together in SF.

#elucien #pro elucien #elain archeron #lucien vanserra

42 notes · View notes

momolady · 23 days

Text

War on the Mists :Author April #2

(This was another novel I was working on. The characters are ones I have used before and would love to use again. Heloise is one of my favorite OC I've ever created, and she's stayed with me forever. I was also super-duper into Revolutionary Girl Utena at the time. Anyways, this was my take on the Arthurian legends. There is a lot more to this if you all want to see the rest.)

Chapter One:

Just beyond the gates of Cleatom Academy is a wide polished stone with a slit in it’s center. It sits in the center of a wide, shallow pond. Water pours continuously from the slit, filling the pond and creating a simplistic work of art for all those you come to the school to see. The students referred to it as Stone Lake.

I had seen Stone Lake first through a brochure that I had come across when I had finally convinced my father to take me off home schooling. It took some hard work and heavy screaming to convince him to let me attend Cleatom. But I already knew all about Cleatom Academy. It is an academy was for the children of powerful people, people like my father. It was a place to turn the children of said people into equally powerful people, the kind of person I was afraid of becoming. Despite my dislike of the place and it’s populace I am looking forward to the transfer. There was a reason I had been needling my father for years about Cleatom. Not only is it a boarding school, which meant I would be able to breathe, I’d be out from my father’s oppressive, suffocating house. But there was something much more. Something I had been fighting for since I was a child. I would be able to see my brother Ty. The most beloved person in my life and someone who has been kept too far out of reach from me for too long.

The moment I was dropped off at Cleatom, I couldn’t help but smile as my father’s limousine pulled away from the boarding house. I laughed out loud even as I stood in the center of my room. I wasn’t even mad when they told me I’d have a roommate within a few days. Please, I begged the air, let it be someone normal! I didn’t have much time to celebrate though, as I wanted to get some sleep for school. But when my mind keep whirring and clicking, thinking about Ty and how I’d get to see him everyday. I just couldn’t turn off completely. I got up extremely early the next morning, the light outside gray and fog as far as the eye could see. I got into my school uniform, a white blouse with a form fitting black vest over the top of it and then a gray plaid skirt. There was also a silvery gray tie and the school’s emblem emblazoned as a pin at my throat. I got to wear whatever shoes and accessories I wanted the head master had explained to me like it mattered. For me, clothes were just the armor I put on for my father and the people he surrounds himself with. Since that was no longer necessary for my defense, I had my attendant back home help me order a pair of high top sneakers in my favorite color, red. I also bought for myself an assortment of odd and colorful knee socks. I was only ever allowed to wear tights or hose before.

Then put on my sneakers for the first time. I never knew comfort like this. I then slipped on the beaded bracelet Angie, my attendant, made for me and went out the door.

The hall was quiet and I heard no activity from the other rooms. But as I began descending the stairs I came across several girls who I assumed to be the attendants of the girls in the dorm. They seemed surprised to see me on the stairs, or just even there. I now wish I had allowed Angie to come with me, but I’m glad she’s getting some respite. Maybe I’ll call her here next semester.

I walk outside, shrouded in mist and cool damp air. I walk through the garden that surrounds the girl dormitories. They have all sorts of plants growing, its very beautiful in the light. Several classes have the students raise and cultivate their own plants. I made sure to sign up for one. I stop just before the gate leading out of the dormitory village and walk off towards the herb patch. The ground is freshly upturned and sprouts are peeking out all over. I think of the little clay pot that sat on my balcony. Angie and I began it when I was twelve. I’m sure she took it home with her to take care of it. At least I hope she did.

I look up, fairly sure I sensed a presence around me. I saw the swaying of the willow trees branches, but nothing else. I stood, looking forward, knowing I could feel eyes on me from somewhere in the mists. I take a cold breath. My lungs freezing as I turn and unlock the gate into the cobble stone path leading to the school.

Stone Lake was much smaller than I pictured. Then again, compared to the castle the school had been built into, everything looked smaller. The stone rested slightly above me. And the small shallow pond wasn’t even deep enough to hold fish. By the time I had come to the pond and sat for a moment students were arriving, not just from the dormitory village but in limos and cars coming through the front gates like I had yesterday. I watched as these cars pulled up at the doors, letting out their pristine cargo. I watched my new classmates. I watched for Ty.

I then heard laughing from around the other side of the stone and when I leaned out slightly I saw a group of girls walking away. All laughing and tossing their hair. It was a victory lap for them. I walked around to see what was so funny and saw a girl sitting in the water, her head down low.

I went towards the girl, standing up on the rocks to get level with her. “Are you alright?” I held my hand out towards her.

The girl looked up, her berry red hair plastered to her face. Her eyes were wide and gold, peering out frightened behind strands of shining hair. I tilted myself down towards her.

“Did they push you in here?” I held my hand out to the girl again.

The girl opened her mouth then closed it, lowering her head and began shuffling her hands through the water. I stepped up onto the platform and kneeled down beside the girl. “Did you loose something?”

“My glasses,” the girl murmured.

I began looking around too. “What do they look like?” I was feeling about the water beside her.

“Silver, with pearl accents.” The girl said.

I looked down to her left and saw the glasses hanging on a shrub. I picked them up and cleaned them with my sleeve. Smiling, I extended them to her. “Here.”

The girl quickly took then and placed them on her face. She looked up at me and nodded, pressing her lips firmly together. “Thank you.”

“Of course.” I replied. “Are you ok? Do you need me to help take you back to the dormitories?”

The girl stood up and smoothed her hand down utterly soaked skirt.

“You must be freezing.” I moved to remove my coat and the girl began stepping out of the water, moving quickly away from me.

“No, I’m fine, thank you.” She picked up her bag from the ground. “You’re an Emerald, you shouldn’t have to.”

I touched the jeweled bauble on my throat, attached to the top of the school uniform tie. It was the school emblem, but encrusted with emeralds. “What do you mean?” I followed after her.

The girl lifted her chin, touching her tie pin. Instead of emerald, her pin was pearl. I arched my brow at this, thinking that all the pins would be the same. “I’m a Pearl,” the girl continued. “And you are an Emerald.”

“I’m sorry,” I was shaking my head. “But I’m new here. I’m not sure what you mean.”

The girl pulled her wet hair and placed it in a heavy bundle on her shoulder. “I am beneath you.” She said simply and walked away. I wanted to follow after her but I had a feeling she‘d be even more humiliated if I did. I decided instead it would be best to find Ty.

Cleatom Academy had been built into and expanded from a castle made of white stone. I’m sure all the students felt even more superior because of this. True royalty! I walked up the ramp into the doors and into the commons area. It was like the food court in a mall. There was a coffee bar, a cupcake place, many tables and chairs as well as several large overly stuffed sofas and recliners. It certainly didn’t look like an antiquated castle.

“Good morning Cleatom!” A voice sang from the speaker system. “It’s another lovely day and I have just a few announcements before we all go to home room. We have three new students joining us today. Gregory W. Mansfield, Diamond. Heloise E. Boniface, Emerald. And Samantha B.D. Lewis, Ruby. Let’s be sure to greet them warmly!” I did not like the sound of my voice being introduced. “Students with birthdays today make sure to make your way to Sweetie Belle Cupcakes today for your complementary birthday cupcake. Today’s special is a chocolate, strawberry glace cupcake with an extra large chocolate covered strawberry on top. Yum!” I also didn’t like how scripted the yum bit sounded.

I walked around a gaggle of girls heading for the cupcake shop then and began zigzagging my way through the tables and chairs. “Also, would Heloise Boniface report to the sound booth.” The over head voice said.

I froze, what did they want with me?

“You can find your way there by heading to the glass elevator and pressing the button labeled SB3.” The voice continued with it’s wide awake voice. “You are in for a surprise.”

As I made my way to the elevator I knew I was the topic of the hour. Most heads turned and looked my way. Girls bent to whisper into ears, their eyes trailing me. Luckily the elevator was unoccupied when I entered. I pressed the button, a shiny chrome one with the letters and numerals illuminated behind it. Once the button was pressed the lettering flashed bright green. I was jostled for a moment as the elevator sprang to life, pulling me up above the crowd and through the levels of the castle until I reached the third floor.

The elevator opened up into a dimly lit room full of dark furniture. Beyond this I saw a huge white room behind glass brightly lit and glowing compared to the room before it. There someone inside talking into an old fashioned microphone and working a control panel of buttons. He removed the headphones he was wearing and pressed a button. Behind me, I could hear music playing in the elevator.

The man inside came out of the white room, running his fingers through his brick red hair. “It’s been a while.” The voice from the announcements said.

I furrowed my brow at him. “Excuse me?”

He turned on a light, illuminating the dark room. “Surely, you remember me a little.”

I stared, recognizing the freckled face, the deep brown eyes. Mainly the toothy smile. “Ty!” I flung my bag aside and ran into his open arms. I noticed that Ty’s pin was ruby.

“I’ve been waiting on you forever.” Ty said, stroking my hair. He stepped back, bracing his hands on my shoulders. “You haven’t grown an inch!”

I scowled at him. My height had always been an issue with my father and a joke with some of the staff. “Some heart warming greeting.” I brushed his hand away and began pacing the room slowly. “What is this?”

“The sound booth where I make all the announcements.” Ty said, following behind me. Mimicking my posture and how I held my hands behind my back. “Normally I have groupies, but I chased them off so I could have you by myself.”

“How kind.” Rolling my eyes, I smile. “Why do they let you make the announcements?”

“I’m the House Speaker,” Ty replied. “I’m an elected official.” He mocked snapping suspenders.

I turned towards him, raising my eyebrows. “Elected?”

“Student government,” Ty said, putting his hands on his hips and cocked his head to the side. “I’m a pretty powerful person around here.”

“I bet Mrs. Jerrick is so proud.” I sniffed.

Ty laughed. “Of course not. Not when my sister is the VP!”

I looked back at him. He was talking about his half sister Cordelia Jerrick. Poor Ty was born between worlds. The bastard love child of my father and Mrs. Jerrick a world renowned business woman of the cosmetics industry. “So, are you meeting me illegally then?” I looked back towards the elevator doors then, just expecting Cordelia Jerrick to burst forth with soldiers, ordering I be tar and feathered.

“I made the announcement over the intercom, she would have been here by now if that was the case.” Ty replied, a smile in his voice. “She knows she has no control over me here.” He then reached out, taking my pin gently between his fingers. “Lucky you. You’re an Emerald.”

“I don’t get that.” I tap the expensive bauble on my throat. “What do these pins mean?” I had thought my father had simply chosen the Emerald because it was the most expensive.

Ty sighed, leaning back against the wall. “This school has a sort of…caste system.” My eyes widened at this. “It goes all the way from the working class students who serve the higher students, up to the most elite.”

He explained it all to me starting with amber, said working class. Most Amber students are actually the staff of the higher up students. That explained the maids I saw this morning.

He went on to the Pearls, which are students who are children of teachers or have scholarships. The girl this morning was a Pearl. This probably also explains why she was the victim of those girls. She was beneath them, like she said.

Then there are the Diamonds, students who are at the top of their classes or students who have celebrity. He explained that even Pearl students who have worked their way up can become Diamonds.

Rubies, like Ty, are next and they are the children of people who have donated a large amount of money. “Bought students, we’re called.” Ty smirked, somewhat proudly.

Then there was my group the Emeralds. A good combination of Diamond and Ruby. Students whose parents have donated large sums of money. These students could have been Rubies at one point, but moved up the rank because of celebrity status, grades, and etc.

“Then there are the Sapphires, like Cordelia.” Ty hesitated for a moment, gauging my somewhat disturbed expression to it all. “Sapphires are the elites, those who have all of the above and then some.”

I cleared my throat after a moment of it sinking in. “How is she a sapphire when you’re just a ruby?”

Ty laughed “You forget, I’m a bastard.” He put his arm around my shoulder and began leading me out the door. “I had to be bought.” As we approached the elevator it dinged and the door swished open, revealing the young man inside.

“Just in time,” Ty looked at the young man. “Heloise, this is John Whitney,” I saw that the boy’s pin was diamond. “He is going to be your guide.”

“Oh?” I looked from Ty then at John. “That isn’t necessary.”

“I think you’ll find it will be,” John said, a gentle chuckle to his voice. “This place isn’t easy to navigate for a first timer. It’s code that the Student Government assign a guide to each new student for as long as they need them.”

I nodded. “Well then, if it’s mandatory…” I looked John over. He looked like he was a football player from his build. His purposefully tousled dark blonde hair, hiding a scar on his forehead just so. His eyes were the a sort of hazel and gold color. His teeth bleached white. But there was a crookedness to his tie I liked, showed he wasn’t perfect.

“I was chosen because all our classes match up.” John replied, extending his arm and allowing me to stand in the elevator. “The Student Government normally tries to match up girls with girls and such, but I was the only one who matched.”

“It’s quite alright.” I waved to Ty as the doors shut. “I get along better with boys anyways.”

“So,” John said, pushing a button for the fifth floor, “what school did you go to before Cleatom?”

“I was home schooled actually. Well,” I set my bag at my feet. “My father hired tutors.”

John bobbed his head politely. “So what made him send you here?” He looked me over then, knowing Ty couldn’t see his eyes wander. “Excuse me if I’m being a pest.” His eyes immediately snap to my eyes.

I smiled, still looking forward. “No, you’re fine. But, I asked to come here. I’ve been fighting my dad about for a long time.”

John furrowed his brow. “What made him change his mind?”

“My dad is a gambler,” I looked over at John and his raised eyebrows, “so I made him a bet.”

John looked surprised. “What kind of bet.”

I put my finger to my lips as the elevator doors whooshed open into a crowded hallway. I gently dipped to grab my bag and slung it back over my shoulder. John walked a good few paces behind me, like one of my father’s bodyguards.

Turning and looking at him I snapped, “what? Student Government doesn’t allow you to walk beside me?”

“Well,” John blushed. “You are an Emerald, Ms. Boniface.” I arched my brows high at the fact he had referred to me in such a way. “It is not normally-”

I took a step back, aligning myself with him. “It’s not a rule is it?”

“No,” John swallowed, looking around. “Just…tradition.”

I then snapped my fingers, surprising him again. “Oh, do you know a lot of the students here?”

John nodded, swallowing. I was making him nervous. “It’s part of my role in the Student Government.”

I slide my bag down into the crook of my elbow. “Do you know a girl with really, really bright red hair? Almost like a lip-gloss color?” I motioned with her hands the style of the girl’s hair. “Also, wears glasses,” I mimed glasses.

John smirked at my monkeying and thought for a moment. “Maybe that’s Den Anais.” He said. “Why do you ask? You know her?”

I shook my head, looking towards the floor. “No, I just saw some girls push her into the fountain out front this morning. I tried to help her but she brushed me off.”

He nodded, sighing somewhat sadly. “Then that must be Den.”

I must of looked disgusted because his eyes took on an apologetic look. “Does that happen to her a lot?”

John shrugged, opening a door for me. “Sometimes. But I don’t work in her department of the Student Government.”

I balked. “She’s in the Student Government?”

“Hand picked by Head Master Emrys. She’s the Advisor.” John shrugged. “She’s sort of like…a personal consultant. She plans all the school events and dances and the like.”

“You think with a role like that people would like her.” I mumbled as we walked into the classroom. History was my first class, a class the dean of admissions said I would enjoy.

“Oh welcome, you must be Heloise.” I looked up sideways as a man in a dark green suit approached. “I’m Professor Lourdes.” He held out a thin pale hand to me.

“Uhm, yes.” I took his hand, it was warm and smooth. “Thank you for letting me in. I had been told you were full up.”

Professor Lourdes smiled, removing his thin wire glasses. He was an exceptionally striking man, young and beautiful for a teacher. “History is a much more popular a field than I anticipated.”

Something about his smile though told me he knew it was because of his looks. “But I was more than happy to make a spot.” He waved his hand out. “Please, take a seat anywhere. I’m not picky.” He left, walking up to the white board and his desk.

John leaned to whisper to her. “His class is so popular because-”

“Because he’s so good looking?” I finished for him. “Easy to see now why history would be packed.”

We took our seats at a two chair table in the back. The seats were overstuffed rolling chairs. I had one just like it at home. Father had got it for me when I began complaining about my back during lessons.

“Ari is a good teacher though. He’s also the one who over sees the Student Government.” John explained quickly. “He gives a lot of extra credit and he takes us out on a lot of field trips. They’re mainly trips to museums mind you, but he makes the experience interesting.”

I found I couldn’t take my eyes off Professor Ari Lourdes. He was a lithe mover, and his handwriting was impeccable. “Put a long wig on him and he’d pass for a girl, he’s that pretty.”

John snorted. “I’ve actually heard several girls trying to convince him to do such a thing for the costume balls.”

We both exchanged smiles and then began taking out our text books and such.

My attention turned to Cordelia as she walked through the door at that moment. John continued talking, but I didn’t hear him.

Cordelia was tall and blonde, the kind of girl my father wishes I was. And she sauntered right over to Professor Ari’s desk and sat on its corner like she owned the place. She tousled her hair and laughed, slightly turning to see who was watching her, because she knew everyone was. That’s when her gray eyes fell on me. Her expression becoming instantly blank. Her eyes almost bleeding disgust.

John tugged on my sleeve. “Heloise?”

I didn’t move. “Yes?”

“Are you familiar with the Jerrick family?”

Cordelia was turning and whispering to Professor Ari. I looked at John then.

“I’m only close to Ty.”

John gave me a wary smile. “Cordelia certainly doesn’t seem happy to see you.”

I laughed. “That’s putting it gently.” I cupped my hand under my chin and looked at Professor Ari, trying his best to act genteel with Cordelia.

“She’s the vice president of the Student Government.” John whispered.

I scoffed, rapping my fingers against my jaw. “Now that, I did know.” I smiled back at John. He raised his brow. “She’s part of that bet I mentioned earlier.”

John raised his brows. “Oh?”

I laughed. “Oh, indeed!” I leaned closer to John. “I bet if I acted like I was flirting with you, Cordelia would swoop in and steal you away from me.”

John smiled somewhat deviously, his eyes glancing over to Cordelia and then back to me. “You’re that confidant in her evil, are you?”

I nodded. “If there is one thing I know about Cordelia Jerrick, it’s that she absolutely hates me.” I then reach out, adjusted John’s crooked tie, my fingers lingering ever so.

“Sorry about this.” I snicker.

“Oh please!” John laughs. “I don’t mind at all.”

I then reach up, playing with John’s bangs. “What’s she doing?”

John glances aside for me then looks back at me as I drop my hand. “You should be dead.”

We both burst out laughing, and in that moment Cordelia is standing beside me.

John blanches some, but I look up at her like it is the most casual thin in the world. I am more than prepared to deal with Cordelia Jerrick, in fact, its what I’ve been planning on.

“Why,” Cordelia gasps prettily but it sounds more like a war cry. “Heloise Boniface! What a splendid surprise.” She says splendid like it’s painful, like she’d rather wretch bile.

I nod softly. “Hello, Cordelia.”

Cordelia’s eyes flicker over to John then back to me. “I had no idea you’d be attending Cleatom.” She seems to be running out of nice things to say. “Is Whitney here your escort?”

I look over at John and smile charmingly, he blushes some. “Why yes! He’s a lovely boy, isn’t he?” I reach out, putting my hand over his. “I’m thinking about asking Daddy to hire him as my valet for the summer.”

Cordelia’s tongue to captured between her cinched teeth as she smiles. “Oh? Well how wonderful for you, Whitney.” She then squints her eyes at me in an attempt to smile, but it comes out all wrong. “I will have to talk to you later, Heloise.” She turns on her heel just as the bell rings.

“I feel sick.” John whispers to me.

I look at him apologetically. “I am so sorry.”

“I’ve never felt anything like that!” John chuckles, relieved. “I knew she could be something of a bitch, but I had no idea it was anything like that.”

“If she gives you any trouble, just let me know. I can handle her.” I quickly tack on, “Ty too.”

He nods at me. “You’re the bravest woman in the world.”

A smile perks up at the corner of my mouth. “It’s just one blonde girl.”

We both look up in attention as Professor Lourdes begins speaking. He’s writing on the board in his lovely script and we all follow his instruction. My eyes glance over at Cordelia who is also stealing look at me. She turns away, and whispers to the girl beside her.

John elbows me. “And thus one becomes two.”

We both snicker.

“Quite in the back!” Professor Lourdes chuckles authoritatively.

John and I cover our mouths, trying to surprise our huge grins.

I look to John and nod. “Thanks.”

“For what?”

I shrug. “Just for being on my side I suppose.”

Chapter Two:

I didn’t go with John to the cafeteria at lunch. Instead I walked back out to the front gate and sat by Stone Lake. I pulled an apple from my bag and took tiny bites out of it. I was neither hungry nor interested in mingling with my fellow students. At least not yet. Considering the only ones I’d want to sit with would be Ty or John, are a Ruby and Diamond respectively. They are both technically beneath me. I doubt I’d be allowed by this ridiculous Caste system to even sit by them.

“It’s you again.” I turned to look up above me at the stone. Standing there was the girl from this morning. I stood, standing back up on the platform and waving to her. She smiled back, nodding gently.

“You seem attracted to this place.”

“It’s peaceful.” I put my hands against my hips. “And I love being around water.”

Den stepped down from the stone and into the water of the fountain, pulling her long skirt up as she did so. “Thank you for the help this morning.”

I bobbed my head slightly. I was unsure of what to make of her newfound friendliness. “Of course. Umm-”

“Sorry if I was a bit rude.” Den waded through the water until she stood before me. “I was scared, so I wasn’t much of a people person.”

“No, of course.” I was shaking my head. “I’m Heloise.”

Den beamed. “Heloise Boniface, yes! You’re new today.” Den stepped out of the water and onto the cobblestone surrounding it. “Ty has been anxious.”

John had mentioned she was on the Student Government. It had actually never occurred to me that she and Ty might know one another, talk to each other as friends. My surprised expression has Den explaining.

“Ty and I talk a lot during meetings.” Den twirls slightly. “He says you came here against your father’s wishes.”

I fold my arms behind my back. This is a gesture I take from my father. A gesture that Angie says makes me look like an old man. “That’s right.”

“But you are meant to be here.”

“Excuse me?”

Den stepped off the fountain and into her shoes just below. “Oh nothing.” She giggled, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “Are you busy at the moment?”

I shake my head. “No. Why?”

“C’mon, just follow me.” Den waved her hand to follow and began walking back towards the school. I sling my bag back over my shoulder and walk off after Den.

“We have a special gallery here at the school.” Den explained as we walk, bypassing the glass elevator and going behind it to a small service type elevator. Den pulled open the little iron gate and allowed me to step in first. She closed the gate behind her and locked it.

“Professor Lourdes helped piece it together, but not a lot of students know about it. It’s mainly a sanctuary for the Student Government.”

I tilt my head to my shoulder “Then why tell me?”

Den just smiled, pulling hard on the lever that began dropping the us down and down. “This place has a basement?” I ask, amazed.

“This old place has a lot of hidden places inside.” Den replied, looking up at the darkening ceiling.

I could feel the air dampen and chill around me. I wrapped my arms around me, wondering just how far down Den was going to take me. I pictured a cave below the school, massive caverns and alters like the Phantom had under the PAris Opera house.

The lift came to a jolting stop and Den unlocked the little gate and opened it wide, stepping out before me this time. I looked around, it was a massive round room. The walls decorated with tapestries and elegant paintings. Between these hangings were suits of armor, and in the center of it a wide, round table.

“Wow,” I murmured as I looked around, setting my bag on the table. I walk around the table, my fingertips gliding along the smooth, gilded edges.

“The student government meets here most of the time.” Den said, walking around the table, aiming herself at the suit of armor at the very back of the room. It was different from the rest, for one, it was on a raised pedestal and it was more golden. Also, although it’s hands were posed in such a way, it was not holding a sword.

“This one is my favorite.” She said, dusting at the helmet with her hand.

“What is all this stuff?” I asked, approaching a suit of armor that had long green feathers coming down from the top of the helmet.

“It’s a story,” Den said, folding her hands behind her back and turning towards me. “A history really.”

I had the long green feather between my thumb and forefinger. “Of what?” I gently rub the feather, a feeling of nostalgia washes over me and I feel warm and proud inside. The feeling disappears as I release the feather.

“Something that is thought to be make believe these days.” Den sighed, still dusting at the suit of armor. She places her hands over the gold golves, like she reassuring an old friend. “But, it is all tribute to a great king.” She smiles sadly.

I shrug, sitting on the edge of the table and pulling my apple back out from my pocket. “Like King Arthur or something?” I bite into the apple.

“The very same.” Den exclaimed. “Do you like Arthurian legend, Ms. Boniface?”

I grimaced at her formality. “Heloise, please.” Den looked surprised. “And yeah, I’ve heard a bed time story or two about King Arthur.”

Den seemed disappointed. “Only bedtime stories?” A hand slips away from the armor as she turns to face me.

I slide back off the table and walk towards her. “They were the only ones my dad would actually read to me.” I touched the shining helmet of the suit of armor before me. It had a blue, tartan sash going across its chest. “I always wanted Excalibur.”

Den smiled brightly at this. “Oh?”

“Dad said I couldn’t have it though, because Dagonet threw it into the lake.” I looked back at Den. “Is this whole school based on those stories? Castle and all?”

Den shrugged. “Perhaps.” She then sighed and looked down at her watch which had begun beeping. “Excuse me for a moment.” She turned off the alarm then disappeared down a hallway next to the lift.

I walked around the table, looking at each suit of armor and the paintings between them. Knights brandishing their swords, bowing before a king, being awestruck by ethereal women. I then stood before the gold armor, missing it’s weapon. Its mate. I reached up, cupping the helmet in my hand. It felt warm to the touch.

I was so captivated by the armor I didn’t hear the elevator churning behind me. I only noticed it when the creaky gate opened and shut with a tight clang. Turning I found Professor Ari Lourdes standing behind me, a book in one hand a sack lunch in the other.

He saw me. Even though he was some ways away, and his glasses covering them, I could see his green eyes widen.

“Ms. Boniface,” he took a tentative step forward as my hand slipped from the armor and turned from it, and folded my arms behind my back.

Ari removed his glasses. “What are you doing down here?”

I dipped my head to the side. “Den was giving me a tour.”

“Den?” Ari pocketed his glasses. “That’s odd, she’s normally so…shy.” His breath seemed to falter, seeing me posed before the golden armor.

I pointed my thumb over my shoulder. “What happened to it?”

“Pardon?”

I turned back towards the suit of armor. “This suit is missing it’s mate.” I say, laying my hands over those of the armor. “Den said you helped piece together this exhibit.”

“Ah yes, well, that is said to be a replica of King Arthur’s armor.” Ari replied as he walked around the table towards them.

I cup my hands around the gold gloves, thinking that they seemed small. My hands could fit inside them perfectly. “Then where is Excalibur?”

“At the bottom of a lake.” I looked up, Ari standing a few inches behind me. He smiled, “or so legend has it.”

I smiled back. “I believe that is the main theory, yes.”

“The head master of the school has always been fascinated with the stories of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. His whole family in fact, dating back to the founding of this school.” Ari said, taking a seat at the table. “They wanted to be able to teach children to be chivalrous and brave like Arthur and his knights.”

My smile turns smug for a moment as the idea dawns on me. “So then, the Student Government is very much an attempt to copy the Round Table?”

Ari laughs looking at the table. “You’ve caught on to that, have you?”

My hand glides across the back of Ari‘s chair as I walk by. “A round table surrounded by suits of armor.” I want to tousle his hair but I draw my hand away. “It isn’t hard to catch the drift.”

“I read your records your tutors provided,” Ari said, watching me as I stopped two chairs away. “You’re…you’re actually quite brilliant, Ms. Boniface. You’re father is breeding you to be a great leader.”

“A leader of companies.” I spat hatefully.

Ari looked taken aback by this. “Do you not want to inherit your father’s dynasty?”

I whirl around in a viciously cyclone. “I want my own dynasty!” My hand slams down on the table.

My wild hair flying about my head, falling on my shoulders. Catching myself in his eyes I straighten my back, regaining myself. “I want to build something…with my own…two hands.”

“You could do it.”

I glance quickly at him and then away again. I felt near tears. “He, my father, would never allow it.”

I comb my fingers through my hair then tossed it back over my shoulders. Now that I didn’t have stylists to fashion my hair sleek straight or into to corkscrew curls it was beginning to return to it’s natural wild lion’s mane.

“He didn’t even want me to come here. Afraid I’ll learn to fight him.”

Ari chuckled. “Looks like you already know how to do that.”

Aside from his beauty, it was easy to see why his classes were always filled up. He could see me. Behind all my armor and father’s make-up he could see me. He knew how to reach people by that, too.

I laugh. Covering my hand with my mouth. “Yes. I suppose so.”

“I was surprised when I first saw you,” Ari said, opening his sack lunch. “You and Ty look an awful lot alike.” He pulled out an apple. “The only thing he shares with Cordelia is a name.” He said Cordelia’s name with an acidic bite.

I smile. Not just because he said Ty and I look like siblings but because he could also see through Cordelia. “That’s probably why Cordelia hates us.”

Ari laughed. A knowing glint glowing in his eyes. He looked up though as Den came back into the room.

“I’m done now.” Rather than seem surprised by Professor Lourdes, she smiles knowingly and quite brightly. “Oh, Professor Lourdes, how are you?”

He nods towards her. “I’m fine Den. Glad to see you befriending Ms. Boniface.”

“Heloise.” I corrected him.

Den smiled, not answering him. She turned to me and waved her hand to the elevator. “Ready to go? Classes will restart soon.”

I go back and pick up my bag. “Thanks for the chat, Professor Lourdes.”

He smiles. “Ari.” He corrects. I turn but he touches my elbow. “If you need help catching up to the rest of the students, my door is always open. I’ll help you in any subject you need. Heloise.”

“That’s very nice of you.” I feel my cheeks warm at his touch. “Might take you up on it.” I nod then head back to Den who is smiling at Ari. She follows me into the elevator and shuts it tight.

As the lift clatters back to the student commons, John is waiting for me. He is leaning against the wall reading a book. He stands in attention like a soldier as Den and I step out.

Den tilts her head at me. “Did you enjoy the gallery?”

“Very much.” I nod. “Thank you, Den.”

Den nods then flits off without a word. I stare after her, confused.

“She’s an odd one.” John says. He begins to say something else when the music for the student announcements comes on. “Oh bother.” John huffs. We stand in the middle of the commons.

“Hello Cleatom Academy!” Ty’s voice echoes. “Afternoon classes have been canceled for today.” A low roar comes from the commons as students cheer for their good fortune. “I know? Isn’t that just the bee knees?” I smile picturing Ty in his box. “But feel free to use the rooms for study. Also, it’s happy hour at The Creamery Coffee Shop. All drinks half off!”

Another low roar.

“Want some coffee?” John asks.

I shake my head. “Uhm, no thank you. I think I’ll just go back to my room for now.” I say. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, though.”

John nods as we begin to separate. “I’ll meet you in Professor Lourdes classroom.” He waves and vanishes into the growing crowd aiming for the coffee shop.

I turn on my heel and head back towards the lift. I go to wrench it open when I realize it is gone. I hear it below, churning and working it’s way up. I step aside and watch is rise. I see inside a couple inside. I recognize the sleek golden hair as Cordelia and I step further into the shadows. I see the man she’s with, tall and slender with dark hair. My jaw drops as he walks out, pulling Cordelia with his lips. They separate briefly before she has him locked again.

“I really must go.” Ari is breathless.

“Oh fine.” Cordelia pouts girlishly. She stays in the elevator. “I’ll see you later then, darling?”

Darling?

Ari smiled. “Of course.” He waves her off as she turns the elevator back on.

Disappearing below again. I look at Ari and watch him adjust his tie and collar. He wipes at his mouth and smoothes out his hair. He produces the apple he had been eating when I left him and takes a bite. He then walks away and into the glass elevator.

I’m not sure what to feel. Shock definitely. Betrayal? But why? I don’t even know Professor Lourdes. I only had a brief chat with him a moment ago. But he was nice to me. He listened to me. I thought he saw me. I thought he saw Cordelia.

Why Cordelia?

I slide to the floor. Bewilderment sweeping over my brain. I think about Ari’s apple and decide to throw mine away. It’s probably brown by now. I go to reach for it and notice a little red book in my bag. I take it out. It was the book Ari had been carrying when he first came into the room. How did it get in my bag?

The cover it soft cloth. Once it had been deep red but it was faded now, but the gold emblem emblazoned on the front was just as dazzling as it must have been when it was first published. The gold lion on the front matched the one on the school pins. I opened it up and a pressed flower fell out into my lap. Picking it up I realize it’s a lilac. I read the title page.

Merlin’s Arthur

I flip through the pages and something else slips from the pages. It’s heavy and cold. When I hold it in my palm I see it’s a key, a lion head serving as the top. It’s mouth gaped open, the key serving as its tongue. And engraved on it’s tongue was my name.

Chapter Three:

The academy has long since emptied out and I sit alone at Stone Lake. I thumb the key in my hand, wondering what it means. Did Professor Lourdes give this to me? I hold it against my chest, looking up at the dim windows of the academy. I wonder if he is still in his room? Was he expecting me to take him up on that study session?

“I can see you out there.”

I let out a yelp as a voice booms out over the empty campus. I huff, flustered. Realizing Ty has seen me some how.

“I’ll meet you in the commons.” Ty says and then the intercom goes quite.

I stand. Placing the key in the pocket of my vest before I walk back to the academy. I go in and wait before the glass elevator for Ty. I keep finding myself glancing at the little iron elevator behind. Why do I care what Professor Lourdes does? I convince myself its because it was Cordelia. Nothing more.

The glass elevator swings open and Ty comes out. He’s out of his school uniform, weAring only a pair of jeans and a dark t-shirt. “Wanna have some fun?”

I shrug. “Depends.”

Ty loops his arm around my neck and leads me away. We walk for a long time in silence. It’s hard to think we’ve been separated from one another for ten years now.

“I have a wonderful evening planned,” he tells be just before we reach the dorms.

I look up at him, his arm serving as my scarf. “Oh really?”

He smiles impishly. “You are a very lucky lady. Many women fight for the hand of Ty Jerrick, but only you can have it.”

I scoff at him, knowing him all too well.

He squeezes his arm tighter. “Go up and get changed, quick.” He commands me, pushing me to the front door of my dormitory.

I look back at him before I walk inside, slightly afraid when I come back out he’ll of disappeared into the golden autumn air. It’s where he belongs anyways, my flitting leaf.

He shoos me and I smile at him. “Ok, ok, just a second.” I call to him and rush inside and up to my room. I hurry myself into a t-shirt dress and grab my jacket. I don’t want to miss a moment with him.

We then walk to the school garage. A lot of the students who stay in the dorms have cars they use to go into town. We get into Ty’s car, a 1969 olive-green Mustang, and drive off.

He has the last picture taken of us together taped to the rearview mirror. I’m six, he’s seven. We’re hugging in front of the old cinema.

“I thought I’d take you to the docks.” Ty puts on a pair of sunglasses. “I know how you like the water. Plus, there is something I want to show you.”

“Sounds fun.” I lean back in the leather seat. “Why were afternoon classes canceled?”

He shrugs. “Silly reasons. Works in our favor though.” He says with a grin. It’s the kind of grin that makes me think he had something to do with it. But I know that’s just Ty. Everything he says sounds mischievous. He used to get in so much trouble back when he lived with father and me. I think that was one of the reasons Mrs. Jerrick and my father decided he’d be best with her.

Ty parked his car on the street and we got out to walk. He put his arm around my shoulders again. He probably thought I was cold in the wind.

We stopped at a sweet shop and got hot coco. I got marshmallows and cinnamon. Ty got whip cream and sprinkles, and another with marshmallows and caramel.

I crook my brow at him. “Why’d you get two?”

He mimics my eyebrow, then flips it to the other brow and back. “Too keep me sweet.”

I couldn’t wait to get to the dock. I loved the smell of the wind off the ocean. Even now I dream of the summer house in France, an old chateau overlooking the ocean. I’d fall asleep in the box window, just watching the sunset melt into the waves.

The dock is made of old but hard and sturdy wood. I love it instantly. The sun reflects in glittering cascades off the water. As I race Ty towards the end of the dock a small girl comes into view. The sun glows off her golden hair like she has a halo. I think of the extra coco Ty bought, marshmallows and caramel. I feel like such an idiot for not realizing it sooner. She turns, her pale face flushed from the breeze. I raise my hands to my face and race to her.

“Nissa!” I cry as I scoop her up in my arms. “How on earth?”

She clings to me, gripping on as tight as she can. “Heloise,” she whimpers into my chest.

I cupped her face in my hands, beaming into those blue-gray eyes. “I thought you were in America!”

She was almost crying. Then again she always had tears in her eyes when she was happy. “Grandmother convinced Mama to send me back here.”

I pinched her cheeks. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

She bit her lip. “Grandmother doesn’t like you.”

I laugh and pull her into another tight hug, cupping the back of her head. “I’m so happy to see you. I don’t care what that old bird thinks.”

Behind us, Ty laughs. “I told you you’d like the docks.”

“Are you attending Cleatom then?” I ask, reluctantly pulling back.

She nods. “Yes.” She pulls out her Diamond pin. “Isn’t it pretty?”

I feel upset she is only a Diamond. Her miserly old grandmother is a modern day Ebenezer Scrooge. Plus you add in both her mother’s celebrity and her own, she should be an Emerald. I cup Nissa’s hands in mine, ignoring it.

“I saw your last movie. You were so wonderful.”

Nissa beamed and asked about our father. I told her he was the same as always. I obligatory asked about her mother. Nissa answers that she’s been so busy, with movies, TV, and even a book in the works. I have no idea what that woman would write about but I nod and smile. I’m just happy to have Nissa back in my arms again.

“How long have you been in Cleatom?” I asked.

“A year,” Nissa admits guiltily, biting her bottom lip. “But I’m moving into the dorms soon. Grandmother’s health is failing and she said it would be best for me to stay away from it.” Poor sweet, darling, Nissa. She’s covering for the world’s oldest hypochondriac. I bet the bat sent Nissa away, complaining that she was the cause of her warts or something idiotic like that.

“I have us reservations set up.” Ty says, tapping the face of his watch. “I figured we Boniface children should have our long, over-do family dinner.”

Nissa squeezed onto my hand as we walked, she caught Ty’s and we walked in a row down the street. One thing I am grateful to my father about is this, my siblings.

Once we sit down at the restaurant Nissa and I begin peppering each other with questions. She asks me about home. Ty asks her about what celebrities she’s met. I ask her about her travels.

“Oh!” Nissa suddenly exclaims. “I haven’t told you the best thing!” She giggles excitedly. “I’m Ty’s assistant!” She says, touching his hand. “I’m part of the Student Government.”

“Really?” I gasp.

She nods. “Yes! I never thought Ty would hire me.” She blushes some. “I thought for sure he’d pick some pretty girl.”

Ty scoffs. “I did pick a pretty girl.”

Nissa rolls her eyes, same as me. “You know what I mean, Ty.” She looks at me and we both crack up.

“I see what you think of me.” He scoffs, slapping his palm against his chest and turning his head over-dramatically away. “I am saving myself for marriage.”

Nissa and I laugh harder. I’m squeezing Nissa’s hand, not realizing how hard, but she offers no complaint because she squeezes right back.

We leave just as the restaurant closes. Ty drives us back dropping me off at my dormitory. I kiss Nissa goodbye, almost wanting to cry as I watch them drive off.

I suddenly feel exhausted as I get to my room. I strip as I walk to the bathroom where I shower. As I dry my hair with a towel I pick up my dirty laundry and toss it in the allotted bin. One of the staff would collect it in the morning. I picked up my uniform and the key fell out of the pocket.

I had almost completely forgotten about it. I roll it through my hands then set it in my bedside table. I get into my sleep shirt then return to the key. I look up at it as I lay on my bed. I drift off to sleep soon with the key clutched in my hand.

I’m standing on a boat, my body badly injured and bleeding. I’m screaming. Fighting against arms holding me back. I know I have won against these arms many times in the past, but my body is so badly beaten they are winning.

I’m screaming someone’s name. Someone I don’t want to leave. Someone I love.

I finally collapse to the floor of the boat, sobbing their name over and over. I’ll never see them again will I? I look up at the one who was holding me back and he shakes his head sadly. He gently wipes away my tears and leads me into the boat. He sets me down gently on a comfortable chair and he extends my legs, removing the heavy metal boots from my feet.

I’m still whispering the name, over and over.

Two soft hands gently cress my cheeks and pull back my hair, tying it up and away from my face like I like. I look up into her warm, familiar eyes. She is crying too and I am comforted there. I lean my head into her arm as she removed the metal gauntlets from my arms. She’s singing a song to me.

I look down at the man tending to the wound in my belly and I ask him something. He looks at me and answers, “Your loved ones cannot follow you here, my lord.”

I’m baffled.

He doesn’t allow me to argue. I whisper the name again and he shakes his head.

The woman pulls a locket out from around my neck and opens it before me. I preciously cradle it in my hands. Inside is a lock of raven black hair. It sends me into shuddering tears.

I awake from the dream, still whispering the name, still crying. I sit upright and rub hard at my eyes. The name has already been forgotten, but the heart break I felt in longing for it still haunts me.

I realize I’m still holding the key. In the darkness I think for a moment it is glowing, but I decide it is merely the full moon reflecting off it. It is half past midnight and despite that I decide I must act crazy and go for a walk. Anything to subside the pain of my heart breaking.

I put on some jeans and a plain shirt. I stuff the key in my pocket and walk out of the dorm. I walk up the cobblestones of the dorm village. I walk past the boy’s junior dorm. The female senior dorm, and I walk further. I walk past the student garage and into the forest.

I think, perhaps if I keep walking I’ll reach the cliffs over looking the ocean. Instead, I come across a massive cast wrought iron gate. It looked like a palace itself with all the intricate works and towers to it. In the very center, where the gates open up, was a lion’s head. It’s mouth gaping open and it’s tongue serving as the latches.

I touch the key in my pocket. It is iron too. I take it out and compare the lions’ heads. They look like they match but in the moonlight it is so hard to tell. I stand closer to the gate, looking for the keyhole. I suddenly have an idea and hold the key in my hand and insert my hand into the large lion’s mouth. Sure enough, the key slides right in and I turn to unlock it.

The gate creaks open by itself, first slow then it suddenly blows open, sending me back a few paces in fright. I hold my arms before me as I am greeted by a cold burst of air, strong enough to almost knock me over, but I manage to hold my ground.

As I peel my arms away I see a thick, heavy mist pouring out from the open gate. I hold my breath and look all around me. I decide maybe I should head back. Then I think that the key had my name on it, perhaps Professor Lourdes meant to tell me about it and forgot. Perhaps, since I was Emerald, I had special privileges to certain areas on the campus. The campus was massive enough to allow such a thing. So I stride into the mist. I hear the gates close behind me and I am suddenly tight inside with dread.

I take a few steps, barely able to see anything around except for the cold, white mist. My toe hits something and I fall. Breaking through the mist I fall and hit on a set of stairs.

Stairs?

The mist is so thick around me I can barely make them out, rising through and going up in a gentle slope. So I begin climbing the stairs, I remember there being mist in my dream, it completely engulfed the boat I was on. Who else was there with me? A man and a woman of unearthly beauty. It is so funny how you can forget a dream so powerful so fast.

Above me I see the beginnings of a building rising above the trees, but the deep fog is swallowing me up.

Am I in another plain of existence?

At the top of the stairs I see not a building but a huge marble platform surrounded by tall statues of women bearing shells and children, massive lions with their mouths wide open, men wielding swords or embracing a woman. All of them an Atlas, holding up the a massive dome covered in tiny fragments of glass that glittered and glowed in the moon’s radiance.

“Oh wow…” I whispered. I am aware my toes are freezing, and the cold begins climbing its way up my body. Tiny frozen fingers ripping through my clothes and sending my skin into gooseflesh. I shuddered and hold my arms across me.

“Are you cold?” I look up in response to the voice. Before me, coming down from a platform at the far end is a man. “I see you didn’t need my help finding this place.”

I’m confused. The cold seems to be stabbing at my brain now. “John?”

I then see two more appear behind him, a tall figure that remains in the shadows and the second comes out farther than John. She smiles shyly at me.

“Den…” I shake my head. “What is this?” I ask, taking a step forward.

John raises his hand out of the fog and I was stunned to see him holding a sword.

“John!” I exclaim, jumping back.

My back hits a wall, cold as ice. I whip around, there were stairs here just a moment ago. Instead there is this cold wall. A wall of solid ice. My breath comes out in thick white puffs now, fast little ghosts leaving me. A warm hand touches my shoulder and I spin around to face Den.

“Hold still.” Den commands and I stand rigid, her hands touch my chest and I fell a small weight against the collar of my shirt. It is an Emerald pin. Den then puts her cheek to mine.

“Never let go of your key.” She whispers into my ear and then she steps behind me, her warm hand lingering on mine.

I look back up at John, squeezing the key tighter in my hand. “John, what’s going on?” I try to stay calm, but my voice is noticeably shaky.

“What is going on is a rite of passage.” The man behind John responds. His voice is deep and I don’t recognize it.

“For what?” I snap.

“If you have a name on the key.” The voice tells me. “John,” he says in a commanding voice.

John was suddenly charging at me. I hold up my arms, bracing myself. He knocks me upside my head with the blunt end of his sword, and I fall, hitting the frozen ground.

“Get up!” John yells.

My head in throbbing and words and pictures are mixed up in my head. My vision is whirling and spinning.

“Get up!” John barks again. Using his foot he flips me over onto my back. He then takes his sword and touches the tip to my pin. “I’ll break it if you don’t get up.”

“Heloise!” Den whispers demandingly.

I whimper a loud, choking sob. “For the love of God! What?”

John circles me, the tip of his sword pointed at me. “Draw your weapon.”

I swallow and roll to my side, wobbly standing to my feet. I still have my key clutched in my hand. “Tell me what’s happening.” My speech is slow.

John holds his sword up. “Draw your weapon.”

I grip onto the side of my head. “Weapon?”

John sneers. “Draw it, now!”

Confused, hurt, and angry I scream out. “I don’t have a weapon!”

I raise my hand, attempting to throw that damn key and then the sound of steel hitting steel resonates like a gunshot, and a bright flash of light that blinds me.

The mist clears. The light dims. Looking up I see a sword in my hand where the key was.

In my stupor John easily forces my sword down and he raises his against me again, bringing it down towards my neck. I swing upwards, hitting John’s wrist, ripping away at his starched sleeve. He jumps back and I run away, a stupid move because his sword is slicing by my leg, cutting into my thigh. I cry out and fall to my knees.

Den cries out. “Get up!”

I shakily move to stand and I hear John charging towards me. The fog is closing in, engulfing me, swallowing me whole.

I drop back to my knees and suddenly I am gone.

John’s sword hit’s the floor before me and I jump away, still low and in the fog. If I remain hidden in the fog, I think, perhaps I can regain my footing, regain some of the sense John knocked out of me. My ears are ringing, blood rushing to them and to the throbbing lump near the back of my left ear where John had hit me.

What was happening to me?

What the hell was wrong with the people at this school?

I then hear a scream. It’s Den. I jump out of the fog instantly, seeing John approaching Den with his sword ready.

Without a second thought I lunging through the fog and the air. I am flying. I am swinging my sword. As I swing at John, for the briefest flash, I see someone else. I see a man with long golden curls, and a strong yet angelic face. He is wearing shimmering armor almost pearl in color.

I strike him.

John’s arm is braced against mine, his hand pressing hard against my shoulder. I’m staring at him, wide eyed and frightened. I hadn’t been in control of myself.

Someone else had.

“Heloise-” Den gasps.

I hear the slight tink of something hitting the marble, echoed by tiny droplet-like sounds raining on the floor. Looking down I see I only have the key in my hand, the sword has gone away in John’s hand as well. He pulls away from me and the mist begins to recede. Looking down I see John’s diamond pin on the marble, all the individual tiny diamonds scattered like so many drops of rain.

John is looking at me, hard and long. I look back at him, confused and afraid. Was he going to hit me now?

John lifts his head, looking away from me and towards the back. “You were right.” John says to the man at the back.

“I don’t…” I murmur, slowly shaking my throbbing and confused head. “What do you mean?”

“We’ve been waiting a long time for you to come back.” The man in the back replies.

John is then bowing before me. “The one true king.”

I’m confused beyond reasoning. I clutch my head in my hand. “John stop. What are you doing?”

“Look at your key.” Den is behind me, putting one hand on my shoulder and the other on my waist. “You’ll see your true name written upon it now.”

I lay the heavy key flat in my palm. Engraved where my name used to be read the name: Arthur.

#creative writing #old writing #fantasy writing #fantasy writer #story writing #arthurian legend retelling #fairy tale #momo monsters #my writing

39 notes · View notes

http-finnick · 1 year

Text

𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠

finnick odair x siren!fem!reader

summary: as the soft waves hit finnicks boat, he hears a lully song that pulls him deeper into the waters

𝐜𝐰: 𝐛𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟, 𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧!𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐤

the boat rocks slowly as his grip tightens on the fishing pole. the unfamiliar feeling causing his hands to shift almost constantly.

he wishes he was in the shallows right now. with a trident in hand, grabbing fish every second instead of sitting, waiting for hours.

the bright side is he's alone. far out enough not to hear calls from guards but close enough to get back if he slips into any danger, but, really...what danger awaits a lonely fisherman who can't get any bait? death from boredom might be the cause.

fisherman. thats what he is. he hates it. hates everything about it. he's been out here for weeks with no catch, he should be back on trident duty, he is the only capable one out here for that job.

the fog thickens around him as he sways, deep blue sea enticing him to jump in and get it over with. he looks back at the shore with disappointment. there is no shore, the fog covered anything in front of his nose at this point. he needs to get back.

his ears get pierced with a sound he can only describe to be a hum..a soothing, eerie hum from...where? his eyes catch the sudden movement of the waters, scales. light green ones and he grips his pole tighter in anticipation of a catch, fear floats back in his mind as he wonders if it was even real. has he finally lost it? has the ocean taken him as its own? he can only hope.

there it is again. a hum. clearer this time. no doubt. his head snaps to the shore -or what was the shore- as he wonders if someone could be whistling to signal his arrival back because of the weather conditions.

but...it doesn't sound like a whistle...it sounds like a song, a high pitch voice rippling just for a second to stir his curiosity just enough.

again. louder and... it's a woman. why would a girl be out here in this fog, why would she be singing? his mind clicks back to the fish he saw earlier and decides if he didn't get it in his time of thought, he wouldn't get it at all. he rolls the string back up and places his pole lovingly back into the safety of the boat, grabbing his oars before dropping them at the sound that's all too familiar now.

he leans in pressing his ear into to air. it's coming from the water

he sees something flowing in the waters, rope? seaweed? it moves enchantingly rhythmic as he realizes something that makes his hair stand up its swimming to the surface

not floating, not thrashing up, it's swimming, it's alive.

It's getting closer, he should grab his oar and leave but danger isn't something he feels. eerily calm with a devastating amount of curiosity is the only emotions sticking to him

bubbles emerge around the being as it swims up to his boat...he stumbles back in shock as its- its a woman.

is she escaping? how did she get past the guards? where is she going and why did she stop at his boat?

his peripheral catches something that makes him feel faint. a tail, thrashing back and forth as he connects it to the scales he saw earlier

her eyes. her eyes are black as her wet hair falls around her face, covering her breasts.

this is no woman. this is a siren.

nails. her nails are long and clear as they grip onto his boat, her lips are red and soft as water droplets scatter her face and body, and her skin is pearlescent..shes beautiful.

shes here to kill him. he's sure of it. sitting in shock as he studies her he notices something rather strange. her eyebrows flicker down for a moment as her black eyes look around him and his boat, focusing on the fishing pole more than anything

shes studying him.

"h-hi" his voice is low, scared, he's so so scared. he's heard of sirens from the drunks that linger around but never thought anything truly of it. her eyes snap back at him and he feels himself flinch at her cold stare

she doesn't say anything. but her red lips start to grin in an oddly horrific way. her teeth are sharp. every pair is sharper than his trident and can glide through flesh- through this very boat at ease, he's sure of it.

he feels dizzy, enchanted. like shes trapped him in a stare and can't help but feel utter need for her.

"hi" she talks. no, she mimics. chills he forget about run through him as he moves closer to her, hands that were gripping his boat detach and grab his face in a surprisingly soft manner. cold. her hands are cold but not in a human way. like she's somehow cold-blooded. her nails which are almost as sharp as her teeth don't scratch him but sit softly on his skin as she moves closer to him.

her head tilts as she moves to his face, cold lips meeting his in a fiery kiss. is she shooting her poison into his system? will she use those teeth to rip his throat out? he doesn't care. because the lust and addiction he feels in this moment are so ethereal he doesn't care if he dies in this moment.

he begs for more but feels her touch missing in a second, he opens his eyes to find himself alone and the fog clearing. his pupils shrink back to their normal size and stop there spinning as he finds himself alone and the shore in reach. guards notice him and wave their hands to signal his shift is done. he looks back to the water to see a tail thrash out of view. and he wonders when he will see his siren again

a very important thanks to @cauliflowertree for letting me use her photo edits! they are so beautifully done and I can't thank her enough for letting me use them!!

an: ahhhh so what do we think? do you guys like siren!reader? please let me know!! I've been wanting to write this for so so long and I'm very pleased with how it turned out! I'm so in love with siren mythology and when I saw cauliflowertee's moldboard for finnick it gave me those vibes so heavily!! (again, thank you so much!) I hope you guys enjoyed it, I love you so much <3

294 notes · View notes

jesuisici33 · 6 months

Text

tease tidbit tuesday/wip wednesday

tagged by @mammameesh @wikiangela some more i want my blood in your veins aka vampire!buck!

putting it under a read more because it's kinda long but here's that eddie getting jealous of taylor i've been teasing for this fic

tagging @hippolotamus @911-on-abc @eddiebabygirldiaz @monsterrae1 @daffi-990 @thewolvesof1998 @liminalmemories21 @forthewolves @fortheloveofbuddie @disasterbuckdiaz @loserdiaz @wildlife4life @rmd-writes @wandering-night19 @alrightbuckaroo @heartshapedvows @honestlydarkprincess @ladydorian05 @bonheur-cafe

Buck smells her before he hears her call out his name.

He shouldn’t be surprised that she came down to the station today. Taylor is such a fucking tease. Especially when he gets hungry. Like this morning. Humans are easily awakened to the scent of bacon or eggs for breakfast to get them out of bed. Buck wakes up that morning to the scent of Taylor’s blood filling his nostrils. It’s stronger, muskier, and mouth watering than usual. Not like any of the shallow cuts she gives herself to get his attention or the way he breathes in her scent as he’s feeding from her. It not only makes his fangs throb with need, but his cock starts to harden.

Throwing the covers off, he’s greeted with his and Taylor’s still naked bodies from the night before. Both too sweaty and tired to really shower or get dressed in pajamas again. Using his nose as a guide, he sits up and finds a small blood stain on the sheets. Trying not to wake Taylor (not only is she not to be trifled with when hangry, but she is not pleasant when just woken up), he gently nudges Taylor’s legs open. There. That’s where the source of that beautiful, mouth watering scent is. She’s on her period.

Buck knows this time is bound to happen eventually. He remembers times when they’ve hung out as friends he’s smelled a faint scent of her period coming from her. However, it has always been blocked off by a tampon soaking it all up. The cotton smell taking over all of the delicious blood.

When Taylor does eventually wake up, she groans as she sees what’s happened during the night. Grumbling how they have to put the sheets in the wash and now she’ll have to take a handful of ibuprofen to help with the cramps she’ll get throughout the day. How she’ll need to stop at a pharmacy for tampons since Buck doesn’t have any and fuck she hates this time time of the month.

Then Buck sees the morphing of an idea start in her head.

“You can just…suck it out, right? Feed from me here? You can help me get rid of it faster, right, Buck?”

If they had more time, if they didn’t have to go to their respective jobs in record time, Buck would gladly lay on the bed and have Taylor sit on his face. Unfortunately, they live in a world where jobs exist and Buck has to wait to eat Taylor out.

And now she’s here at the station taunting him.

“I didn’t think we were expecting to see you,” Eddie says. His voice is aiming for friendly, but it comes out clipped. Buck tries not to feel guilty. He knows he should come clean to Eddie. Explain why he switched to bagged blood at the station instead of going with him to one of their hideouts when he gets hungry and biting into Eddie’s neck like he used to. “Is it a slow news day or something?”

Taylor’s smile stays in place at Eddie’s barb. “Little puff piece not too far from here. Thought I should stop by and see how you’re doing.” The last she says to Buck. She cups his cheek to get a good look at his eyes. He hasn’t had any blood today. It was half Taylor’s request, half Buck’s anticipation for later today. Now that he’s in closer proximity to her, he can smell it even stronger. She isn’t wearing a tampon right now. Tilting his head he tries to figure out what she’s using. Is it a pad? There’s more blood pooling together.

“I’m good. Excited for tonight.”

Leaning down seemingly to kiss his cheek, she whispers in his ear, “I’m wearing a menstrual cup. Can’t wait to take it out in front of you.” Before Buck’s mind can process her words, she grins her reporter smile to the rest of the 118 and says, “It was nice to see you guys, but I gotta go! I’ll see you at home, Buck.”

A few moments later, Eddie corners him as they’re wiping down the fire truck. “Is everything okay? What did she say to you to make you look so shocked?”

For a long moment, Buck debates on whether he should lie to Eddie. However, he’s been lying to Eddie so much lately, he isn’t sure he can do another lie. Besides, he’s pretty sure if he shares the bare minimum, the conversation would end quicker than if he denied nothing was wrong. So might as well share some of the truth, right?

“Taylor’s on her period. I’m…helping her with it.”

“You’re…” It’s Eddie’s turn to short circuit. “Oh. Right. You would enjoy that.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Buck’s defenses aren’t all on high alert, but they definitely are halfway there.

The rag Eddie is using jerks in sharp, staccato motions. “It’s just that – well. It’s blood, so. You would like to…drink from there. Is all. And hey, it’s a free meal every month for what, five days? No biting required.”

“Taylor’s not-her period isn’t-I don’t see this as free meal time. That’s not what this is.” Isn’t it? If Taylor didn’t ask first, how long would Buck ask to drink from her pussy while she’s menstruating?

“But it’s a perk with her.”

“Okay, yeah. Maybe it is. So what?” Buck doesn’t understand where this random hostility is coming from. When Buck told him that he started dating Taylor – started feeding from Taylor – Eddie seemed fine with it. Maybe a little put out that he still wasn’t feeding Buck, but he didn’t seem angry. Or at least, if he was, he would’ve said something to Buck. Except he hasn’t, so he isn’t. So there’s no reason for Eddie to be this mad at Buck for doing what fucking vampires do!

Sighing, Eddie stops cleaning the same spot he’s been cleaning. “You’re right. Your eyes are getting redder by the minute. You need to feed soon anyways. Have fun with Taylor tonight.”

Eddie walks away and Buck is left feeling like he just failed a test he didn’t study for.

#vampire!buck

35 notes · View notes

jelzorz · 7 months

Text

162.

It’s not what Opeli expected. Not in the least. Soren has a good heart, and has always had a good heart, even if it had been buried under the facade of a bully once upon a time, but she had certainly never counted on him wheedling his way into her office, and then her heart, and then her bed. He has aged well, at least, and the maturity suits him. His hair is a dirtier blonde than it used to be, his shoulders broad and taught with muscle, the boyishness in his face replaced by the shadow of stubble and the sharp line of his jaw.

He is handsome. He is kind. He is the warmth she had long thought she would never need. And though she is convinced that, eventually, he will find someone younger and far more beautiful than she, for now, he finds his way to her without fail and without eyes for anyone else.

The first time, she had lain there afterwards and wondered how it happened: how she’d found herself undressed in a bed not her own, her hood and circlet cast aside in the pile of clothes on the floor. The act itself was gentle, tentative, pleasurable, certainly—Soren's hands were practised and skilful, and he'd been sure to make sure she was taken care of before he took the time to focus on himself.

They barely spoke after. What was there to say? Opeli had pulled herself together before the sun found the horizon and disappeared before she could dwell on it any longer. “It was a mistake,” she’d said. “It can’t happen again,” she’d said.

But it has, more than just a handful of times, and many times since, it was she who came to him.

What can she call it now? A tryst? An affair? A scandal? A secret, at the very least, but regardless, these are words that she had never thought would ever be associated with her.

This evening, he is in her quarters again, and there is mischief in his smile.

“Would you be interested in trying something a little different?”

Opeli raises an eyebrow at him. She is fresh from the bath, her hair still wet and her robe tugged tightly over her body as if there’s anything left to hide. His eyes are appreciative, but respectful, and even after all the times they’ve done this, the way he looks at her still makes her face feel warm. “Different how?”

He sets a roll of satin against her dresser. “For your eyes,” he says.

Opeli’s breath catches in her throat. She is not a particularly adventurous partner, in part because she does not have the same experience, in part because she is still, by all means, High Cleric. Most of their assignations are actually quite tame—if you can call something hushed and hurried on her desk or against his chamber door tame. But the thought of a blindfold—of not being able to see him and what he's doing...

Warmth floods her cheeks and she swallows, trying not to think about the tug in her belly, the way her breath is suddenly so shallow, the way her toes curl against the floor.

Soren catches her hesitation, the beginnings of a frown creasing his brow, but she shakes her head before he can say anything about it. "Perhaps," she says, hoping her voice isn't as strangled as it sounds. "I've never..."

She doesn't finish. She doesn't have to. He knows.

He pauses, ever the gentleman, always more concerned about her and what she wants more than he is about anything else. “We don't have to—"

"I'm open to it," she says. "I trust you." And to prove it, she steps towards him and sets his hands on the tie of her robe. She has never considered herself a small woman, but it feels like he towers over her these days, and the broadness of his shoulders make her hands look tiny in comparison, especially with his armour still on. “It can even be for you, if you prefer.”

His lips tug upwards, wolfish, playful. Opeli’s face grows warmer still. “You first.”

Opeli allows herself a chuckle. “So you insist, every time.”

“So I should.” He tugs her to him, her chest flush against his. “What kind of gentleman doesn’t take care of his lady first?”

She laughs. “Well, I should count myself lucky then,” she says, dancing the tips of her fingers along the edges of his armour. “To gain the favour of a knight such as you?”

Soren snorts, his eyes bright, and presses a kiss to the palm of her hand. “It’s always my pleasure, my lady.”

#in anticipation #celebrating my Win #ive had this in my drafts since june #granted this is Absolutely Not what they meant but i know what youre all like #what'll you lot give me if i post the whole filthy thing #sorpeli #under a cut for implied sexy times #set in the distant future aka soren is minimum 27

29 notes · View notes

ginsengkitten · 16 days

Text

༺Beautiful Dangerous༻

a slashxreader fanfiction

༺☆༻

Chapter Nine

Too Young to Fall in Love

Track: Too Young to Fall in Love - Motley Crue

Barely 18 years old and you believed to have found yourself in the hottest summer of your life. Caught between the crosshairs of the muddy LA rock scene in a twisted love triangle between yourself and Slash and yourself and drugs. Had Slash been fully sober and un addicted himself at the time of your first hit, he would have never allowed you to follow through with being roped into Stevens medicinal debauchery.

But Slash could barely help himself, let alone you. It had been a tug of war since he laid eyes on you. Something so soft and so delicate, he didn't want to dirty you. Make you like himself. Although it did turn him on to see you so carefree and happy. To see you happy was as much as he could offer in the midst of his own addiction. His relationship with drugs had only gotten more intense and you happened to be tangled in the middle.

Sex on smack was otherworldly however, and that- neither the two of you could deny or attempt to stop. Sex alone with him was magic all itself, but once it was fed the fusion of smack and blood hungry lust, there was no stopping it. The two of you were not only addicted to the drugs, but each-other. Of course, you didn't know this. You didn't know the gravity of your own demise. No, you were entirely too happy and in love to acknowledge something like that. As far as anyone outside of your little world of rock and roll knew, you'd maybe gotten addicted to coke-a-colas. “The caffeine”- you'd say, when Daisy noticed your upbeat in energy.

You had become exceptionally skilled, with the aid of Dave, at sneaking out or finding excuses to be away from the house.

"I joined a summer charity campaign with a local shelter. No of course you haven't heard of them, they're transplanted from New York, under the firm direction of the governor for tax purposes.”

Daisy hadn't ever put it past you to be capable of making up such a twisted lie, but she sure as shit wasn't going to join you. But, you had been beginning to feel a sort of animosity from her lately. Too many close calls, or missing outfits from her closet. You couldn't help yourself. You spiraled this tornado of passion. You'd do just anything to get to be with Slash.

It was another night that you and Slash had hitch hiked your way down to the beach. With sunset emerging into a deep blue hour. An unpopulated strip of silver soft sand shimmering in the moonlight. The beach was a tucked away secret to most, unless you had known LA your entire life like slash. The night was cooler but still hot. You had stripped down to your bare essentials lately to sake of heat. A pair of blue daisy dukes and a thin gingham blouse.

No smack tonight. Earlier in the day had sufficed and you weren't at the point of illness without it. No, nothing but raw human beings tonight. Slash watched you dance through the shallow calm waves as they licked your legs. He smirked lowly through his dark curls and lit cigarette- as was usual. It was quiet. It hadn't been quiet in a long time. You closed your eyes and inhaled the salty mist. Dancing haphazardly in small tip goes along the shoreline. Unbeknownst to you, a watchful Slash stay gazing at you desperately. With every little twirl in the sand, your fingers outstretched in the night air, your hair, twisting around you like a shadowed veil.

You call out to him in your loneliness. "Slash!" You giggle out in your twirl. "Slaaaash! Come here!" You call to him with your arms. Flashing a smile to him. "I don't wanna get all wet now sweetheart." He replies with a smirk, eyeing you. His resistance to your charm was extremely penetrable. Like a house of cards, the blow of your smile knocked him over. You deny his answer and call again - "pleeeaaaase! slash!" You run to the front of him where he's made camp on a single homeless towel. Just out of his reach you dance in your begs. "Dance with me." You beg to him. He laughs at your silliness. "I'm no dancer baby." He laughs out. "Slash- you must- you must DANCE! Don't deny the rhythm!" You tease. He smiles and shakes his head. "You're nuts you know that?" He chuckles out at you. You don't care. There's nothing to worry about here. Right now, the two of you, is all that mattered. "SAUL!You're breaking my heart!" You tease again. Pushing him to his breaking point, he smiles wide and abandons his previous claims to relaxing to jump up and try to grab you, to which you evade and teasingly dance away. A chase unfolds of you screeching in delight and fear as you race towards the ocean. Your legs carry you to no avail and Slash is wrapping you up in his arms and twirling you up. His big arms surround you. He cheekily burys his face in your neck and attacks you with his lips. Your squeals of laughter subside and his lips envelope yours with that familiar softness. Your lips ebb and flow on eachother like the waves beneath you. You pull back to look at him as he sets you down. You match your hand to his. Your hand is made to seem so small in comparison to his massive muscular hands. Locking fingers as he stares into you. His finest possession in the world. Everything he has ever wanted, right in his fingertips.

"Slash..I love you..." you spill out the words without thought. He smirks down at you. His arrogant, devilish smirk, that he so carries with him wherever he goes. That smirk that lit your soul on fire from the very day in the record store. Minimal silence passes before he replies softly. "I love you too." He says as he brings his fingers to cup your face. You feel nothing but heaven on earth right now. No drug could truly compare to this. This fire that he built inside you, it burned day and night, kindled by even a sliver of his face peering out behind the curtain of deep dark frizzy curls.

Was this a dream? No, it was real life. But sometimes even in real life, you must also wake up.

#gnr #slash #slash gnr #saul hudson #slash fanfiction #slash x reader #gnr smut #gnr x reader #slash smut #saul hudson x reader

16 notes · View notes

hopes-peak-postal-company · 2 years

Note

Hey Mod Akane? Can we get the antag trio with a tall and pretty s/o, but she's so pure and innocent? Like her mentality could easily be compared to that of a 6 year old. (I've asked this to sixth different blogs now)

Here you go I may have gone a bit off topic in parts though, so I’m sorry if I have.

The anatomist trio with a tall and pretty s/o that is also too pure and innocent:

Byakuya Togami:

* If it turns out your taller than him Byakuya wouldn’t like this, especially if you wear high heels a lot

* He ends up investing in some shoes with a taller heel, so he can be at least an inch taller than you

* It may sound shallow, but he does care to some extent if your beautiful and luckily you are extremely pretty

*The only reason he would prefer a pretty s/o like you is to impress his family and if he’s going to take over the Byakuya enterprise he needs a beautiful s/o by his side to boost his image

* Now your innocent and pure nature is a bit of an annoyance to him because he constantly has to answer questions you should already know the answer too, but you don’t because of how innocent you are

* Now because your childlike nature you are constantly dragging Byakuya to childish things he missed out on as a child because of his unconventional childhood

* You may think he finds this annoying and he does, but deep down he enjoys it because he’s not used to doing things like this since he was never able to

* And as the relationship goes on you will notice that he protests much less when you drag him somewhere fun

* If you ever asked him a dirty question because you don’t know what it means he goes red with embarrassment

* He doesn’t know how to answer that and tells you not to say such crude things

* Even if you don’t know what it means

* When people try to take advantage of your innocent nature since you don’t understand when they are taking advantage of you

* Byakuya tells them that peasants like them should do it themselves and they shouldn’t bother people who are better than them, especially the future wife of the future leader of the Byakuya enterprise

* You may not be Byakuya’s ideal s/o, but he treats you with the upmost respect and care imaginable

* Even if he does come across as rude and hurtful at times he does love you a lot.

Kokichi Ouma:

* Now you being taller than him isn’t something he will be bothered by as much as Byakuya would be since he is used to being smaller than most people

* Will use your height to his advantage though. Whenever there’s something he can’t reach he will call you no matter how far you are just to waste your time, and slightly so he has an excuse to talk to you

* Will also jump on your back at any given moment, so he can be taller than everyone else and get carried around to places he wants to go to

* Now if your pretty he will give you compliments, but at the wrong times to make you flustered

* For example, if your at an important event he will whisper a compliment about how pretty you look tonight and then walk away leaving you flustered in front of whoever you are talking too

* He really loves your childish mentality will constantly play childish games with you, since he enjoys playing them as well

* Will also happily go with you to any childish venture you have install

* Kokichi will constantly make dirty jokes to you and if you ask him what he means he will just pat your head and tell you that you don’t need to know

* Making you frustrated since she won’t tell you and this just amuses Kokichi even more, especially if you start pouting

* If anyone tries to take advantage of your innocent nature he is dragging you away from them and setting up a prank for them later

* Just, so they get the message not to mess with you again

* Only he is allowed to do that

* Anyway the two of you are a perfect match and very a like, although Kokichi is a lot less innocent than you are, so don’t always listen to what he says.

Nagito Komaeda:

* Now if your taller than him he would not care he wouldn’t even pay any mind to it

* He wouldn’t feel insecure at all and if your taller than him by a large amount he will let you lean on his head or shoulder whenever you want too

* He will constantly compliment how pretty you are he doesn’t waste no second to hype you up, even if you weren’t conventionally attractive he would still do this

* Now with your childish nature he will just go with the flow with whatever you want to do and let you drag him anywhere you want to go, he will do all this with a smile excited to do something you love

* He likes your innocent nature since it reminds him that there is still hope left in this world

* So whenever you ask him a dirty question wanting to know what it means he panics and tells you it’s nothing for you to worry about and it’s better if you don’t know and forget about it

* If someone ever takes advantage of your nature he tells you to please not listen to them and gently drags you away from them. Has he is doing this he will look back at the perpetrator and give them a menacing stare, which can be quite intimidating to a stranger

* Overall, he really loves you no matter how you act and he really adores these personality traits that you have and wouldn’t change them for the world.

#byakuya togami x reader #byakuya togami #kokichi ouma x reader #kokichi ouma #nagito komaeda x reader #nagito komaeda

133 notes · View notes

dab1-ex · 2 years

Text

Chapter 3

Pairings : Choso x Reader (main)

Naoya ×Reader

Summary: You’re in an arranged marriage with Naoya he may not seem like the prince charming but maybe a your knight may come saving you, his the Samurai Choso from the Kamo clan. Will he save you from this disaster you call a marriage or will Naoya change for the better or come to his demise as the worst.

Tags/Warnings: Fluff

1, 2, 4 , 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

___________________________________________

You breathed in the fresh air of your new enviroment. The Kamo fief was much higher up in the mountains making the air thinner, making each breath feel shallower than the last.

Naoya and you had arrived last night and were greeted by Noritoshi, as his father was busy attending to matters thats what he stated; but you knew that he was probably busy with a concubine and did not wish to be disturbed.

The carriage ride to the fiefs was one of silence and even when the two of you had arrived in the guest room neither of you tried to break this ongoing game of silence.

The Kamo fief was beautiful, there was so much greenery, with colorful flowers and the sound of flowing water. It was a sight you welcomed with open arms, after being cooped up in your living quarters back at the Zenin Estate with your little visits to the court yard. You enjoyed this new enviroment and absorbed the atmosphere as much as you could taking full advantage of it because you doubt you'd ever be in it again.

And now you stood outside soaking in the morning rays, that made you skin feel luminous and refreshed.

"(Y/N), my lovely wife could you please stop sunbathing now we are to attend breakfast" Naoya said through clenched teeth.

You looked up at him and then back down, and began following behind him to the dining area. Even through all the silence that you had endured on your journey to the Kamo Estate you could sense something was off about Naoya, and you kept thinking back to what his father said about you and your pregnancy or lack there of. You kept on thinking about what would happen if you didn't fall pregnant by the second season would they kill you, would they send you back to your father or would they let you go with nothing but the close on your back. If these thoughts plagued your mind you could only wonder what thoughts were crawling all in Naoya's head as his responsibilities were greater than your own, did his father see him less as a man now because he couldn't get you pregnant, or was the weight of all of this arranged marriage finally catching up to Naoya.

You pushed these worries for Naoya out of your mind trying your best not to look worried as a woman should never look unhappy or worried in her husband's presences or so you heard that's how you would have to appear as told by Naoya and Fujiko.

"Welcome, Naoya and (Y/N) Zenin. I hope you are well rested and pleased with you living arrangements" bellowed the Kamo head, you sat down opposite Noritoshi with Naoya sitting next to you and opposite Norioshis father the head of the Kamo clan.

"Thank you for having us, we are more than pleased with everything" Naoya said with a smirk.

Food was served and Naoya spoke to both Noritoshi and his father, as they spoke your thoughts drifted to Choso the Samurai, he was so close yet so far probably training now or walking about the Estate doing his duties, he probably wasn't wearing his Armour, maybe something alot or simpler with his hair half tied up.

"Lady Zenin?" Noritoshi voice had brought you out of your thoughts.

"Sorry Noritoshi-sama, my mind had wondered else where, please forgive me" you said bowing your head down.

"No need for apologies. Your husband and I where just conversing and perhaps one of the women of the Kamo Estate could escort you around for the day, your husband and I will be seeing to the necessary work that needs to be completed for the sake distribution to our pubs here and we shall meet later for you for the opening ceremony"

"Thank you for informing me about today's agenda, Noritoshi-sama" you said looking down with a smile.

"No need to look down (Y/N) it hides you beautiful smile, I'm sure Naoya would feel offended if he didn't see it before he left you alone for the day"

"My wife knows how much I enjoy seeing her happy, but also knows her place as a woman, isn't she just perfect" Naoya said smuggly while drinking his tea.

"She's a stunning one I'll tell you that, wish I had met her before you did Naoya" The old Kamo said laughing.

"Well I'm a lucky man who always gets what he deserves"

-----------------‐---------------------------------------------------

After breakfast you had headed back to your room alone, as Naoya left with Noritoshi straight after breakfast. You were informed that the woman of the Kamo clan would come to your room to escort you to wherever you desired to go for the day. You got ready to leave and explore awaiting for the woman to arrive.

A knock was heard at the door.

"Its open" your announced as you placed the ayokai pearl necklace around your neck.

"I'm ready" you said turning from the vanity to the lady waiting for you at the door.

Your breath halted as you were now face to face with the man of your infatuation, who had incubated your mind since you first saw him. Whose voice had not left your ears since you asked for his name.

You began to slowly regain yourself.

"I urhm thought a Lady from the Kamo Clan would escort me today" you said looking down.

"Noritoshi-sama saw me patrolling and thought it was much more fit that I be your escort for the day, in case you were faced with danger" he said with a stoic face.

"Noritoshi-sama also said that it would put Naoya-sama at ease knowing that you are well protected"

"Oh" was all you could muster as you had remembered Naoya the man you were married to.

Choso and you left the room and began walking to the outside world.

"Where are we heading Lady Zenin?"

"I wish to see the Kamo lands where the people live"

"Alright, I shall arrange a carriage to take you Lady Zenin"

"No need to, I wish to walk"

Choso simply nodded; Choso had realized from the conversation he had heard between you and your lady-in waiting that you seemed to be stubborn and yet he sensed some free spirit within you, so it was futile to argue with you about taking a carriage simply accepting that the two of you would be walking.

The two of you began walking off the Kamo Estate to the village just below.

The walk to the village was filled with beautiful scenery as each step you encountered some new type of plant or bug.

When the two of you arrived to the village, you began walking ahead of choso with him following closely behind.

__________________________________________

Choso and you had explored many places in the village, from the pubs that were about to open that would serve your father's sake, to the little wishing pond at the far end of the village, not much words were exchanged between the two of you yet you felt comfortable enough in his presence to enjoy the day.

"Choso, where do they sell the cream puffed pastries?" You asked turning around to ask him.

"At the Azula bakery near the pond we just left" he said with the same emotionless face.

"Is it possible we could head back, I wish to go to the bakery. I hear the cream puffed pastries are a delicacy in this region"

"Alright Lady Zenin" he said as he took the lead to show you the way to the bakery.

It was the first time for the day that Choso walked infront of you and it delighted you to know that perhaps he was becoming more comfrotable with you, even though the two of you only exchanged a few words through out thr day. If only he knew the affect he had on your heart.

The bakery was filled with sweet smells, and the soft sounds of the chimes playing as a light breeze passed by.

Choso walked to the counter and ordered four of the pastries while you waited outside for him admiring the garden that was only a few feet away.

"Here you are Lady Zenin" he said handing you the bag with pastries in.

"Is it okay if we eat the pastries in the garden across from the bakery?"

"If that's what you wish Lady Zenin"

"You can call me (Y/N), you've called me Lady Zenin for nearly the whole day" you said with a soft smile.

"Alright then .... (Y/N)" he said hesistantly.

________________________________________________________________

The grass was soft as you sat down; you gently opened the bag revealing the four cream puffed pastries.

"Here please take one" you said offering them to Choso.

"No thank you (Y/N)"

"Please Choso" you said looking into his eyes. It was the first time you'd uttered his name. He noticed it as he looked at you with widened eyes.

Choso was surprised that you remebered his name; it felt as if years had passed since he told you it. Choso heard the rumors of Naoyas bride being beautiful but when he saw you the day Noritoshi and his father went to the Zenin’s estate to wish their blessings upne you and Naoya he had to claim those rumors to be true. He only thought that much of you that you were beautiful byt throughout the day the two of you had spent he noticed that you were charismatic and charmful, enjoying your company quietly.

"Alright" he said reaching for one.

You reached in for one and the two of you began to eat the puffed pastries. You starred at the flower meadow that was infront of you, wishing to run threw them and the feel the soft grass on your skin. You knew what had to be done as the urge overcame you; you handed your pastery to Choso as you began to stand up.

"Where are you going my Lady?" He asked worryingly.

"I'm just going to see the flowers closer Choso" you said smiling back down at him.

You began walking through the flowers enjoy the soft late sun of the day on your skin. A butterfly had flown by the corner of your eye, intrigued by its colour of deep purple you wished to inspect it further, chasing after it as it flew away.

Choso watched as you began following the purple butterfly as he ate his pastery, he had to admit it was cute the way you enjoyed these things in life, things that most people overlooke. You were the first lady of status he knew that would enjoy exploration this much.

He watched as you slowly started to run after the butterfly, when suddenly you fell. Before he could stand up, you head peaked up from the ocean of flowers, as you hair fell all around your face, he saw you began to laugh as if you hadn’t just fallen.

You looked over at him smiling as if to reassure him that you were okay and not injured.

Choso saw you there with the sun hitting your skin looking as if you were glowing with the flowers cascading around you with you the sound of your laughter traveling through the air, he was awe struck. He had never seen a creature so beautiful in all the lands he had traveled.

You slowly behan standing up from the ground and walking back to where he was seated.

You were now standing infront of Choso who was still in his enchanted state brought upon by you, that you failed to notice. Until you spoke breaking him from your spell.

"Choso you have something on your cheek" you said reaching down to wipe the cream that was on it from the pastery.

He hadn't even realized the mess on his face, he was to concentrated on you and your heavenly presence that he had not noticed that he had pressed the pastry to hard that its cream had spilled onto his face.

He simply just starred back at you slowly blushing.

"It seems you have to be careful when you eat these Choso" you said laughing at how they cream was all on his cheek.

He simply nodded, you smiled at his expression.

"Shall we head back before it gets dark?"

"Urhm, yes me lady" he said with wide eyes and red cheeks.

The walk back to the Estate was quite, but now Choso walked next to you instead of behind you. You noticed this shift in Choso, as if he saw you as his equal now something Naoya would never see you as.

__________________________________________

When you arrived to your room you stood in the corridor with Choso before opening the door to the room.

"Thank you for being my escort today" you said smiling up af him.

"It was a pleasure" he said moving a fallen strand out of your face.

Choso now starred into your eyes; Choso felt like the worlds biggest fool, had he really start to developing feelings for you after a mere few hours with you. and then it began.....

You stared at each other slowly moving close to one another until you were just a head move away from locking lips.

The deeper he starred into your eyes the more lost in them he get, Choso slowly moved into the space that was separating you as he was so close now sharing one another's air when suddenly you heard him.

"Wife!"

I'm so sorry about this chapter, there will be alot of improvement and pls let me know what you think💗

#jujutsu choso #choso x reader #choso kamo #choso x y/n #jjk choso #jujutsu kaisen choso #choso jujutsu kaisen #kamo choso x reader #kamo x reader #naoya x reader #naoya zenin #naoya zenin x reader #jujutsu x reader #jujutsu naoya #arranged marriage #jjk naoya #jujutsu kaisen naoya #choso fluff

163 notes · View notes

late-to-the-magnus-archives · 11 months

Text

A Secret Friend - a Malevolent Fanfic

Faroe knows they're fighting again. It's upsetting.

Sounds like the perfect time for her new secret friend to make himself known.

(Takes place in the Surrogate universe, after Once Upon a Dream.)

AO3

--------------

Kayne is only a little bored. It’s not dangerous yet.

Not really.

The metaphysical equivalent of floating around the party room, providing hors d'oeuvres to beings his level and somewhat greater, is entertaining enough—handing over tiny planets he's corrupted, or entire species he’s driven insane. Occasionally producing weird treasure thought up by some mortal and stolen.

But really, all of that is the prelude.

He’s got them all watching his favorite show now, which is deeply gratifying. The only challenge is keeping them watching and not interfering.

All I’m saying, spurts Abhoth, spraying ankle-height abominations with every syllable, is she might be more interesting with some cancerous growths.

“No,” Kayne says, far more patiently than he feels. “That would just ratchet everything up the wrong way, and it would make Arthur, John, and Hastur work together. See? We don’t want that. That’s dull.”

Oh, says Abhoth, who wouldn’t have thought of that.

“Subtlety of a mack truck!” Kayne chirps and moves on.

Ghroth is no fucking better. Imagine the carnage if I caused the Dreamlands to erupt.

“To erupt into what, oh Maker of the Doom of Worlds?” says Kayne, who does know how to play the game.

Ghroth considers. It takes him a while. Volcanoes, he suggests.

“Naw.” Kayne pats Ghroth's enormous eyeball self and moves on.

Down below, John and Hastur have gotten into a screaming fight while Arthur rocks, holding his head in his hands; which is dull, until Hastur’s internal alarms go off and they know Faroe is on her way in with a basket of flowers and her horrible goat-god in tow.

And it is amusing to watch them all scramble, to do the equivalent of smoothing hair back and straightening ties, and when Faroe is older, she’ll know immediately that things were hardly as peaceful as projected.

She’s not quite there yet, so she smiles, tells them a nonsense-story she made up as she hands out flowers, and skips to her room.

Everyone is sullen in her wake.

Curious, says the Nameless Mist, one of Kayne’s siblings and one of the only beings he bothers actually respecting. What do you intend to do?

“Beyond ensuring these chuckle-nuts don’t get involved? Well. I have a twist for the evening,” says Kayne, for once not sarcastic. “Call it a mid-season surprise. A guest star.”

Oh? says the Magnum Innominandum. Who would that be?

“You’re about to find out,” says Kayne. “After the ad-break.”

Faroe likes shallow baths.

She does not like deep ones. She learned to swim under grave duress at her daddy's insistence (one of the few times her tears and wails did not move him). She’s a very strong swimmer, thanks to him, but it scares her badly. She doesn’t understand why.

Shallow baths are fine. She can wash, and use her cloth, and get her hair clean under running water (but never putting her face under), and she can clean Nibbles, and focusing on her friends’ weird hooves always helps. Not that Nibbles ever seems to need a bath, but that's not the point. Bath before bed. That is the rule.

Faroe thinks water is alive. It feels bad to her.

She tried to explain that to daddy, but he couldn’t quite get what she was saying. Water is not alive, he said, trying to explain chemicoles to her, and how it wasn’t living and so could not be bad.

But it was bad. She knew it was bad.

Uncle Arthur understood, though. Somehow, he did—and like he did with everything that scared her, he turned to music for a solution.

One night, after she sniffled because she’d had to have a real bath (she’d fallen into some mud and it had gotten under her nails and in her hair and it wasn’t her fault), he played something beautiful, and it… helped.

He said it was called Claire de Lune, and was about moonlight, but he always felt it was more like moonlight on water.

He played, and he told her to think about moonlight dancing on black waves, and how it could be beautiful, and how she didn’t have to go into it, but that it wasn’t always bad.

Something happened whenever Uncle Arthur played the piano.

Passing deities stilled. Monsters calmed in the walls. Sentient plants peeked over the balconies to listen.

Even the shriek-birds (which she did not like) went quiet.

And this piece… this moon piece… she liked it very much. Even if it was one of the ones that made him cry.

He cried a lot.

She hadn’t noticed it when she was little. She does now. She’s not sure what it means; he seems to just… do it all the time.

It feels bad. She doesn’t know why.

“This is concerning,” she says, because that’s how daddy talks about his people when things aren’t right. “I don’t think he should cry so much, do you?”

Nibbles bleats.

“Yeah,” she says, deciding the goat means ‘of course, you are correct,’ and gets out of her very shallow bath.

She’s big now, and can get into bed on her own.

She settles in under her sparkling white canopy, looks out her window at the velvet-blue sky and enormous moon, and sighs.

She’s in bed, She’s being good. But she’s not sleepy.

She can hear them yelling out there.

Faroe is young, but not stupid. She knows they think she doesn’t know they always argue.

“I don’t like it when they fight,” she tells Nibbles, sniffling a little.

Nibbles bleats.

I agree, Faruffin. It’s downright rude, isn’t it?

“Hello?” Faroe says, sitting up. “Mister?”

Nibbles makes a questioning sound.

Shh. She can’t hear me, little princess. Only you can. I’m your secretest friend.

“Secretest?”

Nibbles bleats again, slightly more concerned.

You can just think, sweetheart. I'll hear you.

Oh, she thinks, and lies back down.

I’m your secret friend! Everybody gets one when they’re almost four years old.

Oh! Well, that makes sense. Oh, okay. Hi, secret friend.

Hi, Faruffin!

The name triggers a memory, though she can’t quite place it. A weird day, she remembers that—but the nickname only brings good feelings. Safe feelings. Funny ones, amusing. Did we meet before?

We sure did! We made friends before, on the day you met Uncle Arthur. Remember what a mess he was? Oooh! Poor guy. He just can’t stop crying, can he? Pretty sad, if you ask me.

She ponders this.

She has no idea what to do with this information. But you’re not secret. Everybody saw you.

Oh, no, sweet thing, they didn’t. They were talking to each other.

Her brow knits. That’s not… quite what she remembers, but then, it is fairly vague. It was a weird day, tiring, and she isn’t quite sure.

Besides, it’s a grown-up voice. She remembers he was nice. Okay.

You can call me Brother Kayne, okay? But here’s the thing—you have to keep me a secret. Every time you tell someone about me, I get pushed further away! Eventually? I could shout at the top of my lungs, and you wouldn’t hear me ever again.

Well, that sounds terrible. Faroe wipes at her eyes. There is some reason that… someone going away forever is bad.

She can’t really put it together. Okay.

Our secret?

Our secret, Brother Kayne.

The voice laughs. No, that’s… yeah, I can’t do that. Just Kayne, okay?

Okay. Grownups are strange.

Wanna learn a trick?

Yes!

And Kayne teaches her a simple incantation.

She speaks it aloud—opening herself to magic the way her daddy’s been teaching her—and magic immediately happens.

The canopy overhead fills with stars.

She gasps.

The canopy is white, diaphanous, lovely; it shifts in the breeze from her window, and now, stars float through it, a lazy and lovely rotation, and she made it happen all by herself.

Nibbles bleats, then calms down. Maybe she likes stars, too.

Wow!

What do we say, Faruffin?

She remembers that name, now. It’s a good name, a silly one. She liked him when they met. Thank you!

Good girl. Now, go to sleep—you have a lot of growing to do.

Faroe watches the stars, tracing them, counting, until she finally falls asleep.

Kayne bows to his audience. “Will this come up again? Will it matter? Am I a Chekhov’s gun? Stay tuned!”

I don’t get get it, Ghroth says.

“Philistine,” Kayne says almost fondly, and pats the enormous world-ending eyeball. “Go on, now. Off you go!”

Would Faroe keep the secret? He didn’t know. If she didn’t, he’d disappear. If she did… well.

There were a lot of things he could teach a boring little girl on her way to becoming interesting—things that could actually make her worth a spin-off, once this all went to hell.

“It’s all about planting seeds,” he says.

Hypnos twitches, and might or might not have comprehended what Kayne said. But probably not.

“A smart little Sheila told me that some plants need to be babied. Have to say, I agree.”

Hypnos looks blank.

Kayne sighs. “Always boring when they’re broken.” And he wanders away. There are plants to tend, after all, and victims to visit.

And safe in Hastur’s castle, Faroe sleeps through further shouts about marks and ceremonies and owning, and dreams about singing stars.

----

NOTES:

That note about plants being babied will come up again, we promise. Muahaha.

#malevolent #malevolent fic #malevolent fanfic #kayne malevolent #faroe lester #nibbles lester #cthulhu mythos #malevolent pod #surrogate series

10 notes · View notes

rin-eko · 2 years

Text

Chapter Fifteen: And I can do it with you, here, by my side

Chapter Warnings/Tags: mentions of death/murder

masterpost

Your stomach twisted as you rode your horse back to the palace late that evening. You had spent almost the entire day at the orphanage, playing with the children in the hopes to get your mind off Aika and her words.

It worked for a while, and then Haruchiyo entered the shelter and you could do nothing but picture him and her together. It was a beautiful sight that brought the sharpest pain to your chest.

He immediately noticed something was wrong and you tried hard not swoon when he came to you, wrapping one arm around your waist as the other went to feel your forehead. He was observant, having noticed the slight paling in your skin and sunken eyes.

But his touch felt colder than ever and you fought the urge to push him away.

“What’s wrong?” he questioned quietly, just for your ears.

You avoided his gaze. “Nothing, I’m just a bit tired. I need to unpack these new toys so I better go.”

You had hoped he would leave then, but he took a seat on the worn furniture and watched your every move.

You studiously avoided that gaze. It was too much, now that you knew it was only focused on you to make Aika jealous. His attention, which you had grown to welcome, made the hair at the back of your neck prickle uncomfortably.

But you weren’t a strong person. The next time you looked at him your heart melted into a puddle at the sight of him playing with Cherry, letting the little girl braid the ends of his long hair while he read a children’s story out loud.

His eyes lifted, catching yours. They immediately softened on you.

Your breath caught. He looked so… open and fond. Surely such a genuine expression could not be fabricated? It was as if he were imagining a future in which he was playing with a child the two of you shared. Such a raw, exposed countenance, your heart wept.

Cherry had tugged on his fingers, whining and wanting to know why he stopped reading. He laughed, giving you one more enchanting look before following the story again.

“You’ve been quiet,” he murmured as you rode side by side back to the palace. The night was silent save for the sound of the horses’ hooves on the path. The stars blinked above you like diamond on velvet, the most beautiful you had seen in a long time.

“I’m just tired, my prince.”

“You’ve been pale since this afternoon. Are you feeling sick?”

“No.”

He growled irritably under his breath, facing forward in frustration at your half-hearted responses.

You were staring at the passing peach trees and trying not to think of Aika when he called out to the guard at the front.

“The princess and I will return to the palace later. I’m taking her west.”

Your head snapped to him. “Why are we going? It’s almost dinnertime.”

“Just come,” he snapped, cutting from the group to ride through the orchards of peach trees. You clicked your horse on, cantering to catch up with him.

Honestly, he was so bothersome. Why did he even care if something was wrong with you? He was in love with someone else and you were just the poor naïve girl who thought his sweet words meant something.

You stewed, followed behind him through a shallow stream, the sound of water trickling and cicadas chirping echoing through the night. The air was fresh against your face, a welcoming breeze blowing through the trees.

He didn’t look back to see if you were following him and continued trotting up a grassy hill, stopping at the top and dismounting from his white stallion.

You followed suit, breathless at the sight of the city to the left, endless rolling hills to the far west.

“It’s amazing up here.”

He made an agreeable sound, coming over to wrap his arms around your waist from behind as the horses ducked their heads to snuffle at the grass.

You stiffened, eventually settling down at the gentle kisses he placed on your shoulder.

“There’s Takeomi’s shelter,” he pointed out the tiny building in the distance. “You can see the lights from the marketplace. And further west you’ll find another town.”

“It’s too beautiful for words.”

“It is. And one day you and I will rule over it. Every corner of Senin will be ours.”

Your breath hitched.

“I don’t know if I will make a good queen.”

“You will.”

“How do you know?”

He nuzzled your neck, softly breathing in your scent. His hair draped over your shoulders, arms slowly wrapping around your collarbones.

“Because you’re caring and intelligent. I know you’ll look after our subjects.”

You stayed silent, so he continued.

“And you’re so lovely I want to marry you all over again.”

You rolled your eyes, stepping out of his grip. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“I just felt like saying it. What? Can I not comment on my wife’s beauty?”

You turned to glare at him, surprised to find him already looking your way. You tried to quickly avert your gaze- somehow feeling like he’d won- but he gripped your chin, stopping you. He smiled lazily.

“I finally got you to look at me.”

“Stop that.”

“I won’t. Didn’t I tell you? I go crazy when I don’t have your attention.”

You sighed, taking his wrist to remove his hand from your face. “Can we just go home, please?”

“Not until you tell me what’s wrong.”

“There’s nothing wrong. I’m leaving.” You made for your horse, only to have Haruchiyo skirt in front of you.

“What horse?” he raised his arm, grinning as he brought his palm down hard on the horse’s flank. You blinked, gaping. She snorted indignantly, rearing up and cantering down the hill before you could calm her. Haruchiyo’s horse lifted his head in interest, neighing softly and trotting after yours.

Your eyes widened in disbelief, so astounded no words came out when you opened your mouth.

“Y-You… Haruchiyo!”

His eyes shut as he smiled happily. “You cannot leave now.”

You looked with wide eyes to the palace in the distance. How far was it? How long would it take to walk? But it was dark, and there had been news of more robbers on the roads recently…

You growled, spinning to grab his collar and shake him.

“Y-You idiot! Why would you do that? Are you crazy?”

“I t-t-told y-you I aaam. Now you will tell me what’s wrong.”

“Even if I do, how will we get back to the palace? Are you an idiot? You must be an idiot…”

“They won’t have gone far, they are loyal beasts.”

“You… you…” lost for words, you spun away, pacing a few steps with your hands gripping into the hair at your scalp.

“My love,” he cooed, one finger ducking into the collar of your dress to tug you backward into his arms. You scratched down his forearms, struggling while he hummed peacefully.

“Let me go, you bastard.”

“Why are you speaking to me like this? It is as if you don’t love me anymore.”

“I don’t! Let go of me!” You stumbled as he did exactly as you asked, releasing the grip of his arms. You huffed, brushing down your clothes and glaring his way.

“You are so childish. What is wrong with-” your words faded as you took note of his expression. His lips turned down in unhappiness, head tilted like a kicked puppy.

The eyes are the window to the soul, you recalled your grandmother’s words from when you were little. You had gone exploring in the dark woods on the outskirts of Baye and had encountered a terrified baby wolf with a broken leg. It had been abandoned and was viciously snarling at you as you went closer.

“He is scared,” your grandmother said from behind you. “Look at his eyes. You will be able to see his true feelings.”

Those watery black eyes were terrified, not vicious and aggressive. The little wolf was snapping at you, but his shaking body cowered back. You had lowered your eyes and approached him with more care, cooing soft words to ease his fright.

“The eyes are the windows to the soul, dear girl,” your grandmother crooned as you held the bandaged wolf later that night. “Human or creature, you need only look into the eyes to see their truth.”

Haruchiyo’s eyes were dull, softly prodding you with insecurity. You saw no insincerity, only pure openness and truth, beautiful blue hues staring straight to your soul. Your heart twisted.

You opened your mouth. “I-”

“You know, after Takeomi died, I didn’t want to become emperor. Not only because I felt like I was stealing something that rightfully belonged to my brother, but also because I never felt like I could do as good a job as he would have done. He was amazing. He cared for every single person he met. How could I ever measure up? But… I look at you, and how you care for others, and I feel like I can do it if you’re by my side.

I…” he looked lost for a moment. “Before we married my father told me a good wife is priceless. I never understood what he meant, but I think I do now.” His forehead tapped yours. “I need you by my side, just as you are. Not someone who was born to care for my every need. I want the person you truly are.”

You didn’t know what to say. At the start of your marriage you never thought such beautiful words could be directed from him to you. And yet he was proving your wrong again.

But Aika’s words echoed in your head. That it was all a cruel trick to make her jealous. That he would always want her the most.

“I met Aika today,” you blurted out.

For a moment you thought he hadn’t heard you. He didn’t move or speak, and time ticked slowly by as your palms sweated nervously. The only indication that he had heard was the tensing of his arms around you, tightening for a brief second before you pulled away fully, stepping back to stare at you in assessment, seemingly searching for something.

You peered at his face because he had gone utterly still, a haunted look crossing through his eyes. You reached out, touching a palm to his chest and feeling him twitch beneath the contact.

“She… she…” How to explain the experience of meeting her?

“What did she speak about?” he cut you off. His eyes were no longer blank, they had gone wild. Not with anger, but fear.

You swallowed. “She told me that you proposed to her before you and I married and that you would never stop wanting her. I…” you bit your lip, casting your eyes away. “I’m sorry… for getting between you and your true love.”

That wasn’t what you had wanted to say at all.

“That’s all she said?” he gripped your biceps so tightly you felt his fingertips digging into your muscles, pain shooting through you. He pulled you close, your noses almost touching as his wide eyes shook.

He looked about ready to shake answers out of you, not paying any mind to your last few words. The fact he didn’t deny them only made you feel worse. And you didn’t appreciate his response at all. That’s all she said? As if those words weren’t hurtful. As if there was some other unknown threat Aika wielded.

“She said you’re only being nice to me to make her jealous,” you whispered. “Is that true?”

“You know it’s not.”

“I don’t know!” you burst out. “All I know is you were engaged to her before marrying me and everyone says she’s your true love! I’ve been hearing the maids talk about her for months while you haven’t said a single thing! What am I supposed to think?”

He glared. “Aika… she is…”

Tell me she doesn’t mean anything to you.

But he didn’t say that. He seemed at a loss for any words for long moments. When his mouth finally opened you wished you hadn’t brought Aika up at all.

“Aika isn’t open for discussion.”

A hundred needles pricked your heart, deflating it.

“But-”

“It’s none of your business,” he snapped. “And I want you to stay away from Aika.”

You winced, thinking that nothing else he could have said would hurt you worse than those words did.

“She’s the one who sought me out today!”

“Well if she does it again just ignore her. I don’t want you near her. Understood?” he glared at you, daring you to defy him. But you were too worked up to heed the warning, desperate for something, anything. Just a semblance of an answer from him- even if it was a lie. It wasn’t fair. Why was he not telling you? He could put you out of your misery so easily.

“Why?” you cried out. “Do you love her? That’s why you’ve started paying attention to me, isn’t it? She said it was only to make her feel jealous…”

“It’s not.”

“Then tell me what she is to you!” two tears quickly ran from your eyes.

He cursed, pulling you into his chest and ducking his lips to your ear. “Listen to me. We are not talking about Aika again, okay? Just trust me when I say I am yours, okay? I am yours. Believe that.”

“How can I?” you snapped, beating your fists against his chest. “You have done nothing to prove your words. It doesn’t matter how you play with me or humiliate me, no one will ever think twice about it.”

“Stop it. Stop it,” he took your hands, clutching them tightly in his warm, large ones. His eyes pierced through you. “I don’t want anybody else. I know how I treated you. I know these scars are my fault, and so you find my words difficult to believe, but I need you to have more faith in my feelings,” he brought your scarred hand to his lips, brushing against it. “I am not with you now to make another woman jealous. I’m with you now because…” he looked lost for a moment, and then he sighed, dropping his touch to step back against the glittering stars. Looking so open, a defeated smile on his lips as if he had finally resigned himself to the inevitable. “No one compares,” he stated softly.

Gods, how weak you were that just those words melted your resolve. So new to love, and clearly so innocent by the way you didn’t push him away when he gathered you to his arms once more. You felt exhausted, arms hanging limply by your side as you rested your whole weight on him, trusting him to hold you even while knowing he hadn’t truly answered any of your questions.

He wouldn’t give you anymore. You knew that. No matter how much you begged you knew he wouldn’t tell you anything more about that woman.

He kissed your crown. “Let’s go home?”

You wanted to stay out there, far away from the capital, knowing you’d feel even worse with every step closer to the palace. But as much as you wished it, you couldn’t run away forever, so you ducked your head and murmured a quiet agreement, a wretched ache in your heart.

“Yes, my prince.”

…

“Are you sick, crown princess? You look pale,” Sara pressed a worried hand to your forehead.

Sara was kind. She was mischievous and bold for a woman at times, but she was kind. Ever since your marriage with Haruchiyo she had been making an effort to get to know you, frequent bonding over tea, relaxing you into her motherly embrace.

Your mother hadn’t been affectionate growing up. She was more of a tutor than a mother, ensuring you always looked and acted perfect. Moulding you into the shape of the perfect wife to the crown prince. You could hardly remember a time she had hugged you in her arms or comforted you when you were sad, unlike Sara who had scooped Bashira and Asami into her arms as soon as they returned from Kalla Mist Mountain, adoration for the two girls clear in her eyes and their identical smile.

Over the months you had lived in the palace, Sara had become somewhat like a mother to you. You wouldn’t dare hug her, but you relished in the feeling of her concern directed to you, warm comforting palms gently stroking your face. You had never had maternal affection before, not since your grandmother, you guessed.

But with Sara it was easy. Her easy going and fun nature almost had you spilling all your worries out in the open because you knew she could find a way to ease them.

But would Haruchiyo be angry with you? You never wanted to be the recipient of his cold anger again. The hostility in his eyes- and smile- as he looked down on you sent trembles through you, the hair on the back of your neck prickling. And he certainly didn’t get along with his mother. He wouldn’t want you spilling any issues you had with your marriage to her.

“I’m fine, I just haven’t been sleeping well.” It wasn’t a lie. You hadn’t managed a good night’s sleep since the incident with Aika.

“Hmm.” She clearly didn’t believe you, eyeing you suspiciously. “It’s my son again, isn’t it? I can’t imagine being married to someone like him, you have my condolences. He’s always been… scary since he was a child.”

Your spine stiffened as you set your cup of tea down. “I don’t think I need your condolences for marrying him, he’s just slightly difficult sometimes,” you worded carefully. Sara was still the empress and could have you punished severely.

She studied you for a moment, a small puzzled smile on her red lips. She chuckled and picked up her cup to take a sip of green tea.

“Do you love my son, Princess Y/n?” she eyed you.

“Of course.”

“No. I mean do you really love him? Not as your prince or a forced husband. Does he own your heart as Kin does mine?”

You looked down. Did he own your heart? The feeling inside you was so foreign you couldn’t put it into words, though your heart did beat rapidly whenever he was around. But…

“I met Aika. Do you know who she is?” you asked quietly.

“Yes, I have met that dreadful woman once or twice,” Sara’s lip curled in distaste. “Haruchiyo fancies himself in love with her.”

Your chest tightened. “Oh.”

She sighed heavily. “That woman… she had her claws stuck in my son before Kin and I could stop it.”

“They’re really in love?” you whispered. It was true. Haruchiyo wasn’t yours at all.

“Maybe, but I don’t think so. That woman is possessive and aggressive. I think she wants to own Haruchiyo and become empress more than anything else. I wouldn’t call what they have love.”

“He refuses to speak about her to me. I’m worried.”

“Maybe he’s trying to protect you. That woman is dangerous.”

“Dangerous?”

“Yes, dangerous and unhinged. They met shortly after Takeomi’s death. Haruchiyo’s mind wasn’t sound and Aika took advantage of that, though my son won’t ever admit it. Anyways, I think they fought a lot and one day after an argument I believe my son bedded one of my handmaids.”

Your throat tightened with the quiet pain of imagining Haruchiyo with another. It wasn’t quite as painful as imagining him and Aika wrapped in bed sheets, bodies entangled as he made love to her, but it certainly wasn’t a pleasant image.

Sara sighed heavily. “The maid went missing soon after. When she was eventually found, it was with the skin beneath her heart torn from a blade. We were unable to find proof, but I’ve always felt that Aika did something it. Her father is the leader of a gang of dangerous bandits, so she’s certainly grown up in an environment that gives her the skills to harm others. She was probably jealous and spiteful over the maid, but we couldn’t do anything to her because Haruchiyo would have protected her. He… seems to care about her greatly. Or is unable to untangle himself from her. Either way, it put even more of a strain on the family, especially when Kin and I didn’t accept their relationship and rejected their marriage proposal.”

“He really proposed to her?” you were hoping more than anything that Aika had been lying when she showed you that ring.

Sara’s eyes were filled with sympathy. “Yes, they approached the throne one day. They wanted to get married immediately, but by then Kin and I both had our suspicions about Aika and didn’t want her near Haruchiyo.”

You didn’t know Aika at all. Maybe she was a good person or perhaps she wasn’t, but Haruchiyo loved her. Sara’s words only convinced you that what Aika had said was true. Haruchiyo would never truly be yours.

You can’t possibly hope to get between feelings that have bloomed in times of hardship.

At least that much was true. If Aika had helped Haruchiyo through Prince Takeomi’s death, they would always share a deep connection.

Torn between agony at the idea of Haruchiyo betraying your heart and sorrow at the prospect of having come between two people in love, you excused yourself back to your living quarters, taking the long way back through the passages as you lost yourself in thought.

“My lady, you’re back early,” Kia was making your bed. You stared at her, suddenly finding her face a little bit sickening to look at.

Haruchiyo had bedded her, too.

“Get out.”

“P-Pardon, Miss?” she stared.

“Please get out. I want to be alone.”

“Have I done something to upset you, my lady?”

You closed your eyes and took a deep breath. “No, I just want to be alone. Leave me be. I don’t want to see anyone. I’m resting.”

“O-Oh, okay. I’ll be just outside if you need anything.”

You shook your head furiously at yourself. What were you doing to that lovely girl? She did everything in her power to make your life easier. She hadn’t done anything wrong. No one would dare defy an order from the crown prince, and you and her hadn’t known each other at the time anyway. It wasn’t her fault.

You stared at her back as she walked away, guilt eating at you. You spent more time with her than anybody else. It could be said the two of you were even friends, despite your differing social positions. So why did you suddenly feel so angry with her?

Without you asking, she always delivered your favourite snacks when she thought you needed energy. She attended to your every need and when you were bored she told the most interesting stories of growing up in her small hometown. Why were you treating her so terribly?

Haruchiyo, or at least your affections for him, were changing you more than you were comfortable with. Rindou’s words from months ago at the Light festival echoed in your mind. You shut your eyes tightly. It hurt. Deep in your heart, a soul-shaking pain was bleeding out.

“Wait, Kia,” you called just as she was at the door.

“Yes, miss?”

“Come sit with me.”

She nodded, looking for somewhere to sit. You patted the space on the bed next to you and after a moment’s hesitation she sat.

You sighed. “I offer my apologies. I was rude.”

She gasped. “Miss, you should not apologise to me. Please do not.”

You met her eyes. “I am sorry, Kia. You didn’t deserve such harshness from me.”

She stared back at you, pressing her lips together and nodding firmly once.

You exhaled, lying back on the bed. “You are my friend before my servant. Please do not excuse my rude manners.”

“May I ask what’s on your mind, my lady?”

You sighed. “You see, I have feelings for the crown prince. The past days have been tiresome and the prince is difficult to understand. I saw your face and remembered my Fisson ceremony, which is why I snapped at you.”

You sat up quickly when she started apologising, prostrating on the ground below your bed.

“No, no, I am not telling you this so you apologise. In fact, I was just about to say that it wasn’t your fault. More than anything, I am angry with Haruchiyo for making you engage in pre-marital relations. Please rest assured that if your family does not find you a good husband, I will do everything in my power to.”

She lifted her forehead from the ground, staring up at you. “Thank you, my lady. But I wish to serve you for as long as possible. However long you’ll have me.”

You smiled. “Then I fear you will be with me until you are old and grey.”

She giggled. “It would be an honour to grow old serving you, miss.”

You reached out your hand, helping her from the floor to sit beside you once more.

A moment of silence passed before you broke it.

“I really am sorry, and though it’s callous of me, I apologise on the crown prince’s behalf as well, because I know he will not.

I think I reacted in such a way because, you see, I have never been in a situation like this before. It’s my first time, well… I suppose…”

“Love?” she offered gently.

You blew out a breath. “I am so angry with him, and hurt by him, but every moment of the day I still wish for his arms to be around me. If that is love…”

“My younger brother is a eunuch in Gesture Court,” she said quietly, referring to a wing of the palace you believed the youngest prince and some of the emperor’s concubines resided in.

“I didn’t know more of your family worked in the palace.”

“Just him. Unlike me, he only came a few months ago.”

“How old is he?”

“Just a year younger. I will tell you a story. He has always been the most romantic of all the children. Since he was a child he has chased beautiful things. A year ago he fell in love with the most beautiful girl in my hometown and they went on many outings together in preparation for an engagement. But you see, my family is very poor, which is why I was sent to work in the palace when I was very young,” she sighed. “I hoped he would never have to enter the palace because I knew what it would cost him, but my parents have had more children and they are expensive to raise. And so, my brother took responsibility by becoming a eunuch and entering the palace, telling the girl that he would earn lots to build them a new house and have a lavish wedding. He thought she would be happy to wait for him, for they were very much in love. But she broke up with him then and there as she did not want a defective man without a male part. She didn’t want people to mock her for having a husband that resembled a woman. He was withdrawn for weeks after.”

“I am very sorry he had to go through that.”

She nodded. “I was, too. But when I went to visit him in Gesture Court, there he was flirting with another maid! He is so shameless. When I asked him whether he had recovered from his broken heart or he was just having fun, he told me something interesting.

He said that those wounds the girl inflicted will always be on his heart, but they will eventually heal into painless scars. They won’t stop him from chasing after the beauty of love, even if he gets hurt again and again.”

She faced you fully. “Perhaps that is what makes us human. That we still yearn for love even after it scorns us. People will look for it in every corner of the continent, even when it mocks them. They’ll chase it their entire life, unknowing of what it looks like, but certainly with the knowledge it could wound them beyond repair and disappear with death. And yet, as humans, we feel that despite how love burns, it also heals. Our hearts and souls. It may be the very meaning of life, miss. What a beautiful and sad way to live your life, don’t you think?”

Tears silently ran down your face as you slipped beneath the warm bedcovers that night. You hadn’t even realised you were shaking until the covers lifted once more and his lean body slid in behind yours, arms wrapping around you to hold you as close as possible.

While more tears fell, the shivers stopped when he pressed a tender kiss just below your ear, and you could feel it. How just being in his arms healed you.

Tagging: @luka-ali @soushswag @crown5 @angelmitsuri @c4tboyxiao @azusachna @denkis-slut @rinrinfoxy @multistan-247 @7inaa @emilymikado

#sanzu x reader #haruchiyo sanzu x reader #haruchiyo akashi x reader #haruchiyo x reader #tokyo revengers x reader #bonten x reader #tokyo revengers series #sanzu series #haruchiyo akashi series #rins.works

110 notes · View notes