#taekwoon au

[fixxofvixx]

BLOODRIGHT - Vampire Taekwoon AU - Chapter 21

Hello! It's been a while but I'm still here! I hope you are too! This chapter stumped me so much as I couldn't figure out how I wanted it to go.

I hope you enjoy and let me know what you think! Love you all!!!!

🧛‍♂️🧛‍♂️🧛‍♂️🧛‍♂️🧛‍♂️🧛‍♂️🧛‍♂️🧛‍♂️🧛‍♂️🧛‍♂️

"Taekwoon!"  In a flash, the door burst open and his hand was wrapped around Kaxon's throat before you could blink.

"What the hell did you do?!"

"He tried to bite me."  

When Taekwoon heard your words, his face changed to pure rage.  

"You have a death wish.  You promised to help her and you're trying to bite her?!  Are you insane?  Do you even have a cure?"

"I--agh--I a-am the c-cure!"  Kaxon was having trouble forming words with Taekwoon squeezing his throat.  You were surprised his head was still attached, honestly.

"What the hell are you talking about?!"  Taekwoon lightened his grip so Kaxon could talk.

"I am the cure.  That's why you can't produce a cure.  It's inside me.  I have to bite her."

“Do you think I’m an idiot?  Did you really think I would let you come in here and bite her?  You must have lost your mind!  Cure her now before I rip your head off!”  Takewoon was practically seething as he tightened his grip on Kaxon again.  

Kaxon’s hands clawed at Taekwoon’s, trying to get him to let go.  In a moment of desperation, Kaxon pulled something from his pocket and stuck it into Taekwoon’s ribs.  Taekwoon grunted in pain when an electric shock coursed through his body.  The voltage was enough to send Taekwoon stumbling back, landing on the floor, dazed.  

Kaxon came to stand next to you and your heart lurched.  With Taekwoon incapacitated, you didn’t know what Kaxon would do.  You wanted to run but there was no strength left in you.  

“Rest assured, Y/N, I did not come here to hurt you.  Your heart does not need to beat so fast.  It’s just a taser and it won’t hurt him.  Of course, there’s about 5 times the amount of voltage in this thing….he is a royal after all.”  Kaxon turned the taser over and over in his hand while Taekwoon rose to his feet, fuming.

Kaxon held up the taser in front of you and smiled, “Would you like one?”

“Kaxon, I suggest you give her the cure so I can tear each limb from your body slowly….with my bare hands.  If you had any hope of leaving here alive, that is gone now.”

In the blink of an eye, Kaxon moved and placed himself behind you on the bed.  Taekwoon’s movements were a second slower, most likely because of the electricity still running through his body.  Kaxon was kneeling behind you but didn’t touch you.  To be honest, when you quickly glanced behind you, you caught a glimmer of fear in his eyes.  

Did Kahn really have something he needed?  He was willing to go against Taekwoon, who is obviously stronger, just to have a chance for you to help him.

“Taekwoon, I’ve told you how I can cure her.  The longer you wait, the worse it will get.”

“You son of a–”  

“Stop!”  You spoke up before another fight could start.  Taekwoon looked at you in confusion.

“Y/N…”

“I’m tired…..I’m tired of being sick…I’m tired of you both fighting.   Please…just stop.”  You took a deep breath, your own outburst draining more of your energy.

“But, Y/N….”  Taekwoon inched closer, hoping to remove Kaxon from the bed behind you while talking with you.

“Taekwoon….please?  I don’t want to see any death today, alright?  I want to be able to stand up on my own, walk around the garden, and eat something more than porridge.  Please….”  Surprisingly, tears formed in your eyes and you realized how helpless you really felt.  Thankfully, Taekwoon finally understood.

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry.”  He came to stand next to you and took your hand.  “No more fighting.  Kaxon, remove yourself and we’ll talk.”

"Of course."  Kaxon spoke slowly as if he was reluctant to trust Taekwoon's words.  Once he was off the bed, he stood next to the bedpost, waiting for Taekwoon to begin but you spoke first.

"Explain this to me.  I'm not going to blindly let you bite me unless you can prove that what you are saying is true."  

Kaxon was silent for a moment, carefully choosing his words.

"The virus is developed using my blood.  I'm not a full royal vampire like my brother.  Whoever my father is….."  Kaxon paused for a moment and then cleared his throat.  "He gave me some type of blood that works as a type of poison.  After a while, I was able to develop an antidote for it."

"So why can't you just give me the antidote?"

"It doesn't work on its own.  For years, I injected every imaginable solution into my body to try and neutralize the poison.  After a while, I realized that it works but only in a certain way.  The antidote is produced by the enzyme that is released when I bite someone.  Once it's out of my body, it doesn't work."

"You expect us to believe that?"  Taekwoon began to walk towards Kaxon but you stopped him with a hand on his arm.  

"Is he lying?"  You knew Taekwoon was monitoring Kaxon's heartbeat for anything that would indicate he wasn't telling the truth.

"Not that I can tell but….."

"I thought other vampires can't bite me?"

"I am not allowed to take any blood from you and I will not.  Your blood is now protected and I would be in worse shape than you if I tried."  Your thoughts turned over and over in your head.  Knowing Taekwoon would never agree, you went with your gut instinct.

"What about Taekwoon?  Is the poison still in his body?"

"No, his royal blood neutralized the poison long ago."

"Then….do it."  

"Y/N!"

"Taekwoon…. the doctor your mom brought couldn't do anything.  He knows if he's lying you wouldn't let him walk out of here alive.  Right, Kaxon?"

"Right you are, my lady."

"Kaxon…." Taekwoon's distaste for Kaxon's choice of words wasn't lost on you.

"I address her with the utmost respect, I assure you."  Kaxon turned to you and continued.  "Thank you for believing in my words.  I swear upon my name that you will feel as good as new in a couple of hours."

Kaxon stepped forward slowly, aware of Taekwoon's position beside you.  

"Mother."

In a couple of moments, Taekwoon's mother burst through the door followed by the doctor.

"What is it?"

"Your Highness, I assure you that I will completely cure y/n.  She has agreed to my method and–"

"He wants to bite her!" 

"Have you gone mad, Kaxon?  What do you mean?"

"Kaxon has explained how the poison in my body works.  The only way to cure it is for him to bite me."

"And you trust him, y/n?"

"Trust might be a bit of a stretch…..but I am willing to believe him considering he wouldn't leave alive if he killed me."

"Right you are, my dear.  Taekwoon, let's trust y/n's decision.  Come over here with me."

"But–"

"You are free to kill and dismember me in any fashion you see fit should I fail, Taekwoon.  I promise you that."

"There'll be nothing left of you, Kaxon.  Know that."  Taekwoon walked over to his mother and stood with his arms over his chest.  

Kaxon walked over to you and held out his hand for your arm.  He kneeled on one knee before your bed.  You didn't dare to look at Taekwoon lest you chickened out.

"This won't be long.  You'll be up and dancing by this evening."  Kaxon lowered his head to your arm and you closed your eyes.  You could feel his breath on your skin and you tried very hard not to pull away.  You couldn't imagine anyone else besides Taekwoon biting you and your mind automatically wanted to reject it.  

After a moment you felt his teeth pierce your skin.  You had been prepared for excruciating pain but you felt nothing.  Surprised, you looked at your arm and, sure enough, his teeth were embedded in your skin.  A numbing sensation traveled from your arm to the rest of your body.  You felt slightly dizzy but didn't feel the need to pass out.  

After a few moments, Kaxon released your arm and leaned back.  

"Doctor, I trust you will be able to patch her up?"  Kaxon looked at you, "I will not close these and let them heal on their own.  I'm sure Taekwoon would not like the usual method of closing wounds."

You blushed slightly, thinking of the many times Taekwoon had taken care of the bites with his tongue.  Kaxon stood from the floor only to walk a couple of steps and collapse back onto the hard wood.

You gasped and looked up for help from Taekwoon but realized he wasn't there.  Your eyes cut to his mother but she was checking on Kaxon.  

"Taekwoon?" You jumped when your call was greeted in return with a loud crash.  Her heart sank.  He was mad.  So mad in fact that he wouldn't even come back to your side after Kaxon had supposedly cured you.  Once the doctor had finished with your arm, he joined Taekwoon's mother.

"Y/N, we'll take Kaxon to another room.  You just rest and I'm sure Taekwoon will be along shortly. 

You nodded and let your back settle against the headboard again, waiting.

—---------------

Three hours later, Taekwoon was still gone.

Was he that upset with your decision?  You indeed felt at least ninety percent better but he never came to check on you.  

You stood from the bed finally and headed to the bathroom for a shower.  You had a small measure of hope that Taekwoon would appear once you were finished.

Your hope died when you exited the bathroom only to find his mother sitting on the edge of your bed.

"Don't be discouraged, my dear.  He's only mad for a bit.  He'll come around, just give him some time."  She stood and headed for the door.  "Kaxon is still out.  Perhaps everything will look brighter in the morning."

You could only nod.  You feared speaking would cause a sudden onslaught of tears.  You wanted Taekwoon.  He was supposed to be by your side, rejoicing in the fact that you were getting better.  

"I prepared some soup downstairs for you.  You should eat something."  She smiled before leaving you in the room once again.  

Food definitely sounded good but you wanted to find Taekwoon first.  Opening Taekwoon's closet, you put on one of his robes over the nightgown his mother had left for you earlier.  Once you were out in the hallway it seemed as if it had been forever since you'd seen the outside of the room.  Going to the right would lead you to the stairs and then the kitchen.  But the left led to the rooms upstairs.  You figured Taekwoon would be the furthest from people so you started to the left. 

There was no trace of him on the second floor so you tried the third floor.  You had only been up there a couple of times but it was in serious need of refurbishment.  It was dark when you reached the landing and it was cold.  A door to one of the rooms was lying on the floor, in pieces, and you assumed that was the loud crash you'd heard before.  

"Taekwoon?"  You walked a few more steps but stopped when you heard a few footsteps from the end of the hall.  Once your vision focused on the darkness you saw a dark mass with red eyes staring back at you.

"Taekwoon?  What are you doing up here?  Why are you–!"  Your words caught in your throat when Taekwoon sped forward.   In an instant, his body was against yours as he had pressed you into the wall of the hallway.  His breathing was heavy and he seemed to be struggling for control.

You slowly reached up and placed your hand against his cheek.  His skin was clammy and it felt as if he had been crying.  

"Are you okay?"  

He didn't answer.  Instead he placed one hand over your stomach, securing you to the wall.  The other hand went to the arm that Kaxon had bitten.  He raised it to inspect the bandage there.  With a slight growl, the hand against your waist went around your back and he lifted you against him.  He sped to one of the rooms and dropped you onto one of the beds there.  He followed you down and hovered over you, one knee on either side of your hips.  He extended your bandaged arm out over the bed and began removing the bandage.  Scared that it hadn't healed you tried to pull your arm away.

"Taekwoon, what are you up to?"

"Be still."  His usual soft voice had now become gruff like silk over gravel.  The tone convinced you to lie still and let him do what he wanted.

Once he had the bandage off, he inspected the wound.  He ran his thumb over the two tiny holes that Kaxon had made.  His other hand once again spread over your stomach just before he leaned down and sank his teeth into the same holes.  A startled gasp left your throat and you tried to pull your arm back but Taekwoon was pure steel at the moment.  After a few seconds, you realized that he wasn't feeding.  He had only bitten you but didn't take any blood.  Soon after, you felt his tongue close the wounds and he brought his lips to yours.  You wrapped your arms around his neck and held on.  His thumb went to your chin and pulled your mouth open so he could sink his tongue inside.  His actions were rough but not painful.  You knew what his fuel was: jealousy.  You kissed him back with just as much enthusiasm so he would hopefully know that you only wanted him.  His lips traveled and he used his hand under your chin to turn your head so he could gain better access.  His teeth sank in lightly several more places until you were a puddle beneath him.  Only when your arms lost all strength and fell from his neck did he stop.  He was breathing hard against your neck, struggling with words.

"I'm–" He took a couple more breaths before trying again, "I'm sorry.  I shouldn't have done that."

He raised his head to look at you but you could only see his crimson eyes in the darkness. 

"I was too rough, I'm sorry."  His hand gently moved the disheveled hair from your face.  

"You weren't.  I'm fine."  You smiled at him, thankful that he was talking to you again.  

"Your lips are bruised.  I shouldn't have hurt–"  You cut off his words by raising your head and placing a kiss on his lips.

"I'm not hurt.  I feel much better than before and I'm only sad that you stopped."

"You are way too forgiving."  He buried his face in your neck and you let out a short laugh.  He sighed and his body melted on top of yours.  "Do you really feel better?"

"I do.  I was a little sad that you disappeared on me, though."

"I…..once his teeth went into your skin, I lost it.  I had to leave before I tore the place apart.  I've been up here ever since."

"Silly boy."

"Don't taunt me."  His teeth grazed your collarbone and you squirmed beneath him.

"Then continue what you were doing."   

"My pleasure."   

[galaxymagick]

“There are a lot of rules that don’t seem to apply to Taekwoon.”

[allofmylovelove]

vixx leo new profile photos

[witchakyeon]

❧ Honey | Xiuleo Oneshot

“Do you consider yourself attractive?”

Taekwoon rolled his eyes dramatically and set his wine glass on the coffee table. “Of course I do. Are we looking at the same thing?”

Minseok lifted his eyes from his cell phone and snickered, which made Taekwoon snicker, and before they knew it, they were laughing so hard their stomachs were sore.

“You’re a narcissist!”

“I am not! Don’t blame me for taking pride in my appearance!”

“That’s exactly what a narcissist would say!”

“Fine,” Taekwoon chuckled as he ran a hand through his messy curls. “I’ll let you answer this one for me, then. Do you think I’m attractive?”

Read the rest here 🧡 2022 Prompt Collection My AO3

[biasedwriting]

feed me pomegranates and keep me forever [VIXX, Leo]

Hades!Taekwoon Au

Characters : VIXX's Leo / OC - mentions of Zeus!Jaehwan, Dionysius!Wonshik and Hermes!Sanghyuk

Rating : PG (they do be making out)

Plot summary - Taekwoon holds a regency themed party to welcome his wife back from the mortal realm. But do they make it to the party?

Shorter Plot summary - Hades and Persephone are simps for each other.

In a dimly lit room somewhere in the cold underworld, Taekwoon fiddled with the cuff of his costume nervously as his attendant fixed his stiff brown coat.

"Will this suffice, your majesty?"

Taekwoon absentmindedly nodded, eyeing  the empty vase that sat by the mirror. It had laid vacant for months, waiting to be filled with flowers. The flowers in his palace had wilted and been cast away, much like the souls of those who resided in his realm.

He laughed away the deep yearning he felt, making the attendant start before he turned towards the wisp of a man.

"Guide her to my chambers the moment she returns. You're dismissed."

The attendant bowed to his master and glided out of the room. 

Running his pale fingers over the rim of the porcelain, he inhaled deeply. Jung Taekwoon may be the ruler of the underworld, but there was only one person who had complete power over him.

Giving the ruffles on his sleeve one last tug, Taekwoon glancing at the mirror again. The brown coat, cravat, and ruffles reminded him of some of the souls that came into his world in the 1800s. His clothing decisions were made after consulting his meticulous notes while passing judgements and careful chronicling of the entrants of his realm. While these journals  helped maintain order in Hades, they also helped him pick the appropriate costumes for his themed events celebrating the return of his queen. 

While the king of the underworld took pride in his extensive note taking abilities, his queen would laugh at them and call it his chicken scrawl. Every time she glanced over his documents, it almost seemed like she was making it a point to distract him endlessly with her sunkissed fingers gliding over the papers dotted and scratched with ink. Every movement of hers smelled of spring, ever changing, floral, fruity, ripe enough to take a juicy bite. The anticipation of her arrival make Taekwoon feel like a pining young fool and not Kronos and Rhea's eldest 

Taekwoon wondered if he should have fed her more pomegranate seeds all those centuries ago.

The door behind him creaked open and warmth flooded into the room. Taekwoon had to bite back a groan. Even after centuries of the same cycle of events, he could still feel the butterflies fluttering in his stomach. Eight months always felt far too long. It was this longing that gnawed at him as he scribbled his notes, passed his judgements, and rolled his eyes at his promiscuous brothers. The loneliness he had felt for the past eight months flew away as Minah’s silken skin came in contact with his. The goddess of spring wrapped her arms around her husband, burying her face into his broad back.

Human’s often described love as fireworks or thunderbolts, but Taekwoon believed that thunderbolts were more of Jaehwan’s domain. Love with Minah was smooth ambrosia, spring rains, and the calm of elysium. 

“Hello darling,” she mumbled into his back, inhaling deeply and Taekwoon closed his eyes, delighting in the sound of her voice. “Cerby knocked me over at the gates, demanding that I give him some love, would you forgive me for being late?” Minah added lacing her fingers with her husband’s. 

Taekwoon turned in her arms and looked down at her from his imposing height. His wife, dressed in an evening gown of flowers embroidered on light orange organza with a dipping neckline and a high empire waist, gazed at him with adoration. The king of the underworld was convinced that spring had arrived in the depths of the earth.

“You look so handsome,” she said with a smile, standing on the tips of her toes to kiss his chin. Taekwoon fought the urge to smile in absolute delight but Minah didn’t miss the slight upward curve of his lip as his arms pulled her closer. Pressing another kiss to his chin, she continued “And I love this year's theme! How did you think of a regency era theme?” 

Sanghyuk had mentioned in passing that Minah was going through her “reading human books to pass the time,” phase. He had specifically dropped the name “Jane Austen” resulting in Taekwoon searching for the author’s soul to do his research for this very moment. Not that he’d ever let Minah know. 

"Just came to mind," he replied, giving her a squeeze "I'm glad it did," he added, looking her up and down, pretending he didn't see the flush creeping up her neck. Tucking a curling strand of hair behind her ear, he pressed his lips against her forehead. Was it possible to hold her closer?  Gripping her by the waist, he sank down onto the plush velvet maroon couch she had brought for him from the human realm a decade ago. She squealed in delight as he settled her on his lap, burying her head into his neck, filling his senses with that oh-so-familiar scent that drove him up the walls. 

“Taekwoon, we’re going to be late!” she complained, trying to ignore his fingers drawing loving patterns on her arms. The organza gown slightly crushed with her position on his lap, but she supposed it could be forgiven. They’d be forgiven if they were a little delayed. Just a few more seconds of being with this young and loving Taekwoon before he wore his older, much more serious mask at the banquet. Fiddling with his cravat, she breathed him in. Old books and ink pots, a slightly metallic earthy smell that encompassed her with warmth and a heat that reached her very core. 

I could ruin his cravat and no one would say a thing she thought playfully as her fingers worked on the fabric around his neck. His own hands slid up and down her sides as he pressed a trail of kisses from her ear to her chin. 

A raucous roar and the booming of drums resounded in the palace causing the Queen of the Underworld to frown. The King of the Gods did not require any permission to start any events in his own brother’s realm. As much as she would have liked her return to the underworld to be a celebration between herself and her husband, the other gods insisted on blowing all of these out of proportion. Wonshik, the god of wine making more often than not benefited from such events, not that the gods really needed excuses for ritual inebriation and ecstasy. 

Minah’s idea of ecstasy involved being in her husband's arms. In his chambers. For the next four months. Thank you very much.

“It appears that Wonshik has gotten Jaehwan sufficiently inebriated.” Taekwoon broke the silence. Minah nodded; her husband was right. If the King of the Skies was drunk, most of the participants would also be intoxicated.

 “Which means that we can make our way to the banquet halls at leisure. No one would even know we are missing,” there was a dangerous twinkle in his eyes that made Minah swoon while his hands which had been on her waist now slid dangerously lower. 

“I missed you,” she mumbled into his neck, pressing her lips against his shoulder as warmth bloomed in his heart. Taekwoon shifted gently to grasp at the flesh of her derriere. He found it adorable as to how she jolted in surprise curled up against him like a cat as her fingers curled up into his hair, drawing him closer till their noses touched. Taekwoon didn’t remember the last time he had felt so warm. Their breaths mingled and their gazes locked. 

Taekwoon exhaled her name, hand sliding under the crumpled fabric of her gown, grazing her calf and the sensitive skin behind her knee. Every touch seemed to unravel a new heady scent of spring from her. Closing his eyes, he followed the trail of her scent, the tip of his sharp nose tickled her skin. 

Was it peaches?

“Taekwoon!” she exclaimed when he nipped at the skin behind her ear feeling him smirk against her. She gasped as her husband nipped his way down her neck, grateful that the low cut of her gown allowed him access to her warm brown skin. He grunted when her fingers tightened in his hair, mentally vowing that he was going to cancel all banquets in the future and simply spend the meagre four months with his wife in his chambers. All these centuries in the cold underworld could not put a cool on his passions for his wife.

Minah could feel her husband leaving a trail of fire on her neck, pressing bruising kisses lower and lower on her skin as his hands wandered and caressed every inch of flesh under her gown. A particularly rough bite at the junction of her neck and shoulder had her shuddering in his arms. Pulling her king upright, she gasped against his lips, feverishly pressing them against each other. She felt him smile against her lips before trailing his teeth over her lower lip, until his tongue tangled with hers sending a shiver down her spine as she whimpered into his mouth. Her hands dropped from his hair to grab at the brown coat he wore.

How she had yearned for him over eight months. Minah tugged at the coat, trying to feel his warmth through the thin fabric of the shirt underneath. Taekwoon’s hands went slack when she delicately sucked on his lower lip.

“Let’s stay in the chambers Minah,” he groaned, arms going under her rear to haul her closer to him, dragging his lips over hers as their hips glided over each other. She tasted like plum wine with the potency of ambrosia and Taekwoon was a man whose thirst seemed to have no end. Swallowing her cries, he drank her in. 

A second, louder boom echoed through a palace startling his wife as she unceremoniously fell on her bottom. Taekwoon stared at her dishevelled form, springing to his feet to help her up. Minah giggled as he swept her into his arms worriedly.

“Where is the ruler of Hades?” Jaehwan’s voice boomed authoritatively, making the goddess of fertility click her tongue as she gripped her husband’s hand. For being the youngest son of Kronos, Jaehwan could be an absolute pain. Taekwoon pressed his lips to Minah's knuckles, eyeing her crumpled gown and swollen lips.

“I suppose we need to go,” she grumbled, trying to fix her appearance to the best of her ability. To Taekwoon, his wife was glowing. Interlacing their fingers he sighed.

“I suppose we do need to go and play host.” He said, tugging her reluctant form towards the door before leaning closer to her ear and giving it a nip that made her squeal “but darling, we’ll be back.”

[campscintilla-promo]

᠃ ★༄  𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠, 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ? ༄

𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐞 | 𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐮 | 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 | 𝟐𝟎+ 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲

within the heart of jung district lies a secret haven for beautiful souls who each possess their own spark - making the most out of their time in the world to bring forth inspiration to themselves and the people around them as if there was nothing mundane about the universe they exist in. come find a home for yourself at ukiyo heights and brighten that spark within yourselves through meaningful relationships built with the rest of its residents.

𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 | 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 | 𝐮𝐤𝐢𝐲𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 | 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

[prettywordsyouleft]

The Price of Freedom

Prompt: #189 for @just-existing1​ – “You’re gone… I watch you disappear…”

just-existing1 said:

Can you do prompt 189 with Taekwoon?

Pairing: Jung Taekwoon x reader

World: Contract (read HERE)

Genre: demon au / angst / fluff

Warnings: none, aside from the supernatural nature of the story

Word count: 1706

A/N: This story is part of a previous world created. Whilst you could read it without the previous context, I highly recommend that you read Contract, linked above first.

A cold dread overwhelmed you and you snapped up from your slumber, choking on your sobs that were already wracking through your body. Clawing the blankets towards yourself, you peered around your room for signs of distress, other than your own. Your belongings merely stared back at you and you began to wail uncontrollably with the pain that clutched at your heart.

It didn’t matter how many times you had this nightmare, it was raw and crippling every time.

Throwing back the blankets, you padded out into the living area of the penthouse, stopping in your tracks when you saw a figure over in the kitchen. Despite the small sense of logic, you squashed it down as you rushed over to his side, throwing your arms around him from behind. “Oh thank god, you’re-”

You realised then that your arms had come up empty and you dropped your head, the tears dripping to the tiles beneath your feet.

“That’s right, you’re not here anymore.”

It was the one sentence you had repeated to yourself the most since Taekwoon’s demise. The price you had to pay for his freedom. It was ironic, the whole reason he had worked endlessly towards breaking free from his contract was so he could be free to do as he pleased with you.

Neither of you had expected his freedom to come at the cost of losing his body in the process. Within your pain, you hoped the man you loved was at peace now; even if you were anything but free yourself.

The house you stood within had been your shared apartment, and then your lovers’ nest. Now it felt too large, the emptiness without Taekwoon overwhelming you day in and out. The grief was unbearable and you had hoped for the contract you had made with the demon all those years ago to break as well. Then, you’d be riddled with your sickness again and leave this world behind like Taekwoon had done with you.

Moreover, you wished you hadn’t figured out the way to break the curse upon him. If he wasn’t free, he would be at your side still and you would never let him go.

Instead, the reality was bleak. You were still as healthy as you had become after Taekwoon had saved your life, living day in and out in a world that had no place for you anymore. You were neither human nor demon, a hybrid with no place calling for you outside of these walls. No one cared for you anymore, a simple face in a sea of others whenever you went out for necessities.

There was a small part of you waiting for Taekwoon to return, however. Surely there was more to life than what you existed through right now. A reason you were still here, outside of the eternal longing you barely endured. Taekwoon had always been someone who wouldn’t give up, and the denial you held onto insisted that he would still be out there somewhere, fighting his way back to you. It would make no sense for him to just give up now.

And yet, you had seen it firsthand. You were right there when he started to disappear, your hands falling short just as they had now in the kitchen. How could anyone survive through that? It was impossible and yet, you were clutching at all options deep down.

You could say the sentence over and over to yourself but it did nothing to comfort you.

A year passed by in a blur. You had expected it to be longer, dragging your feet through each muddled and painful day. Although, life continued. You eventually left the penthouse for another of Taekwoon’s homes on Earthside, a small cottage in the middle of nowhere. You had always wondered why he had chosen to buy such a home, knowing the demon to spend more in a night than you had in a year. He lived for the finer things, you included, and the amount of dresses he had ripped from upon your body over the years would have easily been worth more than this place had been to buy.

He had never told you, of course. This place was one he would only return you when the most desperate, the times where not even your comforting words and gentle touches could ease his heart.

Moving here now felt the same for you. Without Taekwoon to calm you, working the land, tending to your animals and harvesting food for the local market kept you satisfied, busy. You had little time to dwell on the past with him. The gardens bloomed; the vegetables grew higher and larger than you had ever anticipated. Soon, you were talking to the milking goats as if they were your only friends you had remaining and sewing your own basic clothing that felt more flattering than any bejewelled gown of your past. You left Taekwoon’s fortunes behind, living for just what was in your means.

There was more fulfilment in your world working this hard. You had once believed being a lawyer would make you the happiest. And to some degree, Taekwoon had made you that at his side. You had negotiated more deals in this lifetime than you could begin to fathom with both humans and interesting creatures of the Underworld. You had talked your way out of death numerous times and convinced an entire vampire coven to change their outdated institution to one that matched a modern world. You had achieved a great deal at the side of your demon lover, and yet it wasn’t until you were sowing seeds for next year’s produce that you had come to realise it had no value. The time you were in now, creating something with your hard work, with the body that Taekwoon had healed from the brink of death, was the most valuable days of your life.

Still, the dreams followed you. Sitting up as the tears silently streamed down your face, you got up, walking outside into the cool night air. Staring up at the sky littered in a thousand stars, you willed yourself to calm down, to come back to reality.

Taekwoon wasn’t going to return now.

It took you some time, the colours of the sky beginning to brighten with the sign of a new morning on the horizon, before you could say you had stepped out of the nightmare and convinced yourself of your place in this world now. Turning, you went to go inside to prepare for the day when you saw him standing there, watching you intently.

Even if it was another hallucination, you smiled, soaking in his intense blue eyes, those that had guided you from the very start. They were your favourite thing in this entire world, and you allowed yourself the moment to admire them before the illusion disappeared, much like it always did.

“Do you plan to just stand there staring?” he wondered, and you frowned, blinking softly.

“This is new,” you murmured as you walked towards the conjured Taekwoon before you. He watched your movement precisely, his eyes travelling your body and arriving back on your face when you were in arm’s reach.

“Of all the places for you to come to. What have you done to my homestead?”

Still a little confused, you glanced around yourself. “This is my home. Doesn’t it look alive?”

“Do I look alive?” he asked softly and you shook your head. “Really? Why don’t you reach out and see for yourself.”

“You’re gone… I watched you disappear,” you told Taekwoon sadly, sidestepping around him and going into the house. Under your breath, you told yourself this wasn’t real repetitively, jumping when the door opened and closed a second time. Snapping around, your eyes widened. “What on…”

“You gave up on my return? Fickle human.”

“E-Excuse me?!” you exclaimed, uncaring due to your shock, whether you were talking to a man who was or wasn’t truly before you. “I waited for you each and every day! I still am waiting! Why do you think I’m here! This house… this house is a part of you!”

Pursing his lips in a way that made your heart ache and flutter simultaneously, Taekwoon stepped towards you. “And are you still a part of me?”

“Who else would take in someone under your contract?”

“I’m amazed Hakyeon didn’t ship you off to help with the elves Hongbin and Wonshik.”

Peering more closely at the man before you, slowly you reached out your hand, Taekwoon catching it midway. His touch was electric, much as it always had been and you felt your legs give way, right as Taekwoon pulled you into his arms.

You sobbed for what felt like an entire day. Nestled into his chest, his hand gently rubbing circles at your back, his words changing from comforting to irksome. This was the man you had fallen in love with, the demon who you sold your soul to.

Somehow he was back and you couldn’t stop the tears of relief that fell from your year-long heartache.

“Just know it was just as painful to be away from you, my love.”

“Why did it take so long?” you managed to ask when your emotions dried up, searching his face for all the answers to all of your questions. Taekwoon smiled softly, brushing your hair away from your face. You then huffed in annoyance. “Troublesome demon.”

“The most wicked of them all to have caused so much heartache to you.”

“Are you truly here? For good?”

“Well, the flowers need pruning and the cows need fodder, do they not? You can’t be expected to do it all. Besides, there’s a soul to collect at the end of all of this.”

“You breached our contract,” you retorted, Taekwoon laughing at your statement heartily. “Also, didn’t you collect this soul in an entirely different way?”

“Who said it was your soul that was up for grabs? It’s only fair if I’m to take yours then you must have mine when that time comes.”

“So you’ll be here forever?”

“Freedom comes with a heavy price to pay. Now that our debts are finally clear, we will have more than forever together.”

_________________

All rights reserved © prettywordsyouleft

[Drabble Game Masterlist] | [VIXX Masterlist] | [Main Masterlist] | [Request Guidelines]

[cloudycrystalkpop]

Leo + night terror as well as demon please? I don’t know if you wanna combine them or separate, whichever is fine 😊

spell book

the dream was always the same.

a long hallway, made of rotting cedarwwood, creaking every step you take. the place was wrapped in shadow, with piercing rays of white light shining through the cracks. it smelled like rot and mold, the sounds of dripping water echoing from somewhere.

it was always so humid, not warm enough to be pleasant but not cold enough to be refreshing. just, still, dark, damp, and dying.

you’d wandered that hallway for ages. never changing, always the same. if you found a door and tried to open it, the candle would turn to centipedes in your hand and scatter away. the door jamed and impossible to open.

it was creepy, frustrating, and truthfully... quite boring. always the same, never anything new. stagnant.

tonight however, you’d had it.

finally, after trying to brake down a door the escape this unending limbo, you burst into tears. rageful, got tears.

this wasn’t fear or sadness they came from, but a bubbling over pot of pure rage.

“LET ME OUT!” you screamed. over and over, banging on the walls and the doors, screaming and yelling and cursing until your voice was hoarse.

“p-please... please let me out...” finally the hopelessness sunk in. you pressed your back to a wall, sliding down and bringing your knees to your chest.

you didn’t know how long you stayed there. how long he waited. you didn’t even know he was there until, sniffling, you finally raised your head and saw his glowing gold eyes.

if you’d had the voice, you would have screamed. the man simply crouched before you, staring unblinking.

after a moment, he stood, and began to walk over towards one of the doors. you scrambled to your feet, glancing around for a potential weapon, but you were pulled away at a creaking sound. the sound of a door opening.

he glanced at you again over his shoulder, not saying a word, as he disappeared. leaving the door open behind him.

[gamerwoo]

Vixx: Consumed Mini Masterlist

Intro

1. Taekwoon: Foreground (college au)

2. Wonshik: My Doll (voodoo/black magic au)

3. Hakyeon: Heartbeat (vampire au)

4. Sanghyuk: What’s Mine (demon au) (m)

5. Jaehwan: Ours (serial killer au)

6. Hongbin: Keeper (guardian angel au)

[kpopfanfictrash]

Celestial (I)

Author: kpopfanfictrash, moodboard by @m00nk1ld (AN ACTUAL STAR. IT WORKS SO PERFECTLY)

Pairing: You / Hongbin / Taekwoon

Rating: PG-13 

Genre: Fantasy, Space Opera!AU / Royalty!AU

Word Count: 9,017

Description: In a distant galaxy stand six planets which together, form the Coalition. Furthest from the sun is Tenebris, a planet harboring 90% of the Coalition’s feared energy source. Tenebris is a brutal regime led by their shadowy leader, Hongbin. You are born to Exercitus, the warrior planet and serve as a spy in Taekwoon’s army. Your first mission is to pose as a translator to Tenebris, gathering information on Hongbin and his planet in order to return to Taekwoon. Once you arrive though, you find that neither planet nor ruler are what they seem.

The sun has not yet risen when you wake for the day.

The night is still cold, the air damp as you slip from your bed. Glancing behind you, there are two bodies still asleep under the covers. The sight offers a twinge of regret before you tie your robes tighter, walking into your bathroom. The alcove remains quiet, save for the sound of your own breathing and movement. It’s quiet here, squeezing paste from the tube to remove the scent of morning from breath. Nothing here to disturb you – nothing but your errant mind, thoughts and ideas you’ve long given up trying to silence.

Brushing harder, you attempt to scrub away all thoughts of last night. Lately, everything you do is unsatisfying; you’re uncertain when the life you lead ceased to be enough. Every solider on Exercitus knows their place – you are born, you are raised to understand strength, power, discipline. This is the Creed, the core of Exercitian society which is handed down by its Commander, Taekwoon. Taekwoon oversees the entire planet of Exercitus, serving as both head of the military and state – though here, these two are one and the same.

Exercitus, might of the solar system. The strength of the Coalition. The Coalition is the formal name for the solar system – six planets which orbit the sun, Rhea. Doctrine is the planet of learning and knowledge; Exercitus, the planet of military and discipline; Judicium, the planet of law and judgement; Pecunia, the planet of merchants and gold; Sollertia, the planet of art and creation; and Tenebris, the planet of shadow and power. All six form the Coalition, to which Exercitus belongs.

The other planets do not fight though, they exist solely to produce their specialties. You are the warrior breed, the one which leads in times of strife and battle. Other planets weigh in on certain aspects – like Doctrine, assisting in battle strategy, but largely, Exercitus remains on its own. Staring at yourself in the mirror, you wipe all traces of emotion clean from your face.

Looks aren’t something to care about, here. You’ve never considered yourself attractive, not in the common sense of the word. It’s more useful to be strong on Exercitus than pretty. Pretty fades, pretty ends when pretty is punched in the face – this is a lesson your mother taught you, so many years ago. It’s been a long time since you lived with your family, though this is not unusual for children of Exercitus. Children are taken from their homes on their sixth birthday – six, representing the six planets of the Coalition – and are placed into training, replacing their homes.

Most don’t remember their mothers or fathers, but you do. Exercitians aren’t exactly sentimental, but you remember your home with something close rto fondness. You were sung to sleep every night, which is outside the norm for your people. Your mother sang to you gently, in languages other than your own and you remember this still, in the back of your mind. You know this is uncommon, because the one time you mentioned it, the one time you spoke of this outside the your home – you were laughed at, mocked by your classmates until you punched their pretty faces and proved the lesson firsthand.

You haven’t talked about it since – not since your strength, your fists made that boy shut his mouth. At least that’s one thing about Exercitus. In the ranks of the military, there is little room for gender discrimination – it’s something unheard of, told only in tales from travelers to planets like Sollertia, Pecunia. Everyone on Exercitus is considered equal, everyone given opportunities according to size and weight. Nothing else matters when defending the ranks of the Coalition.

This leads to gender and sexuality being somewhat fluid. Right now there’s both man and woman in your bed, remnants of the night prior and you exhale, spitting hard at the sink. Rising your mouth, you try not to think about what comes next. It’s nice to fulfill your bodily desires but sometimes, you wish you enjoyed the person beside you when you woke up. This thought is a strange one – blasphemous, for most people your age.

There are no real families on Exercitus, not in the traditional sense of the word. Not like other planets, where children remain attached to their mothers and fathers like umbilical cords, never fully leaving or breaking that tie. No – on Exercitus, the Creed comes first. The Coalition comes first. Exercitians are tools, weapons and love only gets in the way. At age eighteen, you enter the Military after twelve years of training. You leave the Military only once, at age twenty-five – which is when you work half-time for six years and raise a family. Offspring are raised until handed over for training, and then their parents return to being instruments of war.

It’s a strange concept, wanting more. Exercitians don’t want more, Exercitians don’t need more because they’re the execution itself: the enforcers of planets, protectors of systems. You are the ones who keep everyone else safe, who allow growth to the colonies. It is other planets, innovating and changing and creating. Not Exercitians, not you. This thought grows bitter the longer you think about it, wiping the back of your mouth of one hand.

Twisting your hair into a bun, you tilt your chin up to look at yourself in the mirror. If you turn at the right angle, you could almost imagine yourself to be pretty. Shame creeps in at the thought, a sinking tendril of doubt snaking deep through your stomach. You are Exercitian, which means you are strong. Strong, is better than pretty. It is with this, you exit the room.

Your bedroom remains quiet, though you find you are no longer the only one awake. The woman – Lily, if you remember correctly – is already up, searching for her clothes on the other side of the bed. “Oh,” she starts, looking up in surprise. “You’re already awake.”

Arching a brow, you look towards your bed. “Would’ve been weird, if I’d just left my own quarters and slept in the hall.”

Lilly flushes, then nods. “Yes, true. Apologies, Centurion.”

Blinking at the name, you’re still not sure how to acknowledge the title. It feels strange, hearing the word directed your way and you end up simply nodding at the door. Lily turns to leave, pulling her shirt overhead – she leaves you alone, staring at the remaining man in your bed. You don’t remember his name, nor do you have any particular inclination to ask. He was fine, not as good with his tongue as Lilly, though his hips had more than acceptable rhythm in the places which counted. Deciding you don’t care to wake him up, you cross over to your closet. Pulling on the midnight-black clothing marking your rank, you stare at the silver stitching on the seams, the dark Insignia emblazoned over the front to proclaim your rank as Centurion.

The youngest Centurion in over four-score. Buttoning the final button and adjusting the material, you can’t help but feel disconnected to the title. It’s hard not to, since you don’t feel particularly authoritative. It was luck, all luck, which brought you the rank. Each time you’ve served in battle – three times, total – the act has been horrid. Fields filled with rank, foul odor of sweat and blood – screams which rip the air, filling the night with needless shattering of bones and of dreams. Each time you’ve gone has been nightmarish, and you’ve found little glory in those small pieces of hell.

The Coalition is at peace, but this doesn’t mean there aren’t occasional disturbances. Such events total two of your battles – the third though, the most recent, was one which occurred against a neighboring Galaxy. One threatening an outpost of the Coalition, promising to kill its inhabitants – until the Military flew in, your Legion and others, to protect the voices of those who couldn’t. It was in this battle, you earned your Insignia. It was a risky day, you were ill-prepared for it and a certain maneuver by your Cohort was received entirely wrong.

Your ranks were scattered, broken – while you retreated, you saw the Prime, lying dazed on the field. A Prime is the rank who commands a Legion – and in between a Prime and a soldier, what you were at the time, there are at least four different levels of command. You saved him anyways, dragging him back through no-man’s land to safety. As a reward for this bravery, you were given the rank of Centurion.

Fingers sliding over the heavy metal, you look down at the weight. It’s still strange, to hear yourself called Centurion. To know that you’re responsible for the lives of one hundred men and women. It’s strange still, to look at they who were once your peers, to have them look back in a mixed combination of fear and respect. You are the authority now, no longer the soldier.

In your bed, the man gently stirs and upon hearing this you leave, exiting quick into the hall. You straighten your clothes as you walk, knowing the man can see himself out when he wakes. This time of morning, Barracks is mostly deserted. Only a few early risers wander the halls, though most will wake within the hour. The life of a soldier on Exercitus is simple: wake, eat, train, eat, train, eat and sleep.

From a young age, you’re taught that everything around you is a weapon – even you, you are the most dangerous weapon of all. As a solider, you are utterly unpredictable. It’s this unpredictability which gives you the edge, which causes the Military to be powerful and enables the Coalition to thrive, for thousands and thousands of millennia.

Buckling your belt, you walk into the mess hall. Barracks is one of eight hundred Citadels on Exercitus. Citadels are cities, but only in the loosest form of the word. From the moment you’re born, citizens of Exercitus are raised together. You’re raised together, eat together, sleep together and live together. It creates this sort of hive mind, which becomes helpful in battle. It’s easier, to know the person beside you as well as yourself, it helps to know there are no surprises when you move to attack.

Add this to the list of reasons, why your newfound rank is strange. You’ve known the soldiers you lead since you were six, have known them since being brought from your mother’s home and taught to fight. To know you’re above them – this thought gives you pause, since though your rank is technically higher, there are still those who fail to respect your authority.

You know they don’t, though they won’t dare say so out loud. You know this by the hate in their eyes the bile to their words – you know that when they answer, “Yes,” they truly don’t mean it. When they wish you, “Fast sleep,” you know they hope you lie awake. And you do, on most nights. It’s hard to fall asleep, hard to succeed when the entire word roots for you to fail. Though you suppose this is fitting, since mostly you feel the same about the world.

Slamming your tray down to the table, you slowly lower yourself into a seat. It’s easier to eat alone, since words are distracting and take effort to compile. Not that any of your fellow Centurions could be called conversational, even on a good day. Most discussion in Barracks revolves around weapons, various training techniques, and whichever planet in the galaxy you might care to fight next. You have nothing to add to any of these subjects, so you eat your oatmeal in silence.

The main purpose of eating is stamina, so you chew harder and swallow a large gulp of your water. The only reason you’ve achieved so much, so fast, is due to hard work. You work twice as hard as everyone else, put in twice the amount of effort – it’s something your mother instilled in you, when you were a child. To work hard, keep your head down, and protect the Coalition.

“Hey.”

Glancing over, you spot an unfamiliar male. His face is unknown – though this is not unusual. Barracks alone, houses over eighty million people. An unfamiliar Centurion face, is just another drop in the bucket. You meet his gaze head-on, letting your stare rake his body. Tall, fair-skinned, a face you can’t help but want to punch. Most Exercitians don’t have a wide range of emotion, but the look on this guy’s face is clear condescendence. He thinks he’s better, without saying a word.

You continue to eat, shoving another spoonful of oatmeal into your mouth.

He cocks his head, as though displeased by your silence. “Hey,” he repeats, down his rather-long nose, “I was talking to you, newbie.”

Continuing to chew, you don’t swallow before adding, “And?”

Between the two of you are a man and a woman – Centurions as well, but entirely silent. They’re listening though, you can tell from the movement of their eyes. The whites flicker back and forth, like ping-pong balls at your verbal sparring match.

Satisfied by their attention, your attacker leans back in his seat. “I heard you screwed up a sim yesterday,” he notes, nonchalant.

Your spoon freezes, halfway to your lips. Staring into the bowl, you force yourself to resume eating – then glance at the guy, and try not to blink. “That’s none of your business.” You arch a brow. “Given my score still probably beat your piss-poor time.”

The woman snorts, causing your attacker to color. “Fuck off, Marion,” he mutters. “And you,” he sneers, returning his gaze, “should be more careful. You’ve been lucky so far, that’s all.”

This, you take as your cue to leave. Refusing to engage any further, you push yourself to stand from your seat. Leaving the bowl half-empty, you let it stand as a statement: even with a half-eaten breakfast, even with half your normal sustenance, you will still trounce his lazy, bulbous ass. Hesitation enters your thoughts, hesitation you quickly brush aside. You will be better than him today, you will do better – because he isn’t wrong, technically. In your sim yesterday, you did mess up a bit.

Sim is short for simulation – it’s part of training of the Military, a detailed level of battle strategy. As the youngest level of authority within the Military, sims are a Centurion’s first introduction to leadership. Thus far you’ve been good – very good – at the games, but your naiveite yesterday cost you some lives. You made a heroic move in the sim, only to turn around and realize you’d lost half your fleet.

Thinking this, you scowl, though you don’t turn around. As the youngest Centurion in the Military, it’s still your duty to act with decorum. Centurion is a low rank, relatively speaking – since the planet of Exercitus is divided into eight hundred Citadels, each of which houses over eight million citizens. One Senator governs each Citadel and beneath each Senator, reports eighty Tribunes. Tribune, is a mostly ceremonial role – you’ve never actually dealt with them face to face since they exist at a high level, in strategy and leadership you never really see.

Centurion, is even further than that. Reporting to each Tribune are one hundred Legions. A Prime commands a Legion – and below each Prime, are ten Cohorts. Beneath each Cohort, report ten Centuries. You are the leader of this last unit, a Century – hence, the title Centurion. One hundred individual soldiers remain beneath your control.

Despite this puny level of leadership, it is still higher than the eight million soldiers, residing in Barracks. You are still a leader, meaning you’re determined to act like one. The sims are just games, designed to make you better – it would not be becoming, to fight in real life over one. There’s a lot of tension over sims already, since whichever Centurion wins their round – the win is then marked, as you move up the boards.

The boards. A genius invention, or perhaps a terrible one. The boards are a ranking of every Centurion and depending on your number of wins, you move up or down in the ranks. Whenever a Cohort position opens, the Centurion ranked first, is the one to replace them.

Slowly, you turn your head at the board. The statistics remain unchanged, unmoved from last night. You sit in the same position, the same ranking you had yesterday: Y/N, 328,914/800,000. Turning around to face your attacker, you lean one hand on the table. “What was your name, again?” you murmur, soft as you can be.

The guy blinks, though doesn’t move. “Orion,” he responds, stiffer than before.

“Orion,” you nod, almost to yourself. Your gaze flicks back up, and you make a dramatic show of finding him near the bottom. “Orion: 677,751/800,000. Ouch,” you respond, turning away.

As you walk, he responds – and his words send a chill down your spine. “Get off your fucking high horse,” Orion drones. “The sims go easy on you, don’t they – even the machines, feel sorry for a whoreson.”

Freezing in place, you consider the options. You don’t have many, since Orion didn’t leave much. Any hesitancy to respond is viewed of as weakness – which is something you can’t afford, given the number of onlookers. Whoreson is an insult, one of the highest proportion. On Exercitus, the concept of gender and sexuality might be fluid but the idea of procreation and marriage, is surprisingly not. When you leave the Military at twenty-five, when you raise a child until the age of six, you are expected to marry – you are expected to form a familial unit.

Your mother did not do this. She and your father did not marry – and as such, Orion is calling her a whore.

Slowly, you turn around. “What did you say to me?” you ask, eerily calm.

Orion doesn’t heed your warning, doesn’t see the danger as he pushes himself to stand. “You heard me,” he repeats, smiling unpleasantly. “I said your mother fucked your father, but couldn’t get him to commit before he went and got his entire Legion unnamed.”

Suddenly, the walls of the room seem to blur. You’re barely thinking, when you launch yourself forward. Orion’s head snaps back, ricocheting sideways when your fist finds his jaw. Before he can react to this, you duck, spinning out of harm’s way to jab him straight in the stomach. Orion attempts to lunge, but by the time he’s turned, you’re already there. You make another strike to his throat, following this up with a knee to the groin – showing no mercy, when you grab him by the shoulders and knee him again.

Orion groans out loud, sinking to clutch at his nether regions – eyelids fluttering, while staring up at your form. “Fuck,” he mutters, and you smile – grimly.

“I don’t think you will fuck, for a bit,” you respond.

When you turn around, the room is silent. Blank eyes stare back at you, while a slow flush starts to stain your cheeks. The only thing you can do, is to move – you do so now, walking, though your body is numb, heart racing with adrenaline. Mentally, you check off your list – opponent disabled. No immediate danger from your surroundings.

A roar goes up from the crowd, deafening applause when you wince. It’s not unusual, for a fight to break out in the hall – what is unusual, is for it to be from Centurions. Citizens of your rank are expected to rise above it. You cannot lead soldiers, if you disagree amongst yourselves. Orion started the fight, you argue with yourself. He started this fight, though you were the one to end it.

Without quite meaning to, you smile. A gesture which disappears, when the doors to the hall bang open.

“Y/N!”

The sound of your name makes you stop, echoing off the stone of the walls. Everyone turns to stare as slowly, carefully, you look – your stomach sinking, when you spot the red and black Insignia marching towards you. A Prime – your Prime, to be exact. He walks until facing you, coming to a halt and surveying your body.

Two soldiers stand on either side. The male you don’t recognize, but the female – sucking in a breath, you recognize Lilly.  You can’t think about this for long though, as your gaze returns to Larsin. That’s your Prime – Larsin. A disagreeable man, who wouldn’t hesitate to whip you, if you called him by name. His hair is dark, eyes blue, with a jawline that could cut – you can hardly deny, your Prime is attractive. You’ve never heard about Larsin spending the night with anybody, though, nor would you expect this.

Snapping free from your thoughts, you form a salute. “Prime,” you greet. “Well slept.”

“Centurion,” he nods, a half-assed greeting. Realizing the silence around you, Larsin’s gaze flicks over the crowd. “As you were,” he calls, waiting until the hustle and bustle resumes. No one would dare disobey the command of a Prime, and Larsin only waits a moment before looking away. “You’re needed, Centurion. Upstairs.”

He turns on his heel to walk and on reflex you follow, gaze flicking up while you ponder his words. Upstairs, meaning the main part of the Citadel. Most life on Exercitus is spent belowground. This is where all the living, training, working quarters are: the only part of the Citadel built aboveground is the Chamber. The Chamber, a vaulted, hallowed space where everything of importance happens. Swearing-in ceremonies, holidays and celebrations – also punishments, when the offense is severe enough.

Swallowing, you try not to think about this. As Larsin exits out of the hall, banging open doors, you follow him dutifully. Perhaps it was the fight – perhaps you’re being punished for that. That would be an awfully fast turnaround, but you can’t think of anything else as you walk. You haven’t been to the surface in a while, haven’t had the need to.

Exercitus is not a pretty planet, not by anyone’s standards. Exercitus is a harsh, brutal landscape; perfect for training soldiers. The gravity of it is heavy, the air dense so when you fight on other planets it’s easier. Most of the structures are belowground, using the rock as a natural barrier against the elements. Only the topmost part of the Citadel sticks out above, made from the toughest elements in the Universe – able to withstand even the most punishing nature of Exercitus.

Larsin’s back remains rigid, climbing the stairs. You follow as well, forcing fear down in your throat. Such an emotion is shameful, and mustn’t be seen. It is your duty to remain brave, your job to be strong. You look instead at Lily, marching beside you. She doesn’t look your way, though she’s a head shorter than you, so maybe that’s part of it.

Lily is a light, delicate creatures – you must admit, that’s part of what drew you to her. Her vulnerability shocked you, especially on a planet like this. It’s almost strong, you think, to be so open in the face of the Creed. Vulnerabilities can be exploited though, and you wonder with a sinking feeling if that’s what’s happening. If Larsin has somehow used Lily, exploited her somehow.

The thought makes you twinge, though you push this away. That’s none of your concern, what goes on between them. Lifting your chin, you continue up the steps. The stairs are long, the noises of mess hall long since faded. All around you hums oxygen and machinery, the air temperature dropping while you climb.

The walls are plain, like most things in Barracks. Ornamentation is deemed unnecessary, and anything unnecessary is a distraction from the Creed. The hallway veers sharply left, and as the group of you turn the corner, Larsin holds up his hand.

“Halt,” he commands, looking at Lily. “As you were, soldiers. Return to the dining hall – commence with breakfast, and resume training.”

They both nod, turning without protest. You watch them go, disapproving of the situation. Larsin knows breakfast is nearly over, knows he’s just forced them to skip a meal. The two will go hungry during morning training, an asshole thing for Larsin to command. A braver person than the two of them, might have protested. Then again, you remind yourself, bravery is reckless – oftentimes, more trouble than it’s worth.

Motioning you to follow, Larsin continues. It takes five minutes and thirty-seven seconds to reach the end of the hall. You count each one internally, certain the timing is correct. It’s a skill you’ve taught yourself over the years, one you use when you’re nervous or bored. Reaching the end of the hall, Larsin opens both doors. He walks in first, barely giving time to prepare before you’re entering as well.

The room is familiar, though you cannot see it in full. You stare at the back of Larsin’s head – scared to look elsewhere, in case you cause offense. You don’t need to see the room, since you’ve seen it before. Above you is stone, below you is stone. Polished and smoothed, this extends until reaching the edge of the wall. The stone is not of Exercitus – no, it’s a special carted from Tenebris, made at the very end of the solar system.

Ten times denser than anything here, the only thing able to hold the weight of your atmosphere. The soldiers call it Atlas, though you’re uncertain if this is the name. The wall before you houses the window –this, too, is not made on Exercitus. Nor was this made anywhere in your solar system, no one in the Coalition having that skill or capability. The Chamber is the only room in Barracks with glass, the only room with a window, since it’s the most important room in the Citadel. The floor beneath you has seen its equal share of blood and tears – only some due to happiness.

Larsin comes to a stop, blocking your view. You don’t object to this, appreciating the extra time to clarify your thoughts. It’s been a long time since you entered this room alone – the time prior, was being sworn in as Centurion. The time before that, you barely remember. It was to accept your father’s ashes, a thing you were too young to fully understand.

Now you stare at Larsin’s back, emptying your mind of everything but your duty. Whatever you’ve done, you will accept your punishment with grace. You will accept it, and move on with your life. Such is the Creed of Exercitus, the life of a Centurion.

“Commander,” Larsin bows, sinking down on one knee. “I have brought you your Centurion, as requested.”

Head snapping up, the blood turns to ice in your veins. The scene seems to wave, while you reconsider the options. This is much, much worse than imagined. Over Prime Larsin’s head is the seat of the Senator – occupied, but not by Senator Glib. The Senator stands off to one side, hands twisted behind his back while surveying the room.

In his chair sits Taekwoon. Lee Taekwoon, the Commander of Exercitus – leader of the Military, and the highest voice of authority. Fighting to stay calm, you still your thoughts and meet his gaze. Taekwoon leans forward, gaze rising from your boots to your face. He rests his elbows upon his knees, tilting his head.

“She’s smaller than I thought she would be,” he comments – and you still. Lips tightening, you hold back your words. Taekwoon smiles in response, as though he knows your mind. “You have something you wish to say, Centurion?” he asks, blinking. “I can only imagine that’s why you’re still standing.”

Stomach dropping, you rapidly sink to your knees. Before you, Larsin’s back has stiffened – you can only imagine the beating you’ll receive, after leaving this room. If you ever leave this room, that is. It’s beginning to seem as though you may not. You can think of no other reason, why the Commander would be here. When your knees hit the floor, it jostles your frame – so much so, you wince at the sound.

Taekwoon merely laughs, voice floating over your head. “I did not mean to kneel now,” he corrects. “If you would not kneel upon my arrival – why pretend, after? It seems such formalities are behind us.”

When you lift your gaze, you find his expression has not changed. Taekwoon surveys you blandly, nothing but present in his eyes. Reaching out his hand, he gestures that you stand. “Rise,” he murmurs, waiting as you obey. “We have much to discuss.”

“With me?” you ask, unable to stop yourself. It’s pleasing, that you don’t stammer – most would, you imagine in this situation. Most would, speaking to the Commander of Exercitus: the most feared man in the Coalition, save one.

Taekwoon tilts his head. “You’re too far. Step around your Prime.”

You obey immediately, trying not to look at Larsin when you pass – the tips of his ears are red with anger, corners of his mouth held taut. Besides Larsin, the room is nearly empty. Only two others stand at the front, one the Senator and the other, your Tribune. You only recognize her due to the uniform; navy and gold threading, mixed with the Insignia. You’ve never seen her this close before, only from a distance, never having had a need. The Tribune stares as you walk, completely impassive. The picture of obedience, living embodiment of the Creed.

Behind Taekwoon stands the window and beyond, Exercitus. It’s been a while since you’ve seen the surface and your gaze lingers on it, now. The dual moons hang low in the sky, the starry night vast beyond that. Golden Doctrine is visible, hanging between you and Rhea, the sun.

If the glass extended further, you would see the other four planets behind you. They extend in a row, all the way out to Tenebris. As it is, you survey the landing pad of Barracks and see Taekwoon’s ship, resting in the middle – notable, from the Imperial Insignia stamped on its side. Beyond this though, nothing. Nothing but wispy sand tinged grey, with regret. Sand which crests into dunes, falls between the cracks of the ground.

Taekwoon clears his throat, returning your gaze. It’s uncertain which is worse – the nightmare outside, or the one within.

“I hear you’ve been fighting,” Taekwoon announces, quiet. “Fighting another Centurion. Such behavior,” he tuts, gentle, “is not ideal.”

It’s a struggle for you to remain still. “Not ideal,” you agree, facing forward. “But necessary, occasionally.”

The corner of Taekwoon’s mouth lifts. At his side, the Senator mutters – something which makes Taekwoon still, waving his hand. “Settle, Glib,” he exhales. “I made a statement, to which I expected a response. The Centurion has done nothing wrong.”

Still appearing sour though, the Senator nods. “If you decree it, Commander.”

Taekwoon’s gaze darkens. “I do. Centurion, I have a problem,” he muses, silken. “A very specific problem, requiring very specific aid. Speaking to my Senators, I bade them find me a specific individual: one with great talent, but unknown to other planets. One who might pass through their waters, unnoticed. Also,” he leans forward, finding your gaze, “I have need of a specific skill – one you just so happen to possess.”

Ignoring this, you blink lazily back. “Pass through, what waters?” You choose to focus on this – the rest will come later, surely.

Chuckling to himself, Taekwoon settles back in his seat. “Astute, aren’t you?” He arches a brow. “That’s good, it means you won’t be caught unawares. Unfortunately, though,” he sighs, as though put out. “Today’s display has placed me in a bit of a predicament. I need someone who keeps calm under pressure, not a hotheaded, jacked up Centurion throwing punches at each insult.”

Taekwoon’s voice hardens, becoming a sword by the end of his sentence. You can barely stand to meet his gaze, but you manage to do so. “I am not that kind of person,” you announce.  

“Oh?” Taekwoon seems unconvinced. “Pray tell, then – what was the fight about? What could have been said, to made you react in such a fashion?”

“He insulted my mother,” you respond, back stiffening.

“And?” Taekwoon sounds bored, as though it’s not enough.

“And,” you hesitate. “The unnamed Legion of my father.”

A low hiss escapes Larsin, surprising you. He doesn’t seem the sentimental type – which only goes to show, how serious the insult was. The Senator is also appalled, even Taekwoon’s gaze narrows. Only the Tribune does not move, though the corners of her eyes widen.

“I see.” Taekwoon’s fingers uncurl from the chair. “Then you should have punched him harder. Prime,” he barks, over your shoulder. “Find the man and remove his Insignia. He is demoted to soldier – desecration of fallen comrades, is not something which becomes a Centurion.”

“Right away, Commander.” Larsin rises, you hear him turn – the sounds of him exiting follow, and you focus on this rather than the memories at hand.

It’s impossible completely block them out though, not completely. An unnamed Legion is one stricken from the records of Exercitus. The name is removed, no longer able to be used by future Legions. It’s a gesture of respect, since an unnamed Legion is one where the entirety – all ten thousand of its soldiers – were killed in the same battle.

A harsh silence settles over the room, as Taekwoon sighs. The sound is softer, gentler. “I have a problem, Centurion,” he reminds you, returning your gaze to his. “One I need your help to solve.”

He pauses, as though waiting. Licking now-dry lips, you respond, “What kind of problem?”

“You seem young,” Taekwoon muses. “Perhaps too young to remember.”

“Try me,” you mutter, no longer caring about pretense. Making you speak about your father, his death is unforgiveable – no matter his rank. “You don’t appear much older than I am.”

Taekwoon smiles, only briefly. “Oh, you are bold,” he chuckles, gaze lifting over your shoulder. “You are also kind. Senator,” he drones, looking to where Senator Glib has taken a half-step forward – faltering, at the command in his voice. “It is fine. I don’t know if you remember, Centurion, before the lights went out?” Taekwoon says this as a question, while the Senator returns to his side.

Your gaze follows his motion. “I remember,” you respond, and you do.

When you were young, your mother use to sing to you with the lights on. There was a mobile hung above your bed, bright with lights which spun while she sang. Such a thing isn’t possible now, not the curfew. Curfew went into effect when you were nine, a forced lights-out at 20:00 – something which has lasted until present day. That isn’t all, though. You’ve heard rumors, unsubstantiated ones, that the planet of Exercitus is running low on power.

Taekwoon does not flinch at your expression. “The rumors are true,” he states, remaining calm. “We are indeed, running out of energy.”

At his side, the Senator shifts – startled, by Taekwoon’s honestly. Silence follows, in which you let this sink in. This fact isn’t a surprise to you, not really – what is confusing, is Taekwoon telling you this. It nothing to do with you, doesn’t affect you. This only affects you, in that it affects you all: affects your Legion, your Cohort, your Century.

“I noticed,” you respond, because he seems to be waiting for an answer. It would be rude, telling Taekwoon it was obvious – rude, to say they’ve done a poor job covering things up. Their meals are now smaller, the days shorter and sims weaker. It doesn’t take a genius, to figure this out.

Taekwoon’s eyes gleam, understanding. “I’ll be honest, Centurion – these are dangerous times, both for Exercitus and for the Coalition.”

Interest stirs within you, though you do your best to hide it. “Oh?”

He nods. “You know of Tenebris, yes?”

Swallowing the insult, you nod. Of course, you know Tenebris, the most feared planet in the solar system. Earlier, when you considered Taekwoon to be the most feared man in the galaxy, save one –Hongbin is that one, the stark ruler of Tenebris. He controls the planet, meaning he also controls ninety percent of the Coalition’s energy.

“I know about Tenebris,” you respond.

“But not much, I’d imagine,” Taekwoon allows, standing from his seat. “Tenebris is a mysterious planet, even to the scholars of Doctrine. It exists on the edge of our solar system ad little is known about it – save for their production and shipping, of the Coalition’s supply.”

“Yes,” you admit, tensing. “This is all I know about Tenebris.”

The Commander surveys you, only a second. “Lying doesn’t become you, Centurion.” When he sees you freeze, he waves a hand. “We shall talk about that later – right now, I face a problem. When I first assumed position of Commander, there existed a very strict status quo. Each planet would receive a firm ration of energy, decided by the Coalition at our bi-annual Summits. Over the past years,” Taekwoon pauses, then frowns, “the rations of Exercitus have decreased.”

“Decreased?” you repeat, dazed. You’re still thinking about his earlier words, the accusation of you lying – perhaps that is why Taekwoon called you, why he’s telling you all this.

He nods, stepping closer. “At our current rate of depletion, we’ll cease being able to sustain the current population within the year. Two, if we grant further energy cuts. Exercitus will fall, our Military will be weak, and the Coalition will be at dangerous risk for invasion.”

His words cut you, horrid and clear. “But – why?” you breathe, confused.

“I do not know,” Taekwoon responds, stiff. “I do know though, that I can’t let it happen. Exercitus must remain strong, just as the Coalition must remain strong.”

“But,” you hesitate, thinking this over. “Isn’t it the Coalition itself, deciding the shipments of energy?”

Something in Taekwoon’s jaw ticks. “True,” he nods, curt. “Though this doesn’t mean I receive the shipments I’m allotted, though.”

You nod, looking at the ground. Mind buzzing, you’re still trying to understand how all this pertains to you.  

“I the Commander of Exercitus,” Taekwoon speaks, softer. “I exist to uphold our solar system, but if it is a member of the Coalition plotting against us – what should I do then, Centurion?”

He waits for an answer – and answer from you and you stare, mind blank with the possibilities. It is something engrained in you from a young age, protecting the Coalition. To protect the system, but if the threat comes from within the Coalition – you hesitate. “I would ask why,” you state, meeting his gaze. “Why, would another planet of the Coalition want us weakened?”

“And?” Taekwoon replies, equally soft. “What logic would you find?”

The answer is there, waiting for you to see it. “We are the strongest planet,” you allow. “No one can stand against our Military, should we choose to invade. If we were eliminated though, there would be no one left to defend the Coalition. Its riches would fall, to whomever so desired it.”

“Exactly.” Taekwoon’s voice trembles. “The unfortunate part,” his gaze flicks over your shoulder, “is that this is still just a theory. I don’t know anything, for certain. I have only suspicions, and need confirmation to act. Which is where you –”

You inhale – sensing the attack a split-second before it happens. Whirling around, your eyes widen when you see Larsin’s fist, coming straight for your face. You duck, barely evading him and Larsin snarls – turning, though you’re already past him. You slam your elbow into his back, immediately following this up with a kick to the knee.

Larsin yells, noise harsh when the joint pops out of the socket. He turns again, roughly pushing the cap back in place – you don’t wait, punching him in the nose before he can see. Mercy is for the weak, and you refuse to let him win. Larsin’s head snaps back at the motion, blood pouring from his nose while you take a running start and tackle him to the ground.

The Prime buckles under your weight, growling when his back slams against the floor. He attempts to throw you off, so you backhand his face – slamming shards of broken nose back in his skull. You could leave him like this, could consider him defeated – but it is not in your training, nor is it your nature. Anyone can still be a threat and gritting your teeth, you grab hold of his head. Slamming his frame against the ground, you strike hard enough to daze. Larsin lets out a moan, attempting to prop himself up – only to shudder, collapsing back down on the ground.

Silence. Complete and utter silence, but for your panting. Chest rising and falling, you manage to stand from the ground. Your thoughts are hazy, dizzy with the adrenaline – only one thought remaining clear in your mind. You were set up – this was a test.

Taekwoon hasn’t moved, still watching you calmly. When he sees you look at him, betrayal in his eyes, he arches a brow. “When did you know?” he asks, voice carrying over the stillness.

Behind him, the others stand gaping. Both Senator and Tribune appear shocked – staring wide-eyed from Larsin to you, then back to Larsin. You are only a Centurion, yet you defeated a Prime.

“When Larsin left,” you spit out, glaring at Taekwoon. “There were no footsteps down the hall. You also kept moving, glancing over my shoulder twice. Once, when he did not leave. The second, when he re-entered the hall.”

Taekwoon begins to smile. “Correct,” he allows, inclining his head. “Most satisfactory, Centurion. Many would have assumed their environment safe, being in my presence. I have my decision,” Taekwoon declares, hands folded over his coat. “I have a job for you, Y/N.”

Blinking, you’re confused to hear him call you by name. This entire time, it’s been Centurion – it appears that now though, you are something more. Still, you don’t respond. Not yet, while you assess your surroundings. This is a way you are different, something to separate you from your peers. Exercitians are taught to respect authority – you were taught to listen; to obey, but only so far.

On Exercitus, no one ever tells that the enemy can be found within. You learned lesson firsthand, from the mistakes of your father. This was the reason his Legion was unnamed, this is the reason his ashes rest upon your mantle. There was a traitor in his Legion, one who led to the slaughter of battle.

When you meet Taekwoon’s gaze, you’re unsure how you feel right now. He tested you, rightfully so. If everything he said is true – you believe that it is – he needs someone to spy for him. A spy. The word leaves a sour taste in your mouth, one you do your best to swallow. A spy cannot be a follower, will not always have orders to obey. Taekwoon wanted to know if you could be observant, if you can get out of tight situations, should the occasion arise.

You understand this but still, you don’t like it. Taekwoon arches a brow. “Would you like to hear the job, Y/N?”

Exhaling once, you nod. It is not like you have a choice. “Tell me,” you request, voice flat. “Tell me what you need.”

Taekwoon’s eyes gleam, in the light of the moons. “I need intelligence,” he admits. “I need an individual to go to Tenebris, to infiltrate their society and determine what’s happening. I need to know why our resources are dwindling. I need,” he inhales, “to understand everything.”

“You want me to spy for you,” you summarize, lip curling with distaste. “Spying is not honorable, spying is not strong.”

Taekwoon turns, nearly laughing at your words. “Ah, reciting the Creed. Tell me, Y/N – what does the Creed mean to you? Strength,” he nods, “Power. Discipline – all markings of a good soldier. Not a great one, though,” he allows, coming to a stop before the window. “Do you ever wonder about the dichotomy, between our Creed and the medals?”

Remaining silent, you decide you have nothing to say. It’s true, you’ve often wondered. Your Creed mandates the following orders – but your medals recognize only the individual. They call out moments of bravery, ones the soldier disobeyed orders and ended up winning the war. It’s strange, to think about honoring such things when it is hammered into you from birth, to obey.

“The reason,” Taekwoon continues, hearing your hesitation, “is because ninety-nine percent of the time, the Creed is in your best interests. Most of the time, your leader will be correct, and the Creed gives the best chance of survival. This still leaves one percent, though.” Taekwoon pauses, surveying the horizon. “This is when we have need for the individual. This is when the Creed should be ignored.”

Staring at his profile, you find it oddly calming to hear this. “And,” you muse, breaking your silence, “this is one of those moments?”

Taekwoon turns, looking your way. “I believe that it is.”

“And I,” you pause, gathering strength. “I, am that one person?”

He nods, continuing to stare. “I hope that you are.”

It’s this word – hope, which convinces you. Looking at your hands, you find them speckled with blood from your fights. “What now?” you ask, closing them to fists.

Taekwoon smiles, somewhat. “Now,” he looks at the Senator. “You will be trained. You will learn the customs of Tenebris – ah! Now we talk about your skills. The ones to come in handy, the ones mentioned earlier.”

Your stomach sinks, as you start to understand. This is what you feared, when Taekwoon called you a liar – this is what you seem to fear, every day of your life. It’s beginning to make sense, why you were selected and not someone else.

“Whatever you’ve heard,” you interject his speech, eyes cold. “I don’t either birth, nor heritage, is relevant to this mission.”

“On the contrary,” Taekwoon states, bored. “Tell me, Y/N – do you still fluent Tenibi? I assume it was your father, who taught you. Most parents seek to educate their children, in the ways of their culture.”

You struggle to remain silent, while your lips tighten into a line.

Taekwoon chuckles, seeing your expression. “Come now, let’s not play games. Your father was unusual, was he not? An ambassador of Tenebris who fell in love with your mother. Unable to marry, due to our laws – but still, they had you.” Taekwoon arches a brow. The laws of Exercitus state only citizens, can marry one another. “Your father joined the Military to gain citizenship – unfortunately dying, before that day could arrive. Tragic,” he breathes, the word soft.

“Tragic,” you repeat, hands unclenching. The story is familiar – of course it is, since it’s yours. “How is this relevant?”

Taekwoon does not move, holding your gaze. “Ni appen adul ba.” I know you can understand me.

Lifting your chin, you exhale. “Ni ami dual.” I understand you.

Pausing again, Taekwoon allows these words to speak for themselves. “So, you see – you are valuable, Y/N. Not just for your military prowess, but because you speak the language. Your role will be that of a translator – a request Hongbin sent, one week ago.”

“One week?” Somewhat shocked by this, you stare. “You said I would be trained – how long do you anticipate, before I’ll be sent to Tenebris?”

Taekwoon adjusts his coat. “It took a long time to find you, a person suitable for the task. For Hongbin’s purposes, I will simply make the search longer. Someone speaking the language of both planets is, as I said, unusual.”

You nod, dazed. “I understand.”

“Good.” Taekwoon meets your gaze. “Then – as Commander of Exercitus, as head of the Military of the Coalition, protector of the solar system, I ask for your help. I ask you to serve your people, by accepting this mission and all it entails.”

“I accept,” you say softly, the weight of his words settling.

This will be dangerous. Tenebris is a dangerous place, even to you – there are few who step foot on the planet, even fewer who leave. Your father never spoke of it, not that you can remember. To travel to Tenebris, conceal your identity, gather information and return, unscathed – the chances are low, you realize this. But still, you must try.

Straightening your spine, you place a hand over your heart. “I accept the dangers and will serve, as requested.”

“Then it is done,” Taekwoon agrees, solemn. He looks sideways – to where the Senator and Tribune still stand. “Tribune, it will be your duty to train her. Twenty-eight Doctrine days, is the agreed-upon number with Hongbin.”

The woman nods, turning. You stare at Taekwoon, because Doctrine days are shorter than Exercitian – your planet spins slower, compared to the rest. This cuts even further, into your time to prepare. Taekwoon walks, jacket swishing around him – though he pauses at the door, looking over his shoulder. “Y/N,” he states, waiting as you turn. “Thank you.”

He disappears, Senator Glib close behind. You’re left standing with the Tribune and Larsin, who still lies hurt on the floor. “Call a medic,” the Tribune instructs, at the soldier who enters. “Tell them to come take care of Prime Larsin.”

Once this is underway, she turns in your direction – eyeing you warily, as though unsure what to say.

“Let us begin,” she states, and you do.

The flight to Tenebris is eleven hours, forty-two minutes and thirty-three seconds. You’ve been counting down since liftoff, though you’re not certain if your internal clock lines up anymore. Interplanetary travel affects things, messes with time itself. One year on Exercitus is not like on Tenebris – age is different there, as are the people.

It’s something you’ll have to get used to. Turning from the window, you survey the hold. The next scheduled flight to Tenebris was not for months, so you ended up hitching a ride from a passing cargo ship. It is not made for comfort, strictly utilitarian with a mostly empty hold, aside from your seats. Across from you sits a Cohort – not yours – who in all honestly, you’re not certain how got signed up for the job.

He sits tight, eyes scrunched while fingernails dig into his armrests. One minute in, he gasped, “Motion sickness,” and remained locked in that position since. At least he’s silent, not puking all over your new clothing.

New clothing, which marks you as Ambassador. Your fingers trail the bronzed buttons, forming a line down the center of your chest. One lesson drilled into you, over and over, is that first impressions are important. Appearances are as well, more so than on Exercitus. It’s strange to think about, and already you’re nervous.

There’s so much that could go wrong, in the coming months. You have until the Summit to solve this – six months, in Exercitian time. You have until the Summit, but so much could go wrong before then. You could slip, could cause offense – Hongbin might take one look, and know you’re a liar.

Tightening your jaw, you look at the stars. Fourteen minutes, eleven seconds until landing. It would have been calming, to take Taekwoon with you – his presence is intimidating, but at least then you’d feel less like an imposter. When you asked him to come, he said no. It would seem too suspicious, for him to fly across the solar system at the mere introduction of a translator. No, you must go alone – and thinking this, your fingers curl around your armrest.

You are not used to this kind of subterfuge. On the battlefield, in sims – sure, you’re used to feinting, to baiting and switching. Alone though, it feels different. Locking both knees together, you push away these thoughts. This is all for the good of Exercitus, for the good of the Coalition. You are the hero here, not the villain.

Leaning against the headrest, you continue your countdown. One minute, until Tenebris peeks through the clouds. Opening both eyes, you see you’re right – and leaning forward, you see flashes of rock dot the mist. They reach up like fingers, breaking into the fog but by the time you crane your head to look, they’re already gone. It’s too difficult to see, and you fall back in your seat. Counting down the final moments, until the bottom of the ship touches tarmac.

Without the roaring engine, there’s a ringing to your ears – one you ignore, unbuckling your seat belt. Pushing yourself up, you turn to your Cohort, relieved to find him a less sickly green than before. Brushing lint from your jacket, you square your shoulders – you let the Cohort lead, following close behind.

The ramp is already lower – you see it ahead, natural light filtered in from the end of the ship. The two of you walk in this direction, your heart beating wildly. While you move, you school your expression to neutrality. Hiding your emotions, and remembering your cause.

You’re not sure what you expected, stepping out of the craft. The light you saw, the natural sunlight – it’s not. Your gaze flicks overhead, recognizing holo-screens. It’s set to a forest, sunlight dappling the branches while you step down on the tarmac.

The ship is silent, perched on its thrusters – you see this for only a moment, gaze drawn to the people before you. Your Cohort walks steadily, leading the way for you to follow. You do slow slowly, examining the Tenebrians. The first thing to strike you, is how differently they’re dressed. At home, everyone around you dressed mostly the same. Exercitian Uniform denotes rank, social status – nothing more. Clothing here on Tenebris also seems to note social status, though not in the same way.

Expensive fabrics like silk, velvet – things you’ve only read about – they all shimmer and drape around bodies of varying sizes. It fascinates you, so much that you don’t notice the man standing in the middle of the row. Not until you’re standing before him, until your Cohort bows at the waist. Remembering the slight, you made meeting Taekwoon, you quickly follow suit. Bowing with a twist of the hand, waiting until the man clears his throat in introduction.

“There’s no need to bow,” he muses, when you look up. “Welcome to Tenebris – I am Hongbin.”

[ Celestial Master List]

Author’s Note: Hi. Thank you for reading! I know there aren’t as many readers for VIXX (tragic) but I hope you enjoy this universe, since it’s already one of my favorites to write. Thank you again!

© kpopfanfictrash, 2018. Do not copy or repost without permission.

[darling-vixx]

vampire AU 1.0

Taekwoon

It took Taekwoon a few decades but now he’s pretty sold on being a vampire

Flair for the dramatic? swirling capes? an excellent excuse for a neutral ‘done with you’ expression? check

He’s also pretty fond of the autonomy it gives him, and likes the quiet

That isn’t to say that he doesn’t like company - in fact, he’s part of a very small, loosely knit ‘clan’ (few obligations, plenty of other people like him to hang off of if he needs attention)

You’re a house demon, which isn’t really a demon at all - somewhat of a cross between a supernatural that takes care of dwellings and people and an imp

And one day you just. set up shop in Taekwoon’s clan

A couple people question it, but after a while they just give in because you make a mean cup of tea and have a talent for finding blood donors

And because you’re around so often, eventually Taekwoon warms up to you

After all, he’s pretty attached to his clan, and you’re sort of part of it, so you’re part of what’s home to him 

And he starts to wonder why a house demon ended up falling in with a vampire clan (most demons pick human families, or nature spaces)

So he starts to follow you around to figure this out. you, of course, are having none of this, why are you so nosy you great tall vampire

Taekwoon, however, is persistent

So you finally tell him your story, about this big misunderstanding with a curse that meant you had to leave home and can’t go back for one hundred years

And Taekwoon listens carefully and nods at all the right parts, and when you’re done he just pats you on the knee and tells you how happy he is that you’re part of their family

Which stuns you a little

You spend the next few days tidying absently and nobody wants to tell you that you’re actually making a mess

But you’re just a bit preoccupied with how kind Taekwoon was

He looks distant, a bit austere, but he really seems to be a marshmallow on the inside

And the more you think about it, the more you realize that Taekwoon’s kind of great

But you don’t tell him that he’d never let you forget it

Anyway you stop making a mess, but inside... you know.... you have a crush on a vampire. what would your demon mother say (probably 10/10 go get ur man tbh but still)

Taekwoon is also working out his feelings

Which he does by being whiny and clingy

You have to smack him with a feather duster to get him to stop trailing you around because he almost follows you into the sun

So you give him the scolding of his life

And all he does is give you a shy smile 

Are you worried about me? he asks, and you roll your eyes because of course you are 

Take care of yourself, you tell him, and Taekwoon just kind of takes your hand and sighs lightly 

I don’t know if I can do that, so maybe you should help me out, he says, and you squint at him

Taekwoon are you asking me out

yes?

Can you do it properly

No, he cannot. but that’s okay, you love him anyway, and you’re the cutest couple in the clan

[fixxofvixx]

Possession - Taekwoon AU - Chapter 18

Hello all you beautiful people. I hope you are all doing well! I've been working on a lot of stuff lately (blame Taekwoon's handsome self for giving me inspiration) so I hope to update quite a bit.

Let me know if you have questions or comments! I love to see what you think!

Enjoy!!💖💖💖💖

🏰🏰🏰🏰🏰🏰🏰

"Open up, you monster!  You can't hide from me!"  A woman's voice was muffled by the closed door but she had no problem making her presence known.  Leo's expression immediately changed and his eyes turned angry.  

"Stay here while I go kill someone."

Your heart plummeted at his words.  You grabbed his arm out of instinct, not wanting him to fight.

"But…"

He looked at you and realized your concern.

"I'm not really going to kill them.  I don't usually kill humans."  The banging continued on the door and the noise increased your anxiety.

"You know she's human?"  He nodded and went for the door.  He didn't bother to remove your hand from his arm.  It wasn’t until he was right next to the door that he gestured for you to stand back.

“Demons don’t knock.  But, I could be wrong.  Stay behind me.”  He turned and reached for the doorknob.  As soon as it turned, the woman on the other side pushed the door open.  

Leo dodged the door easily and backed up only a step.  Once the woman was inside the room, he advanced on her, closed the door, and held the woman against the wall with one hand just below her throat.  He was in a position where he could either slide his hand up and cut off her air or send a crushing blow to her collarbone.  One to kill, one to incapacitate.  Leo was a man who liked to have options in a fight.

The woman looked to be in her mid to late thirties with nice clothes and impeccable hair.  Not exactly someone you would see in a poor town like this.  

“What in the hell do you want?” 

"First, take your filthy hands off me!  Who knows where they've been."  She cut a scornful look over to you and you furrowed your eyebrows.  You started to speak but Leo beat you to it.

"You have 30 seconds before they find your body.  What do you want?"

“This town is under new protection.  You are not welcome here.  Leave immediately!"  The woman seemed confident enough to argue with Leo.

"Oh, really?  Is it under your protection?  Because I have to admit…"  Leo gestured to the fact that he still had her pinned against the wall with such little effort.

"You fool!  Do you really think you and your friends are the only ones with the ability to kill demons?”

“Of course not, but I do have to say….we are damn good at it.  We haven’t heard of another group in this area for a long time so….who are you?”  She tried to move but Leo held fast.  The woman was losing the confident look in her expression.  Her face changed to pure anger and she pushed at Leo.

"Get off me, you bastard, or I'll kill her where she stands!"  The woman pointed to you and you moved to stand a bit more behind Leo.  

"Try it and I will tear your body apart piece by piece, starting with your fingernails.  I will not stop until there is nothing left of you but parts for fish bait.  You have no powers and are obviously human.  Do you want to take that chance?"

You shivered a bit at Leo's threat, your mind wandering to what he was actually capable of.  The woman said nothing but she had stopped fighting.

"Return to whatever master you serve and leave us be.  I won't be so kind next time."  Leo leaned in and whispered, "Threaten my apprentice again and they won't even find the pieces."

He opened the door and shoved the woman into the hall.  He didn't wait for a response before slamming the door.  You were still in your thoughts when Leo snapped his fingers in front of your face.  You jerked back slightly and looked up at him.  You tried to hide your thoughts even though you knew he couldn't hear them.  

"Do you think she'll come back?"

"If she does, I'll incinerate her."  Fire erupted in his hand but quickly dissipated.  

"Would you really do…..all that you said before?"

Leo looked at you and studied your face.  He knew his threats on the woman had made you think.  He wondered if he had gone back to square one with your fear of him.  But you needed to know his personality better.  

"I would."  He said nothing more than that but you understood his meaning.  He was what he was and there was nothing you could do to change that.  

You nodded and took a deep breath. 

"Do you really have no idea who the new demon hunter might be?"

Leo was stunned for a moment.  He had expected you to dwell more on his threats.  His eyes searched your face for any type of fear but only saw worry and curiosity.  There was no fear…..of him.  Even the possibility of that thought had his heart pumping double-time. 

"Y/N….."

"Hmm?"  You looked at Leo and waited for whatever he wanted to ask.  After a moment or two, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.  It was barely noticeable but it was there.

"Why are you smiling?"

"It's nothing."  He walked further into the room and searched for possible threats.  When he found none he removed his long black cloak and tossed it on the bed.  

It was only then that you realized he wasn't wearing his usual tunic.  The pendant was still there, of course, but he was simply dressed in all black.  The loose black shirt and black pants made the length of his body stand out.  He seemed to be 7 feet tall.  You spoke before you thought.

"You're not wearing your tunic."  He turned to you and then looked down at his attire.  He shrugged and adjusted the pendant around his neck.

"I'm not technically on official business."

"Oh….right.  It looks nice on you."  As soon as you spoke, your cheeks lit on fire.  You hadn't meant to say that and you prayed he wouldn't make a big deal of it.

"Yeah?  They're more comfortable.  The tunic is thin but is made of magical armor.  It's not heavy but quite cumbersome." 

You turned to remove your own cloak and placed it on the other bed.  When it fell, you noticed something on the inside that you hadn't seen before.  Reaching for the material, you brought it closer to inspect it and saw a small embroidered letter on the bottom.  It was a symbol in neat stitches that slightly shimmered in red.  It wasn't a symbol that you recognized and furrowed your eyebrows trying to figure it out.

"What are you looking at?"  Leo came closer and you handed the cloak to him.  When he saw the symbol, he let out a short laugh.

"Hakyeon said this was an old cloak one of you had…."

"It was mine."  He held up the cloak to show you. "The symbol is my name."

"Really?  Is it a different language or something?"

Leo was quiet and you worried that you had asked too much.  

"Um….h-how old were you when you had this?"

"About 9 or 10 I think."  Leo seemed to be happy with a change in subject and looked at you, thinking.  In a flash, he placed the cloak around your shoulders and raised the hood.  

Leo held his hand out and fire sprang from the palm.  As the flame grew, you could feel the heat coming from it.  Apprehension grew from your belly and you wondered why he would make the fire hot.  

"Close the front."  Leo gestured to the open space created by the cloak and you grabbed the edges, closing the gap.  

As soon as it was done, the fire left his hand and swirled around the cloak.  You gasped and tried to retreat but the fire had turned into a type of rope as it encircled your body.  With a tug, he pulled your body closer to his.  Your heart was full of panic as your body went forward until only a few inches remained between your bodies.  You tried to move back, partly because of the fire and partly because he was too close, but the fire had locked you in place.  You looked up at him to see a mischievous smile on his face.  The expression was new to you and you had to admit, it was mesmerizing.  

"You–"

"The cloak won't burn.  It is mine, after all."  

In the midst of your thoughts, you hadn't realized that your body wasn't on fire.  It was warm, of course, so you knew the fire was still hot but the cloak kept the flames at bay.

"I apologize, I shouldn't have scared you."

That wasn't what you were concerned about but you supposed the look on your face told him you were fearful of his antics.  In all honesty, his playfulness was intriguing. 

"I wasn't scared."

"The look on your face tells me otherwise."  His earlier expression was replaced with a frown.  Most likely because he thought you were lying.

"I wasn't.  I'll admit I was surprised but you've already told me that I have nothing to fear from you, correct?"  He nodded, confused. "The cloak is interesting and I'm happy that you will allow me to use it."

"You're welcome to anything of mine."  Your heart thumped loudly as he retracted the fire and stepped away from you.  

"Stay here, I'll be back in a moment.  There is a bathroom through that door," he pointed to a door to the left, "if you want to wash up."

Leo left the room and took off up the back staircase.  He knew this inn like the back of his hand and could easily find a quiet place to think.  No one used the third floor.  He couldn't wrap his head around how you were acting.  He wanted to show you the clock's abilities before he could think.  He hadn't realized what he'd done until the fire was wrapped around you and you were only a couple inches from him.  He'd assumed you would recoil in fear but instead, you were curious.  

Leo entered the third floor that only consisted of a couple of rooms.  The rest of the floor was mostly a skeleton.  Only the support beams separated the space that used to be rooms.  Leo sat on a chair inside the first room on the left.  He had stayed here before when his brothers would annoy him and he needed to be alone.  This room was the only one with a bed and even a closet.   

Leo put his head in his hands.  It was getting more and more difficult to resist the urge to pull you into his arms and kiss you for hours.  But would you ever allow him to?  Your current lack of fear around him was giving him hope.  He just needed you to trust him a bit more so he could work on the next steps.

—--------------

Evening came quickly and you were starving.  You wanted to go in search of food but Leo was still gone.  You thought that perhaps he was giving you ample alone time to wash up but a few hours had already passed.  You didn't dare go to the window and resting on the bed just made you more anxious.

Setting your mind, you headed for the door after pulling Leo's old cloak on.  You'd had it on for so long today, you felt naked without it.  After opening the door a bit, you carefully peered out of the room, looking down either side of the hallway.  

The immediate area was free of people but you could hear talking in the distance.  Leo had hung the key to the room on a hook next to the door so you made sure to grab it before closing and locking the door behind you.  Hoping for the best, you turned your body to the right in search of Leo.  Once you reached the end of the hallway you noticed a set of stairs.  

Trusting your instincts, you headed up the steps.  There seemed to be only one additional floor so the ascent was easy.  When you reached the landing, you heard men speaking.  They were coming up the stairs behind you.

"If those two aren't gone tonight, I'll burn this place to the ground!"  The angry male voice sent a panic into your heart.  Was he talking about you and Leo?  

You hurried up the last three steps and backed away from the door to the stairs.  After a couple more steps your heart was racing in fear of what would happen should the men discover you here.  

Without warning, a hand covered your mouth and an arm wrapped around your waist.  You struggled against your captor and resisted the urge to scream.

"Quiet, it's me."  Your legs almost gave out when you realized Leo was holding you.  He started to move backwards but your shoes were making too much noise.  He leaned forward a bit and then lifted you from the floor, carrying you instead.  

A moment later, you were squeezed into a closet with Leo glued behind you.  Old boards stacked up against the wall took up most of the room in the closet, barely leaving enough room for one person, let alone two.  You could feel Leo's breath on your neck and goosebumps littered your skin.  You tried to create some distance but he kept you from moving.

"Be quiet and don't move."  

[warmau]

Hi! I'm not sure if requests are open but if they are can I request a cyborg taekwoon AU? Thank you 💓💓💓

hello starlights, im still here and im still into vixx,,,,,,,,here is cyborg!taekwoon because i seriously need to write more vixx,,,,,

“ok, so let me get this straight,,,,,,,you lost it?”

taekwoon stares at you, lips pursed and an untruthful look in his eyes. your own gaze slips to where his prosthetic arm should be but it isn’t

“i didn’t lose it. it’s somewhere.”

he vaguely answers and you turn to look at your fellow technician, a young man named hongbin who nervously shakes his head

“that arm is the newest one we had, there’s no other backup to fit taekwoon’s updated data system. all the old arms are,,,,non functioning.”

you sigh and lock eyes with taekwoon again. this is routine by now, as taekwoon’s assigned repair station - you see this guy almost every other week

and unlike his appearance, which causes people to assume he’s a strong, mature, handsome individual - the truth is, he’s really really really bad at keeping his things organized

“even sanghyuk has kept his new arm longer than you.”

you comment as you turn to rummage through old prosthetic’s on your desk, taekwoon doesn’t take lightly to be compared to sanghyuk of all people and frowns

“that’s because sanghyuk’s only prosthetic are his eyes. those are harder to lose. im nothing like that blubbering idi-”

“whose the one with one arm mr. jung?”

you chirp without looking back, but you can literally feel him tense up

you pull a bunch of wires out and a model of a hand - looking at them together and then tossing them back onto your desk

“ill find it.” 

taekwoon finally states, turning around to leave as you lean back against your desk and hongbin’s eyes wander between you and taekwoon’s broad back

“you better, another arm could take a month to fabricate.”

taekwoon is already opening the door with the hand he has left, a final curt nod means he’s heard you and with that he’s gone

it’s silent for a few moment till hongbin gets up, adjusting his white lab coat and clears his throat

“you two,,,,,,,,seem to have a history?”

you let out a laugh and cover your mouth with your hand to stop yourself

“not really a history, im just the only one who isn’t scared of him.”

hongbin gives a knowing nod of his head, whispering that you’re right - for one, he’s definitely a little frightened of what taekwoon is capable of

you pat his shoulder and tell him not to worry, you’re here to protect him and hongbin flushes pink

two hours later, taekwoon is back. hongbin has gone off to find sanghyuk and get updates on his eyesight and taekwoon doesn’t say it outloud - but he’s always preferred having you work on him alone

in his arms is the found prosthetic, an arm a little past up the elbow and he sits down on the table as he hands it over to you

“let’s see, it doesn’t look too bad. where did you find it?”

you shuffle across the room to get your tools and turn around to see taekwoon chucking his shirt to the side

his exposed chest in toned and almost perfect, if not for the scarring of his collarbone that extends all the way to the missing part of his arm

apparently, he’d gotten it in a car accident. had used his arm to shield the person in the passenger seat and had paid for that heroism by losing that arm

“your precious sanghyuk hid it in my closet.”

you raise an eyebrow “my precious sanghyuk?”

taekwoon’s dark eyes look to the side and you study him for a moment, he has features unlike any other person you muse

almost feline sharp, but areas of softness and delicacy

you come over to him, and attach the wire capable from the prosthetic to his arm

this part of the procedure usually hurts just a bit, but taekwoon doesn’t even wince

“you like him, don’t you?”

his voice is so low you barely hear it, but your head is exceptionally close to his so you do

“i like who?”

you use a small screwdriver to secure the prosthetic and don’t notice that taekwoon is staring at you now, brown eyes flared with a bit of intensity

“sanghyuk.”

you practically snort with laughter, “sanghyuk? he’s like a little puppy. i can’t keep up with him.”

this time you look up and are almost shocked by the look on taekwoon’s face, his other arm comes up and gently grazes the skin of your cheek

“is it dr. lee?”

he means hongbin and you swallow, about to ask ‘is he what?’, when you figure out that taekwoon is trying to understand who you like

“no. it’s not him either.” 

you open the prosthetic, tinkering with elements here and there before asking taekwoon to test it by making a fist

he does and everything works smoothly, you smile at your little victory but the tension is still thick in the air

“but there is ,,,,,,,,, someone?” you were hoping he wouldn’t ask and you reach over for his shirt, crumpled in a pile, handing it over to him

but taekwoon doesn’t take it, he just waits

“i don’t think you want me to say it.” you finally answer, but before you can end it with that, taekwoon pulls a bit on your extended hand

the shirt falls from your grasp and you find yourself standing between his legs

“i think i do want you to say it.”

you feel to coolness of his prosthetic hand settle against your neck this time, almost out of instinct you tilt your face and taekwoon hovers a bit

admiring your features up close, a breath away from kissing you

when the door swings open and sanghyuk dances in, with an exasperated looking hongbin tailing him

“well, like i said they’re both in here and OO is it just me or are you two getting STEAMY” sanghyuk winks and you break away from taekwoon’s hold

hongbin tries to say something, but he’s out-of-breath from chasing sanghyuk and you can feel your cheeks burning

“get out of here, we’re doing something.”

taekwoon’s voice comes from behind you and sanghyuk gives him a thumbs up before taking hongbin by the shoulders and marching him out the door

you’re too shocked by it all to hear taekwoon slip off the table and come to join you at your side

you turn your head and feel his lips touch the skin of your forehead

“do you want to continue now, or later?” he mumbles and you kind of feel like the answer to pick is now,,,,,although as you let taekwoon’s arms come around you, you hope that you haven’t scarred poor hongbin too much LOL 

[kpep]

✧ cooking with leo for anon✧ admin ba

Masterlist

[biasedwriting]

the finest gossamer [VIXX, Leo] M

Characters : VIXX's Leo / OC

Regency! AU

Rating : M for smut

Plot summary - Taekwoon spends an afternoon with his wife in the sunroom.

It was a relatively peaceful afternoon, Taekwoon mused, watching Minah patter about the sunroom, sealing a letter to Haneul, who was now touring the highlands with Wonshik. The room was a little one with a teak writing desk overflowing with papers - letters, he assumed, knowing his wife’s propensity for words both written and spoken (which both vexed and delighted him no end). He eyed his wife blowing out the candle on her desk before stacking the carefully sealed letters into the pigeon-hole cubby above the table. He smiled, amused by her ink-stained fingers and the grumbling that followed as she dabbed at her fingertips with an equally stained handkerchief.

Leaning against the door frame, the man crossed his arms. Despite how busy his viscountcy made him, he tried not to miss out on the domesticity of these moments. To him, Minah was a wonder to be beheld in her natural habitat, in complete comfort with her surroundings. Which was exactly why he found himself hurrying home after a session at the parliament to gaze at his wife. He bit his lip to hold back the laughter that bubbled up his throat when she began humming, floating over to the window to fix the sunflowers held in a pale blue porcelain vase before gently unlatching the windows to allow some air in.

Taekwoon took a silent step into the little sunroom of his house in the capital. Decorated to the tastes of the lady so lost in her thoughts by the window, he couldn’t help but feel surrounded by her presence in the room. From the bookshelf in the corner overflowing with titles she enjoyed (and he enjoyed gifting her with) to the little portrait of the two of them perched on the mantle, or the small turtle-shaped paperweights she had bought on a whim and vehemently placed on the table by the deep green high backed chair he was standing by, the sunroom was secretly Taekwoon’s favourite place in the house because it just was, Minah.

The summer sun streamed through the translucent curtains illuminating his wife’s body draped in the finest muslin he could adorn her in. The rays caressed her face illuminating the lighter shades of brown in the soft ringlets of her hair kissing the tops of her collarbones. Her deep lashes threw shadows on her rounded cheeks that he loved pressing his lips against. Her countenance was blank and blissful in the sunlight as the summer breeze wound its way into the room. The man's eyes roved over her face with delight before his throat went dry at the sight of the thin muslin barely concealing the pebbled buds of her …

“Taekwoon!” A gasp broke his reverie as she spun around, finally aware of his gaze “How long have you been waiting there?” She asked, crossing her arms, immediately obscuring his vision while she hurried to the lace shawl thrown on over the back of her chair to wrap it around her shoulders.

“Not too long,” her husband mused, frowning at the offending piece of cloth as she rang the bell to call for tea before ushering him to the high-backed chair.

“I know you said you'd be back for tea, but Haneul had written such an exciting letter I just couldn't wait to write back and then I completely lost track of time! ” She began pacing around the room, ears red as her husband watched with an amused smile. “She said I'd love the cattle in the highlands, darling large coos! Oh, where is Jeffery?” Minah wondered out loud only to have the stately servant hurry in with the tea service. “Fantastic! Dearest, Haneul sent us shortbread along with her letter, I made sure Jeffery would bring some with tea” Minah continued while Jeffery set the service on the little table before Taekwoon raised his hand to wave the man away.

“That will be all, Jeffery, ensure we're not disturbed,” he said before turning back to his wife who frowned in confusion. The servant left the room, closing the door behind him and Minah reached for the kettle to pour out the tea cautiously.

“Is everything alright?” 

Taekwoon received the cup and saucer from her, eyeing her struggle to keep the shawl on her shoulders. Taking a deep sip, secretly scalding himself, he turned to set down the cup and reach across and yank the foolish fabric out of her grasp. 

“Yes, everything is fine,” he hummed as she tried to reach for the shawl again only to have it held far away from her. The more she leaned forward, the greater Taekwoon's delight grew as he stared unabashedly at his wife's unadorned skin which he knew from experience would feel like cream in his palms.

“Give it back!” She huffed, now getting to her feet and stepping closer to him, unaware of the trap her husband was setting for her. “You're vexing me Lord Jung Taekwoon!”

“Oh? Is that so?” He chuckled, holding the shawl behind his back and quickly grabbing her wrist as she reached for it, tugging her onto his lap. Her foot hit the little table between the two high-backed chairs making the tea service rattle.

“I honestly thought something had happened during the parliamentary session, now I see Viscount Jung Taekwoon wants to play games,” Minah grumbled, still trying to reach for her shawl “Now unhand my shawl or the tea will get cold.”

“What if I say no?” Taekwoon replied, tucking the silly fabric firmly behind his back while his other hand went to support his wife's derriere, giving it a quick squeeze.

“You're being naughty,” she glared at the taller man, tugging at his deep brown coat. 

“That I am,” he said, eyes fixed on her flushed skin, beaded buds now taught against the thin muslin, all he had to do was lean forward and…

Teeth sunk into his right earlobe gently as Minah gave it a quick nibble, sending blood rushing to his breeches. Minah quickly tried to retrieve her shawl which was firmly wedged between the back of the chair and her husband's broad back only to have him grasp at her jaw and fix his eyes on hers. She shivered, noticing his dilated pupils as he leaned up to join their lips. Remembering her initial mission, she turned her head away to look for the shawl only to feel his long fingers slip up to cup the back of her neck and guide her lips to his for a gentle kiss. 

“Open your mouth, darling,” he whispered against her lips, pulling her firmly over his lap by the derriere making her gasp, feeling his need for her. Sliding his tongue past her parted lips he savoured her like a delicacy, now feeling her ink-stained fingers sliding into the strands of his hair making him grunt as he chased after her lips before breathlessly trailing kisses down her throat as soft whimpered breaths gurgled past her swollen lips. 

Minah grasped firmly onto her husband's broad shoulders, the lace shawl long forgotten in his onslaught. Taekwoon's long graceful fingers slid the thin gown up her calves, pausing to fiddle with the garters holding her whisper-thin stockings to her body. She giggled at how ticklish it felt at first but threw her head back with a hiss when his lips surrounded her clothed nipple. 

“Ah, Taekwoon,” she whimpered into his hair as his fingers pianoed across her thighs caressing the skin 

“You're so soft, my love,” he mumbled against the now wet fabric before turning to the other achingly painful nipple awaiting his attention. His fingers played a wicked tune on the wet thatch of hair between her thighs as she gasped at the sensation of his index finger sliding over a throbbing bud of nerves over and over again till she gazed at him pleadingly with her mouth open and no words.

“What's that?” He hummed, speeding up his pace as his middle finger joined in to thoroughly stimulate her. 

She finally let out a moan of his name, gripping at the shirt under his coat, nearly ripping it wide open. Slumping forward, she leaned on his shoulders and breathed out his name, pressing open-mouthed kisses beneath it in a way that had the little string of sanity holding him together snap. 

Then he sank two of his fingers into her and set a quick rhythm that had her jolting pawing at the cravat and undoing his buttons to splay her fingers across his chest feeling his heart thud beneath her palm. Every touch had her hips moving frantically on his two fingers, pressing against the swelling bulge in her husband's breeches. She reached down to undo his bottoms grabbing at the now erect, throbbing organ with both hands making him rest his forehead against her chest with a groan.

“Minah,” he exhaled, curving his fingers within her making her squeeze around them as her hands came to a halt. She fixed her glazed-over eyes on her handsome husband, before reaching to tug his wrist away from her sopping core. There was a fire in her eyes that made Taekwoon feel like a man parched as he leaned up to tangle his tongue with hers. Her grip returned to his erection, firmly stroking till he moaned into her hungry lips.. Gently positioning her hips over his desire, she carefully lowered herself onto him and he scrambled to grasp her buttocks to support her ever-tightening descent. 

“Minah, please,” he whispered groaning when she rolled her hips.

“You started this Taekwoon,” she hissed, gripping at the lapels of his very crumpled shirt.  He eyed her as she lifted her hips and dropped them, tightening on her way down. Her gown was now clinging to her body with the sweat of her exertion as she frowned, scrabbling to rip the offending garment over the head and tossing it to the ground before moving in earnest while Taekwoon could only watch the majesty of his wife's form in the summer sunshine. Groaning, he gripped her hips thrusting up and watching her head fall back in pleasure. When his wife whined, rocking her hips to take him in deeper, he couldn’t help but oblige by picking up the pace till she shook above him, scrabbling at his chest, leaving streaks of red with her blunt nails. Panting at how impossibly tight she was getting around him, Taekwoon laced his fingers with hers thrusting up powerfully, emptying into her and keeping the pace till she spasmed along with him.

Pulling her towards his chest, he held his wife’s naked form, caressing her side as she took deep gasping breaths. 

“You’re a wicked wicked man,” she mumbled against his now sweaty chest. Taekwoon looked down and tipped her head up to capture her lips in another chaste kiss.

[thebiasrekkers]

Love? That has no meaning to me when you were born to kill. Everything I touch, withers away and dies. You will be no exception.

You guys haven’t killed me yet.

That’s because you still have a use and once that done? You will be thrown away like so many before you and.....others I know.

Fandom: VIXX/ Vampire the Masquerade

Fandom work: “Star of Fate” by Admin L of thebiasrekkers