#only way to atone is a life sentence. IN MY ARMS--

[incorrect-ikevamp-quotes]

EVERYBODY BEHOLD THE CUTEST BOY E V E R OMG I SQUEALED, BABY MAN!!!!! NEW CYBIRD ART OF THE SILLY DROPPED THIS MORNING FOR HIS BIRTHDAY:

Link to the original post below!

[sephirthoughts]

Child of Chaos

Vincent Valentine is awakened by Sephiroth, instead of Cloud's party. He quietly saves the world, by defeating Sephiroth an entirely different way, before the big fight ever begins.

******TRIGGER WARNINGS: INCEST, NONCON, MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH (not the main couple)********

******DEAD DOVE IS SERIOUS DON'T READ IT IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT*******

“These are innocent civilians.”

“There are no innocents, here. They are all complicit.”

“Sephiroth—”

“You said you wanted to help me, Vincent. These are my enemies.”

You said you wanted to help me. You wanted to help me. Help me.

The man’s face and voice warped into hers, making his head erupt with painful, disorienting static, disjointed images of faces and conversations, shattering reality like a mirror.

Help me. Enemies. My enemies. Vincent. Help me.

It took less than an hour to turn the entire town into a hellscape of fire and blood. At the reactor, a village man confronted them. He was cut down before he spoke a full sentence. Impaled on Masamune, and left to bleed out, on the concrete floor.

The man’s daughter chased after them, dragging the sword with her. Before she got anywhere near Sephiroth, the cannon thunder report of the Cerberus triple-shot rent the air.

Her chest exploded, into a gory mass of crimson and exposed, white bone. She was dead before she hit the ground. Another sin to add to the tally.

Vincent stepped over her body as he holstered the weapon, and crossed his arms on his chest, under his cloak. His hands never shook where Sephiroth could see.

A young SOLDIER under Sephiroth’s command, and a golden-haired teenaged recruit from the village, attempted to stop them, on the way out. Sephiroth quickly dealt with the SOLDIER, while the teenaged boy wept over the corpse of the girl.

“Leave him,” Sephiroth smiled, when Vincent leveled his barrel at the blonde head. “It’s not time for him to die, quite yet.”

This was the way they were. Sephiroth leading and Vincent following silently behind. Unquestioning. Unconditional. Just as he had done, since the day the coffin opened, and he saw that face looking down at him.

Her face, but not quite. Too beautiful. Too idealized. Like a fanciful rendering of familiar features, by an artist. That face smiled—her same knowing little half-smile—as the strong hand reached out and pulled him up from the darkness, out of the nightmare.

Since that day, this man had held the first and last place in his heart. This was his atonement. To serve the child, having so utterly failed the mother. To follow him into the river of blood, into the mouth of madness, into the flames of hell, forsaking all others, even to the end of the world.

This…this was love. Wasn’t it? Abject devotion, unswerving loyalty, abandonment of free will—to raze your soul to the ground, rip out the core of self, and fill every fiber of your being with the object of your worship.

“How old were you, when he killed you?”

“Twenty-seven.”

“I guess that makes me your elder,” Sephiroth chuckled.

Vincent didn’t understand the joke, but it was true enough. It wasn’t like he’d been aging or accumulating life experience. Vincent Valentine died thirty years ago. This body was forged from Chaos, immortal and nearly indestructible. A beautiful shell full of demonic poison. The perfect vessel for Sephiroth’s deranged design.

“There is no one I can trust, but you, Vincent,” he said, one day. “No one who knows me. No one who understands me. No one who has suffered like I have.”

They fell into bed together, as naturally as any lovers. It began subtly and progressed gradually. Touches that lingered too long. Intense, exclusionary eye contact. The growing disregard for the other’s personal space. When the final boundary was breached, Sephiroth led and Vincent followed, unquestioning, as always.

Deep-green eyes looked down into his, as silver hair fell like a curtain around his face. “You are the only one who belongs to me. The only one I love.”

That lofty, feline demeanor vanished when they fucked. Sephiroth was wild, ravenous, almost desperate. Rolling over him like a tidal wave. Devouring his body like fire. Like he would consume him and integrate every molecule of him fully into himself.

Sephiroth’s affection was a force of nature, that would have annihilated anything else it touched, but Vincent could withstand it. This was love.

They had been lovers for half a year, when Sephiroth finally struck, with the poisoned blade he’d been concealing in his embrace, all this time.

He had stripped Vincent and bent him over a heavy, stainless-steel table. Lifting one of his knees onto the table, to put him in an extremely submissive position, he rocked into him with maddening deliberateness, sliding almost all the way out, before plunging ever so slowly in again.

Only when Vincent was writhing beneath him, arching his back and begging, did Sephiroth speed his pace, finally giving him enough depth and friction. Vincent came with a strangled moan, spurting sloppy, milk-white spatters all over the glossy steel.

Just at that critical moment, Sephiroth leaned down over him, and a big, leather-gloved hand grabbed him by his jaw, forcing him to look up. A few meters in front of them, in the dark, a screen flickered on, displaying a page of lab notes, two photographs, and three genetic profiles.

“How does it feel, father,” Sephiroth purred, his breath hot and wet on his ear. “To have your son inside you?”

Vincent broke, under the weight of the sudden, devastating blow, but he was pinned to a steel table, by Sephiroth’s huge, superhuman body, and Sephiroth was still fucking him.

“It…hurts,” he whispered, squeezing his eyes shut, against the wave of nausea, the roaring chaos, beating against his skull, straining to burst its bonds.

“All this time—pretending you didn’t know,” Sephiroth taunted, punctuating his phrases with deep, vicious thrusts. “But you had an excuse. An airtight—justification. She told you I was his, after all. But you never believed it. You knew I was yours.”

Vincent’s ragged breath fogged the shiny steel under his face. “I didn’t. I didn’t know.”

“You did! How could you not!” Sephiroth growled.

“I n—never touched her. How could I know? Even if I had. He k—he killed me. Turned me into this thing. What could I do?”

“Shut your lying mouth!” Sephiroth grabbed a handful of his hair and slammed his head on the table, so hard he saw stars. His voice had lost its silky, mocking drawl and turned into a snarl of uncontrolled rage. “You knew about me! You knew what they were using your own child for! And you chose to hide yourself away in the dark! To sleep through it all! You coward! You worthless wretch!”

“I never knew. Never wanted any of this,” Vincent pleaded. “I loved her. I love y—”

A gloved hand clamped tightly over his mouth and that smoky voice dropped back into its taunting register.

“Hush now. I’m not a child, anymore. I don’t need your lies, nor do I want your love.” Sephiroth slid his hands down onto Vincent’s narrow waist, rocking his hips slowly, in a lascivious mockery of tenderness, that was more unbearable than straightforward brutality. “All I want is to have you just the way you are. Helpless, beneath me. Humiliated and suffering, begging for mercy. You can give me that, at least, can’t you father?”

“N—no.”

Sephiroth yanked his head back again, to look into his face. “What did you say?”

“I said no,” Vincent rasped. “I won’t—I won’t beg for mercy.”

The catlike pupil slits narrowed, and he bared his teeth in a malevolent smile. “You think I can’t make you, even with your demonic strength?”

“You can’t,” Vincent doggedly persisted. “I won’t beg for mercy. I don’t want it. This is what I deserve. I love you. I’m so—”

“No! Stop saying it!” Sephiroth roared, slamming his head onto the table again, and again.

“I’m s—sorry,” Vincent choked out, crimson droplets spattering the steel. “Do anything you want to me. I’ll love you, no matter what.”

“Shut up! Shut the fuck up!!”

Sephiroth flipped him roughly onto his back and wrapped his gloved hands around his neck, strangling him with force enough to snap steel girders.

Tears trickled down Vincent’s temples. His scarlet eyes rolled back in his head, but he kept mouthing out the words, as blood streamed from his nose and gurgled up between his lips.

Sephiroth gave a roar of incomprehensible rage and pain, like a wounded beast, then suddenly he was clinging to him, pushing himself inside, kissing him frantically, as his hot tears splashed onto Vincent’s cheeks.

Vincent’s chest split with agony; with grief and love and sorrow and longing…a hurricane of emotions, too tempestuous to comprehend.

He had a son. Someone of his own. Someone who belonged to him.

His son was in pain, suffering even more than he was.

His son was a violent megalomaniac, bent on destroying the world.

His son was fucking him, kissing him with a mouth full of blood, weeping on his face.

He did the only thing he could. He threw his arms around him and kissed him back, with everything he had.

“Give it all to me,” he breathed, between urgent kisses. “All your pain, all your rage, all your hatred—I’ll take it all. Give it to me and let me carry it for you. Let me love you.”

Sephiroth gave a shuddering cry and came, plunging wildly into him, while his big, thick cock pulsed and spurted, flooding his insides with slippery-hot seed. He thrust through the spasms, like he was trying to fuck every last drop into him, then he collapsed on top of his body, buried his face in the crook of his neck, and wept silently.

His black wing was extended, hanging limply to the side. Vincent stroked the silky feathers with his fingertips, pressing his cold lips to a warm, sweat-damp forehead. Their long hair, ink-black and brilliant silver, lay tumbled about and mingled together on the table, a half-angelic, half-demonic halo, around their heads.

“How can you claim to love me,” Sephiroth said, after a long while.

“Because it’s true. I do love you,” Vincent replied, wearily.

“You can’t. Not the way that I mean.”

“I love you any and every way that there is. You are part of me and you are everything to me. If you burned the world to ashes tomorrow, or if you turned from that path and slept in the earth with me, forever, I would love you the same.”

“I knew I was your son. When I woke you, in your coffin, I already knew.”

“I know.”

“I raped you.”

“I was willing.”

“I beat you.”

“I was just as willing. Sephiroth.” He put both hands on that perfect face. A face so like his own, that it seemed only a willful act of self-delusion could ever have made him believe this man wasn’t his son. “Fuck me, beat me, torture and dismember me, if you wish. Whatever you desire, I am willing. Anything.”

Silver brows lowered, and deep-green eyes turned away. “Nonsense. No one truly means it, when they say such dramatic things.”

“If you believe that, then…maybe it’s you who doesn’t mean it.”

“You do not love me, father,” Sephiroth spat, pushing himself up abruptly. “No one loves me. In case you’ve failed to pay attention, in these past months, I am a monster.”

Vincent sat up with him. “The monsters are not us, but the ones who did this to us. The ones who made us into these things, against our will. The ones who called you a hero, until you disobeyed.”

“It doesn’t matter what I do,” Sephiroth sneered. “Even if I had been a good dog all my life, they’d have turned on me, one day. Just like they turned on you.”

“They will always fear us,” Vincent sighed. “There is no one in the world like us. No one else who can understand us. But we understand each other. Even if we have no one else, we have each other.”

Sephiroth gave a cold snort. “Then, you expect me to believe that you would stand and defy the world, with me. That you would remain by my side, as my partner and my lover, knowing that you are my father.”

“I have said I’m willing, over and over, but you have yet to listen. Sephiroth, lay down your arms. Take off your armor, for me. Let me love you.”

Sephiroth didn’t reply, but he sat still, sullenly compliant, while his harness was unbuckled. The pauldrons clattered to the floor. The gloves and leather coat joined the crimson cloak, and the gold boots and gauntlet, on the pile, followed by the black boots and trousers.

All these months, he had never fully undressed, when they had sex. For the first time, they were naked, together. Gazing into one another’s faces. So alike, they could be taken for twins, only on opposite ends of the color spectrum—one black and red, the other white and green.

Sephiroth had dropped the mask, and his mocking half-smile was nowhere to be seen. His large, serpentine eyes were red rimmed, and the tip of his nose was touched with pink. He looked…tired. It may have been the most human the nearly seven-foot-tall angelic superbeing had ever appeared.

Vincent’s perpetually disheveled black hair hung over his face, obscuring one luminous, sunset-colored iris. Sephiroth reached out and brushed it back.

It was the slightest gesture, but it was like the touch that breaks the surface tension of a soap bubble, and causes the thing to burst. All at once, the walls were down and they were connected, intimate, corresponding halves of a single whole.

When Sephiroth took him in his arms again, to kiss him, his black wing circled protectively around Vincent’s back. He touched his face and worked his fingers into his hair, breathed his scent deeply into his lungs.

This man was his own. They belonged to one another, by blood and by choice. This…this was love. It was twisted and mutilated, but it was love, nonetheless. The rules didn’t apply to them, anyway.

These broken children, made into gods and demons, before they were even allowed to become men. Discarded weapons, crawling in the darkness, too horribly disfigured to ever be healed. Too riddled with hatred and grief and sin and obsession, to ever rejoin humanity. In this world, they would always be alone. But from now on, they would be alone, together.

———

It was early evening, and a balmy breeze ruffled Vincent’s cloak and long hair. He was standing alone, on a clifftop, staring off toward the west, where the sunset painted the sky in a riot of reds and golds, to rival the colors in his own eyes. This was a regular ritual of his—becoming lost in memory, and lapsing into long states of conscious unawareness.

He didn’t even notice, when strong arms circled his waist, from behind, and a chin came to rest on his shoulder. He only wound a lock of long, silver hair around his fingers, and toyed absently with it, as he gazed into the middle-distance. Dissatisfied with being ignored, Sephiroth nuzzled into his neck and bit him, till he emerged from his ruminations.

Vincent yanked on the strand of hair, as revenge for being bitten. “You’re awake. How are you feeling?”

“As well as I ever feel,” Sephiroth replied lazily, pushing his nose into the hollow behind his ear. “Jenova screams in my head, night and day, demanding that I obey her and go on as we intended. I will let her have her tantrum, until she tires of it. My will is too far superior to hers, for her to make any real trouble.”

“After everything we have done, you have truly altered your purpose? You will let it all go and walk away?”

He sighed and looked over Vincent’s shoulder, out at the valley far below. “This world, like all worlds, will end, one day. Whether it happens now, or in a hundred thousand years, what is that to me? I am no longer interested in meddling with the process. When the day comes—when this doomed race annihilates itself, and all life in the world is ended—then you and I will return, and see my design fulfilled.”

Vincent closed his eyes and let his head tip back, to rest on Sephiroth’s chest. “And until then?”

“Until then…I don’t know. I suppose I’ll take up a hobby.”

“Cloud Strife will not abandon his vengeance, simply because all of his allies have fallen. You killed his mother and I killed his woman. He will continue to pursue us.”

His perfect lips curled with a hint of that old, bloodthirsty smile. “I should hope so. We might get bored, otherwise.”

[laxmiree]

[CN] MLQC Lucien’s Crazy date translation

⚠️ SPOILER ALERT!! ⚠️

This post contains a detailed spoiler for a date that has not been released in EN yet! Feel free to notify me if there are any mistakes in the translation~

Translation under the cut!

(T/N: Very recommended to follow along the date because hnghh, I have never heard him this happy and alive before 😭. Sadly, I don't have this card, so I can't subtitle it myself. But you can check the date recording here in this link.)

The sea breeze passed through the moonlight, bringing the warmth of winter to the south.

I was leaning in Lucien's arms, watching the gripping movie plot on the projector with great interest.

Keeping the same position will inevitably make my back ache, but I don't want to leave his arms.

Just as I adjusted my posture for the third time without making any noise, a soft pillow was placed under my waist.

MC: ...?

Raising my head in a daze, I met Lucien's smiling eyes.

MC: How can you still catch my little move?

Lucien: If it hadn't been for the fact that you made me feel a little tickled, maybe it won't be so quickly discovered.

I laughed and rubbed against the crook of his arm before looking back at the screen.

A few days ago, Lucien was invited to a New Year's Eve party hosted by his research colleagues. The party isn't formal. It's mainly for relaxation and communication.

So at his suggestion, I was happy to accompany him. We arrived early and rented a small manor to start our vacation time.

During the day, we walked around with the camera, and at night we nestled on the sofa, drinking wine and watching movies.

No work and no worries, just a happy and relaxed us.

??: Mary, I've figured out that even if my life were to stop tomorrow, I would still be on the end of the road

Mary: Then I'll go crazy with you and accompany you until the end.

The main character, who has been sentenced with the "death penalty" is dressed in a hospital gown. But his pale face is radiant as he and Mary dragged the IV and ran toward the hospital gates.

The sunset dragged their long shadows, and they took a long way away with each step. It was only when the gorgeous images jumped out of the black end credits that I realized the film was over.

After exhaling a deep breath, I noticed elderly people with gray hair appearing on the left side of the credits one by one.

??: Love is the most important thing in the world.

??: Life is always crazy. You want it? Just get it!

I was deeply touched by their sincere advice to young people, and I felt as if there was a hot fire burning in my heart.

Perhaps in the long road, I also need to have this impulse to run for the heart's desire more often.

MC: Lucien...

While thinking, I sat up and looked earnestly into those long, narrow eyes.

Lucien: What to do? I seem to have guessed MC is about to stir up troubles.

(T/N: 蠢蠢欲动 is an idiom meaning to begin to stir (idiom) / to get restless / to become threatening)

He raised his chin and narrowed his eyes. His magnetic voice fell on my ears.

Lucien: (whisper) You seem to want to do something you've never done before.

Lucien: Just like the protagonist of this movie, he leaves some out-of-the-ordinary, crazy traces in this world.

MC: ...

He said it almost perfectly and even poetically summed it up for me. I pouted and lightly jabbed him on the arm.

MC: No fun. I just ignited three minutes of enthusiasm, and then 80% of it was doused by a clever man!

He intentionally frowned in distress, took me into his arms, and nuzzled against the tip of my nose.

Lucien: (in that grieving tone) So what should I do? I don't know if I have a chance to atone for it...

Lucien: Let's get your three-minute enthusiasm going again.

His eyes rested between my lips almost imperceptibly. Without waiting for me to react, a soft sensation gently sealed my breath.

He slowly teased and nibbled on my lips as if trying to increase the heat little by little.

Lucien: (whisper very, VERY hoarsely) MC, tell me... what were you trying to do just now?

I subconsciously intended to speak but caught an inch of his smile in my dazed vision.

....He was leading me by nose again.

I drew back to my senses and pulled my neck away, escaping from the air that was getting thinner.

Lucien: Looks like my atonement wasn't enough.

Lucien smiled, and another kiss fell on the corner of my eye. His fingertips restlessly touched and lingered on my waist, making me tremble lightly.

And he had no intention of letting me go. His other hand was covering my eyes as if to block all possibility of me ever coming to my senses.

The string called reason shook and swayed as the kiss slowly moved downward, and I buried my face in his coat.

MC: Lucien, be serious.

MC: If this continues even further, I really won't be able to think anymore!

His chest trembled gently under my cheeks as if it was enduring something unbearable.

Lucien: [chuckle] In fact, you don't need to spend time thinking about it.

I pulled my head out of his embrace. I watched in a daze as he took a sip from a glass of wine on the table and casually swayed my fingers with his other hand.

Lucien: Crazy thoughts are inherently irrational.

Lucien: So when these thoughts come up, it's better to follow your heart than to think about it more deeply.

(thinking of his sp date-)

Looking at his serious look, I raised my cheeks and looked up and down.

MC: It always feels strange to hear such words from Professor Lucien's mouth, who usually speaks sensibly.

Lucien: Is that so?

Lucien: Reason and madness may sound like opposites, but sometimes they can exist at the same time.

MC: But isn't it usually when you lose your mind that you get called "crazy"?

Seeing that I objected, Lucien smiled and raised his hand to rub my nose.

Lucien: MC, we tend to think that reason is about what we shouldn't or should do.

Lucien: But in many cases, "unreasonable" is not the same as "wrong".

Lucien: It's just not predictable.

I couldn't help but think of the movie I just saw, where the main character's life changed in amazing ways when he did things he would never have done before.

My heart felt moved, so I sat up and kissed the person in front of me.

MC: Hey, is it like this?

Lucien was stunned by my sudden movement and slightly bent his eyes.

Lucien: This seems to be only a start.

Lucien: After all, this happens to me every day, doesn't it?

MC: It seems this kind of "crazy" to do whatever I want is not enough to satisfy our Professor Lucien.

I said as I intentionally rested my eyes between his lips. My hands slid down to his chest little by little and slowly pressed close to his body.

Lucien seems to have guessed my mind and letting me go close, but the palm of his hand is covering my waist like declaring the initiative.

Seeing that he would pull me close to his arms, I quickly used my hands to resist against his chest.

MC: I admit defeat. I really can't "fight" you and win!

He raised the corners of his lips in triumph, leaned over, and picked up the glass to hand it to me.

Lucien: Anything else you want to do tonight?

Lucien: For example, finishing the landscape you painted yesterday or taking the scones out of the fridge for a midnight snack?

I pondered and took a sip of wine. The choking warmth slid into my stomach.

MC: ...I haven't thought about it. Why don't we do what you said, think of something, and then do it?

MC: Anyway, it's a holiday, so relax your tense nerves and don't worry about anything.

Lucien: Okay. Then I won't worry about it. The painting can be done at another time.

Lucien: If you don't feel like eating a late-night snack, you can also wait until tomorrow to eat the scones that have missed their optimal taste.

MC: Pfft...

What he said made me burst into laughter. I got up, took my wine, and slowly looked around the room.

When I glanced over the spiral staircase, my eyes lit up, and I happily pointed to the slanted moonlight on the steps.

MC: Lucien, look. I can't believe that just by watching a movie, the clouds have dispersed and the stars have come out.

I looked up at the transparent dome and gazed at the stunning view of the galaxy.

MC: Is it just me, or is the air quality really good these few days. Why does it seem like the stars are getting brighter each day?

As I joked around, Lucien also sat down beside me, holding a wine glass.

Lucien: Then I guess we'll be seeing even more dazzling stars over the next few days.

I laughed and pretended to look at him in a serious way.

MC: Lucien, you can't use the fact that you are a professor to speak nonsense.

Lucien: Can't I make a joke?

I reached out and poked his cheek.

MC: You can, but your face is so deceiving that I can easily take anything you say seriously.

Seeing that Lucien was amused by me and laughed, I nuzzled against his shoulder in a good mood.

MC: Say, if we just sit here and watch the stars all night until sunrise…

MC: Would that be a crazy thing to do?

Lucien: Hmmm... I don't think it's necessary to measure the scale of craziness.

Lucien: As long as that is something you want to do, whether you sit here all night or sit for five minutes and then return to bed….

Lucien: It's all good.

Everything is tranquil and time seems to slow down, making my senses increasingly clear.

I can hear the wind blowing through the curtain at the window and the sound of Lucien's hair rustling in my ears.

I couldn't resist closing my eyes to listen to more subtleties that I hadn't noticed before.

Whoosh-

Suddenly there was a soft crashing sound from afar. It was like the sound of an hourglass ticking away in the night.

MC: Lucien, did you hear that?

I opened my eyes, and my hand pointed out the window to the sound. Lucien slightly held his breath as if he was carefully distinguishing.

Lucien: The place we live is not far from the beach. I think it should be the waves.

MC: …The waves?

The rustling sounds kept coming to my ears, and perhaps because of the influence of alcohol or because of the "grand words" just now –

A thought struck my mind, and I stood up.

MC: Lucien.

Lucien: MC, would you like to see the sea right now?

Looking at each other tacitly, a small warmth flowed through my heart, but when I couldn't refrain from nodding my head-

I saw the clock behind Lucien, pointing to one in the morning.

MC: ...

MC: I'm tempted, but it's almost one o'clock now.

MC: We still have to attend the party tomorrow. It won't be good if it affects your condition…

Lucien: It doesn't matter if I sleep less, but it might make MC a little sleepy.

Lucien: So…You can totally reject me.

Lucien smiled lightly, the moonlight cast a hazy color on him, and his collarbone was also faintly visible under the open skirt.

His usual soft and smooth hair was also a little messy because he was lying on the couch with me all night, giving him a little "unkempt" sense of laziness.*

(T/N: 不修边幅 is an idiom meaning not care about one's appearance/ slovenly in dress and manner)

Even though he said that, there was a dark tidal current that swept me deeply into those dark eyes.

It made me sink into them.

I winked and beamed with a big smile.

MC: No, let's go to see the sea.

MC: I don't care if I will be a bit sleepy tomorrow. I want to see the sea with you now.

The interest in Lucien's eyes grew even stronger, his hand absent-mindedly resting on the back of his neck while the other hand holding the wine glass clinked lightly with mine.

It sounded clear and beautiful.

Lucien: Then, we seem to hit it off.

(T/N: 一拍即合 is an idiom lit. to be together from the first beat (idiom) /to hit it off/to click together / to chime in easily)

At night, it turns out that nothing can be seen on the sea except the ivory moonlight falling on the tide.

At the far end of the horizon, a long, thin line of lights from thousands of homes spreads horizontally, so far away that it seems like another untouchable world.

MC: Lucien, there are only two of us here.

MC: It seems that the idea of going to the beach at one o'clock in the morning is really unreasonable~

Lucien: But by occasionally doing the opposite, the sea belongs to us for a brief time.

Lucien: Even though the sea is not blue at all, there are no seagulls to be seen, and you might even step on a small crab moving in the night.

Seeing Lucien joking around, I'm happily took off my shoes and quickly run to the waves to feel the tide soaking through my ankles.

MC: I can't see the sea, but I'm in the sea right now.

MC: I can still feel the sand slipping past my ankles along with the tide and then quietly slipping away from the soles of my feet.

Lucien: The Great Producer seems to be extraordinarily attentive today.

Lucien: I don't know if it's because of the wine or the movie...

MC: Of course, it's because of you.

I was quick to take over his words, winking playfully. Seeing me like this, Lucien burst out laughing.

Lucien: (laughs) What to do? I feel a bit helpless with this slightly drunk lady.

Hearing his little teasing, I purposely flicked my foot and brought the seawater onto the edge of his shoe.

MC: Then Professor Lucien, don't let me stay alone in the sea~ why don't you take off your shoes too? It's comfortable here,

He didn't answer, and just when I thought he would smile and politely decline, Lucien bent down to take off his shoes and walked beside me.

Lucien: Indeed, It's very comfortable, just a little cooler than I thought.

Although taking off the shoes is not a big deal, I feel that his natural response is a bit unexpected

MC: Lucien, how many drinks did you have tonight?

Lucien: Do you think I'm drunk?

His long, narrow eyes were clear under the moonlight, and they clearly captured me in them. I smiled, shook my head, and continued using my foot to send the cold water over his ankles.

MC: It doesn't matter if you are drunk or not. There is no one else here anyway.

MC: So, it's okay for you to be a little more "let loose".

Lucien: Can teacher MC teach me some examples?

My eyes seemed to linger on him. Then I leaned down to cup a small amount of water and splashed it on him.

MC: Just like this?

He nodded thoughtfully, took two steps forward, and when I thought he was going to counterattack, I was about to turn and run-

Before Lucien tenderly shackled me in his arms.

Lucien: (whisper) Teacher, can I draw another example from what you just taught me?

MC: O-of course.

He gazed deeply at me. His fingertips brushed my eyebrows, my eyes… And finally, he held my face and kissed it.

The waves hit the rocks again, but this time, we were in the middle of the waves, surrounded by dense foam and entwined by the sweet taste of wine between our lips and teeth.

I was immersed in this sweet taste. Lucien only pulled away from me a while later. The cold sea breeze lingered at the tip of my nose and tickled me a little….

MC: Ah-choo-!

I quickly covered my mouth, and a chill ran through my body.

MC: … Although it is in the south, the sea is still a bit cold at night.

Lucien: This seems to be an oversight on my part.

He turned and bent down, grabbed my thighs with both hands, and put me directly on his back.

A moment of weightlessness made me cling tightly to his neck.

MC: Eh? Are we going back? But I'm just a little cold and not tired.

Lucien: This lady seems to have misunderstood me.

He said as he walked forward, moving away from the direction of the manor.

Lucien: Since we came to the beach late at night, we should have some fun before returning.

Lucien: It's just that if you stay in the sea all the time, it's easy to catch a cold.

Lucien: So, by carrying you on my back in the sea, we should be able to achieve almost the same effect.

Our shadows are close and seamless under the moonlight.

I contentedly put my face on Lucien's back and talked to him about one thing after another.

The faint sound of laughter rolled away with the waves until I saw the smoke coming from the distance, and I couldn't help but exclaim in a small voice.

MC: Lucien, it's a roadside stall! It looks like a stall for some kind of warm and hot soup.

Lucien: Want to go over and take a look?

MC: Um!

As we got closer, I faintly saw the stall owner turn off the small lights and put the ingredients into the box one by one…

MC: Shoot, looks like it's about to close!

Before I finished speaking, Lucien tightened his arms, and I felt a gentle jolt. I was stunned when I realized he was running with me on his back!

MC: Lucien...?

Lucien: (panting while shouting happily) MC, I'm curious, so without any hesitation...

Lucien: (still continuing shouting happily) I ain't gonna let you miss it.

(T/N: I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR HIM TO SOUND THIS HAPPY AND ALIVE-)

A relaxed laugh passed through my ears. Although I can't see his expression at this moment, I can imagine that calm but warm face.

I couldn't help but laugh and approached his ear-

MC: Professor Lucien, we seem to be a bit "crazy" now.

When I woke up the next day, Lucien was already fully dressed, sitting on the sofa and quietly reading a book.

His white shirt was clean, and his smooth hair was well-groomed.

I can't see that this is the same man from last night, who was so energetic that he chased the stall owner with me on his back so I could successfully drink hot soup, and only went to sleep at dawn…

I secretly laughed, then sat up and stretched.

MC: Lucien, what time is it? Why didn't you wake me when you got up?

Lucien: You were so tired from last night, so I wanted to let you rest a little longer.

Lucien: Plus, there's still plenty of time, so you can take it slow.

MC: So… Since it's early, can I ask for a good morning hug?

I grinned at him and opened my arms. Lucien put down his book, sat on the edge of the bed, and softly pecked me on the lips.

MC: Even Professor Lucien can misinterpret a question. I clearly ask for a hug.

Lucien: Then, just think of it as an additional question that I answered.

I stayed in his arms for a while before going to the closet. I took out a purple dress and a set of a white casual suit with trousers.

MC: Which one do you think I should wear today?

His eyes wandered between the two sets of clothes for quite a while.

Lucien: The party is relatively long, so it is reasonable that wearing a comfortable dress would be better.

Lucien: However, a certain lady was so excited about the party that she went back and forth to pick out her clothes several times while packing.

After a moment of pause, his eyes finally fell on the purple dress.

Lucien: So just wear it, and if you get tired by then, we'll come back early.

MC: Hehe, Professor Lucien understands my mind the most~

Lucien smiled and walked to the mirror. His fingertips lightly crossed the table's edge and took out a pair of butterfly earrings from the jewelry box.

Lucien: I also have a suggestion about the jewelry.

Lucien: You used to say it didn't have the right opportunity to shine, but I think today is that opportunity.

I took the earrings with a smile and hugged him around the neck.

MC: Then I would like to ask Professor Lucien to continue to help me with advice. Is that okay?

MC: I'll need you to help me choose the perfume I'm going to use when I go out. I'll go change first!

Without giving him a chance to react, I kissed him on the cheek and walked into the bathroom with my clothes and jewelry.

After changing clothes, I saw Lucien sitting lazily by the window, shaking the balm in his hand.

MC: Have you picked it out so quickly?

Lucien: To be precise, as soon as I smelled this scent, I knew it was the only way to go today.

MC: Oh? It looks like you're pretty confident in your choice~ Let me see which one you've chosen.

I picked up the balm to smell it, and my eyes widened

It has the scent of waves. The elegant fragrance carries a little bit of salty moisture, letting the memories of last night sweep into my mind.

The dark sea, the rolling waves, the moonlight sways in front of my eyes as he runs…

When I thought about it, I couldn't resist leaning into him, pressing closer to the scent in front of me.

(Cue 5th birthday bgm 🥺)

MC: You just said that you picked it right away. Can I take it that you enjoyed our experience at the beach last night?

Lucien: Mmm, I don't deny it.

Lucien: Although the scenery was pitch black last night, I can seem to remember it for a long time.

Looking at the balm in my hand, I suddenly thought of something and smiled.

MC: I've heard that scent can strengthen people's memories…

MC: So just remember with me a little longer.

As I said that, I leaned back a little. I slowly unbuttoned his shirt, one by one, with one hand.

I stopped when the sunlight cast a white light in front of his collarbone and rubbed my fingers on the balm.

As we looked at each other, my index finger slowly climbed up and down and slid down his chest with a little more force.

Lucien's palm covered my lower back as if in response to me. His fingertips were caressing. The lace tulle skirt made a rustling sound, just like the waves last night.

I couldn't help but press myself against his neck and breathe the scent of the ocean.

MC: Lucien...

Lucien: Hmm?

MC: In fact, looking back now, what we did last night didn't seem crazy.

MC: It's just strolling along the dark beach and then running after the stall that is about to close.

MC: But for some reason, I just enjoyed last night.

Lucien: Is this kind of "crazy" enough for you?

I stared deeply into his eyes without hesitation.

MC: Of course it's enough. Because you are the one who went to the beach with me, you are the one who held me, and you are the one who ran forward with me on your back.

I paused and pressed my forehead against his.

MC: For me, "crazy" is not about doing something out of the ordinary.

MC: My heart will still beat faster when I do ordinary things with you.

MC: Even when our hair is all gray, it'll still do the same.

MC: Isn't that just the craziest thing ever?

Lucien tightened his arms and pressed himself against me, without leaving any gaps.

Lucien: It really doesn't get any crazier than that.

Lucien: Your very existence has caused me to lose control from time to time.

I reached out to nudge the tip of his nose and smiled playfully.

MC: Then you must continue to be unreserved with me so that I can "occupy" you a little more.

He was stunned, and pretended to let out a sigh of chagrin.

Lucien: [sigh] Am I not unreserved enough in front of you? I can't believe that you have this "illusion".

MC: Because like you, I'm also very greedy.

MC: Although I also like the usual you, I want to see more of Professor Lucien from last night.

MC: And you will satisfy me, won't you?

Lucien answered softly. His quiet eyes seemed to set off layers of sea waves.

Suddenly, I thought of something else, curiously lying on top of him, twirling my fingertips around his hair.

MC: Speaking of which, what would you say is the craziest thing you've ever done before our hair turned gray?

Lucien bent his smiling eyes, lightly pursed his lips, and said nothing.

He just moved even closer to me while carrying the scent of the waves and lowered his head to kiss me.

-And once again, my heart bloomed like a flowering sea wave.

[T/N: 'Loving you is the craziest thing I've ever done in our lifetime' :”]

[withclawandvine]

what we pretend to be chapter 3

Summary: Azriel was a veteran spy, well suited to the sneaking and solitude that comes with a life in the shadows. He was good at it. He wasn’t good at undercover missions, so he couldn’t hide his shock when new recruit and undercover specialist Elain Archeron was already seated at the conference table, looking beautiful as ever. And then it was dropped on them like a bomb: Azriel and Elain would be sent to the suburbs, posing as a married couple to gather intel on a suspicious man who, according to reports, was in communication with notorious arms dealer, Koschei Sokolov.

Author’s note: oh boy this has been a long time coming. i could blame it on my new job or a number of other Life Things but the truth is i’ve been suffering from bnha brainrot (which if you’ve spent any time on my blog, should not come as a surprise haha) but i really wanted to get this done so i could start working on stuff for elriel month this year! so please enjoy, and let the pining begin babeyy !!

Tags: SFW, undercover au, fake married

Word count: 2.1k

ao3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/42105033

As soon as the deadbolt clicked into place, Azriel let himself sag against the door. “Fuck,” he sighed. “I thought they’d never leave.”

From the moment Brian and Lynn Forth had entered the house, a headache lurked at Azriel’s temples. Now, in merciful quiet and with nothing else to distract him, the pain pounced. Not for the first time, Azriel wondered if you could be annoyed into physical pain.

From her place on the couch, Elain looked at him with amusement dimpling her cheek. “They were only here for twenty minutes.”

Although he doubted Elain would lie about something so trivial, Azriel checked his watch. Sure enough, it was barely 8:00. That single conversation had felt like a small eternity, or like he’d died and gotten stuck in purgatory, atoning for his past sins on an overpriced couch, while his neighbors smiled through every sentence. It might not have felt so punishing had they learned anything significant, but as it was, the Forths were as vapid as they were irritating.

Lynn had prattled on about the widely-adored previous owners of the house and their eventual retirement to the coast. How eagerly everyone had anticipated and speculated about who would move in next, the disappointment when the previous buyers had backed out at the last minute. And finally, the surprised excitement when word got around that a young couple would be moving in. And young you are—about our son’s age, if I had to guess. There was a pause, Lynn clearly waiting for them to confirm or deny her suspicions, but Elain had merely grinned at Azriel while patting his knee, “Aww, she thinks you’re young.”

Azriel didn’t have to fabricate the fondness in the roll of his eyes.

“Thirty’s not that far off for you, you know,” he’d said, mostly sure it was true. He didn’t actually know how old Elain was. For all he knew, she was already thirty, but he knew that this was the time to be vague. It was better to deflect with a jest of his own than assign an exact age to her.  

“And she did mention the wife,” Elain added when Azriel rejoined her on the couch, this time sitting down across from her—the cushion still uncomfortably warm from Brian—instead of next to her. That was Alex’s spot.

Azriel would hardly consider information they already had on record much of a consolation, but Lynn's comment about the woman’s age was interesting. There wasn’t anything about that in the files. “If she really is about your age, it might be easier for you to form a connection.”

“Galkin will surely get in the way, though.”  

The poor girl seems lonely—hardly ever leaves the house, with or without Ivan. Lynn had said, shaking her head with a troubled frown. Elain and Azriel exchanged a glance, unsurprised by this revelation, but unsure how to probe further. Brian, perhaps observing the small exchange and misreading it as discomfort, had cut in with an apologetic grimace, Lynn, dearest, they’ve only been here a few hours. Let’s not drag them into neighborhood gossip just yet.  

Azriel drug his hands over his face tiredly before his fingers finally settled at his temples, pressing into the tender flesh.

“You okay?” Elain asked, taking care to keep her voice low.

“Just a headache,” he said, but it made Elain frown, as if he’d told her something deeply troubling.

And then she gave a bit of a jolt, “We haven’t eaten yet today!”

Lack of nourishment was one of several potential culprits; he still wasn’t going to rule out the neighbors.

Elain reached for the welcome basket Lynn just threw together! for them on their coffee table and pulled at the artfully curled ribbon holding the crisp cellophane wrapping in place. Azriel watched her set aside the bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, a scented candle, and a bag of locally roasted coffee before finding the list of her and Brian’s favorite delivery places and skimming it over.

“Indian or Thai?”

At the mere thought of fresh naan, Azriel’s stomach growled, “Indian sounds great.”

The dining table was still overrun with boxes, so they spread dinner out on the sofa table, promising they’d get to it tomorrow. It was unnervingly real—looking Elain’s messy hair and feeling the ache in his back and arms while they sat cross-legged on the couch, inhaling takeout too fast to talk. Here, inside the liminal space of a half-decorated room and low lamplight, Azriel really could just be somebody’s husband, procrastinating on unpacking.

But then he remembered that the boxes weren’t brimming with tchotchkes, and that getting the equipment inside ready, online, then securely stored could take all day. Whatever couldn’t be mistaken for a personal tablet or basic office equipage would have to be hidden away in filing cabinets or the closet. And that was just the beginning of tasks they had to accomplish to make sure the house was as unremarkable as possible.

Elain dunked a piece of roti in her aloo matar, “We need to meet the rest of our neighbors. Figure out who’s involved.”

“Or if they know anything,” Azriel added. “Even if they’re not working with Galkin.”

She nodded thoughtfully. “At the very least, Lynn seems invested in the neighborhood. I wouldn’t be surprised if she knew something.”

Luckily she was also endlessly chatty; getting her to divulge something wouldn’t be a challenge. Anything was better than what they had now. In the grand scheme of things, Ivan Galkin’s connection to Sokolov wasn’t a very significant lead, and one they probably only had because of the risk that came with doing business with someone new. They didn’t know the nature of the collaboration or what either man wanted from the other. They didn’t know what Galkin had to offer that made Sokolov decide it was worth the risk.

With the headache ebbing and his hunger sated, Azriel was painfully aware of his exhaustion. The kind that made his eyelids feel sticky with each blink, the normally thoughtless action becoming deeply unpleasant. It would be easy to blame it on the long day of driving and hauling and arranging, but in all honesty, Azriel had spent the previous night restlessly pacing around his apartment. Half preparing and half wrangling with his anxiety about the mission—about having Elain as his partner. Azriel could count on one hand the missions for which he’d had a partner. It wasn’t just his line of work that made him wary of trusting another person. He’d been a solitary creature his whole life. Hadn’t shared a space since his time in Special Ops, before Rhysand had plucked him out of the military ranks a decade ago.

Despite the anxiety urging him to do so, there was no reason for Azriel to push his body any further tonight. Their equipment wasn’t going anywhere, and even if it was set up, they hadn’t even determined an initial target.

He started tossing decorative pillows from the couch to the floor, but stopped when he felt Elain watching him. He turned to face her where she lingered on the stairs, brows wrinkled curiously.

“Don’t want to scratch a cornea on the beaded ones,” he explained. The one in his hands now looked promising—larger than the average throw pillow, covered in a soft suede.

“You’re not sleeping on the couch,” she said plainly. Azriel blinked at her, wondering if maybe she was messing with him like she had in the car, calling him baby and asking if he was into roleplay.

“We have a lot to worry about already,” she continued. Perfectly serious. “We can’t waste any of our energy on making sure the couch never looks like a bed, just in case people drop by and see it.”

Azriel could argue that people fought or fell asleep watching Sports Center all the time. But Elain was the expert and his spine knew he wasn’t twenty-two anymore, so he helped her fix the pillows and followed her upstairs.

The owner’s suite, situated at the end of the hallway, was decorated in the same earthy palette as the living room. Mostly neutral with rich woods, offset with more vibrant rugs and pillows of terracotta and evergreen. This was the room closest to being completely unpacked, except for the mound of boxes in the walk-in. The amount of clothes was concerning, more than Azriel had in his own closet. How long did the brass think this was going to take? There were half a dozen boxes just for him—suits and ties, jeans, athleticwear, a coat for every season, and finally, pajamas. He pulled the matching set out of the box, eying the baby blue and white striped fabric with disdain. After another moment of deliberation, he changed into only the pants.

Azriel finished getting ready for bed long before Elain, giving him time to situate himself on the side of the bed closest to the window, as close to the edge as he could manage without looking insane. He sat against the headboard, ankles crossed, staring at the communications device in his lap. So far, he’d only typed one sentence of his report, making a note about their visitors, and the small insight into the dynamic between Galkin and his wife.

What more was there to say? The neighbors smile too much and we can’t decide if we should get a French press or regular coffee maker tomorrow.

The thought of Amren reading an update like that almost had Azriel smiling to himself. He tried to recall any other details about the Forth’s visit, but the most pervasive memory was that of Elain’s hand on his knee, her thumb idly smoothing over the material of his pants, the touch warm and grounding. Azriel couldn’t quite remember the last time somebody had reached for him so casually and he had actually let them—much less been even marginally comforted by the gesture.

It shouldn’t matter. Not flinching away from her affections had served the mission. There was no use in thinking about why it was different, or what it might be like next time. Azriel had encountered plenty of beautiful women, even sought them out on occasion, at galas and buildings he didn’t belong in. Dousing suspicion with indulgent smiles and pouring honeyed words in their ears so they might fill his with secrets. It was a tactic he only used in moments of desperation, when subtlety was just as paramount as information itself, and there was no way of accessing someone’s computer or filing cabinets undetected. He needed to find that level of clarity now—let his body go through the motions and his mind focus on the mission.

He was sending his report when Elain stepped out of the bathroom.

Like him, she was dressed in pale blue. He wasn’t sure if the matching was intentional, because the color was where the similarities ended. Instead of pinstripes, Elain wore a silky nightgown trimmed with delicate white lace. Her thick hair had been loosely swirled into a bun on the top of her head, drawing even more attention to her exposed shoulders and the graceful lines of her collarbones. If Azriel had been able to draw air into his lungs, he might have laughed out loud.

One of her hands came up to fiddle with a thin strap, but it was as if she’d snapped her fingers in front of his face. The small, anxious movement dragging Azriel back to himself. Fuck, how long had he been looking?

He watched the ceiling fan spin while Elain darted across the room and into bed, only turning his head when he heard the rustle of the covers as she pulled them over her legs. The warmth in her cheeks had spread, splotching her throat and chest, in stark contrast with the cool blue fabric it disappeared into. Azriel’s eyes found the fan again, every muscle in his body as taut as the silence between them. Until Elain finally said, “Do you think we have time to stop at Target tomorrow?”

Azriel wondered if despite the mountain of clothing stacked in the closet, this was all Elain could find for pajamas. Summer still clung to the air, damp and stifling, but it wouldn’t be long before the wind chased away the humidity and started to bite. Surely whoever was responsible for selecting Elain’s wardrobe should have thought of that. Or at least of him, right now.  

“Sure,” he agreed, praying with everything he had that Elain would dismiss the strain in his voice as exhaustion. “Whatever you need.”

[mizumiii]

I will kill you - Attempt

First part - Previous part - Table of contents

Desha x Fem!Reader

Credit : .

Hello! Here is the end of that shorter Desha fanfiction :D Finally, I decided to merge the two problematic parts, and I'm pretty satisfied with how it ended up.

I hope you'll like it too! 😳

You were packing your things. It was no use staying here any longer. Even if it was hard to ignore the little voice that did not want to leave, it was too late for you. You had already betrayed the trust of the Underworld’s people and even tried to kill your husband. You had no right to be sad or anything, you had chosen to do it. You could have rebelled sooner and explained everything to Desha, but you had kept lying while selling information to his enemies. Until you learned that you had been manipulated since the beginning. You had been played, used and thrown, and now you were nothing. 

You had thought that you had lost everything the day you had hidden in that closet with the two babies you were taking care of. But, Lian had made sure you gave up all you could still have: a new place, a new chance at life. Maybe if things had been different… Maybe…

You frown, you were being unreasonable, it was best like this. Desha would be able to find a better wife, and you would atone for your sins somewhere else, far away from here. It was already enough that you were not sentenced to death for what you have done.  

“Where are you going?” A rough voice inquired behind you. 

“I am leaving the castle”, you simply answered, not even daring to look directly at the one you had once called your husband. 

He was not really injured, unlike you whose hands were still bandaged. He was angry, seeing you like this, packing your things as if he could simply throw you by the windows after having had his way with you. Did you really think so little of him? He scratched his old wound, where you had stabbed him while saying you wanted to kill him. Could you be flying because of that?

“Who said you could leave?” He finally scoffed, hiding his ache behind aggressivity. 

“I have to”, you pointed out, trying to look unbothered.

Why has he come? It was only making things harder for you. The shame and guilt were eating you away. You turned your back to him, finishing your luggage. What a shame, you had come here with less than that, but you still felt as if you were leaving everything else behind.

“You promised to take care of my siblings, it’s all I need”, you quietly added before trying to exit the room. 

“I will not keep you against your will”, Desha commented on your path making you freeze. “But answer me: being wed to me, was it only a bore to you?”

You could still not look at him, but just the sound of his voice made clear to you that he was not in a good place either. Because of you, again. When did you learn to know him that well? When did you start to feel for him? It would have been so much easier if it had really been only a bore to you.

“You know it is not true…”, you finally answered, unable to lie to him and yourself. 

“Then why?”

“I tried to kill you!” You suddenly snapped. 

You glared at him, trying to scare him off for good, but he was only looking at you as if he was just checking on you. His large mouth was ironically twisted while he had his arms crossed on his chest. But you noticed that he was frowning, and his eyes were mixed with pain and anger. 

“You call that scratch like that?” He sneered while shaking his arm. 

“Not only that”, but you also squeezed your own arm, your head down. “I tried other times too…”

“You’re really taking me for a simple-minded”, he groaned. “I already knew it.”

“What? Why did you let me then?!” You shouted, too shocked to show any restraint. “I read the letters, you’re not even responsible for what happened ten years ago!”

“I am as responsible as Satun or Lian. I should have been there, but I prioritise my own gain over your clan’s safety.”

 You saw in his eyes how he was still carrying the terrible weight of all the deaths induced by his father or the war between the two of them. You were angry against him because he had let you in the dark for so long, and for what? To satisfy his own self-loathing!

“You're stupid! What would have happened to your people if I had succeeded?!” 

“I’m a lot of things but not stupid”, he shouted leaning forward. “As if you could do more than scratching me!”

“You big pretentious”, you mocked, half smiling in front of his too-large ego. 

He scoffed, smiling too. The bad air had strangely disappeared between the two of you, but you could still not stay here. It felt good to know that Desha was not blaming everything on you, however, you could not forgive yourself. 

“For what it's worth”, you added in a soft voice, “I do not think you’re responsible for my kin’s death. And… I am very grateful for the time spent here with you. I was happy for the first time in a long time.”

You finally found the strength to exit despite Desha taking almost all of the place, by simply being leaned on the wall next to the door. You were not expecting any kind words out of him and simply walked away, a bit relieved to have been able to say what you had on your heart. 

However, you had only stepped outside the room when you were held back by your arm. You froze, unable to decide what to do, and what to think about what was happening. Was it really Desha who was holding your hand? His hand was so warm, you always liked feeling his raspy fingers interlock with yours… You realised a bit too late what you were thinking, and felt mortified by it. 

“Do not leave me alone”, those words were so genuine and hurting, they made you shiver and cry in your heart. 

You felt like choking, and tears gathered in your eyes. 

“Why do you want me to stay? I only hurt you…”, you whispered without turning. 

“I was happy too”, he simply explained.

You felt his big arms slide around you, taking you in a warm and soft hug. Your will faltered and you slowly turned to face him. The pain on his face was hurting you, you only wanted to see him full of joy. 

“I want to stay too”, you finally admitted, unable to hold on to your tears any longer.

“I will not allow my wife to leave at the first excuse.”

You smiled before laughing softly. Desha froze, he had underestimated how good it would feel to see you looking so lighthearted. 

“Does that mean that I am still allowed to call you husband?” You jocked with a mutinous smile.

“You have to”, he pointed, showing his pointy tooth in a menacing stance that had not exactly that effect on you.

“Husband”, you hummed.

His eyes slightly widened, while his smile became way genuine, and your heart melted. It was really too late for you, you were definitely in love. And it would only make it more agonising for you. 

*

You silently looked around for a long moment. There was not much left, mainly dust and ashes, the only leftovers of a whole kind. It was sad but you had no more tears left to shed over it. 

However, your memories of that fateful night were quite vivid. That pile of rumbles had been your workplace, the nursery where you were taking care of the babies. And behind one of the closets, there was a hiding place where you had hidden with the two newborns you had in your arms when the alarm rang like in the exercises. However, the exercise never ended, and you have heard all your family and friends die while holding the two little lives on your chest. 

Thinking about it made your chest hurt as much as before, but at that time you were feeling at least satisfied. The two people responsible for your kind death had been killed, and the two little babies had become teenagers with long and safe lives in front of them. 

As for you… You had been used, manipulated and almost ended up killing the man who had tried to help your kind, and who had been nothing but kind to you. You never knew that all Tieflings were able to withstand magic without consequences, certainly, only the guardians were aware of it while the others just went on with their life without knowing what threat they were to gods and magicians. 

Anyway, you hoped to at least make things right with Jian's death. You had trained a lot to be able to oppose him, and now your ability was not much since you had lost most of your hands' faculties. But it was only a small price to pay. At this moment, you had left Desha’s castle, hoping to redeem yourself somewhere quiet. 

He had already been so lenient by not executing you for your betrayal, and allowing your siblings to have a secured life in the Underground kingdom, therefore losing your place as Desha's wife was only logical. Then, despite the King's wishes, leaving the castle had been the right and logical thing to do for you. Even if it made you empty and hurting. Living by Desha’s side had shown you what normal and loved life looked like and it was only making it more painful to lose it. But you could not allow yourself to enjoy it after everything you had done. 

Your eyes started to burn and you decided to forget all about your past. It was far too late for regrets, you could only keep living, hoping to redeem yourself for your mistakes. 

“As much as the idea of a honeymoon sounds good for me, I am now questioning your tastes in choosing a fine location.”

You swiftly turned, surprised to suddenly hear someone else so close to you. Your eyes widened, and the tears you had been holding back started to flow. 

“What are you doing here?” You succeeded in asking despite your hoarse voice. 

“What questions is this? Did you intend on going on our honeymoon without your husband?” 

Warmth spread in your chest, and you smiled.

[afurioushawk]

Sometimes, I think that after the arcade fight, Amanda shouldn't have gone to Cobra Kai and slapped Kreese in the face. If anything, she should've taken the students to the police station and had them file criminal charges against Cobra Kai. That would do wonders for everyone.

With the arcade, the only ones who would've faced possible harsh sentencing were Tory (since she broke her probation by participating at all) and Hawk, since he was the instigator and the one who broke Demetri's arm. Amanda can't really press charges against a dojo itself. I don't disagree that someone needed to put the fear of God in these kids (since Johnny dgaf) and someone to remind them that eventually, they would find themselves behind bars if things kept going the way they did.

But as much as you're frequently in my asks talking about how you wish kids were beaten to a pulp and thrown away, I've told you before that what they need is a responsible adult to care about them and put them on the right path.

Like, we watched ourselves what happened to Robby when he got sentenced to juvie. It actively made him worse. It's what ultimately sent him over to Cobra Kai and made him far crueler than he ever was before going to juvie. Pre-juvie Robby would have never rubbed almost killing Miguel to his face or do what he did to Hawk.

Now imagine someone like S3!Hawk being sent to juvie and what he'd be like when he got back out if he hadn't been given a second chance instead to turn his life around and start atoning for the things he did. He'd probably have become 1000 times worse. But instead, the MDs got an apology out of him, he actively bettered the dojo he had vandalized when he designed the sparring deck, and he did everything within his power to save MD by fighting for that dojo at the AVT. Not saying he's finished atoning, but good has come out of allowing Hawk the opportunity to actually work to make up for his bad behavior.

And what has Miguel gotten after Robby faced punitive punishment? Nothing but more antagonism. But now that Robby's got a responsible adult looking out for him? Hopefully Miguel will now get some actual closure from Robby and these two can get on better terms.

[tvrningout-archived]

“ i’ll hold your heart as it deserves to be.  i’ll protect it to my final breath. “ ( to kaiya :'))) )

a collection of sentence starters | accepting!

     it’s difficult. for so long, kaiya has held onto the belief that she doesn’t deserve happiness. she doesn’t deserve to pursue the things she wants or take a chance at feeling a little less weary when she’s snuffed out so many lights, been the cause for grief and hurt. it doesn’t matter that she wasn’t quite herself at the time -- her actions still led to the deaths of innocents, so her life is no longer her own. it belongs to the innocents she can still help, the slayers who she can aid. her life is to be one of atonement. 

     every happy moment is a blessing that she doesn’t deserve, and she certainly doesn’t deserve kyojuro’s love ( how warm and endless it is, like being embraced by the sun ). he gives it to her anyway, praises her for the strength it takes to admit to her wrongs and try so ardently to atone for them. time and again he wipes the tears that fall too easily and reminds her she is worthy of his love, that she indeed deserves the care and happiness she wants for others, no matter if she’s convinced herself otherwise. 

     it’s difficult, but little by little, he chips away at her stubborn self-loathing. little by little, her heart grows more hopeful, grows further away from idea that she isn’t meant to be happy, and grows closer to believing kyojuro is right. 

     kaiya only smiles in response to her sun’s loving declaration, feeling choked up. she doesn’t want to start crying in front of him again when he’s witnessed more than enough of her tears. kyojuro squeezes her hand as his calloused thumb strokes the back of her hand, and the demoness lets out a shuddering breath. it’s such a small, simple gesture, yet it’s enough to nearly make her crumble. “ i know you will, ” she manages to whisper. then kaiya draws closer, tucking her head beneath his chin and focusing on the sound of his steady heartbeat. his arms wrap around her in an instant, and all the rigidness of her mixed feelings melts away. stories always focus on true love’s kiss, but kaiya wonders why they never focus on the comfort of a lover’s embrace. the way kyojuro holds her is enough to make everything okay for a little while, as if he possesses a magic of his own.

     “ thank you. ” her words are less strained this time, less heavy. her arms tighten around the flame breather. “ thank you. ”

[thefanbasewhore]

Bucky has a nightmare and hurts the reader?

Summary: Bucky has a nightmare and mistakes the reader for someone else.

Warning/content: physical violence, choking, Bucky is a mess, reader is hurt by Bucky.

Paring: Bucky Barnes x female reader

A/n: I wrote this really fast, it's not proof read.

Part 2 coming soon - comment If you want to be tagged

It all happened so fast, one minute she's fast asleep, not a worry in the world until a cool, vibranium arm wraps around her neck so fast her eyes could barely react quick enough to open and find the source.

Once opening, it's blurry. Unshed tears kiss her waterline as her body reacts naturally, scratching and clawing at the man pressing his metal appendages, squeezing her windpipe close. It doesn't phase him, the sting of ripped skin and taste of blood as it trickles down his face and taints his lips.

"Bu-." She tries but the metal grip only tightens. It burns, her throat is on fire, no doubt turning black and blue under the deadly squeeze. Pressure builds up in her head, making it unbearably hot and her chest stutters under the weight of his own.

Bucky is snarling, blue eyes boring into her own but only if isn't him, someone else entirely. The old him, no doubt deep in the confines of him mind making an appearance once again. His eyes are dark, filled with a deep, meaningless void.

It hurts, blood vessels pop pooling both eyes with a deep, crimson bed. With one last effort, fingers find the buzzed hair, nails curling around the back on his neck where she uses all her strength to scratch until she smells blood.

The sharp pain is enough to snap Bucky out of it, hand easing up as she inhales a deep, desperate breath. The look of realization, ocean blues ablaze, chest heaving with adrenaline and eyes never leave hers.

"I-." Hands pull away quickly, only to be held against his chest as he leans back, only to realize he's using all his body weight to crush her chest. When he sits up, the desperate sound of heavy breathing, burning lungs makes his bottom lip quiver.

She sits up, clenching her throat with small fingers, trying to sooth the buring ache. Now that she has an unlimited amount of air, her body doesn't seem to want it, the deep, chest filled coughs make it hard.

"I-I didn't know." Her chest still isn't moving, bloodshot eyes silently beg is own as he leans over, hand cupping her chin to notice the way her skin lightened, lack of oxygen taking the normal color. A hand rests against her chest and up to her neck, rubbing the raw skin.

"Breath baby, please breathe."

This has happened before but never this bad, never to the fact of almost falling unconscious from Bucky's wrath. Tears roll past his eye lashes, heart squeezing, his chest feels heavy, hurting under the burden of being the reasoning for this.

He fliches as her fingers push his away and crawls to the end of the headboard, trying to create as much distance as possible.

The first breath she takes hurts and it burns her lungs. Bucky let's out a breath of relief as he uses the back of his hand to wipe the endless stream of tears from his eyes.

"I'm sorry, God, I'm so, so sorry." He hiccups, he wants nothing more to reach out and hold her, sooth every ache and pain with the coolness of his lips. His chest stutters, catching a small cry in his throat.

He's cautious, making slow, seen movements as a flesh hand reaches out to cup her shoulder. Surprisingly, she snuggles into it, as the metal hand wipes away the small tears that fall to her cheeks.

"Oh, honey." He coos, biting his lip to prevent another cry that creeps up his throat as his fingers press against the ugly purple and yellow bruises and she winces. "My dream - I was dreaming, I didn't mean to -."

"I know." He cringes as the hoarse, low voice. Vocals cords completely crushed, sore and raw as he pulls away.

"I'm going to call, Sam. He's coming to get you, you need to get away from me." Bucky can't look away at what he's done, the tears are endless.

"Buck - wait... Don't."

Bucky reaches for the phone, ignoring her completely but the phone is yanked away with shaky hands and thrown over her shoulder. "What are you doing? Sam needs -."

"You didn't mean it." The first full sentence burns, red eyes filling with tears again, but instead of fear, not it's pain.

"How could you defend me right now? Look at you." Bucky can barely see in front of him, tears blurry his vision. He's hysteric, can't breath, chest giving out with ever word spoken, his broken heart pounds. "You need to get away from me, you can't be here with me, not anymore."

It's not his fault that demons haunt him in his dreams, that his life has been nothing but a series of unfortunate events. It's unfair, not to feel secure in your own skin, having to fight to stay alive for the last 70 years and be manipulated in ways that are unimaginable; brain ripped apart and frozen without any care.

"Bucky, it's okay." Smooth hands reach out to touch his tense shoulders to pull him close, and he can't help but fall into the crook of her shoulder. Tears smear the naked skin, fall and pool into collarbones as another cry rocks his chest.

"I didn't mean to hurt you, I never wanted to, always want to protect you." Soft lips press into the purple bruising, trying to kiss away the pain. Atone for his inexcusable behavior but it only makes it worse but she swallows the pain, the urge to move away as she rubs soft circles into the base of his lower back.

"We have to get you to the hospital." Bucky whispers against her shoulder, pressing a soft, sorry kiss. His eyes fall to her nakedness for a second, gentle fingers press her chin up to his own. She raises her arms as he dresses her slowly with shaky breaths and the quivering chin never leaves. "I'm calling Sam there, you're staying with him from now on."

"Buck, there are other ways."

He sighs softly, helping her dress into the oversized hoodie that smells way too much like him. Large hands cup her own as he kneels between her legs, eyes never leaving each other. "I cant trust myself, I rather die then something like this happen again."

"Don't say that -."

Bucky can't help the heat of anger in his chest, not directed towards anyone but himself. "just for now, just until I get this under control."

A silent nod catches his attention and Bucky doesn't hesitate to get her to the hospital. She doesnt miss the way Bucky's eyes shift to the floor as she tells a totally made up lie, he's consumed with guilt and leaves the room.

The call beeps in his ear, dialing and dialing until a familar voice speaks through the speakers. "Bucky?"

"Sam, I need you." He needs his best friend, someone to talk to, someone to tell him that he's fucked up that this isn't okay. The way his girl is taking this is unhealthy, like it's expected and it hurts, his heart hurts so, so much. Tears rolling down his cheeks as he leans against the hospital hallway. "I need you to come get her, room 234. I can't be here anymore."

[drazzilder]

Control

By Drazzilder 

Endeavor x Male Reader

R18+

An Anonymous request:

“Could i request an enji x male reader.

Maybe its during his redemption arc and the reader hates to see enji so down and depressed as apposed to his normal confident and loud self so the reader treats him to a nice date night where he lets enji take full control.

Rough sex, reader is a bottom, anal or oral, up to you. Some fluff date stuff before hand.”

Endeavor hasn’t been himself lately. The big man has been very solemn and quiet. He is a man of few words to begin with but now he barely says a word, mostly just grumbles. The other sidekicks notice this as well but all are too afraid to anything about it. You can’t help yourself and try to help him out.

Today he is in his office and the door is cracked open. Your curiosity is at a peak when you tip toe to the door and listen. The hero is speaking but it seems to be only to himself. You can barely make out the words but you manage to make out most of it.

“Why do I keep seeing the same dream?….Why am I never there?….I hurt them all so much…. Is having them move out the right thing to do?.... They deserve to be happy…” Endeavor starts to trail off as his words become more mumbled. All you know is that he is down, something is up and you wanted to find out. You don’t even bother to knock as you open the massive door. Endeavor doesn’t even look up from his desk when you slam your hands down on his desk.

The man sounds like he had to force out the word “Hello.” You don’t have to look at his face to know there isn’t an ounce of emotion showing.

“Endeavor! How have you been?” You say with an exaggerated tone, trying to brighten his mood; however, this seems to cause the opposite. When he looks up, you swear that he could kill with that look. You guess that maybe that wasn’t the best way to start so you try again.

“Sorry to be so over the top, I’m just really excited to go to this new restaurant in Tokyo! The wait list is 6 months to just get int but a friend of mine had to cancel so he gave me his spot.” Looking back at Endeavor, his face now goes back to a blank stare.

“That is nice of your friend.”

“The problem is that it is a reservation for two and I have no one to go with. I didn’t want the second seat to go to waste and eating by yourself is so lonely. I was wondering if you wanted to come.”

Those words made his nose flare and smoke come out of his nostrils. “Why should I go with you?”

“Lighten up. I just wanted to know if you wanted to come. You are away working so hard and you seem down lately. Maybe some time away from home could be good for you.”

The man sits there a moment in silence. You are starting to worry you might be fired for asking him to come to dinner with you but you are shocked when he finally speaks. “Very well. Where and when.”

“REALLY?!.... I mean meet me at the train station at 5, dinner is at 6.”

The hero goes back to look down at his desk which signals you to leave. You close the door and lean against it and sigh. Maybe you can find out what’s going on and maybe help him. You then stand back up and finish your day at the agency. After running home and changing, you meet the man himself at the train stations. He is in a full suit; you are just wearing a nice shirt and kakis. The train ride couldn’t be more tense, he never said a word as he followed you on and off the train. At the restaurant, you are greeted by a gentleman in a nice suit and seated immediately in a private corner. After the waiter takes your order, Endeavor just sits looking depressed.

“You haven’t said a word all evening, something has got to be on your mind.”

Endeavors gaze now turns into a harsh stare as he responds “It is none of your business!”

“Well, I finally got a word out of you.”

“What?”

“I’m just trying to see why you are acting different.”

“I’m fine.”

“I don’t think you are.”

The man just stares blankly as you before looking down. “I-I shouldn’t be here. I’m sorry.”

He is about to leave but you grab his hand. “Endeavor, wait!”

He pulls his hand away and glares “Why do you want me to stay?”

“I heard you in your office.”  

His nostrils flare and his face now only shows anger. “You were spying on me?!?” He says much louder than he wanted.

“I didn’t mean to but you sounded like you are hurting.”

“You know I should fire you that.”

“I know but it is only because I care. You have been down recently and I heard you talking, I couldn’t help myself to try to figure out what is wrong.”

Endeavor sighs “How much did you hear?”

“Enough.”

He looks down and speaks under his breath: “This isn’t your problem.”

“But I might be able to help. You can tell me.”

He sits down and begins to tell you all about his family: how he hurt them, why they are gone, why he is living alone. He is trying so hard to atone his mistakes but he forgetting about himself. He has been alone for a few months and it’s hitting him hard.

“I guess that is everything….”

“I see.”

“Is that all you have to say?”

“Give me a second, it’s a lot to process…. It sounds like you are willing to change to help your family heal and be better. The only problem is you are forgetting something: yourself.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that you need to heal as well.”

“I am fine.”

“Look at yourself, the man you used to be was so full of life, loud and boisterous but now you are in a slump. You hardly spoke all day even when prompted.”

“Oh.” He just tilts his head down after his response.

“It’s ok that you are feeling guilty but you need to help yourself too. I bet you can’t even look at yourself in the mirror easily. I have an idea that might help after dinner. Are you willing to try?”

“If it will help me, then yes.”

“I think it might.” The dinner was delicious, no wonder it had a 6-month waiting list, it was the best food you ever had. You finished the meal with Endeavors favorite, kuzumochi, to try to cheer him up more. Soon, you are both back on the train and headed home. However, Endeavor follows you instead of heading back to his home. You arrive at your apparent and close the door behind him.

“What now?” The large man questions while standing in the middle of the living room.

“Sit down while I get something.”

Endeavor finds his way to the couch and waits for what feels like forever. He is about to get up and leave when he hears you coming back to the room. You are now only wearing a thong and begin to approach him.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?” He starts to crawl backwards into the couch but can’t go any further.

“Helping you….”

“How is this going to help me?!”

“Your life has gone out of control recently, maybe you need to take control of something again.”

“What?”

“Take control and do what you want with me.” You say as you begin to sit down in his lap. He looks at you in complete shock as he stares unblinking.

“You are a man, my sidekick, I can’t possibly- “

You interrupt him by placing a finger on his lips. “Don’t think about that, just let go. It already looks like your body is responding.” You look down to see a large budge forming in his slacks. You look back up and see something is different; his eyes look almost glazed over. He pushes you off and you are afraid he is going to leave but he just takes off his jacket and grabs your face. He almost drags you off your feet has he begins kissing you all over your face. At first, they are gentle but then more and more forceful until your lips meet. Then he starts to push in full force with his tongue. The sweet flavor of the kuzumochi is still all over his mouth as he assaults you with his lips. You feel his arms go down to your chest and hold you tight has he lifts you up.

“Ooof” is all that comes out of your mouth when he slams the both of you on the couch, still kissing you. You lay under him for a moment until he stands up. The look in his eyes have changed again, almost looking primal as he starts to rip his shirt and slacks off. Now just in his underwear, you see that he is fully hard and large. You can’t help yourself and tease him seeing the number one here like this. “Looks like someone is excited. What are you going to do to me?” You finish your sentence with a wink.

The hero responds by grabbing your arms and flinging you over his shoulder. “Just shut up and do as your told.” He carries you to your bedroom. You are slammed down again and you look up to see the Endeavor has flames on his face. “My sidekick has been very naughty today spying on his boss? What would a good punishment be?”

“Oh, I’m sorry~” you reply back in a sarcastic tone.”

He grabs your ankles and flips you over. “I think a few good spanks should do….” Endeavor doesn’t even bother to finish his sentence when you feel his massive hand hit your rear end hard. You can’t help but moan in a mixture of pain and pleasure as he continues to spank you. By the 6th time, you are at your limit and tears are running down you face. You feel him grab your legs again and flip you over.

“I thought spanking was supposed to be a punishment?” He says with a smirk. You look down and notice you are now full hard. “I guess we should take care of this.” The big man grins and he takes a finger under your thong and rips it easily. Once exposed, you feel his hand grasp you, fully engulfing your member with the size of his hand. He starts pumping up and down as you start moaning again. You try to match his pace with your hips but he uses his other hand to hold you down. He must sense you are close again as he stops. “Not yet, you still need to be punished properly.”  Moving to the nightstand, he grabs a bottle of lotion and starts to pull down his underwear. You could tell he was big but seeing it fully in person was something else. He starts to rub lotion all over his cock and approaches the end of the bed with an evil grin.

“You are going to take all of this.” Is all he says as he lifts your legs. You feel his tip start to push into you. You slam your head back on the bed as he starts to going further inside, his girth is way beyond anything you had to handle before. It isn’t long before it gets everything inside of you but you can barely breath from the feeling. He then starts to move again, this time out. He almost pulls out completely before going full speed into you, his hips practically spanking you with the speed they are moving. You start to feel his hands getting hot on your thighs as he starts to get into it more. Endeavor is too into his own world to notice you already came but you can’t tell him even if you wanted to.

“You are such a naughty sidekick!” The motions are starting to intense as he starts to literally steam up the room with his sweat. Your body has gone limp from all of the thrusts but Endeavor is too busy to notice. Between the name calling and speed of the thrusts, you could tell he is getting close. Right before the big man climaxes, he just yells “You are going to take all of my cum!” His huge cock pumps semen deep inside of you, it’s so hot it almost feels like it is burning your insides. You do your best but the amount overwhelms you and some does leak out. He keeps up his motions as the twitching starts to slow. He finally stops after what feels like an eternity. Once Endeavor pulls out, yours legs flop down.

“Are you going to clean this up?” The hero almost demands as he is standing above you.

“I would but I can’t feel my legs right now. I will later if that’s ok?”

“It will have to do.” Endeavor then gets into the bed next to you. He shifts the both of you to the top and places the covers over you both. It isn’t long before you fall asleep in the man’s grip. You wake up the next morning in the bed alone, only the sound of a shower indicates that someone else is home. The shower stops and the door opens.

“Good morning.” He walks out in only a towel.

“I… I am sorry about last night.”

“I am off to get ready for work, you should do the same.” Is all he says as he gets dressed and walks out the door. You just quietly get up and get ready for the day. It isn’t long till you find yourself at the agency. However, the quiet that has taken over the agency recently is now replaced with the yells and demands of the number one hero once again. Nothing mean, just being a good leader and hero.

“What’s going on?” You ask a fellow sidekick.

“I don’t know but what ever happened, he seems to finally be himself again. He does seem less harsh now.” Is all she says before she rushes off. When he sees you walk in, Endeavor tells you in his loud voice to quickly get to work and check your patrol area.

“I guess he is going to pretend that nothing happened.” Is all that goes through your head as you log onto the computer. When you get your schedule, you see that you are working with Endeavor today, alone; something that never happens. You look up and see the hero walk past you with the same look in his eyes that you saw last night. You don’t know what is in plan for today but you can’t wait to find out.

[tangledinmdzs]

the last word - mdzs character hcs

mdzs characters reaction to you being an assassin 

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Jiang Cheng

Jiang Cheng had barely closed the door of his bedchambers, when he is faced with a sword at his throat

he’s angry first and foremost, 

because how dare someone attempt to kill him in his own home,

his own bedroom

but then he looks up and his eyes find you 

“it’s you” Jiang Cheng notes, 

he’s seen you around a lot these past few days,

a lingering shadow in between his meetings, lunches, outings and more

the last time he saw you, you were dressed in servants clothing

now, you’re donned in all black, a mesh veil doing a pretty crappy job at concealing your identity

perhaps, maybe Jiang Cheng had just been paying too much attention to you

nonetheless, he won’t ever forget your eyes

seeing that Jiang Cheng already knows that it is you, you forgo the veil, untying it swiftly with one hand as the other points the sword at his neck

the veil falls to the ground with little fanfare,

and when Jiang Cheng takes on a full view of your face, 

the murder in your eyes is much more clear

“i can only promise that this will be painless,” you tell him at him,

Jiang Cheng’s eyes widen, and for the first time since your arrival, he puts up a fight, 

he holds the blade of your sword tightly, wrapping his hand around it as you move it closer to his neck

“why are you doing this? what wrongs have i done to you?” Jiang Cheng asks, holding the blade tighter as you press closer 

you both engage in a short tussle, one that ends up with Jiang Cheng making you drop your sword, even though he’s still bleeding 

he puts your arms in a lock, immobilizing you 

“speak, who’s put you up to this,” Jiang Cheng commands

“money makes the world go round,” you grunt out, when Jiang Cheng pulls your arm behind you particularly tight

your sentence makes him wonder, what other powerful sect leader had it out for him,

especially to this extent

you take the opportunity of his loosening grip to rip yourself free, 

taking up your sword

disappearing as fast as you came

Jiang Cheng tries to run after your escape, but he isn’t fast enough

you won’t admit 

that after seeing the Yunmeng Jiang Sect Leader, you are having second thoughts about killing him

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Wei Wuxian

Wei Wuxian sucks in a surprised breath,

this isn’t the first time that a sharp object had been held to his neck,

surely won’t be the last

but it’s one of the few times that he’s been surprised by it

“who are-”

“don’t speak, if you value your life,” you say quietly,

from your voice, Wei Wuxian can really feel that how close your are behind him, 

ever since Wei Wuxian had married Lan Zhan, he knows that it’s caused a mighty uproar in the cultivation world

but he didn’t think that it would be enough for someone to want his head rolling down the pavement

“can you p-please be more gentle,” Wei Wuxian whines you, when the blade presses a bit too closely on his skin

you huff out a smile breath behind him, 

though you move the blade away slightly,

once that is settled, Wei Wuxian tries to turn around to look at you,

not only to try to see the killer but he wonders perhaps if he had wronged you

Wei Wuxian knows he’s wronged many people, places and things in his life (intentional or not)

and he can’t atone for everything

“i’m sorry,”

Wei Wuxian’s words surprise you, 

because shouldn’t that be your line? 

you were sent to kill one of the cultivation’s world greatest masterminds, 

with something as petty as a surprise murder 

you didn’t even think that you would have gotten this close to the demonic cultivator let alone holding a blade to his neck

and in that moment of misplaced guilt

you find your hand dropping from his neck

quickly Wei Wuxian turns around to look at you

and he is surprised that he recognizes you

not out of any wrongs he may have caused

but because you were, one of the few people in his life that he could trust, before you had gone missing,

but you’re here now, 

“y/n-”

you don’t stay to hear him finish calling your name

he won’t be able to find you again

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Xue Yang

this is new, Xue Yang thinks, when he catch you mid-pouring the poison into his drink

usually, killing was his job,

but apparently,

someone had hired someone else to get rid of him 

as you and Xue Yang fight, he already has some sort of idea on who it is that wants his head

so when he fights you, he doesn’t aim to kill you specifically,

rather just immobilize you

so that he can interrogate

“spill it beautiful, who put you up to this?” Xue Yang asks while he now holds you in his arms,

a blade at your neck,

“what makes you think that it wasn’t my idea,” and Xue Yang’s surprised at your answer

because whoever it was that was paying you really wanted to conceal their identity,

“don’t think i won’t slit your throat, no matter how pretty you are,” Xue Yang threatens, 

he has a way of saying something morbid like that very nonchalantly 

he was hoping that would scare you enough to speak

surprisingly it doesn’t

he’s gotten a lot of surprises tonight, 

“look, i personally think it would be a shame for someone as beautiful as you to be dead, so tell me who it is that put you up to this, and i’ll spare you... maybe even often something more,” Xue Yang tries

his last surprise of the night is that you turn in his arm, just enough to catch his face

he sees your unimpressed eyes

and he knows he’s probably not getting anything out of you tonight

and even though Xue Yang knows you tried to kill him

he still lets you leave moments later, 

perhaps you’ll try to kill him again

but the next time you come for him

he’s not letting you go

[kiki-shortsnout]

For intimacy prompts: #17 laying your head on someone’s shoulder for Frostiron! 💚❤️ Thanks!

I'm back!!! Sorry it's taken so long, but I'm back to answer my prompts! Thank you so much for this one! I enjoyed writing this!

***

Loki stumbled as the Bifrost set them both down, too exhausted to shake off Thor’s steadying hand on his elbow, his brother’s own exhaustion evident in the slump of his shoulders. Loki had no strength left in him to make a jest about Thor’s overprotective tendencies, instead looking around the Midgardian cityscape he’d come to think of as a second home, his limbs limp.

Part of his atonement for his war crimes was to take a more active role in defense of the planet he sought to enslave. His mother and brother’s pleas not to imprison him swaying his father from a harsher sentence. He was a…tolerated member of the Avengers, a proverbial thorn in the side for most. He’d formed a tentative, begrudging respect towards the Black Widow, but he was a constant source of irritation for the rest of them.

Well, someone needed to keep the Avengers on their toes.

Loki was still called upon to keep Asgard and the realms it protected safe, and that was where he and Thor had been, subduing marauders on Vanaheim, listening to whispers of an event called a Convergence was impending, a cataclysmic occurrence that had them all on edge.

It felt as though his very bones rattled as he trudged across the roof of the Avengers Tower beside Thor, like his skin was stretched too taut over the excruciating ache of his muscles. As they came into the hanger, they both looked around, used to having at least one member of the Avengers greet them after their excursions off world.

Despite being used to being treated with distrust and trepidation, the bitter sting of their rebuke still penetrated the fatigued miasma clouding Loki’s brain.

He’d managed to convince one Midgardian that he was not the nemesis that all perceived him to be, that it was an illusion he portrayed to hide the crippling weakness he felt. This one Midgardian had seen through Thanos’s manipulations of his mind, had shattered the deception he shrouded himself in. It was Anthony he looked around for now, bewildered as he was met with nothing but silence, not even JARVIS speaking to them.

‘Is Earth under attack?’ Thor questioned, wiping the grime from his eyes as he frowned, moving towards one of the huge windows. Loki reformed his daggers as he took a step forward, ears straining to hear, his body sluggish and unwilling to cooperate.

The door at the far end of the room creaked open, and Loki teleported beside it in an instant, flinging it open and pointing his dagger at their enemy.

‘Pepper?’ Lowering his dagger, he immediately noticed she looked as tired, if not more so than the both of them. Her usually glossy hair was dull and frazzled, wisping around her face in auburn tufts, her eyes encircled with grey smudges.

‘What has happened?’ he asked, his words curt despite how he’d promised Anthony he would respect this mortal. It was an easy promise to keep, treating the two people Anthony treasured above all with care. Loki genuinely liked Pepper, her attitude, her bravery, her fiery temper. He and Rhodes tolerated each other, their mutual like for Anthony the only thing stopping them from attacking each other, settling instead for snide comments.

‘It’s Tony, he…he’s been really sick, Loki,’ Pepper gasped, her lower lip trembling as she swayed into him.

‘Where is he?’ Loki demanded, catching her by her shoulders. It was as though his body had been invigorated with lust for battle, any fatigue he’d felt moments ago burned away. Instead of the adrenaline he usually felt under such circumstances, his body felt cold, terror seeping down the back of his throat, stroking its clammy fingers across his skin.

Why wasn’t I here?

‘He’s in his room now-’

‘Where was he before?’ Thor asked before Loki could even put words to the thoughts scattering in his mind, the guilt webbing in his lungs, tugging at him with every breath.

‘The medical bay downstairs…JARVIS has the most extensive anatomy files because of the arc reactor and-’

‘Thor, look after her for me,’ Loki ordered, teleporting away despite them calling after him.

Anthony was huddled in his bed, the numerous blankets piled on him quivering as he trembled. The sickly scent spiraling in tendrils through the air made Loki recoil. This…was not something he was comfortable with. He’d never cared about another enough to warrant any actions of concern from him, had never been able to see past his own arrogance and selfishness to consider others.

‘An…Tony?’ he called, scared at what he was going to find, at how sick his mortal was. He’d seen Tony sick before, seen him with what they called a cold, all snuffy nosed and demanding and clingy. This silent, still, Anthony frightened him. What ailed him so? What illness had made Pepper look like a shadow of herself? Why had he needed to go down to the medical bay? Loki had seen Anthony after a battle, had seen him spit venom at any who dared suggest he seek medical help when he was injured, only allowing Loki to tend to his wounds hours later when the pain had grown too much to bear. Even then, he’d pretended it was for his own sake, that he was the one who couldn’t bear to see Anthony in pain.

He took a step backwards, wanting to flee, wanting to escape the fear plucking at him. He’d been in countless battles, fought with odds against him, had stood and waited for punishment by his father. This, seeing someone he had grown to care about like this…why was this affecting him so?

Anthony had reached out a hand in friendship despite all the atrocities he had committed in both Midgard and Jotunheim, the countless lives he had taken and lasting repercussions, Anthony Stark had given him a home, a means to make penance for those he had wronged. He hadn’t forgiven him, not straight away, that had taken time and trust to develop between them.

It was that belief in him, an emotion that so few beings were unwilling to extend to him which made Loki fall in love with the Midgardian, a feeling he had not given life with his words yet. It was this unnamed feeling which made him shove all his selfish fears aside.

Anthony needed him.

‘Anthony?’ he called again, peeling back the covers, his breath hitching at the sheer heat radiating from the man.

‘Hey,’ his voice cracked, his lungs rattling as he drew in a breath, hands tightening from where they were wrapped around himself in a pitiful hug.

‘What…what happened, should you even be here?’ Loki asked, dropping to his knees by the side of the bed, his hands hovering over Anthony’s body, uncertain, scared to touch this fragile creature.

Anthony rolled over in bed, and Loki was horrified at the sunken look to his skin, the waxy grey pallor, the red-rimmed eyes.

‘Oh, beloved,’ Loki breathed out, his hand stroking through clumped together hair.

‘Not a pretty sight,’ Anthony wheezed out. ‘You should’ve seen me a few weeks ago.’

Weeks? He’d left him behind in a worse condition than this for weeks?

‘How did your health deteriorate so fast? You weren’t in this condition when I…’ Loki’s eyes narrowed when Anthony’s gaze dropped, one of his tells when he wasn’t telling the entire truth. ‘You were ill when I left.’ Loki didn’t phrase it as a question.

‘Honestly, Lokes, don’t-’ Anthony’s protest was cut off with a wracking cough, the sheer force of it scaring Loki, sweeping aside whatever anger that had been beginning to build a few moments ago.

‘Why did you not tell me? If I had known-’

‘Thor needed you,’ Anthony said weakly, sagging back into his pillow. ‘Besides, this isn’t…this isn’t what we do.’ He closed his eyes as if the mere act of breathing pained him.

He was correct in his assumptions. They laughed, talked, had sex…keeping everything light and frothy and pleasurable, avoiding anything that encompassed feelings, vulnerabilities, neither wanting to be beholden to the other. It was a foolish act on Loki’s behalf, wanting to keep a distance from attachments, fearful of what Anthony could mean to him.

‘Move aside,’ Loki commanded, shrugging off his cape and unfastening his arm bracers.

‘Loki, what?’

‘Unless me joining you is going to impede your recovery in any way?’ Loki hesitated, suppressing his smirk at Anthony’s interested, fatigued gaze on his now naked torso. Lying beside his mortal, Loki gathered him in his arms, arranging them so he was on his back, Anthony half on top of him, his head on his shoulder.

‘Listen to me,’ Loki whispered, the words delicate, but infused with such meaning that it made them hang thickly between them. This was a precipice on which he stood, a moment he had read about in countless epic sagas. The hero baring the depths of their love after a heroic deed, or a noble act of self-sacrifice… not holding a sickly mortal. ‘I am not…not very good at this,’ Loki finished, his voice trailing off pathetically.

‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,’ Anthony said instead, wriggling his body closer, enjoying the cooler feel of Loki’s skin. ‘I’m a shitty patient, and I didn’t want you to see me like this.’

That Loki could understand. Only his mother dared to face his wrath when he had been sick, her gentle hands and calming voice the only things he would tolerate. But there was a deeper meaning behind Anthony’s reasoning too, the unwillingness to reveal a weakness, the fear of being abandoned.

‘I am not angry you did not tell me. I am infuriated with myself for not recognizing the signs of your ailment, of leaving you behind for such a long period of time when I know you do not like seeking help.’

‘Then what-’

Loki clutched his mortal closer, resting one hand on his brow to both to measure Anthony’s temperature and to cool him down.

‘I have never felt this way towards another being, mortal or not. I am sorry that you felt as though you could not tell me you were unwell, that I acted as though my intentions towards you were not serious. You plague my waking thoughts, my unconscious dreams, beloved, there is none I would rather be with.’

Rather than receiving a heartfelt confirmation of Anthony’s own feelings, the mortal stiffened in his grip, his rattling breathing halting. Fearful his illness had gotten worse, Loki rose a little from his waist so he could look down, confused at the angry frown Anthony was displaying.

‘Anthony-’

‘This is going to keep happening,’ he interrupted with a snap. ‘My insides are completely wrecked, my lungs, heart… Christ my liver…they’re all damaged and I’m not as young as I once was. I don’t know about you, but this is a wakeup call for why we shouldn’t be fooling around…let alone catching feelings for me.’

‘It is not for you to tell me my feelings are wrong,’ Loki admonished gently.

‘Loki, look at me. I’m a mess. I got a simple cold and it morphed into pneumonia. I might be out of the medical bay, but it’ll take weeks to-’

‘More of a mess than I am? Loki, the God of Mischief who manipulated my brother into going to war with my birth world, who allowed myself to be manipulated by Thanos-’

‘Loki you were tortured…’

‘And I threw you from a window, killed innocent people.’

Anthony didn’t answer that.

‘I know my actions of New York were not wholly my own, that I agreed to invade under duress, that my thoughts were not my own. Anthony, those thoughts were not just placed there by Thanos. I had always regarded Midgard as a lesser race. Those emotions might have been warped and heightened, but they were my own. I tricked my brother into a war against Jotunheim because I was jealous of the attention my father bestowed on him. These are not trivial things to be forgiven. They are sins I will atone for the rest of my life, and still, you found a way to love me.’

Anthony’s breathing hitched, turning into a cough, and Loki ran a comforting hand over his back to calm him.

‘I care not if your body is injured, that you are more susceptible to illness. It does not make you weaker in my mind, it highlights the battles you have endured, the strength it takes for you to continue living,’ Loki told him, lifting a hand to place it over Anthony’s arc reactor, protecting it. Despite his earlier fears earlier, the words he spoke were the truth, and it pained him that he had waited so long to tell him.

Even as he held his sick mortal close, wishing he could create a spell to eradicate any vestiges of this illness, Loki was plotting. He wouldn’t let Anthony be snatched from him by something trivial like time or illness. Technically he needed his father’s permission for his plan, but he knew his mother would see his way of thinking, would be happy he had found another to share his life with.

‘Feels like you’ve been shortchanged here,’ Anthony grumbled, settling his head back down against his shoulder.

‘I’m not sure what that means, but it sounds like you are degrading yourself after I’ve confessed my feelings for you. This is meant to be a momentous occasion and-’

He laughed as Anthony silenced him with a hand over his mouth.

‘Alright, alright, you’re lucky, I’m a peach, I get it.’ Anthony burrowed closer, his sweat-slick hands wrapping around Loki’s middle.

‘Next time, promise me you will tell me if you are feeling unwell.’

‘You had to go- ‘

‘Nothing is more important to me than you. Father and Thor can protect Asgard. We have an army for that reason. I will always fight for Asgard, for its people, but not if you need me.’

Anthony squeezed him close, his legs twitching as he drew closer to sleep.

‘Thank you.’ Loki felt the words formed against his skin rather than hearing them, and he smiled, holding Anthony closer.

‘I love you too,’ he whispered when he was moments from sleep, and Loki didn’t respond, knowing his beloved needed rest, that he would be here to watch over him while he slept.

[zodiyack]

Love Reunited (Love On The Run - Part Two)

Pairing: Elijah Mikaelson x Female!Reader

Warnings: Swearing, angst reader has a bad bitch moment, fluff, threats + mentions of murder, no proofreading

Words: 2,114

Summary: In the heat of the moment, Y/n says something that pissed Klaus off. Elijah does the only thing he can and tells his wife to run for her life. | The only thing standing between Klaus and forgiveness from his older brother is Y/n and her freedom.

Taglist: @matth1w​, @redspaceace-writes​, @fandom-puff​, @darling-i-read-it​, @dpaccione​, @sebastianstanslefteyebrow​, @simonsbluee​

Masterlist | The Originals Masterlist

Part One.

Ever since Klaus’ resentment for Y/n, and the sworn death sentence he’d given her, chased her out of New Orleans and into constant relocation just to be safe in hiding from her husband’s brother, Elijah had developed a new feeling. He began to loathe his little brother. Though he’d claimed to have detested his brother many times before, this time was different. Even so, that wasn’t the only thing different about this time. 

This time, Klaus knew he was fucked.

He’d cried for forgiveness over the past few years, yet Elijah ignored him every single time. One of the, scarcely occurring, times he actually spoke to Klaus about his apology, he’d brought up the situation with Y/n, quoting the hybrid word for word.

“You did say, ‘live with Elijah’s hate,’ did you not? So, why can you not just live with the burden of the reality that I in fact do, and will always, abhor you, Niklaus? Or are you just so diabolical, so selfish. that you merely cannot fathom losing the one person whom has vowed to stay by your side, always and forever? The one person who can tolerate you.”

“Elijah- ple-”

“So long as my wife is on the run from you, running quite literally for her life, you will never be reprieved.” Everyone who knew Elijah knew that he always kept his word. “I give you my word on that.” Always.

“Please, brother! I’ll do anything for your forgiveness-” He was genuine. As Klaus begged, practically on his knees with tears stinging his eyes, he was a hundred percent genuine.

Elijah turned his head, finally facing his brother with full attention and interest for the first time in a painful handful of years. “Free Y/n.”

“W-what?”

“Free my lover from this condemnation you have unjustly sentenced her to and allow her to walk away from your grudge without harm and without the risk of you creating blackmail material of her actions that you have unreasonably deemed intolerable.”

“Anything else?” He was only kidding, but Elijah wasn’t.

“You’ll have to collect her from whatever location she’s at currently. And please Niklaus, do so without any violence on your behalf.”

He chuckled for a second. Then his smug, carefree, expression morphed into one of uneasy guilt. “You’re...serious?” Elijah held his stern manner. Klaus took his lack of response as a yes and sighed, “Alright. Consider her free.” then he turned to go hunt for Y/n and earn his brother’s pardon.

“If you lay a hand on her,” Klaus halted in his tracks, eyes darting to the side as though he could see his brother clearly despite Elijah being directly behind him, “be it a hair pulled from her head or even a tiny meaningless spiteful threat, there will be splinters for you to pull out of your skin for years. And though it will not permanently kill you, I shall drive stake upon stake through your chest and never feel remorse for any part of it.”

Klaus almost wanted to scoff, laugh it off and tell Elijah he’d never actually do that but a part of him wondered if he really would. If his own brother would end his life for anything done to Y/n. Deep down, he knew Elijah would have a rage that would overflow and cause terror and destruction in it’s wake.

He knew the wood couldn’t kill him. He’d do it over and over again, for the next centuries to come, and the centuries after those have passed, the cycle never ending. A never ending cycle of a living hell. And a hell that he knew would be well deserved for it would only come to such a punishment if he did anything to hurt the love of his brother’s life. An easy mistake to avoid ...if your name wasn’t Niklaus.

“Understand?”

Klaus wondered what happened to the old him; the merciless, blood thirsty, cruel and sinister hybrid, the one true immortal being, now showing mercy to, and retrieving, someone who’d crossed multiple lines in his eyes. Whilst she did have a point, he chose never to say so. He chose to ignore all attempts to draw the light in him into the world. He chose to ignore all pleas for his goodness in fear of his softness- his weakness getting the people he loved hurt.

But it was time to push past that, for if he didn’t, there wouldn’t be any people for him to love.

He swallowed and redirected his narrowed eyes to the door. His jaw clenched and his breathing became uneven. “Understood, brother.”

Niklaus was a stubborn man, and he knew it. But he would do anything, very close to literally anything, to gain his family back. To atone for his mistakes over hundreds of decades. To plea for redemption from their bad sides. And although Elijah would forgive him with simply letting Y/n return to his arms once more, Niklaus new his pleading wasn’t quite over yet.

Y/n wouldn’t just forgive him so easily. She wouldn’t, and because he knew that, he wasn’t surprised when she narrowed her eyes at him and furrowed her brows before releasing an avalanche of years, years of which felt horribly elongated, of pent up rage upon him instantaneously without any form of hesitation.

He found her with the help of witches, and quite easily seeing as moving from place to place as quickly as possible would require avoiding any type of relationships with everyone. She didn’t have anyone to preform a cloaking spell, but she did have great strength as a back-up strategy.

A note, placed by the barkeep, was subtly dropped in front of her, the words written in blue by the pen he’d snatched from a barmaid’s apron as she walked past. Two little words sparked her curiosity almost immediately. Her head snapped up and turned left and right, looking for who the mysterious messenger, whom she hoped was Elijah. Much to her disappointment, the person who suddenly placed a hand on her shoulder was a different Mikaelson.

Y/n grabbed his hand and flung it off of herself harshly. “You?”

“Don’t sound so disgruntled, love, I am here to collect you after all.”

“No. I won’t be going anywhere with you.”  Venom entwined her words as she referenced him. She clenched her jaw and swiftly turned to face the bar again. The scrunched up napkin was thrown over her shoulder. He opened it, “come home” sprawled messily across the soft material.

Klaus felt the anger wash over him but promptly remembered Elijah’s words. He calmed himself with a few deep breaths before clearing his throat and trying again. “I’m afraid I can’t take no as an answer.”

“And I’m afraid I would rather stake myself than go literally any place on this green fucking earth with you.” Y/n spat through her teeth.

Her blatantly obvious execrating feelings for him amused Klaus, a small grin appearing on his lips as he tilted his head. “Do you even know where I’m taking you?”

“To hell, most likely.”

Klaus, unsurprisingly, had a snarky retort ready on his tongue, but she was already out the door and taking a sneaky head start for her run to the farthest place from Niklaus possible. He was on her tail within seconds and cornered her in the woods. A smug leer, not uncommon to see upon his features, promptly slid onto his face.

“What the hell do you want, besides to kill me?”

“You to come with me.”

Y/n paused, as if she were considering his demand, then rolled her eyes. She tried to step around him, “Like that’ll do me any good-”

“It will.” Klaus stepped in front of her, blocking her way once more. “C’mon. From here on out, your sentence is over, you can return to New Orleans-”

“And how do I know you mean the words you speak? How do I know you shall stay true to whatever comes from your mouth?”

“You know me, I-”

“You’re quite correct, Klaus. I know you. I know that you are not infamous for nothing. You lie, deceive, torture, humiliate and do so many other things to people underserving of your cruelty! How should I forgive you when you have yet to adhere for the hurt you’ve infected innocents with?”

His gaze dropped, guilt creeping over his face. He knew what he did to those people.

“Do you even feel bad for what you’ve done?”

Not really. Not all the time. Hardly ever at all if he were to be honest.

“Do you feel the need to morn those you have wrongfully sentenced to death? Those you have sent to the deepest pits of hell based on erroneous judgement?”

She came for his throat, each fact that was spat from her mouth verbatim.

“You are callous and you are heinous! You wonder why your siblings hate you, and yet you constantly do vile things to people! You have erroneously punished people over and over again. You swear you will change, many times, and they believe you but then the next thing they know, they’re in a box for a couple decades. And you think they need to plead for absolution?”

Hundreds of years spent seething in hostility for her brother in law, all ranted in this one moment hit Klaus like a bus, taking the air from his lungs and sending a feeling deep into his gut like someone had just swung a baseball bat into his stomach a dozen times. But she wasn’t finished yet.

“You want to ask for my exoneration? Well you have years, and I mean fucking years, to make up for.” She laughed sarcastically. “To absolve you from everything you’ve put me through, everything you’ve taken from me, everything I’ve fucking missed because of you- to absolve you from all of that would take many years of penitence and work to fix what you have done. Are you really prepared to do that? Are you, Niklaus fucking Mikaelson, ready to take a lengthy withdrawal from your wicked and corruptive reign of evil to earn my remission?”

He hated the fact that she teased him for it, rubbed it in his face, but he knew he deserved it. Klaus knew he deserved every harsh and bitter word she spat at him. He had a thousand of years of blood on his hands, the true number of all the lives he’d snuffed out still paling in comparison to the amount of power that radiated from Y/n, the amount of guilt and remorse she’d forced onto his shoulders with simple words.

“You are no fucking king,” she sneered, “at least, not compared to me.”

Silence made the air heavy with tension as the minutes passed by. Then, she sighed heavily and spoke, slicing the thick tension with an imaginary blade. “I will go with you,” he looked to her with relief, “but I meant every word I said. You will have to work to ensure your vindication. And it will not be an easy task.”

“I understand.” Klaus bowed his head, submitting to her and trading in his crown to prove his worthiness of her forgiveness.

She happily accepted it.

“Y/n?” He couldn’t believe his eyes. Last he’d checked, he hadn’t been bitten by a werewolf or hybrid, nor had he inhaled or consumed any witchy substances that would make him hallucinate. He didn’t pray much, but in his head, his thoughts muttered over and over, “please be real.”

“Elijah!” Her eyes lit up the second they met his form. She surged forward, lips colliding with Elijah’s for the first time in years. He wrapped his arms around her and twirled her round.

The world faded to an irrelevant blur. It felt amazing to be home, to be in his arms once more, to be free of Klaus’ ridiculous furry, free of the ill intentions previously directed towards her. Minutes had went by and yet, neither of the two noticed a single thing.

Years that had passed by soon drifted away, like they weren’t apart for any of it. Like time had hit pause when she’d left his arms and resumed when she returned to them. It felt as though time froze whilst the two embraced. The moment could’ve lasted an eternity had Klaus not cleared his throat to announce his presence.

“So uh...brother...have I earned your forgiveness?”

“I suppose you have.”

“And Y/n? Have I made progress on clearing my name with you?”

She made eye contact with Elijah, exchanging a small grin before returning her eyes to Klaus and nodding slightly. “You’ve got a ways to go, but you’re off to a great start. Thank you, Klaus.”

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

May I have a scenario/imagine, whichever makes more sense, of Trey, Rook, and Crewel trying to tame some sort of wild, magical invasive species of Poison Ivy that has taken over the greenhouse?

Crewel gives me perpetually disappointed wine aunt father vibes. This piece also lowkey turned out to be Trey x Rook, but you didn’t read that from me.

This imagine’s longer than my usual 1k word self-imposed limit, since it goes out to a friend of mine that’s been supporting me through final projects and exams. I’m not sure if they’d want me tagging them so publicly, but they know who they are.

Imagine this...

To Professor Crewel’s chagrin, members of the Science Club had never had strong academic intent. In actuality, the club was a thinly veiled excuse to bake cakes (just to find the perfect ratio of leaveners and sweeteners!) and to stalk watch students in their natural habitats (nothing wrong with an impromptu observational study, right?). Instead of test tubes and beakers, the lab benches were littered with cake pans and photographs of unsuspecting Savanaclaw students.

“I do wish you two would take this club more seriously,” Crewel would often gripe, fingers massaging his temples. “Science is not a play thing, it is a powerful tool with which we can use to redefine and reshape the world around us.”

Such were the woes of an instructor--but today, he had no time to lament.

Crewel’s jaw tightened as he gazed upon a sprawling mess--the shattered glass panes of the Botanical Garden, with massive stalks of ivy reaching for the skies. Casualties lined the ground--plants and flowers drained dry of their life, all withered and decayed. The ivy writhed in glee.

(He shouldn’t have been surprised that the headmaster summoned him and the Science Club to resolve the issue instead of hiring a real exterminator.)

“How unseemly,” Crewel noted, clicking his tongue. “Running amok and ruining so many of the specimens we’ve carefully cultivated... This shall not go unpunished.”

He glanced over his shoulder.

“Clover.”

“Yes.” Trey stepped forward, his magical pen ready.

“Hunt.”

“Oui.” Rook followed suit, smoothly drawing forth his own pen.

“The time has come to prove your mettle,” Crewel announced, rapping his pointer against his palm. His onyx eyes seethed with a quiet, controlled rage. “Show this overgrown weed what the Science Club is truly capable of.”

At his command, the boys nodded and tore off toward the Botanical Garden.

Crewel held his ground. The corners of his mouth curled into a condescending smirk as he addressed the poison ivy. “Come here.”

An arm of ivy flew at him, so fast that it was but a blur.

An alive, but livid, blur.

“Heel!”

A column of fire erupted from Crewel’s pointer. His attack slammed against the plant, settings its leaves awash in embers. The rogue plant let out a sky-splitting roar.

The battle had just begun.

Trey ducked under an arc of burning ivy and threw open the door to the Botanical Garden. Tucking his limbs in, he barreled through right as more ivy snaked in to seal off the entrance once more.

He could feel the heat upon his back, the earth quaking under his feet, and Rook close behind him--yet he willed himself to keep his eyes glued ahead, even as he launched across the threshold and into a terrifying new realm.

The inside of the greenhouse now glistened with ivy--covering the glass panes, slowly strangling what few plants remained. The Botanical Garden had always been warm before, but it was unusually so today. Sweltering, and almost so humid that the floors and walls seem to eerily pulsate with life.

“Keep your wits about you, and don’t look back, boys,” Crewel had instructed them. “Just get in there, and cut it off at its source--at the heart.”

Trey’s eyes darted this way and that. Green, green, green. It all looked the same to him. Where in the world was the point of origin?

“Got any ideas?!” He glanced over his shoulder at his partner--and his protective goggles nearly went askew.

Rook had dropped to one knee, pressing a gloved hand against the floor--now a carpet of vines. “Hoooh! What a fascinating specimen!” he marveled. “Such destructive power, and yet it also sports this emerald sheen... Très manifique!”

“H-Hey... No offense, but I don’t think now’s the time to stop and sniff the roses. Or, well. I guess it would be ivy in this case.”

“Non, non! There is always time for beauty--even in dire situations!” Rook insisted, his hands continuing to grope around. His eyes suddenly creased, and his smile turned sly. “Ah, te voilà.”

“Even if you say that, that’s not going to help us fix this...!!”

“Calm yourself, Chevalier des Roses,” Rook advised with an airy laugh. He cupped a hand to his ear and beamed. “Listen closely! Surely even your own heart beckons you to still your worries.”

“Heart?” Trey straightened, adamant as he folded his arms. “Sorry, but I just don’t believe in stuff like that. Come on, Rook. We need to focus--Crewel-sensei’s trusting us with this task.”

He cast a concerned glance at the doorway, ensnared in vines. They’d have to blast their way through later--but if they stayed in this space for too long, they, too, would soon be drained of all their life force. “We can’t just mess around!”

“Ah--but you must put your faith in me as well, Chevalier des Roses!” Rook insisted, pointing to the patch of floor that he had been not-too-subtly groping earlier. “I implore you to lend me your strength!”

“You want me to attack the gr--?!” Trey froze mid-sentence. He had become vaguely aware of a gentle sensation creeping around his ankles.

In an instant, he was yanked into the air, dangling upside down like a useless rag doll. Blood rushed to his head, and his surroundings spun.

“Chevalier des Roses!!”

“I’m fine!! I-I’m fine!” Trey called--though he clearly wasn’t. “I can just--” He waved his magical pen, the air growing tense as a small ball of fire collected at his command.

“Non!” Rook warned, startling his classmate. “There is nothing to cushion your descent, mon amie! You will surely break a leg--and certainly not in the theatrical sense!”

He’s right. Trey’s fire extinguished itself, replaced by a chill crawling down his spine.

“A little help then?!”

Rook’s eyes widened. “You would give me your trust?”

“Not exactly like I have any other choice.” Trey would shrug, but it was a rather difficult motion to pull off while suspended midair--and far more troublesome, his veins ran cold. It was a sure sign of the ivy sapping his energy.

“Have no fear! Today, it shall be my turn to be the chevalier.” The hunter grinned from ear to ear, magical pen in hand.

“Please, Rook! Any day now--before I become plant food!” Trey’s voice was hoarse--from exasperation, or from the magical ivy, he wasn’t quite sure. Perhaps both.

“Just for today, I shall be your Chevalier D’amour.”

And with a confident wink, Rook plunged the ivy-covered floor into a sea of flames.

The accursed plant wailed as it shriveled to ash upon a backdrop of billowing smoke. Embers flickered and danced in the afternoon, the Botanical Garden set ablaze. Crewel took a step back, grimacing at the growing fire.

A figure emerged from the greenhouse, carrying another. The professor squinted into the smoke, pinpointing the familiar outline of his Science Club members--Rook, cradling a pale-looking Trey in his strong arms.

“Puppies.” Crewel pinched his temples.

“C’est chose faite--it is now done.” The brim of Rook’s hat eclipsed his eyes, making the typically cheery hunter appear dark to match his tone. Then he lifted his head, basking in the sunshine, and that somber moment was over. “All is well and good again, as it should be!”

“I... I thought I was going to die,” Trey groaned. “... And Rook, I appreciate you catching my fall, but you didn’t need to carry me out like you’re an action hero in a movie or something.”

“Are you able to still stand after an attack from that heinous plant?”

“Yeah. Just put me down.”

“Oui.”

Trey stood on shaky legs--and instinctively leaned on Rook’s shoulder.

“Well, boys. You’ve exterminated the ivy--as well as just about every other plant in the Botanical Garden. How exactly do you intend to atone for this?!” Crewel snapped, whipping his pointer at his students. “I believe my instructions were quite clear--destroy only the heart of the ivy.”

“The fault lies with me, Monsieur,” Rook declared, dipping into a bow. “We dallied for longer than was necessary, and in a moment of panic, I unleashed my magic.”

“Always one with a flair for the dramatic. Unfortunately, that will not serve you well in detention, Hunt.”

“Wait. Crewel-sensei, that’s not the whole story,” Trey interrupted. “Rook got me out of a pinch--and he deserves credit for that. He’s also the one that found out where the ivy’s heart was--buried in the floor itself. I didn’t realize until it was too late.”

The professor’s lips pursed into a straight line. “Clover, are you confessing to your own negligence?”

“I am.” He nodded firmly. “I’m the one that deserves the detention.”

“Trey-kun is not responsible!” Rook protested. “He is the one that attempted to set us on the right path. I refused to heed his advice, which led to events escalating.”

“I didn’t listen to Rook when he tried to tell me about what I needed to do.”

“I should have phrased it more concisely.”

“You--”

“Trey-kun--”

“Enough. It is clear to me that both of you contributed to this chaos.” Crewel sighed. “... Hunt, take Clover to the infirmary. I will put out the fire myself.

“... Are you letting us go?”

“Of course not. Once you’ve recovered, Clover... you boys will be restoring plants in the Botanical Garden for the remainder of the semester as punishment.”

“Ahhh, I should’ve known. Riddle’s not gonna like this at all.”

“Chin up, Chevalier des Roses! At the very least, we shall have each other’s company!” Rook laughs, smacking Trey on the back and sending his peer nearly doubling over.

Crewel sighed once more--he was disappointed, but not surprised.

His Science Club puppies still had a long way to go.

[ohmygodtheywereparabatai]

Day 5 | Role-Reversal

Because who doesn’t want to see Firelord Zhao, five-pronged crown and all @zhaozaipalooza?

OKAY hhdhdjd while that was my initial plan, @fire-lady-ilah’s thoughtful and bittersweet Good!Dad Ozai AU made me decide on another approach for today’s prompt(s).

Taking her lovely concept a step further, I thought I’d flip the personality of every AtLA character I can get my hands on. No more gentle, loving moon spirit, only a tidal goddess of wrath! Well, okay, okay, I should slow down…

Let’s start small.

—

Not that he would tell, but… the musician’s self-imposed trembling was, not so imperceptible.

Had he left his children to chart out the course of his remaining life, and sailed the path like a star-wise captain? Most definitely; they were his greatest counsel as Firelord. A Fire Sage couldn’t have convinced him to remarry after Ursa’s loss - but they did.

Darling heirs that held her eyes and her laughter, and where they pointed, he found himself surely to go. Was Ozai still bound to encounter waves?

… It would seem so.

He wouldn’t so much as peep: a timid, jittery captain with no growth permitted of his facial hair than what was painfully humble. Or perhaps it got in the way of his instrument - was it a jaunty pipa? A carved flute, perfectly hollowed? The erhu, once the sole sound of his wife?

Ozai floundered to begin a conversation that didn’t end before he could grow a smile. And it happened quite quickly! Still! “I find myself curious…”

The gifted, devout soldier of a respectable rank - his children’s hand-picked selection - had not taken to him like he had him. At least, he assumed.

Ozai didn’t enjoy making assumptions - not of a man’s worth. Some he would never get to know in their bravest hour; from that roused the rest of his sentence, “… to know what you think of the state of the world.”

“For- I, what?”

“As Firelord, I court many things.” He coaxed him from the shadows, moved from pillar to pillar that entwined the gardens. “The content of my people is… the result. I only influence it, and I barely can during war, can I? Families are splintered, loved ones lost… it’s a cost I can never repay. Not with a thousand years of prosperity… But I listen to their stories.”

After a tense silence that would cue a tight-lipped reply - the Firelord’s only reward for gentler inquiries - Zhao spoke, and this time, for as long as he dared:

“… Ocean.”

Ocean? The Firelord was about to turn in his hand at untangling the enigma trailing his lofty steps - what was it Azula said, that he enjoyed theater? What had Zuko prized about him… that he hid a host of gnarly battles in a crimson ledger? Then Zhao breathed out,

“I chose… a naval career. Because the waves always roll toward home. Of course, it’s concerning - since Chieftess Yue used the spirits against their will, at the cost of her tribe’s safety… The waves have risen higher, moved faster to Fire Nation shores. She may use the ocean and moon to tear us down.”

“But, if my men drown, I can hope - the bodies… they wash up where…”

Ozai sensed, rather than heard, the knot in his words, and dove to console him. “Then I pray Agni should watch over their safe return.”

He nodded, turning away.

“My wife would… take us to the waterfront, set lights and lotus flowers adrift to float down the canals.” He paused, leaned his weight against one pillar. Zhao jerked to a stop, heels meeting with a click.

“They went past grieving houses, some bereft of sons, as a sign of our deepest respect. The city grew to see them as… a brightly lit path for spirits to follow in the afterlife. We carried on the tradition after she - left.”

“My con-” Zhao began, then stuttered.

“Oh.” A shiver crawled into his tone. “Is that why… My lover, he kept a small book, made paper animals from the pages. He set them on the water for our friends. My hands weren’t for folding. I only played the song.”

“And I only played the song, when he…” His voice watered. “I couldn’t fold any paper. Couldn’t sing - couldn’t breathe. Just the erhu. No faith protects the dying… only swallows the living.” Lu… Lu… Lu.

It blossomed in Ozai, spread like wildfire through the recesses he’d barred after Ursa’s loss - a weighing darkness bursting with light. A voice crying it’s him, it’s him, your children found a jewel. And at all costs, he would protect the faith he had left.

“Seems we are no strangers to grief.” He reached for the underside of his palm, the way Ursa would when his beloveds were small - stroking the beating vein until it stilled, and the kids slipped back into sleep. How many weeks had they walked like this? Wasn’t it time to tell him - blessed enough, to taste him?

Zhao ripped out of his grasp with a start, nearly tumbling over the stone railing into a bush of pale flowers. Nearly.

He whirled on him and shrieked, “What is this for? Is it some arrangement? A charade, a test of faith? You think you can invite believers for the amusement of - of burning in your shade?”

“Wh-”

“If there’s something I should atone for - i-if there’s someplace I should voyage with the knowledge that I won’t return… If you’re waiting for me to - to - throw myself at your feet or offer up the blood in my body as tribute, a god needs only speak.” The flurry of words even the Firelord, trained socialite, couldn’t string together ended on a hiss.

Ozai fumbled. “This isn’t - no, no - I’m only a man looking to make his children happy, and what they want is a happier father.” He sought to yield or compromise in an affair, and admitted his flaws when they were complicit. I’m only a man.

His smile was soft, real. And yet.

“You are Agni incarnate.” The noise in Zhao’s throat was a bow raking over untuned string, and I am nothing, I am nothing. “If I have duty here, I will finish it. Otherwise… mercy. Mercy. Please.”

Lack of faith hadn’t ground him into silence. It was pious zeal. Clinging desperately while living stagnant; the thought of letting belief go was more terrifying than it failing. He revered spirits that would never return the favor. Ozai thought of his daughter, throwing herself into the first pair of open arms, indifferent to reason - fear is for fools. Trust is reliable.

He was on his knees - hands too unsteady to fold paper into cranes but perfectly balanced for compositions to take flight, hands calloused from war and clutched in prayer - wanting mercy.

Living to see another day, and knowing nothing more of being spared than a terrifying way to be loved.

Ozai felt the spark in himself simmer to a boil, and even behind closed lids it read, your faith will protect him.

Better than any god could.

Wasn’t that the prerogative of kings?

He knelt by the shivering body, elbows tucked to pull him in with his palms. Their heads touched, royal silk gathered against the gritty, unswept courtyard stone… but that didn’t matter.

“Too many soldiers made of this war… too many lives lost.” He didn’t consider himself soothing by any means, not as Ursa was; Zhao stilled, if slowly. “I should be the one devoted to you.”

Taste could wait, yet his conviction was overwhelming. Ozai pressed his lips to the side of his hair, and stayed; my, was he prepared to stay. “Give me the chance.”

[razorblade180]

Shackles 12: Protect your own

[part 11]

One thing leads to another. Pain brings grief, joy brings progress, day brings night; Jacquelyn knew simple truths like these, but she had really wished she could get her joy before night came. That didn’t seem to be the case. The tired woman sat on the Belladonna balcony. Her eyes scanned the stars that have kept her company for many years, bringing a sense of ease while her hands clasped a mug of warm tea. Blake’s mother, Kali, walked up from inside the house and poured more.

“Thank you.” Jacquelyn uttered softly. All day Kali hadn’t spoken a word to her. The older woman gave no expression, but her eyes said enough. They were upset, and mulling things over. “I’m-”

“If you’re going to apologize then don’t. There’s nothing you could say on his behalf.”

“Of..of course. I would never. I was going to apologize for myself. I’m…I involved your daughter in this. That one is on me.”

Kali looked over Jacquelyn. It just didn’t make sense to her. The girl before her sat solemnly waiting for a man who’s wracked sorrow to countless lives.

“If I wasn’t for Sun and Ilia, I would’ve denied you being here. I don’t want him near my home. He’s caused enough harm.”

“I understand. Still, I’m grateful. I know this can’t be easy for you.”

Tears of frustration welled up in Kali’s eyes the more Jacquelyn spoke to her. “Did you have a mother growing up?”

“…For a while. I lost her young.”

“I don’t know you, but I can tell she must’ve been caring; the kind of mother that would go to war for you.”

“Hehe, yeah, she was.” A tiny smile crept to her face, thinking back on the remarkable woman. “I owe her a lot in life.”

“A good mother’s only wish in life is to keep their kids safe and happy no matter what. So yeah, this isn’t easy. The thing I love the most in this world, my precious baby girl, you’ve helped invite back the very thing I failed to protect her from. I’m absolutely livid.So don’t tell me you understand. You’re not a mother.”

A lump formed in Jacquelyn’s throat. The little joy she had fizzled out. Kali’s words felt colder than Atlas winds and they had a right to be. However…a click at the door cut through all that.

“We’re home.” Blake said down stairs. Kali quickly ran downstairs. Jacquelyn put down the mug and ran too, but then, she stopped. A loud slurp came from behind her. She turned back around, gasping. Adam sat in her chair with her mug. His face was a bit pale and clothes were replaced with something a bit nostalgic.

“Hey, how you feeling? ” She said, smirking at his attempts to look cool.

“Dehydrated. Also a little stuffy.” He took off his old signature jacket. “Cannot believe this thing was still around. I guess evidence lockers really collect everything.”

“Did you climb up here?”

“Both Ghira, Blake and I all agreed that Kali is the absolute last person who should see me.” He walked towards her.

“Pfft yeah.” Jacquelyn did her best to chuckle but the smile she tried to force turned to a lip quiver while tears came automatically. Adam put her arms around her and she lost it. Her fingers clung to his shirt and wept, not caring who heard.

“Do you enjoy scaring me?”

“What did you think happened to me?”

“I don’t fucking know.” She sniffed, “so many things. I didn’t want to think you decided to up and leave but now I kinda wish that was the case. At least then I could be pissed at you for being an idiot. I held you Adam. You were so cold.”

“You off all people should know how close to death I can get. But I’ll admit it, I thought I was a goner. I’ll tell you about everything later, but first…” Adam let her go and stepped out of view from the balcony doors.

The entire Belladonna family came up stairs. Kali’s eyes were noticeably more red and her hand held Ghira’s. Blake’s eyes were also a bit puffy but much less.

Jacquelyn sighed as she wiped her own eyes. “Have we all been crying today?”

Blake chuckled halfheartedly “Looks like it. You okay?”

“Not really. I need a nap.”

Kali looked at the balcony. “…Adam, sincerity starts with eye contact.”

“Is that what you want from me?”

“No. Frankly I like not seeing you, but it’s rude to let this woman stand alone after waiting.” Kali wasn’t petty. She knew this wasn’t about her.

Adam walked into view slowly and stood beside Jacquelyn. He took Kali’s glare head on. It was actually nice to know one person in this room would definitely not hold back against him. He’s gotten used to that.

Blake looked at Jacquelyn and spoke. “Where’s Ilia and Sun? I thought they would’ve stayed.”

“Those two only stayed for about an hour. Ilia said she had to do something important and Sun tagged along with her. I have no idea where but they took an airship. They said they’d be back by sunrise.”

That was a little concerning. Blake had hoped to have everyone here for this. What in the world could possess them to leave?

“Guess this is everyone for now. Adam, we gotta do something with you. Even if you’re technically dead, things have to be different.”

“Lock me up.” He said bluntly. Everyone jumped a little from the suggestion.

“Lock you up!? Adam I made a case to keep you out of-”

“I wasn’t finished.” He interjected. “There’s already a collection of people here who know I’m alive. Those guards of yours in particular. Loyalty is easy to strain. If you just let me walk then they will resent you. Allowing them to put me behind bars covertly might give you a better chance to negotiate what to do with me later on.”

“Or you’re locked up forever without real protection. You might be at their mercy. I’m not allowing that.”

Jacquelyn nodded. “Neither am I. We didn’t get you out of one situation just to throw you back into the exact same one! Even if they work for Blake, she can’t watch over their every action.”

Ghira rubbed his beard. That was true. It wouldn’t be good for Blake to be visiting jail constantly anyways, still. “It wouldn’t be wise for Adam to go unpunished. I think for people’s peace of mind he must be detained for a while.”

“Dad! But…”

“Saber is a good man. He wouldn’t act out of line on a whim. Besides, I will volunteer personally to check on him daily.”

Kali looked at Blake’s shocked expression. “Sweetie, he is still a criminal.”

“I know, but…this doesn’t solve anything! How do you expect him to prove things are different behind a cell!?” Blake looked at Adam. “How can you be okay with it?”

“I’m not. If I see another pair of shackles again it would be too soon; but the public finding out about me is no short of a death sentence. However, I do have conditions for going along with this.”

Kali’s eyes narrowed. “Are you really in a position to discuss terms?”

“As long as this is a majority, then yes.” That wasn’t gonna score points with her but oh well Atonement or not, Adam refused to be walked all over. “First, Jackie’s home was blown up. I’d like her to stay here until it can be rebuilt. Second, I’d also want Sienna to be put in Jackie's care when she’s out of the hospital.”

Both Kali and Jacquelyn were highly confused. The maiden spoke up. “Ummm Sienna Khan?”

“Hmm? Oh, no. She’s this little girl that escaped the mineshaft with me.”

“White tiger ears? I remember a girl by you in the desert. Why me?”

“Unfortunately she’s not speaking much.” Ghira said. “Adam says you’re pretty good and patient with situations like these. Also, the child seems attached to Adam, so maybe she’ll be comfortable with the person around him.”

“Be careful though. She can get pretty defensive and violent.”

Jacquelyn squinted. “Giving me a way to focus while you’re gone, is that it? Hmph, like I’d say no regardless. Of course I’ll help her if I can.” She folded her arms. Guess she was getting single mother practice early.

“I’m glad. I do have one more condition.” He put his arm over the maiden’s shoulder and pulled her close. “I’ll go to jail, after I help Jacquelyn get through her pregnancy.”

The room went silent. Jacquelyn felt her face get hot and eyes water again. He knew. These terms weren’t for his benefit at all. They were all for her.

Ghira and Kali looked at each other, shocked by this revelation. A twinge of guilt hit Kali for the words she spoke early, but now she understood Jacquelyn’s feelings just a little bit more.

“You would send yourself to jail even knowing her condition?”

“I don’t make money and I don’t see any outcome where me being free makes it easier for Jacquelyn or those two kids. Anybody drawing the connections would be problematic to put it lightly. At least this way I’m not a complete dead beat. So, do we have an agreement?” He asked Ghira.

Blake bit her bottom lip. Right now she needs to look outside herself. She reminded herself of Yang’s parting words. “Slow down. I don’t need things done in a night. Sigh, besides, it’s not like I have a better plan.” Blake looked at her father. “It’s not unreasonable.”

“That’s not exactly the problem. I’d agree but even nine months of him being free is a lot to swallow. We simply don’t have the men to watch him or a place to keep him.”

“Yeah I don’t want him in my home of all places.” Kali added. “Now matter how you look at it, Adam is too dangerous for anyone to look after while he’s free. I can’t go on good faith where there isn’t any.”

“Mom he’s-”

“OH! OH! I’LL WATCH HIM!” Yelled a voice outside, brimming with energy.

A gust of wind blew in from the balcony bringing a glimmer of faith and dozens of rose petals. Blake’s jaw dropped. “Ruby!?”

The full fledged scythe wielding huntress grinned ear to ear. “Yo!” Ruby dashed in and stopped right in front of Blake, giving her a big hug and waving to her parents. “Busy day huh?”

Blake grabbed her leader by the shoulders. This had to be a fever dream. “Ruby, why are you here!?”

The reaper’s face went red as she started chuckling. “Hehe, so funny story…”

xxxx

“Ruby?!” Yang questioned, shouting over the edge of her ship at another ship passing by. Sure enough, her little sister turned around and gasped.

“Yang!? Why are you on a boat leaving Menagerie!?”

“Why are you on a boat docking to Menagerie is a better question!”

“I stopped by your house only to hear from Jaune that you went to see Blake for the first time in forever! You think I was gonna be calm about it? I took the first mission here I could find to have an excuse!”

Yang could not believe what she was hearing. “Rubes…but that..why!? Just why!?”

“You have a bad habit of saying things you don’t mean when you get emotional. If things went south then they might not get better.”

Moments like these made it really hard for Yang to believe she was the older sister; especially when Ruby is absolutely right. “Can you not call me out like that?”

“Why are you leaving? Don’t tell me things went up in flames?”

“N- Well they almost did, but it’s fine! We’re okay; more than okay. I had to cut things short because…I gotta do some stuff. So does she.” Ruby would have a cow if she learned Yang was pregnant. Yang wanted to tell her, but Jaune had to be first. Well…technically second, but first in her heart!”

Ruby could not believe she rushed over to Menagerie for nothing! Well at least her sister looked happy, so things must’ve gone okay. “Well, I’m happy for you! Sigh…I guess I’ll knock out this mission as fast as I can then-”

“Actually, Ruby, can you do your big sis a huge favor?”

xxxx

“And now I’m here.” Ruby rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment. “Would’ve gotten here sooner but a supply mission is a supply mission. I also checked in with Saber, was it? When I explained who I was he gave me a brief and vague update. Since I came here to mediate in the first place and Yang asked so nicely, I thought I’d lend a hand.”

“You were gonna do that favor or no favor.”

Ruby grinned. It was nice to be known so well. “Mr. and Mrs. Belladonna, I’ll watch Adam. That’s the main reason you turned the offer right?”

“Y…Yes but-” Ghira stuttered.

Kali sighed, “Do you really plan on sticking around for nine months?”

“Technically as long as he’s with me and out of sight then I wouldn’t have to stay here specially, but I can understand if you don’t want him too far away. If he’s genuine then having him help rebuild the blown up home should be no problem. I can stay in the house to watch everyone, or I’m happy to rent a place and keep them there. Ilia has a spot out of the way of people. We got options.”

Call her impulsive, but Ruby was persistent. A game changer everywhere she went and she knew it. The girl took a step back to be in the middle of the room. Her hands went on her hips. The next words she spoke were with pure confidence and sincerity.

“If you need good faith then look towards me. I love your daughter like family and I’ve always looked out for people, so believe me when I say this. Adam Taurus has nothing on me. I can take him.” Bold words but she meant them to the letter.

That confidence was felt by everyone. Even Adam felt challenged, though he had no intention of betraying anyone. His first time seeing Blake’s leader and the sister of a person he never thought would save his life, and she was trash talking him. Huh, I guess they really were related. The argument was strong, too strong for Kali and Ghira to deny. Both of them gave a look of uncertainty before nodding.

“I will cut everyone some slack and let them stay in this room tonight as long as you’re here too.” Kali said.

“Yes ma’am. I appreciate it.” Ruby gave a nod as the older woman left.

Ghira gave a smile to Ruby. “I’m glad Blake has family everywhere.” He left after his wife, leaving the rest of them to sort the rest out.

Ruby finger gunned Blake before turning around,

approaching Adam for the first time in her life. He was definitely tall. That’s for sure. “I don’t think we’ve officially met yet.”

“But I’m positive you know everything you need to know about me?”

“Eh, Blake’s not much of a talker. My sister said a few things but they weren’t exactly helpful, just nasty. You’ve done a lot to her, more than you probably know. Still, Yang fights her own battles and I guess recently she won a big one. We’ll only have a fight if you start one, deal?” Ruby extended her hand.

Adam couldn’t get a read on Ruby. She was open, yet guarded. Kinda Jacquelyn. He shook her hand. “Pretty bold to say you can beat someone you never met.”

“Really? I don’t think so. If my friends could do it years ago then me doing it now should be cake. I mean you even look like a ghost right now.” Her eyes shifted to Jacquelyn. “Congratulations by the way.”

“Thanks?” Jacquelyn grabbed Adam’s sleeve. “Can the two of us talk on the balcony in private?”

“Be my guest.” Ruby watched her new assignment get dragged away by….whatever that girl was to him. “So Blake, I know this isn’t the sweetest vis-eep!” A tight hug snuck up on her.

Blake squeezed tightly and let her stress fade

away. “That’s my incredible leader. Always coming to my rescue.”

“Awe, oh sweet hehe. Now I really know you’re stressed.” Ruby hugged back happily.

Outside, things were a little less warm and cozy. The cool breeze against Jacquelyn’s skin did little to cool her off as her hands tugged gently on the front of Adam’s shirt. Her eyes were glued to the floor while she felt his hand on her head.

“For the record, I’m not the biggest fan of all this.”

“Aren’t you the one who’s been preaching about being more than what I was? Salvation and all that?”

“I didn’t say I wasn’t proud.” She lifted her for him to see her pouting. “So you knew I was pregnant all along? Gotta admit, that makes you getting kidnapped willingly and trying to go to jail makes you look really shitty.”

“Jackie-”

“I know I’m twisting your intentions but I can’t help but feel that way okay? I mean it’s fine. I’m just the gal who took pity on you and helped for her own therapeutic needs or salvation; whatever you wanna call it. Sure we slept around from time to time but that’s what happens when you have no one else. We had no labels. Circumstances made us glorified roommates at best. I mean yeah sure, on paper I guess I did what I set out to do. You’re changing.”

“And you’re trying not to cry.” He rubbed her cheek. Jackie wasted no time reaching to hold it in place. “You’ve spent a few years trying to get me to be more direct with myself. Think you can take your own advice right now.”

“……I fucked up. I should’ve just been helping you but I did more than that. I fell for you, and I can’t say with confidence I know how you feel back because we never talked about these things. A situation like this is what I used to imagine but along the line all I thought of was us, always together.”

“So you’re basically asking me what you are to me, is that it?”

“Stupid, right?” Jacquelyn started laughing at her own insecurities until Adam wrapped his arms around her and rested her head on his chest. The sound of his heart filled her senses and calmed her.

“I thought of you every day I was trapped. To tell you the truth, I don’t feel much different from the day you found me. If anything it’s only harder for me to deny how fucked I am.”

“Idiot, that’s a world of difference, and I’m not the only one who sees that.” Jacquelyn gave a soft smile. So much between was unsaid and uncertain, but that's fine for now. He thought of her, fought for her. She did the same. Those actions were worth a billion words. Roughly nine more months of actions before life changed forever. Best to not waste them. Jacquelyn tilted her head up and leaned in, kissing him gently. The joy she waited for was finally hers as he kissed her back.

Two sets of footsteps came back up the stairs. One pair was a very exhausted Ilia and the other was a slightly less tired Sun.

“Ilia! You’re back!” Blake yelled.

“Yeah I-” she spotted the intimacy happening on the balcony. “Hmm didn’t need to see that.”

“Be nice.”

“That’s what I’ve been doing this entire adventure. Also hey Ruby. Couldn’t resist a good drama?”

“As if! I came here to keep things drama free!”

Sun guided Ilia to the couch for her to plop on. Poor girl has been traveling nonstop for at least three days now. He was tired too, but a sudden rush of energy hit him in the form of Blake giving him a running hug and a quick passionate kiss that made him laugh.

“Haha, is that you saying sorry or thank you?”

“It’s me saying you’re amazing and I love you for rolling with this so effortlessly.”

“Oh there’s effort. You’re just worth it.” He smiled, kissing her again. “I’m just happy you’re safe, but you gotta-”

“Slow down. Yeah…I’ve been told.” Blake rested her head on his chest. His heartbeat was steady and strong, like he always is. “Where did you two go?”

Sun looked at Ilia who immediately got up and left to bother the pair on the balcony, grabbing Ruby too. Sun let Blake go. The man let out a faux cough. “So umm this is probably a completely inappropriate time to ask this but…”

Blake saw him reach into his pocket and her face immediately felt like fire. “Wait!” She frantically grabbed his wrist before he could take his hand out. “I know I asked but you could’ve lied!”

“Hey! I was actually trying to get things prepared back in Vacou but people started getting abducted. I know I just talked about you slowing things down and this isn’t the first time we’ve discussed-”

“Yes!” Blake could see the goofy and confused smile Sun was forming. It only flustered her more. “Don’t be surprised. Listen, it was always gonna be a yes. I’m still going to say yes; especially with all that’s happened. Lately it feels like I’ve been putting off things in my life for things I want in my life, but…you are someone I always want. Even if I don’t say it all the time.”

“I know that. It’s okay. Equality is busy work. It is your dream.”

Blake blushed, “So is marrying you. When this situation gets sorted out and dealt with, can you ask me then? You’ve given all your attention through this. I want to give you all of mine when.”

Drat! How could that feel so bittersweet sweet and yet appropriate? Sun knew his face was red too. Blake didn’t reject him by any means but the moment of courage was dashed! Guess that was the point. Typical Blake. Nothing typical about her. Sun let go of the ring in his pocket and chose to hold Blake’s face, staring into her eyes. How could they be so determined one moment and bashful the next. Honestly…

“My future wife is so ridiculous sometimes.”

“I think that’s what my future husband likes about me.” Blake smirked, “I love you.”

The two shared a kiss, taking a moment for themselves.

Ruby smiled from outside and looked at the others. “Okay, I know there’s more of a reason for nabbing me, because that pretty moment was happening no matter how many were around.”

“I brought you out here because the four of us plus Sun are about to keep a secret.” Ilia put her back against the railing, her head looking towards the stars. “Sobek, I handled it.”

Jacquelyn went bug eyed. “What? H-How?”

“Talked to the victims here, Vacou, and Adam briefly. If I would’ve gone in with you all then I might’ve recognized him. He did work in Atlas after all. Anyways it’s dealt with and you don’t have to worry about any of those victims talking. They already wanted to forget the ordeal so adding funds was icing on the cake.” Ilia stared at Adam with soullessness

“I know, you didn’t do it for me.”

“Oh how I wish that were true. Let’s make things clear right now, I’m so pissed at you. If you weren’t injured then I’d throw down right now. Blake never told you this most likely, but near my house I gave you a grave. To me you deserved at least that much; you kept me alive and going for a time. As much as I now hate some of the things I know how to do, I was fortunate you taught me them because those skills help people.”

Adam watched as Ilia took her pointer finger and pressed it against his heart. He could feel her shaking.

“If you ever want my help again then you will keep me in the loop at all times. I was there before and after Blake worked beside us. I had every right to know about you being alive as much as she did.” Ilia would never admit it to anybody but as much as she was crushed when Blake fell for Adam, she couldn’t help but feel angry when both began undervaluing her contribution. Like they say, three is a crowd.

Adam removed Ilia’s finger and nodded. “Hehe, I can accept those rules.”

“What’s so funny huh? Ugh, you really know how to tick a person off.”

“Nothing. Just…everyone is mad at me for something different. Hard to keep track of it all. Guess being a leader was doomed after all. I don’t get any of you. I can’t help but laugh at myself.” He chuckled to himself.

The strange humor of it all caused Jacquelyn to join in quietly while Ilia rolled her eyes and let things be as they were. She said her peace. Ruby though, she couldn’t help but look at the three of them, Adam specifically. There he was, a person recently beaten to near death, laughing at his own past mistakes in a world that didn’t want him.

“Hmmm I don’t get it. What was scary about this guy?”

[akilice]

More Artoria x Guinevere I WILL fill this tag with my own two hands

Hi! I wrote something for my dear friend’s au @cestacruz. Basically this is an AU where instead of Gilgamesh, it’s Artoria who stays around for ten years, which results in Shirou summoning Mordred, and Rin summoning Guinevere as an archer.

Basically this scene is Guinevere finding out about Artoria’s wish for the holy grail.

“So you’re going to abandon everything? You’re going to erase all that we built together? All that YOU built?” Guinevere’s rage continued to grow, she was frustrated, maddened by this behavior, this foolish thought… “Have you stopped to consider what we all might feel about this?”

“Those trivial matters, if it means everyone survives, and Britain is saved, then I will gladly toss away everyone’s feelings.” Artoria glared back, challenging her.

“I… Britain is FINE! Have you considered what could happen if you change the past? Why would you save a country that is currently in peace, and doesn’t need you?”

“Those are not my people. OUR people lost everything, I want to save them. I want to give them a better ending.”

“You’re stupid, you are SO stupid!” Guinevere shook her head, in disbelief. “All of this, all of this happened not because of you, the world does not center around YOU.” She yelled, blinking back tears. “As much as you want to get credit over ruining your country, you did not! I did, okay? Lancelot did! Mordred did! We ALL had a hand in it, so stop acting like you’re some sort of tragic martyr, because all I see before me is an IDIOT who thinks too highly of herself!”

“How dare you?” Artoria’s eyes darkened. “I would sacrifice everything for it!”

“And look where that got you! Dead alone with no one to mourn you! Is that what you wanted?!” Guinevere’s eyes welled up with more tears. “Do you know what everyone in the castle would say about you?And your knights? Do you have any idea how much your precious people don’t care about you? Do you know how it felt hearing them say such cruel things and not being able to stop them? Do you know how it felt to hear that you died and I couldn’t even say goodbye to you?!”

Artoria’s expression was unchanged, and Guinevere’s disappointment has reached its limit.

It was a fact that she did not care for her feelings, so there was no need to feel upset about it anymore.

“If you want to be such a great king, then it’s about time that you make up for your past mistakes.” Guinevere pulled one of her daggers, and pointed towards her. “Execute me.”

“What is this nonsense, Guinevere?” Artoria dismissed her.

Guinevere laughed, dryly. “What? You did not hesitate to try and execute me before, I’m sure this won’t mean anything to you.”

“Look just drop this matter-”

“I won’t.” Guinevere insisted she has had enough. “I have no wishes for the grail, I only want to atone for my sins, so if you still refuse to do so, I will just do it myself.”

The archer did not wait for an answer, and drove the dagger right towards her heart, Artoria stopped her just in time, grabbing the dagger by the edge, cutting her own hand in the process.

“What are you doing?!” Guinevere tried to fight back, and pull the dagger away.

“Would you… be quiet for ONE second?”

“Huh?! I’ve been quiet all my life, and you’re not my king anymore I can do whatever I want-”

Guinevere could not finish her sentence, not when Artoria pushed her back, kissing her. Shocked, she let the dagger fall down, and felt Artoria’s bloodied hand lock with hers.

Huh? That’s weird, was this the first time she ever felt her hand in hers? This was the first time she kissed her. Artoria’s lips were soft, nothing like her cold behavior.

Guinevere closed her eyes, and her free hand gripped Artoria’s shirt, and all her thoughts quieted down.

She felt a thumb gently tracing the back of her hand.

Artoria pulled away, but did not let her go. Her face was flushed, and she was panting, and it was a sight Guinevere has never seen before, and she gulped, trying to recollect her thoughts.

“Finally you’re… quiet…” Artoria stared at their locked hands, then at the dagger below them. She pushed it away with her foot. “Look, Guinevere…”

“Wait did you kiss me to shut me up?!” Guinevere’s eyes shot wide, and Artoria sighed, and kissed her again before she would start ranting.

And Guinevere fell for it again.

“OW!” Artoria pulled away. “Why did you bite me?!”

“Because you are an asshole.”

Artoria rolled her eyes. Her wife was incredibly frustrating. “Look, I am not your king, you are right. That’s why I can make my choice this time, I have no reason to execute you.”

“You have no reason to save Britain either.”

Artoria groaned.

“Would you drop that?”

“No!”

“Listen I! I’m sorry.” Artoria’s eyes softened, and her posture slouched. “I prayed for Lancelot to arrive, so that I would have an excuse not to execute you, but...That cost the lives of Gareth and Gaheris. If only I had been brave…”

“You’re blaming yourself again.”

“Of course I am. I failed you. I failed everyone, I wish I could just rip my heart out then maybe then I could have done better. I was weak…” She let out a shaky breath. “I don’t want to be happy, I… I’m scared of being happy when everyone I’ve loved is dead.”

“Artoria, why is it that you approved of me and Lancelot? Despite it being treason?” Artoria blinked, and was about to answer, if not for Guinevere cutting her off. “We failed our duties, failed everyone around us, but you still wanted us to seek happiness. Why can’t you give the same treatment to yourself?”

“I…”

“You can never be a perfect king, in fact, you are the most imperfect mess I have ever seen.”

“That is hurtful, Guinevere.”

“Good… But you know… I love that about you. You could never fit into that role, because you were so kind, so human… I’ve seen trying to hold back tears after every cruel act you had to make, I’ve seen you mourn Gareth and Gaheris, and recently I’ve seen the way you look at Mordred. A perfect king can feel no emotions, but then why is your heart beating so loud?” She placed a hand on Artoria’s chest, feeling her heartbeat, and Artoria in return placed a hand on hers, grasping it gently.

There was a pause, before Artoria finally spoke.

“Guinevere.... You love me?”

Guinevere’s eyes widened, and she pulled back as if struck by lightning. “What?! I give you an important life lesson and this is what you take from it?! Wha? Love you? What are you talking about I don’t…” Her words would have been convincing if not for the fact that her face was on fire and she frantically moved her hands around like a child.

“I see.” Artoria smiled. “We should get going, before Mordred comes looking for us.”

“Wait.” Guinevere bit her lip, contemplating for a moment, before throwing herself into Artoria’s -ready- arms, she held on tighter, as if to make up for lost time , and then she looked up and Artoria’s eyes were soft and gentle, and oh how she missed seeing that warmth, how happy she felt knowing it was not fully destroyed by everyone else.

This time, it was Guinevere who leaned it to kiss her, and Artoria held her close, and closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth of her wife, for the first time.

That is, until the door opened.

“Hey I’ve been looking everywhere for…” Mordred walked in, and stared for a moment at the couple.

Guinevere quickly pulled away and laughed nervously. “This is not what it looks like.”

“Mordred please don’t tell Illya.”

Mordred squinted.

“ILLYASVIEL!”

“MORDRED!”