#it’s been made apparent and now it’s engraved in my head

[dreamwritesimagines]

Garden of Secrets [30] - Lunaria

A.N: Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback and support my loves, it made my whole week, you’re amazing!❤ I hope you’ll like this chapter as well, and please don’t forget to tell me what you think, thank you! ❤

Thanks so much to @theskytraveler​ for helping me with the chapter!

Summary: After arguments comes sincerity.

Warnings: Regency era society and social rules, some gender specific language and terms, mentions of trauma and violence, angst.

Word Count: 5000

Series Masterlist

 Any married couple would tell you that fights were normal in a marriage.

You knew that, but this whole silence was beginning to feel more and more like the end of the said marriage.

You and Benedict hadn’t talked to each other since the night of the dinner party at Lady Margery’s house, and you and Benedict were getting quite good at sharing the house without even talking about it. You wouldn’t have known he was actually staying in the house if you hadn’t paid attention to the occasional sounds of door closing and the footsteps.

You didn’t know when you had learned to recognize him from his footsteps alone, but apparently it had happened somewhere along the line.

You knew Benedict had left an hour ago because you had seen him pass through the garden from the window of the library. You had been so immersed in your book that you didn’t even notice the familiar carriage pulling in front of the house until you heard Teddy’s voice ringing through the hallway.

“Y/N?”

You turned your head and put your book down, then rushed out of the library to go downstairs.

“Teddy?” you asked as he ran to you, clutching a couple of flowers in his arms and you let out a laugh, then hugged him.

“Hello there,” you said and smiled at your aunt as you saw her at the end of the hallway. “And hello auntie.”

“Hello my dearest,” she said, coming to kiss your cheek. “We figured we could pay you a quick visit on our way to the pastry shop.”

“I’m glad you did,” you said and took the flowers from Teddy. “These are beautiful Teddy, thank you!”

“They’re from your garden,” he said helpfully and you nodded your head.

“Mm hm, I recognized them,” you said and held his hand so that you all could go to the drawing room. “Pastry shop then?”

“Yes and then we will go to the park,” your aunt said. “So that I can meet my friends and Teddy can play with his friends.”

“The weather is pretty nice,” you mused and turned to your maid. “Paula, could you bring some lemonade and biscuits please? Thank you.”

“Of course ma’am,” she said and left the room, and you hugged Teddy sideways as he sat beside you.

“How is uncle?” you asked your aunt and she heaved a sigh.

“He is alright.”

“Any um…” you trailed off and stole a look at Teddy before clearing your throat. “Any letters?”

“None,” she said with a smile. “I told you, there’s no need to be worried.”

“Seems to be engraved in me by now.”

A maid walked in, carrying a tray and made her way to you to place three glasses of lemonade as well as three plates of biscuits on the coffee table. You thanked her as Teddy grabbed his glass, then took a huge sip.

“Is Benedict home?” he looked up at you and you heaved a sigh, then shook your head.

“No my sweet, he left an hour ago.”

“When can I make more sculptures?” he asked and you tried to smile.

“Whenever you want,” you said. “Is it alright if I help you though?”

“Not Benedict?” he asked, his brows furrowing slightly. “But he knows so much about art.”

You nodded your head.

“Benedict has been working on a new painting lately,” you whispered as if giving him a secret. “He’s a bit busy but we can do it together?”

He thought for a moment, then his head whipped up.

“I could teach you!” he said as if the thought just hit him and you let out a laugh.

“Exactly!” you said, “It would be fun!”

“Benedict is working on a new painting?” your aunt asked and you looked up at her, then nodded your head.

“Yeah,” you said. “He’s been…he’s been busy.”

She raised her brows, her eyes searching your face as if she wanted to see whether you were telling the truth but the gong of the clock on the wall made her turn her head.

“Oh I’m going to be late,” she said and got up from her chair with you following her suit. “We’d better go, come on Teddy.”

“Alright,” Teddy pushed the biscuit into his mouth, making you bite down a smile and he came to hug you.

“I’ll see you later,” you said, pressing a kiss on top of his head before you hugged your aunt. She hugged you back, then pulled back to look at you better.

“Y/N?”

“Hm?”

“Are you sure you’re alright?”

Your stomach did a painful flip but you managed to offer her a small smile.

“Of course,” you assured her. “I’m fine.”

She heaved a sigh and kissed your cheek.

“We’re having tea as soon as possible.”

“Works for me,” you said and watched her and Teddy walk out of the drawing room to make their way downstairs. Your smile dropped and you let out a breath, then sat back down on the sofa again.

“Great,” you muttered to yourself. “Today should be fun.”

                                                                      *

 Towards the afternoon, Lottie had sent you a note, asking you to join her for a picnic but you had written back, saying you weren’t feeling your best. It wasn’t a lie at all, you really didn’t want to see anyone, instead all you wanted was just burying yourself into the covers and ignore the outside world.

But apparently you wouldn’t be so lucky.

You were so lost in your thoughts that you didn’t even notice the approaching footsteps while you laid on the sofa, your gaze fixed on the fireplace until someone cleared their throat by the door, making your head whip up.

“Josie?” you asked and pushed yourself up off the sofa to stand up. “What are you doing here?”

“Came to see how you were, obviously,” she said and entered the drawing room. “Not well as I can tell.”

You rolled your eyes. “Did auntie talk to you?”

“No, why?” she asked. “Should she have?”

“No, it’s just—” you motioned vaguely at outside. “She came by for a visit today with Teddy.”

“And?”

“And nothing,” you said. “She seemed worried about me for some reason.”

“Could the reason be that you were staring into nothing like a corpse by any chance?” she asked you and you shot her a look.

“I was just in deep thought, don’t dramatize it.”

She frowned slightly, then shook her head.

“Anyway,” she said and went to the armchair to sit down. “Has there been any other letters sent from hell and its biggest demon?”

“Auntie says no,” you muttered, pressing your palms into your eyes before lowering your hands. “But I don’t know. I’ll have to talk to uncle to make sure.”

Josie hummed.

“What about you?” you asked. “How have you been?”

“I’m fine,” she said without so much as any hesitation and you tilted your head.

“Josie.”

“What?”

“Come on,” you said. “Don’t do that to me at the very least.”

“I really am fine,” she said. “I’m married now, he cannot do anything to me. The days he would threaten to either sell me to a brothel or send me to the madhouse are gone.”

A shiver ran down your spine. “But if they speak to anyone—”

“Andrew is a respected lord who inherited his respectful father’s title and wealth,” she said. “Father is a no one. There’s nothing he could say that the ton would believe over our word.”

You started pacing in the room.

“I suppose,” you said. “But even if they do come here, we’re not telling Teddy.”

Josie shook her head fervently. “Of course not. He will not know or talk to them.”

You could feel the tension coming back to your muscles as the throbbing in your wrist returned, and you rubbed at it, gritting your teeth.

“Why doesn’t he just die?” you spat. “He was coughing like crazy when uncle took me and Teddy in years ago, he spends most of his days drunk, why doesn’t it just get to him already?”

“Trust me, I’m looking forward to that day,” Josie said. “I’ll celebrate it.”

“If he so much as tries to get Teddy like he said in that letter—”

“He’s not going to do that,” Josie said. “None of us will let him.”

You massaged your temples and huffed out a breath.

“What did Benedict say?” she asked you and you turned to look at her, then pursed your lips.

“That’s not important right now.”

Josie sat up straighter.

“What?” she asked. “Wait Y/N you have told him, haven’t you?”

“No because I don’t need to,” you said. “I can handle it if they come here.”

Josie gawked at you in complete silence, then a dry laughter spilled from her lips.

“You’re jesting,” she said. “Surely you are jesting.”

“Why would I tell him?”

“Why would you not tell him?” she hissed at you, jumping on her feet. “What are you going to do if father decides to come here? And the staff hasn’t been told—”

“I’ll tell them.”

“And if he walks up to Benedict on the street?”

“I doubt father even knows I’m married,” you said. “There’s no reason for Benedict to—”

“There’s every reason for him to know!” she said. “If you don’t want to give him the details, fine! But you need to tell him especially if they decide to come here, you know what father is like—”

“I can handle father.”

Josie threw her hands up in exasperation. “Have you gone insane?!”

“I don’t need Benedict’s help,” you said tersely, shrugging your shoulders and Josie heaved an impatient sigh.

“If you’re doing this because you two had a small lover’s spat…”

You narrowed your eyes at her. “Josie.”

“You had a fight, is that it?”

“That’s not important.”

“It is important if you’re going to make stupid choices because of it!” she snapped. “If it were any other time, you know I wouldn’t push you to do anything but if mother and father are in fact coming here, you’re going to need all the support you can get.”

You scoffed. “Sure, let me just go and cry to Benedict because what? Father is coming here?”

Josie raised her brows. “How’s your wrist?”

The anger rushed through you so fast that you didn’t even have the chance to remind yourself it wasn’t Josie you were angry at, just the memory itself and how it managed to make you feel helpless every single time.

Not to mention, your and Josie’s fights would always be fiery, ever since you two were little.

“Fuck you, I’m not going to listen to this,” you growled and Josie’s gaze turned into a glare as you walked past her toward the door.

“No?” she asked, making you whirl around on your heels before you got to the door. “If you don’t want people to ask you questions, maybe don’t act like a little girl throwing a tantrum.”

“I’m not!”

“By keeping the one person who you’re actually close to in the dark?” she snapped back. “The one person who can actually protect you as far as the ton and the law are concerned? For God’s sake, you’re married—”

“It’s a sham, Josie!” the words left your lips before you had the chance to stop them. “Wake up, will you? It’s a sham, it’s not real! None of this is!”

That got her to stop talking and if you weren’t so exhausted by the nervousness and anger rushing through you for days now, you would have stopped talking as well but you were nearly hysterical at this point.

“We’re not in love,” you said, breathing fast. “The only reason why we got married is because people saw us together, alright? He knows it, I know it, even goddamn Anthony knows it! And everyone around us is so gullible that they believed we were in love because what? We pretended to be just to spare their feelings? Honestly Josie, I’d expect you of all people to be smarter than that—”

“What?”

The different voice that reached into the room came from behind you from the door and you turned around to see Lottie staring at you in shock. Your breath got caught in your throat and you swallowed thickly.

“Lottie…”

“Your butler let me in, I wanted to see if you were alright after your note but—I—” she stammered, tears rushing to her eyes. “You both…you all lied to me? All this time?”

“No,” you said quickly. “No it’s just complicated, I didn’t mean—”

“Excuse me,” she said and turned around to rush downstairs, a curse leaving your lips before you rushed after her.

“Lottie- Charlotte!” you called out as she stepped outside with you following her. “Please, can we just talk?”

“That rumor Lady Whistledown mentioned,” she said, turning to look at you better. “That was true?”

You ran a hand over your face. “It’s not exactly—”

“Y/N,” she insisted and you heaved a sigh.

“Things between me and Benedict are complicated.”

“But you didn’t get married because of love?” she asked. “You got married because someone saw you two together, unchaperoned?”

You paused for a moment and she raised her brows.

“Y/N?”

“…You could say that,” you admitted after a beat and shook your head. “I know how it sounds, but we didn’t want to upset you—”

“Thank you so much for that,” she said with a sad laugh and you pinched the bridge of your nose.

“Lottie…” you said, following her as she walked to her carriage. “I’m sorry, I really am. I didn’t want you to find out this way.”

She looked at you for a moment, then swallowed thickly.

“I’d say you didn’t want me to find out in any way,” she muttered and got in the carriage before you could say anything else, then the coachman drove away, leaving you there.

You groaned, that heaviness in your heart getting even worse as you watched her carriage disappear into the road and dug your fingernails into your palms before you looked up at the sky and let out a scream, the birds in the nearest tree flying away. You huffed out a breath, then turned around to see Josie leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed, and her brows raised.

“I’m glad you got it off your chest I guess,” she said. “Now, want to tell me what the fuck that was about?”

                                                                      *

It took you almost an hour to fill her in on the details of everything that had happened. Even if you still felt incredibly bad for how Lottie had found out, -and how you had kept it from Josie- it still felt sort of relieving to actually share it with someone. Josie sat beside you on the stairs that whole time and it was only when you had finished telling her everything that she heaved a deep sigh, leaning back on her elbows.

“Fuck.”

“Mm hm,” you said. “Sounds about right.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

You scoffed a laugh. “Look me in the eye and tell me you would have let me marry him if you knew why that wedding was happening.”

“Of course I wouldn’t have let you!” she said. “That’s exactly why you should have told me!”

“And then?” you asked. “You know how the ton would have been like.”

“Who cares about those idiots?”

“A scandal would have affected uncle and auntie as well, Josie.”

“Scandal or not, I think uncle and auntie would want you to be happy.”

“I am—it’s not…” you massaged your temples for what felt like the hundredth time today. “It’s complicated.”

“It really isn’t,” she said. “If he forced your hand—”

“He didn’t force my hand,” you cut her off. “No more than I forced his hand at least. I wanted to kiss him, he wanted to kiss me…It’s only because people saw us together that it got to this.”

“And you’re sure he didn’t plan this?”

“I know he didn’t,” you said. “Trust me, I’d love to be able to blame someone but Benedict is not to blame.”

“Neither are you.”

You clicked your tongue.

“I don’t know about that,” you said. “I could’ve walked away.”

“So could he,” she said and you heaved a sigh, then shrugged your shoulders.

“I don’t know,” you repeated, running a hand over your face. “God, it feels like I haven’t slept in years.”

Josie bit at her lip, deep in thought before she turned to you.

“Clover?”

“Hm?”

“Technically speaking, this marriage is invalid,” she said. “No consummation.”

“So?”

“Would he apply for an annulment?”

Your heart dropped to your stomach but you frowned, shaking your head.

“I don’t think so.”

“Would you?”

“I’m not going to apply for annulment,” you brushed her off and she sat up straighter.

“Then we could leave whenever you want, you can come with me and Andrew and Bess—”

“I’m not going to do that Josie,” you said and she scoffed a laugh.

“Why not?” she asked. “If you’re worried about a scandal…”

“That’s not why,” you told her. “Not really.”

“Does it have something to do with the fact that you kissed him?” she asked and you shot her a look.

“Don’t,” you said. “Seriously. It was just desire and I’m pretty sure anything he may have felt for me is long gone after that fight.”

“And yet you want to stay for some reason because you want to make yourself suffer?”

You heaved a sigh.

“No I—I’ll think about it,” you lied to her. “After this whole mess is over.”

“Alright,” she said and stood up. “I’d better go but are you going to be okay?”

“Sure thing,” you said, waving a hand in the air before standing up as well. She pulled you into a hug, then kissed your cheek.

“I’ll kill you if you hide things from me again,” she said, drawing a chuckle out of you before she walked to get in the carriage. You lingered there for a moment as the carriage drove away and you shook your head slightly, then walked back into the house.

                                                          *

You were still so tense that you couldn’t even bring yourself to have dinner even if you would be all by yourself. Benedict was still outside, so even though you knew there was no way you could get a wink of sleep, you still went to your bedroom. The sky was dark already, your room only illuminated by the moonlight and the flames in the fireplace. You took out the pins in your hair, then massaged your scalp and heaved a sigh before putting the flowers Teddy and your aunt had brought you on the windowsill so that you could air dry them, but as soon as you did, the carriage by the stone road caught your attention, making you frown.

Ah.

That had to be Benedict.

You had just placed all of the flowers when the knock on the door reached you and you looked over your shoulder.

“Come in?”

Benedict opened the door and stepped inside, and you frowned at just how rigid his whole body looked.

“Can we talk?”

“About?” you asked and he took a deep breath as if reminding himself to be calm.

“Did you do it on purpose?”

“You might want to—” you started but then the idea hit you, making you stop for a moment. “Ah. Lottie?”

“Yeah,” he said. “So did you?”

You gawked at him and scoffed a bitter chuckle. “Why would I do it on purpose, exactly?”

“Because you’re angry at me for some reason?”

You could feel the anger rushing through your system so you gritted your teeth.

“Contrary to what you seem to believe, I don’t go behind people’s backs when I’m angry at them.”

He raised his brows, disbelief etched in his features.

“Sure,” he said. “So it was what, a coincidence?”

“Well you seem to have all the answers,” you bit back. “I’m sure you can answer that on your own as well.”

“Y/N.”

“What?”

“Why would you tell Charlie that?” he insisted. “She’s angry at me and Anthony because apparently you decided to tell her he knew as well.”

“Oh well that’s devastating,” you deadpanned. “Because I spend all my days trying to make sure everything I do makes Anthony’s life easier—obviously I didn’t know she was here! She’s angry at me too, or has it escaped your notice?”

“Then how did she—”

“Because she was apparently there when I told Josie, but I didn’t know.”

Benedict stared at you. “Wait, Josie knows as well?”

“Lapse in judgement, we were having an argument,” you said and Benedict blinked a couple of times.

“Y/N, I thought we agreed we would keep it to ourselves,” he said. “We told everyone—”

“I have more to lose than you if it gets out, Benedict!” you snapped. “You don’t have to remind me what I already know!”

He took a deep breath as if reminding himself to be calm.

“We’re married,” he said, motioning between you two. “We need to be on the same page on things like these.”

“Oh now you remember we’re married?” you asked with a bitter laugh. “You can act like a bachelor and spend a whole night partying and doing God knows what without so much as letting me know—”

“I did let you know!”

Your voice rose before you had a chance to stop it; “Oh sorry, how nice of you to invite me to the party as a second thought!”

“I already told you nothing happened!”

“That’s not the point!” you snapped back, “The point is that you told me we would talk and we didn’t because you were too busy having fun at a party!”

Benedict shook his head. “You told me it wasn’t important!”

“Because you—” you started but your body automatically flinched back when Benedict’s hand shot up to run it through his hair, a gesture you had seen him do over and over again but in the heat of the argument, it was enough to make the rest of your sentence get lost in your throat.

Benedict’s hand froze in the air as the sudden panic rushed through your veins, the flash of various memories shooting through your head but even through the haze of absolute fear, in some corner of your mind you knew.

That was then, not now.

That was not going to happen again, not with him.

Benedict stared at you before he held up his palms, all the fire of the fight and anger gone from his gaze.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” he said, his voice so gentle and soothing that your throat tightened. “I promise you.”

You blinked back the tears and nodded. “I know.”

“I would never—”

“Benedict, I know,” you cut him off and let out a bitter chuckle. “I believe in you on that at the very least, trust me. It just used to happen a lot whenever anyone moved too fast around me, it’s involuntary.”

Benedict swallowed thickly, his eyes searching your face before he very slowly lowered his hands as if trying not to make any sudden moves. The panic retrieved from your body like a wave at the shore and you heaved a sigh, then leaned back to the wall before slipping down to sit on the floor.

“I can leave you be if you’d like,” Benedict said softly. “Do you want me to go?”

You scoffed a dry laugh and patted the spot next to you. Benedict lingered there for a moment, then made his way to you to sit down on the floor beside you, leaning his back to the wall while you pulled your knees up to your chest, resting your chin on them.

“But you…” he paused for a moment. “You know I would never, right? Really?”

“Yeah,” you said. “I know. I don’t know how, but I know.”

“Okay.”

You stared at the moonlight spilling over both of you through the window before you ran a hand over your face.

“Benedict?”

“Yes?”

“Do you want to get an annulment?”

That made him turn to look at you better, his brows furrowing as you shrugged.

“Technically speaking, this marriage is invalid,” you quoted Josie. “We never consummated, so…We could get an annulment.”

He stared at you. “Do you want to get an annulment?”

“I asked first.”

If it were any other time, it would have made him smile at the very least but not this time.

“No,” he said. “But I won’t force you, I’ll never force you into anything so…Do you want one?”

You shook your head.

“No,” you admitted. “No I don’t.”

A silence fell upon you and he leaned his head back to rest it against the wall before stealing a look at you.

“So this is marriage huh?” he asked and you felt a sad smile curl your lips.

“Yeah,” you said. “A never-ending emotional torture.”

“Well you did warn me, so…” Benedict mused and you nodded your head.

“I really did,” you murmured, twisting your wedding ring around your finger. “Jesus I’m exhausted.”

A bitter chuckle climbed up his throat.

“I know the feeling,” he rasped out. “Can you um—can you sleep at night? Because I can’t.”

“Not at all,” you said. “And I can’t really focus on anything. Can you?”

“I need to,” he said. “I need to be focused on something all the time, otherwise…”

“What?” you asked after a beat and Benedict shook his head.

“It’ll catch up to me otherwise.”

He didn’t need to specify what it was, you knew it very well because it was the same thing that had been twisting your heart for the last two weeks.

The wave of pain that was so strong that if it managed to get to you, you weren’t sure you’d be able to stand.

“It’ll turn into hate one day,” you said, your voice determined as you nodded your head to yourself. “It will. It’s a marriage, it has to turn into resentment and one day we will wake up and we’ll hate each other.”

He tilted his head. “Do you really believe that?”

“I want to believe that,” you said. “I hope it does turn into hate, I’m better at it.”

“Dear God, it would be so much easier,” he murmured and you nodded.

“Exactly,” you croaked out as the burning in your eyes came back but you bit at your tongue, fixing your gaze on the wall.

“Can I ask you something?” Benedict asked and you glanced at him.

“Sure.”

“I’ve always wondered if you…” he trailed off. “Do you regret it? That night at the gazebo?”

“Do you?”

“I asked first,” he quoted you, a ghost of a smile appearing on his lips and you smiled back, then shook your head.

“No,” you said. “Do you?”

“Not a single second of it,” he stated and a nearly hysterical giggle escaped from your lips.

“You know, Lord Easton said something the other night,” you said and sniffled. “And I have a theory about this whole thing.”

“I’m listening.”

“Call it artist and muse, call it desire, whatever it is,” you said. “I’m beginning to think maybe it was fate.”

“You don’t believe in fate,” he said and you thought for a moment, then shook your head.

“Well, I don’t but think about it,” you said, wiping at your nose with the back of your hand, then turned sideways to see him better. “We kept tempting fate even if we knew we weren’t supposed to and—be completely honest with me, can you imagine yourself being married to someone else?”

He grimaced. “Not without a shudder and a nightmare to go with that idea.”

“Exactly,” you insisted. “Even after everything. So we’re—we’re not star-crossed, we’re not each other’s promised but maybe we’re something else completely different than all that.”

“Like what?”

“Maybe we’re just doomed to torment each other.”

He blinked a couple of times as if trying to wrap his mind around it and you sniffled again.

“Does it not make sense?” you asked, sitting up straighter, your eyes locked in his. “Neither of us regret that night even if it would make perfect sense if we did, both of us could walk away right now, a luxury no other couple in the ton has, and yet…”

“Yet here we are.”

“Yeah,” you muttered. “Yet here we are. Doomed to torment each other, in this life and beyond.”

He hummed. “That’s a relieving thought.”

You turned to shoot him a look of disbelief. “The idea of being tormented is relieving?”

“Compared to the idea of not having you?” he asked. “It is. I can take the torment from you, just not…just not your absence.”

A silence fell upon the room and you rubbed at your eyes, then dropped your hands to your lap.

“Well then I shall haunt you,” you managed to say. “Even after death, like in those awful stories. If we are to torment each other, we will not be free of each other. Dead or not, no absence.”

A sad smile crossed Benedict’s lips and he held up his pinky.

“Do you promise?” he asked and a teary laugh climbed up your throat, then you looked up at him.

“What?”

“Do you promise to haunt me?”

You blinked back the tears before they could blur your vision, then stuck your nose in the air.

“Do you promise to haunt me back?”

Benedict tilted his head. “Do you want me to?”

“I do,” you said without any hesitation and hooked your pinky with his. “Whoever goes first will haunt the other. Deal?”

There was no sign of hesitance in his eyes, only determination as he smiled slightly, making your heart skip a beat.

“Deal.”

Chapter 31

[archiveikemen]

William Rex 1st Birthday Campaign: Story (2023)

His POV

This is a fan-made translation solely for entertainment purposes with no guaranteed perfection. I do not own any of the original content. Please support CYBIRD by buying their stories and playing their games. Reblogs appreciated.

Warnings and FAQ

Contains spoilers from William's main story

The sound of Kate playing the piano reverberated through the air — and the music piece soon came to an end.

William: Was that my first present?

I asked while waving the card I found on my bedside table this morning that said “come to the Grand Hall”.

Kate wore a smile as beautiful as a flower.

Kate: Yup, but there’s more. I hope you’ll look forward to them.

Kate: — Happy birthday, Will.

My first ever birthday wish was engraved in my mind.

It was a sweet and beautiful memory that soon turned into a poison.

– Flashback Start –

Kate: You must've had tons of amazing birthday celebrations up till now.

That day, Kate apparently heard from Victor that my birthday was coming soon. She frowned, slightly nervous.

Kate: Which celebration was most memorable to you?

William: Most memorable? Let me think…

William: There was a year when a mission fell on the same day as my birthday, so I had the target sing me a happy birthday song before being executed.

Kate: … I’ll be sure to write that one down in my next report as one of your most villainous episodes.

William: Ahaha, please do, Miss “Fairytale Keeper”.

William: But why did you want to know that?

Kate: I’m thinking of ways to celebrate your birthday.

Kate: … I thought it’d be nice if I made your birthday memorable.

(... Memorable, huh.)

Kate was someone who was willing to lose her life in order to protect me.

I would never let her die so easily, but who’s to say that fate would not take her away from me the next day?

Perhaps, that was why every day and every second, she always tried to love me with all her body and soul.

(I guess that feeling is especially strong because it’s my birthday.)

William: We can celebrate it however you like. That way, it’ll be most memorable to me.

Kate: … Really?

William: Yes, of course.

(After all, I’m looking forward to receiving your birthday wishes.)

I decided that I would no longer reject her self-indulgent love that was given to me by her free will.

I wanted to enjoy every last moment of it.

(Ah… I just had a great idea.)

William: … I need an accomplice.

Kate: Hm?

William: Nope, nothing.

Kate: Ah, right. What’s the date of your birthday?

William: — In a week’s time, Kate.

– Flashback End –

After playing the piano, Kate held something out to me and said it was a present.

(... An umbrella?)

On the umbrella’s handle was the same card as the one I saw on my bedside table.

“Don’t get drenched in the rain with anyone besides me”.

William: What’s this?

Sensing her adorable possessiveness, I smiled and tilted my head.

Kate: Um… getting drenched in the rain with you can make anyone go crazy… so this is just in case!

Kate’s ears turned red as she mumbled something that didn't really sound like she was making excuses.

I found it hilarious that she thought I’ll ever be swayed by others.

There was no one else I would rather be in love with, than the woman who was soaked in red on that night at the Tower of London.

… But I didn't say that to her directly.

And of course, it was because Kate was becoming more and more self-indulging as the days went by.

William: Since it's a request by my dearest, I shall be extra careful about that.

Kate: … Please do.

William: What else should we do to celebrate after that wonderful performance and present?

Kate: Let’s go on a date. It’s been raining non-stop since this morning, so we shall put that umbrella to good use.

William: … It’s not okay to get drenched in the rain with you?

Kate: Huh…!?

Kate: T-That’s… um… saved for the end of our date.

William: Fufu, I see. For the end, hm.

Kate: L-Let’s get going…!

…

In the end, the rain had stopped by the time our date ended, so we couldn't get drenched as planned—

Kate said “I’m going to tell you why there was no dessert at dinner” and playfully led me away by the hand, like a little girl hoping for her prank to be a success.

Awaiting us back at the castle was a strawberry tart hat Kate had baked early that morning with Victor’s help.

Stuck into one of the bright red strawberries was another card.

(“Eat me”?)

It was a very bold invitation. Usually, I would suspect that it was Victor’s idea.

However, judging by everything that had happened that day… it was definitely Kate’s own idea.

William: Does “me” refer to you or the tart?

Kate: … Both.

Kate gave a single worded response and looked away.

I couldn't contain my laughter when I noticed that the tips of her ears were as red as strawberries.

I was sure that she fought her feelings of shame to write that, just to make it “memorable” for me.

(Kate is truly so adorable.)

William: Is this the last of your self-indulgent cards?

Kate: … Yes.

Kate: I thought that nothing can go wrong if I used cards… and that you’ll definitely remember this day whenever you look at the cards.

Kate: Even when I’m no longer with you.

Those cards served as a symbol of my beloved’s love and well wishes.

The day I would hold her lifeless body in my arms — would be the most horrible poison to me.

William: I see… thank you. It's a splendid present.

Kate smiled ecstatically.

It was a beautiful, attractive, and ephemeral smile that only someone who has accepted her impending demise could wear. I burnt that sight into my memory.

By the time I finished eating the strawberry tart — “today” was coming to an end.

William: Ah, I almost forgot. I have a present for you too.

Kate: Huh?

William: It’s right at your feet, next to your chair.

Kate quickly peered under the table and her face lit up, eyes twinkling.

Kate: … W-Was that a magic trick?

William: Yeah, I learnt it from Victor.

I shan’t let her know that the delicious aroma of baked goods I smelled this morning had given her surprise away.

I didn't see the need to disappoint her by revealing that her surprise was, in fact, not a surprise.

Kate: But it’s your birthday, why did you give me a present…?

William: To thank you for today.

I gently took the hair accessory from her hand and walked around her chair to stand behind her.

As I had expected, the hair accessory looked beautiful on her.

Kate: Thank you… I’ll cherish it forever.

Kate looked at me fondly while touching the hair accessory with her fingertips to check its placement.

Kate: The day is ending soon…

Kate: … Do you think this day will be memorable to you?

William: Yes, of course — however…

William: It’s still a little too early for this day to become only a memory, don’t you think?

I sat on the table and held the “eat me” card between my lips.

William: … Hm?

Kate: …

As always, my little robin was quick to catch on.

Kate got up from her chair and took the card from my mouth.

She pressed her lips to mine.

Kate: Mm…

Kate didn't resist when I drew her in. Instead, she straddled me in a naughty way.

William: … Fufu, you’ve become a very bad woman.

Kate: Yeah… all because of you.

Kate cupped my face in between her hands.

The pleading look in her eyes was oozing with passion.

Kate: I want to celebrate the day you were born, as much as you want me to.

Kate: One day will never be enough for that, but… I want to do that until the very last minute of the day.

Kate: I want to make myself a permanent part of you.

(No matter how expensive the present, or how enjoyable the party…)

(Nothing can ever compare to her expressing her desires.)

I shivered from the excitement I felt at the very core of my body.

She sensed it and the passion in her gaze grew stronger.

We kissed again and again.

The way Kate desperately tried to love me with her entire being, despite her inevitable death, was enough to move someone to tears.

It was like we were running away from the end of my “birthday”, rushed by the time on the clock ticking past.

(... Should I tell her now?)

William: Kate… there’s something I haven't told you about.

Kate: Mm… what is it…?

William: Actually— my birthday is tomorrow.

Kate: … What?

Kate paused, her breathing ragged.

The seductive facial expression she had just a while ago turned into a surprised one, I couldn't help but smile at how endearing it looked.

William: One day is not enough for me to enjoy the well wishes from my beloved.

William: … Because I’m selfish.

Kate: T-Then… today isn't your birthday or anything…?

Kate: Huh? But Victor and the others said that your birthday is today…

William: I selfishly got them to cooperate with me.

There could have been no better accomplices than the members of Crown.

William: A memorable plot twist, isn't it?

Kate: … Pfft, ahaha!

Kate burst out laughing and nodded happily.

Kate: Yeah… I was just thinking that a day wouldn't be enough.

Her laughter was beautiful, like she was single-handedly gathering all the happiness that could be found in the darkness.

William: Can I make my first request for my second birthday celebration before the day ends?

Kate: Of course… what is it?

William: There’s a dress in my room that would go really well with that hair accessory.

Kate: …!

William: My first request is for you to wear that… and let me love you.

Kate: … I’d love to.

At that exact moment, we heard a bell sounding in the distance.

We looked at each other and laughed.

Kate: Once again… happy birthday, Will.

Nothing could ever make me happier than hearing those words of blessing from her lips.

[kisses4bei]

Haikyuu Boys As Taylor Swift Lyrics Part 2!

Warnings: slight angst

Part 1 here<3

Authors Note- Holy fart i havent posted in almost a year,, i lowk missed this platform sm :,) but guys shld i try make a smau?!!?!!!!! idk lmk pls and give me ideas bc my head is empty. please dont mind some of these may be ooc i js like imagining that they act like this^^ pls dont mind how half assed and rushed the last one is</3

Delicate

“Handsome you’re a mansion with a view.”

-akaashi, kuroo, sugawara, osamu, kita, ushijima, oikawa

Your boyfriend is perfect. It’s nothing new. The first time you laid your eyes on him to now is nothing different. You will always be starstruck by his presence. Just him in general. You knew people were going to have their eyes on him but you didn’t care. Because you know while their eyes are on him, his will always be fixated on you. Admiring you. Not them, just you. “Y/n?” Your boyfriend chuckles from across the table of a fancy restaurant, you got caught staring again. You can’t help it, he was yours, your handsome boy.

The Way I Loved You

“I miss screaming and fighting and kissing in the rain and its 2am and I’m cursing your name”

-tsukishima, atsumu, oikawa, kageyama

You both always wore your heart on your sleeve. Your emotions were always apparent. Especially during arguments. It’s been almost a year since you guys broke up but you still think about him. The good moments and the bad. No matter how many relationships you’ve been in after him, him and his name will always be engraved in your mind. You missed him. You missed the cafe dates he would take you on with a side of your favorite flowers. You missed cuddling after a bad day. You missed when he was the one who made your bad day. Arguments out in public when it’s pouring rain. Back and forth screaming and yelling with a make-up kiss shortly after. Sleepless nights where he would have you crying and cursing until your eyes were so puffy you couldn’t see. Regardless of everything, you still missed him.

Dress

“Our secret moments in a crowded room, they got no idea about me and you”

-hinata, iwaizumi, oikawa, nishinoya, bokuto

It was the start of the first semester of uni. That means you and a couple friends were invited to a huge campus party that everyone knew about. There were plenty of recognizable faces, all close friends. You and your best friend are having a lot of fun at the party socializing and such. Best friends. That’s what everyone else sees. But they dont see the subtle admiration and glint in your ‘best friends’ eyes when he looks at you. They dont see both of your glances to each others lips when the other is talking. They dont see the slight moving of his hand onto your thigh whenever sitting close next to each other. They don’t know anything about you guys aside from being two best friends. But you two know the truth.

[presumenothing]

so we all know the drill, yeah? my keyboard slipped etc etc and thus i present: 吉祥纹莲花楼 aka LOTUS CASEBOOK (the novel) CHAPTER ONE: TASTER EDITION further aka "the first chapter, but minus the Case Exposition bit because wow noooope". note also that this is not as serious nor thoroughly-edited as some of my other TLs (nif fandom alumni may remember me from known, unknown aka this absolute unit/research spiral of a post-canon fic; this is Not That and also, hi!!). and now with that out of the way, enjoy! ETA: fixed some missing bits that got eaten while posting to tumblr + only maybe 30% on-topic footnotes over here

PART THE FIRST: A GHOST, MURDER, IN THE GREEN GAUZE WINDOW

Changzhou City, Xiaomian Inn.

The seventeenth of the sixth month, just around midnight.

It had been two days since Cheng Yunhe, the head convoy of Hexing Convoy Company, started escorting these sixteen boxes of precious goods. Though all had been well so far, he felt tight-strung with exhaustion, and despite having fallen asleep he woke up without quite knowing why.

Silence permeated the dark room.

Outside the window… there was singing.

Faint waves of sound, barely discernible, as if someone was singing; and apparently quite in earnest, too, but in an incredibly odd tone… just as if… someone was singing with their tongue cut out. 

He opened his eyes, and looked at the window directly across from his bed.

Amidst the darkness, green flecks flickered dim and sudden across that window, now far then near, and only on this one window across from him.

Outside the window, the faraway song continued, that broken tongue singing a tragic melody that no-one living could possibly understand…

He’d already practised almost forty years of martial arts, and though his hearing and sight might not be the top in the jianghu, it could hardly be weak either, but he… could not make out the sound of anything human.

As the wind whistled through the slightly-ajar window, he stared at that window with its flickering green shadows – and for the very first time in his life, he thought of a word – ghosts?

–

ONE: LUCKY PATTERN LOTUS PARLOUR

The broad daylight of a sunny day.

Bingshan Town was not a remarkable place by any means; it had neither rare treasure nor great legends, and just like the vast majority of places in the jianghu, its denizens were a little boring, its crops a tad skinny, its rivers a tinge dirty, and its post-meal conversational topics a touch lacking… far too lacking, actually, so whenever there was something everyone had to delight in it for the longest time – not to mention how that recent happening was an odd one indeed.

The tale so far: on this day, the eighteenth of the month, when the people of Bingshan Town opened their doors to sweep their stoops, they abruptly found that their only-too-familiar main street had suddenly sprouted a two-storey wooden building. This building was hardly a short one, either, fully capable of housing people inside, and in spacious lodgings no less; it was made fully of wood, and engraved with patterns unusually fine and ornate, that even a blind person could recognise by touch – none other than lotus flowers and auspicious clouds.

After a good half-day’s worth of discussion, some eagle-eyed people recognised at last how this building had “suddenly appeared”: though its structure was that of a building, it turned out that it was not connected to the ground… at any rate, this building had been pulled by someone with a cart, here to the main street of their Bingshan Town, and put it there. Everyone expressed their amazement at this, but nobody could comprehend why anyone would bother dragging over such a large building in the dead of night just to leave it on the street, or what it could possibly be for. Perhaps as a shrine for their town god? Though speaking of which, their local shrine had indeed fallen into disrepair and gone unworshipped for many years now…

Such debate continued for three days straight, up until an express convoy working at some company who happened to be coming home was struck dumbfounded upon seeing it, screeched “The Lucky Parlour!” and there and then turned to run madly away without even returning home, still yelling “Lucky Parlour!” along the way – and thus the building abruptly became a haunted house, that would drive anyone who saw it right mad.

Only seven days later, when that express convoy suddenly brought the entire convoy company back to Bingshan Town, did the masses discover that said building was not in fact some haunted house. 

Not only was it not a haunted house, it was actually an auspicious building, a super-duper auspicious building. 

The “Lucky Pattern Lotus Parlour” was a medical clinic.

Its master was of surname Li, named Lianhua.

What kind of a person was Li Lianhua? As a matter of fact, nobody in the jianghu knew either. Whether his master, his background, the level of his martial arts, his age, or even the matter of his looks: all of it was unknown. Six years had passed since this person appeared in the jianghu, and in total he’d done only two things, but just these two things alone had been enough to turn the “Lucky Pattern Lotus Parlour” into the single most fascinating legend in the jianghu.

The two things Li Lianhua had done: the first was bringing back to life the martial scholar “Lifelong Learner” Shi Wenjue, who’d been buried for many days after dying from major injuries after a decisive duel. The second was bringing back to life “Ironflute Hero” He Lantie, who’d also been buried for many days with all his bones broken after dying from a cliff fall.

Just these two incidents alone had already made Li Lianhua the one figure in the jianghu that people most wanted to acquaint themselves with, but there was also the matter of his strange house that he always brought along with him – this only made Li Lianhua more of a legend amongst legends.

The head convoy of Hexing Convoy Company led every last one of his men on swift horseback to Bingshan Town, and after three days of clean baths and devout incense, finally delivered on great tenterhooks a letter of greeting to that building carved of precious softwood: Cheng Yunhe of Hexing Convoy Company wishes to consult on an important matter.

Said letter was pushed in via a window gap.

All forty-odd men of the company waited alongside Cheng Yunhe, as if it was the King of Hell inside of that building, passing judgement––

Soon after, that building that had been so silent as to seem unoccupied let out the faintest of creaking sounds. All of Hexing Convoy held their breath, and even the rubbernecking passers-by caught theirs, too, widening their eyes to better await whatever creature could possibly emerge from this building.

The door swung swiftly open, and not in the slow swing of everyone’s imagination.

A large cloud of dust burst forth with a bang, blowing all over Cheng Yunhe, and the figure in the door made a sound of dismay, saying with great apology: “I was tidying up odds and ends, and didn’t even realise I had guests, my apologies, apologies indeed.”

All of Hexing Convoy, now covered in dust and sawdust, stared in astonishment at the one who’d opened the door with a broom in one hand; the very same broom where that bright red greeting letter was now stuck on. He looked very young, no older than twenty-seven or twenty-eight, and perhaps even a little younger than that if not for the much-mended grey robes he was wearing; his skin was fair and his looks refined, but neither was he so beautifully handsome as to be unforgettable from a glance. He held the broom in his right hand and a dustpan in his left, and looked out at the dozens-strong line outside his door with a face full of apology.

Cheng Yunhe gave a heavy cough, and saluted in greeting: “I, “Thousand-Mile Crane” Cheng Yunhe, humbly greet Li-xiansheng of the Lucky Parlour; may I perhaps request that you pass a message to him that there is a matter I wish to consult him on?”

“Ah,” said the grey-robed young man. “A message?”

Cheng Yunhe spoke gravely: “I fear we must meet with Li Lianhua, Li-xiansheng himself, for there is crucial business to discuss.”

The young man set down the broom. “I am indeed Li Lianhua.”

Cheng Yunhe’s eyes widened abruptly, mouth falling open, and in that moment every last bystander wanted nothing more than to toss three or five eggs into his mouth. Very swiftly he shut it again, and gave another heavy cough. “Your good reputation precedes you, Li-xiansheng…” 

And then he found himself at a loss on how to continue, for he had already detailed the ins and outs of the matter on the greeting letter, but that same letter was now stuck on Li Lianhua’s broom.

Li Lianhua said: “Apologies, apologies… my residence is covered in clutter at the moment…”

He raised a hand to invite Cheng Yunhe inside.

The Lucky Pattern Lotus Parlour was indeed covered in assorted junk; from nails to hammer, saw to axe, dustcloths to broom, sawdust and dust everywhere, and a few boxes holding who-knew-what. The front room held only one table and chair each, both made of bamboo and not worth even twenty bronze coins. Cheng Yunhe felt heavy doubt in his heart, but what with the sheer reputation of the Lucky Pattern Lotus Parlour, and this grey-robed man to be sitting in it, he dared not to suspect him to be a fake, either; and thus he was left with no choice but to sit respectfully across from Li Lianhua and recount every part of those fearsome events he’d encountered a half-month ago.

[––CASE EXPOSITION CUT FOR SANITY––]

Such was the tale of the “Green Window Ghost Murder” that had thrown the martial world into heated debate over the last half a month. Yu Mulan, heartbroken over the senseless death of his beloved daughter, flew into a rage and commanded the death of all the swordsmen who had been escorting Yu Qiushuang that night, alongside a kill order for the entirety of Hexing Convoy Company. Cheng Yunhe, pushed to his wits’ end, had been about to bring his family and disband the company for a scattered escape when he heard the news of the Lucky Parlour.

Li Lianhua could bring the dead back to life – and so Cheng Yunhe suddenly thought: if Li Lianhua could resurrect Yu Qiushuang, wouldn’t that resolve everything? Resurrection was not something he would have ever believed in, just a half-month ago, but with matters the way they were now he could only work with what he had, dead or otherwise, and since the heavens had seen fit to let him come across Li Lianhua, why not give it a try? After all… if the legends were true, all could not but be well.

But even until he’d finished recounting the “Green Window Ghost Murder” incident, he hadn’t heard any startling insights out of Li Lianhua, only an ah and a nod of his head.

After finishing his tea, Cheng Yunhe had no choice but to leave. He truly could not think of any good reason to remain any longer in that empty building of Li Lianhua’s, full of assorted junk and Li Lianhua’s expression full of gentle incomprehension. 

Cheng Yunhe departed.

From the second storey of the Lucky Pattern Lotus Parlour, someone said, leisurely: “Even five years later, you’re still plenty famous, aren’t you…”

Li Lianhua sat on the chair, drinking tea. “Ah…”

Who even knew what he was ah-ing about.

“Actually I’ve never been able to figure it out.” That figure descended slowly from the second storey. He was thin and pale, all skin and bones, and perhaps if he gained twenty pounds he’d be a elegantly beautiful young man, but as it stood he mostly just resembled a victim of starvation. Yet this particular hungry corpse also happened to be wearing a set of rich white robes of particularly meticulous workmanship, with the tassel and jade ornaments favoured only by those fine young masters untouched by worldly troubles, and a long sword with an unusually elegant shape to its hilt. “How could anyone in this world possibly believe in something like resurrection? It’s been five whole years, and yet nobody has forgotten those two scandals of yours…”

“Because none of them are as smart as you.” Li Lianhua smiled faintly, stood up to stretch, then picked up his broom and resumed sweeping the floor.

“Can you not sweep the floor?” The hungry corpse from the upper storey suddenly glared. “How can you possibly keep sweeping when I, the great Fang-dagongzi, am here right in front of you? Do you realise that if Cheng Yunhe had known I was in here just now, he’d definitely kneel down and beg me too ask that old geezer Yu not to slaughter his entire family? You have a young master of my handsome looks and eminent status in front of you, and yet you’ve been doing nothing but sweep the floor?"

“I can’t.” Li Lianhua said: “I haven’t cleaned and repaired this building in too long. It’s very dirty, and leaks when it rains, too.”

The white-robed corpse kept up the wide-eyed glaring for many moments longer, before suddenly letting out a sigh. “Someone like you who can’t fight and can’t treat diseases, who doesn’t plant crops or commit theft either – how have you even managed to survive all these years in such fame? I really don’t get it.” 

This white-robed hungry corpse was “Melancholic Young Master” Fang Duobing, the eldest son of the of the Fang martial family. He’d known Li Lianhua for an entire six years, long enough that he even knew exactly how this same person had come to fame – Shi Wenjue had suffered major injuries in his duel and used the Turtle’s Breath method to close his qi and recover, the local villagers had taken him for dead and buried him, Li Lianhua had gone to dig him up, and thus Shi Wenjue had naturally come back to life; He Lantie, on the other hand, had staged an entire cliff jump after failing in his pursuit of a wife, played dead and buried himself in the ground, and Li Lianhua who’d just happened to be passing by dug him out yet again. The whole world was wondering how Li Lianhua had managed to bring the dead back to life, while all Fang Duobing wanted to know was how he knew where on earth (or under it) there’d be a live person to dig up.

“I did still have some silver coins, a while ago.” Li Lianhua carefully swept the front room, then put away the dustpan. “As long as you plan well, you can still make do.”

Fang Duobing rolled his eyes. “And how much silver do you have now?”

“Fifty taels.” Li Lianhua smiled faintly. “That’s enough to use for a lifetime, to me.”

Fang Duobing tsked. “To think that there’s losers like you in the martial world, who only plan to spend fifty taels in their whole life, it’s practically a shame upon the jianghu. Had Cheng Yunhe known what kind of person you are, I’d like to see whether he still would’ve come asking for help… heh, asking a ‘miracle doctor’ who doesn’t know a drop of medicine and has to go everywhere with his house on his back because he’s too stingy to stay in an inn, to go treat the dead, I can’t believe he thought of that.” Fang Duobing rolled his eyes again for good measure, and eyed Li Lianhua up and down. “Though I can’t actually tell whether you are going to help him go treat the dead or not.”

Li Lianhua sat on the chair, fingers still meticulously fiddling away with the interlocking joint on that squeaky bamboo table of his, and gave a small smile upon hearing this. “Why wouldn’t I go? After all, I don’t know how to plant crops, or sell vegetables, and I’m not in want of coin. Wouldn’t life be incredibly boring if I didn’t have something to do?”

“When that old geezer Yu finds out that you’re a fake miracle doctor and decides to kill your entire family, Fang-dagongzi is absolutely not going to save you,” Fang Duobing said, leisurely. “Go on then, don’t expect this young master here to see you off.”

And so it was that Li Lianhua spent a whole three days tidying up inside the Lucky Pattern Lotus Parlour, packing who-knows-what into that small parcel of his, and after meticulously writing a lengthy missive temporarily entrusting the parlour to the care of “Lifelong Learner” Shi Wenjue, he set off at last.

He was headed to Yu Fortress, to see the corpse of Yu Qiushuang.

[blue-slxt]

It Was Supposed To Be Us - Chapter 2

A/N: I'm a little new to writing angst so forgive me if it's not perfect yet, but I still hope you guys enjoy it. More to come in the later chapters. All characters are aged up.

Previous Part | Next Part

Pairing: Neteyam x Fem!Omatikaya!Reader

Warnings: Making out, Alcohol, Intoxication, Angst (?), Mentions of Battles and Scars, I think that's it

Word Count: 3.4k

Summary: The whole clan prepares to celebrate the return of the Sully family and you struggle to come to grips with the plan your parents have for your life.

Helping your mother prepare dinner, you can’t help the smile that has been permanently plastered on your face. You finally feel complete again. The sun is brighter, the sky is bluer, and the colors of the forest are more vibrant. Your mom can see the goofy look on your face from the corner of her eye.

“You certainly seem to be in a better mood today.”

“Should I not be in a good mood? Today is a very special day. The Sully family has returned.” You say continuing to chop the vegetables.

Your mother presses her lips into a tight line, “You mean Neteyam has returned?”

Your smile grows a little wider. “Yes, he is a part of the family.” You try to not let your obvious joy show too much.

Your mother sighs deeply to herself and stops what she’s doing to turn towards you. “Ma’ite, I know that you are happy to see him again and he was a good friend to you, but that was so long ago now. You were children and now you are promised to another.” “Which was not my choice. I have already made my choice”, there is a tone of finality engraved in your words. You put down your knife and turn to face your mother.

“A choice that you made when you did not know any better. Things have changed. It is time to move on.” The agitation is growing in her voice.

“I love him.” Your voice is firm.

“You do not know him anymore! He does not know you anymore!” Her voice is firmer.

You drop your tools in place and stand to leave. You do not want to hear any more of this. You burst from your family’s tent and your thoughts are racing through your mind.

Mother doesn’t understand. She was convinced that what was between you was mere puppy love, but it was deeper than that…wasn’t it? Ridiculous, of course it was. And what was that nonsense about not knowing him anymore? Neteyam was Neteyam and you were you. You’ve always worked together. You hadn’t changed that much since he left…did you? Now, she has you questioning yourself.

What if Neteyam had moved on while you sat here and waited for him? Saved yourself for him? He was your first. Your first kiss, your first friend, your first love. But how many more firsts did he have while he was away? Did he lie awake at night thinking about you the way you did for him? Did he shed tears for you? Did he still want to give himself to you? Or was that all a silly childhood fantasy?

Your mom always had a talent for getting in your head. It frustrated you to no end. Almost any decision you made, it felt as if she wasn’t satisfied until she made you question yourself and ultimately go along with whatever decision she deemed to be the “correct” one.

How long have you been walking? Where were you?

You finally snap out of your endless barrage of thoughts and find yourself back at your usual spot. Apparently, you subconsciously brought yourself back to your safe spot. A deep sigh escapes your lips and you figure you might as well get comfortable.

Sitting on the forest floor, you listen to the sounds of the nearby waterfall. The sound of the raging waters mirrors the chaotic tempest of thoughts in your mind.

A twig snapping in the area pulls you from your thoughts. You turn to see a familiar figure coming towards you. You’d know the sway of those braids anywhere.

“There you are. I knew you’d probably be here. Old habits” he smiles down at you.

You offer your best attempt at a smile. You were actually happy to see him. You were ecstatic. But the doubts that now plagued your mind muddied your happiness. Neteyam sank down next to you on the ground. Even sitting down, he still sat a whole head taller than you.

“What is bothering you?”

“Why would anything be bothering me?” You try to play off the emotion that’s clearly written on your face.

“You forget who you’re talking to. I can tell when something is on your mind. Your tail is doing that little curly thing it does when something is on your mind. So, what is it that troubles you, sevin?” His hand covers yours in an attempt to offer you some comfort that you clearly needed. His hand has gotten even bigger than you remember. And he has more callouses from the years of training and fighting. But it still held that same gentle touch you knew him for.

Should you tell him the truth? You don’t want to lie to him. He’d probably be able to tell if you tried anyway. But what would it mean if you told him you were promised to another? Would it make his heart ache the way yours now did? You couldn’t handle it if you broke his heart. But that’s only if he still feels for you the way he used to. And now you feel even worse for doubting him. This was Neteyam you were talking about. Your Neteyam.

“I had an argument with my mother. It was stupid.” It wasn’t technically a lie, but it definitely wasn’t the full truth. You weren’t even ready to face that reality on your own, let alone dump it on Neteyam too.

He nods sympathizing with your situation. You remember how hard his dad could be on him before they left. If anyone understood parental frustration, it was Neteyam.

“It’s just…she has these expectations about what she thinks I should be doing with my life right now, but I don’t want what she wants. I’m trying to forge my own path and she feels the need to fight me at every turn. It’s infuriating.”

Neteyam chuckles lightly, “Oh yeah, I wouldn’t know anything about that” he says oozing sarcasm.

You playfully nudge his shoulder finally feeling a sincere smile play on your lips.

“Anyways, enough about me and my silly problems. I do not want to talk about her. But I do want to hear what the mighty warrior has been up to for the last 4 years. Give me all the details.” Your eyes watch him as he recounts the tales of his time away from the forest. Stories about joining the reef clan and learning their ways. Talking about the battle with the sky people and their eventual victory. You notice a particularly large scar that he definitely didn’t have when he left. “What happened with that one?”

“Which one?” he looks down at his body that was littered with various old scrapes and cuts from years of being a warrior.

Your fingers lightly trace the wound on his chest feeling the rough, raised skin. It was circular as if he had been impaled by an arrow. His eyes look down to where you’re touching, “That was from our last battle. I was hit with one of their weapons. I thought I was done for. I almost was, to tell you the truth.”

The thought makes your stomach flip. The thought that Neteyam was always so close to danger. He could have died. He almost did die! And you wouldn’t have known. You would’ve still been here waiting for a day that would never come. Tears sting at your eyes and blur your vision, but you do your best to blink them back. You move to look Neteyam in the eye and he’s already looking back down at you. It’s in this moment when you realize how close your faces are to each other. His breath fans your face and your body freezes. His eyes scan your face sensing your sorrow. “I am fine. Please do not cry. The fight is over.”

He was right and you knew he was. You were getting yourself worked up over a situation that hadn’t even happened. Your eyes fall back to the scar on his chest still under your fingers. Neteyam had grown significantly since you last saw him. He was taller, his chest and shoulders broader, and his arms were more toned. He held your face in his hand and brought your face back up to look at him. He was still as beautiful as you remembered. And now he held an air of maturity around him that wasn’t present before. He wears his years of experience, but there’s no sense of being jaded by all he’s been through. He was truly remarkable.

His eyes are fixated on your lips that you didn’t even realize were parted. Your breath felt heavy in your chest. Being close to him like this again felt like home. It was everything you wanted. “I missed you every day.” He’s so close. The tips of his lips graze yours when he speaks. It makes your tail anxiously tap the ground behind you. He gently leans in and closes the gap between you. Your lips move in sync with his readily welcoming the contact. Your heart is thumping madly in your ears.

You know you shouldn’t be doing this. You were promised to someone already. But how could you worry about that when the man you truly loved was right here in your grasp? Your hands rest on his chest and you can feel the way his heartbeat is mimicking your own. Your body instinctively moves in closer against his and his hands slide their way to your waist. His arms snake around you to pull you flush against his own body. Straddling him, your frame is dwarfed by his, but it still feels like such a perfect fit. It’s as if Eywa designed you both specifically to fit together this way.

The kiss offers you the relief you’ve been seeking for the last 4 years. It’s the one thing that makes your heart feel like it’s beating properly. You want more. Need more. Need him closer. The kiss grows hungrier and more desperate. You trace your hands up around his neck to pull him more into you. If you two were any closer, you would be inside each other’s skin. But you’d happily welcome him in. Neteyam traces your bottom lip with his tongue and it makes you yelp in surprise. He takes advantage of the opportunity and sneaks his tongue into your mouth. Your tongues dance together sliding against each other in a perfect game of push and pull. He tastes sweet in your mouth. It’s addicting. Not to mention the grip that his hands now have on your hips.

Your body feels hot. Your core is trembling. You had fantasized about this situation before in the middle of many sleepless nights when your hand would find its way under your loincloth. Images of Neteyam running his hands over every inch of your body, tongue trailing over the stripes on your hips and thighs and stretching you to fit him perfectly. It’s intoxicating. His grip on your hips holds you right against his and you’re almost positive there’s a big obvious wet spot on his loincloth right underneath you. And you can feel something big and stiff rubbing against you. Shit, you can feel how big he is even through both of your cloths. It’s so…inviting.

It knocks you back to your senses and you reluctantly pull away from the kiss. Neteyam’s lips try to chase yours already missing the warmth. Heavily lidded eyes stare back at you and you try to regain the breath that he seemed to have stolen from you. Your face is deeply flushed and you hide it in his chest. His chin rests on top of your head and his arms still hold you close. How could you walk away from this man? The one that’s always protected you and loved you so deeply? For what? A man you barely knew? Absolutely not. But right now is not the moment to be thinking of such things. You let yourself have this moment to just revel in the bliss. His scent brings you such a sense of comfort that you’ve been longing for.

….

The following day, the clan was alive and bustling with everyone hurrying to make preparations for the night’s festivities celebrating the return of the Sully family. Meat was hunted, fruits were collected, wood was prepped for the fire, and vegetables were chopped. The excitement in the air was infectious.

As the time for the party neared, you got dressed in your best clothes. Your top decorated with big colorful feathers and beads and your loincloth that you made yourself dyeing it with pigment you made to give it a unique orange color. Your hair cascaded down to the small of your back. It makes you notice how long it’s gotten lately, but you love the long loose waves framing your body. It made you less self-conscious about your small stature.

Your mother comes in to see you and gives you a once over. “You look beautiful, ma’ite.” A warm smile on her face.

“Thank you, mother.” You tuck a small strand of hair behind your ear to properly show your face.

“I am sure that Ralu will think so too.”

Your face drops a bit and that same strand of hair falls in your face again. You didn’t think of the fact that your love and your betrothed would both be at the party. The thought of Ralu looking at you in that way borderline disgusted you and a twinge of guilt pangs you. Ralu wasn’t a bad guy, but you just didn’t know him all that well. You didn’t feel for him. You push the thought away and decide you’ll just do your best to avoid him for the night. If he doesn’t see you, then there’s nothing to worry about. Besides, the whole clan is going to be there. Surely, finding just you in a sea of people would be difficult.

At the party, the music is loud and the crowd is swimming with jovial energy. People laugh and dance and sing and drink. You can’t remember the last time you saw everyone in such high spirits.

You spent most of your time with the Sully kids. You wanted to hear about everything they did out with the reef people. Lo’ak dramatically reenacted battle scenes complete with sound effects and the works. And he spoke of a girl that he met there clearly smitten with her. “She must be something special if she could handle you” you poke fun at him. Even Tuk had grown so much since you last saw her. Her height threatening to pass your own. “You know Neteyam couldn’t stop talking about you the whole time” she whispered to you. Your eyes flash over to him and he’s already watching you. A slight blush comes to his face since you caught him staring and it makes your own face blush. Being surrounded by them all again felt like the world had been set right again.

At one point, you finally allow yourself to relax and just enjoy the company and the atmosphere. You even find yourself falling into old habits where you and Neteyam would stand together and your tails would hold each other. It made you feel secure. But, of course, all good things must come to an end.

You hear your name being called in the distance. You and Neteyam both whip your heads in the direction of the call and your body goes cold seeing Ralu approaching you. You reflexively drop your tail from Neteyam’s and he looks at you puzzled. He’s immediately on high alert seeing how you react to this unfamiliar person.

“There you are!” Ralu starts coming closer. “I’ve been looking all over for you, yawne. I wanted to introduce you to some of my friends.”

‘Yawne’, that name makes your heart shrivel. His hand holds yours and suddenly all of your comfort is gone. This is the exact scenario you wanted to avoid. Neteyam looks between you two for a second before speaking up.

“Hi there, I’m Neteyam.” “Oh, I know. It’s an honor.” Ralu politely gestures his greeting to him.

“I’m an old friend. How do you two know each other?”

“Oh, I see. Well, we are to be mated.” Ralu says proudly. He pulls you by your hand gently to be at his side. Your eyes never leave the ground.

If you just heard a loud noise, that was the sound of Neteyam’s heart cracking.

“I see, well, I wouldn’t want to steal too much of her time from you. Go ahead.” Neteyam is much better at hiding his emotions than you are. But you know him well. Too well. The way his ears flick and the small scrunch of his nose give him away. Words aren’t enough to describe the shame and guilt you feel in this moment.

Ralu starts to lead you away. You shoot Neteyam an apologetic look as you’re dragged further away.

You can’t even focus on meeting Ralu’s friends. You truthfully couldn’t care less about them. The rest of the night, when your eyes aren’t trained on the ground, they’re scanning the crowd for the one person you actually want to be here with. From time to time your eyes would meet, but instead of fondness, there was this unspoken weight hanging between you now.

‘I don’t want to be here. I want to run. I want to scream. Can I leave? But that would be rude. I shouldn’t embarrass Ralu. He’s done nothing wrong, but this feels wrong.’ Your thoughts are loud in your mind. Louder than the music and all the chatter surrounding you.

It takes all of your will power to keep your tears at bay. The pieces of your broken heart are promising to break free from your chest.

You don’t even pay attention to how much you’ve had to drink. The alcohol just kept coming and you kept downing it hoping to feel anything other than your real feelings. It doesn’t hit you until you turn your head just a little too quickly and your vision lags behind the motion. It makes you feel unsteady on your feet. If it weren’t for Ralu continuously holding your hand, you probably would’ve fallen by now.

He finally tears his attention away from the conversation with his friends to look at you and he can tell from your glazed eyes and far away gaze that you’ve had more than enough. “How about I get you home?”

Words do not care to come to your mind just yet, so you just weakly nod your head.

Ralu bids his goodbyes to his friends and starts to lead you through the crowd. Neteyam notices you leaving together and his ears flatten with another loud crack from his heart.

Walking home feels like the longest trek through the forest you’ve ever taken. Ralu holds you up to steady your movements. Thankfully, your parents are still at the party so you don’t have to hear their scrutiny of your current state.

Everything is spinning. Even just thinking about moving makes your head dizzy. Why is the ground suddenly made of fluid and impossible to walk properly on? And there’s two of everything? You can’t even get your thoughts straight, never mind your body.

Only one image plays in your mind: Neteyam. You long to have him touch you again. You miss his hold on your body. Speaking of which, who was with you right now? Who was holding you up?

“Tey…” you mumble. Thankfully, your voice is too small for Ralu to actually hear you. “Sorry…’m s-so sorry…” your words run into one another.

Ralu looks at you in confusion at your sudden unprompted apologies, but shakes it off. You’re clearly not in your right mind. The only thing that matters right now was getting you in your hammock.

He lifts you up and places you gently on the woven material. Your eyelids are suddenly as heavy as boulders and you can’t find the strength to hold them up any longer. You sink into the material and curl your body up on your side facing the wall. Your tail tucks itself between your legs. You continue muttering half-intelligible apologies to no one until your body gives out. Ralu covers you with your sheet and brushes some of your hair out of your face before taking his leave.

He couldn’t stop this sinking feeling from gnawing at him from the inside, though. Something was off.

[mais-nerdy-corner]

𝕬 𝕸𝖆𝖙𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖔𝖋 𝕿𝖎𝖒𝖊: 𝕿𝖔𝖚𝖌𝖍 𝕷𝖔𝖛𝖊 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝕽𝖊𝖘𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖒𝖊𝖓𝖙 | 𝕬𝖑𝖍𝖆𝖎𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖒 𝖝 𝕽𝖊𝖆𝖉𝖊𝖗

Synopsis: Fifteen years have passed and now the Scribe's twin daughters have grown up. Although twins, they have very different goals. The younger twin, Afiyah, was interested in pharmacy and her determination to heal people. Meanwhile the older twin, Aqilah, was only focused on getting stronger and wants nothing to do with her father.

Pairing: Alhaitham x Female! Reader

Genre: Angst & fluff

Note: I have also made canon character designs for Aqilah and Afiyah so if you are curious to see them, please do let me know :)

It's been fifteen years since the day you passed, and many things have changed in Sumeru. For the better I assure you. But the question is, what has changed? And what influence did that time have on Sumeru?

Well, for starters, a new Grand Sage must have been selected within the fifteen year span. Fortunately during his governing, Sumeru experienced significant developments. Businesses owned by the elders are now being passed down to their children or grandchildren. And in fact, the Palace of Alcazarzaray's architect now has a place of his own!

Despite all the good things that have happened in the space of fifteen years, time hasn't been kind to Alhaitham. The difficulty of juggling personal and work-related responsibilities has been hard, but it's fortunate that he has his friends to help him out.

Alhaitham remembered all the sleepless nights he and Kaveh had when his twin daughters cried as they tried to sleep. He remembered the time he had trouble trying to feed them, especially his older daughter. To the extent that he needed to call in reinforcements (aka Kaveh, which she oddly favored).

Speaking of his daughters, we haven't even caught their names yet. One thing you should know about them is that even though they are twins, they are very different from one another.

Let's start with the younger twin, Afiyah. Her personality is not at all the same as yours or his, rather she is a sweet, kind and very caring person. Afiyah inherited her father's gray hair and also your (eye color) eyes, the same eyes her Uncle Kaveh adored. From an early age, Afiyah was interested in becoming a 'doctor', she said. But after having a better understanding of her words, what Afiyah meant was pharmacist.

"I know my limits, I'm not a person fit to lead. But with my knowledge of medicine and herbs combined with that of a doctor, I believe we can heal many people together. We don't know when a dangerous illness like Eleazar will return, so I will do my best to prevent it!"

Meanwhile, the older twin, Aqilah, looks exactly like Alhaitham. Some say she is a carbon copy of her father. Personality-wise, not so much. Sure there may be some similarities, but Aqilah does not want to be associated with him surely for some apparent reason.

"..."

"...I have my own reasons for resenting my father, and I prefer not to talk about it. That is all."

Aqilah doesn't hate her sister however. She swore to protect her 'since her father was too busy to protect them by himself and neglected them' she once said. Thus, she's used to living an independent life from an early age.

It was really early in the morning. The sun hasn't come out and yet Alhaitham was already awake. He already wore his usual attire and was getting ready to go out.

Before leaving the house, Alhaitham quietly opened the twins' bedroom door to see them still sound asleep. As a farewell, he went to kiss the forehead of his two daughters. Afiyah smiled feeling the touch of her father's affection, meanwhile Aqilah seemed to feel disgusted as her eyebrow twitched.

With that, Alhaitham left to a place that he and a few others knew about. Heading south-west from the Akademiya, across the vine bridge made of the Divine Tree's roots and under a shady tree, stood a beautiful marble gravestone with your name engraved on it. Your resting place was the contribution of many people, even though some you've never met.

At first, Kaveh insisted he would build 'the most beautiful and majestic mausoleum' for you. But given his financial problems at the time, he opted to make your gravestone out of marble instead. The small island you rest on used to be inhabited by enemies like Hilichurls, Eremites and Fungi. But with the power of the Dendro Archon and several Aranara, they were able to drive the enemies away.

Others like Nilou, Dehya, Dunyarzad and Cyno have visited your grave from time to time and left flowers for you. Even people like Tighnari and Collei have visited because of Kaveh's invitation. They too have their own contributions. As the twins grew, it was Nilou who helped buy clothes for them. After learning about Aqilah's determination to practice swordsmanship, Cyno and Dehya offered to teach her. And when Afiyah came to Gandharva Ville to study botany, Tighnari didn't turn her down.

Placing down the flowers he picked from around the city, Alhaitham kneeled down and caressed the smooth marble gravestone. Tears started to form in his eyes as he was constantly reminded by the name engraved on it every time he read it. Alhaitham maintained most of his composure, but still a few tears managed to escape from his watering eyes.

"It's... It's been a while since my last visit, hasn't it? *sigh* Apologies... I've been busy carrying out the orders of the new Grand Sage recently. I can tell... it's for the better. For Sumeru and for the lives of our two daughters. I will keep trying to be a good father for them. I promise."

As Alhaitham continued to talk to you, or rather, talking to himself, the sun began to rise. He knew it was time to take his leave. Alhaitham kissed your gravestone goodbye before walking away, looking back and leaving with a heavy heart.

The people of Sumeru began to follow the activities that the Scribe had already done. Getting ready for their morning activities, whether it's sweeping the streets, rushing to the Citadel of Regzar for their morning gathering, or opening their shop. And a certain general goods shop owner was doing just that.

Sumeru General Goods, a shop previously owned by Hamawi, has now been passed down to his second son. His eldest son Sal owned a shop in Port Ormos and his youngest son Jut continued to be a spice merchant. His second son Mawyo was sweeping the front of his shop when the Scribe came up to him.

"O-oh, Scribe Alhaitham...! Just a moment, let me clean this up first," Mawyo said.

"Take your time. I'm in no rush myself."

Mawyo put the broom back in its place and hurried back. "So, what can I get for you?" he asked.

"Just some groceries for breakfast. My daughter usually cooks breakfast so I don't know what ingredients she wants."

"Alright, let's see..."

Just as Mawyo thought the Scribe's request was a little difficult and confusing, his savior came to his aid.

"Need me to take over, Mawyo?"

"Halima...! I... *sigh* I need your help..."

Halimah is Mawyo's wife. And just like her name, she's forebearing, gentle, mild-mannered and generous.

"Honestly, you're nothing without me. But listen to me Mawyo, you can't depend on other people forever. You should at least start being independent. What? Twenty years into the future and you still depend on Sal, me and Jut?" Halima advised.

"Of course not. I'm trying, okay? But please, just this one time?" Mawyo begged.

"Alright... Just because I love you..."

Mawyo kissed his wife on the cheek before going somewhere. Of course, Alhaitham witnessed their loving and affectionate interactions. Something that he can't give you much. Halima knows that Mawyo is not the perfect husband, but she still loves him because he is trying to be better. But himself? Hah, there's not a single effort he's made to make himself better.

Alhaitham was snapped back to reality when Halima asked him a question. "So, what was it that my husband can't fulfill?"

"I asked him to choose some groceries that were enough for breakfast. I don't know what to buy since my daughter does the cooking," he explained.

"I see. That's completely understandable. Please wait a moment sir, I will pick out your groceries."

(itty-bitty tiny time skip brought to you by the author :P)

"I have given a number of options for your daughter to cook later. And that would be a total of 5720 Mora, sir."

Halima placed the basket of groceries on the shop counter and Alhaitham handed her a pouch of Mora. After exchanging their thank yous and goodbyes, he headed to his second destination, Puspa Café.

"Hello, welcome to Puspa Café. Would you like to start with a cup of coffee to keep you energized all day?"

Enteka, now the manager of Puspa Café, greeted the Scribe when he entered.

"No, thank you. I'll just have two Rose Custard to go," Alhaitham said.

"Will that be all, sir?"

"Yes, that's all."

"Alright, that'll be 5000 Mora, sir. Let me get your order from the back."

Alhaitham placed another pouch of Mora on the counter as Enteka took two Rose Custard from the back.

"Our Rose Custards are contained in reusable gold cups, which is why they are a bit pricey. Thank you for your purchase. Take care, hope to see you again."

"I'm back..."

When Alhaitham entered the house, he saw his younger daughter Afiyah sitting on one of the living room wooden sofas, clearly still sleepy.

"Hm? Oh... Welcome back, Father. Did you go out to buy groceries? You shouldn't have..." she said.

Like a cat awakening from its sleep, Afiyah stretched and yawned before taking the basket of groceries from her father. She looked over the selection of ingredients he could use to cook breakfast.

"Where's Aqilah? Is she still asleep?" Alhaitham asked.

"Mm-hm, she must be exhausted since she came home late last night... I'll start cooking breakfast, she'll eventually wake up."

(Later)

"Shit shit shit shit shit...!"

Aqilah cursed as she came rushing into the kitchen, stopping when she saw Afiyah smiling at her. Alhaitham was also there reading documents from Akademiya, but his older daughter ignored him, as if he never existed.

"Good morning, Aqilah. Come, sit down. I've cooked breakfast for you."

"I don't have time for breakfast. I'm already late for my sword training session."

Afiyah looked at her older twin sister who was putting on her stockings and knee high boots. She was concerned, and she had every right to be. Skipping breakfast isn't good...

"Do you have to go? I mean, you've been really busy lately. Are you sure you don't want to take a break?" Afiyah asked.

"I have promised the General Mahamatra that I will come to practice when he is free. I can't just show up or be absent as I please. I understand your concern but what I do is for the best."

"..."

Aqilah rose from her seat and threw her green cape over her shoulders. She was just about to take her Xiphos' Moonlight sword and leave, but was stopped because of something Afiyah said.

"At least bring one Rose Custard and some Zaytun Peaches to eat on your way there. I don't want you to leave on an empty stomach."

Aqilah looked back before sighing and walking back to get her Rose Custard and some Zaytun Peaches.

"Are you happy now?" she asked.

"Mm-hm, very happy. Now go. Oh, and be careful on the way there."

"Hm, will do."

Aqilah smiled at her sister before taking her sword and leaving the house. Subconsciously, Alhaitham and Afiyah sighed almost at the same time after Aqilah left.

"Aqilah's ignoring Father again..." Afiyah mumbled.

(Meanwhile, outside)

Aqilah ate one of the Zaytun Peaches she brought while walking to the city gate. When she got there, she saw someone who seemed to be waiting for her.

"Uncle Rahman? What are you doing here?"

"There you are, kiddo. For a moment I thought you wouldn't show up."

"You didn't answer my question. What are you doing here?" Aqilah emphasized her question.

"Well, I heard that the General Mahamatra agreed to train the Scribe's daughter in his spare time. And coincidentally today's the day. So I came here to pick you up," he said.

"Pick me up? What, to make sure that I wouldn't run off and miss my training session?"

"Of course not, I wouldn't think of you that way. Come on, kiddo. We don't want you to be late."

Afiyah returned to Sumeru City before lunch time after her study session with Tighnari in Gandharva Ville. She intended to go to Aaru Village to catch up with Aqilah, after she was done with something.

Afiyah returned home and packed two lunch boxes, one bigger than the other. She headed to her next destination, the Akademiya.

(time skip brought to you by le author :v)

Entering the Akademiya, Afiyah looked around hoping to find her father among the sea of ​​students and scholars talking in the main hall. But he was nowhere to be seen. Maybe he's just busy...

An Amurta scholar noticed Afiyah's presence, decided to approach her.

"Excuse me, are you Miss Afiyah? Scribe Alhaitham's daughter? Is there anything I can help you with?"

Afiyah turned to face the scholar and simply nodded. "I was wondering where my father was. Can you take me to his office?"

"Of course! Right this way, my lady."

As the scholar led Afiyah through the halls of the Akademiya, she was met with stares and glances from other students and scholars. Some were even whispering about her. But she paid little attention to their doing.

"Here we are, Miss Afiyah. The Scribe's office."

They both arrived in front of Alhaitham's office. When Afiyah was about to knock on the door, the scholar stopped her and put his ear to the door.

"It sounds like Scribe Alhaitham's talking to someone," said the scholar.

"Oh... Should I have come at a better time?" Afiyah asked, her tone of disappointment obviously there.

"Oh no, it's alright Miss Afiyah! I'm sure your father could spare some time for his daughter."

The scholar's words somehow managed to put a smile on Afiyah's face. His words were really reassuring and... comforting.

"Your words really comfort me. Thank you... How should I thank you? You never really gave me your name."

"..."

"It's Geoff, Miss Afiyah."

"Thank you, Geoff. You can go now."

Geoff left Afiyah alone at the office door, taking a deep breath in preparation of meeting her father. She raised her hand hesitantly, and knocked on the door.

"You may enter."

When Afiyah opened the office door, Alhaitham looked surprised to see his younger daughter.

"Afiyah? What brings you here to my office?" he asked.

"Well, I... I made you lu–"

"Why, if it isn't the Scribe's daughter Afiyah herself! It seems you've grown since the last time I saw you, haha," said the man who was talking to Alhaitham. He went to pet Afiyah's head and said something before leaving.

"We can continue this conversation later, Scribe Alhaitham. Enjoy your time with your daughter."

That left only Afiyah and Alhaitham in the office. The Scribe cleared his throat before repeating his question.

"Apologies for the slight intrusion, let me repeat my question. What brings you to my office, Afiyah?"

"I made you lunch," she answered with a smile.

Alhaitham's eyes widened slightly. "You really don't need to, Afiyah. I could go out and stop by Puspa Café or Lambad's Tavern for my lunch."

"Well, I just feel like it."

Afiyah put the small wooden lunch box on her father's desk, still carrying the bigger one. Alhaitham opened the lid of his lunch box, revealing two Pita Pockets and an Aranara-style Selva Salad. Just the thought of his younger daughter's consideration into making him lunch made Alhaitham smile.

"Are you planning to go somewhere after this? I see you still have one more lunch box, a larger one in fact," he said.

Afiyah hesitates to answer her father's question, but like it or not she has to tell her true intentions.

"...I plan to go after Aqilah to Aaru Village."

!!!

"...And you plan to go there alone?"

"I mean, there's no one else to accompany me... So yes, I have to go there alone."

Alhaitham was silent, a worried expression was evident on his face. The problem is, Afiyah is unlike Aqilah. Aqilah can go anywhere alone just fine, meanwhile in Afiyah's case... hmm. Alhaitham allowed her to go to Gandharva Ville just because it was close. But a trip to Aaru Village? That's out of the question.

"I will send a few Corps of Thirty mercenaries to escort you there," he stated.

"You don't have to take it too far, Father. I can take care of myself, I also have Zaleos' power to protect me."

Ah, there it is. The "Zaleos' power" card that he was a bit irritated with. Not only have you inherited the power, but your two daughters as well. Afiyah pursues the mastery of Zaleos' powers, while Aqilah has her Vision.

Alhaitham clenched his fists under his desk, contemplating whether he should prevent Afiyah from going or let her go.

"...This is a tough and difficult choice for me, but I think I will let you go. I would be more relieved if you accompanied by someone though."

"Thank you very much, Father! I should get going now, I don't want to keep Aqilah waiting."

Afiyah turned around and left her father's office, leaving Alhaitham to sigh alone.

(On Treasures Street)

Afiyah was heading towards the southern city gate when she saw a certain mercenary she knew very well.

"Aunt Dehya, you have returned from your trip?"

The Eremite mercenary who goes by the name Flame-Mane turned around, now facing the Azure Starlight.

"Hey, look who it is! How are ya doing, kid? Yeah, my lady got a little too excited and tire herself out from the trip. So we decided to return to Sumeru," Dehya explained.

"Hehe, oh Miss Dunyarzad... Did you bring any souvenirs?"

"Were you hoping to get some? I'll see what I can make of our shopping pile," Dehya said before pausing when she saw the wooden lunch box that Afiyah brought, "Say, are ya going somewhere?"

"Oh, I'm going to Aaru Village to catch up with Aqilah."

"Dang, you're going there alone? What was Alhaitham thinking letting you go alone?" Dehya asked.

"Ah, don't worry! Father has allowed me to go there. He'd be more at ease if someone like you come with me. He even brought up the idea of ​​some Corps of Thirty mercenaries escorting me there, which I thought was a bit too much."

"I mean, I can't blame him for bringing up an idea like that... Let's get going, this will take a while."

Dehya walked ahead with Afiyah still standing where she was. The mercenary turned around wondering why the Scribe's daughter had not followed her, before she proposed an idea of ​​her own.

"I can think of a quicker way to get there. What if I told you I could, at least try to teleport us there?"

"...Let's give it a shot."

"Okay, let's try not to do something I'm clearly not good at ever again..."

Dehya laughed out loud at Afiyah's words. Just now, Afiya teleported them to the fountain in Pardis Dhyai. Even after they arrived at the desert, Afiyah's cheeks were still rosy and Dehya was still laughing.

"How can you still laugh even after what just happened, Aunt Dehya? I should be apologizing for getting us both wet," Afiyah said while being dried by Dehya's Pyro shield.

"Hahahaha ahahah... Ehem, sorry kid. That's the best laugh I've gotten in a while. Hey, at least there was an attempt," Dehya said in an effort to comfort Afiyah as she pat her head.

Without them noticing, they had approached the area where Aqilah was supposedly training. Afiyah looked up from her sulking session and saw her older twin sister talking with the General Mahamatra.

"Always remember these things. Always think about your enemy, and always think about yourself. Make sure your thoughts are clear. Only then will you be able to fight better."

"Yes, sir."

"Aqilah!"

Feeling called, Aqilah turned and saw her younger twin sister waving her hand. She made her sword disappear into thin air before running to Afiyah.

"What are you doing here, Afiyah? Are you hurt? Your clothes are a little wet and you are protected by a Pyro shield. Did something happen?"

"Well, we did run into a little mishap... I brought lunch though!"

Aqilah raised her eyebrows on how her sister could still keep her spirits up after her small mishap. Cyno followed Aqilah and approached the two sisters.

"Afiyah, what a pleasant surprise. Did you come here alone or have someone accompany you?" he greeted.

"Haha, there's no need to worry about that, Cyno. I was the one who accompanied her here," said Dehya who joined the group.

"Mm-hm," Afiyah nodded.

The younger twin looked around, making sure that everyone was there. She then suggested them to rest back at Aaru Village.

"Since it looks like your training is over, how about we head back to Aaru Village for lunch. I'm sure there's enough food I've brought for everyone," Afiyah paused, turning to the General Mahamatra, "I even brought Tahchin for you Uncle Cyno."

"..."

"Then you can count me in."

After lunch and catching up with people in Aaru Village, the twins returned to Sumeru City accompanied by the General Mahamatra. They didn't immediately return home, instead they went to the Sanctuary of Surasthana to meet the Dendro Archon, Lesser Lord Kusanali.

"Good afternoon you two. Are you here for your study session?" she greeted.

"Yes we are, Lesser Lord Kusanali," Aqilah replied formally.

"Oh, haven't I told you not to be so formal when talking to me? After all, your father was one of the people who saved from the previous Sages. You can call me Nahida."

"..."

"...I-if that's... what you wish, Nahida..." Aqilah stuttered.

"Hehe, good job. Now, back to the topic at hand. I'm sure you came here to find out more about Zaleos, your ancestor."

"Correct," Afiyah said.

"That's precisely the reason why we've been coming here," Aqilah emphasized.

"I've done a lot of research since our last meeting, books, scrolls, and even searching for information from Irminsul. Before I say anything, I want to know what you found."

"Well, I found out that I could teleport. But not very well..." Afiyah confessed.

"That's okay, we can help you improve. Is there anything you'd like to add, Aqilah?"

"No, Lesser Lord Kusana– Apologies, force of habit..." Aqilah said.

"That's a shame, but it's alright. Now I will put forward whatever I find. Even though my knowledge of Zaleos, her powers, and the Isles of Etsumi is very limited, I will–"

"Wait! Ehem, sorry for my impudence Nahida. But, do the Isles of Etsumi really exist?" Afiyah interrupted.

"That's what I'm still questioning. Documentation about the existence of the Isles of Etsumi from outsiders is very limited, there may be one or two but not very well known. The only source confirming its existence is the scroll your mother got from your grandfather, which your father had gifted me."

Both Aqilah and Afiyah were lost in thoughts. They thought of many ways to find more information. Since the most trusted source was from their grandfather, did they need to travel to Liyue to meet him?

Nahida suddenly leaves and returns with a jar full of Candied Ajilenakh Nuts.

"Here, try to take a bite of this. I asked one of the guards to buy it. I just need one little bite and my brain starts chugging away at top speed, and suddenly there's no problem too difficult for me to solve," she offered.

"Thanks Nahida."

"T-thank you, Nahida..."

The twin sisters took a bite out of the candy, the two of them made different expressions after doing so.

"So? How was it? Did the candy help?"

"It did, I feel my focus coming back. Thanks again Nahida," Afiyah said.

"Hehe, you're welcome. What do you think, Aqila– Aqilah? Are you alright?"

Afiyah stifled a laugh at the funny expression her sister made. The Dendro Archon even held back her laughter.

"Sorry, it was a tad too sweet for me. I still appreciate the thought. Thank you, Nahida."

Afiyah and Nahida let themselves laugh, making Aqilah smile herself. They spent the rest of the afternoon honing their skills to use Zaleos' powers.

(That evening)

After a long day of training and learning, the twin sisters returned to their home. Entering the house, they immediately saw their father reading a book in the living room. Aqilah quickly looked away.

"We're back!" Afiyah chirped.

"Welcome back. I've bought food from Lambad's Tavern for dinner, so you don't need to cook Afiyah," Alhaitham said.

"Really? Thank you, Father. Let's eat together, Aqilah!"

"No, thank you. I'm not hungry. I'm going to take a bath and head straight to bed. Today has been a long day."

Aqilah walked away straight to her room. Her behavior came off as rather cold and stone-hearted, it hurt Afiyah's feelings a bit. She heaved a sad sigh and headed to the kitchen for dinner, alone.

Alhaitham who noticed his younger daughter's behavior, followed her to the kitchen, where she was picking at her food. As her father, Alhaitham wanted to comfort Afiyah. But unfortunately, he didn't know how.

"Afiyah, can you come here for a moment? There's something I want to talk to you about," he called.

"Ah, what is it Father?"

Alhaitham could hear the sad and languid tone of his younger daughter, it somehow made his heart ache. Suddenly and unexpectedly, he pulled Afiyah into a hug.

"F–Father...? What... is the meaning of this?"

Alhaitham stayed silent, until Afiyah has completely melted into his embrace. At the very least, this was the love he could give his daughter, who still wanted to connect with him.

Publication date: January 1st 2023

[Author's Note]: Eyyy, Happy New Year everyone! The long-awaited first chapter of this series is finally finished and just consider this as my (very late) Christmas gift for all the amazing support I've gotten over the past year. Thank you~♡

Let's hope that this year will be better than the last year :)

Taglist: @sunsethw4 @elernity @haiiiiiiiyaaaa @qaiserarchive

[sweetcarrotsandroses97]

Winter pt. 1 | JJK

Hello darlings!!!

Pairing: royal guard!Jungkook x princess!Reader, prince!Jimin x princess!Reader (ft. Yoongi & Hoseok)

Summary: In which you, princess of the Gyeongdong Dynasty, were in the middle of wedding plans. An arranged marriage that would guarantee your father's bloodline to stay on the throne.

Or in which you are assigned a new royal guard that swore to protect you with his life. Jeon Jungkook. That's his name. A name you could never forget. A name that, slowly but surely got engraved not only on your memories but also in your heart.

Love, politics, betrayal and desire. All in ancient history. A love that never should have happened, two souls that wouldn't be allowed to be together.

Warnings: angst, fluff, implied smut, pregnancy, descriptions of delivery, pregnancy complications, arranged marriage, blood, character death, heartache, yearning, forbidden love, more angst, Jimin is a sweetheart, heartbreak, fainting, heart disease, Jungkook writes poetry, funeral, mentions of reincarnation, ANGST (WARNINGS APPLY TO BOTH PARTS!) (Let me know if I missed anything!)

Word Count: 14, 286k words

A/N Hi, darlings! It's been so long since I posted Autumn for you guys and I am so terribly sorry for the months wait. I really hope you will like this third part of "Four Seasons"!

I've been working on this for months now but lately I've found new inspiration to finally finish this and trust me, it will be a total roller coaster! Thank you so much to the people who commented on the other two parts as they all gave me such motivation to return to this story!

A/N I had to divide Winter into two parts because apparently Tumblr doesn't like to have too much paragraphs in one post! The two parts of this long chapter are linked on the masterpost of this series! Please let me know what you thought of this part, I really hope you will like it and it leaves you yearning for more! Without entertaining you further, happy reading, everyone!

💜 Boraghae ARMY 💜

~Taglist for Four Season: @valhallawhispers @lovingkoalaface @seokout @ackercute @jksusawife

It is said that time cures the pain. That it freezes the sorrow and paralyses the soul. Yet Jungkook couldn't agree with that statement. If only, the arrival of winter had made his pain bigger. Just as his love. He was sure that his heart would explode someday with the amount of love he held for the Crown Princess of Gyeongdong. For you.

The wedding day was approaching fast. Your life was changing too quickly too soon and you weren't sure you could grasp your new life so easily.

Snowflakes fell slowly from the greying skies. The cold air whistled past you, the thick robe you wore kept you warm yet you couldn't help the shiver that travelled up your spine at the sudden wind.

"Are you cold, princess?"

Asked Jimin, who stood next to you. You shook your head with a smile on your face. He was so caring towards you.

"I'm faring just fine. Aren't you cold?"

He shook his head and you winked at him before you focused once more on the target a couple of feet away from you. Raising the bow with an arrow attached to it, you aimed at the target and shot the arrow.

It travelled through the air with a soft sound before it landed at the centre of the target and you lowered the bow.

"You are really good at this. How did you learn to aim so perfectly?"

You sent a smile to your fiancé and answered while giving the bow to one of the palace servants, already done with your practice.

"I used to have a personal teacher so I learnt the basics and later on my personal royal guard, Jungkook, gave me a couple of tips in one of my practices."

Jimin walked next to you, his hands clasped behind his back. He walked you everyday after your practices and lessons back to your room. It was in those moments when the two of you got to spend some time alone together, getting to know each other before the wedding would take place.

"Is Officer Jeon to your liking?"

You nearly gasped at your fiance's question but you caught yourself on time. You had to think smart about your answer. Although Jimin was a sweet guy, you had come to learn he could be a little possessive too. If he felt threatened by Jungkook, you feared he might dismiss him from his duty to protect you.

"He has done his job perfectly up until now. He has also been of good company to me. It gets lonely sometimes here, you know?"

He hummed in acknowledgement. Looking down at you for a brief second before he returned his gaze back to the front.

"Then he can continue with his duties after we get married. He is important to you, isn't he?"

You looked at Jimin. Blinking back tears for his generosity. A gift that meant more to you than life itself. He was able to see the gratitude in your eyes as you gazed up at him.

"Thank you, Jimin."

You didn't answer his question. But that didn't cross his mind at that moment. The Crown Prince found himself getting lost in your eyes.

This was probably the last encounter you both would have before the wedding as it was tradition that the groom didn't see his bride for three days until the ceremony. You could tell he didn't like that idea with how he seemed slightly more tense than he usually was.

You didn't want to bring up the subject, didn't want to make him uncomfortable so you sent him a smile. A gesture he returned before the both of you travelled across the palace gardens painted in white in a comfortable silence.

As you walked next to Jimin, your heart yearned for the presence of another man. You felt so guilty for not giving your fiancé the love he deserved but you couldn't help your heart, your thoughts were swimming with Jungkook and only Jungkook.

Even when your wedding day was three days close, you couldn't stop thinking about the man that owned your heart.

"Get inside, Princess. It's cold here."

The Crown Prince spoke beside you. His sweet voice, quite like a summer breeze, brought you out of your mind. If only for a moment, you left your thoughts about your lover behind.

You smiled up at Jimin, his eyes held a deep emotion you couldn't quite describe. It was astonishing. He held so much admiration for you, perhaps even love and it all reflected in his brown eyes as deep as the sea itself.

"I will. Thank you."

He smirked, taking a step towards you that made your stomach twist with nerves. Your eyes were wide while expecting his next move. A gasp left your lips when you felt his hand enclosing yours. His thumb moved over your knuckles in slow circles and tingles erupted in your skin.

"I will not see you until our wedding, Princess, but just know that you will live in my thoughts until my eyes are graced with the image of you again."

A subtle blush painted over your cheeks, was it because of his words or the cold air outside? You couldn't tell. But you squeezed his hand as an answer.

"I shall see you in three days, Your Royal Highness."

He smiled, that sweet smile that made his eyes close. Cute. You thought but that thought vanished from your head the moment he leaned forward, his eyes stared at your lips for a split second but he didn't kiss you, he wasn't going to do it that way. The least that Jimin wanted was to tarnish your name in such a rushed moment.

He leaned towards your ear, his words were whispered as only you were meant to hear them.

"Call me Jimin. At least when we are alone. I love the sound of my name on your lips."

The prince leaned back, now towering a bit above you.

"I'll see you in three days, Jimin."

He gave you a priceless smile. No amount of money or luxuries would have been able to buy that innocent smile from his plump lips.

"See you in three days, (y/n)."

You couldn't describe the feeling of hearing your name spoken so casually. It was intimate. A moment between you both engraved in the stars. Rarely has your name been said without formalities. The times you had been spoken to were always with your title in the middle. A constant reminder of your status. Of your place in society.

You were to inherit a whole kingdom and that was a lot to carry on your shoulders yet when Jimin said your name without titles or formalities, you felt free. Even for just a second. It only existed the two of you in the middle of the frozen gardens.

Your hand that was still clasped in his before it was lifted up to his lips. Jimin placed a soft kiss on your knuckles before a sweet smile, again, adorned his lips.

That was the last time you saw him before the wedding. He walked away and you entered your bedroom, sliding the door shut as a sigh escaped your lips.

You were getting married.

Maybe Jimin wasn't the owner of your heart.

Maybe you didn't love him as he deserved.

Maybe your heart was already taken.

But he was a good man. A gentleman. A born king to Gyeongdong. A man who loved you. He respected you. He honoured you.

You put those thoughts aside, not wanting to dwell on them so much before you walked to the other side of the room where your private garden rested covered in white snow.

Sliding the double door open, cold air met your face and there you spotted him. Jungkook. He rested against the leafless tree that if you were in spring, pink petals would decorate the enormous tree as well as the ground below it.

You couldn't help but smile at him. He hadn't seen you yet, his doe eyes were glued to a book in his hands. He was waiting for you. He waited to make sure you got to your quarters on time and safely. He wasn't allowed to walk behind you like before, at least not while you were with Jimin. King's orders.

"Aren't you cold?"

That voice he enjoyed so much reached his ears, making him look up at you. He smiled. Shutting the book as his arm rested next to him. Your feet crunched the snow below as you made your way towards him.

"Not really, princess. I kept myself busy."

You smiled. Looking up at him as your hands clasped themselves in front of you.

"Aren't you cold, Your Highness?"

His voiced concern made your heart flutter. You feared he could hear just how fast your heart was beating inside your chest.

"No, I just came from taking a walk with the Crown Prince."

Jungkook kept his gaze on you yet you were aware how something flashed in his eyes at the mention of your future husband. It was there in those dark orbs you loved to get yourself lost into, a second in which he let his emotions take control over him. Where he was vulnerable to your watchful eyes.

But it was gone as you blinked. He gave you no time to question whatever you had seen in his gaze as he asked you next.

"Are you ready for your wedding day?"

The atmosphere turned sombre. As if clouds had hidden the sun of a summer day during tea time. Soft snowflakes began falling from the darkening skies in a soft motion. Delicately even.

"You know I'm not. How could I?"

The smile that once adorned Jungkook's handsome features was now gone. A sad look covered his eyes.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked that."

You took a deep breath. The little bubble of happiness and freedom he provided was now popped and you were brought to the harsh reality. You didn't say anything but you could feel his eyes on you as the both of you walked slowly through your private gardens.

The playful and innocent mood like a summer breeze had been clouded by the cold winds of winter. Of reality.

You are getting married tomorrow. Your stomach was churning every now and then with nerves. With fear of the unknown territory you were forced to step into. Your hands were sweating despite the coldness in your room. The thick robes that dressed you did little to keep you away from the coldness to seep into your bones.

You had been waiting for Jungkook all day. You had sent a hidden message to him where you asked him if he could come to your gardens that evening. You wanted to tell him something. A thought that hadn't left your mind for the last two days.

You were ready to ask him the most ridiculous thing in the world. The most dangerous thing he'd ever do. A part of you just wished he'd accept.

Snow was falling from the sky, dancing in front of you with such delicacy it allowed you to pass the time as you stood in your garden, leaned against the naked tree. A thick robe with white fur at the sleeves kept your body from the cold. Or at least it was supposed to.

A deft sound reached your ears, snow crunching over shoes. A choked breath. You looked at your right, past the tree and toward the furthest wall that kept your garden private only to spot him standing up from a crouching position. Jungkook.

Your Jungkook.

You couldn't help but smile at the sight of him as he walked towards you. He was dressed in equally heavy clothing. A long cape draped over his shoulders, trailing behind him as he walked over the snow-covered ground to get to where you stood.

"You came."

You breathed out. Not really believing he was standing there, in front of you when you were literally getting married tomorrow.

"You called."

Jungkook answered. A fond smile was painted over his pink lips. His eyes twinkled with happiness upon seeing you. His hand reached forward in an unconscious manner. But he paused his motion before his palm graced your cheeks with his loving touch.

He lowered his arm and cleared his throat. Speaking once more to break the silence that fell between you two.

"I will not ask how you managed to send that note to me, Princess."

You let out a short laugh, blessing his ears with such pure sound. A melody his heart cherished more than life itself.

"I have my ways, Officer Jeon."

He snorted at that, his frame relaxing in your presence as he leaned his side to the tree. His eyes never leaving your own.

"Can't you call me by my name, Jungkook? Just once?"

Your plea made his eyes harden. You asked for the impossible but you desired more than oxygen to hear your name in his voice. That sweet voice that lived in your mind rent-free. That would console you in your memories when you were sad and would bring a smile upon your face in the most random times of the day.

"I cannot, Your Highness. It is against His Majesty's order to address you improperly."

You frowned.

"Even if I am asking you that?"

He sighed. A hand running though his dark hair. How you wish you could run your own hands through his locks. You could bet on your life they were as soft as cotton.

"I can't, princess. I'm sorry."

Silence stretched between you both. Somehow, the air felt colder, breathing got more challenging upon your rejected request.

"Why did you want to see me? Did you miss me that much?"

Jungkook said, trying to lighten the mood. A playful smirk over his lips. You looked up at him, your eyes as transparent as the lake's water; revealing your soul.

"I don't know if you'll want to speak to me after I say what's been on my mind for the last two days."

He lifted an eyebrow at your response. Curiosity got the best of him as he took a step away from the tree, now standing fully in front of you. The soft snow continues to dance around you.

"It can't be that bad, now can it? Just tell me, Princess."

You took a deep breath, your pulse quickening. This was it. The opportunity to speak your mind. To reveal your most intimate desire to him.

"I don't want to get married, Jungkook. I don't want to marry the Crown Prince. Jimin is worthy of the throne but... I don't love him."

He remained silent. His eyes turned from playful to serious the moment you mentioned your marriage. And he listened. He listened with all his attention to each word that left your lips.

"I can't marry a man I don't love. I want... I want to be with you. It is you who I want to marry, to spend the rest of my time with. Only you can make me happy, Jungkook and it breaks my heart every time I am reminded you won't be at the other end of the altar tomorrow."

Tears began to cloud your vision. But you tried to blink them back. This was what you had been trying to say to him. Yet your most desired thing in the word was still to get revealed.

"I want to leave, I want to leave this place, Kookie. I don't want to be a princess if it means I cannot be yours entirely. I burn for you, in every extent of the word. I cannot breathe when you are not near, I cannot think when I cannot see you close to me. You are everything to me."

A lump began forming in his throat. He felt exactly the same. Jungkook was glad you spoke of this first, you revealed your soul to him, your thoughts, your heart. You needed him. You lived with him, for him. It'd be a pointless life if you couldn't share it with him, he saw that now.

But the surprise when he heard you next couldn't be hidden even if he had wished to do so.

"I want to run away with you, Jungkook. "

He gasped as he tried to control his tears from falling. He'd be lying if he said he hadn't thought of that. On multiple occasions actually. But he had never dared to speak of such things out loud. But now, you had said it, you had expressed such a wish you had to be with him that his heart roared with happiness while at the same time constricted with pain.

"You can't. I can never do that to you, Princess."

Tears began to roll down your cheeks. You could no longer hold them. You could no longer pretend. Your heart broke with his response. Yet you knew, you knew it was ridiculous to even think about it yet it still hurt. It hurt so much you began to feel a physical pain in your chest. As if someone was crushing your heart with their hands.

"I'm so sorry."

Jungkook said. A choked apology painted with his own sadness. He could only whisper the words. He was hurting inside too because he wished to take you away from the palace. He wished to make you his wife. He wished to spend the rest of his life by your side.

But that was it. They were only wishes. And he knew that. Perhaps he had to remind you this time that whatever the two of you had couldn't go further. It was destined to be like this.

"It is now what is best for you, Princess. Believe me."

His words carried the heaviness of his soul and you had to bite your bottom lip to suppress a sob. Jungkook had just killed the last spark you had to be happy. You didn't blame him though. You couldn't.

"How can you know what is best for me? I am dying everyday when I am not with you!"

The desperation in your voice made his own tears roll down his pale cheeks.

"Don't say that, please don't say that. I know I can never be compared to him, I could never give you what he can or protect you the way he can. But even in this twisted game, I need you to know that I love you with all my being, soul and heart."

His heart clenched when those words left his lips yet he knew he had to say them, say them and let you go.

"Then why are you hurting me like this? Why can't we leave this place together and be happy for once in our lives?"

Your tears rolled down your cheeks like endless rivers of pain. It was too much, too much to take in, too much to accept. He sighed, hating the way he was making you feel, hating the circumstances you both were in.

"Because I love you too much to cage you with me. You have to live as the princess of Gyeongdong, our future queen and I am forced to live like your royal guard. Nothing less, nothing more."

He turned around, feeling how each of your cries were like arrows being fired to his heart, no physical wound could ever be compared to this emotional pain he was feeling. However, he knew it was necessary.

"But I love you, Jungkook! I could never love him the way I love you."

He turned around, a sad smile over his lips as his own big eyes were moisturised with the salty water of sadness. You had declared your love for him in a last attempt to convince him. To let him know how much you wanted him, needed him.

"I'm glad I can hold that part of your heart, princess. Perhaps... in another lifetime we'll be able to be together."

You sniffled, hating the title he used to refer to you. If you weren't a princess, if you weren't the future queen of Gyeongdong, then you would have been his for a long time now. But fate was cruel and now, you both were left with a wounded heart as it bled with the remains of your love.

"Yes, and I will always be waiting for you. In each life until we meet again."

You whispered, unable to raise your voice a bit more. Jungkook looked at your broken figure, you were trying so hard to keep your tears at bay, to not break down in front of him unaware of the pain he was feeling himself.

"I'm sorry."

He said, taking a step back. He had to leave, otherwise he knew he would accept your suggestion, he would run away with you and selfishly make you live a life you didn't deserve while also being in the constant fear of being found.

You didn't deserve that.

He didn't deserve that.

Hence, even Jimin, the Crown Prince, didn't deserve to be left at the altar tomorrow.

It was fate. Destiny. A cruel fate, yes. But fate nonetheless. And there was nothing he could do to change it.

"I'm sorry too, Jungkook. So so sorry."

Silent tears rolled down his cheeks and dripped off his chin, landing on the soft snow at his feet.

"Love knows no chains, Princess."

Jungkook took another step back, and then another and another. He had to leave. He couldn't console you, he couldn't stay, he couldn't take you away, he couldn't make you his.

Without another word, he climbed up the wall and jumped off, he landed on the opposite garden. He leaned against the wall, closing his eyes and letting his pain go in the way of his tears, crystallising into beautiful pearls of sadness.

The moment Jungkook was gone from your garden, you fell down on your knees. The skirts of your dress and coat puffed out at the motion but you could only cry. You let the sobs leave your throat as a hand clutched your chest where you felt as if someone had pierced your heart with an invisible dagger and twisted it with every sob that left you.

"But I love you, Jungkook."

You said between sobs. Crying your pain out. Lamenting the cruel fate you were forced to live. The snowflakes danced around you, the sky crying for your damned fate. Unaware that Jungkook had heard the noise of your suffering.

His own heart clenching with your words said in the midst of dark pain.

When night fell over Gyeongdong that night, Jungkook couldn't sleep. His mind kept replaying the conversation he had with you in your private gardens. His heart ached when he remembered the crystalline tears that rolled down your cheeks.

He didn't deserve those tears.

He didn't deserve your time. Your devotion. Your love.

You were a princess, future Queen of a powerful kingdom and he was only him. Jeon Jungkook. A royal guard that was tasked to protect you. If only he had known his feelings would bring you such pain he would have kept silent.

If only he knew you would one day, desire with all your heart to escape with him and leave your luxurious life behind in a closed chapter, he would have never spoken to you that summer day in the boat. Those days that seemed to be centuries apart.

But was it fair for him to desire you as much as you did?

Was he sinning for wanting you?

He knew you were far from his reach yet he still fell for your charm. You were about to be trapped in a one-sided love, an arranged marriage you didn't want but he knew, if he dared to take you away, he would only be able to give you a life full of fear. Always expecting to be found.

And as he had thought before, you didn't deserve that. Fate was cruel in making you both lovers. The love that bloomed between you two was forbidden. A love that never should have happened. A cursed love.

Jungkook turned on his side while he laid in his bedding. His doe eyes reflected the stars sparkling in the sky. The cool air kissed his skin as it entered his room through the opened window.

His heart ached. His soul missed you. His hands itched with the need of touching you. But even when he was drowning in his own sadness, he couldn't cry.

Not anymore.

His tears were gone. And Jungkook knew his life was going to be submerged in an eternal winter, living in days without tears.

You stood behind the double closed doors of the throne hall. Your heart pounding in your chest. It was today. Your wedding day. You were getting married to a lovely man that would respect you and love you until his last breath but you didn't love him.

Jungkook had made it clear yesterday that he loved you, yes of course he did. But perhaps his love wasn't strong enough to rescue you from the fate you were forced to live.

You took a deep breath, the doors opened and you began to walk down the path covered in petals. The ministers and nobles in the room stood up in your presence but you didn't care. Your eyes were focused on the steps you took.

Don't trip, don't trip, don't trip...

"We welcome today the Crown Prince and Crown Princess as they are to be united by marriage, sharing the throne as one."

You lifted your eyes, meeting the ones of your fiance. His sweet gaze made a soft smile appear on your face. You weren't going to ruin his wedding day. Jimin was happy, you'll try to be too.

"His Majesty, sixth king of the Gyeongdong dynasty gives the crown to his daughter, Crown Princess Lee (y/n) and her fiance Crown Prince Park Jimin. May the ceremony commence."

The eunuch announced. Jungkook watched you from afar. He watched as Jimin held your hands and promised to be your rightful husband as well as an honourable ruler to the kingdom.

He watched as your eyes were trained on the man that was to become your husband. How he wished it was him in place of the prince. How he wished this was all different.

His fists clenched beside him, lip drawn in between his teeth as he watched you become another man's woman. But then again, were you his to begin with?

"You are glaring."

Yoongi's voice came in a whisper to his right. But Jungkook couldn't care if he was glaring or not. He found he had already lived through a similar situation but before his thoughts got further into his memories, Yoongi said once more as a sigh escaped his lips. He kept his voice low.

"You love her, don't you?"

The younger man turned to look at his superior. His eyes ghosted with salty tears. Yoongi put a hand over Jungkook's shoulder as his eyes looked forward to where you and Jimin stood in front of the throne. The words of the king drowning down as he said once more.

"You don't have to say anything, Jungkook. I've known for a while now."

"Why didn't you say something?"

Asked your royal guard, feeling how his heart constricted; of sadness or stress he could no longer tell.

"I'm not sure. Something kept me quiet."

The ceremony continued, no more words were exchanged between the two men. A part of Jungkook's heart felt lighter that his secret was not only his to carry anymore. Yoongi was more than his Captain, he was a friend. A close friend at that. Making the weight of his silenced love less heavy over his soul.

You stood in front of Jimin. Both of your hands were held by his own in front of you. There was a soft smile over his plump lips. A happy smile. You were finally becoming his wife. He held immense pride in calling you his bride but now, you were to become his forever and the young prince couldn't be happier.

All because he loved you.

Wholeheartedly.

Entirely.

Purely.

In a way as innocent as love itself. As crystal clear like a summer drizzle drenching the palace gardens. As transparent as his own intentions when it came to love. To you.

You felt all the eyes of the ministers and nobles on you. A part of you was used to the attention and now you had to prepare yourself for the attention that was going to fall over you as the Queen. It was your destiny. This was the reason why you were born. To marry and give your husband an heir.

That was your purpose in life.

That was what you had been taught since a young age.

But despite that sense of duty engraved in your mind, your heart only yearned for one thing. A thing you were never going to have. At least not in this lifetime.

Even when you felt observed by many important people, only his gaze burned you. You could only feel Jungkook's eyes on you. Only he was able to penetrate the walls society had built around you.

Only he was able to see you.

"Today, I step from the throne. Today, a new generation will arise in the horizon for Gyeongdong's greatness. Today, we welcome His Majesty Park Jimin, King of Gyeongdong and his wife, Her Majesty Lee (y/n), Queen of Gyeongdong."

Your father voiced out and stepped aside. There was a proud smile over his face. He had accomplished his mission to find you the better suitor to carry his bloodline and produce an heir. A prince to the dynasty.

Your attention focused on Jimin, he was smiling widely at you and you smiled too. The best you could do.

"My Queen."

He let go of one of your hands, the both of you facing the ministers and nobles as they bowed down at the two of you, their foreheads touching the ground under their feet as they chanted over and over again.

"Long live the king and queen of Gyeongdong!"

"Long live the king and queen of Gyeongdong!"

"Long live the king and queen of Gyeongdong!"

Over and over were those words repeated. They resonated through the palace walls, in your head. Engraved in your memories. You were the Queen. The place your mother once occupied next to your father.

Your eyes drifted to where Jungkook kneeled to you and your new husband. His eyes were glued to you, a sad gleam reflected in his doe eyes. Your heart clenched. Your own eyes watered.

That was the moment when you truly realised you both were from different worlds. He would have never been able to stand where Jimin stood right now. Nor would you ever be able to be his.

Fate was cruel. It created soulmates that were forbidden to love. A heartbroken couple. Lovers who were never meant to love.

Were you cursed?

Destined to live in a one-sided marriage while your heart belonged to another man?

It looked like it. All your life would be spent with your heart beating for Jungkook. Your mind was plagued by his memories, his existence. His reflection in your soul.

You and Jimin began walking forward, through the middle of the throne room. Your hand was clasped tightly in his. You could practically feel Jimin's happiness radiating from him that you couldn’t fight the small smile that painted over your own lips covered in red lipstick.

The double doors opened and you were greeted by the villagers shouting in happiness, welcoming their new king and queen as they were all granted access to the royal entrance while you were inside, making a promise that broke your heart to a man that loved you as ardently as you loved another one.

Cheers from the villagers were heard, some of them were clapping, others were chanting things you could barely make out in the midst of the crowd. But they were happy. They genuinely were.

You only wished you could fulfil your duty accordingly and not disappoint the beautiful people of your kingdom. It was, after all, a heavy weight over your shoulders you had been carrying since the day you can remember.

Jungkook watched you from where he was, having already stood up from his crouching position. He watched from the back, your hand tightly grasped in your husband's hold. The people cheered for you both and he was happy. Or at least a part of him was.

This was where you belonged. This was the world you were born into. This was your destiny.

"I will always be waiting for you. In each life until we meet again."

The words you said to him yesterday resonated in his mind. Perhaps he wasn't able to have you in this lifetime, but he'd be damned to hell if he didn't search for you in the next one and the next one and the next one until you could stand by his side and proudly claim yourself as his.

"In another lifetime, princess."

His muttered words got carried by the cold wind that entered the palace, words only meant for you to hear. Taken by the wind, delivered to fate. It was as it was. And as he watched you from afar, Jungkook realised that had been his place all along. Far from you and your world of royalty.

Away from your heart.

That night you were sitting in the middle of a fine bedshift. Red blankets of fine silk rested below you, keeping your body away from the harsh coldness of the wooden floor.

Small candles illuminated the room. Farols made of red paper painted the bedroom crimson. Your clothes were the same, your body hugged in an expensive red dress as a veil of translucent fabric tainted in the same colour as your clothes covered your face.

You were able to see through the veil, golden earrings hung from your lobs and a jade double ring rested on your finger. Your wedding ring.

The jewellery that claimed you as the property of a man. Of the former king of Gyeongdong. Of Jimin.

You were dressed for your husband. Dressed for your wedding night. You weren’t entirely sure what was going to happen once he’d arrive at the bedroom. You were only told that you would have to consummate the marriage. What was beyond those words was out of your knowledge but you couldn’t help but feel nervous nonetheless.

Everything changed in a course of hours. Your mind was still getting used to the idea of being married. Your life had changed so much that day. Your heart ached in your chest at the thought of your lover. Jungkook. How you wished you could see him. If only from afar would suffice but you wanted to be held by him, you wanted his whispered declarations of love for them to be for your ears only.

You wanted him.

You needed him.

But he was out of your reach. He was your denied and forbidden wish. Your clandestine love.

Your thoughts were broken when the door slid open. Eyes snapping toward the looming figure at the entrance. It was your husband. He was dressed in red robes, just like you.

When his eyes fell upon you, he could immediately notice the tension in your body and the air was sour with your nerves. But as gentle as he had always been he approached you. His steps were delicate, silent. As if he were walking on cotton.

Jimin knelt in front of you and grasped your hands in his. The contact made his skin burn, with desire, love, happiness, lust. He burned for you. And it was something he couldn't explain if he was asked about it.

"Only when we are alone will I dare to call you by your name, My Queen."

You swallowed. Noticing how committed he was to the marriage. You could only watch him, not daring to speak a word afraid the innocent moment would break and you'd go back to reality.

"(y/n), dearest (y/n). I cannot describe just how happy you have made me. I could care less about the title now resting over my shoulders but I am the luckiest man alive to have you as my wife. Queen of my heart."

Despite your heart being owned by another man that wasn't your husband, you couldn't help the beat it skipped with his sweet words. He was always sweet, always careful, always mindful. Always perfect.

His hands let go of yours only for later to lift the veil covering your face. Jimin smiled. The realisation dawned on him that you were his wife by name and title, now he was going to make you his in the most sacred and beautiful way that existed.

"We must... we need to consummate the marriage, Queen of mine. I know you may not feel ready for this, but believe me when I tell you it is the best way for me to protect you and your new position."

You knew he was right. You knew he spoke the truth, he'd always will. A lie would never live in his heart, let alone be spoken by his lips.

Always perfect.

You had to become his wife in all the extent of the word, not because he wanted to but because you needed it. It would be the only sense of protection he could give you as his wife in this twisted game of hearts and politics.

You knew he was right. But the heartache stayed. That intimate piece of yourself was going to be taken by the sweetest man alive that was your husband, but he wasn't the man you loved.

"I understand."

Your gaze lowered. Heat rose to your cheeks at the thought of the act. You were inexperienced, you were innocent in the ways of the world. To carnality. To desire. To lust.

Jimin's hand found home under your chin, lifting your gaze back to lock with his own. His honeyed voice reached your ears in sincere words and soft promises.

"I will be careful, I promise. Let me love you, (y/n). Let me protect you. Allow me to become your husband not only by name. Love with me."

There was uncertainty in his voice. He was letting you choose to bond with him. He displayed it like that, at least.

"We must bond tonight, but any other time it will be your choice. Always your choice. I will not force you to do anything you do not want but right now, we must do it. Please."

That pleading, that squeeze of his hand over your own, that begging look he gave you. If your heart was in a different position you would have already said yes. Allowed Jimin to take you, to love you as a man loves his wife.

But you ached at the thought of Jungkook. The man you loved so passionately. You realised he could never be in Jimin's position, he would never ask you to surrender yourself to him in such a way. He loved you too much to ever lay a finger on you like that. He respected you.

He knew his place between your heart and your duties to the kingdom.

You swallowed the lump in your throat that began to form the longer you thought about it. Blinking back the tears that threatened to moisture your eyes, you nodded.

Jimin's hand cradled your cheek so softly as if you were to melt before him as he leaned in to you and pressed his lips over yours. He kissed you. He kissed you in the most sweet and innocent way that ever existed.

His lips felt like feathers over your own, it was soft. Calculated but soft. Just like your husband, just like his soul. It took everything in you to kiss him back, to mould your lips to his own. To close your eyes and take in the feeling.

You had to ignore the screaming of your heart that said it was wrong. You pushed those thoughts away, replacing it with the duty you had with Gyeongdong. You were doing this willingly so that it wouldn't hurt as much as you already knew it would.

The kiss intensified, it heated and you began to feel your body react in ways you had never felt before. Jimin parted from your lips, a smile on his face.

"Let me love you, Queen of my heart. Let me claim you."

You nodded again, almost on instinct. A second barely passed before his lips were on yours again but this time, Jimin cradled the back of your head in his palm as he leaned forward, forcing your body to lay down on the red bedding below you with him on top of you.

That night was filled with fire kisses and burning touches. A night of passion. A night of pain. Darkness drowned the palace, the walls were quiet. The rooms were desolated. As if only you and Jimin existed on that night, your wedding night.

He took you, claimed you, marked you. He made you his that night. You became his wife. There was no turning back. Your marriage had been consummated under the most sacred and intimate act to ever exist. And as you lay next to your husband under the red blankets, your body pressed to his side, you couldn't help the lone tear that escaped your eye.

A tear for your lover.

A tear that was the tip of the iceberg of all your emotions and sadness pooling inside you.

A tear for your fate.

The gardens were illuminated under the moonlight, lanterns decorated the place. Snow reflected the beautiful light like sparkling diamonds scattered over the palace grounds. Thick robes covered your body, protecting it from the harsh cold.

It was late already, the moon kept rising and rising but you couldn't go to sleep. You couldn't allow yourself to dream when your own desires had been crushed by reality. So you stood there, in the middle of the gardens, in the middle of the snow with your heart in your throat.

"You will catch a cold, princess."

That voice. It makes your insides burn and your heart to skip a beat. You hadn't seen Jungkook since your wedding day. You had only caught a glimpse of him throughout the entire day.

It had already been two weeks since that day.

Your stomach twisted with the nerves of facing him, especially now that you had given yourself to another man. But you turned around nonetheless. Your yearning for him was stronger, the need for your eyes to rest over his figure, for his eyes to lock with your own. For you to witness the existence of your love.

You had to blink back tears that clung to your lashes. It was not time to cry, even if it was of sheer happiness upon seeing him. It wasn't time to cry. Not after so much yearning, not after the long hours of the day you had spent missing him. Not after you had been permanently separated from him for the rest of your life, when the little sparks of hope of being together diminished into flickering embers.

It was not time to cry.

"Hello, Jungkook."

He smiled. That sweet smile that made you smile as well. That warming touch of his soul with your own. That cute bunny smile that you desired to see each and every day of your existence.

"Hello, my Queen."

You didn't mind that he had called you "princess" instead of your new title. It would never matter as long as it was Jungkook. How you wished he'd speak your name instead. But that was perhaps asking too much of him.

There were so many things you wanted to tell him. So many questions you wanted to ask him. However, were you in the place to mind such things about him? Not as the Queen but as the woman he loved.

"I've missed you."

If your heart was squeezed a little more at that moment you were sure you were going to die from love. You smiled, a sad smile this time. His declaration does more to you than what meets the eye.

"I've missed you too."

If only you knew the storm of emotions residing under his calm facade, if only you knew the yearning in his heart to have you, if only you knew that tingling in the tips of his fingers to hold your hand; then you wouldn't have stayed quiet about the screams of your own soul.

"What are you doing outside at this hour, Jungkook?"

He untangled his hands from behind him and let them rest by his side, his eyes never leaving yours. Not knowing how his gaze alone was enough to make your heart thump wildly inside you.

"I couldn't sleep. I'll assume you are here because of the same reason."

You nodded, he took a step forward and your breath hitched in your throat. The action of inhaling was already painful as the air was cold, as cold as your neglected heart. Was he really going to take the risk of being this close to you? Another step. Perhaps he was. Then another. He certainly was.

It wasn't until he stood so close to you that you could feel his warm breath dust over your cold cheeks that you silently gasped and took a step back on instinct.

If anyone saw you both, there'd be problems. You didn't want that, not for Jungkook at least.

"And because I missed you. I had to see you. You do not only own this kingdom, you own my heart too and I couldn't live another day without seeing you, my Queen. For you are the one who rules my heart and soul."

You savoured the way his sweet words sprinkled your sour soul with sugar. It was delicious. To think that you were his, that he loved you, that he thought of you, dreamed of you. That he wanted you, perhaps even more strongly than how you wanted him.

You allowed yourself to drown in his sweet words. If only for a moment. Just a moment. A minute. A second would suffice. You didn't ask for more. You didn't want more. The only thing that you needed was his love and he gave it to you on a silver tray.

"Do you really want me that much?"

He nearly flinched at the way your voice was so soft, delicate even. Carrying emotions that were only reflected in your eyes.

"I want you with every fibre of my body and I can't stop thinking about that day. The day when you wanted to leave this place, I only want you to know that if the circumstances had been different, I would have escaped with you but taking you with me only meant death. I would rather die every day for not having you by my side than being the reason for your demise. I love you too much to do that to you."

You didn't realise you were crying until he reached his hand to wipe the tears but you took a step back. Hurt flashed in his eyes and that alone was enough for more tears to roll down your cheeks.

"You can't touch me, Jungkook. Not without the King's permission. Not even in an innocent way."

Your mumbled words reached his ears and he lowered his hand, he clenched it in a tight fist by his side but you didn't notice. Not when your eyes were glued to his own.

"And I understand why you didn't run away with me. I love you too much to get you killed. I'm so sorry I even proposed it for the first time."

His own eyes reflected the sadness in his soul in the form of tears. They glistened under the moonlight, little tears that he refused to let go; to set free.

"Do you really want me that much?"

A question you had already asked. A question he had already answered.

"Do you really want me that much, Jungkook? Even when I am another man's woman?"

He had to physically hold himself back so as to not take another step towards you. It pained him. His feet ached. His heart ached. It was painful to have you so close yet so far away at the same time yet he knew, it had been like that since those warm summer days. Since the very beginning of the forbidden love story you developed with your royal guard.

Even when I am another man's woman...

Those words would repeat themselves in his head until the end of his days. A tear rolled down Jungkook's cheek, the chilly air hitting him and making him shiver.

You weren't his. Not anymore. You had never been his. At least not in this lifetime.

"You could never be tainted for me. You are and will always be perfect to hold my heart in your hands. And in our next life you will be mine, and if not in our next one or our next one after that. "

A smile painted over your lips. A smile tainted with your tears but it was a smile nonetheless. A smile only for him to see.

"I will love you in each of the four seasons, Jungkook. In each lifetime until the world ends or my soul gets destroyed in this vast universe, even in death I will love you."

Winter had settled earlier than usual. As if the universe was frozen with sadness with the untold story of your lost lover. It was ironic even, to a point.

You had not left your bedroom in a few days, not since that night when you met Jungkook in the gardens. You didn't feel like it. It was pointless. Jimin hadn't forced you either, going every afternoon to visit you and chat with you. He always smiled at you while you did your best to be there for him.

He told you in one of his visits that your father had moved to a comfortable home near the mountains. He wanted to be away from the palace life for a bit before returning and spending his last years by your side.

But today was different. Jimin didn't have any news for you this time, instead there was worry burning in his chest as he walked down the large halls of the palace. He could hear the murmurs of the servants and maids as he passed by and they all ducked their heads, bowing at their king.

"They say the Queen has been sick in the mornings..."

"She hasn't left her room..."

"I heard Her Majesty is not taking her meals regularly..."

So many things did the king hear about you, his darling of a wife but he refused to believe in any of them. Not until he has seen it for himself.

The door to your personal quarters slid open and he stepped in. Taking in the scene of you sitting down in the middle of the place, the skirts of your dress puffing out around you. The royal physician was kneeling in front of you. He spotted Hoseok standing at a corner.

Jimin didn't mind the presence of the older man, he knew you both practically grew up together, he was a friend of yours. And a friend of yours was a friend of his.

Hoseok bowed when Jimin entered the room. Your eyes snapped to look upon your husband who stood with utter worry across his handsome and delicate features.

"Is something wrong?"

He asked. You blinked at the man who barged in with panic in his motions.

"I was called by Lord Jung to check on Her Majesty, my King. She has been feeling a bit nauseous this morning."

"Just this morning?"

You looked down and the physician gulped slightly. Tension rose in the room and you wished something would just break it as it was beginning to feel a bit suffocating.

The shuffle of fabric caught your attention, your eyes snapped forward and you saw Jimin sitting in front of you, a soft smile was painted over his lips but you could still read the worry in his dark orbs.

"Have you found out why my Queen has been feeling like that lately?"

Although the question was directed at the physician, his eyes never left yours. One of his hands grabbed your own and he gave you a reassuring squeeze as if saying that everything was going to be alright.

"I have, Your Majesty."

Jimin's attention now focused on the older man, his hand was still holding yours.

"You may speak."

The royal physician took a deep breath as he looked down at his folded hands before letting the words leave his mouth.

"Her Majesty the Queen is with child."

Nothing in the world would have been enough to describe the way the current king of Gyeongdong felt at that exact moment. There were not enough words to write about the happiness reflected all over his features.

"Are you certain?"

The physician looked up at the king, not being able to fight his own smile.

"I am positive, My King. I have never been more sure in my life. Congratulations to you both."

Jimin smiled at you and you couldn't contain the ray of happiness that illuminated your life. Tears gathered in your eyes as you looked at your husband. You were pregnant. Jimin would have an heir to his throne. This was for what you had prepared yourself your entire life and you couldn't help the satisfaction that cursed through your veins.

It has already been five weeks since your wedding day. Five weeks since you gave yourself to your husband. Five weeks since he had seen your body, since he touched you, loved you, worshipped you.

You were no stranger to the product of such marital activities but still, the nervousness that clung to your heart upon the news sinking in that you were, in fact, carrying Jimin's child couldn't be shaken. Not in the slightest.

"Thank you, My Queen."

Jimin brought your hand still clasped in his own up to his lips as he brushed them along your knuckles, giving you a tender kiss. So soft. So innocent. So happy. So full. Just like him.

You could only smile, squeezing your husband's hand in return as you cried happy tears.

If someone from the outside had seen the moment, it could only be described as ethereal. With the golden rays of that sunset drowning the room, a couple smiling to each other and a proud friend who stood behind.

Hoseok watched everything from where he stood. The scene was painted in his brain over a blank canvas of his own memories. It was perfect in and on itself. But if only your best friend had known the deep ache in your heart then his memory of the moment wouldn't be so bright.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty."

Your steps halted when you heard his voice. A big banquet was held to announce your pregnancy to the village. Your father had come to bless you himself, he even told you he'd be staying during the last trimester of the pregnancy as he didn't want to miss the moment his grandchild were to be born.

You could only smile at that thought. But a gulp in your throat upon hearing that voice dissipated the thought, like fog when the sun came out. You turned around, eyes meeting with Jungkook's dark orbs.

A soft smile graced your lips yet he noticed how it didn't reach your eyes.

"Thank you, Jungkook."

There were so many things unsaid between you both. But have words ever been enough? He could see the sadness in your soul, the remorse, the longing and the love that existed in you. How Jungkook wished to go back to those summer days where everything was perfect, where you were happy along with him. Where there existed no such barrier between you two of you being married to another man.

You could see it too, how his posture was tense, his eyes sharp with swirling storms of emotions in his dark gaze. You felt the yearning, the pain, the heartbreak from his part. And it crushed your heart even more for you knew he loved you but Jungkook couldn't step closer to you. Literally and figuratively.

He didn't know what else to say, all the courage he had managed to gather in the ceremony was gone now. Leaving him standing before you. His Queen; owner of his heart.

"I do not wish for this encounter to be like the last one, my queen. I only hope that you find the happiness you deserve for I cannot express how proud I am of you. Your child will resemble you in many ways, I am sure of it."

You wanted to run to him, hold his hand and wipe the tears that threatened to escape his eyes. But you could not. Dare not step such boundaries for his sake.

"You must find your happiness too, Jungkook. Live your life and live it right so that we can meet in our next lifetime."

He nodded, not trusting his voice to speak a syllable. Footsteps were heard down the hallway and he took a step back from you to create a more proper distance between the both of you even if it physically pained him to be apart from you.

The next second Hoseok appeared in your line of vision and with quick steps he approached you before bowing down at you.

"My Queen, His Majesty wishes for you to visit him in his quarters. Many ministers congratulated you on the magnificence of the banquet."

You nodded, straightening your posture while looking at Hoseok with a gentle gaze.

"Please regard them with my appreciation. I shall go and fulfil His Majesty's wish."

Hoseok bowed at you as well as Jungkook when you turned around and walked in the opposite direction of the two men. Feeling how your soul feels more and more desolated the more you separate yourself from Jungkook.

Hosok turned to the younger man, a subtle bow of his head to acknowledge him.

"Officer Jeon."

And with that, he turned around and walked away from the same direction he first approached you two. Jungkook was left on his own, watching as you walked away from him, is this how you felt when he left you in your garden that day? Did it hurt you as much as he was hurting him now to watch you go? Did he cause you that pain?

He sighed, feeling how his chest tightened with the mere idea of you, the memories of you floating in his mind like soft petals in a spring afternoon. Perfect. Beautiful. Mesmerising.

But it wasn't spring. It wasn't summer anymore. The coldness from the winter gripped his heart with its claws, tearing him apart with your absence, with the distance that existed between two lovers that weren't meant to be. At least not in this lifetime.

The doors slid open at your presence, you entered and guards closed the entrance way behind you. Taking a deep breath you walked further into the king's chambers.

"Your Majesty, I am here upon your wish of seeing me."

Jimin came from his adjacent bedroom with a soft smile over his plump lips. You were bowing down at him, hands clasped in front of you. He walked up to where you stood, one of his hands rested on your shoulder while the other lifted your chin, making your gaze meet his in a turbulent storm of emotions.

"Have I not told you to drop the titles when we are alone?"

He asked in an almost teasing way. You smiled softly at him, your heart warming with his softness.

"I'm sorry. Seldom are the times when we get such privacy, Jimin."

His smile widened when his name left your lips. His thump caressed your cheek in a loving way that had you been completely and madly in love with your husband, that sole action would have melted you against him.

You cared for him, you weren't going to lie about your affection toward the man you married, the father of your unborn child but it wasn't love. At least not romantic love. not like the one he held dearly for you in his heart.

"Why did you send for me?"

You asked out of sheer curiosity. Jimin leaned forward, your breath hitched in your throat as you felt his lips grace your forehead with a tender kiss.

"I missed you."

Those words reached you in a whispered way, a secret between you both.

"My days are longer when I cannot see you and my nights are restless when I don't hear your voice."

You looked up at him, losing yourself for a second in his eyes. If only you could love Jimin like he deserved to be loved perhaps your soul wouldn't weigh so much.

"(y/n) you had given me the best gift a man could ever receive."

The hand that rested on your shoulder went to touch your stomach gently, he placed his palm on it and you covered his hand with your own.

"Thank you for wanting me, Jimin."

So many things were left unsaid after that sentence, things you would never be able to tell him or you feared you'd break his heart. And he didn't deserve that because Jimin was the most caring and the gentlest soul you had ever met. He only deserved happiness.

Your hand squeezed his own while offering him a soft smile, he returned the gesture and pressed your body to his own, a hand on your back while the other cradled the back of your neck in a gentle touch. You hugged him back, living in the moment, allowing the sweetness of this fragment of time to engrave in your mind, even when the memory was a cold one you welcomed it with open arms.

For Jimin. Because he deserved happiness. Because you were his source of that feeling. Because your little family would be even bigger in a couple of months. And because you allowed yourself to experience the coldness of reality. So that when your spring arrives, you'd enjoy it to its fullest. Even if said spring came to you in your next life.

Days morphed into weeks, weeks transformed in months. The seasons changed, spring arrived then summer once more. But your soul still shuddered at the thought of your lost love. Your heart was frozen with the love you yearned for. For you it was still winter. It was still cold. It was still difficult. You lived in an eternal winter when the sun shone brightly outside and its rays warmed your skin. The snow in your sadness never left.

The sun was out, it was summer after all. It was warm, soft. Refreshing. Even if it wasn't snowing anymore, your heart lived in a storm of frozen ice. You were already showing, belly swollen with your child. The physician said it was now time to wait until the baby was born and you couldn't wait for it to happen. You wanted to meet the baby and for Jimin to hold his child in his arms.

To give your husband an heir and ensure the dynasty through the bloodline.

You walked through the gardens, the sun kissing your skin. Jimin was by your side. He managed to take a break between council meetings to spend some time with you. He was now more anxious than before, waiting; expecting the day you'd give birth to the future ruler of Gyeongdong.

Jungkook was there too. Keeping his distance from you both. Guarding you, keeping you safe. His heart was also frozen with the love he was denied to have. For the yearning his soul craved. He watched you from afar, like many other times before. He watched you walk alongside your husband, stomach round carrying the king's child.

Jealousy was no longer in his heart. He only felt a yearning, a mourning for what he once had with you. Even if it were just fleeting emotions, longing gazes and butterflies in his stomach. He knew you were the one for him. He loved you. He truly did. With all his heart but it wasn't meant to be. And as much as it pained him, he accepted it.

He embraced the poisonous arrow in his heart like the only thing he had left from you. What should have been a medicine to his misfortunes turned into poison to his heart and soul. Your love did that. Your forbidden love with your royal guard. Your own existence tainted his own core to the point where he could only watch you from afar or that arrow would clutch itself deeper in his being.

"I can't wait for this little one to come out."

Jimin said, his hands were grasped behind his back yet his warm eyes were on you. Showering you in love and adoration you were never able to reciprocate.

"Do you think it will be a boy or a girl?"

You asked out of curiosity, a playful smile over your lips. Even when your heart was wounded, bleeding with the love you were also denied to have, you learned to live your present. Perhaps it wasn't your dream life, but it wasn't bad either. Jimin loved you, and you loved him too. Not like you love Jungkook but he was so sweet, so good to you it was impossible not to love him.

He laughed at your question, the sound was an eerie melody carried by the hot wind.

"I don't know. I just want them to be healthy, Queen of my heart. And I pray that you'll be fine too on the day of our little one's arrival."

You smiled, a hand going over to your belly to caress it with a soft touch. If you had looked at your husband you would have seen the soft gaze he sent your way. It was of pure and absolute adoration.

Suddenly, racing footsteps were heard behind you. Jimin turned around first with you mirroring his action only to be met with Hoseok. He took a deep breath, bowing down to the two of you before speaking.

"My King, Minister Kang has arrived to discuss the topic of the dried lands."

Jimin nodded at Hoseok, his hand found yours as he gave a soft squeeze before he left you in the gardens. You sighed to yourself, watching as your husband walked away with your best friend by his side.

You continued to walk through the gardens, inhaling the clean air, feeling the sun rays on your skin. You bent down to smell some roses near one of the lakes, you smiled. Not really aware of the longing gaze of Jungkook over your figure.

He watched you bloom in spring and shine during summer. It was beautiful. What had he done in his past life to deserve such a gift? To be able to watch over you, protect you and admire your beauty.

Perhaps you weren't his woman, you weren't his to hold and never let go. But he was content with what he had. It was better than nothing and he treasured it so dearly.

You were the Queen of Gyeongdong but you also were the ruler of his heart. Unbreakable. Perfect. Absolutely mesmerising in your own existence. He had put into words his feelings for you, his love for you, his adoration and yearning his soul felt for your own. Not that you'd ever read those letters, it was forbidden. Everything was forbidden in this palace. A golden cage that trapped you with the chains of fate and not even his love was strong enough to break them.

You turned around, a soft smile over your lips. Your eyes locked with his own and in that moment, Jungkook had everything this life could offer him. He felt whole, because despite you not being his woman, he was yours for centuries to come.

The sun bathed you in a golden light that made you look angelical even. His heart fluttered. To his eyes, you were an angel fallen from the skies. As if you had been crafted to perfection. A beautiful spectre of what life was, the flame of love burned in your eyes and your touch held the essence of a royal.

There was a rose in your hand as you smiled at Jungkook. It was a soft smile, nearly shy, that he got to remember those summer days where life seemed perfect. Golden memories that would forever stay with him. He had your love, and that was enough. More than enough.

He watched you turn around, continuing to parade in the large palace gardens. In a way, it was a metaphorical resemblance to how you were so close yet so fat at the same time.

Admirable but untouchable.

His instincts suddenly skyrocketed when he heard you gasp, your form stood frozen in the middle of the garden. Your eyes widened as your hands came to rest on your stomach.

A sharp pain made you gasp as your knees hit the floor, your dress puffing out around you. Jungkook was by your side the next second, concern was written all over his face while worry filled his eyes.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong? Please, talk to me."

You took a deep breath between your gasps and whimpers. Your hand grabbed his in your pain-induced mind, trying to ground yourself onto something, someone.

"I-It hurts... Jungkook, it h-hurts."

Your water broke the next second but you felt as if there was something wrong, this was not how a natural birth was supposed to start.

"Please... something's wrong. It- it hurts so much."

Tears gathered in your eyes as you tried to suppress the scream that threatened to escape your throat. You felt him let go of your hand, positioning his arms beneath your kneeling figure only to be lifted by him the next second.

Your arms circled his neck in instinct as you curled yourself in his hold. Jungkook began walking back to the palace at a fast pace, the weight of your body grounded his mind while at the same time numbed his senses. If you hadn't been in so much pain at that moment you would have noticed how his hands were trembling.

"Hold on, my Queen. You'll be fine, I'm here. It's alright."

He cradled you against his chest firmly, not wanting to let you go ever again now that you were in his arms. His heart feared for your safety, you were only eight months pregnant by now, he knew the risks of pregnancy and Jungkook knew he wouldn't be able to live if something were to happen to you.

Tears soaked his robes, your hand fisted his collar. Your small whimpers were like poisonous needles piercing his heart. It hurt. It pained him to see you in so much distress.

"Hold on, love. Please."

You tried to concentrate on the feeling of his body against your own, the smell that covered his clothes and the strength beneath his hold. Anything to take your mind away from the pain. Even for a second. Jungkook was running by now, going through the many hallways in the large palace, cursing in his mind how big it was.

"Please... make it stop. Please-"

Your words got cut off with a blood-curdling scream resonating through the walls of the palace. That scream made Jungkook's eyes water. He never wished to see you in so much pain, if he could take it all for you he'd do it, in less than a heartbeat.

The loud sound alerted some of the maids and also Hoseok who was walking nearby. He stopped Jungkook and assessed your situation.

"I think Her Majesty is in labour but she said there was something wrong, where should I take her?"

The desperation in Jungkook's voice was evident as it was also noticed by the slightly older man. Your usually cheerful friend now had a frown on his face as he spoke.

"I'll alert His Majesty immediately and send for the midwife. Go to the King's private chambers, they are closer than hers. Don't leave her side, Jungkook."

He nodded as Hoseok walked away. His hands tightened beneath your knees and around your shoulders as he began to walk toward the king's private chamber with some maids close at his feet to help him accommodate you. His heart was being clutched by the merciless claws of fear. Beating harder with each step, with each whimper that escaped you, with the shaking of your body in his arms.

He could only hope you'd be alright, that the midwife would arrive on time. That you'd live. For Jungkook had no purpose in this life if you weren't by his side. There was already enough pain in him, he wouldn't be able to bear the thought of you leaving him for good.

Jimin sat on his throne in the main hall, Minister Kang stood before him alongside Captain Min who kept an eye around the large room. Political affairs were treated there, heavy discussions of the kingdom were held in that very same room. Matters of importance with deep consequences. So many high-ranking officials had been before the young king but now, the topic at hand was interrupted when Hoseok barged into the room, all the attention going to him as he bowed at the king.

"Your Majesty, forgive my rudeness and lack of manners in front of Minister Kang and Captain Min but you are required urgently in your private chambers. The Queen's in labour."

Jimin stood up as worry crossed his delicate features. He descended the stairs that led to the throne rapidly.

"We will reschedule this meeting, Minister. I need to tend to my wife."

The old man only bowed as the king ran out of the room followed by Hoseok and Yoongi. The news of your early labour spread quickly through the palace and the maids and court ladies were scrambling among the halls. Some of them were carrying bowls with water while others had blankets in their arms.

"Did you send for the midwife?"

Asked Jimin, his pace never never faltered as his mind had only one goal: to get to you.

"Yes, my king. She should be here shortly."

That answer registered in your husband's brain like a soft whisper, he only wanted to reach you, hold your hand. To be there for you. But the corridors seemed to never end, turns and turns made his heart twist with nerves.

That is until Jimin heard your screams. He swore his stomach dropped at such a horrific sound. He halted, feeling how his heart clenched with your pain before resuming his pace, this time running down to his room.

The doors to his large bedroom opened harshly, his eyes instantly found your figure laying on his bedding. A maid was at your right, wiping sweat from your forehead and at your left was Jungkook. His hand in your own as you held onto it with a tight grip.

Jimin went to your side, taking the damped towel from the maid as he began to clean your skin with it. His eyes bored into your pained-marked expressions.

"Jungkook."

Yoongi said from the entrance way, the younger one turned to look at him and he watched how Captain Min signalled him to retire himself. Jungkook gave your hand a soft squeeze, resisting the temptation of placing a kiss on your hand as your husband was in the room.

Your royal guard stood up from his crouching position, the motion forced his hand to leave your iron grip and you whimpered at the loss of his touch. But your attention was stolen when Jimin cradled your cheek and your eyes met his own.

Jungkook bowed silently at the both of you before he stood next to Yoongi. Hoseok was preparing more towels with the help of the maids.

"Your place is not next to her."

Yoongi said softly. Only for Jungkook to hear. The midwife arrived the next second, she entered the private chamber and a damsel slid the doors closed. Leaving Yoongi and Jungkook in the corridor with only your screams filling in the silence.

"I'm scared, Jimin."

He swallowed, your eyes were locked with his own as the midwife prepared you for the delivery. His hand held your own as his thumb ran over your knuckles.

"Don't be. I'm here, it will be alright. Think about our baby, think about our child, Queen of my heart. You'll bring our baby to this world. You'll make us a family."

You nodded, a soft smile appeared on your face at his words. A gasp ripped from your lips. You closed your eyes, feeling something foreign move inside you before the baby began to kick inside your womb.

"The baby moved. It moved."

Your other hand gripped the bedding as the hands of the midwife began palming your bump. Her eyes snapped to look at your husband as you tried to suppress your screams while biting your bottom lip.

"My king, the child is not in position to come out."

Your eyes snapped open at her words. Your hand gripped Jimin's in utter fear.

"I must position the baby, Your Majesty, or it could die."

You took a deep breath. Tears gathered in your eyes whether they were from the pain or the fear you didn't know.

"Do it. You must save my child."

The midwife looked at you with sympathy in her eyes.

"It will hurt, My Queen."

Jimin's heart was already shredded into pieces with your pained whimpers and bitter tears.

"(y/n)-"

"Do it."

You cut your husband off, there was a fire in your eyes burning from the deepest part of your soul. You looked at Jimin for a moment offering him a subtle nod before the midwife began palmind your bump once more, this time with precision in strength. You screamed the next second. But you had to endure it. Endure it and survive, endure it and bring your child to the word. Endure it and continue.

Night had fallen over the palace long ago but your screams of pain still resonated among the walls of the royal residence. For what Jungkook could hear, you were having a rather difficult labour and there was nothing in this world that he wanted more than for you to be alright.

He hadn't moved from his spot, his back was pressed against the wall, his eyes lost as his heart ached. Yoongi was also there, not wanting his friend to be alone when his soul was hurting.

The older one had sent notice to your father, informing him of your early labour but he knew it would take some time for him to receive the letter. Especially since he had gone hunting with some other ministers.

"You should go to your room, Jungkook. It's pretty late."

But your lover shook his head at his friend's words. His distress was palpable in his soft features, his eyes big and round were filled with worry and fear for you. For your future, your well-being and your child.

"I will not leave until I know she is alright."

Yoongi sighed, knowing it was pointless to try and convince Jungkook when he had always been a stubborn man since youth. His fate had always been cruel; devastating. And when he had finally found happiness, those warm rays of sun to illuminate his soul, they got covered by thick clouds of a crude winter.

Even when it was summer, in his heart it was snowing with the sorrow, the pain, the fear, the heartbreak, the love, the desires, the dreams and the promises he once made to you. His love. His Queen. The owner of his heart and mind. Empress to his thoughts. Sultana of his existence.

You have to be alright, princess of mine. Please. Be strong.

You let out another scream, pushing and pushing for your child to come into the world.

"Please... make it stop. I can't. I can't... please."

Jimin shushed you silently. Unknowingly to him, a few tears had leaked from his eyes, rolling down his cheeks slowly at the immense pain you were in. If only he could make it disappear, he would. If only... but that possibility didn't exist.

"Come on, my Queen. I see the baby's head. Push, you have to push."

You took a deep breath before pushing, feeling the child leaving your body. You screamed, you cried, you begged. And after an eternal road of pain, you finally heard it. That glorious sound that made you smile through your tears.

The cries of your baby.

Jimin wiped your forehead with a soft rag, gazing into your eyes lovingly as his child's cries filled the bedroom.

"Congratulations, you have a healthy baby boy."

The midwife's words made you let out a soft chuckle, you saw how she passed your son to one of the maids to clean him up. You turned to look at Jimin whose gaze spoke a million words of gratitude and love, of adoration and happiness.

"A boy, Jimin. You have a son."

He smiled at your words, a hand caressed your face softly.

"Thank you, Queen of my heart. You have made me very happy, the happiest man alive. Thank you."

You smiled, his whispered words reached you like a soft poem said softly in a summer evening. Hoseok handed Jimin the baby wrapped up in a soft blanket. Your husband teared up at the sight of his baby boy, so close. A part of him and you, the woman he loved.

"He's so tiny."

He said to no-one in particular. He held him with care, softly yet firm against his chest. Jimin reached down so that you could see him. Tears of your own made their way into your eyes and you didn't hold them back. Happiness bloomed in your heart, like a flower in spring growing amongst the snow.

"Ha-joon. That name means "summer". "Talented". "Handsome." I wish for him to carry that name for he is my eternal summer."

Jimin smiled down at you, pressing a soft kiss on your forehead.

"I like it. It's beautiful. Park Ha-joon."

You smiled at the name. Your son's name. The moment itself was perfect. So innocent. So soft. So pure.

"My king, should I spread the news that a prince has been born?"

Hoseok asked politely, you looked at him with tired eyes and a grateful smile. Noticing how his sleeves were rolled up, his eyes were tired but he was happy. For you and for your little family.

"Please. Tell everyone that a prince has been born. Park Ha-joon is his name. Tell them. Tell everyone, Hoseok."

Your friend bowed at the king, unable to contain his own radiant smile before he left the private chamber, sliding the door close behind him.

You smiled at your husband, leaning onto his side as your eyes were glued to your baby boy. So tiny, so loved. In a second, the thought of Jungkook crossed your mind and you wished to see him but the exhaustion in your body was stronger than your wish for you fell asleep in your husband's hold with the thought of Jungkook in your mind.

When Hoseok stepped into the corridor he was met with Captain Min and Jungkook. The first one was leaning against the wall while the latter one paced back and forth in the hallway. Jungkook turned to look at Hoseok the moment he heard the door sliding open.

"Her Majesty, Queen (y/n) gave the king a prince. May you share His Majesty's sentiment regarding his son."

Yoongi nodded, a soft smile painted itself over his soft features. A gesture seldom people had seen on the stoic captain. Hoseok began walking down the corridor, the news in his tongue seemed to burn him. But he stopped when the younger man asked in despair. Anxiety marked his words.

"Is she alright? Please tell me she is."

Hoseok faced Jungkook, his eyes bored into the younger one's stressed gaze.

"Queen (y/n) faced a very difficult labour but she is alright now. She needs to rest and gain her strength back. I don't doubt it won't take long for that to happen."

Jungkook bowed down in gratitude to Hoseok, not able to express his thanks verbally as his emotions choked him with their hold on him.

Hoseok rounded a corner, leaving the two men in front of the king's chamber. Jungkook let out a soft sigh, his shoulders dropped down as he could finally relax.

You were alright.

You were alright.

The thought dawned on him and tears of relief gathered in his doe-like eyes. He knew everything was going to be fine. Not perfect for he didn't have you like he wished he could, but you were still here. You were still alive. You still loved him.

Even when winter had frozen those warm days of happiness, you were still there. With him. For him.

October/28/2023

~Masterpost

**I do NOT give my consent for this or any of my works to be posted or translated into any other platforms or languages. 

[gaymingintrovert]

I don’t know if your request are open? But I’m a Mack lover and I wanted a Mack and captain interaction please! :) (ISWM)

My requests are open! I just haven’t gotten any in a long time!

And absolutely, fellow Mack lover

Here’s some little drabbles with the Macks (there isn’t much resolution in them because I’m bad at writing short things but that’s okay-)

Crewmate

“Captain!” Mack runs up to you, hiding something behind his back. You turn to him. “Yes, Mack?” “I made you something! Close your eyes!” You hold your hands out and close your eyes, and he hands you a small box. You open the box and look inside, seeing a small metal flower and the words “Will you go out with me?” engraved on the box. You giggle and kiss Mack’s cheek. “Of course!” He blushes a deep shade of red and smiles brightly. “I’ll pick you up at dinner! We’ll eat in the bridge!” He hugs you and kisses your forehead before running off, skipping happily. You go back to your room and put the box on your desk in plain view, excited for your date.

Head Engineer

Mack spent most of his morning looking for you. You had gotten into a habit of doing your own thing in the morning, and Mack was admittedly not the biggest fan of that. He wanted to spend as much time with you as he could without admitting to you that he wanted it. “Captain.” He stands directly behind you, stopping himself from holding you. You try to hide your blush. He’s never been this close to you, though he has been slowly getting closer and closer to you. “What do you want, Mack?” “I have go make sure you’re doing your job right.” You roll your eyes. “I assure you, I’m doing my job right.” You hear him take a deep breath and feel his hand gently rest on your shoulder. “I-I also wanted to ask if you wanted to take a break. Together.” His shyness is clear in his voice and you giggle. “That sounds nice.” He brightens up. “We can take that now if you want.” You nod. “Yeah. I need a break.” He takes your hand and leads you to a break room. You two talk for a while, eventually starting to get closer to each other and even cuddling a little. Mack looks at you towards the end of the break. “…Captain? Would you want to maybe…go on a date with me?” He blushes and looks away from you. You feel your face heat up and you kiss his cheek. “I’d love to.”

Dictator

Mack thought you were nearly perfect from the second he saw you. He never started showing his affections for you until recently. You didn’t expect to have a very good life on the new planet, but Mack made sure you were taken care of. You had one of the best rooms in his house and you were kept very safe from the people who disliked you. Mack had wanted to ask you to be his for a long time, but was never confident enough. Today, he gathered all his courage and knocked on your door. You had apparently been asleep, since your bedhead was obvious (and quite adorable to Mack). “Y/N. I wanted to talk to you about something.” You start looking a little nervous. “W-what is it?” He takes a deep breath, most of his confidence suddenly gone. “I wanted to tell you that I’ve adored you for a while. I-I was wondering if you would want to…go on a date tonight?” His bright blush is obvious and he looks nervous. You relax and smile. “That sounds wonderful!” He smiles and picks you up. He twirls you around and kisses your forehead. “I’ll make sure everything is perfect!” You giggle and hug him back.

[shanjisan]

You are my bitch[Denji x F|Reader]

Warning: +18|Smut, Dom|Denji Sub|Reader, Consensual sex. Established relationship. Alternate Universe| All characters are of legal age. PART 01.

[You can read it in Spanish here on AO3]

My native language is not English, if you see an error please comment so I can fix it 💖. I tried my best that "Reader" had no physical characteristics, if so please forgive me.

Denji was angry and felt like a real idiot.

How could he be so dumb?

It was the fifteenth time in the month that he had tried to take the reins to fuck his beautiful girlfriend and it had all ended the same way; him being whipped and fucked until he got the last drop of cum out of her. He wasn't really complaining much, he loved being treated like a stray dog, but for a while now he'd been wishing he was the one treating you like a horny bitch he'd like to discipline.

You had already talked about this and he was surprised at how enthusiastically you had acted, telling him that he had your full consent to do whatever he wanted to you whenever he wanted. You even surprised him on his birthday when he saw you wearing a pink dog collar and his name engraved on the metal piece, you were his personal bitch and even then he was the one barking and crawling up to you begging for a shred of your attention.

But no more!

He needed to fuck you until you begged him for mercy and mercy. But he didn't know how and that's why he was here; asking for help from his best friend, who apparently couldn't stop teasing him.

"Are you serious, Denji? You're still a jerk" Aki inhaled the last puff of his cigarette, flicking the butt into the blond's sweater.

"Come on Aki! I just need you to tell me how the fuck you do to dominate Angel, I don't need you to tell me all the shit, I just need the steps so I don't end up on my knees and with my dick worn out" He smiled and took a sip of the delicious coffee made by Aki.

The black-haired man sighed and lit another cigarette, really the whole situation had left him in an absurd situation, plus he didn't know how Denji of all people would know about her games with her boyfriend, but he hoped Power had nothing to do with it. She stared at him still processing his request.

"How far do you want to go with her?"

"I want to make her cry, make her beg me, make her legs shake and make her pee on me, basically destroy her brains" he wiggled his eyebrows up and down, and showing his pointy teeth in an almost evil grin.

"Pee on you?"

"Yeah you know, what girls do when they're at their peak and can't help but pee themselves. I heard Makima once said that I would never make a girl have a squirting orgasm, and today I'm determined to break that shit, nobody tells me what the fuck I can or can't do, and I'm sure I can make my girlfriend squirt all over my body" His face flushed a little and he continued "Besides, I would like to give her as much pleasure as she has given me, she always cares about me like nobody ever has"

Wow, Aki didn't expect that at all. His psycho ex-girlfriend had stripped him of every last ounce of dignity and humiliated him to unimaginable levels, he was actually surprised that the blond still had brain cells.

Besides, Aki had to admit it was a genuine act of love, you had pulled him out of the hole of depression he had been thrown into and made Denji's life take on a different light, everyone noticed the unconditional love you gave the blond. Aki somehow knew that his best friend was trying to return the love through pleasure.

Throwing half of his cigarette into the nearest ashtray, he stretched his legs before walking to the kitchen and grabbing a glass of water, he watched as the blond waved his hands in nervousness.

"First; they're not pissing themselves, Denji, it's squirt and second; I'm not just going to explain to you what to do, I'm going to give you the fucking stuff to finally stop being a fucking softie."

Denji's eyes flashed and his fists rose above his head in victory.

"But I have one condition, I'm still not clear on what it might be but at least you already know you owe me something and you won't be able to refuse whatever I ask for."

"Tch whatever, it's a fair deal."

|…|

17:00 hrs.

Denji went over his list for the fifth time.

Water. Ready.

Brownie with nuts. Check.

Handcuffs. Check.

Lubricant with tangerine scent. Check.

Super fluffy blankets and pillows. Ready

Air conditioner with perfect temperature. Ready

The sweet dog collar with his name and chain. Check.

Shower. Ready

Everything was perfect, the only thing missing was for you to arrive from your parents' house trip. I could already picture you walking in the door in some flowery dress you love to wear, then you would throw yourself into his arms giving him a deep, hot kiss that would leave you wanting more and when you were distracted he would attach the collar that would make you his most devoted submissive.

It was a perfect plan and there was no way it could fail.

Just as he was about to go through his list again, he heard the jingle of keys and the rustling of your travel bags. When you finally opened the door you saw her there, right there in a pretty lilac and blue flowered dress (a dress that set off your big luscious boobs), her skin slightly flushed from the sun and her hair a little disheveled. Your eyes met and it didn't take you a minute to close the door and throw your bags on the floor to jump into his arms and kiss him.

Yes, that's kiss me just like I planned.

"Princess I missed you so much" he said as he wrapped his arms around you.

"Denji I was only gone for two days" you laughed as you gave him lots of kisses on his face "by the way, mom sends her love and I also brought a dessert that I know you will love" he let go of your arms to walk to his bag.

"I actually had something else planned, before lunch and all."

Your eyes darted to him giving him a confused and surprised look.

"What, Denji are you sick or something? There's nothing you care about more than eating" You placed your hand on his forehead looking for any sign of a fever.

More than sick he actually looked nervous moving his eyes from side to side avoiding your gaze and his right hand was intensely urging the pocket of his sweatpants.

You smiled a little trying to figure out what was going on with your boyfriend, maybe you should play with him.

"Why don't you talk to me, maybe you want me to punish you…." You were interrupted by Denji's hands holding your neck.

His fingers gently caressed the skin of your neck and you felt him place the necklace you had given him to show that you were his. The blond's gaze was intense and hot running the sight from your neck to your lips.

Holy cow! Denji was hot as hell.

And for the first time he was taking control over you, just imagining what would happen your nipples bristled and the tingling in your lower belly was beginning to intensify.

The air felt thick and almost unbearable. You needed Denji to move his hands anywhere, to bring out that dominant side you had hidden.

You open your lips to speak but were interrupted by the blond's finger, his thumb brushed your lower lip gently and then he slipped it into your mouth almost asking for permission to enter.

You sigh and lick his finger trying to take it deeper. You listen as her breathing becomes ragged and her gasps become louder.

You slowly release her finger and give her a smile. With a slightly teasing tone you tell him "Love, you put me on a leash but who's the puppy here?"

Denji let out a deep husky laugh that you had never heard before, his pupils were dilated and his body straightened up making you have to look up. His left hand slid to the back of your head, grabbing a handful of hair in his hand and suddenly pulled back, causing a small whimper and gasp to escape your lips.

His lips moved up to your ear licking and gently nibbling on the lobe causing more moisture to pool in your panties. His right hand began to roam your thighs under your dress; squeezing and massaging them, moving up and down until he reached the spot that held his attention. He slid his middle and ring finger over your panties, barely caressing them with his fingertips. You needed more and tried to move and let out a moan of frustration.

"You disrespect me again and I will not let you cum, today you are my fucking bitch and all you will do is obey my commands and bark do you understand me princess?"

Your mind felt almost off, you were a mess and he hadn't even touched you enough. Receiving no response Denji tugged on your hair again harder than the previous time, causing you to let out a squeal.

"I said do you understand me?" You nodded quickly but he tugged again and brought his right hand to your jaw squeezing until it took your breath away forcing you to stare at him "How do obedient little bitches respond?" you asked.

"Woof woof."

"What a good little bitch. Now I will release you and go to the bedroom, make sure you take off this shitty dress and your underwear and then I want you to get on your knees and crawl to where I am, don't make me wait" Before separating from you he joined his lips again thrusting his hot tongue inside your cavity, fiddling and biting your bottom lip, the grip of his hands was so tight you couldn't escape even if you wanted to.

He gradually released you until we were completely separated, he gave you one last look before turning and walking quickly into the room and disappearing down the hallway. You felt your body throbbing still not believing what had just happened, you couldn't wait to see how far he would make you go.

|…|

HOLY FUCK!

His cock was hard as a fucking rock and he was wetting his pants with pre-seminal fluid. Seeing you in such a submissive and devoted way almost made him cum. His nerves were on edge, but he mustn't let himself be overcome by nervousness.

You can do it Denji!

Taking a deep breath and quickly removing his pants along with his boxers and shirt and then tossing them in some corner of the room. He leaned back between the pillows propping himself up on his elbows to look at you when you arrived.

He could hear you dragging the chain across the floor until he saw you enter. He gasped at the sight of you totally naked, the collar around your neck made you look sexy and the engraved name plate made him feel powerful.

Denji patted his leg gently and then took hold of the base of his penis, circling himself likewise going up and down, letting out little beads of pre-seminal fluid.

"Come here doll, be good for me and suck my cock."

You crawled over to him sitting on your legs as you reached the edge of the bed, now having a majestic view of his cock, you were drooling to take it. You brought your hands up to his legs, taking them all the way up. The blond let you take his cock between your hands.

It felt like a hot, wet iron, the bulbous, deep red tip begging for your attention.

When you finally took him into your mouth you heard the strangled moan that escaped from Denji, the sound only spurring you to take him deeper letting the musky taste mingle with your saliva.

Denji took strands of your hair bringing it to the back of your head; making a messy ponytail. He wanted to fuck your mouth like an animal, but the softness in which you were taking them made him melt.

"You look so beautiful like this, now take me deeper I know you can" You obeyed his command, taking him as deep as you could, your lips touching the blonde hair at the base.

Denji hissed and grabbed more of your hair in a tight grip "Watch me, now I'm going to fuck your fucking throat, ahh yessssss"

You pulled away from his cock concentrating your lips on the tip releasing it with a "pop" sound.

"Smash my mouth, daddy."

That was all it took for Denji to lose his mind. Jumping up from the bed, he stood right in front of you, pushing you back a little. He held his cock in line with your mouth and pushed all the way down your throat.

His head jerked back in pleasure, thrusting again and again in a furious rhythm, your mouth was heavenly letting his cock hurt your throat and your saliva fall to the floor.

Denji watched as you brought one of your hands to your throbbing center trying to satisfy yourself, he quickly pulled out of your mouth.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing? Come here" He leaned down bringing his hands to hold you by your armpits.

.

.

.

I hope you liked it, follows, comments and reblogs are very much appreciated💖.

I allow translation, posting on other platforms, among others as long as you ask for the required permission, please be kind 💞

[3raaaachachacha]

8:40 pm

Kim Mingyu x female reader / 569 words / angst

Warnings: miscommunication, arguing

61. “Is that what you call an apology?” & 62. “Is there anything you want to tell me?”

⊱ ──────────────────────── ⊰

Mingyu was beyond annoyed when he heard from a mutual friend that they saw you off with another guy today at a cafe, especially after you told him you were meeting up with a friend. Mingyu automatically assumed it was one of your female friends and not a male. It wasn’t that you couldn't have male friends, it was the fact that you didn't tell him to begin with, and he had to find out through someone else that you were seen acting close with another male. It made him look like an idiot for not knowing. 

Mingyu left work early and expected you to be home so he could ask you about what he heard, but when you came home a few hours later without telling him anything, he got upset.

“Where have you been?” Mingyu asked in annoyance without any greetings.

“Hi to you too,” You chuckled, “I just met a friend and we had a coffee together. How was your day? Was practice okay? How are the boys?”

Mingyu scoffed, feeling frustrated that you were short with your answer and didn’t tell him who exactly you were with. He wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt, but the fact that a friend was the one who mentioned something to him had him feeling confused, “Is there anything you want to tell me?” Mingyu asked, eyes focused on you as you moved around the kitchen.

“No?” You giggled, grabbing a glass of water, “I just told you that I had coffee with a friend. What’s with you?”

"Tell me why did I hear from one of my friends that they saw you having coffee with another guy? Apparently, you were a little too close for someone with a boyfriend," Mingyu exclaimed, catching you off guard after finding out.

You placed your water on the kitchen counter as you made your way closer to Mingyu, who looked like stream was about to emerge from his head, and you didn't blame him, "Mingyu, I'm sorry. Let me explain."

"Is this what you call an apology?" Mingyu scoffed, running his hand through his hair, "You told me you were meeting a friend. You lied to me."

"That's not fair," You mumbled, "I didn't lie to you, Mingyu. He is a friend, just hear me out before you get upset."

He stood up, grabbing his phone and coat, "You may think I'm exaggerating, but you lied and deceived me and I can't just accept that. I need time."

"Wait, Gyu, please!" You pleaded as you held onto his arm, already feeling the tears well in your eyes, "I'm sorry for not telling you, but please let me explain everything."

"Not now," Mingyu sighed, not being able to face you as he stared at the ground.

“It hurts that you don’t trust me,” You whispered softly, eyes looking up into his as he did his best to avoid.

“You haven’t really given me a reason to,” Mingyu said with disappointment in his tone as he removed your hold on him before walking out the door.

Yes, you shouldn't have lied to begin with. If Mingyu have given you the benefit of the doubt and let you explain, he would have realized this friend was an old high school friend who was helping you plan to engrave your anniversary date on a promise ring you bought for the two of you.

⊱ ──────────────────────── ⊰

- Admin 🌶️

[livingobserver]

How it is....

For those who might be interested in an update on my recovery from the one-two punch I received from Nature, (Gillian Barre Syndrome followed shortly by a Massive Stroke), a little over a year ago now. I'm doing as well, or better than expected, thank you. But there is a condition that goes along with the recovery that most won't identify without asking. On the inside, in my head, I am still agile, quick witted, strong and confident. I am still who I was before the punches. But to the outside world I am slow to react, sometimes easily confused, I move like I've had one too many drinks, nerve damage to the left side of my body (GBS damage), Grey and White matter damage to the right side of the brain(stroke). I drop things from my left hand almost constantly if I'm not paying attention to my left hand and more. In short if you are just meeting me for the first time, you wouldn't know who I am on the inside. Who I was. It would surprise you to learn of all I was capable of just 3 years ago and you couldn't be blamed for misjudging me. I wanted to bring this part of it to light, because there are so many of us and those who have suffered far worse punches than I. But perhaps those folks, because their injuries are so traumatic and obvious..., well, it might be a bit easier for them because it is difficult to misunderstand their condition. I use a cane ( a really cool cane with my primary totem animal The Owl engraved into it. Made in Poland), not because I need it to walk..., though it helps to steady the walk, but as an indicator that I am not drunk, but only pretty deeply winged. I grew tired of the looks. A seemingly healthy guy stumbling for no other apparent reason, does draw stares and looks of disapproval. For me, a guy whom till just 3 years ago Free climbed, it makes the recovery that much more challenging. Just wanted you to understand, for the sake of others..., go easy on your first impressions and resulting judgements. Oh right, the status of my recovery. I am walking talking and still typing this with one finger. I am fully "Stabilized" according to the neurologist's. But still disabled in that the things I used to do are for the most part behind me, or so "They" say. I'm still trying to get it back. I do not accept my condition. I never will. But I will admit that if someone or something really wanted to hurt me, it would have to have been those two sucker punches. Yes I am angry and frustrated but depression doesn't enter into it. You just gotta have a sense of humor equal to that of Natures. Especially when you are dealing with the Medical and Insurance Industry. :P Thanks to all my Followers for their interest and wishes for a quick and full recovery. It does mean a lot to this once Alpha Male, toxic in fact. Just not so toxic anymore. I can't beat up bullies anymore. Once a favorite sport of mine. Anyway... thank you so very much. I don't usually droll on like this. Maybe I'll have to practice my finger at writing from now on, or just stick to the the canvas. Either way, to excel in all that I can..., remains the unchanged goal in my life. It has always been the best medicine.

[hellsbellschime]

"Calling Phoebe Tonkin a bad actor will be the goddamn death of me" please no 😭 what happened now?

LOL, so apparently that Phoenix Ashes person who made a video on me has been up to some shenanigans that I honestly have no clue about, and Kevin Pendragon is about to drop another video about it. I don't know what it's about or how much involves me, but he gave me a heads up that he's going to point out her hypocrisy for saying I harassed PT when she drags tf out of D&D on tumblr all the time? I just can't believe this is still a conversation, it's going to be engraved on my headstone at this point ffs.

[caynesugar]

just one kinda old oneshot (franc x enver)

this is a couple months dated, but i still enjoy its premise! it’s almost like i predicted the death of the fruity franc letters 😭

enjoy!

rating: teen (maybe mature if i try to pick it back up- i’ll write spicer stuff :])

word count: ~1100

Chapter I - The Invitation

I’d assumed this shipment for the militia would be some of my scrappiest work to date. Apparently, in the eyes of Lord Gortash, I thought falsely.

I was practically giddy at the thought of joining Lord Gortash in Wyrm’s Rock. His fortress loomed like an apex over Baldur’s Gate, even if it hadn’t been in the center of the city itself. The once-marvelous Sorcerous Sundries was a brick in a shallow basin of tar, compared to his fashioned lair.

All of Baldur’s Gate hadn’t appreciated my work before the Lord’s election as Archduke. I was ‘too sniveling’ of a man according to Ravengard and his cronies. He was a petulant tool, and I’d known it for as long as I’d made my bed in the city. I’m glad a true man of the people stepped up to the plate.

I’d tucked a note away in my pocket, one I was personally delivered via Steel Watcher. And now, by Bane’s bollocks, I was being escorted to Wyrm’s Rock by the same guard. 

Its plated, faceless transmitter echoed the same message it had once before as I walked out from my abode: “You have been formally invited to the audience chamber by Lord Gortash. He requires your full and willing participation.”

Cryptic. I’d expect nothing less from Lord Gortash, in a sense.

I wasn’t worried by his serious demeanor. It only made him a better leader, and a much better businessman. Even so, anxiety still welled in my stomach with the fact I’d be meeting Lord Gortash so casually as a celebration would be.

The Steel Watcher had guided me through a vaguely sandstone archway, into two sets of massive wooden doors. Behind the second, was a flight of stairs. One the Watcher had me traverse alone.

After I’d reached the top, I’d clapped eyes along the scene I was expecting the least of all my own possibilities. A fine wooden table, offering samplings of deep wines, table grapes, and fine cheeses alike. No Steel Watchers nor Black Hand members in sight, not even Fist guards.

The only occupant of the room was him. 

The first thing I’d noticed was a long, sturdy-looking halberd. A broad, oaken handle with signature floral engravings, coupled by a freshly-whetted blade sharp enough to cut into marrow? 

It was easily one of my own. And its pole was being cradled betwixt his thighs ever so playfully.

Reaching upwards, he ran a finger along a portion of the engravings.

“Enchanting, isn’t it?”

He smiled in a seemingly dreamy solace while sizing up my blade. His voice was liquid chocolate: smooth on the ears but containing just enough tang to determine his authority.

“One thousand halberds, one thousand glaives, and five hundred greatswords. And who have I to thank for completing such a massive order?”

He chuckled in a manner only a temptsome fiend would. He moved the halberd to one hand, using the other to take a hearty dose of his own glass of wine.

“Who, Franc. I want to hear you say it with your own tongue.”

I felt an anxious lilt rise in my throat, which I quickly suppressed.

“Me, my Lord. It was I who assembled them in five tendays.”

“Good, Franc. Very good.”

He set down his glass, once again placing the halberd between his legs. 

“But come, this is your own celebration. I daren’t keep you so far from me, for all the good you’ve done me with. Cozy up to a glass, will you?”

He spoke with such an authentic, magnetizing respect. One that I was deeply enamored by, and thricely agreed with. With little effort and a bit of charm, he could more or less convince me into doing whatever bidding he wished of me. And I knew it all too well.

I walked the audience hall’s scarlet carpet to take in my full appreciation. My audience. 

And nosy my audience was. Lord Gortash seemed to size me up like a fat lamb heading to a slaughterhouse: filled with a ripe, patient expectation.

I had never seen the Lord so closely. Dusky skin, the beginnings of a beard, a few stray hairs being intercepted by a cheeky scar embedding his chin. His ebony hair was playfully fluffed in a middle part, with deep steely eyes to match. 

He was aged, but not enough to no longer be handsome. His face got him all that he wanted and more, and I could see why.

I took a sample of a rich, thick red lain out on the table. It was surprisingly sweet and nutty, with a rather bitingly earthen aftertaste. 

“Good choice,” he started, “a man after my own heart.”

“A fan of reds?”

“Absolutely. All sorts of reds. Wines, velvets, satin…”

He trailed off, and ran a careful finger along the edge of my blade.

“An uncleansed weapon of war.”

“And why should such trophies of battle ever be placed into the hands of those who are not willing to carry out its previous legacy?”

Lord Gortash seemed to bounce his brow in such a prospect, as if calculating my words.

“Then come, Franc. Take a look at this trophy; this weapon. Tell me just how much bloodshed you think it’s deserving of.”

I nodded quickly, stepping past the sampling table and planting a foot between his own. As soon as my own grip had replaced his own on the halberd, he’d used his free grasp to lift me onto his lap.

“Lord Gortash!-“ 

My voice had hitched in my throat, causing me to pause before paying any attention to my own halberd. My eyes were on him, and they dared not shift focus. 

“Very good, Franc. Obedience will get you far with one such as myself.”

His gilded hand slid its way past the pole, gently grasping my jaw. His fingers were warm, warm as the city’s sunkissed pavement. His bronzed jewelry was slightly cooler, but not by much. 

He lifted my head ever so slightly upwards, forcing me to reposition my own eyes back onto his. 

“You’ve been ever so darling in carrying out my demands. I have more for you.”

He effortlessly pulled my face to his, bouncing his lap as I practically drowned in his lips. My hands grasped his shoulders instinctively, his hand cheekily tapping my lower back in a rhythmic tandem.

He tasted like wines all too fancy for my own wallet; fruits too sweet for my own pallet.

But gods, did it taste good on him. I needed this tenfold. And soon.

[star-named-riddle]

Day 4 - Indulgence

Lord Voldemort looked up from his book to find his best lieutenant completely oblivious to the research he had tasked her with.

Bellatrix had twisted her body into fitting entirely into the seat of her armchair, save for the arm that propped her head up. Her eyes should have been glued to the page, but instead they wandered.

Her grey eyes looked empty, so absent-minded was she. They were looking ahead, as if there was someone standing in the void of his study. She had forgot how to blink too, apparently.

“You used to enjoy Ancient Runes,” he murmured.

Bellatrix blinked repeatedly, while her mind caught up to her surroundings. And to the single note of displeasure in his voice.

“My lord… I’m sorry. I do enjoy it-”

“Yet you’re not focused on the task I have given you, Bella.”

“No, master, I wasn’t. I apologise. I was thinking-“

Lord Voldemort stood from his desk, covering the distance between them with three large strides. His right hand wrapped around Bella’s chin, and he tilted her head up forcefully. His fingers dug into her skin, his nails branding themselves into her despite being kept short. He was hurting her, he knew, yet she gave him no sign of pain. Her hands had moved to hold the book in her lap, and that was it.

“Did I ask you to think?”

“No, my lord.”

“What did I ask of you?”

“You asked me to read, my lord.”

Lord Voldemort tilted his head. His Bella was not easy to distract. He had made sure of it through years of training. Not even his touch would be able to phase her now. He had tried.

His mind was distracted by that particular memory. He shook it off, and focused back on her.

She held his gaze. She would not dare and excuse herself to him. She had failed him and it gnawed at her, but there was something in her eyes. Something intriguing. Something she wanted to show him.

He stared into her eyes and plunged into her mind without a word. And without any resistance.

There, he saw it. He had tasked Bella with research on a group of runes they had found engraved on a box. He had kept Bella ignorant as to what the box contained, but figured she could be useful in figuring out how to open it.

Instead, Bellatrix had figured out a way to make herself better. More powerful. More dangerous. All for his sake.

He retreated from her mind and waited for her to voice it.

“I have engraved runes in my own skin, my lord, but there’s only so much I can do.”

Lord Voldemort nodded. He was very familiar with those etchings on her skin. He had traced them with his fingers many times before.

“If you were to carve runes into my skin, my lord, they would carry a greater power.”

Lord Voldemort smiled, still holding her chin. His thumb caressing her jaw now. She had certainly proved herself worthy of his indulgence.

“And what would you have me carve into you?”

Also on AO3

[tomhiddelstonandzaynmalik]

"Death, Pestilence and Famine"

Warren Worthington III x reader

Chapter 2

Summary: What would've happened if instead of Psylocke having been recruited by Apocalypse, it had been you? What would've happened if Ororo had realised Apocalypse's true intentions earlier? How things would have turned out? Would Cairo could've been avoided? What would've happened if... ?

Again, my lovely @yelenabelovasbathwater gave me an awesome idea, what if Warren and the reader are Horsemen and fell in love during the big fight from Apocalypse. I changed I little the settings buuuut I guess I got the overall idea. BTW I'm going for a serie so be prepared hehehe.

The year is 1985 and the world is, surprisingly, not neering its own destruction.

After the whole madness that took place a few years ago in the White House: A flying stadium, a madman with knifes instead of hands and giant robots armed to the teeth, all of which could have ended with an official War Against Mutant Kind, was thankfully avoided by none other, than a mutant. A blue shapeshifter who changed the course of life as we know it forever, by saving the life of the President of the United States.

This much needed bekon of light for an entire race went by the name of Mystique. She was the reason why now, humans and mutants all around the globe could enjoy these, somewhat, peaceful times. This mysterious saviour bacame known, loved and admired world wide, specially amongst her people. They could now come out of hiding and face the world as who they truly were without fearing for their lives...

Or at least not so much, at least this time around they had a heroine who could saved them, at least this time around they weren't alone.

The year is 1985 and everyone wants to be like Mystique.

Everyone, yourself included.

Up until that moment, you never felt like a true mutant, sure you were by definition 'special' but still, you never felt that type of special. You couldn't blast fireballs out of your hands, you couldn't move things with your mind, you weren't super strong or super fast or... super in any way.

To disappear was all you got from the mutant-power-lotery. It wasn't flashy, it wasn't extravagant and, unlike what many believed, it wasn't as useful as it seemed. Sure you were a mutant, but next to telepaths or those whose mutation ended with the suffix -kinetic, you were just the one who could dissappear.

As someone who spend their entire lives aching to be something, more: more exciting, more interesting, more capable MORE...

It was obvious why that afternoon in particular became engraved into your mind forever. The day you saw the read-headed woman with blue skin stand against a man, who literally carried an entire construction through the city as if it was made of feathers. That afternoon was the moment which redefined your life.

Witnessing how that woman, whose apparent only power was to shapeshift, therefore making her a much smaller and weaker opponent to the man who could control EVERY-FUCKING-METAL-THING, got you stucked in font of the many TVs, who were been showcased at your local electronic shop, as the event was been broadcasted live for the world to see.

You had never paid so much attention to anything before, aliens could have come down to Earth right there and there and you would have missed it. Your entire focus was on her, and how she not only saved the President but how she, against all oaths... Won.

Your meek mutation always dragged you down from aspiring to do something meaningful with your life. The endless comparison between every other mutant you met, the never ending mockery and hurtful comments you had always received, kept an invisible toll on you. But now...

As the crowd, who had gathered around the shop to watch the scene, dispersed. And you slowly came back to your senses. After the stress faded away and your heartbeat steadied, your newfound purpose remain put.

If she could do something like that, why can't I?

The year is 1985 and things couldn't be worse for you.

What happens if you add naivness, some bad company and to top it up you sprinkle it with a bad decision next to a worse one? You get the perfect mix for turning a hopeful and blissful idea into the most stupid and downright disastrous one you could have ever had.

"It makes no sense! My life wasn't so bad. It wasn't perfect but at least I had a home.

I had a family.

God, I wish I knew what happened to my family.

Why did I ran away?

How could I have been so damn stupid?

Why did I ever listen to them?

How did I let them fool me so easily?

STUPID! STUPID! STUPID!"

It was the same Mantra you muttered to yourself each time you were brought back into the Cage. Each time you were forced to fight against bigger and deadlier opponents. Each time you managed to escape alive.

"This is definitely NOT what I ment when I said I wanted to be like... Her".

[barry-j-blupjeans]

#14 of the dialogue prompts, with Lup and Barry (or anyone else you want!) Love all your TAZ writing!!

14. “You’re never going to let that go, are you?”

--

Barry had enough sense to realize that he had regrets in life. Honestly, who hadn't lived nearly two hundred years and not had a single regret? He regretted that the day they left on the Starblaster mission, he left unfolded laundry in his laundry basket. He regretted not telling Lup he loved her sooner. He regretted that time he died in cycle twenty-nine after falling off a horse.

But, quite possibly, his biggest regret was how deeply he had engraved a spooky aesthetic into himself.

"Hey, babe," Lup said. Her lich form was floating a few feet above his desk as he wrote replies to letters they had received. Being a savior of the universe apparently warranted a lot of fan mail.

"Hm?"

"You took theater classes in middle school, yeah?"

"Uhm, yeah," Barry said. "Why?"

"Oh you know," Lup said. "I was talking to Taako the other night and he was fillin' me in on the things I missed. And he was like "so you were listening to everything inside the staff, right?" and I was like "no, I needed the energy n' shit"."

"Uh-huh," Barry said, signing his name at the bottom of the paper.

"And he was like, "oh so you don't know about all the spooky shit Barold did". And I was like, no, of course not, tell me everything."

"Oh boy."

"Babe," Lup said, delightedly. Barry set his pen down and looked up. Lup's lich hands rested on his shoulders with a phantom grip. If her lich face could grin, Barry was very sure it would be right now. She made her voice a little echoey and deeper for the next part. "Are you afraid?"

"Listen-" Barry started, but Lup cut him off with,

"You do not know how to be afraid."

"Listen-" Barry said. Lup rested her hooded face against his head, laughing, form shuddering. Barry tried to beat back his blush with a stick. "I- I wanted them to listen to me!"

"Babe," Lup said.

"I didn't know what else to say!" Barry said, throwing his hands up. "I didn't know what would be static or not! Should I have just gone up to them and been like "hey, actually! We're real tight but you don't remember. Come with me to my cave where I'm growing a human body like a fuckin' pumpkin patch?""

"You did take them to the cave, though," Lup said. Her hands had slipped further around his neck and now she was just sort of nestled against his chest, in a way that would surely be uncomfortable if not for the fact that she could faze through the desk.

"It was necessary, at that point," Barry said. "I- yeah, I coulda phrased it better, sure. What d'you want from me?"

"I love you," Lup said with a sigh. She ran one of her hands through his hair. It felt like someone ran an ice cube along his head.

"I love you too," Barry said. "I do need to write these letters, though."

"Are you-" Lup cut herself off with a snigger, not moving out of his way and definitely not giving him enough space to write anything. "Are you afraid you won't get to them all?"

"You're never gonna let that go, are you?"

"Never," Lup promised.