#not beta read btw just giving y'all a heads up

[etfrin]

❝ꜱᴏᴜʟꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴄʀᴜꜱʜ❞ — chapter eight | coriolanus snow

「ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ:」 SFW | Coriolanus Snow

「ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ:」 young! Coriolanus Snow x fem! Reader

「ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ:」 Coryo wakes up in the hospital and finds you... oh! you guys share a bed btw <⁠(⁠￣⁠︶⁠￣⁠)⁠>

「ᴀ/ɴ:」 hope y'all like this!!

beta read by the amazing spectacular @nowitsmissing

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Coriolanus Snow could hear a certain buzz as he regained consciousness. He soon realized it was the noise of the machine attached to him. The groan he lets out is louder than he thought as he opens his eyes and begins to sit up.

He blinks, the dim light of the hospital filling his eyes up and it hurts. He looked to his left and saw the empty beds beside him, a few nurses fluttering around, not paying any attention to anything except their remaining work.

He looks to his right, and he won't ever admit the fact that his eyes watered. A few teardrops even rolled down on his cheeks without his consent. You were there, safe and present. Curled up in a chair, sleeping. He hissed softly as he wiped the moisture away from his face. He ignored the sting he felt whenever he moved. The wound in his back would surely scar.

At least it wasn't his face.

He stands up on his feet, his arm holding the IV pole for support. He wondered briefly if he should wake you up but decided against it. It certainly wasn't because you looked so pretty right now, he just wanted you well rested. That's it (not).

But his attention is stolen by his tribute on the TV. Lucy Gray Baird live on the screens of every TV in Panem. Even the nurses had stopped working to look at her. She held a guitar. Coriolanus was glad that Sejanus Plinth did one thing right in his life.

“Good evening. Capitol. Districts,” she said. Her fingertips were on the strings of the lovely guitar. “I wrote this song for a boy back in twelve. I hope he hears it.”

Then she begins to strum out a tune and a sweet melody begins to play with heartbreaking lyrics.

“When I was a babe, I fell in the holler

When I was a girl, I fell into your arms

We fell on hard times, and we lost our bright Colors

You went zu the dogs, and I lived by my charms

I danced for my dinner, spread kisses like honey

You stole and you gambled, and I said you should

We sang for our soppers, we drunk up our money

And one day you left, saying I was no good…"

He grinned, Lucy Gray certainly painted a picture of a heartbroken girl nicely. It would certainly win the hearts of the Capitol if the sobbing of the nurses he could hear was any sign. Plus, he was sure Sejanus Plinth would be blinded by jealousy. The thought made Coriolanus feel so much better.

Then his attention turns to you, your voice much sweeter despite being raspy, “It was a rebel bombing they said.” You continue, “They wanted to destroy the symbols of the Games. Marcus, Sejanus Plinths’ tribute ran away. And several died. We were lucky.”

You stand up and stretch your arms. And he hates himself for his eyes lowered to see the flash of skin you showed when your shirt rose. He swallowed and pretended that his increased heartbeat wasn't because of you.

You walk up to him.

“You were lucky,” you said, your hand caging his with a hold he cherished. You rest your head on his shoulder and both of you watch the song end together, and Lucy walks off stage.

You begin to explain again, “Tigris had to leave for work. Sejanus left to give Lucy Gray the guitar. They both were present and worried.”

Your head turns to his side, and you whisper, “You're not allowed to get hurt again.”

“I don't think I have that in control-” Coriolanus begins to say, his voice defensive. He could see the tiredness in your eyes. He could see you overwhelmed by what happened. He didn't need to ask ‘Real or not?’. He knew.

You squeezed his hand so hard that he saw white in his vision, a surprised groan leaving his lips. “You're not allowed to get hurt,” you emphasized. Your eyes narrowed in a glare, you looked a bit adorable with how worn out you were and Coriolanus wanted to smile at you. He decided against it when the hold got tighter and he was pretty sure his hand wasn't getting any blood flow.

“Fine,” he agreed, “I won't get hurt again.”

He knew it wasn't in his control. But for you, he would try. There was no way to rationalize why so he put the promise he just made to you to the back of his mind.

Your hand loses the death grip and you gently make him sit down on the bed again. “Ma I mean Sejanus’ mom sent some food for us. She's sad that she couldn't visit,” you said.

“Ma?” He questioned.

“She told me to call her that. I had plenty of dinners at Sejanus place.” You answered.

“Plenty, huh?” He muttered it was so obviously jealous that you raised an eyebrow at him. You dig out a container from a bag and place it on your lap. In your hand, you had utensils for one person.

“Feel free to invite me to yours, Snow.”

But he couldn't, and that increased his jealousy even more. Sejanus could feed you steaks, and sweets and what could Coriolanus feed you? Expired milk and cabbage soup. He didn't say anything further, letting the hurt fester in his heart.

He decided to give you something else instead.

“Coryo…” he whispered, his eyes vulnerable, “Call me Coryo from now on.” Coryo was a nickname for his friends and family. Something intimate to him, something he owns to himself. And he was giving it to you and hoped that you accepted it.

“Coryo,” you tried out, and it sounded perfect from your lips. It sounded so much like the fate he avoids, that he looks away. He blames his blurry eyes on tiredness.

“Now eat,” you said, taking his attention with the spoonful of rice you held in front of him.

“I can feed myself,” he said. He wasn't that hurt. He could move his limbs fine. He can feed himself. He is not a child. You don't have to treat him as one.

“Don't care, Coryo. It's for me rather than for you,” you stated, “Please, Coryo.”

He doesn't argue. He doesn't know what to refute when your eyes turn pleading. And he knew that you were making the impression so he would give in. And so he did. Who was he to reject you after all?

He lets you feed him the rice and chicken gravy Sejanus's mom cooked deliciously. It was hundredfolds better than anything Coriolanus could compare to. He will remember to pass his thanks to Sejanus.

After the box is devoid of any food, it's returned to its place in the bag. And you curled up in the uncomfortable seat again. Coriolanus didn't like it very much, it was obvious it wasn't the most luxurious place to sleep in. Surely, your back and neck will hurt when you wake up tomorrow.

He moves himself until there's space in his small, hospital bed. He pats the space. “Come here,” he said. Before you could protest, he adds, “It's for me rather than for you.”

You don't argue with him, instead you slip him beside him. Your body against his in the small bed. He lets out a shuddering breath that you don't notice. His arm is under your head, being used as a pillow. In a sense, you were cuddling with how quickly your legs had tangled with his and your arm was over his torso. He felt caged, and he never knew being caged could feel good not suffocating. It could feel safe.

You made him feel safe.

NEXT PART

[moonlight19256]

Deus Ex Machina - Chapter One

'Deus ex machina' is an unexpected power or event saving a seemingly hopeless situation. Lila didn't believe in this saying before, but after she learned Ladybug's secret, that quote was the answer to all of the suspicious things happening to her.

Lila figures out Ladybug's identity but something stops her from telling anyone. Either by way of bird attacks, convenient door slamming into her, and other suspicious situations.

Lila made her way to her second class: Maths. Lila hated mathematics; so many numbers, too many variables. She hoped that an akuma would be appearing, anything to get out of maths.

As if Hawkmoth read her thoughts, a loud crash was heard in the distance. Lila’s eyes widened and she quickly ran the other way to the girls’ locker room. Lila saw Marinette on the other side, but didn’t bother to annoy her. 

Lila looked out of the window and saw giant pigeons running through Paris. The fuck? she thought. She heard a soft ‘Spots on!’ and confused, she looked back at Marinette. But Marinette wasn't there. Instead, Ladybug was there running out of the door towards the akuma. Marinette is Ladybug??

Lila ran out of the locker room to look out the windows. "Come, my dear pigeons, together we will rule Paris! Humans are overrated anyway!" shouted Mr Pigeon. Mr Pigeon again? For the fortieth time or something? Really Hawkmoth? That dude needs therapy. Or a hobby. Maybe both.

The girl grabbed her phone and opened the Ladyblog. Alya was already livestreaming the fight.

"Check out Ladybug and Chat Noir who are fighting Mister Pigeon, again! The fellow has already been akumatized thirty-eight times, I guess he just really likes pigeons?" Lila snorted.

After half an hour of trying to tame and ride the pigeons, "Lucky Charm!" "Ooh look, Ladybug summons her lucky charm! What would it be this time? Maybe cinnamon rolls, I read somewhere that pigeons hate cinnamon." Alya rambles. The camera zoomed in on the heroes' yoyo, and Ladybug summoned a... can of pepper spray?

"Pepper spray? What's she supposed to do with that? Spray all the pigeons?" Alya joked. Ladybug started spraying all of the surrounding mega-pigeons with pepper spray, and surprisingly, it works. The pigeons flew away, cooing loudly.

Chat Noir grabbed the pepper spray and ran to the top of the Eiffel Tower, where Mister Pigeon was with his giant pigeons.

"Chat, what are you doing?" yelled Ladybug. "Just follow me bugaboo, I have a plan."

"Normally I'm the one with a plan." joked Ladybug.

"Don't worry, my plan is purrrfect!" Ladybug groaned and went somewhere to recharge. Chat reached the top of the Eiffel tower, and he began pushing the large pigeons of the tower with his baton. It was a funny sight really, Lila wondered how it would look like if someone who wasn't from Paris would react.

Two superheroes in a Cat and Ladybug suit battling enormous pigeons and a man in a pink suit with wings.

All of the big pigeons were now flying in the sky, and Chat Noir was alone with the akuma.

"Give me your Miraculous!"

"You didn't say please, so now I am going to take your whistle. It would be cat-astrophic if I just left it there." Chat smirked. He grabbed his baton and began battling Mister Pigeon. Soon Ladybug joined and tied the villain up..

Mister Pigeon tried to fly but Chat sprayed pepper spray in his face, causing him to fall to the ground. Ladybug grabbed the man's pigeon whistle and crushed it in her palm. The akuma fluttered out, and Ladybug caught it with her yoyo. "No more evil-doing for you little akuma. Time to de-evilize!" She tapped on her yoyo and a white, purified butterfly flew out. "Bye bye little butterfly!

“Miraculous Ladybug!"

A few minutes after the magic ladybugs washed over the city, she went to her next class: literature. How did the fight even last 45 minutes with a dude and giant pigeons? Lila went to her seat in the back and grabbed her books. She noticed that Marinette was already present. Lila smirked.

This is going to be fun.

Lila glanced at the clock, class was going to start in a few minutes. She smirked and went to Marinette and Alya. "Y'know, Ladybug saved me again from the akuma." Lila paused to look at everyone's faces, they were all intrigued, but Marinette had an annoyed expression on her face.

Satisfied, she continued, "I was outside to make sure everyone was safe, but a giant pigeon flew towards me. Ladybug then swung by and saved me from being eaten, she is such a good friend!"

Suddenly an idea popped into her head. She grinned and proceeded; "We really have an unspoken understanding. We trust each other so much, she even told me her secret identity last night! I'm not allowed to let anyone know of course, but you are such good friends, I trust you both not to tell anyone." She stared at Alya and Marinette, and the Ladyblogger quickly nodded. Lila ignored the confused and annoyed look on Marinette's face.

"But isn't it dangerous for you to know who she is already?" Alya started. "It would be kinda dumb to tell us too, as much as I would like to know who she is."

"Oh no, if you two don't get akumatized or tell anyone," she looked at Alya. "then it all should be fine. Ladybug… is…"

"Alright class, please go to your seats and open your books on page 394. You too Lila!" The bell ringed, also signaling that class was about to begin.

Lila grumbled and went back to her seat. Literature was better than maths, but she still didn't like it. Books are better to read if you don't have to do it for school. After three quarters of boring book reviews, lunch came and saved her from starvation and boredom. She grabbed her lunch and sat with her 'friends'.

Nino showed them his new beat he was working on, it actually sounded pretty cool in Lila's opinion, and Alya showed the newest scoop on the Ladyblog. Marinette spent the majority of the time glaring at Lila and Adrien was just enjoying his croissants.

"As I was saying earlier, I wanted to trust you with Ladybug's identity."

"What!?" Adrien replied with his mouth still half full and a doubtful look on his face.

"You know Ladybug's identity, for real? Why would she trust you with her secret?" Right, Adrien knows that I am a liar. She thought.

"We’re just very good friends, and she gave me a lucky charm so I can't get akumatized anymore." She showed her bracelet that she bought somewhere in Italy a while ago.

"Anyways, Ladybug is- OUCH! What was that?" A wad of paper bounced against her head, but it looked like it came from above.

An akuma maybe? No... no one else seems to have any paper dropping on their head… weird.

Whatever. I’ll just tell them tomorrow.

And chapter one is done! Hope y'all like it, and thank you @pebble_12345 for your beta-reading and editing!

I'm hungry, I'm gonna eat some pringles.

Byebye

Btw I'm also posting this^^ on Ao3, so feel free to check that out too!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/31214657/chapters/77150663