#the sunset colours......... the way she's holding hiM HELLO

[brother-genitivi]

EVERYONE EVERYONE EVERYONE I COMMISSIONED @merry-harlowe FOR A PIECE OF DESTAN AND SEB AND LOOK!! JUST LOOK!

thank u so much <3 I'm wheezing and giggling and screaming they mean EVERYTHING TO ME

[runningfrom2am]

cold nights // part sixteen

summary: you showed him colours he knows he can't see with anyone else.

pairing: coriolanus snow x fem!reader

wc: 3.3k

masterlists / nav / requests

tags/warnings: tribute!reader and mentor!coriolanus, r is very sweet (too kind for this world. literally.), sunshine x grumpy trope kinda, he falls first, violence typical for the source material, r is very smart (as she should), district twelve!reader.

a/n: i am so excited for you guys to see everything I've got coming up for this series- ah!! also, should i post the masterlist for requiem soon?? i can't post the first part just yet, but i'm excited ab it so let me know if you guys want to see that to be able to get the vibes and stuff!

my asks are also open to talk about this series! (i do have emoji anons open now too!)

send me any and all of your thoughts! here!

series masterlist // playlist

"Hello there, Miss." Coryo grins at you, extending his arm to you to hold as you step out of your house and close the door behind you.

You pretend not to see, reaching down to retie your shoe which was already laced up perfectly. "Hi." You reply quietly, and his smile fades. You already seem in weaker spirits than you were this afternoon.

"Did you enjoy your nap?" He asks as you stand up straight again, making your way down the front path of your house to the street and he follows like a stray dog.

You turn when you reach the road, looking at him only briefly. "I did. Thank you." You mumble, unable to make extended eye contact without your heart beating out of your chest. It was hard to tell if you were awake or asleep when he was around.

"That's good." He nods, joining your side. He's there to walk you to The Hob, but he honestly was relying more on you to guide the way.

You don't say anything, walking with your arms crossed carefully, protectively across your midsection.

Coryo is worried, but he does know that you don't want to walk alone at night, so he tries to convince himself it's just that. Not him.

"You, uhm, you look nice." He tells you, taking notice of your change of clothes. It was refreshing to see you in something other than that short dress with the sewn-in shorts, though with the longer skirts you had worn today, it covered much more of your skin. Part of him missed the short dress that was now most definitely unwearable. It was your favourite, he remembered.

"Thank you." You say back, the hair on your arms pricking up from the chill that was starting to settle in. It wasn't a cold night, you didn't think, but colder than Twelve often saw in mid-August. Maybe it was just you. "You do, as well."

He laughs, and you look at him for the first time tonight. His blue eyes shine with the reflection of the sunset, and you're no longer cursing yourself for trusting him to walk you this afternoon. He wouldn't hurt you, and you knew that. Stupid dreams. Stupid nightmares. He saved you- he's the only reason you're alive today, you're certain.

"We're trying to blend in, Sejanus thought we were scaring people." He explains, laughter subsiding.

You smile at him. "I was going to say, that style doesn't feel like your own." You giggle. "But I like it."

"Why, thank you." He grins, tugging on the front of his white t-shirt as if he was adjusting a suit jacket.

Your dreams were just dreams. If he had that evil in him, could you live with it? That was what you had to figure out. Right now, though, with you, that darkness was nowhere to be seen. You were awake. You must be.

"How has Twelve been treating you so far?" You ask, suddenly self-conscious of his impression of your home as your feet crunch over the gravel path beneath you.

"Okay." Coryo shrugs, shoving his hands into his pockets. "It was hard to find someone to talk to us long enough to get a lead on where to find you."

"People tend to keep to themselves." You explain. "Also looking for me is an odd request."

"Why?"

Now it was your turn to shrug. "No one really wants to talk to me now, either." The stares you got were seemingly endless. People would stare, point, whisper, and it didn't particularly bother you, but you hated that maybe people were afraid. You feared that everyone thought the games turned you into something fragile, and they were scared of upsetting you with the wrong words or the alternative; you were a weapon ready to explode at any moment.

"That's because people are careless and cruel." Coryo replies, no hesitation behind his tone. "And they have no way of understanding... you."

"They're good people, honestly, I just-"

"I know that." He assures you, sensing your panic. "But it's not your place to prove to them who you are. Changed or not."

"Do you think I have changed?" You ask, genuinely curious despite the softness of your voice.

Coryo is quiet for a moment. "I would say no," He looks at you as you walk alongside him. "but you have, I think. There's more to you, now."

You chew on your lip, watching your steps as you pass under the streetlights.

He watches your reaction, nervous when you don't respond. "I don't mean that in a bad way." He clarifies. "To me, you're still you." He wants to tell you you're less naive, more experienced, that it will keep you safe, but he feels as though that wouldn't be the right thing to say. "But it's impossible to walk out of that arena the same person. We have that in common."

The flickering street lamps illuminate the blush on your cheeks for just a moment. "Thank you, Coryo. That means a great deal." 

"Of course." He hums, walking close enough now to just brush your arm with his own.

Your heart leaps in your chest, from fear or excitement you aren't sure- but you're grateful to be able to finally hear the music coming from The Hob as you approach the rundown building.

There's nowhere else you would want to be any less than The Hob during one of Lucy Gray's shows. You loved her, The Covey, the beautiful and fun music they made together, but since you'd been home, it had been impossible to enjoy yourself there.

You didn't even try until tonight.

Your fears came true. Almost as soon as you and Coriolanus walked in, scattered eyes were on you. You could feel it like pricks in your skin. It didn't help that you were with a stranger. People were dancing, drinking, laughing, but you couldn't help but feel like the laughs were directed at you. Certainly, some staring was.

Coryo looks down at you, seeing your hands still gripped onto your own arms, holding yourself together. He wasn't great with crowds, and seemingly neither were you. His urge was to retreat to the nearest wall, and so was yours. "Let's see if we can track down Sejanus." He offers, holding his arm out behind you while he looks around.

He doesn't want to touch you for fear of making things weird, but god, would it just be so easy to slip his arm around your waist and guide you more effectively. 

"There." He almost doesn't hear you over the music and the shouting surrounding you both, but he follows your finger as you point over to the bar, leaning down closer in case you speak again.

Sure enough, Sejanus is there chatting with some local guy. Coryo sighs. "I leave him for twenty minutes..." He chuckles, shaking his head. "I'll get him, are you okay to wait here?" He asks and you nod, giving him that smile of yours that he hasn't seen all night.

"Good. I'll be right back." He promises, stepping away and through the crowd to go get your friend.

You watch him go, but your attention is drawn when someone pushes past you rather abruptly which makes you jump. The girl looks at you like you're crazy, as you expected she would, so pulling yourself together again, you find an empty table by the side wall and go to sit down. This was too much for you already; you knew that before you even walked in the door, but you were just here to see your friends. Coryo would come back, Sejanus would be with him, and Lucy Gray would sing her songs while you laughed and talked like normal people do. As soon as they returned, it would be okay.

You keep your head down until you hear them bickering over the normal sounds of the bar.

"We're not here to make friends, Sejanus, we're here to-"

"No, no, I get that, but what's the harm?"

You smile at them, taking a shaky breath. "Welcome back."

"Y/N!" Sejanus grins, looking at Coryo briefly before taking the seat across from you. "Glad you could make it."

"Me too." You nod, avoiding looking at Coryo as he takes the spot standing next to you, considering there wasn't another seat.

"Here," He says, voice low in your ear as he holds a glass out to you. "Got you a drink."

"Oh, thank you." You mumble, blushing as you take it from his hand. You can't think of anything worse than being intoxicated and vulnerable in this environment, but the gesture was nice. You wouldn't deny him that.

He rests his arm on the back of your chair, leaning on it and you rest your arms on the table so you can place the glass down as you look at Sejanus. "Tell me more, what have you been up to?" You ask, desperate for some conversation to distract yourself.

"Well, we graduated." Sejanus answers, nodding toward the boy standing beside you.

"Oh, gosh, congratulations!" You smile, looking between the two of them. Coryo is stone-faced.

"I sent you an invitation." He says into the rim of his glass, looking down at you.

"Oh?" You ask, and Sejanus nods in confirmation.

"We were hoping you'd be able to make it. We were going to come get you." He explains, and Coryo lets the glass scrape against his teeth. It was his invitation that he sent, and he was the one who offered to come get you. Sejanus had nothing to do with it besides encouraging him to actually send the letter.

"I didn't- I didn't get it." You tell them honestly, brow furrowed. "I don't know if I could have... gone back, you know, but I would have at least sent a gift, or something. I am so sorry."

Coryo raises an eyebrow. "You didn't get it?" He asks, almost relieved by the idea.

"No, nothing."

"Oh. Well, nothing could be done then, I suppose." He shrugs it off. Maybe if you truly hadn't received the invite, you haven't received any of the letters he sent. Someone along the route to the address he used decided you weren't worth looking for, and that wasn't your fault. Lucy Gray had told him as much, but he trusted it more falling from your lips.

"Truly, though, I am so sorry I couldn't be there." You say, looking between the two of them with a newfound urgency. You didn't want them to resent you, especially if they thought they had been ignored. "I didn't know, honest."

"Don't worry about it." Sejanus assures you. "We didn't want to be there either."

"But I did, I would have loved to but it's just hard to get out of Twelve and I wouldn't have anywhere to stay and like I said I'm just not ready to go back but I really would have loved to be able to be there for you."

"Y/N, hey..." Coryo chuckles, leaning down again to be face-to-face with you. "We get it. We're not upset with you, I promise."

Promise. The two of you were always making promises to each other, apparently. It made you feel better and he knew that.

"O-okay..." You nod slowly, deciding now is as good a time as any to try your drink. You turn your face from him, having been just inches apart to take a sip. Beer was far from your favourite, but you were never much of a drinker anyway. You place the glass back down and smooth out your skirt over your lap, regaining your normal grin. "Well, Fortune is merry, and in this mood will give us anything."

"Very good point." Coriolanus agrees quickly, tapping his hand on the back of your chair. The smile that crosses your face when you look up at him, thinking he understood and cared to respond makes him want to collapse in on himself and sink into the floor. You deserved so much more than being elated when someone understood you, and he could give you everything if you would just trust him.

"Y/L/N, how dare you show your face here!" A voice calls you by your last name and you snap your head in their direction.

Coryo furrows his brow, watching warily as a boy about his age walks up to your table. He's ready to step in, maybe this is why you hadn't been coming- because people, boys had been harassing you. He should have seen that coming. You were beautiful, every time he looked at you it was hard to look away again- obviously, this kind of attention would be a common occurrence. He lifts his shoulders and puts down his drink, but he looks at you and you're smiling.

"Hi." You giggle, actually giggle- and it makes Coryo almost just as angry as if this random guy had just threatened you.

He leans his elbows against the table. "Been a long time since I seen you. How you been?" He asks, sipping his beer as he makes dead eye contact with you.

"Only a couple of days, River." You grin.

"Oh yeah, that's right..." He hums. "Been real interested in that book you let me borrow, you know."

"Have you?" You smile, leaning in with excitement, ready to discuss it.

Who was this guy? A friend? Something more? The way you were looking at him, the fact that you let him borrow one of your books made envy swirl in Coryo's stomach. He hated it. He clears his throat to remind you they were there before you got sucked into talking about whatever book you gave the boy.

"Oh." You look up at him. "River, this is-"

"Yeah, who are these clowns? Botherin' you?" He interrupts you, and Coryo is more peeved about that than the fact that he was just referred to as a clown.

"Not in the slightest." You hum. "These are my friends, Sejanus and Coryo. They came all the way from the Capitol just to visit me, isn't that sweet?"

"Ah..." The boy hums, standing back up and holding a hand out for Sejanus to shake before turning to Coryo as he keeps his grip on the back of your chair. "Nice to meet you both, then."

"It's Coriolanus." He corrects you as he shakes the boy's hand, squeezing it probably more than what is polite.

"Oh wow." River's eyes widen and he chuckles, looking down at you again. "You're not really the friendly type I guess. Y/N here can make friends with just about anyone, I suppose."

"River..." You frown, shaking your head at him. Coryo clenches his jaw.

"I'm sorry! Sorry, I'm not great with new people either. That's my bad." He laughs it off, patting Coryo's shoulder as he drops his hand. "Anyway, Y/N, I didn't expect to see you out and about. Holdin' up okay?"

"I'm well. Thank you." You nod, taking another sip of your drink. River was a good friend, maybe even a great one. He works with your father in the mines, he started as soon as he turned eighteen a few months before you. You've become closer since then.

"Glad to hear it." He nods at you, looking around the crowded room. He bottoms his drink, shaking it in your face. "Time for a refill so I'm gonna leave ya be, but shout if you need anything, alright sweetheart?"

"Thank you!" You call after him as he turns to walk off, winking at you.

"Sweetheart." Coryo mumbles into his glass with a slight shake of his head as he watches the boy walk away. You didn't hear him, and he wasn't sure he wanted you to.

"Who's that?" Sejanus asks. "He seems nice."

"We went to school together, now he works with my father," You explain. "but I've known him most of my life. He's very kind, just a little... outspoken. He'll always tell you what he's thinking." You chuckle, and Coryo bites his tongue.

You catch his expression of disapproval. "He didn't mean any harm, just trying to be welcoming. He was nervous, I could tell." Returning your gaze to Lucy Gray up on the stage, you smile and give her a quick wave. She smiles back, nodding at you.

"You never mentioned him." Coryo comments.

"Well, I..." You stop yourself, staring down at your lap. "I had a lot on my mind..."

"Do you know anyone else? Give us the tour." Sejanus suggests quickly, pointing around the room.

You smile, forcing yourself to ignore your worries about how Coryo is feeling. "Almost everyone, yes." You giggle, covering your mouth with your hand as you speak.

"Is that why you didn't want to come?" Coryo asks you and you look up at him again, smile faltering.

"I- It's not that I didn't want to." You answer, fidgeting now with the fabric in your lap. "I just... I don't know. It's hard to... I don't know. Everything feels so difficult these days..." You laugh nervously.

There's that word he was so afraid of. Hard. In reference to something as simple as going out and spending time with your peers- people you had clearly considered friends before the games. It seemed like another lifetime to you, he could see it in the way you so intensely watched yourself pick at your own fingernails. He wished while laying in his bed at night that you were happy here, that your life was normal, even if he couldn't be a part of it; but that was unrealistic and part of him knew that.

"It's okay." Coryo reminds you quickly. "You don't have to explain yourself to us." He smiles, trying to be reassuring. "If you want to leave we can go. Just say the word, Y/N/N."

You shake your head, looking back up at him with that same glowing smile that subtly begs him not to worry about you- but he has to. "It's completely okay." You assure him with a quick wave of your hand. "Okay, so..." You drum your fingers on the tabletop, looking around and attaching names to faces.

"That's Sienna, I went to school with her sister." You point over to a girl in a group of a few others. "And she's with Fern and Hazel, Hazel's the one with the light hair." The boy's eyes follow where you're pointing as you look over at another group. "Oh, and over with River, the taller boy next to him is Rowan." You explain. "His little brother is friends with mine. Then over there, by the stage is Billy Taupe- that's Lucy Gray's boyfriend. Kind of, they're on and off these days."

Coryo nods, trying to commit these names to memory. He didn't plan on speaking to any of them, but if you wanted to, which he doubted, he would try. 

"And that's-" Your voice cuts out so quick it's as if someone had slapped a hand over your mouth when another boy walked up to join the two standing by the bar. Quickly Coryo is looking down at you again as the blood drains steadily from your face. You cough, shaking your head. "Uh, I don't really know anyone else's names." You lie.

"You okay?" Sejanus asks you and you nod, quickly grabbing your glass and taking a few large gulps, the foul taste of beer forcing its way down your throat. 

"Yeah, just, I haven't seen these people in a while."

Coryo watches, jaw clenched tight as River converses with the blonde boy who just walked up to him and your other friend whose name he's already forgotten. River takes a swig from his drink, laughs as he puts the glass down on the bar, and then points over to the three of you. He was telling whoever the hell that was that you were there- and clearly you weren't keen on him.

"Let's go, yeah?" Coryo suggests quickly, abandoning his drink on the table to step in front of you. He extends his hand to help you up which you gratefully take. He could feel your hand trembling in his. 

He squeezes your hand gently, still shielding you from the group of boys. You didn't need to say a word. "Sejanus, I'm going to take Y/N home, are you okay here?"

"For sure." He nods, looking worried now at the very sudden shift in your energy and Coryo's clear protectiveness. "Do you want me to come?"

"No, no. It's okay." You smile, comforted by Coryo's presence behind you. "You stay and have fun."

"Alright, well, I'll see you soon?" He smiles and you nod, but Coryo is already guiding you away.

taglist: @soulessjourney , @that-veela-girl ,  @dreamyysouls, @rockstarbfs , @maysileeewrites , @baybieruth , @kitscutie ,  @fratboyharrysgf0201 , @totallynotkaibiased , @stelleduarte , @secretsicanthideanymore , @bejeweledreverie , @drewsandsebastianswife , @niicole-87 , @queenofshinigamis , @innercreationflower , @nallasstuff , @scorpiolystoned , @iovemoonyy , @thatmarvelchick19 , @wearemadeofstardust0 , @regulusblackcore , @puredreamagination , @fantasticchaosthing , @becauseseaotters , @secretsicanthideanymore

okay suddenly tumblr isn't letting me tag more people than this so i just made some cuts unfortunately :') i just left the max amount of people i could whose users i recognized and see in my notifs all the time :) if you're not on here and you should be i'm so sorry!

also this taglist is closed now!! if you’d like to get a notification when i update, turn on my post notifications!! i promise i won’t spam y'all :,)

[cilldaracailin]

I Was Born To Love You

Hello my Tumblr Lovely's.

Here is the next part in the story :)

Suze xx

10

“The tension between them was so thick and sticky it was almost visible, like layers of cobweb.”

Their time at the aquarium was fun and as she promised and predicted, when they got to the dolphins, Robyn did her best to hold her tears in, but they escaped and Taron cuddled her to him from behind as they stood at the large glass windows watching the dolphins swim around. She brought him to all her favourite places but he brought her back to the viewing point and sat with her for nearly an hour as they watched the dolphins swim back and forth. It was here that Taron was recognised and asked for a photo as they sat alone in the viewing area and he obliged with a smile, the two girls walking away with a wave.

Robyn saw the little worry in his eyes but she took his hand and linked his fingers with hers. “It was just us and them. No one else around. I think we are ok. They were really nice Taron.”

He nodded but was a little unsure and pulled out his phone to text Lyndsey a heads up. Taron insisted on walking around once more before they stopped at the gift shop where he got her the t-shirt he promised her along with a small dolphin plush and just after two, they strolled back to the hotel, taking in the shops along the way. They bought ice cream and taffy, some souvenirs, going back to their room in good spirits, spending the rest of their day at the pool, Robyn giving Taron factor fifty for his red burnt skin and helping to rub it in for him too as she promised.

Their Sunday rolled into Monday and it was Taron who was taken back by the dolphins as they had their boat trip on the gulf. He was beaming with pride when Robyn spotted the wild bottlenose dolphins first, calling out where they were before anyone else on the boat and even more with her insistence that they stood at the back because it was the best view of the dolphins jumping in the wake of the boat.

After their boat trip, they returned to the beach and making sure every inch of their skin was properly covered in cream, sat in the sun, relaxing and lazing and snoozing on the loungers. Taron was feeling more comfortable around the water and their play fighting had them laughing hard and splashing each other, sharing little kisses and swimming around. Taron had to go back to the water when Robyn gave him a push on the way back to their seats and he was covered in sand but he got his revenge on her when they called it a day at the beach after watching the sunset together, taking the obligatory sunset selfie, and while pretending to give her hug, dropped her into the sand. He ran ahead, going straight for the hotel lobby, Robyn on his heels. In the room, Taron was still laughing and his giggles increased when he took a photo of her, even more when she jumped on him, covering him in sand too.

“I am taking the shower first!” She grinned. “And no, we are not saving the dolphins. We saw them today and they are doing just fine.”

He laughed at her words watching as she walked away and brushed himself down a little, taking a seat at the desk, not wanting to get their freshly made bed covered in sand. Looking in the mirror, he ran his hands through his hair. It desperately needed a cut but he was going to wait until after his time with Robyn. Her hands had spent so much time in his hair over the last few days and it was heaven as she scratched his scalp. Hair brushed away from his face, he was able to see how his skin was quickly catching some colour. Robyn’s skin had already turned a gorgeous brown and his favourite freckles had returned on her face along with lots on her shoulders. So far, they had had the most amazing time. They had spent most of their time at the hotel but it had been the perfect retreat for them and their two excursions had been enough excitement for their relaxing holiday. A long yawn filled him and he wondered if maybe they could order room service again. Staying to watch the sun set meant it was near nine when they actually got back to their room and with dinner finished at nine thirty, he didn’t know if they would make it.

“Shower is all yours.”

He turned as Robyn walked past him in a towel, her hair dripping down her back. Getting to his feet, he grabbed her hand to pull her into him and kissed her.

“You are a pest.” She grinned into his lips.

“Sand is a good exfoliant.” He replied giving her one more kiss and leaving her alone, wandered into the bathroom.

Robyn used her towel to brush off the sand that had transferred from Taron to her and dressed into some shorts and a tank top. She quickly plaited her hair and headed for the bed, bouncing to the pillows at the top. Wondering what they were going to do for dinner, thinking maybe they could try a meal out as she was sure they would miss the buffet, she replied to all the text messages on her phone, mostly from Clare as she waited for Taron. She finished replying to one from her mother and as she was writing a message to Tina who had given her a text to ask her how they were getting on, her phone rang, her face smiling at the name.

“My favourite Floridian surf chick!”

“My favourite Irish lassie!”

Robyn chuckled at her nickname. “Maggie, how are you?”

“How am I? Robyn, how are you?”

The Irish women chuckled at the teasing she knew she was in for. “I am really good.”

“Really? Real-ly? That’s all I get. You are good?”

“Hmm yup.” She chuckled at her friends gasp of frustration. “I am very good Maggie. It has been such a wonderful break so far.”

“Hmmm…”

She laughed again. “You already know how good it is.”

“But you are on holidays with him Robyn! That is a whole different story.”

“It’s just Taron.” She shrugged.

“Robyn!”

“What? He is always just Taron to me.”

“Who you kiss now!”

Robyn sniggered. “Oh yeah and that too.���

Maggie sighed. “Ok I get it. I am getting nothing.” She sighed again. “So, tell me, where is lover boy now?”

“In the shower.”

“Robyn!” Maggie laughed loudly. “Really?”

“What?”

“You know what!”

“I really don’t. You asked where he was and that’s where he is and you know that he is just Taron to me. From that moment I went to help him, he was always just Taron and I have never thought of him as anything else.”

“Aww, someone is helplessly in love.”

Robyn could feel the blush in her cheeks. “He is just a wonderful man Maggie.”

“You deserve it all Robyn. After that other dipshit, you deserve the world and more.”

“Thank you Maggie.”

“So do you think you can drag yourself away from Taron and his hot pants to see me?”

Robyn giggled. “You know, I have not seen him in a pair of hot pants.”

“No way? Are you kidding me?”

“Nope.”

“Seen him in his birthday suit though!” Robyn had to hold the phone away from her ear as Maggie laughed hard. “You knew that was coming Robyn. Walked yourself into it.”

“Yes I did and in answer to your question Maggie, I am not too sure if we will have time to meet up. You know I have missed you and it would be lovely to see you but…”

“But you are there to spend time with the person who has been by your side for the last year and his yours.” Maggie’s voice was filled with understanding. “And I know how important he is to you and how you rarely get to spend time with him.”

“Maggie if it was any other holiday but this one, it’s...”

“I know Robyn, I know and he is your man so you gotta spend your time with him.”

Robyn grinned to herself. “I do believe so too.”

“And I can plan my trip to Ireland now to see you.”

“Yes, you definitely can.”

“And I am working extra shifts this week anyway so unless you are planning a trip to the seven eleven…”

“Nope.” Robyn quickly interrupted.

“No?”

“No.” She confirmed, sitting up on the bed a little. “It is too soon Maggie. Much too soon. For Taron.”

“And for you?”

Robyn ran her free down her face. “For me? I know it would have been hard but also maybe that last bit of closure I needed but I would never ever put that on Taron. We came here for a holiday and not to go near a 7/11 and I will not break my promise to him. Plus, we never really planned to leave the hotel to be honest. This break was time for us to be together and have some time away from both our jobs. It was a chance for us to make new memories of Clearwater, not bring up sore wounds from the 7/11.”

As she finished speaking, Taron walked out of the bathroom, rubbing his hair with a towel and he sat on the end of the bed. Robyn’s eyes were immediately drawn to his back. His skin was beautifully tanned and it suited him so well and she was hugely distracted by watching him rub his hair dry.

“Robyn?”

Back on the phone, she turned her attention to Maggie. “You come and visit me. I have a perfectly comfortable couch.”

“Let me plan and I will come back to you and I am guessing your distraction is due to your handsome man, so I will leave you be but you know, you can always come to see me in work. I am overdue a hug.”

 “As much as I would like to see you, I am sorry Maggie but it is not going to happen.”

“Yeah, I didn’t think so.”

With a goodbye, Robyn ended the call and dropped her phone onto the duvet, crawling down to where Taron was sitting. She knelt behind him and lightly kissed his shoulder. “So, what are we going to do for food?” She asked him as she trailed soft kisses across the back of his neck. “You want to order room service or go for a wander and see what we can see.”

“You were talking to Maggie.” He answered her, his tone flat.

“Yeah, she called me.” Robyn lifted her hands to his neck and started to slowly knead his skin in little circles.”

“And were making plans to go to the 7/11.”

Robyn’s hands froze on his neck and she stretched to look over his shoulder at him. “No plans were made to go the 7/11.” She replied. “Maggie asked me if I had the time to go and visit her and I told her no.” He didn’t answer her and had yet to look at her. “Taron, we are not going to the 7/11.” He still had yet to make eye contact, so Robyn got off the bed and crouched down in front of him, her hands on his knees. “Taron, I didn’t make any plans to go to the 7/11 to see Maggie. She is going to make a plan to come to Ireland to me. I do not want to go to the 7/11.”

“Yes you do.” He finally looked at her, a little annoyance in his eyes. “I heard you Robyn. I heard the conversation you had with Maggie about how you wanted to go to the 7/11.”

“Taron…” Robyn reached for his hand but he pulled it away from her. She immediately felt a pang of hurt. “You didn’t hear all of the conversation if that is what you heard.”

“I heard you say you wanted to go for closure.”

Robyn couldn’t disagree with him as it was what she said but could feel some frustration building at his instance on what he heard through the bathroom wall. “And I also said we would not be going because it was a promise we made when we booked this trip.”

“But you want to go.” He repeated, his voice a little firmer, his eyes harder.

“Taron…” She reached for his hand again but he folded them across his chest. “In other circumstances, maybe, yes but not now. This is not the right time.”

“You should go.” He said as he got to his feet, throwing the towel in his hands to the side and on the floor. “I mean you clearly want to.”

“Taron…” Robyn stood up but didn’t follow him as he walked towards the balcony doors. “I do not want to go the 7/11.”

“You want closure.” He repeated as he turned to face her.

Robyn worked very hard to keep her sigh in. “In time, yes but not now. Not when this holiday is for us. Not when this time is about us and us being together and building our relationship and spending our days with each other uninterrupted by anyone or anything.”

“Like a trip to the 7/11.” Taron’s arms were back folded against his chest.

“No Taron. Please, I don’t…”

“Just go.” He took a step to her interrupting her words. “Go back to the place that still haunts my dreams.

“And you don’t think it haunts mine?” She threw back at him, her patience wearing thin at his stance and hard face. “It’s not been easy for me too you know but I do not want to go to the 7/11 Taron. I want us to get ready and go for some dinner and forget the phone call I had with Maggie.” She looked to his face which showed a mixture of anger and disappointment. “Taron…”

“That’s why you wanted to come back here, wasn’t it?” He said, his tone sharp. “It wasn’t for us. It was to go back there and have your closure.”

“Taron…” Robyn’s tone now matched his and she took her own step closer to him.

“No, it’s what you wanted. It is why you wanted to come here. I could have booked us a beautiful villa in the Bahama’s that was completely private for just the two of us but you insisted on Clearwater.” Taron breathed hard. “Fucking Florida.”

“Do you think that I feel that I was affected more by what happened then you?”

“Well, I was blinded by pain for most of that time and don’t remember half of it so clearly your memories are more significant than mine.”

“Jesus Taron.” Robyn spun on her heels, her hands rubbing her eyes.

“Hence why you need to go to the 7/11 for you. No need to consider my feelings on it.”

Robyn turned back to him. Frowning with thin lips, his face had quickly turned red with his mood and his rising temper. Her own mood reflected his and she opened her mouth to reply but Taron got there first as he spoke to himself in frustrated tones.

“Fucking knew it. I knew this was going to happen.” He looked to her, his hands in balls by his side. “I bet you are only going to New York because you got your way with Clearwater first. Fuck it.” His words were cross and angry. “You know…” He never got to say any more as a finger on his lips stopped him.

As he was speaking, initially Robyn’s guard went up and she was more than ready to fight her corner with Taron but as she stood looking at him, she realised that she didn’t want to fight with him. He was angry because of one sided phone call he had interpreted very badly and Robyn knew he didn’t have a cruel bone in his body and she didn’t want them to be arguing over something that had been a complete misunderstanding. As he ranted, on the tip of her tongue were the words she really wanted to say back to him to tell him exactly how she felt too but those were words that would have hurt and damaged their wonderful relationship and she didn’t want that. They were both annoyed and heated and an exchange of spiteful words when they were frustrated with each other was going to lead nowhere good.

Instead, she walked over to him and stopped him from saying anything else by placing her index finger over his lips to stop him mid-sentence. “I am going to go out for a walk.” She simply said to him. “I don’t want to argue with you and if we keep going, one of us is going to say something we really don’t mean which will hurt the other.” Leaning up on her toes, she gently cupped his left cheek and kissed the right side of his lips. “You know where I will be.” She walked away from him grabbing her bag and her sandals and before she left the bedroom, turned back to face him. “I love you more than anything Taron and I hope you know that I would never do anything that would hurt you. I am not walking away because I don’t care. It’s because I care too much. Come and find me when you are dressed.”

Robyn closed the bedroom door behind her and slipped out of the hotel room quietly. Her heart was racing and she could feel the tears pricking at her eyes as she created some space between her and Taron. Never one to walk away from a conflict but with Taron, the argument had started so suddenly over such a huge misunderstanding and both had their feelings immediately wounded over a subject that still clearly haunted them both deeply. Dropping her sandals to the floor, she slipped her feet into them and instead of taking the lift, walked down the stairs in a quick jog. Outside the front of the hotel, she turned right and made her way down the footpath, breathing in the hot air around her, biting her lower lip to try and stop some tears from falling. Arguing with a man was nothing new to her, she had many with Keith over the years but Taron was different. She hated seeing him upset and knew he had every right to feel and express what he was he was thinking but he had taken up the phone call in the completely wrong way.

Wiping her cheeks, she took another right and made her way down one of the side streets towards the beach. She could have interrupted Taron, and very bluntly made her point too but if she had of said the thoughts that were in her head, she knew she would have hurt him and definitely said things that couldn’t be taken back. Walking away was never the adult way to deal with adult relationship issues but their conversation was quickly going south and she needed to stop it for both of them. On the sand, she kicked off her sandals, picked them up, and sighed, her head hanging low as she headed for the water. Their holiday so far had been amazing. Their time perfect and in the snap of two fingers, disaster. At the shore, she dropped onto the sand and sat with her head in her hands.

[nyraxodeyer]

for: @cantfightmoonlight​​ ( Meena )

It was in the rays of early sunset, when the sky was tinted with a multitude of soft colours that Theodore Moore finally broke through the forest line, sights cast momentarily upward before shielding his eyes for even in the dying of the light the world was too bright. It was hard to say how long he had been walking, the woods began dark when he escaped and they remained in such a state till now, going from one darkness to another hardly said anything, but at least he could say he was out of that hell hole now. 

Indenting the fresh powder of snow with heavy footprints, which could be easily tracked seeing as grew careless the longer he remained shrouded in the shadows of trees, but no one followed, no one sought. However, this passage of time, unlike when he had first been kidnapped and held captive, he could gauge. It could’ve been weeks or even months since he was taken, but it had been four days since he escaped. And, much like at the beginning it was hunger that gnawed at him. Riding off on the indulgences he built in his life, having people on his whim and command, it was hunger that proved most dangerous when denied, though call it a foolish moral sense of duty or pride for the town he founded, Theo, despite the torture and pain, refused to yield so easily. But with increasing silence from him and rescue attempts for him, hope crushed to hate under closed fists, morals no longer held importance when self preservation became the primary motivator and eventually lips loosened, slowly at first but then with ease lacing information given with personal vengeance. 

He found them first, making his way as they called out his name and considered it the closet thing to a miracle that he didn’t drain one entirely of their blood when teeth sunk into flesh. A diet of wild animals may have satiated in the moment, but the richness of human blood could not compare, they couldn’t fault him, nor did he care if they did. Theo could have made his way back to town by himself, having made it this far, what were a few miles more? But they had finally come to their senses and sought him out, and he let them lead the way, let them provide him room and space to clean up, to rid himself of the caked on dirt and dried blood. But then began their requests, of telling him to stay saying the mayor would be on her way, the clan leader, his apparent ex-wife. In silence he took that information in, though he managed hide the way hate began to brew the twist of his features into surprise he couldn’t mask. Nodding in agreement, but with no intentions to keep his word, Theo slipped off into the night and down an all too familiar path which he had not been in months. 

There was an odd sort of comfort as he set foot onto the estate grounds, the way a smile automatically tugged at his lips and the exhale of tightly coiled tension, he missed the  place greatly. He let himself into an empty house, footsteps echoing through wide hallways as feet guided down to his wing, his quarters, surprise taking hold yet again to find nothing changed even if everything else had. Ideas as best to let her know of his presence echoed in his head as he paced back and forth, a habit from time immemorial but all things halted when his foot hit a box by his bed. Of course. A practice that was wholly them in every way, though in the past there was usually a gift in it, but this time, well, the gift was his return. 

With the box by the door, he walked about the place seeing as there wasn’t much to do but wait now. But soon enough footsteps echoed, lights turned on, and there she was, “Hello, Mimi. Miss me?”

[talesofealdancynedom]

Nettle holding the youngest princess; Protective sister refuses to fall for the temptation of masculine affection.

36. The Tide Pool (chapter 4 - Wandering 4/4 ) part 8. Stories of Dreams.

none

Lyra and the Fish King lay baking on the docks. There minds consumed by parental fear. They hadn’t left the Kingdom together before. They got lost in the ambience of sound and sight; It had been so long since either of them saw the colours of the Day Veil’s sky. The resurgence in mages made the Beast King’s too comfortable. Having a crown heir made the Fish King gutsy. She felt safe to see the sky, while knowing fearful commoners could kill her or her husband.

But Lyra felt no thrill. He could only remember Isfisceard as it was the day he left; His mother waving within the mist, standing upon the quartz. Lyra returned one last time, from his honeymoon in the Fish Kingdom, by her song of joy; Her face wet when she saw he was alive. It felt like a dream. Lyra wasn’t used to life’s sensations anymore. He grasped the Fish King’s hand, as she glazed into the sky; Listening to the waves and gulls. She could hear every giggle of her children about the island. They had so many children here. But the novelty was wearing off; The humans nearby were unsettling to The Fish King. She grabbed Lyra’s hand tighter.

“We’ve made a mistake.” The Fish King said.

“Ye; I forgot how hot it gets here in summer. The lack of sunsets, boisterous birds, and smell of beer.” Lyra shrugged. The Fish King vacantly looked her husband. She was tangled in her human-form’s wavy red hair. Her husband was either an idiot, or doing that thing humans do when they don’t want to talk.

“If we say hello to our children in the bay, will I get killed? By the metal boats I see? Thus, killing them, and leaving you to fend for our princesses? All because I left my son-in-law to lose himself to my Kingdom?”

“Oh no. I hadn’t even thought of that…” Lyra wheezed. Somehow the amnesia the Shadow Veil can causes, slipped his mind. He was too distracted by domestic conflict to warn Rah. Lyra had only recently remembered his past after meeting Rah.

“We have to go back. Rah, ready or not, didn’t know he’d become as oblivious as fey in the ether. I like the sweet things about him. I don’t want him to lose himself.”

“Take off your clothes and join me in the water?”

“What? No! I’m worried, mad, and that’s’ wildly inappropriate!” Lyra gasped. “Oh wait, you meant that literally. For the tidal reunion. You won’t go back until we do that first, will you?” Lyra said, digging his grave and not wanting a fish tail.

******

Rah fell asleep in the cave, and Brōc loomed over him; He brought a blanket and food from the cliff shack. There wasn’t true humidity in the Shadow Veil, so the cave was a good a spot as any to sleep. Brōc and Nettle decided to join him and the baby. It was the only place that felt safe, even without the comforting glow of the pool. Eventually, they all drifted off.

An unknown time passed, before crying echoed down the cave again. Not from an infant, but from a grown sea daughter. Rah and Brōc awoke, and drowsily made there way out of the cave to see a black mermaid crying on the beach. She held a pail, and cried for the company of her parents; Yearning to see the blue water men sail. Rah walked over, but Brōc was taller and faster. He knelt by his sister, giving her comforting shoulder rubs.

“Mother and father will be back soon, and the gate is open if you want to go to the Day Veil. The vibrancy is amazing, and the humans there are kind.” Brōc lied; He had no clue when his parents would be back, nor trusted many humans. In fact, if Brōc hadn’t still had a half-human beating heart, he’d swear his mother was dead. Rah joined them, holding the mermaid’s cheeks and smiling gently.

“The Day Veil is an experience, but the choice is yours.” He said, giving off a different aura. Like he was distant and dreaming. Brōc watched him start to sing to the lake, trusting Lyra and The Fish King would be back soon. A skip in Rah’s step, but blurriness in his mind. Brōc quietly sat, knowing the timelessness of the ether had taken Rah’s memory; He’d been here too long. Whimsical spirits, lose themselves quicker.

“Rah, lets go to Isfisceard!” Brōc called desperately. “I, I want to see if my father’s home is right for us.” He coaxed. Brōc used the echoing voice of a siren, in hopes of persuading his love. Rah was vacantly looking past Brōc. There was silence while Brōc awaited his response.

“Nettelid. I need to fill the pool for her. I promised I would succeeded.” Rah whispered, returning to the cave. The wind of his haste, brushed Brōc’s hair. The mermaid leaned into her big-brother for comfort. The hug made her feel better. Brōc showed her to gate. Worried for Rah, Brōc then listened to the Shadow Veil’s silence, for the song of a mage. Charmers like Rah and Lyra, seldom stop their song.

A steady hum, like a singing bowl, rose to the pitch of a perfect crystal glass. A shiver up the sand, and across the surface of the water. It called Brōc. He was pulled towards the melodic notes. Creeping closer to the pink hues leaking from the sea cave entrance. Down each step, the enchanting whisper grew in soul; Revealing a ballad of warmth and care. The cradle slowly regained its colour, as Rah’s smile lit his storm staph. His exuberance otherwise summoning waves and thunder, even in the ether. He had become lost in it. Nettle snuck behind her rother, and gasped in awe.

“You filled the pool!” Brōc and Nettle gasped. But Rah didn’t hear nor stop.

“Now we can go find mother and father, and see Isfisceard; You’re a mighty Charmer, I’m honoured to fall for.” Brōc continued, enchanted by Rah’s tantalizing voice. Like The Fish King, he was taken by the song of his True Love; Powerless even. Rah only returned to silence, when a gentle hand touch his shoulder.

“Rah, you can stop. You’re getting carried away. You’ll snare all my daughters with that voice; They’ll snatch you like men from starboards.” Lyra’s whispered cheerfully. The gambit was over, and Lyra averted his gaze. He was too late to free Rah from the ethereal planes influence.

Lyra gently took the baby from Brōc, and placed her into the pool. Behind them, the Fish King arrived. She lit up ethereally; her colours no longer of the abyss, but the gold of dusk. She slipped into the pool, to cradle her child. A tinge of guilt on her face. Brōc and Nettle, unable to look away.

Rah looked Lyra over, in awe. Rah had seen Lyra before, but had forgotten. But his purpose persisted; Rah refused to leave without testing something himself. He wanted to test The Fish King.

“Fish King, what do we say to a boy we mistakenly drown or bite?” Rah asked. She turned quietly to look at him. She’d heard many of her princesses say that to the seas. She looked at her husband and children.

“Sorry.” She said. After saying it, she tensed as her expression dimmed further. Saying it, made it real. Made her misdeeds to her husband and children real. As if she was watching herself do it. Yet, she promptly forgot her guilt; As is the way of fey. However, her face conveyed she meant this apology. Lyra nodded, knowing the Fish King would forget, and resume her ways. Yet, it still meant something. At least she finally admitted she hurt them. Lyra had after all, requited her love, making her know love as humanity does. It gave Brōc and trickle of hope he would not commit the crimes of his mother.

Rah remained fuzzy, and wanted to do more for the Fish Kingdom; But Lyra had enough. He escorted his son-in-law to the sands of Pepperidge once more.

Lyra waved goodbye, Nettle gripping his waist. Brōc joined Rah in the Day Veil. Rah’s consciousness flooded back into him, when met with the noise and vibrancy of home.

“Where are we? Isfisceard? What happened? Is Lyra ok? Am I ok? did we swim?” Rah panicked.

“Ah, yes. And we’re in Pepperidge; You need to plan the trip, and say goodbye to your uncle and mother, right? If you’re still interested in Isfisceard, that is. No need to rush.” Brōc rambled. Rah nodded, and got his Barings. His cousin Amadeus was playing catch with their friends nearby. He went to join them.

“Did you have a nice date? You were gone six hours!” Amadeus laughed. Rah’s ears rang with the stinging sounds of gulls yelling. Rah realized the cradle was real, and that his days in the ether, was mere hours here.

“Rah, are you ok? What happened?”

“Brōc tried to drown me; All I remember is fear.”

“For six hours?”

“Kind of?”

Table Of Contents--->

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[mountswhore]

𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 — mason mount

summary: visiting mason’s hometown with his toddler, showing her the ins-and-outs of the place he grew up.

notes: requests are open, ask away.

for @masterclassbaby,

sorry it’s so short, i thought a lil blurb would be cute

“She’s gonna love it.” You exulted, putting your sleeping toddler into the car safely. Mason had put her bag, her pushchair, and some other things into the boot, both of you climbing into the car before making your way to his parents.

They’d invited you all down to Portsmouth for the day, it was a 25 minute drive away. And Mason hadn’t seen his family in a while, so he jumped at the chance. You’d set off early, hoping to get there at a reasonable time, before lunch. You’d only ever been to Portsmouth a few times — meeting his parents and whatnot. So you never properly had a tour of the place.

“Say hello to grandma.” Mason chorused to Callie, who shared a toothless grin at his mum. She’d taken her, as Mason helped you bring the stuff inside. “So, where to first?”

“We’re gonna go for a walk-around, then lunch, then ice cream.” Mason’s mum instructed, putting Callie into her pushchair. Mason hadn’t let go of your hand since you put Callie’s things down, hoping he could get some alone time with you today.

You all left, taking a nice walk down to the see the boats together. Mason’s niece was there too, so her and Callie were both babbling away together. It was laughable watching them communicate. Mason had an arm around your waist as you walked, continuously showering you in love. Complimenting how you looked in your dress, how pretty your hair was, how good you looked when you smiled.

You’d gotten to the boats, Callie pointing her finger out as she looked at you. “I know, aren’t they massive?” You cooed, crouching down beside her.

“We’re gonna go order, find a table.” Mason spoke, hand on your shoulder as he began to walk off with his dad. You, his mum, his sister, and the two girls had found a table shortly after, putting Callie on your lap as you sat down.

“There’s my gorgeous girl.” Mason sung as he sat beside you, holding his hands out to take Callie. She happily accepted, cuddling up to her daddy instantly. You just giggled and put the colouring page and crayons in front of her, watching the focus go from him to the activity in front of her.

“Meanie,” Mason whispered, sticking his tongue out at you, you returning the favour shortly after.

The food had arrived, all of you enjoyed the view, and the conversation about Mason as a kid and how Callie could be just the same. Callie just kept colouring, Mason joining in with her. It would be criminal not to take a picture of the two, so you did.

“How does ice cream sound?” Mason asked his daughter, holding her on his hip. She just let her head rest on his shoulder, hands pulling at his hair. You were talking with his mum as you stopped at the ice cream shop, Mason taking everyone’s orders.

It was funny seeing them emerge from the shop a few minutes later, ice cream covering Callie’s face completely.

“You’re a mess, Cal.” You laughed, reaching into the bag for baby wipes. She always giggled at the feeling of the wipe on her face, Mason watching in adoration. He was always in awe of how well you took to the role of a mum so quickly, despite how scared you were finding out you were pregnant.

Your fun day out was coming to a close, Callie now asleep in the pushchair, Mason pushing it with one hand, the other around your waist. You’d stopped at the seafront steps, sitting on the stoney wall together to enjoy the sunset against the sea.

“I love you, you know that?” Mason spoke quiet enough so only you could hear him. And the statement made you blush, even after hearing it for the past few years. You nodded your head and moved closer to him.

“And I love you too.” You whispered back, head on his shoulder and holding him close to you.

[elles-writing]

Daughter Moments

Request: Hello! I’ve read your imagines they are sooo good! I was wondering if I can request a Kili x daughter reader? The ploy can be anything you want but the reader has to be kilis daughter pls? Thankyou!!❤️

Requested by @imagines4everyone

A/N: First of all, thank you so much!! I hope you will like it!

Then also...The ending is my favourite.

Triggers: mentions of injuries, scars, angst, feels (if there's any more, let me know please!)

Tags: @guardianofrivendell @dumbassunderthemountain @imagines4everyone

Kili took a deep breath, as he looked over Dale. The town was beautiful, and he was lucky to be able to look at it during sunrise, every day, before he had to get back to his duties.

He felt the soft wind, running through his hair, and sun glittered in his deep brown eyes. He thought of his wife and daughter, and his mouth had soft dreamy smile in second.

When Kili came back to their shared chambers, he noticed Tauriel, gently stroking their ten months old Y/N's cheek.

"How are my two beautiful girls?" He chuckled, and his eyes were soft, as he looked down at his daughter and wife.

"Papa!" Y/N suddenly let out, and Tauriel and Kili looked at each other in shock and surprise. Their daughter just said her first word!

"You did it, Y/N! You did it!" Kili cried out, and started dancing across the room with his daughter in his arms. You giggled, and Tauriel watched the moment with tears in her eyes.

Five years later

"Papa?"

"Hm?"

"What are you doing?" You frowned, when you noticed your father.

Kili was trying to make a surprise for Tauriel - his wife's birthday was a very special day to him, as well as your birthday - and this year, as any other, it was something sweet. Last year he made her a pair of twin daggers and got all her favourite sweets from bakeries around Dale.

This year, he decided to bake a cake.

Needless to say, it was very funny.

To watch, obviously.

You sat up on the chair, and Kili put his hands on his hips. You looked into the bowl, and giggled. You tasted a bit of it, and frowned.

"Uncle Fili said you can't bake, daddy." You shook your head. Kili nervously looked at you.

"What did uncle Fili say?" You looked at your dad, and decided to tell him everything.

"Well, Uncle Fili said you cannot bake, and that you only eat in the kitchen, and he was right," you said. Kili looked at the light-coloured dough.

"It is salty," you said, and Kili's eyes widened. He slapped his forehead.

"I really switched sugar and salt," Kili sat down to the table, and put his chin on his hands. You wanted to say something, but you noticed his eyes were filling with tears. You jumped off of the chair, and walked to him.

"Why are you crying, daddy?"

"I'm not crying," he said, and got up.

"Can I help you?" You gave him your best puppy-eye look, and Kili sighed.

You just had to get this from him.

"Okay."

When you finally finished the cake, the sun was rising, but you and Kili fell asleep, sitting by the table.

The finished cake was, however, worth it.

Twelve years later

"What did you say?" Kili frowned at you. You shrugged.

"What do you mean?" Kili's usually kind brown eyes had a spark of anger in them.

"That I don't care about you."

"Oh, this. Well, because it's true! You literally make any guy run away from me, and then you make me stay inside! How am I supposed to get to know at least one?"

"You have still enough time for boys." Your father shook his head, as if he tried to get out the idea of dating out as quickly as he could.

"Fine. But if anyone asks, it's your fault," you said half-upset, half-joking.

You almost opened the door, when you heard your father speak.

"You know I want you to have someone who truly loves you," you turned around.

"I...I, um..." Kili deeply sighed. He felt a bit of guilt about the misunderstanding.

"Sit down, please." You did as he said, and he gently took your hands to his.

"When I met your mother, I knew she was...the One. My One. I fell for her even more, when we talked for the first time. And a few years later, there was also you. I was holding you after you were born, and I promised I will make sure you will have the same kind of love, the person you will roll your eyes at, but know you wouldn't want them any other way."

"Dad, I-"

"I didn't mean to upset you. I'm just worried about you and want the best for you, but...the problem is, that in my eyes, nobody is good enough for you. I know you think it's the other way, but, it isn't. At least to me." You felt tears in your eyes.

"What do you think...mom would say?" You quietly whispered, as you felt tears in your eyes. He took a deep breath, probably to try to stop tears, too.

"Your mother would...secretly agree with me, but let you...let you go on an adventure, as long as you promise you are safe." Kili blinked to stop a tear, and sadly chuckled.

"You never know who you meet on an adventure."

You took his hands into yours, and gave him sad smile.

"She is alive. Trying to find her way back, from the orcs. Mom is a fighter."

"I believe too," he said, and looked outside. The sun slid across his face, and made his eyes spark, and showed you the way they used to shine when your mother was still there.

It's been a few months since you and your father talked, and you were on a ride from Hobbition. You liked to visit Bilbo and Frodo, and, as always, told each other news. When you almost got to Rivendell, you noticed someone lying down - with red hair. You stopped your horse, and jumped off of it.

You felt a rush of shock, when you realized who it was. She was full of cuts, but breathing.

You got to Rivendell safely, and when Lindir saw you, you let out just a whisper.

"Help her,"

You had no idea how did you end up in the working space of lord Elrond.

But, having soft blanket over your shoulders and sipping warm tea, after the shock, you wouldn't complain.

"Can I see her?" You whispered. Lord Elrond talked to a healer, and both of them looked at you.

"Your mother is asleep now," the healer carefully said. You nodded.

"Is she-"

"She is alive. We cleaned her injuries, and luckily, they were not even infected yet. You found her just in the right moment." You let out a breath. It felt like a huge weight fell off of your shoulders.

"Get some rest, princess Y/N. It will be good." The healer said, and helped you to get to other chambers, you guessed for guests. You laid down to bed, and fell asleep. You didn't even notice the healer turned around in the door, and slightly bowed, before he walked away.

You woke up into bright sunlight. You realized it was afternoon, and when you properly woke up, you found out you slept almost whole day and night.

When you took a bath and changed into light dress, you decided to go ask healer how was your mother doing.

You carefully knocked on the door. Someone slowly opened the door, and you realized it was the healer you already knew. After a short talk, he told you to get some rest. You decided to listen to him.

You didn't expect to fall asleep next to the bushes of lavender in Rivendell gardens, but the sweet, calming scent was strong.

You woke up with slight headache, and sat aside from the plants. You watched the sunset, and yawned. You also realized you haven't eaten whole day, and looked around for some fruit. You got up, and soon you found a few servants, who were actually looking for you, and as they mentioned dinner, you had no more questions.

At the dinner, you noticed the male healer you met earlier. You blushed when he noticed you looking at him, but he didn't do anything. Later, he catched your eyes again, and send you a tiny smile. You felt yourself smile as well.

After the dinner, Lindir walked you to your chambers. You took a bath, and when you got dressed, you opened your window and put a pillow and a blanket on the floor, to continue watching the sunset, and look at the stars. The sky was bright, and the fresh air made you feel lot better.

You got back to bed, but left the window open.

Your felt familiar smell, as you woke up. For a moment, you were five again, in your chambers in Erebor, and it was your birthday. Only other thing was the itchy feeling on your arms and legs.

Damn mosquitos.

"Mum?"

"I didn't mean to wake you, wildflower," you gasped and sat up, wide awake.

It was really her. Your mother, her red hair shining in the morning sun, looking at you.

Her face was full of cuts,which were in process of healing, and fading scars. Her hair was literally chopped off, now down to her chin.

Her green eyes were, however, full of motherly love. Just as you always knew them.

"This-this is a dream!" You let out a cry. She hug you tightly, and let out a cry too.

"I'm so glad you're safe..."

"What happened to you?" You whispered, as your arms tightened around her, afraid of it being just a dream.

"The orcs prisoned me, I tried to escape, but I was weak and didn't have any weapons. This time, I was finally lucky," she whispered, as she brushed your hair by her fingers.

"I'm here, Y/N. I promise it isn't a dream. I was fighting to run away every single day, and nothing could keep me away from you anymore."

Later that day, you sat down, to write a letter to Erebor.

Dear father,

I had to stay in Rivendell for longer, but, as you will find out - it was worth it...

Two years later

"Kili," Tauriel frowned at her husband. Kili looked at his wife with raised eyebrow.

"It's a boy, Tauriel!"

"And?"

"She's my little girl! She was born like...yesterday," Kili wiped off a tear from the corner of his eye.

"Well, our little girl is having a lovely partner. You will like him." Kili's eyes widened, and Tauriel tried not to laugh.

"You already met him? And didn't tell me?!"

"Well..." Tauriel would roll her eyes. Her husband was literally freaking out.

She didn't have the heart to tell him the reason you went to Rivendell or Mirkwood was because of your love, not because of political...anything.

Before she answered, you walked in, nervously smiling at both of them.

"I have, um...someone I want to introduce to you," you said. Your mother nodded at you with smile, and you sighed and patted your father's shoulder.

"It's fine, dad." You opened the door, and 'the elven healer from Rivendell', as you knew him two years ago, walked in.

"Mum, dad...this is, um, my boyfr-"

"Nice to meet you," Tauriel said, but looked at her husband by the corner of her eye.

"So...you are the elf my daughter is courting," Kili said, and you looked at your boyfriend. Him and your father were watching each other, and you gently took your lover's hand into yours, worried they might start fighting. Until...

They both broke a smile.

"Nice to meet you, Prince Kili. Y/N has told me a lot of good things about you."

"Y/N, would you come and prepare some tea with me?" Your mother asked you, and you both got out of the room.

You listened their conversation, talking about your meeting, and, your dad's, and your lover's, favourite - archery.

"I can't believe it!" You said, whispering.

"I know," your mother tried to hold in laugh.

"They literally-"

"Yes. Seems like they go along well."

"Now my dad will spend more time with my lover than I do," you pretend to be dramatic, but secretly you thought if it wouldn't be better if they didn't like each other.

You walked back in the room, with cups with steaming tea.

"Don't worry. Both of them know who are the best archers in the family," Your mother gave you a smile, and you proudly nodded, as you placed the cups down on table.

"That's not true, I always let you win!" They said at the same time, and you and your mother shared a look.

Later that day, you were with your father in the gardens. He was enjoying the quiet evening, and you were reading.

"Dad?"

"Hm?"

"You know...you said, about boys...that nobody would be good enough for me. In your eyes."

"Yeah." He nodded, and turned towards you.

"So, um...what do you think, now when you met my boyfriend?" You nervously waited for his answer.

"I think...I would never expect to say this, but...I approve him." You let out a laugh.

"Just because you're both good at archery?" He rolled his eyes.

"I wanted to say he seems to be very nice, but that too. We gotta keep the skill in family, don't we?" You shook your head and snorted with laugh.

"As well as recognizing elf men and elf maids." You started laughing when you noticed your father's wide eyes and flushed cheeks under his beard.

"Who told you that story?"

"Well...Uncle Fili has told me many interesting stories from your adventures," you said. Your father quickly stood up.

"Uncle Fili will quickly be reminded of what does it feels like to have younger brother," Your father muttered, as he walked inside the castle.

[rubysunnday]

your song, prt 2 | c.b

Summary: As their wedding day approaches, Y/N’s parents continue to disappoint her. Colin reminds her that his own family is now hers.

Part 1 

Colin Bridgerton had a way with words.

Ever since the concert, he hadn’t stopped writing Y/N little notes, proclaiming his love to her and comparing her to a summer’s day. Y/N was almost certain that half the things he wrote down where stolen directly from Anthony’s copy of Shakespeare’s sonnets, but she wasn’t complaining.

In the dozens of letters he sent her from when he was on his travels abroad, he always managed to describe what he was seeing in a way that made Y/N feel like she was there. From his vivid descriptions of the Grecian beaches lined with houses of every colour to the snowy heights of Norway, Colin somehow always made her feel as if she was there.

Y/N treasured each and every letter he sent her, tying them all together with a beautiful ribbon that he'd sent all the way from Amsterdam. They sat on her shelf next to the dried flowers that had been a part the bouquet of flowers he'd given her for her birthday.

She had spent the day with the Bridgerton's since her own parents were too busy up in Scotland to come down to celebrate.

Her parents were constantly disappointing her. They had barely even acknowledged her since she’d announced her engagement and she was tired of being ignored. 

Y/N walked into the drawing room of Bridgerton House, a fake smile on her face. 

“Y/N!” Hyacinth squealed, running up to her future sister-in-law and hugging her.

“Hello, Hyacinth,” Y/N said, returning her hug.

"I thought your parents were coming," Anthony said, noticing Y/N's lack of escort. His brow furrowed in concern as he noticed Y/N’s forced smile.

"They are in Scotland," Y/N replied, sitting down on the sofa and sighing. "They are too busy with my sister's horse riding competition to bother coming down to celebrate."

Y/N was trying to hide her upset about being forgotten by her parents. It wasn't the first time it had happened and it probably wouldn't be the last. Y/N's sister was their dream child - the talented one who would probably be the diamond of whatever year she decided to make her debut in.

Y/N's own debut had been almost ruined by her parents. Her grandfather had died two days before she'd been due to be presented to the queen and her parents and vanished overnight to Cornwall, leaving Y/N behind with no one to present her or accompany her to the ball.

Which was when Colin had stepped in. They'd found each other out in Hyde Park where Y/N had gone to escape her house and by the time they'd walked back to Bridgerton House, Colin had decided that Y/N was worthy of so much more than what her parents were giving her.

"Anthony!" Colin yelled, as soon as he walked inside the front door of Bridgerton house. "Anthony!"

"Colin, be quiet, it is fine," Y/N said, hitting his arm not too gently.

"No, it is not fine," Colin replied, his usual cheeky grin absent. "This is one of the most important days in your life and they have just left you! Anthony!"

"Colin, will you stop yelling!" Y/N hissed, noticing the staff giving them both bizarre looks.

Colin didn't listen. "ANTH - oh, there you are."

Anthony Bridgerton all but ran down the stairs, panic on his face. "What, who is injured?"

"No one," Colin replied, frowning. "What made you think that?"

"You yelling, probably," Y/N muttered, yelping as Colin elbowed her.

Anthony sighed and closed his eyes in despair. "Colin,” Anthony said slowly, looking up “what do you want?"

Colin shoved Y/N forward, the woman almost falling into Anthony at the sudden shove. She shot Colin a glare but he ignored it, putting his hands on her shoulders and spinning her back to face Anthony.

"Y/N, here. Our wonderful, amazing Y/N, has been abandoned by her parents. They will not be able to present her to the queen in two day's time nor will they be able to escort her to the ball. Therefore, I was wondering if you and mother could do it."

Y/N looked up at Anthony. She'd known him since she was eight and the Viscount had become a parental figure in her life, replacing the lacklustre figure that was her actual father. But asking him and his mother to present her to the queen was a massive ask.

Anthony's eyes softened as he looked down at Y/N. He put a hand on her shoulder and nodded. "Of course we can. Come upstairs, Y/N, Eloise will be very annoyed if she finds out you stopped by and did not say hello. We can talk more then."

Y/N took Anthony's arm and let him walk her up the stairs. She glanced behind her and mouthed a thank you to Colin who sent her a smile and a thumbs up.

Anthony gestured to the sofa next to Eloise and Y/N blinked, suddenly remembering where she was. 

"So, your parents are continuing the standard they set when they did not turn up to your debut, then?" Eloise asked, moving up as Y/N sat down next to her. She offered the tin of sweets she was holding out to her.

"Please, do not remind me," Y/N muttered, taking a red sweet. "Thank you, again, for saving me," Y/N said, looking up at Anthony and Violet. "Truly."

"Do not worry about it, my dear," Violet replied, waving her off. "Will you be joining us for dinner tonight?"

"If you do not - Colin, what on earth?"

Y/N stared at Colin, who was struggling to hold a large bouquet of roses, hyacinths, elderflowers and daisies, with a perplexed look.

"Happy birthday!" He exclaimed, setting them on the table in front of her.

Y/N leant back to avoid being poked in the eye by a branch of elderflower. "I..."

Colin's face fell. "You hate them, I can tell. I was not sure how big was too big or how many flowers to include -"

"Colin, I love it," Y/N said, cutting him off. "I just was not... expecting anything."

Colin smiled down at her. "I could not remember which flower was your favourite out of them," he said, fiddling with a daisy, "but I remembered you liked how purple contrasts with blue and how yellow breaks the colours up like it does in a sunset. Specifically -"

"The Athens sunset of July 1814," Y/N said softly, remembering every single detail of that letter.

Colin's description of the sunset had stuck with her ever since. He'd described it in so much detail she'd felt as if she'd been sat next to him on the beach.

Her birthday flowers had only been the start. Colin seemed to remember every passage that had transported her, every sentence that had made her envy his freedom, every word Y/N had felt connected to and turned it into affection and gifts.

He made her feel wanted and loved when her own parents forgot about her or dismissed her. Whenever she cried he picked her up and read from his journals to distract her. Every single ball he would compare her dress to a sunset he'd seen and Y/N would just listen in awe as the words flowed like a song.

And then he had actually written her a song and had gotten it performed at the opera and Y/N had fallen head over heels in love with him. Colin had proposed to her that night and Y/N hadn’t hesitated before saying yes.

Colin had began leaving notes around her house, counting down to their wedding day. They’d come accompanied by flowers or little presents and even watercolours of her favourite places. Y/N kept them all in a box under her bed, hidden away from her parents who, if she was honest, didn’t really care about Y/N’s wedding or her successful match. 

Her parents lack of interest in her or her wedding hurt. Y/N was hoping that her match to Colin would have at least perked something inside them but all she’d received was stoney silence and her father telling her that they couldn’t make it. He didn’t say why they couldn’t make it, just that they couldn’t make it. 

“Hey, are you alright?” Colin asked quietly, nudging Y/N’s arm.

Y/N turned her head to look at Colin, realising that he’d evicted Eloise off the sofa and taken her place. Benedict and Anthony were both looking over at them with matching looks of concern but Y/N focused on Colin and nodded. “I am fine, Colin. I am simply thinking.”

“Well, we all know how dangerous that is for you, my love,” Colin replied teasingly, winking at her. His smile faded as he noticed her solemn expression. “Come on, tell me what is wrong.”

“My parents,” Y/N said quietly. “They... well, you know what they do to me. They have said that they are not coming to the wedding and have not even acknowledged me since we got engaged. They do not even acknowledge my birthday and I just -” Y/N cut herself off with a hefty sigh and dropped her head onto Colin’s shoulder. “I am so tired of them.”

Colin rested his head on top of Y/N’s and held her hand. “I know you are, darling. I am sorry they are not better parents. But,” he lifted his head up and gently tilted Y/N’s chin up, “you do not have to worry about them anymore. My family is your family, Y/N.”

Anthony, who had been listening to every word, spoke up. “Y/N, I will happily walk you down the aisle if you do not want your parents there.”

Y/N nodded and smiled, feeling tears burning her eyes. “Thank you, Anthony.”

Anthony could read her like a book and got up, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “I promise you, I will not let them ruin your day.”

Y/N nodded. “I know, Anthony, thank you.”

Colin nudged her. “See, I told you. Besides, I do not believe that Hyacinth will let you go anywhere without her. You are a Bridgerton now.”

Y/N smiled sadly and kissed him on the cheek. “I cannot wait to marry you, Colin Bridgerton.”

“I cannot wait to marry you either, Y/N Bridgerton,” Colin replied with a smile.

[bbnibini]

Fall Again (Kaedehara Kazuha)

"On this mountain path, where the red leaves lifeless lie...my heart calls for a companion, echoing the deer's cry..." (based on this)

(ao3 version) gift for @lexsssu and kei. may this humble offering make you future Kazuha havers!

The summer we shared

Fades into a blush of leaves

Bringing with it fall

Your first memories with Kazuha started when you were little. You were but one of the many children brought by the Kaedahara retainers staying within the residence; frolicking about, living the best of your young life while learning of your future duties for the clan. The end of summer brought cooler winds, and the trees in the courtyard were like blushing maidens as their leaves were dyed in sunset colour. A maple leaf had fallen on your hair, and the steady sleight of his hand startled you when he brought it to your eye level with a smile.

"I'm sorry for startling you. It was stuck on your hair."

You weren't even sure if you were allowed to talk so casually to the young master of the house. Though perhaps your younger self back then knew that a boy your age like the young master didn't care for such formalities. He only ever watches from afar as you played with the other children. Sometimes, his gaze lingers at all of you while he was taking his lessons. But when his attendants will ask him worriedly if he wanted to drive you and the other children away(you must have been so noisy to distract him from his lessons), he would plaster on a smile and decline.

"Do you want to play with us?"

You practised saying it in your head many, many times...but they were never said. Not until this moment--this blurry middleground of summer and fall that seemed to dye everything in sunset orange.

"Do you want to play with me?"

It was his turn to look startled. The way his face flushed as he clumsily tried to hide the bashful look he had with the maple leaf had been futile.

"Can I?"

You nodded and took his hand.

"Don't worry, master Kazuha. I'll share the blame with you if they ever find out."

Thinking back, that must be the start of it all. Like maple leaves falling on the ground, letting him in your heart had been your downfall.

In the many days of sunset orange, when the adults were too busy to even bother, laughter from a certain pair would fill the courtyard. It was warm enough to quell the cold that accumulated as the orange faded into powder white; it had also brought an end to those precious memories you didn't know you were already making with him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cold and pristine white

Yet seeing you amongst them

Warms my freezing heart

He didn't do anything special. You understood that it was just him being him. His kindhearted parents raised him well to become the future heir, and you were merely basking in the fruits of their gentle guidance--an ordinary bystander. Even so, with every call of your name, with every smile given your way, with every look and every word, the feelings that scattered one autumn day only deepened, much like how the snow was doing right now to your feet.

You knew that they knew. You awaited the punishments to come your way, but they never did. The pang in your heart twisted and twisted; it wondered if your delusions were getting to you. What if you continued holding on? What if you got even closer with each other? Wouldn't it be more painful if this unlikely friendship would continue?

Or so you thought. You didn't have the heart to push him away--this lonely looking boy who never shared your luxuries of carefree childhood. Yet you knew you could never share these worries with him. What were you to him but some child his age? What could you know? No one seemed opposed to it, so why couldn't he enjoy his childhood, even for a little bit?

Your drifting thoughts matched the steady pacing of your feet. And it wasn't until the cold snow had reached your knees did you start to feel it through your clothes.

Where...were you? The firewood on your shoulders felt heavier every step, and the cold of winter was beckoning you to close your eyes; to rest under the pine trees a few steps away from you....just for a while--

"...!"

The call of your name coming from his lips felt like they were melting the snow on your feet. And as he brought you into his arms, the restlessness also melted away.

"Let's go back."

"Young Master Kazuha..."

You heard your name being called again--this time by your worried father who had just known that you strayed from the group of children gathering firewood in the forest. He brought the two of you in embrace, his broad and strong arms feeling unbelievably smaller than usual.

Even as the two of you were being scolded, it didn't feel so bad. His next words echoed your unsaid sentiments.

"We share the blame, after all."

He whispered the familiar words to you on secret, bringing warmth to the winter of your thoughts.

You didn't know what changed that winter. He now stood with you as you and the other children gathered around and played in the snow, laughing along. Gone were the longing gazes he sent your way, as he was finally there. The apprehension the other children had at first disappeared instantly at the brightness of his laughter.

From then on, you wished to stay by his side....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Your gaze of knowing

Melts away the cold of snow

Spring begins anew

...yet even with the strength of your resolve, you knew those fun winter days will come to an end. One winter passed. Two. Three, until you lost count--you have grown old enough for such days to be regarded as your long past childhood. Along with it came the responsibilities you had as a retainer's child. It wasn't like you were going away. You planned to uphold your promise to stay by his side until the day you die. Boundaries were only meant to be made. The lines you weren't meant to cross grew even more obvious as seasons passed, and you only intended to follow along its path.

Young master Kazuha was old enough to take in a wife. He could only delay such duties for so long.

"But I don't want to get married." He told you, admiring the pink mop of cherry blossoms giving you shade overhead.

"Young master, it isn't a matter of choice." you scolded.

He wouldn't say anything back but a sigh. This caused you to sigh in return.

"Even servants have a duty of marriage to sustain future generations, young master."

"Even you?"

The rustling of cherry blossoms awoken you from your trance. You pretended not to know the implications of his questions. The pounding of your heart shouldn't ever be known, not even to the whispers of spring breeze scattering pink petals that looked eerily similar the the ones scattering in your heart.

"Yes, even I."

Ignorance is the kindest gesture you can return to him--for knowing what he meant will only lead to a thorny path.

Spring was the season of beginnings, but even you know such beginnings were only possible if something were to end.

"Young master Kazuha?"

He looked at you with the same gaze you pretended you were numb from.

"Let's not see each other anymore."

...it was a beautiful spring day, but you couldn't help but long for the harsh winters of your gentler past.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Standing tall and proud

You, with gleaming golden crowns

Waiting for the sun

Eternity.

In the land of fleeting beauty, only she remains constant. She was the pinnacle of Inazuma's legacy, as well as its stronghold. With the Raiden Shogun's rule, Inazuma in all its transience will remain with her.

Yet, were all her actions at present excusable?

The Kaedehara clan had fallen--its tragic heir had gone missing. No one knows where he had went...or so that is what most of the servants' narratives were, but you knew. Perhaps silence is the only way to protect him; their kind and gentle young master deserved freedom in this eternal land.

You didn't want to dwell on what ifs. In the blaring heat of the sun, among the sunflowers looking up at its radiance, he stood there, even brighter than summer itself.

He called for your name as he took your hands, kissing its back.

"I will always remember you."

He was a free man, freer than he was in the confines of his samurai household. Yet, you knew his life of pursuit will always remain with him, and the eternity the Raiden's land had promised was far too comforting to even consider the thoughts in your head.

'Take me with you'

'I won't ever forget you too.'

'Ị̶̛̺̜̣̝̰̣͚̫̓̾̈́̆̈́̊̔̍͂͋͛͌͘͝ ̵̢̨͉̟͖̱͚̆̐̏̚l̷͖̥̃͋͒̉̈́̈̎̃͆̽̈͊̃̈́̆̓̕o̶̡̧̡͖͙̖̙͙̥̻͍̣̗̱͖̦͍̺͙̒̏̏͛͗̌̄͊̽̓͆͌̚̚̕͝ͅv̶̧͕͔̤͚̰̟͙̭̟̠̫̞̀͆̊͗͗̅̊͠ͅͅę̶̘̦̲͓͕͂̑̕͜ ̷̡̢̯̯͙̞̣̲̥̥̞̞̺͕̲͔̆̂͆́̋̑̀̆̃̀͐̀͜͝͠y̷̧̬̜͕͉̣͉̱̩͚̪͒̓͒ͅǒ̸͚̳̠͚̘̯̼̗̳͖͉̫͇͕͔̿͛̉̈́͌̈́͐̑͌͝u̵̧̡̖̼̺̼̯̖̙̲̺̰̮̩̯̜͛̑̃̐͊͛͌̌̓͋́̒̌̚͜'

So he waited and waited for the three words he uttered on your ear to return, and even then, promised of waiting even as you parted ways--even if orange dyed the world around you again.

For like the sunflowers, you were his sun.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Many summers have passed, and you had left the comfort of eternity to seek out the world on your own. The Raiden Shogun and her eternity was showing its signs of fading in ironic tragedy. Yet you wondered why such fleetingness felt comforting instead.

They called the land you chose to reside in the City of Freedom. Their ruling archon was nothing more than myths and childlike wonder, yet Mondstadt thrived even in their absence.

Like the carefree breeze, its people were equally so. They did not mind your origins nor your reasons, and instead welcomed you in their land with kindness and hospitality. Often, you wondered if the Anemo Archon chose this path of rule to embody the freedom that he is--that perhaps, this might be even his wish.

"I received a vision! It's--"

You smiled to yourself as you stopped that train of thought. You knew your reasons for choosing Mondstadt as your new refuge. Deep in your heart, you were waiting too.

Rain was quite an unusual sight in Monstadt--you were far too used to sunlight and breezy afternoons that the sight of darker skies were comforting to you instead. You liked the sound rain made as it hit the roof, the smell of petrichor in the air--

"Hello?"

Such appreciative thoughts were brought to a halt at the sound of a familiar voice. But he did not speak again, so you weren't sure if you have imagined it instead. The knocks on your door however, reassured you that not everything you heard was imagined.

Your heart pounded at every step, silencing yourself from the hopeful yearning that keeps on resurfacing as you went closer to your doorstep.

But he was there. He wasn't only hopeful yearning. The orange hues of the trees from afar only seemed to deepen the sunset reflecting on his eyes. They widened as they gazed at you.

"I'm very sorry, but can I trouble you for refuge for the night?"

Laughter. You haven't shared one since that distant, summer day. You took the stray maple leaf out of his hair and echoed the words he had uttered to you on the day you first met.

"Did I startle you? You have it stuck on your hair."

..but this time, you chose to stay by his side.

That night, I listened to the hymns till dawn, not for serenity, but to seek a sliver of your soul;

That month, I flipped through all the scriptures, not for enlightenment, but to touch the pages where your fingers once lingered;

That year, I knelt on the grounds, my head embracing the dusts, not to pay obeisance to the Gods, but to feel the warmth you left behind;

That life, I wandered through ten thousand great mountains, not in search for an afterlife, but to cross paths with you – 

[the-witches-you-couldnt-burn]

Living with what you’ve done

Uhhhhh

UHHHHHHH WHAT

Ok so I started writing the 100 special but then I got to 120!?! Wtf when did this happen?

Though I would like to thank each follower personally I have social anxiety and would rather not randomly message strangers following me. Here is my public thank you!

Idk what I did while writing this but it seems I managed to copy-paste the beginning four seperate times. This brought the word count up to 5.9k but it is now edited and brought down to 2.3k

Inspired by my friend @deltaxxk who loves angst and told me I have to write a follower special

Other prompts used: One, Two

Also! There are movie references within this fic, if you get them all you get a virtual lollipop 🍭

Ao3

Disclaimer: THIS FIC IS MAJORLY ANGSTY PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS IF ANY OF THE WARNINGS WILL TRIGGER YOU

Warings: blood, fire, death (+graphic descriptions of dying), injuries, grief, human trafficking and mentions of psychopathy

———————

“Robin we’re out of time! We must leave, we’re out of time!” Her yo-yo strained with tension as she swung into a goon, sending their body flying away from her team.

They had gotten a lead on a meta trafficking ring that involved some of the Gotham elite’s children disappearing. The lead brought them to the dock, GothDrill’s warehouse sat just off to the right. Its fluorescent lights signifying signs of life, Marinette knew most weren’t there willingly.

“Make more time!” He snapped back. Ladybug fumble slightly before regaining her footing, she wasn’t expecting the coldness in his tone.

She jumped back into the fray and watched from the corner of her eye Damian take on four goons by himself. She stifled a sigh before punching the man in front of her square on his jaw, ‘must he always prove himself when he has already?’ Damian edged himself closer to the garage doorway of the shed before disappearing into the building.

Focus her attention back on the battle around her, she saw Red Hood downed under a steel beam. She rushed over, and with her enhanced miraculous strength to lift the offending metal. He groaned with pain, the beam had pinned his legs, forcing him to lay stomach down. Wrapping his arm around her shoulder, supporting the majority of his weight to get him to his feet. Pain throbbed in his left leg and they stumbled onto the dock to hide behind down GothDrill crates.

Ripping the seams of his pant leg, she revealed a dark purple bruise that was rapidly spreading. She also discovered the beam had broken his femur and shattered his kneecap, how he wasn’t screaming in pain was beyond her. Pink light danced between her fingers before drifting down to his wound. Jason bit his hand to prevent any cries from leaving his mouth. He didn’t want another confrontation in his state.

The sound reached her before the light did. Jason panted as he looked up to see what distracted her from his healing. Reflections of orange and yellows dancing across her cerulean eyes. “Damian.” She whispered frozen stock still.

Something within her very core snapped and cardinal urges overtook her common sense. Shooting up like a bullet she sprinted towards the blazing inferno, her ears numb to the world around her.

Inside was worse than the burning exterior. She could see where the explosion originated from, big barrels of flammable chemicals blazed white with heat. The smoke and burning chemical gases penetrated her airways, coughs racked her chest.

She could see flames running up the walls and the lit barrels but the rest was black. The smoke was a blanket of darkness that wrapped around her.

And then she heard it. The screaming.

Multiple voices, so raw with pain, masculine and feminine, old and young. Running towards it she hoped to spot Damian but luck wasn’t on her side. Instead she found the trafficked civilians, their bodies red with burns with their hair and clothes set ablaze.

She ran full speed at the wall nearby, shattering the melted bolts. The fire blazed brighter at the new source of oxygen. She directed the victims out, the dove towards the water. The goons had fled during the initial explosion leaving the Batfam free to help.

She looked down at the bodies of those who didn’t survive. Some were burned beyond recognition, she kept looking, scouring for Damian.

She heard Red Robin calling her name, she looked up to see the scaffolding holding the roof breaking apart and falling to where she stood. She felt her body tackled out of the way and another thunderous crash hit the floor.

She was dragged outside and placed into the care of a newly arrived ambulance. Her eyes, red from the smoke and ash, looked out the back door of the vehicle. Firefighters and police had arrived on scene along with news reporters and the public. Families of the trafficked were reunited with their lost love ones and others mourned their deceased. Red Robin stood there, watching her.

“You can’t just follow me into fire.” She croaked to him, her oxygen mask muffling her.

The whites of his black cowl narrowed and his fists clenched. “Then don't run into fire,” he growled at her before walking off.

Her body moved without thinking, removing her oxygen mask against the protests of the paramedics. Ladybug reassured them she’ll be alright and that they should help the others who were more injured than she. She walked back towards the building but the black-clad figure of Batman stopped her stride.

“You’re not using your cure.” He stated. Her eyes widened, the cure could save his missing son, save the trafficked from their injuries and deaths. Who was he to deny the will of a god’s favoured?

Using the cure in Gotham was always straining and the Batfam knew that. On multiple smaller occasions, she was prevented from using it due to the amount of damage and crime being reverse causing serious health concerns they observed in Marinette. But she never thought it would also be denied on an occasion like this.

“I have to! Robin cou—“

“No, you could die.” He cut her off, her foggy mind becoming more enraged.

“And he could live!”

Without a reply he injected her neck with a sedative, her body collapsed from the drugs and exhaustion. The world going dark around her.

+++++++++++++

Three days after

Her blaring phone distracted her from her dissociative state. She was staring lifelessly at her TV, she could say what happened in the show even if her life depended on it. She scrambled to her phone, Dick’s name lit up the screen.

She accepted the call, answer with a hoarse “hello?”

“Marinette? Are you able to make it over we have some things to tell you.”

Her breath caught in her throat. Pressing her phone to her ear with her shoulder she ran around her apartment, grabbing her keys, shoes and jacket. Rushing out the door she rapidly fired questions at him, “What is it? Did you find him? Is he there?” All of which were answered with silence.

“It’s best that we discuss this when you get to the manor.” And with that, he hung up. The click seemed to echo in her car, even though she knew it didn’t. Driving towards the outskirts of Gotham where Wayne manor resided, she felt a spark of hope rekindle in her chest. Although Dick didn’t give her much to go on she still hoped they found him and everything could go back to how it was.

Fate wasn’t merciful to the naive it seems.

Her world shattered around her as she saw the crisped cape on the table. The smell of burnt blood permeated the room. Her eyes stayed locked onto the cloth as she spoke, “But this is only his cape, not his body. He still could be alive somewhere! He is injured and hurt and we have to find him!”

No one spoke. Their eyes flicked to one another.

Jason limped in her direction, his crutch clicking against the stone flooring. He placed a heavy hand on her shoulder, his eyes brimming with unshed emotions. “The cape was found with the body, everything else was unsalvageable except the cape.”

A silent “we’ve found him, just not how we wanted,” resounded throughout her being.

She glared at Bruce, “He could be alive if you didn’t stop me! I could have saved him!” She lashed out, tears pouring down her cheeks.

“And we would have been having this exact conversation with Damian about why we didn’t stop you. The best outcome for this situation was you living.”

“No the best outcome was both of us being given a chance at survival” Marinette screamed at him, his face was emotionless. How could he be so uncaring to the fact of his youngest son dying?

Running out of the Batcave and manor she gasped at the cold night air. A sob escaped her mouth. Her head banged against her steering wheel, tears dripping onto her pyjama pants. There was no way she’d be able to sleep tonight.

++++++++++++

Twelve days after

Fire danced in her peripheral. A medley of bright oranges and golden yellows. She remembered the times when the two of them would watch the sunset in silence, sipping on hot chocolate and green tea. This blazing inferno was different. Its colours more violent and foreboding.

The screams. They were different from the ones she heard that night. They were his screams.

She saw her body encased within his burnt arms. Damian was little more than a burnt corpse, his eyes blazed green and his bone was replaced with metal pipes. The cure resurrected him but he was not wholly there anymore.

She awoke screaming. Not in control enough to remember she had neighbours; mentally pleading that they’d understand. They knew of his disappearance but not of his death. She was still heavily in denial.

She isolated herself away from everyone, afraid she would hurt anyone else that got close. She couldn’t stop wanting to hurt Bruce for making her unable to use her cure or the goons for setting the place alight and killing her fiancé. She wanted to go scorched earth.

She snuggled into his pillowcase, his faint scent of honey was still present. She willed herself to fall back asleep, his scent surrounding her. His pillow, his shirt, his ring; but she was missing him.

++++++++

Two hundred and eighty-seven days after

Red trickled down her finger. It took her a moment to move the fabric away from the dripping blood source but managed to before it stained. It had been years since she had pricked her finger with a needle, but her subconscious must have needed to feel something; even if it was pain.

She looked around at her juvenile pink room. She had moved back into her parents six months after Damian’s death. Three months into her stay and she still had most of her belongings in boxes. The only decorations in the room were scattered commissions and a wooden blanket.

Looking down at the puddle of blood that was growing on her white desk she wonders if Damian bled before the fire cauterised his wounds. She had researched that burning to death was one of the most painful ways to die, it takes hours, each nerve ending burning. The burn victim usually passes out after a few minutes but she could imagine Damian desperately trying to put himself out, only to find more fire encompassing him.

His cape was bloody so she hopes he bled rather than burned. Or maybe he was crushed by the falling roof and killed instantly. She hoped he didn’t suffer for long.

Similar intrusive thoughts plagued her mind constantly but she kept her focus on her art to push through the days. Gazing down at the wound she found Tikki had held her and Wayzz had wiped the puddle with tissues.

Today she’ll live for them. Tomorrow she might live to try her father’s new recipe of cinnamon macarons. Last Tuesday she lived to hear Luka’s new song. Next month she might live just to pat the stray kitten that lives in the alley behind the Chinese restaurant two streets over.

++++++++++

Five hundred and twenty days after

She froze at the sight before her. Thinking it was another hallucination or she was having another nightmare. “You thought,” The glass in her hand cracked under her grip. Her brain couldn’t process what was happening. She hasn’t disassociated this much since the day he ‘died’.” That by faking your death, you could find out who you could rely on?”

“TT, yes. Now that I know everything can go back to the way it was.” She swigged her glass again, wishing it were whiskey instead of water. When they had met, Jon and his family had warned her that he was severely emotional constipated from his upbringing but this was in the psychopathic area of emotionless.

“No.”

“What?” His shock almost seems real. His eyes had widened and his body language was unsteady.

“No, we aren’t done talking about this! How ignorant do you have to be to think this won’t affect our relationship? Won’t affect me?”

“It wasn’t real. I’m here.” He stepped forward, arms rising to hug her. He never was one for physical contact. She pulled back, grabbing a steak knife and placing it between them. He told her he had set the place aflame. He found the lead for the trafficking ring. He planned it all. And now he was back, almost a year and a half later.

“That doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt! I’m going to have nightmares for the rest of my life! How selfish, how, how stupid do you have to be to not consider what it does to someone who cared about you?!”

“Cared?”

“Do I need to spell it out? We’re done. I don’t want to see you ever again,” She seethed. “You think everything can go back to how it was before? Well, it can’t. I spent months of my life mourning over a guy who wasn’t even dead. Who didn’t even care about me enough not to toy with my emotions. My life isn’t a game Damian!”

“I only did this because I thought—”

“I don’t care. Get out. Out of my house. Out of my life. Just get out.”

“I didn’t intend to hurt you, I just wanted to know.” Hot, rage-filled tears ran down her cheeks. She jabbed the knife at him, stopping inches before his chest. She had backed him down the stair and to the front door. Neither of her parents were home and he was more unpredictable than ever.

“I hope you can live with what you’ve done, le miel”

[the-year-i-met-you]

Anatomy of the starry night.

Vincent Van Gogh's famous painting, called the "Starry Night" was painted somewhat around in June 1889. It depicts a dreamy interpretation of the artist's asylum room's sweeping view of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.

The central idea behind my piece was to create my own storyline out of the six major colours that stands out the most in this masterpiece. Each colour in my writeup carries it's own unique moment and is set on a different timeline.

1. emerald green : i had my favorite song on loop that morning when i first laid my eyes on her/ she was scribbling her heart out in that empty bench of our colony, under the laburnum/ my eyes immediately fell upon her green painted nails and the silver ring she wore on her thumb/ "do you think I'm so clumsy that i need someone to watch over me?", she speaks and looks at me/ " well, feel free to say hi" i grin back at her/ i never said her name aloud to anyone but i swear it tasted like popsicle kissed smiles on my tongue.

2. prussian blue : my name in her mouth melts like a dead poet's metaphor/comforting in its own way/ i remember her tiptoeing across the hardwood floors of bookstore, casting a soft smile upon the verses that caught her eyes/ i shove my hands deep inside my pockets and look down at my shoes trying hard not to melt in the moment/ the sunless august afternoon called for showers/ left alone in the middle of the rain, i can still picture the moment when she leaned against my shoulder as we watched the downpour outside/ our fingers intertwined a few moments later and there i was melting in every moment that followed; falling harder than the raindrops on the windowpane.

3. cobalt blue : i am a patchwork of grey skies/ upon another heartbeats, i am just a soft drizzle/ but when i hear the sound of her heart, a hurricane storms inside me/ and i happily embrace it/ i have memorised every bit of her and have crafted them as poems upon my skin/ the way she tucks her hair behind her ear, the way the sun melts in her deep brown eyes/ the way she concentrates on raindrops running down the windowpanes, the way she tilts her head while waving a goodbye/ unknowingly, she started to reside in my breaths and i, i started to look for the hurricanes she blessed me with.

4. zinc yellow : the summer songs are hard go unnoticed/ i run my fingers by the edge of the ceramic mug, slipping more into the silence/ happiness blooms in her voice as she says about the letter she received from her beloved this morning/ i breathe every moment in; memorising every bit of her/ her fingers trace down the alphabets and her lips curl up to a little smile/ the pink in her cheeks carried his name/ she holds his letter close to her chest and whispers something silently which ended with a smile/ my heart wept for a summer but i was drowning in my set of winters again.

5. yellow ochre : it has been seven summers, twenty eight poems and a handful of breakdowns ever since this town has felt her heartbeat/ i often find myself in places she blessed me with, trying to relieve every bit of her (or us)/ i smile at the same old bench at my old colony where i first met her, find myself tracing down raindrops from other side of the windowpane/ i unknowingly tilt my head now - in every hello and goodbye/ there is a pink tint in the sunset today and my mind here crawls back to the day she received that letter/ "so this is what nostalgia is supposed to feel" a familiar voice speaks up/ i turn back and there storms, my most eagerly awaited hurricane inside me.

6. burnt umber : the air carries a hint of agony today/ she tucks another stray strand of her hair behind her ear/ pale, slender fingers running along the edge of her silver jhumka making their way back to the soft fabric of her beige dupatta/ the sound of the ganga echoes in my ears as the sun leaves a crimson hue upon the river/ my gaze shifts to her wrists/ that old set of rusted bangles still holds the same promise/ she clasps her hands closer to her chest, leaving a painful sigh, or maybe a silent sob/ i follow her eyes and tell her we should go home/ she closes her eyes, refusing to stand, "i have spent 38 years of sunsets with him but today, this sunset felt like a thousand silent deaths. i don't think i can make it to home tonight."

[juminly]

First Sight (Arthur Conan Doyle x Reader)

Summary: Going through a rough patch in your life, your friend thought of the perfect solution to help you through it. And that's how you found yourself spending a night with one of the most reputable men of Yoshiwara.

Tags: Yoshiwara/Courtesan AU, Fluff, Bittersweet Fluff, Some Mutual Pining, Obvious Canon Divergence, Some Historical Inaccuracy.  –♥–  Had she not convinced you to come with her to take a look around the infamous red-light district of Yoshiwara, you would have never witnessed something as mesmerizing as you had on that evening. It was the walk of the Yoshiwara courtesans, where the different courtesan establishments would flaunt the highly demanded and regarded men and women of the district, both genders falling in awe and captivated by their beauty as they walked the streets around Sunset, before the nights of unholy pleasure began. Looking at your friend, her eyes practically bulging out of their sockets as she waited to see the courtesan that she had been frequenting for a while, Dazai. Spending heaps of money on the dark haired fellow with golden eyes, you could definitely see why she had become too obsessed with spending countless nights with him, even as it dried her pockets. Shaking your head, you sighed and rubbed your temples, still wondering why you were even there and why she brought you with her. Yes, you were going through a major slump in your life but the trust that you had in her methods to cheer you up was not at its highest point then. You watched a silver-haired man followed next, kind crimson eyes looking at everyone that watched the parade but at no one in particular, an obscure sense of poise surrounding him as the softest of smiles painted his lips. He was certainly beautiful but... you had yet to see and witness more. Feeling the air seeping from your lungs, your eyes were met with the most mesmerizing jewels you've ever seen, gleaming sapphires outlined by long dark lashes, strands of wavy midnight blue hair boldly acting as unruly curtains that swiped over them with each strut of the man's body. Pale skin brightened under the blush light of the sunset, pink lips stretched into a sure smile, a smile that did not reflect in his eyes. His collar attracting your eyes to the long slit created by his kimono, loosely hanging over his broad shoulders, the belt pulling the fabric together only accentuating the musculature of his lean physique. A loud scream startled you, one of the girls standing next to you practically hyperventilating as he had winked at her, all the while, he kept his head high and turning to keep his gaze forward, his posture picture perfect as he slowly faded away in the distance, yet his presence still remained.

As your friend bumbled on about how she didn't want to spend the night alone in the courtesan house, forcibly strung along in her whims, you found yourself standing before a counter where bills of cash were laid flat on the wooden surface, your eyes widening as you realized that she had booked you a room with one of the courtesans. "I-... I didn't ask for this! I could've just waited for you in the lobby! You b-" Pressing an index against your lips, she grinned widely. "My treat. Believe me, with this one, you'll definitely thank me later. I have a good feeling you will."

Clicking your tongue and practically fuming at her insolence, you felt your blood boil but what was the point? You weren't sure who you were going to meet, unfamiliar with their names, having only your eyes laid on them as they gracefully walked before you. You didn't have anything to lose... So you'd just go wherever the wind took you. It wasn't like you had anything better to do for the rest of the evening anyways. Making your way to your appointed room, the loud thumping of your heart grew louder in your ear. This was not something you have done before nor were you familiar with, but sliding the door open, you were meet with the bare back of a man who had been in the middle of dressing himself back in his kimono. You stuttered a low 'sorry', still hesitantly standing by the door when you heard a tuneful chuckle. "Don't worry about it, love. I am not a shy one." Turning his head around, the flickering light of the candles surrounding the room illuminating his striking features, a surprised gasp escaping you when you realized who it was. The blue-eyed courtesan with the beauty mark right by his playfully quirked lips."You are more than welcome to come in. After all, I am at your beck and call tonight." Swiftly standing up, inching closer to you, he reached over you, shutting the sliding door, the colourful smell of wood and spices filling your senses in the most intoxicating of ways. Smiling down at you, the confidence in him was not arrogant, yet playful and teasing, the trepidation in you decreasing as you realized, this is no different than meeting a man you’re interested in for the very first time. Other than the fact that you were meeting in a bedroom and just... Shaking your head, you tried not to dwell too much on your thoughts, focusing on the beauty that was towering over you. “What a lovely dove you are...” You felt the top of your cheeks heat up, with every word that he left his lips. It was his job to flatter his clients, of that you were already sure, but that did nothing to deter your weak heart from being struck by his sweet nothings. “Hello there, first timer. It will be my utmost pleasure to serve you on this beautiful evening, love. Make yourself comfortable, dearie.” With a shaky smile, you stepped further inside, noticing that there was no other place for you to sit but on the bed, not even a chair, nothing. You didn’t have many expectations yet considering how favorable he seemed to the public, it would be only natural to witness more extravagance than there already was. Finding a spot on the edge of the bed, you sat and looked up at the courtesan, a nervous giggle escaping you. “This is my first time and I wasn’t planning on even coming here. My friend booked this room for me and I’m just... here now.” Walking across the room with barely audible footsteps, he glided to your side, light a feather, bearing a small cup in one hand with another intricately ornate bottle. “It is kind of you to say that you had a 'room' booked for you and not a 'courtesan'... 'myself' booked for you.” He teased, pouring a clear magenta liquid into the cup, filling it close to the brim and offering it to you. “Raspberry sake for your nerves, dear.” Whipping your head to the side, the corner of his eyes crinkled lightly as he grinned at you, your heart completely melting as he flashed his pearly smile at you. How was he even doing this to you? Just by the sound of his voice, he had you feeling like your entire body melted. Still keeping your fingers linked together, as if they were still stuck in each other's hold, the blue eyed courtesan placed the bottle on the nearby nightstand, still keeping the hand offering you the liquid filled cup to you. "I promise on whatever ounce of dignity that I may possess, the sake is for your own comfort. It is my rule within my profession not to force advances upon clients. Fear not, pretty dove. For tonight, I am yours, as no one could ever be mine." Finally taking the cup from him, your fingers brushing against his long slim digits, a faint shiver coursing through, your heart crumbling at the seams at the dauntingly sinister words of the courtesan, masked by his cheerful tone Taking a long sip, throwing your head back lightly as you emptied the liquid, a light scorching trail paving it's way down your throat before you finally found a bit of courage, hoping the pink sake had given you some. You were usually much more confident that this. What was happening to you? "Would it be okay if you told me your name? Since we are spending the night together, I think I should at least know what to call you." You inquired, an attempt to make the best out of your night somehow. His name was probably a good way to start. For a split-second, the courtesan was completely caught off guard, not only were you a first-timer, you didn't even know his name and by the looks of it, you had absolutely no plans in taking advantage of the money that your friend had spent on 'him' keeping you company through the late hours of the night. Crossing his legs, he chuckled at the way your eyes took in the sight of his exposed legs, the length of his pale and soft skin on display for you, the slit of his kimono heeding any client's quest to assess the goods they were paying for. As your eyes skirted away, locking with his mesmerizing sapphires, Arthur took the liberty to lay back on the bed, angling his body to the side towards you, hoping that with time, you would also do the same. "There is no need for formalities with me, dearie. Call me Arthur. That is my name. Yet, all my clients are also free to call me whatever they wish, as well." In that moment, you were certain that Arthur couldn't hear how wistful his words rang, how every time he spoke, his voice was laced with a palpable sadness, your very being feeling an inexorable need to reach deep inside him and fill it with... You were not even sure. You didn't know him, so why would you assume all these things about him? After going through your small round of introduction, it only took a few minutes to find yourself laying on the opposite side of him, mere inches separating your bodies, the close distance oddly intimate yet comforting while you quietly filled the room with the sound of your voices and light laughter, drowning out the distant thumping and the unmistakable din of pleasure that erupted within the establishment. Strange emotions rose within him, sensations that he had never sought or found with other clients before yet had coincidentally stumbled upon as you recounted the current events in your life that were plaguing your mind and eroding the happiness in your heart. The malaise ringing in your voice mirrored his own, which he had buried in the depth of his heart. Asking you questions, stirring you away from the darkness that shrouded you, Arthur lead you away from what encumbered your soul, the light in your eyes almost brightening in the course of your exchange, implicitly guiding you through your qualms, coming to your own realizations about where you were headed, where you wanted to be in your life. He aided in tending to matters of the heart... and not of the flesh. Neither of you could have anticipated to undergo such an enlightening experience, by simply opening your heart to a stranger. A beautiful stranger who teased you with his words, refraining from giving you even the lightest of touches, yet still playfully able to make you squirm, blush and laugh as the night went on. It seemed like you were both taking turns, unveiling the secrets hidden behind your smile, the seemingly iridescent aura surrounding Arthur still present yet changing in colour, in texture... almost sensing the presence of someone other than the courtesan that you had seen being ceremoniously paraded before the eyes of the willing, the impassioned and the greedy. "I can spend an entire lifetime recounting my simple aspirations in life, love. Yet, for a man such as myself, the price is much too steep, proving to be..." He paused for a moment, looking at both your hands that were placed between your bodies, a tingling rising on the tip of his fingers. Could he just brush them against your hand softly, just to feel the kindness through your warmth... help him through his words? Was it too much to ask, to find an intimacy that did not involve being used? You didn't urge him to reveal more, already sensing the way he bared himself to you in the same manner you did with him, yet still... the both of you remained in the same position you had been from the moment you entered the room. While everything surrounding you emanated of sensuality and unadulterated passion, here you were... hearts connecting in the most unexpected of places. "May I touch your hand?" He murmured softly, his voice cracking lightly at the last word, the corner of his lips turning up in a sheepishly gentle manner. Now it was your turn to giggle, your hand finding purchase in his large one, linking your fingers with his as you brushed the tips lightly on his palm. Silly man... after everything that you shared, he still thought that holding your hand would be asking for too much. In your case, it absolutely wasn't... especially when it gifted you with the sweet sight of pink tinting the top of Arthur's cheeks. “I think I’d like us to stay like this for the rest of the night, Arthur.” You reassured him, lifting your hands to rest between your hearts, neither of you realizing how they beat in time. Together. “That would certainly make me happy, darling.” His melodic voice rang soft and low, as if throwing a blanket that warmed your body, heart and soul. For the first time in forever, Arthur had found a grain of happiness, with you... seeding an innocent and fervent hope that it would blossom into something... into much more. –♥–  A/N: this is legit so all over the place but I couldn’t resist writing a little courtesan AU with Arthur. Also, this one is for you, waifu @theweebrises​ 💜  Tagging: @nafeary @kisara-16 @delicateikemenmemes  if anyone wants to be tagged or untagged, let me know <3 Please feel free to leave some love in the comments or some feedback!💜 You can also check out my Masterlist !

[creativeashproductions]

What If...? V // Alive!Luke Patterson

Summary: 1995 was Sunset Curve’s big break in the music world with a successful future. Between 1995-2004 a handful of things happen: Playing the Orpheum, the band buying a house, a car accident, a reconciliation, an engagement, a wedding and children. All things that potentially may have not happened had the boys continued to eating sketchy hot dogs from a car.

Warnings: Swearing, pregnancy, labour, minor angst and a bunch of fluff.

Words: 3.1k

Requested: By @beautifulblogsblog. The last part of your request 🥺😭

A/N: Wow. The last part in the What If…? Mini series is here. This was incredibly fun to write and while I wrote the last two parts I played a few covers and rewrites of Unsaid Emily. This is the first finished series. I’ll also let everyone know that there will be a part three for Lost Time.

TO BE TAGGED SEND AN INBOX/ASK PLEASE!

Masterlist

Hospital Maternity Room #284, 1999

“Have a child, they said. Pregnancy is a beautiful thing they said. I can confirm that asshole that said that had a dick.” You hissed from the hospital bed. A contraction contracting your midsection.

Nancy Y/L/N and Emily Patterson took up residence in the chairs on either side of Y/N Patterson in the afternoon of 1999. Nancy had been using the previous months making a scrapbook for the baby; the first bit with copies of photos from Luke and your baby stages. The rest would be the first year of your baby’s life.

“Would you like some ice chips?” Emily asked focused on knitting the baby hat for her impending grandchild.

Mitch and Lance each had made themselves scarce from the hospital in favour of working leaving the women alone.

“I’d like your son to be here to kick his ass.” Your eye twitched at the thought of your husband currently on an airplane. Sunset Curve had gone on a three-day interview marathon to the dislike of your friends and family.

Sunset Curve really needs to fire their manager with little respect for his charges’ lives. Especially the lead singer’s first child. Luke had no clue you had gone into labour.

 “Your father had words with Jerry for his meddling.” Nancy told her daughter glancing up at the strained smile through another contraction, “I’m sure Jerry thought the controversy of Luke not making the birth would be perfect for publicity.”

“I swear I will strangle Jerry if Luke isn’t here. I will pulverize the son of a bitch.” You hissed relaxing against the white sheets in the private suite. The mothers had been constants in the room while Rose, the pianist from the wedding, had visited briefly.

 Rose and the photographer Ray had hit it off so well they had entered a relationship that then blossomed a friendship with you. The couple had become dear friends in the last few months.

 “Okay Y/N, we’re gonna check your progress.” The doctor spoke swiftly tugging the disposable medical gloves on his hands. Two nurses worked with him. Your eyes pinned to the ceiling during the short examination.

“We’ve hit ten centimetres.” The doctor announced pushing the wheeled stool away to study your expressions, “Do you have your partner here?”

The tears built up as it settled that Luke might miss the birth of his first child when he had been so excited about it. He had bought and read more pregnancy books than you he had been talking with his father on how he could support you. He took classes with his mom on how to change a diaper, check the temperature of the bottle and methods for colic and diaper rashes.

Overwhelmed the feeling of two pairs of hands comforted you with the reminder that while Luke wasn’t there, you still had support. The baby would be born with both his grandmothers in the room. It was as best as it could be.

In a fast pace, you then found yourself with your legs in the stirrups with a stranger, albeit a doctor, staring at your vagina. It was uncomfortable, but it faded when the pain really began.

“Okay I want you to push from 1-10.” The doctor soothed, “Good job.”

“You’re doing so well, darling,” Nancy told you, leading Emily to open her mouth. Unfortunately, she didn’t get the chance.

 “I’m here!” Luke exclaimed rushing into the room, “Your dad was-“

Why was it unfortunate that Emily didn’t speak? Well, Luke unprepared caught sight of your exposed lower half. He promptly fainted with a thud to the floor.

“Are you serious?!” You yelled glaring at the puddle of your husband out cold with one of the nurses waving a package under his nose.

The smelling salt pack under Luke’s nose, bringing him back to consciousness, “Oh, boy. I fainted.”

“It happens more often than you would think.” The nurse told the young man while you focused on another push.

By the time the contraction ended, Luke had taken his mother’s place in holding your hand with encouraging words dripping off his tongue.

“This is the only child we’re having.” You hissed at the musician who continued to pale with a perfect view of the birthing in a reflection, “If you faint again I will…ARG”

A beautiful cry filled the room to the relief of baby Patterson’s parents bringing both of them to cry as well. Baby Patterson was scooped away to the corner of the room for a checkup and weight while the doctor inspected you. Time felt unreal as it passed quickly.

Baby Patterson was wiped clean as you delivered the placenta, got cleaned up with a sheet change and began to rest. Baby hairs plastered against your forehead you cooed at the swaddled form of your baby.

“So beautiful.” Luke whispered, unaware of his mother taking pictures with the lessons Ray had given her. The baby’s mouth opened with a gurgle that caused your heart to grow, “I’ll go let the boys know.”

Mesmerized by the baby, Luke made his way to the family waiting room on the maternity ward where it was packed. Opening the door, he counted Reggie, Bobby, Alex, Alex’s boyfriend Willie, your father Lance and Luke’s father. In the corner, Rose and Ray huddled together.

“Well?” Alex anxiously questioned picking at his cuticles, anxious for any news. His blue eyes begging his best friend for answers.

“Y/N is doing fine. The birth was smooth, and baby Patterson is healthy.” Luke proudly announced, placing his hands on the hem of his purple long sleeve shirt.

The room went silent before Mitch spoke, “So, do I have a granddaughter or a grandson?”

From the moment she was born, Stevie Eleanor Patterson had her father tied around her finger with her daddy’s matching hazel gaze. Lips like yours and a nose still unsure of but the nine-month-old was absolutely gorgeous with her short brown hair already curling. Of course, you could be biased as she was all yours.

Stevie wouldn’t settle without rock music of her father singing songs, but she did sleep through the night since day one. That didn’t mean she’d continue to sleep through the night, regression of sleep was tale your mother told about you as a baby.

“Hello sweet baby girl.” You whispered gently rocking the baby back to sleep mesmerized by the perfect combination of you and Luke, “So sleepy from feeding hmm?”

Stevie was heavy with the only complication being the minor tongue tie that was resolved increasing her feed. Stevie had such an appetite you had to compensate with formula to a degree, and you were sure the appetite was all Luke.

“Hey sweetheart.” Luke murmured from the door of Stevie’s bedroom wearing his Rush cutoff shirt and his staple black jeans.

The now twenty-year-old man had transitioned smoothly into fatherhood with the support of his best friends and family. Emily and Nancy had alternated staying in the guest room to help in the first month; the birth had been easy, but recovery had been at a near standstill.

“Hey!” You spoke as Stevie reacted to Luke’s voice, “I thought you said you would be late?”

Luke’s lips turned up at your words, “It looked that way, but Tom sent us home. God, I wish we had him from the first instead of Jerry.”

Both noses of the couple scrunched at the insensitive former manager that had both hit on you and insulted you when started showing with the pregnancy. The minute they could the band fired the man and found a saviour in Tom. Tom had left his previous employment with some magician with a name like Conner or something. The magician was narcissistic truthfully and had a slight obsession with the occult and death.

“Perfect. I need a shower.” You sighed shuffling Stevie into Luke’s warm embrace staring at the daddy-daughter duo.

“Have a bath. Relax babe. I got it.” Luke cooed, staring at his baby daughter’s bright gaze and dimpled smile.

Luke couldn’t believe how blessed he had been in falling in love with someone like you and receiving a gift. The gift being a father to the most beautiful angel in the world with the name Stevie.

“Love you!” You called over hastily make a flee for the master bathroom with the large tub before Stevie objected.

How lucky were you to have a husband like Luke?

Malibu, Patterson home, 2004

Luke, Reggie, Bobby and Alex, better known as Sunset Curve, had become legendary in the music world after their 1995 headliner debut at the Orpheum. In the nine years since the esteemed performance Sunset Curve had released two studio albums and toured four times. With the good times came the bad times as well.

Bobby Willis had decided he wanted to pursue a solo career creating a cavern between all four boys. He would change his name to Trevor Wilson at the suggestion of his label. He had little traction with his songs.

“Daddy!” Squealed, the three old little brunette girl ran through the modest-sized mansion to the man at the door, “I missed you!”

Luke, having memorized the routine, had already left his bag on the ground as his five-year-old daughter launched herself into his arms. Stevie had kept the hazel eyes with the chocolate coloured wavy hair. You could see yourself with her nose, chin, mouth and ears, but the rest is all Luke.

“Bug, you saw Daddy this morning.” You spoke, bringing Luke’s attention to the woman leaning against the wall. Luke’s heart fluttered, taking in the vision of his wife, who inspired so many songs.

Luke’s lips separated to reveal that perfect smile that stilled made your stomach flutter as it had since you were both fifteen. His hazel eyes glanced from your face to the one-year-old on your hip with his eyes closed. Little lips opened with quiet snores.

Hudson Jude was born in December of 2002 thankfully while Sunset Curve was on a break allowing Luke to be there. Hud was a near replica of you with the same eyes as his older sister and father. His infectious personality mimicking his uncle Reggie.

Mitch and Emily’s House May 2002

Last night had been incredible to Luke Patterson as Sunset Curve stood on the stadium stage as the sold-out crowd cheered as the song came to an end. ‘Now or Never’ had a special spot in the band’s hearts as they believed it had been the spark of interest from record execs back in ’95. Luke’s blue electric hung behind him as his best friends, his brothers, came to the edge with him. Grins splitting their faces the four boys grabbed hands and bowed to the audience.

“Thank you so much for coming out!” Luke’s voice reached every corner of the stadium drinking in the cheering and the signs in the crowd. And it felt like just yesterday they played the Orpheum before they hit it big.

The screams growing as Reggie’s winked in the direction of a group of girls, but Luke’s drifted to the VIP section. You stood with Stevie wearing the special headphones to protect her hearing. Her tiny hands clapping as her eyes wandered the large number of people.

The next morning, right now, he was in the living room with his parents, in-laws, his wife and daughter. So much had changed for the vocalist from fleeing this very house to returning to make amends. Now he watched his daughter playing with the toys Emily had found in the attic from Luke’s childhood.

“Hey I got you a gift.” You whispered to the man leaning against your legs on the floor. You sat seated on the couch while the other adults spoke.

“A gift? What for?” Luke questioned leaning to rest his head on your lap. His eyes found the little box you had hidden behind a pillow.

It was small and unassuming to the group in the living room. Luke’s fingers pulled the bow apart before the lid came off. Nestled in the velvet five guitars were. Taking one, Luke read the engraving.

“New Sunset Curve member: Coming December 2002.” Luke whispered blinking as he flipped it to see, “Daddy’s new music buddy.”

You stayed quiet for a moment, “The other ones are for the boys. The back has their names on it.”

 “We’re having another baby?” Luke softly asked, turning to face you completely. His eyes wonder-filled at the news, “Oh my gosh!”

“I know. I’m about two months pregnant at this point.” You murmured back cupping his cheeks with the stubble he hadn’t shaved yet. Tears filling both his and your eyes, “With how busy the tour was I lost track of my periods.”

“Oh my gosh. Can I tell them?” Luke pleaded on his knees, bringing the attention of both your parents. Stevie was still so enthralled by her toys she didn’t catch any words..

“Go ahead.” You smiled at the excited man. Facing the other side of the room, Luke nestled into your side on the couch..

Hand pressing on your flat tummy he grinned, “Stevie’s gonna be a big sister.”

Luke was so excited when his second child was born, he was thrilled at having a son; he would have been just as excited for a girl. He had a son and a daughter he loved with everything in him. He collaborated with Lance on a song for his own children just as Lance had.

“Hi Hud,” Luke spoke, stepping close to kiss his son’s sleeping head nestled in your neck, “How’s my gorgeous wife today.”

“Tired. Hud is breaking a new tooth, but Stevie’s been better today. She missed her uncle Alex.” You spoke, looking at your little girl.

 Stevie had become Alex’s shadow with the man even buying her a toy drumset for her fifth birthday. Alex and Willie had been away the past two weeks for a honeymoon; they legally couldn’t marry, but that didn’t stop them from having a dedication ceremony. The minute the law changed, you had no doubt Willie and Alex would find their way to a courthouse.

“We all miss Alex.” Luke sighed, “I hope he finds beach sand for the next year, there’s only so much I can take of Reggie. Bobby, Trevor came to the studio today. His sales have dropped, and his label dropped him.”

“He wants to come back?”

“To be fair he never really left the band. He went solo.” Luke admitted, “It’s hard to trust him after he took ‘Get Lost’ from us. At least he didn’t take ‘My Name is Luke’ from us.”

Your hand pushed up the hair hanging in his eyes below the orange beanie that had been a staple outfit piece for years now. Fronts pushed together, Luke kissed you for the first time today other than the quick peck as he left this morning. Hudson had a lousy sleep that left Luke staying up most the night with him.

“At the end of the day, it comes down to Reggie, Alex and you to make that decision. He’s never been a bad person, but maybe he felt like he wasn’t important. How many songs did he write?” You questioned your husband tentatively speaking to not spark his passionate anger.

You saw the annoyance in the crinkle of his nose and his eyebrows almost touching, but it didn’t take from the love in his eyes. With a sigh, he shifted Hudson to his embrace, tugging you to the spacious living room.

“If you look at it outside the band you have Stevie, Hudson and me. You have a family. Alex and Willie are connected at the hip. Reggie is with the band, volunteering at the kids centre, or with Ray.” It seemed it shifted something in Luke. His shoulders relaxed.

“The last few years have been pretty hectic.” Luke admitted watching as Stevie danced to the rock playing on the radio. Her little arms moving as if she was drumming.

Hudson shifted on Luke’s lap as you nestled into his side, watching the little loves you created with soft expressions. Stevie’s bright grin lighting up the room better than the natural light from the windows. The innocence she carried deep in her soul it felt like everything clicked into place.

“Daddy! Watch me!” Stevie giggled jumping as the song changed to Bittersweet by her grandfather Lance. The same song that played in the car accident back in ’96 that had a new meaning with having your own children.

It took a long time before Lance was able to pick up the guitar and perform; his lingering pain in his arm the cause. It took a few surgeries and physiotherapy along with relearning how to play before he performed Bittersweet. Lance performed for the first time live in your hospital room to his first grandchild.

“Whoo Stevie!” Reggie called from the front of the house. Behind him, Alex and Willie joined the same family.

“UNCLE ALEX!” Stevie shouted sprinting towards the tall blonde already crouching for the little girl.

The bond between Stevie and Alex was by far the cutest thing you had ever seen with how Stevie looked up at him. Alex would be the first to suggest tea parties and painting each other’s nails with newspaper for any spills. There wasn’t a better role model for Stevie to love. The bond was reminiscent of Uncle Jesse and Michelle from Full House.

“Ellie!” Alex shouted back swinging the little girl in his hug calling his unique nickname for her. He had taken to shortening her middle name; he really didn’t like when anyone else said it.

Peering over the pink sweater Stevie caught sight of Willie in the door, “Ready Uncle Alex?”

 At Alex’s confusion, Stevie wandered over to the skater smiling at the sight of his partner with the little girl. Willie’s brow furrowed as the girl came over to him uncharacteristically.

“Hi.” Stevie spoke, playing with her little fingers, “How was your trip, Uncle Willie?”

A small gasp from both Willie and Alex at the new title given that Stevie was shy with the skater. Stevie had been very excited for her uncle to come back from the honeymoon so she could surprise them.

“What?”

“You married Uncle Alex. That means you’re my uncle now too. Can I call you that?” Stevie’s brows furrowed concentrating on the man with tears in his eyes. The room was silent at Willie collected himself.

“I’d love that Squirt.” Willie choked out when her little arms wrapped around his shoulders, “Learn any new tricks on the drums?”

“Not really! But I lost a tooth!” Stevie excitedly spoke dancing on the balls of her little feet in the kid-sized black vans.

“Oh! Ray wanted me to pass on that he and Rose are pregnant! Baby is a girl due next year.” Reggie gasped, remembering the announcement from lunch at the Molina house, “Ray’s pretty sure they’ll name her Julie.”

The little Patterson girl eagerly informed her uncles on everything that had happened since the dedication ceremony with Willie and Alex. Even the twenty-four hours since she saw Uncle Reggie before breaking out into the dance moves from her dance classes. Hudson now toddling after his older sister with a smile on his little face.

A twist of expressions appeased on the members of Sunset Curve at the same time spoke together. All thinking of a distant vision of a Puerto Rican girl with a blurry face and gorgeous voice.

“Julie Molina? I feel like I know that name?”

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[raindancer2004]

Vacation on Isle Esme

Word Count: 7,710 Demetri x OC Part 5. Warning: Fluff, Angst, NSFW

Alyssa woke up in Demetri’s arms “Morning cara, sleep well?” “Mmm. Did you?” “I did” He answered playing along “When I hold you in my arms at night listening to your steady heartbeat I feel so relaxed and if I close my eyes it���s almost like I’m sleeping” He kisses her forehead “Can I ask you a question Dem?” “Of course, you can ask me anything” He replied softy “How come you never mentioned before that you had a Mr Grey thing going on?” “It’s not something you tell people when you first meet them nor is it first date conversation cara” He answered holding her closer “I wanted to tell you sooner but I didn’t know if you’d like that kinda of thing, being that you hadn’t been with anyone before. However, after we started reading the 50 Shades of Grey books and you seemed to like them I figured I’d bring the subject up” “I’m glad you did and that you trusted me…wanted to share that part of your life with me” She rested a hand on his cheek. “I’ve never shared that part of my life with anyone before Ally” He rested his forehead against hers “Really? But you’ve had lovers over the years” He chuckled “Yes, but only a few and to be honest it’s only over the last few decades that I’ve taken an interest in that stuff but I didn’t want to explore that with anyone… but my mate” She kissed him and ran her fingers through his hair “Thank you cara mia for trusting me enough to want to explore that with me; you know that you’ll always be safe with me” He kissed her back “I’ve always felt safe with you and I enjoyed the other night with you. I also enjoyed the striptease you did for me last night” She winked and smiled at him lovingly “I love you Demi” She kissed him “I’ll bear that in mind for the future and I love you too Ally” He kissed her holding her closer.

Alyssa took a walk to the main library whilst Demetri was on Guard Duty passing some of the lower guards along the way “Ally” They greeted and nodded at her “Hello” She replied curious how they knew who she is. She heard a commotion and stopped only for a blonde haired Guard dressed in light grey to land near her feet “Sorry Ally” He smiled at her before running back towards a dark haired Guard dressed in the same colour clothes, their ‘fight’ continuing once Ally passed them. Ally arrived at the main library to find Alec and Santiago already there “Good morning Ally” “Morning Santiago, Alec” Ally replied taking a seat opposite them “Fancy playing a game tonight?” Santiago asked “As long as Heidi isn’t playing, don’t really want the drama” Ally replied “We’re going to play some card games; Old Maid and Go Fish…” Ally started to laugh “Don’t laugh Ally Felix chose the games as there’s no money involved and no Heidi won’t be playing; just us three plus Demetri, Felix and Jane” Santiago responded “Sounds good and I’m in” Ally said smiling.

Later that night they all gathered in Felix’s room and sat down to play cards. They played Old Maid first and the first game was won by Alec, the second by Jane; Ally won the next three games “Oh my god. Is there any game you’re not good at Ally?” Felix asked “Sorry BFV but this human can’t help being awesome” Ally sings the last word smiling; Demetri has a smug look on his face watching his friends get beat by Ally. Ally went on to win 4 out the 7 rounds of Go Fish before Felix decided he didn’t want to play cards with Ally anymore that night “You being a sore loser Fe?” Demetri teased as Felix left the room “Get lost D” Felix mumbled.

Once back in their room Alyssa and Demetri got ready for bed “Hey Dem, can I tell you a secret?” “Of course you can” “Ok, so you know how I’m a shield like Bella because psychic gifts don’t work on me?” “Yes Ally, please don’t remind me that I can’t track you” Demetri said quietly “Well there’s a reason I’m so good at Poker and other card games…” “What you count cards or something” Demetri interrupted chuckling “Or something…I’m able to read minds a bit too in a way…” Demetri’s mouth fell open in shock “Don’t worry Dem I’m not like Edward, I respect people’s privacy” She continued “Yeah you just use your gift when playing games…babe that could be seen as cheating” He whispered the last word before laughing; Ally shrugged “Think of it more as looking through their eyes; I get to see what they see. Oh and I discovered I can drop my shield at will…” He cut her off “Hang on. You’re telling me I can track you…if you let me?” “I love you” She said taking her bottom lip between her teeth and looking up at Demetri through her lashes; he stepped forward lifting her up and put her over his shoulder.

“On a scale of one to ten how much trouble am I in?” She asked “Ahh” Demetri smacked her ass as he left the closet, then dropped her gently on the bed and climbed on hovering over her when she suddenly felt something cold close around her wrist “Handcuffs? Really Dem” “Yes Ally. It’s called punishment” He winked “Count for me” “What…?” She was cut off when he smacked her ass “Oh Mr Volturi” She said playfully and winked at him; he chuckled softly “I said count Miss Swan” He said a little sternly and smacked her ass again “That’s two” She said softly; his hand made contact again “Three…Four…mmm Five” He could smell her arousal “You’re not supposed to be enjoying this Miss Swan” He growled low in her ear “This is your fault Mr Volturi. I mean how was I to know that being spanked would be a bit of a turn on” He rested his hands on her ass and began rubbing and gently squeezing her cheeks liking how they felt in his cold hands “Mmm” She felt her shorts being pulled down and braced herself for the spanking to re-start but was surprised when she felt him gently bite her ass cheek “Dem” “Six” His hand came down on her ass and he bit his lip to stop from chuckling “Seven...Ahh…Eight” He bit her again as the smell of her arousal hit him again; he gently turned her onto her side and slipped two fingers inside her, she bit her lip and he smirked “N-nine…Ahh” She gently lifted hips to try and gain some friction against his hand “Miss Swan” He growled low, eyes almost black “Sorry…Mr Volturi” Her eyes closed enjoying the punishment she was receiving “Ten” She breathed and he removed his fingers licking them; she whimpered at the loss on contact and felt him pull her shorts back up. He then crawled up to lay beside her and adjusted himself; picking up the book from his nightstand and begun reading to her

“What you’re…you’re not…are you just going to read to me whilst I’m still handcuffed?”  He nodded and kissed her “Yes. I do not reward naughty girls” He winked at her again before rolling onto his side to look at her “I’m excited to see your gift at work cara but it’s a little mean you didn’t tell me sooner” “To be fair Dem I only just discovered I can drop my shield due to me practicing and I thought you’d be relieved to learn you can track me if I let my shield down. I thought you’d be upset about the mind reading thing or as you called it cheating” She replied “I am relieved I can track you, honestly” He kissed her lips “It’s just frustrating to know it’s on your terms that’s all” He rested his forehead against hers “Dem please don’t think of it like that. I can’t help being a shield” “I know Ally, but you need to promise me that we’ll test your shield dropping ability soon so I can try and track you. Once I have your tenor in my head tracking you in the future will be easier” He said stroking her face “One condition…you keep the mind reading to yourself” “Deal cara mia. It’s out little secret” He kissed her forehead “Please uncuff me I’d like to snuggle” She said looking into his ruby eyes; he nodded and uncuffed her and held her in his arms whilst she slept. ‘My gifted little human’ he thought proudly to himself.

A few days later Demetri and Alyssa were relaxing on the balcony watching the sunset “Do you ever wish you were human Demi?” “I used to centuries ago but I don’t really think about it much anymore. Why do you ask cara?” He asked curious “Our lives are simpler; for one, we don’t have to live in fear of losing our mate and being alone forever” She said holding his hand in hers “True, but humans do not have the ability to love each other so deeply, so unconditionally that there is no possible way, no words to describe just how that feels” He places his other hand on the side of her face, his thumb stroking her cheek and she nods. “Do you think we would still be mates if we were both human? I mean you’re over 1000 years old” She gives him a quick kiss on the lips and he nods “You are my mate, my other half. I promise you this… in a hundred different lifetimes, in a hundred different worlds, in any version of reality I would find you and choose you. I would claim you as mine as you were born to be with me, born to be mine … cara mia” He kisses her then rests his forehead to hers “If I had to walk to the ends of the earth just to find you Ally, to have you, to hold you in my arms then I would, without a second thought. I have waited so long for you mia amore and I love you more than I ever thought possible” He continued pulling her onto his lap and kissing her passionately, pouring his love, his need for her into that kiss “Wow” She breathed when he broke the kiss. “I know you’ve already agreed to spend forever with me, but please do me the honour of being my wife” Tears started to fill her eyes “Marry me…Ally” She nods “I love you too…Yes” She wraps her arms around his neck and kisses him back; tears falling down her cheek, his arms wrapping around her holding her close. “Tomorrow I’m taking you shopping for a ring” He said smiling and peppering her face with kisses, causing her to giggle.

The following morning they went shopping for an engagement ring “You can have any ring you like mi amore, price is not an issue” He said low in her ear “But Dem…” She started “No Ally. I’m being serious. It’s only the best for my girl” He cut her off and captured her lips in a kiss, a hand resting on her cheek. “Come on” He led her into the jewellery store and over to the glass cases full of rings. They look at the many rings in the cases but one in particular caught Ally’s eye and her gaze kept going to back it; something Demetri noticed, he smiles “You like that one don’t you cara?” He says low in her ear “I do but…” “What did I say?” He cuts her off “I know but…” She starts but he cuts her off again and turns her to face him “I have been around for 1000 years and have amassed quite the fortune and I finally have someone to spoil and you….mi amore are starting to take the Fun.Out.Of.It” He smiles and taps her nose gently “O-Ok. I’m sorry, it’s just…I’m not used to being spoilt…and I-I cannot do so in return” She replies “Well, it’s something you’re just going to have to get used to Ally” He kissed her lips “You give me everything I need just by being with me...now, would you like to try on that ring” She nods and kisses him “Good girl” He purrs in her ear. She tried on the engagement ring that caught her eye; a Rose Gold band with a heart shaped diamond. “It’s beautiful” She whispered holding out her hand and admiring the ring “We’ll take it please” He said smiling to the store clerk.

They arrive back at the castle and head straight to the throne room to tell the three kings of their news “Good afternoon masters, we have some news we’d like to share with you” Demetri pauses to look down at Alyssa and takes her left hand in his “I proposed last night and Ally accepted. We’ve just got back from buying a ring” He finishes smiling; Aro claps his hands together “Wonderful news my dears. What a beautiful ring” “Thank you Aro” Ally replies “Congratulations Demetri, Ally, I wish you both a long and happy life together” Marcus adds “Yes congratulations to you both” Caius says smiling. “The wedding will be held here in the castle” Aro said excitedly “I’ll officiate” He added smiling “You can do that?” Ally asked “Oh yes my dear. I got a certificate online” Aro answered proudly; Ally looked at Demetri, who just nodded “Not sure why though brother, you haven’t married anyone since you got your little certificate” Caius said smirking “Well, it’s not like we can open up the castle for weddings now is it brother?” Aro replied a little irritated “Don’t ruin this for me Caius” “Ruin it for you? It’s their day brother not yours” Caius replied. “I’d love to get to married here in the castle” Ally said smiling “And it would be an honour to have Aro officiate” She added smiling; Aro gave Caius a smug smile. “I think we need to have Ally in here more often, seeing as she can stop your silly bickering before it begins” Marcus said smiling at Ally; she smiled in return but said nothing “We’ll take our leave, if we may masters?” Demetri asks “Of course. You have much to arrange” Aro said dismissing them.

“Hang on. You proposed without a ring? And she said yes?” Santiago asked when Demetri told him about the proposal that night whilst on duty “I didn’t plan on proposing without a ring, it-it just happened” Demetri replied “Wow! An accidental proposal…how romantic?” Santiago teases “It wasn’t accidental…I just got caught in the moment. I planned on buying a ring first, but you know what I’m glad that I proposed the way I did and that Ally got to choose her own ring” Demetri responded “I’m happy for you, she’s a great girl and you seem very happy together” Santiago patted him on the back “Thank you that means a lot.”

Meanwhile Jane was in Ally’s shared room having a girl’s night, Legally Blonde playing on the TV whilst painting their nails “Tell me about the proposal” Jane said excitedly “I’d asked him if he thought we’d be mates if he were human too, given the actual age difference and he said that I’m his mate, his other half and he promised  that it didn’t matter what lifetime, world or reality we were in; he would always find me, always claim me as his” Jane’s eyes started to fill with venom “He told me he loved me more than he ever thought possible and asked me to do him the honour of being his wife. I started crying at that point” Ally continued; “Aww sweetie” Jane said wrapping her arms around Ally “That’ so romantic…I can’t wait to find my mate and have those kinds of moments” Jane smiled thinking about it. “Let me see the ring again” Jane says as takes Ally’s left hand in her own “It’s beautiful” “Thank you Jane. He took me ring shopping this morning and as soon as I saw the ring…” She trailed off tears filling her eyes “I know sweetie. It’s perfect” Jane pulls her back in for a hug.

A few days later Alice and Jasper arrive in Volterra for a surprise visit after Alice’s vision of Alyssa and Demetri’s wedding. “Hello Gianna, I’m Alice and this is my husband Jasper and we’re here to see Demetri and Alyssa” “Ciao Alice, Jasper. Take a seat please, I’ll them know you’re here” Gianna replies pointing to the seating area behind them. Gianna then made her way to the throne room knocking on the large doors. “Come in” Aro called out “Sorry for the interruption masters but Demetri and Alyssa have visitors waiting in reception for them” Gianna informed them. “Who are the visitors, my dear?” Aro asked “They said their names were Alice and Jasper master” Gianna replied. “Ahh splendid. Demetri you’re dismissed to greet your visitors” Aro said waving his hand in Demetri’s direction “Thank you master” He replied bowing his head.

Demetri made his way to reception to greet Alice and Jasper before leading them to his and Ally’s shared room “Hi Ally. Look who I found in reception” He said as he entered the room “Alice, Jasper” Ally called out as she got up from the desk to greet them with a hug. “Hi Ally. We’re here to help with the wedding plans” Alice says excitedly “I should have guessed” Demetri chuckled “Sorry Demetri but when Alice has a vision, especially one involving a wedding, it’s hard to rein her in” Jasper says laughing; placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Have you started planning yet?” “No Alice we haven’t, we’ve only been engaged a few days. But that’s why you’re here right?” Ally replies smiling. “Jasper and I can start looking at honeymoon destinations” Demetri said nodding at Jasper “Don’t worry about a honeymoon, it’s already taken care of” Jasper replies smiling; Demetri nods. “You and Jasper need to go suit shopping for you and your Groomsmen” Alice instructed them “Who are your groomsmen Dem?” Ally asked “To be honest I hadn’t really thought about it. Although I did plan to ask Felix to be Best Man as he is my best friend” Demetri replied “I’m sure Alice has seen who is standing beside me in her vision” He adds looking down at Alice “I have. You’re right about Felix being your Best Man and Alec and Jasper are your Groomsmen. So that is four grey suits with white shirts and four royal blue ties” She answers him smiling “For once I’m glad it’s not me who has to try and rein her in” Jasper says quietly; although Alice heard and stuck her tongue out at him.

“Have you thought about a dress or who your bridesmaids will be?” Alice asked and Ally shook her head tears filling her eyes, Demetri sped to her side and wrapped an arm around her “What’s wrong cara?” He asked “I just realised none of my family will be there on my…our special day” She rested her head against his chest letting the tears fall “Oh mi amore, I’m sorry I didn’t even think about that when I proposed” He held her close as he stroked her hair feeling guilty. “Ally?” Alice called quietly; resting her hand on Ally’s back “In my vision your mom was here celebrating with you” “R-really?” She sniffled “Yes. Let’s go speak to Aro and confirm that it’s ok to invite her” Alice replies. “Alice, you wait here with Ally and I’ll go and speak with him” Demetri says kissing the top of Ally’s head.

Demetri makes his way to the throne room “Masters may I have a quiet word please?” “Of course my dear boy” Aro replies motioning for him to approach them “How can we help you?” Caius asks “I have a favour to ask you. It’s for Ally really. As you are aware Ally and I are starting to plan the wedding and I was wondering if Ally is able to invite her family to the wedding?” He replies “When you say family, you mean her parents as Bella is not talking to her?” Marcus enquires. “Yes, master” Demetri replies “She can invite her parents to attend the wedding, but no other humans. It’s too risky” Caius replies softly “Thank you masters. I really appreciate it and I know that Ally will too” Demetri says smiling; he bows his head and then returns to his room to share the news with Ally. “That was nice of you Caius” Marcus says smiling at his brother “Well Ally deserves to be able share this day with her parents and it’ll give her a chance to say a proper goodbye too” Caius replies “You’ve got a soft spot for her, admit it” Marcus says sounding amused; Caius said nothing instead choosing to glare at the guards at the back of the room.  

Demetri returns to his room to find Alice and Ally sitting on the bed making a to-do list “Ally, I spoke to the masters and you are allowed to invite your parents to our wedding but no other humans as it’s too risky” She climbs off the bed and runs to him wrapping her arms around his neck “Thank you Demi. You’re the best” She kisses him “I’m going to call dad before we send official invites as I’m unsure if he’ll come. The last time we spoke he kept going on about how I have to apologise to Bella. He refused to hear that it is actually her who owes me an apology” Alice, Jasper and Demetri look at sympathetically.

“Hi dad, it’s Ally. How are you and Sue?”

“Hi Ally. We’re ok thanks. You keeping well? Still liking Italy?”

“Yea I’m good. Loving being in Italy. Demetri is ok too dad, thanks for asking”

 “Yea, well…Er good to hear. Although I don’t like the fact he has come between you and your sister”

 “He hasn’t come between us. He’s a really great guy, loving, caring and funny. He has a really good job…”

 “Well according to Bella he isn’t that nice of a guy”

 “Bella only dislikes him because he and her precious Edward don’t always get along. I mean who gets along with their cousins 100% of the time. I remember when you used to dislike Edward. What changed?”

 “I-I gave him another chance, he makes your sister happy…”

“Demetri makes me happy dad. In fact he makes me so happy I accepted his proposal”

“W-What you can’t get married, you’re 17”

“I can get married and I am. And anyways in Italy you’re classed as an adult at 16. I was ringing to invite to you and Sue to the wedding, before we send out official invitations”

“I-I don’t approve of the two of you being together, I mean I haven’t even met the guy”

“I didn’t think he’d be welcome in your house after the last conversation we had. I’m not even sure if I’d be welcome”

“Don’t be silly Ally, this will always be your home…”

“It won’t be as long as Demetri isn’t welcome” Her eyes became glassy as tears began to build up

“Have you spoken to your sister?”

“No. She owes Demetri and I an apology. Before you ask, no I won’t inviting her and Edward”

“Ally…Come on, she just worries about you”

“No she doesn’t. She only thinks about herself. She’s a hypocrite; who was there for her when Edward left her? Who helped pick up the pieces? Who supported her when she got back with him, even if I couldn’t forgive him for hurting her the way he did? Hm. ME! And don’t you think that she should have given Demi a chance before judging him?”  She turns her back to the three vampires as tears start falling down her cheeks “Are you and Sue going to come to our wedding dad?”  She asks softly; Demetri’s undead heart breaking listening to this call.

Charlie didn’t answer

“I’m going to take your silence as your refusal to come to our wedding? Hope you all have a lovely life without me in it!”

Ally hangs up the call and drops to the floor crying; Demetri ran to her and scooped up into his arms holding her close “Ssh…Sssh. I’m here cara. I’m so sorry” “D-don’t be. You-You’ve d-done n-nothing w-wrong” She replies sobbing; he tightens his hold on her “I love you so much Ally but this is breaking my heart to see you like this” “I-I love y-you too” She grips his shirt in her hands.

“Well look at this way Ally, when Aro asks for objections your dad and Bella won’t be here to do so” Jasper said trying to lighten the mood; Ally chuckled through her tears “T-true” She replied lifting her head from Demetri’s chest; his hands moving to her face, his thumbs wiping away the tears “Thank you” Demetri mouthed to Jasper “Anytime” Jasper mouthed back.

“I need to call mom and tell her about the wedding before dad does. Can you tell I’ve been crying?” “You look absolutely beautiful mi amore” Demetri answers wrapping her arm around her; Ally picked up the phone and called her mom hitting the Facetime button when she answers

“Hey mom”

“Hey Ally…and I’m guessing the good looking guy with you is Demetri”

“Mom” Ally blushed “Yes mom this is Demetri, Dem this is my mom Renee”

“Hello Renee. It’s nice to meet you”

“Likewise. So are you both ok?”

“Yes mom we’re both ok, you?”

“I’m good, missing you though”

“Well, that’s kind of why we’re calling. How would you like to come to Italy to see us and maybe stay for our wedding?”

“Come to Italy, I’d…” Renee cut herself off realising what Ally had said “AHH, oh my god! Y-you’re getting married?”  Demetri, Ally, Jasper and Alice couldn’t help but laugh.

“Yes mom. Alice and Jasper are here helping with the planning” Renee put her hands together clearly excited

“Show me the ring”  Ally did as she asked  “Aww it’s beautiful. I’d say he has great taste, but I know that already as he’s dating you” Ally blushed again; Demetri chuckled.

“It’s easy to see where Ally gets her looks from” Demetri said smiling causing Renee to blush.

“T-thank you Demetri. Have you told your dad?”

“I did and he isn’t coming neither is Bella, but then I haven’t spoken to Bella in months. How soon can you get here mom?”

“The wedding will be about 6 weeks from now. Your official invite is being posted” Alice popped her head over Demetri’s shoulder.

“Hi Alice, ok thanks. God your father is so stubborn. Nevermind, I’ll be there. How soon would you like me to come out?”

“How about two weeks before, you can help with final preparations?” Alice replied.

“Sounds a like a plan. I’ll see you all soon. Love you”

“Love you too mom. Bye”

“Now that’s settled let’s start planning” Alice says excitedly, Jasper smiling at her “I hope you know what you’ve let yourself in for Demetri” Jasper says patting him on the back “I’m trusting you to rein her in if she gets carried away, after all it’s your wedding” “Thanks mate” Demetri replied patting Jasper’s back “I’m pretty sure Alice is to going to make her vision come true so no amount of reining her in will help” He added “It’s like you know my wife so well” Jasper replied laughing “Be nice you two. It’s nice of Alice to want to help” Ally said pointing her finger at the two them; both nodding in response. 

Ally and Alice start making a list of guests to invite before going out to buy invitations. Ally chose Bronze coloured invitation with a silver pattern at the top and bottom “Do you think Dem will like them?” “Honestly Ally, guys don’t really care about that stuff, but as long you like them so will he” Alice replied “Wedding invitations – check” Ally said as she placed a tick on her to-do list. 

That night whilst Ally slept Alice started to look at wedding dresses online “Alice I have a small request in regards to the dress…” Demetri is cut off by Alice “The dress is to be princess inspired due to her love of Disney princesses” “Another vision?” He asked and she nodded “Don’t worry Ally will look like a princess on the day” Alice smiled “Thank you Alice and don’t worry about the cost of the dress either, only the best for my girl” He replied looking at his mate asleep in their bed “Aww. Who would have thought the most dangerous vampire in the world is a big softie at heart?” Jasper teases lightly “Hey. Just because I’d do anything for her doesn’t mean I’m not still the most dangerous vampire in the world Jasper” He replies letting his eyes darken a little; Jasper holds his hands up in mock surrender. 

The following day Ally asks Jane to be her Bridesmaid and Alice took on the role Maid of Honour due to her ability to plan events in spectacular fashion. “Jane I have something I need to ask you. You became my friend shortly after I met Dem and we have only become closer the more we got to know each other; I mean you’re my best friend and I want you to be my Bridesmaid” Jane’s eyes began to fill venom as a huge smile graced her lips “I’d love to be your Bridesmaid” She threw her arms around Ally pulling her into a hug “I assume Alice will be Maid of Honour as she is planning the wedding due to her visions” “Yes, I hope you don’t mind, but she is really good at planning events” Ally replied “I don’t mind, in fact I think it’s a great idea and I’m looking forward to helping her with the plans” Jane responded. 

Alice spoke with Jane about holding the ceremony and reception in the Ballroom and telling her about her vision of how the room will be decorated on the day. “Sounds lovely Alice. It must be great to see how things will turn out before they happen” Jane says smiling.

Ally takes Gianna to the Wedding Cake tasting appointment as she is the only other human in the castle. After looking at different decoration designs and trying a few flavours Ally decides a white two-tier cake decorated with white fondant icing with blue and white flowers with a small crystal at the centre of each one. The bottom tier is Lemon flavour sponge with lemon curd and buttercream and the top tier is Vanilla flavour sponge with Jam and buttercream. “Gianna thank you for coming with me today” “That’s ok. I had fun, it was a good excuse to try all the different cakes” Both women chuckle “Gianna I’d like you to be my other Bridesmaid?” “You sure Ally?” “You’re my friend. Of course I’m sure” “Then I’d love to, thank you Ally” Gianna hugged Ally smiling.

Demetri, Alyssa, Felix and the twins met in Ally and Demetri’s room for book club “I’m glad Anna and Christian got back together and they got engaged” Jane said smiling “I like how they explored more of his lifestyle once they got back together but it was sad though when Christian went missing and they didn’t know where he was” Ally added “I like the drama between Elena, Anna and Christian and how it bought Anna and Christian closer” Alec said having enjoyed the book. “So D what’s your choice this month?” Felix asked “50 Shades Freed. Figured we’d finish the trilogy” Demetri answered smiling.

“Don’t forget family movie night this Friday and it’s Horror films all night for Halloween” Alec said as Jane and Felix got up to leave “Aro said costumes are a must” “Yes!” Felix smiled wide “You guys dress up for Halloween?” Ally asked “Yes amore. Aro found out about Halloween a few decades back and likes to celebrate it” Demetri replied “My costume is already sorted” He added “I best go shopping then” Ally said smiling. 

The day before Halloween Caius overheard Ally telling Gianna that although she is too old to go trick or treating she still dressed up to give out candy to the kids who would knock at their house “We don’t get trick or treaters here” Gianna said low “That’s probably a good thing considering who’d answer the door” Ally laughed; Gianna nodding. Caius got the twins to go and buy Halloween candy and bowls and bring them back to him as a surprise for Ally. Ally joined the twins on the shopping trip although she shopped for a costume whilst they shopped for candy; deciding on Gummy Bears, Jelly Beans, Cherry Lips and Vampire Fangs. They chose a Jack-O-Lantern bowl and a Ghost bowl before meeting back up with Ally. 

It was Halloween and the castle had been decorated with hanging Skeletons, Bats, Spider-Webs and Ghosts. Ally was amazed at how serious the Volturi took Halloween and how they managed to make the castle look so creepy. Demetri had told her he thinks Aro likes this holiday so much because it suits their kind rather well and they all enjoy dressing up to see who has the best costume.

Demetri got ready first and had chosen a Dark Hatter costume; a white high collar shirt with a white and black neck tie, black tuxedo jacket, grey waistcoat and dark grey trousers with grey and white top hat, paired with black shoes.

Ally bought a Mischievous Witch costume; a red mid-thigh length dress with black lace detail on each side and over the shoulders with matching black lace elbow length gloves. The costume came with a red pointed hat and a black broomstick with a red bow on top of the handle; Ally wore matching black stiletto knee high boots.

Demetri looked up from his book when he heard Ally’s footsteps as she left the closet; mouth falling open as she literally took his undead breath away. He sped over to her, his eyes roaming over her body “Beautiful” He took her hand and spun her around “You look sooo good, it’s a shame we have to go downstairs” He purred in her ear “We have time…” She trailed off and led him to the sofa “Take a seat. I’ll be right back” She ran to the closet and put a couple of ice cubes into a glass and made her way back to Demetri placing the glass on the floor. She parted his legs and knelt down in front of him leaning over to kiss him; her hands moving to unzip his trousers. He lifted himself up slightly and she pulled his trousers and boxers down freeing his growing erection.

“Close your eyes and relax Mr Volturi” She said low and watched as he did what she said, a smile on his lips. She wrapped her warm hand around him moving her hand up and down his length slowly; her thumb brushing over the tip. She placed an ice cube in her mouth for a few seconds before wrapping her lips around him; Demetri purred at the new sensation. She licked him from base to tip letting her tongue swirl around the tip; moving her head up and down his hard dick building to a steady rhythm, he thrust his hips forward his dick hitting the back of her throat “Mmm” He moaned and Ally removed her mouth from him “Behave Mr Volturi. Naughty boys don’t get rewarded” He growled but couldn’t help smiling down at her “Sorry Miss Swan” She nodded and resumed sucking and licking him; her hand pumping the base, she dragged her teeth over his length and felt him twitch inside her mouth “Oh…baby” He purred as she swallowed everything he gave her “Good boy” She winked at him as she went to stand “My turn” His eyes black with lust as grabbed her wrist “Afraid not or we’ll miss the film” She leant down and kissed him “Later then, Ally” They made their way downstairs for movie night joining Felix and the twins on the L-shaped sofa.

The next four weeks go by quickly as wedding plans get under way; Bridal gown fittings, Bridesmaid dress fittings, Groom and Groomsmen suit fittings, shoe shopping. Bouquets and flowers for the centrepieces were ordered by Jane on Alice’s instructions.

Felix and Santiago refreshed the cream painted walls of the Ballroom “Why are you two painting the Ballroom?” Heidi asked “Caius has asked that the room is freshened up ready for Demetri and Alyssa’s wedding” Santiago replied “Don’t see why, it’s a lot of work just for one day” She answers back “No one’s asking you to help are they Heidi?” Felix asked; Heidi huffed and walked away.

Alyssa and Gianna prepared a guest room for Renee’s stay ahead of her arrival. Renee arrived in Volterra two weeks before the wedding to help Ally and Alice with final preparations. It is also the first time Renee was meeting Demetri in person. “Hello Renee, it’s so nice to finally meet you” Demetri greets her at the airport “Hello Demetri, it’s nice to meet you too” They hug each other smiling before he takes her suitcase “Here let me” He leads her to his car “A Lamborghini. Very nice” She nods in approval “Thank you” He replies as he holds the door open for her ‘Mother like daughter’ he thought to himself smiling remembering Ally had the same reaction the first time she saw his car.

Once at the castle Demetri took Renee straight to her room where Ally was waiting “Guess who I found at the airport” He says as he holds the door open for Renee “Mom” Ally runs and embraces her “I’ve missed you” “Oh I’ve missed you too baby girl” Renee replies holding Ally in her arms, Demetri smiling at the two women “He’s so handsome. I totally approve” Renee whispers into Ally’s ear unaware that Demetri can hear her.

“Knock knock” Felix says as he enters Renee’s room “I hear Ally’s mum has arrived” He said smiling “Renee, this is my best friend and Best Man Felix. Felix this is Renee, Ally’s mom” Demetri introduces the two of them “It’s nice to meet you Renee” Felix smiles down at her “Likewise Felix” Renee smiles up at the large vampire “He’s huge” Renee mouths to Ally, who just shakes her head laughing.

The following day Demetri escorted Renee to the library on his way to the training room “I’ll leave you in peace read Renee” “Thank you Demetri” 

Heidi entered the library a little while later and went straight for Renee “You smell so good, it’ll be a shame to waste such sweet smelling blood and it’ll be totally worth the trouble to see the heartbroken look on poor Ally’s face” Heidi says into Renee’s ear. Meanwhile, Marcus is walking towards the throne room when he hears a small scream and an accelerated heartbeat coming from the library and decides to investigate only to see that Heidi has a hand around Renee’s neck holding her to the wall; she dips her head down towards Renee’s neck when suddenly a snarl echoes through the room. Heidi is pulled backwards and hits the opposite wall as Marcus stands protectively in front of Renee staring Heidi down; her eyes are black and she has a scowl on her face “I’d consider your next move very carefully if I were you my dear” Marcus warns her. “Master, everything ok?” Felix asks entering the room “I heard a commotion…” He cuts himself off when he sees Marcus standing between a scared and confused Renee and a pissed off Heidi “No, Felix it is not. Please escort Heidi to the throne room, I will be there shortly” “Of course master” Felix bows his head and holds Heidi in a tight grip as they make their way to the throne room.

“Are you ok my dear” Marcus asks as he turns to face Renee “I-I think so. W-what was that about?”  She asks, her voice sounding shaky. Marcus leads her to one of the sofas sitting beside her; explaining about vampires and his role as one of the three kings of the vampire world. “Some vampires have gifts; mine is that I am able to see the relationships or connections people have to one another. I lost my mate Didyme a very long time ago and have been on my own ever since. However, it would appear I am being given a second chance at love. I can see the connection between us as you are my mate Renee and I would very much like to spend the rest of eternity with you. I do not expect you to make a decision now as it’s a lot to take in. All I ask is that you think about what I have told you” He takes her hand in his “Of-of course Marcus. Please can you take me to Ally’s room?” He nodded and escorted her there before going to the throne room.

Once in the throne room Marcus holds out his hand to Aro and shows him what occurred in the library and that Rene is in fact his mate, his second chance at love; something that until now was unheard of in the vampire world. “Well it would seem that our dear brother has been blessed with a second mate after all these centuries alone” Aro said looking between his brothers “Who is it brother?” Caius asks curious “It’s Ally’s mom Renee” Aro replies smiling “Congratulations brother. I hope the two of you have a happy life together” Caius said smiling to Marcus. 

Renee takes the night to let the information about vampires sink in; also thinking over what being the mate of a vampire king would be like. “Ally can we talk please?” Renee asks as she knocks on the open bedroom door “Of course mom. What did you want to talk about?” Ally replied “Vampires” Renee responds “I’ll leave you both to talk” Demetri says kissing Ally’s forehead and getting up to leave “No. Please. Stay” Renee says as she grabs his arm to stop him leaving “Ok. Take a seat” He replies closing the door and gesturing towards the sofas.

“What do you want to know mom?” Renee takes a deep breath “Marcus has explained that vampires exist and that the majority of them survive on human blood, but there are some that practice vegetarianism by surviving on animal blood. He said that he and his brothers Aro and Caius rule the vampire world and have done so for thousands of years. He also said that he lost his mate Didyme a very very long time ago…and…and that I am his mate. He-he has been given a second chance at love and wants me to accept him as my mate and spend forever with him”  “Wow. I didn’t know vampires got a second chance of love” Ally said looking between Demetri and her mom “I’ve never heard of a vampire having a second mate; but then Marcus would be the one to know if your mom is his mate or not as that is his gift” Demetri added.

“I’m so confused; it’s a lot of information to process at once and I thought that maybe we could talk about it as you are with Demetri; who by the way is an elite guard to the Volturi and not a bodyguard of the Italian government” Renee said looking at Ally “It wasn’t a complete lie mom. The Volturi are the government of the vampire world and Demetri is Marcus’ bodyguard, it’s part of his duty as an elite guard. I told you the truth within a lie. Demetri was turned at 21 but is actually over 1000 years old” Ally replies holding his hand, Demetri smiles nodding “Wow. You’re ok with this Ally? Even the drinking human blood part” “I am mom. I love him and he loves me, he protects me. Honestly, him drinking human blood to survive doesn’t bother me; it’s just part of what makes Demetri Demetri, I mean we all have to survive somehow” Demetri smiles at her lovingly and gives her hand a gentle squeeze “I love you cara so much” “I love you too Demi”

“Renee if you accept Marcus as your mate he’ll make you immortal as I plan to do with Ally after the wedding; not only will Marcus love and protect you forever, you’ll also get to spend forever with your daughter and me” Demetri took Renee’s hand in his and smiled “Marcus is a kind and gentle person with a caring nature. He had already lost his mate long before I met him about 1000 years ago. A vampire’s heart breaks when they lose their mate and over time they become depressed and lonely. If Marcus has been given a second chance at love he is not going to let that go easily. He will fight for you Renee. Think about what you’ll gain rather than what you’ll lose” Demetri added, Renee nodded.

Renee stayed in Ally and Demetri’s room and thought about her conversations with Marcus, Demetri and Ally. ‘Although I have to give up my home, my friends, my entire life to be with Marcus; I do get to spend an eternity with him, with Ally and Demetri. I get to be with someone who’ll love me forever’ she thought to herself. Demetri smiled as he watched Ally and her mom talk and laugh about a range of things until they both fell asleep. ‘I hope Renee accepts Marcus as her mate as he will treat her so well and Ally will be so pleased to have her mom around forever too’ he thought to himself. Renee fell asleep still not having made a decision.

[aarcanechaoss]

1. Turbulent

Masterlist

- tester chapter

Atsushi meets the ADA and PM’s informant, though her base of operations is the PM Atsushi can’t help but find her interesting. Kayano however finds herself stumbling into an outing with her superior.

Taglist: @1ndigowitch

The first thing Atsushi had learnt while working at the Agency was not to trust the Port Mafia. And considering they tried to kidnap and maim him he was convinced they were all terrible people, yet here he is watching the prettiest girl he’d ever seen chatting away with Kunikida about said mafia.

“Ah Atsushi!” Kunikida as he spotted the young man step through the threshold into the agency office. “Miss Sato this is our newest detective Atsushi Nakajima.”

The rust haired woman turned around, her long green skirt swishing as she did. She gave a grin and waved the weretiger over. Atsushi noted she was wearing a tight fitting black turtle neck and a silver chain necklace. His sunset eyes dropped to her shoes for a moment, black heels, nothing extraordinary yet he felt himself grow warm as she looked at him. She looked so professional and almost teacher like. It was cute in a way.

“You must be the tiger I’ve heard so much about. I’m Kayano Sato it’s nice to meet you.”

“O-oh good afternoon Miss Sato.” Atsushi stuttered. She gave a soft sound of awe before giggling. Her laugh was like crystal bells, clear and sweet sounding.

“So gentlemanly I like you already… ah yes Mr Kunikida I have this note that I need to give Mr Fukuzawa from Mori… ah here it is.” She gleamed as she pulled a worn piece of paper from her skirt. “It’s about you Mr Nakajima, no worries as the mafia will be holding off on any and all attempts to attack you again for at least the time being. The employer stated that the contract could become null-void soon.”

“The mafia?” Atsushi questioned. This woman seemed so lovely, so normal… nothing about her seemed dark or dangerous in the least- especially with that bright, kind smile and cool blue eyes that held so much calmness that they made Atsushi’s anxiety diminish.

“Yes. Miss Sato here works for the Mafia. Don’t worry she’s not an agent Miss Sato here is an assistant of sorts.” Kunikida said.

“Oh yes I take intel from both the agency and mafia and intercept anything that will cause the other trouble such as if both are on the same case I pretty much let both companies know when those situations happen and let both companies know when not to interfere on the others missions.” Kayano said with a chipper tone.

“Sounds like an interesting job Miss Sato.” Atsushi said with a gulp.

“I have to agree with Atsushi, it is.” Yosano yelled from her office.

“Why thank you Yosano. I’m not nearly as interesting as you guys. A tiger, super deduction and healing are far more interesting than little old me.” Kayano said with a soft blush and a wink Atsushi’s way making him flush.

“I’m sure you are super interesting.” Atsushi blurted out making Kayano let out a soft giggle.

“That’s so sweet of you Mr Nakajima… oh look at the time I have to leave. Tell the others I said hello and sorry I couldn’t stay longer.”

“It’s no problem Miss Sato we’ll see you next time.” Kunikida bowed. The rust haired woman giggled again and gave Atsushi a pat on the shoulder before walking out of the agency.

Dazai came rushing in, door slamming open.

“Don’t tell me I missed Kayano!”

“You missed Kayano.” Kunikida says with a deadpan tone.

“NO! I wanted to see her so badly.” Dazai pouted as he slumped into the nearby chairs.

“Dazai are you alright?” Atsushi heard Kenji ask as he walked in.

“I- we missed Kayano.” Dazai sighed loudly.

“Oh no. I wanted to show her pictures of my cow again.” Kenji said less chipper than usual.

“Is this normal?” Atsushi asked.

“Yes. You saw her Atsushi she’s a pretty one and she’s smart. Dazai probably wants to die with her.” Yosano laughs.

“Pretty! She is beautiful, rust red coloured hair, bright blue eyes that hold the perfect calm, a clear crystal bell like laugh. What isn’t to want!”

Atsushi found himself giving Dazai a bland look of annoyance. Sure Miss Sato was pretty but he’s sure there is more to her than the physical… at least that’s what the books at the orphanage taught him.

“What did she bring today?” Dazai asked not too long later. Turning to face Kunikida and Atsushi.

“The recent murders reached into the Mafia. A few of the weaker members were found dead. The killer left their calling card so it is connected and we’ve been asked to stay out of the case for a period of time unless more mafia members are involved.” Kunikida answered with a grave look on his face. “Miss Sato agreed that this is the best course of action for now, we stay out of it and let the mafia handle it for now.”

Yes Miss Sato’s personality must be great if the ADA like and trust her even with her affiliation to the Mafia, to be confident in her. So Atsushi will trust the sweet woman too.

Kayano had finally made it back to the mafia building. She noted that the building never looked like the stereotyped mafia buildings from film and she supposed it made better to keep prying eyes out of their business.

The rust haired woman waved at the receptionist who was about to call her over.

“Hi Maria.” Kayano said to the older woman.

“Hello Kayano. I’ll let Mr Mori know you are back and on your way up. Oh and here are those files you wanted yesterday.”

“Oh thank you Maria. There are more files than I thought but oh well. I’ll just put them in my office before I go see Mori. Thanks again Maria see you later.”

“Bye Kayano.” The blonde older woman waved.

The rust haired woman hoisted her files into her arms and walked towards the elevator. As it dinged open she stepped in and elbowed the button the lead to her office floor. Her office was on the same floor as the executives, made it easier for her to go between them and Mori with information.

With a soft yawn she leant against the wall of the elevator, her stack of files falling against her chest as the elevator rose to the ninety-fifth floor. Kayano allowed her eyes to shut as she listened to the soft hum of the elevator rising.

A soft ding came some time later alerting her of someone joining her on the elevator. Opening an eye she saw she was on floor thirty, Tachihara stepped in.

“Hey Kayano.” Tachihara gleamed as he spotted the woman leaning on the wall.

“Hello Tachihara, meeting with Higuchi and Akutagawa?��

“Why yes I am ma’am.” He said with a flamboyant bow making the woman laugh.

“Good good. I’m sure they’d prefer if you were on time today.” She smiled, teasing him lightly.

“That was one time Kayano.” The boy blushed. “I-I like your earrings.” He said suddenly. Kayano’s blue eyes widening innocently.

“My earrings?” She asked, head tilted to the side. She would have lifted a hand to touch her ears if she wasn’t holding a pile of folders.

“Yeah… the candy canes, I know you like Christmas and it isn’t too far away. I think you are the only one with a decorated office.” Tachihara said scratching at his neck.

“Well- thank you Tachihara.” She said nodding at him. The elevator dinged. “I believe this is your floor.”

“Uh… yes yes I’ll see you around Kayano.”

“Goodbye Tachihara.” She said as he rushed out of the elevator, face flushed as he ran to his meeting. As he turned the woman yawned and rested more against the wall.

The blue eyed woman shook her head as the elevator dinged again, finally her needed floor, shaking any sleepiness from her mind so as to meet with Mori while wide awake. Stepping from the elevator she made her way towards her bosses office.

At the same time Chuuya had been turning a corner and before either knew it, Kayano’s files were on the floor and so was the short man’s hat.

“Oh Mr Nakahara I’m so sorry.” She pouted as she began picking up her now scattered folders.

“Miss Sato.” Chuuya said with wide eyes, he was quick to squat beside her and pile the folders with her. “We meet like this too often.” He laughed.

“With me being the clumsiest woman alive.” She laughed too. “I’m sure it leaves a good impression of myself.”

“I’m sure I’ve left plenty of bad impressions Miss Sato.”

“Oh please call me Kayano, I think we’ve bumped into each other enough to call me that Mr Nakahara.”

“Then call me Chuuya.” He smiled as he lifted the files for her and passed them back.

“Thank you… Chuuya.” She bit her lip and shifted foot to foot. The mafia executive cocked his head to the side. “Can I make up my clumsiness to you?”

“What do you mean?” Chuuya asked.

“Well I feel bad that I seem to keep knocking off your hat and dropping whatever I’m holding because I’m not paying attention.”

“It’s alright Kayano you don’t have to.”

“But…. Alright one drink?” She asked with a shy smirk that made Chuuya chuckle.

“Wine alright?” He conceded.

“Wine is perfectly fine… I know a good place. Just let me know when you are free?”

“Yeah I will.”

“Okay… cool cool… um yes let me know… I said that already okay I’m gonna go work now bye see you later.” She stumbled before ducking around the corner and rushing towards Mori’s office.

Chuuya gave a small laugh before picking up his hat, smiling and heading to the elevator to go to his own office.

Pulling out his phone he scrolled for the woman’s number.

Friday 6pm okay?

It took a few minutes before his phone buzzed for his attention.

Perfect Chuuya

The red haired man smiled again. It would be nice to have a work friend to have a drink with. Especially one who was as friendly and mindful as Kayano Sato.

[poisonously-alluring-sev]

Snape One Shots ~ A Touch Of Blue

Summary: Cloe has been hiding some strong feelings for her professor. Soon her friends will find out this hidden secret and maybe, just maybe, Cloe and Severus can make their much needed relationship work.

Pairing: Snape x Female

Warnings: Swearing and such

Time: Half-Blood Prince

Word Count: 8100

Recommended Song: False God by Taylor Swift

Main Character: Cloe Todd; sixth year; Ravenclaw; Leo; long black wavy hair; bright blue eyes; tall thin figure; low self-esteem

The day was Friday night and nobody had classes until Monday morning, but I had taken all week to handwrite a letter to Professor Snape because... Well... It really isn't easy to hide a crush that you have on a teacher from your best friends let alone have them keep their mouths shut about it around people so you kind of have to take things into your own hands, like what I am doing. Writing a letter to be sent to Snape at 11 pm where he will hopefully not chase Hope, my owl, back to my room. I read over the letter I had written to make sure that I had spelled everything correctly and I had made the sentences sound realistic hoping that he wouldn't slap me across the head right when I got into class on Monday or search for me over the weekend. I warmed up some black wax, put the letter into an empty envelope and pressed the hot wax onto the sem and then painted some gold glitter on the rose that the wax press left. I whistled for Hope and gave it to her and told her,

"To Severus Snape, and don't mess this up." She flies out of my window and I took this moment to go to sleep and if there was a response waiting for me the next morning we'll see if I have enough time to even look for it since Luna will want to take me to Hogsmeade bright and early.

****The Next Morning****

I woke up to the sound of someone trying to play my piano but failing miserably. I opened my eyes and saw Cho gently tapping on the keys trying to find a good rhythm that made sense, but to be honest she was having a hard time trying to figure it out. I groaned when she hit a flat note and she turned over to look at me.

"Ugh, thank gosh you're awake, Luna won't stop sending messages to ask me if you had woken up already."

"And thank gosh you stopped playing." I chuckled as Cho just frowned at me.

"I'm trying my best alright?" I chuckled again and got up to go to the bathroom. I put on some fairly normal muggle clothes which are only black and wrapped my hair up in a bun since I was too tired to go and have a shower before meeting Luna in the courtyard. I grabbed my combat boots, a bennie and throw on my light grey jacket and left the common room hoping I wouldn't run into anybody knowing about what I sent to Snape last night. I made my way through the hallways saying hello and good morning to the professors that I knew and finally found myself walking towards Luna where she ran up to me and grabbed my arm.

"Come on! We can't waste any more time!" She said before she started to drag me alongside her as she starts to move at a jogging pace.

"What is SO important that I have to wake up this early and run to Hogsmeade with you for?"

"We have to prepare for your first date dummy!" I stopped in my tracks which made Luna slow down very quickly and turn towards me.

"No, I am NOT going on any dates you have planned Lovegood."

"Oh come on Clo! You'll love him!" I let go of her hand and said back,

"I most especially will not! You know I'm not the kind of person to do these types of things." She sighed and responded with,

"Trust me, once I am able to hook you up with Snape-" I cut her off right when she finished saying his name.

"Shh!" I looked around and saw a few people walking in front of us not even look back at us like we weren't even here. I looked back at Luna and said,

"When and IF you do it better not be a joke or some shit like that." She laughed and said with her airy voice,

"That would be a funny joke, but I wouldn't want to hurt you in the process. I also know that you sent him a letter." My eyes widened at her last comment.

"How?" She patted my back as we started to walk again.

"I saw your failed letters, but don't worry I think you probably did a good job." She smiled and not as a joke, but she was being serious. I smiled back and we started to talk about some other stuff as we made our way to Hogsmeade. Once we got there Luna needed some new books first and foremost so we went and got those spending 20 minutes of the day, but I honestly was NOT ready to see what she had planned for me today. After a few more minutes walking around she finally brought me into a store which was actually a tailor store for formal wear, now I was starting to panic.

I better not have to wear a damn lace red dress for this.

After Luna dragged me around for about half an hour trying to find a dress for her she then finally moved on looking for one for me. At first, I hated it to the point that I was ready to just disappear and leave Luna here, but of course, she wasn't going to let that happen and sooner than later I started to have fun with trying on dresses. Luna would say things like, "Just imagine walking into a ballroom wearing this! You would win all of the guy's hearts!" or "Snape would fall over on his face if he saw you wearing that." After a while, she started to bring up my confidence in dress shopping and at one point I didn't even realize that we had missed lunch. I finally had the thought of what this was all for and asked Luna.

"The Yule Ball of course! I know you wanted to go just for fun, but I think you should try to grab someone's attention while you're there." She then winked at me as she pushed me back into the dressing room. After that Luna had given me a few more dresses to try on, but I wasn't too comfortable with how much flesh they were showing off whereas Cho really wanted me to wear them. I went around the store one more time to try and find the perfect dress and I finally found it. It was a nice pearl blue with a tad bit of beads on it. I ran to the open dressing room and throw it on as quickly as I could, once I was finished putting it on I can out and showed Luna and Cho who both gasped at the dress, I also added in a quick spin to make the dress flow in the thin air. Yes it didn't really have much holding the dress up and I didn't need to wear a bra, but it definitely was the dress I was going to buy.

Luna loved the dress and once we got back to Hogwarts she made Cho and I do kind of like a fashion show with the dresses we all picked out and because Cho is Cho she told us that we all should get pearl blue dresses to match each other at the ball in a few weeks. But of course, Luna then came up with another idea where I would have the lighter coloured dress and be in the front of the group, like V-formation, and Luna and Cho would have darker dresses and be on my left and right sides as we entered the ball.

After we had dinner and I jammed out a bit on my guitar I was pretty bored and decided to take a walk around the school just because I could. Soon I left the common room and decided to start my walk on the top floor near the Ravenclaw common room and to also get a beautiful few of the school grounds from the top of the astronomy tower as the sunset. I made my way up the steep stairs and sat on the railing that viewed the Black Lake with the sun coming down reflecting off of the water making everything look gorgeous. I took this moment to just relax and breathe deeply, I didn't have enough time to think about what Professor Snape would say to me about my letter since I was busy dress shopping, but now my mind was ready to just relax and calm down so I wouldn't be so stressed about it if I thought about it at this moment. As I watched the sunset disappear under the horizon and have the darkness of the nightfall over the school I walked around the lower east part of the school making my way to the courtyard I heard an owl screech coming from my right and saw a deep grey giant bird about to fly into me, but flew up and dropped what he was asked to deliver on my head. After I stared down the owl as it flew away I opened the letter, but before taking it out of the envelope I made sure that it was my name on the front. Then my heart started to pound at a crazy strong rate so much that I could feel and hear in it my forehead. It was my name written in Snape's handwriting. I ran back to my dorm room praying that Cho and Luna were at least in the common room so then they could read the letter before I do instead of me waiting around for them or just reading it myself and feeling hurt and scared by myself. Thankfully Luna was sitting on a chair near a window and I quickly grabbed her arm and pull her up the stairs, once we got into the dorm Cho was reading as well along with studying Herbology. I sat them down in front of me on the floor while I rocked back and forth basically having a panic attack as they read what Snape had to say in response. After a few minutes of them reading and me trying to breathe normally and keep my heart rate low they finally looked at each other and whispering quietly until they both looked at me and then gave me the letter. As I was reading my heart and breathing weren't staying stable, but Luna was trying to do her best as I read it. To sum up the letter in response he just addressed what I had said and wants to meet up with me to talk about it. As I was trying to calm myself down as my mind was racing with thoughts of him going to yell at me, tell Dumbledore or punish me in some way or another. Cho read over the letter, again and again, Luna was rubbing my back and trying to calm me down by playing music and singing along with it. Her voice has helped me calm down from a panic attack before so it clearly works, but I wasn't so sure about this time. After about 20 more minutes of Cho and Luna talking about what the letter could mean and breaking it down I was slowly feeling very tired and felt like trying to fall asleep. Luna told me what time it was and after I got under my blankets Luna kept singing lightly and rubbing my back as I slowly drifted into sleep.

Waking up the next morning was hard since I really wasn't up for leaving my bed when I might run into Snape and get screamed at in the hallways. Luna had convinced me to at least go have a shower and all of that jazz before breakfast which I'm guessing she was going to try to convince me to go to as well. I put on my black muggle clothes and put my hair up in a messy braid, but Luna said otherwise. She had me sit down on the bathroom counter as she curled my hair and put on some light, but visible green and black eyeshadow. I was confused about why she was dressing me up when I was just going to be in here for most of the day besides meals, so I asked her.

"Well, if you do run into Snape, not saying you will, but if you do, I think that you should look your best casually and maybe, just maybe if he isn't happy about what you sent in that letter then he will see you and think 'damn maybe I should at least give her a shot' and then bam true love." She giggled and I said back in response,

"Umm, I don't think that's how love works."

"I know, but it's the best way I can think to explain it to you." As she finished to my hair and all of that jazz I started to think about what he might say if my looks changed his mind. I smiled to myself and I guess Luna noticed and she smiled as well. We walked to the Great Hall and sat in our normal spots at our normal time before everyone arrives all at once. Cho came along soon after and was talking to her other friends who I never talked to before and Neville Longbottom came and sat on the other side of Luna. After a few more minutes students and teachers started to flow into the Great Hall and took their seats before our breakfast magically appeared in front of us. Once everyone was in their seats and Dumbledore talked for a few minutes our food arrived and people started filling up their plates and started up conversations with one another. Just out of curiosity I looked up to the professors' table and scanned my way through the teachers until my eyes locked with someone, it was Snape. He was already looking at me before I glanced his way, but as soon as we made eye contact Luna tapped my shoulder and brought me back to the conversation we were having. I tried my best to keep my eyes away from the teacher's table and started up any kind of conversation that I could to distract myself from looking up there. After about 15 minutes half of the students had finished and left the Great Hall me being one of them. As I stood up to leave a tall and dressed in black person was right in front of me, I looked up to who it was to ask them to move so I could walk past, but my voice was caught up in my throat when I saw that it was Professor Snape. We looked at each other for a few seconds then he spoke first and said,

"Ms. Todd." I could only respond with,

"Professor." Then I slipped past him and walked away with a little more speed to my step. As I was nearing the entrance of the Great Hall ready to start running once I got out of there to the common room I left someone staring at me and I knew it was Snape, but then in the back of my head it felt like someone was trying to fight off my mind and look into it. The feeling only lasted until I rounded the corner and was out of the sight of whoever was doing that to me. Once I got back to the common room I grabbed my guitar and my notebook and started writing down some chords and notes. After about half an hour of finding a nice melody, I started to write some lyrics down and add them into the melody. As I strummed my guitar I added the words slowly into it and listened to how it sounded to see if I needed to change anything in the song.

I opened my eyes

watching you pass me by

Not even looking in my way

Wondering why you don't see me

But I won't judge you

I just want you to stay

I wrote down a few changes to the chords and started up again.

Not only that

But you don't even smile

I'm wondering if you even have a heart

I feel so broken

Without you

But you'd never even notice

What I'd do for you

I had practiced playing those chords and singing those lyrics to make sure that they fit together right and as I was doing this, many people were listening in and watching me play. As soon as I stopped playing and decided to use this uneventful day nearly everyone in the common room complimented me on my songwriting and the Head Boy even told me,

"Whoever that song is about, they clearly don't deserve you if they make you feel like that, don't get distracted by idiots, do your own thing, Cloe." I thanked him and went to go on a walk on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. As I was walking I was thinking about what everyone said to me after they listened to the lyrics that I wrote down and gently laughed to myself.

If only they knew.

I stayed outside for a little while longer and sat down on some clean grass near the water's edge of the Black Lake and just took in the cool breeze that moved my hair and loved every bit of the fresh air that surrounded me. Soon I was laying on the grass with my eyes closed and just taking in the heat of the sun as it shone down on my face. I could hear other students that were either outside for a walk or were playing some kind of sport-related game along with the sounds of birds every which way. There was one point where I heard someone walk fairly near me then the footsteps stopped and I couldn't hear them for a few minutes until the person walked away, and yet again I felt that weird pain-like feeling in the back of my mind trying to get into my head. I quickly pushed them out even though it was pretty difficult to do so. I frowned and sat up to see where this person was so then I could give them a glare, but I couldn't see anyone around me what so ever so I then decided to get up and head back to the Great Hall to get some lunch and then probably go have a nap or something until dinner and then study for my classes while there still was time left in the day. As lunch was passing and Hermione was giving Harry a lecture about something just behind us I, yet again, felt that pain-like feeling in my head and at this point I really wasn't happy and wanted to smack whoever was trying to get into my head. So as anyone would I tried to search out for this very bold person and after a few minutes looking around at the students I still could feel them trying to get in my mind and I realized that no student would be able to do Ollcomency so I looked up at the teacher's table and looked to see if anyone was staring me down. Nobody was looking at me from what I could tell, but I still could feel someone trying to get into my mind, I looked back up at the teacher's table just to make sure. And sure enough, I found the person staring me down trying to get into my head. I was fairly shocked and kind of scared when I realized that it was Professor Snape. My heart started to beat faster with fear and anxiety and soon enough I could hear it in my head. I was very worried that at some point he would get into my head and hear my thoughts which will most likely be about him or that he might search through my memories and find the ones involving him. My breathing got heavier as the fear was boiling under my skin, I could also hear another heart beating and more breathing like it was coming from me, but it wasn't.

Was I able to hear the pace of his breathing? There's no way that can be possible? If I can hear him, can he hear me?

My eyes widened with even more fear, I was completely shocked by the fact that I could hear his heartbeat beating in my chest versus my own and feeling air being pulled into my lungs, not on my command. It was very nerve-wracking to know that we had traded breathing paces and heartbeats, but I was trying my best to calm myself down to not hyperventilate or embarrass myself in front of Snape. I broke eye contact with him and I know it probably made me seem weak but doing so it was easier to calm myself down without having to see him stare into my eyes. Soon I was able to push him out of my mind and feel myself breathing again and was able to hear my heartbeat once more. I let out a big long sigh which seems to catch Cho's attention.

"What's with the sigh Clo?"

"I'm just tired and don't want to start classes again tomorrow, mainly Potions." I put my hand on my head trying to keep my heart beating at a slow pace and to cool myself off from the huge stare-off I just had with a teacher.

"Why Potions?"

"Snape is assigning another essay again."

"Damnit, I forgot about that."

As Cho asked Luna for help with a Potions essay and just help, in general, I looked back up to the teacher's table and saw that Snape was having a conversation with Professor McGonagall not even realizing that I was now the one staring at him. McGonagall glanced at me and saw me staring at Snape, doing I was snapped out of my thoughts and went back to eating food and listening to what my friends were talking about hoping that she wouldn't ask me about it or even realized that I was looking at Snape and turned my eyes away when I noticed her looking in my direction. As soon as my friends and I were finished lunch we got up right away and made our way out of the Great Hall, but before I could leave I felt the pain again and this time I really wasn't having it. So I spun around and saw Snape looking at me as he made his way to the main entrance of the Great Hall which was also where I was. As soon as he got closer to me I glared at him harshly and he came near me and stopped in front of me making me look up to be able to see his face as I had a not-so-happy expression plaster on my face. We just stared at each other for a few seconds until I said,

"Yes, Professor?" He responded to my question with,

"You seem to have joy with trying to intimidate me, am I correct?" I smirked and said back,

"I could ask you the same thing." We both stood there just glaring at each other not saying a word until Cho called my name and grabbed my attention making me look away to find where her voice came from.

"Looks like you'll need to try harder next time, looking away really doesn't work." He then passed me and left the Great Hall leaving me there wandering through my thoughts. I sighed and found Cho who asked to go to the Black Lake to do something and she wouldn't even tell me what it was she wanted to do after I asked her about 20 times in two minutes. Once we made it there, Luna and Ginny had already claimed a spot on the bright green grass and were having a conversation until Cho and I sat down beside them. Ginny gave them both a look that seemed pretty cheeky and mischievous like Ginny was at certain times. I didn't want to ruin their surprise or whatever so I didn't address the look on Ginny's face, but I did ask them,

"So, what is this all about?"

"Your date of course!" Ginny said very loudly and covered her mouth and laughed right after she said basically screamed it at me. I tilted my head and asked them what Ginny meant by 'date'.

"Well, remember how I told you about that guy I had a date planned for you with?" Luna said,

"Yeah?"

"Well, we still kinda have to get him to say yes to having a date with you because I didn't actually ask him I just thought that we would be able to get him to like you enough, the reason why we are here, to get him to ask you out." I slammed my hand on my face and sighed. Cho and Luna sat there waiting for me to tell them that I wasn't doing this, but instead, I asked them,

"And how were you planning on doing this without me finding out who the guy is?" Luna opened her mouth and responded back with,

"Right, um haven't totally planned that bit out yet, but I think I got it." I nodded and Ginny smiled and said in one very quick breath,

"I'm so happy you're going to finally have a boyfriend!" She giggled again along with Cho and they started to talk about what each person had to do and what things could happen and go wrong along with what we needed to do to fix those mistakes if they happen. After about half an hour of that we walked around, Luna said that they were looking for him but to be completely honest I think she was just stalling, but soon Luna spun me around and set us up for whatever she thought was going to work. As I had to help a little first year with Potions and saying things like 'my mark in Potions is so high I think I might've beaten Snape's marks when he was a kid' or 'I think I'm Snape's favourite, but you know him, he won't talk about it' I kinda felt bad about bragging about this stuff to a first-year who probably too scared to even look me in the face, but as Luna signalled me to keep going I could feel the pain start-up in my head again. I stopped talking mid-sentence and peaked my head up to find Snape standing somewhere staring at me. Soon enough I found him walking closer to me through the courtyard locking eye contact with me. I realized that I couldn't stare at him for too long since I was just having a conversation with another student so I looked away and continued on while I did my best to keep him out of my mind. After I looked away I could feel him pushing harder and harder into my mind and it became difficult to focus on what I was saying. As he walked by both the first-year student and me looked up at him and I glared at him whereas the first year kind of cowering in fear which I don't blame him for that, but once you get to know him it isn't so bad. He stopped in front of us and he said to me,

"Ms. Todd."

"Snape." You could feel the heavy tension that was growing between us and I could see Luna kind of freaking out behind him, but I didn't want to pay attention to her at the moment, her plan could wait. I continued to glare at him and then he asked me,

"Why are you wasting your time on this first year?" I scoffed in my head and responded with,

"I think that it's at least worth a try to help someone versus just watch them struggle, don't you think?" This time he scoffed and walked away without looking back, but still trying to get into my head. I finished helping the student early since I really wasn't having it with Snape today and went up to Luna and asked her,

"Did your plan work or what?" Cho nodded aggressively and Ginny was jumping up and down.

"Yeah, I'd say it worked. So what did Snape talk to you about?'

I knew this was going to happen.

"Nothing much, he just insulted the first year and we glared at each other for the most part." Cho was shocked by what I had told her and said,

"What? Why!"

"Ummm because he's bee-" I stopped myself before I said anything too loudly and pulled them closer to me so I didn't have to talk loud enough for others to hear.

"He's been trying to use Occlumency on me all day." They all gasps and I smacked them on their arms.

"It's really not that shocking, to be honest," Ginny said and I nodded in agreeance. We talked about it for a little longer until Hermione came and grabbed Ginny who I guess had promised to study for a test with her and forget about her so Luna, Cho and I just went back to our dorm and just studied for our own classes I also went over the lyrics and chords that I wrote and put into a song and finished it. Soon it was dinner and I really didn't want to come face to face with Snape again or have Luna randomly say that it's time for another setup plan thing. We made it to our usual seats and waited for Dumbledore to say his daily speech before we can all eat. As soon as the food was on the table I dug right in and tried my best to hold myself back from looking up at the teacher's table for as long as I can, which hopefully will be throughout the whole meal. Luna was talking about the next setup with Cho and I was just listening in to the best of my ability since they were trying to talk quiet enough so that they could hear each other over the other students talking, but not loud enough for me to hear. I sighed and just focused on my food and thought about classes and whatnot which I was happy to get back to so I didn't have to be under Luna's rath the whole time with this stupid date-set-up thing. Soon it was the end of dinner all three of us had finished and wanted to go and take a walk around the lake I looked up at the teacher's table just out of instinct and as I scanned I didn't see Snape sitting in his normal spot.

Maybe he's in his class getting ready for classes tomorrow

I thought. I walked out with my friends, but before I could round the corner I felt a tinge of fear or anxiety in the back of my chest, probably because I thought that Snape not being at dinner was odd, even though I probably shouldn't think much of it, it still was in my mind. I pushed it out of my mind when Cho punched a Slytherin in the face and he fell to my feet. I stood there shocked at what Cho had down and looked up at her for an explanation and she said back with some tone,

"He slapped my ass!" She was about to kick him when Snape came around the corner and stopped her foot mid-swing with a spell. He let her foot fall to the ground and came up to us to say,

"Ms. Chang, Detention for hurting another student. As for the rest of you move along." Luna and I walked past the kid and grabbed Cho's arm and started to walk away from the scene, but before we could get far Snape said,

"Ms. Todd, I need to talk to you after I get this boy some ice, meet me in my office," He stared right into my eyes and said once more,

"Don't be late." He grabbed the boy's arm to pick him up and summoned some ice as we walked away fairly quickly so I could freak out without Snape seeing me.

"Are you kidding me?" I put my face in my hands to try and calm down my anxiety whereas Luna was freaking out more than I was. Well, she was more freaking out because of what I told her earlier and how now he wants to talk to me, alone, along with the confession letter I sent him earlier this week.

"I think you'll be fine, no worries Clo," Luna said as her breathing got a bit faster as she talked. I rested my head on the wall behind me and told them.

"I better go, can't be late." Cho wished me good luck as I rounded the corner to head down into the dungeons to Snape's office hoping that I wasn't going to be embarrassed or anything.

Who am I kidding?! This is going to be the actual end of me

My breathing slowed as I tried to calm myself down, but I just ended up making my breathing worse since I was slowing it by not breathing in general until I needed to breathe to stay alive. I ended up in the main part of the dungeons and followed the hallway to the Potions class, I was doing my best to keep myself calm, but being able to hear my heartbeat in my head wasn't really helping. I got to his classroom, but before I entered I leaned against the wall and let out a sigh, as soon as I felt comfortable with entering to my death I stood up straight and went to knock on the door, but before my hand could make any impact I heard someone on the other side say 'come in' I dropped my hand and opened the door saying to myself,

"That's a little creepy."

"It's hard to ignore footsteps coming from the other side of a door." I looked up and saw Snape sitting at his desk and from what I could tell he was marking tests. I walked farther into his classroom and with each step it felt like everything was getting hotter and hotter as I got closer to my death and I was going to be dragged to hell for it.

"You wanted to talk to me, professor?" I made it to his desk and stood on the other side of it hoping to keep something physical between him and me.

"Yes, I wanted to talk about many things, but I think we both know what we need to talk about Ms. Todd." I breathed in deep when he said my name in such a manner and told myself to not think like that which he was most likely going to yell at me. He glanced to a chair near his desk as to say 'pull up a chair as I did so I could feel the fear building inside me and just wished for like a basilisk or something to just pop out of thin air and kill me on the spot. He cleared his throat and said,

"How have you managed to be able to stop someone from using Occlumency on you?" I wasn't really expecting that kind of question and I didn't really know the answer, but I had to ask him a question about that too.

"Why were you trying to use Occlumency on me I think is the better question?" I glared at him and he snared, but still answered my question before moving on.

"Dumbledore has me making sure that each student is following the rules."

"And he said that it's okay to use Occlumency on students that break simple rules?"

"Students that could be moving into the path of becoming a death eater." I widened my eyes, but then thought,

Why would he use it on me then?

"Why on me then? I can confirm that I have nothing to do with Voldemort or have any intention to join him and his little rebellion." He continued to look at me and then asked,

"Again, how are you able to block people from entering your mind?" I sighed and said,

"I don't know. I seriously don't know." I crossed my arms and then he leaned forward in his chair and said,

"Seems a little suspicious, don't you think? You aren't involved with Voldemort, but you can stop people from taking over your mind..." I sighed and said,

"Okay, I gave you an answer to your question, can I leave now?"

"Oh no, we still have way more to talk about." I looked up at him and in his eyes when he said,

"How about we start with the letter, Ms.Todd." My heartbeat dropped and as well as my breathing. I knew that he was probably going to talk about it, but I wasn't sure that it would be right now. I kept looking into his eyes as he leaned back into the chair and said once more,

"I think that's the better question." I gulped and seat down more in my chair and to be honest I didn't know how to start this or what I should do first off.

Do I just run for it? Or do I sit through it and deal with nearly facing my death right here, right now?

Soon enough I got the courage to speak and give him some kind of response.

"Are we sure we need to talk about this? I mean classes are tomorrow and I want to get started on my essays-" My breathing hitched as I listened to his words.

"Yes, we need to talk about it. You sent me a confession letter and have been ignoring me all weekend instead of saying it to my face." My throat started to close up which meant that tears were about to form, but I didn't want nor need them too so I pushed that feeling away and said back to him,

"It was a ridiculous act that I did at 11 pm on a Friday after a week full of school, I was most likely not thinking straight." I folded my hands together and sneezed hoping that he will buy my bait and let me leave, but I knew that wasn't going to work.

"You've literally run away from me after you sent it, normally you'd stare me down or say hello, but you haven't been. You clearly were thinking straight when you wrote it." He was staring me down and at this point, I didn't know what to do. I was scared. Being as frightened as I was I just, out of random instincts, told him,

"I really am uncomfortable talking about this right now and I'm not going to lie I am pretty afraid." I squeezed on my hands again trying to hold back tears of fear and it wasn't the normal fear, it was the fear of rejection and fear of saying something wrong and messing this whole thing up, and I might've just done that now. I gulped as Snape took that information in and we sat there in silence for a while until he spoke up, but his voice was very soft and quiet.

"You know you did bring this upon yourself, and you can't blame me for trying to talk to you about versus going right to Dumbledore and talking to him about it instead." It was sympathetic really, and I didn't understand why he would talk like that. I stayed silent for a while which I guess moved him to speak some more, probably trying to make me feel better and not scared.

"Listen, I didn't want to talk about this either, believe me." I still couldn't find my voice and was actually starting to think on how I could make this less nerve-wracking so I just asked him a simple yet kind of dumb question since I know the answer already.

"Do don't need to have these kinds of talks often, do you?" He shook his head no and now I could feel that he wanted me to speak and continue to speak for as long as I could and knowing this I was very anxious, but I decided that since I'm already here, might as well face a fear I didn't know I had.

"Look, if you don't want to talk about it, which I get, can we just forget this ever happened?" I said leaning forward in my chair as in ready to get up and leave, but his next response made me want to stay longer.

"You know, I've been in the same place as you, and you can't just forget these feelings. Trust me, they're the reason I'm so cold to everyone and why my life has become dark." I was shocked to hear him confess something to me. I really wasn't ready to hear that and it stunned me, not gonna lie. I give him a look of interest but also mixed with shock and empathy. His face was softened and kind, but as soon as he saw my reaction of empathy it faded away and the cold hard Snape was back. I let off a disappointed expression and then said,

"But this time those words don't matter do they?" I realized how attacking those words sounded and instantly wanted to take them back, but it was too late now. He was giving off a vibe of sadness or guilt rather than making me feel that way since that was the way he had treated me and everyone else for years before now and it's hard to think that he could try and be nice. He sighed and said,

"It really does seem that way doesn't it?" I nodded lightly and dropping my head down a little to break eye contact with him, he continued with,

"Maybe it doesn't have to be that way... for you." I was shocked and lifted my head back up to look at him and he just gave off a slight smile and he totally changed right in front of me. His posture softened and the muscles in his face relaxed and his eyes, good god his eyes, they shone with so much sympathy and possibly love that I instantly relaxed too and took in a deep breath waiting for what would happen next. Soon enough he leaned forward in his chair and got up. I stood up with him and he said,

"You should probably go now, it's a few minutes until curfew." My eyes widened once again in fear.

I'm going to get caught by Filch and have to do some sort of scary punishment"Don't worry though, if you don't make it back in time, I'm always here to give an explanation." He said pointing to his head.

"You probably don't know it, but if you can block someone out of your head then you most likely can enter someone's head." I nodded after I learned something new and made my way over to the door with Snape following me. Before I could leave he turned me around and asked me,

"Why don't you give it a try. Try it on me." I shrugged and focused on him and him alone, feeling myself push into a cold and hard barrier like it was right in front of me but there was nothing there. I felt the wall drop and I instantly pushed into his mind and was brought to his mind only to hear him say to me through his thoughts,

"See? It really isn't that hard once you get it, and neither is this." He had trapped me in his mind, closing the wall behind me, but I had pushed myself out. Once my mind was back in its rightful place I noticed Snape leaning in and felt my own body leaning towards his. Soon enough his hands cupped my cheeks and the coldness of them seeped to my hot skin. He looked at my face getting in every detail until he brought his eyes to mine and at that point, I grabbed his shirt and pulled him into me causing our lips to crash together. Soon enough he started to kiss me and we moved our lips in sync causing my legs to go weak by the way his lips covered mine and how passionate and sweet his kisses were. Before I could actually fall to the floor he wrapped his arm around my waist and I could feel myself go light-headed with the feeling of his cold touch on me and the fact that we were face deep into each other. But all good things have to come to an end and I slowly pulled away from him still in his arms looking into his deep onyx eyes. Not knowing what to do next and being so full of love and happiness I smiled and gently laughed which made Severus smile and laugh a little too.

"Okay, but you should really get going."

"Yeah." I was still in his arms and leaning tight against his chest and I said,

"I'm going to need to be set free to be able to go you know."

"Oh yeah right." He gently dropped his hands and rubbed the back of his neck. I put my hand on the door to leave, but before I opened it I said to him,

"And thank you for understanding me." He smiled at me and it just filled me up so much that I turned back to him and gave him a deep long hug, soon enough he returned it and I needed to feel his lips one last time before whoever knows when again. It was much more gentle and loving than the last and I left his office feeling like I was at the top of the world. I basically ran back the whole way to my dorm to tell Luna and Cho feeling like I would never run out of energy every time his laugh played back in my head or his smile showed up in my vision. Once I burst through the door getting their attention I closed the door, cast a sound-proof spell around the walls and just yelled at them,

"We kissed!" Luna literally jumped up and grabbed me in a huge big hug and spun us around as Cho screamed and was super shocked. Soon enough I was laughing and daydreaming about him along with tears flowing strongly down my face. After we had calmed down a bit an owl landed in our window and dropped off a letter. I grabbed it to see who it was for and yet again I had received a letter with my name on it in Snape's handwriting, I squealed again and basically jumped onto Luna who was ready to sleep for tonight.

"Read it, read it!" Cho said from the other side of the room on her bed and I opened it carefully making sure not to rip the parchment and read it out loud for them to hear.

Dear Cloe, Yes this is random and there really wasn't any need for me to write this to you, but I just want you to know that if you need help with anything I'm here for you. If you need any comfort I'm always by your side and I will never leave it. You have finally made me come out of my hard shell and have made me realize that living in the past is never a good thing. I couldn't imagine what would've happened if I missed you and didn't give myself another chance at love. You truly mean a lot to me, and I know that I mean a lot to you, and that's all I've ever wanted to feel.

Sincerely, SS

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