#kaider ship week 2021

[cosmicnovaflare]

Kaider Ship Week, Day 1 and 3: In Another Life/AU

But she knew that no matter how deeply she loved, how hard she fought, and how much she ached, tragedy ran in her blood, misfortune was her DNA.

Cinder gripped her wrist, the wound half cut. The release of her identity chip only one slice away. She wanted to bleed for better reasons, but all she could do was run.

…

Death came to him in the form of a cure.

A temporary cure that would allow his people to live long enough to become victims of persecution beneath a tyrant queen, swayed to her will like the moon pushes and pulls the earth's oceans away from shore. A cure that chained him to his place, bound his hands, and smothered out his last pleas of help.

Time had failed him as he had failed the world. He had failed his people. He had failed at usurping Levana and she knew it. She knew every byte of information Nainsi had collected, and Kai had been too late to use any of it.

So I’ve been wanting to write a fic where Kai takes Cinder’s invitation to come with her to Europe seriously, in which they attempt to look for clues of Selene’s whereabouts together. Unfortunately I struggle with writing and can’t seem to make words flow, but TLC Ship Weeks has finally given me an excuse to draw art related to this. I’ve always had a headcanon that the outskirts of New Beijing were littered with abandoned ruins of old buildings because the new city was built on the ruins of the old. I’ve taken it a bit too literally, but I love the idea of it.

[just2bubbly]

Sometimes Love Stays

Masterlist

TLC Ship Week 2021!

*written for tlcshipweek2021- kaider for the prompt 'In another life'

@kaiderforever

Summary

"Hmm.."

"Do you?"

"Wish you happiness? Yeah, Kai, I do- with all my heart."

"I wish you were happiness!"

Sometimes love becomes stronger overcoming the obstacles thrown along your path, but when the obstacles never end and you become tired enough to want to stop, will 'Love' help overcome the new problem or would it be succumbed to obstacle?

When their future doesn't play out as they want to, will they dare to take a chance or lose everything without trying?

Reading an article, Cinder is thrown back into the past, trying to figure out if the choices she made were right.

A look at Kai and Cinder's relationship through newspaper article fragments.

--

Ship: Kaider

Words: 3.2k

Genre: Angst

Prompt: 'In Another Life'

Note: A Canon Divergence AU from Winter- major character/ relationship reflection. Bold contexts are newspaper articles!

Cinder's Perspective:

"Sometimes love stays."

The article read and Cinder could not bring it upon herself to understand the implications of those three words. She considered it was the most preposterous sentence to start a piece of news informing about a break-up. Her mind could only fathom that a hopeless romantic had written this article, one who most certainly believed in unrequited love and stuff- That she could be sure from the very first line. "Many times love seems to not reside in a relationship as the lovers struggle to continue to live together after years of togetherness, but this does not appear to be the case in the infamous royal courtship that lasted for over 10 years but was suddenly called off 2 years ago- Yes, we are talking about no one but The Emperor of Eastern Commonwealth and The Queen of Luna- " Cinder seemed to convince herself that she was only reading it because it was the most trending news on Earth. Yet it was no new news to her or even anyone on Earth and the saint forsaken rock Luna as well. The article had become famous only for its illustrating language and artistic words that seemed to give the entire ordeal a new look. Hence, after having ignored, overlooked and unseen the article, its rumours and the stink eye that her aristocrats sent along her way. She finally decided to read it and fucking get over it- just like she got over him. It was fucking simple until it was not. "The infamous break-up of The Emperor of EC and the Queen of Luna happens to be no news to us. It has been two years since the two royals called off their relationship in the name of diplomatic and personal reasons. However, it appears that the years apart have done no good to their awkward and unresolved heartfelt tension." She wondered which newbie journalist had decided to write about this- about them, the two lovers madly in love with each other, stubborn enough to put others above themselves and naive enough to let it all go. She could feel her body going stiff as she tried to muster up the courage to continue reading. Her mind going numb just like it always did when thoughts of Kai resurfaced. The memories and the murmurs, their banters, his adoration all seemed to drown her with misery- one where she could not shed a single tear but only carry the overwhelming weight of the past of what they had- of what they had lost. It had been good- going at first with the frequent comms in their free time, flying kisses from literally two different worlds, exchanging gifts thanks to the Rampion, jumping at the first chance to meet each other. They were happy and yet they were not. With near to 10 years into being the Queen of Luna, she had thought that maybe she had given her bit to the moon, and now she could step down from her role and convert Luna into a republican state. She had planned her future, their future, the future of thousands of people and had acted accordingly to liberate Luna from the clutches of a single person, forgetting about what the people would have to say about it? Apparently, Lunars loved royalty more than equal representation! Consequently, when she had put the matters of 'abolition of monarchy' to vote she had been made a fool in her own court with the outcome - her vote against all of them. When she had demanded an explanation out of Iko for such a bizarre scenario. She had acknowledged, "They seem to like you as their Queen. It is clear they don't want you to step down!?" "But what about equal representation?" "Cinder you are already giving it to them!" "And what about the aristocrats- Don't they want more say in the administration?" "They do want it but not with the responsibility. Thus they have started preaching about royalty and stuff..." she trailed. Dumbstruck, she had thought how can one gift someone freedom when they don't want it? That's where things started looking down. This made all her plans go downhill. Because hadn't she planned that she would step down, abolish the monarchy and turn it into a Republican government? Hadn't she decided she would be free to live her own life on Earth?

Hadn't she wondered how she would travel with Thorne on Rampion- be truly free for once in her life before having to settle down? Before having to go to New Beijing.

Hadn't they planned that they would stay together- and with every passing day weren't they coming near to achieving their intention to constantly stay together and make up for all the physical affection they had been deprived of over the years? Wasn't it what their future was going to be off? With this new hurdle, plans had to be changed and when she had mentioned this to Kai, he was grief-stricken. Even then, they came up with alternatives, for at that time it was clear- they wanted to spend the rest of their together. They had discussed spending their time between Earth and Luna, tackling the barriers of distance and royalty. It's not like they did not try, it's just that every time they strived harder to stay together- fate made it impossible to. A year later, the realization dawned upon her. It had really taken a long time but it had finally crashed- the full reality of their long-distance engagement relationship, that maybe it was taking a toll on them. That maybe they would not survive through all the distance separating them. She had been avoiding thinking about it lately but she knew even if they tried it was not going to work out, that sooner or later they would have to call it off. 'Call what off?' She had asked herself, wondering how things were going to change. 'All of it' a tiny voice in her mind replied. The engagement, the relationship. Everything. That night she decided against comming Kai, instead, she confronted Iko speaking of her troubling thoughts aloud and from the dark blue, somewhat grey colours of her eyes, Cinder understood how truly sorry she was.

She sat in the arms of Iko, wanting to whine, yell and cry. However, the cruel fate left her with a throbbing sensation in her head and an itchy feeling in the throat. She wanted to see Kai, but she had not the heart to tell him the truth. She presumed he already knew what was troubling her- troubling them. She had not the courage to see the sorrow on his face, so she pretended that everything was fine even when it was not. She smiled and teased him at all the opportunities she could possibly get knowing very well that one day that they would have to stop. One day he would have someone else do that to him. Therefore the next time she had gone on Earth she had confessed it to him. He had listened patiently without a word and had calmly accepted it. The unforgettable silence that followed would haunt Cinder forever. She thought they had fooled themselves enough trying to make the impossible happen, justifying their actions as a result of love. In the end, he had sighed, tears reflecting in his copper-brown orbs and croaked, "I guess this is the end?" She had nodded failing to meet his eyes. "Sorry, Kai", she had uttered, feeling every ounce guilty and sorrowful. They had stood like that for a long time, feet shuffling- gazes never meeting each other until he was called. He did not shed a single tear before her. On her last night at the Palace, she felt a sort of Deja-Vu for all the things around her. Her thoughts roamed around only a single thing- 'After today, this place would no longer be home'. He had come to her room that night and once they had gotten over the awkward small talk of the breakup, he had launched at her and hugged her till her bones crushed. "I love you," he whimpered. "Don't forget it- don't forget it, Cinder. Even when you go to that fucking rock in the sky." And Cinder could feel something warm- not inside her but on her shoulders.

Kai's tears had been falling on her shoulders and she had chanted sorry all the time they stayed like that.

'What do you do to calm two heartbroken souls?'

He was in her arms hearing her speak, though her words were not soothing, they did not reduce his grief like they ought to. They were bitter truth of their future, their fate. They were apologies for what they had lost. Her words were not comforting. She was not going to tell him how they will be fine when she knew they would not. There was no point lying- telling him nicely painted lies of their future when their present was broken like that. She had no idea how but they fell asleep together, a mess of tumbled limbs on the carpet for the last time. And when the streaks of sunlight fell over their sleeping forms, it was not out of hope.

"It seems that it's over for the two royals, one of them the Queen of Luna and the other The Emperor of Eastern Commonwealth. Queen Selene, 26 and Emperor Kaito, 28 called off their relationship yesterday. Emperor Kaito in his latest press speech stated that "Myself and Queen Selene are no longer together- we have parted ways on good terms. However, we are no longer involved," when one of the reporters asked if there was any wedding to be expected soon. The Queen of Luna also addressed this in one of her official posts, saying "It's been great 10 years with Kai but we can no longer stay together," with a bittersweet smile. The two refuse to brief about this. It just seems like just yesterday they were THE happier and attractive couple dancing at the Annual Peace Ball and -well now they are not, we are sure their fans all around must be heartbroken but worry not you can catch up on their relationship through the years-" Two months later, they formally announced their break-up. They called off everything- all of it just like she had thought. The world did not know- they did not know how Kai had gone down on his knees and she had said yes before he could even ask. How she had pieces of her never- going to happen wedding vows drafted somewhere in her brain. It was only them, Torin, Iko and their friends who knew the disaster of grief they had unrolled in their life. He had refused to take the ring back, "Keep it to remember me by." He had insisted and she had not-so jokingly replied, "I don't need jewels to remember you by." Returning to Luna had been the harder task, She-They had cut off all ties except maybe friendship (?) but things were going to be different- they are different.

It felt hollow for months later, she drowned herself in work to forget about the messy-haired boy, to forget that there was no one waiting for her comms now, that she did not have someone to whisper 'I love you's too', to kiss him and be found by someone, no reason for Thorne to shout 'Get a room.'

She had for the first few days been hopeless- locking herself up, both metaphorically and literally only to realize that Kai had been an integral part of her daily schedule and world even from thousands of miles away. The breaks that she once looked forward too, taunted her of what she had lost- so she was hell-bent on working the day without breaks. She forced her mind to not stray around to the boy on Earth. The only moment she had let her guard down was when Thorne was visiting- because he was her BFF and wasn't he the one who teased her all along about Kai and his heavenly copper-brown eyes? Wasn't he going to be her rock where she had lost her anchor? At the sight of his friend's dark circles, thinner than the usual frame, Thorne and Cress had bear-hugged her and the only thing that she felt was it felt good to be embraced by someone other than Iko. 'I'm so sorry, Cinder', Thorne had said and she had croaked, "Don't be sorry." She had cracked that day.

"I DON'T WANT PITY THORNE, I DON'T WANT TO HEAR HOW PEOPLE THOUGHT WE WOULD GET MARRIED AND LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER. I DON'T WANT THE MEDIA TO TELL ME HOW WE LOOKED GOOD TOGETHER. I FUCKING HATE LUNARS TELLING ME THAT THEY HOPE I FEEL BETTER. AM I NOT IN THIS CONDITION BECAUSE THEY CHOOSE TO BE SELFISH? THORNE, I WANT TO CRY AND MY STUPID CYBERNETICS WOULD NOT EVEN ALLOW BE TO CRY FOR MY EX-FIANCEE." She might have been a bit tipsy to blow up like that but she was past caring. She had been pretending that everything was fine while she was falling apart inside. "What sort of cruel joke is this? Haven't I already endured enough? I don't want anyone's fucking apologies. I don't want that crap, I- I want K-Kai."

She yelled as her face echoed pain. "Do I not deserve love, Thorne?" She had demanded, looking very vulnerable. She never said a word after that. The next big blow came when she had attended the world leader summit. Thankfully, it was a virtual thing or she could not have gone through the entire ceremony without a mental breakdown. She had felt the air knock out of her lungs at the sight of Kai after six whole months. He looked paler than normal, his always messed up hair looked neatly fixed in place with layers of hair gel. And his ever blinding grin present at even stupid meetings like this was now merely his lips pressed together in a thin line.

How was Kai who was her joy in human form suddenly became the picture of grief? She wondered how she looked to him if even he was out of breath at the sight of her- realizing how she was drifting away from the main reason she was attending the summit, she forced herself to look at anywhere but him. That night she slept thinking about how she was not the only one suffering. "-The Emperor of EC starts a new journey in his life at 30. However, there are no wedding bells in the air as of now, making the world and the EC anticipate the future of their Emperor and their nation. At 30, the Emperor not committed to anyone nor having any living heir had caused multiple questions to be unanswered about the legacy after him. Hopefully, he will find his partner to secure their future until then we wish him a Very Happy Birthday!" Marriage. Wedding. Love. Hadn't it been what they had lost? She knew this was going to happen. Then why did she feel like drowning all over again? Why did her heart shatter yet again? He was no longer hers to worry about...Was he even part of her world anymore? She knew it very well that he was supposed to marry someone. He must marry someone and have an heir to the Commonwealth. Cinder was asked to do the very same thing. They were monarchs who had to keep their legacies alive. The next time she was invited for the Annual Peace Ball, Kai had cornered and said, "They want me to get married." "Tell me you are saying this because you want the ring back." She had jokingly said, swallowing the sadness and jealously that threatened to submerge her. Her mind asked if he would go down on his knees at the Ball just like he had done for Levana. But that was just her stupidity, misery and desperation mixed together. How was her tyrant aunt going to manage her marriage with Kai by living on Luna along with her sinister motives?! "Cinder" "Kai", she pleaded, underlying the please without saying it. She averted her eyes and nonchalantly asked," Have someone in mind?" "No", he replied without a beat, making her at ease but what he said next crushed her healing heart again. "But I have someone in my heart." She could not stand around him without wanting to kiss him senseless. Therefore, she said, "I wish you happiness, Kai." And tried to walk away until he questioned, "Do you?" "Hmm.." she replied, looking back at him. "Do you?" He repeated. "Wish you happiness? Yeah, Kai, I do- with all my heart." "I wish you were happiness!" Looking at his lean frame dressed in the colours of EC she dared to speak, "I wish that too." She had not returned after that episode but maybe she would have to. Soon. "The Emperor has been sighted with Chen Daiyu, daughter of Chen Zian, the Chief Commandant of Light Chariot, she is an activist working towards the liberation of perils faced by cyborgs in modern society, along with being a psychotherapist by service. It's not the first time that they have been seen together making people hope that it's not the last. There are rumours about their courting with no confirmation from any one of the two-It appears the Emperor has finally moved on from his last date with Queen Selene. Only time will tell if the Emperor has found his Empress or not." She could not blame anyone. They were just pressing time trying to avoid some inescapable future- yet why did her mind ask if he had learned Chen Daiyu's favourite flowers? or Did he hold her as he had held her once? Wondered if he explained to her why there was a cyborg's foot in his room? She was cursing goddamn every star because it was not just him but even she was looking into suitors!? She had gone on dates with a few, noticing how one of them grinned like Kai with a dimple on his left cheek, how someone scratched their necks when they were flustered or how some of them had a struggle keeping their hair in place- without wanting to she was searching for Kai everywhere in them. None of the two was married yet. It was okay to imagine about him for a while. It was okay for grief to overwhelm her. Maybe that's what she needed to

move on from her past.

Had they moved on? Had they stopped loving each other? 'NO!'- she shook her head violently to no one in particular.

She loved him even now. There will always be some part of her mind that will love him. Maybe it was treasuring their memories while making new ones. Two years later reading an article about them, she thought if maybe she had tried harder, would they be together? Alas, there was no point fantasizing when both time and distance had separated them? Could they start from where they had left? Or would they be two broken pieces no longer fitting?

"Sometimes love stays," The article read again. "But lover's don't." Maybe if distance, time and qualms of royalty were not preventing them then things could have been different, their lives could have been different. Perhaps in a life with different circumstances, they would have been together unlike this one- where they had briefly touched, in another life possibly their tale could have had a happy ending. Maybe if she was Cinder and not Queen Selene Channary Jannali Blackburn of Luna, and if he was just Kai and not Emperor Kaito of the Eastern Commonwealth then they would have made it till the end.

But they were not and that's what mattered. __

A/N: We are done! :)

I know you would likely want to hit me right now since I promised certain someone that there would be no angsty fics for at least a few months and yet HERE I AM!

I have kinda portrayed Iko in this really bad, so sorry about that! And you have no idea how much frustrated I was that Cinder could not cry, like crying is such a essential part of human behavior and having to describe her grief without tears was certainly a challenge. I hope I did her character well- You guys have no idea how much break-up articles I have read just to get the news articles right. I might as well do a course on journalism later ;)

Was that a bit too much angst? and yeah in this fic they are secretly engaged!

This was written for the TLC Ship Week, the word prompt for this one was 'In Another Life'. However, I had already planned it beforehand with no idea of  how the ship-week was going to give me the perfect opportunity to post this. I know I'm cruel right?

This idea had been going a lot in my mind since I made @salt-warrior write her fic 'Anyone Else', and read the fic 'After' on AO3, along with 'Once' by @/betaluz. I just thought that maybe Cinder failed to get past the boundaries of royalty on Luna and converting it into a Republican, wondering if that happened what would happen to her relationship with Kai. Hence, this sudden angsty take.

Tell me which is your favorite part from this?

And don't worry I have more angst lined up for you! <3

Taglist: @cinderswrench @gingerale2017 @linhcinder686 @shellyseashell @ladyvesuvia @shelbylmkaider @levanariddle @cindersassasin @kaider-is-my-otp (Tell me if you wanna be added/removed)

[healing-winston-pratt]

TLC Ship Weeks 2021

Kaider Day 5: Change the Universe

The Lunar Chronicles meets Sailor Moon!!

Event hosted by @kaiderforever 💖💖!!

[zephyr-thedragon]

AAAAAAAHHHHHHH ITS KAIDER WEEK, I was so hyped for all of August but then school started and all my energy just went right out the window jhfgjg. But I am so excited to share this duet with you all-

CINDER X KAI (AUGUST 23-AUGUST 29) TLC ship weeks 2021 (ALL PROMPTS)

SO- The reason this is coming before the wolflet duet is because I already had like half of this song written about a month ago and all I needed to do was finish it, but the wolflet duet is still coming I promise. So this song takes place when Cinder and Kai are still on the Rampion in between Cress and Winter. Kai is about to go back to Earth and they both acknowledge the fact that they need to get their plan moving and in order to do that he needs to leave and all of that good angsty stuff. I'm pretty sure I included all of the prompts for this week? Besides maybe change the universe? But I realllyyyy love this song and it's my favorite that I've written for TLC so far, tysm for reading!!!! I hope you all enjoy <333

So the system for reading this one is pretty self-explanatory hrghjf, there aren't any overlapping lines or anything and you can use the same four chords throughout the whole song, but feel free to improvise and just sort do whatever! I had a lot of fun just playing round with different chords and tunes so- yeah :) just have fun!

In Another Life - Cinder and Kai

An original Kaider duet

(Piano chords at the bottom cause they're kind of complicated fjgh)

‎

‎

[Kai] - Verse 1

The journey of us is unrelenting

Cause we can’t see past the world ending

‎

But I hope on the other side it’s a

Little less expending‎

‎

[Cinder]

Don’t know if I can live this way much longer

But you’ve always made me stronger

‎

[Both]

If we just wait it out we’ll conquer

The world and start avenging

‎

[Cinder]

I try

To be the person that you want

‎

[Kai]

I try

To do my best but I can’t when I’m gone

‎

[Both]

I wish

We could see past all the flaws, and the wrongs, and the cracks in the walls

‎

[Kai]

But if it's not too much to ask

Would you mind joining me in the past

In my daydreams, my nightmares

My fantasies and fatal scares,

[Both]

If we could pretend for the night

‎

[Both] - Chorus

In another life

We could’ve been fighting off crime

The modern Bonnie and Clyde

We could’ve been rulers of the divine

An Imperial husband and wife

‎

We could’ve left this curse behind

We could’ve been intertwined

By fate

And destiny

‎

[Cinder]

But instead, I take flight

With the wings you gave me

And the promises you made

[Both]

In hopes that someday

‎

We can live that way

As if in another life

In another life

‎

(Life, Life)

(Ohh, Ohh)

(Life, Life)

(Ohh, Ohh)

‎

[Cinder] - Verse 2

The journey of us has barely taken shape

But I can’t escape

The metal walls around me

‎

[Kai]

I like it up here in space

Its an oasis

From the chaos on the ground but I feel like I’m

Suffocating

‎

[Cinder]

The world can’t wait much longer

‎

[Kai]

I need to leave but I love her

‎

[Both]

There's no stopping this black hole

Forming in between us and our end goal

‎

I know

You know

That it’s time to let it go

‎

But I can’t leave you

I can’t wait to see you

(Pause)

Again

‎‎

[Both] - Chorus

In another life

We could’ve been fighting off crime

The modern Bonnie and Clyde

We could’ve been rulers of the divine

An Imperial husband and wife

‎

We could’ve left this curse behind

We could’ve been intertwined

By fate

And destiny

‎

But instead, I take flight

With the wings you gave me

And the promises you made

In hopes that someday

‎

We can live that way

As if in another life

In another life

‎

‎[Cinder] - Bridge(?)

With time comes change

There’s no more waiting

I hate to listen

To what they’re saying

‎

I’m afraid

The game we’re playing

Will fracture the bond

We’ve spent so much maintaining

‎

[Kai]

When I’m away

I won’t be very far

Just sit in silence

And listen to your heart

‎

And find a way

To ignite that spark

And remember the mountains we’ve climbed so far

We’ve climbed so far

‎

‎[Kai] - Pre-Chorus/Build up

In another life

I’d be wherever you are

‎

[Cinder]

In another life

It wouldn’t be this bizarre

‎

In another life, I’d choose not to be a star

‎

[Kai]

In another life, I could live without this scar

‎‎

[Both] - Chorus

In another life

In another life

In another life

‎

We could’ve been fighting off crime

The modern Bonnie and Clyde

We could’ve been rulers of the divine

An Imperial husband and wife

‎

We could’ve left this curse behind

We could’ve been intertwined

By fate

And destiny

‎

But instead, I take flight

With the wings you gave me

And the promises you made

In hopes that someday

‎

We can live that way

As if in another life

In another life

‎

(Life, Life)

(Ohh, Ohh)

(Life, Life)

(Ohh)

In another life

(Life, Life)

(Ohh, Ohh)

(Life, Life)

(Ohh)

(Fade out)

===========================

‎

‎Piano Chords:

ok so for the first chord, I have yet to find a name for it but basically it's Fsus4 but put your third finger on the D key instead of the C key it should look like this:

And then it's just F major, Dm, C major :)

okay thats all, if you made it to the end hiiiiii!!! I hope you enjoyed thank you for reading!

tag list: @sexy-dumpster-fire @cerenoya @just2bubbly@nightmare-not-neophyte @gingerale2017 @winterrhayle @salt-warrior @cindersassasin @cinderswrench @shelbylmkaider @razzmooncake @greasicookies @healing-winston-pratt @f-r-o-p @miss-casually-cruel @of-stars-and-ships @strawberry-seraph @thestarryeyedsapphic @genyasafingf @starry-tea-party @im-just-your-problem @novannna @sapphiccitra

[gingerale2017]

Wings

Day 2 of the kaider ship weeks.

Kai looked at the doctor in shock, not believing a word he said. He was foolish to conjure up hope only to have it smacked, “what?”

“I’m so sorry, Your Majesty, we tried everything we could. But, she didn’t make it.”

No. No. No. She should be fine, she’s supposed to make it. She’s not gone. She’s not gone.

Kai shook his head as Torin sat him down, “she’s not gone, Torin. She can’t be.”

Torin placed a hand on his shoulder, “Your Majesty, it’s over. Linh Cinder did everything she could to free the people of Luna, and in the end, she lost her life. She died a hero,” he said.

“She left me,” tears blotted his vision, “s-she left me, w-what do I do now?”

The advisor sighed, “Kai, take as much time as you need, please grieve. But the best thing you can do now is to move on. I’m so sorry.”

He sobbed, covering his face with his hands. Torin left to take of prying ambassadors as Kai cried alone.

Cinder, Cinder, Cinder, she was an angel who finally found her wings. Cinder, Cinder, Cinder, flew away from this wretched world leaving an impact. Cinder, Cinder, Cinder, fixed the problems of the world and left to fix her own.

Cinder, Cinder, Cinder is a beautiful corpse being lowered six feet below the ground. Cinder, Cinder, Cinder, is what his friends cried. Cinder, Cinder Cinder, oh why did you leave me?

Cinder, Cinder, Cinder, is dead.

A/N: @deprivedmusicaljunkie @just2bubbly look what you made me into.

Tagging: @cinderswrench @cindersassasin @just2bubbly @a-salting-the-world @kaiderforever @deprivedmusicaljunkie @greasicookies @greenalmond @zephyr-thedragon @the-wee-woo-rita @zephyr-thedragon @winterrhayle @jacihayle @ladyvesuvia @impossiblesuitcase @shelbylmkaider @shellyseashell

[winterrhayle]

the curse of responsibilities💔💔

tlc ship weeks ~ cursed

[iko-shipper]

💙 Blog Intro 💙

Name: Iko

Occupation: Full time shipper :)

Pronouns: She/her

I write one shots and smut on request, any ship from the Rampion crew :)

[shellyseashell]

WORTHY OF THE TITLE

Note: And here is my first fic for tlc ship weeks, @kaiderforever. Okay so I know it’s jacinter week, but I won’t be here for kaider week, so I’m posting the kaider stuff now. No offense to jacinter, but enjoy this crappy kaider one shot.

CHANNARY BLACKBURN HUMMED as she arranged her daughters hair. Today was an important day — today was the day Princess Selene and Prince Kai would be meeting since their marriage arrangement. Selene had talked to Kai plenty over comms, but it was different than meeting him in person. It was as terrifying as it was exciting.

“Are you excited to meet him?” Channary asked, her glee barely contained. Sometimes Selene wondered who was more excited to meet Kai — her, or her mother.

“He’s just a boy.”

“A boy that you’ve been staying up all night talking to,” said Cress Darnel, one of Selene’s friends, from across the room. Her and Winter Hayle were putting together Selene’s outfit. Usually, servants would have helped with this, but her friends had declared they would be the only ones helping her prepare, and no one had argued.

“Just making sure he’ll be a good ruler,” Selene said, hissing as her mother pulled on her hair.

“Sorry, dear, almost done,” her mother said.

“Is all this necessary?” Cress asked. “Can’t you just use your glamour?”

Cress was a Shell, so she didn’t have the gift, but she understood how important it could be.

“Glamours shouldn’t be used for everything,” said Winter.

Channary hummed in agreement. “And I want Prince Kai’s first impression of my Selene to be genuine.”

Selene sighed. The marriage alliance was important, but everyone was treating it like she was about to meet her soulmate. Sure, Kai was nice, and she liked him well enough, but she didn’t think they’d fall in love. Maybe in another life.

“And . . . your hair is done,” Channary said, releasing her hands.

Selene turned her hair, examining herself in the mirror. Half her hair was braided into an intricate crown, and the rest was flowing around her shoulders.

“Now it’s time for makeup,” her mother exclaimed.

Selene groaned, but twisted around in her seat anyway.

—

BY THE TIME her makeover was over, Selene looked like a princess worthy of the title. Her makeup was simple, mostly bringing out her eyes. The skirt of her silver gown fell around her in waves that seemed to ripple as she moved. The bodice hugged her body tightly, and the sleeves draped off her shoulders.

“Oh Selene, you look beautiful!” Cress squealed.

“Like a real princess!” Winter added.

“I am a real princess,” Selene reminded her friend.

“A more princess princess,” Winter corrected, earning a laugh.

“Well, it’s time to go greet Emperor Rikan and Prince Kai,” Channary said.

Selene nodded and steeled her nerves. She could do this.

—

THE EMPEROR AND Prince of the Eastern Commonwealth were waiting in a sitting room overlooking Artemisia Lake. The room had couches and chairs lining the walls, circling a large rug. The room was typically used for greeting guests, and these guests were no different.

Selene entered the room behind her mother. Cress and Winter, not being royalty, weren’t allowed in. The best they could do was wait outside the room with the guards.

Channary and Rikan went through their generic greetings that Selene didn’t pay attention to. Instead, her attention was drawn to Kai, who was standing behind his father. He was wearing a loose, long sleeved white shirt, black pants, and dress shoes. It was about as casual as fancy clothes got. Selene wondered if he had had to fight his father or stylist to let him wear that.

Kai caught her eye and grinned, and Selene immediately blushed. Damnit.

“Well, we’ll leave you alone and let you two get to know each other,” Rikan said, smiling at the two of them.

Selene watched in silence as her mother and the emperor left.

She turned back to Kai. “I feel like I overdressed.”

Kai laughed. “You look beautiful.”

“So do you,” Selene said. “I — I mean — you don’t look too bad yourself.”

“Hey, I don’t see why I can’t be beautiful either.” Kai laughed. “But really, I’m not wearing much. I didn’t get all dressed up like you.”

“Trust me, I didn’t want to. But my mother and friends practically kidnapped me and forced me to.”

Kai grinned. “Sounds like some nice friends.”

“The best, actually.”

Kai sighed, and sat on one of the couches. “I wish I had many friends. Most of the people I meet are nobles that are kind of annoying.”

Selene sat next to Kai. “Oh, I hate interacting with the aristocracy sometimes. Winter’s father is a royal guard, and her mother is a seamstress. Cress is a Shell, and her father is a doctor.”

“What about her mother?”

“Dunno. She never talks about her.”

“Huh,” was all Kai said. “You’re smart, making friends with people that aren’t too involved with politics.”

“So you think I’m smart, then?”

“The smartest.”

Selene laughed. Maybe this alliance wouldn’t be so bad.

[gingerale2017]

In Another Life

Day 1 of the kaider ship weeks

For Tyla who really wanted me to write this and Bea, I hope this meets your expectations.

What does one say or do after a fight? Do they turn their backs, run away, apologize, cry, or anything else? And if that fight has put an unfixable dent in a relationship, is it worth trying to work it out?

These were the type of questions Cinder asked herself, late at night. Her thumb subconsciously twisted the ruby ring on her metal finger, comforting herself. Her head pounded in replace of tears and thoughts twisted and turned in her head.

She and Kai fought. Okay, they have fought before- but this was worse. It left a tornado of wreckage in her brain and she struggled to repair the damage. No, one fight wasn’t, couldn’t bring down an entire relationship, she was over-worrying. They would work it out in the morning- hopefully.

She leaned across her bed to switch the light off, and when she did, hopefully, her thoughts would go quiet as well.

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

“Hey,” Cinder said, leaning on the doorframe to Kai’s room. He turned away from the window and smiled, but not one of his breath-taking smiles. It was a smile to cover up the pain. It seems like they were both doing it all day, the time for sadness was last night.

“Hey, are you about to go?” he asked, hands behind his back.

She averted his eyes, not ready for a replay of last night, “yes. Here you go,” she handed him the box where the ruby ring that she held unto for so many months was in. She watched Kai swallow and mutter ‘thanks’ and pocketed it.

“Well, goodbye,” she murmured, walking out. The more detailed and heart-wrenching farewells were last night where she held him one last time.

“What if this is a mistake?” Kai asked abruptly.

“Kai-”

“What if this is something we’re going to regret because I already-”

“Kai,” she said more sternly, “we talked about this. It’s for the best,” a headache was forming slowly. She needed to leave. She couldn’t be here when he would start to cry again. She couldn’t let him see how much damage this doing to her. She didn’t want to see them realize the pain they are causing on each other,

“I- I’m going to miss you,” he murmured, looking directly into her eyes.

“I- me too, Kai. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye, Cinder.”

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

Cinder woke up to the artificial light of Luna. As an ambassador, she made frequent visits over the year from Luna and to Earth. And today was the unfortunate day where she would have to travel back to the place she grew up in, New Bejing. And back to her old love…. But she shouldn’t, wouldn’t think about that.

Sighing, she climbed out of the silk sheets and waited for Iko to bring her the dress for today. She managed to keep her mind blank until Iko arrived, skipping happily with a simple light green dress. “Ah, you’re going to look beautiful, Cinder!” she swooned, obviously happy to see their friends.

“Thanks, Iko,” Cinder loved her, but she could tune down her enthusiasm a bit because it was giving Cinder a headache. Or she’s supposed to cry…

“-with this necklace oh, I’m so excited!” Iko continued to ramble about the outfits for the next week while Cinder pulled up the news in her head.

Of course, the first thing to pop up is Kai. She scrolled but it was more about Kai, and his recent decisions and, she exited out of the feed.

But it was too late; memories of them, and regret returned to mind. Like a hurricane, thoughts slowly formed and swirled until it was strong enough to make an impact. His smile, the ways his eyes would crinkle when she teased him when they said ‘I love you’, their late-night comms, his full lips, his eyes averting hers when she told him that they wouldn’t work out, their lasts kisses, his tears, their last ‘I love you’-

“Are you okay?” Iko asked, staring directly into her eyes. Her head pounded and she nodded, forcing a smile.

“I-I’ll go change now,” she murmured, standing up.

“Hey, you talk to me, I know that it might be a little hard. Seeing him again, I mean,” Iko grabbed her hand, “just remember that I’m here, and the rest of us.”

“Thanks, Iko,” the android smiled and walked away, saying something about Kinney and promising to come back, leaving Cinder alone with her thoughts.

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

Cinder woke up with dread as the morning sun shone over New Beijing. It has been 6 years since the fateful Peace Ball, and four years since breaking up with Kai. She struggled to get up from bed so she stayed still for a few more minutes, ignoring the light tap on the door.

The person knocked again and Cinder groaned and got up stretching, telling the person that she’s coming.

Opening the door she looked down to see Cress smiling up at her, “Hey Cress.”

“Good morning!” the blonde piped, “uh, Iko is currently not here, and I have to tell someone, but, uh-” she turned to see if anyone was behind her and gestured to inside the room. Cinder nodded and let her inside.

“What is it?” Cinder asked, raising an eyebrow.

Cress beamed, “Winter and Jacin are engaged! I didn’t mean to see them and I saw them! Oh stars, I couldn’t tell Thorne because he would tell everyone, and I don’t know if they wanted to tell anyone yet. But I just had to get it off my chest and it’s just so amazing, and wonderful, and ah! I just had to get it off my chest because I don’t think I could keep it a secret that long and-”

Cinder was listening to Cress, or at least she tried to but her mind kept trailing back to her own failed engagement. Did she really want to be around a happily engaged couple while also being near the man she was once dating and still in possible love with?

“Cress, this is great! Good for them,” she meant it, she really did. Cress smiled even wider.

“Sorry, am I talking too much, I’m just excited. Ah, marriage,” she swooned, but then caught Cinder’s fallen face before it was hidden in a split-second, “oh, Cinder, I-”

“No, no, Cress, I’m fine. Besides, I’m happy! Winter and Jacin deserve to be happy! Wow, this is amazing,” Cinder assured. This is about her friends, she should not be sulking around.

“Oh, okay. See you tonight?” asked Cress, her peppiness returning.

“Yes, of course!” Cinder said, closing the door. Then she continued to slump on the door. Why did she feel this way? It’s been four years! And she should be happy for her friends, it is a happy day for everyone across the world. Six years in peace. She should be happy. She is supposed to be happy. She wants to be happy. She needs to be happy.

But Cinder was not.

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

Cinder woke up as soon as the alarm in her head went off. She quickly untangled herself from the comfy sheets and outside the guest room of the New Beijing Palace, while snatching a robe. Walking silently to the elevator she ordered the android where to go. She shrugged the robe one and relaxed into it. The elevator doors opened, revealing the empty floors of the treasury floor. When she reached the actual room, she nodded at the guard who knew she was coming and he let her in. Then she walked straight to the object she was pulled to, an object that was once hers.

Her engagement ring.

Eight years since the call-off and she still felt a connection to this ring and its empty promises. Every time she visited the palace and had to pretend to be okay around Kai, she had visited this damned ring, and every time she wished that they didn’t break up. That she could wake up in his arms once again instead of empty bed sheets and listen to his voice. To feel the warmth of his lips and to see the blush of his cheeks. For his lips to quirk and his smile brighten. To look into his eyes and feel safe and at ease instead of dread and regret.

Eight years and she hasn’t moved on. It’s pathetic, really, and even the public has started to take notice of how awful she looked. And they started to compare her and Kai because Cinder hasn’t found someone else and Kai… Well, Kai has. He let go of her and found someone else and is apparently impossible for Cinder to do so. She has tried and it seemed impossible. She couldn’t try to date someone without thinking of Kai. ‘Kai doesn’t do that’ or ‘Kai has very different thoughts on this’. Basically Kai this, and Kai that. And it’s been eight fucking years and she still loves him. It’s been eight fucking years and she wishes she was wearing this ring,

It’s been eight fucking years.

With that thought, she turned around and left.

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

Cinder awoke to knock at her door. First, she checked the time and it was five in the morning and still dark outside. Second, she groaned and picked herself up.

“Coming,” she assured and walked towards the door sleepily. Who would need something at five in the morning? Thorne probably, except it was not Thorne. It was Kai.

She stared at him a little bit in shock because although they were friends, they weren’t close enough to wake each other up at five in the morning for the sake of their sanity, “Kai? What’s wrong? What do you need?”

He looked away and scratched his neck and that was attractive to Cinder because of course, it was. She was still a tiny bit in love with him after eleven years, “I need to tell you something,” he said and she knows he’s being serious.

“Oh. Okay, uh what is it?” Cinder mumbled. Her first thought was that he wanted to try again but that was stupid because if he did he would have told her ten years ago. Ah, it must be the time that’s making her sluggish.

Kai pulled a ring, the ring, her ring, out of his pocket. She watched the color filter from the lamp inside and marveled at it the same way she had at Scarlet’s farm when it was actually meant for her, “I’m thinking about it, and I don’t know what to do and I wanted your opinion because you’re, um-”

“The only person whose alive that you’ve been engaged to?” she needed to pretend to be impassive, for her sake.

He smirked, and stars, her heart still fluttered, “Yes. That.”

Cinder forced as smile as his gaze grew serious again, “there is something else I wanted to tell you.”

“Yes?”

“I’m questioning myself because there is a little bit of me still- still in love with you. And no matter how hard I try, that love will never fade. And I think that I will always love you, Cinder.”

“I-I,” she paused, looking for the right words. And that is when she realized that this is a chance for her to confess herself to him. But she doesn’t because it’s been so long and they probably have forgotten how to love each other. And they would fight and be unhappy, but they would still be in love, right? But she wanted to be happy, and so does he, and even though they still love each other, they would not be happy. They would never get what they want. So she sighs and continues, “Kai, if she makes you happy, the do it, because after all you’ve been through you deserve to be happy. And yes, I tiny part of me is still in love with you as well, but it would forever be that way because… that’s just how it is. No matter what you decide, I think you know what would be best for you. And I hope things work out better with her than with me.”

Kai smiled, just a bit, and hugged her. Cinder tried not to lean into his touch but failed and hugged him back. A headache began to take shape, a familiar one that had to do with tears which made her let go, “Well, good luck.”

“Thank you, Cinder. I’ll tell you how it goes. You’d be the first to know.”

“I better.”

“Good morning, by the way.”

Cinder smiled, “good morning, Kai.”

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

Cinder woke up for the final time, gasping with a hand around her heart as if she were protecting it. Her hair messed up from restless sleeping fell around her as she controlled her breaths and reached to turn the ring in a calming way. She had over-worried about the fight, at least her subconscious did. The nightmare, clear and bright in her mind unfolded, and when she found she could not calm herself down, she got out of bed.

When she was halfway down the hallway, laughter rolled out of her that somehow turned to sobs she quickly quieted when she rapped on Kai’s door.

He opened it fairly quickly and she noticed the bags under his eyes. He hasn’t slept, of course, which was a habit of his. But when he saw her state he stepped out and widened his arms. He knew that Cinder had a nightmare. Unlike her dreams, they knew each other. But after those eleven years, they had forgotten, but that wouldn’t be a problem because they would spend those eleven years together, happy, like they are now, right?

Kai moved her inside and sat her on the bed. He left her to close the door and brought his hoodie that usually served to comfort her. He helped her put it on and then enveloped her in his warmth again, but it was more for him than for her. Cinder let loose her laughter-sobs and he kissed her head and comforted her. It was the first time either of them have spoken and its gentle and kind, not the alarming rising voices from hours before.

When she calms down a bit they move under the covers, wrapped around each other’s warmth, Kai begins to speak, “I’m sorry for what I said earlier, love.”

Cinder doesn’t say anything simply because she has nothing to say.

He continues, “I was tired and frustrated about something earlier but there’s really no excuse. I was angry, and I took it out on you. I-I didn’t mean to, and I certainly did not mean anything I said. I’m so sorry Cinder.”

She hugs him tighter, a tiny sob escaping her and he kisses her hair, “I’m sorry too, I said some hurtful things, but Kai,” Cinder sought out his eyes, the eyes she had missed so much in her dreams, the eyes that never failed to look at her with love, “you are the love of my life and every word that seems to mean that I don’t love you is untrue because I do love you, and nothing will ever change that. It might’ve taken me eleven years to realize that, but it’s true.”

They stare at each other and there are so many things that aren’t said but understood between them, so many apologies, so many promises. After a while his brow furrows, “eleven years?” he mumbled.

“Don’t worry about it,” Cinder whispers, her eyelids closing.

Right when she’s about to reach sleep Kai asks another question, “what exactly did you dream about?”

She gathers enough strength to press her lips to his, “about us,” she says, “in another life.”

A/N: I do not have the emotional preparation to break them up forever but I wrote this. Never wrote kaider angst before so whoo go me! Also, it is so late as for the rest of my ship weeks works so sorry about that. Hope you enjoyed it! (I am also very proud of this - it has 2618 words!)

Tagging: @just2bubbly @shelbylmkaider @deprivedmusicaljunkie @greasicookies @greenalmond @a-salting-the-world @cerenoya @the-wee-woo-rita @zephyr-thedragon @shellyseashell @winterrhayle @jacihayle @kaiderforever @cinderswrench @cindersassasin (ask if you want to be added or removed :D)

[shellyseashell]

TLC SHIP WEEKS MASTERLIST

A masterlist of all the one shots I wrote for tlc ship weeks 2021! Read on ao3

Worthy of the Title - kaider

Blizzard - kaider

Journey of Us - kaider

Breathtaking Butterfly - cresswell

Show Me - cresswell

Now That I See You - cresswell

Canon Shot - cresswell

Chocolate Cake - cresswell

[shellyseashell]

MASTERLIST

howdy welcome to my blog! i write stuff, usually about lesbians. here’s everything i’ve written and headcanons <3 some stuff links to ao3 btw also fic recs can be found under the tag #naia recs fics, and fancasts under #naia fancasts

Taglist: @salt-warrior @yeah-asbestos @cinderswrench @linh-song @cindersassasin @healing-winston-pratt @just2bubbly @gingerale2017 @thestarryeyedsapphic @zephyr-thedragon @that-glasses-dog

THE LUNAR CHRONICLES

breath of life - ocxoc, mulan retelling, canon compliant

tlc femslash february - mainly cressder and winlet

tlc ship weeks 2021 - kaider and cresswell

look like hell - kaider one shot, canon compliant

be alright - kaider one shot, canon divergent

all that matters - wolflet one shot, canon compliant

forgotten day - kaider one shot, canon compliant

grey hoodie - kaider one shot, canon compliant

AVATARVERSE

looks like we’re soulmates - korrasami soulmate au, modern au

RENEGADES

all those years - danissa one shot, canon compliant

noby headcanons

THE HUNGER GAMES

district 4 headcanons

WILLOW (2022)

i’m a wanted man (i got blood in my hands) - boorman backstory one shot

drown out the voices in the air - tanthamoretober one shot, filling the prompts magic, cursed location, and voices in your head

DESCENDANTS

heart made of glass (my mind of stone) - how claudine joined the lost revenge

harriet hook headcanons

mal headcanons

evie grimhilde headcanons

jay bin jafar headcanons

carlos de vil headcanons

ginny gothel headcanons

ben beast headcanons

audrey rose headcanons

celia facilier headcanons

calista jane hook headcanons

freddie facilier headcanons

gil legume headcanons

harry hook headcanons

jordan of agrabah headcanons

uma triskelion headcanons

jade bint nasira headcanons

ally of wonderland headcanons

maddy mim headcanons

yzla headcanons

hadie headcanons

anthony tremaine headcanons

sammy smee headcanons

marya rasputin headcanons

hold me close (never let go) - marya heals claudine’s wounds

elaine of camelot oc introduction

clovis de chateapuers oc introduction

rainfall - for a prompt. it rains on the isle.

not your fault (but mine) - brief history on elaine

charlotte turner oc introduction

our finest gifts we bring - my 2023 holiday gift exchange fic

magnus mim oc introduction

[healing-winston-pratt]

TLC Ship Weeks 2021

Free Day!!

Seamista! Carsin from a SPOP AU bc I think it's funny(?)

@kaiderforever Thank u so, soooo much for hosting this wonderful event ✨💖✨!!! The prompts were amazing and I had so much fun both coming up with my drawings and seeing everyone's incredible works!!

(You can check my other entries here!) :

Kaider

Wolflet

Cresswell

Jacinter

[just2bubbly]

To Us

Masterlist

TLC Ship Week 2021!

*written for tlcshipweek2021- kaider for the prompt 'Journey of Us'

@kaiderforever

Summary:

"I'm thinking."

"A coin for your thought?"

"Nothing much... just I'm 27 and have this beautiful person seating on top of me, not that I'm complaining-"

"Come to the point Kai, you were definitely not thinking that."

...

The night before their second anniversary is quite extra-ordinary as both of them reflect back on their past. The present that they are living seems unbelievable to the two royals- just the two of them, together. What more can they ask for?

Ship: Kaider

Words: 3k

Genre: Fluff, Sick

Prompt: 'Journey of Us'

__

*Post- Winter

Cinder's Perspective:

"I'm so sorry, Kai," she said as he handed her the bowl of soup.

"No worries darling, it doesn't really bother me-"

"Yeah, but I know you wanted to have some alone time and I just ruined your plans."

"C'mon Cinder- you are more important than my plans. Besides we can go after you have recovered."

"Even then I feel extremely sorry for being under the weather at such a happy moment-"

"Sickness does not come looking at your calendar- wondering if it's the right time to crash on Miss Selene now that she does not have anything planned," he jested.

She glared at him while inhaling the smell of the chicken noodle soup wistfully.

"I'm gonna forget you said that because this soup tastes so good. You have really mastered cooking."

"Thanks- I asked Suho for his recipe, seeing how you liked the one he made when we visited them last month."

"So have anything planned- now that I'm going to be staying in the bed for at least two more days?" she questioned.

"Well- No?"

"No?" she mimicked, surprised at his answer. She had assumed he might have come up with some different sort of elaborate plans for the day.

"Like there is not really much I can do with you being sick that will qualify as classy and romantic... you know that right?"

"You don't have to."

"I'm going to!"

The thing they happened to be talking about was their second anniversary. Kai had wanted to go to a nice cottage home that his mother had brought on Wusong Island in Jilin. Cinder knocked off all his plans with the unwanted and very bad timings of the flu she had caught. hence they or rather she was forced to stay in bed for an entirety of 5 days?!- well the doctor had told 3 but her very sensitive and caring husband made it 5.

Her husband observed her as she drank the soup, feeling slightly awkward at the sudden attention she barked, "What?"

"Nothing- just staring at my beautiful wife!"

"Don't- it's making me self-conscious, for a minute I thought I was drinking it wrong or something and you were going to yell at me for not holding my spoon properly. And Kai, stop calling me beautiful when I have a runny nose, that's too sore and pink from all the tissues I am blowing into and I feel like I'm wearing rags right now," she said pointing out to her loose grey t-shirt and shorts, that were quite old with its colour faded still they were comfortable and that's what mattered.

"You always look beautiful to me!"

She smiled and asked, "What do you want?"

"Can't I just call you stunning babe?"

"Oh, and won't you be honest with your beautiful wife?"

He sighed and asked, "Can't I join you?"

She wished he would but instead settled for a bittersweet smile and said, "Kai you won't want to catch the flu. Believe me, you don't want your one nasal cavity feeling like a desert and the other one like a shitty waterfall!"

Kai had been adamant about cuddling while she was sick- she did not want him to catch her sickness. Hell, she would have actually made him sleep on the adjacent very large couch in their room if he would have not been half as stubborn as her. Alas, he would not budge and they had settled for some distance between them for Kai's well being.

"Please," he said in an annoyingly cute way, pouting his lips and crinkling those damn beautiful eyes of his to make an impact.

She was not going to budge to his antics- after all, she was supposed to look after him when he decided to make dumb desires.

"Only if you take the couch to sleep today," she argued.

"Cinder didn't we already talk about this?! I'm not taking the couch even if it's too comfortable and for my own good!"

"Don't tell me, I did not warn you, when you get sick," she said and patted the space near her, keeping the bowl aside while scooting away to make space for him.

He jumped at the offer and settled close to her as she leaned against his chest.

"Hmm... I missed you," he mumbled as he pressed his chin on her head, his words filling the comfortable silence.

"You are not really sad that I'm sick, are you, Kai?"

"I'm not, Cinder- it would not matter if I spend our anniversary on a beach, a cottage or in bed as long as you are there beside me- even if you are sick," he said reassuringly.

"Okay,' she replied.

He drew circles on her back and she reclined into him until she was more or less practically into his lap- all thoughts of making him sick with contact forgotten.

She had almost dozed off when he muttered quietly," Torin said we could have a week off if you wanted."

"Oh? and are you- are we?"

"I dunno, it's not every day that I can take a day or two off and it's pretty chill right now- not much work so I'm thinking about it."

"Maybe we should," she suggested, already knowing that they would be taking a holiday soon.

"Maybe."

They remained silent, just enjoying each other's presence and the quiet around them, the beats of their heart providing a soothing sound as they beat together. She would have been more than happy to sleep like that- in Kai's arms with the rhythm of their hearts as music to her ears.

"I'm thinking," he whispered his lips near her ear.

"A coin for your thought?"

"Nothing much... just I'm 27 and have this beautiful person seating on top of me, not that I'm complaining-"

"Come to the point Kai, you were definitely not thinking that," she challenged.

"Well,- yeah you caught me there- just I'm so happy in this moment. I married the love of my life and 10 years ago, I would have never thought that I would end up where I am right now."

Thinking over his words, she responded, "Well you would not be the only one now there now, would you?"

"Yeah- at 18 I had as good as convinced myself that I would not see myself grow to become 19- probably be killed by Levana before that-"

"Who knows maybe she would have loved you and vice versa," She joked, having come to terms with the horrors of her past by now.

"Yeah, weren't you just jealous of my wife, Cinder?- killing her like that."

"Oh! No Kai, I fought for you and came out as the winner," she jabbered with a wink.

"Quite a prize I'm, now aren't I?" he boasted, winking in response.

"Stop sounding like Thorne- besides, stop using sarcasm to just avoid talking about your feelings," she said, clearly forgetting what had started the mild flirting.

"Like you don't," he muttered under his breath.

Taking quite his chances trying to figure out if she had forgotten or not-

"Kai, continue," she ordered.

"There's nothing serious- just got me riled over a silly thought, that's all!" he said, avoiding to speak.

"Talk," she ordered before he could make any excuse.

Sighing he said, "Back when I was 9, I had always thought that I would have a wife that loved me like Mum loved Dad, but I was too simple back then. Later I quite got the hang that I would be the Emperor and... you know right, how marriages are looked upon as alliances in royalty?- so, maybe I thought- I would not know what love is, like what it really means. Levana just happened to come around the time when I had wholly convinced myself that I would never marry out of love- just some woman who was the daughter of some important person to strengthen bonds or something like that. And at the same time you decided to pop in my life- well I popped in yours but after a few days I had certainly started liking you, sort of even had a crush on you while you were on the run but things happened and well you know what happens later.. " he trailed.

"You did marry someone important Kai, remember I am the ex-Queen of Luna?" she said, turning around to look at him.

"How can I forget? have got quite a knack for Queens," he said, a grin breaking on his face however it did not reach up to his eyes.

"Yeah- even then you love me and I do love you! Although you had to marry someone before- you supposed to make the right choices later, you found love with me, I was quite a big show myself- a simple mechanic and then I come out as the long lost princess of Luna. I am happy- elated for where I am right now-minus the sick part but I think I can endure it," she admitted.

"I see, my happy outlook has quite rubbed on you - I don't want to change anything even if I could- I'm so fortunate to be here with you," he exclaimed, caressing the back of her hand with his thumbs.

"You know if someone had told me when I was 15 that someone would love me when I grow older, I would have called them a fool and probably shut my door on their face. If they had told me that I would be married to a kind man at 23, found true love at 16- I would have yelled at them to make young girls fantasize about something like marriage when there were important things in life. If they had told me that I would marry a man who loved me, much less an Emperor- I would have been shocked for the love of my life. No pun intended so don't point it out or grin- " he did grin even when she asked him not to "-Can't believe I'm really married to you even at the age of 25- like you are believable but the whole Emperor of EC is a too big thing for me who felt unlovable till 16- like hell with the world but I had thought I would probably be those single cat ladies just without the cats- I think they are nasty. Yet here I am!" She rambled, declaring the last part with a blinding smile.

"Quite unbelievable, ain't it?

"Yup- wouldn't change a thing though!"

"If I asked you-

"to marry you again then I would say yes without a moment to lose," she continued.

She did not know who rushed in first but his lips were on her and he whispered 'Good' against her lips, kissing them fervently. Before thinking she moved, making Kai groan at the loss of sudden contact, taking as many tissues that could fit in her hands from the tabletop, she blew her nose, feeling sickening.

Kai looking at his wife firstly in a bizarre way followed by a sympathetic smile, "Maybe we should keep kissing to the minimum."

"Yeah- I look gross," she agreed.

"Do you want to take some steam?"

"No- I'm okay," she answered, continuing to blow her nose which considerably contradicted her sentence.

"Tell me if you change your mind."

"Can you pass me more tissue?"

Having cleared her nose long enough to go without a blowing nose fit for at least a few minutes she whined, "My nose hurts- is it pink?"

"Really Cinder?- are you caring about your slightly pink nose right now instead of your health? I think it looks cute tho-"

"You had called me cute even when I was drenched in mud. Sorry for blowing up like that!"

He chuckled adding, "Quite got me confused for a minute there"

"I can't believe I'm sick on our anniversary-"

"Hey! I was sick on my birthday, don't beat yourself on that."

"C'mon aren't you even a tiny bit sad Kai- you make it sound like you are happy seeing me sick in bed!" she complained.

"I had be happy with you in bed, don't you think?" he said with a smirk tugging at his lips.

"I don't wanna sneeze and blow my nose on you so, NO!-" she replied. "-I don't think I have the energy to do anything."

"You had your meds?" he inquired.

"Yes," she said avoiding his gaze.

"And when did you take them?"

"Well- one is remaining- it's really bitter, can't I just skip it? Please!" she pleaded.

Paying no heed to her words, he just leapt out of the bed to fetch the said tablet- returning with the red and white capsule that was going to cause Cinder much misery.

"Here," he said, offering the glass of water.

"Please, Kai, it's so bitter and I don't want to spoil the taste of the soup-"

"Cinder, I'm not going to budge- you are having it. Personally, it's not that bad, you drilled Camilla into being nice for a day last week- you can handle a bitter tablet."

She stared at him not moving to pick the capsule from his hand, he stared back. It was a healthy competition, the one who blinks first will lose-

"Achoo- chu-" she sneezed rather unexpectedly making Kai victorious.

"I hate you," she mumbled glaring at him as she took the med- sticking her tongue out to him as the harsh taste of medicine could be felt down her throat.

"Love you too, Cinder."

"I was not even half as troublesome as you are right now when you were down with that stomach bug 6 months ago- I even allowed you to read those documents in bed and this is how you repay me for my kindness?"

"I repay in kindness- Come here, you can have the cuddles as your reward."

This time she kept some tissues nearby just in case and as revenge kept her very cold hand on Kai's bare torso. It did not look like it bothered him- he just snuggled closer to her, making sure that her hand was as much on her as on him.

"I can't believe it's already been two years since we married!" she blurted out.

"True."

"Quite hard to digest even after 2 years of marriage!- Sometimes my heart can't handle the sight of you in the morning- so peaceful and lovely," he declared.

"And you look so good at night when you scrunch your nose yawning- you look so adorable with those puppy eyes you make!" she added.

"Remember that time when Torin had almost found us hiding in the library trying to skip the staff maintenance meeting?" he asked.

"It was not much hiding, Kai- like he could have tracked us within seconds if he wanted to... I think he was hiding as well," she replied, remembering how Torin had spent so long trying to find them in the library even when they were loud enough to be found by anyone.

"Yeah, and when he did that toast for you after you had check-mated Camilla at her own games, I can't forget how proud he looked of you."

"Well, you had helped and I did not do much if you would not have been there to-"

""Oh, don't flatter me! It was you who stole the whole show that day. Vargas was so happy someone had skived Camilla after all these years," He chuckled and continued to add, "Stars, the toast that Thorne made-"

"No, Kai! I don't wanna remember it- I'm so happy he would not be teasing me tomorrow, I'm gonna use the 'sick' card if he embarrasses me like that again."

"He was so funny-"

"That humour traumatized me for life!"

"Well, he outdid himself that one time."

Recalling her friend's more than bizarre speech at their wedding she smiled fondly, her gaze falling on the large clock in their bedroom.

"Kai it's almost 12," she pointed out.

"Oh! yeah- quite late, uhm- er-early?" he sputtered.

"It's our anniversary!" she exclaimed with joy.

"Do you think we can make a toast? like is it okay for you to have wine?" he questioned for her approval and well-being.

"I don't think a glass of wine will worsen my flu, so why not?"

"Okay, I will fetch it before it the clock strikes 12," he said, already moving out to get the bottle of red wine they had stashed somewhere in the adjacent kitchen they had made in their chambers since they had been engaged. Cinder did not really like going to the Palace's kitchen every time she had a strong craving for some midnight snacks. Besides it was too far from their and Cinder was not really very happy about that- she liked cooking, scratch that- she liked seeing Kai cook and eat the delicacies he made.

Kai walked few minutes before it was midnight, trying to balance the two glasses and the bottle.

"Here let me help," she said, taking the bottle from his hand, uncorking it while he held the glasses for her to pour into. Having poured both their glasses to an acceptable amount, they turned to the clock waiting in anticipation for the final hour of the day to end.

"Wanna say something?"

7.6.

"Not yet!"

4.3

And as the digits changed to zeroes, they looked at each other and said, "Here's to the two years of marriage and togetherness-"

"- and many more that will come!"

"To my charming husband,"

"To my loving wife,"

The clink of the glass was unheard over their words.

"To us!"

__

A/N: I think you deserve fluff after the torture that I gave you! Here's nice married Kaider fluff for you guys.

The person named 'Suho' is none other than Torin's husband and I like to imagine Kai cooking and doing all sort of domestic stuff, even when he is the Emperor. This fic had wholesome amount of fluff, and sickness in it. I have really written so many shots this week- have been quite productive this month thanks to Ship Week.

Be sure to comment and vote!

Taglist: @cinderswrench @gingerale2017 @linhcinder686 @shellyseashell @ladyvesuvia @shelbylmkaider @levanariddle @cindersassasin @kaider-is-my-otp (Tell me if you wanna be added/removed)

[gingerale2017]

Masterlist

Masterlist

Here is my masterlist of fics and other things :)

The Lunar Chronicles

Fanfiction

Series

- The Rampion Team Masterlist (on hold)

- How To (Not) Date a Celebrity Masterlist (on hold)

Kaider One-Shots

- Say No To This

- Eat

- Shut Up!... Please

- So This is Love

- Exhausted

- Third Wheel

- "Now, Kiss"

- One Last Time

- Secret Santa

- A Little Longer

- a letter to prince kai, part

- Morning Haze

- All There is to Do is Wait

- Only You Can Mend My Heart of Glass

- Toothbrush

- News To Share

- i’ll be your favorite toy

The Crew

- Cinder’s Birthday

- Karaoke Night

- The Day Cinder Found The Smile

Wolflet One-Shots

- Red Hair

Headcanons

- tlc hc of mine

- Marriage headcanons

- Cabins and Houses

- Kai’s lil sis

- Kaider Fluff Prompts

- “normal people”

- no thoughts

- oversharing

Asks

- Thunder

- Return

- Stitches

Memes

- The Office Quotes

- They’re the same picture

- Panik, Kalm, Panic

- Picrew couple pictures

- Pads

- Cursing

- Incorrect Quotes

- Murder

- Damsel, Dude, Civilian

- What would you like?

Relating Songs

- it’s brutal out here ( 1, 2, 3 )

- Talking to the Moon

Miraculous Ladybug

Fanfics only on Tumblr

- Secrets

- On The Way Home

Other

- Twilight au crossover hc

- Tlc Ship Weeks 2021

- Kai’s Character Development

- TLC Parents Romance

More will be added in the future. I’ll keep you updated!

[just2bubbly]

Cursed Souls

Masterlist

TLC Ship Week 2021!

*written for tlcshipweek2021- kaider for the prompt 'Cursed'

@kaiderforever

Summary:

"Thorne, Do you think I'm cursed?"

"What?"

"Uh- like do you think I'm cursed? that Cinder- s-she is-"

"Is suffering because of you?"

"You really love Cinder."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

...

Grief can make your mind think distressed thoughts, Kai with a haywire mind turns to Thorne for help- feeling overwhelmed just moments after the rebellion as he waits to hear news of Cinder.

A snippet of Kai alone with his thoughts as he waits outside the OT following the brutal injury of Cinder in Winter.

Ship: Kaider

Words: 2.5k

Genre: Angst, Hurt-Comfort

Prompt: 'Cursed'

__

*Sort-of canon-divergence.

Kai's Perspective:

Saying that he was anxious would be an understatement of his (let's assume long) lifetime. Everything around him was intense. After making sure that the Earthens were in a secure place, Kai followed by Torin had hastily returned to the Throne room. He could not focus on anything after Iko had told him that Cinder had gone to face Levana- alone.

Kai was praying to anyone who would listen- he prayed for Cinder's safety. Everything around him had been so rushed in the last few days- he had been high on adrenaline since the time he had helped Cress stick to the plan, coming back for crowning Levana as the Empress, to the sudden outburst of Lunars, the rebellion, him being captured and later escaping.

Kai was not sure how he remained on his own two feet walking through the pale halls of Artemisia Palace.

"Kaito, she shall be fine", Torin assured.

Kai was not going to buy it- how could Cinder be fine with a tyrant like Levana, who was likely trying to kill her?

He yelled at his own mind for letting Cinder go alone to confront Levana.

All of a sudden the sound of gunshots was heard, followed by a cry of pain making Kai look in horror at his advisor. He hoped it was anyone but Cinder. His heart was pumping loudly- at some inhuman speed and the rush of adrenaline forced him to walk faster than humanly possible. As the elegant and large doors of the throne room became visible, memories- horrors of incidents that would likely haunt him for the rest of his days flooded in Kai's mind.

Now was not the time to be sentimental- it was the time to be brave and help Cinder... if she was in a position to be helped.

The sight that was before his eyes stopped him in his tracks. Kai was dumbstruck at the sight of so much blood pooling in the throne room- the red a stark contrast to the pale marble floor and the real condition of the usually-disguised face of Levana- the face behind the glamour was enough to make him go stiff and be rooted to the spot.

However, Torin shook him out of his reverie to point out things- people. No, not just any people, his newly made friends.

He exhaled sharply when he saw Thorne, Scarlet and Wolf alive. He could not say the same when his eyes fell on Cress and Cinder. A sob escaped his shaking lips as Kai ordered Torin to call for doctors.

As he ran towards her with a thumping heart, he hoped he would not collapse at the sight of Cinder's misery.

A pool of dark red blood had surrounded her, her bosom had a knife- it did not take much to conclude that Levana had stabbed Cinder. His cheeks were damp with moisture as he huddled next to her- not sure what to do. Cinder coughed blood, her face gone pale because of the loss of so much blood. She could not cry but the worried lines along her forehead full with beads of sweat as she nibbled on her lower lip to think of anything but the wound- to avoid screaming with agony were enough to speak about her misery.

"Cinder," he cried through trembling lips.

"Kai, help Cress first. I won't-" she said through irregular words. Even in death, Cinder thought about saving others above herself.

"Shh, she is going to be fine. You're going to be fine." He said with questionable certainty. He had never known any person who had been stabbed to know how fine the after-effects were. Yet he refused to lose hope.

"Kai," she said smiling a bit sarcastically. As if both of them knew that they were lying to each other- to console, to convince.

"Don't speak I'm here- help is coming. Try to breathe. You're going to be fine." He said trying to assure him more than her.

"No- listen, Kai, look at me I might not have enough-" she hacked blood mid-sentence. Her stuttering words were cut short due to her current state. However, Kai very well knew what she was to say.

"All my ears to you, Cinder." He smiled at her, the same cheeky smile he had shown her at the garage, where they had met for the first time.

"Don't mourn for me Kai," she said. "-And I know I will not make it. My time as the revolutionary is over. I was not meant to be Queen or Princess. I trust you to do what you can for everyone," she muttered through ragged breaths, stopping from time to time to inhale sharply.

Kai would mourn for her death even if she prohibited it, even if it was forbidden. His throat ached as he tried to form sentences, probably not the last one she would hear.

"Cinder you are going to live through it. You will live long enough to rule yourself and do what you can for Luna." He said as his voice threatened to quiver, to cry out loud. He knew she was slipping away from him, as her glazed eyes rolled at the back of her head, eyes that would spontaneously shake looking at the ceiling. He would not lose her- hadn't he suffered enough grief to last a lifetime?

She closed her eyes and as calm resided over her features, Kai thought he had lost her. He could not hold it anymore, he cried not giving a damn- the Emperor of EC was crying for his beloved who was in his lap. Dying.

"No, Kai. I am a lowly mechanic. The Emperor should not cry for someone like me- Be h-happy Kai," she said with her eyes closed. It felt like she could bear to gaze into his eyes.

Kai begged for a miracle. How he wished that he would wake up and all this would just be a bad dream. He hoped that Cinder would live to see that she was never just a lowly mechanic. How she was always more than someone to him!

She cleared her mouth to say something instead a sharp breath was inhaled. Her lips now red with her own blood.

"You were the happy ending to my tragic life, Kai. I hope you remember that," She murmured.

He did not know if it was her or fragments of his own imagination speaking to him. He watched over as the others raised her and lay her across a stretcher. She was taken out to someplace where Kai followed blindly. They argued over something with Torin in the corner as he kept losing his mind- little by little.

He wanted to tell her, wanted to say them till she believed it.

"His ending without her would no longer be happy."

Still, he could not mutter any words as he choked on his own sobs. he was not brave enough to think that Cinder was dying inside. His haywire mind failing to register the happenings around him.

Torin appeared beside him and held him tight, unknowingly muttering soothing words- not knowing how to comfort the grieving Emperor. He stood outside white doors while Cinder lay inside, he cried his heart out on Torin's shoulder having had no clue if she was alive or not. He refused to listen to anything, he refused to talk- to ask about her state.

His mind played back the whole scenario over and over trying to make sense of his messed-up present.

Selene had been a mystery to him, she was a lost princess born out of his imagination, Torin used to describe it as a lost cause once. When he gave up on her, Cinder walked into his life. When the matter was revealed, he had hope. Selene and Cinder- just different names had been his hope for a long time, his ray of hope was struggling indoors. She was far away from him, from the world. He clutched on tightly to Torin trying to make sense of his falling apart life.

"T-Torin, is she a-a- okay?" he inquired.

"She will be."

"You think so?"

"Yes, Kai. She is a strong woman."

He remained silent for a long time- staring at the doors that would not allow him to enter. Trying to avoid thinking about the 'what-ifs'.

He did not move from his position for the entire day, keeping himself rooted to the seat before the door, with Torin beside him.

"You killed her, Kai. You are responsible for her fate... if not for you she would have never been drawn into this mess-"

"-She would not be dying right now"

"How selfish of you to use her for your own gain!?"

"She was just a poor girl aching to be loved- and look what you did!"

"You cursed her"

"'She is dead because of YOU"

He opened his eyes- panting for breath. All the voices sounded like Levana... she was dead right? He had never bothered to check if she was alive or dead, as he was in the haste due to Cinder's state- could she have survived?

Realizing he was just hyperventilating, it was a nightmare- nothing about it should trouble Kai into thinking that the tyrannical Queen was alive. He might have dozed off, sitting in the medical chamber of the palace, he thought trying to make his mind stray away from the loud thoughts of his mind.

'Was he cursed?'

Kai did not have many people in his life that he would have claimed to love, but the ones he did were either dead or dying.

'He had loved his parents, hadn't he? And where were they now?', He thought bitterly.

They hadn't even be buried like royals ought to, their goods burnt down to prevent the spreading of the disease to Kai or others. Their bodies were cremated in an incinerator as a precaution. Kai could not even be near them, being asked to see the whole ordeal from far away for his own safety. He had lost both of them to Leutomosis.

He loved Cinder and there she was a few metres away from him, perhaps already gone on another journey beyond life.

Maybe he was a cursed person, otherwise, why would all his loved ones die? Was he not capable of love? Could he not love anyone without having to lose them? And the ones he loved would all wither and die, while he watched them from far away?

Or was she the cursed one?

The girl who could not be loved, the one who would have a near-death experience, every time someone tried loving her. Cinder and Kai- were they two cursed souls?

Didn't she say, 'You were the happy ending to my tragic life.' and hadn't he thought, 'His ending without her would no longer be happy'?

Did she think he was responsible for her tragic life- her death? Hadn't she been an outcast for a major part of her life thanks to Kai, who failed to realize the sorrow of the cyborgs living in his own nation?

Were they just going to be each other's broken, sorrowful endings?

Not able to cope with his overwhelming thoughts, he looked around for Torin, only to find him nowhere.

He gawked at Thorne, who sat adjoining him and asked, "Thorne, Do you think I'm cursed?"

Thorne was confused, to say the least, maybe he was being too vague so he briefed, "Uh- like do you think I'm cursed? that Cinder- s-she is-"

"Is suffering because of you?" he provided, as Kai failed to continue. He nodded slightly, confirming that he was thinking the same thing.

Much to his surprise, Thorne smiled, not the flirty smile that usually did but a genuine smiled that reached his eyes and said, "You really love Cinder."

Taken aback by his remark he asked, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You are so alike, I can only imagine if the roles were reversed she would be here thinking the same thing."

"You think so?"

"I know so"

"What makes you so confident?"

"You had no idea how tensed Cinder was when you decided to marry Levana to prevent the wolf-hybrid soldiers from doing more damage. She never said it but she thought that she was responsible for all the mess created in your life."

"Okay," he replied, not knowing what else to say.

"Kai, what makes you think you are cursed anyways?"

"It's just- you know, all the people that I have cared about are dead and I do care about Cinder and she is inside fighting to stay alive- I just think I'm cursed, not capable of loving people," he explained.

Kai, would not admit it but saying it aloud made it seem foolish. Thorne would likely laugh at him for feeling he was 'cursed'- like was he even thinking through before popping the question to Thorne.

"Really Kai, sometimes I wonder the future of your country if you happen to be sentimental- how did we get two so feeble-minded monarchs to look after us?!" He asked, dramatically- can always rely on Thorne to disguise his sorrow with charm.

Kai rolled his eyes thinking to himself, 'why did he bother in the first place?' and looked away.

A sigh escaped him and he stated, "You are not cursed, Kai."

Now Thorne did have his attention, it might have been the first sincere thing he said after Cress was taken in OT. Kai realized how he was not the only one waiting for some news outside the medical chamber, not the only one who was afraid.

"You care about your advisor, umm what's his name?"

"Torin," Kai provided.

"Yeah Torin- you care about him, probably look up to him as well and he is neither dead nor trying hard to stay alive. You care about your people and I don't think all of them are dead right now, now are they?"

"No, they are not," he said even though it was a rhetorical question.

"I'm just afraid," he admitted after a long time to which Thorne honestly replied, "Me as well."

He looked at Thorne, trying to understand his grief- if Cress did not make it, Thorne would not be able to live with the guilt- knowing very well that he was responsible for her loss, that if not for him stabbing her in the stomach she would be alive.

"They would make it, right?" he asked, terrified of what Thorne would say.

He did not reply just pressed his lips in a thin line and looked before him. None of them was capable enough to answer it. So, Kai looked ahead as well and prayed because that's what all he could do. Pray.

"Kai stop thinking about bullshit things like being cursed."

Kai nodded, pointing out that he was listening and likely not going to think about how he might be cursed.

He thought before saying it aloud, rolling the words over and over before finally saying them.

"You are really a nice guy, Thorne. No wonder Cress really likes you."

__

A/N: I had promised I had come up with angst, and see here I am- keeping my promise to you guys.

I know I have knocked a lot of medical facts, I know she should be unconscious within seconds but I just choose to overlook it for my plot. I wanted some deep farewell/ goodbye shit before Cinder becomes unconscious (builds up the angst you know).

I wanted to this idea for a long time now, Cinder's almost-death through Kai's POV. This fic was likely going to have a different ending than one the it has now- I was just going to live the ending in grey area but I had to change it to keep up with the prompt 'Cursed' for ship week. Don't blame me writing angst, I am just writing ship week prompts- and apparently all of them happen to be angst!

Tell me what's on your mind after reading it!

Votes and comments are always appreciated.

Thanks for reading!

Taglist: @cinderswrench @gingerale2017 @linhcinder686 @shellyseashell @ladyvesuvia @shelbylmkaider @levanariddlebackup @cindersassasin @kaider-is-my-otp (Tell me if you wanna be added/removed)

[just2bubbly]

Perfect Now

Masterlist

TLC Ship Week 2021!

*written for tlcshipweek2021- kaider for prompt 'Song Day AU'

@kaiderforever

Summary:

He keeps the crown on her head making sure to not disturb her intricate yet beautiful braid.

"Now you, My Queen are perfectly ready!"

...

Last minute panicked thoughts can make a person desperate for escape, a mildly insecure Cinder looks for comfort in her boyfriend- one who is having a trip down his memory lane.

Ship: Kaider

Words: 2k

Genre: Hurt- Comfort, Trip down a memory lane

Prompt: 'Song Day AU'

Song: Perfect Now by Louis Tomlinson

__

*Post Winter

A/N: Some mild changes are made in the song lyrics to meet the Cinder's characters.

Bold Letters are Song Lyrics

Italics are memories

Plain words are present

Kai's Perspective:

You say to me your jeans don't fit You don't feel pretty and it's hard to miss

"Kai, I don't think this is a good idea- like I feel we should just stay inside..."

"Cinder, you do seem to realize that you are the one hosting the party?" he asked only to receive a nod for confirmation as she examined herself in the mirror.

"I don't think you can ditch your own party, one which has so many international leaders in it at least."

"Can't you just go and tell them I'm sick or something like that?" she lamented.

Now, this took him by surprise, Cinder had put hours and minutes to make the State Dinner cum Lunar Ball a success and seeing how she wanted to last-minute ditch it was strange.

"Hey, everything okay?" he questioned, standing behind her.

"Yeah," she said, offering him a short smile, "Just stressed out to back out last minute."

I wish that you could see my point of view As someone staring back at you

Nudging his head in the crook of her neck, he placed his lips at the base of the collar bone, "Don't worry, you would do good!"

"Easy for you to say- I'm panicking on the inside! This is my first time trying to act like royalty. I'm even wearing a pretty dress hosting a big parade of leaders like the Queen of Luna. I just don't want anyone to think I'm the incompetent Queen who has no idea of what ruling a country is- I really don't want to come out as a fool to anyone," she rambled.

"Cinder, look at me," he asked and stared into her eyes, "You will do fantastic and not come out as an ignorant ruler to anyone. I will be there to help you through it remember?"

"I don't think asking you how to use the cutlery at the dinner table is the best thing to do to make an impression," she sassed him.

"Now that depends on the person sitting near you- you won't want Queen Camilla seeing you be unroyal enough to not know how to hold your spoon now would you?" he retorted.

"Well, I'm worried about that too," she admitted, clearly going back to the same topic from which Kai was trying to drive her away.

Sighing he asked, "Is this because of what happened the day before yesterday?"

Reluctantly she nodded her head, her reflection seen in the mirror before them.

"C'mon no one cares even in the slightest if you hugged me before all the masses of people and journalists, I have heard we are quite trending in today's news-"

"Kai, you are not helping!"

"Maybe you could go for a kiss next time," he suggested.

"Ha, as if I would, after what happened?!" she exclaimed.

"Who cares about what Camilla and Andrea think anyways?"

Cinder had made a nice fuss in her own mind trying to regret her decision of bear-hugging Kai before everyone, which on his part he was delighted about. And maybe Queen Camilla and Prime Minister Andrea had been a bit too loud about speaking of Cinder's rash actions.

"Hmm.. yeah. Obviously, I do," she said, clearly not paying attention to her words.

"Did you sleep yesterday?" he asked.

"A little bit," she hesitantly admitted.

"How long?" he demanded.

"A few hours maybe-" he shot her a glare which did its work as she answered,"- two hours."

"Stars above, if not for this ball. I would have put you to bed."

"What's the hurry, Kai?" she asked, making the tips of his ears flush light pink.

"Okay- okay. I think you are fine now that you want to flirt with me!" he affirmed.

She smirked and moved around to face him, setting her hands on his shoulders and laughed, "Scared of me, are you, Emperor?"

He pulled her closer, holding her in a warm embrace and whispered, "Aren't you wickedly evil, Your Majesty?"

He leaned in closer, capturing her lips with his own, tasting the red lipstick she had put. Before they could initiate anything more intimate, there was a knock on the door followed by Iko's voice, "You two should really come out before someone makes the right assumptions about what you are doing in there!"

Now this made both of them flush with embarrassment as they gave flustered looks towards the door anticipating the arrival of Iko inside. She never came saving them both from a lot of discomforts.

"Well, I think we should get going?" he questioned.

"Yeah, I think I need a moment," she replied.

"Then I would-"

She cut off his words, asking," Would you please stay here?"

"Uh- Sure, Cinder," he replied.

"Thank You, Kai." She said looking relieved.

He decided to sit on the armchair till she picked herself up to look like a regal Queen. With silence for his only companion, his mind wandered around, thinking about the person standing a few feet away from him.

One Friday night when we're all out I turn to you and you're looking down And you don't wanna dance I know you love to dance You never stop given half the chance

"He looked at her only to find her avoiding his gaze. Staying back he asked, "Hey, what happened?"

"Uh- nothing!" she lied terribly.

"Cinder are you going to really make me believe that?"

"I don't know but just buy that lie," she pleaded.

"You don't want to get your hands dirty?"

"I don't feel like myself right now."

Surprised he incredulously asked, "You, a mechanic doesn't want to go under a podship and get your hands dirty?"

"No," she muttered.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"You just seem stranger than usual self."

"Trust me, Kai, I don't want to become dirty before my first diplomat meeting as the Queen while another mechanic is already present there," she insisted.

"Fine then.""

Just keep your head up, love, keep your head up Don't hide away, don't ever change

"Kai, do you think I should get a Garan's device too?"

"Well, I don't think you need to have that device. Like irrespective of what people tell you and what you try to convince yourself- you are a Lunar. The Lunar gift is surely fabulous- like don't get me wrong but you can feel someone's bio-electricity, it's sorta a blessing in disguise unless you decide to use it for the wrong purposes- I know you won't do that. Practically, I think it might help in Earth-Lunar political relations if you have the device but it does not really make much of a difference. Winter has it yet stupid leaders think she is manipulating them with her beauty. I think you should not install it- the gift is a part of you. Being Lunar- It is what you are! Don't change it because some angry citizen calls you a Lunar witch. You are what you are and I love you for that!"

"Kai if I would have been there I would have kissed you senseless!"

"Good, I don't deserve anything less after making such a sentimental speech," he said, smirking.

Keep your head up love, keep your head up Don't look away, don't look away 'Cause everybody's looking at you now My, oh, my

That time when she had addressed the issues on cyborgs and Lunar- discrimination on Earth. Her eyes were ablaze with passion as she happens to look determined to make a difference. To change the wrong-doings around her, to change the age-old prejudices in the society- to change the future of both her nation and her kind.

"-I believe that together we can make a difference. I hope the sufferings of people in the society decline and look forward to the situations changing for cyborgs, Lunars and Earthens. I look forward to a world where we can live together harmoniously. I consider that no one is liable for the nature of misery and treatment that my kind has suffered in the past. I trust we can change the world for every one of us- for the better of my kind."

Even when your tears are falling down Still somehow You're perfect now

""I'm so relieved that I can't cry right now."

"Cinder, I told you it would have been fine and I'm sorry... Besides I care- "

"Kai, they happen to call me names. I did not want to look like a sick crybaby before them who cried just because I was called an 'ugly Lunar slash Cyborg','" she fumed.

Seeing how she needed comfort more than ever, he hugged her, drawing circles on her back- trying to loosen the tension in her shoulders.

"Cinder, even if you were ugly crying right now, you would have been the most beautiful person in the world," he reassured, meaning them.

"You are perfect just the way you are!""

You never do but if you asked me to I'd tell the truth lying next to you 'Cause you're the only one When it's said and done You make me feel like being someone good to you

He wondered if he should tell her how beautiful she was. She was the perfect mixture of strength, compassion and determination. She never fetched compliments, never asked Kai how she looked, if she was pretty. That did not stop Kai from showering her with affections that she had been lost on in her early years.

Even at your worst You steal the scene and it's unrehearsed

"Queen Selene Channary Jannali Blackburn was sighted in the outer sector TC-6 helping a young man of 20 named, Mr. Stiton. He tells that he was facing difficulties when Her Majesty encountered him during her tour to sector LM-14. He states that she helped him fix one of the technical difficulties faced while flying a podship. Her Majesty previously had worked as a mechanic in the city of New Beijing. Sources tell she was the best in town."

Kai wondered who these so-called sources were. Somehow Cinder managed to excel at unexpected works- even when she was not trying, she had everyone's attention.

'Every insecurity as a neon sign as bright as day'

"Kai, I really think I should cover my hand! Just pass me the glo-"

"No! You are not wearing the gloves to cover your hand," he denied, making sure to keep the said pair of gloves away from his girlfriend.

"It's so different, not to mention with the hand being gloveless I feel naked, can't you please give me that glove, please," she begged, with a pout.

"Cinder, I said 'No'. There's no way I'm going to let you wear that. Stars- and Iko wanted you to flaunt your leg!" he exclaimed, dragging his girlfriend out.

How could a person as bold and determined and beautiful as Cinder, ever feel insecure?

If you knew what you were to me You would never try to hide away

Cinder, through her own eyes, was an unworthy soul but if she only knew what she meant to Kai- more than just a lover. Within just a year, she was his everything. She was the one- being with her made him whole, made him feel blissful and lively, like all of sudden his life had found its meaning. She was like the water in a desert, the fire in the cold, the chill in the heat. He would convey the depth of his feelings someday- not today. This was a conversation for another day.

I guess some queens don't need a crown And I know why

She looked too good, even powerful without the Lunar crown and Kai finally understood the meaning of, 'Some Queens don't need crowns.'

Still somehow You're perfect now

He keeps the crown on her head making sure to not disturb her intricate yet beautiful braid.

"Now you, My Queen are perfectly ready!"

__

A/N: Hurt-Comfort Trope or was that too much insecurity!? This I think is the last of my 'insecure' fics.

It was written for 'Song Day AU' using the song 'Perfect Now' by Louis Tomlinson (If you have not listened it by now you better do it right away!)  Just Emperor Kai love in his girlfriend Queen Selene- not going to miss a chance to call her perfect now, is he?

I have short-listed too many songs for this prompt and I'm likely going to try to write for all of them.

Be sure to comment and vote.

I do take requests so if you want you can hit me up (I write for Kaider only.)

Taglist: @cinderswrench @gingerale2017 @linhcinder686 @shellyseashell @ladyvesuvia @shelbylmkaider @levanariddle @cindersassasin @kaider-is-my-otp (Tell me if you wanna be added/removed)