#or they could have just brushed her hair to make it look neater

[differentfandomsandthings]

Looks like season 3 might have a small time skip. Maybe in the middle of the season. We see Omega as she looked in season 2 but in another shot she has a different hair style and it's longer, straighter. Her face looks a tad bit older as well but not much. We really only see her head so I can't tell if she's taller or not. She's still very much a kid though.

[tahliafox]

Only you.

Natasha Romanoff x Reader.

Summary: “Oh, baby. It's only you. My special, little girl.” Natasha whispered into your ear, like a dirty secret. 

Warnings: Angst, Making out.

Word count: 1938 

This is an add on to Dirty Secret, my last published story.

Your finger flitted gently over the F# a couple times before a light pressure caused a horrendous off-key sound coming from the G in front of it. Your eyes tightly closed shut at the mistake.

“It’s an F#, darling.” The deep voice that appeared beside you made you flinch into a pair of thin, delicate hands that came to rest on your  tender shoulders. A green-flecked gaze ran over Natasha’s perfectly polished nails. From instant perception, the older woman's voice seemed to be aroused with disappointment.

The hand that once rested on your shoulder came and grasped at your shaky hands to place them onto the right keys. “A, then F#, then back to A. The notes are in triplets, play it rhythmically and evenly. That may prevent you from slipping again.” You took in a quiet breath, drying out your wanting lips. 

“I'm sorry, I have been trying to play it for ages now. I just can't get it right.” Your voice came out shaky, the breath taken in did little to calm your nerves- further prevented by the divine presence behind you. Natasha ran her hand back over to your shoulder and comfortingly caressed the tiffany blue, cotton shirt. Nimble fingers played with the satin collar that had been folded neatly, framing your porcelain neck. It was unfolded and folded again in exactly the same way, however it seemed to look neater after Natasha’s touch. 

“Why don’t you take a break, sweetheart. Maybe we could clear your head a little.” Natasha looked into your eyes through the gold-framed mirror in front of you both. You blushed under her gaze, as always, and nodded your head. “Fancy a walk?”`

You found yourself thoughtlessly agreeing.

Dancing ballet through thin plaits and red ribbons, the wind seemed to cool your forever flushed cheeks. Golden shards of light peaked through the patterned skyline created by browning leaves. The tree's trunks were home to a blanket of moss that creeped its way up through the branches. Ruby red heels clicked along the stoney, concrete road - that had been framed roughly by brittle leaves fallen from adjacently-lined rows of tall autumn-stained trees. 

Your hand fiddled with the fur lining at the end of your coat, nimble fingers occasionally brushing against the coffee-coloured, plaid skirt you had on. Your eyes were trained on the floor, watching your every step, dear God don’t fall over. You were oh-so careful, trying not to trip over any loose stones that may have been in your way- after all, embarrassing yourself in front of Natasha any more that you already had was the only thing racing through your mind. 

Covered in a ebony-black trench coat, Natasha looked glamorous and rich as always, with a cherry cigarette hanging from her lips. Her hair was tucked neatly into a french beret, secured by two pure gold clips. Everything she owned was so expensive, so expensive that you started to feel worth something every time Natasha layed her gentle fingers against your scarred skin.

“The sunsets are always beautiful this time of year.” Natasha put forth. Her hand was gently intertwined with your own, repeatedly rubbing her thumb over the back of your hand. The unconscious movement managed to both calm and panic you at the same time. The overwhelming being of Natasha never ceased to leave your frame of mind, she was always there. 

Natasha was not expecting the silence she was met with after her remark. You clearly had not cleared your mind yet. “Please try to stop thinking, darling. You have been ever-so stressed recently and it's starting to worry me- and believe me I need nothing less than more worry lines on my forehead.” she chuckled. Your gaze whipped from the gravel path into Natasha’s eyes. 

“You are beautiful.” You spluttered. Natasha blushed softly and raised her eyebrows- making you choke on a dry throat. The soft cigarette smoking coming from Natasha’s mouth weaved its way through the air. “I- I mean that you shouldn't worry about getting lines on your face. You’re already so beautiful and I- well there's nothing that could happen to your face to erase that.” You un-methodically rambled.  

Natasha listened with a sweet smile on her face. Her eyelashes fluttered as she took in the wonder in your eyes as you spoke about her. “Well, thank you very much, sweetheart.” Natasha squeezed your hand tightly in hers with the intention of comfort. 

You smiled and looked back at the floor, the disorder of thoughts slowly clearing. “Did you talk to Darren about my sleeping arrangements? He asked me to clear out the guest room downstairs for whilst he is away- to keep you company.” You changed the subject. Natasha’s smile sunk a little at the mention of her husband. 

“Why don’t we take a trip away as well. Nobody is needing us here, we could go to Rome. I know you speak italian.” Natasha mumbled. You nodded your head at the option. Rome was always lovely at this time of the year, and your apartment there looked over the skyline perfectly.

“I have a place there.” You mentioned. Natasha looked at her, surprised.

“You do?”

“Well, it used to be my Nonno’s, but after he passed away I inherited it. It's completely paid off and everything.”

Natasha smiled at you as you both got to the end of the gravelled road, reaching a perfectly preserved fence. A bay horse lifted its head from the grass, looking over to see you and Natasha standing over the fence. Natasha clicked her tongue at her horse.

The horse came trotting over with its head held high. 

“How come I don't look after the horses as well as the house?” You asked.

“I assumed you were not trained with equine animals. If you had mentioned it in your resume I would have discussed it with you.” Natasha ran her hand along the stripe on the geldings head.

“Oh- I am not trained with horses, I just assumed I would take care of everything.” You hesitated for a second. “You have other maids?”

Natasha furrowed her eyebrows and tilted her head a little at the tone of your question. “Well, yes. It's a rather large estate and it would be impossible for you to clean it yourself, especially because you're not a live-in maid.” 

The realisation that there were other people that could possibly be this close to Natasha shot its way through your stomach like a bullet. What if you weren’t special? What if Natasha was just overly kind, overly giving? What if she’d been with another woman? A concerned look settled onto your face and, unbeknownst to yourself, Natasha was watching every twitch, every little movement to try and read what you were thinking. So lost in thought, you didn't even realise that Natasha's hand had let go of your own hand, and was now reaching its way onto your cheek. 

The juxtaposing smells of Natasha’s cherry wrist and the horse's mane were able to pull you out of a trance. Natasha held your face ever-so delicately and lifted your chin so she could look directly into soft eyes. Like the scent of Natasha, a cherry shade flooded onto your cheeks- all the way to the tips of your ears. 

“Tell me what you’re thinking.” Natasha kindly demanded.

“Do you talk to everyone like this? Do you… well, are you with anyone as well as this?” The innocence of the question, followed with the despair that painted its way onto your face made Natasha pull you into her firm hold. You wrapped your arms around Natashas waist as one of her hands made its way into your hair, scratching at your scalp softly. 

“Oh, baby, only you. My special, little girl.” Natasha whispered into your ear, like a dirty secret. You burrowed your head into Natasha’s neck, allowing the sweet smell to dissipate your thoughts. Natasha rested her chin on top of combed hair and swayed you in her arms, whilst continuously stroking a line from the base of your neck to scalp.

After a long moment, you pulled away from Natasha’s neck, keeping the woman close in your arms. Your head turned away from Natasha’s gaze, scouting the area to see if anyone was with the two of you. 

“Kiss me.” You stated.

Natasha seemed to know everything, but at this moment she went foolish, you hadn't asked her for anything since that night. Often pervaded with words, she found herself speechless. She’d kissed you before, she’d fucked you before yet this was different, thought through- intimate, less impulsive. Sharply inhaling through her nose, (the sweet smell of you not helping her state of overwhelm) went blank, and opened her mouth.

“What?” The older woman's voice, unlike her face, was filled with emotion and expression.  It held a tone of something that you’d never heard before- disbelief maybe, so abnormal that your stomach started to curl. Her voice went- she tried to respond but all that happened was an opening of pretty, pink lips and the release of a cut breath. Natasha stared with shock for a few seconds, her mouth had dropped open the same. Her eyes flicked around the property they were on, after realising they were truly alone she nodded.

“Ask- ask me again and I'll give you anything. I’ll give you everything, just ask me.” Natasha’s voice was desperate. The young girl stole her thoughts and replaced them with images of what could happen. Breathing out of her nose, she closed her eyes and dropped so her forehead was resting against yours. “Please, baby. Ask me again.” The desperate voice dropped to a pleading whisper. 

“Kiss me.”

Despite the sheer desperation swimming within Natasha, she was gentle and kind. Soft, moisturised lips kissed themselves on your shaky mouth, pecking twice- why was she being so damn gentle-  until it got too much. You whined, feeling the older woman inhale against your mouth as the noise registered in her ears. Her legs subtly got closer, almost crossing.

Your eyes were closed, so tightly- as if you were making it up in your head and the permission of sight would cause a decay of the dream. But it was real, as real as Natasha’s nose brushing against yours, her lips intertwined, sucking on your lower lip. As real as her bold, undiscouraged hands gripping at your waist, forcing an arch in your back as she leaned into you.

Your slender arms draped over her neck, the crinkles in your shirt, the dip in her knees. Raphael couldn't paint a prettier picture than what was standing in broad daylight. 

“Please.” You begged, not knowing what you were actually asking for.

More, anything. 

“What, baby?” her mouth drew a millimetre away from yours. “Tell me what you need.”

You stuttered. Her, just her. 

“You, please.” so frail, so inexperienced. What were you supposed to ask for other than her? You just wanted her again.

Yet the world seemed so unkind, as the faint tapping of boots against cobbled stone started to get louder. Natasha withdrew herself from you completely, and in the matter of seconds you seemed to go through withdrawals. Your eyes widened, then welled.

The older woman had you at almost arms length, she consistently observed the surroundings. You begged that no one had seen the both of you together. Once so tender, she went cold, then started walking away from you. 

“Go back inside, finish your duties.” she ordered, as if she was talking to staff. You then realised she was, and that's what you were to her, an employee.

[mattscoquette]

“ 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 , 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝜗𝜚 “

𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: popular!mean!matt x quiet!introverted!fem!oc

𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: a story in which a quiet introverted girl attempts to befriend her popular neighbor

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: smut (p in v, slight praise kink, use of pet names), cursing, arguing, kissing

𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 6.1k

introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6

𝐚/𝐧: first off thank u sm for 340 followers 😭😭😭 i love each and every single person who’s ever came across my account thank u sm for taking time to read my stuff. also thank u to everyone who’s shown love to this series!!!! i loved writing it so much im so sad it’s over now :( i plan to do another series at some point so stay tuned for that! i hope u all enjoy the final part <3333 i love u all sm! 💕💕

xoxo ₊˚⊹ ୨ৎ

⋆。˚ ౨ৎ

addilyn richardson,

was currently standing in front of her torn apart closet on a monday morning, contemplating what to wear. normally she would just throw on something comfortable, but today was the day her and matt had their science project to present. she woke up with a sick feeling in her stomach, presumably from nervousness. the nervousness from presenting, and from seeing matt for the first time in days. she stood there, seriously considering playing hooky today and going back to sleep. it was so cold, and the warmth of her bed was calling out to her. she shook her head. she couldn’t do that to matt, though, not after she treated him this weekend. she texted him early saturday morning that she was still “feeling under the weather” and that it was best if they wrapped up the project on their own. all they had left was the worksheet, so it wasn’t a lot of work to do, but deciding to work alone and then submit it was risky. she had ignored his questions of how the project was coming along, and she even declined nicks request to hang out at his house. although he was weary, matt trusted addilyn, though, he knew she was a smart girl and she could pass them with ease.

addilyn sighed, settling on a her favorite pair of jeans. she rummaged through the clothes on the hangers, trying to find something that paired well with the pants. she found a small blue lacy tank top, close to the blue of matt’s eyes, and decided on that. she shook her head, trying to push thoughts of the brunette haired boy to the back of her mind. she had to focus today, no more matt, she could not mess up her presentation in front of her class. she looked in her mirror quickly, before opting to put a silky white headband in her hair, attempting to make her curls look a little neater. she tugged a sweater on over her shoulders, grabbing her backpack, before heading out the door.

she hasn’t gotten a ride from matt for the last couple days, not since the day they came so close to kissing. granted, matt would have driven her if she asked, but she grew distant with him, not wanting to embarrass herself anymore than she already had. that moment kept replaying in her head all weekend. how she felt him nearly pressed against her body, the feeling of their noses brushing against one another, how close their lips were to touching one another. she thought about what it would feel like to kiss matt. if it would be gentle, their lips barely grazing one another, or if it’d be the rough, messy kind, where it was a clash of teeth together. she wouldn’t have minded either one, as long as she was kissing matt.

addilyn. she told herself. get a hold of yourself. you need to present well today.

making her way to the bus stop, she saw matt’s van drive past her, nick sitting in the back. addilyn sighed, putting her earbuds in as she waited for the bus alone in the cold. a part of her hoped matt would’ve pulled over, jumping out of the van, and ushering her in quickly, telling her that she did nothing wrong and he liked her back. they would drive to school together, walking in hand in hand, until they had to go separate ways. but he didn’t, he simply kept on driving.

₊˚ 𓂃✧

“i hope you all are ready to present today,” the physics teacher announced as the bell rang, watching a few stragglers shuffle in. addilyn held her breath, looking over to matt. he didn’t turn around to meet her gaze. “maria and joey already offered to go first, but before each group goes up, i’ll allow you guys to prepare yourselves in the hallway.”

addilyn sighed of relief. she only briefly met with matt before class to go over their assignment quickly, barely having enough time to make sure they did it right. although she was confident in her part of the work, she couldn’t help but feel worried it was wrong. she was so out of it this weekend, picking up her phone every five minutes to see if matt would reach out her, and ignoring him when he did. she partly felt bad, but that feeling would instantly be washed over with embarrassment. he texted her a few times in the span of the two days, but addilyn just kept on ignoring matt, praying he would just forget about it and let her work. by sunday, though, matt stopped reaching out to her. she couldn’t help but feel disappointed, but she knew ignoring him would get the boy to leave her alone. but deep down she hoped that if she pushed him away enough he would come back around.

the class watched as each group went up, sitting in anticipation waiting for their turn. about four groups in, addilyn and matt were on deck to go.

“gianna and kian, you’re up now. addilyn and matthew are after if you guys want to go to the hallway.” the teacher told them.

the two of them glanced at one another, slowly getting up and going into the hallway with their project. taking in a deep breath, addilyn looked at matt up and down. he wore dark blue baggy jeans with his car keys clipped onto the belt loop, accompanied with a black and red t-shirt that read ransom across the front. he wore a black zip up over his clothes, where his hands were currently engulfed by the sleeves. her stomach was instantly in knots as matt smiled at her and sat the experiment down delicately on the linoleum floor. he pulled out a bag of marbles from his zip up’s pockets. “you ready?”

addilyn nodded quietly, watching as he bent down, setting the marble on the top part of the slope. he let it go, watching it go down and run its course. it raced down all the slopes, speeded through all the sharp turns, evening spinning around and around the funnel they added. it was flawless. matt and addilyn smiled at one another, both of their chests feeling tight.

“you finished the packet, right?” matt asked, looking at the paper she held in her hands. “can i see it?”

she nodded slowly, a soft blush creeping onto her cheek, handing the pile of paper to the boy in front of her. she hadn’t seen him in person since friday afternoon when he bumped into her, when he saw her crying. she had been so embarrassed. she had a crush on the kid for barely a week and she’d been a crying wreck over him. how pathetic of her. she wanted to explain to matt that afternoon she was upset about something that happened earlier in school, but she couldn’t bring herself to look in his eyes without bursting into tears. instead, she ran away and ignored him all weekend. she watched matt intently as he looked through the packet, seeing the mix of both of their handwriting as they had both taken turns working on it. he paused as he got to one section addilyn did over the weekend by herself.

she watched as his eyebrows furrowed. “are you sure you calculated this right?” he asked, showing her the paper as she leaned into him to look. she could smell the intoxicating scent of his cologne. she flashed back to last week, when his face was inches from her and the only thing she could smell was him. his scent stayed in her room all night. matt’s voice snapped her back to reality. “i think you used the wrong formula.”

“no i didn’t, matt.” she told him confidently, looking up to meet his eyes. she looked back down at the work, going over it carefully. she was certain she did it correctly.

“no, you used the formula for potential energy, not kinetic.” matt pressed back, showing her the paper and pointing. “look.” she directed her gaze back down at the equation in front of her, then back at him absolutely dumbfounded.

“i didn’t.”

“you did.”

“matt, i know what i’m doing,” she told him, her voice starting to grow louder. “i know i did it right.”

“addy, you did it wrong.” matt shot back at her, also starting to become frustrated.

she didn’t even realize she was yelling. it’s as if all the flirting and joking they shared with each other over the last week was gone, and it was the first day all over again. “who’s the straight a student here, matt? i know i did my work right. you just don’t want to admit you’re wrong!”

he shook his head, opening his mouth to speak, before addilyn interrupted him. “i know how to do this shit matt, you don’t, so don’t come out here questioning my work that i know is ri-”

he cut her off by pulling her by the arm into an empty classroom, dropping the papers to the floor and shutting the door behind them. her back was flush to the door, matt standing over her with his arms extended on either side of her head. the space between them was so small, it was dizzying. she looked up at him, trying not to let it falter her confidence.

“what is your issue?” she spat, “we need to go over our project.”

“my issue?” matt yelled, “what’s my issue? you’re the one who’s been acting weird the last four days! we wouldn’t be in this situation right now if you just did the project with me over the weekend instead of avoiding me.”

if looks could kill, matt would be six feet under the ground. addilyn glared up at him. “i wasn’t avoiding you, asshole, i was sick.”

“sick, my ass,” he argued, “you were avoiding me! i know you were!”

“was not.”

“were too”

“matt,” she whisper-shouted. he still had her against the door. “stop it.”

he looked down at her sighing, trying to cool himself down. she continued to look up at him with daggers in her eyes. all the emotions the two felt in the past couple of weeks, they were getting it all out now, only in the form of an argument. how typical of addilyn and matt. she spoke up again. “i knew working on this project with you would go to shit.”

“you don’t mean that.” he told her, looking back just as angrily, standing even closer to her than before.

she stood her ground, trying her best not to feel small underneath matt. he’d always been a few inches taller, but with the position they were in now, he towered over her small frame. she yelled back at him. “yes, i do mean it! if we never worked on this assignment together, everything would’ve worked out so much easier! i would have been fine doing it alone, and you wouldn’t have been bothering me and ruining my-“

matt couldn’t handle the sound of her voice yelling at him anymore, it sounded like nails on a chalkboard. in the heat of the moment, not even thinking, he took his hands off the door from behind her and grabbed her shoulders, pressing his lips to hers. she blinked, kissing him back after a moment. he pulled away from the girl, eyes wide as he met addilyn’s shocked expression that was plastered all across her face.

what the fuck did he just do.

matt didn’t even have the chance to speak, hell, he couldn’t even move, all of his words left his mouth. addilyn blinked up at him, pausing for moment, before wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling the boy into her. she titled her head to the side, deepening the kiss as she kept one arm wrapped around him, her other hand moving to hold his face close to hers. matt’s hands moved down and gripped her hips, pressing them against his. he kissed her back hard, like she would slip out of his grasp if he didn’t. addilyn cupped his jaw, pulling him impossibly closer to her as she felt him smirk against her lips slightly. she broke away momentarily to look at matt, flashing him a soft smile, his favorite smile. before she could fully pull back, matt was already connecting his lips back with hers. he ran his hands up and down her sides as he kissed her with all the feelings he couldn’t convey over the last couple weeks. addilyn sighed against the boy’s lips, moving her hands from his face up into his hair. she tugged lightly at the brown locks while she felt matt’s teeth graze against her lip. addilyn pulled back slightly, placing a few small pecks on matt’s grinning lips before pulling away fully.

they two of them giggled, still holding on to one another. matt spoke up first. “i still think you did the equation wrong.”

“shut up” addilyn laughed, pressing her lips to matt’s once more.

₊˚ 𓂃✧

“and that’s how kinetic energy works.” matt concluded, taking the marble off of the track and placing it back into his pocket. the class burst into applause, a few kids even obnoxiously whistling to really add to it. addilyn beamed next to matt, looking at him for a moment before returning her gaze back to the rest of the class. the pair returned to their respective seats, glancing at one another as their teacher praised the work. they sat through a few more presentations, before the bell dismissed the students, matt finding his way to addilyn rather quickly. they walked together out of the classroom, not long before the girl pulled matt by the arm into a lesser crowded hallway.

“hi.” she grinned up at him, arms hugging around his waist. he brushed a curl behind her ear, retuning the smile.

“do you wanna skip the rest of the day?” he asked, watching addilyn’s face widen. it was only the middle of the day, they still had at least four more classes before they had to go home. she instantly shook her head no. “come on addy, live a little.” he laughed, watching her contemplate her choices. stay in school like you’re supposed to, or spend the day with matt.

“i’ll buy you lunch.” he bribed in a sing-songy voice, his hands still playing with the hair behind her ears. he brought his lips to her cheek, kissing it softly a few times. he pulled back. “please?”

she sighed, giving in. matt cheered, lacing his hand with hers as he pulled her out of the double doors leading outside. she instantly felt a chill run down her spine as they were met with the cold winter air. matt took notice, slipping off his puffer jacket he was wearing and giving it to her. she smiled sweetly at him as he opened the passenger side of his van, letting her in. he climbed in next to her, starting the car and immediately turning on the heat on full blast. he plugged his phone in, queuing up a few songs, before kicking the car into reverse.

“where to?” he asked addilyn, backing out of the parking space, putting his hand on her knee as he began to drive. she felt her face redden at the action, shifting her legs closer to the center console as matt rubbed his thumb back and forth.

the girl shrugged. “wherever you want to take me.” matt smirked, an idea popping into his head.

they drove comfortably, making small talk about whatever came across their minds. after about fifteen minutes, matt pulled into the parking lot, turning off the car and looking over at addilyn. he found that she was already staring at him, leaning across the middle to place a quick peck on her smiling lips. “let me get the door for you.” he said quietly, quickly getting out of the van and opening her side of the door, offering a hand out.

“such a gentleman.” she laughed, taking his hand in hers. she still was wearing his puffer jacket, only a thin zip up keeping matt’s body from being met with the brisk january air around them.

“are you sure you’re not cold, matt?” she asked the boy as they began to walk, hands still held together.

“i’m fine.” he promised, leaning down to kiss her rosy cheek. they walked through the parking lot, before the park came into view. the large bare trees that surrounded the vicinity became separated by a walkway that lead into the grassy area, where the playground and baseball field resided. she gasped, turning to look at matt.

“i love this park!” she gushed, leading matt though the gate. they started down the walkway, making their way around the track that stretched a mile around the perimeter of the park. they lost count of how many laps they took, walking with their hands together the whole time. they talked about whatever crossed their minds.

“tell me about the book you’re reading right now, adds.” matt asked her, turning to look over at the girl as they walked. her cheeks were all pink from the cold, her lips glossy. she looked back at him, the widest smile spread across her face. nobody’s ever asked her that. she talked to him about the book, her favorite characters, favorite quotes, all of it. she talked of the book she read previously to the one now, and how it was all connected. matt just listened and smiled at her as she talked, loving the way her eyes lit up while she spoke.

they continued walking around as matt told addilyn about his love for nature and the comfort it brought to him, especially in the colder months.

“i just love the trees and shit,” matt told her, taking in the surrounding around them. the trees were dead and bare from the cold of the winter, but matt continued to admire them anyway. “my favorite season is fall because of the leaves. i think they look super pretty and i love the colors of everything.” addilyn beamed up at him listening to him talk about his other favorite things about fall. he talked about how he loved to wear fuzzy sweaters as the weather grew colder, and found peace for himself being surrounded by the outdoors.

they’d been in the park for a good hour and a half, just talking about everything and nothing all at once. they were currently sat on a bench that was located across from a small pond, abandoned from the small animals that typically lived there due to the freezing winter weather. addilyn was resting her head on matt’s shoulder as they still held hands, simply enjoying the moment in silence. she was tracing small patterns on his hand when she broke away and sat up for a moment to look up at him.

“what?” matt smiled, looking back at addilyn. she shook her head, muttering a small nothing, leaning up slightly to capture his lips in a sweet kiss. it felt just like the dream he’d been having all week.

the air around them was cold, but addilyn felt so warm against him. she removed their intertwined hands and wrapped both her arms around his neck, pulling him back down into her as she leaned her back against the bench. matt turned his body to match hers, arms instinctively wrapped around her waist as she sighed contently into the kiss.

“do you want to go back to my house?” he whispered against her lips.

she pulled back, glancing up at matt. “yes please,” she said, leaning back into him. the pair shared a few more quick pecks before they got up, walking back to matt’s car with their hands together once more

₊˚ 𓂃✧

when addilyn and matt got back to his house, they were the only two home seeing as it was still the middle of the day. they were currently up in matt’s bedroom, sitting together on his bed watching a movie. despite the fact the two had already kissed, both of the teenagers were terrified to make another move. they were both sat upright, matt’s arms crossed while addy’s sat her in her lap, their legs barely touching one another. they both wanted more but neither would act on it. addilyn kept feeling matt’s not-so-subtle glances at her, only looking back at him when his focus returned to the t.v.

this was about the fifth time addilyn addilyn looked over at matt in the span of thirty minutes, and she was ready to give everything up right then and there. upon arriving home, matt pulled a grey hoodie over his t-shirt, trying to warm himself after spending nearly two hours in the cold outside. brown hair flopped over his blue eyes and scrunched eyebrows as he tried his best to focus on the movie and ignore the twitching feeling in his jeans. his cheeks stayed a pink rosy color, his lips slightly parted while he breathed heavily. addilyn felt her stomach flutter as matt repositioned himself so he was now laying down as opposed to having his back against the headboard. his arms moved to lay behind his head, his sweatshirt riding up just enough to reveal the waistline of his boxers. matt could feel her eyes digging in to him, looking up and smirking to meet her gaze.

“take a picture, addy, it’ll last longer.” he said in the most flirtatious way, the words immediately making her panties soaked. two hours ago she’d kissed a boy for the first time ever, and here she was now wondering what he’d feel like insider of her. her eyes stayed wide looking at matt as she felt a blush creep up onto her cheeks and the back of her neck.

“sorry, i just-” she started, being cut off by matt’s arms pulling her on top of him following his sudden and bold change in attitide. “matt!” she yelped, half giggling.

“hi pretty girl,” he smiled up at her, his face getting red and his dick starting to get hard as his hands made home on her hips, rubbing them back and forth. her hands traveled up his chest to play with the strings of his hoodie

“hi” she whispered back, unable to stop herself from trailing her eyes all over his body. he looked so good underneath her, it was driving her insane. matt’s hands moved to her back, bringing her down to meet his lips in a passionate and hot kiss. the two lazily kissed as addilyn felt matt’s tongue swipe against her bottom lip, granting him access by opening her mouth more. they both explored the inside of each other’s mouth as their tongues clashed against one another. matt slid his hand beneath the bottom of her tank top, lightly tracing tiny shapes into the small of her back. she whined quietly at the boy’s touch, matt swallowing her sounds as their lips moved together perfectly in sync as they continued to exchange slow, sloppy kisses.

“matt,” she breathed out, pulling away to catch her breath as he began to kiss down her neck. he stopped when he got to where her neck met her shoulder, peppering kisses all along the base and across her collarbone. she gasped when she felt him going back to leave marks all along where he had previously kissed her. he slowly worked his way back up her neck, sucking and biting at the sweet spot beneath her ear. she let her hands dance in his brown locks, pushing him closer into her neck as he continued to leave small kisses over the purple bruises he was leaving.

he pulled away from her neck, looking up to meet her eyes. her one hand still stayed twisted in his hair, the other moving down to rest on his chest, while she breathed heavily and looked back at him intensely, smiling at the boy beneath her. he felt his mouth curl up into a big grin pressing his lips to hers again. he left small quick pecks on her lips while addilyn was giggling softly in between them, trying to kiss him back and laugh at the same time. matt removed his hands from her waist, holding her face still while he began give her dozens of small kisses across her cheeks, forehead, nose, closed eyelids, and all over the rest of her face. he made his way back around to her mouth, pressing it against his firmly. “i want you so bad addilyn,” he mumbled against her lips, “please.”

she retreated from his lips, looking down at him with wide eyes. she’d be fantasizing about this moment more than she’d like to admit for the past week, and now it was finally happening. it all seemed to have worked out perfectly, there only being one issue.

“i’m a virgin” she blurted out, her mouth going up to cover her mouth. she hid her face in the crook of matt’s neck in immediate embarrassment, him just giggling softly and running his hands up and down her back.

“it’s fine, addy,” he told her softly, whispering in her ear, “i just want to make you mine.”

she whined quietly in his neck, rocking her hips back and forth slightly against his now noticeable boner. “what if i’m bad?” she asked, drawing away from his neck.

he peered up at her, moving his hand up to cup her jaw, running his slender thumb across her cheek. “listen to me sweet girl, we don’t have to do anything you’re uncomfortable with.” he examined her face, looking for any signs of discomfort before he pulled her down into an endearing kiss.

“i want you too, matt.” she sighed into his lips, getting a little more comfortable and planting kisses down his neck. matt smiled, flipping the two around so he was now on top of her, holding himself up with his two hands. his lips met her in hungry and ravaging kiss, very different from the one they had just shared previously. it was a mess of teeth and tongue, their lips barely even catching each others.

matt kissed all the way down her neck, stopping when he got to where her breasts were revealed in the tank top she wore. he began to suck and leave a mark at the top of her left tit, his hand reaching up and underneath her shirt to cup the right over her bra. she curled his fingers in his hair, pushing the brunette boy further into her chest.

“can i take your shirt off?” he asked addilyn, looking up at her through hooded eyelids, his once blue eyes now getting darker with lust. she nodded slowly, gaping downwards at the boy. “use your words, addy, tell me it’s okay.”

“i-it’s okay, please take it off.” she told the boy, holding his face and meeting his gaze.

he leaned up slightly, gifting her pink cheek with a soft peck. “tell me if you want to stop at any point, okay?”

“okay.” she whispered.

he instantly was yanking the tank top off of her body, throwing it behind him onto his floor and he attacked her tits with his mouth, his quick contrast in attitude turning her on even more. he kissed and licked all around the valley of her breasts where it was exposed from the white lace of her bra, leaving soft kisses in the wake of the purple marks he left all across her chest. his one arm was wrapped around her waist as his head stayed buried in the girl’s chest, his other arm reaching around her to play with the clasp of her bra. the girl impatiently moaned, moving her arm behind her to take it off for matt. he pulled away for a second, admiring the girl beneath him. addilyn looked up at him, suddenly feeling insecure.

“you’re so fucking pretty addilyn” he breathed, tossing her bra to the side as he took her right nipple into his mouth, sucking gently while his hand reached up to massage her left. she moaned loudly, holding the brunette boy closer to her chest as she felt his tongue flick across the sensitive bud. he did this repedealty, sucking and licking her one tit until he brought his attention to the other, giving it the same treatment.

the girl grew more and more restless, wanting nothing more than to just feel matt inside of her. she groped at his hoodie while he was leaving a hickey underneath her boob, signaling she wanted it off. he laughed to himself at her actions, lifting his head from her so she could take off both his sweatshirt and t-shirt at the same time. the two took a moment to pause, looking at each other intently, both of their chests bare and heaving. “matt i need you, please.” addilyn murmured, her voice laced with desire.

“i know, baby, i do too.” the brunette boy moaned out, grinding his hips down on her, the friction driving him insane as he buried his face into her neck, sucking a dark bruise into her skin. his hands reached down, toying with the hem of her washed out jeans. “can i take these off of you, beautiful?”

“yes, just do something please,” addilyn sighed, running her nails up and down matt’s bare back, scratching at it slightly. he nodded, moving up from her neck as he swiftly removed her pants, the girl reaching up to fiddle with his belt to do the same. matt, also growing just as needy as her, reached down to help addilyn undo his belt and take his jeans off too, leaving the both of them almost fully naked.

upon the removal of his jeans, matt met addilyn with an aggressive kiss, rubbing his clothed dick to her soaked underwear. they both moaned at the new feeling of only a thin piece of fabric separating them, both moving their hips against one another’s. addilyn felt matt slip his hand down beneath her panties, teasingly playing with her clit, rubbing it in soft circles with his thumb. “that feel good, pretty girl?”

unable to talk, addilyn only nodded as she gasped, feeling matt’s fingers move down to her folds, running them lightly across the entrance, before inserting the middle one and curling it up. “fuck, matt” she panted, her eyes rolling back in pleasure, “don’t stop please.”

“trust me, adds, i wont.” the brunette hair boy replied, adding another finger as he thrusted them in and out of her, looking down at the mess of the girl he’s made. “you’re doing so good for me.” she only moaned in response, feeling her stomach grow tighter as her face contorted.

right before she was about to release, she felt matt suddenly pull out, opening her eyes as she watched him suck on his fingers that were drenched in her arousal. her jaw slack, she reached up to trifle with his boxers, dipping her fingers beneath the band and running them along the tip of his dick.

“please matt,” she began, her voice hoarse, “fuck me.”

that was enough for matt to tear her underwear off of her, ripping it slightly as it was discarded into the messy pile of clothes on the floor next to them. he leaned over her, opening his bedside drawer to search for a condom as he felt the girl sucking and biting at his neck. he met her lips to messily make out with her for a moment, before pulling his boxers down, his erection springing free. he felt her soft fingers wrap around his dick, pumping it as he dropped his head into her neck, moaning. impatient, she snatched the condom wrapper from him, tearing it open with her teeth as she grabbed his cock to slide the rubber on.

“that was really hot,” the boy laughed, stroking his dick that was poking into the girl’s stomach, moving it to line up at her entrance. he looked up to her eyes, his facial expression changing to more serious. “tell me if i hurt you at all, okay?” he told her, stroking her inner thigh lightly with his hand.

she shuddered at his touch, replying with a meek “okay.”

“you ready?” matt asked, taking his hand from her thigh and moving it to her hip to hold her. she gave him a small nod, quietly saying yes before he began pushing in.

her face scrunched up as she felt him insert his dick, gasping at the new sensation. “matt,” she breathed, her voice undeniably having a discomforting undertone.

“i know, pretty, i know.” he soothed her, running his hand along her hipbone and tracing soft patterns on it, pausing for a moment before pushing in any deeper. “tell me when i can go again.”

she took a deep breath, reaching for his hand that was playing at her waist, grabbing it tightly. “go ahead.”

matt nodded, continuing to push deeper and deeper until he bottomed out, feeling addilyn squeeze his hand. “tell me when to move.” he groaned, peppering her face with light kisses as he tried to distract her from the pain. she grabbed his jaw, pulling his lips to hers, whispering a soft you can go into the kiss as he began to thrust in and out of her as slowly as he could, trying not to hurt her. he kept on kissing all around her face, diverting her from the uncomfortable feeling as best he could, until she brought his mouth back hers as she moaned, the once pain subsiding to pleasure. her hands tangled in his hair and his around her waist, the two messily kissed one another as matt continuously fucked her, the two finding a rhythm as they rocked their hips back and forth together.

“faster, please,” she begged, her mouth still against his as he simply groaned in response, snapping his hips up into her at a quickened pace. trying to focus on something other than cumming right away, matt pressed hard kisses to her lips, each one growing sloppier, their tongues hastily moving around each other.

“addy,” he whispered in between the kisses, “i’m so sorry-” he was cut off by a long kiss from addilyn, her arms tightening around his neck and she ran her tongue along his lips, catching some of his teeth as he opened his mouth. “i’m so sorry i was mean to you.”

“i forgive you,” she told him, pulling the boy down into her boobs as he began to kiss and leave marks, moving his hand down to play with her clit as he kept up his pace of thrusting. “fuck.”

between the stimulation from her clit, matt’s dick ramming inside her, and him sucking at her tits, she was absolutely spent. “matt” she whined, trying to let him know she was close, unable to form coherent sentences.

“i know, beautiful, let go for me.” he groaned into her tits, rubbing her hands up and down her sides as she came all over his dick, a loud moan escaping her lips. he continued to fuck addilyn through her orgasm, his hips sputtering and bucking against hers as he came too, whimpering slightly at the sensitivity. she breathed heavily, holding the boy against her breasts while he pressed light kisses to them. he looked up at her, stroking her chin as he watched the her regain her breath. “you okay, adds?”

she nodded rapidly, closing her eyes for a moment. “yeah.” she breathed. matt smiled, planting a quick kiss on her jaw as he pulled away from her embrace, pulling out and cleaning her up quickly with a tissue, discarding of the condom. he returned after a second, moving so he could hold addilyn against his chest , resting his head atop hers and their legs tangled together.

she looked up matt, smiling widely as she pressed a loving kiss to his lips. he smiled at the feeling, tilting her chin up as he held her face gently in his hand. “matt?” she breathed, pulling away for a second, “can i tell you something?”

“yeah,” he muttered, brining his mouth back to hers.

“i never hated you, not even in the beginning.”

matt broke apart from her, looking at the girl in his bed with wide eyes. his hand stayed on her face, rubbing his thumb across her lip gently, examining every little detail of her face. his gaze flicked between her two eyes, then down to her smiling lips, before pulling her in for another sweet kiss.

“me either.”

the end

Ⓒ 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄 | taglist

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[junicult]

note ; it’s just so easy to blurb abt harvey rn even though i wish i could respond to asks. studying for finals & i have sm work that’s why i’ve been a little slow recently 😓

just thinking about harvey, ever the gentleman, meeting your parents for the first time.

despite him being the sweetest, probably the best kind of man that your parents would want you to end up with—he’s never been anxious like this. or at least, it’s been a long time.

you dropped the bomb on him in the middle of a very peaceful evening. he had a nice day at work, he’s spending an even better night with you—yet the news suddenly threw a wrench into his serenity.

it’s like you forgot the kind of man you’re dating. while in the back of his mind he’s eager to meet the people he knows are going to be his in-laws someday—it’s the same reason why he’s frightened to meet them.

first impressions are everything, so for the next week he’s going to be asking you questions about things you hardly even know.

what’s your mom’s favorite meal? what does your dad do for a living? what kind of people are your parents? do you think they’ll like him?

“well considering my mom asks about you all the time, yeah, i think they’ll like you.” you giggle, watching his features soften despite his stiff shoulders.

and when it’s the day your parents are set to come into town, it really has been a long time since he’s felt this sweaty.

you haven’t seen him this anxious in so long. it’s endearing how important it is to him.

while he always dresses well, he made a little extra effort today. button up tucked into his slacks, his tie around his neck sitting neater then usual, his hair combed. he sits at the kitchen table bouncing his knee anxiously, looking off into space in deep thought you know is eating him alive.

you, however, sit in your cleaner work clothes, hair like always, maybe a couple extra pieces of jewelry on.

you’ve done your best trying to ease his worries, but even you know there’s nothing that’ll convince him from the worst. there’s no amount of, “honey, they’re going to love you. i promise,” that’ll calm his nerves.

and even though when you brush a couple of his stray hairs behind his ear, leaning down to kiss his forehead, reassuring him once more—he still feels his heart drop to his stomach when he hears the couple knocks on the door.

you greet them warmly, just as a daughter who hasn’t seen her parents in months would. he stands back, wondering what the hell he should be doing with his hands, and if he’s smiling correctly.

when you turn to him, introducing him as your boyfriend, he’s too distracted to notice the look of reassurance you shoot him. sliding your hand across his back, resting your cheek on his shoulder for a moment while he reaches out to introduce himself.

he shakes your parents hands with a warm smile, praying to yoba they don’t notice how clammy they are.

the entirety of the evening is spent with the majority of you catching up with your parents, asking about other family members and hearing about their lives. you carry the conversation significantly—but when it becomes time for your parents to begin asking him questions, you allow him to speak.

he’s good with conversation, so ignoring the fact that these are the people that raised the love of his life—he can manage his sentences without a single stutter.

and when he’s able to make your father laugh, you can practically see the weight lift off his shoulders.

it’s midway through the evening when you come back inside after giving your parents a tour, he stayed in to make you all dinner. you had a moment to come up to him while your parents were off in some other room, wrapping your arms around his waist and peeking over his shoulder.

“how are you doing?” you hum, fixing your gaze on his when he turns to look at you.

“much better.” he chuckles, stirring up the contents in the pot. “how’d they like the farm?”

you giggle. “they love it. my dad got all sentimental about it,” he doesn’t miss the fondness laced in your voice. “guess what?”

he shoots a glance over your head, before humming, “what?”

you squeeze his torso a little tighter. “my mom just told me she loves you. probably more then me, actually.” you tease, leaning over to see his cheeks darken and his lips purse into a smile. “my dad, too. in fact, he said you’re a good man.”

your voice drops an octave to mimic your fathers tone, making him exhale out a laugh through his nose.

though, hearing that made the smile on his cheeks hardly budge for the rest of the evening.

he’s beyond glad his impression made your parents feel that way, even more so because it only indulges his thoughts of your future. and while he could’ve shit his pants when your father pulled him aside after dinner, humming one last greeting, even going as far as to saying, “thank you for treating my daughter so well, she speaks very highly of you,” it makes his heart ache.

hearing your father’s approval, affirming your love of him in the same sentence—well, he almost collapsed.

feeling so nervous for days—really months because he knew he had to meet them at some point—and hearing that was like the deepest breath of fresh air he’s ever received.

so what he’s been in past relationships, maybe their parents liked him as well. none of that mattered, though. because this is the one that really counts. this is the family he wants to be acquainted with the rest of his life.

you’re the one that’s bringing these people into his life.

and really, he should be the one thanking them.

because without them, you’d have never stumbled into his life. and without you, he truly wouldn’t believe in this future.

[pedrito-friskito]

Ask for Friday Night Fever.

Matt Murdock x Reader

“If we get caught I’m blaming you” and Matt telling you to stay quiet.

Pretty please cus my mind is going places thinking about Matt covering reader’s mouth with his hand as he………☺️

oooooo nonnie I hope u enjoy this one

put in the kitten and the devil universe cuz I got BIG plans for those two and I truly cannot get enough of them

here we GOOOOO

🔥friday night fever!🔥

You’re standing in Matt’s office. Not just the office of Nelson and Murdock, but Matt’s office itself. It’s early in the day, the waiting area mostly empty, save for Karen sitting behind her desk in the middle of the room and an elderly woman waiting to see Foggy. And Foggy, who’s standing in his office with Matt, apparently not realizing that his voice carries.

“I just wanna know, Matt,” he’s saying, and you lean against the doorway of Matt’s office, crossing your arms over your chest. “How do you always manage to find the most drop-dead gorgeous girls in this city, huh? Honestly, you gotta let me in on the secret, man.”

Matt’s out of sight, tucked behind Foggy’s door, but you hear him clear as day, along with the grin in his voice. “She found me, actually,” he says, and your bottom lip slips between your teeth. “It’s a long story.”

“Well, I expect the director’s cut, you hear me?”

You giggle, and Matt steps into view again. “I hear you. Can I go now?”

Foggy gestures dramatically, and Matt brushes past his partner, the grin on his face widening as he crosses the room to you, letting his hand drag across the edge of Karen’s desk as he goes. It’s a show, you know, a practiced ploy to make it look like he’s as blind as he’s supposed to be, that he doesn’t have killer senses that could lead him around regardless.

His palm settles into the small of your back a moment later, and Karen puts her hand over her mouth when you wink at her.

Matt closes the door, flicking the blinds on the door window closed as you move to rest against the edge of his desk. “So, you’re my eleven o’clock?”

“Haven’t seen you in a while,” you quip, pushing a hand through your hair. “This seemed like the easiest way.”

“I’ve had a busy week.” His head cocks to the side. “So, this is a social call?” His jaw tightens, voice going low. “You’re not in any…real trouble?”

“Purely social, Matty,” you drawl, pushing off the desk until you’re stood right in front of him. “Lock the door.”

It’s been a few months, since the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen saved your life, since he nursed you back to health in his bed and made you cum so hard you could have sworn Matt Murdock was put on this earth solely to make you feel good. You no longer tiptoe around each other — in fact, he’d all but dragged you back to his apartment after you crossed paths on the rooftops again — and it’s still new between you, exciting, adrenaline scorching through your veins at the mere thought of him, the memory of his skin on yours.

So yes, maybe when you said social, you meant horny, and when you said haven’t seen you in a while, you meant I can’t stop thinking about you and if I don’t get a taste of you soon, I might actually go crazy.

Matt’s nose twitches as you reach out, hooking your fingers around his tie. “You’re hurt.”

Damn his ridiculous sense of smell. You don’t bother playing coy, grabbing his hand and letting it graze up your leg, the skirt of your dress bunching around his wrist as his fingers skim the outside of your thigh. He hisses when he finds the thick bandage, probably dotted with blood. “Knife wound,” you say, your voice gone soft, eyes darting towards the window of his office, where the blinds are still cracked open. You can see Foggy standing at Karen’s desk, talking animatedly. Matt gets a little closer to you, his other hand finding your hip and his breath fanning over your throat. “My stitches are getting neater.”

“Good girl,” he says softly, and your mouth drops open. “Just like I taught you.”

You pull away from him suddenly, sucking down a breath and heading for the window, closing the blinds until you can’t see the waiting area on the other side. Matt flicks on the light on his desk, sinks into his chair, spins slowly towards you.

“Bit obvious, don’t you think?”

“The walls are soundproof,” you throw back, taking a slow step towards him, “aren’t they?”

Matt scoffs a laugh. “Not exactly.”

You slide onto his desk, hiking your skirt around your hips, then reach for his hands, tugging on his wrists until both palms curl around your thighs. In a flash, he’s standing, looming over you, and your head falls back as he lowers his face towards yours. One hand moves inward, fingers teasing along the sensitive skin between your legs, glancing over the seam of you. “You missed me,” he whispers, pressing a soft kiss to the hinge of your jaw, “didn’t you?”

Your breath hitches a little, gasping quietly as he presses harder to where you’re growing wetter with every moment that passes. “I-I did.”

“Then I trust you’ll be a good kitten and stay quiet for me,” his voice is even softer now, just barely audible as his mouth moves towards your ear. “Won’t you?”

You wait for his hand to close around the top of your throat, fingers and thumb pressed to the spaces below your ears. Then you nod, and a devilish smile tugs at his lips.

“That’s my girl,” he continues, nipping at your earlobe. “Just know, if we get caught, I’m blaming you.” His hand angles up towards the band of your underwear, snapping the elastic against your skin beneath your skirt. You’re holding onto the edge of the desk for dear life. “Pretty kitten, showing up here all hot and bothered. I could smell you the moment you walked in here, you know that?”

Instinctively, your legs spread wider, trying to accommodate his body as he pushes closer to you, fingers in your underwear now, moving down and through your folds. You chew your lip so hard you’re worried you’ll draw blood, inhaling deeply as his other hand presses against the small of your back, pushing you towards the very edge of the desk. There’s a bit of shuffling, a pile of papers tipping off the desk, but Matt pays them no mind, more preoccupied with yanking your underwear down your legs and undoing his belt, freeing himself.

It’s hurried, the way he lifts your knee until your thigh rests on his hip, the way he drags the tip of his cock through your drenched folds. You have to stifle the moan that slips between your teeth as he starts to press into you, jaw dropping open when he’s fully seated inside. It’s quick and it’s intense, his hips instantly picking up a punishing pace that makes stars burst behind your eyelids.

He nips at your jaw when you moan again, and this time, his hand covers your mouth, fingers curling around your cheek, palm pressed beneath your chin. “Quiet, kitten,” he whispers. “Don’t want this to end yet, do you?”

Your eyes flutter and you shake your head violently, twisting in his grasp. The next roll of his hips is painfully slow, dragging along every nerve that exists inside you, and the orgasm hits you like a freight train, mouth dropping open with no sound, hands fisting in Matt’s suit jacket, holding on for dear life as you cum. He’s not far behind you, forehead pressing into the curve of your neck, hips stuttering as he paints your insides with that familiar warmth. His movements turn slow, one palm running the length of your leg, curving around your knee and caressing your calf.

“What do you say,” he breathes against your skin, pressing a soft kiss against your pulse as he pulls his hand from your mouth, “I come over to your place tonight? Takeout and good conversation, maybe we have a second round of this where we don’t have to be quiet.”

“Matt Murdock, are you asking me on a date?” you ask, grinning as he pulls his head out of your throat, eyes shining in the dim lamplight.

The corner of his mouth quirks. “That depends — are you saying yes?”

“Kiss me first.”

He does, mouth lowering to yours quickly, catching your bottom lip and then your top one, the kiss slower than his initial movement. He tastes like coffee and toothpaste, along with that increasingly familiar taste of Matt that you’re growing more and more addicted to. The tip of his tongue slips past your teeth, glancing against the roof of your mouth, and you whimper, drawing your hands up his arms and into his hair.

When he pulls back, you’re both smiling. You peck him lightly, once on the mouth, another on his cheek. “See you at eight, Matty.”

—————

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[twoidiotwriters1]

The Curse of Oenone (Leo Valdez xFem!Oc)

A/N: Love is real I invented it -Danny Words: 2,241 Series' Masterlist Previous Chapter // Next Chapter Listen to: 'Crumbs' -by Belaganas

VIII: Somebody Sedate Me!

Ara is looking at her reflection in the mirror with tension. What was that outburst she had with Percy? It's like he and Lily pull a trigger in her that she's yet to find.

She wants them to be proud of what she's accomplished, so why can't they be glad for once? Having a child of Olympus on their side during the war with Kronos would've made all the difference, why are they so pressed about it now?

Learn the difference between concern and distrust, says Lily's voice in her head. 

Though they're not that different from each other. Both come from the same thought: This prophecy is beyond Ara's skills.

She brushes her damp hair (she took a shower to cool off), and puts on a camp half-blood shirt, then she grabs her cosmetic set and stares at it, she wears makeup when she needs to feel better. Now is one of those days.

When she arrives at the meeting, she's the only one who made an effort to look more than just well-rested and that cheers her up, Generals should look neater than their army.

It's the first time the seven gather with no one else around, except Ara and Coach Hedge. She makes her way to the head of the table and pulls back a chair at the same time Percy reaches for it. She looks at him thinking Are you kidding me?, but a second later her brother mumbles an apology and sits next to Annabeth.

Ara looks at the group trying to gather her thoughts. They do seem intimidating, but Ara's interacted with them in such domestic settings that to her they just look like kids. "Anything we should know about the expeditions?"

"Well, maybe the part where we ran into Nemesis," Hazel suggests.

Ara's got so many things in her mind she'd forgotten about Nemesis, but now that Hazel brought it up, she can feel the piece of paper the goddess handed to her burning through her pocket.

Leo and Hazel share their adventure, and Ara uttered no word. What she got out of that encounter is of no use to the others—and then Annabeth, Frank, and Percy talk about their quest, but nothing worth remembering comes out of it.

"So where to now?" Leo takes a bite of his pizza. "Ara and I did a quick repair job to get us out of the lake, but there's still a lot of damage. We should really put down again and fix things right before we head across the Atlantic."

"We need to put some distance between us and Camp Jupiter," Percy replies. "Frank spotted some eagles over Salt Lake City. We figure the Romans aren't far behind us."

"I don't suppose we should go back and try to reason with the Romans?" Piper offers. "Maybe—maybe I didn't try hard enough with the charmspeak."

"That won't cut it," Ara replies, perhaps too harshly. "For charmspeak to work, they have to find you appealing. I don't think they feel like cuddling us at the moment."

Jason tries to lift his girlfriend's spirits. "It wasn't your fault, Pipes. Or Leo's. Whatever happened, it was Gaea's doing, to drive the two camps apart."

"Maybe if we could explain that, though—"

"With no proof?" Annabeth raises a brow. "And no idea what really happened? I appreciate what you're saying, Piper. I don't want the Romans on our bad side, but until we understand what Gaea's up to, going back is suicide."

"She's right," Hazel speaks hoarsely. She's having the worst seasick case ever but tries hard to keep it together. "Reyna might listen, but Octavian won't. The Romans have honor to think about. They've been attacked. They'll shoot first and ask questions post-hac."

Ara plays with the last pieces of veggies on her plate. "Then we stick to our original plan, and we look for Nico."

Hazel's anxiety causes precious stones to gather around her plate. "Nemesis said we have only six days until Nico dies and Rome is destroyed."

"You mean Rome Rome, not New Rome?" Jason asks.

"I think, but if so, that's not much time."

"Why six days?" Percy questions. "And how are they going to destroy Rome?"

"July first," Ara comments like it's obvious.

"What?" Her brother stares at her blankly.

Ara rolls her eyes. "All the stuff that's happened, Gaea's done them on important dates of our calendars. The winter solstice, the feast of fortune... the Kalends of July is a special occasion because," she pushes a piece of broccoli forward. "In Rome, that day's dedicated to Juno. Which is weird, 'cause I feel like that should be during the Kalends of June, but whatever—"

"How do you know all this?" Percy frowns.

Ara eats the piece of broccoli and points at Jason with her fork. "He's been teaching me Roman history for the past six months."

"Okay... so that connects to Nico... in what way?" 

"We are six days away from July first," she frowns. "Nico's literal deadline lands on a big day for annoying people—the Romans—and Gaea likes to taint our big celebrations, so maybe she's using him as bait."

"I've been seeing some things in my knife," Piper blurts out of nowhere.

Frank gulps down his food with difficulty. "Things such as..?"

"They don't really make sense, just garbled images, but I saw two giants, dressed alike. Maybe twins."

"Twins, like in Ella's prophecy," Annabeth points out. "If we could figure out those lines, it might help."

"Wisdom's daughter walks alone," Percy recites. "The Mark of Athena burns through Rome. Annabeth, that's got to mean you. Juno told me... well, she said you had a hard task ahead of you in Rome. She said she doubted you could do it. But I know she's wrong."

"Reyna was about to tell me something right before the ship fired on us. She said there was an old legend among the Roman praetors—something that had to do with Athena. She said it might be the reason Greeks and Romans could never get along."

"Nemesis mentioned something similar," Leo says. "She talked about an old score that had to be settled—"

"The one thing that might bring the gods' two natures into harmony," Hazel quotes. "'An old wrong finally avenged.'"

"I was only a praetor for about two hours," Percy sighs, playing with his food like Ara does. "Jason, you ever heard a legend like that?"

"I... uh, I'm not sure," he says. "I'll give it some thought."

Percy and Ara both look at him with the same scowl. "You're not sure?" Percy repeats.

Ara could've pressured Jason into talking, but before she can, Hazel intervenes. "What about the other lines? Twins snuff out the angel's breath, Who holds the key to endless death."

"Giants' bane stands gold and pale," Frank continues, "Won through pain from a woven jail."

"Giants' bane," Leo hums. "Anything that's a giants' bane is good for us, right? That's probably what we need to find. If it can help the gods get their schizophrenic act together, that's good."

"We can't kill the giants without the help of the gods," Percy muses.

"I thought you guys killed that one giant in Alaska without a god's help, just the two of you," Jason points to Frank and Hazel.

"Alcyoneus was a special case. He was only immortal in the territory where he was reborn—Alaska. But not in Canada. I wish I could kill all the giants by dragging them across the border from Alaska into Canada, but..." Frank sighs. "Percy's right, we'll need the gods."

"Oh!" Ara snaps her fingers, putting two and two together. "They took him!"

Frank frowns. "Come again?"

"Twins snuff out the angel's breath, Who holds the key to endless death," Ara recites again, looking at her sister. "In your vision, were the twins guarding something?"

Piper tries to remember. "I think they were... pulling up a large vase from a pit?"

"Was it large enough to fit a thin person in it?"

"You're not saying..." Hazel starts fearfully.

Ara's gaze darkens. "Your brother was looking for the doors of death, maybe he found them and knows how to close them, but they caught him before he could tell us."

"Di Angelo," Percy groans in realization, running a hand over his face. "Twins snuff out the angel's breath..."

Ara nods. "If Nico's been captured because he found the doors, rescuing him has to be our priority."

"Which is going to take us straight to those twins," Annabeth points out.

"Whom we can't defeat unless we get the giant's bane beforehand," Percy adds. "Whatever that is."

"And we must get all that before the Kalends of July, or everything will go wrong," Ara concludes with a sigh. "I'm not loving the tight scheduling..."

They stay quiet for a moment, trying to think of a different meaning to those lines, but nothing comes to them. In any case, going to Rome is what they were supposed to do since the start.

"So..." Leo drags his chair back once he finishes his food. "First things first, I guess. We'll have to put down in the morning to finish repairs."

"Someplace close to a city," Annabeth says, "in case we need supplies. But somewhere out of the way, so the Romans will have trouble finding us. Any ideas?"

"Well," Piper leans on the table. "How do you guys feel about Kansas?" 

"Lights out! Settle down! Try to sneak out, and I'll smack you back to Long Island!" 

Ara opens her cabin door angrily. "Coach! If you don't stop yelling you'll finish the quest as a potted plant!"

"Who're you calling a potted plant, Jackson? I'm a carnivorous one!"

"Those can be potted too, you jacka—"

"Someone needs a nap!" Leo comes out of his room, which is right in front of Ara's—definitely on purpose—and stops her before she kills the satyr. "It's alright, Coach, we're all tucked in, stop yelling."

"I don't see you tucked in, Valdez."

"Hedge, I swear," Ara says through gritted teeth, but Leo stands between them.

"I'm wearing my finest PJs, man, c'mon, knock it out," he guides the satyr towards his cabin.

Hedge gives in, though he gives out warnings as he goes. He stops before entering his room and points at them squinting. "You two—straight to bed."

"Unbelievable," Ara mutters, re-entering her room and leaving her door open.

As expected, when Coach Hedge leaves, Leo goes to his door and closes it loudly from the outside, then slips into Ara's room as quietly as possible. Ara crawls under the covers of her bed and Leo sits at the foot of it, his right leg hanging from the side.

He's got his crooked smirk that unsettles adults on his face, but he won't do anything unless Ara lets him, and right now all she wants is sleep. She curls up and buries one hand under her pillow.

"Not bad for our first day, huh?" He says.

Ara chuckles. "Not what I had in mind, to be honest."

Leo squeezes her calf over the covers. "You handled it well. I'm proud of you."

"Thank you," she yawns. "You were great too."

"If those lines in Annabeth's prophecy are about Di Angelo..." he starts carefully. "Isn't it a bad idea to play along?"

Ara frowns. "You think we shouldn't save Nico?"

"We don't know for sure he's been taken—"

"Exactly," she interrupts him. "We're going to Kansas first, we could find something there that proves my theory wrong."

Leo nods, he doesn't want to upset her, so he changes the subject. "Well... I don't know about you, but I'm not sleepy yet."

Ara laughs and quickly tries to cover the noise even though it isn't loud. She sits up to face him properly. "Just ask, Leo."

"Can I stay?" He scoots closer. "I'll behave, obviously, I don't want your brother to gut me..."

Ara presses a palm against his chest, and his heart races at her touch. She should tell him about the curse since it concerns him too, but his heartbeat is so fast and he glows golden so brightly... she doesn't want to ruin his happiness, at least not tonight.

"You know, I think I understand Echo," she whispers.

"Hm?" Leo struggles to focus on her words, even though his eyes are on her lips.

"You can love yourself a lot," Ara explains, "but if you're genuinely in love with someone, you'll stay beside them, even if they give you sorrows. Echo sees something worth saving in Narcissus because she loves him, and you can't listen to reason when that happens."

Leo leans his forehead on hers. "But he already died once and it did nothing to make him reconsider."

"He's been cursed," Ara's voice quivers. "He can't change his fate alone. You're right, Echo's very strong and brave for staying by his side, considering she has no powers, no..." she chokes a little. "No answers."

Leo moves to look at her. "You okay?"

Ara wraps her arms around Leo and buries her face on his neck. "I lied. I got scared when you attacked me—and my ribs still hurt, and I don't like Hazel, and Percy's mad at me..."

Leo's guts twist with guilt, and Ara feels it right away. "Crap, I'm so sorry—I should've—"

She pulls the emotion out of him with her empath touch. "I was scared for you, Leo, not me," the girl assures him. "I'm telling you this... because you said we could lean on each other. Please, don't forget it."

"I won't," Leo tilts his head, staring at her with soft, loving eyes. "Wanna lean on me first?"

Her soul-light brightens and she buries her face in his neck again. "Yes."

"Alright," Leo grins and kisses the top of her head. "You know... I wouldn't mind living through a thousand shitty days like this one if it meant I'd hold you like this every night."

Her heart squeezes with unease. "I know."

Next Chapter –>

Taglist.

@siriuslysirius1107 @ask-giggles1303 @asnyox-the-hoarder @im-planning-something-look @bandshirts-andbooks @coolninjapaper @thewaterlily @whenisthefall @1randomcomic @you-bloody-shank @sunflowergraves @owlalex44 @taylordaughter @typicalsolangelolover @writingmia @espressopatronum454 @slytherinnqueen @orbitingpolaris @obxstiles @ellipsisspelled

[froggymarsh]

Emizel can't remember the last time he wore something this fancy. He buttons up the black shirt, then slips into the jacket and buttons that up as well. The slimmer fit is making his skin crawl, he hates it when his clothes cling to him like this- it's like he can't fuckin' move, and he likes being able to move, thanks-

"Are you almost done?" Brood calls, impatient motherfucker, and Emizel ties his tie. It's terrible. He snorts at the- whatever that is- the loose knot around his neck, and opens the changing room's curtain.

Brood raises an eyebrow. His lips don't even twitch, his eyes still hidden by the sunglasses. His cat, still draped across his shoulders, meows and flicks her tail.

"What," Emizel spits.

Brood reaches forward, tugging the tie loose. "You'll have to present yourself with more dignity than that if you want to make any sort of good impression."

"Yeah, yeah," she growls, "whatever."

Brood's fingers are quick, he does up the tie neater and faster than Emizel could ever on his own. Idly, she wonders how long it's been since someone tied a tie for her- her dad did it once, when she was first learning how, but it's been...years. Probably not enough years, but years.

It's kinda nice. Weirdly. Super weird to be fussed over, but not terrible.

Brood snaps his fingers in front of Emizel's face, making him flinch back.

"Focus, boy," the man sneers, "is it acceptable?"

She brushes off the pants- it's still a bit too tight for comfort- (it's not that it doesn't fit, it's just more form fitting than his usual getup). Her attempt to loosen her tie is met with Brood's hands batting hers away. Emizel growls at him. "It's fine."

"Good. Get changed."

Emizel swipes the curtain back into place. He climbs out of the suit, (suits are fucking awful, why would anybody want to wear one), pulls on his usual getup, and walks back out with each piece of the suit draped over his arm.

Brood tsks at him, (fucker), and points to the hangers up on the wall.

"No."

"You're going to make us late," Brood answers. "Don't be a child."

Emizel sputters. What the fuck? A child?

"Why don't you do it if you care so much?"

"Quickly," Brood snaps his fingers again. His cat slips off his shoulder and disappears, as if swallowed by shadows.

Emizel flips him off, shoves the black shirt into his hands, and turns to retrieve the hangers.

It takes all of three seconds to hang both of them up. To her surprise, Brood actually folded her shirt. He passes it back to her, along with the horrible tie, and together they make their way to the front.

Brood pays for the new clothes with Emizel's money. She grinds her teeth and pretends not to care. (It doesn't work.)

//

She has to change in the fuckin' car.

Brood covers the car in shadow and looks away as she tugs her pants on. The shirts are easier, swiftly buttoned and tucked in. Brood helps her with her tie again, gentler than last time. Once she's fully dressed, he drops the shadows and offers some hair gel.

They talk about Elysium- Brood isn't her friend, there's gonna be other vampires, yadda yadda yadda. She slicks her hair back as best she can in the rearview mirror.

"Ready?" Brood asks as she hands the gel back.

Emizel pauses, one hand on the door.

"What?"

"Are you ready," he repeats.

"No I-I heard you the first time," Emizel says. "Why are you asking? I thought you'd just. Go. Leave me behind?"

She can see her reflection in Brood's glasses again as he considers her.

"I am responsible for you," Brood says eventually. He starts climbing out of the car. "Stay close until we get inside."

The door shuts behind him.

Emizel sighs, "oooohkay," and climbs out of the car.

[scarlet-sky4]

Golden Eyes [Baekhyun x Reader]

Pairing: Wolf!Baekhyun x Human!Reader (Sohee) AU: Wolves Genres: Hurt/Comfort, Supernatural Total word count: 7k

Masterlist

Sohee’s last encounter with a wild wolf has left her scarred in more than one way. Luckily, she can always depend on her best friend, Baekhyun, who she trusts with just about anything. They’ve been close ever since elementary school, but unbeknownst to her, he has a secret—he is not human.

The summer sun beat down on Sohee as she waited for her best friend to show up. She had already bought two iced lattes for them in the tiny coffee shop on the street corner. Now she lingered on the sidewalk and kept an eye on the nearby forest, knowing that he would emerge from the path in between the trees sooner or later. While she avoided said forest like the plague—for good reason—her friend Baekhyun had no qualms and took a shortcut through the woods whenever they met up. Their hometown was situated in a rural area of South Korea and the house where he lived with a bunch of his friends was right at the edge of the forest.

When her eyes searchingly scanned the treeline, she spotted his ash blond hair in the distance—he had bleached it recently and the new look suited him. Waving at him, she caught his attention and prompted him to pick up his pace. Despite running all the way from the forest into town, he wasn’t out of breath when he reached her and brushed his hand through his fluffy hair, trying to make it look neater.

“Hey cupcake! Sorry, I’m a bit late,” he grinned sheepishly, eyes forming crescents. Baekhyun had the kind of smile that simply took your breath away—Sohee would never grow tired of seeing it.

“You always make me wait, Baekhyunnie,” she rolled her eyes in fake annoyance and held the iced latte under his nose. “But it’s okay, I like you anyway. Here, I got your favorite!”

“Thanks, I knew I could count on you,” he smirked and took a sip from the cup. He wore his favorite shirt, the one she had bought him for his birthday a few months ago. It had a huge PUBG logo printed on its front. He loved that game.

Sohee had known Baekhyun since elementary school, and although she had preferred to play with girls at this age (boys had cooties!), something about Baekhyun had intrigued her and drawn her to him from the first day she had met him. She couldn’t quite describe it, but he was different—refreshingly different. When they had been children, he had loved to play hide and seek with her and the other kids in the neighborhood. Sohee had no idea how he had accomplished it, but he had always found every single hiding spot, no matter how absurd it was. He was a natural at this game and many others as well. Tag for example. His stamina was out of this world, so he had bested everyone else. Nevertheless, he had never bragged about his skills. On the contrary, he had encouraged the other children to try a little harder next time and not to give up while wearing a big goofy smile on his face.

Over the years, this smile had matured and become quite alluring—Sohee would be lying if she said he didn’t make her heart flutter. He was a ray of sunshine, spreading a good mood wherever he was. Since he went to the gym often, he had become more athletic as well, and as his best friend, she often got to see him shirtless when they went swimming together or spent time at the lake. In moments such as these, she questioned the nature of their relationship—did she perhaps have a crush on him?

Many of Baekhyun’s female admirers were jealous of Sohee for spending the entire semester in university and the summer break with him. However, despite the countless admirers he had, Sohee had never seen him date anyone since high school, and even then, it had never seemed serious. She had often teased him about this, asking why he was so picky, to which he refused to give her a straight answer. In the end, he had given up on dating altogether. She herself had dated a few guys back in high school, but they had quickly broken up (definitely didn’t have anything to do with Baekhyun’s intimidating glares). Sometimes, Sohee thought he had gotten jealous. Not that there was any reason for this.

“Want to come home with me later? We could play PUBG if you want, my new laptop arrived this week,” she suggested while they strolled down the sidewalk, enjoying their iced lattes and basking in the summer sun.

He considered it for a second, but then he cringed. “Uh… no thanks, I’d rather not. You should visit me instead.”

“Don’t tell me you still don’t like Sushi?!” Sohee laughed and playfully nudged his arm. “Come on, my cat is very cuddly and sweet.”

“She hates me. The last time she saw me, she hissed at me and wouldn’t stop making a fuss. So annoying,” he groaned.

“Don’t act like you’re innocent, Baekhyunnie! I caught you growling at her when you thought I wasn’t looking,” she remarked and scrutinized him. “How the hell did you do that?”

Sohee was a little surprised when genuine uneasiness crossed his face, but he regained control in a blink and put on a convincing smirk. “Well, wouldn’t you like to know? It’s one of my many talents.”

“Like your amazing sense of smell?”

“Exactly.”

“I wouldn’t be shocked if you told me you’re a werewolf or something,” she joked and giggled.

He choked on his iced latte and coughed, wiping his mouth. Baekhyun fell silent for a while and received a confused glance from Sohee until he finally blurted out, “What if I was a werewolf? Would it bother you?”

“Huh, what kind of question is that? Weirdo.” She took a sip from her latte to give herself some time to ponder before she answered. Since she had brought up the werewolf thing, his demeanor had changed drastically—Baekhyun normally was quite easy-going and liked her jokes, but now he was tense. His back was rigid and he didn’t look at her anymore.

“You know what I think of wolves, Baekhyun. They’re terrifying and dangerous. I’m glad werewolves don’t exist since they would be even worse,” she muttered seriously. The wolves residing in the local forest were the reason why she hadn’t gone near it for six years. It was simply too risky—she still bore a scar on her shoulder from her last visit and she wasn’t about to add another one.

“Right,” Baekhyun sighed and gazed at the paper cup in his hand. His tight grip left little indents on its surface. “Just maybe… it’s time to confront your fear… You’ve been avoiding the forest for so long, even though there haven’t been any wolf attacks in years.”

Now it was her turn to pale—this topic was not easy for her, so he generally avoided it, but now he had changed his mind for some reason and gazed at her with pleading, sorrowful eyes. As if it was vital to him that she confronted the horror hidden in her memories and the anxiety she continued to suppress.

She had been fifteen years old when it had happened. That day after school, she had wandered into the woods on her own. The forest had been known to be a safe place, and the wolves who lived there had never bothered anyone. Not a single person had ever been attacked by them. However, this would change on that particular day. Sohee had encountered a large gray wolf that had acted aggressively when it spotted her. Sohee didn’t know what had compelled it to attack her. It had pounced on her, shoving her to the ground and injuring her delicate shoulders with its claws. She had struggled to keep the teeth away from her neck. Maybe she had screamed—she couldn’t remember. Her recollection from that day was blurry. All she knew was that someone—or something—had chased the wolf away. The image of beautiful golden eyes had burned itself into her mind. It was the clearest memory she retained from that day. At some point, Baekhyun must have found her and called an ambulance. She had been treated at the hospital, and he hadn’t left her side until her worried parents had arrived. To this day she couldn’t explain why he had looked so guilty afterward.

“What does it matter if I like wolves or not, Baekhyun?” she asked, tilting her head.

He offered her a wistful smile and shook his head. “It was just an idea, forget about it.”

Their conversation had ruined his good mood and Sohee didn’t understand why. It didn’t happen often that she saw such a sorrowful expression on him—witnessing it was painful. Her heart ached to see that big sunny grin she found so beautiful or even the attractive smirk he sometimes showed her. Why was it so important to him that she confronted her strongest fear? If only she knew the answer. Maybe he was concerned about her and wanted her to overcome her trauma. Perhaps that was why he kept urging her to overthink her opinion on the wolves in the forest. They had spoken about this topic before, but she had always declined his offers of help.

As she met his dull amber eyes, however, something within her changed. If it meant so much to him, to a person she valued deeply, shouldn’t she try to face her fear? Hadn’t she run from it for long enough? Six years had passed and she had made no progress at all. She kept locking the anxiety away, letting it eat at her without doing anything about it. The issue would never be solved if she didn’t take matters into her own hands.

She took a deep breath. Hopefully, she wouldn’t regret this. “I want to overcome my fear, but I don’t know how,” she whispered, risking a shy glance at him. And there it was—his smile was back, brighter than before. Her heart swelled.

“I’ll help you! Don’t worry, Sohee, you don’t have to do this alone.”

Sohee ignored the fear bubbling in her stomach, she attempted to control the trembling of her fingers. She walked a few steps ahead of him in order to conceal the insecurity written all over her face—however, there was no point in hiding it. She couldn’t hide anything from her best friend. He always noticed when she had something on her mind.

“I’ll wait for you, Sohee,” he thought as he followed her, his eyes gleaming like molten gold. “No matter how long it takes.”

  ✨

Baekhyun took her change of heart seriously. A day later, he offered to accompany her into the woods. He was just as nervous about the endeavor as her, but for a different reason. The next hours might have a large impact on his life and his relationship with Sohee. Her overcoming her fear was crucial to him—a lot depended on this, much more than she realized since she was unaware of his biggest secret. As long as she was afraid of wolves, she could never find out about his true nature. The fear of being rejected by her was overwhelming—what if she was scared of him if she learned the truth? He couldn’t bear the thought of losing her like this.

Baekhyun could never be fully honest with Sohee, and the ongoing secrecy tainted their friendship. She was his treasure; someone he cherished. He didn’t like to hide his true nature from her. The weight of his secret rested on his shoulders every day, and he continuously asked himself if she would still like him if she knew that he wasn’t so different from the rogue wolf who had once hurt her.  

  ✨

It was now or never. Sohee stood at the treeline, her gaze moving from the hiking trail to Baekhyun. Her friend was quiet today, and she hadn’t seen him smile at all. Nonetheless, his presence felt reassuring and gave her the strength she needed to go through with this. He knew the forest like the back of his hand, and his lack of fear calmed her.

“Are you ready?” he asked and studied her, assessing her worried expression.

“Yes,” she nodded. “Let’s get it over with.”

Baekhyun’s unreadable gaze rested on her for a few seconds. Then, he took her hand and linked his fingers with hers. The low timbre of his voice was like a gentle embrace. “I know you’re afraid, but I promise nothing will happen to you. You’re completely safe.”

He tugged at her arm and they entered the forest together. Sohee’s eyes flitted around, jumped from bushes to trees, to every shadow she could see. She was prepared for the worst—but she didn’t spot any wolves, not even when they ventured deeper into the woods. The more time passed without an encounter, the calmer she became, and eventually, she began to admire the pretty scenery. The forest wasn’t as dark and scary as she remembered. It was flooded with sunlight, golden rays breaking through the tree crowns and painting patterns of light and shadow on the ground. The leaves rustled in the breeze, and sometimes, she heard the chirps of a bird. They spotted a majestic deer and a tiny rabbit that she observed with a smile on her face. When she stepped on a twig, the cute animal got spooked and hopped away. Baekhyun and Sohee followed the hiking trail for about thirty minutes without any incidents until they reached a clearing.

“How do you feel?” he asked, his tone leading her to believe he was worried about her answer.

“I’m… okay. It’s overwhelming, but I’m okay. Your presence helps a lot.”

“That’s good. You’re doing very well.”

“We… we haven’t seen any wolves though.”

“They aren’t in the vicinity.”

“What? How do you know?”

His eyes widened a fraction. “It’s an assumption,” he said and cleared his throat. Sohee saw through his lie and wondered what he was hiding from her. His behavior had been a little odd today, almost as if he was nervous, but the more time they spent in the forest, the more relaxed he got. The same was true for her—she no longer felt her heart pound in her chest.

“Well, this isn’t nearly as bad as I thought. The forest is much more beautiful than I remembered.”

“It is,” he agreed with a peaceful smile. “That’s why I like to come here often. And… if you want to, you could tag along from now on.” It was a careful question, and frankly, he reminded her of a shy puppy when he posed it. He gazed at her as if he had expected to startle her with mere words.

“Um… okay. I think I can do that.”

He breathed out. The amount of relief she discovered in his gorgeous amber eyes was staggering, it engulfed her and suddenly, she felt the very same emotion. What she had accomplished by coming here today was something she could be proud of. Sohee glanced at her hands and noticed that they weren’t trembling anymore. Her fingers traced the scar she bore on her shoulder, felt its ridges through her shirt. The scar on her body would remain forever, but perhaps the one in her mind could be healed.

The path got more treacherous as they walked uphill—Sohee often stumbled over loose rocks on the ground and got a little annoyed at the fact that Baekhyun was always a few steps ahead of her. She didn’t want to slow him down, but if she walked any faster, she was afraid she might just break her ankles the next time she stumbled.

“How are you climbing over these damn rocks so fast? Are you a mountain goat or what?” she called out to him in a lighthearted tone and earned an airy laugh.

He waited for her to catch up, eyes twinkling mirthfully. Something about her remark seemed to be particularly amusing to him. “I’m the opposite of a mountain goat, cupcake.”

“A mountain lion?”

He snorted and shook his head. “Wouldn’t that be purrfect?”

Sohee stopped and stared at him. “You’re a clown, Baekhyunnie.”

“So you think I’m funny.” He grinned widely and offered her his hand when she stumbled over another stone. His eyebrow shot up at her struggle. “I’m worried you’ll end up breaking your ankles. You don’t go hiking often and it shows. Why don’t you get on my back for a while? It would be safer.”

“You want to carry me? Are you serious?” Her cheeks took on the color of ripe peaches. “I’m not a baby, though. I can walk myself.”

“Wrong. You’re my baby cupcake and I’ll spoil you as much as I want.” She didn’t have to look at him to know he was smirking—the smugness in his voice told her everything.

“Baby cupcake,” she groaned and pouted. “You can’t be serious. How can a grown man say something like that?”

But her friend just shrugged, not embarrassed in the slightest at his cheesy new nickname idea. “Stop sulking and get on my back already, or else we’ll be stuck here forever.”

“F-Fine.” He couched in front of her, hooked his hands under her thighs and when she wrapped her arms around his neck, body pressing against his back, he got up. “If I’m too heavy, you—”

“You’re almost like a backpack. This is not a problem.”

“I’m a backpack,” she deadpanned. “How kind of you.”

His back rumbled when he laughed. “No, you’re almost like a backpack. I would never call my baby cupcake a backpack.”

“Is baby cupcake any better?” she grumbled and put her chin on his shoulder as he walked. It was more comfortable like this. She was at ease being so close to him and breathed in his familiar scent.

“Of course it is.”

Sohee rolled her eyes. “I knew you would say that, Baekhyunnie.”

Again, a wide smile spread over his lips. He could bicker with her all day, especially when she was sulking—a pouty Sohee was fun to tease. Additionally, she seemed to have forgotten about her apprehension. She hadn’t voiced any concerns in a while. He considered this a small victory since it brought him a step closer to revealing the truth to her. She needed to know, he wanted to tell her so badly.

When the path became wider, he let her down so that she could walk herself. Baekhyun crossed his arms and gave her an expectant look. “So…”

“So?”

“Do I get a reward for carrying you?”

“What do you want?”

“I don’t know, how about a hug?”

She blushed and her heart jumped before she reminded herself that this wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. They frequently shared friendly hugs. Sohee engulfed him with her arms and pressed her face into the soft material of his jacket. Beneath his baggy clothes, he was hiding a whole lot of muscles—it was distracting, to say the least.

“Aww, look how cute you are, my baby cupcake,” he whispered and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly.

“I’m not your baby cupcake.” She was very flustered by his affectionate behavior—but she loved it. Baekhyun being flirty was addicting. At least she assumed he was flirting, but it probably wasn’t true since they were just friends. At any rate, this didn’t stop her from enjoying it.

“You are,” he insisted with a smirk, amber eyes glowing golden for a blink. “And you always will be.”

  ✨

Sohee had a lot on her mind. Ever since her hike with Baekhyun, the very foundation of her fear was crumbling, and the more she remembered the happy moments she had spent with him in the forest, the less she feared going there. They hadn’t seen any wolves yesterday. Most likely, the animals had been spooked by their presence and not shown themselves. The wolf who had attacked her so viciously years prior likely wasn’t in the area anymore.

Her outing with Baekhyun had reignited her stubbornness and her curiosity. She was ready to challenge her old beliefs and leave her fears behind for good. This was the reason why she had returned to the woods today—without Baekhyun. He had no clue she was here. Sohee wandered the forest on her own, letting her legs carry her in a random direction. Despite her determination, it was nerve-wracking to be here. She had to wipe her sweaty palms on her jeans and her gaze constantly darted around.

She walked through the forest for a good 20 minutes without seeing one of the wolves, enjoying the serene atmosphere of nature and listening to the occasional bird song. However, when she heard a loud rustle, she stopped. To her bewilderment, a black wolf emerged from the undergrowth, its fur allowing it to blend in easily with the shadows.

She took a deep breath, folding her hands in front of her stomach. This was unexpected, too sudden for her liking. Oh God, what if it would rip her to shreds and—again, she took a deep breath and stared at the wolf as it stared back. You can do this, Sohee. Calm down. It’s not doing anything.

She paused, unsure how she should act in front of the animal, and ultimately stayed rooted to the ground like a statue. The wolf inclined its head and approached her very slowly. Its movements were elegant and regal—it knew exactly how powerful it was, and yet it somehow didn’t look threatening. It was patient and gave her the time she needed to get used to its presence. This behavior was peculiar for a wild animal, but Sohee was too unnerved to question it.

“H-Hello there. How are you?” she said shakily and in a barely audible voice. The wolf’s ears perked up and it paused, simply watching her without doing anything. Despite knowing how stupid it was to talk to an animal, she did it anyway because it helped her keep calm. So far, she was doing a better job than expected.

She and the wolf maintained eye contact for a while, and she couldn’t stop herself from admiring the gorgeous golden hue of its irises. Since the animal seemed much more curious than hostile, she took a cautious step toward it, the fallen leaves on the ground crunching under her sneakers. Her knees were shaking and she feared they would give in soon. She continued to take deep breaths, but her pulse rose as her anxiety became overwhelming. She gasped. The wolf flinched at the sudden noise and let out a whine before it lay on the ground, resting its head on its paws. It didn’t look all that big anymore.

“Just… a little more,” she whispered. She was only a meter away from the wolf when her legs gave in and she fell to her knees. Her shoulders heaved with every breath she took.

“It’s not the same. It’s not the same,” she repeated until she was sure she had a better grip on herself. She used all the courage she had left and stretched out her arm. It was trembling like a leaf, but she didn’t back down. Her fingers touched the soft fur on the wolf’s head, and she looked right into its golden eyes. They seemed to glow brighter.

This wasn’t so bad. Actually, it wasn’t bad at all. The animal was calm and didn’t do anything threatening while she touched it. It was like it knew her fear; it could probably smell it. She retreated her hand, looking at it in wonder, unable to believe that she had just achieved the impossible; she had touched a wolf and she was unharmed. Glancing at her hand and back at the wolf, she felt proud of herself. Relieved tears gathered in her eyes. “This is insane,” she breathed.

She heard a low rumble from the wolf as it observed her, its gaze appearing more human than before. The way it looked at her instilled a sense of familiarity within her. She knew those eyes. Their color was a mix of amber and gold, glinting warmly in the sunlight. Where had she seen this shade before? It was rather unique, but she couldn’t put her finger on it, couldn’t explain why this color made her feel at ease.

She sat on the mossy ground and curiously observed the animal until it got up and walked to the other side of the clearing, peering into the woods. She bit her lip, thinking it would leave soon—she didn’t want to part ways yet! This animal fascinated her for some reason. Before she knew what she was doing, she had already raised her voice, “Come back, please!”

Strangely, it understood what she wanted and returned to her. Sohee patted the spot next to her on the ground, inviting it to sit next to her. She swore she saw the wolf’s eyes widen despite knowing it wasn’t possible. Stretching its legs, it lay down so close that its warm body was touching her thigh.  

Now it looked surprisingly endearing for a wolf, more like a puppy. She cautiously moved her hand to its back. The wolf didn’t seem to mind her touch and so she began to pet its fur, astonished at how soft it was. For an animal that constantly roamed the woods, it was too clean. With the wolf resting next to her, she allowed herself to relax, and the initial nervousness that had befallen her dwindled. She knew she didn’t have to expect any danger from this animal, and suddenly, something in her brain clicked.

“Your eye color is the same as Baekhyun’s. That’s a funny coincidence,” she mumbled as she observed the majestic animal. It opened its eyes and gave her its undivided attention, so she decided to keep talking. “He’s my best friend, you know? I’m very grateful to have him in my life… but honestly, I’d rather be more than friends.”

Was it possible for an animal to look shocked? Because that’s what was happening right at this moment. The wolf stared at her in disbelief, frozen solid.

“Um… what’s going on?” She flushed. “I just… I’m sorry, did I offend you?” Of course she didn’t. She was talking to a wolf. What a stupid question. Luckily, nobody except for the animal had heard it, or else she would be mortified.

The wolf sat up and licked her hand, covering it in slobber. “W-What the hell?” she squeaked at the weird sensation and pulled her hand away. “Eww, what was that for?” But now that her hand was gone, the wolf moved on to her cheek and pushed its nose against it. Its tail was wagging and it couldn’t stop showering her with affection. She protested when it tried to lick her cheek, giggling and narrowly avoiding its tongue. The wolf whined and chose a different approach. This time, it lay down and curled its body around her, putting its head on her lap.

“Are you a big puppy?” she smiled, petting its head which it seemed to enjoy thoroughly. “How adorable. When I tell Baekhyun about this, he’ll never believe me.”

The wolf made a noise that could have indicated amusement had it been human. It yawned lazily and prepared for a nap while she brushed her fingers through its fur.

  ✨

The wind rushed past him as he shot through the greenery, dodging trees and jumping over plants and rocks that stood in his way. He could not believe what had happened. He hadn’t expected her to wander into the woods on her own. When he had spotted her, he had almost stumbled over his own paws. At first, he had considered turning around and hiding before she could notice him, but when he was in his wolf form, his actions were guided by his instincts, and they told him to approach her—being close to her was what he truly wanted, no matter which form he took. She had been reluctant at first, worrying him, but then she had warmed up to him. Making her smile while he was in his wolf form was a dream come true. She was ready to hear the truth.

  ✨

Sohee was over the moon when she entered her apartment and removed her shoes. A permanent smile had manifested on her lips. She greeted her cat Sushi with too much enthusiasm which resulted in a confused meow. Then, she moved to the living room, intending to text Baekhyun and tell him about her experience today. Before she had a chance to sit on the sofa, the doorbell rang. She put her phone down and jogged to the door, only to discover none other than Baekhyun outside.

“Oh, hi Baekhyun! Nice to see you,” she smiled and let him in. They went to the living room together. “If I had known you would come over, I would have prepared dinner… or at least some snacks.”

“It’s fine, cupcake. You’re the only snack I need,” he replied and winked.

She stood motionless in the middle of the living room as if hit by a lightning strike, her cheeks gradually changing color. Had her ears played tricks on her or had he just flirted with her? “What?” was all she managed to answer.

This Baekhyun was certainly different. The Baekhyun she had met yesterday hadn’t been so frank. It wasn’t simply the bold remark that stood out to her, it was also the way he looked at her. Pride, adoration, and desire were reflected in his eyes. It made her feel things, dangerous things that weren’t meant for friendships. His eyes were golden, not amber. She blinked, but the shade remained the same—the same as…

“You visited the forest on your own. I’m proud of you, cupcake.”

“How do you know I was there?”

Something peculiar flickered over his face. “We met.”

“We didn’t,” she muttered and raised her eyebrows. “What are you talking about? I only met… a wolf…” She trailed off—he did have the exact same eye color as the wolf... and the wolf had been suspiciously intelligent too. “You’re not actually a wolf, are you?” she laughed nervously since the question must have sounded crazy to him, but he remained dead serious. When her eyes grew wider and wider, he chuckled.

“I am.”

“Are you messing with me?”

He grinned confidently. “Nope! I’ll show you.”

“Baekhyun, WHY ARE YOU TAKING OFF YOUR PANTS?!” she yelled and promptly looked away. The sound of his clothes falling on the ground made her blush. Soon after, something odd touched her wrist—it felt strange and caused her to glance down, only to freeze in shock. Where Baekhyun had been standing just a moment ago lay a pile of clothes and next to it sat a familiar-looking wolf.

“Huh?! Don’t tell me you’re really Baekhyun.”

And the wolf nodded, giving a bark that sounded like a laugh. His muzzle touched her hand again.

“…I think I need to sit down.” She staggered to the sofa and sunk into the pillows. The wolf—Baekhyun?—sat next to her and cuddled up to her. “I don’t understand what’s going on and how this is even possible, but… but you’re pretty cute for a wolf… Wait, if you’re the wolf from earlier, then that means…”

He had heard her confession, he knew about her feelings. She wanted to melt into the ground and disappear forever. How embarrassing… she had confessed to him without realizing it. What the hell should she do now? Before Sohee found an answer, Sushi made a sudden appearance in the living room. She hissed and growled at the large wolf lounging on her precious sofa, arching her back. Her fur stuck up in all directions.

“Sushi, behave,” Sohee reminded her, but the cat wasn’t impressed and sent death glares to the wolf before she sauntered away to the bedroom. “Now I know why she doesn’t like it when you visit.”

Baekhyun couldn’t answer as long as he was a wolf, so she was met with silence until the furry front leg on her stomach disappeared and was replaced by a human arm. He shifted back to his human self and remained snuggled up to her like a touch-starved puppy. Only this time, things were different. Her gaze traveled over his defined arm muscles, to his chest, and further down to—

“P-Put on some clothes, you perv!” she hissed and looked away.

“Nah, too lazy.”

“You litte...! I don’t wanna see your dick.”

He had the audacity to wiggle his eyebrows. “You don’t?”

“Argh, Baekhyun, what is this conversation?”

He laughed and got up, collecting his clothes while she stared at the ceiling. Only after she heard the zipper of his jeans did she dare to look at him. He took his shirt, weighed it in his hand, then shrugged and threw it on the sofa without putting it on. She had seen him shirtless too many times than she could count, but she would still drool over his abs like a lovesick teenager.

When he sat down again, he didn’t waste a second, wrapped her in his arms, and put his head right above her chest. “I have to tell you something, Sohee,” he mumbled.

“Yes?” She gently touched his silky ash blond hair and glanced down at him, wondering what he had on his mind.

“I love you too.”

She swallowed, tensing up. Okay, that was not what she had expected. “Baekhyun… you love me?”

“I do, I’ve wanted to be in a relationship with you for a long time.”

A thousand different thoughts shot through her mind. “How would a relationship between us ever work out? I mean, I’m human and you’re not…” she sighed and her body deflated in defeat. “I have so many questions, I don’t know where to begin.”

“I’ll answer them. No more secrets, I promise.”

Sohee took a deep breath and decided to begin with the most pressing question, “Why did you keep your wolf form a secret for so long? Didn’t you trust me?”

“I trust you more than anyone, believe me, but there are certain rules in our society, and the most important one is to keep our true nature hidden from humans. It serves to protect ourselves from hunters. There are a few exceptions, though.”

“Then why did you tell me now? Won’t you get in trouble?”

“Don’t worry, there’s an exception for a wolf’s mate,” he smirked.

“Mate? As in soulmate?”

“Yes. You’re my mate. Wolves only fall in love once in a lifetime.”

“I’m your mate?” and when it dawned on her what this truly meant, her expression faded from astonishment to pure joy. Happiness lit up her brown eyes and made them twinkle.

He grinned at her reaction. “I didn’t realize it for a long time. I just… assumed I felt attracted to you because we were childhood friends and close to each other. But when I turned eighteen, I knew that my feelings were stronger than friendship and concluded that you’re my mate… That’s when my pack began teasing me about our relationship, urging me to tell you the truth,” he sighed and shook his head. “However, I knew how upset you were about the attack and I feared you would resent me if you ever found out about my wolf form. So I kept it to myself because I’d rather be just friends than not have you near me at all.”

“Oh, it must have been so difficult. I had no idea,” she frowned. “I admit I would have been shocked about it, but I’m incapable of resenting you.”

Her answer seemed to relieve him. “The wolf who attacked you was a rogue. He had nothing to do with our pack, and ever since the attack, we’ve been more careful to defend our territory.”

“So I was at the wrong place at the wrong time?”

“Yes. When I heard your scream, I thought my heart would stop. I chased the bastard away and then returned to you in my human form,” he explained with a stony expression.

“Thank you. You’ve done so much for me,” she smiled gratefully.

“Baby cupcakes need to be protected,” he joked, cracking a smile when she groaned.

“What even is a baby cupcake? It makes no sense.”

“It’s an extra pretty and sweet cupcake. Just like you,” he grinned and bopped the tip of her nose.

“If I’m a baby cupcake, then you’re a puppy.”

“Deal.”

“Huh, really? I thought you wouldn’t like it.”

“Any nickname is fine as long as you’re the one who made it up,” he answered. “Because I love you.”

Sohee would have to get used to this—otherwise, her poor heart would just give up one day. The butterflies in her stomach soared, and she leaned in to hug him. “I love you too. You… you have no idea how much you mean to me.”

A bold smirk graced his features. “If I mean so much to you, don’t you think it’s about time you give me a kiss?”

“A kiss?” She couldn’t believe it. All this time, he had kept his feelings for her hidden, and now she drowned in them. The desire to be with her poured out of him and completely overwhelmed her.

He shrugged. “I would ask for more, but we can start small.”

“Horndog,” she snorted. “If you want a kiss, then come and get it.”

His gaze sharpened and his lips formed a dangerous smirk. “Oh, I will.”

He pushed her backward and made her back hit the sofa—and then he was on top of her, caging her with his arms. His gaze spoke volumes, studying her rosy cheeks and the way she bit her lip in impatience. After everything that had happened, and the time he had waited for her, all he wanted to do was to make her his. His instinct compelled him to close the distance between them—he needed to hold her and never let go, he needed to kiss every inch of her skin. Her wonderful scent was a delight. She smelled of peaches; he would always recognize her unique fragrance even when she was in a crowd of people. He would always find her—just like he had done that fateful day in the forest. His precious mate needed to be well-protected.

Sohee gazed up at him, at his ash blond hair that framed his face, and at his eyes which glowed golden whenever he looked at her as if she was the one who made them shine. She stretched out her hand and placed it on his cheek, inviting him to close the distance between their lips. He leaned in, propping himself up with his arms, and his breath fanned over her lips. Their first kiss was an explosion of sensations. His mouth melded with hers, lips moving passionately, gentle and rough at the same time. As her hands began to wander, exploring his taut abdomen, the lower half of his back, he growled into the kiss.  

“This was worth the wait,” he murmured against her lips, capturing her gaze with the cheeky shimmer in his eyes. “I love you, cupcake.”

Sohee beamed and planted a kiss on the corner of his mouth, where a cute dimple appeared whenever he smiled. “I love you too, puppy.”

✨ ✨ ✨

Hi everyone, I hope you enjoyed this fic! I wanted to write a wolf AU for a long time, but since multichapter fics take months or even years to finish, I chose to write a oneshot instead. 💕 This is basically a wolf version of Spellbound; the themes are somewhat similar, with the exception of Baek and Sohee being childhood friends. 🌼 Please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts on this couple! ✨

[in-my-feels-probably]

We’re Burned For Better - Chapter Ten

Chapter 10

(Warnings: the bedding ceremony, which is not graphic in description, but unpleasant for all involved. if you think any part of this subject will make you uncomfortable or trigger you, please skip that part once you get to it. if i missed any warnings, please let me know, and i will add them here)

—

The wedding came just hours later.

Handmaidens whisked Aelora away, and she was shoved into a hot bath, and then into a wedding dress fit for a Princess. It ran all the way to the floor, with lace wrapping down her arms to stop just at the top of her hands. Her hair was pinned back with intricate little braids all throughout, and a tiara was placed on her head, followed by a veil. She was forced to hold still as rouge and powders were applied to her face, making her scrunch her nose when the brushes would tickle her.

She looked beautiful.

And yet, she was absolutely miserable. She was fighting tears the entire time her handmaidens got her ready. She was fighting tears in the carriage on the way to the Sept, keeping her face away from the family. She was fighting tears as she passed the masses.

She could no longer fight her tears when she reached the end of the carpeted aisle, and Aegon was waiting for her with his Kingsguard in front and behind him.

“Your Grace,” she mumbled, no longer making an effort to wipe her tears.

He pulled a handkerchief from within his coat, handing it to her. “I expected this. You’ll want to hide your tears, Aelora. Don’t want to spook the common people, do we?”

Aelora shook her head, ignoring the handkerchief.

“I am my Mother’s child. I will hold my head up high. Tears are of no consequence.”

Aegon pushed the handkerchief into her hands. “They are if the masses can see them. Cry if you must, but do it quietly. Save those tears for your chambers tonight. They don’t belong on the steps of the Sept.”

Aelora stifled a sob, wiping away at her tears. When she was done, Aegon slipped the handkerchief back into his pocket, smiling at her.

“There. Beautiful as ever. Come on, then. Your betrothed awaits.”

A horn was blown, and the people came to stop along the guards posted down the stretch of the carpeted aisle.

Aelora could hear the Septon’s words before she began to walk. “We stand here today in thanks and praise to join two souls as one. Father, Mother, Warrior, Smith, Maiden, Crone, Stranger.”

Aegon held out his arm, and Aelora linked hers with his. As promised, she kept her head high the entire walk down the aisle. But she could not hide her tears. She kept quiet, though, never uttering a sound as walked past the common people who were screaming for her and the King’s attention.

She could not bring herself to look at the people who had accepted a usurper as their King.

At the end of the aisle, Alicent, Helaena, Otto, Ser Criston, and the High Septon awaited her. They stood on the far side of the steps, with the Septon in the middle. On the side closest to Aelora, where her family should have been, it was empty. And in the middle of the second to last top step, there he stood.

Aemond Targaryen.

Aelora’s husband to be. His face was hard, his body rigid. When she made it to the top of the step, and Aegon left her to stand next to Helaena, Aelora could see his face clearly for the first time.

He bristled at the sight of her tears.

His eyepatch was back on, as she expected it to be. His hair was completely down again, only neater this time. He was dressed nicer than she had ever seen him, certainly nicer than he had looked in the weeks since her return. And yet, when she looked hard enough, Aelora swore she could see a tear slip out of the eye set with a sapphire. She was distracted before she could get a good look.

Otto stepped to the edge of the steps, speaking loudly to the masses.

“We are here today to witness the betrothal between Prince Aemond Targaryen, son of Viserys Targaryen, and Princess Aelora Velaryon, daughter of Ser Laenor Velaryon!”

Aelora seethed at his words. Not even a mention of her Mother, or the men she truly considered to be her Father. Just the dead one she hadn’t seen in years.

“With their marriage, they will unite House Targaryen once again! House Targaryen is strong, as they are strong.”

Otto glanced over his shoulder long enough to meet Aelora’s gaze. Was that a joke he expected her to laugh at? As if the masses would dare to. If looks could kill, he’d be rolling down the steps with his severed head in his hands.

“Aelora has returned home. It is she who is uniting us! Our Princess will become a Targaryen, this very hour. The House of the Dragon stands tall, and burns bright! It is a joyous occasion. A royal marriage!”

The crowd cheered, clapping and waving their hands.

Otto stepped back, and the High Septon took his place. He stood in front of Aemond and Aelora, turning the two together.

“You may now cloak the bride, and bring her under your protection.”

Aemond removed his cloak, and Aelora turned around. She let out a light gasp as she felt his hands on her shoulders, securing it with a pin. His hands lingered for a moment, before he turned back to the Septon. Aelora turned back around as well.

“Hands, please,” the Septon mumbled, taking their hands, binding them with a ribbon and tying it into a knot, before turning back to the masses.

“Let it be known that Aemond Targaryen of the House Targaryen and Aelora Velaryon of the House Velaryon are one heart, one flesh, one soul! Cursed be he who would seek to tear them asunder. In the sight of the Seven, I hereby seal these two souls, binding them as one for eternity."

The Septon removed the knot, turning them to each other. “Hear now their vows!”

Aelora took a breath, meeting Aemond’s gaze. He nodded ever so slightly, and they began to speak at the same time.

“Father, Smith, Warrior, Mother, Maiden, Crone, Stranger...I am hers…I am his, and she is mine…and he is mine, from this day, until the end of my days.”

The Septon smiled, nodding at Aemond. “You may kiss your bride.”

It was her turn to nod at him when he looked at her, face full of uncertainty. It was near imperceptible, but he noticed it anyway.

As Aemond glanced over Aelora’s shoulder, he noticed how empty it was behind her. As he cast his gaze back over his own, he saw his own Mother, smiling at him. He turned back to Aelora, his face full of pity.

“Forgive me,” he said, so quiet nobody but her could hear.

And then his lips were on hers.

Despite how long the two had known each other, they had never kissed before. Not even once. It was nothing like Aelora had expected it to be. She thought it would be coarse and without tact.

She was wrong.

He was soft, and gentle. She felt his hand come up to cup her jaw, holding her delicately. It was nothing like she had prepared herself for.

She couldn’t decide if that was better or worse.

He pulled away when he felt tears slip between his fingers. She made a sound of surprise when he backed away, swiping his thumb across her cheek. She couldn’t bring herself to take her eyes off his, until a loud cheer broke out in the crowd.

Otto stepped forward, holding his hand out to show off the new couple. “Aemond and Aelora Targaryen! Our newlyweds, the Prince and Princess of House Targaryen!”

The crowd cheered louder, and Aelora could hear the claps behind her coming from her family. She turned to them, plastering a fake smile on her face.

She linked her arms with Aemond’s, making no move to look at him.

Saving her from her misery, Aegon moved to clap his brother on the shoulder. “To the feast, then. Come along, brother. Bring your new wife.”

The guards led Aegon down the path, followed by Helaena, Otto, and Alicent. Arm linked in Aemond’s, she walked with him down the steps, through the crowd, and all the way back to the Keep.

A wedding banquet was set up in the Great Hall, with all the neighboring Lords and Ladies who had come to court attending. The occasion was much smaller than any of the royal or noble weddings Aelora had been to. She figured the expense was probably allocated towards the war effort instead of her wedding day.

She was a prisoner, after all. Money is not wasted on prisoners.

When they came through the doors, the crowd cheered, voicing their congratulations. Aemond and Aelora were led to the end of the hall, where a table was set up on a platform.

As they sat down, music filled the hall, along with boisterous chatter and laughter. People moved to the floor, dancing and entertaining each other.

Jason Lannister approached the table, a small chest in hand. “A gift for our Prince and Princess.”

Aelora slipped her mask into place, grinning back at him. “Thank you, My Lord. Enjoy the party.”

He set the chest on a nearby table, bowing before backing up and returning to the dance. Lords and Ladies came and went, and Aelora greeted each of them with a smile. It was nearly an hour of small talk and pleasantries, before she finally caught a break.

“You’re doing better than I expected you to,” Aemond mumbled.

She glared, turning to him. “What did you expect me to do, husband?”

He nearly laughed at the word. “I expected you to take my head and then be put to the sword.”

Aelora turned her whole body to him, grabbing his arm to swing him so he was facing her as well. She was not amused.

“What?”

“You wouldn’t risk killing Helaena or her children by burning down the Keep. There’s plenty of servants here you have no qualms with. Cruelty is not your way.”

She could tell by his face that he was not joking at all. “What is my way?”

“It’s not cruelty,” he scoffed. “It might be fire, but you’re not an idiot. You’d never do anything as easy as burning us alive. But you’re angry. I’ve never liked to see you angry. It’s unsettling. It’s dangerous.”

“Only when my anger is pointed at you,” Aelora snarled.

“And it is. I half expected you to kill me the second you arrived, and take whatever punishment was dealt to you. But I see, now. You wouldn’t do that, either. No…you’ll do your duty to your Mother, whatever you’ve decided that is. You won’t risk getting yourself killed simply because you’re angry at me—

“I’m not angry at you,” she immediately said.

Aemond raised a brow. “No?”

“No,” she confirmed. “I was, but not anymore. I just hate you now. There’s a difference.”

Before he could say anything else, Aelora stood, leaving him at the table. She walked all the way across the room, where Helaena was sitting at another table.

“Your Grace,” she curtsied.

Helaena smiled, nodding. “Sister. Are you enjoying yourself, Aelora?”

Aelora nodded, though it was a lie. “I am. You look very pretty tonight.”

“Thank you,” Helaena smiled. “I am afraid I cannot stay long. The children need to be put to bed. But I wanted to see you before I left. I do hope your wedding night is…easy.”

Aelora grimaced at the thought. “You don’t need to warn me, Your Grace. I am well aware of my duties. I’ll be fine, I assure you.”

Helaena stood, reaching for Aelora’s hand. She let her take it.

“He won’t hurt you, my brother. If that’s what you’re thinking.”

That was true enough. What more could he possibly do to hurt me that he hasn’t done already? Let him try, she thought.

Aelora ignored her thoughts, squeezing Helaena’s hand. “I know he won’t. Go, My Queen. Your children need you.”

Helaena smiled and nodded, letting her guards lead her away.

Aelora sighed, looking around the room. There had to be a Lord or Lady to talk to that didn’t make her want to pluck her own eyes out. Although, that seemed preferable to returning to her table. Just as she decided on a Lady she thought she recognized from one of the lesser known Northern houses, she felt a hand on her back.

“I wasn’t lying earlier,” Aegon said quietly, taking her arm to lead her around the edge of the room. “You do look beautiful.”

Aelora couldn’t tell if he was being genuine or not. She would have been flattered, if Aegon hadn’t been known to look at any woman who passed him by. Still, she took the comment as a compliment, one she assumed was supposed to comfort her.

“Thank you, Your Grace. You look rather handsome, as well. Did you do something different? Wash your hair, perhaps?”

Aemond chuckled, taking a sip of wine from the cup he had been carrying around all night. “Don’t make me laugh. Someone will hear us and try to talk to us. That will spoil all the fun, won’t it?”

“Yes,” Aelora mused. “Because I am having so much fun.”

Aegon didn’t speak, continuing to lead her around. Aelora caught a glimpse of Aemond across the room, who had taken to talking to his Mother and some Lord whose name she could not remember.

“Why are you with me, Aegon? I’m sure there are plenty of Lords who would love to kiss your ass tonight.”

“They’ll get their chance,” he laughed. “But I did have a matter to discuss with you. I assumed you wanted it private, so we’re all the way over here, far from any Lord who may want to kiss my ass.”

Aelora nodded. “Enlighten me, Your Grace.”

“The bedding ceremony.”

Aelora stopped in her tracks, turning to him. She tried to keep her face passive, not wanting anyone to see her vulnerable.

“What about it?”

“You won’t be getting out of it, if that’s what you were thinking. The Small Council has advised that we hold one. I’m afraid you cannot refuse it. Our House is unstable enough, and an unconsummated marriage would prove to be illegitimate. I can't allow that. Every Lord backing my reign has traveled to be here tonight. We can’t let a single one of them leave tomorrow, filling the realm with whispers of weakness.”

Aelora felt tears well in her eyes, and willed them not to fall. Her jaw was clenched as she spoke. “I am to let every Lord in here watch? You’d really have me do that?”

“No,” Aegon said, shaking his head. “Neither would Aemond. Apparently, he threatened enough of the council last night that they came to an agreement. The Hand of the King and the Maester will attend. The Maester is trusted well enough to confirm the consummation, and the Hand will corroborate his claim. I’m afraid the council doesn’t trust you enough to tell the truth of the matter.

“Your Grandsire doesn’t trust me,” Aelora spat. “You don’t have to lie to me, you can say it. The Hand hates me. This is punishment, and nothing more.”

“I expect the marriage will be punishment enough to you,” Aegon agreed. “But this is not a punishment. Not mine, at least. It’s simply an unpleasant duty that has fallen on you.”

Aelora seethed. “You’re the King. Surely your influence could have swayed their minds.”

“It very well could have, but I won’t use it. I happen to agree with their decision. It’s nothing personal, Aelora. We all have our duties. This one is yours.”

Aegon released her arm, turning to stand in the middle of the room.

“People of the court! Our guests of honor have to leave us. It is time for the bedding ceremony! We’re not invited, I’m afraid. We’ll continue the festivities in their absence. Not even a King can deny a man’s wishes on his wedding day. Bid our Prince and Princess goodnight, they have other matters to attend to!”

Aegon grinned, and the people of the court split down the center so Aemond and Aelora could pass through the hall.

Aemond reluctantly came to her side, holding his arm out for her to take. Aelora accepted, letting Aemond guide her. She did her duty, smiling and waving as she left the hall. She could hear the steps of Otto and the Maester following as they left.

Each thundering step felt like a knife to the heart.

As they walked through the halls, Aelora realized they were headed for her chambers. She squeezed Aemond’s arm getting his attention.

“Take me anywhere else but my chambers. I’m begging you. Please?” She asked, keeping her voice quiet enough that only he could hear.

Aemond only nodded, changing directions without a word as they walked.

Eventually, they reached his chamber door. Aelora felt her heart pounding in her chest as he opened it, desperately trying to pull air into her lungs.

Silently, he guided her in.

Otto closed the door behind him, taking his place next to the Maester on the far side of the room. They made small talk as Aemond reached for the pitcher of wine on the table, pouring himself and Aelora a glass. He chugged his before she could even bring her cup to her lips, pouring himself another immediately after.

“Just as unhappy with this as I am?” She asked, already aware of the answer.

Aemond sighed, frowning. “I’m sure nobody is more unhappy about it than you.”

She nodded in agreement. “Yes…let’s get it over and done with, then.”

She began taking off her clothes, reaching for the ties along her gown. Her hands shook as she undid the ties. As she began to pull at them, Aemond stopped her, setting his hands on hers.

“You don’t have to,” he murmured. “We don’t have to.”

She smiled sadly, pulling her hands from his. “But we do, husband. It’s our duty.”

Aemond shook his head, stopping her once more from undoing any more ties and buttons along her dress. She gave him a look of confusion, waiting for him to make a move.

“Really, you don’t have to. You don’t need to strip off all your clothes for this to happen. You can leave whatever you want on. All of it, if you wish.”

Aelora sighed, removing the cloak he had set on her shoulders just hours before. She pulled the first layer of her dress off, bending down to remove her shoes. She stopped once she was left in her corset, stockings, and shift, leaving it all on.

“Thank you,” she mumbled. “I’m ready now.”

She slid herself onto the bed, settling herself up against the pillows. She stared at the canopies above her, looking at their pattern as she listened to Aemond undress. She was surprised when she looked down to see that all he had removed was his shoes, coat, vest, and belt, leaving himself still clothed in a billowy white shirt and trousers.

He uneasily climbed up into the bed, crawling until he was hovering over her. With a whimper, Aelora opened her legs, letting Aemond place himself in between them. Aelora rolled her head to the side, her eyes landing on Otto and the Maester, silently watching in the corner.

She couldn’t stop the tears from falling as she looked into Otto’s eyes, finding a cruel blank expression staring back at her.

Aemond gently cupped her jaw, turning her eyes to his.

“Don’t look at them…look at me.”

Aelora nodded quickly, fighting to dry her tears as they continued to fall.

It wasn’t nearly as painful as people had warned. Maybe she had Aemond to thank for that. Every move he made was slow, and cautious. The shame hurt far worse than the pain of the act did. Aelora tried her hardest to turn her mind from what was happening to her, but the thoughts wouldn’t budge.

She eventually moved to hide her face in Aemond’s neck, bringing her arms up to cling to his shoulders.

She shut her eyes tight and held on to him, not letting go until she heard the sound of Otto and the Maester’s feet retreating from the room.

The second they were gone, Aemond pulled himself from her frame, scrambling for the end of the bed. Aelora pulled the sheets up to her chin, covering her body as she brought her knees up to her chest.

She glanced down to see Aemond at the foot of the bed, his head in his hands.

She tore her eyes from his frame, rolling over to face the wall with the covers tucked up around her chin. Aemond pulled his coat on, sinking to the floor at the foot of the bed.

Neither said a word to each other for the rest of the night, nor did they sleep a single second.

When birds could be heard chirping in the courtyard, only then did Aemond pull himself up from the floor, silently walking out and leaving Aelora alone in his chambers.

—

A/N - This chapter was a bit heavy for me to write. I don’t take subjects like this lightly, and I hope I handled it well. The next few won’t be as grim or graphic, but they won’t be all that happy either.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the story, please let me know your thoughts so far. Feel free to comment anything you want. More of Aemond and Aelora to come soon.

[bridgyrose]

In which Ruby and Weiss are (unknowingly) half-siblings charing the same mystery dad. Well, Ruby's got Tai for a dad but you get what I mean.

Weiss ran her fingers through her hair and sighed when she started to see the black roots starting to show again. “Great, just great.” 

“What’s wrong?” Yang asked. “Found another zit?” 

“No, just dreading that its time to dye my hair again.” Weiss let her hair down again and started to brush it back into a ponytail to try to hide her roots. “And no, I’m not going to skip out on it because I dont like how I look with black hair. And besides, it reminds mother too much of someone she used to know.” 

“I… guess that makes sense.” 

Weiss frowned as she dragged her brush through her hair, feeling it start to tangle around the bristles. After fighting with her hair a little longer, she finally managed to pull it back into a loose ponytail to keep it a bit tamed. “There, that’ll do it.” 

Yang sighed and started to brush through her own hair. “I dont know why you put so much effort into trying to tame your hair like that. It’d be easier to let it stay loose, right?” 

“And get in the way of everything I do? No thank you.” Weiss slowly started to add another couple hair ties to her hair, gently braiding through a few strands to give her ponytail a much neater look, finishing it off with a small raven clip. “Besides, I actually like having my hair long, I’m just not a fan of how… unruly it gets.” 

Yang noticed the clip and paused. “Ruby has something like that too.” 

Weiss paused and turned slightly to look at the clip in the mirror to make sure it was on straight, then found herself looking out of the bathroom to watch Ruby place a similar clip on her hip. “Mother said it was one of a kind. That an old friend gave it to her as a promise that she’d come back. She never did, apparently running off and jumping out a window and practically disappearing. All mother ever found of her was a feather.” 

Yang hesitated for a moment and sat her brush down. “She… ran off, huh?” 

“Yeah. But it doesnt matter. Mother gave up on her a long time ago and gave me this clip as a promise that I could forge my own path, but… its just a dumb trinket.” 

“Right… I… I think I need to go…” 

Weiss tried to reach out to Yang and stopped herself as she watched Ruby once more. She hadnt noticed it before, but the more she thought about it, the more she wondered what that raven clip meant to Ruby. She slowly walked to Ruby, carefully pulling her own clip off. “Ruby?” 

“Yes Weiss?” Ruby asked as she started to straighten out her skirt. She looked up and paused. “What did you say to Yang that made her rush off.” 

“I… I’m not actually sure anymore. We were talking about a hair clip I wear and then she sorta got upset.” 

“A… hair clip?” 

Weiss nodded and moved her hand to show her raven hair clip. “She said you had the same one.” 

Ruby stared at the clip and her hand instinctively went to her side to feel her own to make sure it was still there. “Where… where did you get that?” 

“My mother. She said a friend had given it to her before she ran off, never to be seen again.” 

“And this friend of hers, did she ever describe her?” 

“Not really.” Weiss started to put the clip back into her hair and sighed. “Red eyes, messy black hair that looked like feathers from a bird, a mask to hide her face, and a way to disappear without a trace. Though, she swears a raven watches over her some days.” 

Ruby smiled a bit. “Sounds a lot like Yang and I.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“It sounds crazy, but sometimes we see a raven following us where we go. I know there was one watching us during initiation and when I got mixed up in a dust robbery and Yang… well… she’s been chasing rumors of where her mother has been. She’s been gone for a long time and she swears she saw her around my mom before I was born. But… its a bit silly when you think about it, right?” 

“A bit.” Weiss pulled out her scroll and started to run through the numbers she had saved. “I’ll catch up with you for class, okay? I need to run to the library really quick.” 

“Are you sure? We were supposed to get breakfast together.” 

“I’ll make it up to you, okay?” 

“You better.” 

Weiss walked out of the dorm and finally pressed on a number to call as she walked calmly down the hall. She listened to her scroll ring as she pulled herself into a storage closet, her breath hitching as she heard her mother’s voice. 

“Weiss, is everything okay?” Willow asked. 

“I’m fine,” Weiss answered. “I… I just have a question that came to mind today.” 

“And what’s that?” 

“Is… is father really my father?”

[yumeko2sevilla]

Lookbook: Yukiharu Shirokami

Character BIO |

(Inspired by @writing-heiress and her TWST OC's lookbook)

Overall

Yukiharu's style is a mix between androgynous outfits, streetwear fashion and chaotic academia asethetics. The main color pallettes of his clothes are either monochromatic, or gray-ish and dull colors. Main inspirations for his style were Shinonome Akito from Project Sekai, Inuyose Shinobu (As well as Miyake Aoi) from D4DJ, and Tsubomi Kido from Kagerou Project.

Hairstyle

Yukiharu's hair is usually messy, with a bunch of hairstrands fall out anywhere on his head especially at the hair ends. They always let it free, and all they really did were either just brushing it slightly to make it look neater or tied it into a low, poorly-done ponytail. The only time they styled it was during Book 5, when Vil forced him to take care of their hair properly. He then had it done in a Half-Bun style, which revealed their gray-colored back hair clearly.

Outfits

To be honest, this is actually what Yukiharu wears everyday besides school even before he got transferred to Twisted Wonderland.

By means "Casual", dear Sevens it could be anything. As long as it was comfortable. And what can you usually find in his wardrobe? Lots of long-length shirts, hoodies and university jackets. It was full in his closet, and I bet that he would wear those messy clothes of his if Night Raven College didn't have an uniform.

Anyway, back to the point. The thing is, Yukiharu doesn't really care much how he style his clothes despite his mother being a tailor in her past life. But, ironically he tends to choose clothes that happen to be harmonious of eachother, yet messy. Don't know why.

He also seems to wear his old school uniform, which consisted of a wine red cavat, a white long-sleeves collared shirt, wine red jackets and black pants along with his round glasses. An outfit that even if he doesn't tuck his shirt in, he still look like a bookworm, in a good way of course.

@anxious-twisted-vampire @writing-heiress @achy-boo @yukii0nna

[e-lisard]

We match!

Characters: Dahlia Wolfe, Seere, Belial

Warnings: None

Story: Heir of Magic

WC: 403

“You look just like your father, you know?” Auntie Julie softly speaks as she brushes Dahlia’s hair. “You have the same eyes as your mother, but the rest? Just your dad.” She chuckles, tugging on a particularly stubborn strand. “Especially your hair. Just as wild and unruly. He usually tied it up just to get it out of the way.”

“Whatcha thinking about?” Seere plops down on the couch, ruffling her hair until it’s even wilder than usual, sticking everywhere. “Could hear the gears creaking from the door.”

She sticks her tongue out at him, futilely trying to fix her hair again. “Just remembered something Auntie said once, about how I look just like dad.” 

“Hm?” Seere tilts their head, looking her up and down. “Huh. I dunno about ‘just like’, but you do look a lot like him. Dad’s hair is neater, though.”

“Auntie said his was unruly and wild, too. And normally I’d say it just changed with age, but…” She trails off briefly, vaguely gesturing to the side.

“Ancient demon, yeah.”

“So did he just do something to it back then to make it look like that? Is he doing something now to make it neater? Was it just a climate thing?”

“No, I didn’t do anything to make it look ‘like that’, and it wasn’t a climate thing.” Belial ruffles her hair, any semblance of order she had restored to it now completely and utterly destroyed. “Stolas made some special oil to tame it. I could ask him to make it for you, too, if you’d like?” 

“No thanks.” Dahlia shakes her head. “I don’t mind it being like this. Sure, it’s a bit of a pain to take care of, but it looks good on me. Well, when certain demons aren’t trying to mess it up.” 

Belial laughs, sitting on the back of the couch. “What can I say? Your hair just looks so inviting.”

“The fact that you are tiny and adorable also doesn’t help.” Seere pinches her cheeks, although he lets go when Belial also ruffles his hair. “Hey!”

“Now my two youngest brats match.” 

Dahlia and Seere share a look before dragging him down onto the couch, ignoring his alarmed yelp in favor of messing up his hair.

When they’re done, his hair tie is nowhere in sight, and looking between Belial and Seere, Dahlia can’t help but laugh. “I think we all match, now!”

----

Flash Fiction Friday taglist (ask to be + or -): @flashfictionfridayofficial​

Heir of Magic taglist (ask to be + or -):

General taglist (ask to be + or-): @simkarta333​ @asher-orion-writes​

[e-lisard-archive]

We match!

Original post November 11th, 2022 (x)

“You look just like your father, you know?” Auntie Julie softly speaks as she brushes Dahlia’s hair. “You have the same eyes as your mother, but the rest? Just your dad.” She chuckles, tugging on a particularly stubborn strand. “Especially your hair. Just as wild and unruly. He usually tied it up just to get it out of the way.”

“Whatcha thinking about?” Seere plops down on the couch, ruffling her hair until it’s even wilder than usual, sticking everywhere. “Could hear the gears creaking from the door.”

She sticks her tongue out at him, futilely trying to fix her hair again. “Just remembered something Auntie said once, about how I look just like dad.” 

“Hm?” Seere tilts their head, looking her up and down. “Huh. I dunno about ‘just like’, but you do look a lot like him. Dad’s hair is neater, though.”

“Auntie said his was unruly and wild, too. And normally I’d say it just changed with age, but…” She trails off briefly, vaguely gesturing to the side.

“Ancient demon, yeah.”

“So did he just do something to it back then to make it look like that? Is he doing something now to make it neater? Was it just a climate thing?”

“No, I didn’t do anything to make it look ‘like that’, and it wasn’t a climate thing.” Belial ruffles her hair, any semblance of order she had restored to it now completely and utterly destroyed. “Stolas made some special oil to tame it. I could ask him to make it for you, too, if you’d like?” 

“No thanks.” Dahlia shakes her head. “I don’t mind it being like this. Sure, it’s a bit of a pain to take care of, but it looks good on me. Well, when certain demons aren’t trying to mess it up.” 

Belial laughs, sitting on the back of the couch. “What can I say? Your hair just looks so inviting.”

“The fact that you are tiny and adorable also doesn’t help.” Seere pinches her cheeks, although he lets go when Belial also ruffles his hair. “Hey!”

“Now my two youngest brats match.” 

Dahlia and Seere share a look before dragging him down onto the couch, ignoring his alarmed yelp in favor of messing up his hair.

When they’re done, his hair tie is nowhere in sight, and looking between Belial and Seere, Dahlia can’t help but laugh. “I think we all match, now!”

[queenlucythevaliant]

Heavy is the Head

(Or, ten years on, Susan grows her hair out again)

 When Susan was seventeen, she bobbed her hair and Lucy bit her lip until it bled. At the time, Susan hadn’t understood it. She’d muttered something uncharitable about her sister’s childishness and gone about her day. Bobs were the fashion, and since when was Lucy opposed to short hair anyway?

Lucy was remembering another seventeen-year-old Susan with hair that fell to her waist. That Susan had been a queen. She hadn’t chided Lucy for caring about Narnia. The Susan who was seventeen in 1945 cut her hair short because it was stylish, and Lucy fought hard not to see it as one less thing tying her sister to the queen she had been.

When Susan was thirty-two, she began growing her hair long again. One of her girlfriends asked her about it and Susan replied, “I used to have it long, you know.”

This Susan had spent ten long years wending her way back to faith. Little by little, she allowed herself to sift through old memories of Narnia. More and more, she was thinking about her hair. It was like this:

Susan’s crown was the lightest of the four, which Edmund called ironic. “Your head’s always been the heaviest,” he said. Susan pretended not to understand, but she knew what he meant. She had spent her whole life choosing to carry worry and concern, ever since she was four and tending to Peter’s skinned knees. As her hair grew longer, Edmund joked that she was making up the difference.

There was a practical art to braiding hair, Susan found. Divide, twist, pin, pin. A calming ritual for otherwise frenzied mornings. She liked to gather her crown up in her hair and weave it into place. When it didn’t move, she held her head up higher.

Peter always said he could tell the political situation by the state of Susan’s hair. “One braid for war, two for peace?” Edmund quipped.

Peter shook his head. “No,” he said. “It’s neater when there’s danger or contention about. Fewer flyaways means more pins and nets and the like, which means that our royal sister fears disaster. She took extra time ensuring that her hair will be secure, even if the Cair itself goes up in flames.”

“Perhaps,” said Lucy. “Or maybe she just wants pins on hand in case there are locks to pick.”

Oh, Lucy. Lucy had a habit of driving off lady’s maids. She’d come home from Lion knew where, the hem of her gown caked in dirt and her hair caught in a series of snarls. Worse, she could never sit still long enough for any of her maids to work all the snarls out of her hair.

Only Susan could manage it—though whether it was Susan’s skill with hair or her ability to manage Lucy, no one could say. But Susan had come in on her sister scowling and yanking at her brush trying to unknot her hair twenty minutes before a banquet on more occasions than she could count. Each time, she sat her sister down before her own gilt mirror. Then, Susan would work the brush through Lucy’s hair in gentle, even strokes, all the while telling stories in order to keep her distracted. Like an enchantress, Lucy would say.

Lucy kept her hair short to medium-length for convenience’s sake. Susan grew hers out, and she could never quite say why. Peter would say she liked the ritual of fashioning and securing it each morning. Lucy would say she liked the feel of it, falling like a waterfall over her shoulders or growing silky-soft under a brush. Edmund would say she liked the weight. It had been ten years since Susan’s siblings died. Longer, since she’d had hair long enough to argue about. More and more, she wondered who was right.

When she was thirty-two, Susan started growing her hair long again. It didn’t style the way it used to, but that didn’t concern her. Of course, growing long hair takes time. One morning, when she was thirty-three, Susan looked at her reflection in the mirror and decided her hair was long enough to put up.

They were each right in their own ways, but in that moment, Susan was thinking of Edmund. It was heavy. Almost like a crown.

[redorich]

*slams table* TOMMY BRAIDING TECHNO’S HAIR, (WHICH GOES DOWN TO LIKE, HIS KNEES), RIGHT NOW! *slides love and affection and likes but not actual likes bc I have to keep my secret identity, but lots of affection for your AU across the table in a briefcase*

ᵒᵏᵃʸ ᵗʰᵉⁿ

---

It takes place shortly after Tubbo starts coming around. This time, Tubbo’s not here, but Technoblade is. Most of the hermits are still wary of Technoblade (save for False, but she and Technoblade have an Understanding that Tommy is a bit afraid to ask about.)

False invites the two brothers to her base, atop the floating hexagons, so that Techno can see how False and Tommy like to spar. Before they start, False gets behind Tommy not to ambush him and win a match by cheating, but to tug out the elastic keeping Tommy’s hair in a short, messy ponytail. The two exchange no words while False combs through the teen’s hair with her fingers and re-ties it in a neater, sturdier tail.

This must be something they do before every practice, Technoblade thinks, because it seems almost ritualistic in the way neither of them have to say anything. They just nudge each other into different positions, and Tommy hums under his breath as False turns around to allow Tommy access to her long hair.

She hasn’t only been teaching him to fight, obviously. Tommy’s fingers are deft with the woman’s blonde locks in the same way that Wilbur’s hands are at home when they’re holding a guitar. Starting at False’s right temple, Tommy creates a French braid which winds itself around her head like a snake. Pulling the leftover hair into a tie on the left side of her nape rather than braiding it, he French braids the hair on the left side of her head.

Tommy removes the elastic from False’s hair, pulling all of the unbraided length into his palm. He combines the two braids into one, curling the plait around itself just behind False’s left ear. As he goes, pinning the braid into place, he tugs gently on the outer edge of the plait, then wraps the elastic around the braid and tucks the ends behind what Technoblade now recognizes is a braided bun, except it’s been made to look like a flower.

It hits Technoblade all of the sudden how different he and Tommy are. When Techno braids his long hair, he pulls it over his shoulder and wrangles the strands into submission. When he tosses the finished plait back over his shoulder, it is not a work of art to be admired; it’s just a convenience to be forgotten. He doesn’t take care to make sure that it’s not crooked. He doesn’t put pretty beads in his hair, or even brush it unless he absolutely must.

Tommy catches him watching. “Want me to do your hair too?” he offers like it’s nothing, like Technoblade’s ever let him before. “If you’re going to be sparring too, it might be a good idea.”

False is looking at him from behind Tommy like she’s going to personally disembowel him if he disappoints his brother by saying no. Technoblade could totally take False in a fight-- totally! But the whole point of his being here is to learn how people are supposed to fight, without murder and The Pit and far too much blood. He has to learn to turn his back on people without expecting them to put a knife in his skull.

Silently, he shrugs off his cloak and sits himself down on a nearby crafting table to make it easier for Tommy to reach his hair. He yanks the black elastic, which is nearly falling apart from exactly this motion, out of his hair. Tense, still, he sits unmoving.

Tommy clicks his tongue disdainfully and mutters very rude words under his breath about the state of his brother’s hair. He pulls a brush out of his inventory and takes to the tangles as gently as he can, which is something Techno should have expected but didn’t. Tommy starts from the ends of the thick pink hair and works his way up, careful to avoid sensitive pig ears when he gets to them.

It’s unexpectedly nice, to have someone he’s able to trust run a brush through his hair. He’s never understood why people enjoy this until now. His eyelids droop, not sleepy but relaxed, while Tommy does his magic. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees False handing his brother items every now and then. It’s refreshing to know that they’re not weapons.

“Here you go,” Tommy finally breaks the silence, handing Techno a small mirror. He points to the much larger mirror that False must have acquired from one of her smaller towers while Techno wasn’t paying attention. Hesitantly (why the hell is he nervous?!) Techno stands up with his back to the large mirror, holding up the small one so he can see Tommy’s work.

It’s... pretty. The bits which usually frame his face because they hate to obey him have been compromised with, coerced into playing along in the way that they’ve been intertwined with small wildflowers and pulled into the top of a fishtail braid. Once the fishtail reaches his nape, it transforms into a sensible yet fancy four-strand braid with more flowers tucked in, as well as a few thin three-strand braids running along the smooth expanse of his new plait. Instead of his nearly-snapped black elastic, the end of the braid has been tied off with plain beige twine.

He’s been staring at his reflection for too long. 

“Thanks,” he says awkwardly, and sits down again to let the two blonds spar in peace. They invite him to join, after a while of waiting for him to intercede on his own behalf. He makes flimsy excuses. Techno has no clue why he’s so reluctant to ruin this piece of art that his brother’s turned him into.

(That’s a lie. He likes this art, because it makes him feel like he’s a complex person with value that doesn’t only lie in his ability to commit atrocities more efficiently than anyone else. If he ruins this art by fighting, he’ll have nightmares about it for the next week, he’s sure.)

When Techno inevitably has to leave Hermitcraft, because as much as he’d like to stay sometimes he can’t allow his brother to be found out as not dead, he keeps the braid in. He knows he shouldn’t; people will ask questions, will wonder what brave soul dared to put flowers in a warrior’s hair.

Let them wonder. For today, he’s more than just a weapon.

[hxlyhead-harpies]

You’re Being Mean (J.P.)

Requested: No

Summary: (Y/n) has always been second to her cousin Lily and James watches (Y/n) get ready to go to the yule ball with someone else

Pairing: James Potter x Evans!Reader

Word Count: 1.5k

Warnings: Angst

Inspired by this scene from little women

a/n: i don’t know if the marauder had a yule ball but let’s pretend!!

At Hogwarts, the last name Evans meant something. It meant good grades and a strongwilled personality. It meant a shining prefect badge and a mastery of charms. It meant beauty and a rugged air of sophistication. Lily Evans walked through the castle each day with her head held high and her beautiful flowing locks tied back in a messy plait. She was surrounded by friends who genuinely loved her and was followed by an endless degree of suitors. And despite sharing her last name, none of this applied to you, but the weight of everything that you weren’t still crashed upon your shoulders.

Lily Evans was your older cousin, her father being your father’s brother. It was incredibly rare that two people from the same muggle bloodline would be witches, but it wasn’t impossible. You arrived at Hogwarts the year after Lily, clinging to her hand as you approached the Gryffindor common room. While you, a gangly eleven year old, were shaking in your boots, Lily suavely led you into the common room and introduced you to her friends.

You tried your best to make a smooth transition into school, but it proved difficult when professors would learn your last name. Lily had raised their expectations impossibly high, so as you struggled to cast spells and mix potions, your professors felt incredibly let down by you. You just couldn’t live up to her.

As the years wore on your school performance remained average while she excelled, earning you snide remarks from your teachers and classmates. You were never viewed as your own person, only as an extension of Lily. You were always second to her in everything.

And while all of this bothered you, there was only one person whose opinion truly stung. You could brush off Slughorn’s comments about your performance in his class and you could ignore your housemate’s comparisons, but you couldn’t stomach the way that James Potter looked at your cousin.

He looked at Lily as if she had molded the moon and placed it in the sky and as if she had lit the fire that ignited the sun. He followed her around like a lost puppy while you sat on the sidelines and watched as she rejected him over and over again. You ached for him to look at you like but he never did. He only ever looked at you as a friend.

You and James had been friends for years. He had originally befriended you in an attempt to get closer to Lily but he quickly found himself taking a liking to your personality. The friendship stuck and while he continued to fall deeper in love with your cousin, you fell deeper in love with him.

Everything about him enamored you; his deep brown eyes and his wicked but kind smile. The way he would throw an arm over your shoulder as you walked to the Great Hall and how he looked in his quidditch robes. Everything about him made it easy to fall in love. But unlike your cousin, you seemed to be unlovable.

You were clumsy and awkward, never quite feeling comfortable in your own skin. You never knew the proper thing to say and never quite learned the correct way to act in any given social situation. You were funny, but it was often unintentional with people laughing at you and not with you. James could never love someone like that. You thought that no one could. That was why you were so surprised when Frank Longbottom asked you to the Yule Ball.

Frank was a year above you and tall and gangly. He wasn’t the type of boy that you’d usually notice, not that you noticed any boys beside James, but he was nice. He had asked you nervously in the common room, his hands wringing together. It was endearing and no one else had asked you, so you accepted. You had wanted James to ask you of course, but he didn’t. You assumed that had asked Lily and that she had rejected him since the ball was looming so near and the boy remained dateless.

You stood in front of your mirror, applying a light amount of soft pink blush to your cheeks. Your hair was pinned back in waves and your makeup was subtle and glowy. You felt more beautiful than you had ever before. James laid on your bed, his head hanging off of the side. He was already dressed in his dress robes and his hair was slightly neater than usual. He had gotten bored waiting for the ball to start so he had barged into your room to annoy you while you got ready. The room was empty, your roommates opting to get ready with other friends in other rooms.

James was humming to himself as he watched you get ready. Something odd stirred in his chest as he watched you examine yourself in the mirror. He had felt this stirring a few times over the past months but he had chosen to ignore it.

“I’m going to go change into my dress, I’ll be right back,” you announced, grabbing the hanger that your dress was on and marching towards the bathroom.

“Can I watch?” James called from the bed with a smirk on his face. You grabbed one of your silver heels from the floor and chucked it at him.

“Only in your dreams, Potter,” you retorted, a light blush dancing across your cheeks.

You stole into the bathroom and took off your pajamas; a pair of your father’s plaid pants and one of James’s jumpers. You slipped on the dress. It was a beautiful sky blue with iridescent sparkles lining the tulle fabric. It had a shapely and well-constructed bodice with a sweetheart neckline. There were two thin straps that ended in delicate bows at your shoulders and it flared out at your waist. The skirt ended just above your ankles. It was breathtaking. You reached to the back, attempting to zip it up yourself. You realized quickly that you needed help.

You held up the bodice as you walked back into your room.

“James I need help,” you whined. James laughed as he pushed himself off of the bed and made his way towards you. His breath caught in his throat when he caught sight of your bare back. You swept your hair out of the way and suppressed a shiver when his finger ghosted your skin as he grasped the zipper. You could feel his breath on your neck and you were afraid he could hear how loud your heart was beating. His finger paused when the zipper reached the top. He leaned closer towards you, his face practically in your hair.

“Don’t go with him,” he breathed. You tensed.

“What?” you whispered. Half of you wished for him to say the words that you had always wanted to hear and half of you dreaded whatever would come out of his mouth next.

“You heard me, don’t go with him,” he said softly. You spun around to face him, your noses almost touching. You scanned his face hoping to find some sort of explanation in his eyes. He was just looking at you with an odd expression, his lips parted and his eyes blown behind his glasses. Your eyebrows furrowed.

“Why?” You held your breath as you awaited his answer. He shook his head slightly.

“You know why,” he said, his eyes darting down to your lips. You took a step back, your legs bumping into the bed behind you.

“No,” you said, your head beginning to shake back and forth. “No, no.” James Reached his hand towards your cheek.

“Yes,” he murmured. You swatted his hand away.

“No James, you’re being mean,” you said. You felt tears stinging behind your eyes and you felt as if bile was rising in your throat.

“What, no-”

“Stop it!” you said forcefully, forcing James to freeze.

“I have been second to Lily my entire life, in everything. In school, in friendships, in my family. Everything,” you said, a frown deepening on your face. “I will not be who you settle for just because you cannot have her,” you spoke. James reached for you again, his brow furrowing.

“(Y/n)...” he whispered. You pulled away.

“No. I won’t do it, I can’t,” you said, pushing past him. You scrambled to grab your shoes, praying that your tears would stay at bay.

“(Y/n) just wait a second,” James cried.

“No James! I can’t do this. Not when I’ve spent my entire life loving you!” you exclaimed. The statement hung in the air as you both stood staring at each other, your chests heaving. James rubbed a hand down his face but didn’t make a move to say anything. You looked away, blinking away tears, and took a deep breath. You sighed before turning and storming out of the room. James didn’t follow you.

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