#oh to express your affection by tenderly putting a piercing on his ears

[angelizs]

[Octopus piercing - Jade Leech]

Summary: Hand slipping down from his cheek to his chin, you pull away to take in the whole picture. Jade, octopus piercing covering his whole ear, skin flushed a delightful shade of light pink, eyes looking at you the whole time, entranced. 

Notes: gn!reader, based on the early concept of punk Jade, in this household we like flustered Jade who's down bad while also being a tease, now I'm certain he had a punk phase at some point and still has the piercings!

"Oh? What's this?"

Your voice rings out in the otherwise silent room, being quickly replaced by the sound of clinking metal.

Jade turns his head around your direction, tilting it to the side in interest. If you had been looking at him, you might have noticed the ever so slight widening of his eyes as he realizes what you found (you always do, as attentive to his expressions as he is with yours), but alas, something else had caught your eye.

It's as if the air in his bedroom stilled and time had stopped for a moment as you lift up your hand to look closer at your finding. He watches attentively, wanting to drink in your reaction.

You don't disappoint (you never do). Your lips part as you let out a breath of amazement, your eyes shining as they reflect the light of the jewel. Something so simple managed to mesmerize you. Your fingers delicately, as if afraid they could break it, toy around it, spinning it from one side to the other, taking in the texture and the coldness.

Jade gets so deep in watching you he almost forgets his comeback. Almost.

"Prefect, you shouldn't mess with other people's things, it's not very polite."

You turn to him, making him feel exhiliration tickle down his spine from having your attention on him, your humorous smile directed at him and only him. 

"You didn't seem to share the sentiment a few months ago, huh?" You refer to the little... incident with Azul's contracts at the end of the year. It was all water under the bridge now, but you still liked to tease them about it.

"These were very different situations, wouldn't you say?" 

For emphasis, he lowers his voice and slides to the side you're seated on his bed, his leg touching yours and his face close enough you could count his eyelashes if you wanted to, but not enough for his nose to touch yours. 

There's a hitch in your breath, so quiet that if it was anyone else they would have missed it. Jade doesn't. His smile turns more genuine at the corners.

"No, I don't think so." 

Instead of trying to get away, you stay where you are, attracted like a moth to the flame. Your hand comes between your faces, putting the object of your fascination in display.

It was an octopus tentacle piercing, one that would curl around the top of the ear and pass through the earlobe. It was quite detailed, with all the suction cups carefully craved in silver.

"It's beautiful. I didn't know you had other earrings."

There it is, that curious look in your face, the one that promises to deliver endless entertainment. He decides to indulge you to see where you're heading with it, although he already has an inkling.

"That must be because I only use this one nowadays." He touches the signature scales earring he's using. "But there was a time I was still experimenting with my appearence. I suppose I couldn't bring myself to get rid of them."

"It's a bit hard to imagine you using anything other than this one, but..." Your gaze turns to the octopus earring, evaluating it, before sliding to his face again. Jade feels as if he was being examinated from the inside out, as if you could investigate his very soul from the intensity of your stare. "I think this one would look pretty good too."

"Shall we check?" 

His fingers do quick work of taking off the backing and pulling his current earring away from his ear, leaving it bare. He puts it on the nightstand and turns around, exposing his side to your ministrations.

You stare for a second, caught of guard. "May I?"

"Of course, go ahead."

You hesitate for a second longer, hearing him let out an amused huff of laughter, before your fingers approach him. You tuck the longer strand of black hair behind his ear to give you space to work. In the process, your warm hand brushes against it, making him shiver. 

Taking your time, you let your touch ghost his cold skin, captivated by such a rare chance to be so close to his space. You notice, for the first time, that there are more little holes alongside it, where other piercings might have been before. The image you conjure in your head is charming enough to make you smile.

The pad of your thumb strokes his earlobe before you insert the post and screw the back, holding it in place and sliding the cuff to hook it on his upper ear. 

Your hand stays in place as you admire your work, rubbing the helix absentmindedly. You hum, your other hand cupping his cheek to turn his head in your direction so you could see how it looked.

"Something's wrong?" You whisper, noticing how he feels warmer under your touch.

Jade's pupils look slightly blown when his eyes meets yours. "Go on." It comes out in a rushed breath. 

Humming once more, your smile widens. "As you wish." 

Hand slipping down from his cheek to his chin, you pull away to take in the whole picture. Jade, octopus piercing covering his whole ear, skin flushed a delightful shade of light pink, eyes looking at you the whole time, entranced. 

"What's the veredict?"

"I was right, you know. It does look good."

"Is that so?" There's something to his tone, something you can't quite name.

You turn his head around, enjoying the thrill you get when he complies and lets you do as you please.

"Actually, maybe I wasn't."

At this, he turns around by himself, a calculating look on his face, trying to guess what you where going to say. He catches up just before the words leave your mouth, but it doesn't make them any less enjoyable to say.

"It's more than good. You look lovely."

The sincerity in his answering laugh is elating.

"You flatter me, prefect. If this is the reaction I'll get, then I might change around my looks more often."

"There's more, right? I'd like to see them too!"

The pleased glint in Jade's expression turns into mischievousness as he pulls away from you, moving to get up.

"Perhaps another time. This would take time I can't afford without risking running late to my shift at Mostro."

"C'mon! Just one more!" You hold his arm before he can move out of your reach, looking through your lashes at his towering form. "Please?"

Sighing, he concedes. "If you insist so much, I suppose we could look at another one." You cheer, pulling him back to where he was, already looking through his other piercings in the drawer. "For a price, naturally."

You only deadpan at him, earning an amused chuckle.

"My, my, what's with that face? Can you say you weren't expecting it?"

"Of course I was, it is you after all. What will it be then?"

A sharp grin exposing his teeth blooms. Most would be scared by it, but the only thing passing through your mind is how this expression goes quite well with this new piercing.

"Not backing down? Very well. How about you participate in this week's Mountain Lovers Club meeting?"

"Deal." There's not even a moment to blink before you agree. Truly, you didn't mind going on his club meetings. In fact, they were very enjoyable most of the time, and if that would make him happy you could sacrifice a few hours from your day. Besides, you were having a lot of fun with your new discovery. "Now, how about this one?" 

You show him the piercing you chose, a little fish skeleton that looked cheaper than the other one. You thought it would look quite cute.

"This was a gift from Floyd, so I'm rather fond of it." You can tell it's true from his softer tone. "We have a deal, you can go ahead."

Letting you have full access to his ear once more, you explore the options where you could put this new piercing. Since the other one covered a good part of the available space, you decided to insert it on the helix, where they wouldn't clash.

You carefully hold it on one hand while your other supports his ear. It's almost reverent the way you insert it, treating it like it was a precious jewel, watching intently as it pierces the skin and appears on the other side, nimble fingers screwing it in place.

Like before, you take his chin between your thumb and index finger, taking in the sight of him. Your lips pout as you think, his eyes darting to stare at them as if in a trance before quickly glancing back to meet yours.

"If feels like there's something missing..." You mumble, thinking out loud. "Oh! Maybe if I just..."

Without further explanation, your free hand combs his hair backwards, messing with it enough to get a spiky look that could rival his twin's. The strand of black hair you had tucked behind his ear gets loose, only half of it staying in the place you left.

Thumb gently rubbing his skin, you push his face away. The messy hair alongside the piercings made him resemble a delinquent. If it wasn't for his awestruck expression, Jade would look quite intimidating. 

"There you go! You look great!"

A second passes where he just stares at you, as if taking this moment in and commiting it to memory, before there's a signature smile adorning his face.

"I trust you did a good job then."

"Nah, you already did before, I just tweaked with a few things here and there."

The amused huff of breath he lets out warms your fingertip. You feel your cheeks getting hotter. 

"I see. In this case, thank you for your assistance. Hopefully Azul will be able to appreciate this new look as much as you do."

Imagining Azul's reaction to his usual put together employee going to work with such a carefree look makes you chuckle.

"I have no doubt that he'll love it. Not as much as I do, but close enough."

"That's a relief, seeing as I have to go now in order to not get late." 

He gets up again and extends his hand to you. You take it, letting him help pulling you up to your feet, standing so close you're pressed against his chest. You can feel his hum resonate through it. Your arms embrace his torso to keep you balanced.

Before you can make a comment, his hand holds your chin, mirroring the position you were in minutes ago, while his other tousles your hair.

"I enjoyed our time together, it's truly too bad it had to be cut short. Let's meet up another time for you to look at the other piercings, yes? There are quite a lot of them, after all."

"I'd like that." You close your eyes to enjoy his touch, leaning into it.

"I'm sure you do." Jade's teasing actions turn softer as he starts to stroke your hair affectionately. "I'll look forward to our next meeting, prefect." 

His tone makes you open your eyes to peek at him. It sounds far too tender, far too sincere. His smile betrays nothing of his thoughts, but you know he said the truth. 

"Me too. Make sure to prepare a special activity for the club meeting since you'll have a special guest!"

"I'll do my best to keep you entertained, don't you worry. I'm sure you'll enjoy what I have planned."

"You sure know how to make someone curious." You tease, hoping he'd give you a hint at what he had planned, but no luck.

"I'm afraid you'll have to wait and see."

You sigh exaggeratedly. "That I'll do." 

"I promise it'll be worth the antecipation. Now, I truly must get going." 

Leaning down while his hand combs your hair backwards, his lips leave a fleeting touch on your forehead, an almost kiss that leaves you wanting more.

"Until we meet again, dear."

With that, he leaves the room in quick strides, leaving you alone to process what happened. Your hands shoot up to your forehead as you splutter, trying to get your thoughts in order. 

Just what was that?

Sighing, you decide you'll have to wait until the mountain lovers club meeting to confront him. It's shaping up to be quite an eventful day and you can feel your excitement bubbling up.

Jade sure knew how to keep someone on their toes.

Glancing one last time at the nightstand, the light catching on his scales earring laying there innocently, you leave to go to your dorm.

Your thoughts turn to the mental picture of Jade, flushed face and blown pupils, messy hair and piercings on his ear. Involuntarily, your lips shape into a giddy smile. 

There was a jewellery shop at the island's city, right? Maybe you'd take a look at which piercings they had next time you go run errands.

BONUS SCENE!

"Azul! Jade's here!" Floyd's excited giggle rings out in the otherwise silent office as he opens the door with a bang.

"Finally! I was starting to think he forgot about his shift..." Azul trails off as he takes in the sight before him.

Right next to a smiling Floyd was Jade. His outfit was in perfect condition and his posture was as formal as always. Still, Azul couldn't stop staring at the different hairstyle and piercings he was using.

There was a time when they were first years and very new to living on land in which Jade decided to experiment with his appearence. He got a lot of piercings and cut his hair in what could be known as a "punk hairstyle", contrasting terribly with his buttlerly personality. He seemed to find it very amusing, but after getting in trouble with the teachers for breaking the dress code and getting bored of the usual reactions he'd get from the other students, he decided to take them off and let his hair grow, going back to his usual look.

So it was quite a shock to see them making a comeback, although in a much tamer way than how he used to be.

"What... what has brought this back?" Truly, Azul thought he'd gotten used to the twin's antics by now and couldn't be surprised anymore, but they always found a way of surpassing expectations. 

"Yeah, I wanna know too! When I asked you to put them back you just ignored me." Floyd pouts, crossing his arms and slouching dejectedly.

"It's a long story, but it started when the prefect and I were studying in my room..."

"Wait, you know what? You can stop right there, I don't want to know. Please just get to work." Azul sighs, massaging his temples.

Whenever Ramshackle's prefect was involved, there surely was some crazy story following, and they were already behind schedule as it was.

"Of course, as you wish." Jade agrees with his usual polite smile, but no one in the room was fooled by it. They both knew he was extremely amused by their curiosity. 

"Awn, I wanted to know." Floyd complains, whining. 

"Perhaps I'll tell you another time. Right now, let's get to work, shall we?"

With a groaning Floyd in town, Jade walks out of the door as if nothing was amiss. Azul simply accepts that he'll have to deal with this new development and decides to have a talk with the prefect later. Not that it would change much of anything. When Jade had his mind set on something, he didn't stop until he was satisfied, and for some reason or other he seemed to be interested in experimenting again.

The Octavinelle dorm leader could only wonder what had caused this sudden interest.

Masterlist

[monkey-li]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: duckverse, DuckTales, Disney Duck Universe, Disney Ducks (Comics), Dimeshipping - Fandom Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Scrooge McDuck/Magica de Spell, Dimeshipping, Scrooge McDuck & Magica De Spell Characters: Scrooge McDuck, Magica de Spell, Donald Duck Additional Tags: Dimeshipping - Freeform Summary:

Who knows what he really desires deep in his heart? Magica finds out...

The mentioned story about the comet is this one:  "Comet Get It!"

The one where the Moonquarz comes from is this (MUST read for Dimeshippers!):  "Zio Paperone, Amelia & il patto della luna"

I translated it into english here:

Also see my Dimeshipping Masterpost in general here ^0^:

And if you say that Magica wouldn’t be soft and/or crying like this infront of Scrooge see this ^0^:

Enough said ^0^

Special thanks to @shewhowantsmouseears and @xmysticalnightxx for endless inspiration and support ♥♥♥

Also to @viviane-lefay cause you are there ♥♥♥

You can also read the story directly here, under the cut!

Magica woke up with a shock and didn't know where she was. That was not her hut on Vesuvius. The bed was far too big and comfortable. The whole room was too luxurious. Slightly panicked, she rose up in bed and looked around in the half dark. The clock on the bedside table indicated five o'clock in the morning. Her heart pounded like wild, where was she? Suddenly something moved beside her. She wasn't alone in bed?

"Magica? Whats wrong, beloved?"

Scrooge McDuck. She was in bed with Scrooge McDuck. He called her Beloved and oh my God, was he naked? Wait, was SHE naked? With a terrified outcry she hid under the blanket. Why, why was she in bed with Scrooge? Obviously in his room, in his Manor?

"Hey..." His voice sounded so infinitely tender as he bent slightly over her. He gently stroked her face with his hands, probably to calm her down, but her mind couldn't handle the situation. "Did you had a nightmare?" He continued to stroke her hair soothingly.

It felt...good, if she was honest, everything about this situation.

 But...  why was she in it?

 "Scrooge?" She asked carefully. Who knew if he was real or not?

"Of course it's me..." How could his voice sound like this when he was talking to HER? So full of... Love?

He leaned over her to turn on the bedside lamp, then he looked into her eyes that it made her dizzy. Had his eyes always been so deep and warm? A shiver ran down her back and her heart kept beating wildly, but now less because of panic and more because of... Him!

She was still so perplexed that she could hardly move, so she didn't fight back when he lay down so carefully that his elbows were supported next to her head, his body now sat very gently on hers. There was nothing sexual in that touch, it was more like a hug. He wanted to protect her.

"It's all good, I am with you..."

His face approached hers, did he want to...?

Awakening from her rigidity she turned her head to the side to avoid him, her face had turned red in the meantime. But she watched him from the corner of her eye. Shortly he looked... hurt? But then that soft glance came back into his eyes.

"It's all right, you know, I only touch you if it's all right with you. Was it a bad nightmare? You're all pale. Do you want to tell me about it?"

Talking, yeah, maybe it helped explain what was going on. He thought she had had a nightmare anyway, so it wouldn't seem strange to him if she sounded confused.

"I... I'm not sure, I have the feeling... well, why am I lying in bed with you? I mean... we, we are... Enemies... right?" His eyes widened briefly surprised, but then something like understanding scurried over his face. He smiled at her so tenderly that she couldn't turn her gaze away from him.

In the light she could now also see his face and upper body properly. He was really naked and.... he looked so good. She had to swallow, she became terribly aware that only a thin blanket lay between him and her, she could feel his warmth. She suddenly had the desire to put her arms around him to draw him closer.

"Did you dream of the old days? I know, it wasn't that long ago. Your subconscious probably plays tricks on you... that's normal, we both were really stubborn until we realized what we really are for each other." He reached under her blanket with his hand and she panicked and stiffened.

On the one hand she was delighted by the thought he would touch her, on the other hand she was afraid of it. Everything was so unreal. But Scrooge just carefully took her hand in his and raised it to his lips to kiss it.

No, what he kissed was...

He turned her hand so she could see her own fingers and there was a beautiful ring she had never seen before. Golden, shaped like a feather, it wrapped around her finger. But the most significant thing was the gem that pranced at the beginning of the feather. A small, polished piece of moon quartz....

The ring was beautiful but... was that...?

Again he kissed the piece of jewellery and then tenderly her hand.

"You see? Everything is fine. It may have been only one month ago, but you are my wife Magica, nothing will change that, unless you decide not to want to be at my side any longer".

Her mind had more and more problems following the whole thing, on the other hand there was a growing desire to just fall into his arms and accept what was happening.

Then he gave her, so to speak, the coup de grace.

 "I love you Magica."

 Slowly, so that she could protest at any time, he put his forehead to hers. "Tell me when you're reassured."

His look.... so intense, piercing, loving. He sighed softly. Not annoyed or exhausted, it was a small sound of contentment.

That it didn't bother him that her heart was beating under him like crazy…

"May I kiss you...?" His question was honest. She felt he would never give in to his desire as long as she didn't make it clear that it was all right. A feeling of comfort and protection flooded her.

Had she really only had a nightmare? Was this the reality?

Was she really in Scrooge McDuck's arms as his lawfully wedded wife?

 She had never felt such a wave of happiness that overcame her before, tears rose into her eyes.

 Immediately his facial expression changed to concern. Again he stroked her hair soothingly. "Sssshhht, don't cry, my love..." Now he sat up in bed and pulled her up with him into his arms.

The blanket slipped so that now their bare upper bodies lay against each other. But his touch was still nothing but tender and protective. If he desired her, he succeeded in suppressing this for the benefit of his care.

His hands stroked tenderly over her back and he swayed her in his arms. Carefully he kissed her temples and forehead. "I'm sorry that you had such a terrible nightmare..." He backed away from her a little, wiped the tears from her face and looked at her seriously.

"Do you want to sleep alone? Please, if you feel oppressed by me right now, you only have to say one word. Even if..." He had to swallow a little to say those words. "Even if you should have doubts about our connection... I love you Magica, I really love you".

His look reflected his honesty, Scrooge McDuck was always honest and stood by his word. "That's why the most important thing for me is that you are happy, even if it means... without me...I just want you to know that you can talk to me about all insecurities!"

The thought that he could leave her alone scared her. "No!" She called out a little too loud. "Please, don't leave me alone, don't let go of me." She pressed herself tightly against his warm body and her arms naturally wrapped around his neck.

Immediately, the situation had something more erotic about it but... In Circes name, never before had she felt as comfortable as she did now.

"When I woke up I was firmly convinced we were still enemies, I didn't even know where I was at first. She whispered into his ear while he continued to sway her tenderly in his arms. "But that's over, it's really over I..."

She laughed briefly because she could not suppress the joy that took possession of her. "I am your wife..." She looked deep into his eyes where she found nothing but affection.

"I love you Scrooge..."

 With that words she nestled herself even closer to him, nudged his beak slightly to make him understand what he should do.

His warm smile widened. Lovingly he caressed her beak before catching her lips in a tender kiss.

Magica got dizzy, she didn't expect it to feel so wonderful. A feeling of affection and satisfaction flooded her heart.

Why did all this seem so new to her? As if it were the first time? Or was it just him, was every kiss from him so uniquely breathtaking that it surprised her every time?

She didn't know, and if she was honest, she didn't care. Only one thing was completely clear to her, she wanted more of it.

Quickly the kiss deepened, became more passionate. She greedily absorbed every touch from him.

With one arm he pulled her even closer to him, while he leaned on the bed with the other to slowly lower them both back onto the mattress. The kiss became more and more intimate.

A lustful moan escaped her as they released briefly to take a breath. Embarrassed, her cheeks turned red, she had never made such noises before. But Scrooge just smiled contentedly and kissed her again.

She became infinitely hot, his tenderness felt so good. She cursed her nightmare, never again did she want to go back to being just his enemy and miss these touches, this feeling of being loved and desired by him.

Magica had always been greedy when she wanted something and just at that moment she wanted nothing in the world as much as this man.

"Scrooge please..." Still a little shy, she looked him in the eye. "I want you to..." Why was it so difficult for her to speak? "... to touch me..."

Everywhere, now!

To her astonishment his eyes widened surprised at her words "Really? Are you sure?" Again he stroked her cheeks so lovingly. "I don't want you to force yourself into anything, you were always so insecure because all closeness was so new to you. Even a kiss was foreign..."

His eyes so infinitely understanding and tender. "Please don’t do it only for me, I can wait. I would wait forever for you."

Maybe it was still a nightmare after all.

They had been married for a month and had never...? Was she still quite clear in her head? No wonder she didn't remember anything… There WAS nothing.

 "Was I really that foolish?" Now it was her turn to caress through his sideburns tenderly.

"I'm sorry, you must think I have no faith in you. Forgive me for letting you suffer so long..." She pulled him back to her to kiss him, making sure her soft breasts press onto his upper body.

"Believe me, I want to feel you. Nothing I want at the moment as much as that!"

Scrooges eyes became dark with lust as he understood that she was serious.

 "I love you, Magica McDuck..."

 He repeated before his hands and lips began to explore her body.

Magica McDuck... only the sound of these words caused her to burst into tears again for sheer happiness.

She closed her eyes delighted as his caresses wandered deeper down her body...

 She opened them again when he grabbed her rudely by the shoulder and shook her. What was that about? He had just been so tender. But as soon as she had focused the person in front of her, she screamed in shock.

Roberta sceptically raised an eyebrow at her friend's reaction: "Hey Magica, what happened? You suddenly groaned so much in the trance that I was afraid something had gone wrong." Checking, she placed a hand on Magica's forehead. "Besides, you're all red and hot in the face. Now tell me, how did it feel to finally get the Midas touch?"

For a moment Magica looked confused at her friend Roberta. Why was she suddenly in her hut, where was Scrooge?

But then everything came back to her mind. They had brewed a potion called "Heart's desire" that showed you the fulfillment of what you carrie as your deepest wish within you. It had been for fun, a foretaste of what would happen if she finally managed to trick Scrooge and take the dime.

Instead, the potion had done its job too well and really showed her what she didn't even dare to admit she wished for...

"No..."

She whispered, ignoring her friend's question. Everything had just been in her head. She looked at her hand.

No ring...

 She was overwhelmed by a terrible feeling of emptiness. As if a piece of her heart had simply been ripped from her chest. She felt infinitely miserable, how could she ever live normally again after experiencing what happiness felt like, just to realize that it was an illusion?

She burst into desperate sobbing.

Roberta was surprised and anxiously tried to comfort her friend. What had happened? Before, she had tried the potion herself. And knowing what it would feel like to reach her goal only motivated her to fight for it.

So why was Magica so upset now? It didn't suit her to give up. "Hey, don't cry now. I know it's frustrating to lose against this McDuck again and again. But now you know how great it will be if you win in the end. Take this feeling as motivation! Magica de Spell does not give up all of sudden! You'll get the dime for sure!"

But Magica only cried louder and buried her face in her hands. "I don't want the stupid dime!" She sobbed heartbreakingly.

"Exactly! You will... WHAT?" Now Roberta was completely perplexed. Magica de Spell did NOT want the first dime of Scrooge McDuck. These words just didn't fit into one sentence. At least not in this universe.

"But... why suddenly no more? What...?" But she was interrupted by Magica's desperate cry.

 "I want HIM. I want Scrooge!"

 Then she cried on. Just saying these words showed her how hopeless this wish was. Compared to that, the chance to get the dime was practically secured.

Suddenly, some kind of understanding scurried across Robertas face. "Oh I understand... the potion worked TOO well, right?" Gently she put one hand on her shoulder. "If I'm completely honest, I've been wondering for a long time when you'll finally realize that. But I didn't want it to cause you such pain. What exactly did you see?"

In her voice sounded honest regret. Magica was one of her very best friends and if she had insisted for the rest of her life that it was just the dime she wanted, she would have been by her side. But now, she had finally become aware of her feelings and suffered terribly from them.

Of course, as hard as she tried, even to her it seemed impossible that McDuck could feel anything for Magica. After all she had done to him.

With wet eyes and tears Magica looked at her friend.

„I was his wife…“

Now Roberta also had tears in her eyes: "Oh God, sweetie... I am so sorry... I didn't think you'd suffer from what the potion shows you..."

But then she pulled herself together again. No, that was not the end. With every other person maybe but not with her friend Magica! "You know... it is not proven that it is impossible before you have tried... you never let it stop you that you have countless times, miserably failed to get the dime. And now you just want to stick your head in the sand without at least trying?"

She pulled Magica from the chair she was sadly sitting on and pulled her in front of the mirror. "Look at that. You are Magia de Spell, the witch who doesn't even know how to give up. You and McDuck are so similar in many ways! Besides, he would have to be blind if he didn't see how beautiful you are! That's a good beginning! There are relationships that started with less. Don't just give up now! Fight! I stand behind you, and if necessary also Mim and Hazel. We support you, you are our friend!“

With sad eyes Magica looked up into the mirror and was shocked. Roberta was right, that wasn't like her giving up before she got the mitten. Sure, the illusion she had been shown might be utopian, at least for now. But who knew if Scrooge didn't have a little bit of affection for her? If she fell in love with the man who had stood between her and her magical mission for years, why would it be impossible the other way around?

They were similar, very much so. Even his nephew Donald had thrown this at their heads once. With new courage she turned to her friend. "You are right! Even though it might hurt, I have a better chance of success if I try it than if I give up immediately. And even if it is really impossible for him to feel something for me..."

Her heart contracted painfully as she thought of his soft eyes from the illusion, of his tender touches...

"... then I'd rather hear it from him myself than imagine the worst! I will go to him!"

 And that immediately!

 In record time she had arrived in Duckburg, now she hovered at some height above the money bin to not activate the witch defence and pondered what she should do. Maybe her decision had been a LITTLE too premature? What was she supposed to tell him? Would he let her have her say? That was a stupid idea, a foolish idea that had no chance of success!

 With this realization she landed in front of the money bin, now she was in known territory...

Still, she couldn't prevent her heart from beating like crazy and her cheeks from turning red. After all, this was no ordinary, hopeless attempt...

Shyly she looked up at the camera she knew was already pointed at her. Together with an overdose of garlic probably.

In the money bin, Scrooge was about to scold his nephew, who once again excelled at giving him a headache because of his inability. When his alarm system announced the arrival of Magica de Spell.  He took a quick look at the monitor to see that she was just standing in front of the entrance.

"At least someone here today who still knows how to stimulate my mind." He growled towards his nephew. " Of course they both knew that he basically loved Donald more than anyone else in his family. Maybe that's why he always got his uncles every bad mood.

Donald wondered a little how pleased his uncle seemed about the appearance of the witch. As if he could hardly wait to measure his strength with her. But as soon as Scrooge had looked at her picture properly in the camera, his face was worried. "Something's wrong with her..." He meant more to himself.

Donald looked over his shoulder, but for him the witch looked like always. "What should be?" Scrooge thoughtfully zoomed the picture closer. "She seems... desperately, the last time she came to me with such a face she had accidentally conjured up a comet that would destroy the world..."

Donald laughed. "Don't you think you're exaggerating a little? One could think that you care what's going on with the witch..." His laughter stopped when he saw the look of his uncle. Oh... he really cared...

But still everything could be a trick. "What do you want here witch?" Scrooge spoke brisk into the microphone.

As if that wasn't clear, but decency had to be.

She flinched as his harsh voice resounded over the loudspeaker. He was in a bad mood, great timing Magica...

Calming, she held her hands in the air. "Stay calm, I am unarmed I..." She faltered for a moment, should she really go through with it? But why delay the inevitable? Better she knew immediately where she stood.

"... I just want to talk to you..."

"Obviously...Not a single bit suspect..." Donald meant contemptuously.

"Shut your mouth nephew!" Scrooge interrupted him rough. "You have no idea! There are unspoken rules between us..." He looked into her face again, was mourning to be seen there? "... she tells the truth... Witch safety systems switch off!" On his word all anti magic shields were shut down.

"Come up, I'm in my office. And Magica.... you know the rules, if that's a trap I'll give you a load of garlic that even your ancestors will feel!"

Magica had to smile despite everything, she loved their disputes. The fact that Scroge found her a worthy opponent, filled her with pride and that he let her in without much fuss, only proved what a good heart actually beat in his chest.

In Circe's name she really got it hard...

Thank you..." She barely whispered audibly. Only Scrooge noticed, worried, his forehead wrinkled, what was wrong with her?

Of course they all had to stare as she walked through the building. Everybody was on alert despite the boss's orders, especially his secretary Mrs. Quackfaster, the faithful soul. But the worst moment was when she entered his office and his nephew Donald stood there.

The garlic loaded shotgun pointed at her was expected, but couldn't Scrooge McDuck be found without part of his family for once? She was looked at expectantly by two pairs of eyes. But how could she speak like that?

Impossible...

Scrooge immediately noticed how Magica recoiled when she saw that he was not alone. She could hide it good, but he just knew her too well. He sighed softly and turned to his nephew. "Donald, I believe you still have some work to do today, go!" His nephew stared at him. "I shall leave you alone with the witch? Have you already been bewitched, or what?"

It was nice that he was so worried, but why did you always have to tell him everything twice? "I have already told you that there is no danger and if there is, I am well prepared to defend myself. Go!... Please..."

Donald looked at him with big eyes that he asked instead of commanding was more than rare. He would never understand the dynamic between his uncle and the witch. Whenever he listened to them he had the feeling that the two would live in their very own world and understand each other without words. Very well, he was right, Scrooge knew how to take care of himself... mostly. With a nod he left the office, not without casting a warning glance at Magica.

She couldn't blame him and actually envied Scrooge for his loving family, how much she wanted to be a part of it...

When they were alone, Scrooge lowered his shotgun and put it aside. He instinctively knew when to trust Magica and when not. He looked at her standing silently and insecurely in his office, knowing how much it took her to be here.

"Just tell me one thing, is the world in danger?" Magica shook her head. No, only her own.

Scrooge seemed relieved and much more relaxed. "Come with me..." He meant briefly and marched towards the vault, he opened it, let her in and closed the door behind them. This unsettled Magica a bit until he spoke again. "Here we are really undisturbed, whatever you have to say will stay in this vault if you want. No one can hear us here."

His smile was almost as loving as in her vision, her heart was beating faster. Where did he get this charming composure? He sat down on the ledge and told her to do the same. Shyly, with a little distance, she sat next to him. "You are crazy to just let me into your vault, you know that, right?" She mentioned not without smiling.

Scrooge laughed, it wasn't gloating or condescending, no, he just sounded cheerful. "Magica, you are pretty much the only person I know who is not interested in my money. Or do you think I would have let you polish coins as penance here otherwise?"

Without looking at her, he put his hand on hers, which she had placed next to her. "I know when I can trust you and you wouldn't be here if you didn't trust me too... so tell me what's going on. No matter what it is. As I said, what happens in this vault stays in this vault" He winked mischievously at her. He simply had no right at his age to look so charming and young when he was like that.

Without wanting it she started to cry.

Immediately his facial expression changed to concern. He didn't expect that. He slipped closer to her and after a short hesitation he put his arm around her. "Has something bad happened? With Ratface, or your family?" She shook her head again. "The witch council?" Again, just shaking her head, although that might become a problem if the council found out what her feelings were like.

Now Scrooge was at his wits end, what else could have happened, that a strong woman like Magica burst into tears in front of her arch-enemy? Whatever it was, it seemed to affect her pretty hard personally. Taking all his courage together, he moved even closer and gently embraced her. His hands stroked tenderly over her back and he swayed her in his arms.

"It's all good, I am with you..."

He whispered into her ear in a soothing manner. Magica had the feeling her heart would explode in her chest so fast it was beating now. This gesture, these words... it was exactly like in her vision. That only made her sob harder.

But she took the opportunity to cuddle into his strong arms. Who knew if he would ever allow that again if she confessed to him what she...

Then she felt him kissing her forehead as light as a feather. These parallels made her desperate. She never wanted to leave this embrace and yet...

She knew she owed it to him, she was not allowed to take advantage of his kindness to satisfy her longing for him, without him knowing what he triggered in her.

That was unfair.

"Please Magica, talk to me, we're alone here, no one will judge you, no one will hurt you..."

She just couldn't stand his tender words anymore, which he only said because he didn't know what was in her heart.

"No one but you!"

She called desperately and pushed him away to hide her face in her hands. Her whole body was shaken by her sobbing. It hurt Scrooge so much to see her like that, he wanted to help her. If only she would understand what she meant to him... if only she would be interested in what was in his heart...

How could she assume that he would hurt her now of all times? She had already inflicted so much suffering on him and his family, had that ever disturbed him? Had he ever seen more than another adventure in it? No, so what had happened so badly that she thought he would despise her now of all times?

"You can't be serious." He began hesitantly. "You came here to talk to me. Because you instinctively know how much we resemble each other, that only I can understand you." He closed the gap between them again and gently laid his hands on her shoulder until she looked him in the eye. Such fear was reflected in them.

"Please..." He whispered once more.

Something in Magica broke. Every second she stretched it, would only make it worse.

 "I love you!"

 She sobbed out. "I love you so much..."

She jumped on her feet. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry that I feel that way." She couldn't stop crying. "I know you hate me. I know I'm ruining everything, but I just can't undo it anymore."

With all the courage she could muster, she looked him in the eye. He just stared at her stunned, of course, he had to think she was completely crazy.

"As soon as I realized what I felt for you, I couldn't think of anything else..." Again she hid her face, she was afraid to look at him again...

"Forgive me... please forgive me..." She repeated it again and again between sobs.

Suddenly she felt her hands being grasped and slowly pulled away from her face. Stubbornly she kept her eyes shut, she wasn't brave enough to see his contempt.

"Please open your eyes, look at me Magica..." Scrooge's voice sounded very soft.

She hesitantly complied with his request and looked directly into his beautiful eyes, which looked at her tenderly. Eyes exactly like in her vision, how cruel it was to be so close to her wish but to know that he only tried to be a gentleman about this. Because he just had to be such a damned, loving fool under his hard shell...

God how much she loved him.

Scrooge took a deep breath. It was visibly difficult for him to choose the next words. He kept holding her hands in his. "Magica, I swear, if this is a trick of yours, I will never speak to you again..." He waited briefly to give her the chance to admit such betrayal, because he knew the prospect of never being able to compete with him again would make her do it. But she only looked at him with big, wet eyes. Fearful and insecure. No, she was really serious about it...

He felt his cheeks turning red and his heart beating faster. Magica de Spell had feelings for him? Could that really be true?

A laugh came out of his chest and his eyes filled with tears as well. All of a sudden he pulled her firmly into his arms and buried his beak in her soft neck feathers. A suppressed moaning could be heard from her, which made him realize how intimate this gesture had been.

He looked at her again with a bright red head. "I'm sorry... I didn't wanted..." He lost himself completely in her beautiful, deep black eyes and suddenly all nervousness had disappeared.

"I love you Magica..." He finally said very gently. "I have been undyingly in love with you for many years."

She shook her head wildly "I know that, you don't have to apologize for the fact that you... excuse me, WHAT?“

Finally she looked up and into his eyes which were still loving, although a little amused, directed at her.

"You don't!" She meant with utter conviction. That was out of the question, but his tender smile remained stubborn in his face. "Are you making fun of me?" She asked unusually meekly with an injured voice, but looked him firmly in the eyes to see the lie in them.

She found none.

She couldn't help but have tears in her eyes again.

Soothingly he closed his arms around her and kissed her forehead. "I would never have dreamed myself that these feelings had a chance. I had already come to terms with the fact that I would always be your enemy... How... I mean, what made you realize it wasn't like that?"

Very slowly Magica understood that what was happening here was the reality, that she wouldn't wake up every moment. Carefully she put her arms around his neck and enjoyed looking into his eyes. When she was so close to him, she felt that his heart was beating as fast as hers.

Embarrassed, she began to tell him about the potion... but she couldn't get any further than to the point with the ring when he suddenly interrupted her. He grabbed her by the upper arms and pushed her so far away from himself that he could see her properly.

"What are you saying?"

It gave her a sting that he reacted so panically that she had dreamed of being his wife. Even though she understood that it was pretty much, all at once. But when she looked at him she noticed that there was nothing pejorative in his face but only bare astonishment. With his eyes wide open in amazement he looked at her for a while, pondering. Finally, he let go of her completely.

Immediately she became cold. She didn't want him to turn away from her now, wanted to lie further in his arms. Uncertainly she wrapped her own arms around herself and watched him pull something out of the inside pocket of his jacket. With a faltering voice he held the object out to her.

"Do you mean… this one?"

She was wrong. That HAD to be a dream. Because Scrooge held exactly the same ring in his hands that she had worn in her illusion. But... that was impossible. She reached out a trembling hand for the piece of jewellery, but did not dare to touch it for fear everything would vanish into thin air. "Yes, that... thats it... but how can you..."

She looked Scrooge in the eye, so many questions in her face but none wanted to get over her lips.

"Because I had it made... for me I have exactly the same, I always carry them in my pocket, close to my heart ..." Now he definitely seemed more embarrassed than she. "I knew of course, or at least I thought so, that my feelings for you would never be reciprocated, but still...

After our adventure on the Moonquarz Island, I had pieces of the quartz worked into the rings. I own the rings themselfs even longer... I thought you would like them, shaped like a raven's feather... just in case the possibility would arise to..."

It was visibly unpleasant for him to talk so openly about it. He had felt so silly to have let rings made for a woman who abhorred him, to whom he could never confess what he felt.

But here he stood now…

"Magic is really not to be underestimated if it even knew about these rings and showed them to you in your illusion..."

Shyly he looked into her eyes, shining with wonder. "Would you like to wear it?"

Then he noticed how that sound. "That doesn't mean that it must have the same meaning from your vision!" He quickly made clear. "Not immediately that is..."

He added a little bit hopeful. "Only, as a sign of the bond between us..."

 With this promising smile even Glomgold would have accepted the ring and Magica was already floating on cloud nine anyway. This time her new tears only reflected the extent of her joy. Laughing, she fell around his neck and he lifted her into his arms and rotated with her in a circle of joy, as if she didn't weigh the slightest bit.

He was ridiculously strong. But it was clear to both that only such strong arms as his could tame a fire like the one that burned in Magica.

Now they stood opposite each other, forehead to forehead and looked at each other happily for a while. Scrooge's heartbeat drummed uncontrollably in his chest. He still couldn't believe that his feelings were returned and she was so intoxicatingly beautiful that it made him dizzy at her sight.

Carefully he leaned forward and gently caressed her beak, looking into her eyes to see if she resisted. But Magica returned the tender touch and slowly her eyelids closed.

With a contented sigh he caught her lips in a tender kiss...

 Frightened Magica opened her eyes again and withdrew from him.

Not enough to release the embrace but to interrupt the contact of their lips. Immediately Scrooge had an apologetic look in his eyes. "That was too fast, I'm sorry Magica I thought you were okay with me kissing you..."

Honestly worried, he looked at her. But she shook her head quickly, her cheeks were so hot that it almost hurt. Soothingly she snuggled herself closer to him again and put her head to his chest. It calmed her to feel his heart beating as fast as hers.

"No, thats not it Scrooge. It was just... I thought it would feel like in my illusion..." Embarrassed, she buried her head in his jacket before she could look at him again. Astonished, she saw that Scrooge looked distressed.

"Oh… I see... I... I'm sorry if it wasn't that good..." He looked so damn cute when he was so embarrassed. "I fear... I have no special experience in that field..."

Wait, what did he say? Quickly she caressed reassuringly through the soft feathers of his sideburns and lovingly rubbed her beak against his. "No, Scroogie, I didn't mean that, but..."

This time, she kissed him. Longer and deeper than before.

"...but that it felt so much more beautiful, so much more intense, that it chased a shiver through my whole body...“ She looked down.

„That scared me a bit because, you know, I don't have ANY experience in it yet... it is new for me to be touched so tenderly. Please forgive me if I behave silly, I have to get used to the fact that the person I love, loves me back and wants to touch me..."

It was so embarrassing for her to have to admit that in front of him. There she lived for infinitely many years and was uptight like an old door...

In the meantime Scrooge's sorrow had completely disappeared from his face and in its place lay a tender love.

"Then together we will learn to understand, beloved... and I will never touch you if you don't want it. I promise you that!" Gently his arms closed around her, while Magica sank into them with a contented sigh. He had called her, Beloved. She could die happily.

 At some point they had to leave the undisturbed silence of his vault. Hand in hand they walked out of his office, the rings proudly on their fingers. For people who knew him well, like Mrs. Quackfaster, one look from him was enough and she understood. Smiling, she looked after the couple, her heart filled with joy to finally see her boss happy. She had been one of the few who had known about the rings. The rest of the staff would have to wait for an explanation.

Later, as they stood in front of his front door, still hand in hand, Magica shyly spoke.

"How will you explain this to your family?" She asked, not without fear in her voice. But Scrooge only smiled at her tenderly.

"I don't have to explain anything, it's my family. They will understand..."

He raised her hand to his lips and kissed the ring on her finger.

 "And you, are now a part of it!"

[gripefroot]

Scene You Later

Bucky’s scream echoed through at least three floors of Avengers Tower. 

Had he known it elicited only chuckles and sniggers from his so-called friends lounging around elsewhere, his embarrassment would have been a thousand times more burning - or is that the pain throbbing in his ear? But regardless, his teary-eyed sniffles are contained behind the closed door of his girlfriend’s bathroom, where her eyes glint with glee as she wipes a courtesy antiseptic wipe around the new piercing, despite there being no chance whatsoever of Bucky getting an infection. 

“It’s been a while since I’ve done this,” 28 says with a fond pat of his cheek, turning away to refill the piercing gun lying on the bathroom counter - and it gives him a deeper shudder than any rifle or shotgun. “Thank you for letting me practice on you.”  

“Did I have a choice?” Bucky's eyes are still watering, and his voice comes out more strained and cracking than he’d like - it’s a good thing he’d been able to glower Sam and 41 away from watching at the door before this had started.  

“Sure!” A beaming smile as she turns, wielding that gun in a way that would make him laugh any other day, but as the nerves continue to cry with pain - this is as bad as a gunshot! - he just cringes, and clenches his fingers into fists on his knees. And though the sight of her pretty, though mildly terrifying face, would lend some comfort - Bucky squeezes his eyes shut, too, and holds his breath as he feels the piercing gun align with the next marked position in the top cartilage of his ear.  

Thunk.  

“Ahhh!” 

She’s trying to be sympathetic - really, she is - he can see the tremoring sympathy in her eyes through blinked back tears. But he can hear her suppressed snicker, too, as she quickly whisks a tissue towards him, which he takes to dab at his watering eyes.  

“I’d rather be stabbed,” Bucky says woefully.  

“Technically, you are being stabbed,” 28 chirps. “But on purpose.”  

“Maybe that’s what makes it worse.”  

“We can study that sometime. I’m sure that’s the scientific data Stark would love to see.”  

Bucky wants to laugh. Really, he does - he even tries, but the noise strangles in his throat before he blows his nose, and lobs the crumbled tissue right into the garbage can. A clean shot. But he’s too miserable to gloat. His ears feel as though they’re on fire.  

“Last one,” 28 tells him, and her smile is a little rueful. “Won’t be so bad. Just in the lobe.”  

No, it’s not so bad. He doesn’t yell. Just gritted teeth and a grunt, and a scowl at the shining silver stud, and she hums happily to herself as she cleans that with a smile, and backs up.  

“They look good,” she muses. “Turn towards me.” 

He does. Tries to smile, but grimaces.  

“It’s not enough,” she decides, nose wrinkled and brows knitted. Arms crossed as she studies him - and he studies her back, for distraction - those glowingly bare legs from a pair of shorts, a slip of black lace against her shoulders peeping from a loose shirt. He forgets the pain.  

“Are we sure these are going to heal?” Bucky asks.  

“Steve’s did, a few years back,” 28 says brusquely. “Took less than a day, if I remember correctly.” 

“Really? How many did he get?”  

She shrugs, indicating a forgotten number. “We did his nipples. That was fun.”  

“You did what - ” 

“But don’t worry.” A winning, feral smile. “That’s not for you. Not tonight, anyway. Yours will be covered. Mostly.”  

A small comfort - especially when she turns to rummage through a small box of piercings in various sizes. Some are genuinely frightening, though Bucky isn’t about to voice that fear. Though he does gulp, when she picks out two matching studs, and starts to put one in the gun.  

“How bad is it going to be?” he asks in a squeak.  

“Bad. Gird up your loins, buddy.”  

Her gentle fingers using a pen to mark two even spaces beneath his bottom lip isn’t so bad. Feels good, actually. But he knows what’s coming, and so he swallows hard. No more shouting, Barnes. This is nothing compared to what you’ve been through, you coward. No shouting. No -  

“Ughhh!”  

Not a shout. Just a groan that echoes in the bathroom, and he tastes blood.  

“One more,” 28 tells him bracingly, and he peeps open a glaring eye to see her smile. “One more, and we’re done for tonight.” 

“For tonight?”  

“Just one more!”  

Bucky hopes, in his heart of hearts, that Sam hadn’t suggested to the others that they listen at the door.  

“Done,” 28 announces, and he breathes through his mouth as she starts to clean up the mess on the counter. “Hopefully they’ll heal enough to look like they’ve been there a while by the weekend. And tomorrow we can do your tattoos and hair!” 

“My hair?” Bucky chokes. “Tattoos? Babe! What kind of mission is this?”  

“A sensitive one.” But she’s grinning over her shoulder, eyes raking over his face and lingering on his new...holes. “And you’re the only one that can take the lead. Steve’s done the grunge undercover before, but I’m telling you - it was not good.”  

“I’m not sure if that’s very complimentary,” he grumbles. Then stands, blood rushing to his head, and he bites his tongue as he folds up the chair to put away.  

“You’ll do great,” 28 promises, and arms full of things to take back to the underground costuming department, her hip bumps into his back end, and he forgets the pain again as the jolt brushes warmly against him through the thin fabric of his gym shorts. Now that the threat is over (for now) he can remember the sultry promise she’d whispered in his ear after the team meeting that morning, after he’d been assigned to this mission with only Agent 41 as backup (and maybe that’s part of his apprehension) - and he has a feeling that promise might be coming to pass sooner rather than later. 

Yes, he can get over the stinging pain of his new ear and lip decorations. He wonders if the lip piercings will affect...ah, his performance in certain activities.  

“I’ll be back.” And the door is left swung open as she wanders for the elevator, humming her song.  

Be back. She’ll be back. Bucky stares after her for a minute more, and then rushes down the hall to put the folding chair away in a well-known (and thoroughly desecrated) storage closet. He’s even cheery enough to whistle, on his way, thinking of lighting some candles and maybe a spray of that cologne she likes so much… 

But his whistling falls flat, and his tongue finds the inside stud of the piercings below his lips. With a grimace he shoulders the door shut, and brings up his fingers to touch the cool metal.  

He can already imagine Sam’s laughing face. Now you’re even more tin, Tin-man!  

To distract himself, he brushes his teeth (gingerly), and without looking in the mirror. Then finds the few candles 28 keeps in a dresser drawer to spread out and light to flicker gently around the room. She’s still not back by then, so Bucky doffs his shirt to throw into the laundry for good measure. Stretching out on the bed, he stifles a yawn, weaving his hands behind his head. Then he flops onto his side to face the door, hoping he looks as seductive as she does when she lays out like this.  

A knock at the door crawls pleasantly over his skin - wondering why she’s bothering with this unnecessary formality, Bucky calls out a warm, “Come in!” before threading his fingers through the loose ends of his hair in some attempt at casual sexiness, like he’s seen movie stars do.  

But it’s not 28 that peeks through the door, and his gut plummets to his feet.  

“Whee!” Sam is howling, his wrist snaking through the crack, phone in hand, and Bucky’s heart nearly stops in horror as he hears a tell-tale click! Beneath Sam’s face is 41, staring with her eyes wide and mouth open, and then Clint in the lowest position of this totem from hell, looking gleeful in a way that Bucky knows he’s going to have his work cut out for him regaining his reputation.  

“Get out!” he shouts, but it’s too little too late. The damage is done, and the door already snapped shut as the pillow he launches from the bed bounces harmlessly off the wall, a sad trophy of his indignity. Unfortunately the enormous scowl on his face has pulled painfully against the new piercings, and his mouth throbs - tenderly he touches them again as he falls back against the pillows, all hope of sexiness gone.  

It’s to that pathetic scene 28 returns: sliding through the door with a whiff of perfume, and after locking the door she pauses to pick up the fallen pillow, fluffing it with a solid punch.  

“I brought supplies for tomorrow,” she tells him, and Bucky grunts as the pillow is thrown into his gut. Meanwhile, the sound of boxes and other things being dumped in the bathroom, and how on earth can she still be so happy when he feels so miserable?  

Silhouetted in the candlelight, she draws his attention: arms crossed, that same studying expression that she’d worn earlier - but now it’s softened and sweetly sly, and her lips are twitching.  

“Go on,” he sighs. “Go ahead and laugh.”  

“I can’t laugh at you,” 28 tells him. Maybe a little rueful. “Oh, Buck - you look so miserable!” 

“Sam got a picture,” Bucky admits grudgingly.  

“Oh, dear. Should we hack into his phone tonight to erase it instead of…?” 

That piques his interest. Propping himself on an elbow, a flutter of life in his chest, he stares at his lover with growing eagerness. “You know...” he drawls at last, and he feels a grin coming on. “Bet we have time for both.”  

“What should we do first?” 28 asks, and her question is coy and taunting.  

“Hmm,”  Bucky pretends to think. “Sam could save it or send it before we get to it.” 

“True.”  

“But…is he really as important as this?” Waggling fingers between them, with a suggestive wiggle of his brows. 28 bursts out laughing, and the sound is music, and her movements are music, too, as she saunters over with those eyes reflecting the light of a dozen candles.  

“Glad you think we’re important,” she coos, and leans over like a shadow. But her eyes are on his lips, and then her thumb is there, tracing the curve - and her eyes narrow. “I wonder what it’ll be like to kiss you.” 

“Only one way to find out. C’mere, babe - let me pay you back for the stand-up job you did on my face, crazy girl.” 

~

All the buoyant happiness and confidence, on lend from his other half, disappear within ten minutes of the mission.  

It’s the itchy fishnet sleeves of his shirt - if it can even be called that - and the sweltering, too-tight strain of his leather pants. It’s the stink of perfumes and bodies and alcohol and fried food. It’s the music playing so loud and with bass so deep that Bucky’s sure his bones are going to be rattled out of his body. And it’s not knowing the reflection he catches sight of above the bar - teal hair and thick eyeliner, absurd clothes, but at least his scowl is in character - or so 28 had said, laughing her pretty head off before he’d stalked out of the Tower.  

At least 41 is having the time of her life. Then again, with her cotton-candy-swirl hair and bouncing along to the music on the dancefloor, eyes closed in bliss despite that she’s likely deaf already - she seems to be fitting in perfectly.  

“Target just entered the building,” says a voice in his ear - Bucky isn’t sure he’d heard right at first - so he taps the comm device for clarification, and with a sigh Clint says, more loudly, “The target, Barnes! Your four o’clock. Get her.”  

Get her, Bucky grumbles to himself, but swivels on his barstool to glare out moodily (but casually!) in the direction he can see the target approaching the bar - red and black hair, heels that look like they could kill someone (and according to reports, they have), and a nose ring that reminds him of a Spanish bull. Go on and get her, Barnes. I’ll just stay out here in the Quinjet with my ears still in working order and tell you what to do. Hey, don’t go through a metal detector! 

And just his luck - the target sits in the stool next to him, with an interested once-over, and trying not to sigh aloud, Bucky turns back, casting her a smile as sly as he can manage.  

She returns the smile with another appraising flicker of the eyes, and then looks away to wave over the bartender.  

“Can I get you something, Beast Boy?” 

“Huh?” 

“Something to drink.” Then to the bartender, more loudly to be heard over the pulsing music, “Cosmo.” And the target’s eyes go back to Bucky, waiting.  

“Uh, whiskey, neat.”  

The bartender nods, and goes.  

“Is that how you picked up 28?” Clint asks in Bucky’s ear, and his hair stands on end as he licks his lips, the target turning slightly to face him with a smile that radiates ferality, but not in a good way. “Dude. I thought she had higher standards than that.” 

Bucky files away a determination to give Clint a good, old-fashioned bloody nose. But later.  

“I saw the way you were looking at me.” The target leans close, ruby-red lips too close to his ear for comfort - oh, that’s his personal space - but he doesn’t recoil, and forces himself to smile back.  

“Didn’t realize I was being so obvious,” he rasps back.  

“Oh, you were.” Her eyes glitter. They look black, but not a cozy black. And not the kind of glitter that he knows from you - this woman is all the lethality that 28 has, but all wrong. Out of time. Crooked. Dark. Corrupt.  

“Wow, she’s playing you like a fiddle,” Clint observes. “Let her keep playing. The FBI is on their way.”  

Idly Bucky wonders if 41 had even noticed the target. He doubts it. 

Scarlet-painted fingernails curl over his knee. He doesn’t flinch, but it’s a close call. Instead lets his own gaze drift over the target’s face (without shuddering, because her rap sheet is easy to recall when he’s within arms-reach), and her lips curl into a deeper, more frightening smile.  

“Here are your drinks!” chirps a voice.  

Bucky nearly falls out of his chair, vice-like grip on his knee or no. Because sliding two drinks on black napkins across the bar, absolutely beaming with plum-purple lipstick and a nose ring - is the only woman he wants to let touch him.  

The target slides a bill to 28, who takes it with a wink and a snap of bubble gum before disappearing around another bartender.  

“So,” the target says, and lifts her drink to her lips for a sip, and Bucky remembers that he has a whiskey. “A bright fella like you got a name?”

“Tom,” Bucky tells her.  

“Tom.” Her eyebrow quirks. “I like it.”  

“Thanks, it’s from my mom.”  

“You’ve been spending too much time with 28,” Clint complains. “Target’s not gonna take you seriously if you keep - ” 

“My name is Nova,” the target leans close again, with fruity breath. “My daddy gave it to me.”  

Bucky hears Clint gagging, and wishes he could do the same.  

“He’s over there,” she continues, nodding her head towards the door - Bucky turns, a knot of apprehension in his stomach, to see a massive, balding man staring stonily in their direction. As soon as he sees he has Bucky’s attention, he lifts the corner of his blazer to give a peek of a gun holster.  

Just one gun? He’d laugh if he could feel a shred of humor in the circumstances. 

“He won’t hurt you,” Nova purrs, and Bucky shivers - but thankfully, she mistakes his revulsion for interest. “Let me go to the little girls’ room for a minute, and I’ll take you home. I want to play.”  

He manages to nod, sipping his whiskey but his throat is already dry - and some instinct in his head is screaming at the top of its lungs: Get out of there!  

“ETA ten minutes,” Clint reports, as Nova winds her way through the crowd. Bucky doesn’t miss that she appraises several other clubbers - it’s a wonder that he’d gotten her attention, really.  

“Not soon enough,” Bucky grunts for Clint’s benefit.  

“Tough night?”  

Oh, that’s a pretty sound - and a welcome one. Tension dissipates from his shoulders as he hunches over the bar, catching sight of 28, just a step away, cleaning out glasses with pursed lips and laugh lines. But her gaze is tinged with sympathy, at least. And what is she wearing - more fishnets? A choker necklace? And a violently-violet wig that suits her better than he would have expected... 

“It’ll be over soon,” Bucky sighs. “Who let you come here, anyway?” 

“Steve and I had a chat,” she smiles, and sets a clean glass back in a neat row behind the bar. “He felt sorry for you. I was bored. We struck a deal.” 

“Deal?” 

“I come to keep an eye on you and Tiny Dancer,” 28 nods towards 41, but appears more amused by that situation than anything. “And...Steve gets to take all four of us on a run tomorrow morning.” 

“What!” Clint’s outburst over the comm makes it squeal, and Bucky flinches at the noise. “Why am I part of the deal?” 

“Because you, Robin Hood, have been watching 41 instead of the exits,” 28 tells him sweetly, tilting her head to address him in her own comm device. “The FBI won’t be getting in here alive.” 

Bucky’s stomach sinks. And he glances over towards the bathrooms - no sign of Nova. No sign of - of her daddy, either. He cringes.  

“But,” 28 adds, with a bright smile, and the next time she leans over to pick up a glass Bucky can see - there’s a fake tattoo beneath that choker necklace. Far below. Wait, is she just wearing a bra -  

Temptress, the tattoo says in bold script. How apt.  

“I will be heading out for the pregame,” she tells them. “As soon as your girlfriend is back from the potty. Just be aware, in case I don’t come back alive.” 

“I think it would take more than a couple backdoor thugs to take you out,” Clint says dully. 

“Why thank you, Clint, that’s very sweet of you.”  

“Five minutes ‘til the Feds show.”  

“And here’s our main star now,” 28 says brightly. “Wish me luck, fellas.”  

Bucky tries not to watch her go - drags his eyes back to the nefarious Nova, instead, but the retreating back of his actual girlfriend, and the love of his life, is like a magnet. But, because he wants to go home, he forces himself to play the part, and doesn’t shiver too badly when Nova wraps herself around him upon return with a grin that frightens him.  

“Wanna dance first?” Her breath is hot in his ear, fingernails raking dangerously across the back of his neck beneath his teal hair, and he swallows. 

“Yeah. Definitely.” 

That’ll give 28 time to clear the exit, at least... 

As bad as forced flirting at the bar had been, dancing is worse. Evidently Nova is quite the handsy type, as Bucky suppresses his every instinct to run away to help 28 with her objective - and he can smell alcohol on the target’s breath, and how does she do anything with fingernails this long? And how is she still interested in him after beholding firsthand how he can’t even move his hips to the music correctly, as Clint gleefully points out (multiple times) over the comm. At least, that’s what he thinks Clint said - with the music thumping, it’s hard to be sure.  

“Clear!” comes 28’s panting voice, not nearly as soon as Bucky would have liked. “FBI just turned up, too. Wanna bring her out, Buck?”

Bucky leans forward with as sultry a smile as he can manage, and half-shouts into Nova’s ear, “Let’s head out.”  

“Don’t have to ask me twice.”  

“I hope Bucky isn’t too sad that his date is about to be arrested,” 28 goes on mournfully - probably for Clint’s benefit, as Clint starts to cackle, but Bucky just slings an arm around Nova’s shoulders to steer her towards the back, where he explains to her he has a motorcycle waiting. She seems to like that, with her hand pawing at the front of his chest as she lets him lead.  

“Seems to be plenty of other fish in the sea, as it were,” Clint says, wheezing slightly. “Bucky can just head back inside and find a new date. Did you see the girl in head-to-toe nylon?”  

“I did!” 28 chirps. “I stopped to ask her where she bought it. Very nice lady.”  

Bucky disguises a choke. Past the bar, past the bathrooms - the dingy, rust-colored door to the back alley is quiet, blooming under red lights with smears of paint on the walls. Tries to appear as though he’s enjoying the target’s teeth sinking into his ear, but he’s already planning a long, hot, and soapy shower.  

“Your place or mine?” Nova’s voice cloys in his ear.  

“Um - ” Bucky shoulders through the door, dragging her along by her waist -  

And into a waiting circle of FBI agents, flashing lights, and an unmarked van. Beside the van, Bucky’s happy to see, is the man termed Nova’s so-termed “daddy,” kneeling, cuffed, and bleeding slightly from a head wound. 28 stands smugly above him, arms crossed - and Bucky goes limp, staring at those fishnet stockings and - and - are those garters?  

Nova screeches, but she doesn’t stand a chance. Swarmed with officers, and coming out as tightly cuffed as the other man, and led away (despite that her screaming gets louder and louder) to the van, which is promptly opened, and she’s taken inside.  

“Not bad.”  

Now that’s a saunter Bucky will always love - he smiles at his girlfriend, who beams back before winding her arm through his - a much gentler, much more desired touch, as she leans her head against his shoulder, and the FBI agents start to mill away into their trucks and cars to head out of the alley.  

“I’ll never be the bait again,” Bucky vows.  

“You did good, though.” Eyes peer up at him, reflecting the flashing red and blue, but her smile is all sweet serenity, and he can’t help chortling, just a little bit.  

“We were lucky she took it.”  

“Well, I enjoyed the show,” Clint chimes in. “Now, which of you is going to go back inside and get 41 for me? She’s about to jump into a kiddie pool of glow stick juice.” 

[moonlight-escapade]

Until it’s Gone (Loki Imagine) Pt. 2

So if you haven’t guessed it by the title, Loki is about to go through some serious reevaluating over his priorities & how his actions will affect his life.

I wanted to experiment with Loki’s “bad” side. The reckless side of him that he seems to want to cling to even when his life is finally going in the right direction. The vengefulness that lingers inside of him that holds some kind of incessant need to constantly prove himself & his power.

Hope you enjoy part 2!

LOKI

(Y/N) coughed and moaned in agony when we returned. I had taken her to my mother, who promised to hide her from Odin, and whom shared my anger towards his betrayal towards me. At least I could count on her secrecy and support. “My dear, please, have some more broth.” She curled herself up into a ball under the mountain of covers that seemed to swallow her small frame as my mother and her maids tried to nurse her back to health. I could not forgive Thor for leaving her there. And every shiver that ran through her, every cough that escaped her lips, only intensified my hatred for the God of Thunder. 

“Please (Y/N), you must.” She kept her eyes closed and curled herself into more of a ball than she had been in before. I looked at my mother, silently asking her to leave me with her, alone, and in a moment the room was cleared- none but (Y/N) and I left to it. Her eyes softly opened as I sat next to her on the soft circular bed. Seeing it was me, her eyes widened and she immediately tried to throw herself onto me, but struggled to even lift herself up from under the golden silks surrounding her. “No,” I told her firmly. The expression on her face then made me feel like the greatest piece of scum in the Nine Realms. I had no reason for projecting my anger at my father and brother towards her. And then my heart began to break as I heard her start to quietly cry.

“Please, be with me.” You begged him as he pushed you back down onto the bed. Though you tried to quiet your sobs the best you could, you couldn’t stop the tears that fell from your tired eyes. You didn’t understand why his anger was being so carelessly directed towards you. You hadn’t been the one to destroy an entire planet; He was. You angrily tried to suppress you tears, turning yourself away from him, facing the opposite side of the chamber. “If you wanted to blame me for your own foolery, you should have left me on that God forsaken planet,” You yelled at him. Or at least tried. You could barely find your voice at this point… it was as if the relentless, pillaging winds of Jodenheim took not only your happiness, but all yourself too. The bed shifted then, and shortly after the feel of his strong hands fell upon either side of you, his strong fingers pressing tenderly into your skin as he turned you back around to face him, and were quickly met by the steely calm of his brilliant eyes. “(Y/N),” his voice broke. You couldn’t help it- immediately you felt for him, forcing yourself up to console him- ignoring his soft protests and efforts to lay you back into the sea of golden silks. You wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him to you as tightly as you could, the feeling bringing you more warmth than any broth or quilts ever could. He wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling you against him even closer. You sighed in relief. 

“Oh darling,” he whispered in your ear. “You nearly killed me… you do know that?” You pulled away from him, searching his expression. His bright blue eyes were nearly grey now. And suddenly you felt yourself begin to cry. Keeping one hand on your waist he swiftly brought you to sit on his lap, his arms then pressing tightly around you as his head came down, lips touching your forehead softly as you nestled further into his chest. “I thought…” he breathed, his voice tight as his hands ran through your hair. “I thought they- that my father- that Thor-” his anger began to build up and quickly you reached up, pressing a soft kiss on his cheek. “Nothing happened. Nothing,” you cooed, your hand finding it’s way to the side of his face. Seeing he was about to protest you lifted your finger in front of him to signal you weren’t finished, “Your brother did only what your father made him do. You cannot blame him for the orders he was given, Loki. What you must judge him on was what he did to help.” Loki looked at you, anger spurring in his eyes. And before you knew it, you were out of his arms… the warmth of his person replaced with the fresh, chilling air of the chamber. His dark figure towered as he paced across the room. “No!” He yelled suddenly making you jump. You tried to remain calm- yelling at him now would only make things worse for everyone. 

“Please Loki-,” 

“No!” He retorted as he began pacing the room. “Odin will pay. Thor-,” 

“You will do nothing to either one!” you yelled at him. 

He turned around sharply, walking, or more like stomping back towards you. While you were used to Loki’s towering height, he seemed to grow even taller when he was aggravated. And your frozen state didn’t help you feel any more confident as you stared up at him, his body seething with rage. You shrank back into yourself for a moment. It wasn’t pleasurable nor wise to argue with him in matters concerning his father and brother, but before you could even add anything else, any kind of reasonable explanation, the chamber doors swung open, revealing Thor in all his Godly glory, now standing before you. 

Before he’d even stepped in, your eyes bolted toward Loki, “Loki-” you began, but were all at once cut off by the ear-splitting sound of metal crashing on the stone ground of Frigga’s chamber. Loki was on top of Thor, both of them fighting ruthlessly, hitting each other, deflecting each other… Thor rather out of defense towards Loki’s vengeance. Your screams seemed to lose themselves amongst the booming cacophony of their fight as they pummeled into one another. For a moment, Thor gripped Loki’s neck, making your heart drop to your stomach- but as soon you’d blinked an eye Thor was quickly sent flying across the room, crashing into the stone wall of Frigga’s chamber. Your heart raced faster than it already had been when you realized you would had no option but to stop them yourself. Odin was sure to hear at any moment the commotion they were causing with their clashing armor and destructive fighting, if he had not already. And you didn’t want Loki to do anything to ruin his chances of hurting anyone in his family- because you knew that no matter how much anger he felt toward them, he loved them in his own way, and hurting them- especially Thor, would hurt him immensely. You scrambled to get out of the large bed, taking the opportunity of Thor’s advantage as he had pinned Loki, who in reality was the most dangerous one here, against the wall. “Both of you! Stop it! Stop!” You screamed getting closer to them. Thor’s hand reached out- and my heart stopped.

“THOR, NO!” (Y/N) screamed bloody murder. I struggled under Thor’s grip then looked over at him sticking his hand out, ready to receive his bloody hammer. The familiar shine and echoing ring of his weapon pierced through me like a bolt of lightning. My eyes immediately looked to where (Y/N) stood, desperately trying to lower Thor’s arm. “NO!” I screamed, and as if in the blink of an eye I was on top of her; the hammer flying over us and into my brothers hand, abruptly thrashed into the wall where I once stood. “Loki!” He bellowed furiously. I stood in front of (Y/N) whilst simultaneously covering her on the ground. My brother took in both my forms and began to walk towards us. “One step closer and I swear I’ll drag it right across your throat, brother.” I watched as Thor hesitantly looked back and forth between the three of us- or of me I should say. With a loud thud, he surrendered his hammer, then slowly lifted his hands to either side of his head. From my form in front of (Y/n), I smiled with utmost pleasure at the sight of it. My scepter stroked the flesh of my brothers throat and every nerve in my body begged to strike it. “Loki stop it!” (Y/N) looked at me from where I stood next to my brother. I watched as she struggled to free herself from under my first illusion-ed form. “Brother-,” Thor began, but I quickly pressed the scepter closer against his neck. “Loki, put it down, or I’m done with you.”

You couldn’t believe you’d said it. 

You knew nothing in the world made Loki more upset than when you interfered in his affairs with his brother, but you were not about to let him kill him- so you used what you knew would hurt him most. Almost immediately after the words left your mouth, Loki’s scepter crashed onto the ground. His illusions dissipating until his one true form remained, which revealed itself as the one having held Thor’s life under the terrifying blade of his command. He stood for a moment, eyes unreadable. Thor breathed heavily beside him as you remained frozen on the ground in front of them. He walked towards you then, grabbing your hand angrily and pulling up, out of Frigga’s chamber. Against his better judgement Thor tried helping you away from his wildly irrational brother, only to be met by a tremendous kick in the stomach, sending him flying into the stone wall on the opposite side of the chamber. You couldn’t help the sobs that began to form in your throat towards Loki’s actions.

As you began making your way down the long corridor, you were left to your own surprise as his path was not that which you had presumed he would have led you. Guards watched in shock as you bounded down the hall, your legs barely able to match Loki’s long strides. “Where are we going?” you asked timidly. When he looked back at you, your heart almost fell out of your chest. His eyes were so dark, and the expression on his face was grim enough to rip your very soul out. You quickly cast your eyes onto the ground and let him continue to pull you wherever it was that his anger directed him toward. And when your eyes were met with the familiar stone mosaic you had walked over so many times before, fear had succeeded to take you over completely. 

LOKI

“What is this?” Odin’s sharp tone lashed toward me. I continued walking down the seemingly endless corridor towards the All Father’s throne. Behind me (Y/N) stumbled, struggling to keep up with me as I glided down the golden stoned path.

“This father,” I spat, “Is defeat.” 

Finally reaching the base of his throne, I pulled (Y/N) in front of me for him to see- see how despite his greatest attempts, despite his best efforts- despite the sick glory of his “rightful” crown- he would never take her away from me. I quickly grabbed her and pulled her as close to me as physically possible. “Yours.” Odin signaled for his guards to leave the room, and all did so with haste. Once we were left alone, he slowly made his way down from his glorified stool to face me. (Y/N) quietly whimpered below me. My heart pained at the sound. I had dragged the one and only being that held my life and heart in her hands toward the one and only being that had threatened to destroy it. 

“Loki,” he began, disappointment drowning in his strong voice. “I did this for her own good-,” 

“HER OWN GOOD!” I laughed. “Don’t you remember father… I’m the one who tells jokes around here.” Though I knew she was upset with me, (Y/N) gripped her arms around me, calming me down in only the way she could, but equally reminding me of why I was so angered in the first place. 

“You destroyed an entire race!” Odin fired at me. 

“They were our enemies!” I retorted with the same hostility as he had shown me. “I defeated them. Hell, I vanquished them forever! I destroyed the one planet besides Joudenheim that threatened to destroy you Father. That threatened to destroy us all! And you repay me by throwing her on that very Gods forsaken territory!” 

“Yes Loki! Yes! You destroyed our enemies… You showed them all! You showed the realms that we fight fire with DESTRUCTION. That either they will be vanquished or we will! You broke trust- allies! You destroyed the safety of our realms! You’ve unleashed hell in all possible machinations… You’ve destroyed us!”

[reapers-carino]

Yakuza!Hanzo with pregnant s/o? During the pregnancy and birth?

((SO I MADE THIS A LIKE TWO PART STORY BECAUSE YAKUZA HANZO IS LIFE….I also do an excessive amount of research on things for this and it FUELED my need))

From a hostess at an upscale bar to the wife of a Yakuza boss. It sounded like the storyline of one of those movies or TV dramas and yet, this was your life. You had drawn the eye of Hanzo Shimada; the sophisticated, suave man of few words who initially frequented the establishment when holding private business meetings. You could feel his eyes on you whenever you had been working and soon found yourself requested as a personal hostess for the sharply dressed man with the hawk-like gaze. Enticing professionality morphed into actual attraction; small gift of affections turning into a request to date you which soon led to marriage.

You counted yourself as lucky. Most of the other hostesses or former yankee girls ended up in loveless, violent marriages with men who wanted a trophy wife and punching bag all in one. Hanzo treated you like a queen; granting your any desire or wish, showering you in gifts and private displays of affection. You wanted for absolutely nothing and lived in the lap of luxury within the Shimada faction walls. Anytime you left, you were flanked by personal female guards and whenever Hanzo had important ‘legitimate’ meetings, you were on his arm as his doting and loving wife. He didn’t involve you with any of his illegal practices, you were an exquisite flower in the garden of his life and he planned to keep you safe. And his child that grew inside of you.

“Beloved…”

You smiled, Hanzo’s voice was still tinged by sleep, his hands lightly moving over your waist to rest on your growing stomach. You tilted your head to the side as Hanzo placed a gentle kiss against the side of your neck, his chin resting in the crook of your shoulder. You had neither been actively trying to conceive nor working to prevent it, letting fate handle any type of family planning you’d fall under. When he found out you were pregnant, he was ecstatic in his own ways; his eyes lit up, he pulled you to him and kissed you hard and openly in front of the doctor that made the housecall. Hanzo wasted no expense in making sure your pregnancy progressed smoothly; a personal chef on call 24/7, a masseuse that you could visit in person or request on the estate, your own private midwife and weekly spa trips to keep you ridiculously pampered and relaxed. He had even begun accompanying you more after you expressed that you felt lonely with him gone so often.

This is how you found yourself waking with him at least three days out of the week, enjoying a meal or two together as he answered calls and dispatched orders to his secretary who would then pass them onto whomever needed to hear them. You leaned back into your husband, humming contently as his arms wrapped tighter around your body. His lips pressed hard against the side of your neck again, drawing a quiet chuckle from your lips and a pleased sigh from his. Covering his hands with your own smaller ones, you massaged the back of his hands before deciding to speak.

“Good morning dear husband”, you teased playfully, earning a throaty huff of a laugh at the formal nickname. “I hope I didn’t wake you…”

“No dearest”, Hanzo started between another kiss, squeezing you again. He had never made you second guess his attraction to you even through the pregnancy, his level of affection almost growing as you did. “Waking in bed without you however was inspiration enough to rise.”

A wave of nausea had pulled you out of your sleep and forced you out of bed, your hand combing through Hanzo’s hair as you rose as not to wake the man. You had slipped to the down to the kitchen and fixed yourself a cup of peppermint-ginger tea, obnoxiously sweetened to your preference. Turning your head, you gave a soft ‘oh’ when you saw he had already gotten dressed, the white button up covering his once shirtless torso.

Turning yourself around, Hanzo pulled back slightly, your eyes looking him up and down, humming approvingly. Hanzo wore both traditional and modern clothing, both looking dashing on him but the latter edging out with your preference. He wore black slacks, the white button up tucked in but not buttoned all the way up, the navy blue tie hanging undone around his collar and his black hair still down. A warm, thankful smile began to pull at your lips, your eyes connecting with your husband’s dark ones. This was a ritual that the both of you had started from when you had first been brought into the Shimada clan. You initially had been no more than a glorified wallflower; pretty, pleasant and essentially useless. Before meeting Hanzo you had been a working girl your entire adult life, working hard to earn your keep and live your life as comfortably as you could. Doing absolutely nothing left you antsy, restless. So in the morning you would rise with your then boyfriend and assist him with getting ready. You’d pick out his ties and socks, button up his shirts and assist him with putting his shoes on. It made you feel at least somewhat useful before you became the lady of the house.

Reaching out, you pulled him closer so his torso rested against your pregnant belly, one of his hands lifting to lightly stroke at your cheek. Your fingers made quick work of the button up, your fingers playfully ghosting under his shirt to lightly stroke the edges of clan’s dragon tattoo on his left shoulder before closing it. You worked your magic, tying his tie into a trinity knot, your hand smoothing over his chest as you looked up at him affectionately. His hand moved from your cheek to your chin, holding it as he dipped his head down and pressed an affectionate kiss to your lips. His free hand tenderly massaged your belly as he pulled away, smiling down at you.

“Remember to tell your doctor this, beloved.”

You nodded your head, understanding he was  referring to your nausea. He’d text you mid-day just to make sure it had been done and would take care of it himself if your pregnancy brain made you forget. Always watching out for you.

“Of course, my love.”

“Boss we can just force our way back in there…she can’t tell you to get out like that ca–”

Hanzo stopped on a dime and snarled at the man that had dared to speak, his eyes pinning the man with a look that could kill. The younger man immediately bowed, stammering an apology as he backed out of the room at the quiet recommendation from a senior member. Hanzo was known for his chilling calmness, his cutting words and icy gaze usually enough to break anyone who would cross him. But now he was on edge, snapping angrily at anyone that would speak to him as he paced. No one could blame him really. Hanzo had been kicked out of the room by your midwife after snapping at her when you went through a particularly rough contraction, the man demanding to know why the pain medication hadn’t kicked in yet.

So now all he could do was pace while several of his guards fidgeted about, thrown off by their boss’ energy. He could hear your cries through the door, his heart tugging every single time it reached his ears. His twin dragons begged to be set free, to protect their master’s mate, Hanzo was barely able to fight the urge himself. But he knew that it would upset you so instead he would wait, his heart in his throat and nervous flitting in his belly. Time trickled by, far slower than Hanzo would have liked, hours feeling like days. Until the strong, loud cry pierced the air.

It felt as if the world around him melted away, the strong, growing cries of the newborn working everyone into an excited frenzy. Someone clapped Hanzo on the back, another on the shoulder and they were all cheering when the door to the room you had been delivering in slid open a crack. The midwife smiled and motioned for Hanzo to come forward, his men pushing him when his feet froze to the ground, excited and intimidated by the prospect of finally meeting his child.

“Hanzo…come say hi.”

Your voice drew him the rest of the way into the room, warmth exploding in his chest as he laid eyes on you and the small bundle you held in your arms. Your face was ruddy, hair stuck to your skin by sweat, eyes heavy with exhaustion; but he was sure you had never looked more beautiful. He stopped in front of you, his hand lightly stroking your cheek, his other hand shaking as it came to lay gently upon the head of the newborn. The newborn boy fidgeted at his touch, his mouth opening in a big yawn as Hanzo lightly stroked his face. Emotion made his throat feel tight as he dipped down, pressing his lips hard against your forehead, pulling the both of you into a hug. Haruto gave a whine at being jostled, the newborn fidgeting before settling between his mother and father quietly.

“Haruto Shimada”, you hummed softly as Hanzo pulled back, your head falling to the pillow on your bed, patting the space on the California king sized bed next to you lightly. Your midwife hung around the background, cleaning up the area quickly and quietly, the omnic nurse following right behind her.  Hanzo took the seat, taking your hand gently and kissing your knuckles hard, as he scoot back to lay amongst the pillows with you. Immeasurable pride, love, happiness and need to protect filled his being as he looked between you and Haruto contently. You leaned your head onto his shoulder, peeking up at him through your lashes. “Would you like to hold him love?”

Hanzo barely nodded before you were carefully passing the newborn into his arms, the Yakuza head breathing stopping for several moments. Haruto fidgeted, smacking his lips lightly in a yawn once more as he turned into his father’s touch. Hanzo took this time to study him thoroughly; thick black hair covering his head, face chubby and skin ruddy from being birthed. Later, he would say that Haruto was a peculiar looking little thing when he came out but right now at this moment the child was the image of perfection. Your snort drew Hanzo’s attention up, your finger pointing to the foot of the bed with a humored smile.

Yuuki and Ame sat at the end of the bed, curled into a loose pile on top of one another and rest at your feet. The translucent blue dragons were content to sit and wait, intrigued yet protective, instantly acknowledging the new charge that had been added to the family. Extending a hand to them, you gently pat Ame on the head as he moved forward, chuckling quietly as the dragon purred under your touch.

“Keep him safe”, you ordered softly, knowing there was no real need to tell the dragons what to do.

“The dragons will consume our enemies”, Hanzo reminded you, his voice soft but mirthful as he leaned over and lightly kissed you on the forehead, cradling your sleeping son to his chest lovingly.

((I hope this is okay anon! I know I went on a tangent but it was fun!))

[17-wishingwell]

Hi if requests are still open could you do a fluffy werewolf!seungcheol au about cuddling or something?

Seungcheol Werewolf!AU 

(a/n) Hello dear >anyways,I don’t know if I’m doing dis right buuuut I hope you like it 

Member: S.coups/Seungcheol

Genre: Cuddly/sweet time? hoho

Word Count: 1,539

The brilliant glow of the full moon beamed through the crack of the bedroom curtains, illuminating the dark room as it spread gently across the floorboards. At a time when most of the city around you had fallen fast asleep and begun dreaming their dreams, you began to wake once again, this time to the unusual feeling of a soft warmth against your skin, as soft as a winter blanket. Your hand gently grabbed and groped at the fluffy feeling, greatly reminding you of your family’s pet husky that you adored so much, causing you to snuggle into the feeling further. Home? Were you at home? Your face scrunched in confusion. No, that wasn’t right. Where were you? You traveled back into your drowsy memory, recalling the past events.

“(Y/N)? Are you finally coming to?” Seuncheol’s concerned voice echoed in your ears. Yes, that’s right. You had traveled over to celebrate your 4th anniversary with Seungcheo-

Your eyes shot open immediately and you scrambled to your feet a good distance from the lap where you laid. Your body tensing up as you stood there in place, breath restricted to a minimal as you stared straight into two piercing golden globes, shining across from you in the darkness of the room.

“S-Seungcheol..”

You gaped, raising your hand to steady your head as you were becoming dizzy. The sight of your boyfriend sitting there with a tail and ears had your mind on a gyro-drop. After all, not even 24 hours ago were things like werewolves a myth, made up creatures, but there he was? The person you loved and trusted the most had a secret so unbelievable it could keep you sleepless. What were you to think? Your boyfriend was a werewolf.

“(Y/N) are you ok? Are you feeling dizzy again?” Seuncheol was propping himself off the edge of the bed slightly, his body on alert incase you were to faint again as you did the first time you caught sight of his new form.

“I-I’m alright.” You managed to squeak out despite the anxiety clenching at your throat, your eyes had fluttered away from his gaze towards the floor staying fixated below. “This is crazy.” You silently mouthed.

“You’re quite shocked aren’t you?” He kept his tone understanding.

You stayed silent, having enough sense to keep the answer to that question to yourself incase you might end up hurting Seungcheol’s feelings even more. The fact that you had fainted (almost twice already) when you saw him transformed was enough already. You felt like apologizing, but instead took a deep breath and tried to calm yourself down the best you could, hoping to build up the courage to look at him once again and treat him like you normally would. You didn’t want to hurt him anymore, especially when he wasn’t hurting you. Even more so because he wasn’t- or at least wasn’t showing that he was disappointed or upset. Seungcheol instead just sat there, cross-legged on the bed, staying patient with you and giving you all the time and support you required to cope with this new side of him despite your previous reactions.

“(Y/N)” he called out. “Look up at me, hm? Am I really that different?” His voice poured out tenderly, swirling in your ears like honey just as it always did. You raised your eyes and slowly glided them over the figure in front of you. Yes, he looked different, but you knew that’s not what he ment. His usual ruggedness had greatly increased but his demeanor stayed the same and his expression just as warm and welcoming as each time you looked at him before, even borderline cute.

What exactly were you so wary of in the first place? Was him being different from what you knew in your memories that was making you like this? No, you couldn’t help wonder if this made things different for the two of you. That was your fear, but it didn’t matter. Seungcheol was going to prove to you he was all the same, a big puppy of a man, and that you could love him all the same.

“You look a bit tired. You should come and rest your legs over here, where it’s soft.” He patted at the spot beside him on the bed while giving you his prettiest smile.

Sly. That was the word that popped into your mind first and foremost. Though, just like you would always fall head over heels for all his other tactics, this was no exception. You had fallen for this trick too, it had set a small flame in your heart.

“No wonder he had always acted like this” you thought.

He was a literal “wolf in sheep’s clothing”, but you couldn’t help find it amusing, as well as his offer awfully enticing. You finally shook the icy feeling you had felt in your gut moments ago and defrosted your legs to take your first steps towards the new him, secrets, tail and all.

Seungcheol met you halfway with his outstretched arm and as you took his rough hand in yours he lead you over to sit in front of him.

There wasn’t any exchange of words for a few moments, only the two of you sitting there in the same cross-legged fashion, comparing your two hands as they stayed clamped together. As you started to become more comfortable, he took the first step.

“I didn’t want to put off telling you anymore. That’s why I thought it was best I reveal it to you today” He started, keeping his gaze on your hands that he fiddled with.

“I was born this way, it’s in my bloodline. Not a soul knows about this other than family. I hope you understand what that means..” He rubbed his thumb around your hand then down to your ring finger, tracing an invisible band across it. A warm smile crept onto your expression. The fact he trusted you and decided you were someone he could share this with made your heartbeat race. Huge smiles took their places on both of your faces as you leaned your head against his chest.

He looked down at the head resting on him curiously. “Don’t you have any questions for me?”

“Many.” You peered up at his ears, noticing the way they cutely twitched at the sound of your voice.

“It’s ok to ask. I’ll answer them all for you.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore…The answers won’t change a thing.” You moved back to face him straight on. One by one, you were getting used to everything new about him. The more you looked the more you fell in love.

“That’s what I hoped I’d hear~” he growled. Seungcheol grabbed you into a strong embrace, making it obvious how satisfied he was with your answer, the force of his embrace taking the both of you down into the soft blankets below you. You gasped as you fell over him, your widened eyes quickly moving from his chest up to meet with his golden gaze, overflowing with affection.

“My my~ What big eyes you have.” Seungcheol teased as he moved loose strands of hair behind your red ears and snugly wrapped his arms around your waist.

“All the better to see you with, my dear.” You hit his chest and shifted to his side, evoking chuckles from the wolfish boy beside you. The two of you lay there, legs overlapping, taking in the pleasant feeling of being so close. With every warm breath that brushed your forehead, your thoughts seemed to dissipate one by one, leaving you with only comfort and security. Soon your thoughtless fingers were drawing small lines and circles over his heart. The happy feeling each pattern you traced left had his tail waving back and forth with delight behind him, patting the bed with a gentle thump each time it came down. You grinned as you couldn’t help but notice and curiously reached over him to feel its softness.

“Ah~ so this is what I felt.” you remembered the feeling that you had woken up to and chuckled as you held it to your cheek “What a fluffy tail. It would be almost impossible not to take a liking to this.”

“I guess,” he laughed. “You held onto it the whole time you were out cold.”

You slowly buried yourself in the fur, the heat in your cheeks boiling up at the thought although it had been done subconsciously. Seungcheol’s heart was swelling at sight of the shy girl beside him plunging her face into his tail, making him grin and tighten his hold around you.

“Well, I guess I can’t complain, can I? All the better to cuddle you with, my dear.” He peppered kisses into the top of your head.

“True” you snuggled further into the warmth of his body, feeling complete comfort seep into your heart. A long fought yawn left your mouth as Seungcheol stroked over your hair.

“Sleep~ You’ll need it.” He moved his hand from your head to give your back steady pats, each one like a lullaby.

“Why is that?” You muttered, feeling the drowsiness of being close to sleep.

“Tommorrow, we’re going to meet them all, my family.”

“Oh my gosh..”

-mote