#i have another rather angsty request approaching so i decided to chill out a bit with this

[dulce-pjm]

Hi! Could I request a Jin or namjoon arranged marriage! au with “One more kiss.” Thank you!!

of course!! let’s do it ;) took some creative liberties since i got multiple arranged marriage requests, hope that’s okay!! it's rather angsty

namjoon with au #1 - arranged marriage!au and prompt #6 - “One more kiss.”

make your own request here using these prompts!

rainy day promise

namjoon x reader! ft. bestie!hoseok

word count: 2.4k (i’m honestly so proud of myself for not making this a borderline oneshot)

genre: fluff, angst, arranged marriage!au, (very very slight) historical!au and wartime!au

summary: when namjoon’s away, all you can do is worry. 

The rain has always made you sleepy. 

It reminds you of quiet nights by the fire, curled against his chest as he reads to you. It makes you feel him kissing your temple softly and whispering “Good night, love,” when he sees your eyes flutter closed and your breaths become heavier. The rain and his memory are too comforting, too tempting to resist drifting off into dreamland. 

“You alright, Y/N?” The question has you jolting in your seat, eyes flying from the drops cascading down the window to the man next to you, a warm smile gracing his sharp features. 

The meal in front of you has long gone tasteless and your date has noticed, picking up at how you’ve gone from merely playing with your food to not touching it altogether. 

“‘M fine,” you murmur, shoveling a few potatoes into your mouth despite the nausea rising in your stomach. Your eyes go wide when he grabs your wine glass, taking no time at all to fill it. 

“You’ll be better if you drink a little.” You feign glare at him but his smile remains stern. 

“I’m really alright, Hoseok.” You take a swig of the wine anyhow, letting the drink warm your cheeks and sting at the back of your throat. 

“You’re worried about him, aren’t you?” You don’t answer, suddenly finding your untouched peas very interesting. He’d be picking them off your plate if he was here. Hoseok places a gentle hand on top of yours. “Y/N, there’s no sense in getting all worked up. He’ll be okay, always is.”

There’s a clang on the opposite side of the table when your uncle’s silverware hits the table. 

“What are you two talking about over there?” You briefly cringe, summoning a sheepish smile you’ve worked to perfect over the years. 

You both brush it off. Hoseok, ever personable, is able to change the subject before you can blink, chatting with your aunt about some upcoming play he’s directing. 

Hoseok is wealthy, like his father and grandfather before him. He’s kind and funny and better with people than you’ve ever been. He could provide you with a comfortable life, away from the war. That’s why your aunt and uncle chose him for you, why they orchestrated this arrangement underneath your nose. 

You hadn’t rejected him, not exactly. You’ve never been in any position to reject the courtship or engagement. But both you and Hoseok know your heart lies elsewhere. 

Your aunt grabs your hand, but her gaze lies on the man to your left. “I mean, really, Kim Seokjin! When word gets out, there’ll be rioting on the streets just to get into the show, I’m sure of it.” Hoseok laughs awkwardly, giving you sparing glances to keep track of your worrying mind. 

“I was just as surprised as you when he auditioned. It’s been an honor to work with him. I actually hope to—”

The dining hall door slams open. You whip your head towards the door along with the rest of the guests. The messenger is drenched, looking haggard with disheveled hair and rain still dripping down her face. 

“I— I’m sorry, sir—” Her teeth are chattering. “The merchants returned. There was—”

“Slow down, Hana,” your aunt says, always maternal. “It’s alright. Take your time.” She nods, taking a deep breath as a puddle of rainwater forms around her feet. 

“There was an injury. The carriage flipped while they were passing through the valley, because of all this rain.”

You’re on feet before you can think twice, heavy dining chair scraping against the hardwood as you push it backward. Hoseok shoots you a warning look that you don’t catch. 

“Excuse me,” you mutter. “I’m not feeling well.”

Hoseok stands with you, placing a hand on your shoulder. “I’ll escort you.” 

Your uncle shakes his head, scolding, “No, stay with us, Hoseok. It wouldn’t be proper.” You could laugh. Neither of you has ever been particularly proper with each other. 

You bid your aunt and uncle goodnight, ignoring a concerned stare from Hoseok. As soon as you’re out of sight, you dash towards the basement, towards the closet you always meet him in when he returns. You pray you’ll see him there and not surrounded by medics. 

The closet is placed discreetly, the door hidden by old barrels and shelves, bare walls and damp floors making this corner of this house largely unused and untouched. 

You knock thrice on the door, pause, and knock a fourth time. When the door doesn’t open, you repeat the code. 

No answer. Your heart drops into stomach as you stumble backwards, breathing spiraling out of control. 

“Hey, love.” A soft hand lands on the small of your back and you gasp, spinning to face him. He’s all smiles, lips stretched into his dimpled cheeks as he resists the urge to kiss you right here. “Miss me?”

You throw your arms around his middle, pressing your face into his chest as he digs his nose into your hair. 

You know how self-conscious he is about his intimidating aura. His sharp glances and sharper words often have most of the staff avoiding him like the plague, but to you, he’s all soft embraces and blushing cheeks. 

--

“How was the trip?” The two of you are perched on worn stools that wobble when you lean too far one way, arms wrapped around each other to keep them from moving too much. Your head is pressed against his shoulder while he traces patterns on the back of your hand that's resting on his thigh. 

“It was... amazing. Honestly.” 

“I’m glad.” And you are. But you can’t help but always worry. These trips are dangerous and take much too long. When war and battle beckon at your door, every day without him in your sight is another day of anxiety.

Namjoon is a servant of your uncle’s house. He’s a cartographer, having studied at the same university as Hoseok and yourself, earning admission through his merit alone. The first times you saw him, he was bent over old maps and worn books, the weak candlelight illuminating the texts in front of him and his face poorly. Under the ruse of taking nighttime strolls, you’d found yourself sneaking peeks at him more often, smiling softly at the dark tufts of hair he’d run his fingers through until it stood up on his head. 

You remember when Hoseok introduced you to him officially, tired of hearing you gush about him, and the three of you became a unit, joint at the hip wherever you went. 

You hadn’t realized how good those days were, not when you had them. When you and Namjoon were giggly and sweet and bashful and it took Hoseok fighting tooth and nail for either of you to confess your true feelings. He’d been delighted when you finally gave up on hiding it, nearly shrieking in joy when he saw Namjoon sneak a peck on your cheek in the corner stairwell.

Those days were golden and joyful, full of laughs and long nights doing schoolwork and attending fancy university parties only to sneak away with half the buffet. 

The days were good. Until they weren���t. 

Until your uncle and aunt and Hoseok’s parents informed you of their longstanding agreement: that the two of you be married. 

It’d been nothing but an absolute shock, but the both of you knew better than to say no, knew better than to risk their wrath. Hoseok would have been fine, though his parents certainly would have been unhappy. But if you rejected your uncle's wishes, an orphan with nothing but gratitude for their kindness in taking care of you, you couldn't be too sure they wouldn’t just relieve you of your position here, sending you to the streets. And you and Namjoon had neither the means nor the connections to fend for yourselves in the city, not in times like these.

When Hoseok got on one knee the next week in your dining room with Namjoon watching from the corner, newly hired by your uncle at your own suggestion, you said yes. Neither of you wanted it, but Namjoon insisted Hoseok go through with it, too caught up in his worry for your safety to think of himself.

It'd been difficult keeping the ruse, especially once your university days were over and there were much fewer places tucked away from your aunt and uncle's eyes and ears. It'd have been much more difficult without Hoseok, but he's always been the charmer out of you three, easily diverting attention and prying eyes when need be.

"I actually got you something."

Your eyes light up in surprise as you shift to face him. "You did? But you said—"

"I lied," he replies with a small smirk. "We always planned to stop by a few cities. I just wanted to see your face when I surprised you."

You giggle softly, lightly slapping at his arm. "You still lied.”

“For a good cause,” he jokes, pecking at your cheek before drawing a small box from his pocket. His cheeks flush slightly as he hands it to you. It reminds you of those first times you spoke to him, when you were both sputtering messes that could barely hold eye contact for longer than a moment. 

It’s small but heavy in your hands, the size somewhat indicative of its contents. It fits just so in your palm, and when you open it, tears spring into your eyes at the small ring nestled into the velvet cushion. It isn’t shiny or decorated with diamonds or worth half your university tuition like the ring Hoseok gave you. It’s humble and wooden, deep brown and adorned with intricately carved with roses and other patterns you don’t recognize. Your thumb runs over the grooves almost instinctively, as if trying to memorize the feeling as quickly as possible. You can almost see his face when he spotted it in some market or shop, see that lit up expression on his features when it reminds him of you. 

“Oh, Namjoon...” You swipe at your eyes quickly, but when you meet his gaze, there’s already a few stray tears cascading down his face. 

“I’m sorry,” he blurts as you smile, lifting your hand to cup his face, thumb brushing away the tears on his cheeks. “I know it’s not much. But I thought you might like it. It’s discreet, so I figured you could wear it around, if you wanted to.”

You chuckle softly and wonder what you’d done to deserve him. “It’s perfect.” You remove Hoseok’s engagement ring from your finger and quickly replace it with Namjoon’s. You already know you’ll be running your fingers over it again often, treating it like a tether to him when he isn’t here. It won’t sit on your ring finger, of course, but for now, you leave it there, admiring its simplicity. 

Namjoon takes a deep breath, pulling your hands into his. “I know everything’s uncertain right now. And I know that might not change for a while.” He runs his thumb across the ring, looking at it intently before lifting your whole hand and kissing it gently, plush lips ever soft against your skin. “But this is a promise. That one day I’ll sweep you off your feet and we won’t look back.”

You laugh loudly this time, maybe a bit too loudly, but you don’t care. “If I don’t sweep you off your feet first.”

He doesn’t ask the question hanging in the air, but your response is enough of an answer as you pull him in for a kiss by the back of his neck. You can taste the saltwater from both of your tears, the moment both incredibly joyful and bittersweet.

When you pull away, he tucks a strand of hair behind your ear while you run a thumb over his dimples, all affections. 

“It’s late,” he murmurs. “We should go.”

You sigh, hand dropping from his face. You wish you could drag him to your room, sweet talk him into playing with your hair or reading with you for a while, but you know he’s right. 

You rise with a nod, feet dragging behind you as you make for the closet door, listening outside for a moment on the off chance that someone’s up late and nearby. Namjoon stays in his seat, always leaving after you to decrease suspicion and allow you to get to bed first. When no sound meets you other than faint thunder, you crack open the door, stepping outside. 

But just as you start to close it behind you, Namjoon grabs the edge of the door with his hand, sticking his face out to meet your startled gaze. 

“Wait.”

“Is something wrong?” You search his face with concern, wondering if you should have said more earlier, if you’d hurt him somehow. 

“No, no.” He shakes his head fervently with a smile. “No, that’s not it.”

You furrow your brows at his antics, though you’ve always loved seeing his more silly side. “Then what do you want, Mister Kim?”

His eyes glint with mischief. “One more kiss, Mrs. Kim.” Your cheeks are flushed, but laugh as you grab his shoulders, pulling him close to you as you let him press his velvety lips onto yours, savoring the feeling until he’s with you again. 

“Love you,” you murmur, peppering a few more kisses on his chin and cheeks for good measure. 

“I love you too,” he whispers. “So much.” He starts to shut the door, but pauses, lips down turned slightly in a frown. “Oh— don’t forget to move the ring to a different finger.”

You nod. “I won’t.” It’s bittersweet as the door closes, a reminder that the bubble you two have created yourself only goes so far, that this isn’t quite as real as you want it to be. 

Namjoon saves the longer, more elegant speech and proposal for a future date, like its own unspoken promise. One day social status and money and survival won’t stop you. One day you’ll both be coming home from long days to love each other unabashedly, to embrace without fear or time constraints. 

You smile to yourself as the rain patters outside, your feet echoing behind you as you creep back to your room. 

You wish Namjoon were with you as you climb under the sheets, feeling a bit cold without him here. 

Yes, the rainfall makes you sleepy but as your head fills with thoughts of Namjoon and his promise, you grin stupidly to yourself, thinking you probably won’t get too much rest tonight. 

[nad-zeta]

I saw your post about the IkeSen lords and their NoMo MC and thought it was beautifully done! But it got me thinking... What if the lords' mc COULDN'T have kids, not necessarily that she didn't want them. How do you think Hideyoshi, Ieyasu and Masamune would react? Or even Sasuke, Yukimura and Shingen (or any three Lord combo you want... I'm curious about all all of them.)

Hi, hi, dear. ❤🌻🥰Thank you so much for the request love! 🦊Awww, thank you so much for the kind words, dear!❤❤❤❤😳 Hehe, so I didn’t add Sasuke and Yuki cause I was lazy, hope that is okay❤🌻🦋! Anyways so, this one really hit close to home!🙈😱 So I hope I did this justice! I hope you have a super good day and I hope you are keeping safe!  ❤❤🌻🦋

Headcanon: MC that can’t have children feat: Hideyoshi, Ieyasu, Masamune and Shingen 

Ieyasu

The two of you had been married for quite some time now

And naturally, you started trying for children to expand your little porcupine army ^̮^

It had been a few years of trying yet still nothing ≧☉_☉≦

Ieyasu had given both of you, various concoctions of herb mixes to aid in fertility and the two of you practically tried every wives tale in the book, from honey and cinnamon drinks to acupuncture

Yet still nothing (¬_¬)

You decided to go and speak to one of the midwives while Ieyasu was away to war

She did a quick evaluation and after some time she looked you in the eyes, sad look crossing her face ⚆ _ ⚆

She didn’t have to say anything for you to know that you couldn’t have children  ಥ ͜ʖಥ

You offered her a smile and thanked her for the evaluation 

However, the second she left you crumpled to the floor and cried

‧º·(˚ ˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ )‧º·˚

Ieyasu came back early that night and was greeted by the sight of you curled up in a ball sobbing  ๐·°(৹˃̵﹏˂̵৹)°·๐

He was by your side in a matter of seconds picking your up and cradling you in his arms, as he moved you to sit in his lap

His heart broke as you refused to look him in the eyes 

All sorts of things had been going through your mind when the midwife left, like would he take up another wife at the news, would he leave you

Long fingers gently wiped away your tears and made their way to hook under your chin so that you were now looking at him ༼☯﹏☯༽

“Tell me what happened, did that stupid Mitsunari make you some horrible tea and force you to drink it.” (◕⍸ ◕✿)

You chuckled through the sobs as he tried to lighten the mood with a joke

His fingertips danced across your cheek as he lovingly caressed your face while wiping away every tear that fell  ( ‘́⌣’̀)/(˘̩̩ε˘̩ƪ)

Finally, through hiccuped sobs, you managed to get out what the midwife had told you

He couldn’t help but shed a tear of his own at how heartbroken you were at the news  (╥_╥)

He simply wrapped you in his arms and tucked your head so that it was now comfortably resting in the crook of his neck. He gently rubs small circles on your back as you spent the night crying in his arms 

He kissed your nose and your cheek, “It’s alright silly girl, there is more than one way to start a family. It’s not your fault so don’t stress about it.” He tried his best to reassure you knowing that you were beating yourself up  (｡◕‿◕｡)

He smiled kissing your forehead, “Besides we already do have a baby we are looking after, I’m pretty sure Mitsunari would die without our care, especially during times when Hideyoshi goes to war.”(｡◕‿◕｡)

At the end of the day, the two of you did have children, albeit not your biological children. 

You adopted two wonderful little boys who were sent to the Oda clan as hostages after their parents died. 

The second, you saw the look on Ieyasu face when he saw the two little scamps you knew that he wanted to rescue them so that they didn’t suffer the same fate he had as a child.

(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

Masamune

Masamune already knew you couldn’t have children

Or rather he suspected 

Every time the two of you would do the deed, you would always joke about, him not having to worry about you getting pregnant (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

He never thought much of it, shrugging it off thinking you had some fancy futuristic contraception

The two of you never really sat down and had a conversation about it 

Although the more serious Masamune Date got about you, the more you dreaded having to have that convo with the man ಠ╭╮ಠ

After all, he was the leader of his clan and as wife to the future leader certain duties and expectations had to be met

Well not that you were at that point yet, or so you thought

Unbeknown to you Masamune had gone behind your back and consulted with your enemy ninja fiend and his fellow warlords to plan the perfect evening to propose to you (✿◠‿◠)

Masamune knew you were the perfect woman for him, and tbh after having met you, you were the only woman he could ever look at

You taught him how to love and healed him from all his traumas and for that, he will be eternally grateful (◕‿◕✿)

He knew you were never one for grand gestures so he decided to keep it small, besides this way the proposal would genuinely be a surprise

He cooked the two of you dinner like any other night 

After dinner, you made your way outside together to sit and have a nightcap under the stars 

That's when he pulled out a ring and proposed ( ° ᴗ°)~ð (/❛o❛\)

You were so happy you could cry, yet the tears you shed weren’t from happiness  ಥʖ̯ಥ

“Masamune I have to tell you something?” you said in a rather serious tone

He froze up thinking you were going to tell him you didn’t love him, that his feelings had been one-sided, he swallowed the lump in his throat as he spoke, “What is it kitten, don’t tell me you’re afraid of commitment”

You shook your head tears still falling, “Remember all those jokes I made about not having to worry about getting pregnant, well those weren’t jokes, I really can’t.”  （>﹏<）

Everything seemed to move in slow motion, as he was faced with a decision between happiness and duty 

He made up his mind and looked you square in the eyes, “And the problem is what exactly kitten, I love you and you love me right, so say yes” he gave you the broadest smile (˶◕‿◕˶✿)

You couldn’t help but jump into his arms in a tight embrace showering his face in small kisses

In truth, you had received a proposal once before, years ago yet, that man was not able to accept you as you were. Looking back you were thankful he had rejected you, as it had led you onto the path of true love and happiness 

Masamune did eventually get a son and a successor, as the two of you had come across a poor orphaned boy barely surviving on the streets and decided to take him in and raise him as your own. | (• ◡•)| (❍ᴥ❍ʋ)

Shingen

You and Shingen had been married for quite some time now

He was still busy recovering from his lung disease and it was time for the two of you to go back to the future with Sasuke to get him checked out and restock up on meds

 (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

The two of you, would go back to the future every five years or so just to check up on his lungs, to make sure everything was still good (¬‿¬)

While Shingen was at the doctors, you decided to go to your gynaecologist to check up on your lady bits (¬‿¬)(¬‿¬)

Usually, the two of you would chill in the future for a few months until the next wormhole opened up, which suited you perfectly as it gave you an opportunity to catch up with your family (◕‿◕✿)

One day while you and Shingen were chilling on the couch the gyno called and asked you to come in so she could discuss your results

Shingen looked over at you, “Is everything alright, my goddess.” (◕‸ ◕✿)

You wore a concerned expression as you put down the phone, “I’m not sure, she asked me to come and see her as soon as possible.” (◕__◕✿)

The next day you and Shingen were sitting in the consultation room as the gynaecologist broke the news to you, that you had cervical cancer

Shingen grabbed your shaking hands and squeezed it. 

As the doctor explained your options, Shingen helped keep you calm by rubbing soothing circle on the back of your hand (〃‿〃✿)

The two of you decided to start the treatment immediately as that was the best way to ensure that both of you would be in tip top shape to return to the past

To be honest when the doctor broke the news that after the procedure, you would never be able to have biological children of your own, your heart broke  ( ´•̥̥̥ω•̥̥̥` )

You and Shingen had finally decided to try for children and now that dream seemed to be coming to a crashing end  (つ﹏⊂)

Shingen was there for you every step of the way, just as you were for him when he was sick and in the hospital (づ￣ ³￣)づ

The two of you went through the list of options in terms of children, and being in the future, there were quite a few options 

The two of you finally settled on adoption and quickly approached an agency to fast track it before you had to return back home ~(˘▾˘~)

The two of you landed up adopting four children at once. 

They had been in the system for so long, as they came as a package deal. Neither of them wanting to be separated from the others 

Shingen smiled as the social worker warned him about the 13-year-old’s tendency to run away.┗(＾0＾)┓

The two of you returned back to the past with your four children. You had gone from an empty nest to a full house in less than a year

You were slightly worried about the children having to adapt to a new life in the past, but those worries were for nothing as they were absolutely thriving ヾ(⌐■_■)ノ♪

Even the angsty 13-year old that was rumoured to have run away from his last 10 homes loved every bit of the past

He especially had taken a liking to Yukimura who would train with him

Finally, the four children who had never known love their whole entire lives were now surrounded by it from all sides

Hideyoshi

Oh you had loved your doting husband to bits ( ͡ᵔ ͜ʖ ͡ᵔ )

He was everything you could have ever asked for in a potential partner, kind, loving, caring, need I go on \ (•◡•) /

Hideyoshi had found out very early on that you were unable to have children

In fact, you had actually confided in him way back when he had still sister zoned you ◉_◉

He never judged you for it and honestly never cared whether you could have children or not, all he knew was that he loved you ♥‿♥

He often jokes that the two of you couldn’t possibly raise a child as you already had your hands full with the warlords (｡◕‿‿◕｡)

If the two of you weren’t controlling Nobunaga’s candy binges, you were caring for Mitsunari, heck the two of you even had to break up small fights between bickering warlords

Although all that changed one day when there was a knock on your door in the middle of the night (；一_一)

Naturally, you kicked Hideyoshi out of bed to investigate, as you were to comfortable in the warm cocoon of your bed (｡v_v｡)

Hideyoshi kissed the top of your head as he got up to investigate. 

As he approached the door, he wondered who dare would wake them up so late into the evening ¬_¬

He was already cursing under his breath thinking he might find an injured Mitsuhide on his doorstep in need of medical assistance.

He opened the door and peered into the darkness, no one was there. He frowned thinking it might have been some children pulling a prank ب_ب

Just as he was closing the door, he heard a small sneeze, he looked down to the find out the source of the sound was a baby, that couldn’t have even been more than a few hours old ≧☉_☉≦

He gently picked up the tiny thing and cradled it in his arm. 

He could feel his blood boiling as he felt how cold the little baby’s hand were

(╯=▃=)╯︵┻━┻

He rushed to get a soft blanket to wrap the poor child in and then made his way to your shared room where he relit the fireplace ლ(･ω･*ლ)

At this point, you were sitting up in your futon wondering if Mitsuhide had gotten himself injured again (＾＾；)

Before you could even get up, your eyes widened in shock as you spotted the little bundled in Hideyoshi’s arms as he lit the fireplace ʘ‿ʘ

The second he handed the child to you, you were in love, in fact, both of you were in love  ♡｡ﾟ.(*♡´‿` 人´‿` ♡*)ﾟ♡ °・

You raised the little girl as your own, the two of you could never track down her biological parents, not that you cared as you loved her to bits and would never be able to give her up  (◍•ᴗ•◍)♡ ✧*。

I hope you enjoyed this love🦋🌻! And I hope you are keeping safe and well.❤❤🥰🌻

[harryskalechips]

It’s all about connections

A/N hello! I’m sorry about some other pieces being delayed. I’m working on it right now. Here I have a little angsty piece for you that an anon requested! enjoy

Y/N and Harry have been happily dating for three years except when Y/N’s cousin Olivia, comes back from America. Everything turns into a hell that Harry has been running from. 

word count: 2370

“So you’re sure you’re free to come tonight?” Y/N bids Harry goodbye at her front door as he puts on his coat.

“I promise baby, I’ll be here by 6.” He tries to reassure her.

“I really don’t want to drag you back here for dinner but my mom wanted you to meet Olivia’s parents too since they’re so interested in us.” Y/N rolls her eyes. She missed the way Harry’s cheeks flushed a bit.

Olivia, Y/N and Harry went to the same high school but Olivia ventured off to the States for university leaving Harry and Y/N to attend their local one in the city. At first, Y/N never thought she would end up dating Harry but after having a few mutual classes in first year and having mutual friends, the pair clicked off and they’ve been dating for 3 years now. There’s no wonder why Olivia’s parents want to meet the man. They are a very close family and since it’s spring break they decided to take a flight back to Canada to see what’s been happening. Olivia couldn’t be more excited.

“Maybe because they just want to see who’s been keeping you happy.” His hands pull Y/N closer to him. “I love you. I’m just going to run some errands for my mum and I’ll be here okay?”

“Mhm.” Y/N pouts as she watches him walk off her pathway and into his car. Harry was hoping that she couldn’t hear the anxiety in his voice. How his heart was beating so fast. Did Y/N know he used to be in love with her cousin? No. Was he over Olivia? I mean… he had to be… right?

~

“Oh my God, Y/N you’re so pretty!” Olivia runs into Y/N’s arms as they hug one another so tightly. Since they were both the only child of their parents, they practically grew up as sisters until Olivia had to leave.

“You’re really pretty too! Wow, look at this tan. Olivia, I’m so jealous you’re living in Florida!”

“Pshhh, I rather be here. I miss you and Canada so much. It feels so different being in the States. Do you know how many times I got corrected by the way I spell things?” Oliva was radiating. Her volumized curly blonde hair. Her thin hips. Her pretty smile. Y/N always felt like she was 2nd best with her but after Oliva left. Her parents stopped comparing her to her all star cousin. Plus, she had Harry. The man of her dreams. He’s everything she wanted and she can’t be anymore thankful that he loves her just as much as she loves him.

“Oh look who’s here, Harry come in!” Y/N’s mom opens the door. Harry’s eyes light up as he sees Y/N but the moment his eyes caught on to Olivia’s, he started to feel things. Bad things that a taken man shouldn’t feel. Maybe, it was a bad idea for him to come tonight but he wanted to prove everyone wrong, most definitely himself. He doesn’t like Olivia. Y/N is here. Olivia lives in the states!

“Harry!” Olivia squeals as she untangles herself from Y/N to hug Harry.

They were a bit close in high school. They had many of their classes together and Harry was always helping Olivia with her homework. In return, Olivia would help him study too. She used to drag Y/N with her to come watch his soccer games. “I missed you so much! Wow, your hair! It’s so different. I love it!” Harry wraps his arms around her as he makes eye contact with his girlfriend. Y/N didn’t seem to mine but Harry felt like there was no oxygen in his tank anymore. Why the fuck is his heart feeling like this?

Dinner was already placed on the dining table thanks to Y/N and her parents. After Harry left, they focused on every little detail in the dining room. Y/N’s father sat at the head while Y/N’s mom sat with Olivia’s parents. Y/N sat in between her boyfriend and her cousin.

“Harry, it’s so nice to meet you. Olivia here mentioned your friendship with her back in high school. It’s amazing how destiny led you to Y/N.” Olivia’s mom spoke up as they ate their meal. Tonight, Y/N’s mom was serving spaghetti.

“Um, yeah. I think so too. I’m very lucky to be with Y/N.” he looks at Y/N which she smiles back and holds his hand underneath the table.

“Hopefully, you guys will be able to help Olivia settle in your University when she comes back next year.”

“What?” Y/N speaks out in shock. Harry pulls his hand away from her so he can take a drink of water after choking a bit. As Y/N looked around, nobody else was in shock, meaning her parents knew the whole time.  “You guys knew?” She looks at her mom and dad.

“Surprise sweetie!” Y/N’s mom smiles widely with  jazz hands in front of her chest. Y/N’s dad just nods. He knew it wasn’t the best surprise, he noticed that his daughter was quite insecure about her cousin. Harry just looks down at his plate for the rest of dinner, staying silent as the family catches up. It felt weird. He felt weird.

Dinner was finished and since Y/N’s family was hosting, she had to help clean up while Olivia and her parents spent time talking with Harry. The conversation was light but after Olivia’s mom went to help in the kitchen and her dad went on a smoke break, he was sadly left with Olivia. The girl he used to be so in love with. He used to be her little puppy back in the day and to see her again, he knew he was about to fall down that little rabbit hole once again.

“Your hair is still as soft as it was 4 years ago.” Olivia playfully runs her finger around his short hair since they sat on the couch together. Okay, the thing about Olivia is that yes, she’s smart and pretty. Every man’s dream but she also comes off in a flirty way when it comes to boys even though it may not be her intention. You understand right?

Well, Harry didn’t. It’s the reason why he was so head over heels about her before. Probably, why he is right now. “Yeah, I still use the same hair routine. Y/N also has this hair serum that smells really good and I started using it.” He tries to move away a bit so he can play with his hair himself. Just an excuse to create some distance.

“You know, you two are really cute.” Olivia looks down then looks at him. “It’s so weird for me really. I see all these pictures of you two on social media and I just never expected you guys to start dating. I mean you were a popular athletic guy and she was just chilling in high school. I don’t know.” Olivia begins to ramble as Harry just stares at her. While she was talking, everything went through one ear and out the other. He was looking at how pretty she was. How she never changed. She was still the girl he fell in love with. The girl who still had her hair tied up. Who had the most pretty blue eyes. Y/N had brown eyes but that wasn’t the point. Olivia was his dream girl.

“It’s crazy. I used to have a big crush on you in high school! I used to drag Y/N to your games!” That statement just made Harry come back to earth.

“What?” His eyes were practically wiped out as Olivia looked at him. He just had question marks swarming around his head and as she looked at his eyes, she could tell she caught him off guard. She never thought it was a big deal.

“I used to like you in high school.” There was a brief moment of silence until Harry just had to say it. Maybe, it would make him get over her. Give him that little push to let the feelings out. Plus, it’s been four years, can anything really happen between them?

“I used to be in love with you, Olivia. Like madly.” But Olivia’s eyes weren’t focused on him as she hears the sudden clash of bowls filled with Ice cream crash on the wooden floors. Y/N heard.

She was walking into the living room after being instructed to bring dessert to the guests. The moment she walked in though, she heard her boyfriend practically confessing his feelings for her cousin. Of fucking course, her cousin! Her cousin who can have anything she wants. Her cousin who practically gets to do what she wants. Want to study in America, honey? Yes. Want to move back to Canada, honey? Yes. Want to steal your cousin’s boyfriend, honey? Oh my fucking god, yes!

“Y/N.” Harry gets off the couch immediately as he chases Y/N out her front door. It was midnight and there was a cold breeze but that didn’t stop Y/N from running her heart out. She was just confused why this man was chasing after her. Harry’s head turned a bit as he caught eye contact with Olivia’s dad who was just about to crush his cigarette.

“Shame on you.” He tosses the bud and walks inside the house as Harry speeds up again to chase Y/N on the streets.

“Why the fuck are you chasing after me, Harry!” Y/N looks back as she stops running and begins walking. A girl can run a block probably more, but Y/N can run for 15 seconds then call it a day. Since she knew Harry loves to run, there was no point wasting her energy trying to outrun him. Want to follow me? Fine but fuck off a bit mate.

“Y/N listen-” The audacity this man had to follow her out here. Y/N turns around and stops in her steps.

“No. I really don’t want to hear it H.” She wipes away her tears and looks at the streetlights behind him. She couldn’t look at him. “You were in love with her and you never fucking bothered to tell me.”

“I knew you were insecure about her!”

“Fuck you!” Y/N screams. “You’re a liar! You’re a user! You have the audacity to chase me after telling my cousin you were madly in love with her!”  She laughs sarcastically. “You know after dating for 3 years, I figured we would tell each other everything.”

“I’m sorry, baby please.” He tries to approach her but she takes a couple steps back.

“Were you using me to see her again?” Y/N blurts out. She knows he wouldn’t do that but a part of her just needed to be sure. Harry just sighs as he runs his hand through his hair. “You fucking asshole!” She cries out. With the need to leave, she brushes past him on her way back to the house. “Don’t fucking follow me. I don’t want to see you ever again!” Harry speeds up and finally grabs her hand to keep her placed in front of him.

“Please Y/N. In the beginning when we first started dating sure. But I promise you I fell in love with you! I love you please!”

“You don’t fucking get it!” She pulls her hand away as Harry frowns. “Your intention in the beginning. Your lies. I can’t fucking take it. I don’t want to. You were in love Olivia!”

“I was in love with her fine okay, I admit that! I don’t think it matters anymore. I'm with you now.” He’s trying so hard to convince her. He’s trying so hard not to let her slip through his fingertips all because of a stupid confession.

“No, you’re not because we’re over Harry.”

“No, don’t say that. Don’t say that!”

“What do you want me to say?” Her eyes widened. “Do you want me to say, it’s alright baby. Thanks for letting her know before me? Thanks for dating me so you have a better chance of seeing her again!”

“No.” “Harry, why did you have to date me? Why did you have to make me go through this!”

“Because I fucking liked you! God dammit!” He finally explodes. “I was in love with Olivia and when you and I started seeing each other more, I was attracted to you and I don’t know what happened. I guess I started pursuing you because you’re close with Olivia but at the same time, I wanted to know you more and spend time with you.”

“I don’t know what to do!” Harry watches the girl in front of him break down. He takes his flannel off and puts it on her. Thankfully, she gladly accepted it.

“I’m sorry, baby. Please I’m sorry. I was scared if I told you, you would get mad and then more time went by, and it was no longer right to tell you.” “I don’t feel good right now.”

“Can I walk you home?”

“Yeah.”

The walk home was excruciating. They were 3 feet apart just walking along at night. They were no longer Harry and Y/N but just Harry and Y/N. It felt weird to be honest. At least on Harry’s end. A part of him was doubting how he felt about Olivia and Y/N but now after seeing Y/N this way, he knew who his heart belonged to. It was the girl who thought of herself as average. Who was pretty quiet but very outgoing in the same way. It was the girl who accepted him and gave him all the love he could ever ask for. Maybe, it was a bad idea confessing to Olivia tonight but one thing is for sure, if he was madly in love with her, he is irrevocably in love with Y/N and there was no chance in hell, he’ll be letting her go anytime soon.

Part 2 here

[maxrev]

For the kiss prompts: "in the snow" and "life or death" if I can combine them like that? your call) for an otp of your choice.

IT IS DONE...I had no idea this would explode into such a long prompt lol. I mean, I gave it a title and even added a quote xD. Anyways, here you are :) Thanks SO much for the prompt! A bit angsty but I figured the prompt called for it! 

Under the cut because...wow...

I’d like to thank @spaced0lphin for her wonderful musical work, as it provided inspiration to write this piece and @theoriginalladya for checking it over 

When I Took to the Sky 

Death is a challenge. It tells us not to waste time… It tells us to tell each other right now that we love each other. Leo Buscaglia

Arcing through the debris, the drop shuttle came to rest amidst the debris of a ship, snow puffing up into the air as it landed; flakes sparkling as they danced and whirled in the air before once again coming to rest on the ground. Pulling on his gloves, the pilot reached for his helmet resting on the passenger seat and tugged it on, twisting it snug with a snap. 

He took a deep, steadying breath...and stepped out onto Alchera. 

Ever since Niall had received the message from Admiral Hackett about placing a memorial here, he’d been pushing it aside. A memorial to honor those who’d laid down their lives for the Alliance. Hardly seemed enough, considering how dismissive the findings the crew of the Normandy had presented. But the fact he was employed by Cerberus now was cause for surprise in being contacted. Other questions followed though; why had the Alliance waited so long to decide on a memorial? Had he not rose from the grave like Lazarus, would they even have bothered? 

Once he’d agreed, he continued to push it aside. There were other missions to take precedence, a ragtag bunch of crew members to hunt down and recruit, and the Illusive Man to annoy - his personal favorite agenda. Anything took precedence over coming here. He simply wasn’t ready to face the part of his past which had changed everything.  There was hope coming here would heal old wounds, rather than deepen them.  

His steps were measured, faltering when he came upon a piece of the Normandy, his mind thrown back in time invoking memories he’d suppressed of a life changing event from over two years ago.

Two fecking years! 

It was a constant struggle to process the passage of time; dying and then being resurrected without any knowledge of it.  

Pausing at the mako, he was thrown into the past, scenes flashing behind his eyes…Kaidan's white knuckled grip as Niall slid the tank through snow and ice up the mountain on Noveria; Ashley yelling with uncontained glee as he'd skidded close to the edge of the lava pools on Feros; Garrus' mandibles twitching when he'd observe the mako on return to the Normandy; Kaidan's resignation upon being turned down again upon his request to drive...the near kiss they'd shared inside the cab a few hours before their last drop when their world ended.

Lost in his thoughts, he didn’t hear the approach of another drop shuttle.

A sound came from behind him, out of place in the absolute stillness around him. Niall whirled, one hand reaching for his maglocked weapon, the other erupting in a blue glow. Setting eyes on the source, both hands dropped to his side in shock. 

Kaidan.

Right away, he noticed he LT had changed. They’d spent so much time together; on the ship, off the ship, on the battlefield, he’d learned the LT’s subtle mannerisms. Gone was the quiet, sensitive marine soldier with stars in his eyes, the romantic he’d claimed to be back on the SR-1. In the eyes staring back at him carefully, in the posture of the man before him, there was a confidence and maturity he’d not had before. There was also doubt. 

It's me, Niall wanted to say, to reassure. It just wasn't so simple.

He watched the play of emotions in the deep brown eyes he'd dreamed about so often. Their eyes locked and he was thrown back in time. Although for him, it was only a few months ago...not two years, when they’d been sitting in the mess on the SR-1, drinking coffee and going over their notes on the Terminus. Niall had been going on about the goose chase they'd been sent on...

“I cannae believe they sent us out to the arse end of space for nothing! Wasted two fucking weeks looking for something which isnae even here.” He slammed his fist on the table, other soldiers in the mess startled at his outburst. Niall ignored them. 

“I’m sure they just wanted us out of the way but we’ll find something, Shepard. We just have to be patient.” 

Niall snorted, “My patience ran dry about an hour inta this mission. I’ll contact those doaty bampots and tell 'em what I really think.” 

Kaidan chuckled, took a sip of his coffee before answering, “Not your best idea by a long shot.” 

Winking at him and enjoying the slight blush across the cheeks, Niall smiled, “Aye but it’ll be fun and blow off some steam.” 

In the end, nothing came of it as the ship rocked hard to port and alarms began to blare around them...

A cough brought him back to the present, watching the brown eyes change in the light, the initial confusion fading to doubt, then replaced with wariness. 

"Who are you?" The first words to be spoken aloud between them, in the same velvety rasp which had haunted Niall’s dreams.

They cut deep, hurt worse than any wound he’d endured. He straightened up, pushing the pain away and answered. 

“Who d'ya think it is? Jolly ol' St. Nick? Tis me, Kaidan. Niall.” He felt like he was stating the obvious, words coming out sharper than intended. 

Silence followed his outburst, the sound of wind wailing in the distance filling the stillness. As the quiet stretched on, Niall reflected on the situation, quickly realizing if roles were reversed, he'd be suspicious as well. Indignation sailed away like a balloon on the wind.

Ready to apologize, Kaidan spoke before Niall could ready his words, “I thought--” voice hoarse with agony, he choked on whatever he’d been about to say, unable to continue. Looking away from Niall, he composed himself, took a deep breath and despite his attempt to remain calm, blurted, “You...you were dead.” 

Biting his tongue against voicing the LT’s mighty powers of observation, Niall fought for something a wee bit more serious and relatable. Now wasnae the time for jokes. 

“Aye," the words ‘but now I’m not’ still echoing in the air between them. How could he begin to explain what he dinnae understand himself? As if he were stuck in quick sand, he felt the more he tried to climb out, the deeper he sank. 

“So, the rumors were true.” 

“Och, aye, guess they were.” 

“When?” 

The wealth of emotion in the single word struck Niall right in the heart, nearly making him stagger from the pain. He fought for an answer, disregarding one after another as they came to him. 

With a heavy sigh, he decided on the truth, “Several months ago.” The dark brows inside the black helmet furrowed downwards into a frown he was all too familiar with. Even to his own ears the response sounded lame. “I dinnae know until then. I was...uh...I doonae even know what to call it...brought back to life?” He threw his hands up in frustration. 

Disbelief followed his statement, turning quickly to suspicion. He could see the change in Kaidan's eyes through the visor. Tone flat, he echoed, “Brought back to life." At Niall’s nod of confirmation, his voice rose, "How is such a thing even possible? Who is...capable of such a thing?” 

Knowing how Kaidan felt about the organization, Niall didn't spare him the facts. He'd find out anyway. “Cerberus.” 

The climate of Alchera was cold and frigid, unfit for flora or fauna to sustain life. Even inside his armor, Naill could feel the chill in the air and had simply wanted to walk through the ruins and leave quickly. He’d never expected to find a dog tag or get lost in memories. 

And now, with his confession, the temperature seemed to drop even further; at least where the two of them stood. Kaidan stared at him for several long, agonizing seconds. He didn’t bother answering, turning around and walking away.

Niall jumped forward, his gloved hands capturing Kaidan’s stopping him, “Wait, please. Don’t go.” 

His gaze dropped down to where their hands were joined; Niall's did as well, heart skipping in his chest. “Please.” He wasn't above begging, not when it came to Kaidan. 

Pulling his hand from Niall’s, Kaidan turned away; yet, he didn’t leave. Several minutes went by; Niall held his breath. “How could you? It’s...they’re Cerberus! You know what they’ve done. The...the things we saw!” 

Fully aware of what his impassioned words implied, Niall felt his anger rise in response, “Did ya think I had a choice in this? As if I could pick and choose who would ha’ the honors of...of fixing...of rebuilding me? Fuck! I wouldnae have chosen this at all...if anyone had ever bothered to ask me first. But here I am and will damn well make the best of it, ya ken?”

Silence stretched on around them. “Are you…you?” Kaidan whispered.

How many times had he looked in the mirror wondering the exact same thing? “I doonae know, Kaidan…" He repeated in a whisper, "I doonae know."

With the admission, he could not look at Kaidan anymore, gazed around them instead. He saw a glint of something shiny; another set of dog tags perhaps. 

To fill the void, he explained, “Saw something sparkle in the sun shortly after I landed. Walked over and found a set of dog tags belonging to Pressly. As I wandered among the wreckage I found more from the crew...the ones who…” he couldn’t say it out loud, felt a hand settle on his shoulder. 

Startled, he turned to stare at it, unable to process the gesture with Kaidan’s protests from a few short minutes ago. Did he believe him now or was it all just for show? Yet, Kaidan had never been superficial. Something Niall admired about him, then and now. 

“We’ll do it together.” The words startled him even more than the touch, but he was grateful. 

“Aye. Tapadh leat.” **

Searching the pieces of the Normandy side by side. As the looked, Niall noticed the sky darkening overhead. Caught up in the past, neither of them had paid any attention. A storm was approaching; a large one. Seeing another glint of metal, Niall brushed off the snow and wrapped the chain around his gloved fingers. 

The storm had intensified and was coming at them fast and furious. There wasn’t time for them to get to their drop shuttles and leave.

He turned and tapped on Kaidan’s helmet. “We need to take cover. Now! Get inside one of the drop shuttles!” Niall took off at a dead run towards the one closest, Kaidan hot on his heels. 

Jumping inside, Niall slammed his fist against the touchpad, shutting the door just as the storm growled over them, ice chips beating a staccato against the steel hull. Wind buffeted the Kodiak, causing it to rock before sliding a few inches along the ground. Unable to radio out and with no one able to contact them, they were sitting ducks at the mercy of the storm.  

Niall reached up and took off his helmet, scrubbing his shorn, itchy scalp with gloved fingertips. 

“You...you’re...the scars?” Kaidan finally managed. 

Niall had forgotten. Not completely healed when the Lazarus project had been sabotaged, he was left with scars where his skin hadn’t had time to knit back together. Chakwas told him by remaining calm they would eventually heal and fade but with stress, they would remain...or get worse. 

Well...

He turned towards Kaidan, their eyes locking. Niall wasn’t the man he’d been the last time they’d seen each other. 

“Aye, scars. I wasnae fully healed when...well, when I was brought out of my coma.” He went to replace his helmet. 

Kaidan stopped him, hand on his arm. “No, don’t. I don’t care what you look like, Niall. I just...I was surprised.” 

He nodded. No moreso than he when he first looked in the mirror. The image staring back at him had been a great shock. That mirror had been replaced. Niall went and sat down on the bench in the back; Kaidan remained standing, neither one speaking as the storm raged on outside. It might last an hour or maybe days. 

“Look, Kaidan--”

“Niall, I--”

Both of them spoke at once. Niall gave a weak grin as Kaidan chuckled and he noticed the pink hue covering the tips of the ears. Some things hadn’t changed. He felt as if a weight had been lifted and he’d been granted a boon. 

Looking at Kaidan straight on, he began again, “I ken how it looks. I do. But, before you draw and quarter me, I dinnae now what to do, where to go. The Alliance won’t ha’ me now and I talked with Anderson and Hackett. They know what’s going on with the human abductions. The Council won’t listen.” He spat the name, no more enamored with them than in the past. “What would ya ha’ me do?” 

“Plead your case, push them. Be relentless like you were before. They have to see reason.” 

Shaking his head at Kaidan’s blind faith, he countered, “Do they? Have they ever? Have ya forgotten Sovereign? The Citadel doesnae even remember, the damage wwept away like so much garbage, forgotten and moved on.” 

The shoulders slumped. Niall studied him, drinking in the sight of a man he hadn’t realized how much he’d begun to care about. Until he was gone. Yet, here he was right in front of him. And they were arguing, Kaidan too blind to see what was so obvious. He stood up, stepping forward until they were nearly nose to nose. Kaidan looked up. 

Niall lost himself in the brown eyes, a golden amber when the light overhead caught them just right. How had he never noticed before? The laugh lines spreading out from the corners of his eyes, the freckles above his right eyebrow. So many details he’s missed. No, he’d never bothered to find. Now, he noticed them all...and more. 

Adrenaline surged in his blood, excitement unfurling within him. He remembered the scars over Kaidan’s lips, wanting to touch them, see how they felt beneath his fingertips...against his tongue. They were right there in front of him now. Overcome with a tidal wave of pent up emotions, he acted on impulse. 

Leaning forward, he captured Kaidan’s mouth with his, losing himself in the scent and taste of him, in the soft lips, his tongue tracing the scars...finally. 

Lost in a longing he had no name for, it took Niall several seconds to register there was no reciprocation. His heart twisted painfully inside his chest. So, this was it, then. He took a deep breath, ready to apologize. But, as he stepped away, he stumbled, Kaidan surging forward to initiate the kiss this time. 

The Kodiak faded away, as did the storm outside. Only the two of them existed in this perfect moment and Niall drank it up like a parched man in the desert until they both broke away, simply in order to breathe. 

** thank you, Scottish Gaelic, informal

[vertigoseokjin]

Break my Heart Again

Sweet Pea x Y/N x Reggie (requested)

Break my Heart Again: FINNEAS 

Warning: this displays a toxic poly!relationship and self hate, hints at an abusive relationship

I’m so sorry this took forever to post! Also the ending isn’t that fluffy but-

could i request a poly! with pea, reggie & reader where pea is busy with a new, girl, serpent & reg is helping another girl for something & the reader feels jealous & neglected? angsty with a fluffy ending pls!! :)

Loud laughter echoes through your shared trailer, a sound that usually warms your heart. Yet, today, you only feel uneasy walking into you and your boyfriend's house. There's a motorcycle you've never seen parked outside, and a pair of woman's shoes that definitely don't belong to you.

Although your relationship is made out of three people, Reggie's the only one who resides on the Northside. In order to lessen the living costs, you and Sweet Pea decided to move into a trailer together shortly after the start of your relationship.

It always worked out, the three of you have never fought. Yes, you bickered very often. But that was inevitable when Reggie Mantle and Sweet Pea were anywhere near each other. Yet, you all knew you loved each other. Sure, things have been a bit tense recently, but you brushed it off as stress from school and Serpent things. But now you can't help but wonder if something else has been happening.

"Pea?" You nervously call out, slipping off your own shoes and coat. "Pea, are you home?" You can't help the small crack in your voice when you call his name.

When there's no response, you decide to venture a little further into the trailer, finally making it to the bedroom.

Taking a deep breath, you knock gently on the door. "Pea? Babe, are you okay?" Again, no response. Before you can knock again, the door flies open. You flinch back at the sound of the wood colliding with the wall.

"What?" Your eyes widen, shocked at the hostile acknowledgement directed towards you. "Are you going to say anything?" His tone becomes increasingly louder and aggressive.

"I-is everything okay?" You speak through tears, already feeling choked up. Sweet Pea nor Reggie have ever screamed at you the way he is now.

"Everything was okay. Before you decided to piss me off." The tall boy practically growls while rolling his eyes, before walking back into the room and plopping onto the bed. That's when you notice the girl.

She's laying comfortably on your side of the bed, holding your laptop.

As soon as Sweet Pea lays down, she snuggles closer to him, the pair already ignoring you again.

"Pea? Who is this?" The words come out cautiously, not wanting him to blow up again.

"Charlie." He answers simply, no other explanation coming with his introduction. He presses 'play' on the movie they were watching, and the pair immediately burst out in laughter again.

"Pea..." you try again, immediately regretting your decision when Sweet Pea huffs loudly and harshly slams your laptop shut.  

"What? Can't you see we're doing something! What the hell is wrong with you?!" He rapidly begins approaching you, causing you to back away in panic.

Sweet Pea never hit you, or any of his past girlfriends, before, but he also never spoke to you in such a... hateful tone. Rather than striking you like you were expecting, he slams the door shut. You shake the shock from your body, before rushing to the front door to escape Pea's rage.

With nowhere else to go, you find yourself walking in the direction of your other boyfriend's house.

Hurriedly wiping the tears from your red face, you knock gently on the door.

"I got it!" Another feminine voice shouts, not sounding like his mom's or sister's. The door opens to reveal a beautiful, tall girl. She looks to be about your age, with curly brunette hair and seemingly perfect features. Just staring at her adds to your insecurities. "Hey! I don't think we've met, I'm Jennie!" Even her stupid name and personality are perfect.

"H-hi. I...I'm (Y/N)." You fail at matching her enthusiasm. "Is Reggie home?" You force yourself to ask.

"Yeah! I'll run in and get him!" She practically skips into the house, shortly returning with a smiling Reggie. Unfortunately, his smile falls the second he sees you.

"What are you doing here?" He rolls his eyes as he speaks.

"J-just missed you..." you mumble. "I didn't know you were busy, I'm sorry. I'll go..." you drag your feet down the stairs, wishing he'd even say bye in response, but all you get is the door slamming shut.

You begin dragging your feet down the road, unsure where to go now.

Instinctively, you find yourself in front of your best friend's house, Jughead Jones. You almost talk yourself out of knocking due to fear of annoying him too, but there's nowhere else to go.

You knock quietly, the door almost flying open right away.

"(Y/N)? Sweet Pea asked me to look out for you, is everything okay?" You stare at him confused, why would Sweet Pea care about me? "(Y/N)?" Him calling your name again snaps you out of your violent thoughts.

"Sorry! I was just... yeah everything's fine. Can I come in?" You blurt out. He nods uncertainly, but steps over to let you in. "Why did Sweet Pea ask to look out for me?"

"Something about you rushing out with his jacket? I don't know, but he sounded busy." He shrugs uncaring. You look down and notice you are wearing Sweet Pea's signature jacket. You sigh, realizing he doesn't actually care about you. He just needs his jacket. "Everything okay?" He seats himself on the couch, patting the spot next to him.

"Yeah..." you simply mumble, not wanting to get into details about your failing relationship.

"I don't think you'd be here if that was true." He dryly chuckles.

"It's whatever, Jug. Can I spend the night? Thanks." You get up quickly, wanting to avoid the conversation. You hear his delayed yes, but still make a beeline to his spare room.

"I know you don't want to talk, but maybe a date at Pop's with them would clear things up? The three of you should sit and talk." Jughead suggests, leaning on the door frame. You almost laugh at how well he's able to read any situation.

"You're right, I just don't feel like dealing with it right now. They're busy anyway."

"Busy? With what? Charlie?" Your eyes almost bug out of your head.

"You know Charlie?" You almost shout at him.

"Newest Serpent." Jughead states factually. "Sweet Pea threw a tantrum about initiation, got her in without doing the dance." He can't stop the eye roll that comes with his words, where you get chills from remembering your own initiation.

"Really? Do you know anything about her?"

"Not really, she's quiet though. I never really got a chance to speak to her." You release another sigh at his words.

"I bet she's nice. And pretty." A loud groan escapes your mouth following your rant. "Reggie has a new girl too, and she's perfect. I can't compete." Jughead smiles sadly, sitting next to you and hugging you close.

"You don't need to compete, (Y/N). You're perfect." You can't help but let your mood rise a bit after his words.

"You always know how to make me feel better, Juggie."

"Of course. Get some rest, alright? Talk to them tomorrow." He ruffles your hair messily, before leaving you alone with your thoughts.

You're able to sleep with your spirits lifted a little.

___________________________________________________________________________

The next day, the three of you decided to meet at Pop's for lunch.

You leave Jughead's with a heavy heart after he leaves a gentle kiss to your forehead, in a perfectly brotherly manner.

After the fairly short walk, you decide to get a booth, knowing they tend to arrive late.

You're hoping to get a fixed relationship out of the conversation.

However, you're met with surprise when you see four seated at a booth, instead of two like you were expecting.

Reggie, Sweet Pea, Charlie, and Jennie are all seated together.

You cautiously walk up to their table, unsure how to act.

"Hey (Y/N)!" Jennie says cheerfully. "We ordered fries for you!" She pushes a plate full of clearly half eaten fries in your direction. You still crack a little smile at the the effort.

"I... I just thought it was gonna be the three of us?" You ask weakly, still standing over their booth. Rather than a response from the two you came to meet, Jennie pops in again with a small gasp.

"I'm sorry! I didn't know we were intruding! Here, me and Charlie can grab another table!" Jennie goes to collect her stuff, before being stopped by Reggie.

"No, it's fine. I don't know why she's acting like that." Reggie rolls his eyes, Sweet Pea and Charlie still not even bothering to look at you.

"Reggie, it's really our fault. We should've known it was a date when you said (Y/N) was coming." The bright smile still doesn't leave her face.

"It's okay, sorry Jennie." You finally force yourself to speak. "I was just a little confused, I'll pull a chair over." You leave to find an empty chair, dragging it over to the head of the table. Yet, once you sit, the group resume in their previous conversation, excluding you. You just sit quietly, pushing your plate of fries around, having lost your appetite from the interaction.

"Alright, I think we're gonna head home." Reggie finally acknowledges you. Jennie and he begin collecting their stuff, leaving you unsure on what to do.

All you want to do is lay down on your own bed, maybe cry a little, and just go to sleep. But you don't know if Sweet Pea and Charlie are going to your trailer.

"Yeah, us too." Sweet Pea follows, stretching as he gets up from the booth.

"Pea? Are you going home?" You finally gather the courage to ask, holding your breath as you wait for a response.

"Why?" He snaps again, still not looking at you.

Does he hate me that much he can't even look at me?

"I... I do-don't want to bother y-you guys if yo-you're going ba-back to the trailer." You struggle to get the words out.

"Good, cause we are." He rolls his eyes again, shoving past you, Charlie closely following.

"Hey, (Y/N), Reggie and I were going to head back to my place. Would you want to come? We're probably watching a movie or something." She smiles sweetly at you, but you still let yourself be swayed by the look of disgust on Reggie's face.

"It's alright, but thank you for the offer." You mumble, staring at your torn up shoes.

"Are you sure? Don't you live with Sweet Pea? Where are you spending the night?"

"I'll figure it out, Jennie. But thank you for caring." You try to give her a genuine smile, but it doesn't reach your eyes.

"Alright, good night (Y/N)!" Her and Reggie leave you sitting alone in the chair you pulled over, once again not knowing where to go.

After a deep sigh and covering your face with your hands, you pull yourself up and let your feet guide you. Talking yourself out of bothering Jughead again, you decide to break into his father's office instead.

FP Jones barely uses it anyway, it's more of a storage room. But, lucky for you, there's a recliner big enough for you to spend the long night.

You sadly curl up on the chair, allowing yourself to shed a few tears, before calling it a night. _____________________________________________________________________

Unfortunately, a voice wakes you before your alarm goes off.

"Kid, what the hell are you doing?" You roll off the sofa in surprise, making eye contact with the owner of the office you broke into.

"Mr. Jones! Sorry! I was going to leave in the morning but I fell asleep... I'm so sorry. I'll clean everything up an-" he simply holds a hand up to silence you.

"Don't worry about it. You didn't even touch anything." You sigh in relief, feeling thankful for your close relationship with him. "But you are going to explain to me what you're doing in my office at the ass crack of dawn." He plops himself down on his office chair, scanning your disheveled appearance.

"I don't really wanna talk about it..." you mumble, trying to get out of the situation.

"Then you shouldn't have broken into my office. C'mon, spill." A deep sigh escapes your lips, before you finally nod in defeat.

"It's Sweet Pea and Reggie," your voice is barely audible, too embarrassed to properly speak to the gang leader about your relationship drama.

"They hurting you?" His posture immediately stiffens into a defensive stance, causing panic to course through you.

"No! Of course not! They'd never, Mr. Jones."

"Then what's the problem?"

"They've just been ignoring me, I guess." You mumble sadly.

"Charlie?" You hate how the Jones's know you so well. You're unable to hide any thought or problem from them.

"...yeah, and this other Northsider. Jennie. They're... perfect, Mr. Jones. And I'm not. I can't blame them." He responds to your self hate with a soft sigh, not knowing how to respond.

Teenage problems have changed a lot since he was growing up.

"Don't put yourself down like that, kid." FP replies with uncertainty, never really the best at advice. His dad would just smack him over the head and tell him to get his shit together.

"It's okay, Mr. Jones. I'll get going, thank you for letting me stay the night."

"Course, Charlie. My office is always open for you to break in to." You try to smile in response, but the smile doesn't reach your eyes. Then, you swiftly exit his office, still embarrassed from being caught in the first place.

You sigh to yourself, still so confused.

When did everything get so complicated?

_______________________________________________________

You walked over to Jughead's house again, still temporarily homeless. As always, he welcomes you happily, deciding to kill time by cuddling and watching a movie. Always unable to stay awake during movies, you feel your eyes drifting shut right after Jughead points out the most important part. Still, you rest your head fully on Jughead's shoulder and pull him a little closer.

"Hey, your phone's blowing up." He rasps, shaking you awake gently.  You thanked him softly, squinting as the light from your phone burned your eyes. You were shocked when you saw your phone practically flooded with texts from Sweet Pea and Reggie. "Who's it?" He slurs, tiredness obviously hindering his actions.

"Pea and Reg." You mumble, throwing your phone to the side.

"You're not responding?" He woke up a little more at the sound of the names causing you so much distress.

"No." You answer firmly, with no thought, just holding him tighter. Jughead releases a quiet laugh at your answer, but has no problem with accepting it.

They can wait.

________________________________________

Later that night, you finally forced yourself to answer their endless calls and texts. Your phone is filled with panicked texts and voicemails wondering where you disappeared to.

You roll over on the bed you decided to share with Jughead for the night, seeing he's still asleep. Not wanting to bother him, you slowly roll out of his bed, leaving him a note about your situation.

You call Sweet Pea, curious of his sudden care towards you.

"Hey," you're so shocked of him answering right away you forget to respond. "Babe?"

"Yea-Yeah! Hi!" You almost shout.

"Reg and I were wondering if you want to have a movie night? We haven't seen you in a while." You hold back a scoff, choosing to keep the air clear.

"O-okay. Can I come over now?" You ask weakly. You almost want to ask if Charlie and Jennie are going to be there, but you hold yourself back. You start walking in the direction of Reggie's house, assuming the movie night is hosted by him as usual. The walk isn't too long, maybe 15 minutes, and the weather was nice so you weren't complaining. You really did miss them.

"Of course. Meet us at Reggie's." Always a man of few words, you assume the conversation is over there. However, you bring the phone back to your ear when you hear them speak again.

"Hello?" But you go unanswered.

"I don't know, Reg. She's been getting on my nerves lately." You don't want to eavesdrop, but you're unable to help it. You know you should hang up, but your relationship has been on the verge of completely falling apart, and you'd do almost anything if it even gave you a chance at fixing it.

"(Y/N)? I know what you mean." You can almost hear the eye roll that came along with the agreement. "She's so clingy. It was cute at first, but I don't know if I can keep up."

"...we shouldn't make it too obvious though, right? We have been ignoring her recently, she doesn't deserve that." A gentle smile cracks through your face when you hear the little concern he has for you, but it quickly fades at the remembrance of their previous words.

"I mean, I guess." You can almost hear the shrug that comes with those words, Sweet Pea needs to maintain his careless persona.

Finally deciding you heard enough, you hang up and gather the courage to knock on the door.

"Coming!" Reggie's deep voice shouts. The door flies open quickly, his smiling face greeting you.

"Hi." You say quietly, genuinely not wanting to annoy them with the sound of your voice.

"Hey babe!" Reggie exclaims, coming closer to embrace you.

How can he be acting so normal?  You ask yourself.

"Hey." You utter another greeting, but trying to avoid his hug.

"Babe? Is everything okay?" Slipping off your shoes and dropping your bag neatly by the door, you respond with a gentle nod. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I just think I'm coming down with something..." your voice lowers in volume with every word, eyes drifting to stare at the floor.

"Really? Do you need tea? Medicine? PEA! Boil some hot water!" Reggie commands, coming closer to try and embrace you again, to which you back away quickly.

"No! It's okay!" You internally panic at the thought of bothering Sweet Pea with your needs. "I don't need anything, I'm fine." Reggie still stares at you uncertainty, but accepting the odd behavior.

"...okay, just let us know if you need anything. We missed you!" You only nod in response, trying to reduce the amount of times you speak to them in a day.

"Hi, sweetheart." Another deep voice sounds from behind you. You flinch at the sudden appearance, turning to face your other boyfriend. "You feeling okay?" Instead of allowing a gentle forehead kiss to happen, something that always helped you relax, you rapidly nod your head so he doesn't attempt to come closer than he already is.

"I'm fine." You squeak out again, walking past both of them to sit on the couch.

The pair share a suspicious look behind your back, before shrugging and coming to join you on the couch.

Sweet Pea beats Reggie to the spot next to you, immediately pulling you closer to him and attempting to cuddle with you. However, you hurriedly shove his arm off, moving to sit on the recliner positioned diagonal from the couch.

"I think I'm sick, I don't want to give you my virus." You make up on the spot, curling up in a ball in your seat.

"Babe, it's alright if you're sick. We don't care." Reggie approaches you slowly, placing his hands on the arms of the chair, caging you in so you can't run again. "It'll be more comfortable if you sit on the couch with us, come on."

"I just feel hot, Reggie. It's cooler over here." You mumble again, curling under the blanket draped over the recliner. He sends you an odd look, but shrugs when he realizes he's in a losing battle.

"Alright..." he takes a seat next to Sweet Pea, the pair sharing a blanket with their eyes glued to the movie playing. You smile sadly at the sight of them sitting together. They look... perfect. It only adds to how out of place you've been feeling lately. You sitting in the middle of them would just ruin the picture perfect image.

Another gentle sigh escapes you, but you try to focus on the movie instead of them.

"Hey, babe, don't you like that actor?" Reggie asks, but you just nod stiffly, not even sure what or who they're talking about. You've long since zoned out of the movie, you wouldn't even be able to tell them the title if they asked. You miss the look they exchange, the only actors on the screen are from an infomercial about adult diapers. Something's clearly wrong with you.

"Okay, do we need to talk about something?" Sweet Pea finally cuts through the awkwardness, turning the TV off. "You're acting weirder than normal." He directs towards you, but you still refuse to make eye contact.

"No." A short answer, still trying to not talk around them.

"(Y/N), it'll be easier if you just talk to us." Reggie tries to urge you into speaking. You finally lift your head up, looking rapidly between the two of them. "You know you can tell us anything." He smiles softly, trying to ease you into speaking. You shut your eyes tightly, before taking a deep breath.

"I think we should break up." You finally blurt out without thinking. The two boys' mouths widen in shock, not fully comprehending your words.

"Break up? Why?" Sweet Pea can't stop the anger flooding into his tone from your impulsive suggestion.

"Just... because." You mutter, not knowing how to vocalize your thoughts from the last month.

"Sweetie, we're gonna need more than a 'because' if you want to break up." Sweet Pea's naturally condescending tone makes you feel even worse about the situation.

"I-I don't know." You stupidly say, opting to stare at your hands.

"You don't know?" He stands up suddenly, rapidly walking towards you.

"Pea, calm down." Reggie snaps, blocking your body from Sweet Pea. "We're going to sit down and have a calm conversation, does that work for everyone?" You just nod, Sweet Pea rolling his eyes in anger.

"Whatever." He grumbles, sitting down in his previous seat on the couch.

"Baby, you have to have a reason." Reggie tries again.

"I just don't want to bother you anymore..." you mutter, tearing up slightly.

"Bother us?" Sweet Pea's tone softens slightly, but he's still in a slightly defensive stance.

"I mean... you guys have new people now." You chuckle slightly. "You don't really need me anymore. We haven't even talked in at least a month. You're all so happy with Jennie and Charlie, I don't want to be in the middle of it anymore." They stare at you in what you're assuming is anger. "I'll just go guys. I'm sorry for ruining your night." You get up quickly, making a beeline for the door. However, both of the men stop you, Sweet Pea picking you up and gently placing you back on the couch. You're surprised to see the tears in his eyes.

"Baby... baby we're so sorry." He cries into your shoulder, causing your own tears to fall.

"No, don't say sorry. I'm sorry I wasn't better for you." You choke out through sobs.

"That's not true." Reggie rasps, tears flooding his own eyes. The three of you sit huddled together on the couch, unable to speak anymore through the never ending sobs.

"We love you, baby." Sweet Pea finally breaks the silence, pressing a small kiss to her cheek after wiping her tears.

"We love you so much." Reggie adds, squeezing the both of you tighter. Their hearts break when they hear your little sobs and Sweet Pea goes to wipe your tears.

"Can we fix this?" You finally force yourself to ask, still not able to see a solution within the love they're giving you.

"Of course!" Reggie and Sweet Pea exclaim loudly.

"We'll do whatever we need to make up for it." Reggie tearfully promises, kissing your forehead.

You feel nothing but love being in their arms in this moment, but something doesn't feel right still.

You still have so many questions.

"But... why were you so mean?" In any other scenario, the boys would have swooned at how adorable your childlike tone came off. Yet, it only breaks their heart more. It's another reminder at how badly they messed up.

"I don't know, baby. I-"

"That's not good enough!" They also jump away in shock at your sudden outburst. Your voice hardly ever went past a gentle whisper. "I- you all made me feel worthless! I spent this past month wondering what I did wrong and I couldn't even go home because you and Charlie were always in our room! I need more than an I don't know." Your anger is radiating off of you, but you can only feel proud at finally standing up for yourself. But they just stare at you blankly. "If you don't have an answer, I'm going to go back to Jug's house until you know what you want from me."

"No, let's just sit and-"

"I waited a month, Reggie. I need an answer now."

"Honestly, we don't have one." Sweet Pea bluntly states. "I know you want an explanation and reasons, but we can't give you one. But we can give you a promise to never let it happen again. Hell, we won't even need to contact Charlie or Jennie ever again," Reggie nods in agreement, "so, can we try again?"

"Yeah, we're so sorry, baby." Reggie chimes in. "We love you more than anything and I can't believe how badly we messed up. Just give us a second chance, baby? Please?"

You know you shouldn't. Everything is screaming at you to run away back to your safety and forget about them, let them be happy with their new girls.

But... the amount of love in their eyes right now makes it hard to doubt their truthfulness.

"Okay." You mumble weakly. "Okay. Let's try again." You're suddenly tackled by two large figures, the three of you collapsing onto the couch. They start peppering every inch of your face and neck in kisses, causing giggles to erupt from all of you.

You suddenly feel like you won't regret this decision.

[rhotanored]

A Deal

Who: A’mariss Renahg (mentions of Nazyl Tharazyl, Tynos Riller) Where: Ambiguous Ul’dahn dwelling (?) When: Several moons earlier... What: On what she assumes will be just another hunting gig, A’mariss runs afoul of some demons; new and familiar...? Why: RP shenanigans resulted in some characters being separated for an extended period of time almost immediately after some Heavy Shit, and I’ve been wanting to write some bits and pieces of Meanwhile... (and also lay some plot hooks for an eventual arc). Warnings: Some creepiness, a wee bit of implied body horror, some violence, angsty introspection.

     A'mariss was beginning to wonder if a large part of the blame for the proliferation of Voidsent shouldn't fall on the shoulders of those foolhardy enough to summon them for--of all things--entertainment. This was not the first time in the first few moons following her impromptu position as the only active hunter at Heaven Can Wait that she'd found herself in the extravagant foyer of one of the well-to-do under the pretense they'd found themselves with a certain-kind-of-mess that required her very specific skill-set.

    Or Nazyl's, she thought (and not without a grimace that belied yet how fresh the wound of his absence is, though it's swiftly masked), but she can no longer deny that word of mouth concerning her own successful hunts had been making the rounds, much to her chagrin. Still, that she had been asked for by name had come as a surprise, and she wasn't certain it was a welcome one. While it was true she'd undertaken the hunt of Voidsent as a way to find purpose again (in brief; there was a tangled, complicated knot of feelings tied up in her motivations), she wasn't sure she wanted the particular kind of infamy that came along with supposed-expertise in the field.

    Exhaling quietly into the empty hall, A'mariss decided that was quite enough introspection. She'd been kept waiting for nearly half a bell, with nary a sign of life following the singular attendant that had seen her in; a steely-eyed Lalafell of little patience and fewer words, particularly after she'd announced the reason for her visit. A gently folded missive was still clutched in one hand, which she'd used as proof of intent, and her pallid green gaze lowered to the broken signet that had served to seal the letter in wax; an iron trellis overgrown by thorny vines.

    It was not unlike the one she’d passed under on her way through the front gates; she’d been rather taken aback to see such an attempt at greenery cultivated within Ul’dah--attempt, she’d thought, as it had been rather unsuccessful. The garden, while designed with all manner of intricate stonework, full plant beds, and what may have been a try at topiary art were all either dead or dying. The fountain that stood as a centerpiece in copper was green and black, weathered with age and abraded from the desert storms that inevitably blew sandy detritus into the city proper, regardless of how well its denizens attempted to sweep.

    Dark sand had gathered in every unattended corner and filled every crack in the grimy cobblestones that laid the path towards the manor, and A’mariss had felt a chill crawl down her spine as she’d waited on the doorstep, shrouded in the shadow of the house darker than what she would have expected from that time of day.

    She shook her head briefly, frowning as she likewise shook off her reflections of what had brought her to this manse with another glance at the missive in her hand.

To My Most Esteemed Huntress, the letter began in a thick, practiced script.

While under normal circumstances, were I you receiving such a letter, would I find myself most unimpressed by a request such as mine being made only by missive. Nevertheless, I must needs extend to you an invitation to join me at my estate. Directions have been provided to your Namazu attendant under the strictest of confidence. 

Pray understand I desire nothing more than to explain all the sordid details of my predicament, but it must be done face to face. Trust that it is explicitly your skills— nay, you, A’mariss, that I have need of.

I await your arrival.

    There was a signature beneath the final line, one practiced and as presentably illegible as A’mariss imagined most intricate signatures were--but she hadn’t been able to make heads or tails of the name it represented. True to the details within the missive, however, Gyosho had been given directions--and that was all. The Namazu could hardly recollect who had handed over the missive (one of the tall races, which meant little) where he had retained the instructions perfectly, which A’mariss found increasingly suspect the longer she waited in the gloomy lobby.

    Just as she reached the limits of her patience (she’d also begun to reconsider coming at all; reflecting on all that had transpired to bring her here made her acknowledge the niggling uncertainty clawing at the back of her mind) and rose to her feet to make for the heavy wood doors through which she’d entered, she heard a long, low, creaaak towards the other end. Another door--one she hadn’t noticed before and certainly not the same that the Lalafellin attendant had vanished through earlier--swung open. A frown tugged on her lips as her ears flattened against her hair when it appeared, after a long moment of waiting, that there was no one on the other side.

    That was when she felt it; the subtle tug of Calling, like something had hooked itself beneath her sternum and began to pull. The strength of it startled her, and the sensation left her breathless. It wasn’t quite the first time she’d felt it since she’d aided the others in their defeat of Gamigin, but every time it had manifested since, it seemed more, somehow. Now, it pulled her straight towards the door that now stood open, and more than that, towards whatever--whoever--lay beyond it. 

    At first A’mariss resisted, swallowing uncomfortably as her gaze fell on her exit out of the estate, but she felt the scraping within her chest becoming more insistent, causing her to suck in a breath to steel herself, and her hand tightened on the missive under her grasp.

    Beneath her grip, the letter--suddenly dry and brittle as though it had aged through the cycles--crumbled to little more than a pile of dust, fluttering in ashy shards of parchment to the carpet at her feet. The two halves of the wax signet bounced off the polished wood floor, each vanishing in wisps of reddish smoke.

    Hells, she thought, tearing her gaze from the floor back to where the door stood open, and a more insistent pull clawed across her ribs. She reached an arm back to brush along the haft of the Lanetli Arzu that rested across her shoulder, and while the bow offered no noticeable response, she was comforted by its familiar presence.

    Against her better judgment, but unable to deny the Call, A’mariss approached the open door, peering down the long, shadowed corridor beyond. Motes of dust were caught in dull, narrow streams of daylight that squeezed through the tattered remnants of heavy, moldering drapes. The wooden flooring beneath her feet creaked and groaned as she crossed the threshold into the hallway, leaving obvious footsteps through layers of undisturbed dirt and dust that layered over old, ratty carpeting and hardwood both.

    She felt distinctly like an intruder, here, despite the apparent invitation. Conveniently, as it was wont to do, the tug behind her sternum had grown still, leaving A’mariss to flounder in determining its true purpose. Each step carried her further into the hallway, passing heavy wooden door after heavy wooden door as she went, each lined with a bizarre array of locks, bolts, chains and knobs randomly placed from top to bottom. She reached for one of the wrought iron handles, but it was unyielding in her grip. She couldn’t even get the door to rattle against its frame.

    A thunderous--BANG!--from behind her made her yelp, the strangled sound the only thing that made its way out of her throat where her heart had leapt. The door she’d come through had apparently slammed behind her, manhandled by some unseen force--and something skittered into the shadows at the edges of her periphery. She whirled to track it, but other than the soft motes of dust dancing in lazy circles between shards of muted daylight, she saw no movement from one end of the hall to the murky shadows at the other.

    “Show yourself!” She demanded, her voice carrying the weight of her command without an onze of the fear that fluttered in her breast, and a flicker of pride momentarily outweighed it. This was nothing she hadn’t faced before. Gamigin had thrown at her the worst horrors of her life--so far, her thoughts whispered--and she would stand and face whatever haunted this particular manor. Nothing answered her, however, save her heartbeat pounding in her ears, and an oppressive silence. Though there were windows, no sound from the streets presumably beyond reached her, here.

    Having held her breath and strained to make out any additional noise to no avail, A’mariss exhaled slowly, her gaze trailing down into the deeper gloom at the opposite end of the hallway where she thought she’d seen that shadowy apparition vanish. With the way back now closed (and her with no desire to confirm her suspicions that she’d been trapped, if only for the sake of her nerves), she began to make her way in the only directly left to her.

    The source of the additional shadows, she discovered, were far more mundane than she’d anticipated; a heavy, velvet drapery hung across the open threshold. Pieces of the fabric crumbled under her touch as she tried to brush it aside, and a heavy chunk simply collapsed at her feet into a plume of moldy spores and dust. She reeled back, one hand clasping over her mouth and nose in an effort to spare her lungs the threat, but she’d already inhaled a cloying breath in her surprise. She coughed, wrinkling her nose as she stepped over the fallen curtain and used her other hand to brush aside some low-hanging cobwebs, only to stop abruptly as she nearly bumped straight into the Lalafellin butler that had left her in the lobby earlier.

    ...Only now, he wore a horrifyingly familiar jester’s get-up.

    Then, in an erratic flicker, he was gone. If the apparition hadn’t been enough to make her heart leap back into her throat, the sudden raucous cacophony of a discordant organ being played jubilantly from the stage at the far end of the room was. It was also enough to make her anger overtake her fear.

    Finally, her hands flew back to draw her bow and nock one of her arrows in a single fluid motion, letting fly one in a streak of brilliance towards the noise; the pipes she struck jangled in a final, agonizing note as a jagged screech of laughter echoed through the room. Her ears swiveled and flicked to-and-fro in an attempt to track it, though she had an inkling it was fruitless; mundane senses would not avail her here.

    “Show yourself!” She demanded for the second time this evening, and the laughter quieted into a thoughtful hum.

    The dim, natural light across the open, dilapidated ballroom (heavily curtained with ratty drapes and alight with dusty motes much like the hallway that had led here) darkened with shadows encroaching from every corner of the room, growing like a heavy fog. All at once the room brightened suddenly, as several massive chandeliers dangling from the ceiling ignited with purple flames--and abruptly extinguished, plunging the room into full, absolute pitch.

    But not before the afterimage of a rotting white mask had teased across her vision.

    Baring her teeth, A’mariss drew back the Lanetli Arzu and conjured another of her radiant arrows, which only served to illuminate her; it was as though she stood in a black void, without form or direction. She could feel the cracked marble tile of the ballroom’s flooring beneath her feet, however, so she knew she hadn’t been moved anywhere. Unless the illusion was far more elaborate than she thought, at any rate.

    “Enough! Gamigin is destroyed, by mine hand and others’. His false visage holds no power over me now, just as it held no power over me when we slew him,” she growls, steeling herself with the memory of Yuyuta’s incinerating blow.

    “So confident,” a voice whispers at her ear, and she whirls in that direction, pointing her bow into the unchanging blackness.

    “Ş̷͍̲̻̒̂ó̵͖͓̉̏ certain,̸̫͋̌̈͝ͅ” it says again, from over her other shoulder, and her reflexes fire her nocked arrow. It cuts through the darkness, revealing a sliver of the ballroom beyond before the shadows swallow it again.

    “S̸̛̈́̌̃͊̀̔͘õ̷̸̝̭̍̒̏̔̓̈́̇̕ un̶͚͗̑̿a̶͚̘̬̠̎̒̀͒͆͐͂̀̋sh̸̲̤͉̭̼͉̗̿́̎́̇͑̓̀̿͘͜ͅa̸̠̠͙͋͌͌̏͆̄͑̃̔͗͘m̵̠͉͍͛͑͊͛͑̎̀͑͐͠ë̴̫͎̫͓͝ď̵́̓̒̃͛͘͠,” and this time she senses it behind her, a trill of shivers running straight down her spine, every hair standing up at the back of her neck. Hastily, her free hand makes the motion of a spell, her claws igniting with the same radiance as her earlier arrow as she spins to rake the Voidsent behind her.

    Her wrist is caught in a vice-like grip, halted ilms away from the lined fabric of an expensive suit-coat--or what might have passed for one, were the material not sour-smelling and rotted like the rest of the contents of the estate.

    “A̵̧̡̳̒̀nd̸̗́̿̅ ̸͍͓̦̥̎̿̀͛s̸͈͎̞͒ö̴͔̻̟́ͅ ̷̰̿̐͝q̸̧̻̺̪̊̉̽́uĩ̷͕͎͑͠c̷̝̠͚̐͋͑͘k ̶̡̤̖̭̾̐̓t̷̜̏ǫ̶̺̤̦̊ ̶̡̯͓̭̈v̵̨̈ì̷͔̣̼̔͐ol̵͖͗̚͠en̵̩͌c̷̡̪̗̖͆͆̑e,̷̨̻̠̉,” the voice purrs, and she realises the curious double-intonation she’d been hearing comes from two mouths speaking in tandem; one where a mouth should be and the other a shark-toothed maw splitting the underside of an ashen, Elezen jawline. A’mariss struggled to wrench her arm free from the creature who had her in its grip, but a resounding--crash!!--behind her makes her jump, whirling as--crash!!--one-by-one the four--crash!!--chandeliers she’d seen earlier fall to the--crash!!--ballroom floor. They scatter shards of glass, gold candelabra and purple-lit candles (half extinguished in the fall) all across the room, dispelling the immediate darkness in favor of eerily dancing, flickering shadows.

    A’mariss tugged her arm yet again with a growing sense of urgency (not that her heart wasn’t already thundering while her every instinct screamed at her to run), and if the second mouth grinning toothily at her hadn’t been enough of an indication, a perfectly beaked nose was the last (and perhaps only) remaining feature that was remotely Elezen. The Voidsent had no eyes to speak of; instead twisting, spiraling black branches seemed to extend from where his cheekbones ought to have begun, reaching randomly and ceaselessly toward the ceiling, though where the branches ended and their shadows stretched out, A’mariss was hard-pressed to tell.

    “N̷̜̏̈́̉͘ow̵̧̤̯̃̆̓,̶̳̬͙̍́ ̵̪̾̔̓̄͜ǹ̸̢̨̲̩́͐ò̸͕̜͉̘͗́͗w,̵̲̽̄͐̅ ̵͕̜̪͍͒͂́no̵̟͂͝ͅẅ̶̝́͆̈́,̶̢̩̅̌̎̍” the Voidsent said, finally releasing her arm as it took a step forward and she, a step back towards the purple fire, which was quickly spreading, consuming the draperies as it went.

    “There are much better ways for us to parley. We only thought to celebrate your victory over ol’Gamigin,” the top mouth speaks on its own, drawing A’mariss’s gaze away from the fire.

    “T̸͖̖̳͒͜hou̴̗̮̝͖͑͑̌gȟ̴̞͎̝̺ ̴͓̗́̓͛i̴̘̊̿t ̵̙̩̅͜dep̸̞̀͛̂͜͜r̸͔̠͛̉̽iv̵̮̼͎̻̔͂ed̷̲͌̓̈́͘ ̸̛̩̊̐̒us̶͍̰̯̼̑̈́ ̵͕̾ȯ̸͇͒f ̶̠͠a̵̖̪͠ ̷͓̺̻͖̉̇̎me̷̫̰̞̍a̶̢̗̺̓l,̴̯̠̆̓” the second maw continues, “iṱ̴͉̍́̕͜ ̵̩̮̙͓̈́̋̚͠g̵̗͖͊̑͝ave ̷̣̤͌̐̽͜us̸̢̓̓͘ ̶̝͇̒s̴̞̗̖̈́͗o̴mȩ̸͔̤͉͊̊͗͘t̷̛̞̮̟́̚͜hi̵͑͜͠͝ņ̸̿̅͠g̴͖̜̾͛̋̎ ̵̥͔̓͝b̵̛̰̻͒̎et̸̛̖̑̓͂te̸̢͆r.”

    A’mariss’s tail falls limp behind her, the lion’s tip tufted up and flicking in agitation behind her. She didn’t like where this was going. The Voidsent “watched” her intently, leaning inwards, as though waiting for her to prompt it to explain; eventually, its head tweaked unsettlingly left, and its mouths made a little tsking noise.

    “You, of course. A’mariss. A’mariss. Ă̶̝̤͆͝ ̵̮̺͋̆̍̔̾̒’̷͚͐́́͂͆ ̶̙͙̞͝m ̴̨̛͈̌͆̑̇̉̀̚a̸͎͐͗ ̵͔̅͗̄͑̍͝r̸̉͆̂̀ ̵̧̣̳̱̬́ì̷̡̠̻̩̉͋̌͊͋̀́ ̷͈̭͐̅͝s ̴̗͍̈́̎͝͠s̷̛͉͖̈́̔͂̋̈́̂.” Every hair on her body stood seemingly on-end as it intoned her name, almost like a chant. It leaned towards her once again and she took another step back, only for the Voidsent to flicker erratically and vanish from view. She whirled, smoke from the flames now wreathing the entire room, and at the center behind her waited the Voidsent, one black hand extended towards her. 

W̵͈͊ė̸͔͍'̶͍̃r̴̫͎͕̣̒ę̵̺̹͙̐̈́ ̸̣̚b̴͚̑͠ou̸͙͍͖̽̂̆͠n̶̡͍̳̏̈́d,

                                    W̸̢̧͖̠̞͇̗̟̲͕̤̪̦̜̙̙̘̜͈̳̦̰̲̣̉̔͗͆̔̽̏͛̓͗͒͗̍͌̽͘͝ẻ̵͔̻̩̳͖͙̈́͑̾̿̋͝͝'̶̨̡̡̧̛̛̯̻̞͓͍̘̱̲͇̻̼̳̘̮̞̜̭̦̱͕̝͙̤͓̙̓̈̾͌̈́͆͗̀͒̐́̕͝ͅre̷̢̧̬̯͚̪̝̥̮͙̹̲̤͙̠̦̭͚͔͈̮͐̔͋͑͌̍̎̄͐̚̚͝͝ ̶͍͖̽̉̋͆̇́̆̉̇̀̌̓̕̚ĭ̵̢̺͚̥̙̥̞͔̠̔̈̾̓͂͋̒̇̐̓̇̓̍̂͌̓͑̒̾̋̍͘͘͘̚̕͘͜͝ͅne̶̛͑͐͂́̍̒́̑͗̊͆rt,                         Ẅ̴̠́ê̷̻'̷̬͌r̶e ̶͎͠h̶̬͋a̶͝rm̷͇̃le̴̢̔ș̵̌s̶̝̓,

                W̵̡̠̦̹͖͘e'̴̗̻̰̈́̚̚̚͝͝ŕ̷̘͕̈́̂͂̀͠e̷̟̟͈̩̦̽̉͜ ̴̜̦̲͆t̴̡́͌́̇̈́r̸̙͛̿͑ap̵̛͙͙͑̽̾p̸̻̳̼͒͘ͅed̸̙͛,

                                                     Wḙ̸͍̦̩͕͚͍̣̪̝͚̰̘̳̖̻̞̆'̷̝͊̄̇́̈́͋͛͆̇̿́̊̈̈͊̑̿́̿̉̀͝re ̴̨̢͚̪͇͓͐̄͌̒̋̌̔̓̃̚H̸͎̠́͛̐͊̐̄͒̈́̀̽͂̒́̅̏͌͊͒̕͘͘U̴̡͎̮̬͍͓͉̝͕͊͒͛͒̔͗̊̓̈́͌̍̒̍̚NGR̴̨̨̠͙̤̠̼͔͉̬̬̦̼̲͉͉̬̀̊̿̉̀̐͋̚͜ͅY̷̢̨̡̳̻͔̻̖͕͙̙̙̪̞͑̀̈͊̆͌͗͝͝ͅͅ!

                                                                         ...we are so very, very hungry.” 

    A’mariss’s jaw fell partially agape; she could feel the yearning in every word, freedom, freedom, freedom, freedom pounding in her skull like an incessant ringing, and the pull within her chest returned with a sudden vengeance. The creature’s outstretched hand was like a rod, and she the helpless fish hooked on its line as it slowly reeled her in. Her bow clattered to the ground like an afterthought as the creature arranged the hand that had been holding it against its shoulder, and held the other firmly as it took her by the waist and began to dance them through the smoldering ballroom.

    “We want to make a deal, A’mariss,” she jerked; those words meant something, but--the room spun and she spun with it, as its voice cooed soothingly into her ear.

    “No, no. Do not misunderstand us, my dear. We would serve you. Willingly,” it paused, its lips pressed against her ear; there was no maw filled with teeth in her periphery, just an ashen throat, bared almost in submission.

    “Loyally,” it purred, “and we would never forget you.” 

    “You could save us.” Could she? It seemed like they had stopped spinning, but A’mariss’s vision was still churning. She closed her eyes against the flickering shadows and growing flames, tucking her cheek against the creature’s striped suit; why had she thought he smelled sour? It was all warmth as she breathed him in, like cloves and allspice and the heady musk from a Bloodglider’s wing.

    “Change us.” Like Bloodgliders.

    “Free us.” Like home.

    A’mariss’s eyes snapped open as she wrenched herself free from the Voidsent’s grasp, stumbling to her hands and knees as the last vestiges of the enthrallment released her, awareness returning with an almost painful clarity. She found herself coughing; the room was almost wholly engulfed in flame, a small ring around the pair the only area untouched. Flames had consumed all the drapes and were making quick work of the ceiling as they rolled along it in waves. On the other side of the room, a support beam collapsed in a shower of pink sparks.

    “No.” A’mariss croaked, and as she reached out, her hand closed around the haft of the Lanetli Arzu as though it had never left her in the first place.

    The Voidsent roared; something inarticulate with rage. As she was staggering to her feet, the creature’s arm--or black, glittering branches?--lashed out to close around her throat, lifting her clean off the floor.

    “N̘͈̼͕͈̥͉͔̾͢O̬̳͉̙̬̓͐ͣ̊̒?̠͉͂ͫͤ͡ IIt boomed, its maw opening wide. 

    “Ņ̢̰̗̤ͣ̃̽͌͛ͦ̉͂̓̾̚̚O̢̨̤̥͔͆ͧ́ͩͥ̑̀͐̑ͪ́͑͟? ͨ͗ͮ̿̔NƠ̆ͦ͗ͮ҉̷̡̛̗̟͚?̯͒ͪ̂̑͐̓͂̅ͣ̊͜ ͍̜̫̊̎͆́̇̍ͬ͜Ň̬̗͌͋̌̀͝O?̹̰̙̦̗̜͙̑̾̍͌͞͡͞͠͞ͅ” It repeated over, and over, and over again, breathing hot, rank breath from its split maw directly into her face. She nearly gagged, but it held her throat tight enough that she could no more gag than she could breathe. Tears streamed from her eyes, her free hand grappling and tearing at the branch that held her to no avail; for every layer of supple, black bark that came away beneath her claws, there only seemed more.

    The Lanetli Arzu vibrated so strongly in her grasp that it was all she could do to hold onto it; she could feel herself fading as the Voidsent continued to roar, and the flames seemed to join it. Distantly, she could feel herself raking her claws across her own knuckles until the blood ran against the haft of her bow; aether surged from her and into the weapon, and the heat that shot up her arm was almost more searing than the choking heat of the room. Brilliant, blinding white light ignited behind the creature that had grabbed her; she could no longer discern its true shape beyond the shadows and endless grasping black branches, but a myriad of radiant arrows burst through its center mass and tore through the arms that were holding her.

    A’mariss landed hard, wheezing, and felt an oily lump pressed against her windpipe. Try as she might, swallowing did nothing to shake the sensation and only left her near-to choking. She slid back across the floor as the violet flames began to catch on the branches of the Voidsent. It still roared wordlessly at her, limbs flailing as it struggled to tear free of the brilliant arrows that had partially pinned it in place; they would not hold it forever. Somehow, she drew in enough of a breath to force herself to her feet. She leaped through the shallow wall of violet flame, hardly even feeling the heat as she raced wildly back the way she’d come.

    All the doors were open, now; the one that had blocked her path at the end of the hallway had collapsed outwards. She could feel the heat at her back as she stumbled into the foyer, forced her weak knees to keep going as she burst through the front door, leaped down the steps, and raced beyond the black iron trellis that had welcomed her so ominously earlier. Only once she was in the cobbled street did she turn to look back where she had fled; there was no sign of Voidsent, nor fire, nor the shadows she had been fleeing. There was only a terrifying emptiness, a sense of nothing that remained, like the hollow feeling of a thread snapping where she hadn’t realized one had been.

    Trembling, she turned her gaze down to the bow in her hand. It looked no worse for wear, though it seemed to hum with a note of desperation. Her other hand rose to her throat, feeling the lump--several lumps--pressed just beneath the skin. Panic gripped her as she felt one of them give a gentle twitch beneath her fingers. Her mind raced to find someone, anyone she could go to; she bowed over her knees in an attempt to slow her breathing, feeling (not for the first time) the loss of Nazyl most keenly. He would have known what to do.

    Bereft of other options, one other name rose to mind, and he was nearby. Tynos. If there was anyone else who could help her before it was too late--it was him. She looped the Lanetli Arzu over her shoulder, and began to walk, pausing near a street sign to get her bearing. If her panic-stricken memory was right, it was only a short walk towards the Goblet--and hopefully her salvation.

      ...Then she could attempt to process all that she’d just encountered.

[kfawkes]

Remind me Later - [Eggsy Unwin x Reader]

[Hi anon! I hope you are happy ;.; I worked on this dude allll day :D It’s not that angsty, but I guess a little because you know THATS ME hahaha. But it’s got a cute ending as always :) I don’t write Merlin all that often, so it’s fun for me! Any tips on him would be appreciated though, I wanna do him justice! <3

This one is in Eggsy PoV, It felt appropriate for the request, so hope you don’t mind that :D

Pairing: Eggsy x Reader

Words: 1.7k

Warnings: Cursing! :D As always lol

—Read on Ao3!]

If there was one thing that Eggsy knew it was that he shouldn’t like you. He shouldn’t like anyone, let alone someone he worked with as Merlin kept reminding him. He’d never had a problem separating friends from, well— more-than-friends in the past. But there was something about you, and no matter how hard he tired he couldn’t stop those feelings from spreading.

When he first met you Eggsy wanted to just ignore the feeling you gave him. For awhile there he was even able to, but in the end he realized ignoring them only gave them more strength. By the end of that inner battle his little crush had turned into full on feelings; and as your friendship grew so did is affection.

You were unlike anyone else he’d ever met. So fucking incredible and basically the wittiest person he knew. He was fucking screwed from the second you walked through that door, and he knew he couldn’t fight how he felt for much longer.

Eggsy knew it wasn’t a good idea, but as the days turned to weeks he found himself hardly caring at all. He probably would have told you how he felt by now if not for Merlin always reminding him of the rules and risk involved… It seemed like whenever he got close to you during a mission Merlin would pop in over comms’ with more instructions. Or anytime Eggsy would be looking at you for a bit too long, Merlin would nudge him or clear his throat rather obviously.

Each of those reminders needed to be said— Eggsy knew that, but he never wanted to hear them. He didn’t need another reminder that he couldn’t have you… that he’d never have you. But no matter if he wanted them or not, Merlin was making sure he was getting them.

As if on queue once that days mission ended and you guys were back to HQ; Merlin approached him with brows lowered gripping that clipboard like he knew everything. In a way… he kinda did, didn’t he?

Eggsy let out a deep sigh, chewing his cheek lightly avoiding eye contact with him. Only when Merlin stopped walking, he didn’t say a thing like Eggsy expected. He just pursed his lips and stare down; and Eggsy didn’t need to look up to know just what he intended on saying.

“Jus gonna stare at me then, are ya?” Eggsy finally asked shifting his weight awkwardly as he stuffed his hands into his pockets. This conversation was one they’d had before— many times, and the tune was getting very fucking old.

“Galahad, I shouldn’t have to remind you this…” Merlin started leaning closer to Eggsy’s ear as you passed by, trying not to eavesdrop.

Merlin watched as Eggsy’s eyes shot to yours almost like a magnet, noticing the spark that ignited when you smiled. He didn’t say anything at first, what the heck could he say? It was becoming clear though just how strongly Eggsy felt for you, and for that he was conflicted… On one hand he knew the dangers and the rules forbidding it such relationships. But on the other- he cared about Eggsy. He wanted to see him happy, and it was clear he’d never been happier than when he was with you.

But still… Merlin couldn’t allow it. How could he when he knew how these things ended? “—but for the last time, you cannot get involved with a fellow agent.”

“Damnit, Melin— I know. If anyone knows it’s me, innit? But I ain’t done nothin’… we ain’t done nothin’. We’re jus– friends.” Eggsy’s voice was agitated, but also lined in sadness as he pulled his eyes from where you last stood.

Part of him wished that you two had been fooling around or something… At least then Merlin’s accosting would be justified, wouldn’t it? Being blamed for shit he didn’t do irritated Eggsy and he was two seconds from telling Merlin to cut the shit. But when he finally looked to Merlin’s eyes; his brows were lowered somberly, and it made all the anger he felt seep away in an instant.

“I know it’s hard… but this will get you into more trouble than it’s worth, Eggsy. Trust me.”

“I get it, yeah?” When he replied this time his own eyes were lowered dismally, and there was only a hair of his previous irritation present.

And Eggsy did get it, really he did… but he hardly cared anymore because he felt something strong when he looked at you. Something that took hold of him, and bleed deep into his bones like a drop of wine spreading on your shirt.

Each day that passed reminded him how little he cared about consequences and how much he cared about you. It was hard for him to worry about what might happen when you two fit so perfectly… He just couldn’t understand why that kind of chemistry would be frowned upon when it made you both so much better at what you did. Together you were better at fighting, together you ere better at getting the job done.

You two were better than any of the other Kingsman, and they all knew it. So what the fuck was the problem then?

The problem was the vulnerability that came with the territory as Merlin would say. But you both knew that ultimately Kingsman couldn’t have anything clouding their judgment. It was simple really, and went back to the final test during recruiting… whether or not you could pull a trigger on your dog to get a job. Only, it was more like could you pull the trigger on someone you loved if it meant saving the world?

Honestly, Eggsy wasn’t even sure he could. But then again he couldn’t pull that trigger on JB either, could he?

It was a lot for him to think about, yeah, but no matter how many days passed or how many warnings Merlin whispered, he couldn’t stop thinking about you. He couldn’t stop imagining how good life would be if you were just his girl… If he could just—

“Hey you… Everything okay down there?” You asked standing beside him with a hand on your hip. When he slid his eyes to yours you held a soft sweet smile, and he felt every thought leaving his mind as if carried on air.

“Better now.” He replied smoothly, even though calm was the last thing he felt as he signaled you to join him.

Eggsy was in the training room, and originally he’d been working out; but at some point he clearly had taken to sitting and spacing out on you. Not unheard of, of course- but usually he had the decency to think about you in less public areas.

A moment later you sent out a soft chuckle, placing your hand to his shoulder using it to lower yourself to the ground. You felt a wave of chills shooting through you as he placed a hand low to your back. Eggsy felt it too, but he always felt that way when you were around.

When you were fully seated you were close to him, with shoulders pressed together lightly. Much closer than he expected you to be and it caught him by surprise. He didn’t want to look at you because he was sure if he did he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from kissing you.

Course he didn’t know you’d been wanting that very thing for months now… You could only be so obvious without seeming desperate, right? That and being obvious even had its limits when there were other factors involved.

Factors like the possibility of losing your jobs. Things like heartbreak and pain or the possibility of ruining the most important relationship you had…

Factors you really didn’t give too shits about, if it meant he’d be yours.

“I’m gonna ask you one more time, and don’t you lie to me again, Unwin, you understand?” When he nodded briefly sporting that cheeky smile you pointed at him, pressing into his shoulder a bit. “Are you alright?”

You were playful, that much was obvious— but you also meant it and could tell there was something on his mind. If there was one thing you were good at it was reading Eggsy and right now his face said more than his flirty response ever could.

“Wouldn’t lie to you, luv. Not ever.” Eggsy pulled in a breath of air in attempts to control the thoughts that ran rampant. At this point he just wanted to tell you everything… Specifically how much he loved liked you, and wanted to be with you.

What would Merlin really do anyway?

“I know… But I’m pretty sure you also wouldn’t tell me something if you thought you might be protecting me.”

Eggsy nodded sending out an awkward laugh as he pulled his legs up in front of him. He didn’t necessarily like being so easily read, but there was something comforting about the way you did it. It made him feel safe in a way, like he wasn’t alone in the world. Like he had someone that got him.

“It ain’t fair when you do that.” He nudged you back softly, his head ending closer to you than it when it started; and you felt a soft bubble boiling in your stomach as you stared at his lips.

“What?” And now you were sliding your finger tips closer to his…

Eggsy held his hand close to yours; lightly brushing your fingertips with his, unable to look you in the eyes. He didn’t know what he was going to say next, but he knew he had two choices: Either break this off here and now or tell you just how he felt.

He didn’t have to think long to decide what needed to be done, and just as you opened your mouth to speak again– he slid his hand to your neck, pulling you into the kiss you both wanted so desperately.

It was a ballsy move even for Eggsy, but if he lost his nerve he wasn’t sure he’d be able to find it again. Nervous didn’t begin to cover how he felt at first, but when he realized you were kissing him back, he knew he’d made the right choice.

This was what he’d been waiting for. You were what he’d been waiting for, and he knew now without a doubt that you would be worth whatever happened next.

[sphynxxsims]

Give And Take

Genre: Angst, it has a good end tho

Word Count: 2,031

Request: An AU imagine where a girl falls asleep on the bus and Hansol carries her home.

A/N: I’m not sure if this is what you had in mind; I was in an angsty mood at at time. I blame the chill Korean R&B playlist I was listening to while writing this. It had me in my feelings.

“Please don’t cry over someone like him. Everyone knows how he is. He’s nothing compared to you.”

       It’s so hard to give; taking is so much easier. But why was it that you were always the one being used, the one who gave too much and got nothing in return? It was childish to keep going around in circles with your now ex-boyfriend, you told yourself. Your brain knew that it was much better to get out of a toxic relationship with someone who didn’t care about your wellbeing. On the contrary, your emotions screamed at you to turn back down the road and beg for forgiveness as if you were the one at wrong.

       Melancholy tears streamed down your face as you managed to put one foot in front of another on the damp concrete, a result of the dreary drizzle of rain that poured from the lifeless sky. Cool gusts of wind penetrated to your bones. It seemed as if the world was against you today - there was no way that you could make it all the way to your friend Krista’s place in this weather, which was your current and only way to take refuge from your ex. You hadn’t exactly thought it through when you’d decided to spring this break up on him, but you knew that it was due time for you to cut ties with him, even if it meant freezing your ass off with not even a jacket to protect you from the cold.

       You’d never been in a long, invested relationship until college, so this was all a new feeling to you. You mentally cursed when you remembered that you still had classes with him; it was sure to be painfully awkward, mostly on your part. That was the thing that pissed you off the most - the way he was so nonchalant when you broke up with him, like he never ever cared at all. It was just a mild inconvenience for him, not having a servant to buy him things, to pay his bills, to work day in and day out just to keep a roof over both of your heads. But now that was all gone.

       The only thing that kept you sane as you approached the bus stop was the satisfaction that he would be on his own until he could find another gullible girl to fall into his trap, which wouldn’t be long. He was a boy who had kind eyes and lured you in with his witty chatter and a smile that was worthy of a Colgate ad. Although it sent a dull ache down your spine to compliment him in these ways, you knew that it was true. With trembling hands, you took a seat and waited patiently for a bus to save you from the horrible weather.

       Just as you’d spotted the bus turning the street corner, you caught sight of a boy rushing up to you - one that looked vaguely familiar. As he approached, you realized that it was someone from your English class - Hansol. Despite knowing that he had a good character, you almost visibly recoiled at the thought of someone seeing you in such a state. However, you had no choice but to wordlessly let him board the bus alongside you, although he seemed to shoot you a worried glance when you made momentary eye contact with it. You took a seat near the middle of bus and he quietly slid in beside you, much to your discontent. You just wanted to be left alone. Besides, you didn’t want the sweet boy from English to see you like this.

       “Are you alright?” His voice was soft. You looked over to his face, softly illuminated by the city lights. You nodded meekly, not wanting to speak for fear of your voice cracking. There was something so captivating about the deep brown of his eyes that clearly sympathized with your feeble figure. He stare wasn’t condescending, nor were the motivations behind it wrong. You’d seen that stare far too many times to not be able to recognize it in record time. You looked over to the window, your warm breath making your reflection foggy. You wiped at your cheeks, tracks of mascara still visible from all of your crying. You were so truly embarrassed at the situation that you didn’t even notice Hansol taking his jacket off until it was gently placed on your shoulders. Rather than wait for you to respond to his act, he instead opted to start up a one-sided conversation between you two.

       “Why should such a pretty girl like you be crying at a bus stop late at night? I just don’t understand it.” He shook his head in discontent.

       “It’s that asshole boyfriend of yours isn’t it?” You nodded again, but this time making a slight modification to his question.

       “He was my boyfriend. He isn’t anymore.” You looked down.

       “Oh.” He places his hand on your knee, its warmth comforting to your shivering frame.

       “Please don’t cry over someone like him. Everyone knows how he is. He’s nothing compared to you.”

       There was something so beautiful about the city at night; the lights sprinkled the building like calming string lights on a headboard. The soft murmer of the bus and of the traffic around you lulled you to sleep with your head rested against Hansol’s shoulder.

       You woke to the sight of a white ceiling, your head resting on a pillow that had the same scent as the oversized jacket you were wearing. A blanket has been carefully tucked around you. You rubbed your tired eyes, and as the sleep wore off you began to question your surroundings. Why were you sleeping a couch?

        You sat up in the bed, your feet touching the cool, worn wooden floor. Wrapping the blanket a little tighter around you, your eyes wandered around the small but cozy bedroom. There was minimal decor, but the modest space looked lived in, which gave off a comfy vibe. There was an unopened bottle of water on the nightstand with a note next to it. You inquisitively picked it up.

       “I’ll be on the couch of you need anything. - Hansol”

       Shit. You had unknowingly fallen asleep on the bus - how irresponsible. It wasn’t like you to become this unhinged, but in your defense you’d had one hell of a night. There were so many things that could’ve went wrong in this situation, but somehow you had ended up safely in bed at a mere acquaintance’s home. In the face of such good luck it was hard to imagine that you could still feel so dejected, but it had managed to creep up on you as the cloud of sleep faded away. You sighed to yourself restlessly, anxiously walking over to the door and delicately pushing it open.

       You slowly walked down a short hallway that led to the living room, a cluster of threadbare furniture that had been haphazardly placed in the cramped space. That being said, there was something about the apartment that was so familiar and homey, despite you never having been there before and the circumstances of your stay.

       Even though you had been what you considered silent the entire time, you caught sight of Hansol’s sleeping figure stirring on the worn love seat he had curled up in. You frowned. He had to be uncomfortable - couldn’t he have just laid you there and instead slept in the comfort of his own bed? His selfless nature stood in stark contrast to your ex’s.

       How could you have felt as if you’d known someone who was practically a stranger for years? You knew bits and pieces about Hansol - you had talked some in English class, but your ex had been overbearing and didn’t like you talking to other men. You were so thankful that he was out of your life, but at the same time you felt so somber about the situation. There was no doubt in your mind that you had loved him. You hated that he had a hold over you; it made you shake with anger that he could evoke tears without even being mentioned. This was proven true by the tears that soundlessly streamed down your face in the dim lit room.

       You hoped that Hansol couldn’t see them. The only light came from the window behind the love seat, a slim opening that was half covered by a thick curtain, but still managed to let some soft light slip into the room, painting it in blue hues.

       “You’re awake, Y/N?” He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, trying to focus. It hadn’t been too long since he had fallen asleep; nightfall still held the sky.

       You nodded. It seemed to be your only form of communication on a night so bleak that its darkness choked out all of your words, leaving you mute to a man with bottomless kindness. You wanted to thank Hansol, to hug him. It was hard to understand how someone so distant could’ve been helping all this time, but it clicked. He had been there.

       When you’d dropped all of your book and your ex had carelessly walked on while you were left to collect all of the scattered papers, he had been there. When you were slacking on your English project because you had so many responsibilities as a result of your two jobs to pay for you and your ex’s expenses, he had been there to pick up the slack. He hadn’t complained not even one time. Okay, so maybe he didn’t know the whole story, but he didn’t need to. He was a friend to you and you hadn’t even noticed.

       Yes, maybe your ex had only took from you while you had only gave. However, you had quite a similar situation with Hansol and you had been so caught up in life that you’d failed to even notice.

       “I’m so sorry, Hansol.” With all of the compose you had left, you sat down beside him on the love seat. He was still half asleep, but the grogginess left his eyes when he finally realized that you had been crying again. He brought his hand gently up to your cheek, wiping your tears.

       “Please don’t cry again.” Ironically, you started to cry yet again at his kind words.

       “You’ve been there. You’ve always been there. I didn’t even notice, but you have.” You fell into his arms, no longer having any self restraint to keep yourself from clinging onto him in an iron grip. He reciprocated by placing his hand on the nape of your neck. You felt take a sharp breath.

       “You needed someone.”

       “I took advantage of your kindness.” Your words were muffled by his flannel shirt.

       “My kindness is mine to give. You never forced me to do anything, Y/N. You needed it. I could see how worn down you were.” You were practically sobbing into him at this point, but you had begun to understand the weight of his words.

       “How could you do all of that for me?” You dared to look up at him, your eyes red and sore from crying.

        “Because I love you. I’ve cared for you far before you ever started dating that asshole ex of yours. I saw you truly happy. Your smile used to be so bright. You might not of known me well, but that smile made me have better days. I saw your happiness fade away, and I would’ve done anything to get it back.” He rested his chin on the top of your head, his hands rubbing your back in calming motions. Your sobs had faded to a slight sniffling.

        It was obvious that you hadn’t been the only one giving these past few months. You’re original conclusion was true - taking was easier. So much so that you didn’t even realized that you were getting your strength to carry on from a shy boy in your English class. Maybe taking wasn’t all that bad after all. It was a balance of give and take that you needed, and you were damned if you weren’t about to try your best to make up all of that lost time with Hansol.