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wlw-imagines · 1 year

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Go Home - Eloise Bridgerton/Reader (Bridgerton)

request: another eloise request…since you’re into writing angst how about lady Whistledown hinted at the reader’s sexuality so reader breaks up with Eloise for her safety?? (Adore your writing and Eloise is my fav!!!) - anon

a/n: ANGST ANGST ANGST ANGST ANGST. that's all i have to say.

also part one of 2, exciting times!!!

also warning i guess of like era homophobia :-( also pen is v clearly pro lgbt i strongly believe but here she is just trying to protect a friend, i am certain she loves the gays

ALSO kind of spoilers if u haven’t finished season 2 i think?

FEAT. ANTHONY AS BIG BRO

You shielded the bright sun from your eyes, looking up to see Penelope walking over and taking the empty seat next to Eloise, “The day I no longer have to endure the excruciating pain of finding a husband may be the happiest day of my life.” She slumped back into the chair, after completing a quick search to ensure her mother wasn’t watching her.

You grinned, gently resting your hand on the arm of the chair, subtly linking your pinkie with Eloise’s, “I take it the stroll wasn’t a successful one then Pen?” You asked, sipping from your glass of cold lemonade.

Pen hesitated, “Mother did very well in succeeding scaring off all potential suitors left in the ton, if that’s what you mean?” She smiled and shook her head, ridding herself of the thoughts from the walk, “What have the two of you been up to? I didn’t see either of you taking a walk?” She asked. You caught her gaze briefly flicking down to your hands and you cleared your throat, bringing your hand away from Eloise’s, and shifted in your seat.

“Oh, gosh no, I’ve been spending a blissful afternoon sitting right here with Eloise. We’ve been setting the world to rights, haven’t we?” You looked at her to see her already gazing at you, her eyes soft as she nodded.

“We have.” She smiled a secret smile, immediately making you think of your murmured conversations just 10 minutes ago. You did your best to stop the blush from settling on your cheeks, although (judging by Penelope’s thoughtful expression) you don’t think you had done a good enough job.

You cleared your throat again, shaking off the feeling of unease, and shrugged, “No better way to spend my day than with the Bridgerton clan.”

“Maybe if you like the company of them so much then you should set your sights upon marrying one.” Pen mused, raising a challenging eyebrow at you. Surely you weren’t imagining this - had Eloise told her something?

But Eloise was still blissfully in her own world, her soft gaze still tracking your movements and her chin in the palm of her hand. “I am telling you right now Y/N, you are not to marry one of my brothers!” She grinned and you playfully roller your eyes at her.

“Well, I can think of only one Bridgerton I’d be happy to spend the rest of my life with and I will never say who.” You told her, once more forgetting who’s company you were in until Pen let out a terse reply.

“I see.” She sent you a thin-lipped smile.

You smiled back at her, a proper smile in the hopes of mending any bridges that have seemed to break in recent days. Pen hasn’t been happy around you for a while. Eloise doesn’t think she knows, and even if she did, would be supportive of the two of you, but you can’t put your finger on what’s happening.

You went to stand up, “I should go, my Papa will be expecting me.”

“No, don’t go.” Eloise jumped up to join you, “Do you want company?”

You squeezed her hand and let her go before turning so Pen would not see the two of you holding hands, “No, El, you stay here with Pen and enjoy the sunshine. I don’t see why we should both have to miss out on all the fun.”

“I am sure we are capable of making our own fun.” She attempted an almost-wshiper but failed to hit the mark. You just hoped that Pen, or anyone else, had heard the not-so-subtle remark.

You winced as Pen spoke up, “As long as you can escape the watchful eye of the ton.” You sent her another placating smile and nodded.

“Right, yes, quite.” You took a deep breath, gathering your skirts.

“Whistledown is always watching.” Pen shrugged, a cautious eye flickering between you and Eloise.

“She is utterly wonderful thanks to her wide expanse of knowledge but alas, I doubt I am interesting enough to feature in her paper.” You nod towards her.

She shrugged, “You never know.”

“Well, I’ll frame it on the wall if I do get a feature and I will sign everyone’s copies.” You grin, trying desperately to win Pen over to your side again.

Eloise wrapped her hand around your arm and smiled, “I’ll be first in line.”

“Of course.” You smiled, sending her a look of gratitude, hoping it conveyed everything you wanted it to, and more, “I should go.”

“Okay, okay, yes. Go home and be safe.” She stops herself just before leaving a kiss on your cheek, her eyes slightly wide with alarm at her own almost mistake, “I will see you soon.” She quickly rearranged the panicked-look into a smile, waving you off.

“And I will look forward to that moment.” You nodded, before waving to Penelope too, “Bye, Pen!” And leaving the pair to their own devices.

Pen watched as you left, looking across the Eloise and watching how her gaze followed you until you were out of sight, “Since when have you become so close to Y/N?”

“Oh, not that long, not really.” Eloise quickly looked away from the space that Y/N had last occupied, and smiled at her friend.

“And so damning of Lady Whistledown? I thought you were still excited and trying to find out who she was?”

Eloise nodded, “I am! Not that I’ve got any further than last we spoke. I don’t know... it’s just a bit of fun, isn’t it?” She smiled, in her own little world, as she slumped back in her chair. Relaxing in the sunshine and watching the people of the ‘Ton pass by.

“I suppose.” Pen eventually shrugged. She wtached El in silence for a few moments and then leaned forward, a worried frown on her face, “Is there anything you want to tell me? As your friend. You can tell me anything. Anything at all.” She put her hand on Eloise’s.

“What’s with all the questions!” Eloise laughed, taking a sip of lemonade.

Pen let out the breath she was holding and sat back in her chair, “Sorry, I’m just tired. It’s been a long day.” She glance to El, once more, “And I’m worried about you.”

Eloise shook her head, “There is nothing to be worried about. I promise you. I have never been better. Honestly.”

What Penelope wanted to say was that she had become increasingly aware of Y/N’s intentions. What if Eloise got too attached? What if the ‘Ton caught wind of Y/N’s attachment to Eloise and the Bridgerton’s got dragged down into the dangerous rumours too? Eloise would never survive the accusations.

Perhaps Penelope had to take things into her own hands, before the two did something particularly dangerous, like fall in love.

xxxxxxxxxxxx

“Y/N?” Eloise’s voice echoed through the hall. You slowly lifted your gaze from the window, dragging it to the door, “Y/N?” She called again and your heart broke. Since reading the Whistledown this morning, you knew this moment would have to happen. You were hoping you could have put it off for longer. “Toby let me in.” Her frustrated tone pierced through the door. You could hear your butler do his best to convince her to leave but- “Did you... have you seen-?” She asked, bursting through the door. Toby stood in the doorway, looking apologetic but you just brushed him away. He sent you one last worried look and bowed, closing the door for your privacy,

You nodded, “It came through this morning.” You croaked, blinking slowly. You didn’t know that life could stop so suddenly. You could hardly believe your eyes when Toby had insisted you get up immediately and had carefully passed you the small piece of paper.

He had held you for most of the morning as you wept.

Eloise stopped in front of you, not entirely sure of what to do with herself. She crouched in front of you, hand on your knees, “Are you okay, my love?” When you didn’t answer, she gently reached her hand up to your cheek, “I’m so sorry.”

You shook your head and abruptly stood up. “I- I’m okay.” You had to get away from her. She shouldn’t even be here. You were angry with her. Or were you? You couldn’t tell. You were so confused and tired and sad. But you knew that her being here was a stupid mistake. What would people say once they knew she was in your company, alone.

“As soon as I saw it, I had to come over.” She rushed out, her eyes watery and her hand still grasping a crumpled up version of the gossip. You turned away.

“Eloise.” You forced out her name. How could even her name be ruined for you? How dare they take that from you?

You flinched as her hand rested at the bottom of your back, “I needed to see you and make sure you were okay.”

“Eloise.” You shook her head and tried to swallow the lump forming in your throat. You couldn’t say it. You wanted, just for one moment, to be selfish. You loved her. You will always love her. How could you leave her? But you couldn’t be selfish. You loved her too much for that.

“Mother doesn’t know I’m here though, because-” She hesitated and forced her fingers to ungrip the gossip. She looked up at you as fresh tears formed but she quickly rubbed away the tears and threw the paper into the fire. You pretended not to see it, “well, that doesn’t matter.” She clenched her hands into fists so you wouldn’t see them shake, but you did. Was it fear? Anger? You closed your eyes.

“Eloise, I can’t see you anymore.” You managed to whisper out. The fire crackled and had swallowed your words.

She stepped closer, “Pardon?” She looked so worried, she was worried about you. You strugled to breath.

You turned away again but spoke louder so you wouldn’t have to say it again, “We can’t be together like this anymore. I’m not... I don’t want this anymore.” You shook your head, looking out of the window, trying to imagine you weren’t here, you weren’t doing this, you were happy.

“Want what?” Her voice was quiet now, and she hadn’t followed you this time.

“Eloise, listen!” You turned sharply, “You have to understand.”

“Understand?” Her breathing had sped up and she shook her head, “Well... understand what?” You couldn’t tell if she truly didn’t understand or was being willfully ignorant. She was a clever girl, your Eloise. You shook your head. Not your Eloise. Just Eloise.

“I no longer wish to see you, Miss Bridgerton.” You tried to hold your head high and keep your voice even.

She frowned and squinted at you, “And what, may I ask, do you mean by that?”

“I am sure I can only say this once.” Your voice shook again. So much for keeping the voice even, “Please, we can’t be together. I do not want to see you... ever again.” You gazed at the fire, refusing to make eye contact.

Eloise hummed, “You mean you do not want to be seen with me.” She said softly, correcting you.

“No, I-”

She interruped, “It’s two very different things.” she stepped between you and the fire, cutting your gaze off. Your eyes landed on her hands again. She was wearing your ring. You heart fell that bit further.

“El-”

Now she was desperate. Her hands started moving as she spoke, “Of course, we’re never going to want to be seen together but we can still-”

“Eloise! Stop.” You felt like a petulant child, who wasn’t getting their own way. “Stop it! I have simply...” You gritted your teeth, “I’ve moved on.”

Her face fell. You couldn’t do this. You couldn’t- you didn’t want to do this anymore. She took a breath, and in a very small voice, asked, “You have... moved on?”

You averted your gaze to the garden again. This time insisten that you would see this through. This was what you had to do. “This was nothing but a brief dalliance. I am sorry if I ever hinted otherwise.” You looked at the trees in the garden, the one you were so fond of when you were little. You would spend hours climbing, falling, painting, climbing again. You kept focused on that, on happier times.

“Dalliance?” You could hear the anger coming through now, “I’m not dim. I read the entirety of the latest Whistledown. I saw everything...” She faltered for words. “What was published means nothing to me, Y/N. My love,” You winced again, “I know you. The gossip changes nothing. I don’t care if I am seen with you, I-”

You shook your head, you needed another route. She knew you too well, "The gossip in the Whisledown is a separate matter, it is not... it has nothing to do with this, Eloise.”

“You’re being quite serious.” She stopped in her tracks.

Your gaze switched to the swing your brother had built for you when you were young, you distracted your mind with memories of those days. Days before Eloise. You survived then. You could survive now. The days after Eloise. Was that how your life would be mapped out? “Yes.”

“You cannot do this. I won’t allow it.”

“You won’t... allow it?” You turned around to face her.

“This is not you. Not the Y/N I know.” She was moving again, right in front of you with her hands cradling your cheeks and her forehead on yours. You did all you could not to cry, “I know you Y/N. I have got to know you in so many ways. I love you.” A tear escaped and she sniffled, angry once more with herself for letting her tears fall.

“What else do you want from me? Eloise? What more can I say?” You whispered, you didn’t have the energy. You felt like you could hardly stand.

“I want you- Darling, I want you to be honest with me. Tell me what is going on inside that head of yours. You cannot push me away.” She had broken now, tears were stubbornly spilling from her eyes.

“I’ve only ever been honest with you, Eloise.” You spoke softly. And that was the truth. Until today.

“And do I not get a say in the matter?” She asked, voice breaking.

You closed your eyes. “I’ve made up my mind.”

“It cannot be changed? That I am nothing to you?” She whispered.

“No.” You shut your eyes even more. But instead of blocking things out, it only brought images. Like a book opening before your eyes, full of memories, full of Eloise. You groaned in frustration and pulled away.

“We could... you could come visit me, in the country. We could be together there, without worry. If it’s the ‘Ton that worries you.” She hiccupped and pulled you in again, she wiped your face, wiping away tears you hadn’t even realised were there, “We could leave tomorrow.” She intertwined your fingers, pulling you closer to her.

“You need to go.” You whispered.

She kissed your brow, “We could leave now.” She moved her hands, still intertwined with yours, to your cheeks and kept her lips to your cheek.

“Go home, Eloise. Please.” She shook her head, pressing a kiss to both eyes, and to your nose three times.

“I love you.” She trembled, “Tell me. Look me in the eye, Y/N, and tell me you do not have love for me. That you do not love me - as I love you.” She forced you to sit and knelt in front of you, as she had when she first arrived.

“Just-”

Her hands squeezed yours, “Say it.” She challenged. A new steel in her voice.

“El-”

She squeezed your hands harder, “Do not ignore my request.”

“You need to-”

“Y/N.” She let go. You moved from the chair and to the floor, sitting in front of her.

You put your hand to her cheek now, and said as softly as you could, “Go home, El. I will not say it again.”

“Then do not say it again, and I will stay.” She looked at the floor, refusing to meet your gaze.

“I-” Her eyes snapped to yours, and you looked down, “do not love you.”

She leant forwards, “I asked you to look me in the eye and-”

“Eloise, I-” You dragged your eyes to hers. You couldn’t do this. How could you0 “I do not love you.” You said.

You watched a shift of emotions in her eyes, and there was a long period of silence. Eventually, she leaned back, stood up and took a deep breath, “Y/N,” You prepared yourself for the worst, to hear her say something awful. As you have said hurtful things to her. For her to leave, which is what you supposeduly wanted. You couldn’t watch her go, “I just do not believe you.”

You pushed yourself up off the floor, “I have done everything you have asked of me!” You shouted.

“It is truly what you want?” She asked back, her voice rising to match yours.

Before all hell could break lose, Toby knocked on the door. You turned away, back to looking out the garden.

“Miss Y/L/N? Lord Bridgerton is here.” He said, and you sighed, body tensing up.

Eloise spoke softly once more, “He- my brother?” She asked, in disbelief.

“Send him in.” You tried to sound commanding, but all that came out was a weak request and a tremble in your voice.

“Miss Y/L/N,” You turned and he briefly bowed to you, “Eloise, we’ve been looking all over for you. It is late. You should come home.” He said, curtly.

Eloise gathered her emotions together, “Brother, I am perfectly capable of visiting my friends, thank you very much. We are simply... discussing the latest gossip.” She couldn’t bring herself to look at you, but she nodded to her brother, “You may leave, I will follow shortly.”

He glanced at you, before striding over to his sister and grabbing her arm. He whispered, angry, but you could still hear, “You will do well to remember what Mother said.” He gritted his teeth, “This is inappropriate. You are being childish.”

“I did not feel in need of your accompaniment, brother, so I do not understand why you are even here.” Her voice was angry once more.

“You know perfectly well why I am here.” The tone perfectly matched Eloise’s.

“Oh? Well, please, elaborate.”

“Eloise, I am your brother. You will do as I say.”

You were suddenly immeasurably tired. Both you and Mr Bridgerton wanted the same thing. You put your trust in him that he would get his way quicker than you would.

“The two of you may remain here and squabble all you like. I will depart to bed.” You said, hardly glancing at either of them as you passed.

Eloise went to move towards you, “Y/N-”

Anthony bowed his head as you passed, “Miss Y/L/N-”

Just before leaving you turned and looked Eloise in the eye, “Go home, Miss Bridgerton, and be safe. Do not think of me. That is all I can ask of you.” You sent her a pleading look with your eyes, praying she listened. “Lord Bridgerton.” You bowed your head to him and closed the door behind you.

xxxxxxxxxxxx

There was a soft knock on your door. You chose not to respond.

The knock sounded out again, a few minutes later, “Miss Y/N?”

You groaned and tore the soft blankets from over your head. “What is it Toby?” You called out, gaze settling on thpacked bags at the end of your bed.

“Lord Bridgerton has requested your presence.” He called out, voice as soft as his knock. You winced at the title.

You sighed, rolling over, “Send him away, please.”

Toby hesitated, “I told him as such myself. I’m afraid he has insisted on waiting in the library.” He finally admitted.

“Well then, you can tell him that he can do what he likes but I will not be seeing him.” You gritted your teeth and covered your head with the blankets once more.

“Y/N, I do not think he will go without a fight.” Your butler’s voice was muffled through the sheets covering your head.

You screwed up your eyes in frustration and shouted out, “I will not see him, Toby.” Then took a deep breath and unclenched, already feeling sorry for your reaction to the man who was more like your father than the biologoical one you had, “I’m sorry, I- please, I cannot.”

“I will try again.” He promised.

“Thank you.” You whispered after he had gone. You pulled yourself into a tight ball and wept again.

xxxxxxxxxxxx

You had waited all day, knowing that you had a visitor yet hoping that he would, essentially, fuck off.

Toby had been coming in at intermittent priods to give you updates but they were pretty much all, ‘Lord Bridgerton still waits in the library’ and you telling him to tell him to ‘fuck off but please phrase it a more palatable way’. Unfortunately, the Bridgerton hadn’t seemed to get the hint.

You sighed and sat up in bed. You could wait him out but a bit part of you fully believed that he would say all night and then, when you tried to leave for Frankfurt the next morning, he would follow you all he way their until he had got what he came for. He was like his sister in that way.

You gritted your teeth. How many time would you have to tell a member of this family to just leave you alone. You’re just trying to keep them safe, don’t they get it?

Finally, after meditating on it a while, you got up. Your lady’s maid had put out a dress, just in case you had wanted to talk with him, but you wanted this over and done with. If he insisted on talking to you, then let’s make this as difficult for him as possible.

You’d speak to him in your sleeping garments. On your terms.

You stomped down the stairs, going back to stomp on a stair again if you felt it hadn’t been loud and angry enough the first time.

Toby couldn’t help but smile as he saw you, well- heard you first, and he bowed his head as he opened the door.

“You have a great deal of patience, Lord Bridgerton.” You glared at him, sitting in your chair, your favourite spot in the library. He practically jumped out of his skin, dropping the piece of literature he had been entertaining himself with as he waited. “Did I say you could read my books?”

He looked you up and down and averted his gaze, looking slightly stricken. He snapped the book shut and put it down on the table.

Anthony stood up and bowed his head, “I, uh, wanted to speak with you.”

“I do not wish to do so with you. You may leave now.” You all but snarled, showing him the way to the door.

He paused and frowned, “I will wait here until you agree to talk.”

“Then you will be waiting a long time.” You shrugged, turning around to walk back to the door.

“I can stay here all night.” He called after you.

“And I will be gone in the morning.” You spoke, hand on the door knob, willing yourself to leave, now. You weren’t even meant to warn him that you were leaving.

He faltered for a moment, “Gone?”

You let out a frustrated sigh, more with yourself than him, and turned back towards him, stepping away from the door, “Tomorrow I leave for the continent. My brother will be waiting for me in Frankfurt.” You spoke evenly for the first time in days, “My father organised it all.” The spite returned back to your voice. You hated the man, but you accepted that the change of scenery would do you good.

“And Eloise...?” Anthony blinked a few times, lost for words.

You shook your head, “Doesn’t know.”

He frowned, “Perhaps she should.”

You already felt the familiar prickle of tears at the back of your eyes and bit your tongue to keep them at bay.

“What are you doing here?” You asked him, quietly, resigned.

He sat, slowly, as if to not scare you off, “I- I just have some questions.”

“I am not interested in answering them.” You said and yet you found yourself sitting in the open seat opposite him, your father’s chair.

“Eloise-” You audibly winced at the name and Anthony quickly took note, trying to move on, to keep you talking. “You and her.”

“I am sure you have seen the papers. I could not continue a,” You hesitated as yet another li escaped your lips. It seemed all you could do now. “friendship with your sister after what has been spoken of me.”

He nodded, a look of deep thought crossed his face and he turned his gaze directly to you, a soft gaze, almost a gaze of brotherly love. Your chest ached again, “You saw a lot of one another.”

You hesitated, waiting for the trick. But sighed and nodded, “We did.” Giving him no more information.

He shook his head, “Don’t make me say it.”

“We were friends.” You gritted out.

“You know that’s not what I’m asking, Miss Y/L/N.” He sat his weight forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he look at you with his brow wrinkled.

“Then what are you asking, Lord Bridgerton?” You asked, terse once more.

“Were you...?” He dropped off, hoping that you’d understand what he was trying to get across without actually having to speak the words.

You lifted your chin stubbornly, “No.”

He shook his head and rubbed his face with his hands, “I shouldn’t have asked for I already know the answer to that. I should have recognised the looks you gave one another. From the very beginning...” He sat back in the chair again. You looked at him, really looked at him. He was tired, lost, confused. He was in pain. “She’s not been the same since your last... conversation.”

Not in the same kind of pain you were in. You gritted your teeth again as your heart dropped, “That’s not a question.”

“No,” He was watching you, just as you were him. You felt vulnerable and wished you had just left the room when you had the chance. Now, the mention of her, you couldn’t bring yourself to leave. He was your last connection to her, “I thought you should know, is all.”

“Anthony-” You pondered how to phrase it, how to say it, what tone to take. “I have done what I needed to in order to protect Elo- to protect your sister. Now you are duty bound in continuing to protect her.” You gaze intensified, “As her brother-”

“As her brother! I would do anything for my family- for my sister.” He interjected, a split second of anger at the suggestion that he is not doing all he should.

“Then get her a best kind of husband. One that will respect her wishes and treat her kindly.” You pleaded. You knew that’s not what she wanted. How could you disrehard her wishes so?

“What if that's not what she wants?” Your gaze flickered up to his. He knows. He cna protect her. “Not what would make her happy?” The same flare of anger that had just struck Anthony moments ago now struck you hot.

You stood up over him, “Do you think I am happy?” You bit out, digging your fingernails into your palms. Don’t you dare cry, Y/N, you thought to yourself. “Look at me! Do you think it filled my heart with joy to have to lie to her? To look her in the eyes and deny all feelings of my love for her?” Your voice wobbled and your pressed your palms even tighter, “Do you think I enjoy hearing of her misery?” Your voice broke and you took a deep breath, carefully unfurling your fingers to see little indentations in your palms.

Anthony was gazing at the floor, chin in hand, deep in thought, seemingly unaffected by your outburst, “You did what you had to.” He summarised for you.

“Yes.” You whirled around again, “Yes! To prevent scandal to your family name, I did what I had to!” You poked your finger into his shoulder, “I have not slept for feeling so wretched. I didn’t know it was possible to feel even more so.” You crumpled on the floor, bringing your knees to your chest, and letting the tears o, “Yet here I am.” You wept.

He stood and, slowly and quietly, came to sit next to you. Anthony brought his knees up to his chest, wrapped his arm around your shoulder and pulled you into his side.

“Anthony, you know she doesn’t have to marry a man. But you know as well as I do of the connotations that will bring. If that is what she wishes, and I believe it is- I know it is, then you need to prepare for that.” You mumbled into his shoulder, your tears making his shirt wet through, “Don’t force her to marry. Even if you think it’ll make things easier.” You begged. This was, surely, the last thing you could do for her. The only thing you could do to bring her joy.

His adam’s apple bobbed and he turned his head slightly to you, “And would you marry a man?”

“Never.” You gazed into the distance, thinking of your ow family, of your father, “But I will no longer have the gossips of the ‘Ton to answer to.” You shrugged, helpless and tired, but defiant.

“And what will you do?” He asked, softly.

“All that is left to do is to leave come morning.” You responded, “My bags are packed. There is nothing left here.”

“Nothing?” He moved sharply, almost so fast that you keeled over right into the space he had just occupied. You steadied yourself as he sat himself in front of you, passion burning in his eyes. He was challenging you.

“Perhaps I mean that there is too much for me here.” You met his gaze again and he nodded.

“Perhaps.”

The two of you sat in silence for a short period of time, perhaps a few minutes. Eventually, you wiped at your cheeks and stood up, holding out your hand. “I thank you for your visit, Lord Bridgerton.” He took your hand, standing up.

“I fear nothing good came of it.” He looked more troubled than he had when he had first arrived but he squeezed your hands in thanks.

“Hmm.” You nodded in agreement, “I’m sorry I couldn’t help her. I don’t even have the answers myself.” You admitted.

“And what if I want to talk again?” He asked, plainly.

You faltered. You were going away, cutting off all conncections to this place. You frowned and shook your head, “I’m leaving-”

“But can I write?” He perservered. The ache in his eyes made you falter, and you gave in too easily. Maybe you were becoming too soft.

“You can.” You answered, before your tongue could stop and your brain could cut in.

He quirked up an eyebrow and there was a sparkle of amusement in his eyes, “Will you answer?”

“Maybe not. I don’t think I’ll ever have the answers you’re looking for.” You admitted, “You’re a good brother.”

“And you’re brother... is he good?” He asked, still with a tight hold of your hands, torn between letting you go and begging you to stay.

“He will look after me.” You nodded.

“I am sorry, for what it is worth. I’m sorry that you can’t be happy here, with Eloise.” He said her name with such force and certainty. Perhaps you couldn’t just shut her away in a memory box in your brain. She was always stubborn like that. “You have all the qualities I would wish for in a gentleman.” His lips quirked up in a small smile.

You think that, for the first time in a days, you may have just smiled too. A sad kind of smile, but a smile nonetheless. “Good night, Anthony.” You pulled your hands from his grip. “I will esnrue to send you Toby with my future address.” He nodded and bowed one last time.

“Safe travels,” Anthony walked himself to the door, opening it. You didn’t follow. He looked back one last time, “and thank you.” He smiled again, closing the door behind him.

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heyhellohihowareyou · 7 months

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Why “Ball Game Tournament Time” is underrated as hell

BASEBALL EPISODE! BASEBALL EPISODE! Any anime that has a baseball episode in it is bound to get Hailey hooked!

And this one is about her Sugi boy! She’s all for him getting more screentime!

Out of context picture

I’m pretty sure that this was the episode that started the “Jiriki Hongan Revolution” intro (Correct me if I’m wrong) and since it’s tied as my fav AC intro, this episode gets points for starting it!

Baseball fanatic Koro is best Koro!

Anyways, did I mention I love baseball episodes because I love baseball episodes

Found a cute side character with freckles. Appreciate her NOW!

Two very good boys right here!

Kimura gets to do something! We must savor this moment while we still can!

Awww a cute Mimura!

I live for a badass Sugi boy (Even though this one is in Shindo’s head 😅)

Also, start the count for how many times Shindo looks like he’s about the piss himself

Ain’t this such a great episode! 3-E is succeeding and showing the main campus kids what’s what! Boy I sure hope no one ruins-

Bitch. Can you please stay out of my feel good sports episodes and not traumatize people at all? You’re bringing down the vibes man 😕

Well the girlies are back at least! Kind of wish we got to see them play though.

Kayano: “It’s just that the other team had huge jiggly boobs! It made me so made that I couldn’t concentrate!” Kaede sweetie you are not beating the allegations 🩷💜💙

Nothing to say except I like Maehara’s bewildered face

GAKUHOU STOP FUCKING MANIPULATING TEENAGERS FOR FUCK SAKE

I hate the man but those eyes though

Irina: “Aha! I think I get it! So you hit a ball with a stick!” Never change Irina. Never change.

Oh my god EVERYONE SHUT UP RIGHT NOW AND LOOK AT MY BOY!!!

Did I mention that I adore Sugino. Well, I ADORE SUGINO!!!

I swear to god Gakuhou doesn’t have life WHY ARE YOU HERE!?

Also, anyone else felt bad for Shindy this episode? Sure he was sort of a cocky bastard for the first part but man is he put through hell here.

Karmster using his bitch powers to good use (Yes, Karmster is his new name now)

Also this should be a meme template

I saw the glowing red eyes and my first thought was “Baki?”

Nothing to say except that I find Isogai’s little sigh cute

Bewildered Shindy

Gakuhou: “Crack a skull if need be.” Why aren’t you in jail yet?

We love Karmster’s little bitch face

Karmster: “Swing like you’re trying to kill us.” My guy is in distress

Nagisa: “That’s got him pretty shaken up.” Pretty Shaken- MY GUY IS TRAUMATIZED!

Again, poor Shindy. Like seriously get this boy some help.

I’ve caught two bright smiles in one screenshot!

Sugino: “Didn’t mean for things to get so crazy.” Shindy needs to go to therapy

Juuuust Karmster

Hadn’t mention before but I love listening to Sugi’s dubbed voice. For someone who shares a voice actor with the loud mouth that is Katsuki Bakugo his voice is nice to listen to

Sugino: “It was about being proud of my new friends. I wanted to show them off.” Sugino I fucking love you.

Welp that’s it. That was a good ass episode that we as a fandom should talk about more! It’s season 1’s version of leader time to me. In fact it’s part of my top ten favorite episodes of the series (I really need to make a list) I don’t say it that much but Sugino as a character brings me so much serotonin so watching this episode was a joy for me! Combined with the fact that I love baseball this episode was an absolute delight.

I keep forgetting how bad I feel for Shindy boy here. Like, he was just slightly cocky and he ended up getting manipulated left and right. Seriously, I wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up having nightmares about the 3-E students sniping him in his sleep or something.

Anyways, like I said. This is a good episode and we should really discuss it more. We should discuss Sugino more. DISCUSS THE BOY! <—— Barely discusses the boy in question

#This fandom as a habit of adopting obscure characters #So has anyone taken Shindy yet?#If not then I volunteer!#assassination classroom #ansatsu kyoushitsu #assclass #tomohito sugino #gakuhou asano #kazutaka shindo #karma akabane #episode rundown #< That’s what I’ll start calling these things now

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drakaripykiros130ac · 7 months

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The Hightowers = hypocritical social-climbing opportunists who use religion for personal advantage

Something I have begun to notice: whenever you have a Hightower thrown into the mix in GRRM’s world, there is always trouble. Guaranteed.

Ceryse Hightower

Alicent Hightower

Margaery Tyrell (half Hightower on her mother’s side)

All these three women are known to have accepted anything or done anything in order to rise above their station, with the encouragement of their oh so pious and righteous family of course.

Hightowers aka the self-righteous a**holes, have used their close connection to the Faith/the Citadel to try and get in power for years, all the while stepping all over smallfolk and sometimes using them for their own gain.

Let’s talk a little bit about the first non-Valyrian Queen of the Seven Kingdoms which what do you know, was a Hightower.

Queen Visenya Targaryen initially wanted her son Maegor to marry his niece, Rhaena Targaryen. The idea wasn’t half bad and could have united both Visenya and Rhaenys’ bloodlines.

Also keep in mind that marriages between cousins as well as uncles and nieces weren’t considered incestuous in medieval times. The incestuous marriages condemned were those between parent and child as well as between siblings. But that’s pretty much it.

But of course, the High Septon at the time (a Hightower) deemed this marriage inappropriate, and proposed a different bride for Maegor. His own niece, Ceryse Hightower (how convenient). Not to mention that Ceryse was 23, and Maegor was 13 at the time. Talk about inappropriate.

When Maegor usurped his nephew, Aegon the Uncrowned, I don’t remember the High Septon/Faith protesting in any way. Why should they when Ceryse Hightower would be crowned Queen of the Seven Kingdoms? It was only after the Faith/the Hightowers sensed that Ceryse’s position as Queen was vulnerable that they began to question Maegor.

When it was pretty much confirmed that Ceryse was barren, Maegor decided to take another wife in the customs of Old Valyria. The High Septon refused to annul his first marriage, tried to make Ceryse fertile and failed. There were obvious grounds for annulment, but how could the Hightowers accept to have Ceryse put aside in favor of another? No, that won’t do. After Maegor took a third wife, the Hightowers continued to insist that Ceryse was his true Queen and demanded that he return to her.

But wouldn’t you know it…the Hightowers became lenient, and Ceryse eventually accepted Maegor’s other wives on the condition that she gets all the rights, incomes, privileges and status of being the lawful Queen. So, eventually the Hightowers said “Screw this. Leave it alone. It’s fine.” when it comes to Maegor’s polygamous marriages because they got something in return - Ceryse as Queen. Sound familiar?

Exactly as seen in the Dance of the Dragons, the Hightowers use their religion, the traditional Andal customs, and righteous attitude only when it suits them, when they can use them to gain power. And whenever these things don’t get them what they want, they conveniently forget/ignore them (the Hightowers’ sudden acceptance of Maegor’s polygamous marriages or Otto Hightower ignoring centuries of tradition by supporting Rhaenyra as heir when it suited him. Oh, and let’s not forget Alicent marrying her son to her own daughter after hypocritically condemning the Targaryen customs).

The Targaryens may have their faults, but they actually did a lot of good for the Realm. Before them, Westeros was divided in seven separate kingdoms who always had beef with one another. There was a lack of stability and order, and the smallfolk were completely neglected. Their dynasty produced some of the finest monarchs such as Jaehaerys I, Viserys II, Daeron II. As hard as it was, they succeeded in holding seven kingdoms together for many years.

The succession crisis and the civil wars could have happened to any family in power. The Targaryens didn’t start them, and weren’t the cause of them. It’s just the way things are. Proof of that is the succession crisis which followed Robert’s death, when Westeros’ ruling House was Baratheon.

What good have the Hightowers done for the Realm? What good have they done for the smallfolk? They hide behind their religion and believe that they are better than everyone else for it, when in fact their hunger for power is just as great, maybe even greater.

#house of the dragon #house targaryen #house hightower #anti house hightower #asoiaf #maegor the cruel #rhaena targaryen #hotd #a song of ice and fire #visenya targaryen #ceryse hightower #anti alicent hightower #anti otto hightower #anti alicent stans #rhaenys targaryen #anti green stans #anti team green #rhaenyra targaryen #anti team green stans

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kazemi-archive · 11 months

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Out For the Night

Pairing: Bodyguard!Matsukawa Issei x Reader

Word Count: ~1.6k

Genre: Fluff

CW: alcohol use

Part Five of I Would-With No Question-Protect You With My Life

It’s easy, you realize, to forget that Matsukawa and his time don’t belong only to you. You’d grown accustomed to having him around at all times, whenever you asked. He was there at your every beck and call. Most of the time. You’d forgotten that he wasn’t always there, that being with you was working and that he could take days off and time away from you.

It is a fact that you are easily reminded of tonight, as you stand in the doorway of the living room, dejected as you watch Matsukawa pull on his coat.

“My replacement will be attending to you tonight.” He was too busy pulling on his shoes to notice the disappointment painting your features as you watched his moves. “I’ve told him about how sometimes you like to go out, he’ll tag along with you if you want him to. Or he’ll wait in the car. Try not to ditch him.” He looked up then, seeing a small pout on your lips as you stood there with your arms crossed. “Stop pouting, it’s just for tonight.”

“Well my brother didn’t invite me to come drink.” You huffed and Matsukawa rolled his eyes a little but still couldn’t help the small smile on his lips at your childishness. “He’s taking both you and Makki tonight. That isn’t fair.”

He laughed a little, missing up your hair as he walked passed you. “It’s just beers, I’ll be back in the morning.”

You didn’t quite understand it. The feeling of upset flooding your body, the dejected feeling of loss when he wasn’t there for you to bug and bother. Had that not been your whole goal in the months that he’d been your bodyguard? The game Youd been playing to try to get him to quit and leave you alone. Maybe it was different now, now that he’d stuck it out longer than any other had. You weren’t sure that you liked the foreign feeling.

Matsukawa was across town, feeling the same disconnectedness as you felt at home. It wasn’t that he wasn’t having fun, he was all too happy to be out with two of his best friends again, to be off duty and relaxing. He couldn’t, however, get you out of his head, fretting ever-so-much about whether or not you’d tried and succeeded to ditch the stand-in bodyguard and if you were safe without him there.

It was especially hard to get you out of his head when your brother and Hanamaki were bringing you up every second that they could possibly turn the conversation back to you. Like now, when your brother - already a few drinks in - was now nudging at Matsukawa’s shoulder, reaching across Hanamaki to do so.

“You know Mattsun, no other bodyguard has stuck around for her as long as you have.” Matsukawa chuckles at that, his cheeks heating up a bit under the assault of the semi-compliment and the influence of his alcohol (which he’s had more of than he’d like to admit. “Or made this many changes to family schedules and assignments.” Your brother continues, turning his attention to Hanamaki. Your brother, currently the drunkest of the three, brings his hand up to pinch Hanamaki’s cheek a bit, leaning himself mostly on his friend’s shoulder and looking up at him with glazed eyes. “I do miss my favorite driver being around all the time.

Matsukawa smirks as he watches Hanamaki’s cheeks flare up under the sudden undivided attention of your brother. But his smirk falls soon as Hanamaki, despite stuttering slightly, easily turns your brother’s attention away again. “Yeah well, you know, the way y/n and Mattsun act around each other, he might actually make it as her permanent bodyguard. Who knows.”

Your brother laughs at that easily, letting his eyes linger on the way Hanamaki’s words form for just a second before snapping his gaze back to Matsukawa. “So, my sister got you wrapped around her finger yet Mattsun?”

Matsukawa’s attempt to answer was cut off by Hanamaki quickly. “Oh boy, does she?” Hanamaki laughs as Matsukawa feels his neck start to heat up, embarrassment crawling up to his ears in preparation for what was about to come from Hanamaki’s lips. “She gets whatever she wants.” Your brother’s eyes were back on Hanamaki, fully invested in the words he was releasing. “She drags Mattsun all over the place, whenever and wherever she wants.” Matsukawa shakes his head, tipping his drink back to finish it, before waving down the bartender for something stronger. “Bit of a pushover for her, honestly.”

“Our Matsukawa Issei?” Your brother gasped dramatically, slapping his hand onto his chest in mock horror. He couldn’t keep the charade up for more than a second, laughing almost immediately as he leaned back on Hanamaki. “You just let her have her way with you, don’t you Mattsun?”

Matsukawa is quick to choke on his drink as he immediately tries to defend himself only to have Hanamaki beat him to the punch. “Yeah, just not in the way that he wants.” Hanamaki was rewarded with a swift smack to the back of the head by Matsukawa.

Matsukawa swore at that moment, that he wouldn’t mind washing Hanamaki’s blood out of his clothes but the comment seemed to go right over your brother’s head anyways, his attention now drawn to where Matsukawa had hit Hanamaki, fawning over the (not really) injured friend.

Hanamaki knew he was right though; he knew from the very first time he saw you and Matsukawa together, way before Matsukawa was even assigned to be your bodyguard. Hanamaki has watched you grow up, he’s learned everything about you, what made you tick and how you acted, he’s watched your other bodyguards come and go. He knew that no other bodyguard had pulled the kind of actions, reactions, responses out of you that Matsukawa did. And Hanamaki knew Matsukawa, had been his best friend since they were kids. He knew from the second he first saw Matsukawa with you that Matsukawa wouldn’t be able to stop himself from falling in love with you.

It was obvious (to Hanamaki at least) from the way that Matsukawa was more distant tonight - busy thinking about you - and the way he kept downing drinks, his face and neck getting hotter every time you were brought up again, that it had already started.

Matsukawa is moving slow the next morning, sunglasses on his eyes despite the morning sun not really being all that bright. He’s already grumbling when he’s getting into the front seat of Hanamaki’s car, even when you’re leaning forward from the back offering him a large coffee - something he graciously takes with a small smile at you. A smile he quickly loses when Hanamaki restarts the car and his ears are suddenly assaulted by the blasting of music that you and Hanamaki had already been listening to.

He’s quick to sink in his seat with a groan, mentally hoping that Hanamaki might break a few traffic laws and get them to your brother’s house faster so that he can have a companion in his suffering. It doesn’t help that you and Hanamaki are purposely being obnoxious and overly loud in your singing along to the tunes that you could definitely turn down a few notches in Matsukawa’s opinion. Obnoxious also, is the way you keep leaning into Matsukawa, pushing at his shoulder a bit and begging him to sing along with the two of you, often chorused by Hanamaki’s “yeah, c’mon Mattsun just be a little fun for once.”

It’s this most recent time that you ask that you finally get a bit of a reaction out of Matsukawa. Spice Girls’ Wannabe is playing on the video and you and Hanamaki are singing along, nudging at Matsukawa again. Matsukawa, finally tired of it and slightly irritable from the hangover - despite the coffee - rolls his eyes with a sigh.

“I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want.” He starts with a sigh, more a grumble than actually singing, but it’s in tune and doesn’t stop you and Hanamaki lighting up in excitement as you return.

“So tell me what you want, what you really, really want.” You and Hanamaki sing loudly, keeping your energy as you bounce excitedly. “I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna-” You’re nudging Matsukawa as he’s nodding along, eyebrows raised and only slightly amused, knowing what he’s doing.

“I wanna really, really, really wanna - hear you shut up.” He keeps the right rhythm to the end, both you and Hanamaki’s jaws dropping in shock at the words.

Both of you are quick to boo at him, your insults of ‘no fun’ and ‘buzzkill’ only feeding the smug grin on Matsukawa’s lips as Hanamaki’s car finally pulls up outside of your brother’s apartment building where he is already waiting. Matsukawa’s relief, however, is short-lived when he realizes that your brother is seemingly not sharing the misfortune of being hungover in your and Hanamaki’s presence. Your brother joining in immediately, laughing at Matsukawa’s situation when you explain what had been happening with a bubbly attitude.

The laughing is cut short, however, when your brother glances at the time and realizes what it reads as. “Alright,” he’s still stifling chuckles as he pipes up, tapping Hanamaki on the shoulder to signal him to go, “let’s go. Mom and dad wanna hand over the keys to your guys’ new place.”

His comment has everyone else in the car freezing. Simultaneous comments coming from both you and Matsukawa as you both twist to look at your brother.

“Excuse me?”

“Our what?”

“Fuck,” your brother says, but its shadowed by another burst of laughter, “forget I said that, it’s supposed to be a surprise.”

taglist:open (send an ask please, do not request in comments or reblogs i will miss them)

#𓇻 Bodyguard

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soopersara · 8 months

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Glowing

After realizing her feelings for Zuko, Katara goes looking for romantic advice.

Read it on AO3

“I thought you said you weren’t going to laugh at me!”

“I’m not!” For nearly five seconds, Suki succeeded in holding her expression steady before a snort burst out of her, and she doubled over, consumed by giggles.

Scowling, Katara whacked her with a cushion. “A lot of help you are. I just need some advice about what I should say to him. I don’t need you making fun of me for having a crush.”

Despite an obvious effort to compose herself, Suki couldn’t seem to stop giggling. “I’m not making fun of you.”

“Uh-huh. I’m sure you have some other great reason for laughing at me, then.”

“Oh, come on, Katara.” Suki sat up as straight as she could, shoulders still shaking with barely-suppressed laughter. “You can’t ask me how to figure out if Zuko likes you back and expect me not to laugh.” She wiped her eyes. “I always thought Sokka was supposed to be the oblivious one in your family, but even he saw this coming ages ago.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Katara. Everyone can tell that you like him. It’s been obvious for a while. I think the only person who doesn’t see it is Zuko.” At long last, Suki’s expression steadied. “And incidentally, he’s also the only person worse at hiding his feelings than you.”

Katara pressed her lips together. Sure, she’d had feelings for Zuko for a while now. It wasn’t entirely unbelievable that the others might have noticed it at some point. But when it came to Zuko, nothing seemed that clear. She had noticed her own feelings shifting one morning when he offered her a hand up after a particularly long sparring match, but she’d never noticed any change in the way he acted around her. Even now, when she couldn’t look too deep into his eyes without forgetting how to string words together, he was still just—Zuko.

“Oh, don’t give me that face. You must have noticed it.”

“I haven’t,” Katara insisted. “I mean—yes, we’re friends, and I’m pretty sure he likes spending time with me, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything.”

Suki rolled her eyes. “First of all, the fact that he likes spending time with you is a big deal. If you weren’t around, I’m pretty sure that Zuko would be perfectly happy not to leave his office more than once every three days. And beyond that—you can’t honestly tell me that you’ve never seen the way he looks at you.”

That was an exaggeration. Right? It had to be. Katara talked to Zuko all the time, and she would have noticed if there was anything out of the ordinary in the way he looked at her.

“And how exactly does he look at me?” she asked.

For a few seconds, Suki just stared. “You’re being serious, aren’t you?”

“Of course I am. He’s always looked at me the same way. Ever since he found us at the Western Air Temple, he’s just been—him.” Katara hugged her knees tight to her chest. “I think I’m falling in love with my best friend, and I really can’t tell if his feelings have ever changed. Can you please just help me figure out what to say to him? I really don’t want to mess things up if he doesn’t see me that way.”

There was another pause, this one almost longer than the last. “Fine. I’ll give you some advice, but I’m not telling you what to say. I don’t need anyone blaming me if you chicken out.”

Katara scowled. “Thanks a lot for the confidence.”

Without acknowledging that comment, Suki leaned forward. “You need to start paying attention to how he acts with everyone else. The difference when you’re not around is ridiculous, and once you see that—”

“Wait a second. If I’m not around, how am I supposed to see how he acts?”

“I don’t know. Just—” Suki waved a hand in the air. “Spy on him. Sneak up on him if you have to. It’s not like he’ll ever get mad at you over something like that. My point is that as soon as you see how much he lights up around you, I’m pretty sure you’ll be able to figure the rest out on your own.”

⁂

This was starting to feel silly.

It wasn’t that Katara mistrusted Suki’s advice—though, admittedly, she’d found the idea of sneaking up on Zuko a little absurd at first. She could see the logic in the idea of it. If Zuko really did light up around her, his uncanny ability to recognize the sound of her footsteps meant that she wasn’t likely to see it herself. If he liked her enough that her mere presence was enough to change his whole demeanor, she would probably have to put in a fair amount of time and effort to catch him off guard.

The trouble was that now, when she’d made up her mind to at least try Suki’s idea, it was proving difficult to sneak up on him. Absurdly difficult. So difficult, in fact, that she’d begun to question whether this much effort could really be worthwhile. She liked him a lot. Of course she did. But if it was this hard to figure out whether or not he felt the same, maybe she would be better off if she accepted the fact that they would only ever be friends.

Maybe. But for now, at least, she’d gone a bit too far to back down without making herself feel even sillier than she did already. Because while she’d contented herself with meandering up behind Zuko while he was distracted yesterday, today, she’d gone a step further and stashed herself in the hollow space behind a tapestry outside of his council room. And as much as she might regret the desperation that had brought her to this point, she couldn’t just leave. Any moment now, the doors to the council room would open, and a dozen stuffy old Fire Nation noblemen would file out right in front of her.

The last thing she needed right now was to humiliate herself quite that thoroughly. It was one thing for Zuko’s council to think she was stubborn and unreasonable in her demands when she attended summit meetings. It was quite another to let them think that she made a habit of hiding behind the tapestries around the palace.

Katara leaned back against the wall and let out a long breath. On the bright side, while the tapestry she’d chosen was opaque enough that no one would see her from the hall, she could at least make out vague silhouettes from here. It probably wouldn’t be clear enough for her to make out anything significant in Zuko’s expression or mannerisms, but she could deal with that for now. As long as she could escape with her dignity mostly intact, she could worry about figuring out Zuko’s feelings later.

She waited in the darkened hollow for longer than she was proud of. Long enough that she would have had several good opportunities to creep back out and return to her room if she’d been brave enough. At long last, the door did open, though, and she watched the advisors file out one after another and another. Including Zuko, there should have been around ten people in the room, so she counted the figures as best she could as they passed by the tapestry. Sure enough, after she counted ten of them, the hall went quiet again.

Silently, she counted down the seconds until a minute passed, then another. Then, when she was absolutely confident that everyone was gone, Katara pushed the tapestry to the side and stepped into the corridor.

At almost the same instant, there was a startled gasp behind her, and a squeak burst out of her mouth. Clapping a hand over her mouth, she spun on the spot.

“Katara?” Zuko hastily dropped back out of his bending stance, and his expression shifted from shock to confusion to something between surprise and relief. “Um—what are you doing out here?”

There was certainly something that changed in his eyes when he realized that it was her, but Katara wasn’t willing to assume that was what Suki had been talking about. She had just burst out from behind a tapestry, after all. Zuko was probably more relieved to see that it was her and not a stranger or an advisor than anything else. It was certainly more relief than infatuation, at least.

Katara did her best to regain her composure. “I don’t suppose you would believe me if I said I was birdwatching. Would you?”

“Probably not,” he answered slowly. “There aren’t any windows in this hall, to start with. And I’m pretty sure I would have heard something if a bird got into the palace.”

“Right. I probably should have guessed that much.” She scuffed her palms against her thighs to wipe away the gathering dampness. “I might need a few minutes to come up with a better excuse.”

Though he still looked bemused and bewildered, the corners of Zuko’s mouth pulled upward. “Whatever you were doing, it looks like you’ve got some cobwebs stuck in your hair.”

Her hands flew up to her head. “I do? Oh, ew! Gross, gross, gross!”

Gently, he caught hold of her wrists. “It’s just one spot. Hold still and I’ll get it.”

He leaned in closer, and Katara froze. That small, soft smile playing across his lips was familiar, but something about it did feel different. Warmer, maybe. Or brighter, or—something. His fingertips brushed lightly over one of the narrow braids hanging by the side of her face and plucked a bit of fine, wispy spider silk out of her hair.

Maybe it was just the proximity. Or maybe Suki’s words were just too fresh in Katara’s mind, but when the usual fluttering in her chest started up again, there was another, newer sensation sitting alongside it.

“There. I guess the next time that the palace staff starts bothering me for things to do, I can have them clean the tapestries. I had no idea they were so full of cobwebs.”

“Neither did I,” she said, her voice scarcely rising above a whisper. Spirits, what was that feeling? The fluttering was beginning to fade, but if anything, she felt herself being drawn even closer to him. It was steadier, though. Calmer and stronger than anything else she’d felt for him before.

“So you weren’t birdwatching,” Zuko said. The amusement was obvious in his voice, but it, like everything else, was gentle. “Can I ask what you were doing, or is that a secret?”

She didn’t have to tell him the truth. She didn’t have to say anything at all, she knew that. Maybe it was just his proximity or the light in his eyes—she couldn’t be certain, but she spoke almost without thinking. “Actually, I was hoping to talk to you. But I knew that you were meeting with your advisors, and I didn’t want to talk to them, and—well, in hindsight, I probably could have found a better way to accomplish that.”

He snorted. “Honestly, I might have to steal your hiding spot someday. I like spiders a lot more than I like some of my advisors.” He turned, stepping back just far enough to give her space to start walking alongside him. “What was it that you wanted to talk to me about?”

Her face went hot, and she silently thanked the spirits that he wasn’t looking at her. “I was just wondering if you might want to have dinner with me. Tonight. Just the two of us.”

Zuko stopped walking. “Do you mean that? I mean—are you sure?”

There was such a tentative hope in his eyes that it took all her will to resist the urge to reach up and run her thumb along the lower rim of his scar. She smiled up at him instead. “I wouldn’t be asking if I wasn’t sure.”

“Oh.” His cheeks flushed scarlet, and he cleared his throat. “Okay. Then—yes. I’d like that. I’d really like that.”

Her heart skipped, and she felt her smile broaden involuntarily. “Okay. I guess I’ll see you around dinner time, then.”

His smile warmed until his eyes practically glowed with pure happiness. “I’ll be looking forward to it.”

“Maybe a late dinner time,” she amended hastily. “I have a feeling that I’ll have to wash some dust and cobwebs out of my hair before then.”

Zuko laughed. “Don’t worry, I’m sure I can wait that long.” Then, smiling almost blindingly bright, he took a small step back. “I’ll see you later this evening.”

#zutara #fanfiction #zutara fanfiction #zuko #katara #soopersara's scribbles

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yunarim · 5 months

Text

ಇ. broken melodies | chapter 4

⇢ ⁺ THURSDAY'S CHILD HAS FAR TO GO ˖ Yuu's about to make her first visit to NRC.

— PREVIEW (read for tags and synopsis) — MASTERLIST (open to read previous chapters) — AO3

⁺ w.c : 13k+

Dazzling morning’s light was gliding aside Yuu’s features, and she snapped her eyes open.

It was already morning, and even in spite of not getting quite used to them, Yuu realized that the new day had indeed started. She blinked away all the sleepiness that suddenly washed away her usual consistent and firm liveliness as someone’s steady breathing next to her was heard, while she was staring absently at the plainly white ceiling of the infirmary.

She abruptly turned her head, witnessing a very familiar silhouette, though surrounded by seven other bodies, and gaped, her breath hitched.

Neige was lying on the bed, sheets artificially clean and neat, his face radiating nothing but tranquil peace and calmness as of a deadman. She shivered, her hands started trembling slightly as she managed to get up from the bed, and didn't notice concerned gazes upon her startled figure.

“Yuu?”

She ignored one of the dwarfs' noise, and went straight up to the bed Neige was lying at, and couldn’t resist touching his cheek white as snow.

His serene entity, depraved of former worry and anxiety he was surely trapped in, reminiscent Yuu of the Snow White. He wasn’t surrounded by flowers, nor was he covered with a glassy lid, yet Yuu stared as if the world was about to cease its existence.

“Yuu.”

She hasn’t succeeded in rescuing him, has she?

Yuu chuckled to herself rather hysterically, nervously clenching a piece of cloth in her hand, and sucked air. No, it can’t be…

“Yuu-san!!”

“H-huh?”

She only turned when one of the dwarfs hit her slightly on her leg, finally managing to gather her attention, and frowned at her, sighing in displeasure.

“I don’t know what you are thinking about, but he is fine.”

“He is?!” Yuu regained the brightness of her emotional specter and bent down enough for her eyes to meet the dwarf’s, Dominic. “Oh I’m so glad…”

“You’re an injured party, too. You should rest a bit more,” Dominic put his hands on his hips, pouting at her. “Neige’s fine, but please remain quiet. He’s finally sleeping normally.”

“S-sorry…” She muttered under her breath and took a seat on the edge of her bed. “Were you here all the time? I remember we both fell asleep at night…”

“We came an hour before you woke up!” Hop smiled at her sheepishly.

“Thank you for coming here,” Yuu nodded politely. “But you too should get some sleep, I believe it’s pretty early for anyone to come.”

“It’s nearly six in the morning,” Dominic explained. “No need to worry. Besides, we wanted to thank you.”

“Me? For what?..”

“For rescuing Neige, you fool,” Grum scoffed at her before getting scolded by Dominic.

“Forgive Grum for being rude,” Dominic sighed. “But he’s right. We all are really grateful.”

“I did nothing…” Yuu mumbled, lowering her head.

Indeed, she did nothing, and it was almost humiliating. She could have protected him from being hit! She could have prevented him from crossing the line and going overboard with his emotions, could have helped him in many other ways, or at least just talk his soul out of it, she could have—

“...Zzz… Looks like… Worries too much…”

Yuu turned to the sleepy dwarf with ginger hair, which slightly reminded her of Elias, and blinked, turning to the next dwarf, who was playfully patting Neige’s head.

“Mm?” He looked up at Yuu. “Ah! Thank you!! Oh, but why did you worry in the first place?.. I can’t remember…”

“Toby can be rather forgetful,” Dominic elucidated. “But he’s right. There’s no need to worry anymore, alright?”

Yuu gasped at his statement in bewilderment, but had no other choice than to bite her lips and accept their point of view. “Understood…”

“Nice nice!!” Hop giggled and covered his mouth with his hands as Dominic put his finger to his lips and mumbled quiet ‘shh!’. “Sorry!”

“Doctor Wyn said that Neige will recover in no time,” Dominic reassured her, placing his little hand above her own, to which Yuu shuddered slightly, being rather unfamiliar with touches. “You all did your best, thanks to you, Elias and Che’nya-senpai, Neige is alright. He just needs proper rest.”

Yuu nodded, returning her gaze to Neige’s beautiful face, relieved from worries in the sleep.

“Y-you should sleep… t-too…” Blue-haired dwarf with bangs covering his eyes mumbled, causing Yuu to smile slightly. “W-wha!..”

“Thank you,” she replied, standing up. “But I’m okay. I’ve rested enough. Besides, I… think I miss the clocktower.”

“Right, you spent all night here,” Dominic nodded. “We’ll see you later then!”

Yuu’s smile turned slightly vague and apologetic, but seemed to go unnoticed by the dwarfs.

“Yes, indeed. See you later.”

Yuu bowed to everyone and bid goodbye before closing the door. Only in the hallway did she notice that her uniform was neat and clean, though instead of boots she was wearing light slippers, to which she giggled softly.

Apparently, the academy seemed to be free of students, and once she felt tender sun rays playfully touching her skin through the windows, yet light freshness bordering on chilly coolness, she realized that it was early in the morning. Around five or six am, probably?

Yuu went out of the building, meeting a slight breeze filled with autumn’s coldness, and stretched out her hands to the sides, inhaling deeply, and exhaled slowly, enjoying how pleasant it was — to be able to stop for a while and just… breathe.

The road to the clock tower accompanied her with morning dampness, drops of dew from the small blades of grass under her feet playfully tickled her ankles. Yuu waved her hand, summoned a pink butterfly, and greeted it.

“Morning, little one,” she smiled in relief, noticing that everything was alright. “How are you doing? I was worried that something might have happened to you all yesterday…”

The butterfly whirled around her, then landed on her head.

“I see…” Yuu muttered, nodding. “I’m glad you’re all okay. Come to think of it, do you think that… a red butterfly would come if I summoned it?”

The butterfly remained silent.

“I also think so… But it’s concerning that it didn’t disappear. I can feel the connection formed between us. It hasn’t disappeared completely, I can slightly feel it resonating on the back of my mind.”

Yuu continued mumbling to the pink butterfly until she made her way to the clocktower, and took a deep breath.

“It’s time to bid farewell.”

She stepped in the clock tower, releasing her magic wand and changing soaked slippers into boots, then took a deep breath. Every step on the ladder radiated anxiety and fear, shuddering with the feeling of wretched omen upfolding soon. The butterfly appeared to fly away somewhere (Yuu had no idea where to they always return after being summoned), and she squeezed her shirt in the fist.

Reaching the clockwork, she stared at the reddening sky in its sunrise, and felt her heart growing with smoldering heaviness.

Neige was rescued, he was fine, he started recovering, and with proper care and support he will definitely become happy, just like Snow White did. He will follow her steps, one day will turn into the fairest one of all, and probably won’t even remember Yuu, ever. There was nothing to remember, to be exact — she just happened to appear in a place, in a time, talk to someone, do something, and then is supposed to cease to exist in the minds of those who met her.

A wave of something oppressive, heavy and viscous passed through her, as if a chopping rod, and Yuu winced, hugging herself. Was bidding farewell to princesses just as hard? She couldn’t remember, her memory sinking in a fog of scattered pieces of bonds, acquaintances, events…

I must go now, she thought, ignoring the shiver that fettered her, and shook her head in denial.

“Ha… Let’s do this.”

She threw a quick glance to the papers Prospero studied here, chuckling to the Solar Return chart and Pluto in 8th house, and thought that maybe it wasn’t even interpreted in a right way, and there were no significant changes in the life of the chart’s owner. Brushing off her silly thoughts that maybe her appearance here was about to be the change, yet ha! Hardly it was.

Yuu’s grip tightened on the magic wand asshe closed her eyes.

Heartbeat increased rapidly, her breath inconsistent. Yuu was imagining the mansion she has lived in for who knows how many years, every crack on the brick walls, every flower in her garden. Slowly, memories started enveloping her, bringing back to her usual holistic life. Playful dances with butterflies, chores in the kitchen, starlight gazing and viscous ardent desire to rip the loneliness off her skin and soul.

She almost felt how prominent was the fragrance of flowers, its bewitching aroma surrounding her gently, covering all the worries and casting a strong spell of bringing tranquility, and yet…

Yuu felt her vessels encaustic, burnt with poisonous flames, and gasped, breaking down to the painful yell, and fell on her knees.

Her magic wand left long forgotten on the floor, ferocious zips of magic flashing in the air. “I… What?..”

She no longer paid attention to her heartbeat, ignoring how it was beating with loud thuds in her ears, and stood up once more, biting her lower lip and shaking off her thoughts.

“No, it can’t be,” Yuu muttered to herself, grabbing the wand in spite of it still crepitating. “I must have made a mistake in spell casting, right…”

Closing her eyes, Yuu once more tried imagining the place, yet to no avail — the magic wand abruptly got almost incandescent in magic flames to the point it was painful to hold, and another shock wave pierced Yuu through, causing her to drop the item and scream in a painful wail.

“But why!!” She appealed to the reddening sky leaking through the glassy walls of the clocktower with its gentle rays. “I have already helped Neige! He is fine!”

But everything remained silent.

She inhaled sharply, trying to calm herself down. “Alright. There’s still a way.”

She will play by the rules of this capricious, whimsical world with all the diligence she has got.

Yuu made her magic wand disappear and decided to head out to where it had all started.

It was still very much early in the morning, no students spotted in the halls of the main building. The heels of her boots echoed with every step, and when she reached the doors, the heaviness crumpled on her shoulders, causing breath to hitch uncomfortably.

She opened the doors, now seeing this hall once again, with a whirl of memories having her mind flooded with fragments of images of her landing here. She made her way to Excalibur to make sure he wasn’t paying much attention. It was still a question if he could sleep or just put his ‘mind’ to slumber until being summoned, yet the slight soft glow he was radiating the first day was gone.

“It was nice meeting you…”

Silence was the only answer.

She stood up in the centre of the hall, trembling hands not holding the magic wand properly, Yuu’s whole stance was questionably steady, breath inconsistent and shuddering in worry. Yet, she tried again.

“Argh!!”

She yelled, but pressed further. Air started crackling with green zips flashing around her small figure, her fingers turning blue, then white until she couldn’t feel them anymore.

“I demand!!” Another scream passed her lips. Her eyes snapped open, little nets of blood veiling in the corners due to pressure rising up. “To bring me back home immediately!”

Yet to no avail.

She knew if she yelled louder, someone might have heard, so she continued pushing it forward, ignoring how her whole body started boiling with magic within, causing a few huge sweat drops to fall and get carried away with a storm that formed from magic currents. Yuu couldn’t take it any longer, butterflies trying to resist the amount of magic leaking out of her uncontrollably, and surrounded her. She dropped her wand at once, falling on her knees, pulsations beating in her whole body, heart wincing in anguish.

“Ah.. Ha… Ha-ha…”

Sweat drops rolled down her cheeks, falling on her fists she clenched while staring at the marble floor. It wasn’t Yuu who appeared here on her first day, dressed in ceremonial robes of RSA. It was pathetic, unwise Yuu who was scared to admit she failed.

Little iridescent butterfly landed on her nose, glowing with a tender warmth, healed her slightly, helping her to regain composure.

“I am so foolish,” Yuu tried standing up and swallowing the thoughts that started piling up in her head. “Truly, what a fatuous, ungraceful being!”

If the mirror can’t take her back home, then there is still someone who needs her help. Just how simple the formula is!

Yuu picked her magic wand up, making it disappear in the air, and headed out to the exit. She needed to sort all the thoughts out, make a plan, decide what the next step would be, and, most importantly, figure out who needed help this time. Or was it still Neige? Right, defeating, or rather admitting his other self was valid, didn’t make his worries go away. The depression he drowned in, the pressure and the thoughts hunting him were still crawling under his skin, and being an excellent actor he is, he still preferred to conceal his true feelings and—

“W-woah!!”

Yuu touched the doors’ handle only to realize that it wasn’t her who opened the doors in the first place, and couldn’t orient herself at once, swimming in the depths of her mind with splashing questions, and squealed.

“W-what??”

“Oh?! Yuu!”

“Elias-san?!”

Yuu recognized the familiar gingerhead and was about to ask what was happening, but she was confronted with professor Emery’s annoyed voice reaching from somewhere behind Elias’s back.

“There’s no time!” Elias yelped when realized he basically almost smashed Yuu when he entered the hall, and grabbed her shoulders, causing the girl to shudder. “Sorry, you’re about to have a real quick retreat operation here!”

“W-what do you— Elias-san?!”

“Down the Rabbit Hole!”

And with that he pushed her towards an upfolding hole under their feet, making Yuu disorient slightly until Emery’s voice was distancing and fastly disappearing.

Yuu slightly pushed Elias off, realizing he still had his hands on her shoulders to somehow steady her while they were falling, and blinked away an unfamiliar feeling of being touched by someone. A chair wasn’t long in coming, catching Yuu and causing her to plop in it, now being opposed to Elias, who also appeared to be in the middle of taking a seat.

“Sorry!” He said, smiling at her when a table also came, flying between them. “Didn’t expect you to be there so early!”

“I can say the same thing about you, Elias-san…”

Yuu finally could study his features, now sitting in front of him. Elias, in all his fidgeting glory, actually appeared to be an extremely beautiful person.

His copper-colored hair almost touched his shoulders, and now, in the bizarre lighting that worked according to principles inexplicable to Yuu, she could notice long light, almost blond eyelashes. His hair seemed to have been scorched red by the blinding sun, to which the young man apparently was often exposed. The sun's reflections, caught in his brightest blue eyes, danced joyfully at the bottom. But what stood out most was his wide smile, causing Yuu to involuntarily smile back, taking in the boy's mood. It seemed that he himself was the epitome of everything bright and inspiring that existed in this world.

Two cups flew to the table, remaining in the air hanging just slightly above the table's surface. Elias parted his lips slightly, taking his cup between his fingers covered in small scratches, and glanced at Yuu. The way her fingers elegantly embraced the cup, her firm gaze fixed on the teapot made Elias startle for a moment, but he was instantly brought back to life when he smelled the tea that poured in her cup.

“Huh?!” He exclaimed, leaning slightly closer. “Isn’t it tea with lavender and orange zest?!”

“Your sense of smell is incredible, I must say!” Yuu’s lips turned upward, but then dropped when she saw him frowning. “Is something the matter?”

“Ho-hooo~ Aren’t you a sly girl, Yuu?”

“Excuse me?.. I’m afraid I don’t follow.”

“Oh you do!” He clapped his hands and giggled. “Why didn’t you mention earlier that you’ve already been here!”

Ah.

Was there any point of concealing the truth? She, indeed, had a miraculous chance to experience portal traveling, but what put a serious weight on her heart was the very fact she did it without any warning, sneakily entering Elias’s portal uninvited and unwanted. Her gaze lowered, almost incarnating her reflection in the tea cup.

Elias’s little chuckle made her gulp and confront his blue eyes, and Yuu hesitated to follow the conversation. Yet, an unsettling feeling underneath her skin was quickly soothed by the boy’s swift jump from the chair. Elias tapped her shoulder, giving it a gentle shake right after, so as to wake her up from that concerning self-soul-searching.

But hey, wait a moment. How did he figure out that it wasn’t her first time here?

“Elias-san, how did you know?..”

“Mm, your tea flavor,” he nodded coquettishly, pointing at her teacup. “The portal always serves black tea with lavender and orange zest for the guests arriving for the second time. Next time, you’ll be served hibiscus and honey!”

“O-oh…”

“Hey,” he tilted his head. “You know, it’s very easy to read you when you frown like that. I’m not blaming you!”

“You… really?” Yuu’s eyes lit up slightly at his statement.

“Girl, why would I?” Elias giggled, sipping the tea. “I see you’ve got that adventurous spirit! I mean, I noticed that during the… uh, fight with Neige’s counterpart. Still,” he gave her an uncertain look, emotions on his beautiful face kept on changing with every second. “You seemed kinda way too serious.”

“Yes, so it was a serious matter demanding appropriate reaction.” Yuu concluded, allowing herself to enjoy the tea.

“It indeed was,” Elias nodded. “I mean… You carry that kind of look like you’re about to disintegrate from distress any minute.”

“I’m sorry?”

“The portal seems to be quite curious about your case,” Elias chuckled again. “We’re having a long ride today. Perfect for story telling!”

Even if Yuu thought of herself as a fool for not being able to accomplish her task, she understood what he was hinting at. Elias clearly pointed out how odd her case was, and wanted just as clear answer.

“Mmm…” He ruffled his hair, realizing that he probably came off as demanding, and sneakily glanced at Yuu, trying to analyze her reactions. Nothing beside her usual facial expressions, unable to be read, caught his eye. “You don’t need to answer if you don’t want to. It’s just…”

Now he was the hesitating one, darting his eyes between Yuu and his cup of tea.

“It is quite alright, Elias-san,” her voice came in almost a whisper. “Forgive me for the confusion I caused. I’ll tell you everything I can, but please do bear with the fact I’m in no position to tell you absolutely everything.”

“Sure, you have my word!” He nodded eagerly. “In fact, I can also drop a thing or two about myself in return, if you’d want that.”

“I won’t deny, you’re quite an interesting person yourself…” She said slowly, as if trying to digest the words that flew off her lips. “Alright then. Ask me a question. What do you want to know exactly?”

“Okie! Well, here’s a small detail about myself: I’m good at magic. Not to mention I’m rather creative, hence I can understand what kind of forms magic can take. It’s the first time I see someone casting a spell in the shape of butterflies.”

“Ah, yes…” Yuu blinked twice, feeling panic rising within slightly. She didn’t want to lie, but just as well she hesitated whether she should tell him the secret behind her magic spells. “I cast my magic not in the way you do…”

“I noticed that,” he giggled, leaning forward. “Although, we, RSA students, and almost every well-known magician prefer no magic-shaping as it takes a lot of concentration and extra resources. I mean, why bother and spend more magic required than it’s originally needed?”

“I see…” Yuu hummed, abruptly snapping out of her thoughts as she noticed Elias winking conspiratorially at her, and realized he was quick to read her.

“No normal magician usually says ‘I see’ when speaking about their magic,” he said and jumped in his seat as he noticed Yuu frowning. “Ah, I don’t mean you’re abnormal in a bad way.”

“That is alright,” she shook her head. “My magic is… Not quite like yours, there’s no denying. As I noticed, it doesn’t take much energy and concentration for me to cast spells. Plus, my butterflies have bits of consciousness of their own. They tend to react differently from butterfly to butterfly. I never considered them the form of my spells, but rather… friends.”

She returned her gaze at him, probing if he was confused with her explanations, but Elias only flourished in excitement, leaning forward and slamming his palms against the table as his smile only grew wider.

“You can befriend magic?!” His eyes were almost sparkling in delight. “That’s insane!! Can you summon a butterfly?! O-oh, I mean,” he steadied himself, realizing Yuu was slightly at a loss of words. “If it’s okay.”

“Hmm… Okay. Come, little one.”

A pink butterfly appeared before Elias’s eyes with pinkish sprinkles, causing a ticklish feeling at the tip of the boy’s nose, and he carefully studied it.

“You mentioned they have consciousness,” he mumbled, sticking out his finger, and smiled when the butterfly landed on it. “How do you know that?”

“I can speak with them,” Yuu said. “Although, apparently, others can’t hear their voices.”

“Marvelous…” Elias whispered, his eyes glued to the butterfly. “And there are different colors, right?”

Yuu hesitated, thinking that she was already providing quite a lot of information, but continued after a short pause. “Yes.”

“The butterflies you used… no, summoned that day, were yellow.”

“Golden,” she corrected him. “I summon pink butterflies more often than the others.”

“Because they possess different abilities?” He guessed and hummed after Yuu’s approval nod. “Incredible!! But, Yuu…”

“Yes?”

“Where in the world did you learn this kind of magic?”

Yuu lowered her gaze once again, avoiding Elias’s inquisitive eyes, and took a deep breath. Once she reveals the truth, it may be over. She already risked it enough with school staff, she couldn’t afford failing her mission if she puts trust in the wrong person. Elias seemed nice and genuine, but given her uncountable experience and long life, she knew how devious some people could be, and how easily trust could be lost.

Still, they fought together. Elias was ready to risk his life for her if something went wrong that very moment, and if she knew she would prevent it, it felt… odd. Trust was a foreign concept for her — the only trust she had knowledge about was her Godmother’s kindness and wisdom. She took her when no one else did, she taught her everything, never letting down, never abandoning. Godmother’s presence was always lingering in the air, even if Yuu knew exactly well that she was somewhere far, far away, and it gave her strength and will to go on and never give up, no matter how unbearable the situation might seem. The Fairy Godmother was the only one she could rely on, believe in and follow her lead, she needed no one else, and yet…

The situation she appeared to be trapped in was unprecedented. Who knows how much longer she needs to stay here, so maybe — just maybe! — it was okay to try putting her trust in someone else?

“Not in the world you know,” she finally breathed out her words. “As I do not belong to your world.”

“Your world, you say…” Elias continued after a short moment. “That makes you a transdimensional traveler?”

“You may put it like that,” she nodded. “Putting it plainly, I’m not from your world, so I don’t possess your magic. And I’m sorry, but I believe I can’t reveal anything more than that.”

Elias smiled at her, shaking his head. “It’s alright. I’m very grateful you shared it with me. And I’ll keep your secret, you have my word on that.”

“I can’t thank you enough,” she bowed slightly and raised immediately as Elias asked her not to.

“Your magic proved very helpful in, eh, battle with Neige? If I may put it like that. Especially given no one really knows what the hell really happened.”

“Right, I wanted to ask if you know anything about that… counterpart of his,” Yuu dwelled deeper in her thoughts.

“No,” he said firmly. “I know nothing at all, and it’s concerning. Buuut~”

“Hm?..”

“I know someone who does!”

Elias put his teacup away, grabbing Yuu’s hand much to her surprise and incomprehension, and jumped on the floating armchair, pulling Yuu after him.

“Okay, off we go!”

As only Yuu managed to detect annoyance — could it even be said about unliving being?? — coming from the portal, Elias already held her hand tight enough so she didn't trap her foot when the portal closed.

Unfamiliar warmth on her hand radiating from Elias’s skin made her shutter slightly and draw her hand closer to her heart, releasing from Elias’s hold.

“Whoops, sorry!” He smiled. “Jumping off the closing portal might be quite the experience, even if you know when it’s closing.”

He giggled, hinting at the time Yuu couldn’t predict the time that portal was closing and had to orient herself without any hints, so she only shook her head. Touches felt foreign, alien, yet… not unwelcome.

Yuu studied her surroundings as she noticed a familiar dusted smell, which usually only books could possess, and blinked, realizing they indeed ended up landing in the library.

“We didn’t travel far from the main hall,” she commented, watching Elias jumping on the staircase’s railing and sliding down. “Ah, wait!”

Quick on his feet, Elias gracefully jumped off the staircase, turning to Yuu, who was hurriedly descending along, glancing with hints of childish menace, much to his amusement. “Sorry, couldn’t help myself, heh!”

“Elias-san, this is dangerous! Descend normally next time!”

“‘Kay, mom.”

“Mom? I’m not your mother, Elias-san.”

He poked his tongue out of his mouth, giggling afterwards, and Yuu only sighed at his shenanigans.

A pile of books met them right at the reception desk, and Elias was about to call for Aell when the librarian appeared from behind the pile just in time the second-year opened his mouth to speak.

“Oh, Aell, hellou-hellou~ Being busy since early morning, hm?”

Yuu glanced at her companion with a hint of disbelief, trying to make an apology for his rude behavior, but Aell only shrugged it off.

“You as well. And good morning, Yuu-san.”

She bowed, receiving a little approving hum in return, and greeted him. “I’m deeply sorry for disturbing you so early in the morning.”

“Nonsense,” Aell shook his head, dark chocolate curls of his hair swaying mesmerizingly. “If anyone is disturbing, it’s Elias.”

“Eyy you old man!”

“Elias-san!”

“Don’t worry, Yuu-san,” Aell raised his hand, stopping her from being harsh on her companion. “That little gadabout is always like that. Much to Emery’s chagrin.”

“That is me~ ��

“So,” Aell leaned on his elbows, tilting his head, his eyelashes trembling ever so slightly. “What caused you to bring Yuu-san here?”

“She came willingly!”

“From your portal, yes, I assume.”

“In fact, you really brought me here, Elias-san,” she chuckled and turned to Aell. “Still, there’s something we wanted to ask… There’s almost no information regarding one topic we… might have been stumbled upon, and for educational purposes we would like to gather more information, if that is alright by you.”

Elias secretly showed his thumbs up, though Yuu had no idea what the gesture meant, and only tilted her head when Aell spoke.

“You speak very… cautiously,” he noticed, narrowing his eyes in query. “What kind of topic are you about to bring up?”

“We don’t know the exact name, if there’s one, that is… What we know is that a person produces, uh… their other self? Which is quite the opposite of their original side in terms of personality, but not exactly drastically opposite?..”

Yuu tried to draw a solid conclusion while speaking, and realized how messed up she sounded, but Aell seemed to understand her to the fullest, reacting in a way she didn’t expect.

The corners of his lips twitched, pupils trembled for a moment before he quickly dismissed his emotions, remaining unreadable.

“No.” His answer was outright. “No, as I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“Oh come on, you certainly do,” Elias probed, meeting with Aell’s strict look.

“I do not. More to add, you won’t even find any books on the matter you speak about. Which, by the way, sounds absolutely absurd. You kids read too many whimsical little novels these days.”

Albeit not wanting to insist, Yuu gulped and tried pressing on a little bit further. “We’re sorry for bringing it up and disturbing you then… But if you don’t mind me asking, maybe there’s magic allowing one to create their replica?”

“I believe I made myself clear, Yuu-san,” Aell stood up, turning his back on them and grabbing a book so harshly that his fingers turned white from the pressure. “Now, is there anything else?”

“Nothing,” Elias replied, nodding to the exit and receiving Yuu’s silent ‘okay’ at his move. “Sorry for asking. We’ll go.”

“Just…” Aell sighed, knitting his brows together and taking a deep breath. “Focus on your current studies instead.”

But we experienced something much exceeding our current studies program, Yuu thought to herself, but nodded nevertheless.

“And,” Aell raised his voice slightly when Yuu and Elias headed out to the exit. “Promise me you will think about yourselves and tell us adults if something’s on your minds.”

Yuu and Elias exchanged confused looks, then turned to Aell and nodded to him in agreement.

“Good. Now, have a good day.”

“See you later,” Elias dropped before opening the door for Yuu and throwing one last heavy glance at Aell, who had already disappeared between bookcases.

“He seemed angry…” Yuu whispered, frowning. “It appears this case with counterparts is much deeper than we originally thought.”

“I’ve never seen Aell reacting like that,” Elias added. “I mean, I thought I knew him well, but this is something new and unexpected. Which means… we need to investigate it on our own!”

“But we promised we—”

“Come on, aren’t you curious? That old man clearly hid something from us,” Elias chuckled. “We will be careful. Plus, it’s not like you’re about to leave this all and forget everything that happened to Neige, right?”

Yuu sighed and massaged her temples. Of course she wouldn’t forget. Yet, she was on her mission, everything happening connected to her task, and Elias happened to be dragged in it. She couldn’t afford letting him get hurt!

“Yes, well… Alright.” She sighed in defeat. “But please, Elias-san, be careful. If you notice anything strange and out of place, tell me immediately, so I can protect you.”

“What an adorable knight in shining armor you are, Yuu!” Elias smiled at her, little freckles on his cheeks shining slightly more prominent in lights scorching through the windows. “You too remember that you can rely on me.”

“Thank you, Elias-san,” she bowed.

“Alright then, I’ll get going, need to check on someone before the lessons start!” He exclaimed, stretching and yawning. “You go back to the clock tower, you’ve got a well-deserved rest for today, after all.”

“I could say the same about you!” She protested, looking at him with reprimanding eyes. “You need to get some rest, Elias-san. I’ll be just fine. I can’t skip lessons just because of little scratches.”

“Girl, I literally wasn’t affected in any way thanks to you,” he bent over to her. “I’m very grateful, but spare me, how could I sit around doing nothing when it's broad daylight?”

“Okay…” She took a deep breath. “But if you feel exhausted, return to your dorm immediately and get some rest.”

“Yeah, mom.”

“I am not your mother, Elias-san.”

But Elias already disappeared, jumping off the staircase railing again, and waved his hand, bidding his goodbyes to her.

Despite being quite exhausted herself, Yuu couldn’t let herself skip lessons. Sun rays were flowing on her skin when she stretched, sitting at her desk in the classroom where students were partially present. Accompanied by their yawns, she opened her copybook, alas letters were floating, becoming an incoherent mess, and Yuu sighed. She was visibly tired and confused by everything that happened this morning.

If the mirror was still blocked, it meant there was someone who needed her help. Was Neige really alright or should she pay more attention to his state? Or was there a completely different person, silently crying for help, while Yuu was sitting here, doing nothing? How foolish it was of her — to think she’d accomplished her training in princess rescuing. The Fairy Godmother possessed great intuition, allowing her to detect those in need in one moment, she always knew what was right and what was wrong. She knew exactly how to help and provide one with her assistance, and when one should have done something by themselves.

Yuu took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts and detect what would come next, when she sensed a rather familiar fresh fragrance from her side and turned left to see Luan jumping on his seat.

“Mornin’!” He greeted her, his brightest smile making her reciprocate. “Man, you look…”

Luan frowned, leaning slightly forward to get a closer look at her face.

“I look?..”

“Exhausted,” Luan concluded, his features softening. “Damn, you look like you haven’t slept in ages. No offense tho.”

“It’s alright,” she shook her head. “I just… Have a lot on my mind, but don’t worry.”

“Nah girl, you’re not getting away with that from me, got it?” Yuu blinked at him blankly. “I’m here and you’re not smiling genuinely? That won’t do.”

“Haha,” a small laugh escaped her lips, and she wouldn’t lie, it came off really sincere. “No, really, I’m quite okay. Just a bit tired.”

“Tat tat,” Luan stuck out his index finger and clicked his tongue, lecturing her. “I’m not buying it. You’re a bad liar, Yuu.”

She laughed sheepishly, averting her gaze and hesitating, whether she should have taken that as a compliment or a comment to think about thoroughly later on. She, in fact, couldn’t lie at all, but if it was that easy to notice, well…

“Sorry…”

“Girl, I’m not angry at you, chill,” Luan clapped his hands and fished out of his pocket that peculiar device called phone, waving his hand at Yuu to bend forward. “I know what could brighten your mood. Say, do you like cats?”

“Cats?” Yuu blinked, certainly not expecting that kind of question all of sudden. “Yes, I do find animals adorable. Cats included. Why?”

“Great, no one could resist cat videos! Come ‘ere.”

She stared at the phone, narrowing her eyes and trying to follow Luan’s quick moves, his fingers floating above the surface, letters splashing under his touch. What a marvelous little device!

He gave his phone to Yuu, galaxies flashing in her eyes due to excitement mixed with fear she might break something, but Luan just giggled it off and said it’s okay. Yuu took the phone, grabbing it clumsily, and stared at the screen as Luan pressed a button, and a video started playing.

Little kittens were playing with each other, their fluffy paws hitting the screen, as if trying to reach Yuu, and small squeaky meows made the corners of her lips grow wide in a beautiful genuine smile.

“See! I always keep my promises!” Luan giggled, yet appeared to be very proud of himself.

“They are so cute!!” Yuu exclaimed, her eyes filling with pure joy and delight, seeming much more alive then they were a minute ago. “Waa… Thank you for showing it to me. I will treasure this moment forever.”

“We must get you a phone one day,” Luan said, taking the device from Yuu’s hands when the video ended. “I’d send you a ton of such everyday.”

“I don’t mind, if it wouldn’t distract you from the lessons.”

“Hey, you’re no fun!!”

“That I am,” she smiled. “Thank you once again. I appreciate it.”

“Maybe you should just join the equestrian club if you love animals. They’ve got horse riding there.”

“Hm…”

Yuu found herself lost in thoughts again. Luan has mentioned clubs before, as well as Chenya, encouraging her to join one. Even if it sounded like fun, was it the right moment to try though? Now that she was certain her job here wasn’t done, maybe she could allow herself a little moment of enjoyment and find out what her interests really were?

“Do you know anyone who’s in that club?” Yuu asked, justifying it innerly in a ‘it’s just out of curiosity, nothing more’ manner of speaking.

“Neige,” Luan said instantly. “Oh, also that funny guy called Elias. You might not know him but-”

“I do know,” she said. “Oh, sorry for interrupting!”

“You’re doing great! See, you already know that Chenya dude, Neige and even Elias! Though I don’t think the equestrian club is really your cup of tea.”

“Huh? Why would you think so?”

“I’m not sure, it's just… Uh, vibes aren’t really yours. Anyway, I haven’t told you I also joined a club, have I?”

“Oh! Which exactly?”

“School broadcasting!” He announced proudly, smirking at Yuu and giggling. “Sounds cool, huh? Don’t be shocked if you hear my voice while walking around the school. Oh and I’ll make sure you hear me in every corner of these grounds!”

“I’m looking forward to it!”

As teacher Emery entered the classroom, making it clear that the lesson was about to start, Luan opened his copybook and spoke softer, but still loud enough for only Yuu to hear.

“Let me give you a tour after classes end,” he said. “Then you’ll choose which club you find most fitting for yourself!”

“Splendid idea,” she nodded, returning to her copybook.

And catching Emery’s worrying gaze on her before he started the lesson.

Luan found Yuu brooding in the hallway after lessons ended, and appeared before her, his smile wide as always.

“We’re off on our journey to find you a club fitting your interests!”

“You’re making it sound quite adventurous,” Yuu noticed, taking Luan’s lead and passing through students, apparently not so cautious of her presence as they were just a few days ago. “Again, thank you for helping.”

“That’s my pleasure,” Luan replied. “And to prove my good self being a wonderful tour guide and not make it boring, let me tell you that you can find most of the club rooms in another wing. Aside from those which involve outdoor activities, ofc.”

“Oh, alright. What would be our first stop?”

“It’s a surprise!”

Yuu smiled. Luan was pretty quick on his feet, just like Elias, and following him was quite a process, given she herself preferred no rush as she walked, yet she noticed that Luan slowed down just enough for her to not run and walk in a comfortable space. Perhaps all of her acquaintances she happened to have got accustomed to this kind of attentiveness due to her short height and it was simply more convenient for them to walk slowly, or maybe they were just considerate — she, in the first place, was thankful.

It was four in the afternoon when the classes ended, and colors of the sun iridescent from scorchingly bright and light to warm orange, bringing comfort and coziness. Yuu could never get used to it — walking freely under the sun, watching days pass by, colors changing their palette with each hour. Uncountable years, half of which Yuu simply forgot as they failed to imprint memories into her heart, remaining dim and plain, brought eternal night to her life.

The garden in her mansion glimmered in starlight each day and night, and she could never imagine those flowers in shades beside slightly touched by moonlight, silver and cold. She, of course, witnessed countless sunrises in her lifetime while rescuing princesses, and yet… Has she ever stayed in one world longer than for one day? The touch of the sun on her pale skin was extraneous and inappropriate to the point that it brought more sadness than delight.

And now, with every day filled with the alien warmth of the sun and its colors, she bathed in it, enjoying every moment with every fiber of her soul.

She didn’t notice as they already arrived, Luan stopping right before her.

“A~aalright, here we are! Allow me to introduce you to the art club!”

Luan was just about to open the door, but two distinctively loud voices were heard up ahead.

“LUAAAAAAAAN!”

Yuu winced at how exceptionally loud they were, reaching her very core and shaking it with their sharp yell. Luan, in his turn, wasn’t shaken by them at all, looking rather… Playful?

“Whoopsie-daisy!” He said, turning around and getting almost smashed by two bodies.

Yuu tensed, ready to defend, attack, or maybe everything at once, but Luan’s only burst into soft giggles.

Luan was quickly pulled into some sort of a greeting hug, and when two unfamiliar people let him be, Yuu studied their features.

The first young man turned out to be quite tall and strong. Thick pitch-black hair casually fell onto the tanned skin of his shoulders. Yuu had to lift her head high to peer into his dark, bottomless eyes. His strong, large palm rested on Luan's shoulder. A light shadow of a calm smile stretched across his plump lips. His animalistic features reminded Yuu of a warthog.

The second young man turned out to be much smaller in stature compared to his companion. From under his shirt, carelessly unbuttoned at the throat, a scattering of moles could be seen on the golden skin. The sleeves of his uniform were rolled up, exposing his sinewy arms, which were also not lacking in moles. With a slight wave of his hand, he brushed a strand of tousled ginger hair from his forehead, allowing Yuu to look at his bright chocolate eyes, aimed straight at Luan. His rounded ears and ginger tail reminded Yuu of a meerkat. Both of the students wore yellow brooches attached to their shirts, revealing that they were from Kifurijua dorm.

“Tim, Boo!” Luan greeted them, pulling into a hug. “Wassup?” “We finally found ya,” the black-haired one spoke, his voice deep and strong.

“You’ve got the company,” another one noticed, nodding to Yuu. “Hey there!”

“O-oh, yes, good afternoon,” she startled for a moment, mesmerized by their appealing appearances, and bowed.

“This is the first time someone bows to me,” black-haired student said. “No need to go that far, girl.”

“You meet her next time and get used to it instantly, that’s just how she is!” Luan explained and turned to Yuu. “Yuu, meet my best friends! This is Tim,” Luan pointed at the ginger-haired student. “And here’s Boo,” black-haired boy nodded shortly.

“Pleased to meet you everyone,” she nodded politely. “I am Yuu, Luan’s classmate.”

“Ey, aren’t we friends?” He tilted his head to her but let the matter be as he noticed her confusion and frustration, clearly not comfortable with answering. “Anyway, Yuu, they’re also my clubmates. So, guys, did you need somethin’? I was giving Yuu a tour on our clubs!”

“You’re needed in the club,” Boo said. “Right now.”

“Really? What happened?”

“Leader’s got a sore throat, and the broadcast starts in half an hour.”

“Oh,” Luan turned to Yuu at once, realizing that he couldn’t have skipped the club activities, yet he also gave her a promise. “Uhm, Yuu.”

“I understand,” she shook her head, as if telling them not to worry. “Please proceed without me, it sounds important. I will go further on my own.”

“Ayy, but I promised!”

“That is quite alright, please don’t worry about me,” Yuu smiled, seeing how Tim and Boo relaxed as they realized she understood that Luan was needed. “I appreciate you led me here, I’m sure I’ll manage to go further on.”

“Promise me you’ll ask for help if you get lost or somethin’!”

“I promise,” Yuu nodded shortly. “Good luck in the club! I hope to hear your voice again today when I’m exploring.”

“Oh that’s for sure, wait for me, heh!” Luan waved her goodbye. “See ya later!”

“See you again, Yuu,” Boo said.

“Bye-bye!” Tim followed.

After bidding goodbyes, Yuu watched them distancing until they disappeared in the end of the hall, and Yuu turned to the art club door.

“Okay,” she took a deep breath. “Let’s see… Hello?”

She opened the door, throwing a quick glance and examining the room, but her only companion was silence. Yuu proceeded into the room, dust particles floating around, caught in the sun rays sliding through the windows.

There were easels placed throughout the auditorium, some covered with cloth, some empty, and others with pencil sketches. Dried splatters of paint decorated the floor, brushes were carelessly scattered on the windowsill or in small drawers along with other painting tools. Yuu slowly walked around the classroom.

She never really gave a thought if she enjoyed painting or drawing. She studied art under the Godmother’s thoughtful guidance, because it was what princesses did. Choir, art, dance, embroidery, etiquette — lessons flashed within her mind with a rapid speed, changing one another. She was quite skillful and knowledgeable in all those spheres, but did she really find herself enjoying the process, with the world stopping while she was drawing or singing?..

Brooding as she were, Yuu found herself abruptly distracted by a certain painting, and gasped, almost crushing the easel behind her.

“W-what in the world…”

An exquisite portrait of Neige appeared before her eyes, and under other circumstances she would just appreciate the beautiful and flawless technique, but this? What in the world was this?

Neige’s counterpart, drawn so astonishingly perfect as if it was alive, was hugging himself, staring at the crumbling skies. The same luxurious robes of the character Neige was playing, the same mask, same burning red eyes with a touch of pure sadness, and the very same rings on his gloved fingers. The very same disheveled hair, halved in black-and-white color scheme.

An absolutely perfect replica.

Yuu stared at the painting for a moment before hesitantly making her way towards it, her fingers brushing over it, but sensing nothing outside of the aquarelle texture. Calm down, she demanded of herself, but mind was tangled in various thoughts.

Alright, she thought, maybe someone saw the pamphlet showing Neige’s character? Yet, he didn’t possess that hair color scheme. If one hasn’t seen that desperate look in the eyes of Neige’s replica, one couldn’t depict it so painfully beautiful. So oversensitively flawless.

Yuu frowned, studying the portrait. No sign, no date, no memo left — nothing. Just perfection of the artist and the agony of the character.

“I need to ask if someone knows where art students are at this moment…”

With that, Yuu threw one lingering glance at the painting and headed out of the room, hoping she might find someone from another club and gather information. From what she knew, Neige himself didn’t attend the art club, and it’s unlikely he would draw himself in that state. She didn’t know what club Chenya attended, but he also most definitely wouldn’t make this art piece. Leaving Luan in the broadcasting club and Elias in the equestrian one, that meant someone else also saw Neige’s counterpart.

All of her thoughts left her mind with a sweet voice somewhere down the hall flowing around, reaching Yuu’s ears.

“Is someone… singing?”

She proceeded further, reaching a classroom and throwing a glance at the board on the left.

“Choir club,” she read.

She knocked twice, but no one answered, apparently being too involved into singing, but she peeked in, noticing a familiar silhouette.

“It’s a tender rain… May this song reach you, no matter how far apart we are.”

Yuu parted her lips, melting into the softness of the voice, and recognized the pink silky hair. That was the boy she saw during PE class the other day! She decided not to interrupt, and somehow felt how her mind settled in peace after hearing some lines, and with a gentle smile on her face she made her way to the other classes.

As much as she enjoyed visiting different clubs, a variety of which left her speechless — natal charts & transits study, really? Really? — apparently no one could help her navigate where art club students might be at the moment. Internally making a note to investigate the matter later on, she decided to focus on the initial plan, which was to define what club would suit her.

After exploring everything within the school walls, she went outside and made her way to the grounds where PE class was held that day, remembering Qian words that she may find him after 4 pm. Throwing a quick glance on the clock tower indicating already six in the evening, she gasped at how much time it took for her to visit every club she could find inside.

Still, she approached teacher Qian’s silhouette, finding him teaching students some broom flight techniques.

“Isn’t that Yuu-san?” Qian performed an elegant, yet strong jump from the broom, landing on the ground gracefully, and smiled. “Good evening! Here to train?”

“Good evening, Qian-sensei,” she bowed, also nodding to the others in a greeting manner. “Not exactly at the moment. I’m just observing club activities as I want to join one.”

“Great idea! We’ve got two here in the yard,” Qian pointed at the broom he was holding and approached a stand to his right. “First is broom flying, second is archery.”

“Archery?” Yuu’s eyes glowed with unconcealed interest.

She tried archery once or twice in her life, with Godmother deciding it was very unlady-like, so she dismissed these activities, focusing on mastering simple magic spell-casting. Still, Yuu wondered if she would succeed or not.

“Take a bow and try on!” Qian encouraged her.

“Thank you.”

She did as he suggested, and the weight of the bow felt so familiar and just right in her hands, that she had to question herself on the matter. Humming to herself, she pulled the bowstring, her muscles tensing, eyes focusing on the target that Qian pointed at, and let the arrow hit the target with an unsurpassed precision.

“Marvelous!” Qian exclaimed, clapping. “Take one more!”

Yuu tried once again, the result remaining as flawless as it was the first time.

“Have you ever practiced archery before, Yuu-san?”

“Once or twice,” she admitted, smiling sheepishly at the praise she received from the teacher and other students.

“You should definitely consider joining the club then. We’d be honored to have such an incredible archer.”

“Thank you so much, Qian-sensei,” Yuu bowed. “I’ll think about it thoroughly. Now, if you excuse me, I’ll get going.”

“Yes, goodbye, see you next Thursday!”

Yuu was smiling as she walked away from the sports grounds, exposing her face to the fresh evening’s breeze.

A thought of visiting infirmary and checking Neige on crossed her mind. A whole day passed, and she wondered if he woke up, how was he feeling, if everything was alright. Her heart twisted painfully in her chest at the quick reminder of the battle of sorts that upfolded yesterday, but she made it wither in her mind just as quickly.

“Little one,” she summoned a pink butterfly, greeting it. “Let’s go visit Neige, shall we?”

The butterfly danced around in approval and followed Yuu.

The path she took happened to be unrecognizable. Yuu took a look around, thinking. Apparently she went in the wrong direction, which led her to an unfamiliar place, the infirmary building remaining unseen from this point. The only building that was caught in her sight was a rounded construction with transparent glassy walls, sweet aroma lingering nearby and luring the butterfly closer.

“Oh, little one, wait a moment!”

She followed her butterfly and stopped before the entrance.

“Is that a… greenhouse? Never knew there was one.”

The butterfly already flew inside, enchanted by the sweet fragrance, and Yuu sighed in defeat, knocking twice on the door and receiving no reply.

Opening the door, she felt a bizarre sensation piercing her through, serving as a precaution. Don’t go any further, it screamed, reaching her mind, stop right here.

Strange, Yuu thought. At the first glance, the greenhouse appeared quite common, with nothing out of ordinary. She took a deep breath, ready to deal with everything that she might face right now. She carefully studied the vines crawling on the floor. Average green leaves gradually changed their color to dark blue on the edges, and Yuu brooded at the sight of it. What a peculiar plant it was, but what name did it possess?

“My sweet one, please come,” she whispered just in case, and a virid butterfly appeared.

Unlike the pink butterflies, which were accustomed to travel to far distances, virid butterflies were nature’s true incarnations, possessing its gifts in magic.

“Can you please put some farina on them?”

The butterfly flew above the vines, white sparkles surrounding the plant, and the dark blue edges subdued, turning into bright yellow, resembling sun.

“Thank you, sweet.”

Vines cleared the path for Yuu, who managed to relax for literally one second.

If they were what she was thinking, then she could be trapped the second she stepped on them. Vines of that kind were more of a nettle, burning the skin with their grasp, and depraved one from moving forward. But were surprisingly fond of farina.

She proceeded, now facing a wall of giant buds glowing in bright purple. Huh, how curious… Yuu hummed, summoning her magic wand this time, and accepted the challenge, her lips curving into a small smile. Nature was her very best friend, the one she grew up with, her gentle companion, the one who helped her develop her instincts. Hearing nature singing every day after watering flowers in the garden, playing in the heavy rain, sleeping in the snow — she knew how nature behaves like no one ever could imagine.

“Aren’t you from the Caryophyllaceae family, dear ones? Quite huge for a baby's-breath though,” Yuu waved her magic wand and parted her lips to whisper an incantation. “Á lohtar!”

Buds stopped glowing for a mere moment before sprouting into huge beautiful flowers and pulsating with passionate pink. Sudden coquettish feeling radiated from them, and Yuu genuinely giggled at such a cute reaction, proceeding further, the virid butterfly following her lead.

Suddenly the whole world lost its light, warm sun touches through the walls stopped at once, and freezing waves surrounded Yuu, her hair disheveling from sudden strong winds, and she slowly opened her eyes she closed once it started.

“Fungi?..”

Myriads of small fungi were the only light source, pale blue waves coming from them.

“You can’t trick me out of all people,” Yuu chuckled, letting her muscles relax.

It was a mere illusion. Fungi of that kind were infamous for their incredible ability to create surroundings that appeared the most unexpected for the one who encountered them. Yuu was bathing in the sun all this time, so it was no wonder fungi produced a whole ice storm for her specifically.

“Now, dear one, let’s calm it down,” she nodded to the virid butterfly, and it performed a pirouette, following Yuu’s magic wand wave, and lights returned to the greenhouse, temperature returning to normal. “Wonderful!”

Yuu dismissed her magic wand when she finally saw the one that — or rather who — was behind all those little schemes.

A plant with dark green leaves, red buds and purple-pinkish flowers with their centers glowing in bright blue. An elegant, luxurious and very dangerous flower spread its branches in front of her, twitching as if in an approving dance.

“No way…” Yuu mumbled to herself, falling on her knees before the flower and gasping in surprise, eyes sparkling with pure joy.

“What, blinded by my beauty? No wonder, heh.”

Playful voice reached her ears, unusually low-pitched for a flower of that kind, Yuu thought, but admired it nevertheless.

“Hey human,” the flower twitched, its branches raising in the air in an intimidating way. “Ah, shit, you’re no human it seems.”

Yuu stared at the flower. Cursing flower! The day suddenly turned absolutely wondrous.

“I can’t believe it,” Yuu mumbled, leaning forward, her eyes shimmering with an unprecedented bright red hue. “I haven’t seen Auleum nocturnus in ages!”

“Now wait a moment, you cheeky fae!” The flower reached for her with its branches, leaves tickling her nose. “You know what I am?”

“Auleum nocturnus, in other words nocturnal tapestry,” she started her explanation, letting the flower touch her skin, not minding the way it spoke. “Dangerous, yet insanely beautiful creatures. How could I not know?”

“You must be ancient old to know,” it noticed, causing Yuu to pout.

“I’m not that old,” she justified.

“Yeah, as if. But girl, you certainly know a thing or two about my kind, huh!”

“Beautiful times as they were, I had little experience with talking to your kin. My Godmo-… Ahem, let us say, I couldn’t bring them to my home, as there were many diurnal creatures your kind don’t really like sharing one place with.”

“Diurnal bastards never know their place, heh,” the flower chuckled, as Yuu thought, and nodded nevertheless. “Still, it’s always fun to fool around with ‘em.”

“As much as I admire diurnal flowers and their beauty, I couldn’t agree more. Seeing you all bittering and chattering was quite amusing for me as well.”

“You’re quite an imp yourself, huh?” The flower snorted.

“I’m no imp at all!” Yuu protested, feeling rather annoyed.

“Yeah yeah, sure. But man, finally someone who knows the thing or two! You might want to talk to Ivy then.”

“Ivy?” Yuu asked, tilting her head. “Who is that?”

“That would be me.”

“Ah!!”

Yuu was so entertained by her little conversation with Auleum nocturnus that she failed all her perception skills at once, not noticing a huge figure appearing from behind.

She fell and released a surprised gasp, but managed to calm herself down when the boy outstretched his hand and helped her stand up.

“Apologies… Are you okay?”

Yuu parted her lips to reply, but found herself at a loss of words, so the only shocked breath escaped her throat.

The boy before her appeared to be insanely tall, so she had to raise her head so that her neck almost ached in response to the action.

Her gaze immediately locked onto his, and she didn’t know how to handle this situation. His right eye portrayed the setting sun breaking through the forest thickets — a brown eye, like caramel interspersed with herbal splashes, as if it represented the personification of nature.

The left one absorbed the rainy sky, covered with clouds. The deep blue seemed to Yuu like the concentration of a storm on a cool summer day.

Blonde curls flowed over his pale skin, falling lightly over his eyes and curling behind his ears. Plump lips, as if filled to the brim with life, were slightly parted. He carried a fragrance of something floral, to no one's surprise, yet very refined, sophisticated — a brief touch of orchids, gently held by juniper and a hint of vetiver.

But the most outstanding detail was his tired, ephemeral gaze, hidden behind gold-plated glasses. The frame was difficult to trace in a complex design, most of which were... flowers.

Various flowers were inserted into the slits of the glasses' arms. Small decorations filled with water hung from the edges of the eyepieces. And, what is most remarkable, on one of the glasses’ arms there was a small flower of Auleum nocturnus itself.

Come to think of it, wasn't he the one she saw with Elias in the library and also just right before they jumped into the portal?

“I… yes, I’m quite alright, I’m sorry,” Yuu finally managed to mumble, mesmerized by the boy’s ethereal pristine beauty.

“Don’t worry,” his voice, shining in its divine radiance, was absolutely enchanting. “I am Ivy Splendide, third-year student, dorm leader of Florevel. Pleasure to meet you.”

Yuu bowed deeply, surprisingly receiving a slight bow in return, which was extremely unusual, given modern humans’ customs, and smiled. “The pleasure is all mine. I am Yuu, a first-year student of Sidhery.”

“Quite the pronouns choice.”

“You don’t seem really surprised.”

“Hm,” he pressed two fingers to his chin. “Let’s say I am quite familiar with the way you speak. Anyway, it’s quite the time we finally meet.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I’ve heard of the only female student here, moreover, Sidhery dorm… You’re quite the topic for gossip, Yuu-san.”

“Oh no…” She frowned. “I hope there’s nothing bad…” “Don’t worry,” his reassuring half-smile made Yuu calm down. “In any case, this is pretty surprising to see that Florence has acknowledged you. My best friend can be rather… meticulous.”

“When was the last damn time you saw someone pronouncing the name of my kind in such an upbeat and flawless way, huh? The girl’s certainly interesting.”

“Ah, so your name’s Florence!” Yuu instantly switched her attention to the flower. “Nice to meet you!”

“Yeah yeah,” Florence chuckled. “Congrats on passing my tests. What a performance you did!”

“I, oh…”

“Be proud of yourself,” Ivy said. “The only person who managed to pass his ridiculous tests was Elias, but Elias is… Wait, do you even know him? It’s hard not to, though.”

“Ah, yes, we’re acquainted. I can imagine, given his very optimistic nature.”

“Very true, indeed. And with Elias being Elias, that makes you the only one knowledgeable person on this whole campus. I must say I’m curious, where did you even get to know about Florence’s kind…”

“The girl’s ancient as aeons,” Florence said, disappearing in sprinkles of blue from the flower bed he was sitting in, and the flower on Ivy’s glasses twitched. “No wonder.”

“I must admit,” Ivy nodded. “You do feel… familiar somehow.”

Yuu couldn’t help but nod as well. She too felt something within this boy, something beside his ethereal radiance he was carrying, but more… familiar, close.

“Florence-san, I’m not ancient!” Yuu protested, smiling apologetically. “I’m sorry. Although, I, too, feel that we have something in common.”

“Passion for gardening, I assume,” Ivy chucked. “Are you here because you’re curious about our club?”

“Oh, you have a club? I thought you were just gardening here all for yourself, for maybe out of habit.”

“Thank you. I planted everything here all by myself.”

“You did?!”

“Yes, there was nothing before I just… thought I needed to do some gardening,” Ivy explained.

“This is incredible, Ivy-san!” Yuu stared at the amount of beautiful and healthy flowers.

“Glad to hear praise from my fellow gardener.”

“Ha-ha,” Yuu smiled, not denying the truth. “I like it there. The place feels very tranquil.”

“Come join us then. Florence makes it impossible to join for everyone else with his ridiculous tests.”

“Ow come on, can’t a man have the time of his life? Besides, what would those dudes do if they can’t recognize my good self?”

“Yeah, yeah, sure…”

“I will think about it,” Yuu replied. “But your club seems most fitting for me by far. Plus, I’m very pleased that we met.”

“The same goes for me. If anything, you can find me here. Or just find Elias, that little devil always knows where I am.”

“Alright! I’m sorry for leaving early, but I must go now. See you around, Ivy-san, Florence-san.”

“See ya, girl! Bring somethin’ to eat next time, okay?”

“Come now, Florence, behave yourself.”

“Oh come on man!”

“See you later, Yuu-san.”

Yuu bidded goodbyes and went outside peacefully this time, her butterflies dismissed themselves already. What a meeting it was!

With her heart finally slightly at ease, she made her way to the infirmary, holding a hope of finding Neige there, but right after she entered the room he was resting in just this morning, she found only Chenya and Elias, surprisingly.

“Good evening, everyone,” she greeted them. “And where’s Neige?”

“Good nyavening~ Seems like all of us got the very same idea, mm?” Chenya replied, his body reminiscent of a fluid as always as he jumped off the windowsill gracefully. “Apparently he’s not here.” “Obviously,” Elias nodded, turning to Yuu and waving at her. “Hello again!”

“Say, but how about we visit Neige’s dorm, given we’ve gathered here already with one purpose, hm?” Chenya suggested, his tail waving playfully.

“Great idea!” Elias concluded. “Portal room is nearby, let’s go.”

Yuu felt her eyelids turning lead with tiredness, but Neige was far more important than anything. As the company walked through the main building, Yuu silently observed Chenya and Elias exchanging lines regarding rather mundane activities, and was suddenly snapped out of her thoughts as Elias spoke of the tasks remaining for tomorrow with Chenya.

“Forgive me for interrupting,” she intervened when Elias opened the door to the portal room and looked at Yuu. “Chenya-san, you and Elias belong to the same dormitory, correct?”

“Indeed,” Chenya nodded, his hands behind his head. “I'm the vice dorm leader of Pandora Charm, after all.”

“You are?” Yuu raised her head, meeting with Chenya’s cheeky smile. “You both are so admirable.”

“Just say we’re funny,” Elias chuckled, leading Yuu forward. “That's what they always say about our dorm. We’re rather animated guys out here.”

“Which is absolutely wonderful.”

“Hehe,” Elias giggled at her statement.

The familiar book floating above the majestic pedestal, that the headmaster had shown Yuu on the very first day of her stay here, appeared again before her eyes. Elias approached it, his fingers carefully moving over the worn pages, the text on them began to quietly glow red.

“Ready to experience another kind of portal traveling, Yuu?” Elias asked her, receiving a small nod. “Great! Now, take us to the Edelwiese.”

A huge mirror appeared in the center of the room, just like it did when Ambrose took Yuu to the Sidhery dormitory. But, unlike that time, the mirror was framed with apple tree flowers. How very interesting, Yuu thought, smelling the fresh natural aroma lingering in the air. Birds chirping hummed their sweet song, and beautiful red fog rippled on the mirror’s surface, so very welcoming and charming.

“You first,” Chenya suggested, waving at Yuu so that she took a step closer to the mirror.

One day I’ll manage to summon the mirror back to my own home, she thought when her body slipped through the mirror, and she allowed the current to carry her to the destination point.

She slowly opened her eyes right when Chenya and Elias jumped at her left, and gasped in surprise.

Yuu frowned as she studied her surroundings. Many wooden houses, connected by openwork bridges, towered over a small quiet pond, where swans swam slowly while sparrows flew playfully above them, singing their simple songs. In the courtyard near each of the two-story houses there were flower beds with bright, rich flowers. The sun lazily stroked the forest edges behind the houses, disappearing at last and giving way to the evening darkness familiar to Yuu. Still, even the night landscape of this place seemed different from everything else — the darkness of the colors was soft and gentle, rather soothing and even warm.

“Everyone reacts the same way you do when they first visit Edelwiese,” Elias chirped, stepping forwards but noticing that Yuu remained still. “Hey, everything ok?”

“As, yes, sorry, I just never noticed these buildings while exploring school. Where are we exactly? I can’t see anything familiar.”

“Right, you don’t know!” Chenya noticed. “Dormitories are pocket dimensions, hence you can’t normally see them until you willfully travel into them. Yours is an exception, nya.”

“Pocket dimensions?” She tilted her head, following her curiosity.

“How do you think they managed to build seven freaking dorms on such a small island, mm?” Elias snorted, smiling at her.

“This school is full of wonders…”

“It is! Now, let’s go visit Neige.”

“Where does he live though?” Yuu asked, catching Elias and Chenya’s pace, her head constantly turning to the sides to appreciate the beauty of this place.

“See the house in the center? Normally Edelwiese students have their own rooms located in these houses, but maybe you know that Neige’s case is quite special, so…”

“He lives with dwarfs in that house,” Chenya continued. “He has a separate room though.”

“Is that so…”

They ascended the staircase leading to the house in the center, and suddenly a hard wall slam was heard, pulsating, and confused everyone at the spot. They exchanged frustrated looks and Elias knocked on the door, but to no avail.

“How peculiar,” Chenya said. “Let’s just come inside!”

“But, Chenya-san, wait!—”

Aaaand he was already inside.

Inside the house greeted them with warmth and comfort. Soft ottomans in large quantities were randomly scattered here and there. The bookcases were filled with a variety of books, and cleaning supplies were placed everywhere: brooms, buckets, and dusting rags hung on the dryer. Various kinds of plants in pots warmly greeted visitors with their freshness and were pleasing to the eye.

What was really out of place was the sound of someone screaming, music smashing the whole house down with its insanely heavy beats. Yuu noticed Dominic wincing as he was cleaning the dinner table, other dwarfs frowning with visible discomfort while engaged in their own activities.

“Dominic-san!” Yuu yelled through the music, but he apparently couldn’t hear her. “Dominic-saaan!!”

“Wait!” Elias yelled in unison, pointing at the earplugs tacked in his little ears.

Chenya had another strategy: he swiftly jumped over Dominic, landing on the chair before the dwarf's eyes and causing him to blink.

“Ah!” Dominic exclaimed. “Chenya-senpai!” He turned back after Chenya pointed at the others with a short nod. “Yuu-san, Elias-senpai! Good evening.”

“Hi Dominic,” Elias greeted him, exchanging a high-five, much to Yuu questioning glare as she didn’t recognize the gesture. “Care to explain what the hell is happening?”

“Better to see yourselves… We just got used to it when it happens… Well, at least we’re trying. Neige’s upstairs, as I assume you would want to visit him.”

“Thank you!!” Yuu replied, and the group went to the second floor of the small house with its tranquility wavering at the music.

They were quick to find Neige’s room since apparently both Elias and Chenya had already been there. The door was shut, the cute little sign written in cursive saying “Neige LeBlanche’s room” was shaking to the music, as the loud shouting was heard.

“THIS SPECIAL NIGHT OF MY FIFTEEN, I’LL NEVER FORGET!!!!!”

“F-fifteen?” Yuu blinked, recognizing Neige’s voice and meeting just as confused stares of her companions. “I.. I thought he was seventeen?”

“He is,” Elias confirmed, grabbing the door handle and turning it to the right, making the door swing open.

“I… wow.”

Chenya’s surprised breath died out as everyone saw in what kind of state Neige appeared before their eyes.

“ALL THE CRYBABIES, GET OUT OF HERE!!!”

His jet black hair was disheveled from how often he jerked his head. His cute sweater was carelessly thrown somewhere on the bed, but due to the intensification of the frantic music beats, it apparently slipped to the floor. Neige was dressed in dark blue uniform trousers, the sleeves of his blouse rolled up to his elbows, his collar undone enough to reveal his tense, pale collarbones.

He was moving quickly throughout the room, his movements erratic and harsh.

“Uhm, Neige-san—”

“IT’LL NEVER COME BACK AGAIN AND IT’S SO SHORT PERIOD!!”

“Dude completely lost it,” Elias laughed, hugging himself and wiping out tears accumulating in the corners of his eyes.

“I ETCH IN MY HEART THIS SPECIAL NIGHT OF MY FIF— Oh shit.”

The music stopped at once, with Yuu finally taking a relaxed breath as this all ended, pain releasing her from its strong grasp. Neige covered his face with his palms, his ears reddening to the point one could fry eggs on them with how hot they turned due to the embarrassment.

“Uhm… uh… Well…” He mumbled,his gaze slipping through the fingers and studying others’ reactions. “I, ehm… You see…”

“Dude, I never knew you enjoy heavy metal!” Elias was the first to speak. “This is absolutely real.”

“Stop, please, arghh…” Neige mumbled, his knees betraying him as he fell on the floor. “I thought I hid it well enough…”

“With music smashing every corner of this house to the ground?” Chenya chuckled, placing his hand on Neige’s shoulder. “Relax, we’re not judging you or somethin’, yeah?”

“I must say I’m surprised,” Elias added, gently taking Neige’s hand and moving it to the side. “But don’t worry really, it’s just funny we found it out this way.”

“Haaa, I suppose so,” Neige finally relaxed, replying with a small smile. “Forgive me for a ridiculous display. And Yuu-san,” he stood up, approaching her and bowing slightly in an apologetic manner. “I’m sorry, it seems you don’t like loud music very much.”

“It is fine,” she shook her head. “I’m just not really accustomed, but I must say this is quite an unexpected choice… I’m not judging you, of course.”

“Thank you, everyone. Please, take a seat. I’ll make some tea.”

Neige was quick to return with a wooden tray, four teacups on it. Everyone sat on the floor in the center of the room, thanking Neige for the tea, and glanced at each other for a second.

“Well,” Neige broke the little silence that hung between them. “I suppose I owe an explanation…”

“You don’t owe us anything,” Yuu shook her head, taking a teacup in her hands. “We just wanted to check if you’re alright.”

“Yeah, we all met in the infirmary and you weren’t even there,” Elias said, taking a sip. “You should take a proper rest though.”

“Right they are,” Chenya nodded, taking a teacup with the tip of his tail.

“Ah yes, I believe I must,” Neige let out a soft sigh. “Doctor Wyn said it’s alright and that I can return to the dorms. Although he didn’t mention letting my rage out while listening to heavy metal, of course…”

“Still, it’s nice to see you all alive and kickin’,” Elias hummed.

“Are you feeling better now?” Yuu leaned forward, her gaze fixated on his deep eyes that seemed certainly richer and brighter than they were yesterday. “You slept so peacefully today when I woke up, I almost thought— No, nothing…”

Neige replied with a silent glance that only Yuu could understand, and smiled at her genuinely.

“Don’t worry, Yuu-san, everyone. I’m certainly better. Plus, we arranged meetings with Prospero-sensei, so I’ll be fine. How are you all feeling? Are you alright? Sorry I couldn’t visit you all…”

“Come on, we’re not the ones attacked by Vil’s crazy fans,” Elias said.

“Vi-kun is not one to blame,” Neige replied with a hint of protectiveness in his voice.

Yuu watched their conversation going silently for a moment. Should she just straight up ask them about Vil to find more information on Neige’s case and finally make some progress?

“Are you two friends, Neige-san?” Yuu probed cautiously.

“Oh,” he let out a little disappointed laugh. “I wish we were. I don’t think he’ll ever see me as one. So! Don’t think badly of Vil. He’s an incredible person who I admire the most.”

“Never knew he was your role model of sorts,” Elias added.

“Well, Vil is certainly admirable, no doubt,” Chenya agreed. “His fans though…”

“You know…” Neige almost whispered. “This is how all of the fans are. Not just his. Mine are like that too at times. And both me and Vil feel responsible for their actions. What happened to me happens to Vil as well. No one is immune to this kind of attention. This is the very first thing you come to realize when you step into the entertainment sphere.”

Yuu gulped, lowering her gaze. She saw that maturity in him, not the one that comes with age, but with experience. And she admired him for that.

“It’s as if you’re turning us into Vil stans,” Chenya joked and Elias snorted.

“Ha-ha! But please do stan him, Vi-kun is very hardworking, wonderful person and—”

“Easy, easy,” Elias giggled at how hyped up Neige turned.

“Right, sorry. Can’t help myself when it comes to Vil. Maybe one day we could become friends…”

The rest of the conversation changed its direction to the more relaxed one. They discussed the battle, the recovering, then switched to more mundane things and casual conversations engaging their school life.

Night fell as they finished nearly six cups of tea in a row, and all agreed it would be best for them to get going. Curfew already came into its rights, with Elias as Pandora Charm’s dorm leader and Chenya as his vice being absent, much to Yuu’s silly indignation.

After bidding goodbyes to Neige and receiving thanks from dwarfs for ceasing this awful music flow, the company returned to the portal room in the main building.

Yet, Yuu’s head was still full of thoughts of Vil that Neige mentioned.

If all of the popular people underwent such a cruel attitude for their hard work, maybe… Just maybe, could that Vil be the one suffering and in need of Yuu’s help? She winced at the idea of another broken young boy struggling and being in pain, and snapped out of her thoughts as Chenya and Elias were about to bid goodbyes to her.

“Is something the matter, Yuu?” Elias asked her, noticing how prominent the frown on her face was.

“I, um..” She started carefully, still not sure if she should pursue this opportunity. Moreover it was late at night already… “I’m just curious what that Vil looks like. I trust Neige’s judgment, of course, just wondering what kind of person he really is. That is all.”

“Oh!”

A familiar cheeky and playful smirk on his face made Yuu tense, already sensing that something was about to happen just at the moment. And with Chenya giggling and nodding to Elias, then disappearing into the portal made her glare at her companion cautiously.

“Wait, wait, Elias-san, you—”

“You ask, I provide!” He stated, grabbing her hand and ignoring her annoyed yelps. “You want to see Vil Schoenheit with your own eyes? No problems at all.”

“Elias-san, no, wait, I!!—”

“Down the Rabbit Hole!”

And with that Yuu held onto Elias for her life, falling straight into his portal, her distancing “Waaaait!!” dying out as they fell.

★﹒﹒NOTES

✧˖ Á lohtar! — Sprout!

✧˖ Auleum nocturnus (lat.) — Nocturnal tapestry/Nocturnal curtain.

✧˖ The song pink-haired boy sings is 'それでも世界は美しい — Tender Rain'

✧˖ The song Neige sings is 'BABYMETAL — Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!!!!'

#twst #twisted wonderland #twst x reader #rsa #rsa x reader #chenya #artemiy artemiyevich pinker #twst neige #neige leblanche #twst x yuu #royal sword academy #vil schoenheit

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mrprettywhenhecries · 5 months

Note

billy with a boombox outside win's window but the music coming from the speakers is decidedly not appropriate

Say Anything

⇾ w.c. 623 words ⇾ warning(s). none really ⇾ a/n: let's just pretend that say anything didn't come out in '89 for the sake of this timeline lol. Also, it's been a bit since I've written Win & Billy, so hopefully I'm not completely out of practice 😅

Sighing heavily, Win grimaced as she realized she’d just sighed again for the umpteenth time in the past ten minutes.

She’d been irritable all morning, snapping at Billy for something dumb he’d said – she couldn’t even remember exactly what it had been now – but she’d stormed off, coming home to fume about it. On any other day, she probably would have scoffed at him and rolled her eyes, or tell him to fuck off half jokingly and then forget about it, but today she’d taken it personally, even when she knew he hadn’t meant it that way.

It was stupid. And now she was in her room crying over it, wanting to call him, but too stubborn to, half hoping he’d call her.

The faint sound of music drifting through her window caught her attention and she wiped at her eyes before lifting her head from her pillow and rolling out of bed, grabbing the first thing she found to throw on, which happened to be one of Billy’s cutoffs she’d stolen, the Ratt logo on the front faded.

Pushing the window open, she found Billy standing outside by the curb next to his Camro, boombox hoisted over his head as it blared KISS.

“What the hell are you doing?” Win exclaimed, having to raise her voice to be heard over the music.

I really love you, baby, I love what you've got. Let's get together, we can get hot.

“Apologizing,” Billy called, walking closer, a grin tugging at his lips.

“As far as apology’s go, I’m not really sure about this one,” Win teased, leaning against the window sill, trying to keep the amusement from her face. As soon as she’d seen him standing there, she knew she’d already forgiven him.

No more tomorrow, baby, time is today. Girl, I can make you feel okay.

“Aw c’mon, what’s so bad about it?” Billy asked, raising an eyebrow at her. “I thought you were into this romantic shit?”

“Romantic shit?” Win repeated incredulously. “I don’t know if I’d exactly call this romantic,” she huffed, her chest aching with affection.

“What’s not romantic about it? Is it the choice of song?”

No place for hiding, baby. No place to run. You pull the trigger of my, love gun.

Win snorted, clamping her mouth shut to keep from laughing. “Yeah, that might have something to do with it.”

Billy frowned. “I thought it expressed my feelings pretty well,” he explained, biting his lip to keep from smirking.

“Oh– oh, I see,” Win quipped, shaking her head. “So you just wanna get in my pants, is that it?”

“Well, that’s part of it,” Billy shrugged. “But I really am apologizin’ here. I was an ass earlier.”

Win’s lips curled slightly. “Yeah, I know.”

Billy directed her a long suffering look. “I’m sorry!” he exclaimed.

You can't forget me, baby, don't try to lie. You'll never leave me, mama, so don't even try.

“Do you forgive me yet?” Billy called over the music when Win didn’t respond, half afraid she was gunna tell him no, just get back at him, but when she broke into a grin, he knew he'd succeeded.

“Yes, okay!” Win exclaimed, leaning further out her window. “Now will you shut that off and get over here before you wake my dad up?” she cried, her voice tinged with laughter.

Billy shut off the boombox and set it down, striding to her open window. “You know, your room being on the first floor kinda ruins the effect somewhat,” he pointed out, stepping closer so Win could wrap her arms around his shoulders.

“Yeah, a bit,” she agreed, “but it makes it so much easier for you to sneak in,” she grinned, letting him kiss her.

⇾ taglist. @super-unpredictable98 @b1tchy3lf @afestivelegend @heartbreak-sandwich @sugarcookiesteve @birminghamshelbyboys @elliethesuperfruitlover

#billy hargrove #billy hargrove x oc #billy hargrove drabble #oc: win lewis #otp: lewgrove #joz.fic #prompt request

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anadiasmount · 2 years

Text

distant feeling -- mason mount x reader.

back again bffr. wasnt sure but i kinda love?? feel free to send any request or feed back <;33

You layed on his chest, tracing small shapes on his chest, listening to his heartbeat after your recent activities. You looked back and thought of how you ended up here, tangled underneath the sheets naked. A simple argument about how you felt led here.

“I’m sorry Mason, I'm sorry I can’t be that girl for you. You put so much pressure and high expectations on me. I was just trying to have fun, I deserve it after the week I had,” you yelled frustratedly. He scoffed and then chuckled, rubbing his fingers over his chin while licking his lips. “You deserve it? I had training all week, a game this afternoon, and you're ‘exhausted’ ” He tried to reason but failed.

“Yes, I am! I’ve had to work with people I despise, get treated differently because I'm a woman, and try to maintain myself stable and earn money. So yes I deserved to go out with friends and let myself loosen up. It just happened you were there. Don’t blame it on me for your performance and loss today,” You spat back. This was getting you nowhere, but you couldn't help but feel a little sad and disappointed at his words. He knows how much you’ve sacrificed.

“I wasn't-” you cut him off laughing, “Oh shut it, yes you were! This whole evening, you forced me to come to your house, letting any negative comments come out”. He walked near you but you walked back trying to keep the distance, “If you have nothing better to say but talk bad then I'm leaving,” you stated preparing to leave grabbing your small clutch.

You began to walk away when he stayed silent but felt chills when his strong, big, and warm hand wrapped around your wrist. Feeling his breath on the nape of your neck, as his hands traveled to your waist. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?” you whispered, wanting to know what was on his mind. “Don’t go. I'm sorry, you're right I was trying to take my anger out, but you don’t deserve that. I’ve been in a mood since Sunday… and today’s result is making me into an asshole I know,” You sighed. This was a constant cycle with him, always trying to get you to forgive him after his words cause a burden inside you.

“You can’t always do that Mase… I'm trying to understand you believe me, but it's every time. It's always me, not anyone else. Am I just a punchbag to you?” Your voice was shaky, trying to prevent the tears. “God no, you’re much more than that baby…” there he goes again calling you pet names when things between you weren’t serious.

You’ve liked him, no loved him ever since you got to walk around with him on the pitch after the Champions League game. Since he helped you decorate your apartment in London. Since he offered and risked himself when you got the flu, getting your favorite snacks and soup from the small restaurant around the corner.

But it's always hot and cold. He sometimes only came to you when it was convenient, making you realize deep down that maybe you weren't for him… Seeing how he went out with rather pretty models, maybe them only being with him for his money or name. That stuff never mattered to you. You only wanted him, but when he wasn't around it hurt you more.

This was the first time you had seen him in over two weeks. He looked good, with a white Louis Vuitton button-up shirt and black pants. Nothing he was forced or made to wear. His hair was now growing, thankfully as you missed the longer middle-parted hair. You were dancing with a drink in your hand, smiling as the alcohol slowly entered your system.

When your friend pulled you aside you didn't picture it was true till you looked over and saw him. “Bestie, he won’t stop looking! This is your chance, Y/n,” she says trying to push you off but you shook your head. “I’ve had those ‘chances’ in the past. They succeeded nowhere, either him drunk or with a girl sitting on his lap. No way! Let’s forget about him and just dance!” You said, throwing your hands in the air cheering.

To say the least, it hurt because two weeks ago you told yourself you’ll only talk to him when he comes to you, no more of the ‘how are you?’ or ‘sorry mase’. He hadn't once communicated with you and you missed him more than ever but he slowly showed his true colors. You swayed your hips, and to your surprise, a tall blonde gripped your hips.

You turned over and wrapped your arms around his neck, laughing at his attempt at dancing, he pulled you closer but was pulled away by an angry Mason. The blond scoffed and left. You rolled your eyes and left before he could say anything to you. He didn’t say anything either followed you around till you got outside, you wanted to yell and scream but in public wasn't the ideal place.

“I think I should go… You have training tomorrow-” he yells making you flinch. “Y/n I don’t care about training! Or anything to do with the team. I care about us. Trying to figure out how we can fix things. How have we haven't talked in two weeks? Me finding out you had a date with a guy I didn’t know about.”

“So this is what it is? You’re jealous.”

“Fucking hell I am! It should be me making you laugh, hold your hand while we walk at the park you like, visit Axel your favorite german shepherd at the vet you like. It should be me who you fall asleep next to, come to me when you’re feeling upset or down. I want to be that man Y/n,” he spins you around grabbing your cheeks and making you look to see his teary face.

He sighs shaking his head, “How can we fix things? I can now acknowledge I wasn’t the best friend but I love you, baby. This distance killed me, not being able to talk to you or hold you were doing it for me. I thought you wanted space from me, but then I found out that. And don’t even start, I know he was a douchebag to you, your friend Ella told me.”

You made a face, making a note to talk to her later. All you can think about is him saying ‘I love you. It brought butterflies to your stomach, after so long it felt good and unreal for him to say that. “It pained me too, but my overthinking took place. I thought you didn't want me around anymore. Your replies were dry and small. You rarely called or texted me and when I did, you couldn’t answer,” Your voice was small and hoarse.

“I was scared before, scared you wouldn't like me… or didn't think I was enough for you. What most scared me was how I started to feel around you. I was afraid of the thought of losing you one day because of me, hell I almost did. But now I'm sure, and I want you. To come out and support me like before, make Summer laugh, cook those ridiculously good red velvet cookies, or hold me, kiss my head as you do,” he confesses.

You were stunned, unable to form words, so you reached over grabbed his face, and pulled your lips in together. He groans at the feeling, wrapping his arms around you. His tongue slowly grazed your bottom lip, begging but silently asking you to open your mouth to see what you’d taste like.

You pulled back, still resting your hands on his shoulders, “I’d think I would love that. If it means being with you or close to you then absolutely. I love you too Mason, ever since you called me silly for not like ketchup with eggs,” you teased making him giggle.

“Oh shut it, you know its superior,” he fired back, you made a face but yelped when he lifted you onto the counter. He left more kisses on your lips, dragging them down to your neck where he left wet open mouth kisses slightly sucking at times, his tongue grazing below your pulse. Both of you wanted this, so it led you upstairs, where you made love that night.

He noticed you weren’t falling asleep, he looked down and saw you already staring at him. “Is this real? Are we actually here together right now?” you couldn't help but ask making him laugh. He rolled over and now layed on your chest, getting comfy by wrapping his broad arm around you. “Yes baby. This is happening, just us two… after so long.”

“I love you, Mason,” your words caused his heart to begin to beat faster, it's the effect it had on him. He lifted himself up placing one last long kiss on your lips, leaning your forehead together.

“I love you more Y/n”.

#mason mount #mason mount imagine #mason mount imagines #mason mount blurb #mason mount one shot #mason mount fic #mason mount fanfic #mason mount x reader #mason mount x y/n #money mase

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dmwrites · 2 years

Text

There are three types of morning people.

——

Gem loved the mornings. She woke up naturally as the sun rose, and she went to her balcony to enjoy the colors change from dark to light.

“How beautiful!” She told her pet cat, who was still asleep in her lap. “Mornings are wonderful!” She spread her arms wide as if to embrace the sky and knocked her water glass off of the balcony. She watched it fall a very long ways down, where it smashed on the ground, like a gunshot in the silence. Several groups of birds took off in fright.

“Skin care routine time!” Gem said to her now startled cat after sitting in awkward silence for a moment. She had a ten step skincare routine that was not to be altered or interrupted. Her zen time. Yeah, sure, she always told the haters (herself), she would soon get covered in dirt and stone and other materials, but it was always important to start the day off right.

After her skincare was complete, she went to her kitchen and made a smoothie and ate cookies while she waited for the smoothie to finish blending. Luckily, her neighbors were also morning people, so she didn’t feel so bad about the noise. She made enough for three people, to deliver to them before they all started their days.

——

Impulse’s redstone alarm clock went off right as the sun rose. He grumbled, slapping at it so it would stop with the noise. He pulled himself out of bed, because he’d read that was the best way to wake up. He pulled his hair up and put on some basic workout clothes. The walk through the nether was always strangely invigorating, and by the time he got to spawn, he was fully awake. He sighed and began his jog around spawn town.

Coming back to the dwarven keep, Impulse showered and made himself presentable. He brewed some coffee and grabbed his book (“a cup full of hot sexy redstone” by bdubs [a how-to pretty redstone that so far read like it had been a caffeine-fueled fever dream]), heading outside. He nestled himself by the feet of one of his statues and began to read as the sun started to warm the ground.

——

“Oh fuck is that the fucking sun?” Pearl peered out of a window at the sunrise. “Oh no, not again!” She ran her fingers through her hair, which only succeeded in making her hair even more crazy looking.

“Meow.” Nugget told her.

“Yeah, uh, I didn’t realize how late it was either.” Pearl sighed, suddenly very aware of how tired her eyes were. “Please don’t tell me I have stuff to do today.” She checked her calendar and groaned. “Oh no, how did I forget about Zed’s zedvancement challenge today? Hopefully he’ll be so hyped up on whatever keeps him going he won’t notice how tired I am.”

There was a magnificent glass-shattering sound that really described what Pearl was going through, and frankly she hardly noticed it, as she was making a weird noise of anguish at the same time.

“Right. Okay. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Energy potion.” Pearl pulled a glass bottle from behind the couch, where she had left it the last time she’d stayed up too late (three days ago) and chugged it.

——

“Hey Impulse!” Gem dropped down in front of Impulse, holding bottles. “Smoothie time!” She held one of them out to him.

“Oh thank you!” Impulse smiled and took the smoothie eagerly.

“And yes there’s protein powder in it.” Gem added, to which Impulse chuckled. She picked up his book. “How is this anyway?”

“Good?” Impulse said, taking a sip of the smoothie. “I’m pretty sure Bdubs is currently explaining quantum physics, but it’s all wrong. Like, so wrong it’s almost right.”

“That describes my life.” Pearl touched down on the grass next to her friends.

“Pearlo!” Gem held out a smoothie to her. “How did you sleep?”

“Oh, so well. Great. Wonderful. Like a baby, that’s how I slept.” Pearl took a sip of smoothie to shut herself up.

“That’s good Pearl.” Impulse said in earnest.

Gem rolled her eyes. “Let me guess, you stayed up all night again.”

“…no.”

“Pearl…”

Pearl took off without another word, smoothie in hand.

“Well, I guess that means I should start my day too.” Impulse closed his book and stood up, stretching. “Thanks for the smoothie!” He ruffled her hair, which she protested, and walked back inside. Gem flew back up to her buildings on the top of the mountain and sighed in contentment. Time to get to work.

#July 28 2022 #fic #hc9 #soup group #geminitay #impulsesv #Pearlescentmoon #long post

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bradshawsbaby · 3 months

Note

Hi sweetheart💖, I read your post about your love life, i know this is not a soft thought but I want to tell you that I understand you very well. Personally, I haven't been very lucky when it comes to my love life. I had planned (as much as these things can be planned😂) when I was younger to get married around 23 and start having children around 24/25 since I would like to have a large family. And instead, at the age of 26, I find myself single again, with great uncertainty regarding my ability to have children. Needless to say how much I suffered from this and how many days I really feel as if I were destined to remain alone. I often felt like I was a failure, like I hadn't succeeded in my goals or worse I felt like I was behind others. But I understood that everyone has their own path and times. I understood that I don't have to compare myself to anyone because everyone has had and had their own experiences and their own life path which is unique for everyone. There is no right or wrong age to find your person. There are some who find it in high school, others find it at 30 and still others later. My mom always told me that the right person is out there that he's just waiting for the right time to meet us and that when we meet him we'll know right away if he's the one for us (my mom is a super romantic, but honestly if I think about how she met my dad and their story I believe her even more). As an incurable romantic as I am, I don't lose hope that things can change for the better from one day to the next and I rely on the saying that just when you least expect it, you find love! So I think we have to make ourselves strong, that it's okay to feel a little down and a little more lonely some days but remember that there are people who love us and that we must never forget our value or lower our standards for anyone! Always remember how much you are worth, to love yourself and not to be too hard on yourself but rather to live every day to the fullest and seek happiness in the little things. Also because, as they say, a positive mind attracts energy and positive things! I don't know if I managed to cheer you up a little or if I did worse😂 but as you already know if you feel like it you can always contact me so we can console and support each other! And remember to never lose hope, we too will one day find our Bradley Bradshaw (or our Bob, or Jake, whoever we dream of)💗✨

Oh, Fab, you’re so sweet! 🥹🫶🏻

I know we all go through these periods of ups and downs. Like you, I always envisioned an age when I would get married and an age when I would start having children. And it can be really sad and painful when you reach those ages and feel like you don’t have anything to show for it, or that you’re not where you wanted to be at that point in your life.

I’m trying really hard to stay positive and to trust that the guy for me is out there. I just honestly hope he’s not on these dating apps 😅 We just have to keep hoping! Our dream men are somewhere, and hopefully they’re searching for us, too!

#sweet message ♥️

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broken-freedom · 2 years

Text

• that blind date •

Eren X Reader

Word count: 6.6k

TW: Semi-public teasing - Oral sex (f → receiving) - Fingering - Use of toys -Edging - Hints of pegging - Unprotected penetrative sex - Anal - Double penetration - Creampie and Cum play if you squint.

A/N: I don't know how I ended up writing all this, I just wanted is to write a switch. Also, this is not proofread don't come at me T.T

With a low husky voice he asks “remember what the safe word is?” …

You stare at his full blown pupils, a faint trace of green is left in them from how much anticipation is boiling inside of him.

“Yea … it’s red” you answer him, almost whispering and grabbing tighter at his wrist that he is using to hold your thigh close to his chest.

He leans forward staring down at your face with a smirk blasted on his face, then moves his head to the side to whisper in your ear, hot breathing tickling your skin making you shiver at the sensation “good girl, don’t forget that, ok?”.

He gets back up getting ready to start what he plans to do with you, grabbing back the strap-on with the hand that wasn’t holding your thigh, “see, having this around is dangerous, but wanting to use it on me is even worse baby. You are about to know why in just a few moments” …

He hugs your thigh close to his chest and moves his hand to grab the lube bottle pouring an enough amount of the sticky liquid on the strap-on, coating it fully with. Your whole body jolts when you feel his cold finger coated with lube being pressed against your tight hole, the sensation is strange when his finger massages the area in circle motions then starts to slowly push it inside. Little by little, you are being stretched out by his digit, and when he feels no resistance he adds another, then starts to scissor his fingers fully preparing you on what he wants to do with you. You gasp at the loss of sensation when he pulls his fingers out only to replace them with the rubber head of the strap-on slowly pushing it past your walls to help you adjust to the size of the hot pink rubber cock. You feel tears filling up your eyes and you are drowning in this new sensation. Then it hits you and you realize something “W- wait Eren this is the wrong hole!”. He answers you with a smirk and pushes the strap-on further inside “oh? is that so?” Your eyes widen but you are even more excited now. This is not what you had in mind at all. You wanted to be in control, hell you had all control but when did you lose it? Yea, that’s right you lost control the moment you walked inside your apartment with Eren trailing behind you an hour ago…

xXx

“He is the sweetest guy. I’ve known him since we were literal children and he always looked after us. He is ummm passionate I will say, but so sweet. You won’t regret it I promise!” Sasha said one last time trying to convince you to go out on a so-called date. You looked at her with a raised brow “fine! But one shot is all I’m giving you and you are never to set me up with random guys ever again!” She nodded a few times more than necessary, excited that she succeeded in convincing you to go out with her friend.It has been months since your ex shocked you saying that he wanted to break things with you. You thought you two were doing well until one day he came to you saying he got an offer in another city and he didn’t want to be in a long-distance relationship. You were so confused and had no idea what made him change instantly. But it does not matter, does it? You would never beg someone to stay in your life. Instead, you chose to go with the option of focusing on yourself, your career, and your friends.

Do you want to try dating again? No. Will Sasha leave you alone tho? That would never happen as long as you are single. “You need to get laid, woman!” is what she tells you every time you talk about being frustrated. And she has a point, you can’t connect with a toy no matter how good it makes you feel or how many times it can make you reach your climax. And you are not the person who would hookup with random guys. It was when Sasha suddenly started nagging you about going out with her friend from childhood. She mentioned him briefly to you during your college years but never again, until you became single. It seems like he was away in another country seeking a degree and now he is back. No harm in trying, right? You’ll have something to do instead of watching your favorite show for the millionth time and stuffing your face with ice cream, plus you’ll get Sasha off your back.

So you found yourself getting ready on a Saturday night, and for some reason you decided to go all out. You haven’t done this in a while so you just might woo the guy right? He was taking you to a fancy restaurant so dressing up is the least you can do. Now you didn't understand why Sasha wouldn’t show you a picture of him. “It takes away the surprise element if you already know what he looks like!” what a torture! You checked your outfit one last time at the full length mirror, and sprayed Coco Chanel on you. You are dressed in an off shoulder red dress hugging your figure in all the correct places showing off an enough amount of your cleavage without being too sluty. The slit in the dress stopped at the beginning of your thigh adding a little more spice to this dress and giving you more room to walk your legs. A black pump heels adored your feet with a silver anklet matching the silver simple jewelry around your neck and wrist. Styled your hair in curls and fixed the bangs on your forehead to complete the look. You nodded in agreement on how you look and headed out of the apartment with the only cue to your date that he is going to be weaning a red necktie.

You eyed the exterior of the restaurant in awe. Why would your date, blind date, be in such an expensive place? A blind date in a place like this didn’t make sense at all? The honk behind you broke the train of thoughts that was running full speed inside your brain. “Text me if you need anything!” Sasha shouted through the rolled down window. You turned around with a worried look: “This doesn’t seem right Sasha this place is expensive!” You pleaded with your eyes. “Look, there is nothing to worry about, you are in safe hands I promise!, and if anything happens I will be close by just text me and I will come to your rescue. Now go! Don’t make him wait longer, he texted me saying that he got here a few minutes ago.”

You took a deep breath to steady your heart beats and proceeded to the restaurant's entrance. The doorman was waiting for you and held the door open so you could come inside, greeting you professionally. The moment your eyes landed on your date after you told the server your name to take you to him was the moment you realized why Sasha insisted on showing you no pictures. You did not expect him to be this handsome at all. Big eyes with long eyelashes, thick eyebrows, sharp nose and plump lips that appear to be so soft, sharp jaws that add masculinity to his beauty. His brown hair was slicked back perfectly and your wild thoughts ran a few ways that you can mess that up. He is dressed in a nice black suit with the red necktie confirming that he is your date, which he kept adjusting every two seconds. You took your time studying his movements from where he could not see you, and noticed his constant hand movements. He did play with the hem of his jacket too many times, looked at his wrist watch too many times, and rubbed at his temple too many times for the short time you were admiring his beauty from afar. “Is he nervous? Oh this is going to be fun” you thought to yourself forcing yourself to start walking towards the table that he is seated on.

When you came closer to the table and introduced yourself, he shot up standing pumping his knee hard on the table in front of him. His eyes involuntarily went down to your chest engraving the way your dress hugged your figure in his brain before they shot back up to your face. He took your hand in his gently shaking it. “I am Eren, Sasha told me so much about you, please allow me” while he circled the table to get your seat for you, helping you sit down. When he sat back at his seat, he couldn’t contain himself bluntly blurting out “Wow, you are beautiful!” you giggled before replying to his praise “you are not so bad yourself.

Your date was going so well, Eren was easy to talk to. He is a good listener and also very attentive, noticing your every movement and the way you talk. The conversation flowed between the two of you. A few laughs here, encouraging comments there carrying the night smoothly. You don’t know if it was the glass of wine you had that made you relax or was it Eren himself that made you feel safe enough to be your true self around him.His glass of wine on the other hand did not help easing his nervousness at all. He tried his best to conceal the tension that was building up every time his eyes landed on your lips, or rather your chest that was being hugged so tightly by your dress. The hair on his nap stiffen when your hand accidentally brushed against his, and you were well aware of his reaction. His hand came to loosen the tie around his neck giving him the tiniest comfort and he shot you an awkward smile.

You wanted to see more of these reactions that you thought were so adorable, when a menacing idea shone inside your head. Under the table concealed by the table’s covers, you took off your heel and lightly stroked his leg with your bare toes a couple times before stopping to see how he would respond. The way his eyes widened and he looked at you with a questioning look while swallowing a few times to regain his composure. You bit your lower lip amused at his reaction, eyes glowing under your eyelashes. When you saw his eyes glowing, lips parting from each other in both anticipation and excitement, you are back on your mission, slowly working your way up his ankle and finally slipping in between his knees. You suddenly got conscious and wanted to retrieve your foot when you felt him spreading his legs for you, welcoming your foot in between, and inviting you to go even further. You looked at him watching how his cheeks and the top of his ears are painted scarlet . His gaze is fixated on the plate in front of him with one of his hands covering his mouth, and the other grabbing tightly at the edge of the table. You push your foot between his legs slowly stroking the inside of his thigh. You were concentrating on your movement not to overwhelm him, but also trying to act normal for the eyes surrounding the both of you by keeping your hands busy with your food.

The more you stroked him, the redder his face got, and it was so faint but you sure did hear a desperate plea leaving his mouth. You looked up at him to see his pleading eyes, encouraging you to keep going. You let go of the fork and intertwined your fingers underneath your chain losing yourself in his forest green eyes. One miscalculated stroke and you feel it, you feel the hard bulge in his pants. Your eyebrows raise to your hairline thinking that you were just teasing and not believing how sensitive he is to be this hard just from stroking his leg. “Please” you heard his plea again before you felt his hand wrapping around the ankle that you had extended in between his legs and pressing your foot firmer on his crotch. The whimper that left his mouth struck your core. The tiny moan was music to your ears and made heat rise to your face as you felt Eren’s hand drawing shapes on the bare foot that was resting on his hard cock with his eyes squeezed shut. Your gaze met with his when he opened his eyes and as if you two communicated your thoughts without talking you retrieve your leg and slip on the pump standing up and excusing yourself to the restroom. You asked a passing waiter where the restrooms were located and they guided you to the correct way.

You pushed past the crowd and when you got to the golden doors of the restrooms you snickered “of course it is one of those fancy restrooms that fit a whole party inside of them” thinking to yourself opening the door and slipping inside. You stood in the middle of the restroom mesmerized by the fact that there is a freaking red velvet armchair inside of the freaking restroom. Just before the door clicked close, Eren’s fingers slipped and stopped it, letting himself in after you and locking the door behind him. You were quick to move when you saw his reflection in the mirror walking towards you and you pushed at his chest until the back of his knees met with the armchair and he was forced to sit down. Both your hands came to hold his knees, spreading them apart. Your hands glided up his thighs and you whispered lowly for his ear to hear “I would like to take care of this situation we have here” fingers lightly brush against the fading print on his suit pants. “But first … I want to put that pretty mouth to good use, yea?”

You were answered back with an enthusiastic nod from Eren’s head before he circled his arms around your thighs and brought you closer to his face “use me however you see fit, princess.” his hands then dipped inside your dress through the slit and started stroking the bare skin of your lower thighs reassuring you, emerald eyes looking at you from underneath his long lashes motivating you to take the next move. His hand started pushing your dress up your thighs making room for his hot mouth to trace kisses on your soft skin. You feel more confident when you look down and see Eren looking at you. You pinched the hem of your dress in between your fingers and lifted it up to your waist revealing your lacy underwear to Eren’s hungry eyes. You felt dizzy under his gaze. The way he looked at you with glossy eyes filled with anticipation made you feel wanted. That’s it, the exact feeling you were craving and looking for all along. Being wanted and desired. But when he moved to get closer to your center after placing a few kisses on your thigh, hot and wet tongue poking out of his lips, you stopped him by placing your hands on his shoulder and pushing him back for his back to press against the chair. “I am in charge here, pretty boy. Stay back for me ok?” He nodded twice and spread his legs wider giving you room to settle between them, both of his hands rubbing against your thighs encouraging you. You stood on your knees on either side of his thighs that were resting on the armchair bringing yourself closer to his face and asking him to dart his tongue out. He came closer to your center steadying your form by holding your thigh, and started with tiny kitten licks on your skin. You sighed from the sensation of his tongue on your skin, one hand coming to lace in his hair messing up his perfect hairstyle, and the other placed on his shoulder.

When Eren’s pace started to pick up, he moved one of his hands to hook the finger on your thong and paused to look at you silently asking for permission to proceed. You gave him a tiny nod encouraging him, and he pushed the material to the side revealing your already soaked cunt to him. His eyes glowed at the sight of your witness, but you gave him no time to say anything, wrapping your fingers around his locks and shoving his face where you needed him the most. You moaned, slight lewd whimpers leaving your throat when you started to slowly grind your hips on his face. Hot mouth darting out to help you use him properly tasting the sweetness of your slick on his tongue. You were dazed, drowning in bless, hips moving in a steady pace riding his face where his tongue dragged in between your folds and his nose pumped your clit. You hear him mumbling against your cunt “tastes so sweet” and you tease by slowing your movement for a little bit. His eyes shot up looking at yours and you heard his plea asking you for more. Your witness covered his mouth and chin while he lapped at your throbbing pussy with all eagerness, but you did not miss the sensation of his finger pressing against your walls pushing you closer and closer to the edge. He pumped his finger in and out of your cunt before he added another. The way your walls clenched against his digits gave away that you were close, so close to hitting your climax, and Eren was just there to push you over the edge. “Eyes on me, please …. I want you to look at me” His voice soothingly guided you before he hiked his fingers just enough to brush against the spongy spot to intensify the pleasure and wrapped his swollen lips around your clit to suck on it. The sight of his face half buried between your legs, half-lidded eyes looking up at your flushed face. tightened the knot inside your core even tighter right before it snapped, making you spill your release on Eren’s lips, chin and overall covering his face, and your legs started shaking. He slowed down the movements of his tongue and fingers on you helping you calm down after your intense orgasm. He caught you in his arms as you tried to catch your breath, and when you looked at him, you saw him grinning at you with rosy cheeks “was that good for you princess?”. His voice dripped with sweetness as he helped you get up and captured your lips in a sweet kiss for the first time. You tasted yourself in his lips before your tongue darted out dominating the kiss and taking the lead against his “Oh it was so good, Ren. Your turn”. He waved you off telling you that he’ll calm down in a moment, and you got slightly disappointed because you were ready to see him, and hold him in your hand. The few strokes you gave him from under the table already told you that he was above average, but you wouldn’t believe it until you see it with your own eyes. He helped you clean up , placed your thong back in place, and cleaned his face before holding his hand for you to take so you could go back to your table.

xXx

As he pulled over at the entrance of your apartment building, you asked him to go around the building where the parking lots are. His facial expressions exposed his confusion for a split second, but he obeyed nonetheless following your directions. After he turned off the engine of his car, he turned to face you. “So now what?” he asked with a raised eyebrow. You giggled as if your intention was not clear “now we go inside” you told him and you were answered with a smirk you saw his lips form for the very first time. Your brain ran laps while you led him to your apartment. You led with one single thought in your brain that made the familiar heat return to your center. You always wanted to do this, you even have the proper “tool” for it, but you never had the chance to use it. But it all changed with the tall brunette, who appeared willing to do anything you wanted to see you pleased, trailing behind you. The closer you got to the apartment, the redder your face became to the thought, and the more eager you are to follow your plan.

xXx

The shy trembling boy who had his face drenched with your slick an hour ago snaps as soon as the apartment door is closed behind him. He leans on it with a devilish smirk for a moment eyeing you up and down stripping you off your dress with his eyes. When you finally calm down your thoughts and turn to look at him, you are met with dark lustful eyes with a faint green left in them. “E- Eren? Are you ok?” you ask him in a concerned tone when you see him just standing there and staring at your form making you feel naked even though you are fully clothed. His hands shrug off his jacket and loosen the necktie, move to slowly roll up the sleeves of his button down shirt as he kicks off his shoes. You’re shocked when you hear all the shyness in his voice being replaced by a deep husky tone a little above whispering “ you had your way up until now, and it was fun, now let’s see if you can keep up with mine, pretty girl” and slowly starts walking towards you. You take a step back startled by the sudden change in his voice tone, and even the way he looks at you with hungry eyes like a wolf who has been starving for so long and finally caught his prey.

He closes the gap between the two of you, hands cupping the dip of your waist, and dark eyes staring down at you, he leans brushing his nose on the side of your neck, breathing your scent, and when he gently bites the shell of your ear you press your legs together in response. He notices and likes the reaction he is drawing from you, it is his time to learn your reactions and what produces more of them by taking the lead. He wraps your hands around his neck with his own around your thighs from underneath the dress. He picks you up with ease, strong muscles in his arms flexing under his shirt making his veins pop. He walks the short distance to the couch holding you in his arms and sits down with you straddling him, your dress is barely doing any good at covering your legs at this point while his hands intrinsically hold your waist. You push your chest to his and lean for a kiss, and he lets you. Hungry messy lips moving against each other swallowing every moan and whimper. Eren pushes you down, your hips meeting his so you can feel him again. He mumbles between your lips that he doesn't have a condom, "it's fine, we don't need it" you reassure him before pressing your lips agains his soft ones. This time he wants more, he needs more, but for now, he will be patient. His way requires you to be extra relaxed, and to get to that point he needs to make you reach your climax one more time.

You tremble the moment your crotch meets his, only the thin layers of your thong and his pants and boxers prevent your skin from touching but you never break the kiss as he bites down at your bottom lip making you wince. His hands move all over your body before he tugs at your dress asking to free your breasts, and finally breaking the kiss with a string of saliva connecting his tongue to yours. Green irises leaving yours to admire your exposed tits to him that he has been drooling over all night. His hands immediately move to cup both of them. Heat rises to your face “Don’t stare too much” Your voice comes breathy to him making him chuckle. “Not so bold now are you?” the teasing voice is being replaced quickly with a seductive one “You look like a fucking painting. I want to see more of you.” His eyes are back at you again, but only to watch your reaction as his tongue flips over the hardened nipple. You gasp and tug on his hair whimpering an inaudible “more".

“You got to be louder for me. Tell me, what do you want?” He groans when you start grinding your hips against him, fed up with all the teasing “more, I want more, please!” hands moving to untie and unbutton his clothes. After you discarded his shirt and the tie and got rid of your dress somewhere in the room, you take a moment to admire the toned chest and defined abs. Eren stands up to grab your waist again and crash your chest into his “So are we here to just stare? Or you’re going to show me where I can fuck you dumb?”

xXx

The shock that spread across your body seeing the small box on your bed with the lid open. You completely forgot to return it to its proper place, but also didn’t expect to bring back company with you. You have no time to sprint and hide it as Eren enters your bedroom behind you, and you can feel the heat radiating from his body once his upper arm brushes against your shoulder. He looks at you and sees the horror in your eyes. He follows your line of vision and settles on the red box on your bed. His eyebrow shoots up closer to his hairline when he steps closer, and you figure it’s just easier if he sees what’s there himself before you use them on him. He wouldn’t mind would he? In the end this is why you brought him here. To see how the hot pink color would suit his sun-kissed skin. But the look in his eyes tells you that what you have in mind is far from reach. “Well well, what do we have here?” His tone makes your body shivers, amusement filling the air as he talks “Open to toys as well? I like that, but the question is …” he pauses as his eyes dart back at your fully naked form other than the tiny lacy material on your hips that fail to cover anything, “how many can you take at once?”

Eren chuckles seeing the way your jaw hangs low. This is not what you wanted. But the idea makes your body shiver. The way he’s leaning back on your bed, one hand supporting his wait and the other tapping his thigh as he orders you “Come’er sweetheart.” and you obligate, body moving without giving it a second thought, pusyy throbbing at the sight of the thick print in his pants. You need to see him, so you start walking towards the bed, hips swaying left and right making Eren stiffen and pull on his pants trying to give his cock a little bit more room. Once you reach him, you bend down for a kiss and straddle his waist. One of his hand cups the back of your neck to angle your face so he can deepen the kiss. And just as you start to get lost in the kiss you feel a cold material being pressed on your nipple. Your body jolts in response but Eren’s grip on the back of your neck is firm enough to keep you in place. He gives you a moment to process before pressing the tiny bullet vibroator on your other nipple smirking at your reaction. You don’t have time to even wonder when he went through the box because now he has his tongue twirling around your other nipple, and the feeling of both nipples being stimulated is driving you insane. Your hands grab tightly into his arms as you start grinding your hips against his again, your body aching for more friction from him as he devout both of your nipples over and over, one with his mouth licking and sucking, and the other with the viborator in his hand combined with continuous grinding on his lap “Ahhhhhh , more more please— “ You whimper, feeling your oragsm approaching.

But this is not how Eren wanted you to cum, so he quickly moves to lay you down on the bed and take your thong off your hips and down your legs “we don’t need these anymore” discarding them to the corner of the room. He rubbed two of his fingers between your folds soaking them up with the slick before pushing them into your cunt. Your walls clenched on his digits immediately making him smirk. He places the bullet viborator on your clit and steadies it with the thumb of the same hand that has both his middle and ring finger pumping in and out of your cunt and busying his mouth and the other hand with your nipples again. Your back arch, and you feel the strange sensation filling you as Eren’s fingers keep hitting your sweet spot. The pressure inside of you starts to grow as Eren skillfully hits all your sensitive spots at the same time until you feel like you are going to explode. Only when you start moaning loudly filling the room with the sinful noises coming out of your mouth you hear Eren’s voice ordering you to look at him as you cum. While your whole body shakes violently above the sheets, you feel the wetness rushing out of your cunt and hear because of Eren’s still moving fingers in and out of you. You breathe heavily and glance down to see Eren’s hand covered with your cum, and you look at him to see him smirking down at the mess you made on his hand and wrist, your cum dripping from your pussy on his hand and into the sheets underneath you. He brings his hand to his mouth and licks it and audibly moans. Heat creeps up your face when your eyes lock with his and see him climbing the bed straddling your waist with his legs face hovering over yours to whisper in your ear “now for the main course” and you expect him to kiss you but he sits on his heels making sure not to crush you under his weight and reaches out for the box of toys, and from all the dildos, viborators, plugs, he picks up the last thing you expect. His facial expression between amusement and shock as he looks at the hot pink cock attached to the straps, his eyes move to look down at you “This wasn’t in the plan, was it baby?” when you stay quiet for longer than a few seconds, he continues “don’t tell me, we will include it in the plan” and you can’t believe your ears! Is he inviting you? To use the strap-on on him? To peg him? You swallow as you feel more excited about what's coming. You will get to experience the one thing you’ve been dying to do since you saw him at the restaurant.

Eren shuffled in the bed so he could take his pants off, your eyes are focused on his bulge, you want to see it, you need to see it at this point. So you watch him closely as he pulls his boxers down and off his legs, and sits back on his heels revealing the hard on cock to you. You stare, not even blinking, it is big, so big you are a bit intimidated by his cock as it stands with pride and leaking precum from the tip. You gulp, and move to stroke him, but he pushes you down again on the sheets “no no … remember we do things my way this time, I will need you to pick a safe word because once I start that’s the only thing to stop me”. He lifts the strap-on in the air between the two of you telling you that he will put it into good use, but on you , not the other way around.

xXx

You’ve already came twice tonight, your body is well prepared as Eren keeps the dildo still inside your tight hole as he sits in between your legs. He gave you a lot of pleasure throughout the night, but now, it is his time to ruin you, and that is a risk you are willing to take. He strokes his cock a few times before aligning it with your entrance. The moment his cock touches your soft skin, Eren groans and mutters a tiny curse under his breath something about “been wanting to do this all night”, he pushes his cock in a little by little watching your face and body language for any signs of discomfort. He wants to bottom out so badly, push all his cock inside of your soft cunt in one hard thrust, but he keeps himself composed to not cum already and most importantly to not hurt you. The stretch stings, he is bigger than you thought you can take, but all the preparation helped, the only new sensation to you is being stuffed full with Eren’s cock while there’s a whole 6 inch dildo still in your ass making you hazed. He pushes an inch inside of you, and stop to prevent himself from filling you up already and groan a low “Fuck, so fucking tight for me, ahhh shit ” as his cock makes his way past your walls and stretching you out.Right after his cock is fully inside of your pussy, Eren gives you a few seconds to adjust before telling you that he’ll start moving.

You’ve already came twice tonight, your body is well prepared as Eren keeps the dildo still inside your tight hole as he sits in between your legs. He gave you a lot of pleasure throughout the night, but now, it is his time to ruin you, and that is a risk you are willing to take. He strokes his cock a few times before aligning it with your entrance. The moment his cock touches your soft skin, Eren groans and mutters a tiny curse under his breath something about “been wanting to do this all night”, he pushes his cock in a little by little watching your face and body language for any signs of discomfort. He wants to bottom out so badly, push all his cock inside of your soft cunt in one hard thrust, but he keeps himself composed to not cum already and most importantly to not hurt you. The stretch stings, he is bigger than you thought you can take, but all the preparation helped, the only new sensation to you is being stuffed full with Eren’s cock while there’s a whole 6 inch dildo still in your ass making you hazed. Right after his cock is fully inside of your pussy, Eren gives you a few seconds to adjust before telling you that he’ll start moving. He starts slow and his hand sneaks between your bodies to rub circles on your clit to help you adjust better to his length. He knows what to do, and when to do it. Both of your legs are thrown on his shoulder giving your body space to handle both his cock and the dildo. Your body jolts when Eren picks up the pace and you start losing control of your moans. You try to hold back, to dig your fingers in the sheets twisting them to gain composer, but once Eren purposely aims his thrusts, you become a babbling mess underneath him

Even though his thrusts are hard hitting all the right angles inside of you making you feel like he is angry and punishing you for some reason you don’t know, you can’t really ignore the thumb rubbing your skin comforting you. The balance between the two movements is just right to push you over the edge one last time, but this time it is not on his fingers not his tongue, this time you’re about to cum on his cock which makes you even more cautious of the sensation since there is no barrier between his skin and yours. The room is filled with your moans and whimpers, the skin clapping noise as Eren’s hips snap back thrusting into you making his balls hit the back of the dildo and pushing it deeper inside of you, and the groans he makes as you scratch his back with your nails. “Eren, I am close, so close ..” Your fourth climax approaching you fast as you feel so full. “I, ahh, I can feel it — .. ganna cum for me one last time? Hmmm?” and before you can answer him he tells you to look into his eyes as you cum all over his cock and latches his lips to yours. The intense eye contact adds to every single sensation you are feeling all over your body making you shiver and cum hard thinking that you are about to pass out from how intense your orgasm is. You shut your eyes drowning in the sensation of the aftershock when you feel Eren’s hand slips underneath your head and pulls your hair back making you open your eyes wide “Eyes on me, do not break eye contact, yea?”. You feel his thrusts getting sloppier and losing rhythm so you nod your head whispering “yes daddy” that is enough to push Eren over the edge shooting ropes of cum and painting your walls white with his cum. He slows his thrusts until he comes to a stop and falls atop of you to catch his breath, the hand that pulled your hair a minute ago stroking it gently now. He gets up placing a quick peck on your shoulder and grinning down at you "that was amazing!" he says as he pulls out and scooches down watching his cum drip from your cunt to your skin. He pulls the dildo out and throws it beside you then collects the dripping cum with his fingers to push it back inside of your hole.

Eren disappears inside the bathroom and comes back with a damp towel to help clean you up. You feel your body relaxing against the sheets, eyelids getting so heavy you’re fighting to keep them open while you watch Eren pulling up his pants and zipping it. Your mind is clouded and can’t process anything that your senses are registering, not the blurred figure of Eren getting dressed, nor his natural intoxicating smell that is stuck on your bed now. The only sensation that got your attention is his hands brushing against your shoulder when he pulled the blanket to cover you. Your eyes shut open finally realizing that he is fully dressed back in his suit and his jacket propped on his arm.“Wait! don’t leave!” You reached your hand out and grabbed his bicep.

He is leaning towards you while still standing next to your bed. Head hovering over yours and beautiful emerald eyes staring back at your tired features. His lips twitch up forming a tiny cocky smile “you won’t get to rest properly if I stayed.”. “I am fine with that, stay!” your own words confuse you on why you’re asking him to spend the night with you, today is still the very first time you see him, and yet you see yourself getting attached after a couple several orgasms. You can’t help but wanting more of his warm touches to engulf you in such a cold night. “I can’t” you hear him say and you frown, eyebrows knitting together with confusion. His hand moves to cup your face and the other gently pushes the bangs away from your forehead before he paints his lips in between your eyebrows to ease the frown “but I want to see you again, I will get your number from Sasha, how about that?” You nod your head and smile now you know that he is also interested in you. ”Sleep well for me, pretty girl. You need it” he continues and winks before proceeding to walk towards the bedroom door. His voice echoes in your ears as you slowly drift to sleep while Eren is leaving your bedroom and closing the door behind him after he gets out. This blind date turned out way better than you had in mind. Sasha was absolutely correct, he is such a sweetheart with a hint of craziness.

xXx

Took me so long, but here it is. Hope you like it @princess-jaeger

#eren jaeger #eren x reader #eren x you #eren smut

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