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possiamo-andare · 4 years

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Evergreen: Incantava

Eleonora x Edoardo

MASTERLIST

word count: 3.8k

summary: Edoardo and Eleonora bond after Chicco breaks one of Eleornora’s potted plants.

a/n: idk how i feel about this since I’m not 100% comfortable writing about incantava. I’m still trying to figure out how to write the dynamics of their relationship. Hopefully I was somewhat close. enjoy!

Eleonora Sava came to the realisation that parties were not something she liked. Of course, if it was a celebration that consisted of just her close friends, some nice penne pasta, and music then she would have enjoyed it. But the party that was being hosted in her home right now wasn't that kind of party. Fede had told her that it would be a small gathering, not more than fifteen people. The truth was just the reverse. The truth was that he had welcomed everybody he met, about two hundred people, along with some of the most irritating music she'd ever heard. It wasn't the hardest part of it. Sadly, an invitation had been extended to Edo Incanti. Somehow, the boy who everyone knew she despised was invited to her party. She didn't know who allowed it but by looking at Gio’s mischievous grin, she knew he was the culprit. Gio had thought they would be amazing together and made sure Ele heard him. Edo pinned after her like a lost puppy dog after she had told him off at the yard just weeks before. Though Gio mocked her (which she protested against) about their compatibility, she was still indifferente to this curly guy. If Ele was anything, it was stubborn.

“El -” Eva hiccuped in Ele’s ear, hanging onto her as if the floor underneath the intoxicated girl was trembling. “Ele.”

“Hm?” Ele hummed, too distracted to give her friend a long winded answer. She searched for Edo through the crowd. Although she would never admit she was, she couldn’t help herself. It was as if her eyes were drawn to him.

“I need to go to the bathroom.” Eva slurred her words together, almost unintelligible.

Fortunately for Ele, she was fluent in drunken Eva's language and instinctively understood what her friend wanted from her. With a deep sigh and the beginning of a headache, she guided Eva to her washroom where she prayed that Eva would not ask for any more help. Thankfully, Ele did not have to push through the crowd, most people moving out of the way when they saw a drunk girl and her sober friend dashing towards the bathroom.

“I’m gonna wait here.” Ele stated, finally letting go of her drunk friend and pushing her through the threshold of the door.

Eva says nothing, only giggling as she slowly closes the door behind her. Only when Ele hears the familiar sound of a lock clicking, does she finally relax. Tonight has not been the best. She’s been so worried about everyone else, she had not any time to herself to actually party. This was one of the reasons she didn’t like huge parties; she was always the one running around looking after everyone.

She kept her head high, however. She wasn't going to let some bad music and a greedy asshole ruin, a happy night with her friends. Granted, Eva was drunk beyond belief and Silvia had disappeared half way through the night but Ele was determined to let nothing ruin her mood. Because of this determination, she decided it is best to avoid Edo all night to keep her joy intact. She told herself it was because he had a talent of upsetting her in ways no one else could. It was definitely not because he looked too handsome for his own good, or because his curly hair fell around his face in a way that made her stomach drop. It was purely because she hated him. And she always would.

This was proven to be nearly impossible because Edo and his friends loved to cause mayhem and Ele seemed to be constantly looking over her shoulder to see if they were behaving themselves. Even now, as she waited outside the door of the washroom for her friend, she couldn't help but scan the room for the curly haired boy and his rambunctious friends. Unfortunately, it was too late. The second her eyes landed on the group of boys, was also the second Chicco opened the sliding glass door that led to her balcony. Ele's balcony housed tons of different types of potted plants, all very delicate. Only a person that understood botany and the intricacy of flora could enter. Chicco did not fit this criteria. Ele knew what was going to happen before it even did. And when she heard the familiar sound of a pot crashing (having dropped many pots before), she only rolled her eyes. Of course Chicco would be the one to break one of her potted plants.

“Hey!” Ele watches as Edo raises his hands in exasperation, not stepping over the threshold of her balcony. He was almost like a vampire; he couldn’t enter the balcony without the owner allowing him to. It was that, or he understood Ele’s boundaries and the first option seemed more viable. “Dio mio Chicco!”

Ele rushes over to her balcony, leaving Eva in the bathroom. Although she wants to see Edo tell Chicco off for being so clumsy, she rather handle him herself. She didn;t need another reason to thank Edo. She had already said thanks to him way too many times. She approaches Edo at the door of her balcony quietly, as to not draw too much attention to the fact they were talking. Edo is too busy scolding Chicco to see her first and she has to speak up before he even looks to his right.

“What’s happened?” Ele asks, her arms already crossed and her brows pushed together.

These are the walls she puts up whenever she’s around Edo because she’s too scared to show him what her eyes might actually show him. So, she forces herself to look annoyed all the time. Truth is, she could care less if the pot was broken. There was a market ten minutes from her home and the pot cost so little but since Edo was behind the culprit who broke it, she knew she’d have to give him a hard time. God forbid she was easy on Edo. She didn’t want him walking around thinking she had a soft spot for him.

“Ele,” Edo sighs, running his hands through his curly (but shitty) hair. Ele watches from behind him as Chicco is carried out from her balcony and placed on her couch by some of Edo’s friends. Chicco is still smiling and acting as if nothing is the matter. “I’m so sorry. I’ll buy you a new one.”

Ele finally crans her head and looks through the open door of her balcony, finding the mess Chicco left. It’s not as bad as she thought but she can’t let Edo know that. One of her smaller flowers, an evergreen plant her brother bought her last week, has been knocked over. The pot it’s in is cracked and most of the soil is on the floor. Although she’s made a worse mess, she knows Edo feels just terrible. She indulges in the idea that he feels this way for his friend’s accident, considering all the turmoil he’s put her through the last year. Not to mention, the date he made her go on with him. Of course, he technically never forced her and she could’ve just come clean to Silvia and she did actually have a pretty good time, but that's besides the point.

Ele looks back at Edo who, to Ele’s glee, looks terrified and frowns deeper. “That was my favourite plant!” It was, infact, not but she wanted to screw with Edo and by the look on his face, it was working.

Edo rubs his temples, a horrible feeling churning in his stomach. “I’m so sorry, Ele.”

Ele rolls her eyes, suppressing a smile. “Nothing you can do now. I’m just gonna get another pot tomorrow.” She’s just about to turn around when, to her surprise, Edo places a gentle touch to her elbow. She stops before she can turn and feels her heartbeat pick up speed from just that simple touch.

“Let me help. It’s the least I could do.” Edo watches as Ele’s eyes stare at where his fingers caress her elbow and he realizes he has just touched her. It was an accident and he had forgotten, for a moment, how much she hated him.

Ele shakes her head, watching as Edo quickly takes his hand off her elbow. “Eduardo -”

“Edoardo.” He corrects, a small smirk on his face. She’s back to being her snarky self.

“ - I don’t need your help.” She ignores his correction, like all the times she has before.

Edo shrugs. “It’s the least I can do.” He really wants to help. Not to mention, he hopes this good deed will get on Ele’s good side considering he’s been on her bad side for way too long.

Ele shakes her head, indignant. “No, the least you could’ve done was never come to this party.” With that, she turns on her heels and walks away from Edo. She hopes he gets the hint and tries not to follow her but she hears him behind her, only a few steps away.

She decides to get away from this party and see if the market is open. The night has not gone the way she hoped and, in some ways, Chicco helped her out by breaking that pot. Now she can escape the crowd by busying herself with her plants. Although she knows it’s rude to leave her guests, she decides to forget about manners. At least for tonight.

“It was an open invitation.” Edo quips, biting his lip and stifling a laugh, She looks so stiff as she walks, she wonders how she’s able to keep such a straight posture. “Besides, if you didn’t want me to come -”

Ele grabs her coat from the closet and finally turns around to face Edo. She has no good argument so she stays quiet as she adjusts the sleeves on her coat. Although she is facing Edo, she makes no effort to look him in the eyes as he continues to blabber on about Lord knows what.

“Edo! Sta 'zitto!” She just wants him to be quiet for a moment so she can collect her thoughts. Her mind is so scrambled by the loud music and cheering, she slips up and accidentally calls Edo by the nickname so many people call him.

Edo smiles. “Edo? Well, Eleonora Sava, I never thought we were that close.”

Ele rolls her eyes, her cheeks burning from embarrassment. “We’re not.”

Edo leans forward and reaches over her head to grab his coat from the closet. She wishes he wasn’t so close but at the same time, he smells so damn good. Ele’s mind is going so crazy that, for a moment, she goes dizzy. He quickly gets his coat and puts in on himself before Ele even has a chance to ask him what he is doing. For a moment, she thinks he may be going home but she knows better than to think Edo would actually listen to her.

“Well, we went on a date so I’d say we’re pretty close.” He still wears that handsome smirk on his lips and Ele wishes he would stop looking so good just for a second so she could be actually upset with him.

Ele rolls her eyes, ignoring his last comment. She’s more concerned with why he has his coat on. “Why do you have your coat on?”

Edo adjusts his collar, glancing at the mirror to his right before looking back at Ele. “First, you’re basically telling me to leave and now you want to know where I’m going. You’re one confusing woman, Eleonora Sava.”

Ele can’t help but cross her arms over her chest. “You’re going home?” She already knows the answer but asks anyway.

Edo shakes his head. “Of course not. I’m gonna accompany you to get another pot.”

Ele narrows her eyes, stepping closer towards her front door. “How did you know -”

Ele’s cut off by Edo’s laugh and she feels her heart flutter. She quickly swallows and tries to suppress the feeling in her chest as she listens to Edo laugh. “C’mon, Ele, you were looking for an excuse to leave this party. I was watching you. You look like a fish out of water.”

Ele tries to ignore the part where Edo was watching her all night and instead focuses on his teasing of how much she feels uncomfortable in crowds. “Well, not everyone can be Eduardo Incanti, the king of partying and getting shit faced drunk.”

Edo shrugs, a sly smirk always present on his face. “What can I say; I’m the life of the party.”

Ele rolls her eyes yet again. She knows that there has to be some kind of record she has broken because she is constantly rolling her eyes around Edo. “You’re not coming.”

Edo fishes in his coat pocket for a moment before pulling a wad of cash clipped together. He comically waves it in front of Ele’s face for a moment and she can’t help but smile at how stupid he is acting. She wonders if any other girl has seen this side of Edo and although she wants to say yes, she knows the truth. Edo proceeds to take three 20€ from the clip before putting the rest back in his pocket.

“You can keep the change.” He grabs Ele’s hand before she can pull away and hands her the cash. She ignores the way Edo’s fingers feel against her wrist and instead focuses on how that much money feels in her hands.

“Are you trying to bribe me?” Ele asks, her other hand moving to the doorknob. She twists it and opens before Edo has time to reply.

“Maybe. Is it working?”

Ele had been in Edo’s car on one occasion and she had been beyond uncomfortable. He had come to pick her up for their date and although she was furious, she was more uncomfortable. She had not been on a date for years and she hated the feeling of putting on her best face to impress someone you liked. What was even worse was that she didn’t even like Edo so she was getting ready for someone she didn’t even like.

His car was nothing special. Yes, it was expensive but it was Edoardo Incanti and she suspected he would have a luxurious car. Something that threw her off about his car was that it wasn’t flashy. It was a black, small Benz and although luxurious, it was not in the least flashy. The engine was even quiet, which was something she definitely thought he would have upgraded for something louder. This car did not seem like something someone as pompous as Edo would drive.

As she got in his car for the second time, the same thoughts crossed her mind. He had opened the door for her this time, unlike last where he never got out, and she tried to chalk it up to him being his usually egotistical self. The truth was, everything she had originally thought of Edo was proven not to be true. His car was not flashy and neither were his clothes. Yes, his personality showed her an egotistical player but everything else about him was muted. She wondered how wrong she truly was about him.

“Are you there, amore?” Edo’s voice snapped her from her thoughts. She could hear the amusement in his voice as he questioned whether or not she was listening to him.

Ele looked at him, clearly annoyed as he drove down the street. “Do not call me that.”

Edo nodded, pressing his lips together as to laugh at her bewilderment. SHe looked like a deer in headlights when she heard him call her by that pet name. “Sorry.”

Ele rolled her eyes, watching as he pulled into the market’s driveway. “No, you’re not.” Once his car had fully come to a stop, she opened the door herself and closed it with a loud slam. If it was anyone else, she would have been polite but all of her manners are thrown out the window when it comes to Edo.

Edo walks around the front of his car and approaches Ele, loving his car with a button. “You’re right. I’m not.”

Ele pushes past the shitty haired boy and makes her way towards the white tarp where she knows the pots and plants are located. By this time, the market is closed but it is family owned and run so the owners leave the tarp open for passersby to stop and buy a plant. Ele doesn’t bother to look back at Edo and enters the white tarp and starts looking for the right size pot.

As Ele browses through the aisles, looking for the brown pots she has bought on more than one occasion, Edo scrolls through his phone at the entrance of the tarp. When Ele turns around to walk into the next aisle, she sees Edo at the entrance and scoffs. Of course he would be on his phone. She stops looking for a moment and walks back to Edo at the entrance of the tarp.

“If you don’t wanna be here -” Ele starts but never gets a chance to finish her sentence before Edo starts speaking over her.

“It says here that during the winter, Evergreens can enhance comfort and cut heating expenses by protecting homes from brisk winds. Their thick foliage reduces cooling costs when it shields buildings from bright summer sunlight. They also block and absorb traffic noise throughout the year.” Edo smiles as he continues to read interesting facts on his phone about this interesting plant.

Ele nods. “Yes. I did know that.” She always had praised herself for knowing so much about the plants she cares for.

Edo looks up from his phone and at Ele, a smirk playing on his lips. He closes his phone and Ele watches as the only source of light vanishes from his face. She can still see his face from the light shining from the lamppost nearby but the night turns to light blue. “I guess people are kinda like Evergreens.”

Ele raises her brows, not understanding what Edo has just said in the least. “What?”

Edo shrugs, clearly embarrassed by voicing such an out of pocket comment and not explaining. “I don’t know, like, when you’re around good people, they can make you feel comfortable and warm. They can block out all the noise and make it feel as if it’s only the two of you. You know?”

Ele is taken aback by the insight Edo has just shared with her. Before, she thought it nearly impossible for him to ever say something of substance but he has proved her wrong. For the first time since their date, they’re having a sincere conversation. “I know what you mean.”

Edo finally steps inside the tarp and closer to Ele. She’s beyond scared of what is happening between them but she forces herself to stay in one place. As Edo walks closer to her, he reaches up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. Ele lets him do this, wanting it more than she wants to admit it. Without realizing it, her hand reaches up to touch Edo’s and she lets his hand rest against her cheek. They’re standing so close to each other, Ele is sure he is going to try to kiss her. The most surprising part is she wants him to. She’s been wondering for way too long how his lips would feel against hers.

Surprisingly, Edo does the exact opposite. After moments of just standing there, he removes his hand from Ele’s face and takes a step back from her. Although she is beyond surprised, she says nothing and instead turns back around, resuming her search for the pots. She rounds another corner and walks into the last aisle to see the pots, stacked on the floor. She picks up the one she thinks is the right size before turning to the entrance to see if Edo is still standing there. She smiles at him for what seems like the first time and then walks to him, a pot in her arms. When she finally approaches him again, his signature smirk is back on his lips.

“Found one.” Ele extends her arms forwards, signalling to Edo that she wants him to take it. Understanding right away, Edo takes the pot from her arms to allow Ele to leave some money behind for the pot.

As he watches her dig through her pocket for the money he had given her, Edo wanders to his relationship with Ele. He knows it’s rocky. That would be an understatement. One minute, she’s pretending to be upset with him to make him feel bad and the next second, she’s allowing him to touch her hair. He knew the second she saw the plant that she was faking but he refused to say anything. He knows Ele doesn’t completely understand how well he can read her. He’s been watching her for over a year now, pining and following after a girl who, until a few weeks ago, he was sure didn’t want anything to do with him. Now, everything has changed.

“That should be enough.” Ele says, looking back to Edo. She left one of the 20€ inside the jar of tips the owners had, hoping they would understand that someone came during the night to buy a pot. When Ele finally makes eye contact with Edo again, she can see his mind is elsewhere as he watches her. “You alright?” She knows this is a dumb question considering what had just happened between them but she can not help herself.

Edo nods, clearing his throat before speaking. “I want us to be friends Ele.”

Ele tries to build a wall between him, knowing where this conversation is going. “That’s not what it’s felt like.”

Edo shrugs, smiling at the scared girl. He figured that’s all Ele was underneath; a girl scared of falling in love. “We should at least try.”

Ele thinks for a moment. She wants this but at the same time, she doesn’t want to give Edo the satisfaction of letting them become friends. She knows the more time she spends with him, the more she will inevitably feel something for him. As much as she knows that can’t happen, she also wants to be happy. “I guess.”

Edo sets down the pot for a moment and extends his hand to Ele to shake. Surprised, Ele wearily extends her hand and allows for Edo to shake it. As their hands touch, they both feel a current being exchanged between the both of them. Ele and Edo feel the electricity flow from their fingertips all the way to their chest and explode. They both know what it means and although they rather not say it aloud, they both know they can never truly be friends.

As they both enter Edo’s car, there is only silence between them. And although they are not saying anything, they are thinking the same thing. When they were touching each other, they felt comfortable and warm. They felt at peace. They felt like Evergreens.

tagging my friend @teamnick who loves incantava as much as I do <3

#eleonora sava #edoardo incanti #edoardo x eleonora #incantava #incantava fic #skamitalia #skamit #skam italia #skamverse #edo #ele #eleonora x edoardo fic

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sabine-leo · 5 years

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Please me if you tease me...

Part 1

Author: @sabine-leo

Rated: M (18+)

Part: 1 / ?

Genre: Tease, Humor, Lemon/Smut, Kink

Pairing: Loki x Reader

Summary: There is something exhilarating about teasing your secret lover Loki. But are you ready to tangle with the God of Mischief? You are about to find out as the preperations for a grand festivity in Asgard kick in.

Note: I do have no self control...While writing I realised that I probably would need more then a Oneshot/Twoshot to tell the story. I hope you don´t mind ;) Thank you for all the likes on the teaser I posted. It really helped me to write faster! Hopefully you´ll have fun reading it! Every like, comment and reblog is very appreciated! English isn´t my mother tongue so please forgive my mistakes!!

My Taglist ist open, as are requests.

This would be a rather long day, Loki was attending a gathering in the Palace to discuss Security measures for the big festivity and some last-minute changes regarding the preparations. He had sneaked out of your chambers this morning with the promise to be back tonight. Nobody in the palace knew that you were seeing each other for a while now. It had begun as some kind of friends with benefits thing, but soon had turned into more. You loved Loki’s wit and his sharp mind and he liked that you treated him like a man, not a prince or a god…even if he teased you constantly that he was YOUR prince and god! You gave him a piece of your mind if he did something stupid or irresponsible and normally, he would listen…after sulking.

As you didn´t have anything scheduled for today and would only start to help with the preparations tomorrow you wanted to enjoy your off day a little. But feeling rather playful you snapped a picture of the filling tub and the big loofah Loki had gifted you a while ago. And after you had dipped in one of your leg lurking out of the bubbles. It didn´t take long that your phone announced a message with a little ding. Loki had taken a liking to Midgardian cell phones and brought them to Asgard. After a little alteration they worked just fine in this realm.

Laughing you opened up the message and read.

Loki: Why are you teasing your prince in such a devilish way? You know that I am in a gathering that needs my full attention!

You: Well, my prince...then why are you answering me ?

Loki: Thor is talking at this point in time and I have listened to him rant the whole morning after I left your chambers.

You: Then I am not distracting you from important things currently, your case that I am but a devil is invalid then.

Loki: Oh, my sweet maiden...You are a devilish vixen, but I will not punish you THAT MUCH if you send me another picture of your enchanting shape...

You: ...only if I get one in return...my prince!

Loki: You know I can not satisfy your enquiry in this moment of time. I do not think that a picture of this round table full of rather addleheaded persons would gratify your request. You on the other hand…You could absolutely satisfy my appeal.

Laughing and biting your lip you snapped another picture. To see in it was your neck and your collarbone…nothing more. You hit send with a giddy laugh escaping your lips. After you finished your bath and towelled yourself down you saw a new message coming in.

Loki: I WILL punish you for that tonight. If you keep sending me snippets, I will likely be able to print a life-sized poster of you in a while. And I will decorate my chambers with it. Maybe right above my bed.

Dressing yourself in leather and your prestigious armour to walk around the courtyard you couldn´t muster to leave the smile behind that your little game with Loki had put on your lips. You were one of the rare women soldiers in Asgard. Trained by the Valkyrie herself you could pack a punch and then some, dresses weren´t made for you, you preferred leather and pants at any given time.

Opening the door to get some fresh air and walk around the beautiful courtyard you stopped short as a soldier greeted you with a nod. “You are needed at the gathering, there is a matter that needs to be discussed with the highest-ranking soldiers on duty the next days.”

Oh, that tasted so much like Loki that you rolled your eyes but nodded. Mustering the bravery and composure of a soldier again you stepped into the room and nodded to your King and his sons sitting together at the far end. “My presence was required my King?!”

“Indeed, Loki pointed out that it would be futile to discuss matters without the ones doing the deed.”

Loki grinned and inclined his head to you.

“I did certainly, Father was so kind to listen to my…appeal...”

Uh oh, he used the word out of his last text.

Standing up and coming over to you Loki pinned you to the spot with his gaze.

“So my dear (Y/N)… please sit and help us to formulate a plan were nobody feels left out or even…punished!” He motioned to a chair directly opposite him and waited until you sat down before he pushed you a bit to the table.

Loki walked leisurely back to his seat as Odin gave another run down on security matters for everybody new to this gathering. Loki sat down and you could feel his gaze on you as you tried to concentrate and listen to what Odin had to say.

“I said I would punish you for teasing your prince...” A very mischievous voice sounded quietly next to your ear. Loki had made an illusion of him sitting back down in his chair and had disguised himself as he stood behind you. “You are an imaginative little devil my sweet darling, but I am the god of mischief, never forget with whom you tangle!” A single finger stroked from your collarbone up to your neck, right to that spot under your ear that was VERY responsive.

You tried to hide a shudder and pressed your legs together. Only to find them pushed open by invisible hands on your inner thighs. Good, that the table was hiding everything from the eyes of everybody else. A hand pressed down on your core above the leather. Oh boy, you were in big trouble!

You saw Odin’s mouth move, but couldn´t begin to understand what he was talking about.

Your ears full of your own heartbeat that got faster and faster.

“….and I do think that would be a rather good strategy…what do you say, Loki?”

Saved by Odin….

You needed to hide a chuckle as the hands on you suddenly stopped and you imagined how Loki crawled under the table back to the illusion that sat in his chair. You could see the exact moment when it actually was Loki again. He needed to clear his throat for a second and answered.

“Yes, father. I think you have filled out all the wholes that needed to be revised in our strategy.”

Smooth, sooo smooth.

“Did I… Ha!” Odin laughed and looked to Thor. “Are you too contend, my son?”

Thor nodded and said. “Yes, I think this will work out just fine, we do have enough soldiers on duty so that we can allow the higher ranks to attend the festive this year.” With a glint in his eyes he looked over to Loki and Loki smiled very pleased as he said.

“I do look forward to see you in a formal gown (Y/N).”

“What?!”

Odin lifted his eyebrow.

“You heard my son! YOUR Prince wants to see you in a gown, so please his appeal and dress up dear! You know that I am rather fond of you, but as good a soldier you might be, you can´t attend in leather and amour on this special occasion!” Loki leaned back in his chair with a smirk and clicked his tongue.

“That would be all for the moment, thank you for your time. I believe you have a dress to choose!”

Oh, he would pay for that!!!

Nodding your goodbyes before you left the room you beelined it to the dressmaker of the court, who fortunately happened to be your friend. Opening the door without knocking you looked at her in displeasure.

“Your dreams have come true… I need a dress! And a VERY stunning one that will knock men and gods and everybody of their feet!” Catherine clapped her hands and grinned

“Oh, I prayed to Odin for that day to come. I might already have something ready. You just need to choose a colour that would suit you for this occasion!”

Smiling at your friend you nodded and the both of you got to work on that dress of yours.

2 hours later you were pleased with what Catherine had come up with and you had chosen a colour that was to your liking. Walking through the long corridor you stopped to step onto a balcony with the most beautiful view you knew in Asgard. Looking down onto the blooming gardens with the most exotic and beautiful scented flowers of all the 9 realms you took a deep breath and smiled. This was home. This was were your heart belonged. You liked adventures from time to time, but you felt most at ease here.

A hand grabbed you and tucked you behind a hefty column, pinned you to it with a lean and muscular body. The scent was very familiar, so you didn´t defend yourself as a hot mouth crashed onto yours and your lips fought each other in a battle of lust. Your hands grabbed into raven black hair and tucked his head back a little. “What do you think you are doing?” You asked him a little breathless.

“Kissing my lady that has teased me with pictures of her striking body even if it only was a leg and your collarbone. Even those sparse looks can give a man ideas! And I do have time for a quickie!”

He smirked and winked at you.

Grabbing Loki by the soft leather of his collar you bit his lip a little and grinned.

“Mhmm, but ideas they will stay, as I have places to be and things to do after you tricked me into a dress just to….punish me for not answering your … appeal.” Reversing your positions, you pressed into him and smiled sweetly. “My Prince If you would excuse me now…” A last hard kiss and you sashayed away hearing Loki letting out an exasperated sigh.

It was a dangerous game to play with the god of mischief, but OH wasn´t it fun!

Outside in the courtyard you looked around and saw a lot of happy faces, giddy and excited for the festivity. There was a lot of activity as well. Flowers being arranged, general cleaning and decorating, things were moved from left to right. Walking around a fountain you heard your name being called.

Slowly you turned in the direction to see Frigga, your queen coming towards you.

“My dear, I was informed you would be attending the festivity not as guard but yourself. I am very pleased to hear that you finally decide to indulge in pleasure instead of always looking out for the safety of us!” Frigga touched your shoulder and smiled a warm smile. Serving as her personal guard now and then you got to know her very well, and liked her a lot!

“I´m afraid to say that I didn´t chose this pleasure myself, my queen…You know me, I would rather dress in leather then a gown at any given day!” Frigga laughed and waved your comment away.

“Pleasure is pleasure my dear, you might as well indulge in it and enjoy the night.”

Frigga tucked her arm under yours and started to walk with you.

“Tell me, what do you plan to do with your gorgeous hair and those striking eyes of yours?”

You couldn´t believe it…from choosing a gown to beauty talk with the queen, did you wake up in an alternate universe?! The look on your face must have been telling, because Frigga laughed and said:

“Come with me, you look rather lost, had I asked about knives and armour you would be talking about your newest blade by now. Let me take care of you for once!”

This kept getting better and better… an hour later you found yourself in Frigga’s chambers being pampered like a princess of the court. Your phone signalled a message.

Loki: Where are you my lady? You left me with a throbbing … Problem earlier!

You: Stop that, I am in your mothers’ chambers getting who knows what onto my skin and into my hair. I think I am cleaner than I have ever been before.

You knew that Loki would have a field day with that info, he probably was laughing his firm behind off just this second. A new message came in. Looking around to see it was safe to look at it you gasped for a second.

Loki: So, are you telling me that you are naked and oiled up? Mhmm, why have I never thought of doing that?

Before you could send him a few words to shut him up another message came in.

Loki: Then I better get cleaned up myself. Undressing just now…

A picture of your shower came after the text…and another one of his leathers on the ground.

He was in your chambers. In your shower….naked…

You: Stop teasing me Loki, and stop sending pictures I am with your mother for god sake!

Loki: Oh, darling….and I was with my brother and father earlier this day as you teased me…deal with it!

And with that you got a picture of his abs with a peek down to his underwear, that was clearly bulging more than normal.

You should have known better then to tangle with the god of mischief.

Loki: Do you want me to soap myself up all the way? Clean every…inch…every long and hard inch of myself?

Biting your lip, you looked at the picture again. Oh yes you wanted that, but you wanted to do it yourself…maybe tie him to the…

“(Y/N) dear, you look flushed…are you feeling well?” Frigga’s voice pulled you out of your little daydream. You almost dropped the phone into the water your feet were stuck in.

“No, no…it´s just hot…in here…the water I mean…”

Your phone vibrated in your hands again. It could instead have been an electric shock jolting through you as much as you flinched as you saw the picture of Loki’s chest glistening wet with soap flowing down. You had to give him that, he did take rather hot selfies without showing to much and ruining the imagination.

“Oh my, you aren´t used to that much attention, I´m sorry if I overwhelmed you, but you are like a daughter to me, and I want you to knock the men over with your appearance. Not that you aren´t stunning in your leather love, you are, but I´d like to see you in a gown myself!”

Oh, you would definitely knock someone over today, but not with your looks.

And that someone was standing in your shower just this second!

Frigga smiled softly at you and said “Alright dear, we will end this for now, but I want you to come back in 3 days to try something with your hair. You do know the formal dance that needs to be danced?” Shaking your head in horror you looked even more horrified as Frigga said.

“Don´t worry my dear, I will teach you…and ask Loki to accompany us. He is the best dancer in the family.”

This really had to be an alternate reality. Or an out of body experience…

The “We will end this for now” took another half an hour and was accompanied with a new picture from Loki, laying naked in your bed only covered by the bedspread over his groin, the setting sun kissing his rippled chest. What had you gotten yourself into? He clearly won that round of teasing…by miles! After that pictures and his texts your imagination had run wild into a very specific, not save to be around other people kind of place. Striding down the corridor to get to your room and the man lying in it you almost made a run for it.

Only to get stopped by Thors booming voice rare meters away from your door.

“(Y/N), what´s the hurry?” Groaning internally, you mustered a fake smile and turned to look at Thor.

“Nothing, I just wanted to enjoy my day of and indulge in a good novel…”

“Books..” Thor rolled his eyes. “Can´t think of a more boring way to end the day…come with me to a pre-feast, let´s get drunk and dance on the table afterward!”

Laughing at the memory of the one night you had said yes to the same proposal you grinned.

“I was ill for 3 days after that, I don´t think that would be wise tonight. Sleep well Thor, you should rest up too!” With a huff he walked away. Opening your door and closing it with a bang you turned the lock!

“You better be ready to please…” The bed was empty, the sheets all tangled. He clearly had been in this room, his scent still lingered in here. Frustrated you threw your armour onto a chair after you got rid of it. Only to gasp as in the same chair appeared a very naked Loki grinning at you with your armour in hand. “That novel you were talking about to my brother….”

Your armour fell to the ground with a thud.

“…May I be able to turn it into some rather dirty, erotic and slightly kinky… graphic display?!”

Tags for : @drakesfiance @confessionsofastrugglingteen @shinebrightlikeafanbase

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ask-de-writer · 6 years

Text

GREEN VELVET : Classical Fantasy : Part 11

GREEN VELVET

De Writer (Glen Ten-Eyck)

24116 words

Cover art by @wind-the-mama-cat

Written 2003

Reproduction in any form, physical, electronic or digital is prohibited without the express written consent of the author or proper copyright holder.

Express permission is granted for all sorts of fan activity, whether music, written or art. Fair use of characters and settings in fan works, whether art or written, is encouraged, provided that proper credit is given for their origin. Reblogging on Tumblr is allowed.

~~ ~~ ~~ ~~

New to the story? Part 1 is here!

~~ ~~ ~~ ~~

I limped after as swiftly as I could. Looking past the shattered ruin of Mechan’s door, I saw a horrible sight. Desora hung bound by the wrists to the posts at the head of Mechan’s bed. At the foot, a heavy war bow had been tied to the frame. It had been pulled by a stout twine tied to the bowstring. A long candle laid in a trough had burned through the strand and shot the arrow through Desora’s middle, pinning her to the headboard.

She hung flaccid in her bonds. As Organe came up to her, Desora lifted her head a little and said softly, “It hurts.”

“I know, My child. I know. We will have you down in a moment. We have to be ready to stanch the wound.” To her Healer Organe said fiercely, “Where are the bandages? We need them now!”

A page came running up, “I have them, My Queen!”

The healer said sadly, “I fear, Your Majesty, that the wound will be mortal.”

“She is a Dragon,” said Organe filled with rage and fear, “she only needs to Change and she will be healed.”

“She is too young,” said the healer. “She can’t change yet.”

The healer wrapped the bandages around Desora’s middle, so that they overlapped the arrow and would pull down over the wound when the arrow was removed. Organe shifted to human form and grasped Desora. Two armsmen cut Desora’s bonds with quick slashes of their daggers. Others had taken their halberds and shattered the window into a thousand fragments of stained glass.

Organe gripped Desora and pulled straight away from the headboard, leaving the blood slimed arrow behind. She ran for the window, changing as she leaped through it. She fell almost fifteen feet before her wings caught the wind enough to fly. She was gripping a second, smaller Dragon in her claws.

“She did it,” said the healer sadly. “She saved Desora’s life.” He shook his head, “It is a heavy price to pay. I guess that to Her, Her daughter’s life is more important than Her own. We must get to the Queen’s apartments if She is to be saved. Pushing the old man ahead of me, I ran for the Queen’s rooms.

We found Desora frantically winding the bandages from her own, now unmarked, abdomen around Organe who was bleeding profusely, front and back. The healer calmly walked over and said, “Not like that, Desora. Wind it thus. Did you put a packing in the wound first?”

Desora looked blank. “Packing? No, I tried to do as you did for me.”

The healer smiled. “You actually did pretty well. Here, we need these off, carefully now.

“Russelt? Where is that page? Oh, there you are, Russelt. Good, you went and got the proper lint for wound packing. You have been paying attention.

“Put this into the wound like so, Desora. If she doesn’t feel it, there’s not enough. There. Now the bandages. That’s right, just as I showed you. Beautiful.”

I was alarmed. Organe had gone limp and lay on her side on a big cushion. The healer noticed me. “Ah, Lord Rodoric. Nothing to worry about. The initial blood loss was the only truly dangerous time. Desora stanched that well. If a dragon lives through the initial wound, she will recover. Organe will sleep for two or three moonrises. When She awakens, She will be ravenous. Likely out of Her mind with hunger.”

At that moment there was a discrete knock at the door. I went to see who it might be. Relieved, I let him in.

“Baron Cadley, come in quickly. Seal the door behind you.”

He took in the situation at a glance. “Has there been an assassination attempt? What has transpired?”

“Cadley,” I said seriously, “we need to keep what has happened here a State Secret. I may not have the authority to declare it so, but I do know Courts. If those who have risen up against Queen Organe do not still have a spy here, I will be amazed.

“The short of it is that Mechan attempted the life of the servant girl Desora. She is Sworn to the Queen, so Organe knew on the instant that Desora was harmed. Our Queen saved Her servant by using her magic to take the wound to herself. What would have destroyed the human servant, the Dragon will recover from.”

Cadley thought quickly. “Desora, you were murdered. Stay to these rooms. None must see you alive. Rodoric, you will bring food to the ‘Queen’ so that Desora may eat. The Queen has retired to Her chambers to plan war and Revenge. By Edict, Mechan is outlawed. I will draft the original Edict. Who all saw the rescue of Desora?”

I made answer, “Just those in this room and Her guard.”

“Move the Queen and Desora to the inner chamber. Desora, I need your Medallion of Hoard,” Cadley ordered. “Then, Master Healer, assemble the guards who saw.” His orders were quickly carried out.

“Gentlemen,” Cadley stated, “you participated in the attempt to rescue the servant Desora, Oath Sworn as Living Hoard of Organe Firemane. The Queen’s efforts to save her were too late. Desora has died of her wound. The Queen is in a Rage and has retired to plan the destruction of those who would attack Her by assaulting her Hoard.” He laid a small golden medallion on the table.

“This was Desora, Living Hoard of the Dragon of the Southern Marches. She will be laid in a Coffer of Honor in the Treasury after she has been publicly celebrated,” said Cadley solemnly. “The Queen has required that a heavy guard be posted on the stair to the Royal chambers until the Queen wishes disturbance. Go to your duties.” The guards filed out.

As they left I overheard one say, “Told you. You was wrong. She was as human as us.” The other replied, “Musta’ been. No Dragon ‘ud let another near her Hoard, let alone be a part of it.”

In the Great Hall, before the empty Throne, a small table was placed. On it were a stand displaying the medallion under a crystal sheet with a note alongside it. The note, in the Queen’s handwriting, said, “Desora, once Living Hoard, now forever Treasured.” In front of the medallion’s case lay the bloody arrow and beneath it another note. “Mechan, lately the Earl of Blackwood, is disgraced and Dismissed for the reason of assault on his Queen’s Hoard. My Hoard has been diminished by his deed.”

The breaking of fast found the nobles of the Court clustered about the small table and muttering seriously among themselves.

“This means war for sure,” declared Aroman, Duke Windsrede, self-importantly. “There will be battles and glory for years to come after such an affront.” He looked pleased at the prospect.

A serious-eyed young girl who reminded me in some ways of Mechan tugged gently at my sleeve. She was deathly afraid and looked it. “Lord Rodoric,” she swallowed, then went on, “when will the Queen be down? I have to say something to Her before the whole Court.”

I knelt down to be at her height. “The Queen will not be down for a few da— moonrises. She is in a Rage.”

The child’s eyes dropped and she sagged. “Then father was right. The Queen will kill me for what I must say. At least father’s embarrassment will be ended by it.”

To be CONTINUED

<==Previous Next==>

Return to the Master Story Index

Return to Classical Fantasy

#GREEN VELVET #Classical Fantasy #Written by De Writer #Part 11

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science-fiction-is-real · 7 years

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“The Search”, it’s problems, and how to fix it. PART 2, OZAI

Some of us really liked “The Search,” which tell the story of Zuko’s mom and her fate. Other’s of us.... didn’t.

My writer’s instinct tells me to fix any story I don’t like. So here it is.

In my last analytical post, I talked about Ursa, and how she’s a total badass in the show, but is completely mishandled in the comics. I also talked about some changes I would make if I were handed the reigns to rewrite “the search.”

Villains are SUPER important to stories so I have a lot to say about this here in part two.

While “The Search” is Ursa’s story, stories are driven by conflict, and so the villain is often just as important as the main character. When it came to Ozai, Gene and Bryke had an amazing opportunity to create something interesting, dynamic, and intimidating, and boy did they drop the ball.

So here is Ozai in terms of “The Search,” what his problems are, and how I would fix them.

Villains, as the main source of conflict, are the power house of any story, and so they need to be done well. Watching Avatar and Legend of Korra, Bryke prove themselves to be kings when it comes to their villains. Every single one of the bastards struck a balance between being terrifying and being believably human. (Except for Unalaq. Fuck you Unalaq) Ozai was not necessarily a complex character in the show. This was because he was supposed to be more of a symbol of evil than a character in his own right. But Even Ozai's humanity is shoved down our throats toward the end. He sure was cute in that baby picture.

But Ozai can’t be the same thing in the comics than he was in the show. In “The Search” we see him in a more intimate setting, as Ursa’s husband and Zuko and Azula’s father. He doesn’t get to be a mere symbolic evil anymore. Now he has to be a walking breathing human being with an interesting personality. Can he make the switch?

Spoiler alert, he doesn’t make the switch very well.

I don’t think Bryke and Gene recognized how cool an opportunity they had when dealing with person Ozai as opposed to just symbolic Ozai.

Think about some of the best villains in fiction/literature: Satan was once Lucifer, Darth was once Anakin, Frankenstein and Monster both were never predestined for their villainous rivalry. These characters are interesting and timeless because they are PEOPLE first and villains second. They became evil not because it was fun but because of decisions they actively made, based on complex emotions, beliefs, and desires.

Presenting villains as humans doesn’t take away their scariness. The opposite is true. Seeing humanity in villains disturbs us because it reminds us 1) anyone is capable of evil, and 2) people we hate are human beings too. Also. When villains have complex thoughts, feelings, and emotions, this gives them strong motivations, and shows us they are actually DRIVEN to commit evil deeds.

The writers could have done this with Ozai. But they took that opportunity presented to them by “The Search” and they flushed it down the toilet.

Ozai in the comics certainly LOOKS like a human character. He does human-ish things, like working out, eating dinner with his family, sharing sexual tension with his wife. But the writers forget something pretty basic about humans when they delt with Ozai. Humans have behaviors that are driven by thoughts, desires, and emotions. Ozai has behaviors, and those behaviors, uhm... sort of.. kind of... add to the plot, But the thoughts, desires, and emotions behind them are self contradictory, poorly explained, or just missing all together.

Ozai’s actions are so confusing I had to go back to read the comic again just to figure out what the writers were trying to do with him. I am thoroughly convinced the writers hadn’t the slightest clue what was going on in that evil little noggin, nor did they give the slightest fuck. They spent maybe five minutes on the dude and his dialogue. The result is neither interesting nor intimidating.

In order to be as unsympathetic as possible, Comics Ozai basically follows the behavior pattern of “handle every situation as badly as I possibly can" regardless if it fits any type of concrete motivation. In fact Ozai isn’t really allowed to have any thoughts, feelings, or motivations at all. He is not allowed to show any emotion that doesn’t fall between grumpy and hateful. No other emotions allowed! Otherwise he might run the risk of being relatable, and God forbid a villain show any of that humanity the show worked so hard to convince us villains have. As a result, his behavior has no consistency. If this were a Criminal Minds episode, they would profile Ozai as being multiple UnSubs who are not actually working together.

They can’t get the guy pinned down. At first they play him off as a jealous and possessive husband. Of course, Ozai doesn’t show any of the emotions that tend to go along with jealousy and possessiveness. He shows no sexual or romantic attraction to Ursa. He suffers no fear of abandonment. Those are no-no emotions for Ozai. But he’s jealous anyway. He reads her mail, he forbids her to contact or talk about her family, he puts a hit out on her old boyfriend. But then, after spending several pages being jealous and possessive, Ozai suddenly decides to ask Ursa for a quick and amicable divorce right after the plot to kill Azulon is established. Jealous possessive types usually panic at the thought of separation with their partner, but Ozai actually seems to take glee in the thought of Ursa leaving. Which is it Ozai? Do you want to control and possess the woman or do you hate her and want her gone? Make up your fucking mind.

Just as confusing is how he treats Zuko. Abuse by a parent toward a child is always confusing and tragic. But real dick parents either have no motivation at all for their abuse (other then whatever behavior the victim did to trigger it), or they believe their abuse to be a natural part of parenting. Ozai actually gives us a more creative reason for his cruelty. He does it to punish Ursa for her lie about Zuko’s parentage. We’re supposed to interpret this as Ozai being a sadistic prick. But if Ozai were really just a sadistic prick, he wouldn’t wait for Ursa to give him an excuse to pick on Zuko. And if Ursa really was the cause of his abuse, the abuse would stop after Ursa left. Also why does Ozai take so much glee in Azulon’s order to kill Zuko? YOU’RE BEING PUNISHED OZAI! Azulon is telling you to kill Zuko as a PUNISHMENT. Either its a punishment or it was something you were going to do all along. It can’t be both. What the hell is going on?

Ozai’s confused motivation means that he isn’t really that intimidating throughout the story. He’s actually kind of something to laugh at. A lot of the supposedly scary and evil things he does also fall flat under closer inspection. When he’s jealous about Ursa’s former boyfriend he doesn’t go after him herself, but instead hires a hit man, who fails. He tells Ursa not to contact her home town, but he seems to care little about the letters she writes her boyfriend, even though he has been intercepting them for years (until the lie about Zuko’s parentage). He’s supposed to be seen as conniving and ambitions, but he indicates no interest or plans to seize political power until his wife dictates letter by letter how he can do it. We don’t even get to see him fight, except against some training dummies. For such a supposedly dastardly villain he isn’t very ballsy or active in the narrative. Some of you may disagree with me on that, but I thought he could have done more.

One reason this one-dimensional Ozai bothers me so much is because of how The Search makes a half-hearted effort to have a discussion on abuse and abusive family dynamics. Ozai is an abuser, but real life abusers aren't dangerous because they happen to be evil for evil's sake, they are dangerous because their cruelty is mixed in with the more human, positive aspects of family life as well. Abusers use affection and charm to gain control just as much as they use cruelty. Some times abusers and victims actually have strong, loving feelings for each other, which only further entangles their victims in the cycle. If “The Search” wants to have a conversation on such a real and pressing topic, it isn't very responsible of them to portray the issue in such a one dimensional and unrealistic way.

Long story short, Bryke had an opportunity to flesh out their best villains they had, and they blew it. Villains are the source of conflict, and thus driving engines of a story. Villains are extremely important and need to be done with care. Bryke blew it. It makes me want to scream into a pillow.

SO.... HOW DO WE FIX THIS....?

A good version of the Search could go in one of two different directions.

One) They could stick with the story mostly as it is, where Ozai is evil from the beginning and is the unchallenged antagonist throughout the story. This is more time efficient.

Two) They could really take advantage of the chance to show Ozai as a human being, and give us some backstory on him and the origins of his evil nature. They could show him as Anakin turning into Darth if you will.

But either of these routes will have some things in common that will need to be fixed.

The Current Search shows an Ozai half-heartedly attempting “schemes” and “plots,” but never in a way that truely convinces us he’s a truely effective antagonist. The first thing Search 2.0 should do is to show Ozai taking a much more active, if not violent role in the story events. Ozai’s main character trait it seems is his ambition. So lets let him be ambitious. Lets let him grab the royal court by its balls and man handle it to his liking. Also, its a damn shame we had an action-centered comic where Ozai (one of the best fire benders in the ATLA universe) was the main bad guy, and we didn’t get to see him in a single fight. Let’s put him in a fight. Most importantly, in order to convince the reader that Ozai should truely frighten them, his actions need to have very clear and explicit motivations, AND must be successful at least a large part of the time--with consequences to those around him.

Included in this, I want to see Ozai do a much more convincing job playing the abuser. I want to see him charm and manipulate as well as throw his weight around. I want to see him actually make the audience feel trapped and claustrophobic as they relate to the family trapped under his thumb. You may say that is too dark, but must I remind you Show Ozai burned a kid’s face off in the very first season. We have wiggle room when it comes to darkness.

Ozai needs emotional range. Every character but him is allowed to show range. Villains need as much range as the protagonists, including moments of emotional vulnerability and non-threatening emotions. Emotional vulnerability doesn’t make villains less scary. It actually does the opposite. Villains are scary when we know their evil deeds have a strong motivation behind them. And that strong motivation can only come when characters have emotions that drive their actions. Frankenstein’s monster is a good example of a villain who demonstrates strong, if not over dramatic emotional range. It’s not the monsters anger or grumpiness that makes him scary, it’s his loneliness, sense of loss, and longing to be loved that do, because we know that THOSE are the emotions that will drive him to fuck a bitch up.

You may also worry that showing an emotionally vulnerable, and dare I say relatable, Ozai would make the reader feel morrally confused. Good. Good stories ARE morally confusing. Tell me you weren’t morally confused when you saw Darth Vader as a ten year old child, or when someone told you FRANKENSTEIN and not the monster might be the bad guy, or when someone told you the devil himself used to work for God, OR WHEN BRYKE SHOWED YOU OZAI’S BABY PICTURE RIGHT BEFORE AANG WAS SUPPOSED TO KILL HIM. We were morally confused when those things happened, but it made us smarter and wiser because it challenged our perceptions. If we take the second story option this will be an absolute necessity.

What kind of emotions might those be? Well, it depends on what type of story line we would decide to go with for Search 2.0. There are some things to work with here. Ozai is shown having a toxic relationship with his own father. I could imagine a story line where he attempts to take the pain and hurt from that rejection, and channel it into rising above his station, into unbridled ambition that drives him to destroy his own family while securing his own power. It is a well established fact that Ozai is ambitious. We could explore how Ozai feels when asked by his father to kill his own son, in the sense that Ozai takes it as a punishment--torn between protecting his own bloodline vs his compulsive need to please his father. We could explore what sort of feelings, if any, he has toward Ursa, which is especially important considering this is Ursa’s story.

If we want to stick as much to canon as possible, let’s recall that Show Ozai reads as a classic narcissist, by the technical definition of the word. His treatment of Zuko and Azula follows typical patterns of Narcissistic abusers, and he also does shit like usurp the throne from his grieving brother and crown himself Phoenix King. Of course, being a Narcissist does NOT exclude him from being emotionally complex and even in some ways relatable. Narcisist don’t experience empathy or true love, but they do experience pretty much every other emotion on the table.

Some more plot specific things.. I would get rid of the jealous husband angle. It seems a little Cliche to me. I think Ozai would be much too concerned with cementing his own power in the court to worry about who Ursa is writing letters too.

Lets PLEASE get rid of the plot point where Ozai decides to abuse Zuko because he’s trying to get back at Ursa. It doesn’t make any sense to me. We can explore why he hates his son if we want. I have my own theories. Maybe Azulon hates Zuko, and because Ozai wants to suck up to his dad, he hates Zuko too. Or maybe Ozai blames Zuko for Azulon’s death and Ursa’s leaving. Afteral if it hadn’t been to protect Zuko’s life, Ursa would not have killed Azulon and left. Or maybe Zuko takes after Ozai in many different ways, and Ozai hates himself, and therefore hates Zuko. Or maybe he’s just a big fat dick who needs a punching bag and learned abusive behavior patterns from his own dad.

Sorry that was so long, pepes, you are treasures for hearing me out.

Please comment if you have any thoughts

#ozai #ursa #zuko #azula #meta #atla #atla comics #avatar #avatar comics #the search #avatar last airbender #no typo checking we post the first draft like men

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harrysmeadow · 7 years

Text

HELD - CHAPTER 4

CATCH UP HERE / PLAYLIST / HARRY’S INSTA / ERIN’S INSTA

“I don’t know why I’m friend’s with you two.” Harry declared, looking between Izzy and Sam, who were wiping away tears from their reddened cheeks. “You’re so mean to me sometimes.” He said, a small pout playing on his lips, making me want to immediately tell Izzy and Sam to stop making him feel bad.

“We are when you come out with lines like that!” Sam exclaimed, still wheezing from his outburst of laughter.

“Well if you’re both carrying on like that, I’m going somewhere else.” He teased. Standing up from his place at the table, he looked down at me. I was grinning from ear to ear, there was no point now hiding my amusement at their exchange. The smile he sent back made the butterflies in my tummy return, but I don’t think they were nervous ones this time.

“You coming Erin?” He asked brightly.

“Are you definitely sure I’m allowed to come?” I questioned to Izzy as I pulled open my wardrobe doors scanning the contents hoping something would stand out and catch my eye.

I’d been reluctant in agreeing to go the dinner in the first place but as the time was growing nearer my nerves were increasing too. I didn’t know why, all I’d be doing was sitting down and having a meal while listening to some people make speeches. But from what I’d heard it sounded very much like a community occasion. And I was not part of the community. Izzy, Sam and Harry had all raved about the event when they first brought it up, going on about what a great time it would be. I’d bought a ticket which granted my entrance to the event like everyone else, but in my head it still didn’t seem right.

“Yes Erin, stop worrying over nothing.” she replied from behind me where she was sat at my dressing table applying her makeup. She caught my apprehensive expression in the mirror and swiveled in her seat to face me. “All you have to do is show up and look pretty, actually you don’t even have to do that, literally just show up.”

“I know.” I groaned. “I just feel like I’m intruding.”

“Well you’re not intruding if people want you there, and I want you there, so you’re not.” She said matter of factly.

I took a deep breath and shot her a smile. It was moments like these that I hoped Izzy knew how much she meant to me. Her words had the power to make me feel so much. I trusted her with all that I was, just those few simple words had the ability to restore some confidence in myself, because I knew she was telling the truth.

She returned my smile and went back to doing her make-up. I raked my fingers through the clothes on the hangers, hoping that something appropriate for the occasion would just magically appear. I took in a few deep breaths, which quickly turned to frustrated sighs as I realised I was highly unprepared.

“At the risk of sounding like the biggest cliche ever, I have absolutely nothing to wear.” I said with a huff, slamming my wardrobe doors closed and sitting on the edge of my bed in a sulk.

Izzy chuckled to herself as she applied the final coats of mascara to her lashes. “And at the risk of sounding like a super-human with telekinetic powers, I knew you’d say that.” She said with a smug grin.

She got up, gesturing for me to follow her down the hall. I raised from where I was perched on the edge of the bed, slightly reluctant to follow as I thought about how she still hadn’t gotten me back from my prank when I first got here. This could all be a set up I thought. So I stayed a few paces behind her and she paused when we got to my Grandparents room, another toothy grin appearing on her face.

“I came prepared.” she said with a wink, opening the door to reveal the inside of the room.

I gasped as I took in the sight in front of me. Laid out on the bed was an array of gorgeous dresses, all varying in colour, length and style. Some sparkled as the light from the window reflected off the jeweled details, others were more simple, but still striking in shape and cut.

I padded across the room so I could get a closer look at the beautiful pieces before me, trailing my fingers over the delicate fabrics. I looked up to meet Izzy’s gaze, she was still stood in the doorway watching me.

“Are these for me?” I asked tentatively.

“You wish!” she laughed. “They’re mine. But because I’m the best cousin ever I’m letting you take your pick for tonight.”

“Wow, Izzy thank you, I don’t know what to say.” I breathed with a smile, still completely enamoured with the garments.

“Well I figured you hadn’t anticipated that you would be going somewhere like this when you were packing so I thought I’d help you out. Any of them tickle your fancy?” She quipped.

I’d never been adventurous with my fashion choices, and Izzy knew that. I was willing to go for something different, but some of the dresses in front of me would definitely be pushing my boundaries. I was very much a jeans and a t-shirt kind of girl, and when I went out at uni, I was a jeans and nice top kind of girl.

I was drawn to a simple white shirt dress. The material was soft to the touch, gold piping details lined the edges of the pockets, belt and collar. The sleeves were about three-quarter length and were finished with a gorgeous contrasting satin fabric. It was simple, but elegant. It was very me I thought.

I picked up the dress by it’s hanger, holding it at arm's length and turning it to have a look at the back, hoping I wouldn’t be surprised by some obnoxious slogan or print. It was plain. I was safe.

I dropped my arm and folded the dress over my elbow, giving Izzy an appreciative smile. “I think I’ll go for this one.”

****

The fundraising dinner was being held at a gorgeous country manor house on the outskirts of Holmes Chapel, so it wasn’t too far to travel from the farmhouse. However, our original plan for Izzy to drive there and back was foiled when she decided she couldn’t, and wouldn’t drive in a ballgown.

Sam hadn’t passed his test yet, and I wasn’t insured on any cars we had in Holmes Chapel, so Harry took one for the team and said he would drive after Izzy had rang him in a panic as we were finishing getting ready.

I heard the crunching of gravel under tyres in the driveway as I slowly made my way down the stairs in my heels behind Izzy. Floating effortlessly down the steps, holding the hem of her dress in one hand and gliding the other over the bannister, she looked as if she just went about her everyday life in a ballgown. I however, was clinging on for dear life.

I decided it was a good idea I was holding onto something though when Izzy opened the door to Harry. He stepped into the house looking like he’d just come straight from London Fashion Week. A black and red pin striped suit covered his broad frame, which was nothing like the standard M&S suit I’d pictured. Not that I’d been imagining him in a suit. And his long curls which I’d so far only seen tied in a bun or headscarf, were falling freely around face, effortlessly accentuating his strong jaw.

“Erin!” Izzy hissed at me, suddenly making me aware of my staring.

“Sorry what?” I asked, looking down at them at the bottom of the stairs with a grimace. They were both looking at me with amused expressions.

“Harry said you look nice.” She giggled.

“Oh!” My grip on the bannister tightened as I internally willed myself to keep composed, and seem somewhat normal. “Thanks Harry, you too.” I replied. I was pleased with myself that I’d managed to avoid embarrassment, that was a normal answer I thought.

“Are you ok?” He asked, the hint of a small smile still lingering on his lips.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be” I scoffed.

“Well you’ve got a death grip on that bannister, and you’ve not moved an inch since I walked in.” He stated cockily, leaning against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest and raising his eyebrows at me in challenge. Izzy sniggered beside him, turning her face away, seemingly amused with the interaction between Harry and myself.

I thought I’d done well so far keeping my composure. I mean fair enough I was just stood still on the middle of the stairs staring, but I hadn’t started drooling! But that self assured grin he was sending my way, was now only making me want to smack it off. There was no way I was giving him the satisfaction of knowing he had contributed towards my weak knees. So I straightened my back slightly, still not fully trusting myself not to fall, and bravely stepped down.

“Just not comfortable in these shoes.” I said plainly, keeping my eyes focused on my feet rather than Harry, as that would surely end in disaster. “Better to be safe than sorry.” I said smugly as I reached the safety of the hallway, confidently strutting past them both. I resisted the urge to turn around to see his face, but I was satisfied hearing Izzy’s giggling behind me and a whining “shut up” coming from poor Harry.

****

“We can just get a taxi there and back.” I suggested a little later, as everyone congregated in the small hallway of the farmhouse, putting their shoes on, and getting ready to leave. We’d realised when Sam joined us in the kitchen shortly after Harry arrived, that because of his good deed of driving us to and from the event, Harry would have to go the night without drinking.

“We could, but the prices round here are extortionate.” He replied, tugging his suit jacket over his shirt. “I’d rather just not drink.” He smiled, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly.

“Ok, if you’re sure, because I don’t mind paying if you change your mind…” I trailed off. Despite his overly confident entrance earlier which had irritated me a bit, I still felt bad that he ended up as designated driver.

He laughed at my pathetic attempt to try and reason with him. ‘Stop trying to be a people pleaser Erin, I’m fine to drive.” He said with a cheeky grin.

“Good.” Sam interjected. “Because I do mind paying, I’m a student and have no money.”

“Same.” Harry and Izzy, both said in unison, their dry, monotone voices displaying their current displeasure at the thought of their bank balance.

He didn’t seem to be bothered at the prospect though, and I admired him for it. A lot of people our age often just drank for the sake of it, to fit in at parties and such. Harry didn’t strike me as the type to do something just because everyone else was. He was confident he could still have a good time without the aid of alcohol. I was impressed.

“Right then, off we go kids!” He announced, opening the door for me to step out onto the driveway, smiling at me as I chuckled at his enthusiasm.

****

Walking into the entrance hall of the manor house, my earlier suspicions about it being a community event were confirmed as it seemed the entire population of Holmes Chapel was in attendance.

It wasn’t often that I got to dress up or go to fancy events, and although the nervous butterflies were still fluttering around in my stomach, with Izzy as my security blanket I was feeling a lot more confident than I had imagined I would.

The four of us made our way through the hall to the main room where the dinner was being hosted. However, after we’d been stopped for the fourth time, by people calling over the boys, it became clear to me that Harry and Sam were obviously some sort of Holmes Chapel royalty.

Izzy and I exchanged knowing glances and sneakily slipped away from what I’m sure was a thrilling conversation about goal line technology or something like that. She took my hand in hers as we neared the doors that opened into the main room, and I smiled at her in thanks for the reassuring gesture.

When we pushed through the doors, a wall of sound filled with laughter, chatter and cheering hit me. An air of excitement buzzed round the room, and I could see nothing but smiling, happy faces.

All the tension I’d built up in my mind released as I let out a breath I didn’t realise I’d been holding. There seemed no way that these bright and cheerful people would be anything but kind to someone new.

“Let’s go find our table, the boy’s will find us later once they’ve done the rounds.” Izzy suggested.

I nodded in agreement, eager to find somewhere to sit down and take some weight off of my feet. I hardly ever wore heels, and it was easy to tell, considering we’d only been here ten minutes and I was already in agony.

In the next half an hour the room filled with the rest of the guests and people settled at their tables, ready for the speeches and food. Izzy and I spent the time talking about everything and nothing. She pointed out certain people in the room that she thought I might need to know the name of if they came over to chat. But no-one did.

Sam and Harry took their seats to the left of Izzy and I, just in time for the food to be served. The three course meal was part of the ticket price, and looking at just the size of the starter, it was now clear to me why I had to pay so much.

As a uni student I loved anytime I had a meal that didn’t come pre packaged. So even though I was stuffed after only a few forkfuls of my main, I was determined to finish and make it to desert.

“Oh my God, I’m so full!” I moaned, slinking down in my chair slightly, and placing my hands over my stomach. Closing my eyes, I silently willed myself not to slip into a food coma. There were only a few bites of the chocolate brownie left, but I’d made it this far.

“Come on Erin, you can do this!” Harry jeered at me. I opened one eye and peered at him smiling down at me.

“I can’t Harry.” I groaned, closing my eyes again quickly. The close proximity of his beaming smile suddenly making my heart race, and I wasn’t prepared to let it show.

I lolled my head to my other shoulder when Izzy laughed beside me at my sorry state. I wasn’t scared of looking at her however, and I stared at her with wide eyes.

“You’re so dramatic.” She said rolling her eyes, taking the final bite of her own brownie. I groaned at the sight, slightly disgusted by it, but also feeling the urge to finish my own. Trying to think of it as a competition, by Izzy finishing hers I was taking it as a challenge for me to finish mine.

“Ok.” I said with a sudden amount of confidence, ignoring Izzy’s comment. “I can do this, I will do this.”

I would eat the rest of this brownie even if it meant I would have to carry a food baby for the next two weeks, or if I would have my head over the toilet in just over an hour. I was ready to accept my fate.

I took my first bite to a chorus of support and praise from Harry and Sam, whereas Izzy was making it well known that she would in fact, not be holding my hair back if I threw it all up later.

When my fork took it’s final resting place on the side of my plate, I was met with mixed emotions of relief, pride, and twinge of regret. I laughed at the round of applause I was receiving from the boys, and felt it only necessary to stand and take a bow.

“Thank you, thank you.” I giggled, before flopping back down on my chair, preparing to relax and not move for the rest of the night. “I’m glad I wore a dress with a belt.” I said, loosening the knot tied at the front of my waist. “I think I needed those spare few inches after that!”

“Behave!” Harry exclaimed. “You’re about as thin as a cocktail stick with the wood shaved off.”

We all turned to look at him with utter confusion, but when Harry looked back at us all with no indication that he was making a joke, both Izzy and Sam barked out howling laughs. I was having serious trouble holding mine in. I wasn’t sure whether he’d meant it as a compliment or not and I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but my quivering lip was giving me away. I sputtered a questioning thanks, a laugh still caught in my throat.

“We are when you come out with lines like that!” Sam exclaimed, still wheezing from his outburst of laughter.

“You coming Erin?” He asked brightly.

I couldn’t deny that I wanted to spend more time with him. Since breakfast the other day we’d been getting along so well. My frustrations over what he’d done to Izzy had all but vanished, and the first impressions I’d got of him that day at the airport had regained control over a significant part of my mind.

I nodded lightly, moving to push up off my chair but Harry placed a hand on my shoulder keeping me down. I looked up at him through my lashes confused by his actions.

“Are your feet hurting in those shoes?” He asked, gazing down to where my feet were squished into the unfamiliar shape that came with wearing stilettos. My eyes however darted between Izzy and Sam as I anticipated a teasing joke or snide remark, but they were lost in their own conversation.

“Erm, quite a bit actually yeah.” I mused, looking back at him, unsure as to why he was asking, my mind still very much aware of his hand on me.

“I got Izzy to pack you some flats, I think they’re in her bag. Do you want to swap now so you don’t have to walk in those?” He suggested politely.

I blinked slowly a few times, before again only nodding in response. His kind gesture had stunned me into silence. He moved away to find my shoes that I hadn’t thought to bring along, but for some reason he had. The butterflies I’d experienced earlier looked to be taking up permanent residency in the pit of my stomach whenever Harry was around, and right now they were fluttering around like it was a sunny day in spring.

I mumbled a small thank you to him when he returned with the shoes. Offering me a hand when I went to stand, my heart began racing again, concerned at the prospect of Izzy or Sam having seen the innocent gesture. I moved as quickly as I could away from the table my fingers slipping through Harry’s grip as I edged past him.

Harry had to jog to catch up with me as I weaved through the tables in the hall. I didn’t even know where I was going but I needed to get away from my ridiculing cousins as fast as possible. I wasn’t even sure if they’d seen, but I wasn’t prepared to take the risk.

“I can’t believe how many people in Holmes Chapel have connections to the football team.” I said to Harry, stopping just on the edge of the room and looking back at all the people I’d passed.

“I know. It’s a shit game too.” He stated.

“What are you talking about!? You were amazing the other day!” I praised, confused as to why he wouldn’t enjoy something he was clearly talented at.

“Thanks, but I told you before, football’s not my game.” He taunted, backing away from me and moving towards the door.

“Oh really?” I challenged, following him out of the room. “What is then?”

“Rugby League.” He shrugged.

And that ladies and gentlemen is the precise moment I knew I was fucked.

“Rugby League?” I repeated, utterly dumbfounded.

My mind had been plagued with the image of Harry in a suit leading up to this event, and my expectations had been matched and more when he walked into the farmhouse earlier that evening. I wasn’t sure how I was going to cope now that I had the mental image of Harry running up and down a rugby field all sweaty and muddy to add to my little collection.

“Yeah, I’ve been playing for just over 6 years now I think.” He went on, letting me catch up to him as we walked through a long corridor of the building. “I’m actually thinking about trying out for the University team rather than just the club when we go back.”

“Of course you are.” I muttered under breath.

“What?” He asked, looking over at me with furrowed brows.

“What!? Nothing!” I replied, probably too quickly to make it seem normal. But after the information I’d just been given I don’t think I’d ever be normal again.

“Do you know much about it?” He asked, perfectly content to skip over my weird behaviour.

“I’m from Leeds, Harry. Of course I do, it’s in my blood. I’ve spent so much time at Headingley over the years I should have shares in the place.” I laughed, and he did too before coming to a sudden stop, making me turn round from a few places in front of him.

He stood motionless, his eyes were sad and hooded, and his head had dropped towards his chest. What had I said!? What was going on!?

“We can’t be friends anymore Erin.” He confessed, still not looking at me as I took a few steps back to him.

“What?” I breathed. “Why?”

Had I missed something? I was so sure we’d patched everything over from the other day. Had he brought me away from the others to tell me how he really felt? That he couldn’t forgive me for what I’d done?

“I just don’t think I can be friends with someone who supports Leeds Rhinos.” He said finally looking up, a mischievous cheshire cat grin was plastered across his face, and I wanted nothing more than to smack it off.

But the relief I was feeling that he was joking was more than overwhelming. And I didn’t know why the prospect of possibly not being friends with Harry had affected me so much. We’d barely been friends for a week in the first place.

The feeling suddenly turned to frustration at the idea that he was able to draw such emotive reactions from me already. I was so annoyed at myself for letting myself become so wound up when it came to him. Any emotion he caused me to feel was heightened times a hundred, just because it was him making me feel it. I needed to control myself.

“You’re such a bellend.” I growled, stomping away from him with no sense of direction whatsoever.

“Erin, I was obviously joking.” He called after me, completely unaware of the emotional rollercoaster he was putting me through.

“And I obviously know, Harry.” I taunted.

I carried on down the house’s hallways, taking a new left or right every now and again. Admiring the grandeur of the house I couldn’t help but think what it would have been like to grow up in a place like this. The sheer size of the place must have meant amazing games of hide and seek that lasted for hours. And the corridors that seemed to stretch on for miles, I imagined would have been great for cartwheeling down.

I didn’t think we were allowed to wander, but I hadn’t seen anyone around to stop us.

I was confident it was still us, rather than just me, as I had been watching Harry’s shadow creeping along the wall a few safe paces behind me.

Following the hallway round to the right, I spotted a small bench placed opposite a large portrait hung on the wall. I sat down and admired the painting. There was no information as to who it was but I thought it must be of someone who had lived in the house at some point.

The man in the frame stood tall, and regal. An array of important looking medals were attached to his coat. A medium sized dog, that had traits of what I thought looked like a Spaniel sat proudly at his feet, looking up at it’s master with wide eyes.

It was then that Harry appeared in my vision. Taking his place in front of me, he aligned with the man in the painting, and in that moment I was sure I must have looked synonymous to the dog.

“Can I sit?” He asked timidly.

“Sure.” I nodded, swiveling round to face him, as he sat down next to me, closer than I’d expected.

“I didn’t mean to upset you.” He spoke.

“You didn’t really.” I admitted. “I was more annoyed at myself really.” I added.

“Why?”

“It doesn’t matter.” I affirmed, realising I couldn’t let him know that for some reason he affected me in ways I couldn’t explain myself.

I needed to regain some power in whatever this dynamic was. The space I’d put between us as I’d walked through the halls, allowed me to compose myself and take a few moments to devise tactics without being distracted by him in that stupid suit.

“So who’s your team then? Because you clearly aren’t a Leeds fan.” I interrogated, nudging him with my elbow, and grinning at him trying to brighten the mood, which admittedly I’d caused to sour.

“St Helens.” He said, playfully wincing as he awaited my response.

“Oh now I see why we can’t be friends!” I teased.

“Oi!” He cried. His nose scrunched up and that little pout from earlier reappeared on his lips, and I couldn’t help but smile.

The confidence Harry bestowed in himself was something I admired, yet it didn’t mean I wasn’t immune to his charms. His eyes had been locked on mine since he’d taken a seat. And while I wasn’t one to back down from a challenge it felt as though his gaze was breaking down barriers I’d didn’t realise I’d put up.

It became too intense and I had to pull away. Silently cursing myself for being so weak when it came to him. I kept my eyes down for a while, gently moving and admiring the the delicate silver shapes that fell from the chain around my wrist.

“It’s pretty.” He observed, breaking the silence between us.

“Thanks.” I smiled, risking looking up at him again.

But he knew what he was doing, and his eyes were already perfectly placed for mine to snap to like magnets. And that force I felt, meant I couldn’t pull away from the green orbs even when they dropped like mine had done before. Not even when I felt his fingertips glide over the cold metal, admiring the jewellry on my wrist.

“Izzy has the same one, yeah?”

“She does. A few of the charms are different, but it’s the same bracelet.” I commented, slightly breathless at his gentle touch.

“I thought I recognised it.” He mumbled, both his eyes and fingers still searching between the shapes delicately, as if he was reading them like a story, and he was trying to put together the missing pieces.

Of course each of the charms meant something to me, but Harry wasn’t asking what. It was like he was making his own story in his mind how each of the tiny pieces of metal linked together. He didn’t know me that well to try and guess what linked them to me.

A few more moments of silence passed easily between us, until a slamming door at the end of the hall made us both jump in fright, both my hands retracting towards me and out of Harry’s grasp.

“We should get back to the hall.” Harry suggested, standing up from the bench, seemingly not at all fazed by the interruption. “I think the speeches will be starting soon.”

“Good idea.” I said springing up, trying to disguise the fact that I was slightly upset about our little adventure coming to an end. “I need to walk off the rest of that brownie anyway.” I grinned, sending him a wink. This game wasn’t finished yet.

****

When Harry and I arrived back in the main hall all the plates and cutlery from dinner had been cleared, and sure enough the stage at the front of the room was being set up with a small podium and a microphone stand.

A man who I recognised from the tournament the other day made his way onto the stage, harnessing the attention of everyone in the room, announcing the start of the awards and speeches.

The chatter around us died down as Harry and I approached the table we’d left earlier. “Good timing!” Sam proclaimed in a loud whisper, as I took my seat.

I gave Izzy a cheesy grin and I was graced with one back, before I turned my attention to the man on the stage.

“As always,” He began. “We kick off the awards with ‘Player of the Year’. We have fantastic teams in this area that are filled with great talent and ambition and we love to reward hard work and perseverance too. But there’s only one trophy, and I’d like to ask last year’s recipient to come up to reveal the new winner. So please give a round of a applause to Mr Harry Styles.” He announced.

Of bloody course. I really didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of seeing my reaction, but I couldn’t help but look over my shoulder at him.

He was already looking at me, an annoying smirk played on his lips, and when I rolled my eyes at him he broke into a laugh and stood up, making his way over to the stage.

I turned to Izzy who was shaking her head too. “He literally just told me he didn’t like football.” I professed over the raucous sound of applause for the golden boy himself.

“He’s so dramatic.” She complained, but there was no denying the pride I saw in her eyes for her best friend as he reached the podium.

“Thanks Mr Wilson, thanks everyone.” He smiled, flashing his dimples to his adoring audience. “You have no idea how hard it’s been keeping this a secret.” He laughed, everyone joining him. “The Player of the Year award goes to my brother Sam Johnson!”

He could have said something after that but I wouldn’t know because the roar of cheer and applause that erupted in the room was deafening. Izzy and I both screamed, jumping out of our seats and tackling Sam in a massive hug. I was so happy for him, football had pretty much been Sam’s entire life since the age of about 7. We all knew he was extremely talented, so to see him being awarded for it warmed my heart immensely.

When he finally wrestled free from our embrace Izzy and I both squealed in delight. I couldn’t stand still I was so excited and I found myself thinking how I wouldn’t have been able to jump so high if I’d still been in heels.

Well, well, well....what do we think? Harry and Erin are getting a bit cosy aren’t they....? I’d love to hear your thoughts and predictions on the chapter! As always, my inbox is open so I’d love to hear from you about your thoughts and predictions!

I also want to say a massive thank you to my top lads @cuddlemusclestyles and @islareeveswriting, for everything they do. They both put up with my whining and bitterness on a regular basis, and I don’t know why... I love you two probably as much as I love Harry, so quite a lot, even though one of you doesn’t like hot cross buns and one of you puts ketchup on your scrambled eggs.

Both of them are writing FIRE fics at the moment, so you should read them, because they’re really good. I like things easy and convenient, so I’ve linked them both below. Aren’t I nice!? All the love xxx 💕

TELL ME @cuddlemusclestyles HERE @islareeveswriting

#held #held chapter 4 #chapter 4 #harry styles fan fiction #harry styles au #new fic #let me know what you think!

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