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stardust948 · 13 days

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A while ago I started a prequel for Into the Night. Here are some snippets.

TW: Domestic and child abuse

“Isn’t this exciting dear?” Rina adjusted her daughter’s silk red robes.

Ursa plastered on a fake smile. “Yes. Very.”

“You’re not fooling me, Ursa.” Rina frown. “I know that look.”

Ursa sighed. “I’m sorry Mom. But how can I be excited to marry someone I hardly know?”

“You’ve met Azulon’s son before and you said he was fine.”

“It was one date. You don’t know a person after one brief date.”

“Well you have the rest of your lives to get to know each other.”

Ursa looked away as anger flared up.

“Darling.” Rina tilted Ursa’s face towards her. “I know this is hard, but we need the money.”

“I know. Still, I feel no less than a prized ostrich-horse going to the highest bidder.”

“That’s enough.” Rina said firmly. “A pampered ostrich-horse is leagues better than one that works in the mines. Be grateful.”

Ursa pursed her lips. “Yes mother.”

Rina finished the last adjustments then walked her to the doors.

“You look beautiful. Big smiles.”

Ursa took a deep breath then smiled brightly.

“Better.”

///

Ursa narrowed her eyes as she caught Ozai creep out of Zuko’s room and quietly closed the door behind him.

“What are you doing?” she asked lowly crossing her arms.

Ozai scoffed. “Do you not trust me even in my own house? Must you pester me at every waking hour?”

“Answer the question.”

“You aren’t the one in position to demand things from me.” Ozai sneered. “Go back to bed.”

“I’m not one of your subordinates! What were you doing in my son’s room?!”

Muffled noise came from the closed door.

“Zuko?” Ursa moved to open the door but Ozai grabbed her arm.

“You’ll wake him more.” He said in a quieter tone. “He’ll fall back to sleep in time.”

Ursa yanked her arm away and glared at him.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“It’s late. We will discuss this in the morning.” He kissed her cheek. “Alright?”

“I will hold you to it.”

“I expect nothing less.”

Ozai guided her back to the room. Ursa wearily stole a glance at Zuko’s closed door as her stomach knotted.

Something wasn’t right.

///

Ursa felt sick.

She rushed to the bathroom to empty her stomach as her mind replayed the lude texts from her husband’s phone over and over. She shouldn’t be surprised in the slightest that he cheated on her, yet the evidence overwhelmed her. It was as if Ozai left it out on purpose for her to find.

After fumbling with the doorknob a bit, Ursa stumbled in and flipped on the light. There was a sharp gasp. Ursa froze.

Zuko by the sink shirtless with bandages and drops of blood scattered on the floor. His back was red and blotchy with streams of blood trinkling down. He looked at her like a cat deer caught in headlights. Ursa’s world tilted.

“Mama!”

“What happened?!”

“Um.” Zuko looked down and clutched his balled up night shirt.

“Zuko look at me.” She dropped to her knees and grabbed both of his shoulders. “What happened?! Tell me who did this!”

Zuko began to cry. “I can’t. F-Father said don’t t-tell.”

Ursa couldn’t breathe.

“W-What?”

Zuko buried his head into the shirt and sobbed. Ursa’s heart shattered.

“Oh baby…” she shakily pulled him into a hug. “My baby. My darling sweet boy.”

“I’m sorry.” He croaked.

“Zuko.” Ursa cupped his face. “This is not your fault.”

“But Father said I’m broken. H-He’s fixing me.” Zuko eyes widened as soon as the words left his mouth. “Please don’t tell him I said that! He made me promise.”

Tears poured out of Ursa’s eyes. “There’s nothing wrong with you baby.”

Zuko bowed his head as more tears came. Ursa stroke his head while fighting the urge to scream and barge into Ozai’s room. Instead, she gently patched Zuko up and led him back to his room.

“How long has Father been doing this?”

“S-Since the party. He… he was really mad tonight.”

Ursa swallowed thickly. “This isn’t right. He’s not supposed to hurt you.”

Zuko gave her a confused look. Ursa slowly inhaled to composed herself.

“Do you want to sleep in my room tonight?”

Zuko nodded.

“Can Dante the Great come too?” he asked hesitantly. “He’s hiding under the bed.”

“Of course darling.”

Ursa fished out the toy and gave it to Zuko. He immediately buried his head in the stuffed turtleduck.

“He doesn’t like it when Father comes.”

Blinking back more tears, Ursa picked Zuko up while being careful to mind his bandages. “Let’s go get your sister. We’ll have a sleepover.”

“O-Okay.”

#atla #atla au #atla modern au #royal fire family #toxic urzai #ursa #zuko #azula #ozai #into the night #wip #tw abuse #star's writing #idk if i'll finish this

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lostinlewis · 1 year

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Into The Night...

Rating: Soft

Words: 2594

“Stay.”

It had been two days, or rather nights, since you heard the word mumbled by the man who you now lay on the sofa with, your legs sprawled across his, his hands resting on the outside of your clothed thigh. A position you had both been in for most of the day now, a step up from a similar position in his bed for most of the day yesterday.

You had been torn when you heard it, such an insignificant word should never cause as much torment as it had in your head, but all the variables behind it fed it its power. You had spent the night at Lewis’ London home before, that was nothing new, what was new was the request for you to stay for the whole weekend, as was the fact that on Sunday night there was no word of you leaving; this was new.

The final episode of the latest season of Stranger Things was in full swing on the screen in front of where you both lazed. It was only yesterday that you had started it, but both of you were engrossed from the start, you knew then that you would be there until you were done.

As your fingers played loosely with the faux locs that sat messily on his head, your mind couldn’t help but wonder towards the anxious thoughts that rose to the forefront more and more, the nearer it got to finishing the series and ultimately, until home time.

‘Will he ask me to leave once it’s finished? He’s polite, so will he pretend he has to be up early, hoping I take the hint?’

It was nearing 2am now, the thought of having to catch the night tube back home, the famous walk of shame, even if that shame was now two days old, made you feel even worse about the inevitability of what was to come.

You missed the part on screen that startled Lewis, but you were thankful for it nonetheless. As he pulled you in even closer to him, feigning the attempt at comforting you, you felt so warm at the thought of being his comfort after a fright, even for the moment.

Lewis’ lips trailed across the bare skin of your neck as the episode drew to a close, both of you would have failed a test on what happened, neither one of you could hold your attention on one thing for so long; except each other, that was.

“You smell so good.”

Lewis mumbled against your skin as he kissed it lazily, your head rolled back into his to not stop him, but make him understand just how good he made you feel.

“I smell like you, Lewis.”

You teased his arrogance but it was true, you did. Everything on you was his, from the tracksuit he had given you to wear as you didn’t have any spare clothes with you, not anticipating your impromptu sleepover, to the deodorant you wore, everything was his.

“Come on, let’s go for a walk.”

Your stomach dropped as he tapped at your leg, yet in contradiction, he kept kissing your neck as if that one action didn’t have you pinned to the spot, paralysed under his touch.

“I have no clothes, I can’t go out.”

“Looks like you’re wearing clothes to me…unfortunately.”

Lewis brushed his lips against yours as he teased you, even for him, this was the politest way to ever let a person down gently but you let yourself be sucked in by it, it was impossible not to be.

“You look cute in my clothes, besides it’s 2am, no one will be around to see you anyway.”

The cool air of the late spring night hit you as you walked out of his front door. It had clearly just been raining, judging by the puddles you could hardly avoid on his street.

You had barely made it out of his gate when he reached for your hand, sliding his fingers between yours, he held you tight as you walked a path lit only by the faint haze of the sparse streetlights.

“This is my favourite time to go for a walk. I love London at the best of times, but you really get to enjoy its beauty when no one else is around to ruin it.”

It was true, there was something so very special about the way walking down the street in one of the busiest cities in the world felt, when it was empty of people and cars. It felt like anything was possible, like you two were the only two in the world, and if you ignored the lights that shined in every other house window, you could have been.

“Where are we going?”

“No where, we’re just walking…stop overthinking it.”

You thought his words an odd response to such a simple question, you wondered then if he could read your mind, if the comment was more to do with the thoughts that had plagued you since morning now. You had outstayed your welcome, you just needed him to let you down gently.

“You see this place?”

Lewis pulled you closer to him as he stood outside the darkened windows of a restaurant, one that had closed hours ago but somehow the aroma of the food it served still lingered in the air outside.

“Makes the best tacos in London…we should go sometime.”

“Aren’t you-“

“You can get Vegan tacos too, babe.”

Lewis shook his head in a teasing manner as he kissed the top of your head, a signal that it was time to move on to the next sight, your walk fast becoming a tour of some of Lewis’ favourite haunts and you could think of nothing more you would rather be doing.

“This way, I know a shortcut.”

“I thought there wasn’t a plan for this walk, Lewis?”

Your voice rose to more of a shriek as you had to follow him in a jump over a puddle more akin to a pond, before he led you down a dark alleyway, not a streetlight in sight.

“There wasn’t, but now I know exactly where I want to go. Don’t be scared, I've got you.”

Lewis shot you a smirk back as if he wasn’t the one literally jumping out of his, and subsequently your, seat a little while ago because of a show that kids can watch.

“I’m not scared.”

That was the truth, you weren't, not of the dark alleyway anyway, more of the man who held your hand from his place just ahead of you, or what it would feel like when you inevitably lost him.

The alleyway felt like it led on forever, it allowed you enough time at least, for your mind to wonder to thoughts of Lewis having led you down there to do something you both really should not be doing in public, and then catch them again before you got a little too carried away and initiated it yourself.

“Here we are…”

Lewis narrated the big reveal, the scene that made your eyes squint as you tried to adjust from complete darkness to sudden light once more, as if he had created it himself. Pulling on the grip he had on your hand to lead you out into the open, and right beside him, ever so gently.

“Oh wow, it’s so pretty.”

You marvelled as you took in all around you. He had taken you to the river, but to a part of it you had never seen before, a part you imagined most people hadn’t. There was one singular streetlight standing beside a solo table and two chairs, a canopy decorated in tiny lights hung above it, the perfect place to sit and look out into the calm waters of the River Thames.

“It’s so roma…cosy here.”

You refused to allow yourself to finish that word, but it didn’t matter, Lewis had heard it; you could tell by the way he caught your eye before you quickly looked away, but also by the way in which he reached for your hand across the table, tickling his fingers in between yours again, like they were made to fit there just perfectly.

“You’re right, it is romantic. I knew you would like it.”

“Come here often then?”

“A lot.”

You couldn’t help but look up at him, you forgot just how casual your relationship was supposed to be, you forgot to hide your jealousy and instead you let it fall all over your face in the form of a frown.

“I run through here almost every day…alone. When you said you were able to come over Friday night, I knew I had to take you here.”

You were so very aware of the circle Lewis was drawing on your hand with his thumb, any contact with him was electrifying, but this contact was one you felt most.

“But it’s Sunday…well, Monday morning now. How come we didn’t go on Friday? I could have met you here, you only had to ask.”

It sounded as if you were looking for a way for him to get out of you having overstayed your welcome all weekend, you were giving him an excuse that he hadn’t even asked for, taking the blame for an action that wasn’t entirely your fault.

“I wanted to walk with you here, I wanted you to see the streets I run down every day. And besides, there was no rush, you have been with me all weekend after all.”

“I’m sorry about that.”

As if physically wanting to break away from the uncomfortable conversation, dreading where it was heading, you stood up from the table and walked a few steps to rest against the barrier that separated you from the river.

You were alone for all of twenty seconds before you were startled by the silent but sudden feel of Lewis so very close behind you. His hands brushed your neck clear of any obstructions, allowing his lips to meet almost the same spot as they had done earlier, his hands finding their way down your arms to rest on top of yours.

“You know I wanted you to be here with me, right?”

“You did…”

You felt his giggle, hot and breathy, against your neck as he took in your shocked response.

“Babe, I asked you to stay…”

“Yes, but that was one night Lewis, I have been at yours for nearly three now.”

“Have I asked you to leave?”

Lewis turned your whole body around with ease as he let the question marinate, he wanted to see you when you responded; he needed to.

“No, but-”

“Why does there have to be a but? I didn’t ask you to leave you yesterday, I haven’t asked you to leave tonight, and I won’t be asking you to leave tomorrow either. I haven’t asked you to leave because I don’t want you to. Ever.”

Every word could be mistaken for politeness, you could convince yourself that he was just being nice, every word apart from the last one. You felt it when he said it, he meant it.

“Lewis, I don’t understand…”

“Honestly, neither do I. This was only supposed to be a casual fling, but the more I saw you, the more I had you around me…well, the harder it got to not have you around, I guess.”

“So…you just want me around? Like a roommate?”

Lewis couldn’t help but chuckle at your naivety once more, shaking his head he pecked you on the very tip of your nose before he pulled you in as close as he could towards him.

“I want you around, I want you as a roommate, but what I am trying to ask you is if you would be okay with being a little more than that?”

“A little more…like a girlfriend?”

If you were not mistaken, as you said the word ‘girlfriend’ you could see the nerves in his eyes, the only time you had ever seen him nervous before, and yet you found it most adorable.

“Exactly like a girlfriend…if you want to be, of course?”

You let him stew in his nerves for a moment, it was quite nice to, for once, not be the one riddled with anxiety. The longer you left it, the more puppy-like his eyes became, so much so you almost completely forgot to answer him as you fawned over the most adorable man you had ever seen before you.

“I’ll be your girlfriend, of course I’ll be your girlfriend silly.”

Like two teenagers in love, Lewis scooped you up and sat you on the barrier, just so he could kiss you for what felt like an eternity. You only really fell apart from each other's lips when the light droplets of rain turned into the kind you could no longer ignore, the heavier they got.

“Let’s get you home.”

Lewis lifted you back down to your feet and together, hand in hand, you walked through the same streets you had a while before, but this time you walked with your boyfriend, and he with his girlfriend. You found it rather ironic that you had arrived there wondering when he would tell you to go home, but left there with him having offered you a new place to call home.

“Wait here.”

Lewis let go of your hand and jogged across the road, towards a group of tourists, leaving you confused and completely baffled as he jogged back over to you, with them in tow.

“What’s going on?”

“They are going to take our picture, follow me.”

He led you along to where a streetlight stood on the edge of the road, with one leg propped up against it, he pulled you in close to him so you were both engulfed in its light. First he kissed you on the forehead, next he turned towards where he was being photographed with a smile, you followed his lead too.

As you stood to the side, watching Lewis oblige the tourists with pictures with him as well, you felt a little warmth within you, knowing that moments like this were moments you had to get used to.

“And you too?”

One of the tourists beckoned towards you with their phone, asking to take a picture with you, despite the fact you were nobody to them, suddenly because of your company you were in.

Attention of any kind was always something you actively avoided, it made you feel vulnerable, insecure, just about every kind of negative emotion you could imagine but it wasn’t lost on you that having Lewis there now made it all the more bearable. You politely declined, and thankfully they were very gracious with it, but you knew then that you had better get used to the attention, just because of the relationship you were in.

“So what series are we going to start next?”

Lewis asked as he helped you out of the now very damp clothes you were standing in, in the hallway. It was then that you felt it first, it was hidden amongst one of the most average of questions that you had ever been asked, the feeling of normality with Lewis, the feeling of belonging with him; it was then that you felt like his girlfriend for the very first time, and despite what you may pick to watch, it would be this moment that would linger the longest.

“I’m not sure, but whatever it is, we better pick something that doesn’t make you jump…again.”

#Lewis #soft #Into The Night

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